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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Babudom spoils Sarkozy's Taj Mahal party! No Carla!

"Sarkozy takes trip to India's monument to love, minus Bruni"- AFP

India's monument to love, the Taj Mahal, was sealed off to tourists for a visit by French President Nicolas Sarkozy -- minus his supermodel-turned-popstar girlfriend Carla Bruni.

Sad. Shah Jahan would have loved it.

French officials confirmed she would not be joining him for the visit to the white-marbled 17th-century monument in Agra just south of New Delhi.

The Indian Babus! Spoilsports!

The 40-year-old Bruni herself told the Liberation paper earlier this week that she would not be accompanying the president as they were not yet married.

So what? We would not have minded. We have been prudes long enough; hypocritical prudes, I mean.

Foreign ministry sources in conservative India had raised eyebrows over the prospect of Bruni attending as first lady due to protocol issues.

Indian bureaucracy spares no one. Not even Sarkozy. I am sure it is worse than the French bureaucracy. The French President will vouch for that.

The jet-setting romance with Bruni has raised eyebrows in France, with many worried their president is neglecting his election pledges to slash unemployment and boost growth.

Love is blind. Another Caesar blinded by Cleopatra?


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