11/26/07
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Y CIRCLE-ALERTFor The Gain of the Many and For the Welfare of the Many
UP Chief Minister Mayawati condemns serial blasts, announces compensation
Friday,23.11.2007 (GMT)
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Mayawati, today condemned the three bomb blasts in Lucknow, Varanasi and Faizabad that claimed the lives of at least 10 persons, including two lawyers and injured over 40.
Addressing a press conference here, Mayawati announced a compensation of Rs.two lakh to the next of kin to each of those killed and Rs.50,000 for those injured in the incidents.
She also said that bomb squads and forensic experts are being sent to the three sites to look for clues as to who could be behind the serial blasts, and added that her government would be coming out with a report on the same. She urged the Central Government to take cognisance of the blasts, and take suitable security measures at the earliest in consultation with the State Government.
She described the three blasts as dastardly acts perpetrated by those wishing to spread communal disharmony in the state.
The serial blasts took place at a gap of five minutes from each other between 1 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. Five people lost their lives in Faizabad and four in Varanasi. The source of the blast in Lucknow was a cycle, which was later carried away by a police official.
Preliminary investigations reveal that the target of the terror attack was the legal system. The blasts were at Lucknow civil court, Varanasi Collectorate and Faizabad civil court.
The blasts came a week after the Uttar Pradesh police along with central security agencies busted a Jaish-e-Mohammed module who wanted to target Rahul Gandhi. Lawyers had thrashed the three JeM militants when they were being produced before a court here.
Police believe the lawyers were tageted because they refused to appear in cases where suspected militants arrested.
Meanwhile intelligence agencies are actively working towards finding out details. The Union Home Ministry has issued advisories to all states and union territories to step up vigil and surveillance in the wake of the blasts.
HUJI terrorist Vali Ullah, who is currently lodged in the Ghaziabad Jail, is alleged to be the mastermind behind the Varanasi attack.The hand of notorious Jaish militant Masood Asghar is also being suspected.
The entire country has been put on high alert following the blasts, particularly Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore. The police meanwhile have cordoned the affected area and people’s entry has been banned.
Security has been tightened near court premises
Seriously injured persons to get Rs. 1 lakh each and the people having minor injuries Rs. 50,000
Lucknow : November 24, 2007 The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Km. Mayawati decided to visit the bomb explosion places at Faizabad, Varanasi and Lucknow yesterday evening after holding the press conference at her official residence with a view to prevent spreading the panic among people and maintaining the law and order situation in the State. She also met the injured people admitted in the hospitals and their family members besides, the bereaved family members of deceased in the incidents. Km. Mayawati also inspected the arrangement regarding the treatment of injured people and directed the administration for their proper care and treatment. Keeping in view the poor economic background of deceased, the Chief Minister increased the amount of financial assistance for the family members of the deceased to Rs 5 lakh each. She also directed for providing Rs. 1 lakh each to the seriously injured people and Rs. 50,000 each to the people having minor injuries. The Chief Minister after receiving the news of bomb explosions visited the Faizabad Court, where the bomb blast took place. She visited the district hospital and met the injured people and their family members. She said that maximum care would be provided to the injured people. After Faizabad, she went to Varanasi and visited the place of bomb blasts. She met the injured people admitted in the S.P. Gupta Hospital and distributed the cheques of financial assistance to the injured people. Consoling the family members, the Chief Minister said that proper care and medical treatment would be given to the injured people. The Chief Minister also visited the bomb explosion place of district court in Lucknow, after which she reviewed the law and order situation of the State in a high level meeting held at late night and this morning. She directed to officers for strict security arrangement of the courts of the State. She also directed the STF for stern speedy action, besides identifying the terrorists and their organizations. She said that there should not any laxity in the security of citizens and public places. On this occasion, the Cabinet Secretary Mr. Shashank Shekhar Singh, Principle Secretary Home Mr. J.N. Chamber, Principle Secretary to C.M. Mr. Sailesh Krishna, DGP Mr. Vikram Singh were present including other senior officers. It may be mentioned that the bomb explosions took place in the district courts where advocates used to sit. Some days ago the news had come in news channels and newspapers, that terrorists arrested in Lucknow had a scuffle with the advocates, when they were presented in the court. Earlier, the advocates refused to fight the cases of terrorists involved in the bomb explosions took place at Sankat Mochan Temple and cantt. station on March 7, 2006. When the main culprit behind the serial blasts was presented in the court on April 20, 2006 the advocates did not plead his case. Besides, in the terrorist incident in Ram Janma Bhumi Campus took place on July 05, 2005 the advocates refused for pleading the case of terrorists. As a result, the hearing of a case regarding the terrorists was transferred from Faizabad to Allahabad. The unreliable sources and the discussions prevailing among the people has revealed that the aim of bomb explosions were the advocates. The attitude of advocates regarding the Faizabad, Varanasi and Lucknow terrorist incidents earlier held has a linkage with the yesterday incident. Though it has not been confirmed officially, but keeping in view the sensitivity of the issue, the Chief Minister has directed for the strict security arrangements of the courts. According to the information received so far, four and nine persons died in Faizabad and Varanasi respectively. Twenty-four persons have become injured in Faizabad and Fifty-Six in Varanasi. The Chief Minister has appealed to the people and all political parties for keeping the atmosphere of peace, amity and brotherhood in the State and cooperate the government in foiling the conspiracies of terrorists. The State Government has also made aware to the Centre with the latest situation regarding the terrorist incidents. **********
Online edition of India’s National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 26, 2007
Mayawati seeks quota in private sector
Special Correspondent
| “Bringing all communities together is the only thing which will work” |
— Photo: Vivek Bendre
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati being greeted by supporters at a rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Sunday.
