National Interest: Justice For Aarushi, Hemraj

A chirpy girl, presumably innocent (that is, she perhaps did not do anything to be 'punished' by death), was killed after someone slit her throat with 'clinical precision' around mid-night; the next day 'prime suspect' was found dead on the terrace of the same flat. The second murder took place the same night and around the same time. Police's inquiry rejected the possibility of forced entry into the house. Aggrieved parents became prime suspects, at least, in the eyes of sensation crazy TV watching public and now, they have been formally charged with murder, destruction of evidence and one of the two with misleading the police under various sections of the IPC. This has been the tell-a-tale of Aarushi-Hemraj murder case of 2008.

Now, in 2012, I firmly believe that the logical course of judicial process to search for justice for the deceased girl and a domestic servant has set rolling. This could have started much earlier save the efforts by, now accused, parents to delay the entire process by moving various court at various levels of the judicial process. The case has become multi-layered with some of the processes going on in the trial court and some others in the higher courts. While the Ghaziabad trial court has framed charges against Nupur and Rajesh Talwar, the dentist couple has again given hint of further delaying the process by deciding to challenge framing of charges in the High Court.

Though, it is extremely painful for parents to be tried for the murder of their daughter, but then, the world is brutal so, the judicial process should not be mild. If they are the accused and if they feel that they are innocent, they should assist the court in finishing the trial fast so that their guilt or absence of it can be proved in the court of law faster. There is no point delaying it. Again, it's tough on parents to prove that they are innocent given the circumstantial evidence that rule out presence of a fifth person at the time of the commission of twin murders. If Talwars are innocent and if police probe is accurate then, there is just one possibility that Hemraj killed Aarushi and then slit his throat with the same clinical precision and while dying tried to escape towards the terrace. And, that either Nupur or Rajesh Talwar bolted and locked the door leading to the terrace. You can believe this theory and buy this argument, I can't. 

Either police are going wrong in their investigation or the Talwars are lying. Both can't be true. This is also why, I, like many others want to see judicial process complete at a faster pace. It should not have Tareekh Pe Tareekh and this is what Talwars are exactly trying to do or at least this is what it seems like. 

I don't consider the case of Aarushi-Hemraj murder case as one of the thousands of murders that take place across the length and breadth of the country. It is case, which has posed the greatest challenge to our investigation system and tools and techniques used by it. It is also about murder of faith and relationship. It is also about faith of people in our police and judiciary. The basic question that torments people even in far flung areas, where Aarushi should not have been a topic of discussion by any stretch of imagination, is that can an influential couple be let off the hook without testing by fire when they seem to be the prime and only suspects in the case? This question has far reaching ramifications. If this case goes unsettled and justice is not delivered in the case, people's belief in our institutions will only dwindle.

For the sake of India, this case needs to be given the top priority by all agencies concerned. And, for Talwars? They will be doing a great service to the nation if they assist dutifully and wholeheartedly the court in unraveling the double murder mystery, as they call it, irrespective of whether they emerge as guilty or innocent.

News From India

Plane crashes in Nepal, 12 Indians among 21 onboard

A plane carrying 21 people has crashed in the mountains of North Nepal. 21 people including 12 Indians were onboard. The plane crashed while attempting to land at the Jomsom Airport, a gateway to a popular tourist and trekking area. The aircraft belonged to a local airline company Agri Air. 

Tax evasion at par with money laundering

Tax evader may have to face a stricter administration as the centre is mulling to place tax crimes at a par with money laundering. The offence will now have severe criminal and financial implications. The changes in the laws would make way for easier prosecution, rigorous imprisonment, fines and shifting onus on the accused to prove he is not guilty. 

Maharaja grounded, passengers $ govt stranded

 The Air India pilots’ strike has entered its seventh day. The pilots’ agitation has forced the national carrier to cancel as many as fourteen of its international flights on Monday causing great inconvenience to hundreds of passengers. The pilots are on strike since last Tuesday and are not ready to relent. They are dead against the pilots of erstwhile Indian Airlines being imparted similar training as imparted to Air India pilots. Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has admitted that merger of Air India and Indian Airlines five years ago has not worked out well. Interestingly, AI and IA were making cash profits till 2006-07, when they were merged. But, both are running in loss thereafter.

News From India

 More trouble for Narendra Modi

Amicus curiae Raju Ramachandran has nailed Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his controversial role in 2002 communal riots. Raju Ramachandran has said in his report on the 2002 Gujarat riots that the role of Narendra Modi needs to be investigated under various sections of IPC. He has found "circumstantial evidence available requiring further probe" against Modi.

