NATIONAL SPIRIT
Vol. No.1, Issue No.35 Mumbai: Friday, November 26, 2010
Indian journalists
accused of secretly
helping politicians,
businesses
Courtesy: Washington Post
New Delhi, Nov. 22, 2010: India's
fiercely competitive and hungry free press
has become the rising nation's watchdog,
unearthing a long list of banking scandals,
real-estate scams and most recently,
extensive government corruption during
the international Commonwealth Games.
But in recent days, Indian journalists
have been accused of wrongdoing,
including having inappropriate
conversations with a corporate lobbyist
and acting more like power brokers in
recordings released as part of an
investigation into an audacious multibillion
swindle - considered the biggest scandal
to hit the new India.
At the heart of the controversy is
Andimuthu Raja, a little-known regional
politician who became the powerful
telecommunications minister in the world's
fastest growing mobile-phone market.
During his first stint as minister, he was
India lost $462bn in
illegal capital flows
November 22, 2010:India has lost
more than $460bn since Independence
because of companies and the rich
illegally funnelling their wealth overseas,
a new report says.
The illegal flight of capital through
tax evasion, crime and corruption had
widened inequality in India, it said.
According to the report from US-based
group Global Financial Integrity, the illicit
outflows of money increased after
economic reforms began in 1991. Many
also accuse governments and politicians
of corruption in India.
Global Financial Integrity, which is
based in Washington, studies and
campaigns against the cross-border flow
of illegal money around the world.
It said that the "poor state of
governance" had been reflected in a
A Weekly Stirring up the Soul of Bharat
accused of selling lucrative mobile
telephone licenses at dirt-cheap prices,
costing the Indian treasury as much as
$40 billion, according to a government
investigative report released last week.
Raja quit last week, denying
allegations that he had undersold mobile-
phone licenses, an industry with half a
billion mobile-phone subscribers in India
and an engine of the country's economic
growth.
The incident was the latest in a string
of corruption scandals to hit Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh's Congress Party.
While allegations of widespread graft are
nothing new in India, the accusations that
seemed to cause the most surprise were
the revelations that some of India's most
influential journalists were taped having
chummy conversations with high-powered
Indian lobbyist Nira Radia about Raja's
second appointment as minister. The
journalists allegedly promised that they
would offer opinions and advice for the
government formation after the 2009
general elections.
Despite a high-level investigation
into the allegations against Raja, he was
reappointed to head the ministry. Business
leaders who are alleged to have benefited
from the low-priced licenses seemed to
go out of their way to hire lobbyists to talk
to well-known media personalities, among
others, to ensure that Raja remained in
the telecom ministry, said Manoj Mitta, a
founding member of India's Foundation for
Media Professionals.
While the journalists never gave or
received any bribes, the recorded
(Continued on page 5)
growing underground economy in India
since Independence in 1947.
Global Financial Integrity director
Raymond Baker said the report "puts into
stark terms the financial cost of tax
evasion, corruption, and other illicit
financial practices in India".
Some the main findings of the report
are:
* India lost a total of $462bn in illegal
capital flows between 1948, a year after
Independence, and 2008.
* The flows are more than twice
India's external debt of $230bn.
* Total capital flight out of India
represents some 16.6% of its GDP.
* Some 68% of India's capital loss
has happened since the economy opened
up in 1991.
(Continued on page 3)
Rs.5/- RNI No. MAHENG/2010/32801
Barkha, Vir, Nira - The
"unholy" trioka
Amitabh Thakur, IPS (Mobile: 94155-34526)
The Barkha-Vir-Nira tapes have
created a storm in the tea-cup. The nation,
already reeling under the spectrum scam,
where an ex-minister is being openly
accused of a massive misappropriation of
public exchequer, has got a further jolt
when it comes to hear these
kinds of tapes where Barkha
Dutt, the renowned,
massively respected and
recognized star-reporter of
NDTV has been heard talking
to Nira Radia on issues
concerning formation of
Ministry. Not one or two but
five such tapes have come in public realm.
Similarly at least one tape of conversation
between Vir Sanghvi, the authoritative and
moralistic Editor-in-
chief of Hindustan
Times and Nira has
got leaked.
In all these
tapes, Nira is heard
talking to these two
journalists about
the composition of
the Central government ministry,
particularly with reference to one political
party from Tamil Nadu. She is heard
requesting these legendary people to talk
to influential people in the Center about
getting a few particular members of that
political party inducted in the Central
ministry. These two people are heard
assuring Nira to do the needful. They are
heard brining up some particular names
who are believed to be very powerful in
the political structure and telling Nira that
they could do their best to help her out.
To quote a few parts of the conversations
between Nira and Barkha-
Bhagavad Gita
in US Motels
Houston, USA, November 18, 2010:
Pull open a drawer in some Houston hotel
rooms, and beside your room-service
menu and Gideons Bible, you might find
a copy of the Bhagavad Gita.
The sacred Hindu text is making its
way into nightstands across the country
through a campaign to spread the
scripture and awareness about Lord
Krishna, the deity believed to have spoken
the philosophical teachings millennia ago.
A local Hare Krishna temple has
placed about 7,000 copies of the
Bhagavad Gita in more than 100 hotels
and motels in the area.
The project has been successful
because of the number of Indian hotel
owners who are familiar with the text and
happy to place copies in their rooms as a
way to share the universal truths of their faith.
Indian-Americans make up about 5
percent of the population but own about
40 percent of hotels and motels in the
“RADIA: No, they wanted to; they
didn’t want any infrastructure, that’s what
Prime Minister said, so he said that’s why
they give him labour, fertiliser, chemical—
and telecom, IT, they said for Raja. So
what has happened is, is that message
not relayed to Karunanidhi?
BARKHA: Oh I see!
RADIA: They might
have told some minion down
the line or told Maran who is
not relaying the truth.
BARKHA: No, I’ll set it
up as soon as they get out
of RCR.
RADIA: What she saying is that, you
know, that someone senior like Ghulam
(Nabi Azad, senior Congress leader)
because he is the
one who is
authorised to
speak. ….
BARKHA:
Theek hai, not a
problem. That’s not
a problem, I’ll talk to
Azad - I’ll talk to Azad
right after I get out of RCR [Race Course
Road, presumably, the PM’s residence].
Similarly, some part of the Vir
Shanghvi- Nira conversation goes like this-
Radia- “They had a meeting. I had
suggested of Kani only. They talk about 4
formula and 1 independent. There was no
issue. He has clarified everything that you
had told them. There was a lot of relief
from the Chief Minister’s side. But he is
still under great pressure from Maran.”
Vir- “Where is it coming from?”
Radia-“It is coming from Stalin and
his sisster Salvi. They have given 600
(Continued on page 3)
country, according to the Asian American
Hotel Owners Association.
The Best Western at Interstate 290
and FM 1960 was one of the first local
properties to provide the Bhagavad Gita
to visitors. According to owner Alex Patel,
the project has worked well in his 57-room
motel so far.
“People get to read a different kind
of holy book, and they like it,” Patel said.
Guests ask him questions about the story
(Continued on page 5)
(Continued from page 1)
National Spirit
How top Journalists have turned Middlemen
November 21, 2010: The Niira Radia
Tapes which has caused a storm, after a part of
it was published in both the Open and Outlook
magazines this week, but picked up by only Mail
Today newspaper partly, and ignored by all other
newspapers and TV channels, shows the extent
to which the rot has set in, in our systems.
While the conversations between Radia and
Raja, Kanimozhi and Ranjan Bhattacharya (foster
son-in-law of Atal Behari Vajpayee) indicates the
nexus between the power brokers calling
themselves as lobbyists or Corporate
communicators acting on behalf of top corporate
Houses like the Tatas, Ambanis and Mittals, and
the politicians, there is another nexus which is
equally if not far more worrying.
That is the nexus between the media hot
shots and these power brokers. Niira Radia in
a short period of a decade or even less, seems
to have established such a hold over the top
media houses, that they virtually seem to be at
her beck and call. They even try to ingratiate
themselves with her, by leaking information to
her, about their own media houses and about
others in the media. Journalism is all about
developing contacts and using the contacts to
write stories and articles which are unbiased
and useful to the reading public.
But what this nexus indicates is that
these journalists are playing into the hands of
these power brokers and serving their vested
interests. But what is the most shocking
revealation is that most of these top journalists
have become willy nilly players in the fight
between the two Ambani brothers. Niira Radia
who represents Mukesh Ambani does not leave
any stone unturned to use the journalists to
fight her battles for her boss with his brother,
even as these journalists eat out of her hands.
The names that figure in the so far un-
published extracts of these conversations
(accessed from audio tapes put out by Outlook
magazine on its website), are from respected
media Houses like Economic Times, Hindustan
Times, NDTV among others. It is amazing how
Radia uses them. These conversations, with
audio links at the end of every extract, tells a sad
story of how some of the biggest names in the
business of media, stands exposed, if not for
corruption per se (as no quid pro quo is still
established), atleast for being handmaidens of
the corporate houses and their power brokers.
More of these transcripts will follow in the
coming days, exposing several other nexus.
Read on :
M.K.Venu, then one of the Senior Editors
of Economic Times, now Managing Editor,
Financial Express (June 16,2009, 8.05.15 p.m)
Niira Radia to Venu - What does
Mrs.(Kokilaben) Ambani know about natural
gas, she knows about cooking gas, with due
respect to her. You know she is very upset
with Amar Singh, because she thinks only after
came into Anil Ambani’s life, family has broken
up. And she told me in Gujarati, all these kidney
problems which Amar Singh has, is her curse
on him.
