Yesterday in this post I had said,

Now, this is my third and hopefully last post in the 'honor' of Padamshri Rajdeep Sardesai and his Congress News Network.

But I did not know then that would be writing another one, yet again that too so soon.

Yesterday three most crucial witnesses deposed before the 'Parliamentary Committee' probing the charges of 'Cash- for-Votes Scandal.

These three are.

Shri Sudheendra Kulkarni:
Shri Kulkarni is an important aide to Shri Advani and is a regular columnist for Indian Express. Shri Kulkarni felicitated the CNN IBN commissioned 'Sting Operation'.

Shri Sohail Hindustani: The man who played the role of 'middleman' between Amar Singh, Ahmed Patel duo ( both Vote Managers) and three BJP (Whistle Blowers) MPs. Sohail and CNN IBN team planned and executed the 'Sting Operation' commissioned by Rajdeep's Channel CNN IBN.

Shri Sanjeev Saxena: Man who delivered 1 Crore Rs. To three whistle blower BJP MPs.

Thanks to my dear friend Offstumped for publishing the 'Detailed Written Statements' as made by TWO most Important witnesses before the Parliamentary Committee probing the Cash-For-Votes-Scandal.

Read at Offstumped full written statement of Shri Kulkarni.

Read at Offstumped full written statement of Sohail Hindustani.

I am posting some snippets from the statements of Shri Kulkarni and Shri Sohail. Full read of statements for clear understanding is highly recomended.

My commentary is as usual in 'communal color'.

213 A, MS Flats Quarters

Opposite R.M.L. Hospital

Baba Kharak Singh Marg

New Delhi 1100 001
To

The Honourable Speaker

Lok Sabha

New Delhi

Subject: Witness statement in the 'Cash-for-Votes' scandal in Parliament on July 22, 2008 involving Shri Amar Singhji, General Secretary of the Samajwadi Party, Shri Ahmed Patelji, Political Secretary to the Congress President, and Shri Reoti Raman Singhji, MP and Samajwadi Party leader

. Around this time, I came to know from the "market" that a large number (over 15) of BJP and NDA MPs were being targeted by Shri Ahmed Patelji, Shri Amar Singhji and other leaders of the Congress and Samajwadi Party. I felt that the victory of Dr. Manmohan Singhji's Government through defections from the BJP was neither good for the country nor good for the Party I support.

It is a known fact that many Congress CMs were camping in Delhi for the management of Votes. Read this.

I contacted Shri S.P. Guptaji, an IAS officer of Haryana cadre who works closely with Shri Bhupinder Singh Hoodaji, Chief Minister of Haryana. He is the chief administrator of the Housing Board of Haryana. He was with me for over an hour at the coffee shop of the India Islamic Centre. He took the list of MPs from me and said, "I don't want any money in this deal. But if your list of MPs is pucca, I will take you to meet Shri Hoodaji and Shri Ahmed Patelji, who will discuss the deal with you."

How and when Shri Kulkarni enters in the picture.

On July 21, at around 11.30 am, I phoned Shri Sudheendra Kulkarniji, a senior BJP activist who was OSD in the PMO when Shri Vajpayeeji was the Prime Minister. (His mobile number is 98109 33222). I have considerable respect for him due to my
acquaintance with him when he used to live in the party full-timers' rooms in the BJP headquarters at 11 Ashoka Road. He now works with Shri Advaniji. Therefore, I felt that he was the right person for me to convey the message that over a dozen BJP MPs
were being approached by Congress-SP leaders.

Just look at who else is involved.

In the afternoon, at around 1.30 pm, Shri Guptaji phoned me and asked me to meet him at Claridges Hotel. He promised to arrange my meeting with Shri Ahmed Patelji. As we were having soup in the restaurant, two persons came to meet us — Shri Lovely Singh (son of Shri Buta Singhji, former Home minister and Governor of Bihar) and Shri Aman Arora, who was introduced as Shri Lovely Singh's friend. They came in a black-coloured Honda CRB car.

Incidently Shri Buta Singh was 'instrumental in JMM Bribery Scandal too ( PV Narsimha Rao Govt Trust Vote. Circa: 1993.) This reminds me of an interesting saying in Northern India

Pita Par Poot (Son), Jaat (breed) Par Ghoda,
Bahut Nahin Tu Thoda Thoda.

Whistle blowers and CNN IBN.

Late in the afternoon of July 21, Shri Kulkarniji introduced me to three BJP Members of Parliament (Lok Sabha) — Shri Ashok Argalji, Shri Mahavir Baghoraji and Shri Faggan Singh Kulasteji. Shri Kulkarni also told me that a team from CNN-IBN was coming soon to work closely with the three MPs, record their whistle-blowing operation and telecast it.

The rendezvous with Ahmed Patel.

As mentioned earlier, Shri Lovely Singh had arranged my meeting with Shri Ahmed Patelji at 7.30 pm at the latter residence on Willingdon Crescent. Since the CNN-IBN team had not yet arrived, I requested for the meeting to be rescheduled. I was then informed that I could bring the MPs to meet Shri Ahmed Patelji to Le Meridien Hotel.

CNN IBN suppressed the Truth.

