Irresponsible Thangabalu

Nearly 49 dead and many injured from the Two city blasts one in Bangalore and the other in Ahmedabad. Both are ruled by BJP and both are industrially advanced states. So is it an attack because they are BJP states or is it because they are economically very significant states of India. The previous blast was at Jaipur and there are so many similarities between these blasts. So is the terrorists targeting only BJP states?

The timing is very questionable. Why did the terrorists wait till the Loksabha trust vote to finish as if they were in a ceasefire mode and then start bombing once the cash for vote scam was taking center stage. The nuclear deal trust vote was used successfully so far to eclipse the Inflation woes and now this terror is being used.

The attack is more to defuse the anti terrorism plank of the BJP and to demoralize the BJP camp and its cadres. So is there a political angle to these blasts?

The response of the Congress Leaders seem to suggest that they had their responses ready?!.

After the Coimbatore blasts in 1998, the then Tamilnadu Congress president KV Thangabalu said It was BJP which had planted the bombs because as per him if it was anyone else they would have killed Advani. Later it was proved in courts that it was a handiwork of Al umma. Now again he is the Tamilnadu congress president and again he is out with his wordy gems. He says BJP is responsible for the blasts. He asks Why were the states ruled by “communal BJP” were turning into places of conflict and who were responsible for the blast.He charged that terrorism seemed to gain an upper hand only in BJP ruled states. “There is no peace in those states and people are feeling insecure,” the TNCC chief said. He alleged that the BJP government had not supported the UPA government’s initiative in tackling terror groups.

Narendra Modi’s Government has dealt with iron hand on Terrorism so far and there has been no grave incidents so far of this magnitude. So again just a few months before the election, if this occurred is it a political bomb?

Another great man who thinks he has some words of wisdom to share is Mr. Rajiv Shukla. “Modi used to say that everything is fine in his state and he had the highest security in place to fight terrorism. In spite of his tall claims, serial blasts rocked Ahmedabad, which was on high alert at that time. It is high time that Modi take moral responsibility for the security lapse,” AICC general secretary and Gujarat in charge Rajiv Shukla, said.

So again this is an attempt by whomsoever to prove Modi wrong and just because it serves them right can they afford to be part of the conspiracy. America was always proud of its anti terror control To show them small, Osama bombed their Symbols of pride. America did not diminish nor did any party there score points like this. They all were united in the moment of grieve and soon started their offensive. Today Osama is hiding and probably living like a mouse and our response should be similar. Statements like that of Thangabalu or Rajiv may encourage some ugly leader of their party or any other to aid such attacks for political gains. This route for political gain should be cut short immediately.

The Bangalore blasts has the signature of the naxals, less people damage more panic. And no group is yet to claim responsibility. Is it an attempt to malign the BJp governments?

So if the terrorists claim that we should not vote for BJP else they will bomb should we listen to them? is it what Thangabalu is suggesting?

The 9/11 and the UK blasts , do they make their Governments any less vigilant or soft on Terror?

The soft nature of the center in dealing with Terrorists and their sleeping modules is definitely a reason for these continuity of shame. And the proposal for Pota by BJP also seems to be in fault as it is perceived as anti Muslim. The Congres was quick to suggest CISF security for Bangalore IT firms and also a Federal Agency to deal with Terror. It prompts some one to ask whether these bombs were planted to preempt more central powers and role in state security? Or is it that we require some Terrorists and their acts to formulate Indian Government actions? Why should we always react and not act in advance?

A federal agency with the powers of POTA could be a solution. POTA in hand of State administration may be seen as communal but a central agency with full freedom and with massive powers can curb this terror to some extent.

The Civic sense of the people should also improve. There is so much muck in our environment that it is so easy to hide bombs and inch by inch security is not feasible. People should be more vigilant and there should be constant reminders to them lest they forget. Bicycles should be sold like Sim cards and even all old bicycles should be licensed.

To politicize such a dastardly attack on our country is very ugly and raises questions whether any party was a party in these attacks. To score a point now is akin to join the ranks of the terrorists and induce them to repeat their performance.

All the parties should come together and issue joint statement in condemning these attacks and also to make a resolve that they will not politicize this or any future such incidents and that only will be the most befitting reply to the terrorists.

We cannot allow these terrorists to influence our vote nor can they be allowed to rule by proxy.

Thangabalu has done injustice by siding with the designs of the terrorists. Tomorrow if a blast occurs in Congress State perhaps he will ask us to vote for the Third alternative. Or does he know it will not happen and perhaps he knows where next?

Kalaignar specials

Kuselan cassette release function will be the highlight of Sunday afternoon in Kalaignar Tv. at 12.00 on July 27Th, watch it to see the record of the function.