 CBI names Congress baiter Jaganmohan as prime accused in assets case

The Central Bureau of Investigation has named Congress baiter and Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy as the prime accused in the assets case. The central probe agency, which has been accused by the YSR president to be acting at the behest of Congress masters, filed its third chargesheet in the case in the special CBI court on Monday. The CBI chargesheet focuses on the favours doled out to Ramky Group of Industries by Jaganmohan's father and once Congress' illustrious leader and former Andhra chief minister, Y S Rajashekhar Reddy as a quid pro quo to the investments made by the group in Jagan's business empire.

Antony clears Rahul Gandhi of UP debacle

No nepotism in distributing tickets, declaring candidates almost a year before polls, easy accessibility of the CM, PCC chief and CLP leaders to party workers and strict enforcement of discipline are some of the recommendations of the Congress committee that went into party's debacle in Uttar Pradesh.
The report of the three-member committee, headed by AK Antony, was submitted to Congress president Sonia Gandhi. It carries five pages of recommendations to revive Congress citing lack of connect with the voters.

Resume work or face action: Minister to Air India Pilots


The Air India management has warned the striking pilots to return to work by 6pm or face action. Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has termed the strike by Air India pilots as illegal. He said the management of the national carrier would take appropriate action against the agitating pilots.


Supreme Court strikes down Haj Subsidy, slams Centre


In a major setback to the Centre, the Supreme Court has turned down its policy of giving government subsidy to Muslims going on annual Haj pilgrimage. The apex court slammed the Centre for politicising the issue of annual Haj pilgrimage. It maintained that the proposal of giving subsidy on pilgrimages to religious shrines is inappropriate and aimed at wooing minorities. The apex court also directed the Centre to eliminate the policy of Haj subsidies over a period of ten years.


Race for Raisina Hill, Sinha bats for Pranab

With race for Rashtrapati Bhawan hotting up day-by-day, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has got support from former finance minister Yashwant Sinha. Mukherjee’s popularity is gaining momentum with Sinha terming him a suitable candidate for next President of India. 

Top Headlines, News From India

Hard decisions need to be taken for NCTC, says P Chidambaram

Feud in Rajasthan BJP intensifies further. At least, 43 MLAs loyal to sulking leader Vasundhara Raje have offered to quit.


RJD chief Lalu Prasad has questioned the secular credentials of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Lalu was reacting to Nitish's exchange of pleasantries and handshake with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi during a meet on NCTC in New Delhi.


Human rights abuse taint on Army again. As many as 129 Army personnel have been found guilty of human rights violations mostly in Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast in the last two decades.


Train derails in Haryana, several injured. At least 26 passengers were injured as eight bogies of the Delhi-bound Firozpur-Mumbai Punjab Mail derailed in Rohtak district of Haryana today.

National Shame: Hunger Floors India

National Shame! This phrase seems to have turned into a fad with every
intellectual debate in the country. To some, humiliating defeat of
Team India is matter of national shame, to some others, corruption
(backed by 2G, CWG, NRHM, Adarsh and other scams) is the real national
shame and if Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is be believed, hunger or
malnutrition of children is the national shame. But then, there is a
general feeling that the prime minister's view on hunger is not taken
seriously in the government. Some even suggest that given his current
focus on bookish economics, the prime minister does not seem to be
attaching much significance to his own observation himself.

While the defeat of Indian cricket team in Australia rankles in the
eyes of cricket's nationalistic fans, but that debacle is a debacle of
opulence and does not fit to be called a national shame. The 2G and
other scams are like hills in the island of corruption that emanates
from the rich and powerful. And, at a certain level it lacks 'national
appeal'. But, as per Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's own admission 42
percent of children are malnourished and hence, hunger affected. It
means that almost every second child in the country is a victim of
hunger. Obviously, the cloud of hunger and malnutrition looms large
over the entire nation.

This is a mind-boggling figure even to think of especially in the
backdrop of the fact that India has a population in excess of 121
crore and that we are adding more than a crore to the core population
every year. This means that the nation is adding more than 42 lakh to
the existing bunch of hunger affected children every year. And,
according to yet to be finalised data of 2011 Census, there are 16
crore children aged 6 or below. If we add to this figure the
population aged upto 14, the entire figure comes upto more than 35 %
of 121 crore Indians. So here, we have the third most populous
‘nation’ in India that is dominated by hunger and hence, underweight.
This is the story, when we think of Indians below 14 years of age,
leaving aside their elderly cousins, who are also in millions. This
contradicts the very growth theory of an emerging India. May be, India
is progressing in regression.