I am constrained to state here that, in CNN-IBN's August 11 telecast of its sting operation on the 'Cash-for-Votes' scandal, the channel hid the information from its viewers that the visit to Meridien Hotel was to meet Shri Ahmed Patelji. The channel also showed no clips of the Congress leaders whom the two BJP MPs and I met in the hotel lobby.

All set to 'Sting'.

Apart from Shri Argalji and Shri Kulkarniji, I met two other persons from CNN-IBN
there. One was Shri Saif Kidwai, who introduced himself as a producer, and a colleague of his whose name I do not know. Shri Siddharth Gautam of CNN-IBN told us that instead of going out to meet anybody with hidden cameras, it was better to invite the person to a safe room since the quality of recording would be much better. Accordingly, his team fitted cameras behind curtains in the drawing room in Shri Argalji's house, and a listening device in an adjoining room.

CNN IBN team who recorded the 'Sting'.

During this meeting, I was partly inside Shri Argalji's drawing room and partly in the adjoining room where Shri Siddharth Gautam, Shri Saif Kidwai, Shri Sudesh and the fourth member from the CNN-IBN team were listening to the conversation in the drawing room. Shri Kulkarniji was also present in the adjoining room.

Here enters the 'King Maker' and his 'management skills' are apparent and all this 'Dealing Wheeling' only because Amar Singh Ji Maharaj was working in the best interest of India and was so impressed with the merits of 'Nuclear Deal' that too after just an hour long meeting with NSA. Come on do not kid me, PLEASE.

Shri Amar Singhji welcomed the three of us warmly and treated us to dates and dry grapes. He was wearing white pyjama and a kurta of sky-blue colour. Thanking me for bringing the two MPs to meet him, he claimed that he had already "managed" the support of 275-285 MPs to ensure the survival of the UPA Government. Nevertheless, since Shri Reoti Raman Singhji had arranged the meeting, he would pay Rs. 3 crore to each MP if they abstained from the trust vote. At this point, Shri Argalji and Shri Kulasteji mentioned to him that they had one more BJP MP willing to abstain. Shri Amar Singhji told them that he would pay the same amount to Shri Baghoraji.

After this, Shri Amar Singhji spoke to somebody and informed that person that three more BJP MPs had agreed to abstain from voting. Once the conversation was over, he told us, "Aap ke baare mein main ne PM ko bata diya hai." (I have informed the PM about you.) He then phoned Shri Ahmed Patelji from his mobile and said, "I have three more Kamals (Lotuses) here." He made the two MPs speak to Shri Ahmed Patelji. From the conversation I could make out that Shri Amar Singhji and Shri Ahmed Patelji were working in a coordinated manner.

Shri Amar Singhji offered to pay the MPs a token amount of Rs. one crore and asked them to carry it with them. Shri Argalji and Shri Kulasteji said, "Hum nahin le jayenge. Bahar mediawalen khade hain." (We won't take it with us since mediapersons are standing outside your house.) Shri Amar Singhji then promised to send the amount with his assistant, Shri Sanjeev Saxena, within 10-15 minutes. The remaining amount of Rs. 8 crore, he assured them, would be paid to them after the trust vote.

As we were coming out of his drawing room, I told Shri Amar Singhji, "Thakur Sahab, aap Thakur ho kar Marwadi ki tarah baat karte ho. Teen karod to bahut kum rakam hain." (Thakur Sahab, being a Thakur you are talking like a Marwadi. Three crores is too small an amount.) He smiled at me and said, "Aap der se aaye. Raat ko MPs ko le aate to Ahmedbhai bhi yahin pe the." (You came late. If you had brought the MPs last night, Ahmed Patel was also here and they would have met him." I then asked him, "Thakur Sahab, mera kya hoga?" (What about my share?) He said, "Aap ka saamaan hum ne Golf Course mein rakha hai. Vahan jaa ke utha lena." (Your amount is kept at Golf Course. Pick it up from there.)

While entering Shri Amar Singh's house, I had seen Shri Siddharth Gautam and his colleague Shri Saif Kidwai. Also present were reporters and cameramen from several other TV channels. While I was inside Shri Amar Singhji's drawing room, Shri Siddharth Gautam (his mobile no. is 98996 92321) phoned me on my mobile (9999996060) and said, "Please tell me what time you are leaving Shri Amar Singh's
house, so that I'll be ready to shoot your car coming out of the house. I want to tell you that a lot of other mediapersons are also standing here." This can be checked from my mobile call records and those of Shri Siddharth Gautam. We left Shri Amar Singh's house at 10.48 am.

We left Shri Amar Singhji's house to return to Shri Argal's house at around 10.30 am. Within 15 minutes, his assistant Shri Sanjeev Saxena, accompanied by a well-built person, arrived at 4 Ferozshah Road in a white Gypsy car no. DL-3C-S-8562. The number was noted by a member of Shri Argalji's staff. Before ushering Shri Saxena and his colleague (who was carrying two pistols hidden behind his clothes) into the drawing room, I told him, "Meri Shri Amar Singhji se baat karao, yeh maal bahut kum hai. Hum is par sauda nahin karenge." (Make me speak to Shri Amar Singhji, because this amount is too small. We'll not do not do the deal at this rate.") Shri Saxena put the call through to Shri Amar Singhji, who told me that he would double the rate to Rs. 6 crore per MP. "If this is acceptable, the deal is on. Otherwise, I'll ask my man to return immediately."