MUMBAI: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Sunday demanded concrete steps from the Centre to ensure reservation of jobs for Dalits in the private sector. The BSP was working very hard on a national basis to ensure reservation in the private sector but as yet the Centre has taken no concrete step, she said.
A mammoth crowd waited at Shivaji Park for several hours and gave Ms. Mayawati a standing ovation as she arrived. A sea of blue flags fluttered in the winter breeze and the BSP mascot, the elephant, was everywhere.
Addressing the people from a stage designed on the lines of the Sanchi Stupa, she said no party was willing to give Dalits reservation in the private sector and there is a mentality against reservation. She also expressed the fear that the policy would come to a gradual end.
Government organisations were being privatised in a big way and this also meant denial of jobs for Dalits. After she had come to power in Uttar Pradesh this time she had met the Prime Minister and also written to him on this issue. The Centre has to take a tough stand on this as the private sector was ‘dithering.’ In Uttar Pradesh, the government had already decided to reserve jobs in the private sector, she said.
The other issue she raised was reservation in jobs for the economically backward among the upper castes and religious minorities. “We want to give reservations separately for these sections,” she said. However, she promised that if her government was elected to power at the Centre, these quotas would be given automatically.
Speaking for over an hour, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister reiterated that the BSP design of “Sarva Samaj Bhaichara Banao” (Bringing all communities together) was the only thing which would work.
She said her Uttar Pradesh formula of aligning the upper castes with the Dalits, religious minorities and the other backward classes was the formula of the future.
U.P. serial blasts: 10 picked up
Azamgarh (U.P.): Police on Sunday night detained nine persons from a lodge here in connection with Friday’s serial blasts in Uttar Pradesh. One of them resembles the sketch of a suspect released by the police. A report from New Delhi said a close relative of a Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islamia militant was picked up for questioning. — PTI
BSP has a good future in State: Sindhia
M. Raghuram
BANGALORE: The former Minister P.G.R. Sindhia, who is set to join the Bahujan Samaj Party, has said that the party has a good future in the State.
Speaking to The Hindu, he said that those who had become disillusioned with the Congress and also want to keep a distance from the BJP were looking for an alternative.
Because of the recent political developments in the State, the Janata Dal (S) image had taken a beating. Leaders and workers in all these parties had become disillusioned, he said.
Mr. Sindhia said the oppressed classes were feeling left out in these parties as their political culture had allegedly blocked opportunities for them to grow and created difficulties in seeking solutions to problems.
He said the recent political crisis in the State had exposed the BJP, the Congress and the Janata Dal (S).
Mr. Sindhia said during his tour of north Karnataka last week he found that leaders in taluk panchayats, zilla panchayats and civic bodies of other parties had shown interest in joining the BSP.
He said he had toured Bagalkot, Belgaum, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Bidar and Gulbarga and would visit Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Kodagu and Hassan from Monday. Stating that the Assembly would not be revived, Mr. Sindhia said the BSP was ready to contest the elections. Mr. Sindhia called on Janata Dal (S) leader M. Rajashekara Murthy and requested him to join the BSP. He also had discussions with Shakuntala Hegde, wife of the former Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde.
On Sunday 25th Nov.large number of BSP workers under the leadership of Karnataka BSP President B.Gopal gathered at
P.G.R.Sindhia’s Office at Mysore Bnak Circle, Bangalore and resolved to mobilise 20 lakhs people on 23rd December for Up Chief Minister Mayawati’s mass rally at Palace ground.Caders and party workers from Congress and Janatha Dal (S) joined BSP.Eldest son of late Chief Minister JH Patil Pani Patil, M.L.A.Prakash of Bennipet Assembly, JD(S) Youth wing leader Manjunath and many leades from different castes and religions including Muslims gathered in large number in support of BSP and to make the 23rd December rally a grand success.
Mayawati urges people to vote BSP in states, centre
From correspondents in Maharashtra, India, 06:03 PM IST
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati Sunday exhorted people to bring the BSP to power at the centre and states to improve the lot of the poor, minorities and weaker sections of society.
Addressing a huge rally at the Shivaji Park here, Mayawati lashed out at all other parties including the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and their allies, saying these parties always came to power and ruled with the support of industrialists.
‘After coming to power, they just forget the poor, the backwards, minorities and the downtrodden of society who continue to suffer in misery,’ Mayawati said.
It has been the same story the past 60 years of Independence, rich became richer while poverty afflicting the silent masses was not eradicated, she said.
The time for change has come and people have the option of selecting the BSP in the states and the centre, said the chief minister, urging all backward sections to unite.
She appealed to the people to wholeheartedly support the BSP in its quest to provide social justice to all, irrespective of caste, community, religion or social hierarchy.
‘We shall not enrich the rich and affluent, but serve to bring a smile to the poorest of the poor in the remotest corners of India.’
Mayawati said the BSP was not against the upper castes since it would not be possible to achieve total social justice without the support and backing of the upper castes.
In Maharashtra, the Congress - part of the ruling alliance - was apprehensive of the challenges posed by the BSP in the past few years, she claimed. That was the reason why prior to the last assembly elections in 2004, the party replaced chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh with Sushilkumar Shinde, a Original Inhabitant of Jambudvipa That is thee Great Prabuddha Bharath leader.
