Winter of 2007: ‘Can spring be far behind?’

Shashank Chouhan with Smita Mishra

Weird, Uncertain, Glorious, Surprising, Proud, and Thrilling- this is no vocab lesson but rather a description of what happened in India in the year 2007. All of that and more in one great breath of politics, governance, business, achievements and failures. It was a happy and hopeful start, as India’s nuclear power was given recognition, and it is an optimistic though somewhat precarious end as elections loom large and politics gets dirtier. The N word We shall refer to the stormy nuclear tea as the ‘u-know-what’ issue because there is fear of a certain bull who is all red (with anger or/& attitude) and waiting to charge down on whoever says lets do a nu…. sorry.. ‘u-know-what’ deal. While 2006 ended on the high note of President Bush signing the Hyde Act in front of the biggest ever audience- comprised NRIs- in White House, 2007 threw India into an acerbic debate over it. To sign or not to sign the ‘u-know-what’ seemed to be the only issue that led the UPA wherever it traversed this year. Between the ‘go-ahead’, ‘pause’ and ‘no deal’ stands, many flips flopped, leaders shone bright and a nation feared untimely polls. CPM general secretary Prakash Karat is the (perceived) villain/anti-hero (take your pick) of this drama and he opposed the ‘u-know-what’ in a hundred ways; coming out with a new twist, a new angle almost everyday. A sample: 1. Be ready for mid-term polls if govt goes ahead with N-deal 2. US wants India as its ally in Asia 3. Cong will have to pay a political price….but this is no threat 4. Marriage on, honeymoon over (We ask: Which priest solomenised this knotty affair?) 5. Press the pause button 6. We wouldn’t have agreed even if it was a China deal (Reaaaaaalyy?) 7. We won’t be there when deal is sealed 8. PM should be careful in choosing his friends…look what happened to Bush’s coterie viz Blair and Shinzo (We ask: Would comrade have said the same thing had PM thought about his Left ‘friends’? ) 9. We don’t doubt the integrity of PM 10. We are not threatening anyone. (Right.) So Comrade Karat is a versatile man for sure. But amidst the red flag rising, another angry, young-at-heart Man(mohan) rose…although momentarily. Presenting, PM Manmohan Singh in a never seen before bout of gut wrenching…well…gut. “I told (Karat, Bardhan) its not possible to renegotiate (u-know-what)…I told them to do whatever they want to do. If they want to withdraw support, so be it.” Standing ovations, heartfelt applause and a tear in eyes followed. Here was the man who lead India in a seemingly beneficial deal with the US. After all he clarified all the issues in Parliament. The reprocessing of fuel issue was sorted in the deal (signed on July 21 this year after 300 hours of negotiation between Indian-US diplomats) which allows reprocessing in a new facility under safeguards. And as many times as Karat and party cried wolf, the PM asserted that India can test nuclear weapons anytime it wants to. From the world stage it seemed that was the only thing India wanted to do considering the shrill pitch of the Left’s campaign. The u-know-what also said that ‘US will not hinder the growth of India’s weapons pogramme.’ What else could the PM say? “Agreement is good for India and the world. Let history judge the value of it,” he responded to a debate on u-know-what in the Parliament. But the Left’s tape seemed stuck. Amidst the ‘we reject the deal’ din, UPA formed a political committee to ‘look into the Left’s concerns.’ After all, in the words of Madam Sonia, “Its Congress’ coalition dharma to address the concerns of its partners.” And the PM had this to say, “ Its not the end of life.” Whoooosh, went the air from a hopeful balloon. Nothing really came out from the meetings held every now and then. If anything, they left a frustrated Pranab da gasping for breath (Did you see the breathless way he chanted the same ‘we shall meet again’ phrase after every meet?). Coffee with Karat was not really a hit show, afterall. Till Nandigram simmered. As the Buddha govt in West Bengal failed to control CPM cadres from killing and raping locals in the name of recapturing land, there was a left turn in the u-know-what politics. “OK you can go ahead and discuss some points with the IAEA, but don’t sign any papers,” said a nervous Left Front. It didn’t look like old Baradei’s magic(he visited India and said could start discussions within days), rather it seemed another deal had been signed in Delhi. As the year comes to an end after its ups and downs, time is all that should be looked after. India