Journalist diary

By Japan K Pathak, New Delhi(on a visit)/Ahmedabad, 8 September 2013

Amit Shah under attack!

Why Amit Shah has been put under attack through Vanzara’s letter? Who drafted the letter in profound English and where? Why Mayavati, Mulayam and their political parties stalled the Rajya Sabha seeking discussion on Vanzara’s letter targeting Amit Shah? Why they were too vocal in demanding CBI inquiry on the letter targeting Amit Shah? Why you read Shekhar Gupta’s piece in the Indian Express specifically targeting Amit Shah? You should have habit of reading Hindi newspapers of Uttar Pradesh to know the answer.The reason of shouting and crying over Amit Shah is his presence in Uttar Pradesh. He is actually doing well in Uttar Pradesh.

And this Shah is the guy in Lutyens who can’t be influenced, cracked or bought. I have made a habit of reading local Hindi newspapers when time permits. One app installed in my iPad makes it very easier to access taluka and district wise editions of Hindi newspapers. Then E-papers are of course there. Such habit actually provides the ground level details of what’s going on in Hindi heartland. Many times I cross check the news by dialing call to my friends in UP. Mulayam, Mayavati and Congress’s increasing interest in Amit Shah actually shows that Amit Shah is doing his job in UP well.

Keep watching Sushilkumar Shinde

So who will be the Prime Minister of India if Congress has to make decision? One of the possibilities being whispered in Lutyens is Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s elevation for that post. But when? Well, only after the election. Shinde is loyal to Gandhis. He is at present the leader of Congress party in Lok Sabha. Hid Dalit background may help him and his party to collect more allies post-elections. His prospects can be even brighter, if ahead of the elections you hear news that Dawood Ibrahim has been nabbed, or alternatively has been killed thanks to well-planned operation executed by India. You may wonder, but with the help of America this is possible. Thanks to decision to execute Kasab and Afzal, arrests of Bhatkal and Tunda even BJP has said that Sushil Kumar Shinde is better home minister than P.Chidambaram. Recently in Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar declared that inquiry report of commission appointed to probe the Adarsh scam will be declared in the assembly. However, even on the last day of recently concluded assembly session, the report was not tabled. Not only the opposition, but even the ruling party was surprised. Later insiders revealed that the report was not made public on Delhi’s order. But why? Well, because Sushil Kumar Shinde’s involvement was mentioned in it.

Lakshmidevi Asaram

Asaram Bapu is married and his wife’s photo has been rarely seen in public. So here is the picture of Asaram’s wife Lakshmi Devi. On Gurupurnima day when Asaram is on stage, Lakshmi devi seats in public. Lakshmi devi is from Adipur in Kutch. When Asaram left Sindh, he lived in Gandhidham and Adipur for some time. He was married to Adipur based ST conductor Kanaiyalal Thadaram Ramnani’s sister Lakshmi devi. Asaram’s wife resides in women section of Asaram ashram in Amdavad.

What could be Dirty tricks department’s next area of interest?

Why CBI was desperate to shift Gujarat IPS Abhay Chudasama to Mumbai jail? The attempts according to sources suggest that the dirty tricks department may like to falsefully trap Narendra Modi in the Haren Pandya murder case. Any reference to Sohrabuddin or Ishrat creates polarization, and could benefit Modi. Then there’s a dispute on whether Sohrabuddin and Ishrat were completely clean citizens! Contrary to this, Haren Pandya was a BJP man, he was Hindu, he was not criminal. The court has acquitted all accused arrested in Pandya’s murder case. Who murdered Haren Pandya is legally an unanswered question at this point. CBI was desperate to take Abhay Chudasama to Mumbai jail. In Mumbai, the court sent Chudasama to Arthur road jail this month. The next hearing will take place in October. Why should we not believe that in Congress-ruled Maharashtra, the dirty tricks department could not pressurize, convince this cop to blame Modi in Pandya murder case? We have seen how Vanzara has been locked in jail without trial for last seven years. How he was subsequently shifted to Mumbai jail, then came back to Ahmedabad jail, probed again by CBI team, and the latest development of his letter! Chudasama was deputed to assist CBI in investigation of Pandya murder case by Vanzara. Chudasama is in jail since 2010 for his alleged involvement in Sohrabuddin encounter. He has time and again claimed that there’s no evidence against him. Last week, the special task force which has been formed to investigate the Gujarat encounters visited a place in south Gujarat where Abhay Chudasama had encounter of a criminal took place. This particular encounter case involves Abhay Chudasama. On one hand Chudasama has been shifted to Mumbai jail, on the other hand reconstruction of encounter involving him has been carried out. Attempts to connect Sohrabuddin encounter and Haren Pandya murder case are going on for last several years. One Congress man during recent discussion on Gujarati TV channel hinted that next front against Modi could be opened using Pandya murder case. Now if you think Modi supporters keep blaming Congress and CBI just ‘aise hi’ every time, you may please have a look at this development that took place in year 2010. One Azam Khan in his statement alleged that CBI tried to link Sohrabuddin encounter to Haren Pandya murder case at the behest of Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia. He said he was “threatened” by CBI to implicate him in the Hamid Lala murder case by reopening it in the Rajasthan High Court. The beauty of Modi is that, he is now on such a height that any dirty attempt to frame him will look like a dirty attempt, and he will emerge as a hero who is being false fully trapped by opponents. Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, can dirty tricks department take this risk? Let’s see what happens.

Nav Gujarat Samay

The Times of India is soon launching a new Gujarati newspaper from Ahmedabad. It has been named as ‘Nav Gujarat Samay’. An attractive subscription offer has been launched ahead of actual circulation. The offer includes five months subscription for just Rs. 99, classified ads voucher worth Rs. 500 for free and chances to win 101 bumper prizes including a car. Years back the Times of India had launched its Gujarati edition, and it was simply named as ‘Times of India Gujarati’. The Gujarati edition was shut down later. This time, the Gujarati edition will carry its own name, its own identity. Presently Gujarat Samachar, Divya Bhaskar and Sandesh enjoy good share of Gujarati print market in Amdavad. With attractive subscription order ‘Nav Gujarat Samay’ should enjoy a good initial print order. The only problem is that the news market is already noising too much with plenty of newspapers, TV channels, websites present in market, so how much more headlines a person may consume? How much difference a new newspaper can make? Wishes to a new team. Let’s hope for the best.

Few lines at last

Nepotism se bach ke kahan jaonge? Amit Shah’s son appointed Joint Secretary of Gujarat Cricket Association. Shah is Vice President of the body.

Nonsense se bach ke kahan jaonge? A bridge has not not opened for traffic for last nearly one month just because Advani is not giving dates for inauguration.

Akal ki bankruptcy se bach ke kahan jaonge? Congress declared bandh on issue like ‘Vanzara’s letter’ but didn’t agitate when parts of Saurashtra were facing issues with water supply during drought last summer.