One Kalmadi Snub a day keeps CWG baiters happy

After PM Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi-Rahul Gandhi team, its time for cabinet secretary to snub Kalmadi

NDTV gleefully reports in its article Now, Cabinet Secretary snubs Kalmadi

In what is being seeing as another snub for the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Chairman, Suresh Kalmadi, Cabinet Secretary KM Chandrashekhar hosted a 'thanks giving' dinner on Friday where most CWG officials were invited, except Kalmadi.

But look who attended the thanksgiving

The dinner was attended by the Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Lt Governor Tejender Khanna and the Sports Minister MS Gill.

Does this mean the people who attended the dinner are above suspicion. Now lets look at the facts -

According to the information received in response to an RTI application, out of the total of 22 projects, following are the projects under investigation -

• Highest of 6 were being carried out by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
• 4 by Delhi Development Authority
• 3 by Organising Committee
• 2 by Municipal Corporation of Delhi
• 2 by Central Public Works Department
• 2 by Government of Delhi.
• 1 by  Department of Commerce
• 1 by Indian Meteorogical Department 
• 1 by New Delhi Municipal Council 

An analysis by Chief Technical Examination Wing of CVC earlier found alleged financial and administrative irregularities in 16 construction and procurement projects.

• 6 of them were done by PWD
• 3 by MCD
• 2 by CPWD
• 2 by DDA
• 2 by NDMC
• 1 by RITES, a Government of India Enterprise

So it seems that majority of projects which are under investigation were not under Kalmadis control. Makes one wonder is there a conspiracy to demonize Kalmadi while letting bigger fishes escape?

CWG Scam: Propaganda war begins

Todays Media Hall of shame covers media coverage of IT & CBI raids in connection with awarding of contracts for the CWG.

Almost all the major media houses (NDTV, TOI, IE & HT) has reported this as

NDTV: CWG scam: Income Tax raids at BJP leader's office

TOI: CWG scam: CBI raids BJP leader Sudhanshu Mittal's house

IE: CWG probe targets BJP's Sudhanshu Mittal

NDTV in its news article writes

Among them, the office of senior BJP leader Sudhanshu Mittal, whose relatives were allegedly given major contracts for different aspects of the Commonwealth Games.

NDTV continues

On Monday, Income Tax officials visited the offices of the Organising Committee, headed by Suresh Kalmadi. Sources say financial documents linked to the broadcast rights for the Games are being studied for alleged tax evasion

So per NDTV IT Officers ‘Raided’ BJP Leaders house but they ‘Visited’ (not raided) office of OC chairman Suresh Kamadi. So one visit was called Raid and other becomes an innocent visit. I am really tempted to ask NDTV did Kalmadi offer IT officers tea when they were visiting Kalmadi. Also have they forgotten Kalmadi is also a senior congress leader

Surprisingly, what was left unsaid in most of news articles is clarification from IT dept. Hindustan Times in their article CWG probe: I-T raid on BJP leader Sudhanshu Mittal carries the clarification -

Let me clarify, these are search operations. The task assigned is to look into the books of accounts and related documents, examine the records and take custody of them, if necessary," the official said.

"We are searching for irregularities, if any, in execution of contracts. We are looking at all contractors. Whoever the contractor is, we are looking. I can't name any specific company or person,"

So these were just search operations and IT officers visited offices of all contractors. Sudhanshu Mittal may or may not be guilty only time will tell but its highly objectionable that media is creating a wrong impression by twisting and misrepresenting the facts.

The timing of this news release also is suspect. This comes just before BJP President was to make a major announcement wrt CWG corruption.

Success has many friends

Back after a bout of health issues which is safely behind.

It seems phrase ‘success has many friends’ is literally coming true. It was only few weeks back, CWG stared at us as a bad dream gone really bad.  No one from India's ruling junta wanted to get caught even dead near anything associated with CWG. But that's all yesterday. Now it seems that every one who is anyone in ruling junta wants to be seen cheering athletes.

Hindustan Times in their article Awesome experience as Sonia, Rahul drop by writes

Even the Congress president Sonia Gandhi and son Rahul, who sat in the general stand to soak in the atmosphere, would vouch for the utter magic that engulfed the hockey stadium. Just for a brief moment, the crowd was awed by the presence of the political icons of the country.

Crowd awed by presence of political icons! So HT has elevated Rahul and his mummy Sonia to political icons of this country along side likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel etc.

The telegraph in their article Sunday surfeit, led by Sonia - First big turnout and loud cheers at games write

The Commonwealth Games got its first big turnout today, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi leading the charge of the fan brigade to put a smile on the faces of organisers complaining about the capital refusing to see beyond cricket.

They then also quoted a spectator

Only those in the rows close to where they were seated noticed them at first. The rest did not have a clue that they were around. But once word spread, spectators around us were looking more at mother and son cheering the team loudly than following the action on the field.

Several spectators said Sonia seemed more excited about the Indian victory than Rahul, standing up every few minutes to cheer and clap

Perhaps Hockeys may not be forte of Rahul who according to media is an avid fan of kickboxing, Race Biking,  Rifle shooting and several other games

Finally, I am not sure why media is underplaying Sonia Gandhi’s presence during the Hockey Finals match where India suffer worst defeat ever in hockey both PM Dr Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi were among those who were cheering for the team. In fact Hindustan Times in their article Manmohan Singh cheers for India in hockey even omitted Sonias names from the list of people who were present at the venue.

NDTV & TOI raises the bar

This is certainly hilarious stuff. It cant get better(or worse) than this.

First NDTV thinks a athlete hugging Rahul Gandhi should be their headline news. But Pièce de résistance is NDTV claim that boxer kept waving at Rahul during his bout! So NDTV thinks Vijender was waving at Rahul more than giving punches to opponent! I hope the reporter didnot confuse punching with waving..