Actress sanghavi is coming to television by acting as a heroine in the forthcoming serial directed by the well known CJ Baskar. The serial Gokulathil Seethai will be in Kalaignar TV soon.

Lalgudi MSV, Ramamurthy and kadam vinayakam will receive life time awards. Shobana will perform. Kamalahassan’s Daughter Shurti gives a live song performance. Many well renowned artistes like ARRahman, Kushboo, Shanker, sripriya, simran, nayanthara, prabhu deva, shivakumar, harris Jayraj, Gauthami, Pa. Vijay, chitra, Sujatha and many more grace the occasion. All this will be in Kaliagnar Isai Aruvi today at 8.00 pm. The Isai aruvi awards was telecast yesterday at 8.00 and continuation today at 8.00 PM.

Will it be Gokulnath and Kavi or is it Aarthi and Ganesh. One of the pairs is on the way out this week[?]. Both the pairs are very popular but the in evitable may happen this sunday in Maanada Myulada.

DEEPANGAL, a new mega serial will be telecast from July 28th at 11.00 AM to 11.30 AM week days. The serial is produced by famous Director Thalapathy and M.R.Sivakumar, and Directed by Edward Raj. The acters are Srikanth, Rajkanth, Bhavna, Vanaja, Nalini, Arunadevi and others.

RCV gets a notice

Justice A. Kulasekaran of the Madras high court on Thursday ordered notice, returnable by two weeks, to the Tamil Nadu government, Royal Cable Vision (RCV) and 12 others, on a petition filed by Sun TV network Limited.

The notice directs the officials to receive its complaints against RCV and others with regard to illegal tapping of signals, register the same and take action in accordance with law.

Sun TV claimed that it was put to heavy loss due to illegal tapping of signals by the RCV, owned by chief minister’s son M. K. Azhagiri and his agents. It filed many complaints but the police either refused to receive them or take action.

This Monday, Sun TV moved high court, and a writ petition, filed by L Jyotheeswaran, authorised signatory of Sun group, contended that RCV and a group of 11 local cable television networks had been illegally tapping the signals of Sun TV and distributing them to viewers.- Televisionpoint

MGR shot, but still ‘alive’

MGR is the tallest political icon of Tamilnadu. Even after so many years he is a vote gathering weopen used by almost all parties.

January 12, 1967 is never forgettable day in Tamil Nadu, when, after a brief altercation, MRR shot MGR, and also turned his gun on himself. Both were admitted in Royapettah Hospital, and both recovered soon. The case came up in the Madras High Court, where despite MRR’s advocate Vaanamaamalai’s efforts, the verdict (pronounced on November 4, 1967) was 7 years rigorous imprisonment. MRR’s appeal to the Supreme Court got him a reduced term of 5 years. The bullet was permanently lodged in MGR’sneck and his voice damaged.

Why did M R Radha shot at MGR? Still this question is being asked, even though almost half a century is passing after the event too place!

It has been a mystery all these years, no one ready to disclose or even speak out.

Makkal TV has taken up the job and is making it as a serial. The serial will be telecast in Makkal TV from Monday to Friday every night at 8.30pm from July 28th. Makkal TV has already won acclaim by telecasting real stories on Auto Shankar and ‘Sandanakaadu’ on Veerappan. As everybody still remebers the event, the serial on M R Radha shot MGR, is titled as ‘Marakka Mudiyuma?’

The soap opera Sandhanakaadu’s success-ceremony was organized a few days ago. Makkal TV will air this show on their channel at 9 pm on Saturday and Sunday (26th and 27th July). The PMK leader Dr. Ramadoss, director Mahendran, Seeman, Thiruchelvam, Samuthirakkani, producer Thanu and Sandhanakkadu director V.Gouthaman’s speech during the ceremony will be the highlight of the show.

Can there be one more Prabhu Deva?

Yes says prabhu deva himself. August 14Th onwards every Thursday and Friday 9 to 10 pm , Vijay TV will telecast Amul Ungalil Yaar Adutha Prabhu Dheva- a dance reality show to be judged by Prabhu Deva himself.

“We do not want to curb people’s enthusiasm so everyone who thinks he can dance is welcome. The rewards are attractive — a prize money of Rs ten lakhs and an international tour is hard to resist. Above all, one can realise their dancing talents,” says Prabhu Deva.

K Sriram, head, Vijay TV, had said, “There have been dance competitions on Tamil television before, but Ungalil Yaar Adutha Prabhu Deva is a notch above the rest as its endorsed by the greatest dancer of our times, Prabhu Deva. This show would for sure redefine prime time viewership in the state, and we hope it to be a great success like our earlier reality shows.”

