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Indian Gov't Bans Bulk SMS, Investigating Social Media

Posted by timothy on from the man-vs-the-state dept.

saiful76 writes "Following mass exodus of people belonging to north-east states India from southern states of India, specially Bangalore, allegedly due to the threatening messages, the government has asked relevant agencies to scan all social media platforms to check for inflammatory and offensive content, following which, the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DIT) has issued an advisory to all intermediaries in terms of provisions of IT Act and Rules to take action for disabling all such content on priority. Cellphone operators have been told to block all bulk SMSs and videos — so nobody can send a message to more than five people at a time."

101 comments

  1. And... by Lord+Maud'Dib · · Score: 2

    What do we expect from their control freak government?

    1. Re:And... by myowntrueself · · Score: 4, Insightful

      What do we expect from their control freak government?

      Well people from SOME cultures are VERY easily offended and take this perceived offence VERY seriously.

      So its not just that this government is a 'control freak' its that the government is well aware at how hair-triggered large portions of their population can be at what to us in the West might seem incredibly minor things. Very simple words and phrases can cause widespread rioting with commensurate property damage, loss of life and livelihood. So in this sense the Indian government HAVE to be 'control freakish'.

      IMO its just dumb of these cultures to be so fucking incredibly oversensitive and it really does them no good at all it just makes them look like complete dumbasses to the rest of the world. "What, so you killed someone because he called you a son of a bitch? Riiight thats just totally justified." while within that persons social context it WOULD be 'totally justified'. Doesn't make it right, it makes that persons social context FUCKED RIGHT UP.

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    2. Re:And... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Sadly we do the same freeken thing over other stuff in the US/Europe. Stuff I can't mention hear because I'd be drummed out of existence and might even have someone call the cops on my ass. And the cops likely WOULD go after it. Just speech. But none the less. Dangerous speech!

    3. Re:And... by myowntrueself · · Score: 1

      Sadly we do the same freeken thing over other stuff in the US/Europe. Stuff I can't mention hear because I'd be drummed out of existence and might even have someone call the cops on my ass. And the cops likely WOULD go after it. Just speech. But none the less. Dangerous speech!

      But most of the time when people get riotous in the US/Europe its for things like... cops beating the shit out of someone or shooting someone out of hand. In certain other parts of the world they'd get riotous if the cops insulted someone.

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    4. Re:And... by narcc · · Score: 5, Funny

      In your haste to submit your bigoted and hateful post, you forgot to check the demographics. India is overwhelmingly Hindu.

      --
      Required reading for internet skeptics
    5. Re:And... by RabidReindeer · · Score: 1

      A sensible approach to this would be to keep drawing Muhammad and whatever else until these mud people completely exterminate themselves.

      Unfortunately, our culture has its own major flaw: "tolerance."

      So... we should make our culture more like theirs?

    6. Re:And... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

      India is overwhelmingly Hindu

      .. and also has more mohammedans than pakistan.

    7. Re:And... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe, given the same set of opportunities, you would do the same "evil things"?

    8. Re:And... by RabidReindeer · · Score: 3, Informative

      A sensible approach to this would be to keep drawing Muhammad and whatever else until these mud people completely exterminate themselves.

      Unfortunately, our culture has its own major flaw: "tolerance."

      Of course Islam describes itself as 'a religion of peace and tolerance' but I'm not sure exactly what Arabic words get translated as 'peace' and as 'tolerance', there seems to be some... misunderstanding involved.

      The Arabic word for "peace" is "salam". And yes, it's the same root as "islam".

      There are probably many more peaceful/tolerant muslims in the world than there are Christians, but it's the "Fred Phelp's" groups that get all the attention, not the Lutherans down the block.

    9. Re:And... by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 2

      The Arabic word for "peace" is "salam". And yes, it's the same root as "islam".

      Roots can have a lot of different meanings, I've yet to meet a Muslim who would translate "Islam" as "peace", though, same root or not. The conventional translation is "submission" (to God). I've met one quite devout Muslim who made a point of always translating it when he talked about it (which was, ahem, a lot), and that was the translation he used as well.

    10. Re:And... by demonlapin · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      And you can't do the math. India was, in 2001, 13.4% Muslim according to Wikipedia, which also puts its population at 1.21 billion these days. Assuming that that percentage has not changed much, that's 162 million Muslims, all of whom are neighbors with an estimated 175 miillion Muslims (180 million people * 97%) in Pakistan and 134 million Muslims (152.5 million people * 89.7% ) in Bangladesh, with whom they shared certain experiences under the Raj. The only Muslim country that outranks these three in population is Indonesia, 204 million Muslims (237.6 million * 86.1% ).

      If accusing Muslim terrorists who talk about taking down the West and everyone else in the name of Islam is bigoted and hateful in your mind, you should check your reference points. Just because most Muslims are normal people living normal lives who are as likely to hurt me as the rabbits in my back yard does not mean that Islamic terrorism is not an entity.

    11. Re:And... by narcc · · Score: 4, Insightful

      And you can't do the math.

      No, I think I can handle basic arithmetic. What you want me to think, of course, is "Holy Shit! Millons of very scary Muslims! In INDIA!!!"

      Let's not play pretend that the purpose of that first paragraph was something other than pure rhetoric. You can keep your klansman-style propaganda, we don't need it here.

      As for the supposed threat of Islamic terrorism, I'm not even a little bit concerned. See, here in the US the big threat isn't Muslims -- it's hateful bigots. You'll find that here, virtually every act of terrorism in the last decade was committed by a Christian. Typically white and, more often than not, by someone who shares your hateful beliefs about Muslims.

      Enjoy living in fear in your imaginary hate-filled world. I recommend that you avoid reality -- you'll find that the monsters there look a bit too much like you for comfort...

      --
      Required reading for internet skeptics
    12. Re:And... by GCsoftware · · Score: 1

      Yup, GP fails badly at understanding basic Semitic roots.

