Faking It: Kaliyug ke Gandhi

In my college, there was this girl called Julie Whitehorse. Her life's ambition was to marry someone by the last name of Andrews. Why? She wanted to be able to go by "Julie Andrews". She was a big fan of the singer-actress, you see.

Some people accuse Mrs. Feroze Gandhi (ie Indira) of that sort of stunt. But the elder Mrs. G's bahu rani doesn't seem to have lagged far behind. After all, going from a 'Maino' to a 'Gandhi' is a far more impressive stunt than anything saasu maa ever pulled off.

In a season that saw democracy in India falter, Sonia and Rahul were too busy exploiting the Mahatma’s name to care. Sonia’s UPA flouted the Constitution, summarily dismissing one elected government (in Goa) and, in the dead of night, imposing an unelectable one (in Jharkandh) in breach of the electoral will. And where were maa-bete (or should I say madre-figlio)? At photo-ops calculated to link their faces to the name of our Bapu-ji.

On the day after Jharkandh's governor (and Mamma’s good friend) ignored the tenets of democracy to present – like any henchman might - Mamma’s party the prize on a platter, Rahul Gandhi staged a protest right in front of a statue of the Mahatma he shares nothing in common with - save the pilfered name.

That Gandhi led the call for self-rule, urging non-cooperation with injustice. But this Gandhi protested because the Opposition’s wouldn’t cooperate when Soren-rule was unjustly imposed on Jharkandh.

That Gandhi gave up his nearest attachments and all but the barest possessions in his quest for truth. This Gandhi is reported to have been caught red-handed with $200,000 in cash while jetsetting with his girlfriend from Colombia to Washington. Apparently unable to account for the moolah, he was detained by the FBI at Boston Logan Airport until diplomacy came to his rescue.

Meanwhile, the Mother Gandhi has been overtly implicated in the Bofors scandal by no less than the chief investigating officer in the case. How else can one interpret Swedish policeman Sten Lindstrom, long after Rajiv Gandhi’s murder, publicly calling on Sonia to tell everything she knows? (Asian Age, April 8, 2004)

That Gandhi strived for truth and right conduct, even as he engaged in political action. But this Gandhi has no problem cozying up to tainted politicians. For power, she panders to them. There is something repulsive about a woman who would gladly inflict Lallu or Soren on India usurping the Mahatma's identity.

This has to count as the most cynical 'bait and switch' swindle in the history of politics. Suddenly we have Southern politicians like GK Vasan becoming indignant at any criticism of the Congress Party President, claiming she's Gandhi's waaris.

'Gandhi's waaris'? Which Gandhi are we talking about? Sonia inherited her surname – and not much else - from her mother-in-law's estranged husband, Feroz.

With her reenactment of the Mahatma's 'dandi march', bahu rani has taken the con job to a new level. The ‘re-enactment’ will reportedly include a stand-in Mahatma look-alike, who will doubtless provide a juicy photo-opportunity for a future candidacy.

It is oddly befitting that Sonia will walk the route of that historic march alongside a (fellow) nakli-Gandhi. Let the Congress Party beware. No matter how much it is fed from those numbered foreign bank accounts, it will never regain its grounding until it evicts its fake Gandhis.

The real Gandhi undertook the ‘Dandi’ march as satyagraha. For this one, it’s just dhanda…

Postscript:
The Prime Minister finally appears to have come to his senses after his party precipitated a Constitutional crisis in Jharkandh. Today, promising that from now on the Constitution *would* be followed, the Centre obtained Soren's resignation.

But rectifying the situation in one case is simply not enough. An outrage of this magnitude cannot simply be glossed over. Someone must take responsibility. As President of Congress, Sonia ought to be the one.

It is time to demand Sonia's resignation from the Congress Party.