The Prime Minister was quoting the first ever report on hunger and
malnutrition (HUNGaMA) in the country. The report is based on a survey
conducted by the Naadi Foundation in 112 districts, predominantly
rural across nine states. It should also be borne in mind that the
survey studied approximately 73, 000 households (only). A bigger
survey may throw bigger shock. It goes without saying that we are
producing a feeble generation in a nearby future.

It has been observed the world over all through the period of recorded
social history that weak breeds more in his effort to become strong
(unity is strength). For poor, more children are like life insurance
policies. India has thrown, perhaps, the best example of this
demographic trend, outside Africa. Despite being the first nation in
the world to introduce a family planning scheme under (educated, rich
and aware) Prime Minister JL Nehru in 1951, the nation registered the
most voluminous rise in its population decade after decade. The family
planning centres got converted into a family expansion centres as
saving life of people is always to preferred to prevent a life taking
form. Poor people have been the largest contributor to population,
ignorance, poverty and resultant hunger.

HUNGaMA REPORT
. 42% children are underweight
. 93.7% mothers can’t give required nutrition to their newborns
. 51% newborns don’t get colostrum
. 66% mothers did not go to schools
. Only 11% wash hands before meals
. Only 19% use soap after using toilet
. India’s malnourished children exceed entire population of the US

The HUNGaMA report itself says, that 93.7% of some 74,000 mothers
surveyed said that they could not feed their children with more
non-cereal nutrition for they could not afford it. Incidentally, more
than 66% of the mothers did not go to schools. So, there is a definite
connection between poverty, education and hunger. The report itself
gives some notable examples. To quote just two would be enough here.
One, nearly 98.5% of the surveyed family had access to soap, but less
than 11% knew that washing their hands before meal can improve their
health; only 19% used soap for cleaning after using the toilet.
Second, 51% of newborn babies were denied mother's first milk,
colostrum as mothers did not consider it good for the newly born
children. This is nothing but lack of education (not literacy that the
government's figures flash every now and then) and awareness.

There are plethora of schemes being run by the government aimed at
improving nutrition and health of disadvantaged groups devoid of
employment, education and access to basic needs of a civic life. One
such scheme that found mention in prime minister’s ‘national shame’
speech was Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme. The
ICDS was launched in 1975. If the prime minister has to declare
malnutrition and hunger among children as national shame, is it only a
failure of the ICDS and other such schemes. Isn’t it a failure of
governance, which could not provide basic health to the nation in last
almost 65 years in general and 37 years in particular? And, isn’t this
a national shame for a prime minister?

The primary cause of hunger and malnutrition is poverty caused by
various kinds of unemployment or under-employment due to lesser number
of jobs in comparison to work force, lack of opportunity to work or
lack of competence (including education and training) on part of the
workers to get access to the limited options to work. Whatever may be
the reason, the result haunts the nation collectively. Poverty breeds
hunger, and hunger keeps victim population uneducated and ignorant,
which again lead to unemployment, poverty and hunger. The cycle is
complete and remains in motion for eternity. The prime ministers come
and go, but the national shame will be there to greet every incumbent,
if a course correction is not done, right now.

Rahul Gandhi And Uttar Pradesh

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi today held a very tactical press conference in Varanasi, hours ahead of the end of the election campaign for the first phase of polls in Uttar Pradesh, where stake is very high for the projected--but-disinterested future prime minister of India for Congress party. The press briefing was on expected lines with expected answers but with a renewed anger on display. This apart, today's press conference has four meanings, as I have perceived.

One, Rahul Gandhi has conceded defeat of his party in the upcoming polls just ahead of the first phase of voting. He categorically admitted that he is now focused on the 'course' and not on the result of the assembly elections. It is like accepting that his party stands no chance of forming a government in the state, as being predicted by all the poll pundits and much contrary to Congress's and his own tall claims of returning to power in Lucknow. Today's press conference may work in favour or may hamper his chances more than ever. It could be his last ditch to make an appeal to the voters that he is genuinely concerned about the progress of Uttar Pradesh, but his party can't muster majority in the present political scenario. Anyways, it's a defeat conceded by the commander of the Congress party.

