CNN-IBN: Fake Debates & Communal Incitement

Narendra Bhatti of the Samajwadi Party bragged that he got Durgashakti Nagpal the UP SDM suspended in just 41 minutes. He said it publicly and then claimed he was misquoted. On July 31 the foul-mouthed Azam Khan who whined for being “insulted” on a trip to the US made another hateful comment on the Durga episode. He said: "Ram naam ki loot hai loot sako to loot lo” (You are allowed to loot in the name of lord Ram). I wonder how his community would have reacted had he quoted his own religious icons. Such is the shameless behaviour of members of the SP. Perpetrate hate and play victim. We’ll get back to this story a bit later.

Once upon a time, not very long ago, you needed a license to possess a radio or a transistor. When TV came in, you need a license to possess and watch the TV. Some smart-alecs in the GOI even wanted to bring back the license system for TV. Read this:  “Almost every new medium of communication or expression that has appeared since the dawn of history has been accompanied by doomsayers and critics who have confidently predicted that it would bring about The End of the World as We Know It by weakening the brain or polluting our precious bodily fluids”. Books, movies, TV and Radio shows have a history of inspiring crimes. I doubt anybody condemned JD Salinger because ‘Catcher in the rye’ inspired Mark Chapman to kill John Lennon. Surprisingly, Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro and Jodie Foster have never been tried for ‘Taxi Driver’ inspiring John Hinckley’s attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan. So when a hate-channel, anchored by a hate-filled racist puts up a topic “Who’s afraid of social media” she is doing exactly what the doomsayers did in the case of Radio and TV.

This was aired by CNN-IBN on August 1 at the Ramnath Goenka journalism awards function. Frankly, I doubt the late Goenka would allow some of the people on the stage or currently in the Indian Express anywhere near him. So Sagarika introduces the topic with some choice descriptions of Social Media (SM). She tries to balance her moronery by throwing in descriptions such as “instrument of freedom” to describe SM. But her real epithets were “New gorilla in the room, bull in a china shop, subversive, destabilising and instrument of propaganda”. Aha! Imagine, one of the most hate-filled people on the SM is anchoring a discussion on SM. That’s TV hypocrisy for you. They even discussed whether SM should be regulated. Oh… when it comes to Islamic terror remember how they talked about the “root cause”? Well, you could say the “root cause” of SM is the Internet. So to cleanse the evil in SM it is necessary to get rid of the internet itself. Right?

Alright, for all the media morons who debate SM on TV, I would like to ask why when there is evidence of TV images provoking violence there is absolutely no regulation of News TV? There’s scientific evidence TV has known to provoke anger, violence and psychotic behaviour. I’m not joking. Just read my past article “Victimhood justifies violence”. People are known to throw shoes at TV or break the screens in anger across the world. Some have known to be provoked to more serious crimes. Shouldn’t TV be regulated? Never mind. And the discussion wasn’t how SM could be used more productively but “who’s afraid of SM”. Well, nobody except the people in the MSM and Govt are afraid of it and they try all they can to brand ordinary people as subversive or propagandists when the biggest subversive elements and propagandists are on TV and in newspapers every single day. One political party even wants to “hire” journalists for their campaign. Can the MSM fall any lower than being looked at as commodities?  

I have identified CNN-IBN as a communal channel that frequently puts up articles, news items or images that insult some religious group or the other. In some cases their unverified reports and hate-mongering deserve to be even legally tried. Were they different in the case of Durgashakti Nagpal? Here’s what the hate-mongering channel headlined:

Mosque demolition? Did Durga order or demolish a mosque? While the reporter screams her head off CNN-IBN puts up such provocative headlines. Is such a headline not enough to incite violence? Especially when you think of the Azad Maidan riots of August 2012 were provoked by fake images you can imagine what such a headline can do. Mind you, the reporter Marya Shakil hadn’t reported anything provocative; she was just doing her job. It’s the hate-mongering editors at CNN-IBN who should be held responsible for this provocative headline. Oh yes, the one who frequently cries over SM also happens to be a Dubiousity Editor at CNN-IBN. And who did they have on their SM debate? There was Manish Tewari who can’t complete one sentence without “anarchy”. There was Kapil Sibal who has left no shoe unturned to strangle the internet itself. These are the people adorning a “Ramnath Goenka” function. Goenka would have cancelled the event had he been alive.