Another Conversation between Radia
and Venu, July 9,2009, 08.47.33 a.m
Venu to Radia—- You saw Rohini’s story,
it has appeared today. It is tucked away inside.
But In ET you cant miss anything, it is the lead
story on that page. In Bombay(edition) I think
(Manoj)Modi( Mukesh Ambani’s right hand
man) has done, whatever the neutralization
campaign. Rohini told me that in Bombay, it
says, Modi added, “top officials of Anil Ambani
feels that—“.
Radia to Venu— You know
Ganapathy(Subramaniam) has been chasing
me you know, I have to letter of the Andhra
Chief Minister.
Venu to Radia— “oh , oh oh oh”
Radia to Venu— I don’t want to give to
Ganapathy you know? I am bit scared to give
it to him, and then see that it gets killed. What
do you think I should do?
Venu to Radia— Andhra Chief Minister—
Radia to Venu— He has given a—– he
has written to the Prime Minister—a scathing
attack.
Venu to Radia— accha? Remember two
years ago he was singing the Anil Ambani’s
tune?
Radia to Venu— No, no, you know
basically he is quite neutral.—- He is also
Vol.1, Issue No.35
Radia Tapes
Girish Nikam
talking of Andhra, he says the state is reeling
under lack of power—– and he is you know
pretty mad about it. You know I can read it out
to you, shall I read it out—– (she reads out the
letter).
Venu to Radia— It’s a very strong letter
yeah! Does the EGOM exist still?
Radia to Venu— No , he says you had
and now urge you do something about it again.
Venu to Radia — He says he wants ten
percent of the gas in preferential basis for
Andhra’s needs right?
Radia to Venu—– yeah, because it was
running his state. But they have 2,400 MW of
power for which they need gas for
desperately—- So kya karoon(what do I do?) I
don’t want it tucked away you know.
Venu to Radia— Isko, Niira objective
advice, isko kisi akhbar ko do, jo isko lead flyer
carry kare(give it a newspaper, which will carry
it as lead flyer)(incidentally Venu himself was
in Economic Times at that time). This simple
logic you know. Aur ya toh, isko
CNBC(Business TV channel) ko do abhi. Then
these people, you know, will be adequately
provoked you know. If CNBC carries it as the
lead, you know, ten times a day, then everybody
will start running
around like
helter skelter,
you know. Don’t
you agree with
me?
Radia to
Venu— I agree
with you. Yeah
maybe I should
that
Venu to
Radia— Yeah I
am telling you,
otherwise, you
know, that’s the
only way to
sensitise people
to true value of
stories no( ha ha ha).
Radia to Venu— Correct, correct.
Radia to Venu—- I told Ravi(dhariwal,
CEO of Times Group), if he(Anil Ambani) is
giving you Rs.5 crore of advertisement, why are
you doing this? Are you personally
compromised, I asked Ravi.
Radia To Venu— You know I want you to
do the interview of Ratan Tata, but I cant take
your name directly, if I do they will know that
we both are talking, so how do I work around
that?
Venu to Radia— ummmm,( a
pause),abhi, you know at this stage let
Swami(Swaminathan Aiyar) do the interview,
—-I will come with him.
Radia to Venu— Yeah that’s ok !—
Venu to Radia— (changes his mind) toh
abhi, You know Niira, I will tell you, you insist
that only Swami alone come for the interview.
You know abhi, if you insist on me, there will
be an issue, you know what between you and
me, all this – to Samir Jain also. Samir Jain
has a completely kinky mind and he likes
people like Bodhi, who are, you know, editors
who are supine and you know and who are
cringing before him and who are crawling
before their ass to paint. And you know people
like me and TK(), we test their mind you know,
we do baseline play, we explore the line atleast
na. So my only sense is that this V.C.Shroff is
pissed off. He will be fingering me big time.
Radia to Venu— Its ok, I will wait, next
time when you are in Bombay, I will fix a time
for you with him(Tata), I have told him a lot
about you. He likes to meet people, you know
who are intellectually stimulating.
Conversation shifts to Mukesh Ambani
and Ratan Tata meeting Samir Jain, which
Venu suggests. Radia says both have refused
to meet him, and have told that if they carry
negative story or no story its fine. The following
conversation
Venu to Radia— Is a letter to MD
possible?
Radia to Venu– From MDA(Mukesh
Ambani) to Samir Jain?
Venu to Radia— yeah, broadly saying
that, you know, it can sort of say that,
Congratulations for launch ET Now, and then
Mumbai, November 26, 2010
he can raise this issue(gas pricing and problem
between the two brothers, Anil and Mukesh),
and say that there is this raging issue which
involves national interest, and we hope that
your papers(Times of India and Economic
Times) takes a stand which is keeping with—-
(ha ha)lagao you know. No?
Radia to Venu— ummmmm, maybe.
Radia to Venu—- What do you think of
Sanjoy Narayan(Editor, Hindustan Times)?
Venu to Radia—– Sanjoy Narayan has
an old friendship with Tony(Jesudasan)(Anil
Ambani’s PR man)—- and Anil also keeps
meeting Sanjoy Narayan, fairly regular intervals
you know.—-
Radia to Venu— I think Shobana(Bartiya,
MD Of Hindustan Times group) has told Sanjoy,
that as far as we(Mukesh Ambani group) are
concerned, the position that our
paper(Hindustan Times) will take is that this is
an issue of national interest and for someone
who doesn’t have one MW of power, I am
certainly not going to support him(Anil Ambani).
Venu to Radia—Absolutely yeah.
Radia to Venu— (shobhana says) and
he is not going to add value to anyone’s life
and I don’t want this thing, and therefore
you(Sanjoy
Narayan) better
play straight.
Venu to
Radia— Yeah,
yeah, that’s a
good thing
actually. I am
also told that
Anil Ambani had
some little role
to play in Sanjoy
coming to HT
you know, This
is what people—
. I never come to Delhi, but I came only for this(?)
Radia to
Ve n u — - y e a h ,
he goes through
Mukul(?) and all that, and he socializes with
Shobhana in the evening, yeah. Vir told me
that.——
Venu to Radia—-Is Manoj(Modi) in town
today?
Radia to Venu— Yeah he is here, he will
leave this evening. We are meeting
Prannoy(roy of NDTV) today. You know we
need to support Prannoy.
Venu to Radia— yeah, you know he is a
straight guy, you know, at the end of the day,
he doesn’t play games, you know.
Radia to Venu— That’s right.
Venu to Radia— yeah, I once told you,
NDTV is a channel which has a certain
credibility with political class also.
Radia to Venu— Absolutely.
Venu to Radia— They believe what
NDTV says you know. This is an organisation,
any case commercially not so well off, so they
think that theek hai, this is a bit like (Indian)
Express, apna chugging along in terms of
money, but still keeping to certain minimum
standards of credibility, you know. That Prannoy
has, so most congressmen would believe
NDTV rather than CNN-IBN or something. So
there’s a strong credibility there.
Radia to Venu— That’s right yeah.—
Venu to Radia— (back to Gas pricing
issue) The problem is Niira, you know, about 15
years ago in Indian journalism, atleast four-five
top editors , would have written—a strong piece,
you know, but today, on the lines of national
interest, whatever rationally allocate national
resources. But today do you loo around, you
see any editor picking any sort of, you know,
build kind of consensus or trying to raise this
debate to that level, but today you know, all the
editors are preoccupied in advertising and
branding(ha ha). I mean, can you imagine
Sanjoy Narayan writing a strong piece in HT.
He has never written a piece, barring he writes
a column on music. I mean it would have been
shocking 20 years ago, if somebody were told
that the Editor of Hindustan Times writes a music
column(ha ha ha). You know, editors used to
write regular columns you know, once in ten
days, aa, on national issues you know. You know
this is what journalism has come to, you know.
Radia to Venu—- ummm, I notice that
Page 2
this guys(Anil Ambani) didn’t get their way in
TDSAT yesterday. Did you guys carry that
story?
Venu to Radia— Yeah, yeah, we did I
think.—– ummmm, So you are here for couple
of days?
Radia to Venu— Yeah till tomorrow.
Venu to Radia— So keep me posted if
anything happens, ha?
Radia to Venu— sure, sure, bye.
(There are more tapes of conversations
between the Radia and Venu, some of which
have bee published in Outlook magazine,
already).
Conversation between Barkha Dutt,
Managing Editor, NDTV and Manoj Modi, the
right hand man of Mukesh Ambani, July 9,2009,
4.14.11 p.m
Radia to Barkha—- Hii, one second,
Manoj (Modi) wants to speak to you.
Manoj to Barkha—- Hii Barkha, sorry
couldn’t say bye to you yesterday night. Parimal
(Nathwani, Rajya Sabha member from
Jhakhand) was remembering you yesterday
night.
Barkha to Manoj—– Oh, he, he once
saved my life for the plane you know. It was
nice to meet you, Manoj, kabhi aap ko fursat
hoga toh we should meet araam se (whenever
you are free we should meet freely), without
the crowd.
Manoj to Barkha— yeah, yeah, we will
meet, but Parimal is my cousin brother, I have
brought Parimal to Reliance.
