Myths vs Facts about RSS

Social media has been a powerful medium in exposing the sinister campaign against RSS.

While reviewing some of the tweets by anti RSS propagandists, I felt it is necessary to expose some of the popular myths about RSS. A lot of people are blindly ranting against Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh, without getting proper information. You can't change everyone, but at least you can put some facts on the table. So here we go.. Note that these are not the official statements of RSS, but that of general social media population in India today. Full credit to the original thinkers and the original photographers, for the information presented here onwards.

Myth 1: RSS Killed Gandhi

Fact 1: Nathuram Godse killed Mahatma Gandhi in 1948. Godse had left RSS in 1930s itself. This has been reiterated countless number of times by RSS, and the recent one is from December 2010, when Ram Madhav of RSS claimed court records clearly showing RSS had nothing to do with Gandhi's murder. Justice Kapur Commission Report clearly says: 

"RSS as such were not responsible for the murder of Mahatma Gandhi, meaning thereby that one could not name the organisation as such as being responsible for that most diabolical crime, the murder of the apostle of peace. It has not been proved that they (the accused) were members of the RSS"

Also, Nathuram, the convict was hanged within months, bringing justice to the whole incident. Blaming RSS for Gandhi's murder just because Godse was a former member of RSS, is like blaming Congress for Muslim League's mass murder and atrocities during Partition, because Jinnah was a member of Congress earlier. Jinnah was a member of Congress party between 1906 and 1920. So someone who was a member of Congress for long 14 years, was instrumental in inciting Direct Action Day and other mass atrocities against Hindus, resulting in 1000s of deaths. Will today's Sonia Gandhi's Congress claim responsibility for all the wrong doings of Jinnah, including breaking up an age old civilization resulting in millions of deaths?

Myth 2: Sardar Patel disliked RSS

Fact 2: Sardar Patel had to take action in 1948 due to political pressure from "secular" Nehru and group. But when the ban on RSS was lifted, read Sardar's letters to Guruji, the RSS chief. Patel was the happiest man then! All the bans till date on RSS, including the ones after Sardar's death, are purely the hate that Congress party nurturers for RSS. Everyone knows that RSS does not negotiate with vote bank politics, corruption or country's soverignty. If the same yard stick was used against Congress, SP or other parties, they all should have been banned for the violence of their cadres, or the deadly riots their governments failed to stop (and in some cases helped rioters like in 1984) over the years.  Here is a partial list of nearly 150 incidents of Congress violence. If for each riot or disturbance Congress party was banned, that number would have easily gone beyond Sachin Tendulkar's international century count!

Myth 3: RSS is anti national

Fact 3: RSS is the most nationalistic organization in India. In fact, even the most bitter enemy of RSS, Jawaharlal Nehru, invited RSS to come participate in the 1963 Republic day parade. 3500 Swayamsevaks marched on that day, in their typical Gana Vesha. During his final years, Nehru realized the patriotic pulse of RSS, that too only when his Congress party's foreign policy went seriously wrong resulting in a humiliating defeat at the hands of China. It was RSS that helped Indian soldiers and civilians greatly in 1962, for which even Nehru was forced to invite them to be a part of 1963 Republic Day parade. I am sure the icon of secularism, Nehru would not invite an anti national organization to march with Indian army during republic day. In fact, the so-called secular folks like members of Indian communist parties, were busy raising donations for India's enemy China during 1962 war! During the 1965 Indo-Pak war PM Shastri requested nationalist RSS to help control traffic in Delhi so policemen could be freed for defence duties. When Pakistanis were trying to take over Jammu and Kashmir, it was swayamsevaks who cleared the snow, so that Indian air force could land their aircrafts.

Myth 4: RSS is fundamentalist

Fact 4: RSS is pro India, pro Hindutva. RSS' ideology says that there are only two kinds of Hindus in India. Those who are Hindu today and those who were Hindus yesterday. That makes every single human in India (and rest of Indian subcontinent), Hindus by culture, ancestry and tradition. That is the Hindut-va (Hindu essence). Tva in Sanskrit means characteristic, essence or hood - like Bhratrutva (brotherhood), Maatrutva (motherhood), Shatrutva (Enmity) and so on. RSS never preaches any religious doctrine using any sacred book with the eventual goal of converting everyone to that doctrine 100%. RSS does not believe in converting anyone to its "religion". So calling such organization fundamentalist is silly. If at all RSS has any fundamentals, it is that of calling India as Bharat, and treating her as the mother of every single human in Indian subcontinent. In fact, RSS supports uniform civil code in India, meaning one type of marriage/divorce/inheritance laws for ALL citizen, which is opposed by so called progressive parties like Communists and Congress!

Myth 5: RSS is fascist and a terrorist organization

Fact 5: When you show the long list of social service organizations that are a part of Sangh Parivar (family), the favourite line of Jihad supporters is that Jamat ud Da'wah also does social service. But they don't understand the basics that RSS does not preach violence in any of its shakha. It only teaches people to be proud of India's glorious 5000+ years culture and tradition. It teaches swayamsevaks (volunteers for the nation), self defence. Every human on this planet has the right to defend himself or herself. RSS never advocated for killing or converting "non-believers", like Jihadi terrorists or radical evangelicals do. If any person who claims to be associated with RSS is convicted of any crime, RSS won't play communal or victim card. RSS believes in law taking its own course and punishment for anyone who violates law, unlike Congress party that still supports a convict Lalu Yadav or those charged with mass murder like Sajjan Kumar, or those caught giving genocidal "15 minutes" hate speeches like Akbaruddin Owaisi. While Nehru was unable to stop the blood shed during partition, it was the RSS that organised over 3000 relief camps for the Hindu Refugees from Pakistan after the Partition. In short, every effort to frame RSS to a fictional "Hindutva terror" or "Saffron terror" has failed till date. Here is one such example.

Myth 6: RSS is only for Hindu males

Fact 6: This is the favourite line of ignoramus feminists. There are two kinds of RSS setups. Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh for males, and Rastra Sevika Samiti for females. Both are thriving in India for decades. Both take out marches, celebrate India's heritage festivals and glorify India's national Hindutva icons. 

