Tehelka Tapes: Modernising Media Morality

Concerned # 6 & ba_kait # 9

Aaap log ``Tehelka Machanay`` ka matlab to
samajhtay hain?

Ras


Anyway another interesting tidbit from the

Kashmir Times (Srinagar) April 3, 2001:


Who was behind hijacking of IA plane ‘Ganga’?
Hashim Qureshi makes startling disclosures about the hijack drama

From Iftikhar Gilani

NEW DELHI, Apr 2: Who was behind the hijacking of Indian Airlines plane ‘Ganga’ in 1971? The question is haunting the researchers even after 30-years. India’s first hijacking commanded by Hashim Qureshi and his cousin Ashraf had then started a chain of political events ultimately leading to the dismemberment of Pakistan.
In a startling disclosure, Hashim Qureshi who is in custody since last January following his ``surrender`` to authorities at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here, has confessed that he was working on the post of sub-inspector in Border Security Force (BSF) at the time of piloting the hijacking. The plane was taken to Lahore and later burnt at the tarmac after its occupants were set free.
In his confessional statement, Qureshi, chief of the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Liberation Front (JKDLF) has told his interrogators that he had been arrested by the BSF while attempting to cross the LoC from PoK. Prior to the hijacking, Qureshi had gone to Pakistan to visit his uncle and got in touch with Maqbool Bhat and other top leaders of Jammu and Kashmir National Liberation Front (JKNLF). They prepared him for the hijacking. But, while crossing over with some arms and ammunition, he was arrested by the BSF.
``I was arrested, I told them the story. They said, you can work with us, just point out the potential hijackers at the airport. I agreed. They released me. They gave me a fake appointment letter that said I was a sub-inspector in BSF battalion 102, based in Bangalore,`` read Qureshi’s statement.
Partly corroborating Hashim’s confessions, B. M. Sinha, author of famous book ‘The Samba Spy Case’, had earlier raised fingers at the hijacker’s credentials. ``There was a double agent who operated both in India and Pakistan. His name was Hashim Qureshi,`` Sinha wrote in his book under the chapter ‘Glorious Traditions’. Published by Vikas Publishing House in 1981, the book has an interesting and revealing anecdote about Hashim.
While collecting information and material for his book, Sinha claimed having come across the ``real`` story behind the 1971-hijacking of the Indian Airlines Fokker Friendship plane to Lahore. He believed the hijacking was carefully planned by ``patriotic people`` in India to check the designs of General Yahya Khans’s military government. ``It was a master stroke of cloak-and-dagger diplomacy,`` added Sinha. On the ``Indian motives`` behind the hijacking, Sinha said India wanted to provoke Pakistan to check the use of overflight facilities by Pakistan Air Force. ``It was not possible without sufficient provocation as India had normal diplomatic relations with Pakistan,`` he maintained.
(Read the rest in the Kashmir Times)

Shankar #2 and Faruk #10

Corruption won`t stop as long as hate mongers are ruling Bharat. Generals on both sides of the border are stoking the fire, just for one reason. Money! and lots of it. Advani and the generals are duping Hindutva boys. Everyone is busy buying their favorite toys, and saffron bubbas will get theirs too. Their will be Army rule in Bharat the day politicians stop the $$ supply. Instead of giving lectures to our neighbors we ought to worry about our own house.

Gurv say kaho hum Bharati hain.

We all need to take pride in true Bharati culture and not in some westernized, corrupt INDIAN culture.

Harish



A good article. I think the Tehelka has done a great service to India. There are already some changes taking place in the way business is done. Defense deals would be more open to public scrutiny. They have managed to shake the political establishment and I hope this is just the beginning.

Faruk

Reply #: 5

Ras Siddiqui

It is interesting that when India is being literally dragged kicking and screaming to the negotiating table over Kashmir, there is suddenly a ``Tehelka``.

Back over to Urstruly & Co.

Ras



Siddiqui sahab,

As far as formulating conspiracy theories , I used to think Indian politicians are the masters. You sir, however are the real ``Master`` of the art. What an eyeopener. Good job etc. etc.

Sincerely

bakait

Let`s start a fund for Teheleka.com so it can go get some more of these b@stards.

``Now that Hindus have patted themselves on their backs enough- May I budge in?``

Yeay yeay, now `tis the turn of l`il bro to speak

ras,

do you live on the same planet as the rest of us, or in a galaxy far, far away...?

It is interesting that when India is being literally dragged kicking and screaming to the negotiating table over Kashmir, there is suddenly a ``Tehelka``.

Back over to Urstruly & Co.

Ras

Now that Hindus have patted themselves on their backs enough- May I budge in?

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts

Bravo tehelka!!,

I personally believe those cyberjournalists did India a great favor. They have single handedly started a trend of increasing transparency in the Indian political system.

Powerful people in India were so confident that they were ``untouchable``, that corruption was blatant. What is EQUALLY heartening is that the Indian public (not just the opposition) is up in arms. Its time the corrupt are scared. Of course, they will continue to be corrupt, just not so complacent. That, by itself, ought to decrease the level of corruption in India.

There were 2 things in the history of the 20th century that made me proud to be American--Watergate & the Impeachment of Clinton. It shows that America is willing to rake the most powerful American over hot coals because even he cant take the law & the Constitution for granted. Americans are perfectly willing to air their dirty laundry, even at the risk of worldwide humiliation, to make sure NOBODY is above the law or the Constitution.

The tehelka journalists are the Indian counterparts of Woodward(?) & Bernstein. Those two were also criticised by the ``nawabs`` of the American press, initially. But then they were eventually given the Pulitzer(?) prize.

NO democracy in the world is perfect. Yes, American democracy is more ``perfect`` than Indian democracy. However, it is the attempt to make it more ``perfect`` that should be applauded.

Many Pakistanis on Chowk like to point out how imperfect India`s claims to democracy & secularism are. Theyre right. However, when you compare that to Pakistan`s, I believe India`s claim shines brighter than Pakistan`s (no matter how imperfect & hypocritical it may be).

Ayaz Amir writes beautifully in his opinion ``no tehelka please, were Pakistanis``. Enough said.

In another article Omar Mirza laments why the American press has double standards when they compare India to Pakistan. However, the American press is not always complimentary to India. They repeatedly highlight India`s intractable social & political problems.

What people have to understand is that right, wrong or indifferent, American politicians & press will view the world through American INTERESTS, first & foremost. Ideology is well & good for domestic consumption; but NOT in foreign policy.

The cold war is OVER. Pakistan is no longer the darling stepchild who will help America counter the Soviet menace. FREE LUNCH IS OVER! For Pakistanis to lament about the American betrayal, is hypocritical. Pakistan prospered HANDSOMELY by American largesse during the cold war--both militarily & economically. Pakistan is responsible for the ``blow back`` effect in Afghanistan. The Americans have generously compensated Pakistan in aid. The fact that that money did`nt reach the common Pakistani---dont blame America. Blame your own corrupt politicians & the national apathy not to do anything about it.

Re: Harish

A highly interesting article on the recent Indian Armsgate.

I think that the story, on the corruption in Indian arms deal was that there now exists a plurality of opinion in India. Also, though this may be premature, the media in India is slowly emerging as the fourth estate of the Indian political system and is begining to hold the government accountable.

What ever the merits or the demerits might be of journalistic ethics, the end result is that India is starting to have an investigative press and that is a boon for the Indian democracy!

Ciao!