Barkha to Manoj—- Reallyyyy!!! I didn’t
know that, ohh, I didn’t know that, ohhh.
Manoj to Barkha—- yeah, yeah, yeah.
Barkha to Manoj— you please give him
my regards, aur aap kabhi dilli aaye toh fursat
mein, not that you have any thing like fursat,
but if ever you—
Manoj to Barkha— no, no,no, you know
last night, only for this purpose I have come.
Barkha to Manoj—- It was very helpful
Manoj, it was really very helpful. But then
maybe main aapke saath -(gets disconnected).
Extracts of a conversation between Niira
Radia and Vir Sanghvi, discussing an interview
with Mukesh Ambani, June20, 2009, 12.09.59 p.m
Niira Radia to Vir Sanghvi— On this (gas
pricing issue) we need to get Mukesh(Ambani)
to come out and talk (on TV). But it has to be
verbatim, whatever he says should be there.
Vir Sanghvi to Radia—- Advantage
Mukesh has is that he can come out and talk,
unlike Anil Ambani who has so many skeletons
in his cupboard. Mukesh has no such problems,
he can talk, he can work out a script in advance,
he can rehearse.—- If Mukesh is on board he
should realize it has to be fully scripted.—- I
have to come in and rehearse with him, before
the camera comes.
Conversation between Prabhu Chawla and
Niira Radia, starts off with Radia seeking a
perspective from him (“you always have great
perspective on everything”) on the “great Bombay
High court judgement on Gas pricing issue”.
Prabhu Chawla to Niira Radia (she calls
him) - Where is Mukesh? I kept calling him,
sometimes he responds. I have stopped calling
him. I wanted to forewarn him (that HC judgement
on Gas is coming against him, ha ha ha).
Radia to Prabhu— tell me, prabhu,
judgement is fixed hai na?
Prabhu to Radia— is desh mein hain
na—- dono(bhai) fixe kar sakte hai(judgement).
——- Mukesh still depends on his old network,
maybe his wife also dominates him—- the way
things are moving, Mukesh, poor fellow is not
able to get the right feedback.—- convey to
Mukesh that the way he is going about the
supreme court, is not the right thing.— I won’t
tell you more than that.—-
Radia to Prabhu— Ok I will ask him
(Mukesh) to speak to you.
Prabhu to Radia— That’s why I wanted
to talk to him, I sent him ten messages, he
doesn’t reply. he doesn’t pick up my calls.—–
MY son is a retainer of Anil Ambani (as a lawyer)
- but he is not involved in this at all. But he keeps
hearing things na. - He is running his own
solicitor firm. - You tell him (Mukesh), that Prabhu
was telling something about London, he will
understand. Chota Bhai (younger brother, anil
(Continued on page 3)
 National Spirit
How top Journalists have turned Middlemen
(Continued from page 2)
Ambani) bahut haraami hai na (is a crook).
Conversation between Niira Radia and
Ganapathy Subramanian (Ganu), A senior
Editor at Economic Times, July 9,2009,
10.36.31 p.m
Ganapathy Subramanaim (Ganu) to Niira
Radia— Did you see all the crazy things they
were doing today. Ask the media they will tell
you.They were passing on all the car numbers
to everybody.
Radia to Ganu—- Yeah, yeah, we are not
bothered.— You know Ganu, we have taken a
decision, Mukesh(Ambani), was in town, he has
told us, ignore ET(Economic Times, ET Now).
If they behave like idiots, let them, just ignore
them. Talk to only those who matter. Barring
you(Ganu) and Venu and TK, we are not going
to, Soma and they had come, they talked a
load of nonsense with Manoj Modi, and, quite
frankly if they want to behave like a tabloid, let
them behave like that.
.....
Ganu to Radia— OK, but you know once
the hearing(in Supreme court on Gas issue),
everything will be —
Radia to Ganu— Ok, but Ganu you have
to be briefed on it. You haven’t been briefed
about us. Let’s make some time tomorrow.
After a day of hectic lobbying with various
TV channel heads and Editors of newspapers in
Delhi, by Manoj Modi (right hand man of Mukesh
Ambani), accompanied by Niira Radia -
Conversation between her CEO Manoj Warrier
and Radia taking stock of the day and planning
for next day (July 8,2009, 10.42.22 p.m)
Radia to Manoj(Warrier) — umm, you
called.
Manoj to Radia— All well?
Radia to Manoj—- I think it went off very
well, Manoj, although I am exhausted.
Manoj to Radia—- Imagine how much
he(Manoj Modi) must be exhausted. He was—
Radia to Manoj— Yeah, yeah—you know
how many calls, I had to handle my business
meetings in between— I had to handle ten
things in between I was going out. Oh god, I
got to work on those things now. Listen, they
were brilliant meetings, and this is something,
I think a lot of this will turn the tide ah! You
know Mon, You should have heard
Arindam(Editor, Times of India) you know he
called me back. Maine bol diya isko(Manoj
Modi), I told him you know, he was coming
down with me to meet Parimal (Nathwani,
Rajya Sabha MP and cousin of Manoj Modi),
Jo bhi ho jaye you are going to do this and you
are going to continue. Dekho mere se milna
doosri baat hoti hai.Aur tum logon se milna alag
baat hai. Aur yeh issue sirf tum log hi poora
explain kar sakte ho, hum log, yeh nahin hai ki
hum ko nahin aata explain karna, Lekin yeh
baat tumhari hai, tumhari family(Ambani) issue
hai, you know. Anyway, he has understood.
Manoj to Radia— you met Parimal too?
Radia to Manoj—–yeah, yeah, he was
downstairs sulking away. (ha ha ha ha ha—
Manoj). I don’t care about him. You know me
no. I am into this slice(?) only for these two
Vol.1, Issue No.35
guys(presumably, Mukesh Ambani and Mano
Modi), I am not bothered about the rest. But
good, it went off very well. And manoj, he was
very happy, very happy( Manoj— very good). I
think he is happy with quality of the meetings,
the type of people, you know. And I hope that
you are pleased that this happened.
Manoj to Radia— No, no, I am happy
very happy, you know—
Radia to Manoj— He(Manoj Modi) told
me to apologise to you for snapping at you, for
he didn’t want to get into the GSMA, he told
me “Please Manoj ko keh dena I am very sorry,
main khud Manoj ko kehnawala tah, lekin, I
didn’t want the discussion to go that way, kyonki
tangent mein chala jaata. Please keh dena, I
didn’t mean to do that.
Manoj to Radia—Theek hai, koi baat
nahin.
Radia to Manoj— He is a bit this thing.
—- you know Sethuraman was watching out of
the window when I went to drop Anjani.
(Manoj—who?) Sethuraman, I told Anjani,
Sethuraman is watching.—-
Radia to Manoj— Anyway, tomorrow
Ninan(T.N, Editor Business Standard), 10.30
a.m, I have told him(Manoj Modi) to be
aggressive. When I am in NDTV you inform
Razdaan(of PTI), Manoj Modi is in town, so
why don’t you come to the chambers. Niira will
come some other time to PTI. Tell him, you
both come, we will talk at the Editor-level. He
will be pleased he will come, put it that way,
Manoj aaya hua hai.
Manoj to Radia— TCA Srinivas
Raghavan wanted Modi to come to BS and
address the whole bureau and all. I told him let
it be just a couple of guys, maybe later the
bureau thing sometimes.
Radia to Manoj—- Ram(N.Ram of Hindu)
has agreed to meet Mukesh, you know.Ram
and Venu(k.Venugopal, Editor Businessline),
are both coming to Bombay next week. Who
call aa gay tah.
Manoj to Radia—- Very good, very good.
Manoj to Radia— accha, kal NDTV, pehle
Ninan and then NDTV ke office jana hai na?
Radia to Manoj—Haan NDTV ke office,
Barkha will be there. And whoever, Prannoy is
going to be in a phone-in and all that, and then
NDTV Profit se, and then
Manoj to Radia— There are some major
changes in NDTV Profit—– Kuch toh friction
hua hai.
Radia to Manoj— Shelly ko aur Shivnath ko?
Manoj to Radia— Shelly ko, Shivnath ko
nahi hua hai(shift) shayad. —— CNBC ke
meeting ko aapko kaisa laga( How did you think
the CNBC meeting went?)
Radia to Manoj— Good, Good. What do
you think?
Manoj to Radia— I think Raghav(Behl of
TV 18) set the tone.
Radia to Manoj— Very light hearted and
very cool. I think it was ok. You are OK with
Raghav now na?
Manoj to Radia— Haan, its ok, Raat gayi
baat gai, who bhi journalist hai, main bhi PR
wala hoon.
Mumbai, November 26, 2010
Barkha, Vir, Nira - The "unholy" trioka
(Continued from page 1)
crore to Dayalu’s mother.”
Vir- “600 crores! It is hard to argue
with that kind of pressure.”
Vir- “Basically what they want is a
little bit more flexibility. One more Cabinet,
I suppose.”
Radia- “If they stick to 3 and Kani
gets independent, then Alaghiri, Baalu
and Raja come in.”
Vir- “That is not so bad unless Maran
is one of the Cabinets.”
Radia- “Because Baalu and Raja
thing is spread by Maran.If Narayan was
to come back tomorrow, let us look for
Alaghiri, Baalu and Raja.”
Vir- “Actually Narayan anyway will
talk to PM. He will not talk to Congress
President. PMO will send feedback to
Congress Party.”