The show would provide a platform for people in the 16-35 age group to showcase their dancing prowess, which will be judged by Prabhu Deva himself. The ace dancer and choreographer is considered as India’s answer to Michael Jackson and has choreographed over 100 movies in many Indian languages, including Bollywood.

Tears win God

Thiruvilaiyadal the mega project by Radaan is coming to an abrupt end. Being cut short for failing in the TRP race, Radaan will replace it with a new mega serial based on a Malaysian award winning novel – Senthurapova.

When DD telecast Ramayan almost whole of India was hooked to it. Of course then there was no rival channels and it was a period of Rama upsurge. Now even though Ramayan is the only show in the Top 100 of NDTV imagine and though there are claims it is doing well in dubbed versions also, the response is miniscul compatred to the yester year Ramayan. Many prefer game shows and tear jerker serials and the list of faithfuls watching epics are a few. Sun Tv Ramayanam has never found a place in the top hundred. Even now it is kolangal and Arasi and Anandham which rule the roost. the modern Mahabharata experiment by 9x is also failing. Though it is the only serial of 9x among the top 100 by tvr ratings it is still in the bottom of the 100.

The gods are clearly losing to the tears and games.

Senthoora Poove, a daily soap that revolves around the trials and tribulations of four sisters from a middle class family,is based on the award-winning novel Malligaikal Niram Maaruvthilai. it will be in Sun TV from July 28Th every weekday at 8.00 PM.

Why Bangalore and why now.

Why did the terror strike Bangalore and why now.

The bombs were almost like crackers with less damage and more panic. Ten bombs were placed, nine detected and eight went off, two dead and scores injured more by the nails and bits of flying debris than the bomb itself. For maximum impact most bombs placed in scrap yards. Cell phone networks failed for a while and traffic jams increased in Bangalore for a while. Security has been strengthened in all sensitive and crowded places in and around Bangalore. The police are yet to get any vital clues and no organisation ahas claimed responsibility. Soon after the serial explosions, the police ordered closure of all schools, colleges, cinema halls and commercial complexes.

Known as the world’s “back office,” Bangalore accounts for a third of India’s $41 billion software exports.About 1,500 technology and business process outsourcing companies employ nearly 400,000 people.The city is also home to about 1,000 garment units which employ over 300,000 people, earning export revenues of more than $1 billion annually.

It seems it was a hand work of an organisation which either does not have access to sophisticated bombs or intentionally left just gelatin sticks to pass a message or perhaps this is a trial for something big. The effects of the bomb was a slide in Sensex, very marginal drop in Rupee and panic among IT professionals. So was the aim about this?

Some say it is a retaliation by terrorists and the suspect groups are SIMI, LET and HUJI.The chief minister says it is an attempt to malign the government and the center says Karnataka was forewarned. So it could be a political exercise also eyeing elections. It cannot be an act against Trust vote because in that case why Bangalore? It could be because of BJP in power but then why now and not two weeks ago? it could be to crash markets but then already they are at bottom and quick recovery is obvious.Also it then could not happen on a Friday for two days leave should help matters ease. It could be to terrorize the IT capital and thus terrorize MNC’s and thus create panic world over. Feasible.

“The blasts may be the strategy of unscrupulous forces to undermine the primacy of Bangalore as a global knowledge centre,” said Amit Mitra, secretary general of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

“In the short term, the Bangalore blasts will have a bearing on software stocks. But in the long run, events like these are unlikely to impact IT shares,” added Ashok Jainani, the head of research at another brokerage Khandwal Securities.

Vinnie Mehta, executive director of Manufacturers’ Association of Information Technology (MAIT), a leading lobby for IT industry, subscribed to this view.

“It is very unfortunate, no doubt. But our IT industry is quite resilient and its spirit cannot be dampened.”

All parties should stop the blame game and jointly try and solve this repeated attacks. People should be more vigilant and police should use all their means and intelligence to forecast and curb these attacks. Well above all we should learn from each episode and build new defensive mechanisms. We can and we should.

August 15th is not far away. We all have a duty to be vigilant and help the police as and when we could.

Vicious Deserters

MDMK was a party formed in 1994 by Vaiko after he was unceremoniously sent out of DMK because he was seen as a threat to the upcoming sons of the party. He then has toured most of the state by walk, attended enumerable meetings to raise his party. He is one of the popular political stalwarts of Tamilnadu who even has a soft corner in Manmohan singh’s heart. He is sincere in his views and like Manmohan Singh a man of conviction.