She said that when BSP would come to power in the state, it would choose a suitable person as chief minister, irrespective of the caste factor.
Commenting on the spectre of unemployment in the country, Mayawati assured that if the BSP were voted to power at the centre, she would implement reservations in the private sector. ‘In Uttar Pradesh, we have not only filled up all the reserved posts lying vacant for years, but are also implementing reservations in the private sector,’ she said.
Mayawati eyes power at centre, states
Published on Sunday, November 25th, 2007at 4:36 am
Mumbai:Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati Sunday declared her party’s intention to capture power in the centre with the aim of improving the lot of the poor, minorities and weaker sections of society.
An estimated 300,000 people thronged at the Shivaji Park to hear Mayawati, who was addressing a rally for the first time outside Uttar Pradesh since her surprise victory in that state in May.
Amid periodic applause, Mayawati trained guns at all other major parties including the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and their allies, saying they always came to power with the support of industrialists.
“After coming to power, they simply forget the poor, the backward sections, minorities and the downtrodden of society who continue to suffer in their misery,” Mayawati said.
In the past 60 years, while the rich became richer, poverty and other social evils afflicting the silent masses have not yet been eradicated, she said.
The time for change has come and people have the option of voting the BSP to power in the states and at the centre, she said, urging all backward sections to unite - a hint at the divided Dalit factions in Maharashtra.
She appealed all to wholeheartedly support the BSP in its quest to provide social justice to the poor and the downtrodden, irrespective of caste, community, religion or social hierarchy.
“We shall not enrich the rich and affluent, but serve to bring a smile to the poorest of the poor in the remotest corners of India,” she said to loud cheers from the enthusiastic gathering which waited in the blazing sun for nearly four hours to hear her.
Mayawati also assured that BSP was not against the upper castes since it would not be possible to achieve total social justice without their support and backing. Hitting out at the Congress for labelling BSP as “anti-upper castes”, she asked why it supported the BSP in the past Uttar Pradesh elections if that was the case.
She claimed that the Congress was apprehensive of the challenges posed by the BSP even in Maharashtra - where it is leading the ruling coalition - during the past few years. According to her, that was why just before the last assembly elections in 2004, the Congress replaced Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh with Sushilkumar Shinde, a Dalit leader.
She assured that when BSP would come to power in Maharashtra, it would appoint a suitable person as chief minister, irrespective of whether the caste factor.
However, she carefully avoided making any reference to the prickly case of rape and massacre of Dalits in Khairlanji by an upper caste mob in September 2006.
Commenting on unemployment in the country, Mayawati assured that if BSP was voted to power at the centre, she would implement reservations in the private sector. “In Uttar Pradesh, we have not only filled up all reserved posts lying vacant for years, but are also implementing reservations in the private sector.”
The BSP state unit had made hectic preparations for the rally over the past few weeks. An estimated 2,000 trucks and tempos had ferried party activists from all over Maharashtra and some had even come down from the neighbouring states like Gujarat and Karnataka.
The BSP also issued full-page advertisements in newspapers here inviting people for the “historic” rally. All major roads, railways stations, prominent buildings sported the BSP’s election symbol - elephant and party flags.
State BSP leaders including president Vilas Garud were actively involved in making all-out efforts to ensure success of the Mayawati Grand Rally, as it was named.
The state police had made elaborate security arrangements in and around the venue where thousands of activists had started converging since Saturday.
Heavy security was also evident on the road leading from the Shivaji Park in central Mumbai to the Hotel Taj Mahal where she stayed overnight after arriving here Saturday afternoon.
–IANS
a bite full of kerala
Mankotia to contest Dharamsala assembly seat
30 Hours,41 minutes Ago
Shimla, Nov 25 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Chief Vijay Singh Mankotia will contest from Dharamsala seat in the forthcoming assembly elections in the state next month.
Mankotia, a two-time former tourism minister, was recently expelled from the Congress.
The BSP released its first list of 45 candidates late Saturday in Chandigarh.
Many were surprised as Mankotia was expected to contest from his home seat of Shahpur in Kangra district, about 300 km from here, but was instead chosen for Dharamsala.
A party spokesman said Sunday that the remaining list of BSP candidates will be released in the next couple of days.
The BSP is hoping to make a dent in Himachal Pradesh politics, which is dominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress.
Polling for 65 assembly seats will take place on Dec 19 and the counting of votes will begin on Dec 28.
13 killed as serial blasts rock Uttar Pradesh
Atiq Khan and Praveen Swami
| Bombs go off in Lucknow, Faizabad, Varanasi court complexes; terrorist reprisal against lawyers |
— Photos: AP, AFP
new Target: Policemen and shocked lawyers witness the blast site in the civil courts complex in Varanasi on Friday as terrorists bared their fangs in Uttar Pradesh. (Below) An injured man is taken to hospital.
LUCKNOW AND NEW DELHI: At least 13 persons, including four lawyers, were killed and 60 injured when six bombs went off in three court complexes in Uttar Pradesh on Friday.
Loaded on cycles parked outside the lawyers’ chambers in Lucknow, Faizabad and Varanasi, the bombs were synchronised to explode shortly after 1.15 p.m.
All the explosions occurred in the courts where suspects linked to recent Islamist terror strikes have been attacked or denied presentation by lawyers, suggesting that they were intended as an act of reprisal.
Pakistani nationals Mohammad Abid, Mohammad Yusuf and Mirza Rashid, who police say were members of a Jaish-e-Mohammad module assigned to assassinate Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, were beaten up by Lucknow lawyers when they were produced in the court on November 18.