Text of Letter to the NHRC

The National Human Rights Commission
Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi

Via Email : covdnhrc@nic.in, ionhrc@nic.in

March 7, 2005

For Kind Attention of: Dr. Justice A.S. Anand, Chairperson & Members: Justice Shri Y.Bhaskar Rao, Justice Shri. Shivraj J. Patil, Shri R.S.Kalha and Shri P.C.Sharma

Dear Sirs,

On behalf of over a thousand signatories, I wish to submit the attached petition, asking for the NHRC to investigate the arbitrary use of the Goonda’s Act by the Government of Tamil Nadu against the Kanchi accused.

The petition, along with the names of the signatories, is appended to this letter. The signatories totaling more than a 1000, include ordinary and well-known people (like Sri S. Gurumurthy, Sri David Frawley (Pandit Vamadeva Sastri), and Swami Jyoti (Swami Jyotirsmananda). They include retired professors (like Prof. Farokh Merat) and Army Veterans (like Lt. Col. R. Subramaniam). There are many Indians among them, as well as people from as far away as France, Venezuela, Romania and the United States. You will see Muslim, Christian and Jewish names, alongside the Hindu ones.

These signatures represent the widespread concern amongst the public about the Tamil Nadu Government’s apparent misuse of law to curtail ordinary citizens’ liberties. Therefore, the National Human Rights Commission, following its mandate, should intervene and further investigate the matter.

Some of those accused as Goondas in this case, for example, Sundaresa Iyer, have asked for relief in the courts. Whether or not he is granted such relief, we urge the National Human Rights Commission to initiate an investigation of this case, and demand an accounting from Tamil Nadu government officials to the people.

The people deserve an accounting of the exercise of the power they have vested to the officials in power. Only then can government of the people sustain.

Sincerely,

Open Letter to the Justices of the Chennai High Court

Open Letter to the Honorable Chief Justice Sri Markandey Katju and the Honorable Justices of the Chennai High Court, Sri Karpagavinayagam and Sri Masilamani

February 23, 2005

Respected Sirs:

In a few weeks, you will be hearing the petitions of Sri Sundaresa Iyer and Sri Raghu of Kanchipuram, who are detained under the Goonda’s Act in the Sankarraman murder case.

Many ordinary people are perturbed by what is happening in Kanchipuram. We are shocked that people like Sundaresa Iyer, a senior citizen who dedicated his later years to an institution renowned for its devotional activities and social service, are being branded as “Goondas”.

Some have expressed their consternation by signing a petition calling on the National Human Rights Council to investigate the imposition of the Goonda’s Act on these accused. The petition, which has so far obtained over 600 signatures, can be viewed at www.petitiononline.com/NHRC2005

In people like Sundaresa Iyer and Raghu, we see ourselves, our parents, siblings and friends. For this reason, we pray fervently that clear thinking, wisdom and compassion will guide your judgments in their cases.

For, when you render your verdict on their imprisonment, all citizens will benefit from justice being done.

Listen up, you bullies!

The raaj has its guns trained on us, it seems. To question their actions, is to invite threats, harrassment, detention or worse.

Today, they are targeting journalist Gurumurthy, who recently openly spoke out in support of the Kanchi Sankaracharya.

Who do these people think they are? The TN Government has unleashed a reign of terror over the Kanchi Mutt and anyone who supports it. They know they can get away with it. The sitting opposition, which usually showers scorn upon them for the most trivial of reasons, is silent. Forgetting their Oath of Office to uphold the Constitution, the Prime Minister and President have stood by and watched. This raaj can surely count on their complicity as it sends its stormtroopers against the public and the press.

Not even the blogosphere is safe. Yesterday, some nut threatened to "report" me to the authorities. Well, I have a message for Mr. Nut, and his Masters back in Tamil Nadu.

Do you think I'm scared? Do you think your bullying will make people back down?

We are the descendants of Mahatma Gandhi and Veer Savarkar. Do you think we will shrink before your oppression?

Our ancestors include Jhansi ki Rani and Subhas Chandra Bose. Do you think we will fail to put up a fight?

We are the children of the Rajput Queens and of the martyrs of the Janainwala Bhagh. Do you think we will hesitate to make sacrifices?

In us runs the blood of Kannagi and Kattabomman. Do you think you can prevent us from speaking out against injustice?