I have 'quoted' some interesting hereto un-known facts, do read the full statement. Now here are some highlights from Shri Kulkarni's written statement.

Shri Sudheendra Kulkarni.

17 Balwantrai Mehta Lane

New Delhi 110 001

August 14th, 2008

To

The Honourable Speaker

Lok Sabha

New Delhi

I am submitting the following written submission to you as an eye-witness in the "Cash-for-Votes" scandal that rocked Parliament and shocked the nation on July 22.

Shri Kulkarni has been consistent and unequivocal in his 'criticism and condemnation' of the way ManMohan Singh 'managed' the confidence of MPs.

Consequent to the withdrawal of the Left parties' support to the UPA Government on July 8 over the Indo-US nuclear deal, I was deeply agitated by the unethical and fraudulent manner in which the UPA Government started to cobble up majority support. Well before the 'Cash-for-Votes' scandal broke out on July 22, I gave ex-pression to my angry feelings and agitated thoughts in two columns. ('From 'Lal Salaam' to Dalal Salaam', July 13, 2008 and 'Polluting Parliamentary Democracy', July 20, 2008) After the scandal broke out, I wrote about it in three consecutive columns. ('Where is the Proof?' Asked the PM, July 27 2008; 'Parliament on Sale', August 3 2008; and Solzhenitsyn, Lies and Videotape, August 10, 2008).

Much of what Shri Kulkarni say in this written statement is in agreement and corborates well with what Sohail Hindustani deposed before the Parliamentary committee probing the which I feel personally is: The molestation of democracy if not out rightly 'rape attempt'.

Shameful indeed it is to know how the supposedly 'Mr. Clean and Honesty Personified 'ManMohan Singh's government stooped down to secure majority of the house.

Possibly, PM might not have been aware of things but then it reflects on his leadership and ability to head a government of a Billion strong Nation. Then, Morality and Politics had divorced long time back, isn't it?

George Shelley explains.

He who promises more than he is able to perform, is false to himself; and
he who does not perform what he has promised, is a traitor to his friend

Now, this is my third and hopefully last post in the 'honor' of Padamshri Rajdeep Sardesai and his Congress News Network, called so euphemistically CNN IBN. A couple of days back Padamshri's beautiful wife and senior editor of Congress News Network (CNN IBN); Sagarike Ghose wrote an 'angry piece' in another Congress rag called 'The Hindustan Congress Times'. Sandeep my friend noticed that as 'Revenge of the Turd' , as Sandeep said.

How dare the BJP, till now the favorite whipping boy of the secular media, call his (Rajdeep's) bluff by demanding accountability? That is the source of Turdesai's impotent anger.

So far, Media has been a holy cow and Media especially the 'Secularist English Media' had reserved all the 'probity' and right to question only to themselves. In their infinite and extremely elastic 'ethics' they arrogated selves with the power to slander others (like they did in Aarushi murder case), to cast apprehensions on others, to 'Brand Individuals and Political parties' with tags like communal etc. Freedom of speech degenerated to 'Freedom to Abuse'. Their Channels and Papers became useful 'extended organs' of one or another Political Outfit. For long, this MSM high jacked the 'Public Discourse' and set the tone and tenor of the debate.

These worthies decided that 'Hindus' were communal and any body with even a sympathetic look in their eyes for Hindus and/ or a voice for them, should be branded as 'Communal', thus must be ridiculed, abused, sneered at and must be 'hauled up over coals'. They perfected the art of 'secularizing' every thing and anything and any and every body who could abuse Hindus in more and more 'innovative' abuses and 'innuendos' were invited to studios and encouraged to spew venom against Hindus in general and BJP, RSS in particular. If a riot broke out, they smelt an opportunity to increase their TRPs simultaneously, ensuring a PADAMSHRI for some 'Teastas' and self.

I dare both Padamshri Rajdeep 'Bhai' and Padamshiri Barkha ' Bhen' to release the tapes of their reporting from Gujarat post Godhara. DOES RIGHT TO INFORMATION APPLY TO YOU? But then Bhai Rajdeep, who otherwise would spend millions to get a 'Tehelaka' or 'Cobra' do stings and air those, conveniently when election were on, sat on tapes he him self (his channel) recorded ! "The Journalist" in quest of some 'secularism more' or something else Rajdeep? Khushwant Singh, know how awards are won and he did tell us.

Objectivity, fairness, Pursuance of truth all fell by the way sides and got replaced with lure of titles and lucre. Rajdeep himself has admitted 'The Journalist started demanding more'. From here on, the fall of MSM was inevitable. Cash-For-Votes-Hide-The-Tape proved 'Rajdeep Correct': Hamam Mein Sab Nange Hain. (OR BILKUL NANGE: My Emphasis)

Let me make it clear. I have nothing personal against Rajdeep or Barkha (both Padamshris :) awarded by 'Your President' ), neither have any personal axe to grind. Since these two 'eminent journalists' heads the two big News Networks and hogs the maximum spotlight, they are equally responsible in equal proportion if not more for all the 'omission and commissions' too.