Radia- “So they will anyway speak
to us, Naa.”
Vir- “yeah, yeah.” .”
After these tapes have come in
public, the NDTV on behalf of Barkha and
Vir for himself have come in the open to
defend themselves. I quote some of the
parts of their defence-
“In response to the Open Magazine
cover story dated 20th November, 2010
NDTV would like to object in the strongest
terms to the clear misrepresentation of
conversations between Barkha Dutt and
Ms. Nira Radia, that took place in May
2009. In the pursuit of news and
information, journalists talk to an array of
people from all professional backgrounds;
this case being an an unfolding political
story on cabinet formation, after the general
elections. To caricature the professional
sourcing of information as "lobbying" is not
just baseless, but preposterous.
At every stage effective journalism
involves engagement with a multitude of
characters in the process of gathering
news and information. To call this process
"lobbying" is a serious and defamatory
distortion of journalistic practices.”
Vir says- “Moreover, there is nothing
at all in the transcripts to suggest that I
lobbied for Mr Raja. The conversations
recorded relate to the phase when there
was an impasse between the DMK and
the Congress. Ms Radia called several
journalists, including me, to ask us to
convey a message to any Congress
leaders we met in the course of our work.
This message was, essentially, that the
Congress was communicating with the
wrong people in the DMK.
While gathering news, journalists talk
to a wide variety of sources from all walks
Page 3
defend themselves, citing the job of a
journalist but going through the
conversations and the active roles played
by each of Barkha and Vir in getting the
work done, including talking to the highest
quarters in the political echelons one fails
to believe if it was mere journalistic work
or something much more. At least prima-
facie it does not seem palatable that these
two people were having such
conversations as a part of their journalistic
work. This looks more like a foray into
unwarranted murky hinterlands of
middleman-ship. Though there is not a
single word in the conversations that
remotely points to exchange of money but
the fact that one of these people for whom
Barkha in particular and Vir to some extent
exercised their influence, later got named
in one of the biggest scams known in
independent India does make the entire
episode very serious. It also brings them
under some kind of severe scrutiny and
penetrating scanning. This is more so
because of the kind of respect these
names have been commanding among
the Indian masses through their writings
and deeds. They, seen as hopes for the
Middle class India are found faltering and
getting caught in supposedly “dangerous
liaisons” in these conversations.
These are the issues that have got
generated after the exposure of these
tapes. And certainly there seems to be an
immediate need to get the matters
enquired so that the roles of these two
people gets clarified.
At the same time, this episode has
also generated the issue of judicial
impropriety and the need for a moral code
of conduct for the journalists. Each role
has a definite set of duties assigned to it.
By no stretch of imagination can we
assume that the role of a journalist is to
play a role in the formation of Ministries.
So, if such things are found, it does raise
eye-brows.
India lost $462bn in
illegal capital flows
(Continued from page 1)
* "High net-worth individuals" and
private companies were found to be
primary drivers of illegal capital flows.
* The share of money Indian
companies moved from developed
country banks to "offshore financial
centres" (OFCs) increased from 36.4% in
1995 to 54.2% in 2009.
The report's author, Dev Kar, a
former International Monetary Fund

ED grills Nira Radia for

of life, especially when a fast-moving story economist, said that almost three quarters
is unfolding. Out of a desire to elicit more of the illegal money that comprises India's
information from these sources, we are underground economy ends up outside

8 hours in 2G scam generally polite.”

New Delhi, November 24, 2010: PR The PR lobbyist also finally
professional Niira Radia, caught in 2G appeared before the media to make a
short statement on what is now being
called Radiagate.
Radia made a short statement to the
effect that she has nothing to declare
except her innocence. She said all her
work is transparent and promises to
cooperate with the ED probe.
"We have been available to provide
all the information needed. We are
transparent and have given all the data.
The matter is in the Supreme Court and
is sub-judice, so I dont want to comment
on it," Radia said.
Ever since the two magazines - Open
and Outlook - published transcripts of her
lobbying scandal, put up a brave face on conversations with various leaders,
Wednesday after she was grilled by the journalists and industrialists on brokering the
Enforcement Directorate for eight hours alliance between the Congress and the DMK,
in Delhi. Radia had been unavailable for comments.
While both of them say things to
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the country.
India's underground economy has
been estimated to account for 50% of the
country's GDP - $640bn at the end of
2008.
Mr Kar used a World Bank model to
calculate India's missing billions.
He compared India's recorded
sources of funds, such as foreign direct
investment and borrowing, and its
recorded use of funds, like foreign
currency reserves and deficit financing.
Illegal outflows are considered to exist
when funds recorded exceed those used.
India's exports and imports over the past
six decades were also taken into account.
Adjusted for inflation, that all added
up to $213bn missing since 1948. Taking
estimated investment returns into
account, Mr Kar calculated that was worth
$462bn in today's money.
The figure could be much more, he
warned, as it did not include smuggling and
cash transfers outside the financial system.
 National Spirit Vol.1, Issue No.35 Mumbai, November 26, 2010
NATIONAL SPIRIT Activists call for
A Weekly Stirring up the Soul of Bharat Taslima’s return
RNI No. MAHENG/2010/32801 Kolkata, November 22, 2010: Three
Vol. No.1, Issue No.35 Mumbai. Friday, November 26, 2010 years after violent protests on the streets
of Kolkata forced controversial Bangladeshi
author Taslima Nasreen to leave the city,
Editor & Publisher: P. Deivamuthu, B.Com., LL.B. activists are rallying to
Asstt. Editor: Sharad Mistry bring her back.
On Sunday,
Regd. & Editorial Office: organisations - including
210 Abhinav, 2nd Floor, Teen Dongri the Campaign Against
Yeshwant Nagar, Goregaon West, Mumbai 400062 Atrocities on Minorities in
Tel: 022-28764460, 28764418, 09324728153 Bangladesh (CAAMB) -
Email: nationalspirit@gmail.com held a demonstration in
Blogspot: http://nationalspirit.blogspot.com front of the Academy of
Subscription charges: Fine Arts.
One year (52 issues) Rs.250/-; Three years (156 issues) Rs.700/- “The political parties
Soft copy on PDF format via Email anywhere in the world - Rs.100/- for one year are only concerned about
Cheque/DD to be made favouring “National Spirit” & sent at the above address their votebank and no one has the courage
to talk about this,” said CAAMB convenor
Mohit Roy. “As a writer in the democratic
Sonia Raj is Scandal Raj set-up of our country, she has the right to
write anything.”
Roy said the organisation has been
It is reported that Sonia Gandhi has stated that India has become campaigning for allowing her to come to
corrupt and greedy. Look who is saying this! Is it not a laugh? It is the city for the last three years, but has
Sonia Gandhi and the Congress party which has made India corrupt failed to make any headway. They contend
and greedy. Sonia and her party are the fountain-head of all corruption
in India - the latest being CWG and 2G Spectrum scams. India in top 4 among
The 2G scam is said to be the biggest in human history. But our
politicians starting from the Prime Minister right down are going about B-school destinations
giving the same kind of reaction. Action will be taken against the guilty Mumbai, November 22, 2010: That the
stated the PM. But if the PM himself is under the scanner who is to US and the UK are the most popular
take action and how are we to trust the PM? No matter how brave the destinations for management studies is not
Congress pretends, there is no second opinion that it is the party with big news. But the findings of a survey
conducted by the Graduate Management
the biggest scams and corrupt to the core. The whole 2G scam was Admission Council (GMAC), which conducts
the making of the Congress to remain in power. GMAT, a B-school entrance test used
globally, have thrown up some surprises.
Under the UPA, the fourth pillar of democracy - the media - too Number 4 on the list of the Top 10 preferred
has come under the scanner. Many of the media personalities have destinations for B-school aspirants is India,
turned out to be power brokers and middlemen. It is disgusting to with Canada at No. 3. Israel and Spain are
the other surprise entrants.
listen to the audio tapes being in circulation on the net, containing the
According to experts, India's foray
verbatim talks of Barkha Dutt, Vir Singhvi, Prabhu Chawla and many into the elite league has a lot to do with
others with Nira Radia, a lobbyist for many corporate bodies. And the emergence of institutions such as the
these are the people whom we believe will expose corruption among Indian School of Business, Hyderabad,
politicians and work as watch-dogs! which was ranked No. 12 globally in the
Financial Times ( London) Global MBA
The present UPA headed by Sonia is the worst we have had rankings earlier this year. The IIMs, which
use GMAT as an entrance test for their
since Independence (Transfer of Power). She and the vested interests executive MBA programmes, are also
behind her, particularly the Christists, have been unleashing adharmic responsible for India's popularity.
rule on the hapless Hindus over the last few years.
She had openly declared that she wants to 'uplift' the minorities
(only Christians and Muslims). In her estimate, Hindus do not merit
Jagan’s Sakshi TV
upliftment! All welfare measures are only for Muslims and Christians!
Is it not sheer audacity on the part of this foreigner to wield her criticises Sonia
goddamn power against the native Hindus in their own land? Since New Delhi, November 22, 2010: Upset
then, we are witnessing a blatant reverse discrimination against over rebel Congress leader YS
Jaganmohan Reddy’s TV channel Sakshi
Hindus, who are being framed in terrorist cases, allowing the real telecasting a “highly obnoxious” programme
perpetrators of terror to go scot-free! Even our saints are being criticising party president Sonia Gandhi, the
arrested, tortured and demonised, the latest being Swami party high command on Sunday sought a
Aseemananda, who has been arrested and framed in the Hyderabad report from its Andhra Pradesh unit.