      Take the root K-T-B (book, written, to write, etc):

      KITAB - book
      AKTIB - to write

      but

      MAKTAB - office (literally "place of writing")
      MAKTABAH - primary school (place of writing, feminine form)

      So saying that islam and salaam derive from S-L-M is pretty damn vague and useless information without context.

    13. Re:And... by myowntrueself · · Score: 1

      The Arabic word for "peace" is "salam". And yes, it's the same root as "islam".

      Roots can have a lot of different meanings, I've yet to meet a Muslim who would translate "Islam" as "peace", though, same root or not. The conventional translation is "submission" (to God). I've met one quite devout Muslim who made a point of always translating it when he talked about it (which was, ahem, a lot), and that was the translation he used as well.

      Thats what I got as well; 'peace' meaning 'not struggling against the will of God', which is a bit different from the English meaning of the word.

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    14. Re:And... by myowntrueself · · Score: 1

      In your haste to submit your bigoted and hateful post, you forgot to check the demographics. India is overwhelmingly Hindu.

      I know Hinduism well and I think that Advaita vedanta is the most accurate philosophy that exists.

      However, many Hindus are as rabid when it comes to perceived 'offence' as many Muslims.

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    15. Re:And... by myowntrueself · · Score: 3, Insightful

      And you can't do the math.

      No, I think I can handle basic arithmetic. What you want me to think, of course, is "Holy Shit! Millons of very scary Muslims! In INDIA!!!"

      Let's not play pretend that the purpose of that first paragraph was something other than pure rhetoric. You can keep your klansman-style propaganda, we don't need it here.

      As for the supposed threat of Islamic terrorism, I'm not even a little bit concerned. See, here in the US the big threat isn't Muslims -- it's hateful bigots. You'll find that here, virtually every act of terrorism in the last decade was committed by a Christian. Typically white and, more often than not, by someone who shares your hateful beliefs about Muslims.

      Enjoy living in fear in your imaginary hate-filled world. I recommend that you avoid reality -- you'll find that the monsters there look a bit too much like you for comfort...

      FUCK!!

      Its not about Hindus or Muslims or Christians!

      Its about people who just can't contain their rage when they get insulted!

      THATS what is DUMB!
      THAT is what is FUCKED UP!

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    16. Re:And... by evil_aaronm · · Score: 1

      Don't forget the riots over some team losing - or winning! - a game, like soccer, hockey, basketball.

    17. Re:And... by teg · · Score: 1

      There are probably many more peaceful/tolerant muslims in the world than there are Christians, but it's the "Fred Phelp's" groups that get all the attention, not the Lutherans down the block.

      Not likely, as there are more Christians than Muslims, and at least a large portion of the Muslims are not particularly tolerant. Of course, many of the muslims in the west are those who can't stand this religious oppression.

    18. Re:And... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yawn. My local paper has an editorial cartoonist.

      He drew a picture of a Ichthys with a Shark Fin once.

      The local Christians were quite outraged.

      I'm sure with a bit of trying he could have driven them to the same froth-ridden violence you detest in Non-Christians.

    19. Re:And... by KliX · · Score: 1

      And where exactly are you from?

    20. Re:And... by RabidReindeer · · Score: 1

      The Arabic word for "peace" is "salam". And yes, it's the same root as "islam".

      Roots can have a lot of different meanings, I've yet to meet a Muslim who would translate "Islam" as "peace", though, same root or not. The conventional translation is "submission" (to God). I've met one quite devout Muslim who made a point of always translating it when he talked about it (which was, ahem, a lot), and that was the translation he used as well.

      Thats what I got as well; 'peace' meaning 'not struggling against the will of God', which is a bit different from the English meaning of the word.

      You just haven't been dragged to the same churches that I was, that's all. No Jesus, No peace, etc.

    21. Re:And... by bhagwad · · Score: 2

      Let Indians be oversensitive. I don't care. But they have no right to express that "oversensitiveness" in violence. The government in India is way too tolerant of riots and people going on rampages without punishing them and making them pay for damage to property. THAT is why protesters in India are so bold. Enforce the law quickly and see how violence ends.

      As for plain ol offence...well, no life is lost just by being offended right?

    22. Re:And... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      IMO its just dumb of these cultures to be so fucking incredibly oversensitive and it really does them no good at all it just makes them look like complete dumbasses to the rest of the world. "What, so you killed someone because he called you a son of a bitch? Riiight thats just totally justified." while within that persons social context it WOULD be 'totally justified'. Doesn't make it right, it makes that persons social context FUCKED RIGHT UP.

      Dude, you are talking like a dumb idiot here without knowing whats going on in the first place. There was violence in North East India not because some bum said something stupid and another bum took offence. It started because of a illegal Bangladeshi immigrants problem in North East India, and the locals i.e. NE Indians felt threatened about their land. Not surprising at all. Justfied or unjustfied.

      Next there were sporadic attacks against N.E. Indians in Bangalore, mostly by Muslims, as they felt some sort of kindred to the Bangladeshi immigrants who also happen to be Muslims.

      Now, if you have survived through this harangue, here comes the interesting part. The SMSs were about people from NE India being attacked in Bangalore, which spread panic.

    23. Re:And... by mrops · · Score: 0

      Chee thanks for stereotyping. I'm from India where calling a handicap just that doesn't bother him. Or calling a black person just that is no offense to anyone. So excuse me if I take your post with a pinch of salt. In the west we keep coming with terms just so someone is not offended, handicap becomes physically challenged and you can't even call your Christmas holidays "Christmas holidays".

    24. Re:And... by myowntrueself · · Score: 1

      Chee thanks for stereotyping. I'm from India where calling a handicap just that doesn't bother him. Or calling a black person just that is no offense to anyone. So excuse me if I take your post with a pinch of salt. In the west we keep coming with terms just so someone is not offended, handicap becomes physically challenged and you can't even call your Christmas holidays "Christmas holidays".