Our lineage is that of Bhagat Singh and Subramania Bharathi. Do you imagine us incapable of expressing our dissent?

In our ears ring the songs of Meera and Kabir. Do you think you can terrorize us into forsaking our bhakthi?

We are the heirs of Aadi Sankara and Vivekananda. Do you think we will forget the knowledge we inherited?

Listen up, you bullies! Better think again!

To Family and Friends: A Standing Apology

Over the past several weeks, I have been absent to family and friends. Since this atrocity began, I find myself consumed by it. I find myself up till late at night, scouring the web for news, or working on one of these posts.

Some people have asked me: why are you so intense about this? You have never even met this Acharya. Others close to me have pointed out (with good intentions I know, but ah, how it wrenches!) "He's never even done anything for you!"

Strictly speaking, that's correct. I have never met the Acharya. And I suppose, you could say He have never directly *done* anything for me. I have never received assistance from the Kanchi Sankaracharya in a time of illness. No immediate relative has ever received education at one of the Colleges or Vedapathashalas He built. Neither of the Sankaracharyas has ever counseled me in a dispute, or comforted me during a time of trial, or blessed a new venture I held hopes for. I have never even had the fortune of receiving kumkum and prasad from Him.

Yet, now I realize that all along, oblivious, I too was living in the shade of His Grace.

There are so many in my state: many whom I know well and some others whom I had never before heard of - young people and old - who have told me of that tangible anguish I recognize so well.

It is said in our tradition: "Maatah, pitaah, guru daivam".

I read somewhere that "daivam" refers to "da" meaning "give"... That was when I understood.

Every other person is in our lives for mutual benefit. All the other bonds (precious as they are to us) come with expectations due. Save these:maatah, pitaah and guru. These exist solely to give.

So, to my dear ones: I acknowledge my rightful obligations to you. But how much greater is every being's debt to a daivam, who is simply to give.

That debt, and its betrayal, are what keep this hold on me. When I think of such a Jagatguru being treated this way - when I cast my mind to what our Gurus have endured - are enduring, I simply cannot help myself.

Forgive me...

Judicial Dementia & Agnipareeksha

"When Sita had to prove her reputation, only bathing in fire could bring out the truth. In the same way, you too have to prove your innocence in this case." -- Sessions Judge M. Akbar Ali, addressing HH Jagatguru Sri Sankaracharya Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal.

I think I know what's wrong with the Tamil Nadu judiciary. They're trying the wrong case! The judges seem to be forgetting the facts at hand and dwelling instead on trials from long past.

Take for example, Judge Ali's remark, quoted above. Sita? Umm --Your Honor -- that case took place over 5000 years ago...

I'm a bit concerned for Judge Ali. He has clear indications of short-term memory loss. He's already forgotten what the Supreme Court said just a few weeks ago about how a judge should assess evidence. In their order granting bail to another Sankaracharya in the very same case, the Supreme Court, very patiently recited a lesson that any court peon with a bit of common-sense would know. A co-accused's confession alone simply cannot be cited as evidence of guilt. Rather, they tutored, the proper way is, first to marshall the evidence excluding the confession altogether.

But Judge Ali cited the confessions of two co-accused in his decision as proof of the petitioner's guilt! Without bothering to marshall the other facts, he harkened back to medieval Western jurisprudence and its practice of burning witches at the stake asking them to 'prove their innocence'.

I hate to have to point this out, Your Honor, but we don't do it quite like that anymore! It's "innocent until *proven* guilty" these days. Has been for -- well -- centuries!

Worrisome pattern, this. Forgetting things from weeks ago - lapsing into the remote past. Classic signs of dementia...

Now, as for that little matter of Sita's agnipareeksha. Since you brought it up, let's review the facts of that case, shall we?

Sita was asked to enter the fire by Maryada Purushottam Ram.

The Sankaracharya has been dragged before Your Honor by abusive rakshasas who disrupt pujas and disdain rshis. They stormed in, for all the world to see, with boots and batons drawn to abduct one Jagatguru, and flaunted their shameful mockery of another while he was in their captivity.