The development occurred even as
blast. Swami Aseemananda has been doing a yeomen’s service
the channel, making a U turn, re-telecast
among adivasis in Dang Dist. (Gujarat) for many decades, exactly the programme deleting adverse
like Swami Laxmananda Saraswati did in Khandamal, Orissa. references to Sonia and clairifying that it
had not targeted her. Though the channel
Hindu nationalist organisations like RSS, Sanatan Sanstha etc claimed that the 8 am show on Sunday
are being demonised, as per the evil designs of the satanic christists was a “re-telecast” of the episode aired
(evangelists) and their mercenaries. Even Muslims are only pawns in on Friday night (and repeated on Saturday
morning), viewers got to see a totally
their power game! Is it sensible for Hindus to continue to be non- different version.
reactive? Does it not mean that we are tolerating adharma? When The anchor part, besides the voice-
will our Sanyasis/Sadhu samaj speak up for Dharma and openly tell over, had clearly been recorded afresh
the Govt to stop practising adharma? Bhagwan will help us only if we and all adverse remarks against Sonia
deleted. The bold headlines that had
take the initiative to fight adharma. We must protest openly in a big criticised Sonia and Prime Minister
way and in large numbers. Manmohan Singh were also dropped. The
master title of the programme Hastagatam
(Contributed by: Dr. G. Vijayalakshmi) became Congress@125 in the re-telecast.
Page 4
that since there is no longer a ban on her
books, she should be allowed in the city.
“People seem to have forgotten the
issue,” said Chayan Roy, another member
of CAAMP. “Not only the
government, even
sections of civil society
talk no more about this.”
A women’s
organisation - Women
Against Oppression - also
organised a discussion in
the Press Club to garner
support for the author.
“We have decided to
call November 22 the
“Lajja Divas” (Day of Shame) - that was
the day she was forced to leave our
secular and so-called culturally rich city,”
said Swati Mitra, the secretary of WAO.
She said on Monday, author
Mahasweta Devi, theatre personality
Kaushik Sen and poet Joy Goswami will
be present to share their views on the
issue.
''B-school aspirants are looking at a
return on their investment, and with the
investment being lower for management
education in India when compared to the
US and the UK, the returns are higher,''
said an expert. Many feel that India can
soon emerge as a hub for management
studies amongst Asian countries such as
Singapore and the Philippines as the
country will be a far less expensive
destination than western giants.
Although making it to the US has,
for long, been the great Indian dream, it
is not the only North American country
that's attracting desi students. Many are
now making a beeline for Canada, which
not only has a robust economy and liberal
visa policies but also promises good job
prospects. ''In testing year 2010, India was
the top foreign country that sent score
reports to Canadian graduate management
programmes,'' reveals GMAC's survey.
Denying that the programme was
against Sonia or the Prime Minister,
Sakshi CEO Priyadarshini Ram said the
programme’s content was primarily an
editorial decision and there was no
interference by Jaganmohan Reddy.
Meanwhile, Congress workers
protested in various parts of Andhra Pradesh
and demanded an apology from Jagan and
the channel’s management for the
“blasphemous programme”. They also burnt
copies of Telugu daily Sakshi, which is also
owned by the Congress MP from Kadapa.
According to Congress leader K
Keshav Rao, the criticism of Sonia and
the Prime Minister by the TV channel was
intentional as Jagan wanted the party to
“take action” against him so he could
“become a hero” in the eyes of the public
and the media. “It’s not without design.
Ever since his father died, Jagan wanted
to become the Chief Minister… He has
resorted to a signature campaign for that.
He wants to raise a banner of revolt and
form his own party,” Rao said.
 National Spirit
NDA sweeps Bihar,
Washout for Lalu, Cong
Patna, November 24, 2010: The
Janata Dal (United)-Bharatiya Janata
Party alliance is headed for
the biggest victory ever in
the Hindi heartland and has
secure more than a three-
fourth majority in the Bihar
Assembly elections 2010.
The alliance has
bagged 207 seats, 85 more
than the simple majority, in
the 243-member
Assembly. The JDU has got 116 seats
while BJP has got 91. On the other hand,
RJD-LJP alliance suffered major reverses
bagging only 24 seats against its tally of
64 last time, with RJD 21 and LJP with
only three.
From 143 seats in the last elections
in 2005, the JD(U)-BJP alliance has put
up an impressive performance across the
state and may have even secured a
Yeddyurappa Stays
New Delhi, November 24, 2010: The
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on
Wednesday clarified that BS
Yeddyurappa would continue
to remain as the Chief Minister
of Karnataka. Announcing this
in New Delhi BJP
spokesperson Prakash
Javadekar said that
Yeddyurappa had clarified his
stand on the land scams in
Karnataka.
"Yeddyurappa has given
his view points and clarified on
the land scam in Karnataka. After
consultation with senior party colleagues
and local leaders, BJP has decided to
keep Yeddyurappa as the Chief Minister
of Karnataka" said Javadekar while
reading a statement from BJP President
Rosiah Goes
Hyderabad, November 24, 2010:
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah
on Wednesday announced his decision
to step down from his post citing
health reasons.
Playing down his
resignation, Rosaiah said his
resignation was not dictated by
political pressures.
"I quit from the post of Chief
Minister. It is not politically
motivated. I have carried forward
the agenda set by the late chief minister
YS Rajashekhar Reddy," said Rosaiah in
Hyderabad on Wednesday.
Claiming that he did not belong to
any group in the Congress, Rosaiah said
that he was satisfied with his work.
Parliament impasse:
All-party meet
comes a cropper
New Delhi, November 22, 2010:
Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee's
effort to resolve the deadlock over a joint
parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into
the 2G spectrum allotment scam failed
Monday with the opposition rejecting the
government's proposal to increase the
powers of the public accounts committee
(PAC).
The logjam persisted as the opposition
Vol.1, Issue No.35
considerable percentage of votes of the
Muslim community.
The Congress was
facing the prospects of its
worst result in the state
despite Congress
President Sonia Gandhi
and party General
Secretary Rahul Gandhi
campaigning extensively in
the state. The Congress
has won four seats, less
than five it got last time.
Rabri Devi, former Bihar Chief
Minister and wife of RJD chief Lalu Prasad
Yadav lost election for both Raghopur and
Sonepur Assembly seats.
Elections to Bihar Assembly took
place in six-phases during October-
November 2010. The counting started at
8 AM today amidst tight security
arrangements for all 243 constituencies.
Nitin Gadkari.
Karnakata state government has
also a constituted commission
of inquiry to find out the details
in the land scam case.
"I assure the people of
Karnataka that we will continue
with the development works in
Karnataka. Allegations made
against us will be proven
wrong. Senior party leaders LK
Advani, Sushma Swaraj and
Arun Jaitley have given their
blessings to me. I was never
asked to resign," Yeddyurappa said after
he was asked to continue as Karnataka
Chief Minister.
Reacting to the development,
Congress blamed the BJP for not being
able to control Yeddyurappa.
"I served the party like a soldier. I
worked to the satisfaction of the people
of Andhra Pradesh. If I have hurt anybody
or done anything wrong, it has
not been not deliberate," he said.
Refusing to name his
successor, he said that the
decision to name his successor
would be taken by the Congress
High Command. He added that
he was not quitting politics.
Union Law Minister and
state incharge Veerappa Moily denied any
links of Rosiah's resignation with the
Jagan factor.
"He has not resigned for any
governance reason but purely personal
reason," said Moily.
did not agree to a government proposal to
empower the PAC with a multi-disciplinary
committee involving representatives from
some investigative agencies.
Parliament's winter session that
began Nov 9 has witnessed repeated
adjournments over the opposition's
insistence for a JPC probe into the scam,
even after Raja, who was at the heart of
the controversy, resigned.
Mumbai, November 26, 2010
Indian journalists accused of secretly
helping politicians, businesses
(Continued from page 1)
conversations have raised questions
about ethics in the Indian media and its
coziness with corporate and political
bigwigs, especially at a time of
unprecedented economic growth.
The incident suggests India's free
press may not be free from pressure to
act as a go-between for India's
government and corporate leaders.
"In India's ultra-competitive
journalism world, the lobbyists are
gatekeepers to getting interviews with
industrialists," Mitta said. "The quid pro
quo seems to be that the lobbyist will give
access for interviews with the big
industrialists to the journalist, who is then
able to do them a good turn by conveying
the lobbyist's needs to ruling party leaders.
In the process, it's the journalists that are
getting compromised and the Indian public
that therefore suffers."
Indian journalists also increasingly
serve as advisers for companies and as
brand strategists on five-star hotel
advisory boards. They are often paid by
think tanks and are alleged to be paid
sometimes to write stories by interested
parties, media experts say.
"The list is endless. It's a life of world
capital-hopping, freebies, networking and
seminars and summits," said Viranda
Gopinath, a columnist who wrote in the New
Delhi tabloid Mail Today, one of the few
mainstream newspapers to carry a double-
page spread about the media's role in the
mobile-phone controversy. "Let's not
hoodwink ourselves to believe that this
morally pornographic journalism is
objective, fair and exact. All of it stinks, in
varying degrees of severity and phoniness."