Five other Jaish terrorists, alleged to have been involved in a 2005 attack on the Babri Masjid complex, were denied representation by Faizabad lawyers. Their counterparts in Varanasi refused to defend Mohammad Waliullah, a cleric charged with facilitating the 2006 bombings of the city railway station and the Sankat Mochan temple.
However, investigators said, the operation might also have been timed to capitalise on the protests against Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen, a trenchant opponent of Islamists in her country.
Police and National Bomb Data Centre experts said they expected to harvest valuable forensic data and fingerprints from two devices which failed to detonate. One bomb each was recovered from Faizabad and Lucknow, while three others were detonated in Varanasi and two in Faizabad. One bomb went off in Lucknow. Based on preliminary research, police sources said the bombs appeared to be made up of ammonium nitrate, widely used in fertilizers and industrial explosives. All eight devices were triggered by a detonator controlled by a quartz alarm clock. Similar bombs were used in the 2006 Varanasi serial bombings, which claimed 20 lives.
The police sources said a bag, in which the unexploded device was found in the Lucknow court complex, also contained an envelope addressed to Haji Nasir Ahmad in Riyadh. However, the investigators cautioned against drawing any immediate inference from the finding, noting that the bag and cycles could well have been stolen.
The investigators said they were using new computer software to analyse calls made between the three cities in recent weeks.
U.P. terror cells remain elusive
Praveen Swami
| Court complex attacks demonstrate resilience of State’s Islamist networks |
— PHOTO: PTI
Blasted: The body of a victim of Friday’s bomb blast at Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh. Simultaneous blasts occurred in Varanasi and Lucknow.
NEW DELHI: Friday’s court complex bombings in Uttar Pradesh have provided new evidence of the resilience of Islamist networks in the State.
Based on past experience, as well as the bomb-fabrication techniques used to carry out the strikes, the Uttar Pradesh police believe their investigation will more likely than not lead to Bangladesh-trained elements of the proscribed Students Islamic Movement of India.
Upheld
In July last year, the Supreme Court upheld the proscription of the SIMI, rejecting claims that it was not involved in terrorism. Despite years of legal and police efforts to contain the proscribed organisation, however, the networks it spawned have continued to provide fresh recruits and logistical support to Islamist terror groups operating against India.
Before it was banned in 2001, the SIMI had developed a close relationship with the Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh, as well as its students wing, the Islami Chhatra Shibir. Dozens of SIMI cadre later used those linkages to train with the Harkat ul-Jihad-e-Islami, a Bangladesh-based organisation set up by veterans of the anti-Soviet Union jihad in Afghanistan.
While the SIMI has never provided institutional support for violence, and denies that it has links with organisations like the HUJI, several of its HUJI-trained cadre are believed to have participated in recent terror strikes in Uttar Pradesh. “In effect,” says a Lucknow-based intelligence official, “the HUJI and the Lashkar-e-Taiba polish the grain that the SIMI provides.”
Mohammad Waliullah, a Phulpur-based cleric now awaiting trial for his role in the Varanasi twin bombings of March 7, 2006, had been an ansar, or full-time cadre, before the organisation was banned. He had earlier been arrested in 2001, along with three of his brothers, on charges of harbouring Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists who had intended to carry out strikes in Uttar Pradesh.
Among Waliullah’s closest associates was Mohammad Zubair, a Bhagpat cleric, who police say provided logistical support to the three still-unidentified Bangladesh nationals believed to have carried out Varanasi bombings. Again a one-time SIMI ansar, Zubair was shot dead near the Line of Control in the Handwara area of Jammu and Kashmir soon after the Varanasi attacks.
Jalaluddin Mollah, a West Bengal-based HUJI operative who played a key role in organising the bombing of the Shramjeevi Express near Jaunpur in 2005, also joined the terror group after working as a SIMI ansar. While still a SIMI member, Mollah received training at an Islami Chhatra Shibir-run training camp near Ukhia, Bangladesh.
Operating under the code-name ‘Babu-bhai’, Mollah is alleged to have made several deliveries of military-grade explosives to HUJI cells in northern India. According to the Uttar Pradesh police’s counter-terrorism Special Task Force, Mollah also used SIMI’s networks to recruit almost two dozen men for training at HUJI-run camps in Bangladesh.
The Uttar Pradesh police say these recruits were the product of underground drives conducted by senior SIMI leaders. Among them, the police believe, was Mohammad Aamir, who surrendered before a Kanpur court last April. Mohammad Salman, Mohammad Rehan and Shariq Fahim, all of whom are believed to have spent time with the HUJI in Bangladesh, also participated in SIMI recruitment.
The SIMI’s wide geographical reach and close-knit networks were instrumental in enabling Islamist terror groups to develop all-India capabilities. Mollah, for example, reported to Dhaka-based Munir-ul-Islam, a ranking HUJI commander who also controlled the Andhra Pradesh-centred networks run by one-time Hyderabad resident Mohammad Shahid.
Shahid, who operated under code-name ‘Bilal,’ disappeared from a Karachi safe house several weeks ago, sparking suspicion that he has been killed. The cell’s Pakistan-based second-in-command Mohammad Amjad is, however, thought to have carried out the recent serial bombings in Hyderabad and Ajmer. Both operations are thought to have involved logistical support from former SIMI members.
Maharashtra investigators found that suspects linked to a May, 2005 explosives haul in Aurangabad also had long-standing associations with the SIMI. Zabiuddin Ansari and Rahil Sheikh, both of whom are also wanted for their alleged role in the 2005 Mumbai serial bombings, were SIMI activists with links to Mohammad Azam Ghauri, a Hyderabad resident who helped found the Lashkar-e-Taiba in India.