In 2006 two MP’s of MDMK- L Ganesan and Gingee ramachandran[former minister of state in center] deserted their leader on the pretext that they did not like Vaiko aligning with AIADMK. They were encouraged by DMK to create confusion in MDMK and in fact they even tried to capture MDMK head office in Chennai with Government help. In December 2006, Vaiko relieved them of all posts they held in the party for anti party activities.

Both of them attended most of the meetings of DMK and were sponsored by DMK for all their activities. This being the case, The Election Commission has declared that Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) headed by Vaiko as the “real one”, rejecting the claim by the party splinter group-led by L Ganesan and Gingee Ramachandran.

Disposing off a petition by the splinter group staking claim to the party’s name and flag, the commission, in its May 30 order, said Ganesan’s group did not enjoy the support of the majority of the general council and among the party MPs and MLAs.

While two MPs and seven MLAs supported Vaiko, only two MPs were with Ganesan, the commission said.

Now in the trust vote being the real MDMK, Vaiko declared a whip and the dissident MP’s defied whip. But now they again claim that they are the real MDMK and Vaiko had no authority to issue whip. So is Ec order not recognised by Lok sabha is the moot question. Clearly these two are acting so only by the active and sadistic inducement of DMK and this is a shame for our democracy. It is true Ganesan has support in Trichi and may even win with DMK support if he gets a seat but that does not mean he can claim rights of the party Vaiko has so earnestly nurtured.

Of all the deserters these two are the most vicious.

Rajdeep Sardesai loses moral stature

He is a renowned Journalist popular because of his unbiased fearless reporting. But his role in the recent cash for vote Tape scandal has definitely got him enough disrepute. His bias or stooping to pressure for some consideration is also suspected.

In his own words written in 2001 by him he probably justifies his present position.

“Another reason for the problem is the changing self-image of the journalist, and his role in a democratic system. For a long time the journalist’s role was seen to be that of an independent observer of events. But observation alone can be rather tedious, and not very financially productive either. So, over the years, the journalist has chosen to move from the margins of the fourth estate to being firmly on the centrestage, closer to the first estate. Ideological corruption is as much a part in this process as anything else. A journalist can get close to a political party, business house or an individual in a manner that compromises his independence. Having acquired that proximity, the journalist can then use his clout on a larger scale, playing kingmaker in cementing political alliances at the centre, or in providing the link between a minister in the Union cabinet and a business house in need of a favour” [in seminar on 26 June 2001]

The media website Hoot speculates that the channel did not air the story either because its contents did not pass muster with editor-in-chief Rajdeep Sardesai or because Anil Ambani, a shareholder in Network 18 which owns the channel, leaned on bossman Raghav Bahl not to air the footage meant to discredit Amar Singh, a politician close to Ambani.

The following questions are raised in the article- To sting or not to sting in “Hoot”
1.Is it the job of a TV channel to provide proof to any Constitutional authority, in this case the Speaker, before it could telecast the news to its viewers?
Does this not give handle to critics to allege that the channel was silenced? In fact, in a panel discussion in another channel, this was hinted.

2.It is possible that the channel might have felt that it was taken for a ride by unscrupulous politicians and thus the whole episode was quite fishy. So, it was not fair to telecast the tape since the channel itself was not convinced about the authenticity of the whole operation. In such a case there was no need for the channel to hand over the tape to the Speaker.

3.The editor-in-chief of the channel gave quite a righteous bite that the channel did not want to be part of the bitter political battle. For the last one week, politicians and the media have been making allegations that lot of money is changing hands. Politicians especially from the UPA, named parties from where there will be abstentions or cross voting to bail out the UPA. In many discussion forums on the channels, the media was taunted for not doing anything to investigate these charges and the anchors were only asking “Where are such huge amounts coming from?” When CNN-IBN did a sting to expose such dirty operations, why did they feel shy of telecasting the news, especially in the context of the channels outsourcing such sting operations in the past for an astronomical fee?

4.A statement from the channel says “While trying to investigate deeper into this trail, we realized that the issue needed further probing and we could not at this stage telecast it without further verification”. If the job was only half done, why did the channel decide to hand over the incomplete tape to the Speaker? What purpose does it serve?

5.The statement further says: “We are also aware that as the matter involves honourable members of Parliament and involves a question of parliamentary privileges, the media needs to be extra cautious before airing or telecasting any such news”. This is quite funny. The “cash for query” sting and scam involving MPs Constituency Development Fund, related to “honorable members of Parliament” and the channels that telecast these sting operations received applause from all quarters. No channel was punished for breach of privilege. Why did CNN IBN develop cold feet on this sting, especially when it claims “Whatever it takes”?