The recorded conversations
suggest that two of India's leading
journalists Vir Sanghvi, the advisory
editorial director of the Hindustan Times,
and NDTV talk show powerhouse Barkha
Dutt allegedly said they would lobby for
Raja with Congress Party kingpins.
Both journalists have released
statements saying that they did nothing
more than participate in political chatter
and did nothing wrong. The transcripts
were published in two Indian
newsmagazines: Open and Outlook.
Those who defend Dutt and Sanghvi
argue that many journalists around the
world say things to encourage people to
open up about their views and elicit
information, building their confidence,
even if they don't fulfill their promises.
Bhagavad Gita in US Motels
(Continued from page 1)
from time to time, and he assures them
they can take the text with them.
Across Houston and its suburbs, the
Bible is about as familiar and accessible
as a phone book, but most people haven’t
heard of the Bhagavad Gita and probably
can’t even pronounce it.
“It probably will surprise people to see
a Gita. We’re new enough that we haven’t
gotten a whole lot of feedback,” said
Sarvabhauma Dasa, a spiritual leader at the
International Society for Krishna
Consciousness temple in Garden Oaks,
which is helping sponsor the Bhagavad Gita
distribution locally. “Some Americans might
be less open-minded to some scriptures,
but I think Americans are becoming much
more broad, and acceptance has really
grown. Maybe 20 years ago, the
acceptance wouldn’t allow it.”
The nationwide Panchajanya
Project has distributed more than 100,000
copies of the Bhagavad Gita, mostly
through economy hotels and motels.
Page 5
Many of India's newspapers and TV
stations have kept away from the issue,
saying the story had too many holes and
was vague. Some critics have accused
the mainstream media of a seemingly
orchestrated blackout.
Filling the gap has been the social
media, which is proving to be a popular
and high-impact venue, even in a country
with relatively low Internet usage.
Facebook now has a group called
"Barkhagate," referring to Barkha Dutt's
alleged role.
Twitter has played an important role
in launching what has become an
international conversation on the issue,
with the Indian diaspora weighing in.
Dutt, known as India's Oprah, has
been defending her reputation through her
Twitter account.
"Struck by the bizarre irony of being
accused of favouring a man i have never
met (raja) and have always attacked in print
and on TV. Gnite!," read one of her tweets.
"Program after program has been
scathingly critical and hardhitting on the
Raja controversy. THAT is the barometer
of ones independence," read another Dutt
tweet.
Several media experts say that the
good news is that the incident will inspire
some soul-searching about guidelines for
acceptable behavior in the growing Indian
media, whose stated goal is to be a pillar
of truth in the country's vibrant democracy.
This summer, a government probe
showed that regional journalists working in
India's many midsize cities and smaller towns
report stories for cash - often during elections
- in a practice known as "paid news."
"This malpractice has become
widespread and now cuts across
newspapers and television channels,
small and large in different languages and
located in different parts of the country,"
read the 70-page report, titled "Paid News:
How corruption in the Indian media
undermines democracy."
In the wake of the Raja allegations,
the Foundation for Media Professionals
will host a conference on journalists as
power brokers this week, with the hope
that something good can come out of the
controversy, Mitta said.
"We are actually happy that these
practices have come out in the open,"
Mitta said. "It forces us to address the
problem. We as journalists sit in judgment
of others all the time. We should hold
ourselves to a higher standard."
The Bhagavad Gita is part of the
great Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata, a
vast ancient text that’s more than 1.8
million words long. It’s well known and well
read across India’s regions and religions
but holds a special significance for
followers of Krishna, who believe it
establishes him as the lord of lords, above
other divine forms.
The Bhagavad Gita emphasizes
spiritual duty and refuge in Krishna while
introducing concepts including a personal
god, reincarnation, and the difference
between the body and soul. Each Sanskrit
line is transliterated and then written in
English, with a discussion of the nuanced
meaning of the text.
“For me, it reassures my faith. Every
time I read it, I have a deeper
understanding. Krishna is slowly revealing
the knowledge to me,” said Manish Puri,
who has organized the Gita distribution
across Houston. “This is essentially the
Hindu Bible, but it’s also much more than
that. It is a universal message.”
 National Spirit
'Advocates for Dharma' Hindus Demand Apology
from Deccan Herald
R. Sridharan
'Advocates for Dharma', a forum for
taking up and correcting the distortions in
the statute and judiciary vis a vis Hindu
Dharma was launched under the
auspices of 'Dharma Rakshana Samithi'.
Poojyasri Dayanandha Saraswathi
Swamiji delivered the inaugural address.
He outlined the need for protecting
Dharma in these troubled times and the
need for advocates to help in this task.
He cited examples to underscore the
gross injustice meted out to Hinduism like
government control of Temples while
giving freedom to others to manage their
places of worship etc.
He said that Hindu Dharma is all-
encompassing and accepts all paths that
lead to God. But while we have to be
liberal we cant close our eyes to the
threats to our Dharma. Only as long as
Hindus are in a majority can there be
secularism in Bharat. He also drew the
attention of the audience to threat of
Vol.1, Issue No.35
religious conversion and said conversion
is a sort of violence which involves
changing the core person and the core
beliefs.
He wanted the legal profession to
ponder and try to evolve a concensus by
debate, dialogue, awareness and corect
the distortions and to make the law equally
appilcable to all .
Many senior lawyers attended the
programmed and took part in the
deliberations. There was also an
interactive session.
The other speakers included Shri
S.Gurumurthy, Justice (Retd) Kumara
Rajarathnam, and Supreme court
advocate Shri Krishnamani and other
advocates.
A governing council was formed
comprisng senior lawyers. The
programme was a success due to the
untiring efforts of a group of young and
bright lawyers.
R.Sridharan
Mumbai, November 26, 2010
Jayakumar S. Ammangudi, Arsha
Vidya Satsanga, Houston, Texas, USA,
has demanded an apology from Deccan
Herald for misrepresenting facts. In his
letter to the editor, dated 22nd November
2010, he says:
“Please refer to the news article
published in your Newspaper, titled
“Temple, mosque can co-exist at disputed
site: Shankaracharya”.
The Sri Govardhan Peetham, Puri,
Orissa, is currently headed by Sri Swami
Nischalananda Saraswati. Swami
Nischalananda ji’s opinions are quite the
contrary to what is published in your
article. In fact, he believes that Hindus in
India are made to feel like strangers in
their own country.
A newspaper like The Deccan
Herald could easily have found that
nowhere in the official website of
Page 6
Govardhan Peetham is there any mention
of Swami Adhochhanand Dev! Moreover,
it has been firmly established that the
person who claims as the Swami
Adhochhanand Dev is an imposter. The
Puri High Court had unambiguously
reaffirmed that Swami Nischalananda
Saraswati was the recognised Jagadguru
Shankracharaya of Govardhan Peetham,
debarred the imposter from using the title,
and ordered the imposter to leave Puri.
While you have chosen to refer to
this charlatan as “Jagatguru
Shankaracharya”, we have also taken
note that many of your reports refer to the
revered Sri Baba Ramdev ji as simply
Ramdev, or yoga guru Ramdev instead
of Swami Ramdev.
On behalf all concerned Hindus, we
demand an unconditional apology from
the Deccan Herald, as well as investigate
the connections of this charlatan with
Islamic Jihadists and other anti-social
elements and terror-outfits of India. If an
apology is not published within one month
of the date of this communication, we will
assume that the published report is a
willful act on the part of the newspaper to
malign the sensitivities of the Hindus of
this world, a willful attempt at causing
communal disharmony in India, and we
will promote a boycott of The Deccan
Herald.”
Protests
greet Roy in
Orissa
Bhubaneswar, November 22, 2010:
Controversial Writer Arundhati Roy was
at the receiving end of her own tactic of
dissent and protest here on Sunday when
ABVP activists tried to stop her from
attending a meeting on tribal rights for her
controversial remark last month
supporting ''azad Kashmir''.
The activists of BJP's youth wing,
wearing black badges, shouted slogans
like ''Gaddar (traitor) Arundhati hai, hai'',
and, ''Arundhati go back'' just as she got
down from the car to reach the meeting
venue, said an eyewitness, and added,
''They waved black flags and also
chucked one of them at her.''
A scuffle between ABVP workers
and Roy's supporters, comprising
representatives from anti-land acquisition
lobby, followed. Her supporters cordoned
off the venue at Swadheenta Sangram
Manch to stop the ABVP activists from
disrupting their meeting.
While some of Roy's lathi-wielding
supporters chased the ABVP men, said
to be around 12 in number, the latter
hurled shoes at them. At least two people
were injured in the melee that went on for
half-an-hour until the cops arrived and
picked up eight ABVP men.
Talking to reporters, Roy said, ''They
(ABVP) have a right to protest, I have a
right to speak,'' and added that she was
sticking to her opinion on Kashmir. She
had said, ''Kashmir was never an integral
part of India. It's a historical fact."
Addressing the meeting, she
glorified Maoists as 'patriots of a kind', and
accused Prime Minister and Union Home
minister of "violating the Constitution and
PESA (Panchayat Extention of Scheduled
Areas) act by allowing corporates to use
tribal land."
