Climate change is here!

"Mumbai coldest in 46 years"- TIMES OF INDIA

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"If God lived on earth, people would break his windows."-- Jewish Proverb
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Mumbaikars said it was a chill like never before. And the Met department vouched for it by declaring that Wednesday was the coldest day in the city in the past 46 years.
The temperature at Santa Cruz dropped to 9.4 degrees celsius. Back in January 22, 1962, the mercury had dipped to 7.4 degrees.
Wednesday was also the coldest day in February ever recorded in Mumbai by the Met department. The previous coldest day was February 10, 1950, when the temperature was 10 degrees.
The intense cold in the city is being attributed to "western disturbances" that are causing northerly winds to reach the city, say weather experts.

That is what they attribute it to. I would say it is the result of climate change. Any climatologist around? We are waiting.

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Patan Rape: As usual political connections.......

"Beasts preying on students for 10 yrs"- THE TIMES OF INDIA
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“Written laws are like spider's webs; they will catch, it is true, the weak and the poor, but would be torn in pieces by the rich and powerful."-- Anacharsis quotes (Scythian prince and philosopher, 6th century BC)
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This was a sex den, just like the one in Nithari. Nobody outside knew what was happening inside the Primary Teacher's Training College (PTC) in Patan for 10 years.

How was the hush-up achieved? Political connections.

Their teachers were looking at them as prospective prey - girls they could get into bed on the sheer power derived out of their control over the internal marks in examinations.

A GCERT commission had advised that internal assessmant marks be reduced form 40% to 15% of the total to reduce chances of wrongdoings by teachers. The education ministry, then headed by Anandiben Patel had just sat on the recommendation.

It took one victim's extremely traumatised condition to bring this shocking incident to the public domain. The focus is right now on six teachers arrested by the police, but the dragnet could be cast wide if the government is really interested in getting to the bottom of the incident.

Seems unlikely as that would mean many big heads in the Gujarat government would have to roll.

From accounts coming out of the campus, it appears that the rapists used to choose girls from poor background and lower castes to prey upon.

Gujarat will be called truly great when the weakest and poorest of its citizens are protected and nurtured.

The students could not protest because their parents had worked hard to send them to the college. If they had told their parents that they were regularly getting raped by their teachers, their parents would have pulled them out of the college and asked them to keep mum, lest it hamper their marriage prospects.
In the main victim's case, the father belongs to the lowest of the low castes and hails from a village near Visnagar. His wife and he earn around Rs 50 a day as farm labourers. The victim has two sisters - both married - and are at present in their parents' home as they are pregnant.

This would churn the strongest of stomachs.

Again, this can't be an isolated incident. After the government ordered a magisterial inquiry into the case on Tuesday, the danger is that it may remain restricted to Patan. There could be many more Patans waiting to explode in the government's face if corrective measures are not taken.

That is what I am saying.

The larger conspiracy needs to be unearthed. For most of these 10 years, it was the supposedly efficient and head strong Anandiben Patel - present revenue minister and Patan MLA - who was in control of the education department, which ensured only male teachers ruled PTC, Patan.

She should resign from the governemnt.



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Kandahar Indian Airlines Hijack: Main culprits sit in Pakistan

"Three get life term in Kandahar Hijack case'- EXPRESSINDIA

“All delays are dangerous in war”----John Dryden quotes (British Poet, Dramatist and Critic of Literacy, 1631-1700)

Three persons involved in the hijack of the Indian Airlines aircraft to Kandahar in Afghanistan in December 1999 were convicted and sentenced to life on Tuesday by a city court on charges including murder and conspiracy.

What about the main culprits? Even this judgement took nine years.

During a week of suspense, five hijackers - Ibrahim Athar (brother of Jash-e-Mohammed Chief Masood Azhar), Sunny Ahmed Qazi, S A Sayed alias Doctor, Z I Mistri alias Bhola and R G Verma alias Shakir - who commandeered aircraft to Kandahar negotiated with Indian officials with threats to blow up the aircraft and successfully got Azhar and two other dreaded terrorist released from jails in India for release of passengers.

India could have done something even in Taliban ruled Afghanistan then. A commando raid, perhaps? It might have meant loss of lives, but the terrorists would have got the message loud and clear.
Instead the impression is that India is a soft state.