Fact remains, Durga hadn’t demolished any mosque but an illegal wall or as other reports say warned the villagers to not build an illegal wall along a mosque. She had done nothing wrong. Real reasons behind her suspension and the SP vendetta? Let’s read the words of CNN-IBN itself: “Nagpal, during her tenure as the sub-divisional magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar, had cracked down on the sand mining mafia. She had recently seized 24 lorries involved in illegal mining and form April to June, under her watchful eye, the mining department impounded 297 vehicles and collected a fine of over Rs 80 lakh”.

It should be clear to any observer that ahead of the 2014 elections and the threat of Narendra Modi creating an impact in UP the SP is whipping up communal passions. Durga was just about handy to appease Muslims and inflame their passions. It also remains a fact that whenever it comes to enforcing law we are now compelled by what will or will not offend Muslims or other minorities. Modi demolished 80 illegal temple constructions in and around Gandhingar in Gujarat. But he’s the one who’s “communal” and the bozos in SP and our media channels like CNN-IBN are supposed to be “secular”. This is the grave danger to this country that is being covered up by TV media. Are these channels dangerous? You bet they are. They’re not only the first line of defence for the corrupt they are also the biggest liars who place events and personalities in the wrong contexts to make a corrupt living.

In the first six months since Akhilesh Yadav took over as UP Chief Minister in March 2012 there have been at least seven communal riots. ‘Riot after Riot’ went on in UP while the media played the slave and covered up the violence and reporting of those riots. As they happened, it was people on the SM who relayed the news of the violence. I haven’t seen any channel demanding arrest of the perpetrators or seeking justice for the victims. Did you? Well, you will often find hate-mongering and fear-monger from these “seculars” about communal riots, when most of the worst riots have happened under their very nose (Digvijaya's Desperate & Dangerous Communal Call). How to engineer or get away with communal riots is an idiot’s hand-book you will have to pick up from the “Sickulars” or media channels like CNN-IBN. In the meantime, don’t let any media bimbo lecture you on SM or any kind of media. Nobody is scared of SM and nobody is scared of corrupt MSM.   

 

Rajdeep Sardesai - Like Selling Hooch

Imagine our national media celebs were involved in the liquor business. What would they be selling? IMFL (Indian Made Foreign Liquor), Desi Sharaab or Imported liquor? I believe none of these. I believe most would be selling illicit liquor or ‘Hooch’, if you like. Especially in Gujarat which has prohibition Hooch would be their best choice. Spurious, adulterated, sometimes poisonous enough to kill. Customers are gullible, don’t bother about quality of the concoction, the product is cheap, available in small packages and highly profitable. They’re not into the business but their products have all the attributes of cheap Hooch. Their TV shows and articles are devoid of all the facts, contain half-truths, untruths and produced in haste without much research or checked for quality. If it’s about Narendra Modi, the concoction is even headier.

Considering Gujarat elections are around the corner our ‘fiberal’ media is desperate to seek ways to toe the Congress party line about  1) Modi being a ‘regional’ leader and has no impact beyond Gujarat 2) Development in Gujarat is historical and little to do with Modi and 3) Keep attempting to frighten people Modi is a “polarising” figure . So Rajdeep Sardesai (RS) comes up with another Friday Blogbuster called “Modi in pole position but can his politics have a pan-Indian appeal?” and the same piece is repeated in Hindustan Trolls as “Advantage Modi”. The trouble with over-enthusiasm in batting for the Congress is that one tends to be careless with facts. The article could have been written by any Congress sympathiser instead of RS and it would have still looked the same. It’s just that RS is the dancing cheer-girl in this one. So let’s read some spurious bits (in blue).

RS starts off with: Even so, there is a near unanimity that Narendra Modi is poised for a hat-trick of victories in Gujarat. For the record Modi is currently completing his third term and hat-trick. He took over as CM in October 2001 (became elected MLA in February 2002), got re-elected again in 2002 and again in 2007. The first term was truncated but it still was a BJP government for the full term. So if there is another term for Modi I guess it would have to be called Quart-trick or something.