Myth 7: RSS is anti Muslim and RSS is anti Christian

Fact 7: RSS treats Muslims, Christians and everyone else in India, irrespective of caste and creed as cultural Hindus. Hindutva is an all encompassing ideology of RSS. This is the reason why RSS never has RSS Muslim shakha (daily assembly) or RSS Christian shakha. Anyone can become a member of RSS as long as they are ready to respect Bharat Mata (Mother India). RSS is against only those whose work against India's soverignty and heritage. In the famous Ranganathacharya Agnihotri case,  "Primafacie the RSS is a non-political cultural organization without any hatred or ill will towards non-Hindus", declared Karnataka High Court (then Mysore HC). 

Myth 8: RSS is for Brahmins, Kshatriyas and other upper caste Hindus only

Fact 8: Totally wrong. RSS has no caste system at all. It treats every single member, be it male or female, as equal. In fact, even Mahatma Gandhi had applauded RSS' casteless setup 7 decades ago. All RSS requires from a volunteer, is respecting Bharat Mata (Mother India) as "vatsale, Maatru bhoome".

Myth 9: RSS was anti Sikh in 1984 riots

Fact 9: Even the most staunch Sikh supporters of 1984 time, won't claim such things. Read Kushwant Singh's writeup. In fact, RSS was instrumental in helping Sikhs in large numbers when Congress party's murderers went on rampage to kill, and their leader Rajiv Gandhi failed to stop the mass killing.

Myth 10: Organizations like the Sri Rama Sene of the infamous pub incident, Abhinav Bharat and other organizations are part of RSS

Fact 10: No. RSS clearly has defined who is a part of Sangh Parivar and who is not. You can't club everyone who claims to be a Hindu organization, and malign RSS because of those organizations' actions. In fact some of those ignorantly clubbed as "Sangh Parivar" with RSS, were trying to kill RSS leaders! Every attempt to malign RSS, like how Congress leaders did in case of Ajmer blast, has backfired. 

Myth 11: BJP is the political outfit of RSS

Fact 11: Wrong. RSS has always been a non political organization. It's prime aim is service to the society, character buidling of youth and nation building. BJP evolved from Jan Sangh. Many BJP leaders, like Vajpayee, Advani and Modi might be from RSS background, but that does not maike RSS a political outfit. In fact, many Congress, AAP and other party leaders are also of RSS background. It is like scores of Indian leaders today  could be from NCC, but that does not make NCC a political organization. RSS volunteers support many political parties, depending upon who is doing the best service to the society, without bias, at that time. The only non-political force that vehemently opposed Emergency was RSS. It was so feared, that Indira Gandhi, who had murdered democracy in 1970s, banned the RSS during her draconian Emergency. J P aandolan, Janlokpal aandolan and a whole lot of popular movements had RSS support. In short, there are RSS admirers and RSS opponents in every party of India. To give an example, even the most staunch anti RSS politician in India today, Digvijaya Singh, was sharing dais with RSS leaders when it suited his Congress party.

Myth 12: RSS has a membership process

Fact 12: Wrong. RSS has no business card or party member ID. Anyone can walk in, and anyone can walk out. The concept is that of Swayam sevak. No RSS volunteer carries a Sangh membership card. In short, anyone who wants to serve the society and Bharat Mata, can become a part of RSS, temporarily or permanently. RSS adheres to the age old saffron colour flag (Bhagwa) that was an inspiration to serve the mother land for billions of Indians over millenia.

Myth 13: RSS only concerns with Hindus

Fact 13: RSS deals with all sections of Indian society. RSS is the first one in majority of natural disasters like 2004 TN Tsunami, 2001 Gujarat Earthquake, 2009 Karnataka-AP massive floods, 2013 Uttarakhand floods, or any rail/bus/building disasters. RSS volunteers are found from Jammu and Kashmir to Tamil Nadu, rushing to help every single natural disaster. They are also in forefront to help people in case of man-made disasters like 2012 Asom riots caused by illegal foreign settlers from Bangladesh. It was RSS volunteers who donated blood during 1971 war. RSS runs over 1,70,000 projects across India via organizations like Sewa Bharati, catering to every language, state, religion, caste, colour and creed. Go to their website to learn. RSS runs 27,041 schools (Ekal Vidyalaya) in remote tribal areas : 7,53,123 socially deprived tribal students are enrolled. RSS is in fact the world's largest voluntary service organization with over 60,00,000 active members, plus millions of supporters. RSS was one of the first to land at Uttarakhand to help the needy. They even proudly helped the organization that helps every Indian... the national army! Watch this video. 

Myth 14: RSS does not raise Indian flag

Fact 14: RSS Sarsangh chalak (highest position within RSS), Mohan Bhagawat himself stands and respects an Indian flag during important national festivals.

There are scores of other myths being propagated systematically against RSS. For now, this list is enough. Just remember:  

R : Ready for | S : Selfless | S : Service

RSS will become stronger with availability of social media, as the malicious propaganda against the Sangh Parivar, will eventually have to die down. सत्यमेव जयते !

Edward Snowden's Statement to human rights groups at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport

Edward Joseph Snowden delivered a statement to human rights organizations and individuals at Sheremetyevo airport at 5pm Moscow time, Friday 12th July. The meeting lasted 45 minutes. The human rights organizations included Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch and were given the opportunity afterwards to ask Mr Snowden questions. The Human Rights Watch representative used this opportunity to tell Mr Snowden that on her way to the airport she had received a call from the US Ambassador to Russia, who asked her to relay to Mr Snowden that the US Government does not categorise Mr Snowden as a whistleblower and that he has broken United States law. This further proves the United States Government’s persecution of Mr Snowden and therefore that his right to seek and accept asylum should be upheld. Seated to the left of Mr. Snowden was Sarah Harrison, a legal advisor in this matter from WikiLeaks and to Mr. Snowden’s right, a translator (Transcript corrected to delivery)

Hello. My name is Ed Snowden. A little over one month ago, I had family, a home in paradise, and I lived in great comfort. I also had the capability without any warrant to search for, seize, and read your communications. Anyone’s communications at any time. That is the power to change people’s fates.

It is also a serious violation of the law. The 4th and 5th Amendments to the Constitution of my country, Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and numerous statutes and treaties forbid such systems of massive, pervasive surveillance. While the US Constitution marks these programs as illegal, my government argues that secret court rulings, which the world is not permitted to see, somehow legitimize an illegal affair. These rulings simply corrupt the most basic notion of justice – that it must be seen to be done. The immoral cannot be made moral through the use of secret law.