      Yeah but people don't riot over these things.

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    25. Re:And... by thej1nx · · Score: 0

      GP is right. As an Indian I can tell you that for being majority, Hindus *usually* tend to be surprisingly tolerant of other communities. Not even USA comes close. I mean check out the plight of non-muslims in almost any Muslim-majority nation for example. Minorities, including muslims get reserved quotas in schools/universities and Jobs. Muslims have been even Presidents. And how the muslim usually repay this all, is by going hair-trigger every time they can get the remotest chance to do so. In this case, the illegal muslim immigrants from neighbouring Bangaladesh sneaked in the north-east region and started harassing the native local Bodo populace. Eventually the local populace retaliated, ending in riots. All well and good. You would think that Indian muslims would side with their own country against this wave of illegal invaders. But they actually carried out riots in mumbai to protest prosescution of muslims in Burma(India has nothing to do with this) and of their "brother muslims" in north-east. They would readily put their religion over their country and openly support treason. And the flaw of Hindus is to tolerate this nuisance and allow the minority muslims to have their own special laws and even protect their rights.

    26. Re:And... by thej1nx · · Score: 1

      Yup. They must be very rabid. That is why not only the minority muslims are allowed to have their own set of special laws, *defined by mulims* for them, but they even get special quotas in schools/universities as well as jobs. The hindus are so intoolerant, that they elected muslims to be Presidents repeatedly. The mumbai riots recently carried by Indian muslims were for protesting the prosecution of mulims *outside* India, and for supporting their "brother" illegal muslim immigrant invaders from neighbouring country who were rioting in north-east region and attacking actual Indian citizens. They desecrated Indian equivalent of US air force memorial. The people they targeted in these riots were by the way, non-muslims. Treason is apparently just a "perceived" offense.

    27. Re:And... by ubrgeek · · Score: 1

      > you can't even call your Christmas holidays "Christmas holidays".

      Of course you can, if you're talking about your Christmas holidays. If you're talking about Hanukkah holidays or Kwanza holidays and you call them your "Christmas holidays" then at best you're being incorrect and at worst you're being a fool.

      --
      Bark less. Wag more.
    28. Re:And... by tanujt · · Score: 1

      There is a reason why these things happen. For you in the West, things are very uniform as far as cultures, traditions, behaviour and expectations go. For a country like India, there is not even uniformity within one state. It is very difficult to judge the dynamics of such a varied culture with the yardstick of the West, and sometimes even unfair. I am not justifying the violence, I'm trying to point out reasons for the hair-thin patience when it comes to communal issues. Hindus and Muslims in India have always been at loggerheads.

      The series of events that led to the rumors being a big deal was this: clash between Bodos (a native Assamese, largely Hindu community) and resident Muslims over a piece of land. This was either misreported, or mistaken as a clash between native Hindus of Northeast and illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. This spiked a communal issue, even though it wasn't one to begin with, between other Muslims across the nation against Hindus specifically from Northeast, resulting in the death of two. The mass rumors started going out on SMS services, social media and email about revenge against Northeasterners, which led to a massive Exodus of NE people back to their home-states. This not only hurts the economy, but overall socio-political makeup of India. It is necessary at such times to curb the trigger events, even though it may seem tyrannical to ban them. Hindu-Muslim relations in India are a silk-string my friend, not to be taken lightly. Whether you approve of it or not, communal violence doesn't need rationale justification to spark.

      Oh and by the way, to make things more dramatic: Bulk of the online scare campaign comes from Pakistan, so claims the Government.

    29. Re:And... by Hentes · · Score: 1

      In this case, less telespammers.

    30. Re:And... by thePowerOfGrayskull · · Score: 1

      FUCK!!

      Its not about Hindus or Muslims or Christians!

      Its about people who just can't contain their rage when they get insulted!

      THATS what is DUMB!
      THAT is what is FUCKED UP!

      Please tell me that was intentional.

    31. Re:And... by Nirvelli · · Score: 1

      So what you're saying is, the Slashdot summary is just the usual FUD and lacking any of the useful parts of the article?

    32. Re:And... by asvravi · · Score: 1

      Sanest comment on this post yet! Wonder why it is not marked +5 insightful yet..

    33. Re:And... by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

      You would think that Indian muslims would side with their own country

      No, I wouldn't, because I know that for a typical Muslim, the only loyalty lies with the Ummah.

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    34. Re:And... by myowntrueself · · Score: 1

      yes

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
  2. Alleged cause? by donaggie03 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    What is the extent of this "mass exodus"? It seems to me that if the mass is so large that it gets the attention of the national government, then the cause of the peoples' plight would be better understood than "allegedly due to threatening messages." Who is doing the allegations and why isn't there confirmation? So are these people leaving thier homes because of threatening messages or not? Is there even actually a mass of people leaving thier homes? What do THEY have to say about thier reasons?

    --
    Three days from now?? Thats tomorrow!! ~Peter Griffin
    1. Re:Alleged cause? by donaggie03 · · Score: 2
      Nevermind; it looks like most of my questions were answered in TFA. I still think the use of the word "allegedly" implies some question about the causes when there really isn't any. Also, I before reading the article, I had the mindset of someone who couldn't understand how a mass of people could take a threat like that seriously. Then I realised the threat was targeted towards entire ethnicities (and people are already dying in neighboring states) so the threat would seem legitimate.

      I don't see how someone could be arrested for spreading rumours. Isn't one person's "spreading rumours" another person's "spreading the word about an imminent threat"? It's not thier fault that an attack hasn't actually happened (yet). Or is the actual charge "knowingly spreading false rumours, in order to cause a panic" or something like that?