Matters get worst when one such 'Padamshri' transparently colludes with the 'molesters of democracy' in disrobing the democratic spirit of the Mother India. Moreover, the other Padamshri arrogates to her the role of 'Peace Broker' and 'wittingly or unwittingly' provides the services/forum to the 'venom spewing anti national Hurryiats and their ilk' on prime time!

This is what I object to. Media prides self as the 'vanguard' of people's interest! They demand and get 'privileges' and most of times, claim immunity too for the noble cause of 'finding facts' and telling the 'truth'. Ah! Of late, Media has 'successfully' managed to get caught cheating and obfuscating the facts. First Rajdeep with his active role in Cash-For-votes-Hide-The-tape-Scandal and then other's blatant one sided (clearly 'pandering to Anti Nationals') Kashmir reportage to contrasting reportage on Jammu blaming RSS, BJP and others for what clear to every one is:The popular and Spontaneous outrage of Hindus against the 'ever increasing' Muslim appeasement in the name of
'Secularism' and denial of rights to Jammuiets in the name of 'spurious' Kashmiriat. Any one with an iota of common sense can see the difference.

As I said earlier, arrogant and power drunk MEDIA believes they are above scrutiny, if asked to account for their acts, they get mighty offended. Angry write ups follows and they seek to discipline the 'errant bloggers' like your truly, for their persistent questioning them. :)

BUT then, yes we will keep an eye on you as well, that is watching the watch dogs. You like it or not, damn I care. Huh!

Mr. Arun Jaitley has thrown some more light on the 'Molestation of Democracy' scandal. In a trongly worded 'rejoinder ' he has put both 'Husband Wife team in the place, they rightfully belong to, i.e in the dock. :)

I have merely highlighted some more facts as emerge out from this 'rejoinder'.

Prudent Indian.

Channel Tunnel Vision

The political class is subject to permanent critical scrutiny. We are accountable to the electorate. So we must be constantly under the spotlight. As another pillar of democracy, the media, however, are accountable to no one. Sagarika Ghose's assertion that the BJP's urban space "will melt faster than the holy lingam at Amarnath" (Psst. We've finally lost it, Aug. 13) is a case of reckless assertion of hope over reality. As Senior Editor of CNN-IBN, Ghose is understandably angry with the BJP.
Her channel has recently suffered a self-inflicted loss of credibility. If, like political parties, the media were exposed to the same level of scrutiny, how would CNN-IBN's role in the 'Cash for Votes' issue be judged?

The channel's participation in the 'sting' was entirely voluntary. Its editor has publicly asserted that its interest in a sting was prompted by AB Bardhan's claim that MPs were being lured with Rs 20 crore to side with the UPA in the June 22 trust vote. The three BJP MPs were merely whistle-blowers. The channel was told that the MPs had been approached by those managing the UPA's survival strategy and if it wished to expose corruption, it could undertake a sting. CNN-IBN chose its own team and used its own equipment. It recorded the three sequences: the interaction with Samajwadi Party MP Revati Raman Singh; the arrival and departure of the MPs to Amar Singh's residence; and Amar Singh's associate Sanjeev Saxena's visit to Ashok Argal's house to deliver the money.

After the sting was completed, strange things began happening. First, CNN-IBN claimed that the tapes were not of 'telecastable' quality — a spurious claim in the light of their subsequent showing. Then the channel claimed it didn't have enough time to complete the investigation. The reality was far grimmer. The channel abandoned all
pretence of any investigation and focused on finding fault with the existing evidence. Pious assertions couldn't conceal the fact that the channel was embarrassed by its own story.

Yet, faced with immense public criticism and loss of credibility, the channel decided to telecast the tapes on July 26. I was approached the previous day and agreed to participate in a programme at 8pm. Shortly before the proposed telecast, CNN-IBN informed me that the 'Speaker's office' had requested the channel not to telecast the tapes. The Speaker later asserted that it was for the channel to decide whether to
telecast or not.

The most pertinent question in the 'Cash for Votes' controversy was: on whose behalf did Sanjeev Saxena deliver the money to the MPs? It is an established fact that he did deliver cash. The channel was in possession of the sms that Saxena had sent to its own reporters on July 20 inviting them for Amar Singh's press conference at 7 pm that day. It concealed this message.

The car in which Saxena travelled was registered in the name of a company controlled by Amar Singh's family member. The number of the car was noted by the CNN-IBN team and given to me both by a member of the team and the MPs. Subsequently, the CNN-IBN reporter publicly denied knowledge of the car.

These two evidences in possession of CNN-IBN were further proof of Saxena having come on behalf of Amar Singh. In view of the CNN-IBN having abandoned the investigation, the BJP investigated the Saxena-Amar Singh link and produced it as corroborative evidence. More corroborations have followed.

Meanwhile, CNN-IBN sought to create a perceptible equality and moral equivalence between the bribe-giver and the whistle-blower. Was it interested putting the collusive sting on par with its own genuine recordings? Amar Singh's utterances in the programme telecast by the channel gives me the uneasy feeling that the tapes which were withheld from the public were privately screened for him. Why else would he confidently reveal in a pre-recorded comment what is on the tapes and what is not?