 National Spirit Vol.1, Issue No.35 Mumbai, November 26, 2010 Page 7

175th Birthday of Temple, mosque can co-exist: Shankaracharya

Lucknow, November 18, 2010: consensus is evolved among them," the

Jhansi Rani Lakshmi Bai
T N Ramakrishna (Mobile: 9845672560)
Jhansi Rani Lakshmi Bai, the fiery
Queen of Jhansi, also known as the Rani
of Jhansi, one of the great nationalist
heroine of the first war of India freedom, a
symbol of resistance to the British rule in
India was born on 19th November 1835
at Kashi (Presently known as Varanasi).
Her father Moropanth was a Brahmin and
her mother Bhagirathibai was a cultured,
intelligent and God fearing lady.
Mannikarnika (Manu) was the name of
Rani Lakshmi Bai in her childhood. She
was also called Chebbelli with love and
affection. Manu lost her mother at the age
of four. The Complete responsibility of the
young girl fell on the father. She completed
her education and also learned horse
riding, Sword fighting and shooting on a
target with a gun.
She was married to Raja Gangadhar
Rani Jhansi was determined not to
give up Jhansi. She was a symbol of
patriotism and self respect. Britishers
were making every effort to destroy the
freedom of country whereas Rani was
determined to get rid of Britishers.
Rani Lakshmi Bai strengthened the
defence of Jhansi and she assembled a
volunteer army of rebellions. Women were
also given Military training. Rani was
accompanied by her brave warriors, some
of them were Gulam Gaus Khan, Dost
Khan, Khuda Baksh, Lala Bhau Bakshi,
Moti Bai, Sunder-Mundar, Kashi Bai,
Deewan Raghunath singh and Deewan
Jawahar Singh. Along with all these
warriors the local population of Jhansi
irrespective of their religion or caste were
always determined to fight and give their
lives with pleasure for the cause of
Asserting that the Ayodhya issue can be
resolved through talks among religious
leaders, Jagatguru Shankaracharya
Jagatguru Shankaracharya of Govardhan
Puri told reporters here.
He also flayed some Hindu outfits
Swami Adhochhanand Dev today said he for using the issue for "political gains".
would not mind co-existence of temple "Political leaders can not find solution to
and mosque at the disputed site if a this issue...Religious leaders are capable
consensus is evolved in this regard. of solving it," he claimed, adding judicial
"The solution to this dispute can be process was time-taking.
found (through talks) among religious About the purpose of his visit, Swami said
leaders. I personally do not mind co- he went toAyodhya yesterday to pay obeisance
existence of both temple and mosque if a to Ramlala and meet religious leaders.
Fake Shankaracharya
Adhokshajananda is bogus. He is not the Shankarcharya of Puri. He
has been sponsored by anti-Hindu groups. He was invited to visit USA and
was hosted by missionary organizations and IMC-USA, which I think has some
association with Jamaat-e-Islami. I think Adhokshajananda has had some
connection with Jamaat-e-Islami in India.
In July 200, he was arrested by the Orissa police for obstructing
government officials from serving a court order. He was falsely claiming that
he is the true Shankaracharya of Goverdhan Peeth, Puri. - S. Yashwant

Temple-Mosque
Rao, the Maharaja of Independent and their
Jhansi in 1842, and beloved Rani.
became the Rani of The Britishers
Jhansi. After the marriage
She was given the name
Lakshmi Bai. The
attacked Jhansi in March
1858. Rani Jhansi with
her faithful warriors
Co-Existence
Marriage ceremony was
performed in Ganesh
Mandir, the temple of Lord
decided not to surrender.
The war continued for
about two weeks. Shelling
Just Impossible
Dr. K. R. Venkataramaiah
Ganesha situated in the on Jhansi was very fierce.
city of Jhansi. Rani In the Jhansi army I come from Mulbagal town, Kolar to be about 30% of the town population.
Lakshmi Bai gave birth to women were also District, Karnataka. My father moved from Now, they are in excess of 50%. The
a son in 1851, but carrying ammunition and Kothapalli village a few miles from Town's municipal president is a Muslim.
unfortunately this child were supplying food to Sarjapur, Hosur Taluk, Dharmapuri Dt. In 1950s, there were about 5 mosques.
died when he was about the soldiers. Rani (earlier called Salem Dt., that was Now more than 32 mosques exist + a
four months old. After this Lakshmi Bai was very bifurcated) to Mulbagal in late 1940s. Our madrassa. Earlier Muslim women never
tragedy, Damodar Rao was adopted as active. She herself was inspecting the house exists at Gunaganti-Palyam (Old used to wear burqas. Now even young
son. Later on Maharaja Gangadhar Rao defence of the city. However, after this Post office Road), Mulbagal. Muslim girls wear burqas.
also died on 21st November 1853. After great war, Jhansi fell to the British forces. Every year, Ranganatha Our Hindu women have to pass
the death of Maharaja Gangadhar Rao, On that black day, the British army Ramayanam used to be read in front of through Muslim areas to the farm fields
Rani Lakshmi Bai was left alone. At this entered the Jhansi City. Rani Lakshmi Bai, Bhajana Madiram during evening/night every day. Problems exist.
time she was eighteen years old. Rani still full of courage and deathless patriotism time. Coinciding at the completion, with Some years ago, on Theppotsavam
Lakshmi Bai did not lose her courage, She dressed as a man, took up arms, her son Ram Navami, Sri Rama Pattabhishekam day, when many deities are taken in
always remembered her responsibility. Damodar Rao was strapped tightly to her would be celebrated. First, monkeys on procession along streets, a young
At that time Lord Dalhousie was the back. She was holding the reins of her various roads passing through Mulbagal beautiful Hindu girl while returning home
Governor General of India. Though little horse in her mouth. In the fierce fighting were fed. Then poor people were used was raped, killed and dumped in a well
Damodar Rao, adopted son of late Maharaja she was using the sword with both her to be fed. Afterwards, the left overs were by a Muslim. The fellow, who is now the
Gangadhar Rao and Rani Lakshmi Bai was hands. When the situation was not in shared by our Palyam
Maharaja's heir and successor as per the control, Rani of Jhansi with some of her people and others who
Hindu tradition, the British rulers rejected warriors departed from Jhansi. used to join the Celebration.
Rani's claim that Damodar Rao was their Rani Lakshmi Bai reached Kalpi. This used to be so grand,
legal heir. Lord Dalhousie decided to annexe Many other rebellions force joined her. that all used to await this
the state of Jhansi as Maharaja Gangadhar Tatia Tope from Kalpi was also one of get-together.
Rao had left no legal heir. This misfortune them, from Kalpi Rani departed to the On Makara
of Jhansi was used by the Britishers to Gwalior. Again a fierce battle took place. Sankranthi Day, thousands
expand their Empire. Rani Jhansi fought with deathless of bullocks well dressed
In March 1854 the British ruler patriotism and martyrdom. However on would assemble in our
announced Rs. 60,000 ( Sixty Thousand) the second day of fighting, the great street, the front line
annual pension for Rani and also ordered heroine of the first struggle for India coinciding with the
to leave the Jhansi fort. Jhansi was in freedom, at the age of 22 years, lost her intersection of our street
humiliating condition but it was like a silent life. That unfortunate day was 18th June and NH4 passing through the town. At Town's Municipal president, was also
volcano before eruption. of 1858. this junction, a mosque exists. Loud holding similar position at that time. Every
speakers from this mosque make so much one in the town knows who was the
noise now, we have lost our freedom to criminal. The case was hushed up.
Hindu Voice celebrate any of our festivals in peace nor
do we live in peace.
This is so much for the co-
existence. Sorry Sir. Shankaracharya
THE HEARTBEAT OF NATIONALISTS Also, during the assembly of
bullocks, Muslim miscreants start throwing
Swami Adhochhanand Dev has no clue
as to what is happening on a day to day
A Monthly in English and Hindi, published stones at the bullocks and men handling basis in India, where Muslims are present
for the last EIGHT years (since April 2002) them. Hell will brake loose. Police in large numbers. Bengal, Kerala offer
intervene and the Sankranti Day is ruined. other the best examples.
English Hindi Nowadays, CRF is present at such times. Shankaracharya Swami
Hindu Voice
1 year - Rs.200/-; Subscription
1 year - Rs.150/-; Further to the intersection , in Adhochhanand Dev's personal opinion of
3 years - Rs.500/- 3 years - Rs.400/- continuation to our street, there is a Durga not minding co-existence of both Ayodhya
charges
Life Membership - Rs.2,000/- Life Membership - Rs.1,500/- temple. This I believe was a Lord Shiva Ram Temple and mosque, is foolish,
Cheque/DD to be drawn favouring “Hindu Voice” Temple centuries ago. Mulbagal is a land unwise and impractical. Swami has no
of many Temples. Muslims celebrate vision and is ignoring the experience of
Hindu Voice Durga festival. At the end of the festival , India- Pakistan not co-existing over
210 Abhinav, Teen Dongri, Yeshwant Nagar, Goregaon West, Mumbai 400062 they take a procession starting through decades, for example. He should cease
Tel: 022-28764460, 28764418, 09324728153 our street. Hindus offer sugar, incense and desist further statements on the
Email: hinduvoicemumbai@gmail.com sticks to the fakir they carry on a chariot. subject.
http://hinduvoicemumbai.blogspot.com No disturbance is caused by Hindus. Hindus need only Ram's Temple and
So you see, there is no coexistence wish to devote themselves in peace and
Hindu Voice and National Spirit are sister publications
from Muslims. In 1950s, Muslims used tranquility.