It is equally true that the ‘development’ agenda of Gujarat didn’t start in 2002 with the ascent of Modi as the CM’s astute marketing machine would have us believe. Gujarat CMs from the time of Morarji Desai to a Chimanbhai Patel to a Madhavsinh Solanki have always had a robust, forward-looking approach to economic progress. Typical absence of fact-checking; Morarji was never CM of Gujarat. (RS corrected it later on his blog on this error being pointed out but not in the HT piece). You have to be an idiot to mention Chimanbhai without a mention of Navnirman 1974 when he was thrown out for corruption. That’s the agitation that finally led to Emergency in 1975. As for Madhavsinh, he is probably the only CM who got thrashed by people for his divisive policies. His divisive casteist KHAM (Khshatriya, Harijan, Adivasi, Muslim) theory cost the Congress a lot. He is accused of turning the 1985 anti-reservation agitation into a communal riot. Sure, Gujarat has always been ahead on the development front. Even during Narendra Modi’s tenure his achievement is mostly with infrastructure, power supply and giving a free reign to people to pursue their goals. Policy-wise Modi govt has been the least divisive Gujarat has ever had and far less corrupt than seen before. I say that with a certain authority on the topic.

Yes, the 2002 riots may have confirmed the supremacy of a so-called Hindu vote-bank, but the fact is the emergence of this vote-bank pre-dates the violence. In 1995, for example, the BJP won more than 50% of the vote, proof that the party’s rise is a 1990s phenomenon and the last 10 years have only seen a further consolidation of this vote. Another load of BS that RS tries to pass off as insight. The decline of Congress started in 1985 after Madhavsinh’s KHAM and reservation policy. RS & company probably don’t know that since that time the BJP started winning smaller elections such as panchayats and municipal corporations. These elections are usually the signals of bigger changes. The last Bengal election is a good example.

But to suggest that Gujarat would not have prospered without Modi’s dynamism is to deny credit to the time-tested Gujarati business acumen. Great! But who exactly is denying that? Actually, nobody! It is just cronies like RS make it appear that Modi or BJP are denying this.  It’s only Congress and media propaganda that imagines this denial which doesn’t exist at all. Absolute LIE!

The land acquisition battles, for example, which resonate in states like West Bengal appear to hold less relevance to the Gujarati land-owner who is simply looking to strike the best deal for his property. Again, if you aren’t careful you will miss the cunning parallel that RS is trying to draw. Why the comparison with Bengal? Ah.. You see, TMC is not a Congress ally anymore and so is fair game. There are more land scams in Congress states of Delhi, A.P., Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan and under allies like UP. The Congress family itself is now accused of land scams under National Herald and Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. Who can forget the superman of land dealings, Robert Vadra? So even in praising Gujarat try and tarnish a non-Congress party. Clever!

So, yes, a Modi win in Gujarat seems a safe bet for now. The nagging question though remains: can Gujarat be a benchmark for measuring popularity in a complex, diverse India? These are the last lines of RS’s moronery. In all the stupid polls that RS and his channels conduct Modi has been the most popular choice for PM. Since that was discomforting CNN-IBN started polls on party lines: Who is most favoured as PM by Congress, who is most favoured by BJP as PM! So that way they wouldn’t have to swallow the bitter bill that Modi is nationally popular across the population.

At the beginning RS writes: The Modi groupies will no doubt attribute a victory solely to the charisma and achievements of the Gujarat chief minister. His critics will be quick to point out that Gujarat is sui generis, and a win is the result of communal polarisation in the state. Modi groupies? After 11 years of trying to defeat Modi through various channels that employed him RS has now been reduced to a “roadie” of the Congress whose job is to try and paint Modi as a regional leader. They couldn’t unseat Modi so now the media trick is to try and control further damage by restricting him to Gujarat by repeatedly claiming he’s unfit for a national role. This bunch makes up the Sonia and Rahul “groupies” for sure since there is no Congress person of any stature to challenge Modi in Gujarat. As for communal polarisation RS is again spreading untruths as easily as butter on bread. The most number of people charged with Communal speeches by the EC in Gujarat during this election season are from the Congress and not the BJP. And in which state in India has the Congress and its alliance partners not polarised voters with promises based on religion and caste?

If the Sonia groupies, including RS, hadn’t carried out their vicious campaign against Modi he may not even have been so popular. More than the politics, the Modi popularity despite this criminal media is the fact that social media and internet have outsmarted the MSM. RS and the groupies find it a difficult defeat to swallow. The license that earned them a lot over a decade has expired. They have now become like bootleggers doing business on the sly. It’s like selling spurious Hooch. Only, no one is buying anymore except their own groupies.