I am clear that it is for CNN-IBN to decide its own programming. But there is a fundamental difference in the relationship of a whistle-blower and an investigator. When a whistle blower alerts an investigator, the investigated material is held in trust for public interest by the investigation. It does not become the private property of the investigator. This is the misconception the channel suffered from.

The channel's freedom of ex-pression may include the right to conceal. It may include the right to abuse the BJP. Yet, it seems to end where Amar bSingh's nose begins.

Arun Jaitley is Rajya Sabha MP and General Secretary, BJP

Jai Bharat, I am a part of.

Jai Bharat, I am blessed to be born in.

Jai Bharat, my heart beats for.

I am a Proud Bhartiya and I pray to God to bless me with all my other following births on this 'Punaya Bhumi'. again and again. I do not want 'Nirvana' till the Bharat regain the 'diminished glory' it once had.

With this prayer, commitment and wish, I salute you all fellow Prudent Indians.

Jai Bharat, Vande Maatram.

Come let us sing all.

Vande MaataraM

What was so 'auspicious' on this day? Well, only Padmashri Rajdeep Ji know and can answer. BUT, why did he not telecast the tapes on 22^nd July the day MMS BOUGHT the confidence of MPs and lost the Trust of Nation? Are, still not clear. But Padmashri Ji did give following reason for not airing those. He Said and I quote.

"Why have we not telecast the story so far? Quite simply, we have chosen not to telecast the story yet because we did not feel that the story was complete. Credible journalism is based on accuracy not speed, facts not sensationalism, reportage not allegations and assumptions. Our rigorous editorial protocol demands that even a hidden camera shoot is absolutely water-tight. In this particular story, there were many loose ends that needed to be cross-checked, corroborated and investigated further before the story could be aired. . [.]

This is what forced Padamshri Rajdeep Sardesai to with hold telecasting sting.

1. Story was not complete.

2. As per his channel's strict and ethical standards, the sting did not come true to their standards.

3. And finally most importantly, HE needed some more time to investigate the charges further.

Laudable Indeed! Well, skeptics in any case knew why tapes were with held, as you're truly too wrote here why? Many people still gave Padamshri Rajdeep Sardesai a 'benefit of doubt', believing him for the mentioned reasons excuses, cited above.

Since the fateful July 22^nd, 2008 all of sudden there were spurt of CDs released. 'A circus of absurd' was unleashed in the capital of World's Largest Democracy. Democracy; which was ashamed on July 22^nd!

. Teri CD. Meri CD. Us Ke CD. Kis ki CD

Meri CD Teri CD Se Tez Hai.

Tu Jhootha Mein Sacha..

For full 20 days, every body was accusing every body else and Mr. Padamshri except for once kept a Sphinx like silence. Then came August 11^th, 2008. World awaited with 'baited breath' to know these modern day Dushashans (Amar and Co.), Durdoyans (Laloos, Shibhus,Mulayams,Paswans), Bhishams (who presided over humiliation of democracy, who else than ManMohan and Dada?), Dhritshashtra Mata (Ma Sonia Maino ) etc, who disrobed 'Democracy' that day Rajdeep.

My heartiest congratulations to Abhinav Bindra for winning the Gold Medal in 10meter Air Rifle event. It is indeed a rare feet. Abhinav richly deserves all the attention and felicitation.

Kudos Abhinav! And very good luck for future, may you keep on doing us proud for the long time to come.

Amen!

Of course it is indeed a mater of pride for all Indians and I do not want to spoil the party, yet I am hardly in a mood to go on the celebration binge since One Individual Indian has won One Gold Medal, in an Individual Event in past 28 years!

Just as I am punching keys, my TV set tuned to some so called 'News Channel' is blaring out "Chak De India.Chak de India.." every 30 seconds punctuated with another 30 seconds of commercial break!

Though nothing wrong in praising Abhinav for this 'achievement' but what the fuck is "Chak de India" all about? What is this 'euphoria'?

Is winning an Individual Gold Medal in 28 years for a BILLION PLUS nation is "Chak De India'!

Or is it that we know that we did not expect any Indian to go this far because we know how 'pathetic' our record in International Sport arena has been!

Is this "Chak de India" moment? Just because, one Individual through his own efforts excelled in an individual sport, not because he is an Indian but because his "Despite Being an Indian"!

"Blood Stained Olympic" is still on and I pray and hope to be 'Pleasantly Surprised' with many many more 'rebuffs' to my embedded cynicism. Nevertheless, I am just as optimistic as any of you are.

Let us reflect collectively. Is an 'Individual Brilliance' a moment for "Chak De India" celebrations or collective National Shame! I leave this to you.

Hundredths time I heard them again "Chak de India".- other NEWS CHANNELS are equally ecstatic if not more- I am not sure if it really mean "Chuck India"!

Congrats to Abhinav once again, and time for other Indians to ponder.

PI.

Power corrupts. And absolute power corrupts absolutely. Power is simply to either 'Grant an Undeserved Favor or Snatch a Rightful Right'. Right?

How the barbs thrown at others come back 'haunting you'! In other words,when you dug a pit for others, you too might fall in that some day!

We all have been passed on for generations this 'Time Tested Wisdom' that, "Lies have no feet. To cover up 'a' lie told; you invent another Hundreds of Lies. Eventually, you end up get caught in a web of your own lies'.