I believe in the principle declared at Nuremberg in 1945: “Individuals have international duties which transcend the national obligations of obedience. Therefore individual citizens have the duty to violate domestic laws to prevent crimes against peace and humanity from occurring.”

Accordingly, I did what I believed right and began a campaign to correct this wrongdoing. I did not seek to enrich myself. I did not seek to sell US secrets. I did not partner with any foreign government to guarantee my safety. Instead, I took what I knew to the public, so what affects all of us can be discussed by all of us in the light of day, and I asked the world for justice.

That moral decision to tell the public about spying that affects all of us has been costly, but it was the right thing to do and I have no regrets.

Since that time, the government and intelligence services of the United States of America have attempted to make an example of me, a warning to all others who might speak out as I have. I have been made stateless and hounded for my act of political expression. The United States Government has placed me on no-fly lists. It demanded Hong Kong return me outside of the framework of its laws, in direct violation of the principle of non-refoulement – the Law of Nations. It has threatened with sanctions countries who would stand up for my human rights and the UN asylum system. It has even taken the unprecedented step of ordering military allies to ground a Latin American president’s plane in search for a political refugee. These dangerous escalations represent a threat not just to the dignity of Latin America, but to the basic rights shared by every person, every nation, to live free from persecution, and to seek and enjoy asylum.

Yet even in the face of this historically disproportionate aggression, countries around the world have offered support and asylum. These nations, including Russia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Ecuador have my gratitude and respect for being the first to stand against human rights violations carried out by the powerful rather than the powerless. By refusing to compromise their principles in the face of intimidation, they have earned the respect of the world. It is my intention to travel to each of these countries to extend my personal thanks to their people and leaders.

I announce today my formal acceptance of all offers of support or asylum I have been extended and all others that may be offered in the future. With, for example, the grant of asylum provided by Venezuela’s President Maduro, my asylee status is now formal, and no state has a basis by which to limit or interfere with my right to enjoy that asylum. As we have seen, however, some governments in Western European and North American states have demonstrated a willingness to act outside the law, and this behavior persists today. This unlawful threat makes it impossible for me to travel to Latin America and enjoy the asylum granted there in accordance with our shared rights.

This willingness by powerful states to act extra-legally represents a threat to all of us, and must not be allowed to succeed. Accordingly, I ask for your assistance in requesting guarantees of safe passage from the relevant nations in securing my travel to Latin America, as well as requesting asylum in Russia until such time as these states accede to law and my legal travel is permitted. I will be submitting my request to Russia today, and hope it will be accepted favorably.

If you have any questions, I will answer what I can.

Thank you.

KARGIL WAR 15 YEARS ON : Strategic lessons that we need to learn

THE Kargil war, forced on India by Pakistan 15 years ago, will always be remembered for (a) its strategic and tactical surprise (b) the self-imposed national strategy of restraint keeping the war limited to the Kargil-Siachen sector (c) military strategy and planning in keeping with the political mandate and the (d) dedication, determination, and daring junior leadership at the tactical level.

In fiercely fought combat actions, on the most difficult terrain that gave immense advantage to the enemy holding mountaintops, we were able to evict Pakistani troops from most of their surreptitiously occupied positions. The Pakistani leadership was forced to sue for ceasefire and seek withdrawal of its troops from the remaining areas.

Diplomatic victory

Operation Vijay, the Indian codename of the war, was a blend of strong and determined political, military and diplomatic actions which enabled us to transform an adverse situation into an emphatic military and diplomatic victory. As two Prime Ministers of Pakistan later acknowledged, “Kargil war was Pakistan's biggest blunder and disaster.”

In this article, I will briefly narrate two of the most important battles of the war, some important strategic lessons and how do we look ahead.

The Battle of Tololing

Tololing Top in Dras, occupied by the enemy, interfered with our vehicular movements on the Srinagar-Kargil highway and overlooked the town and our logistic positions. It was necessary to recapture it as early as possible and thus it became the first major battle. After 18 Grenadiers set the stage, 2 Raj Rif finished the task against overwhelming odds on June 13, 1999, after three weeks of bitter fighting. 2 Raj Rif captured a large quantity of weapons and ammunition, including rocket launchers and 81mm mortars held only by Pakistan's regular forces. This large haul of weapons and some vital documents, shattered the myth that Pakistan had created assiduously that the men who had intruded across the LoC were jihadi militants.

Anxiety about battle

We were anxious throughout this battle. As the Army Chief, I could not afford to convey my feelings to anyone, nor could I interfere with the battle which had been planned and conducted at the brigade and division levels. The list of casualties kept growing. We lost three officers, four junior commissioned officers and 16 other ranks. The enemy losses, based on the number of bodies recovered were put at 27.

Tololing Top was the first turning point in the Kargil war. The events that transpired during the battle made me think of the difficult days ahead when we had to clear the enemy from other areas. But realising the determination and the fighting spirit of our troops, I was convinced that we could do it.

Capture of Tiger Hill

The Tiger Hill, an awe-inspiring steep mountain top within our territory, was considered as a major thorn and the most difficult feature occupied by the enemy in the Mushkoh-Dras sector. During my visit to the front on June 28, 1999, Major-General Mohinder Puri, GOC 8 Mtn Div, told me that the Tiger Hill would be his next objective.

The attack on Tiger Hill started on June 30/July 1. The objective was engaged effectively by the Air Force and with intense indirect as well as direct artillery fire. The infantry assault went in on July 3.

At 6 am on July 4, I was informed that 18 Grenadiers had captured the Tiger Hill Top but heavy fighting was still going on the feature. I spoke to GOsC 15 Corps and 8 Mtn Div to learn about the latest situation and asked them to let me know when the objective would be fully secured. At 7.30 am, Mohinder Puri confirmed that the enemy would not be able dislodge our troops from the Tiger Hill Top.

I then informed the Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who was scheduled to address a public meeting at 10 am. The Defence Minister was flying to Amritsar. I gave him this news when he landed at the airport.

Blow to Pakistan

That date became important for one more reason: Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was to meet the US President Bill Clinton. Before their meeting, the National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra and I made sure that the whole world came to know about the recapture of Tiger Hill and thus the likely outcome of the war.