      --
      Three days from now?? Thats tomorrow!! ~Peter Griffin
    2. Re:Alleged cause? by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

      > Bangalore was hit hardest by rumours that the ethnic violence in
      > Assam, in which nearly 80 people have been killed, would
      > ricochet across Karnataka,

      Ya, if this happened just down the road, and I got threatening texts along with thousands of my neighbors, I'd be out of there on one of the extra chartered trains, too.

      Regarding "allegedly", it's journalistic cover-my-ass, but journalists seem to have forgotten this and use it out of all context, in some kind of regurgitative reflex.

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
    3. Re:Alleged cause? by gopla · · Score: 4, Informative

      You already seem to have a grasp of the situation here in India.

      People of northeast of India have a mongoloid features, which marks them as different from rest of Indians that have aryan features.

      There is some ethenic violence going on in Assam, a state in notheast of India, between Bodo (ethenic Assames people with mongoloid features) and Muslims. So other Norhteastern people living in rest of India are therened by Muslims.

      Most of these people are students and migran labours. Their parents got worried about their safety and called them back. Mass hysteria got generated when evey norhteastern person just started exodus from rest of India back to their hometown.

    4. Re:Alleged cause? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Aryan migration is MYTH.

    5. Re:Alleged cause? by oiron · · Score: 1

      It's not neighbouring states - Assam is about 2000km away from Karnataka.

      Lots and lots of North-Easterners come down to work in the South, because that's where the jobs are. After the ethnic violence in the North East, there were reverse threats in the south. It's complicated.

  3. Ahem.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They learned from the best..

  4. What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    What threatening message? And what could be in them that causes a mass exodus? Who, what, where ? Not everybody reads India's newspapers.

  5. Maybe this'll work for my lawn? by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 1

    I guess I just ought to get me one of them socialist ghost mediums, and cellphone S&M operators, to scare them 'youngun varmints, to get off my lawn?

    --
    Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
    1. Re:Maybe this'll work for my lawn? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sounds like a job for Scooby Doo.

  6. Few corrections by gopla · · Score: 5, Informative

    The ban on bulk SMS is for 15 days at the most. This is not censorship, but an effort to avoid mass hysteria.

    Those of you who know India will understand what I mean. Even before the era of mobile phones it was somhow easy to spread roumours and generate hysteria in India. For example read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_milk_miracle/ for one hysteria of 1995 regarding idols that drink milk, or 2006 where sea water turned sweet.

    These efforts are to help crub the new hysteria. But I am doubtful about its effectiveness.

    1. Re:Few corrections by bhagwad · · Score: 1

      Punish people swiftly for violence and all violence in India will end. No need for censorship and curbing free speech. Rioters are cowards who aren't afraid of consequences.

    2. Re:Few corrections by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In the west peaceful assembly is looked on as a good thing. In India, a peaceful assembly can quickly turn into a mob and go on a rampage.

    3. Re:Few corrections by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No it is still censorship with a bullshit reason.

    4. Re:Few corrections by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Punish people swiftly for violence and all violence in India will end. No need for censorship and curbing free speech. Rioters are cowards who aren't afraid of consequences.

      How's that working in the USA?

  7. Good idea... by bayankaran · · Score: 1

    I hope the "ban" stays.

    The filthy POS bastards aka marketers were such a nuisance. The DND (Do Not Dial registry) never worked well...so "ban" is the way to go.

    About the exodus...it is a minor event, in a country of 100 billion there is an exodus or pockets of violence almost every day. Indian Railway (South Western Railway to be precise) will beat the market...quarterly revenue will be excellent. Few nameless Railway babu's will get better bonuses. Their wives are going to buy costly and gaudy sarees.

    Whoever else who made money spread the rumors which started the shebang.

    --
    Tat Tvam Asi
    1. Re:Good idea... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is that 100 billion due to you including the various animals or you including the gods?

    2. Re:Good idea... by narcc · · Score: 1

      That's quite a baby boom! Still, I'm skeptical that their population could increase nearly 100 fold so quickly -- no matter how efficient the population is at fucking.

      --
      Required reading for internet skeptics
    3. Re:Good idea... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is that 100 billion due to you including the various animals or you including the gods?

      No, it comes from talking out of his ass.

  8. The problem with bans by aNonnyMouseCowered · · Score: 1

    The problem with bans is that they look good in theory or they work in the short term or under specific instances but introduce a host of other problems when implemented on a grander scale. Severely restrict the sale of guns and reports of gun-related deaths will go down and then rise again as people figure out illegal ways to acquire weapons. The Prohibition reduced the total amount of alcohol consumed but allowed organized crime to flourish.

    I'd be happy to see Facebook banned. I'm sure that would increase people's productivity before it nosedives again as they find other ways to waste their time or attempt to "connect" and rumormonger using old-fashioned SMS. Ban carrier-based SMS, and who knows somebody will invent a mesh-based peer-to-peer substitute.

  9. Mubarak by bedouin · · Score: 1

    Different context, but Mubarak did this permanently a couple years before the revolution occurred. The reason was to stop people from easily organizing protests. I think we know how that worked . . .

    Not sure where it stands now since I never felt the need to try.

  10. The exodus is subsiding by gopla · · Score: 2

    Form here, http://www.indianexpress.com/news/exodus-of-north-easterners-from-bangalore-shows-signs-of-subsiding/989967//, so may be the ban has had some effect.

  11. Needs to be said by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Free Software..
    Free Society

  12. 5 per day limit as well by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In India at the moment, and the news seems a bit inconsistant. While the ban is on bulk texts it also seems that no one can send more than 5 texts a day, as mentioned here: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/news/telecom/5-SMS-per-day-limit-comes-into-effect/articleshow/15544381.cms and is consistant with personal experience.

  13. Phone call ban? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I hope they introduce a 5-phone-calls-per-day limit as well!!!

    This would put an end to the nuisance of calls from Indian callcenters claiming to be from "Microsoft support" and luring innocent users into downloading AMMYY on their Windows PC and have people in India take over their PC to install malware.