6.Is the reluctance to telecast due to the fact that the concerned MPs preempted the channel by disclosing the “Cash for Votes” operation on the floor of the House violating an understanding? Telecast of the tape, after the operation was exposed on the floor of the house, would give the impression that the channel was in cahoots with the BJP and was trying to support the BJP in the murky political scenario. If the bribe episode allegedly by the SP was true, the channel should not have bothered about the after-effects of telecast and should have stood by the truth. Only then, their tagline “Whatever it takes” would be credible. Otherwise, it is only a verbal jugglery.

7.”Publish and be damned” is the idiom mediamen are taught right from the journalism schools. How far is this relevant today? That is the crucial question.

Rajdeep Sardesai inan interview to rediff.com has this to say. It makes me feel he either intentionaly or otherwise has been deceptive.

BJP leader L K Advani said though you had the tapes, you did not telecast them. Why?

In journalism, we do not go by politicians’ will. We do our job.

When did you hand over the tapes?

The tapes were delivered to the Speaker’s office at 5.30 in the evening and we got a formal acceptance letter from his office.

Why did you delay handing over the CD to the Speaker’s office or the local police?

We were waiting for the Constitutional authority to approach us so that the tapes could be handed over to them. We finally handed over the tapes to the Speaker’s office at 5:30 pm.

Did you supervise the story?

My two reporters did the job. I may have had a look.

After the cash was displayed in the floor of the house the whole of Tuesday and wednesday CNN-IBN displayed in their footage that they had the tapes and were handing it over to the speaker. Why did they take so long to do it, giving raise to suspicion that it may have been doctored as per instructions. If as they claim they waited for some constitutional authority to approach them they could have displayed that too in their footage

CNN-IBN’s editor-in-chief Rajdeep Sardesai, in a covering letter with the tapes, said the channel reserved the right to telecast them at a future date and was handing it to the speaker since it involved MPs and some contents had already become public.

Speculation is rife on what is in the tapes but BJP leaders claim this is what happened over Monday and Tuesday:

•Monday 11.30 am: After an unnamed “intermediary” approaches the three BJP MPs, party trouble-shooters contact the CNN-IBN. Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahavir Bhagora are driven to the Le Meridien Hotel, supposedly to meet Congress leader Ahmed Patel. They are wearing button cameras provided by the channel. But there is no sign of Patel in the hotel.

•Monday 1.30 pm: An unnamed “contact” informs the three BJP MPs that SP MP Reoti Raman Singh would meet them at Ashok Argal’s residence at 4, Ferozeshah Road. The drawing room is fitted with bugging devices and the CNN team is listening in an ante-room. Reoti Raman Singh claims Amar Singh is the person who will finalise the deal.

•Tuesday 9 am: Argal and Kulaste go to Amar Singh’s house in Lodi Road. The MPs do not wear button cameras. They are filmed entering and exiting the house.

•Tuesday 2 pm: At 4, Ferozeshah Road, the three MPs get a visitor called Sanjeev Saxena who is allegedly carrying “advance” money for them. The hidden cameras are in place. In Saxena’s presence, the MPs remove the bundles to check the notes. After Saxena leaves, the CNN-IBN reporter interviews each MP. The serial numbers of the Rs 1,000 notes are filmed as proof that the cash delivered is the bundle taken to Parliament.

The Oxford educated Sardesai needs to be upright not just in pose. There are this bunch of semi engli indians who have hijacked the newsense of our country and are in a weirdo process of making us all think as they would do. They should be made accountable for the right news is our birth right.

Cable wars -III continues

The Sun TV network has moved the Madras High Court, for a direction to the state police to accept its complaint against the Madurai-based Royal Cable Vision (RCV), and take action against the RCV authorities.
A writ petition, filed by L Jyotheeswaran, authorised signatory of Sun group, contended that RCV and a group of 11 local cable television networks had been illegally tapping the signals of Sun TV and distributing them to viewers.
Claiming that police stations and higher-ups in Madurai were not taking cognisance of its complaint, Sun wanted the court to direct the home secretary to instruct the police authorities to receive the complaints of illegal tapping of signals, register cases and take action.
The petitioner also wanted an order restraining RCV and other cable operators from illegally tapping Sun TV signals for distribution.

Meanwhile in Thanjavur Arasu cable sorporation is facing trouble. Many have switched back to the previous MSO. There are many who have taken Arasu connection but only the wires till their premise but run using existing rival MSO commection. All this because of non availability of Sun Network in Arasu Cable. Unless Arasu makes effort to rope in Sun Network its survival may become a question mark. Such is the dominance of Sun network and it is high time the government wakes up to this reality and act accordingly.