The loss of Tiger Hill was a hard physical and psychological blow to the Pakistan Army. In India, jubilation and relief replaced the earlier gloomy mood of the people. After the entire Tiger Hill feature had been cleared by 4 Sikh and 2 Naga battalions, 18 Grenadiers proudly hoisted the Indian tricolour on the Tiger Hill Top.

Holistic national review needed

Many lessons have emerged from the Kargil war which necessitated a holistic national security review as well as rethinking on the nature of conflict in the new strategic environment and the conduct of such wars.:

n There may be remote chances of a full-scale conventional war between two nuclear weapon states but as long as there were territory-related disputes — currently we have them with China and Pakistan — the adversary can indulge in a proxy war, a limited conventional border war, or both.

n A major military challenge in India is the political reluctance to a proactive grand strategy or engagement. It has invariably led us to a reactive military situation. This disadvantage is enhanced manifold because no loss of territory is acceptable to the public and the political authority. This is a strategic handicap and a risk in any war setting, which increases in a limited-war scenario. To deal with such situations, it is essential to have credible strategic and tactical intelligence and assessments, effective surveillance and close defence of the lines of control.

n The successful outcome of a border war depends upon our ability to react rapidly. The new strategic environment calls for faster decision making, versatile combat organisations, rapid deployment and synergy amongst all elements involved in the war effort, particularly the three services.

n Military capabilities cannot be built when the conflict is on. This can be done only through careful assessment of likely contingencies and defence planning.

n Any war in future will require close political oversight and politico-civil-military interaction. It is, therefore, essential to keep the military leadership in the security and strategic decision-making loop.

n India has a National Security Council but there is no official document outlining its broad national security (including defence) policy and strategy. The government has hesitated in spelling it out due to the lack of political consensus on its policies and the inability to address the crucial issues of coordination to formulate and address national security. The absence of a coherent policy tends to make our responses ad hoc and less convincing.

All-weather surveillance

Kargil war had highlighted gross inadequacies in all-weather surveillance capabilities. Since then, this capability has been made up with indigenous satellites and aerial imagery with synthetic aperture radar. We have also acquired effective unmanned aerial vehicles, and most importantly, acquired and deployed hand-held thermal imagers, surveillance radars and ground sensors along the lines of control. Individual service and joint services doctrines have been revised. Some Special Forces units have been added to the strength of each service.

At the politico-military strategic level, however, the situation is dismal. Most of the reforms recommended in the National Security Review in 2002 to improve the higher defence control organisation, its systems and processes were either not implemented or implemented only cosmetically.

There is no policy document or a white paper on broad national security policy and strategy for the near or long term.

The Ministry of Defence has not been integrated meaningfully nor is there any improvement in defence planning and procurement systems. The civil and military relations have worsened.

Over the last 15 years, due to reactive security postures, our deterrent capabilities have been eroded. This tends to encourage our adversaries to take liberties on the disputed borders or through cross-border proxy war. We need to build credible deterrence at the political as well as military levels.

In June 2012, the government appointed the Naresh Chandra Committee to carry out yet another national security review. Till date, its recommendations have neither been de-classified nor implemented. A strong, competent and committed political leadership is required to bring about improvements in the security policies, higher defence control organisation and its systems, including its rules of business.

Narendra Modi govt refuses to release 'top secret' 1962 India-China war report

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley today ruled out release of the classified Henderson Brooks Report on the 1962 India-China war that is said to be openly critical of the Indian political and military structure of the time, saying its disclosure would not be in national interest.

"This (the Henderson Brooks report) is a top secret document and has not been declassified so far.

"Further, release of this report, fully or partially or disclosure of any information to this report would not be in national interest," Jaitley said in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

Jaitley said the government is also aware of reports purporting to disclose part of the report on the 1962 war.

The report authored by the then Lt General Henderson Brooks and Brigadier P S Bhagat was commissioned by the Indian Army following its humiliating defeat at the hands of the Chinese.

Interestingly, the BJP during the course of the Lok Sabha campaign seized upon the secret report about how the government bungled the 1962 war to slam the ruling Congress and demanded its release.

Excerpts of the military investigation that were leaked in March by an Australian journalist who wrote an acclaimed book on the war said the government's policy of forward deployment in the high mountains had increased the chances of conflict.

The BJP had then justified the demand for releasing the report on the ground that the country would know how the government pushed the military into a war it could only lose.

"What are they trying to hide by making the war report classified ?" BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad had asked.

"We have a right to know what went wrong. We lost the war because of Nehru," Prasad had said while holding the country's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru responsible for the debacle.

However, more than 50 years after its creation, the report remains classified by the Indian government. 

The only two copies of the 1963 report that clinically analysed independent India's worst military defeat, at the hands of the PLA in 1962, lay buried in the vaults of the defence ministry and army headquarters. 

Successive governments stubbornly refused to release it.

Hindu Nav Varsh

Hindu Nav Varsh

The Hindu New Year 2071 or Vikram Nav Varsh Samvant in the traditional lunar Hindu calendars followed in North India – especially in Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh,Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Chhattisgarh is celebrated on Chaitra Shukala Pratipada (March – April). In 2014, the Nav Samvat begins on March 31. The New Year is first day after the Amavasi (No moon) in the month of Chaitra. The current year is known as Plavang Samvatsar

According to the traditional Hindu calendar followed in North India this is year Vikram Samvat 2071. This calculation of Hindu New Year is based on the Luni-Solar calendar. A month in the calendar is calculated from full moon to full moon (Purnima to Purnima). This is known as Purnimanta system.

The calendars followed mainly in North India are based on the Amanta and Purnimanta system. Amanta calendar is calculated from New moon to New moon. Purnimanta is calculated from Full moon to Full moon. Amanta is used in some places for calculatingfestivals and other auspicious days.

The Amanta Lunar calendar starts with Chaitra month. Amanta is used fix all the major Hindu festivals in North India. Even those communities that prefer the Purnimata calendar use Amanta calendar for fixing festivals.

It must be noted here that Gujarat follows a different calendar system and there the New Year falls on the day after Diwali – the calendar is popularly known as Vikram Samvat – the current year in Gujarati calendar is Vikram Samvat 2071 (from October 24, 2014).

Similarly, the official Government of India calendar, the Saka Calendar, has its New Year in Chaitra month but it falls on March 21st or March 22nd.