    This is becoming a real plague here.

  14. control ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nobody cares for the staged media circus anymore. Especially those wound around tighter controls on communication.

    BTW, we all know about free energy. Tada

  15. Context? by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

    allegedly due to the threatening messages

    Sorry, what threatening message?

    Following mass exodus of people belonging to north-east states India

    Okay, I appreciate that the submitter's first language is possibly not English, but what the hell do the editors actually do around here?

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    1. Re:Context? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The editor's first language probably isn't English either

    2. Re:Context? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...what the hell do the editors actually do around here?

      Damn all. Don't say you only just noticed this.

  16. 78 people have been killed and 14,000 homes burned by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    According to the New York Times, 78 people have been killed and 14,000 homes burned. The censorship here is to stop peole from sending messages threatening or inciting more violence.

    For those who read something beyond the headline, there is serious violence between Muslims and Bodos. Violence like this is often fed by alternating rage and fear. The Indian government is trying to cut off the cycle that passes those conditions from person to person.

  17. Not possible to send to more than 5... by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    Is that service available outside of India? How do I subscribe?

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  18. No insult factor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I've been reading a lot of posts, and people seem to somehow believe that this is similar to the attacks on the Danish newspaper for drawing a cartoon of Muhammed, that people in some way made fun of Hindus or Muslims. There is no insult factor in this incident.

    There was violence in North East India not because some bum said something stupid and another bum took offence. It started because of a illegal Bangladeshi immigrants problem in North East India, and the locals i.e. NE Indians felt threatened about their land. Not surprising at all. Justfied or unjustfied.

    Next there were sporadic attacks against N.E. Indians in Bangalore, mostly by Muslims, as they felt some sort of kindred to the Bangladeshi immigrants who also happen to be Muslims.

    Now, if you have survived through this harangue, here comes the interesting part. The SMSs were reports about people from NE India being attacked in Bangalore, which spread panic.

  19. the equivalency game by sanman2 · · Score: 0

    Take a look at who's behaving rabidly - the religion of peace once again:

    http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/have-you-seen-the-rioters-who-vandalized-the-amar-jawan-memorial-254715

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/hindus-from-pakistan-flee-to-india-citing-religious-persecution/2012/08/15/adf09888-e6e4-11e1-9739-eef99c5fb285_story.html

    So let's not always reflexively force ourselves into a game of moral equivalency. All religions are not identical, and some religions have features which pose more problems for others.

  20. Correction to Your Correction by sanman2 · · Score: 1

    Take a look at other initiatives by India's ruling govt on mobile phones:

    http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,16174440,00.html

    The ruling party wants to promote phones when they can help it win elections. But it wants to ban them when its ineffectual governance might get exposed. The ruling party are crooks.

  21. Mubarak-racy by sanman2 · · Score: 1

    India's ruling Congress party are an entrenched kleptocracy who could easily give Mubarak's govt a run for its money.

    India's rulers like to boast that they are the "world's largest democracy" - in reality, they're the world's largest Mubarak-racy.

  22. Re:78 people have been killed and 14,000 homes bur by sanman2 · · Score: 1

    Unfortunately, the ruling party in India likes to stoke the fears of the Muslim community in order to milk them for votes. So they profit quite handsomely from stoking up ethnic tensions.

  23. PAKISTAN by sanman2 · · Score: 1

    Apparently, a lot of SMS messages have been traced back to Pakistan as their origin point:

    http://www.rediff.com/news/report/pakistans-perfect-ploy-led-to-ne-exodus/20120818.htm

    If true, then that's quite noteworthy.

    Gee, I wonder why Pakistanis would do something like that?

    1. Re:PAKISTAN by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      LOL yeah right, even the Indian prime minister's constipation was traced back to Pakistani origins.

  24. India - China by Taco+Cowboy · · Score: 2

    Everybody knows China isn't free

    Everybody knows that the communist government of China does not allow its people too much freedom

    And the way I look at it, India is doing its best to copy China - they copied everything, including the bad stuffs

    Tracing sms to Pakistan is but a lousy excuse to restrict freedom for the over 1 billion people inside India
     

    --
    Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
    1. Re:India - China by sanman2 · · Score: 1

      Either SMS messages came from Pakistan or they didn't - that's not a subjective issue.

      I'd say India's current ruling party is doing its best to copy Hosni Mubarak's govt in Egypt, protecting a kleptocracy built on corruption, while labeling political opponents as "fundamentalists" to keep them at bay.

    2. Re:India - China by ganesh.rao · · Score: 0

      How free are you, really?

      I suppose you prefer having a few thousand dead rather than having to curtail your ability to send text messages to more than 5 people at once? Is your convenience worth someone else's life?

      Policy making and enforcement is a difficult task. Slashdotters think its as easy as creating a new blog post. Heck, there are 100s of /.'ers who wouldn't agree with me on this but you expect everyone else to line up with your thoughts on freedom of speech and expression? There is culture and religion to consider as well, and quite a few of each.

      Speech is only worthy of freedom when there is respect tagged along with it, be it friend or foe. Please don't quote me with your American-flavoured hypocrisy. I think the world has had enough of that.

    3. Re:India - China by Taco+Cowboy · · Score: 1

      I suppose you prefer having a few thousand dead rather than having to curtail your ability to send text messages to more than 5 people at once? Is your convenience worth someone else's life?

      Keep thinking that way, and by the time of your children they wouldn't be permitted to make a conference call to more than 5 people simultaneously

      Good luck, India, for you have this "ganesh.rao" guy who believe that freedom must be stifled in order to achieve a totally ordered (as specified by TFTB) Indian society

      BTW, Mr. Rao, do you believe in "honor killing"?

      Would you kill your own daughters when they decide that it's their freedom to become someone other than what you expect of them?
       