Again, Sita was asked to enter the fire by Maryada Purushottam Ram. People who don't know the meaning of 'maryada' should not presume.

"Confession-Confusion-2" Opening in theaters soon?

Brace yourselves... Looks like the Tamil Nadu police might be planning a sequel to last fortnight's mega-flop.

The SIT's chargesheet, previewed in national newspapers 2 full weeks before official notification to the accused, says, believe it or not, that the younger Sankaracharya confessed to conspiracy during police custody.

Yeah, that's right, the same Sri Sri Sri Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal whom you saw on the news declaring that the false case against him would crumble to pieces. And that was withing hours of said custody. (Of Course, the SIT's idea of a confession is: "I didn't do it". Hence, the confusion.)

Unless the NHRC can scare their fat-cat (or rather, fat-fat) producer, who knows? Another sickening sequel might be in the offing...

Act to Prevent Authoritarian Terrorism!

"Perhaps Jayalalitha calculates that in a so-called secular country like India, with a Sikh as the Prime Minister, a Muslim as the President, and a Christian as the leader of the ruling party at the Centre, her assault on the institutions of docile, peace loving, and law-abiding Hindus, whether they number 700 million or more, will never be questioned by any authorities.

Are the President and the Prime Minister going to prove her right?"

--Full article at www.india-forum.com

The Goondas (put on a good) Act!

Well, we were waiting for this. Jayalalitha decided to "work her way up". First, the Goondas Act was contemplated against 8 ordinary people arrested in the Sankarraman case, identified by her police as habitual criminals. (Which brings to mind that old adage about pots calling kettles black ...) Of these, only 4 actually made it to the Kanchipuram collector's final list, (oddly enough).

Now, as a stepping-stone to her ultimate goal, she has ordered the detention of manager Sundaresa Iyer and one of the mutt's students, Raghu under the Goondas' Act, even though there is no history of any prior cases against these two individuals.

We may as well assume that Sri Sundaresa Iyer and young Raghu have lived blameless lives. Because if that weren't the case, you can bet JJ's fat behind the police would have splashed it all across the media by now.

My advice to JJ and gang: Be vain... Take a good look in the mirror sometime! The most apt candidates for the Goondas act are...

...Hold on a second... let's make this fun for JJ. Apart from a dance performance at the ceremony in 1964, she's never made it to the stage of the Filmfare awards... So, turn down the lights, draw up the curtains, strike up the music - silence, audience!

And the nominees for arrest under the Goondas act in Tamil Nadu are:

#1) Former CM M. Karunanidhi - for a number of offenses ranging from bigamy to abetting terrorism

#2) Chief Minister Jayalalitha Jayaram - for versatility in her criminal performances such as land-scams, defrauding temples, acid-throwing, foisting false charges, abuse of political power and much, much more.

#3) Kanchipuram Superintendent of Police Premkumar - with 13 non-bailable arrest warrants pending against him for molesting women, fabricating evidence, torture and intimidation.

And the winner is... (envelope please) ...

SP Premkumar!!! (Applause)

The judges make a special commendation to Ms. Jayalalitha, who is a shoe-in for next year's Lifetime Acheivement Award in this category... (Cheers from the audience!)

Fade to black, Cut and Print....

About time someone said it!

"The Jayalalitha Government, which has violated the oath of office, should be sacked." --S.S. Mani on india-forum: "Time for Action".

No fear of facts, no favor to the Supreme Court: JJ's response

On the heels of one of the most massive earthquakes recorded in a century, after her state was devastated by an unprecedented tidal wave that literally changed the face of Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Jayalalitha, in a great show of efficiency, organized a massive police regiment, 250 officers, armed with assault rifles, manning a convoy of jeeps and motorcycles.

Q: On what mission were these brave young officers deployed? Go on! Take a guess!

To participate in tsunami relief efforts? -- Bzzzt!! Wrong answer!
To run a disaster drill in case of radiation leak from a nuclear power plant damaged by the tsunami? --- Sorry!
To prevent riots and looting in the aftermath? -- Nope!