CNN IBN commissioned sting (cash for vote scandal) has made a storm not only in political circles but has been a hot topic among the media and many speculations are doing the rounds, ever since the eminent journalist Shri 'Bharat Vibhushan' Rajdeep Sardesai refused to air the tapes.

Yesterday CNN IBN issued a long statement after 10 whole days explaining why they (CNN IBN) did not telecast the sting.

Statement starts with, "In the last week, there has been speculation over an alleged 'sting' operation. [.]

Mind the use of word 'alleged' in the opening sentence! Now read this,

"The 'sting' operation conducted by our investigation team. [.]

Huh!

"Why have we not telecast the story so far? Quite simply, we have chosen not
to telecast the story yet because we did not feel that the story was complete.Credible journalism is based on accuracy not speed, facts not sensationalism, reportage not allegations and assumptions. Our rigorous editorial protocol demands that even a hidden camera shoot is absolutely water-tight.In this particular story, there were many loose ends that needed to be cross-checked, corroborated and investigated
further before the story could be aired. . [.]

Pray tell me Rajdeep, since when you have assumed the role of being an investigative agency head? And do tell us how many 'sting operations' aired at CNN IBN had been proved 'complete' and conclusive'?

The hoot asks, "Is it the job of a TV channel to provide proof to any Constitutional
authority, in this case the Speaker, before telecasting the news to its viewers?" Any answer, Bharat Bhushan Rajdeep Sardesai SAR?

The statement says, "As it transpired, even before we could complete the process of
investigation, three BJP MPs made allegations in parliament of having been bribed and displayed cash in the House. [.]

I am taking liberty to publish the sequence of the events and let us see what Rajdeep has to offer.

Following is the sequence of events, as told by ' A Confidential Source'. Let me make it clear. I am under no obligation to disclose my sources, (Isn't it Rajdeep? What you enjoy as 'the privilege' to with hold naming sources, I too reserve the same) This is what 'most probably' had happened on Monday, 21^st July 2008 and Tuesday, 22nd July 2008.

•Monday 11.30 am:
After an unnamed "intermediary" approaches the three BJP MPs, party trouble-shooters contact the CNN-IBN. Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahavir
Bhagora are driven to the Le Meridien Hotel, supposedly to meet Congress leader Ahmed Patel. They are wearing button cameras provided by the channel. But there is no sign of Patel in the hotel.

•Monday 1.30 pm:
An unnamed "contact" informs the three BJP MPs that SP MP Reoti Raman Singh would meet them at Ashok Argal's residence at 4, Ferozeshah Road. The drawing room is fitted with bugging devices and the CNN team is listening in an ante-room. Reoti Raman Singh claims Amar Singh is the person who will finalise the deal.

•Tuesday 9 am:
Argal and Kulaste go to Amar Singh's house in Lodi Road. The MPs do not wear button cameras. They are filmed entering and exiting the house.

•Tuesday 2 pm:
At 4, Ferozeshah Road, the three MPs get a visitor called Sanjeev Saxena who is allegedly carrying "advance" money for them. The hidden cameras are in place. In Saxena's presence, the MPs remove the bundles to check the notes. After Saxena leaves, the CNN-IBN reporter interviews each MP. The serial numbers of the Rs 1,000 notes are filmed as proof that the cash delivered is the bundle taken to Parliament.

CNN IBN had an understanding with the 'whistle blowers' to air the tapes before 'Trust Vote' on that fateful day, Rajdeep did have a look on tapes (a fact he doesn't deny but so evasively confirms in an interview to rediff.com

"Did you supervise the story?

My two reporters did the job. I may have had a look. Said Rajdeep.

As far as this your truly know or can ascertain, The Editor in Chief would have had no problem airing the tapes had the sting limited to BJP MPs accepting the bribe offered, but for new found ally and Ahmed Patel featuring in, He decided against it.

After all, Bharat Vibhushan was not rewarded for nothing! Time to pay back Rajdeep? We all know how awards are won, right from the horse's mouth.

Rajdeep's channel says, "We would like to reiterate that at CNN-IBN we remain committed to quality and independent journalism. Our commitment is to the truth. Truth that cannot be partial, inconclusive or sensational, but one that must adhere to exacting standards of fairness and accuracy. . [.]

Wow! But for your so Nobel thoughts; Sweet Heart! J, who will judge what truth is? YOU, AMAR SINGH, MADAME or DADA? And how many times before your channel had assured all 'that' before airing all the 'stings' you did air so far?

Rajdeep, I have a nasty habit of reading 'between the lines'. You are a busy and NOW too important a man, I won't accuse you if you have forgotten what you said on June 26th, 2001 in a seminar.

(Reading between the lines. with my usual 'Communal' and biased yet true interpretations)

Rajdeep your own words.