has gone to the IAEA and needs to enter an exclusive safeguards agreement. Then the US will make the NSG nod and the deal will go to Congress for ratification- all this needs to be done before the US goes in for elections. Hopefully, national interest and not political one will dictate the future path. Poll against Pratibha It happens only in India. The tamest and most predictable of events- such as the Presidential election- can turn out to be loud, political cacophonies straight out of a Bollywood script. As Dr. Kalam’s tenure of being the President-cum-teacher (the way he even asked MPs to ‘repeat after me…’!) came to an end, the hunt began for another first citizen. Though almost the entire country wanted Kalam, with that nifty hairstyle, to stay on- tradition and politics didn’t let it be. The red flag was up again. Not only that, BJP took offence in not being consulted over a consensus candidate so they brought out their own man- Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. Meanwhile, the Left said ‘no’ to every choice that Congress gave them. The polls also saw the rise and fall of United National Progressive Alliance- a group of eight regional parties touted as Third Front. The rise was in the support of Kalam as a contesting candidate if not a consensus one, and the fall was with AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa’s loud wondering- I wonder whether AIADMK is still a part of UNPA or whether UNPA exists at all. Congress pulled out on an unsuspecting nation a candidate little known and controversial immediately after her appearance- Pratibha Patil. The opposition leveled several allegations against her and she didn’t help matters by saying her fate was unveiled by a spiritual guru communicating from the cosmos or that Muslim women wore the veil for protection against Mughals. Ofcourse Pratibha Patil has become the first woman President of India- the mathematics being in UPA’s favour. It was not before the country’s highest and most dignified institution was thrown into political mud-slinging that might itself have become institutional now. Kalam: People’s President; In Pictures»N for Nandigram On March 14 this year India was put to shame by men in khaki. As thousands of unarmed men, women and children protested against the grabbing of their lands by a govt that had distributed it in the name of communism on coming to power 30 years ago, police opened fire and killed 11 farmers, injuring scores. Even as the capitalist commie Buddhadeb gave orders to ‘tear away’ the agreement with Indonesia’s Salem group that envisaged a huge chemical plant in Nandigram, politics was rearing is ugly head. The traditional rivalry between Trinamool and Left Front took a nasty turn when the correspondence between didi and dada didn’t quite work. Not only that, the fort of Left seems to be cracking as Forward Block chants ekla chalo for the panchayat polls and an RSP minister threatening to quit. Alleged CPM cadres captured the land forcibly, burning and killing many who resisted. Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi criticised the state government over its handling of the Nandigram incident, speaking of his "cold horror" in a press statement. His statement was taken suo moto cognisance of by the Calcutta High Court following which an enquiry by the CBI has been ordered. And the CM still talked of paying people in the same coin, later eating his own words. The PM expressed concern over the situation, but that was it. And in Delhi, suddenly, the Left had no problems in letting the govt go ahead with the next step in Indo-US nuke deal. Nandigram violence: In pix» Behind caste lines The nation was divided again in various lines as the question of caste quotas returned with vengeance. In Rajasthan it took the form of violent protests by the Gujjar community and in Delhi and elsewhere students left their classrooms at elite institutions. The Gujjars were unhappy being OBCs- they want to be called STs- and made it known by blocking roads and highways, burning and destroying public/private properties and bringing life to a standstill from Rajasthan upto Delhi. The whole agitation looked a bit strange because STs are supposed to be a group of people who are physically isolated from the mainstream- not the case with Gujjars. Their protest drew counter-protests from the Meena community and the stage seemed set for bloody casteist clashes. Until a sensible face amongst the Gujjars appeared and put their case before the govt in a civil manner- Col (retd) Kirori Singh Bhainsla. The agitation was suspended after CM Raje