As the CM explained at length recently, she marshalled a force large enough to invade the Maldives in order to "keep the peace". How?, you ask... By arresting another Kanchi Sankaracharya. (Old habits die hard, eh?)

That's right, JJ commissioned an entire police squadron in order to arrest a single, unarmed sanyasi, who was in the midst of performing his daily puja. Apparently, interrupting said puja was essential to the maintenance of "Law and Order" and "peace and tranquility" in Tamil Nadu. Those Tamilians were just getting all warlike and agitated from the performance of the Chandramouleeshwar puja at Kanchi!! So, naturally, JJ had no choice!

It isn't some whim of hers... She remembers signing this form, you see, right after she became CM. (If there's one thing JJ takes seriously, it's signing forms...;)) Here's how the form in question went: "as a Minister for the State of ... ... ... ... ". Apparently, JJ took the four blanks to mean she was now Minister of four different states. Which is why, she took it upon herself to insist that the Supreme Court keep the Sankaracharya (that puja-performing public menace!) out of all 4 southern states...

That's not all. She vaguely remembers leafing through some weird document once -- what was it called again? -- criminal procedure code or something? A real bore.... but there was something in it that seemed kind of fun. Something about, if you get to be CM and you go arrest someone, you have to file a chargesheet within 90 days, or let them go on bail.

Of course, JJ immediately understood what this meant: "Hey, I'm CM! I can throw just about anyone in the slammer without bail! Err... for 90 days, anyway..." Unfortunately, she spilt coconut chutney on the part that said arrests can't be arbitrary... :( ... but that truckload of dosas tasted pretty good with just sambar... :] yummy!

It's a real shame so many people have been criticizing her, just cause she followed the part of the code the chutney didn't obliterate!! It isn't easy prosecuting people for murder without evidence, you know! I mean, people just won't co-operate! They do horrible things like -- applying for bail, and presenting evidence that contradicts your theory of the crime and pointing out that your police officers are tainted... It's just so unfair!

And those witnesses! Man, they're the worst! The minute they stop being beaten to a pulp by the police, they just stop sticking to the script you wrote -- just like that! Imagine if you'd done that to your movie directors all those years!

Everyone gangs up against you! Not just the Hindutvawadhis, but the Muslims too! Not just the Dalit groups but former PMs and Presidents too! Not just Karunanidhi, but Cho, too! Not just penny-ante defense lawyers, but Supreme Court justices too! And all you're trying to do is make sure the law --(at least the part of the law you didn't spill food on)-- runs its course, even if that means running roughshod over --err-- the Law itself.....

You see that form JJ signed said --when a CM discharges her solemn duty, she must show no fear or favor. And that's exactly what JJ's gonna do: show no fear of facts and no favor to the Law as laid down by the Supreme Court of India...

"Appan Veetu Sotthaa?" -- by Urumi

Guest-blog

Is the whole of South India the personal property of Chief Minister Jayalalitha? What right does she have to arbitrarily confisicate 183 accounts of the Kanchi Mutt, jeapordizing the well-being of several thousands of human beings?

In a recent petition before the Supreme Court, the Government of Tamil Nadu, headed by Chief Minister Jayalalitha, has demanded that the Supreme Court should not allow H.H. Sankaracharya of Kanchi to remain in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. Is the right of freedom of movement (along with the freedom of speech) not a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution? If so, no authority, much less the Chief Minister has the right to demand abridgement or fetter of such fundamental rights.

One would wonder whether Tamil Nadu and the 3 adjoining states are the private properties of the Chief Minister that one is not allowed to trespass! Even in case of private properties fully owned by individuals or institutions, certain easement rights might have developed over years that will have to be respected by the sole owners. Jayalalitha does not even have the right to preclude a beggar from walking in the street along Poes Garden! Such draconian demands by people in authority smacks of dictatorial regimes and cannot be tolerated in democracies like India.