      --
      Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
    4. Re:India - China by swatilekha · · Score: 1

      What has this got to do with "honor killing"? facepalm :/ This is just a temporary preventive measure to ensure people don't whip up a hysteria. Good god!

    5. Re:India - China by ganesh.rao · · Score: 0

      Unfortunately "Taco Cowboy", you seem to be like the one who reads New York Times more than once a day. I cannot convenience or even try to explain to a person who is politically brainwashed and yet lead to believe you have freedom of speech. I'm sure you'd disagree with everything that is on display at RT.com, won't you?

      I did not say that the limitations on communication was absolute. It was a temporary measure put in place to prevent bloodshed and panic. I'm more than happy to have a conference call with less than 5 people for a week, if it means it would save someone else's life. I suppose those are the differences between the two countries. People here are willing to accommodate difficulties in times of trouble, while Americans can't have their luxuries taken away even if the apocalypse is in sight. Oh yes, I meant the American people and not its government. I can't really blame you for our differences, now can I?

      There are 1.1+ billion people here. We certainly have democracy that is best doable with such a wide spectrum of thoughts, cultures, religions, races and people; at this time. You have less than 1/3rd of our population and the funny part is that you still believe you have "democracy" and "free speech". When was the last time the US Govt. made a decision in the pure interest of its people? ObamaCare wouldn't be forced down on people nor would Assange be hunted down. Where is freedom of choice and expression, Mr. Taco?

      India is by no means a "perfect" society. You will always have people agreeing to various subjects, including "honour killing" no matter what you do; that is the vast nature of this country. We can only do our utmost best to further educate people and that is being done. Your press would like you to believe that the whole world (minus the US ofcourse) is a "3rd world country". I suppose I can only expect so much from its reader.

      Frankly, I suggest you read more than one news paper. Preferably one that isn't printed in the West and you'll see difference. You can start with RT and Al-Jazeera.

    6. Re:India - China by ganesh.rao · · Score: 0


      When Americans are cornered and there isn't a gun in sight, they'll start throwing leaves and stones as well.

      Next time an American shows hypocrisy on freedom, point them towards Gitmo and Manning.
      </rant>

      While I do like the freedom they enjoy that other countries and cultures are very envious of (I am to a degree), but I sure hope they stop the hypocrisy.

  25. True Situation by ananthap · · Score: 1

    CHRONOLGY
    (1) For years, illegal migration from neighbouring country.(Bangladesh).
    (2) Locals suspect that over the years this has changed the population demographics of their state.
    (3) So interested parties get into the act to beat up the supposed illegal migrants - who happen to be muslims.
    (4) The central government has always played footsie with minority vote banks (wouldn't mind a demgraphic change since their vote bank would become a majority) and instead of addressing the main issue has always regularised their stay.
    (5) Riots in far off Mumbai by muslim groups "protesting" against atrocities to muslims - in bosnia, afghanistan - everywhere. (6) Roumour mongering by interested hindu groups that ramzan is over, muslims will retailate against north easterners (who are m
    ostly christians and hindus - but "slant-eyed"ish).

    FACT.
    (1) These north-easterners are hard working immigrants (into other parts of india) who will do jobs locals dont touch.Eg. Watchmen, menial labour - they aren't educated though english speaking.
    (2) They are despised and picked upon. They are discriminated in housing and their women harassed since they mostly wear western clothes or just skirts and sarongs with tight t-shirts on top.
    CONCLUSION.
    (1) Its a chance for all shadowy parties to test their organisational and armoured strength (from staves upwards).
    (2) A significant portion of Indian economy is dependent on bulk SMS - eg farm prices etc. These are well regulated and will not suffer since they come under authorised and registered bulk SMS rules (if your SMS sender's ID follows this pattern XX-nnnnnn). The ban probably doesn't apply to them.
    (3) Peripheral to the main issues but probably true is that India's other neigbour (Pakistan) is muddying the pond.
    (4) Government has once again succeeded in diverting the focus from the main issue of illegal migration into north east India.

  26. Re:India - Egypt by sanman2 · · Score: 1

    Ganesh Rao,

    How free are those who desecrated one of the country's oldest war memorials?

    http://www.mid-day.com/news/2012/aug/140812-Mumbais-most-wanted.htm

    How free are some to burn 58 people to death on a train, and then call their own community the victims?

    How free is this small 11-year old girl who was arrested the other day in the country nextdoor, where particular laws are upheld by the majority faith there?

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/19/pakistan-christian-tensions-quran-burning-allegations

    Nobody wants to go live in such countries, where a particular faith is in the majority. Because they know they'll be oppressed and discriminated against. Meanwhile some in India want to cry 'discrimination' against their faith, but they still want to flood into the country, even illegally if need be. Buddy, if someone's trying to get into a country illegally, then I'd take their complaints against that country with a grain of salt.

    Meanwhile, the Mubarakcracy that runs India is only too happy to brand any patriotic or civic group as "fanatics". So that's why the situation continues to deteriorate.

  27. Communal Award by NewYork · · Score: 1

    The root cause of Assam riots is the fact that https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bania_(caste) Gandhi betrayed the Independence of Bodo aka https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheduled_tribe community in 4th August 1932 Round Table Conference. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communal_Award

    --
    Casteism
  28. Re:India - Egypt by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Take a deep breath and calm down. We must never let India be a religious and oppressive nation like Pakistan, nor should we allow this fascist us vs them thinking. Don't be a troll now.

  29. Re:India - Egypt by ganesh.rao · · Score: 0

    As much as I'd like to stand up for my country our press is in shambles as well.

    You read the fact that messages came from Pakistani sources. Good. But do you know why it did and why now? Be a little cynical. Ask a Pakistani what he reads about India's adventures in Pakistan, you'll get the complete picture then (or rather you'll be in disbelief with your Pakistani mate).

    Media today is a sophisticated brainwashing tool. Think twice before you believe what information you get through mainstream media.