The HUJI has often used these cross-state and transnational linkages to evade detection. Last year, following the arrest of Bangladeshi HUJI operatives Anishul Murshlin and Muhibbul Muttakin, the Delhi police learned that Shahid’s mentor, Asad Yazdani, had overall charge of the Shramjeevi Express bombing in Uttar Pradesh. Yazdani was later killed in a shootout with the Delhi police.
Common aims
SIMI cadre in India also helped establish cooperative relationships between the HUJI and the Lashkar, which share common aims but are divided on theological issues. Despite his Lashkar links, Sheikh despatched several recruits for training with the HUJI in Bangladesh. Conversely, the Lashkar is known to have used HUJI-linked SIMI cadre for operations in India.
Centre asks States to step up vigilance
Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI: A nationwide high alert has been sounded in the wake of the serial blasts in Uttar Pradesh on Friday, Home Minister Shivraj Patil told the Lok Sabha.
Mr. Patil made the statement after demands from Leader of the Opposition, L.K. Advani. He said there was no information about the involvement of any group in the blasts.
Later, Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta told reporters that all States had been advised to step up vigilance. Mr. Gupta, who spoke to Uttar Pradesh Director-General of Police, said preliminary reports suggested that ammonium nitrate was used in the blasts in Lucknow and Faizabad.
Forensic teams sent
“The DGP has visited Lucknow and Faizabad and indications point to the use of ammonium nitrate. He will visit Varanasi later and only then something could be said about it,” he said adding that the Ministry was sending forensic teams to the sites of blasts.
The blasts came a week after the State police claimed to have smashed a terrorist network with the arrest of three Jaish-e-Mohamad activists who were planning to target VVIPs.
Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal has gone to Varanasi to make an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.
Ansari’s call
Condemning the blasts, Vice-President Hamid Ansari said that such acts of terrorism should be thwarted through ournational resolve to maintain peace and harmony and counter all disruptive forces. He expressed sympathy for the families of those killed and injured in the explosions.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi expressed shock and grief over the loss of innocent lives. She said such dastardly acts were a sign of cowardice and aimed at creating panic among people.
CPI(M)’s concern
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) said it was a matter of “grave concern” that terror elements were targeting courts, knowing fully well that a large number of people would be present there.
“No effort should be spared to unearth the conspiracy behind the dastardly acts of terror and punish the culprits. Intelligence agencies should be strengthened to uncover such nefarious designs and take preventive action,” the party’s Polit Bureau said in a statement.
Blaming the Union government for the blasts, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the government’s soft policies had failed to check the spread of the menace of terrorism.
Party president Rajnath Singh, who is to visit the blast sites on Saturday, said: “The terrorists have become bolder. The situation is now a matter of deep concern.”
Senior party leader Sushma Swaraj told reporters that beginning with Mumbai train blasts, a number of serial blasts had taken place, which point to gross intelligence failure. “We want the government to place all facts before Parliament.”
Grave threat: CPI
CPI leader D. Raja said fundamentalism and terrorism of any shade posed a grave threat to the unity and harmony of the country.
“Such blasts are taking place in other cities like Hyderabad. It raises serious question about the coordination between the Centre and States in matters of intelligence gathering and coordination,” he said.
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Indian Truth Activists Respond to 11/23/07 Terror Attacks
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International
Trying to keep up with world events…tonight (Sat. 11/24) on Truth Jihad Radio, http://www.republicbroadcasting.org I’ll be speaking with Canadian economist Dr. Rodrigue Tremblay. Future international radio guests include Annie Machon this Monday, Yamin Zakaria on Friday, and Yvonne Ridley next week. (I’ll be having some yanks on too including John DeCamp, Daniel Ellsberg, Kevin Ryan, Barbara Honegger, and Debra Sweet. Complete schedule: http://www.mujca.com/airwaves.htm)
Here’s the latest from India:
Response to Indian terror attacks from truth activists on the front lines!
AWAAMI BHARAT
Exposing the Politics of Terror of the UP blasts -
Target Mayawati
and the Bahujan Samaj Party Mumbai Rally!
By Feroze H. Mithiborwala and co-signers
The horrendous and dastardly terror attacks that we have witnessed today on the 23rd of November 2007, in Lucknow, Varanasi and Faizabad have led to the death of 15 innocent people. The terror attacks on the ordinary people of India has grown into a deadly scourge.
If we are to begin a process of understanding “the politics of terror”, we will have to analyse the terror attacks in a political context and framework. The “political timing” of each of the terror attacks is the “key” to understanding the forces that are operating from both within the country and without, in terms of planning, executing and formenting a climate of fear and confusion.
In our estimation, the most important political event that was to occur in the next few days, was the mass rally of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Mumbai on the 25th of November, 2007. The rally that is estimated to attract more than Ten Lakh people, has already sent tremors across the political landscape in Maharashtra and across India. A successful rally of the Bahujans in the Financial nerve centre of India is definitely cause for concern for the Caste / Class establishment across parties and sections of the Corporate world. Considering the fractured nature of the Indian political situation, the inexorable march of the “Elephant” could and will soon lead all the way to the capture of Delhi itself and this is the context in which we could analyse the terror attacks if they are to make any rational or political sense.