CNN-IBN, IBN7 - Criminally Communal Channels

There is something about our media celebs that makes them hate anything remotely connected with Hinduism or the Hindu religion. Any symbol related to Hinduism or their spiritual leaders or Gurus is an insult to the intelligence of these elites. Of the many media outlets that frequently ridicule Hinduism, CNN-IBN and its sidekick IBN7 are channels that are undisputed leaders. Not so long ago CNN-IBN’s Sagarika Ghose ran a fraudulent live show about SriSri Ravi Shankar and his campaign against corruption. It was a case enough to ‘Sack Sagarika’. But just as in politics, nepotism prevails in the media too and she continues merrily on the channel, frequently spouting venom against Hindus, subtly on TV or more brazenly on Twitter. When the damage is done and she faces a backlash her typical response is to play victim. Here are some recent transactions by CNN-IBN’s Managing Director, Rajdeep Sardesai:

The tweet on the left was in response to many demanding coverage of the anniversary of Emergency on June 25, 2012. Now, what exactly does Emergency have to do with Babri? But unless a historic event of significance is not equated with some supposed ant-Hindu news Rajdeep’s equation is not complete. In reality, Emergency is a shame on the nation, destruction of democracy and is comparable with the tin-pot dictators of Pakistan, perhaps with Saddam Hussain, Pinochet or Idi Amin. Emergency was not an offence against any particular community. All communities paid a price. In contrast the Babri incident is one of many communal incidents in the country. If history is perspective, then Babri should be compared to Somnath and not to the Emergency. But such is the communal agenda of CNN-IBN.

On June 25 #Emergency75 trended all day on Twitter. So Rajdeep wants to know if tweeters will trend #Babri92 on December 6^.  While he actually doesn’t suggest it, it’s almost as if Babri happened as revenge for Emergency. It’s alarming that those who pass off as editors in media outlets cannot distinguish between a national tragedy and a communal incident. The number of people killed or permanently disabled during Emergency will neither be known nor be ever revealed because our current media would prefer another Emergency. They would like a censorship of all voices in the social media and would delight in peddling only the voice of the Congress and their ruling allies. The Justice Shah Commission report on the Emergency was buried and lost till recently a writer (Era Sezhiyan) put the pieces together in a book.

Here’s another tweet from the same evening. Once again Rajdeep drags Babri and Gujarat 2002 to balance Emergency and the 1984 “Riots”. Mind you, he and others in the media continue to refer to 1984 as “riots” and Gujarat 2002 as “pogrom”. Most will disagree with 1984 being termed “riots”. That was a systematic killing of ONLY Sikhs in retaliation. It wasn’t a conflict in which both Sikhs and others were killing each other. Only Sikhs were being killed by Congress cadres. Still, what’s the connection? Unless the BJP’s so-called sins are called into the debate it is unfair to talk about Emergency. All the events Rajdeep talks about happened much after Emergency and aren’t connected in anyway. This is the media’s idea of “balanced” crap!

In another tweet Rajdeep laments being called a “pseudo-secular”. Why? Because he did a programme on 1984 on its 25^th Anniversary and about Gujarat/Godhra on its 10^th Anniversary. This is where Rajdeep comes across and establishes himself as an outright LIAR. And I do call him a LIAR. For long the media had buried 1984. It is only when the media was churning out lies about Gujarat 2002 that people wondered why a similar campaign wasn’t there for 1984. What the liar Rajdeep forgets is that from the day Gujarat riots started he, in whichever channel he was, has carried out a relentless campaign almost every day against the perpetrators and particularly Narendra Modi.The anti-Gujarat shows weren't on anniversaries - those were every week, every month, every year and still continue. Such were the extent of lies that media even reported as if February 2002 had 30 days and not 28. The stories are all in the open now and probably there is as much guilt that Rajdeep feels as other media crooks for stories about Gujarat.

