Some self-proclaimed Shiv Sainiks attack the Bombay office of Outlook. That expectedly transforms into an all-out attack on the freedom of press.
Some goons calling themselves Shiv Saina "activists" forcibly entered the Outlook office on the sixth floor of Raheja Chambers in Nariman Point at around 3 PM today, asked for the "editor" and proceeded to ransack the office and threaten the staff members on being told that there was no senior person around.
Now, this is sure to cause a lot of consternation mixed with delight in some secular circles. Watch dear D’Souza’s blog for updates. None so far, which is surprising.
Tags: Commentary, Indian Politics, Pseudo Secularism Hall of Shame, Society & Culture, Weblogs
Sandeep,
Not certain how you want “liberal” dissenters to react post your pro-active “downing” of shutters vide - “Now, this is sure to cause a lot of consternation mixed with delight in some secular circles. Watch dear D’Souza’s blog for updates. None so far, which is surprising.”
Now, all that remains to be seen is how our “conservatives” react.
Yep, Shiv Sena seems to have done more harm to our cause than good, with their lunatic acts.
But why is Outlook afraid to criticize muslim terrorists in Kashmir and elsewhere.
I agree with shadows. But then again, Shiv Sena was only staying in character.
Meanwhile, have you guys chanced upon a certain Ranjona Banerjee who writes in the DNA. This is her take on the “pseudo” secular reactions to the Taslima attack. Its titled “Saving us from our saviours”
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1115813
Now that we have some sort of equivalence, regular service will resume shortly.
Wow, Ms. Ranjana managed to bash up Hindus for even the Taslima attack. The article follows the customary plot - first, there’s the obligatory throat clearing of how indefensible the fanatical hyderabad muslims’ attack on Taslima was and then…it’s business as usual viz., the dissection of Hindu flaws. Curiously she forgets to mention RSS, Shivsena anywhere. Ms.Banerjee’s dhimmitude is quite impressive.
from Ronjana baby’s article >>> “Many Muslim groups, intellectuals and religious leaders also spoke out promptly, calling for legal action against the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM).”
Like? Who? When? Where? Who are these liberals she’s talking about? Do they live in India? Are they real people in flesh and blood?
Were their television debates for 2 straight weeks like in case of the “Hindu fundamentalists” bringing down baroda univ?
Was Anil Dharkar invited to “Times Now” ?
This is classic liberalism. We did oppose this, we did provide lip service. We were just muted and not as outraged as in case of Hindu fundamentalists case.
How are the muslims condemning the islamofascist attacks on Taslima?
1. http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/218200708101523.htm
Kamal Farouqi, Minorities commision chairman condemns this way:
But, he said, the government should also ensure that Nasreen is not allowed to do or write anything which hurts the sentiments of Muslims. [Isn't that gagging free speech?]
“The government should immediately cancel her visa and make her go out of the country,”
>>>>>
Good way to condemn the attack. In 1, the dude doesn’t want any action agains the jihadis of MQM.
In the same link Javed Akhtar (how is he a ‘muslim leader’? has the dude run for any election and won -from a muslim area/ghetto?atleast MQM jihadis can claim to represent muslims since they win local and national elections for atleast past three decades) condems the incident but not a word calling for action against MQM. It’s funny how all these so-called critics are hiding behind the acronym, MQM, without identifying the attackers’ ideology. So it would be ‘Hindutvavadi’ fanatics in case of Baroda, but MQM apparently has no ideology. No word on the radicalization of Hyderabad and no judgement calls on the insecurity of life in the old Hyderabad ghettos. Will Gujarat be spared from such ‘observations’?
2. http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/13/stories/2007081350470100.htm
“Footage being examined”
>>>>Why? Was the Baroda “art” examined for any susceptibility? No. The secularists didn’t even talk as to what exactly was in those pictures. But now, the tape has to be examined. So it is unquestionable free speech as long as the secular mahatmas are frothing their mouth but here, no no, they gotta “examine.”
3.http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/11/stories/2007081161781600.htm
“MIM vows to implement fatwa against Taslima”
“If Taslima makes another visit to Hyderabad,”
>>>
Muslim condemnation…again. Hmm…what happened to the tall talk of democratic country etc. Mulla Owaisi is putting paid to Indian constitution whole sale but nothing against him (Note: all the pintellectuals have asked for cancellation of MLA membership, but most are mute about Owaisi). And yes, “fatwa is one and all for the entire Muslim world.” No exceptions there.