formed Justice Chopra committee to look into their demands. The committee has rejected ST status for Gujjars who have nturn threatened another blitzkrieg. A similar agitation by the labourers of Assam, brought by the colonial masters to work in tea gardens, turned ugly. The protesters were attacked by locals after the former destroyed the latters’ properties. How urban India sees its rural counterpart was out in its naked form as a few were killed and the modesty of a tribal woman was outraged. In Delhi, the battle was of a different kind. It was started by the ageing Congress veteran Arjun Singh who could have been packed off to some state as its Governor, putting an end to his ambitions. It was not to be as he announced the imposition of 27% quota in educational institutions for the OBCs. There is already a 23% quota for the SCs and STs. In effect, 50% seats of India’s premier educational institutes were being reserved for those who may not qualify in normal conditions. As doctors, engineers and professionals rose up in one voice, scenes straight out of Bollywood blockbuster Rang De Basanti played all over. Candle marches, sloganeering, an urge to do something- minus the violence. The Supreme Court put a stay on quota even as confusion mounted amongst IIMs and IITs, among other prestigious universities, who stood on the verge of beginning the next academic session. Questions like: ‘Have the reservations done India any good?’, ‘Are reservations in accordance with the number of OBCs/STs/SCs?’ , ‘What about the creamy layer?’, ‘Can educational institutions really afford the quota?’ etc. put major obstacles in the way of Arjun Singh’s campaign. The govt on its part promised to increase the infrastructural needs that would not reduce the seats for general category. But quality? No answers on that front. The war rages on in the apex court between those who favour merit and those who want to create a level playing field at its cost. Sethusamudram: Whose bridge is it anyway? 2007 saw Lord Ram caught in one of the most embarrassing controversies. The reason was a ‘bridge’ supposed to have been constructed by Him a few thousand years ago. The Sethusamudram project which proposes linking the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka by creating a shipping corridor through the island chain of Rama’s bridge, became an issue of political tribulation resulting in mud slinging among political parties, leaving not even Ram untarnished. The sentiments of Hindus were hurt several times not only by responsible ministers like Karunanidhi and Buddhadev Bhattaacharjee who called Ram a drunkard and poet’s imagination, but even by the ASI which mindlessly argued at the historicity of Rama. The vested interests created a situation that led to innumerable strikes and protests across the nation. Questioning the veracity of centuries old faith was too outrageous an act by both the political parties and the government. But thanks to the patience and tolerance of India’s largest religious community that no large-scale violence took place even after such brazen and scurrilous attacks. The issue would not have caught such bellowing fire had the government followed three basic steps: 1. Assuring the largest community of not causing any harm to the bridge (which could easily be done as none of the 14 pre and post independence committees on Sethu have suggested alignment across Adam’s bridge. They have all supported land based alignment which would not cause any harm to the supposed divine structure). 2. Going for a detailed and impartial environment feasibility study(as scientists have argued that apart from a damaging impact on ecology and marine life, the bridge would not only increase the level of water and cause submergence of many areas but also lead to the destruction of entire Kerala if next Tsunami strikes). 3. Thorough check of the project’s social and economic implications, as voices from many quarters have raised the concern that the advantages of the project have been highly inflated by its supporters and the government. Sethusamudram: Divide over the Bridge» Defense diary: From Russia, With love? Happy things first- Russia is still India’s largest source of arms, the two countries are developing a Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA), Multi-Role Transport Aircraft, and a new version of BrahMos cruise missile is on way. Now for the bad news- Russia’s delay in delivering and price escalation (from $1.2bn to $2.4bn) of the aircraft carrier Gorschkov hasn’t gone down well with India. Add to that the additional payment for 40 new