The medal rounds haven't started but Rahul Gandhi decided to stop by to watch the bouts. Vijender Singh clearly seemed thrilled since he kept waving to the Congress general secretary during his bout.

If NDTV has published this news how can you expect TOI to be lagging in race? They have also published this news Boxer Vijender gets VIP support and as usual TOI language was more flowery.

Rahul Gandhi and his brother-in-law Robert Vadra lustily cheered Vijender Singh during his boxing bout on Friday.

Cheered lustily!! I guess TOI might have accidently pasted a word which they meant to use for their other usual articles in TOI website such as these

TOI also informs us

Gandhi, who is also an avid fan of kickboxing, and Vadra can be seen trying to get one-up on each other in their racing bikes in Gurgaon.

Media Says Nation wants Rahul to be face of CWG. Really?

Today, India woke up with news article on how nation wants Rahul Gandhi to be the face for CWG 2010. Timing and intent of these articles is intriguing considering the fact that these articles came less than 12 hours from success of CWG inaugural ceremony. 

Hindustan Times reported Rahul Gandhi best face for CWG 2010

IBN reports Rahul Gandhi seen as best face for CWG

Deccan Herald reports Face of CWG: Rahul beats Sachin by wide margin

As one would expect, The wordings of all these articles are exactly same

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi has emerged as the most preferred brand ambassador for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, with 72 per cent of the respondents choosing him in the latest survey by a leading industry lobby. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar came next with 62 per cent in the survey, conducted among 10,000 students by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry, ahead of the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games.

So if one were to read in between lines of these articles, it would mean Rahul Gandhi is tallest leader among the youth and they want him to be face of CWG. The reason

Rahul Gandhi is the most honest, straightforward and trustworthy leader

However,

A little further research paints totally different picture. The details published in ASSOCHAM website tells a different story. ASSOCHAM website reveals that other options against Rahul Gandhi were Mr. Sachin Pilot, Mr. Jyotiraj Scindia and Mr. Jitin Prasada. Not even a single  non congress leader was included as an option against Rahul Gandhi.

Also, Rahul and Sachin were in different categories thus were not pitted against each other. It is erroneous to compare the vote gathered by these two. Only thing it tells that the other options in category containing Rahul Gandhi were too weak

This completely changes the picture which media was trying to paint. This means that according to survey among other congress youth leaders(actually assorted congress scions) Rahul is most accepted leader. Its perplexing how  one can even compare Rahul Gandhi with likes of  Mr. Sachin Pilot, Mr. Jyotiraj Scindia and Mr. Jitin Prasada who have recently joined politics. Such comparison would make survey totally onesided making it meaningless(unless that was the intention!)

ASSOCHAM News

Why NDTV reported only part of Sheila's statement?

Today  Shiela  Dixshit Delhi Chief Minister came down heavily on Delhi Development Authority and DA and Emaar MGF for delay in handing over the Commonwealth Games Village.

IBN reports Dikshit slams DDA, builder for CWG Village mess

Dikshit also blamed the Delhi Development Authority and DA and Emaar MGF for delay in handing over the Commonwealth Games Village.

NDTV also reported this news as Can't commit when Games Village will be ready: Sheila Dikshit

Hitting out at the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Dikshit said they should have handled the village better.

It seems NDTV completely missed the part in which Sheila also blamed Builder of CWG Village which is Emaar MGF.

One wonders if this critical miss was intentional?

CNN IBN News

NDTV News

Please also read NDTV & Bennett, Coleman and Co. Ltd has stake in Emaar MGF

Seems Changes in CWG Media management team at centre is working

IBN says no Jams in Delhi Despite CWG lanes…

Really…?

Is Media raising ‘CWG Bribery’ issue as smoke Screen?

Congress and CWG organization committee is under intense scrutiny for CWG preparations fiasco. It is only expected to see a diversionary tact

Indian Media has lapped up a report in Australian media that India bribed 72 Commonwealth countries $100,000 each to get the hosting rights.  Media in India has not even bothered to inform their readers the facts about this alleged ‘Bribe’. Is it because the Rights to host was won by NDA regime?

Here are the facts -

1. There were 2 counties in last round, New Delhi, India and Hamilton, Canada

2. Canadian offer of $3.8 million; India bettered the offer to USD 7.2M to ‘train athletes’ of  72 member  countries 

3. New Delhi won 46 votes to Hamilton's 22 in a secret ballot

All this is public information and most of media carried this news at that point of time.

The Hindu reported India to host 2010 Commonwealth Game

India made a last-minute offer before the vote on Thursday to give $7.2 million to train athletes — bettering a Canadian offer of $3.8 million.

PTI reported New Delhi wins bid to host 2010 Commonwealth Games.

India's last minute offer of USD 7.2 million for athlete training tilted the scale in its favour as New Delhi got overwhelming support from member countries to host the 2010 Commonwelath Games.

All this makes one wonder why Indian Media not refuting such mischievous reports coming from foreign media? One can be excused if we suspect that motive of this ‘expose’ to create a smokescreen to deflect attention from current problems

TOI lays DUSU loss squarely on ‘CWG’

ABVP has swept the DUSU election after a gap of 08 years and It seems (atleast from Headlines) that TOI has found the main cause for NSUI loss in DUSU election …. its not price rise or  ineffective UPA Governance,……..Its CWG..  Of course what will youth know about serious issues like price after all its their parents purse which is getting effected….
Seems TOI also forgot to tell us that Congress leader and ‘youth’ icon, Rahul Gandhi, who is also in-charge of NSUI, had personally reviewed election preparation and candidates etc
If its loss its CWG.. Had it been a win you know who would have taken the ‘credit’ for that