If Narendra Modi were a Muslim I seriously doubt any of these channels would have mentioned Gujarat beyond 2002 or 2003. If Narendra Modi were a Congressman then Gujarat2002 would have been buried by the media as they did 1984. If Narendra Modi were a Congressman he would have been awarded a Bharat Ratna, streets would be named after him, airports named after him, govt schemes would be named after him. And would you see the media protesting? Make a wild guess! This is the communal nature of Rajdeep, Sagarika and all other bimbos in our mainstream media. Hate Hindus, magnify any Hindu crime and suppress the crimes of their paymasters, particularly Congress. Of course, when challenged about being anti-Hindu Rajdeep will claim he is a proud Hindu! Why? Because he eats beef! That’s his measure.

Now, while there have been frequent accusations of CNN-IBN and IBN7 being anti-Hindu and communal here is proof if you ever needed it. The latest catch in the 26/11 is someone called Abu Jindal. Umm…  no one seems sure about his real name! He is also called Abu Jundal, Abu Hamza and new names might crop up soon. On every channel and newspaper there is only one picture of his – the one with the same expression and the same check-shirt. Wait, all except IBN7. An observant tweeter (@AwakeIndian) sent me this TV grab from the channel. 

Out of nowhere you have Abu Whatever seen wearing a Saffron Kurta. IBN7 dressed him up him in ‘Saffron’ and that colour is symbolic with Hindus. The mischief behind altering a commonly circulated image is not lost on people. Of course, the journalistic-bimbo would disagree and suggest that isn’t Saffron but ‘Orange’. AwakeIndian also points to the saffron shirt the anchor is wearing but I wouldn’t read much into that. What exactly is the motive behind photo-shopping the image of a suspected terrorist? 

This can be a good case for a criminal act under section 153A of the IPC – Creating communal disharmony, insulting the religious sentiments of a community and so on. The managing editor of IBN7, Ashutosh, is also often accused of his anti-Hindu stance. Such acts only confirm the agenda of the CNN-IBN group as a whole. So Rajdeep, Sagarika and Ashutosh and their team can flush their ‘secular’ credentials down the drain and stop any pretensions. Their tweets, their images, their misguided sense of ‘balance’ have been frequently exposed. In the case of SriSri, Sagarika claimed it was a “bug” and a genuine “mistake”. Nobody buys that anymore. As with that episode I have to repeat: It’s neither an error nor a mistake, it’s just wilful deception. The sly, subtle and deceptive anti-Hindu campaign will continue on their channels.

PS: Vote for India's best journalists - Poll on top right of page.  

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Backdoor Sharia

Come election season and the skillfully engineered controversies surface; particularly where it concerns the minority community. It has come to such a pass that people largely do not think of Parsis, Jews, Sikhs or even Christians as minorities. Minority is now consistently understood to mean ‘muslims’. All fake arguments by politicians and media in defining minorities any other way can now be safely flushed down the drain. It practically means muslims! Period! This syndrome is not unique to India but a universal phenomenon wherever the muslim population has steadily increased over the years. Naturally, after the initial announcement of 4.5% quota to muslims in Central jobs, Salman Khurshid was emboldened to announce a 9% quota if Congress was voted to power in UP. Although not stated, it would be naïve to believe Khurshid’s statement doesn’t have the support of his party. Suddenly, in this climate of muslim appeasement comes a fatwa from Deoband. The mullahs want Salman Rushdie banned from entering India to attend a literary festival at Jaipur. A well-timed, well-engineered shot if you like.

So no political party wants to comment on this outrageous fatwa but instead Salman Khurshid and the Rajasthan CM, Ashok Gehlot, advise Salman Rushdie to stay from the event. Gehlot, whose cabinet included murder accused, went on to even state that Rushdie’s visit could create a law and order situation. And the media? Oh well, instead of condemning the fatwa and the govt’s inaction goes into another orgy of debates. Yes, sick and mindless debates on an issue that they should have been strongly protesting. This is neither about Satanic Verses nor about hurting religious sentiments. First and last this is an issue of a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) who was born in Bombay and has the legal right to visit India. This is an individual’s right guaranteed by our laws which our govt is obliged to protect. The govt is failing in that obligation and the media is party to the crime.