Indian Space Programme under Threat - Prof Nambi Narayan Case

बहुत वर्ष पहले एक फिल्म आई थी, ““एक डॉक्टर की मौत””. इस फिल्म में पंकज कपूर का बेहतरीन अभिनय तो था ही, प्रमुखतः फिल्म की कहानी बेहतरीन थी. इस फिल्म में दर्शाया गया था कि किस तरह एक प्रतिभाशाली डॉक्टर, भारत की नौकरशाही और लाल-फीते के चक्कर में उलझता है, प्रशासन का कोई भी नुमाइंदा उस डॉक्टर से सहानुभूति नहीं रखता और अंततः वह डॉक्टर आत्महत्या कर लेता है. एक और फिल्म आई थी गोविन्द निहलानी की, नाम था ““द्रोहकाल””, फिल्म में बताया गया था कि किस तरह भारत के शीर्ष प्रशासनिक पदों तथा सेना के वरिष्ठ स्तर तक भ्रष्टाचार और देश के दुश्मनों से मिलीभगत फ़ैली हुई है. दुर्भाग्य से दोनों ही फिल्मों की अधिक चर्चा नहीं हुई, दोनों फ़िल्में हिट नहीं हुईं.

भारत के कितने लोग सचिन तेंडुलकर को जानते हैं, लगभग सभी. लेकिन देश के कितने नागरिकों ने प्रसिद्ध वैज्ञानिक एस नम्बी नारायण का नाम सुना है? शायद कुछेक हजार लोगों ने ही सुना होगा. जबकि नारायण साहब भारत की रॉकेट तकनीक में तरल ईंधन तकनीक को बढ़ावा देने तथा क्रायोजेनिक इंजन का भारतीयकरण करने वाले अग्रणी वैज्ञानिक हैं. ऊपर जिन दो फिल्मों का ज़िक्र किया गया है, वह नम्बी नारायण के साथ हुए अन्याय (बल्कि अत्याचार कहना उचित होगा) एवं भारत की प्रशासनिक मशीनरी द्वारा उनके साथ जो खिलवाड़ किया गया है, का साक्षात प्रतिबिम्ब है. उन दोनों फिल्मों का मिलाजुला स्वरूप हैं प्रोफ़ेसर एस नम्बी नारायण...

आईये पहले जान लें कि श्री नम्बी नारायण कौन हैं तथा इनकी क्या और कितनी बौद्धिक हस्ती है. 1970 में सबसे पहले भारत में तरल ईंधन रॉकेट तकनीक लाने वाले वैज्ञानिक नम्बी नारायण हैं, जबकि उस समय तक एपीजे अब्दुल कलाम की टीम ठोस ईंधन पर ही काम कर रही थी. नम्बी नारायण ने अपनी तीक्ष्ण बुद्धि और दूरदृष्टि से समझ लिया था कि आने वाले वक्त में इसरो को तरल ईंधन तकनीक पर जाना ही पड़ेगा. नारायण को तत्कालीन इसरो चेयरमैन सतीश धवन और यूआर राव ने प्रोत्साहित किया और इन्होने लिक्विड प्रोपेलेंट मोटर तैयार कर दी, जिसे 1970 में ही छोटे रॉकेटों पर सफलतापूर्वक परीक्षण कर लिया गया.

1992 में भारत ने रूस के साथ क्रायोजेनिक इंजन तकनीक हस्तांतरण का समझौता किया. उस समय यह सौदा मात्र 235 करोड़ में किया गया, जबकि यही तकनीक देने के लिए अमेरिका और फ्रांस हमसे 950 करोड़ रूपए मांग रहे थे. भारत की रॉकेट तकनीक में संभावित उछाल और रूस के साथ होने वाले अन्य समझौतों को देखते हुए, यहीं से अमेरिका की आँख टेढ़ी होना शुरू हुई. रूसी दस्तावेजों के मुताबिक़ जॉर्ज बुश ने इस समझौते पर आपत्ति उठाते हुए तत्कालीन रूसी राष्ट्रपति बोरिस येल्तसिन को धमकी दी, कि यदि यह तकनीक भारत को दी गई तो वे रूस को जी-फाइव देशों के क्लब से ब्लैक-लिस्टेड कर देंगे. येल्तसिन इस दबाव के आगे हार मान गए और उन्होंने भारत को क्रायोजेनिक इंजन तकनीक देने से मना कर दिया.

अमेरिका-रूस के इस एकाधिकार को खत्म करने के लिए भारत ने क्रायोजेनिक इंजन भारत में ही डिजाइन करने के लिए वैश्विक टेंडर मंगाए. समिति की छानबीन के बाद भारत की ही एक कंपनी केरल हाईटेक इंडस्ट्रीज़ लिमिटेड द्वारा सबसे कम दरों पर इस इंजन का निर्माण करवाना तय किया गया. लेकिन क्रायोजेनिक इंजन का यह प्रोजेक्ट कभी शुरू न हो सका, क्योंकि “अचानक” महान वैज्ञानिक नंबी नारायण को जासूसी और सैक्स स्कैंडल के आरोपों में फँसा दिया गया. नम्बी नारायणन की दो दशक की मेहनत बाद में रंग लाई, जब उनकी ही टीम ने “विकास” नाम का रॉकेट इंजन निर्मित किया, जिसका उपयोग इसरो ने PSLV को अंतरिक्ष में पहुंचाने के लिए किया. इसी “विकास”इंजन का उपयोग भारत के चन्द्र मिशन में GSLV के दुसरे चरण में भी किया गया, जो बेहद सफल रहा.

1994 में वैज्ञानिक नंबी नारायण पर झूठे आरोप लगाए गए, कि उन्होंने भारत की संवेदनशील रक्षा जानकारियाँ मालदीव की दो महिला जासूसों मरियम रशीदा और फौजिया हसन को दी हैं. रक्षा सूत्रों के मुताबिक़ यह डाटा सैटेलाईट और रॉकेट की लॉन्चिंग से सम्बंधित था. नारायण पर आरोप था कि उन्होंने इसरो की गुप्त सूचनाएँ करोड़ों रूपए में बेचीं. हालांकि न तो उनके घर से कोई बड़ी राशि बरामद हुई और ना ही उनकी या उनके परिवार की जीवनशैली बहुत खर्चीली थी. डॉक्टर नंबी नारायण को पचास दिन जेल में गुज़ारने पड़े. अपने शपथ-पत्र में उन्होंने कहा है कि आईबी के अधिकारियों ने उनके साथ बहुत बुरा सलूक किया और उन्हें मानसिक रूप से तोड़ने की पूरी कोशिश की, विभिन्न प्रकार से प्रताड़ित किया गया. अंततः वे हवालात में ही गिर पड़े और बेहोश हो गए व् उन्हें अस्पताल में भर्ती करना पड़ा. शपथ पत्र में उनकी प्रमुख शिकायत यह भी थी कि तत्कालीन इसरो प्रमुख कस्तूरीरंगन ने उनका बिलकुल साथ नहीं दिया.