Therefore in our analysis, the target of the terror attacks in UP is the historic BSP rally to be held in Mumbai. As always the terror attacks are dominating the Media Networks, relegating all other stories to the periphery. The terror attacks will thus help to shift the National attention away from the Mayawati rally and focus our attention on terror. The VHP has declared a bandh in UP which will definitely stir up the communal cauldron and cause tension across the state. The basic intention seems to be that Mayawati will have to stay put in UP, to deal with the growing crisis that could snowball into a major law and order situation. Also the blast was meant to deter Mayawati’s supporters from attending in the large numbers that are expected. But we believe that the rally will be extremely successful.
Even the Mumbai terror attacks at the Gateway of India and the Zaveri Bazaar blasts have an interesting link to the Mayawati government. It was in the backdrop of the deafening explosion and blindening dust and smoke of the two blasts that occurred on the 25th of August 2003, that the BJP brought down the Mayawati government. On that very day, the BJP had also recieved the ASI report that, interestingly at that time stated that there was a “Temple like structure” below the Babri Masjid . Armed with that report, the BJP pulled down the Mayawati government and on the very same day the Mumbai blasts took place.
Too much of a coincidence, we must say!
Do recall that Mayawati had imprisoned Raja Bhaiyya and the BJP was withering away under the pressures of its Upper Caste supporters and Mayawati ’s Bahujan assertion. Since the media airwaves were dominated by the “Islamic- Jehadi terror attacks in Mumbai”, the news of the fall of the Mayawati government was relegated to the back pages.
Purpose served!
We must say that practically nobody recalls that all of these incidents occurred on the very same day and are utterly surprised at the fact that the obvious connections are not being made and the right inferences not arrived at.
The issue of terrorism has arisen as the social and political challenge of our times, indeed globally, and we will have to face this daunting task head on. We have no other choice.
If we are to seriously analyse the context and simultaneously attempt to identify the forces behind the terror attacks, the following are some of the basic questions that we need to ask:
Which are the forces that stand to gain and similarly lose, from the repercussions of the terror attacks! Who are the people who are the victims of terror and who are those continue to escape unscathed!! To my knowledge it is only the ordinary people of this country who travel in buses and trains, who go to Mandirs’ and Masjids’ who are the victims. Terrorists who are out to assassinate political figures are invariably apprehended and shot down in (fake) “encounters”. Unfortunately “We the people” of India do not enjoy that sort of luck.
Why do such well trained terrorists, attack and succeed only at soft targets - which is us, the ordinary folk?
Why do the terrorists invariably travel with ID cards, detailed maps, cinema and train tickets and other incriminating evidence, do-it-yourself terror guides and make telephone calls to Karachi and Dacca?
Why is at that prior to the terror attacks, the police and our intelligence have no information or clue. But then within hours of the terror attack, have named the suspect organization and within a few days of the terror attack, have arrested the suspects from their very houses?
Why is that after every terror attack the script read and written in the media is the same, sounding more and more like a “C-grade” Hindi movie script , sickeningly repetitive, with the usual suspects and old worn out dialogues and now a sinister background music to build the climate of terror in our living rooms?
Why does the Press uncritically accept the police version, without conducting an independent investigation into the ongoing cycle of terror that shows no sign of abating?
Then the news will be carried on the front pages for at least a month with all sorts of sordid and contrived “facts”. But then with no “truth” forthcoming even after torture, the story is relegated to oblivion, until the next terror attack and then the whole vicious cycle starts again.
In the whole process of “Breaking News”, the media definitely succeeds - yes, but in “Breaking and Dividing Society”, whilst carrying on with its police fed campaign of disinformation.
Since from when have “We the People”, begun to believe the words of our corrupt and inept policemen and politicians?
This entire campaign of systematic disinformation creates a climate of fear and frustration across the country. All other issues and struggles are relegated to the background and that in any case is the basic idea! Earlier, communal riots played that role, but we saw through that design after four decades, 35,000 odd riots and thousands dead and lakhs of families destroyed. I wonder as to when we will understand the new sophisticated and advanced startegy of the post 9/11 National and Global sohisticated ruling elite?
Basically we need to understand that, terrorism is not being formented to instigate communal riots as is wrongly percieved, but that in fact, the strategy of terror has replaced the strategy of communal riots as an instrument of the ruling elite to weaken and divide the people. This is core issue if we are to grasp and grapple with the politics of terror.
In the process the Muslim community gets more and more demoralised and isolated and increasingly apprehensive about the consequences which it will have to bare, considering the climate of hatred being generated. The Muslim community has understood “the Politics of Terror” and a majority of them are aware that, the forces perpetrating the terror attacks are both RSS-Bajrang Dal activists, as has been proved by the Nanded blast incidents (April 8, 2006) and its links to the Malegaon Masjid terror attack. As well as by rogue elements from within the Indian state, allied to the US-Israeli axis, as was the case in the terror attack on the Sankat Mochan Mandir (March 7, 2007), that occurred in the aftermath of the massive anti-Bush upsurge (March 2, 2007).
The “March 2″ anti-Bush upsurge to our mind was the largest spontaneous mass uprising of the Indian people since the Quit India movement of 1942. Hindus and Muslims across the country came out on to the streets and maidans across the country to oppose George Bush (the terrorist and mass murderer of our age) and the Manmohan Singh led government of India. In response to this upsurge the Sankat Mochan Mandir was subjected to a terrorist attack so as to immediately create a communal divide amongst the rising tide of the Indian masses in opposition to US-Israeli Imperialsim and the Indian elite who have decided to become the lackeys of the Empire.