Typically, A. Owaisi, the MP from AP had to be on the TV debates. He who recommends all Indians convert to Islam stated: “we are not against criticism but will not tolerate blasphemy”. It would need Einstein to discover how criticism of the Quran will not be treated as blasphemy by a mullah in any country. Such is the nonsense peddled in the media in the garb of debate. And cleverly the queen of Telly trolls Barkha Dutt states in a tweet: “If this nonsense controversy keeps @SalmanRushdie away from Jaipur we should all be ashamed as Indians. The culture of intolerance abhorrent”. Oh really sweetheart?  Instead of directing any protest or anger at the mullahs of Deoband or other intolerant cowards in the Congress she wants ‘Indians’ to be ashamed. Think about it every time these ‘sickulars’ find their friends committing horrors they want ‘Indians’ to be ashamed. That is pretty much like Rahul Gandhi’s silly statement: “I am ashamed to be an Indian” (At Bhatta Parsaul). Of course, any issue concerning freedom of speech for the telly trolls would not be complete without raking up M.F.Hussain. The painter’s works were neither banned, nor was he forced into exile as the media constantly propagates. He was a fugitive of his own choice.

Contrast this with the United Kingdom where Rushdie lived when the fatwa on his life was issued after Satanic Verses was released. His adopted country went all out to protect him and provided him complete security from would be killers willing to act on the fatwa on his life. That was in the late 80’s. Things have changed since then in the UK too. Since then the UK has also fallen into the trap of appeasement through failed multiculturalism. Since then there are now over 85 Sharia courts in the UK. Since then, over 50 churches have been converted to mosques in the UK by real-estate purchases. Living conditions and habits of the other residents were forced to be changed due to such pandering to muslims. There are muslim ghettos where other residents do not venture often. As for home-grown Islamic terror in UK, that is another topic altogether.

Three years ago the UK denied entry to Dutch MP Geert Wilders to screen his movie FITNA in the UK. Fitna is a short documentary on the Quran made by Wilders quoting verses he claims spread hatred and violence and for which the Quran should be banned in the Netherlands. He advocated that if Mein Kampf by Hitler is banned then the Quran should be banned as well. Now, Wilders wasn’t invited to UK for a private literary festival. He was invited by members of the House of Lords to screen his documentary in the upper house of the British parliament. Yet he was denied entry and later allowed only after a court allowed him to proceed. All signs of an increasingly Sharia-compliant democratic Britain. Imagine, this is the UK with a much more liberal freedom of speech and expression which has plumbed to such depths in appeasement of muslims. That’s a far cry from the days when Rushdie’s freedom was so strongly protected by the UK.  Geert Wilders was also prosecuted in his home-country of Netherlands for hate-speech and spreading hatred against muslims but later acquitted. Ring a bell? Well, closer home there is an attempt to prosecute Dr. Subramanian Swamy for a strong article against Islamic terrorism. Swamy’s courses that he taught at Harvard were also cancelled owing to petitions by vested interests. Oh, should I say Sharia-compliant lobbies? Once again, instead of strongly standing behind Swamy’s freedom of speech the Indian media was thoroughly delighted and announced “Harvard snubs Swamy”. It is increasingly clear that the Indian media doesn’t stand for freedom of speech or expression but for the ideologies they pursue. Does Indian news media really stand for freedom of speech? Bluntly, most of them qualify to be in the harem of some Arab prince with his Persian gloves on.

Okay! Suddenly we have Vinay Rai, a new crusader for protecting religious sentiments and other mental cavities. He is a journalist with some remote Urdu publication called ‘Akbari’and covers politics. He has filed a petition in a Delhi court against Google and Facebook. Let me quote him from WSJ: “The content I have submitted to the court deeply offends several religions including Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. It involves pages and groups where users have mocked Hindu gods and goddesses, Prophet Muhammad and Jesus Christ. Such content can create communal riots across the country. These are just a few examples…My intention is to ensure that the sentiments of any religion or community are not hurt”. Well, religions of the world must be so frail and fallible that it takes the Vinay Rais of the world to protect them and people’s sensitivities. In response to his petition the Delhi court even told the ISPs: “…if immediate steps were not taken, the websites would be blocked the way it happened in China”. We're used to a lot of Chinese goods, now our courts will deliver China-style bans too. Of course, our freedom loving UPA has approved the prosecution of Google and Facebook. And yes, it calls for another round of TV debates.