मई 1996 में उन पर लगाए गए सभी आरोप झूठ पाए गए. सीबीआई जांच में कुछ भी नहीं मिला और सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने भी उन्हें अप्रैल 1998 में पूर्णरूप से आरोप मुक्त कर दिया. लेकिन क्रायोजेनिक इंजन प्रोजेक्ट और चंद्रयान मिशन को जो नुक्सान होना था, वह तो हो चुका था. सितम्बर 1999 में राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार आयोग ने केरल की सरकार के खिलाफ कड़ी टिप्पणी करते हुए उनका चमकदार कैरियर खराब करने का दोषी ठहराते हुए एक करोड़ रूपए का मुआवजा देने का निर्देश दिया, लेकिन केरल सरकार और प्रशासन के कानों पर जूँ तक नहीं रेंगी, एक पैसा भी नहीं दिया गया. इस बीच वैज्ञानिक नारायण का परिवार तमाम मुश्किलें झेलता रहा. इन सभी आरोपों और झमेले के कारण वैज्ञानिक ससिकुमार और नारायणन को त्रिवेंद्रम से बाहर तबादला करके उन्हें“डेस्क जॉब” सौंप दिया गया. अर्थात प्रतिभाशाली और उत्तम वैज्ञानिकों को “बाबू” बनाकर रख दिया गया. 2001 में नंबी नारायणन रिटायर हुए. हमारे देश की प्रशासनिक मशीनरी इतनी असंवेदनशील और मोटी चमड़ी वाली है कि गत वर्ष सितम्बर 2012 में नंबी नारायण की अपील पर केरल हाईकोर्ट ने उन्हें हर्जाने के बतौर दस लाख रूपए की राशि देने का जो आदेश दिया था, अभी तक उस पर भी अमल नहीं हो पाया है.

इसरो वैज्ञानिक नम्बी नारायण ने केरल हाईकोर्ट में शपथ-पत्र दाखिल करके कहा है कि जिन पुलिस अधिकारियों ने उन्हें जासूसी और सैक्स स्कैंडल के झूठे आरोपों में फंसाया, वास्तव में ये पुलिस अधिकारी किसी विदेशी शक्ति के हाथ में खिलौने हैं और देश में उपस्थिति बड़े षड्यंत्रकारियों के हाथ की कठपुतली हैं. इन पुलिस अधिकारियों ने मुझे इसलिए बदनाम किया ताकि इसरो में क्रायोजेनिक इंजन तकनीक पर जो काम चल रहा था, उसे हतोत्साहित किया जा सके, भारत को इस विशिष्ट तकनीक के विकास से रोका जा सके.

नम्बी नारायण ने आगे लिखा है कि यदि डीजीपी सीबी मैथ्यू द्वारा उस समय मेरी अन्यायपूर्ण गिरफ्तारी नहीं हुई होती, तो सन 2000 में ही भारत क्रायोजेनिक इंजन का विकास कर लेता. श्री नारायण ने कहा, “तथ्य यह है कि आज तेरह साल बाद भी भारत क्रायोजेनिक इंजन का सफल परीक्षण नहीं कर पाया है. केरल पुलिस की केस डायरी से स्पष्ट है कि “संयोगवश” जो भारतीय और रशियन वैज्ञानिक इस महत्त्वपूर्ण प्रोजेक्ट से जुड़े थे उन सभी को पुलिस ने आरोपी बनाया”. 30 नवम्बर 1994 को बिना किसी सबूत अथवा सर्च वारंट के श्री नम्बी नारायण को गिरफ्तार कर लिया गया. नम्बी नारायण ने कहा कि पहले उन्हें सिर्फ शक था कि इसके पीछे अमेरिका की ख़ुफ़िया एजेंसी सीआईए है, लेकिन उन्होंने यह आरोप नहीं लगाया था. लेकिन जब आईबी के अतिरिक्त महानिदेशक रतन सहगल को आईबी के ही अरुण भगत ने सीआईए के लिए काम करते रंगे हाथों पकड लिया और सरकार ने उन्हें नवम्बर 1996 में सेवा से निकाल दिया, तब उन्होंने अपने शपथ-पत्र में इसका स्पष्ट आरोप लगाया कि देश के उच्च संस्थानों में विदेशी ताकतों की तगड़ी घुसपैठ बन चुकी है, जो न सिर्फ नीतियों को प्रभावित करते हैं, बल्कि वैज्ञानिक व रक्षा शोधों में अड़ंगे लगाने के षडयंत्र रचते हैं. इतने गंभीर आरोपों के बावजूद देश की मीडिया और सत्ता गलियारों में सन्नाटा है, हैरतनाक नहीं लगता ये सब?

नम्बी नारायणन के ज़ख्मों पर नमक मलने का एक और काम केरल सरकार ने किया. अक्टूबर 2012 में इन्हें षडयंत्रपूर्वक फँसाने के मामले में आरोपी सभी पुलिस वालों के खिलाफ केस वापस लेने का फैसला कर लिया. इस मामले के सर्वोच्च अधिकारी सिबी मैथ्यू वर्तमान में केरल के मुख्य सूचना आयुक्त हैं. पिछले कुछ समय से, जबसे भारत का चंद्रयान अपनी कक्षा में चक्कर लगा रहा है, इस प्रोजेक्ट से जुड़े प्रत्येक छोटे-बड़े वैज्ञानिक को पुरस्कार मिले, सम्मान हुआ, इंटरव्यू हुए... लेकिन जो वैज्ञानिक इस चंद्रयान की “लिक्विड प्रोपल्शन तकनीक” की नींव का पत्थर था, अर्थात नंबी नारायणन, वे इस प्रसिद्धि और चमक से दूर रखे गए थे, यह देश का दुर्भाग्य नहीं तो और क्या था?इतना होने के बावजूद बड़ा दिल रखते हुए नम्बी कहते हैं कि “...चंद्रयान की सफलता मेरे लिए बहुत खुशी की बात है, दर्द सिर्फ इतना है कि वरिष्ठ इसरो अफसरों और वैज्ञानिकों ने इस अवसर पर मेरा नाम लेना तक मुनासिब नहीं समझा...”. इसरो के अधिकारी स्वीकार करते हैं कि यदि नारायणन को केरल पुलिस ने गलत तरीके से से नहीं फँसाया होता और जासूसी व् सैक्स स्कैंडल का मामला लंबा नहीं खिंचता, तो निश्चित ही नम्बी नारायणन को चंद्रयान का प्रणेता कहा जाता.