SU-30 MKI fighters and the failure of Russia’s Klub cruise missiles. The relations are not all that rosy afterall. Milestones 1.India in April tested its longest-range Agni-III missile, capable of reaching targets 3,500 kms 2. Indian manufactured interceptor missiles were tested successfully setting it on the elite missile defense path 3. Four-day `Malabar Exercise` started on September 4 with the participation of warships from five countries - India, Australia, Japan, Singapore and the US 4. India-UK joint military exercise in Ladakh, air exercise in UK (Indradhanush) 5.Indo-Russia air exercise (INDRA) 6.Iaf-Singapore Airforce exercise 7. Agni I inducted in Army 8. Permission for Red Flag airborne exercise in US 9. A series of surface-to-air missile ‘Akash’ tests were held to induct it in forces India also floated its biggest ever global defence tender for purchase of 126 Multi-role Combat aircraft, in a deal which would run up to a staggering Rs 42,000 crore (approx $10 billion). An Indian Army tender for 197 Eurocopter Fennec helicopters has been scrapped citing irregularities in the evaluation process. India has also announced plan to test Agni 4 (6000 kms) in 2008. And in an embarrassment for the government, the three service chiefs might have had to undergo frisking at airports. But for the public outrage that poured after the announcement, a list of dignitaries excluded from the check was taken out which included the service chiefs. And Robert Vadra. Pigeon-man of Parliament People’s representatives are sent to legislature to serve people. That is what they have done and that is what they do. Babubhai Katara, a BJP MP from Gujarat’s Dahod, did exactly that but the system couldn’t stand his public service out of fear that others might emulate him too! At least 35 passports have been recovered from the honourable MP, who used them to fly people to wherever they wanted to go. The chap was helping a woman fly so that she could meet her husband in Canada- for a sum of Rs 27 lakh. But he was caught, putting his party and Parliament to shame. It didn’t end there. His passport agent revealed many other public representatives from across the political spectrum- TRS to BSP- who are said to be involved in ‘kabootarbazi’, as they call it. The Speaker of Parliament couldn’t stand it and expelled Katara till the case is over and has asked all MPs to take his permission before going abroad. Surely dada. So what if the MPs don’t listen to you in Parliament, at least they will tell you before flying abroad so that arrangements can be made in case of any emergency. Rx: Ramadoss’ prescriptions To play the boss, to remain in news or to bring revolutionary changes in India’s premiere medical institute, Dr Anbumani Ramadoss the Union Health Minister left no stone unturned. He spent the whole year fighting- with the film stars for smoking on screen, with the tobacco lobby for not calling their products deadly, with the female doctors by increasing the length of MBBS course and diminishing their prospect of early marriage and with post graduate doctors for not signing their degrees. This minister caused more strikes, more protests and more opposition than the reforms he intended to bring about. Almost every step that he took caused trouble and suffering more so to the commoners who lined up at AIIMS for the treatment of their near and dear ones. The case which painted the picture of Ramadoss in the darkest hue was his spiteful treatment of former AIIMS director Dr P Venugopal. The disagreements between the two rattled the whole year and the endless war of words finally silenced after Ramadoss was successful in getting the legislation passed which restricted the age limit of AIIMS director to 65, thereby closing the doors of AIIMS finally on Dr Venugopal. And then he linked UK derecognizing Indian medical degrees to a Bihari medic, later eating his own words. The Health Minister might have triumphed in his aim of crushing the dissenting doctor, attracting the media glare and getting hold of the controlling keys of lucrative medical institutions but not without causing sufficient harm to the health of innumerable others! Fake encounter, real murder Narendra Modi’s Gujarat had not forgotten the passions of post Godhra riots. Modi won’t let them forget. In 2007 state polls -that he eventually won- he tried to ratchet up the same emotions when he recalled the ‘encounter’ of one Sohrabuddin Sheikh. He challenged the Centre to arrest him over it. It might not be entirely wrong to do that. Early this year three IPS officers were arrested on the charge of killing a man