4.http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200708131550.htm
“Muslim Personal Law Board flays Nasrin”
>>>
Now, does the muslim PLB represent muslim or not? (Readers note that it is the MPLB that argues in the Babri case, Shahbano case and pretty much all cases related to muslims. If it represents legitimate muslim opinion then, one can safely say that it does so now too.) And what does it have to say? Hear hear -
“She should not have been invited,” he stated and said “certain characters in her novels are highly objectionable”.
Again, no condemnation of the attacks per say. No call for action against MQM or Owaisi? No demand for ban on MQM? Not a word against the state govt(Samuel Reddy’s secular Congress govt btw) for its clear inaction.
That’s muslim opinion for you.
So next time you hear any gratuitious outrage make sure you fling the fascist libel right back at these secular hypocrites.
Ranjana writes about the ultimate secularist org,Sabrang,led by Teesta filing a court appeal against the muslim thugs.I searched a lot of news sites as well as ’sabrang’ sites but could not find any mention of the court appeal.Usually,the sabrangis keep filing court cases against the Hindutva forces and make a great song and dance abt those on their web page.But there is no mention of this case that Ranjana talks about.Sabrang taking on the muslim thug is not something that I am aware of.
ronjono bonorjee.
fukkerjee.
the bong connection always shines through.
Twista Settlewad’s planning to file (hasn’t filed yet).
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200708142179.htm
Twista Settewad
Socal,I like that ‘twist’
Twista is quick to state that the sabrangi’s are not supporting Taslima.That means,sabrangis wont support anybody who dares to speak abt the ugly truth abt Islam or the persecuation of Hindus by the ungrateful Bangladeshi muslims.
The law is taking it’s own course in Mo Fo Hussain’s case as well.That’s the reason he ran away from this country.How come the liberals are frothing at the mouth at Hussain’s persecution?
The whole issue of Bal Thackeray’s cartoon has to be taken a little bit more seriously. Shivsainiks have been never credited with brains but I request you all to have a look at the outlook list of villains and their caricature once.
If you look at the complete list of villains publised it has the usual suspects like Gode, Narendra Modi and Bal Thackeray. Others in the villain list inclide Gayaram, Mohmd. Azharuddin, HKL Bhagat & Co., Dawood Ibrahim and Beant & Satwant Singh and “the faceless terrorist”
There is a cartoons/caricatutre of each “villain”. There are no cartoons/caricatures of a few villains, they are: Gaya Ram (representing political party hoppers), Beant & Satwant Singh ( shot Indira Gandhi) and not surprisingly “the faceless terrorist”
I am at a loss to know why a terrorist has to be faceless, we have plenty of recognisable faces to draw a cartoon but Vinod Mehta ( Editor of Outlook) being a congress mouthpiece he is, didnt have the guts to put a muslim looking face . If Bal Thackeray’s cartoon can be on the lines of Hitler why cant the Osama Bin Laden’s face be put as terrorist?
The pseudo-secular agenda is to smudge the fact that bulk of the terrorists in the world are Islamic Jehadists. “Faceless terrorist” what a farce!
Outlook Villains List Link: http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20070820&fname=BThe+Heros&sid=2&pn=1
Thackeray’s caricature as a Hitler look-alike is apt considering the man has expressed his admiration for the Fuehrer.
You have a point about the terrorist caricature though. Osama seems a good idea. However, not certain how the non-”secular” press is publishing such caricatures.
We have had several muslims expressing admiration for Osama, famously during Bush’s visit. Putting a muslim face on the so-called “faceless” terrorist would be “apt,” rather desirable.
….It would, however, not be so apt to have a “Hindu-Hitler” face ;)…even though “Hindus” are not known to abhore Hitler anything like the Europeans or the Jews do.
I have personally known a number of fellow “Hindus” who express their admiration for Hitler quite openly. It is common to come across Hitler portraits on member profiles of “Hindu” discussion forums.
In fact…a hatred of Hitler is not even natural for “Hindus” given the historical gap. Just like how the Imperial Japanese are not known as enemies of “Hindus”..nor do the “Hindus” speak against “those” Japanese. But should the “Hindu” be caricatured as Tojo next? Maybe on the birth anniversary of Subhash Bose?
Well…Osama as the terrorist caricature is truer to reality. Not the common Muslim..irrespective of our respective phobias.
Well even as we debate the looks of a terrorist another attack in Hyderabad and 45 innocent Indians dead. There is an interesting article today (27th Aug, 2007) in Times of India which says India has second highest number of deaths due to terrorist acts, next only to that hell hole called Iraq!! and yet we don’t have an anti-terror law. Even now Home minister Shivraj Patil says no question of getting back POTA.Maybe we should add the “gutless central and state governments” to the list of villains.
