Samajwadi Party legislator Abu Asim Azmi indicates that…

…Hindu organisations may be behind the Pune German Bakery blast.

This, on the same day as Maharashtra Home Minister Sh RR Patil announces an enquiry against Sh Azmi for the latter’s visit to relatives of the suspected terrorists arrested by the ATS earlier this week.
Image courtesy: http://www.abuasimazmi.com/

*** A ROLL CALL OF SHAME ***
PTI News:
Army captain, jawan, militant killed in J-K encounter
Srinagar, Feb 23 (PTI) An army captain, a jawan and a militant were killed in an encounter between ultras and security forces in Sopore district of North Kashmir early today.
DNA India:
Gun battle ends, 3 soldiers killed in Kashmir
Srinagar: Militants holed-up in a house at Chinkkipora village of Sopore on Tuesday killed three soldiers of Special Forces who had gone to flush out the ‘high-value target’.
Hindustan Times:
Sopore encounter: Two army men, one militant killed
An Army officer and …

I am writing this at midnight from Bengaluru.  Thanks to a hectic schedule and travel, I have slept for just about 13hrs since Thursday morning…yet I am finding it hard to sleep.
What happened in Pune is tragic but neither surprising nor unexpected. Pune was very much on the “list”. It was only a matter of time.
Some reports have linked the timing of the blast to the killing of Shahid Azmi, who was defending Fahim Ansari (26/11 accused).

Others have suggested that the heavy police bandobast for MNIK may have distracted the …

On the occassion of Martyr’s Day
Please take a moment to remember the ones who did not come back
And have a look at this series on National Heroes
|| Jai Hind, Jai Bharat ||

Start this weekend with a story on Hyderabad’s links to Islamic terrorism
Next, read Sandhya Jain on the apparent unravelling of Jammu & Kashmir
Then read a retelling of the story of Shantanu by Jai Joshi
and finally, a personal request from Sanjeev Sabhlok, founder-member, Freedom Team of India.
Excerpts from all the articles below, as always.
.
*** Excerpts from How Indian-born Islamic …

UPDATE: The total amount raised now stands at £400*. Sincere thanks to everyone who pitched in (list below)
***
Yesterday evening, 20-25 souls braved the sub-10 degree temperatures and the London rush hour to join us at a small gathering to remember the attack on Mumbai last year.
We did what most of you felt we should have done.
We honoured the memory of those gave their lives to protect ours…and we had an open discussion on terrorism and ways to tackle the challenge.
Highlights: A presentation by Amitabh Soni that brought back the memories …

Note: Up to 2 multiple-choices allowed
***

How should India remember 26/11?(opinion)

***
Pl. also read: Pearl Harbour, 26/11 & Another Day of Infamy
UPDATE: Additional options included

On the eve of the first anniversary of the attack in Mumbai, below are excerpts from the preface to Sh B Raman’s latest book on 26/11 (emphasis mine).
*** Preface to “MUMBAI 26/11 – A DAY OF INFAMY” by B Raman – Excerpts ***
Even while holding talks with the US on peace in the Pacific, the Japanese Empire secretly and treacherously planned and carried out massive surprise attacks from the air and the sea on Pearl Harbour in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, killing a large number of American military personnel …

… as in paying “taxes” to “militants”… or is it “protection money”?

If you ever wondered how bad the situation is in the North-East, look no further.  Courtesy this news-report by Rahul Karmakar (HT)*: Ministers Too Pay Tax to Militants in North-East (emphasis mine):
It’s out in the open. Ministers in the Northeast do pay `taxes’ to militants. A top leader of a faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland has claimed while drawing a line between extortion and levies imposed by underground `governments’.
…”Yes, we collect taxes and there’s nothing illegal …

Home Minister P Chidambaram:
“I’ve been warning Pakistan every time…I’m warning Pakistan for the last time.
If Pakistan attempts to send terrorists into India again, India will not only foil those attempts but also give them a crushing response”
.

Reminded me of someone else doing some tough talking.
Also see:
Quote of the week – Living in Hope
Waiting for a “fitting reply”*
Past quotes are here.

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee:

I will teach them (Maoists) a lesson in the future…

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Full context of the quote:
Asked whether the State government, by agreeing to the swap (of tribals in exchange for a police officer), sent out a message to Maoists that abducting police personnel was a certain way for to secure the release of their sympathisers , he said: “If they learnt this lesson, they are wrong. I will teach them a lesson in the future.”
Related Post: On Naxals, Red Corridor and Operation Green Hunt
Past Quotes.