  30. Re:India - Egypt by sanman2 · · Score: 1

    I'm not a troll - you are. Nobody should ever allow themselves to be stuck in a sado-masochistic relationship, where they are the lone side showing tolerance, while the other side continues to show selfish belligerence. That's called appeasement.

    So spare me your pretentiously fake aura of "calm, cool, maturity", when you're simply promoting lethargy and appeasement. Neville Chamberlain helped to promote fascism by appeasing it in the manner you're suggesting. The Religion of Peace could do with some introspection, which doesn't come easily to it.

    A good analogy here is the old Chinese proverb about how a frog can be coaxed into allowing itself to be boiled alive in an uncovered pot of water, without jumping out , simply by raising the temperature very gradually, one degree at a time.

    The crooked Indian govt's policy has been to continue allowing the situation to deteriorate, while looting public money as fast and as furiously as they can. And all the while, they utter platitudes like "everybody stay calm, don't get excited, everything's okay". All corrupt kleptocracies have an incentive to do this. Well, even Standard & Poor's have said that things aren't okay, and that it's all just a whitewash.

    And then of course those who aren't fooled by these platitudes and stand up to criticize the govt are then quickly labeled "ignorant", "hotheads, "malcontents", "fanatics", "fascists" in a sliding scale of progression. It's a pathetic worn-out tactic that's completely lost its effectiveness from overuse.

  31. Re:India - Egypt by sanman2 · · Score: 1

    You may call India "the world's largest democracy" - but I call it the world's largest hypocrisy, the world's largest kleptocracy.

    Elections in India have been reduced to a farce - but that doesn't seem to bother you, as long as you can make a technical claim that there are elections.
    Take a look at the latest electoral antics from the ruling Congress Party:

    http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/guj-polls-cong-meticulously-plotting-to-dethrone-modi/183402/on

    http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=772594

    Now they're promising free homes to people who'll vote against the opposition party. They're handing out "registration forms" which carry no legal weight whatsoever, in an attempt to target the most vulnerable and gullible sections of society.

    The ruling party at the Centre has committed itself to using any means, by hook or by crook, no matter how foul, to defeat political opponents. The day isn't far off when they'll be kidnapping opponents and physically eliminating them.

    India is no longer a democracy - it's now just a dictatorship punctuated by elections.

  32. Re:India - Egypt by ganesh.rao · · Score: 0

    You may call India "the world's largest democracy" - but I call it the world's largest hypocrisy, the world's largest kleptocracy.

    Elections in India have been reduced to a farce - but that doesn't seem to bother you, as long as you can make a technical claim that there are elections.

    Now, now. Don't be a troll. The same thing can be said of any country in the world. Just because political parties swoop real low to influence your vote, it doesn't mean the voting system itself is broken and unfair. That said there are severe consequences when such laws are broken. The Election Commission of India by all means is a strong and independent body.

    Take a look at the latest electoral antics from the ruling Congress Party:

    http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/guj-polls-cong-meticulously-plotting-to-dethrone-modi/183402/on

    http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=772594

    Now they're promising free homes to people who'll vote against the opposition party. They're handing out "registration forms" which carry no legal weight whatsoever, in an attempt to target the most vulnerable and gullible sections of society.

    The ruling party at the Centre has committed itself to using any means, by hook or by crook, no matter how foul, to defeat political opponents. The day isn't far off when they'll be kidnapping opponents and physically eliminating them.

    Did you even read the links you posted? Congress is the opposition party. Ruling party happens to be the BJP in Gujrat. There is no mention of "registration forms" or free housing within those links.

    India is no longer a democracy - it's now just a dictatorship punctuated by elections.

    Sure, a dictatorship who's term ends every 5 years. 1.2~ billion people and this is the way a country is run when everyone's voice is heard. That is called democracy. If you are unhappy, move to China and complain there.

  33. Re:India - Egypt by sanman2 · · Score: 1

    >Did you even read the links you posted? Congress is the opposition party. Ruling party happens to be the BJP in Gujrat. There is no mention of "registration forms" or free housing within those links.

    No, the Congress Party is the ruling party at the Centre, and it's been the ruling party there for 53 out of the last 65 years. It's from the Centre that they're able to rig the entire system in their favour. It's mainly only when they've suffered assassinations that other parties have gotten a chance to gain office at the Centre. That's not really a democracy - not when the ruling party ruthlessly manipulates the system like that. That party is not composed of democrats, but rather of people who will hang onto power at all costs.

    You're extremely naive to believe that the Congress Party plans to give up power. They're already so deep upto their eyeballs in scams which they aren't willing to face criminal prosecution for, if they lose the next elections. So they don't plan to lose - they plan to engineer their victory by illicit and underhanded means, rendering any electoral exercise a farce.

    You're quite a shill for the Status Quo, aren't you? Are you related to any Congress Party members? Or do you gain some false pride by turning a blind eye to the failings of Indian democracy?

  34. vote-rigging by sanman2 · · Score: 1

    >There is no mention of "registration forms" or free housing within those links.

    Here you go, Kaangressi:

    http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Cong-builds-house-of-dreams-on-Narendra-Modis-turf/articleshow/15579607.cms

    They are trying to hoodwink the poorest people in society, in a no-holds barred bid to eliminate their opponent. This type of blatant offering of sops is basically tantamount to vote-rigging.

    You can act like an apologist for them all you want, but your comments reveal more about yourself than about the subject you're commenting upon. Indians like me want improvements in Indian democracy, and meanwhile apologists like you leave me cold.

    1. Re:vote-rigging by ganesh.rao · · Score: 0

      >There is no mention of "registration forms" or free housing within those links.

      Here you go, Kaangressi:

      http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Cong-builds-house-of-dreams-on-Narendra-Modis-turf/articleshow/15579607.cms

      They are trying to hoodwink the poorest people in society, in a no-holds barred bid to eliminate their opponent. This type of blatant offering of sops is basically tantamount to vote-rigging.