This is an interesting article on the anti- Terrorism laws in India.
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/publication/faultlines/volume15/Article6.htm
I was thinking of the “gaps” in thought process, in our society;
Between the Military and the Non-Military
Between the Defense Brass and their bosses, the Political Brass
Between various sections of our own people.
Even on foreign policy, we don’t seem to think alike.
“Conservatives” love to place the blame for such a state of affairs on “liberals”. Yet, apart from empty rhetoric, our “conservatives” have failed to provide a solution. A golden opportunity was lost when the BJP squandered its mandate. That was nothing short of being criminal. I believe the BJP was placed best to bridge all of the above gaps. A look now…at the political scenario will tell us what our non-options are. There are no options.
Maybe, in the Indian scheme of things…labels such as “conservatives” and “liberals” is meaningless. But, I believe some such fight mirrors our confusion in policy.
It is not just the politician who is apathetic…it is also the civilian.
I am thinking again…on the gap between the Civilian and the Military. If there is a rupture here…we are headed toward dictatorship. Tinpot in quality.
A key can be found in the RSS concept of the Shakha. At its core, divested of all ideology, it is a call to militarize society. Militarize “Civilian” society. I remember that Jana Sangh had as a point in its manifesto, compulsory Military Service. Maybe I am wrong. But can anyone share why such an idea has never made it on a political party’s agenda? Even the BJP’s?
The last great leader who spoke about this must have been Savarkar.
But such a policy, I feel, is the start to resolving our multiple issues…not the least, preparing our society for this new kind of war…Terrorism.
Baseline must be a Secular Political Vision. Anything else…will lead such an initiative to failure…much like how the Shakha system has become today.
Thoughts?
Comrade Palahalli,
The reason why Hindus dont hate Hitler or the Japanese much is because WW2 weakened the colonial powers and forced the weakened British to leave India and other colonies. Hitler and Japan supported Netaji Bose. Hitler was seen as some kind of hero who gave a tough fight to the mighty British.
Its not out of hate for Jews or something that Hindus dont hate Hitler that much. in fact, Hitler said that Hindus cant even hurt a fly. Mostly, Hindus are ambivalent about Hitler, they dont hate him much, nor like him either. It has nothing to do with “Hindu right-wing supports Hitler”, etc kind of thing (Bal Thackeray-like-people apart)
Is it really so difficult to understand such things??
Read through any Muslim newspaper and one inevitably comes across chunks of anti-semitism. The Protocols of Elders of Zion is a best-seller in muslim world, usually stacked in the popular book stacks in most bookstores (I remember reading in nytimes as such) right with Hitler’s Mein Kampf.
Will Outlook dare portray islamic terrorism as Hitleresque? Anyway, it remains a fact that the face of terrorism in India is a typical friendly neighborhood muslim one. It may be nameless but the silhouette of such a face would be incorrect without a beard or a skullcap. Outlook glibly chooses to overlook the facts in this case. Case of living in denial as usual. The funny thing is they insist other do so too.
Oh btw, does anyone have a precise record of Bal Thackeray supporting or expressing admiration for Hitler, as to where or when? Seems like case of truth by repeated assertion to me for want of usual p-sec gloating by way of detailing the incident. TIA
Socal - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bal_Thackeray#Views_on_Hitler
What would you know about the “Hindu” Right anyways? And what would you know about what or who “Hindus” love or hate?
How many H-Vadi movements have you been involved in? What has been your experience?
You will throw labels at people just like your “hated” communist pals…but do little else.
Tell me something…with all your idiot parties “loving” “Hindus” so much…why do you think they still have no support amongst their own constituency?
So…please stop your bombastic balderdash and come down to mother earth.
Huh! Wouldn’t one be flattered to be portrayed as someone whom he/she admires or expressed admiration for? Rudimentary to doubt as such, one would say.
The reports are quite reassuring though. Thackeray has explicitly repudiated Hitler’s genocidal policies which is mostly what the Toutlook wanted to portray. It is only fair to understand their outrage then.
Otherwise it’s only human for someone living in India to express some fascination for dictatorship, exasperated as one can be by the generally dismal state of affairs. The record of Shivsena in fighting elections doesn’t even remotely suggest that they have exhibited such totalitarian tendecies, something one cannot say about most secular parties.
Btw it’s a non sequitur to even suggest that not knowing one thing(I asked) implies not knowing some other thing. Post hoc ergo propter hoc……
Socal, my sympathies. But all very rectifiable. All you need to do is more study.
Thanks for now.
???
Asian age has some curious news.Apparently someone’s making “Osama torches.” Someone who’s sure it will sell. Who could it be?