they said was planning to assassinate BJP leaders including Modi. Leading them was an officer who had become known as an ‘encounter specialist’- DG Vanjhara (Gujarat ATS), with two juniors picked up Sohrabuddin- an extortionist- from a bus in Andhra along with his wife and killed them later. An eyewitness was also killed later- after the promotion of Vanjhara. When the episode came to light, the CID officer probing the matter IG (CID-Crime) Geetha Johri (Gujarat’s first IPS officer) was not allowed to do her job. SC stepped in and when it brandished the CBI probe stick, Johri was put back on the case. The state also admitted that the encounter was indeed fake and Sohrabuddin’s wife, Kausar Bi, was also killed and burnt. Vanjhara’s arrest evoked loud protests from locals of his village, who were mixed with RSS and VHP men. It is alleged that the marble lobby of Rajasthan had paid Vanjhara a hefty amount to eliminate Sohrabuddin who used to trouble them. But he was not an LeT operative nor a terrorist, in whose name Modi asked for votes. Mobocracy The year 2007 can be called the year of mob justice. Throughout the country, especially in Bihar, the man on street took law in his own hands as the system entrusted with the responsibility of rendering justice failed. Sometimes for petty crimes like theft, victims were beaten to death. The tightening tentacles of terror What natural calamities and epidemics spare, terrorists take away. From the past few years India too has been inflicted with innumerable blows by the growing terror tentacles. The year 2007 saw 2,465 fatalities (957 civilians, 383 security personnel and 1,125 terrorists, all data for 2007 till Dec 11) as a result of terrorist violence in an unrelenting succession of incidents across India, well beyond the boundaries of the established theatres of terrorism. Some of the worst incidents included the bombing of the Delhi-Attari Samjhauta Express train in which 68 people were killed on February 18; the killing of 55 police personnel in a swarming attack by Maoists at Rani Bodli in Chhattisgarh on March 15 (one of several such attacks by Maoists which inflicted double digit fatalities); serial blasts in Hyderabad on May 18 and on August 25 in which 11 and 44 people respectively were killed; and the coordinated explosion in the court premises in Varanasi, Faizabad and Lucknow on November 23. The sheer spread of terrorist incidents - particularly the widening sphere of Islamist terrorist attacks and Maoist depredations - give particular cause for concern. This concern was infinitely compounded by the spectacle of chaotic responses in the aftermath of each incident, the inability, in many cases, of the police and paramilitary forces even to protect themselves against attacks, the failure of investigators to secure breakthroughs in most of the major cases of Islamist attacks, and the utter inanity of political declarations in the wake of each major incident. If one were to ask, at the end of this year - indeed, at the end of decades of relentless terrorism - whether `India` has learned how to respond to extremist violence, the answer would be an unqualified negative. However, after the PM called upon the states to weed out the Naxal virus, a body to deal with that menace will be formed. A thing of serious consideration is that in almost all the recent terror attacks on India the name of HuJI, the Bangladeshi arm of LeT figures prominently. Be it the May 18 Mecca Masjid blasts, the Aug 25 Hyderabad twin blasts or the Nov 23 UP blasts in the cities of Lucknow Varanasi and Faizabad, HuJI seems to be the connecting link. India needs to be on the tenterhooks to detect such trends emanating from Bangladesh. Full Coverage: Red Terror» India and the World India-Pakistan: Terror ties The year 2007 will go down in history books as one during which the two arch foes agreed to fight terror together. In March, India and Pakistan agreed to work together in investigating as well as preventing terror acts. The co-operation will take place under the Joint Anti-Terrorism Mechanism set up by the two countries. Apart from terrorism, the two neighbours also agreed to deal with contentious issues like extradition and deportation of wanted criminals sheltering in each other`s territory. As part of the understanding on tracking down terror suspects, India sought Islamabad’s help in the probes into terror strikes in Hyderabad, Ajmer, Ludhiana, Mumbai and on Samjhauta Express. On the peace front, New Delhi and Islamabad worked out a six-point agenda to carry forward peace and security initiative. In February, a