 National Spirit is registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India. RNI No. MAHENG/2010/32801
National Spirit
SC questions eligibility
of 'tainted' CVC chief
New Delhi, November 22, 2010:
Government today placed the file relating
to the appointment of P J Thomas as the
Chief Vigilance Commissioner in the
Supreme Court, which questioned as to
how he would function in the post in view
of a pending criminal case against him.
"Without looking into the file, we are
concerned that if a person is an accused
in a criminal case how will he function as
CVC," a bench headed by Chief Justice
S H Kapadia observed after Attorney
General G E Vahanvati placed the file in
a sealed cover.
The bench said it will go through the
file and posted the matter after two weeks.
"We will sit together
and go through the file," the
bench also comprising
Justices K S Radhakrishnan
and Swatanter Kumar said.
The name of Thomas
figures in the chargesheet
filed in a palmoleine export
case.
After the file was
placed before it, the apex
courtbench said it would like
to know whether the
eligibility criteria of impeccable integrity
has been met.
The bench told Attorney General G
E Vahanvati that the issue as to how
Thomas will function as CVC when his
name is there in a chargesheet will crop
up at every stage.
The AG sought to clarify that there
was no involvement of Thomas in
palmoleine export case and the sanction
to prosecute him had not been processed.
The bench, however, said, "Let us
proceed on assumption that at every
stage there will be allegations that you
should not process a file as CVC as you
are accused in a criminal case. How will
you function as CVC?
"In every case the CBI has to report
to him," the bench pointed out.
"Under the service jurisprudence, a
person cannot even be considered for
promotions when a chargesheet is
pending against him," said the bench.
"At this stage as a chargesheet is
pending against him since 2002, he is not
even considered to be promoted. We are
only suggesting whether he will be able
to function as CVC. He himself will be an
embarrassment," it said.
"Since this matter is very important,
we will structure our order on this basis,"
it said.
The bench clarified that it was not
on the merits of the case but it only wanted
to know if the whole procedure including
the criteria of impeccable integrity was
followed in the appointment of Thomas as
CVC.
Maintaining that whole process was
followed, the Attorney General told the
court that if such allegations are taken into
consideration, every judicial appointment
may come into scrutiny.
The bench said the palmoleine case
was handled by the state wing of CVC and
Thomas is heading the central
organisation.
The AG said J M Lyngdoh, who filed
the petition, had himself prepared
Thomas' ACR stating that his integrity was
beyond doubt and yet he filed the petition.
Edited, Printed, Published and owned by P. Deivamuthu, and published from 210 Abhinav Co-op. Hsg. Society Ltd., Teen Dongri Road, Yeshwant Nagar,
Goregaon West, Mumbai 400002, Tel: 022-28764460, 28764418, 09324728153, and printed by him at Somani Printing Press, 7 Udyog Bhavan, Sharma Indl.
Estate, Walbhat Road, Goregaon East, Mumbai 400063 .
Vol.1, Issue No.35
Refuting allegations in a petition filed
by civil societies - Centre for Public
Interest Litigation (CPIL) and Common
Cause - questioning Thomas'
appointment as CVC, Vahanvati had said
the statements made in the petition were
not correct.
Earlier, the apex court had decided
to examine the file on appointment of
Thomas, whose name is also allegedly
involved in the cover-up of 2G spectrum
scam, saying it wanted to know if eligibility
criteria had been followed.
The bench had also said that it would
like to see if the consultation process has
been followed.
The petition by the two
civil societies had
contended that Thomas
was considered for the
crucial post despite
objection from the Leader of
the Opposition.
The petitioners had
contended that Thomas
could not be considered as
a person of "impeccable
integrity" as he was
chargesheeted in the
Palmoleine export scam when he was
Kerala's Secretary in the state Ministry of
Food and Civil Supplies and had secured
bail from the local court.
The PIL said he also could not be
appointed as CVC on account of "conflict
of interest" as till recently he was serving
as the Secretary in Telecom Ministry and
there was allegation that he was involved
in the cover-up of the 2G spectrum scam,
which, according to the petitioners, has
caused a loss of Rs 70,000 to the state
exchequer.
The civil societies have sought the
court's direction to declare as illegal
Thomas' appointment on the ground that
there was alleged violation of Section 4
of Central Vigilance Commission Act as
the Prime Minister and the Home Minister
insisted on his name despite objection by
the Leader of the Opposition, which shows
the government had decided in advance
to appoint him.
"The Prime Minister and the Home
Minister recommended the name of
Thomas for selection despite the fact that
the Leader of the Opposition objected to
his name being selected. So, the Leader
of Opposition was forced to record her
dissent. Hence, her presence was
rendered meaningless in the
appointment," the petition alleged.
It further said, "When the country's
highest court (apex court) and Parliament
held that the CVC would be selected by
the three-member committee including
the Leader of the Opposition, it was
patently obvious that the said committee
would decide by unanimity or consensus.
It was no where said that the committee
would decide by majority.
"The latter interpretation would
make the presence of the Leader of the
Opposition meaningless as the Prime
Minister and the Home Minister would
always be ad-idem and the person
selected would be a government
nominee. Therefore, the manner in which
Thomas was selected makes his
appointment illegal, bad in law and hence
void ab-initio".
Editor: P. Deivamuthu
- Postal Regn. No. MH/MR-NW-177/2010
Mumbai, November 26, 2010
Oldest and acclaimed
Catholic University
offers Hinduism classes
Nevada (US), Nov 22 : Catholic
University Leuven (Belgium), oldest
existing Catholic university in the world
founded in 1425, is offering Hinduism
classes in English and Dutch.
These Hinduism courses will
acquaint students with Veda, Bhagavad-
Gita, Upanishads, epics and Puranas,
tantric and bhakti traditions, concept of
salvation, philosophical traditions, etc. On
the oral exam, students are supposed to
be able to explain cited Sanskrit terms. It
is included in Master of Theology and
Religious Studies and some other
programs.
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven,
founded by Pope Martin V, has about
37000 students from all over the world
and offers 120 postgraduate academic
programs with revenue of about USD 890
million. Mark Waer is the Rector.
Prominent Hindu statesman Rajan
Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA)
US Congress urges
UNSC seat for India
Washington, November 22, 2010:
Lauding India's commitment to global
peace and development of the South
Asian region, a resolution introduced in
the US House of Representatives has
appealed to the United Nations to take
necessary steps to make New Delhi a
permanent member of the Security
Council.
The resolution by Congressman
Gus Bilirakis gives the sense of the House
of Representatives that the UN should
forthwith take the procedural actions
necessary to amend Article 23 of the
Hindus upset over
Newsweek cover showing
Obama as Nataraja
Nevada (US), Nov 21 : Hindus are
upset over the cover of November 22
edition of American newsweekly
Newsweek which depicts US President
Barack Obama in Nataraja pose, saying
that it trivializes their venerated deity Siva.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a
statement in Nevada (USA) today, said
that Lord Siva was a highly revered major
deity in Hinduism meant to be worshipped
in temples or home shrines and not to be
used indecorously or thrown around
loosely in reimagined versions for
dramatic effects.
How a mortal could be depicted as
Siva, who is the director of our destinies,
Zed, who is the President of Universal
Society of Hinduism, asked and added
that inappropriate use of Hinduism
concepts and symbols for pushing selfish
agenda or mercantile greed was not okay.
Rajan Zed argued that it was
unnecessary dragging of a Hindu deity in
American political wrangles by Newsweek
to prove their point of view and urged
Newsweek to publish a disclaimer about
Page 8
today, described Catholic University's
action as "a step in the right direction".
Zed, who is president of Universal
Society of Hinduism, argued that religion
was a complex element of our lives and
religion comprises much more than one's
own individual experience or specific
tradition. God, as a sign of God's munificence
and benevolence, constructively wished
presence of different faiths.
Rajan Zed urged the schools/
departments of religion of other major
world universities to strengthen their
Hinduism sections. Hinduism being the
oldest religion with rich philosophical
thought and a vast array of scriptures
needed more exploration. Zed especially
asked the Harvard, Cambridge, Yale,
Princeton, Oxford, Stanford, Columbia,
McGill, Australian National, Tokyo,
Copenhagen, Heidelberg, Uppsala, and
Utrecht universities to further enrich their
Hinduism resources.
Charter of the United Nations to establish
India as a permanent member of the UN
Security Council.
The resolution, which has been sent
to the House Committee on Foreign
Affairs for necessary action, noted that
India is the largest democratic country in
the world in which all political views are
freely expressed and respected.
The resolution also said that India
has demonstrated a strong commitment
to global peace and promotion of the
peaceful development of the South Asian
region.
this on its website and the next issue with
proper explanation of Nataraja, Siva, and
Hinduism.
Zed stressed that Hinduism was the
oldest and third largest religion of the
world with about one billion adherents and
a rich philosophical thought and it should
not be taken lightly. No faith, larger or
smaller, should be ridiculed at.
Rajan Zed pointed out that Hindus
understood that the purpose of Newsweek
in this case apparently was not to
denigrate Hinduism, but casual flirting like
this sometimes resulted in pillaging
serious spiritual doctrines and revered
symbols and hurting the devotees. Humor
was a part and parcel of Hindu society,
but there were certain convictions in every
tradition, which were venerable and not
meant to be taken lightly.
Zed further said that Hindus
welcomed media to immerse in Hinduism
but taking it seriously and respectfully and
not just for improper showing of Hindu
symbols and concepts to advance their
commercial or other agenda.