This time around you have Vinod Sharma of Hindustan Times referring to some video of Pakistan PM Gilani and Sherry Rehman on Youtube which according to him is tasteless and abusive. Well, maybe tasteless to him but it’s a silly incident, maybe unintentional, but the video has been viewed by over 2.5 million people. I guess all of those people must be idiots according to our media. People, out of curiosity, watch content and move on and not crib like politicians or journalists. And the panelists recommend a concept called “Self-censorship”. Laugh if you will, but that’s true. Why self-censorship for putting up stuff on the internet? People are smart enough to know what to access on the net and that freedom to choose is also self-regulation. I have serious doubts if Vinay Rai gives a damn about Hindu or Christian sentiments and the nature of his journal suggests he might have received mostly complaints from muslims, if any at all. And in cases like these there are usually far bigger powers that seek to score a larger political goal as censorship. Why wouldn't Sibal be willing? 

Slowly but surely the govt seems bent on making everything sharia compliant. The sheer size of abuse our media hurls on Hindus and Hinduism is testimony to the fact that Hindus don’t get offended too easily. The only ones that do are muslims and appeasing them by being sharia compliant is the best way for the Congress and much of our news media. Sharia is already practiced in Kashmir but there is backdoor sharia through the Congress and media in the rest of India as well.

Recall Teesta’s Padma Shri & Give Her The Padma-Sh!t Award!

It is not the first time that the Supreme Court of India has rapped the knuckles of Teesta Setalvad. This self-styled 'washing-machine of justice' for riot victims has been exposed over and over again. Some of the stinging comments of the SC in its latest rap concerning letters Setalvad has written to the Geneva-based Office of High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) include the following (From The Daily Pioneer):

Ø  “We can’t allow ourselves to be guided by any other agency. If day-to-day proceedings in this court are to be reported to that (international) organisation, it amounts to direct interference.”

Ø  “(for) All those cases monitored by us, we don’t want any communication in future with OHCHR.”

Ø  “This is not a plain and simple letter. It does say so many things about what is happening in courts which has no concern with the said organisation,”

Ø  “Will they be keeping track of investigation when we are monitoring,” and said, “We don’t appreciate such letters sent to foreign country.”

Ø  “It seems you (Teesta) have more confidence in them than us,” requiring to know “will they provide protection to witnesses, can they provide assistance to us.”

Ø  “Tomorrow even our proceedings will be sent to them.”  “Are they (OHCHR) their disciplinary authority”.

There is absolutely no more doubt that Teesta Setalvad has wantonly craved publicity and fame by exploiting the victims of riots. Sometime back the SIT investigating the Gujarat riots had also rapped her for fraudulent affidavits. Very recently one of her own former colleagues has turned into a witness against her. And for the second time in her life she had recently sought Anticipatory Bail!

Well, that is one individual called Teesta Setalvad clamouring for her 15 minutes of fame mocking every institution of this country and trying to internationalise national issues when those were being directly handled by the SC. But what about our media? The NDTVs and the CNN-IBNs continue to host this crook on various issues as if she is some Mother Theresa. Little does it occur to these media channels that frequently foisting this tainted person on the people of this nation is as good as justifying her acts and insulting the intelligence of viewers.

For all her misdeeds and untruths the UPA government rewarded her with a Padma Shri. Just like the Padma Shris were gifted to media crooks like Barkha and Rajdeep. It is time that the UPA seriously recognises their mistake and calls back the Padma Shri gifted to Teesta Setalvad.

Even otherwise, such national awards should be scrapped straightaway as political parties have not shown the maturity to analyse the worthiness of those who were given such awards. This does not make all the recipients unworthy. But a national honour has to be reserved for at least a life time of work which provides enough time to judge and analyse a person’s true contributions to the nation. While Barkha Dutt has been exposed as a lobbyist, Teesta Setalvad’s offences are even more serious. She has transacted with untruths, tried to defame the nation’s courts by internationalising issues being handled by them.

I now believe the CAG should be authorised to go into the funding of organisations like Citizens For Justice run by Teesta and many such organisations that receive funding from all over. Such NGOs should also be banned from collecting public funds.

A corrupt or convicted army-man is stripped of his medals and even uniform. A corrupt sportsman is stripped of his medals and titles. Why should it be any different for other civilians who have proven to be crooked and anti-national? I respect the Padma Shri award, but in case of Teesta Setalvad the Padma Shri should be called back. 

She deserves an award called PADMA SH!T !