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Bal, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray: Birds of the same flock

"Raj is fighting for Thackeray's legacy"- DNA

Forty-two years ago, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray had founded the party on the sons-of-the-soil issue, which has remained high on his agenda over the years, and it is Raj’s turn now to pick up on similar lines

Yeah! Start abusing non-Marathis. Pick on Biharis and UP bhaiyyas, who do not have the money. Try picking on Gujaratis.

At 39, Raj Thackeray has already lost to Uddhav the battle to be the heir apparent to Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray. But his resolve to capture his uncle’s political legacy by reverting to the core issue of ‘Marathi manoos’ and sons of the soil remains strong.

What if other states persecuting Marathis?

The posturing of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) against North Indian migrants is the first step in that direction. But the moot question is, to what extent will Raj succeed in stoking the fire of ‘Marathi asmita’. Will it alter the political dimensions of the state in the assembly election scheduled to be held next year?

Might appeal to the unemployed.

Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray wonders how anybody can question his party’s commitment to the ‘Marathi manoos’.

Is he feeling insecure inside?

Forty-two years ago, Bal Thackeray had founded the party on this issue, which has remained high on his agenda. But Uddhav, instead of involving himself in futile debates, has decided to focus his energies on crucial issues confronting the masses.

Sensible guy. Or a shrewder politician.

According to party spokesman Sanjay Raut, MP, “Our identity is well known. Every Marathi-speaking individual in Mumbai, Delhi, or the US sympathises with the Sena on the issue. Nobody can divest them of their identity.”

Why are these guys harping on the same point? Insecurity?

A senior political observer said, “Raj has succeeded in striking a chord with the sons of the soil. But he is not equipped with the mechanism to translate it into electoral benefit. His efforts to polarise Marathis versus North Indians will benefit the Sena, which enjoys Bal Thackeray’s blessings.”

My God! What machiavellian politics! Gandhi must be turning in his grave.

A senior leader of the MNS admitted as much. “We are experimenting to get the right issue to keep intact our rank and file ahead of the 2009 elections,” he said on condition of anonymity. “It is also a battle to assert our identity in Mumbai.”

It is all lousy Indian politics. It is a wonder the country hasn't broken up now.

BJP’s Vinod Tawde said, “The public is wise enough to make a distinction between one’s commitment to an issue and individuals’ strategic decision to politicise an issue. In the country’s economic capital, politics of violence will do more damage than good to a political party.”

Who cares? Not Raj, nor Bal, nor Uddhav.


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Rape in Patan: The mentality is the same everywhere

"18-yr-old ‘gangraped’ by her professors"- INDIAN EXPRESS

“I think when a person has been found guilty of rape he should be castrated. That would stop him pretty quick.”- Billy Graham (American evangelist, b.1918)


Around 100 girl students of the Primary Teachers’ Training College in Patan city went on a rampage in their college on Monday morning, protesting against the alleged repeated gangrape of an 18-year-old girl student by six college professors over the last four months. Threatening to fail her in the examination, the professors allegedly used to rape her in groups, the police said.

What sickos! That is problem today; no fear of the law. The thinking is if you have money or power you can get away with anything. Sick bastards!

According to the FIR lodged by the victim, the professors had raped her several times in the computer room, library, and other solitary places on the college premises. The victim has alleged that the accused used to write down their names on chits of paper and pick them up one by one to decide the order in which they would take turns on her.

Where on earth was the principal? What about the other staff?

The matter came to light on January 31, when the victim fainted in the college. “Fearing that she might be pregnant, she told one of her friends about her exploitation and requested her to accompany her to a gynaecologist,” the police said. The victim was not found to be pregnant.

Yeah. Exploit the meek and vulnerable; that seems to become the new mantra. One wonders where is the country going to? To the dumps?

The girls went on a rampage and assaulted the accused, to protest against the lack of action on the part of the college administration.

Hang them publicly. That will discourage this kind of things in the future. The law enforcement is too corrupted to do anything.

Later, the victim, who hails from Vishnagar in Mehsana district, filed a police complaint. “Based on the complaint, we have arrested the accused — Ashwin Parmar, Manish Parmar, Mahendra Prajapati, Kiran Patel, Suresh Patel and Atul Patel,” said Patan SP Raghvendra Vatsa. He added that the police were investigating whether any other girl had faced similar harassment.