crucial agreement to reduce the risk from accidental use of nuclear weapons was signed between the neighbours. In another significant step aimed at a solution to the boundary dispute at Sir Creek, the two nations in May exchanged maps after the successful completion of joint survey of the area. The year 2007 also witnessed some failures apart from some successes in the bilateral ties. The two neighbours failed to resolve the dispute over India’s plans to build a dam on Jhelum river in its side of Kashmir. Pakistan claims the work is in violation of a bilateral water sharing pact. The multi-billion dollar India-Pakistan-Iran Gas Pipeline Project also remained deadlocked over several issues, mainly on the pricing of the gas and the transit fee payable to Islamabad by New Delhi for wheeling gas through that country. India-China: Hindi-Chini buy-buy The year saw a high watermark in development of trade and commerce between the two geographical neighbours famous for their love hate relationship through the ages. 2007 was declared as the Year of Friendship through tourism, by India and China. In February at ministerial level talks, the two countries agreed to increase diplomatic presence in each other’s land. Decision was taken to establish consulates at Kolkata and Guangzhou. The historic decision to open the Nathu La pass in Sikkim was taken to facilitate trade through land between the two states. The pass which was closed in 1962 was officially opened on May 1 amidst jubilations and celebrations. As China saw the new lineup of leadership that would shape the destiny of the communist giant for the next five years, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi became the first foreign leader to visit Beijing soon after it in a high point of bilateral relations during the year. At the end of the year, the two sides were seen ‘Hand in hand’ as they indulged in the first ever joint Army exercise in Yunnan and Beijing. But despite this façade of “mutual cooperation” the mutual suspicion between India and China remained a permanent factor. Hence in December when China tried to increase its proximity with Burma, an alarmed India rushed 6000 troops at the Indo China border as a precautionary measure in case the “friendly neighbour” tries to venture in…. India-Iran: Old ties new times Although India and Iran have supported each other on international fora, 2007 saw a deviation in our country’s foreign policy towards its ancient friend. The reasons no wonder seemed an arduous effort on part of India to please US. Otherwise what would explain India’s voting against Iran in the IAEA when the option of abstaining from voting was also available? An angry and disillusioned Iran immediately reacted by saying that it would have to reconsider the IPI pipeline project ‘due to escalating costs’. Citing UN Security Council as a compulsive reason India also imposed a ban on the direct and indirect export of all items that contributed to Iran’s nuke fuel enrichment. The Indian government might win accolades in overcoming innumerable hindrances in establishing a fruitful relationship with the US, but in its foreign policy towards Iran it has failed miserably. India-Russia: Diverging roads? The Indo Russia relationship had a bad start with Russia imposing a ban on many Indian agricultural products including rice, blaming the presence of pests in them. The ban was eventually lifted but the sweetness in the relationship of two eternal friends seemed to diminish a bit in the din of Indo US nuke deal. The situation further embittered when Russia decided to increase the price of Admiral Gorshkov, the naval aircraft carrier that India had decided to buy 3 years ago in 1.5 billion. An Indo Russia energy pact which was very much on the cards also did not materialize during the visit of PM Manmohan Singh- which was more or less a 2-day formality. Earlier Pranab Mukherjee was given the cold shoulder when he visited the country. But as the year approached its close, Russia’s stand towards India softened a bit and the two nations entered into a new strategic relationship by signing a multi billion pact to build a futuristic aircraft. If India manages to stand independent of the American shadow, its relationship with Russia will only see bloom in the years to come. In courts Year 2007 will be recalled as the year when the people’s faith was strengthened in the judiciary of India. In recent times, the courts have emerged as the ultimate shelter and refuge of those forgotten or ill-treated. And the courts didn’t let them down. A look at key observations and judgments this year:

Nandigram: The Calcutta HC ordered CBI probe into the ghastly incidents at Nandigram. It also asked the govt to restore normality in the area. It also declares the firing on March 14 that killed atleast 11 farmers unconstitutional.

Connaught Place shootout: On March 31 1997, two businessmen were shot dead after a chase by Delhi police in at CP- by mistake. Police thought they were gangsters, which ofcourse they were not. 10 cops involved were pronounced guilty and given life imprisonment.

Uphaar cinema: It was a classic case of how the lowly took on the mighty. 10 years of fighting for justice for their loved ones who died in a fire lead to the conviction of Ansal brothers.

Coimbatore blast: On February 14, 1998, 58 people were killed in a series of blasts when LK Advani was on a visit to Coimbatore. Founder leader of the proscribed Al Umma SA Basha and the outfit’s general secretary Mohammed Ansari along with 153 others were found guilty and sentenced for 5 yrs to life.

The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, after proceedings that went on for nearly 17 years, gave its keenly awaited final award setting out the share of waters of the Cauvery among the riparian States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

DM lynching: Former MP Anand Mohan got death sentence for inciting a mob to kill former District Magistrate of Gopalganj G Krishnaiah in December 1994. The first that an MP has got the severest of punishment.

Sikh riots: While the CBI said we don’t have any evidence against Sikh riots accused Jagdish Tytler, a prime witness came on media and said the agency had not bothered contacting him. A Delhi court has ordered re-probing of the case.

Madhumita’s murder: Another headline hitting case where a poetess and a minister’s love proved disastrous for both. Amarmani and his wife were found guilty of killing UP poetess Madhumita Shukla, after she got pregnant with Amarmani’s child. Both have been given life imprisonment.

Pravin guilty: The sensational murder of BJP leader Pramod Mahajan led to the conviction of his brother Pravin.

1993 Mumbai blasts: It was the mother of all cases: 13-year trial, 7,000 pages of documentary evidence; 13,000 pages of oral evidence; and 6,700 pages of statements and 686 witnesses. All proved worth the effort as the untiring Judge Kode convicted 100 accused. And said Sanjay Dutt is no terrorist, just an Arms Act offender. He was given 6 years in jail, but is currently out on bail.

Don’t make laws: A Supreme Court bench decided to reign in the judicial ‘overreach’ by telling lower courts not to take on the role of legislature. Subsequent day, PILs were rejected by courts. But the CJI cleared the air by assuring a set of instructions for acceptance of PILs. And also…

Controversial writer Taslima Nasrin was hounded in the state of Left parties and shunted from Kolkata to Rajasthan and Delhi. She just said the writer in her would die without Kolkata.

She was the daughter of a rich Hindu businessman and he a Muslim graphic designer. Their love and subsequent marriage brewed a storm in West Bengal as the system, in connivance with the rich businessman who greased its machinery well, forced the young Rizwanur Rehman to allegedly kill himself for loving.

The monument of love received monumental love this year as the Taj Mhal got itself a snug place in the 7 New Wonders of the World. The UN said it had nothing to do with it. But countries, high on patriotism to get their respective symbols world’s attention, sent millions of SMSs making the organiser even richer. New 7 Wonders of the World»

The Q returned to haunt the country and the Congress as Italian businessman Quattrocchi was caught and then released in Argentina. The CBI was left with an egg on its face and its hands wringing in air as the Buenos Aires court not only declared Quattrocchi an innocent, but also asked CBI to pay-up for his trial! When Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim drank ‘jaam-e-insaan’ for peace, he wouldn’t have even imagined that his attire would land him in a soup. Sikh organisations bayed for his blood for wearing a dress that looked like that of Guru Gobind Singh. It was another chapter in the problems that the official Sikh panth has had with various deras like Sacha Sauda. As the year comes to an end, the indomitable human habbit of keeping hope brings a smile on one’s face- India turned 60 and begab another phase in its life of thousands of years. India at 60» Afterall, not all moments seem dark as streaks of light do show up. And as the pink glow of New Year’s sun appears on the Indian terrain, we remember Tennyson’s timeless words: Ring out the old, ring in the new Ring the happy bells across the snow The year is going let him go… Ring out the false, ring in the true! Au Revoir…» Awards & Recognitions »