Muslims also are clear enough to understand the complexties of the situation and they do not rule out the involvement of extremist Muslim elements either and are also honest enough to admit that certain rogue elements from with the SIMI have been known to engage in such anti-National activities as well as from extremist groups linked to the Pakistani ISI, which is again trained and funded in a large way by the diabolic American CIA.
The Muslim community has roundly condemned all the terror attacks and the media itself has acknowledged and extensively reported the role of the Muslim community and youth, in donating blood in long winding queues outside the hospitals of Mumbai and in terms of getting the victims of the Mumbai serial train blasts (July 11, 2006) to hospitals.
Again on the 11th of July 2006 we have an interesting coincidence. That is on the very day that Israel attacked Lebanon ! Whilst Israel was carpet bombing a defenceless Lebanese population, the International media was focussed and transfixed on the “Islamic terror” in Mumbai. For the next seven days that was the lead story all across the International news channels, especially in America & Europe and seven days was all the time that Israel and USA thought that was required to vanquish and subdue the Lebanese people. But as always they were wrong and the Israelis lost the war to the Lebanese resistance lead by the Hezbollah. In this International strategic game, it was the ordinary Mumbaikar travelling in the overpacked local trains that was chosen as the sacrificial lamb so that Israel could attack Lebanon whilst the attention of the world was on Mumbai! Thus our contention is that the Mumbai train serial blasts were executed by the allies of Zionist Israel in our country.
From all angles the Muslim community is the biggest loser in this entire tragic episode. Now, not only is the community the biggest target and victim of terror, but it is also blamed, tortured and universally distrusted and victimised for the same. They do not see any light at the end of the tunnel but it is their faith in their Indian compatriots as well as their faith in God that helps them to carry on.
The Hindu community tends to see and understand the politics of terror in a different light. They are convinced that all the terror is being formented by “Jehadi” groups from across the border and are increasingly worried about the supposed widespread collusion of Indian Muslims in the worldwide extremist networks as in the vision of George Bush. Though the terror attacks on the Malegaon and Hyderabad Masjids and the Ajmer Dargah have helped them to empathise with Muslims as victims of terror as well. An understanding of the role of the RSS-Bajrang Dal terror units uncovered in Nanded is still beyond their comprehension . Nor do they understand the role of USA and Israel in planning, financing and executing terror attacks globally as their instrument of foreign policy and military intervention. I for one do not blame our Indian brethren, because it is finally the media that had to play an honest and informative role in opposition to the propaganda and deception being disseminated by the powers that be. But one cannot hope for “truth” from the ” corporate media” that itself has replaced the “mainstream secular media”.
The point that must be central to the understanding of the Global phenomenon of terrorism is that we live in the dark age of the American-Israeli Empire! The Age of the US-Zionist Empire is also the age of terror on a scale unprecedented in human history .It is these very forces that are at the root of planning, financing and unleashing the forces of global terrorism through their clandestine networks across the world. Even the 9/11-WTC tewrror attacks were perpetrated by the US & Israeli’s themselves.
But the truth will one day emerge. We only wonder when. We also wonder as to how many more innocent lives will be lost before we understand and expose the politics of terror.
Even an honest analysis to these simple questions above will provide a lot of answers. That in turn will help us determine as to which are the forces that are formenting terror in our country.
The only way of defeating the politics of terror is by exposing it and by taking the truth to the people.
We have no other shield, but the truth!
The day that “They Know” that “WE THE PEOPLE KNOW” – and that “They” cannot fool “The People” anymore, that day my dear countrymen, terror attacks will come to a halt!
Feroze H. Mithiborwala, Kishore Jagtap, Varsha V V, Amol S B, Sayeed Khan, Bajrang Sonawane, Jagish Nagarkar, Reshma Jagtap, Chetna Birje, Arif kapadia, Bhagwan, Asif Khan, Syed Iftikhar Ahmed, Ghazala Azad, Munawwar Khan, Afaq Azad, Aslam and Shivaji.
24/11/2007
Premier Uttar Pradesh News Web Channel!
Manmohan, Patil, Sonia condemn UP serial blasts
New Delhi/Lucknow, Nov 23 (ANI): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today condemned the serial blasts in Lucknow, Varanasi and Faizabad that claimed the lives of at least 13 persons, including two lawyers and injured over 50.
Condoling the loss of lives in the blasts and expressing concern for the injured, Singh announced an ex- gratia relief of one lakh rupees for the next of the kin of the dead and Rs.50,000 for the seriously injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil also “strongly condemned” the incident.
“I strongly condemn the blasts which have taken place in three different cities of Uttar Pradesh today. I convey my sympathies to the bereaved families and pray for speedy recovery of the injured,” Patil said in a statement.
He added: “This is yet another attempt by anti-national elements to spread panic. I am confident that peace-loving people of the country will give a fitting reply to such elements.”
Patil went on to say that the Government would continue to fight terrorism in a “resolute manner,” adding that the Centre was in touch with the State Government to see if any assistance was required by them.
The Home Ministry has issued advisory to all States and Union Territories to step up vigilance and surveillance in view of today’s blasts. The ministry is sending forensic teams to the blast sites.
Congress party president Sonia Gandhi also expressed shock and grief over the serial blasts and the resultant deaths. She condemned that blasts, saying it was an act of cowardice intended to create panic.
Conveying her heartfelt condolence to the bereaved families, she urged the State Government to take firm action against the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, L K Advani termed the incident as a clear case of intelligence failure.
“…But where it is serial blasts, prima facie (suggests) it is a case of intelligence failure because they (terrorists) have to prepare over a period of time,” said Advani.