आज की तारीख में नम्बी नारायण को गिरफ्तार करने, उन्हें परेशान करने तथा षडयंत्र करने वाले छः वरिष्ठ पुलिस अधिकारियों में प्रमुख, सीबी मैथ्यू केरल के मुख्य सूचना आयुक्त हैं, जबकि आर श्रीकुमार गुजरात में उच्च पदस्थ रहे. ये आर श्रीकुमार साहब वही “सज्जन” हैं जो तीस्ता सीतलवाद के साथ मिलकर नरेंद्र मोदी के खिलाफ बयानबाजी और पुलिसिया कार्रवाई करने में जुटे हैं, और सुप्रीम कोर्ट से लताड़ खा चुके हैं.

अमेरिकी लॉबी के हाथ कितने मजबूत हैं, यह इस बात से भी समझा जा सकता है कि स्वयं सीबीआई ने प्रधानमंत्री कार्यालय से उन सभी SIT अफसरों के खिलाफ कार्रवाई करने की अनुशंसा की थी, जो नारायणन को फँसाने में शामिल थे. जबकि हुआ क्या है कि पिछले साल केरल में सत्ता संभालने के सिर्फ 43 दिनों बाद उम्मन चाँडी ने इन अफसरों के खिलाफ पिछले कई साल से धूल खा रही फाईल को बंद कर दिया, केस वापस ले लिए गए. इस बीच कांग्रेस और वामपंथी दोनों प्रकार की सरकारें आईं और गईं, लेकिन नम्बी नारायणन की हालत भी वैसी ही रही और संदिग्ध पुलिस अफसर भी मजे लूटते रहे.

जैसा कि पहले बताया गया सीबी मैथ्यू, वर्तमान में केरल के मुख्य सूचना आयुक्त हैं, आरबी श्रीकुमार को कई पदोन्नतियाँ मिलीं और वे गुजरात में मोदी के खिलाफ एक हथियार बनकर भी उभरे. इसके अलावा इंस्पेक्टर विजयन, केके जोशुआ जैसे पुलिस अधिकारियों का बाल भी बाँका न हुआ. अप्रैल 1996 में में हाईकोर्ट ने और 1998 में सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने इन संदिग्ध अधिकारियों के खिलाफ कार्रवाई करने हेतु निर्देश दी थे... आज तक कुछ नहीं हुआ. यह फाईलें तत्कालीन वामपंथी मुख्यमंत्री ईके नयनार के सामने भी आईं थीं, उनकी भी हिम्मत नहीं हुई कि एक बेक़सूर वैज्ञानिक को न्याय दिलवा सकें.

किसी भी देश के वैज्ञानिक, इंजीनियर, आर्किटेक्ट, लेखक इत्यादि उस देश की बौद्धिक संपत्ति होते हैं. यदि कोई देश इस “बेशकीमती संपत्ति” की रक्षा नहीं कर पाए तो उसका पिछड़ना स्वाभाविक है. पिछले वर्ष जब ईरान के परमाणु कार्यक्रम से जुड़े दो वैज्ञानिकों की रहस्यमयी परिस्थितियों में मौत हुई थी, तब ईरान ने समूचे विश्व में तहलका मचा दिया था. सारे पश्चिमी और अरब जगत के समाचार पत्र इन वैज्ञानिकों की संदेहास्पद मृत्यु की ख़बरों से रंग गए थे. इधर भारत का हाल देखिये... अक्टूबर 2013 में ही विशाखापत्तनम के बंदरगाह पर भाभा परमाणु अनुसंधान केन्द्र के दो युवा वैज्ञानिक एके जोश और अभीष शिवम रेल की पटरियों पर मृत पाए गए थे. ग्रामीणों द्वारा संयोगवश देख लिए जाने की वजह से उनके शव ट्रेन से कटने से बच गए. पोस्टमार्टम रिपोर्ट से पता चला कि दोनों वैज्ञानिकों को ज़हर दिया गया था. उक्त दोनों युवा वैज्ञानिक भारत की परमाणु पनडुब्बी “अरिहंत” प्रोजेक्ट से जुड़े हुए थे. 23 फरवरी 2010 को BARC से ही जुड़े एक प्रमुख इंजीनियर एम अय्यर की मौत भी ऐसी ही संदिग्ध परिस्थितियों में हुई. हत्यारे ने उनके बंगले की डुप्लीकेट चाबी से रात को दरवाजा खोला और उन्हें मार दिया. स्थानीय पुलिस ने तत्काल से “आत्महत्या” का मामला बताकर फाईल बंद कर दी. सामाजिक संगठनों की तरफ से पड़ने वाले दबाव के बाद अंततः मुम्बई पुलिस ने हत्या का मामला दर्ज किया, लेकिन परमाणु कार्यक्रमों से जुड़े इंजीनियर की मौत की जाँच भी भारत की पुलिसिया रफ़्तार से ही चल रही है, जबकि अय्यर के केस में डुप्लीकेट चाभी और फिंगरप्रिंट का उपलब्ध न होना एक उच्च स्तरीय “पेशेवर हत्या” की तरफ इशारा करता है. इसी प्रकार 29 अप्रैल 2011 को भाभा परमाणु केन्द्र की वैज्ञानिक उमा राव की आत्महत्या को उनके परिजन अभी भी स्वीकार करने को तैयार नहीं हैं. उनका मानना है कि उमा ऐसा कर ही नहीं सकती, जरूर कुछ गडबड है.