Second, Rahul Gandhi seemed to be closing the doors of an alliance with either the BSP or the SP post-poll. He accused both these parties and also the BJP of providing 'criminal' governance in Uttar Pradesh in past two decades. Should his come to a pass of forging an alliance with either of the SP or BSP, he will have to eat his words, which Rahul Gandhi has not done till date. But, it also leaves Congress in a possible dilemma as to what it would do if BJP gets enough seat to tilt balance in anyone's favour. Will the Congress extend outside support to either the SP or the BSP, should it intends to keep the BJP at bay?

Third, Rahul Gandhi termed BJP a non-existing force in UP. For any political observer, it is too far fetched even to comment on the statement. But, Rahul Gandhi's soaring temper during the press conference while dealing with questions concerning the BJP was more than apparent. Was it an anger resulting due to frustration, that the BJP-led opposition handed over to the Congress in Parliament over the Lokpal Bill? He accused LK Advani of only touring in the name of corruption and not acting. He also challenged Advani and Co that he would get a constitutional Lokpal enacted by Parliament whether they like it or not. But, Rahul Gandhi is wise enough to understand that until his party gets a majority in UP, he can't have his way in the Rajya Sabha and thus the constitutional Lokpal may not be a reality. So, his renewed anger at the BJP, which is according Rahul Gandhi non-existent in UP, may have its source in the Lokpal fiasco.

And, fourth, Rahul Gandhi evaded the question on black money but focused on black flags to hit out at Baba Ramdev, who is obviously not a political force. Does Rahul's outburst at Ramdev signal a bigger trouble for the yog merchant? Only time will tell.

Team India: Put Batting Order in Order

There has been an intense debate going on as to who should come at number 6 position for Team India. The choice ranges from VVS Laxman to Rohit Sharma and from MS Dhoni to Virat Kohli amidst talks about Yuvraj Singh's form and fitness and Suresh Raina's technical flaws. But, first of the team management needs to think why does this position be thought of so much importance when cricket is about scoring runs and taking wickets. In short, every wicket is equally important for the team's cause. If your top five score runs at a healthy average in each innings you don't really bother about the performance of the player coming at number six. After all he is the sixth choice of your batting order depending upon his ability and experience to contribute to team's fortune.

If the top five fail, one cann't really expect that the number six will wear a magic wand to take the falling fortunes of the team to safety. This takes us back to the golden rule of the game of cricket that after the openers order of the batsmen should be decided on the rigorous parameters of batting. That is, the best batsman in the condition should come at number three. This man should also be the most perfect batsman technically. He should be followed by a more balanced batsman at number four, then the next best should come at number five and then the number six should be considered. The number six can not be the Man Friday of any team. His ability may add value to the team but he can not be expected to anchor the ship and become a sailor when ship is off the hook.

The cricketing logic says that the batsmen coming in the order of their form and ability would be best for a team. Team India goes through troubled times only when this logic is broken either by the dip in form of the batsmen fixed for the spot or due to the choice of wrong batsman for a position. At this juncture of its journey, Team India is poised with the presence of heavily experienced and overtly talented youngsters. If Team India prefers to look for a secured future then, it should disturbed the 'age-old' batting order by shuffling Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar a bit. If Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are the ones to succeed the two legends, one of them should be asked to come ahead of Dravid and the other ahead of Sachin Tendulkar to make sure that the two prodigious talent bat for the maximum length with the legendary talents.

VVS Laxman, on his part, seems to have gone past his prime and looks to be suffering from Ganguly syndrome. He is not sure of his batting prowess and mental techniques. For a team willing to go through a smooth transition, MS Dhoni should come ahead of Laxman, who may take it as a challenge and get back to his rhythm. So, the batting order after openers, should be something like this Virat Kohli/Rahul Sharma, Rahul Dravid, Kohli/Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and then the tailenders. This order at the expense of VVS Laxman, which seems unlikely. So, if only one of Kohli or Sharma could be given place in the playing 11, they could be rotated till one of them starts showing consistency. And, if Yuvraj gets fit, he can replace Laxman if selectors does not get overwhelmed by the reputation of the Very Very Special batsman, who has written scripted so many victories for an emergent Team India. Yuvraj with his improved sense of bowling can fill the place of number seven test batsman provided MS Dhoni takes his own batting more seriously in the longer version. Moreover, sooner or later, the selectors will also have to find a place for Suresh Raina. He can not wait for too long.