Another reason for the problem is the changing self-image of the journalist, and his role in a democratic system. For a long time the journalist's role was seen to be that of an independent observer of events. But observation alone can be rather tedious and not very financially productive either. So, over the years, the journalist has chosen to move from the margins of the fourth estate to being firmly on the centre stage, closer to the first estate (read first family Soinia 'Maino' Gandhi'). Ideological corruption is as much a part in this process as anything else. A journalist can get close to a political party (read Congress), business house (read Reliance Anil Ambani Group) or an individual ( read Guru Amar Singh) in a manner that compromises his (read the journalists) independence. Having acquired that proximity (with Congress and the Maino family), the journalist can then use his clout on a larger scale, playing kingmaker in cementing political alliances (By STILL not telecasting tapes) at the centre or in providing the (Help winning the political and/ or pay masters) link between a minister in the Union cabinet (?) and a business house (we all know, who.) in need of a favor. (Yes, do tell us please, is to serve the greatest cause of saving Hindustan from Communal forces?!)

Who is this 'The Journalist' Rajdeep Sardesai?

You say very too often, "Hamam Mein Sab Nange Hain", Aree Bhai Aap Kahan Hain?

Rajdeep, simply telecast these tapes 'unedited and uninfluenced' with out a second delay lest it is confirmed, that you are all but what you claim to claim here,

".we value our credibility and independence above all else. [.]

It is not only you and CNN IBN whose credibility is at stake; it is of the entire media. Especially the always sermonizing, 'holier than thou' 24X7 channels. We have not forgotten how you guys played 'havoc' with the lives of Aarushi's parents. We are in no mood to let you play that again with the very basic and fundamental principal of Democracy and to know what happened is our basic and fundamental right.

Telecast those tapes and let Billion Strong Prudent Indians judge. Period.

Prudent Indian.

STOP PRESS: An Important update from Yossarin. Boycott CNN IBN

Update: Offstumped snubs Rajdeep.

CNN-IBN Boycott - Many Sins

Excellent post must read.

Another Update: A convenient forgetfulness. Francois Gautier.

There was a deafening silence on the role of Rajdeep Sardesai and his channel CNN-IBN's role in helping the Congress win the vote. Sardesai sat on a sting tape which clearly showed someone who was close to Amar Singh handing over a crore to BJP MPs. If the tape had been aired it would have immediately led to the postponement of the trust vote and the UPA would have ultimately lost it. Instead, he handed it over to the Speaker only at 5 pm, knowing that it would be too late and that most likely Somnath Chatterjee would avoid taking immediate action.

As kid, I and my elder sister used to fight a lot. Invariably it used to be my sister to file first complaint
against me with Dad and I was scolded. Adding insult to injury, she
used to show me thumb mocking and infuriating me further. Exactly the
same way as we see MMS doing in above pic. after 'Managing' the Confidence of the Lok Sabha simultaneously loosing the 'Trust Of Nation'

Coincidently, this pic above and a link emailed by a friend are more illustrative than 1000 words.

Sharing with you all. Do Read this.

Prudent Indian.

BY M.J. AKBAR (Byline)

IN THE end it's the jokesthat get you, isn't it? SMS, that deadly virus, has been spreading sound bites like "Sting is King". Its first cousin, email, has been circulating emotional pleas to the heartless Finance Minister:

"Don't you know how old MPs are? They have bad backs! Can't you print Rs 100,000 notes instead of measly little thousand-rupee notes??? Do you know how heavy a sack of 30 crores is?" There are heart-rending stories of MPs breaking down because they did not know how to take their loot, collected in Delhi, back to the security of their small towns.

One email was untouched by levity and weighed by hurt and anger. Dr Manmohan Singh had repeated Guru Gobind Singh's famous battle hymn, in which he asked the Lord to ensure that "shubh karman mein kabhu na darun [may I never be afraid to do right]" before the debate began. How could the Prime Minister have recited this just before he launched into unprecedented "dushkarman [misdeeds]"?

The Prime Minister won his battle in July. He may have lost the war that is only a few months away. He won the confidence of the House only to lose the trust of the nation.

Dr Manmohan Singh's reputation for personal honesty was the last remaining undiluted asset of the Congress after four years of government. The voter did not ever believe his ministers to be clean. Some of them have established fresh records in corruption. But he was certain that the Prime Minister was an honest man. After the cash-for-votes-and-hide-the-tape scandal, Manmohan Singh is just another sullied politician, willing to feast on Grub Street in the company of the most famous bagmen, and travel the Gravy Train chatting with fixers and pushers in order to remain in office.

As the cash disbursers have proved, the Congress is full of calculators. It needed a mathematician. A strategist would have analysed the cost-benefit ratio and sabotaged the cash-and-carry operation on grounds of common sense. What has been won is nothing compared to what will be lost.

There is enough evidence that the voter punishes corruption and rewards probity. Leaders like Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, Naveen Patnaik, Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi have won support because they are believed to be personally honest. It may not be the only reason for re-election, but it is a primary reason. The Congress had that advantage in the image of Dr Singh. That reputation has self-destructed.

Inflation had already weakened the voter's confidence in Dr Singh's abilities as an economist. His second asset was wiped off the books in July.

The Prime Minister cannot hold his nose above the stink anymore. He was personally involved in the purchase of MPs. He was visibly uncertain at his own dinner on the eve of the debate, despite the fact that Shibu Soren had already been bought in what should be called the real "1-2-3 Agreement": the cash-stoked coal portfolio for Soren, deputy chief ministership of Jharkhand for his son, and a second ministerial berth for a party MP in Delhi.