यह बात कोई बच्चा भी बता सकता है कि, एक वैज्ञानिक को रास्ते से हटा देने पर ही किसी प्रोजेक्ट को कई वर्ष पीछे धकेला जा सकता है, भारत के क्रायोजेनिक इंजन, चंद्रयान, मिसाईल कार्यक्रम, परमाणु ऊर्जा और मंगल अभियान इसके प्रत्यक्ष प्रमाण हैं. जो कार्य हमारे वैज्ञानिक और इंजीनियर सन 2000 में ही कर लेते, वह अब भी लडखडाते हुए ही चल रहा है. भारत सरकार ने खुद माना है कि पिछले दो वर्ष के अंदर भाभा केन्द्र और “कैगा” परमाणु केन्द्र के नौ वैज्ञानिकों और इंजीनियरों की मृत्यु को“स्वाभाविक मौत नहीं माना जा सकता, लेकिन जहाँ तक पुख्ता जाँच अथवा जिम्मेदारों को पकड़ने की बात है, सभी मामलों में “शून्य” ही हाथ में है. दिक्कत की बात यह है कि भारत सरकार के शीर्ष लोग यह मानने को ही तैयार नहीं हैं कि इन हत्याओं (संदिग्ध हत्याओं और आत्महत्याओं) के पीछे कोई विदेशी हाथ हो सकता है. जबकि 1994 से ही, अर्थात जब से क्रायोजेनिक इंजन के बारे में भारत-रूस की सहमति बनी थी, तभी से इस प्रकार के मामले लगातार सामने आए हैं. ईरान ने अपने दुश्मनों के कारनामों से सबक लेकर अपने सभी वैज्ञानिकों की सुरक्षा पुख्ता कर दी है, उनकी छोटी से छोटी शिकायतों पर भी तत्काल ध्यान दिया जाता है, उनके निवास और दफ्तर के आसपास मोबाईल जैमर लगाए गए हैं... दूसरी तरफ भारत सरकार “नम्बी नारायण” जैसे घटिया उदाहरण पेश कर रही है. किसी और देश में यदि इस प्रकार की संदिग्ध मौतों के मामले आते, तो मीडिया और प्रबुद्ध जगत में ख़ासा हंगामा हो जाता. लेकिन जब भारत की सरकार को उक्त मौतें “सामान्य दुर्घटना” या “आत्महत्या” ही नज़र आ रही हों तो कोई क्या करे?जबकि देखा जाए तो यदि वैज्ञानिकों ने आत्महत्या की है तो उसकी भी तह में जाना चाहिए, कि इसके पीछे क्या कारण रहे, परन्तु भारत की सुस्त और मक्कार प्रशासनिक मशीनरी और वैज्ञानिक ज्ञान शून्य राजनैतिक बिरादरी को इससे कोई मतलब ही नहीं है. पश्चिमी देशों ने आर्थिक प्रलोभन देकर अक्सर भारतीय प्रतिभाओं का दोहन ही किया है. जब वे इसमें कामयाब नहीं हो पाते, तब उनके पास नम्बी नारायणन के खिलाफ उपयोग किए गए हथकंडे भी होते हैं. 

हाल ही में भारत रत्न से सम्मानित वैज्ञानिक प्रोफ़ेसर राव ने भारत के नेताओं को“बेशर्म और मूर्ख” कहा था, वास्तव में प्रोफेसर साहब हकीकत के काफी करीब हैं. देश में विज्ञान, वैज्ञानिक सोच, शोध की स्थितियाँ तो काफी पहले से बदतर हैं ही, लेकिन जो वैज्ञानिक अपनी प्रतिभा, मेहनत और असाधारण बुद्धि के बल पर देश के लिए कुछ करते हैं, तो उन्हें विदेशी ताकतें इस प्रकार से निपटा देती हैं. यह कहना जल्दबाजी होगी कि देश के शीर्ष राजनैतिक नेतृत्व में विदेशी हस्तक्षेप बहुत बढ़ गया है, लेकिन यह बात तो पक्की है कि शीर्ष प्रशासनिक स्तर और नेताओं की एक पंक्ति निश्चित रूप से इस देश का भला नहीं चाहती. पूरे मामले की सघन जाँच किए बिना, अपने एक महत्त्वपूर्ण वैज्ञानिक पर भरोसा करने की बजाय, उन्हें सीधे जेल में डालना छोटे स्तर पर नहीं हो सकता. खासकर जब उस वैज्ञानिक की उपलब्धियाँ और क्रायोजेनिक इंजन पर चल रहे कार्य को ध्यान में रखा जाए. जनरल वीके सिंह पहले ही हथियार लॉबी को बेनकाब कर चुके हैं, इसीलिए शक होता है कि कहीं जानबूझकर तो देश के वैज्ञानिकों के साथ खिलवाड़ नहीं किया जा रहा? हथियार और जासूसी लॉबी इस देश को पिछड़ा ही बनाए रखने के लिए कुछ भी कर सकती हैं, कर रही हैं. अब समय आ गया है कि इन“षडयंत्रकारी शक्तियों” को बेनकाब किया जाए, अन्यथा भारत की वैज्ञानिक सफलता इसी प्रकार लडखडाते हुए आगे बढेगी. जो काम हमें 1990 में ही कर लेना चाहिए था, उसके लिए 2013 तक इंतज़ार करना क्या एक “राष्ट्रीय अपराध” नहीं है? क्या इस मामले की गंभीर जाँच करके सीआईए के गुर्गों की सफाई का वक्त नहीं आ गया है??

Arvind Kejriwal has received 400,000 Dollars from the Ford Foundation

In an exclusive interview with CNN IBN activist Arundhati Roy reveals that even though Anna Hazare was propped up as the saint of the masses, he was not the driver of the movement. The anti-corruption movement, she says, is actually an agenda of multi-national corporations to increase the penetration of international capital in India.

Roy, who had earlier termed Anna’s movement as a ‘Gandhian coup’, expressed deep concern over Anna’s team members running NGOs funded by multinational corporations, not all of which are clean on the corruption front. She had written in a Hindu column on 21 August 2011…

“Kabir, run by Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, key figures in Team Anna, has received $400,000 from

the Ford Foundation (Link for $197,000) in the last three years.”

Kejriwal, an RTI activist, told Firstpost via sms that he had no comment, but asked ‘where is the proof’?

While voicing her anguish over why NGOs funded by World Bank and Ford are partcipating in mediating public policy, she said.