Earlier today, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Mayawati announced a compensation of Rs.two lakh to the next of kin to each of those killed and Rs.50,000 for those injured in the incidents.
She said that there were at least six blasts: three at Varanasi, two at Faizabad and one at Lucknow.
She also said that senior police and intelligence officials, bomb squads and forensic experts were being sent to the three sites to look for clues as to who could be behind the serial blasts, and added that her government would be coming out with a report on the same.
Mayawati blamed the Central intelligence agencies for failing to provide any inputs about the blasts, and said that state agencies were not even asked to stay ‘alert’.
She described the three blasts as dastardly acts perpetrated by those wishing to spread communal disharmony in the state.
The serial blasts took place at a gap of five minutes from each other between 1 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. Five people lost their lives in Faizabad and four in Varanasi. The source of the blast in Lucknow was a cycle, which was later carried away by a police official.
Preliminary investigations reveal that the target of the terror attack was the legal system. The blasts were at Lucknow civil court, Varanasi Collectorate and Faizabad civil court.
The blasts came a week after the Uttar Pradesh police along with central security agencies busted a Jaish-e-Mohammed module, who wanted to target Rahul Gandhi. Lawyers had thrashed the three JeM militants when they were being produced before a court here. Police believe the lawyers were targeted because they refused to appear in cases where suspected militants arrested.
The entire country has been put on high alert following the blasts, particularly Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore. The police meanwhile have cordoned the affected area and people’s entry has been banned. (ANI)
–MP
Bombay/Mumbai News, Events, Business
By | November 24, 2007
Even before she set foot in Mumbai, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and president of the Bahujan Samaj Party, Mayawati has created a stir.
BSP Himachal announces first list; Mankotia to contest from Dharamshala
By: Hema D
Shimla: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Convenor, Major Vijai Singh Mankotia would be contesting the second phase of Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections from Dharamshala. Mankotia has been elected for the Himachal state assembly five times from Shahpur seat which would now be contested by Onkar Singh Rana.
Unlike the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has abstained from announcing the elections tickets of its big leaders in the first list, the BSP has declared names for crucial seats in the first list of 45 candidates. The final list of 20 candidates that is still under cover, might spring surprises for the other two political parties - the Congress and the BJP. The list was today declared by the BSP national general secretary Man Singh Manhera, in presence of Vijai Singh Mankotia in Chandigarh. Manhera said that the final decision on the list was taken by BSP Supremo and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (UP), Mayawati. The BSP expects sure shot victory for Mankotia from Dharamshala, said Manhera.
The list includes Vijay Singh Mankotia (Dharamsala), Vijay Kumar Joshi (Santoshgarh), Kewal Singh Pathania (Nurpur), Hari Dutt Sharma (Chintpurni), Dr Randhir Ranta (Rohru), Mahant Ram Chaudhary (Balh), S P Gautam (Sundernagar), Dr M L Mastana (Mewa), Chameli Devi (Thural), Manjinder Singh Beeka (Paonta Sahib), Darshan Singh Saini (Doon), Vinod Thakur (Nalagarh), Suresh Sharma (Baijnath), Sanjay Chaudhary (Kangra), Vinod Kumar (Palampur), Ved Parkash Thakur (Shimla), Bhim Singh Kesari (Karsog), Nanak Chand Bhardwaj (Dharampur), Jagdish Reddy (Chachiyot), Uttam Singh Chouhan (Drang), Rakesh Bhardwaj (Jogindernagar), Onkar Singh Rana (Shahpur), Bhikham Singh Padgotra (Guler), Subedar Hans Raj (Gangath), Vicky Mankotia (Jawali), Ramesh Khola (Jawalamukhi), Colonel (Retd) Dev Raj (Gagret) and Hari Om Sharma (Jaswan). Yashpal Singh Thakur (Nadaunta), Surinder Kumar Sharma (Bumsan), Dr Loki Nand Sharma (Banikhet), Kamla (Theog), Parkash Chand Bhatia (Pachhad), Prithvi Singh (Renuka), C D Singh Guleria (Sulah), Dr Som Dutt Bharwal (Una), Dr Sukh Ram Chauhan (Kotkahlur), Rajinder Mohan (Mandi), Kant Sharma (Bilaspur Sadar), Capt (Retd) Brij Lal Chauhan (Ghumarwin), Sukhdev (Geharwain), Harish Chand Dogra (Chaupal), B N Mehta (Kumarsein), Uttam Chand Kashyap (Kasumpati), Rajwant Manta (Jubbal-Kotkhai).
Mayawati on Mumbai tour despite blasts
Saturday, 24.11.2007, 04:00am (GMT)
Mumbai, Nov 23 Unperturbed by Friday’s serial bomb blasts in different parts of the state, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati arrives in Mumbai Saturday afternoon on a two-day visit, Bahujan Samaj Party state chief Vilas Garud said here Friday.
The highlight of her trip is a massive rally at Shivaji Park Sunday where she will announce her party’s strategy for Maharashtra, Garud told..
Nearly half a million people are expected to turn up for the rally from all over the state, Garud claimed.
Mayawati will stay at Taj Mahal Hotel, south Mumbai, where she will ‘induct’ several leaders from different political parties who will join BSP Saturday.
Among them are a former state minister, some former and sitting legislators from both the ruling coalition and the opposition parties, and many political activists and workers, Garud said.
On Sunday, Mayawati will hold discussions with her state party leaders on the BSP’s short-term and long-term agenda in the State.
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