Do something quickly, for God's sake. Wake up. Forget about the haftas and do something.

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Politics of fuel hikes: Sonia knows best

"Govt may hike petrol prices this week, duty cut unlikely "- ZEENEWS

Government may raise petrol price by Rs 2 a litre and diesel by Re one a litre this week, but a duty rejig to minimise impact of high international crude oil prices looks unlikely.

What a fuss over such a small fuel hike! OK one understand hike in diesel prices will fan inflation; but why this hesitation over petrol?

The decision on the quantum of increase will be taken by the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, possibly later this week.
"Earlier, we were given an indication of a Cabinet meeting this (February 4) afternoon, but it is not happening today... Hope the meeting takes place soon," he said.

The delays are because Madam is against the hike. Elections are coming up in states. Moreover with things hotting up over the Nuclear Deal, even a general election is imminent. Hiking prices now would be stupid fot the Congress Party. Listen to Sonia,guys!

The official said state-run Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum are together projected to lose over Rs 71,000 crore on sale of petrol, diesel, domestic LPG and PDS kerosene this fiscal as the government has capped retail prices.

Who cares? No one is going to shed tears for the oil companies.

Last week, a Group of Ministers headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had left a decision on fuel prices to the Cabinet after the panel was split right in the middle on the issue. Petroleum Minister Murli Deora insisted on a duty cut rather than price hike, while Finance Minister P Chidambaram was of the opinion that it cannot be just one way street.

Chidambaram is a economist first, politician later. Murli Deora is only a politician.

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Revenge of the monkeys

"Aussie louts throw egg at Murali, teammates"- HINDUSTAN TIMES

Soon after Monkeygate — or Maa ki gate, if you will — comes news that does nothing for Australia’s image. Late on Thursday night, men in Hobart threw eggs at a group of Sri Lankans, including Muttiah Muralitharan. A Lankan selector walking with them was hit in the face by an egg.

Bhajji just said 'bandar'( according to me). These guys are worse. Spreading bird flu by throwing eggs.

Shriyan Samararatne, the Lanka team manager, told HT, “Our guys (four of them) were walking back to the hotel when somebody threw an egg from a car at them.” He wouldn’t say who the egg was intended for, saying the car was being driven fast and perhaps the people in it “were drunk”. But Murali’s was easily the most recognisable face in the group.

It was aimed at poor Murali. They did not like him for going past Warne.

CA’s Peter Young said police were looking into the matter. “We understand that on their way back to the hotel on Thursday evening in Hobart, a few members of the Sri Lankan team were abused by some local youths,” said Young. “One of them threw something at them.

Remember the fuss the Aussies made in Vadodara and Mumbai?

“It’s regrettable and CA condemns it... Ricky Ponting has made an appeal to the public to treat visiting players with the respect they deserve.”

Start with yourself first. Bhashan baazi later please.

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Rajnath Singh praises Narendra Modi: Politics of expediency

"Rajnath to CMs: Emulate Modi"- THE TIMES OF INDIA
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Party president Rajnath Singh praised Modi for changing the perception that BJP could not buck the incumbency disadvantage in a state.

There is nothing called "incumbency disadvantage". Just be efficient. And don't be corrupt. You'll keep getting the votes. Even if you are a newer version of Adolph Hitler.

This is being seen as the CM's triumph in forcing rival party factions to accord him a higher ranking in the party estimate.

It is an animal's world. Survival of the fittest.

Urging state units to begin preparations in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan which go to the polls in November, Singh used the Gujarat performance to egg on the leaders to beat incumbency in these party-ruled states.

Yeah, beat the stuffing out of the minorities and get the votes from the communal minded.

"We have shattered the myth in Gujarat that a BJP government cannot return to power twice or thrice. MP, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan should also try to repeat this kind of success," Singh said.

Communal riots, I presume?

The fulsome praise from the party chief, which was reflected in spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad's remark to reporters that "Modi has done extraordinary job", took insiders by surprise.

What is so surprising? Everybody loves a winner. Even if you hate the guy's guts, pretend to love him. See the warm Rajnath-Modi embrace!

Image credit-Outlookindia