By Monday morning, the Prime Minister was smiling, and waving the V sign as he entered Parliament. Late at night he received word from his money-managers that enough MPs had switched, or been neutralised, to ensure a comfortable victory. Parliament had become a sleaze house, but so what? The mask of morality used to fool us for four years now lies in that great receptacle called the dustbin of history.

There is a problem when you tread on sleaze. You can slip on it, hurting yourself badly, even as your fall becomes the source of cynical laughter.

The Prime Minister's face turned visibly ashen when three BJP MPs threw bundles of currency notes into the well of the House. For the nation, that was the turning point of the debate. They may or may not have understood the intricacies of the Hyde Act. But they did recognise the corruption that had been hidden.

Sections of the urban middle class which welcomed the idea of closer relations with America [you could call them the Green Card Party of India] felt utterly betrayed by a man they had trusted, and besmirched by corruption.

In the process, Dr Manmohan Singh has one remarkable achievement: he has united the Opposition. For the last three decades, this has been the most difficult act in Indian politics. The irony is that he ubverted what Mrs Sonia Gandhi had woven in order to bring the Congress back to power: she had used the Gujarat riots to create a formidable coalition against the BJP. Dr Singh has destroyed that framework by breaking with the Left and turning the Congress into an irredeemably right-wing organisation, with a foreign policy to match its economic thrust. This turn to the right will change the character of the congress irrevocably.

By opting for the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, he has catapulted a dynamic agent of social change, Mayawati, into the leadership of the Third Front. Mayawati is the only regional leader with a national base, for she has a constituency in every constituency of India. She can lend Dalit support to an ally in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh as easily as in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

Her candidates do not have to win; by contesting they slice enough Congress votes by ensure its defeat. It would have made more sense for the Congress to keep Mayawati as any ally, but that would need a leader who was a mathematician instead of a cash-broker. The Government is trying very hard to "prove" that Mayawati is corrupt. Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Dr Singh must be regretting deeply that they let her off in the Taj-corridor development case during those happy days when they were attempting a deal with her instead of Mulayam Singh. The important fact is that Mayawati's voters are unimpressed by such accusations against their leader. She has empowered them and they are grateful to her.

Corruption is not a sudden swerve into perdition for the Congress: the first jeep scandal [an extremely innocuous, by today"s standards, desire for vehicles] broke out before the first general election in 1952. But flexibility in election expenditure is one thing; the purchase of elected MPs at exorbitant rates quite another. Venality turned into a rot when PV Narasimha Rao purchased Shibu Soren and his MPs in order to save his minority Government. Dr Manmohan Singh was finance minister, and no one heard the mildest protest from him. Perhaps he thought that he could repeat what his guru Narasimha Rao had managed. What was it that Marx said? History repeats itself, first time as tragedy and the second time as farce. But Dr Singh does not read Marx.

Power seems to have changed Dr Singh's character and temperament in crucial ways. Was it too much to expect some grace from him in this purchased victory? Instead, in his reply to the House he descended to the personal. That is not done.

But what is the point of expecting decorum when Parliament has been turned into a School for Scandal?

M J Akbar is Chairman and Director of Publications, Covert

Operation 'Poaching' was conducted with not so 'credulous' support of a 'fixer and erstwhile venom spewing enemy- now ally'. Was this man really 'blackmailed' when visited by the National Security Advisor to PM? After all news were, that Bhim Singh of Panthers Party in Jammu too was advised to vote for Azad Govt in J & K by the same NSA! Is it not a fact that MKN visited HIM and his Neta Ji's Brother 'ostensibly' (huh!) to brief them about Indo US Nuclear No Clear DEAL? BarabarIndian dug some thing out for your 'voyeuristic pleasure'.

Then.
Bangalore was bruised badly on Friday. No wonder @ and around 'Communally Sensitive' GOD or MSM only know what it means by 'Communally Sensitive'? If they mean Muslim Dominated areas, then DO tell us babu that both MSM and the Immoral Govt. think so- areas or/and around hub of IT activity!

Then Ahemedabad..
70 people dead, count less injured, hundreds maimed for ever and ONCE AGAIN A MUNDANE DRAMA!

Now Surat (Gujarat), it seems rained bombs last few hours!

Angry, yes I am and rightly so. Nevertheless, I do not let 'some political correctness' or so as I am accused often for 'my pathological hatred towards Congress' blind me of my vision and cloud my reasoning.

Since morning this day I have been joining issues with some of my 'well meaning' friends like Chindu and Offstumped, over what Sushama Swaraj said and meant.

This your truly has never shied away from calling 'spade a spade'. What Sushma Swaraj is said is best reflected in this comment at BarabarIndian's post.

"these are certainly no ordinary times when a high court judge has to say 'illegal bangladeshis are the kingmakers in assam'.
http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/29/stories/2008072960591400.htm
the other two blogs you pointed out criticizing sushma - these guys wonder why is it that the Hindus are always at the receiving end. and they valiantly speak of standing up and fighting. but when one lady shows the courage to do that, they chicken out and get all nice. remind me the next time i see something about standing up, fighting etc."

I am not sure, xx and xxxx, how much you know or tried to find
out about the 'convenient timings' of Communal flare ups in UP and
Bihar.circa 70s and 80s, just right ahead of general election,