Apart from the demand of Chief Minister Jayalalitha being unconstitutional in nature, it is done with the intention of castigating the highest judicial authority in the country - the Supreme Court. Who is Jayalalitha to question the apex court on its judgements and interpretation of the law of the land? In any civilized society, this would be tantamount to contempt of court. Such irresponsible acts, especially from people in authority, should be nipped in the bud.

If the Prime Minister and President of India acqueise in such acts of any Chief Minister because of the peculiar political situation in the Centre, they will be contributing to the death of democracy. Such acts demand action by the Centre, and are sufficient grounds to dismiss the State Government.

Extending the argument further, will it be right if the Central Government demands expulsion from the whole country of a state's Chief Minister on grounds that such person wields enormous influence on the States?

Prima Facie Evidence of a Conspiracy!

"...where there is reasonable ground to believe that two or more persons have conspired together to commit an offence". .. the evidence of acts and statements made by anyone of the conspirators in furtherance of the common object is admissible against all. "
--Supreme Court Opinion in Jayendra Sarawati Swamigal vs. State of Tamil Nadu -January 10, 2005

I bet I can make a better argument for conspiracy between the Congress-led Central Govt and Tamil Nadu State to take over the Kanchi Kamakoti Sankara Matam than Jayalalitha's chela Tulsi has ever managed to make against the Sankaracharyas.

The involvement of Congress ally Y. Rajashekara Reddy in facilitating the arrest under assault rifle of Jayendrar Swamigal on Diwali night, the open hostility displayed by Congress mouthpieces lie Khushwant Singh in the English Language Media, the Prime Minster's open lack of concern with a shocking arrest effected by their erstwhile political enemy -- all suggest, at the very least, that Sonia's Congress was complicit in this drama.

After all, Jayalalitha was embattled - cornered, in fact, after her complete rout in the previous election, and the subsequent appointment of a new governor by the Centre. Would she have dared to drop this big a political bombshell without some indication that her political opponents would refrain from retaliatory strike? She could easily be wiped out by them, if they wanted. Her action would have alienated any political vote base left for her in Tamil Nadu. She could have anticipated complete animus from the BJP, which has always regarded her with distaste anyway. JJ is wily enough to anticipate that this kind of action could leave her stranded on a political island, completely helpless. So there is reasonable ground to believe that she would have felt out the Congress-led Center before embarking on her Diwali 'Cessna' escapade.*

Now, let us come to the admission by Manmohan-ji that he wrote to JJ on January 6th regarding Vijayendra Swamigal's arrest. He says he advised in that letter against the arrest. Still, that necessitates that he anticipated such an arrest.

What is rather odd about this little tid-bit is that on January 4th, JJ's police junta canceled their summons to Vijayendrar Swamigal, allaying fears (fed by rumors the police themselves had floated) that He too might be targeted for arrest.

Mind you, the Prosecution had, at that point, not said anything to suggest Vijayendrar Swamigal's involvement in any of its numerous official and unofficial remarks to the public or the press. Their theory of the crime did not even mentionVijayendra Swamigal.

After the police cancelled their summons on the 4th, the Math attorneys pointedly told journalists that they were not going to apply for anticipatory bail for Vijayendra Swamigal, as they did not anticipate His arrest. (See Math attorney A. Shanmugan's interview translated on Jan 4 here)

But Prime Minister Manmohan Singh apparently knew better than Swamiji's own lawyer by the 6th!

Justice Mathur says, where there is reason to believe a conspiracy exists, "the evidence of acts and statements made by anyone of the conspirators in furtherance of the common object is admissible against all".

Members of the Jury, I offer the letter of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha dated January 6th, 2005 in evidence against both of them. I submit that there is prima facie evidence of a conspiracy between the two accused to arrest the Sankaracharyas and thereby seize control of the well-endowed Kanchi Math.

The Prosecution rests...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*If you know anything about JJ, the drama of the first arrest, as well as the recent second one makes perfect sense. Remember Jayalalitha is a showman at heart. And a flashy one, at that! She cavorted in skin-tight gold lame outfits lip-syncing to MGR on movie sets... Tawdry sensationalism is 'dans sa caractere')

Consoled

Bereft