      You can act like an apologist for them all you want, but your comments reveal more about yourself than about the subject you're commenting upon. Indians like me want improvements in Indian democracy, and meanwhile apologists like you leave me cold.

      Have you ever in your life read the articles you cite here entirely or are you just trying to type something to take my screen space? Let me quote...

      Housing for urban poor was a hallmark of previous Congress governments when the Gujarat Housing Board constructed precisely 1,76,830 homes in the 1970s and 1980s. Once the BJP came to power, the GHB went defunct and housing was a subject left to the builders.

      1- Congress did deliver on its promise when they were in power for building homes.
      2- BJP stays in power for two decades. Screws it all up and does nothing.
      3- Congress now makes a new commitment to build more homes if put in power and you suddenly have a problem with that?

      Why? They have delivered to their previous commitment. If not entirely, atleast more than the current BJP government.

      People like you will always exist to complain and cry but have nothing to offer for a solution. JFK:- Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.

  35. Re:India - Egypt by ganesh.rao · · Score: 0

    You're extremely naive to believe that the Congress Party plans to give up power. They're already so deep upto their eyeballs in scams which they aren't willing to face criminal prosecution for, if they lose the next elections. So they don't plan to lose - they plan to engineer their victory by illicit and underhanded means, rendering any electoral exercise a farce.

    You're quite a shill for the Status Quo, aren't you? Are you related to any Congress Party members? Or do you gain some false pride by turning a blind eye to the failings of Indian democracy?

    Well, if you have incapable and right-wing opposition parties like the BJP/NDA, you'll never see anyone but the Congress in power. You think the minorities in this country are ever going to vote for these right wingers? When was the last time one of these parties had a stance in J&K? Remember that India has a significant minority population and a very large tolerant majority population.

    Blame the Congress to have held power that they don't deserve only when you have a deserving opposition party. That said, the next election might be the best chance any other party can get because of the Centre's mighty publicized failings in the past 8-9 years; but I still doubt it since the BJP has voiced its neocon nature already.

    You blame the party at the Centre of rigging everything down to the States. Let me ask you, has anyone of the opposition parties agreed to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill? Coming elections, you gotta pick the lesser of the two devils.

    I have no allegiance with any party in this country. I simply vote for the representatives of the more secular and tolerant party. Give me an alternate to the Congress that is more secular and tolerant, I'll vote for them. Regardless of how good they are in building the economy of this country (or other matters), I'd like to first stop any bloodshed within the country (thread topic?).

    You seem to be like the one who'll only criticise the government yet offer no solution to the problem. I think I'll stop wasting my time going around in circles for a person who can't offer anything for this country.

  36. Re:India - Egypt by sanman2 · · Score: 1

    Well, if you have incapable and right-wing opposition parties like the BJP/NDA, you'll never see anyone but the Congress in power. You think the minorities in this country are ever going to vote for these right wingers? When was the last time one of these parties had a stance in J&K? Remember that India has a significant minority population and a very large tolerant majority population.

    In India everyone is a minority. The word "Hindu" was coined by the Arabs, remember? Before that, there was no umbrella word, much less an umbrella identity. Muslims are simply the largest ethnic group in a sea of smaller ethnic groups. Are you even from India - or are you just some "oreo" raised abroad, who's only heard about India from foreign news media? Which part of Andhra did you grow up?

    Blame the Congress to have held power that they don't deserve only when you have a deserving opposition party. That said, the next election might be the best chance any other party can get because of the Centre's mighty publicized failings in the past 8-9 years; but I still doubt it since the BJP has voiced its neocon nature already.

    Heh, "neocon" - you're obviously raised abroad in the US and steeped in their politics, while having no real first-hand knowledge of Indian society, politics or ground-level realities. I can tell just from the way you talk, Oreo.

    You blame the party at the Centre of rigging everything down to the States. Let me ask you, has anyone of the opposition parties agreed to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill? Coming elections, you gotta pick the lesser of the two devils.

    Oreo, let me explain that corruption has to be dealt with at the level of the Centre first, in order to prevent the ruling party from monopolizing it as their fiefdom. Congress wants the opposition to act first in the states they govern, while keep reform away from themselves. That's a recipe for nice guys finishing last. This is the same ruling party that stole Indian democracy for 2 years, from 1975-77 by declaring the Emergency - or was that not mentioned in the National Geographic specials that are your sole window to India?

    I have no allegiance with any party in this country. I simply vote for the representatives of the more secular and tolerant party. Give me an alternate to the Congress that is more secular and tolerant, I'll vote for them. Regardless of how good they are in building the economy of this country (or other matters), I'd like to first stop any bloodshed within the country (thread topic?).

    I doubt an Oreo like you could have actually voted in any Indian elections. "Sekoolarishm" has become the Congress Party's crafty McCarthyist ploy against anyone who opposes their corrupt rule. Observe the Congress Party's dealings with yoga guru turned political activist, Baba Ramdev. When Ramdev first announced his plans for a rally in the capital to highlight corruption, the always-tactical Congress first wanted to negotiate for Ramdev's political support, since he had a lot of followers.

    But as soon as Ramdev started mentioning the corruption of the ruling Congress Party, then the Congress immediately launched a brutal police crackdown, where even old women were beaten up (one was put in the hospital with a skull fracture). And of course, immediately, the ruling govt branded Ramdev as an "agent of the RSS" (as soon as the ruling party sees you as a threat, you're quickly branded an "agent of the RSS" - basically, the same type of tactics Mubarak's govt used on Egyptian dissidents, accusing any opponent of the regime of being a fundamentalist)

    You seem to be like the one who'll only criticise the government yet offer no solution to the problem. I think I'll stop wasting my time going around in circles for a person who can't offer anything for this country.

    The solution to the problem is to throw the ruling bums out from the Centre.

  37. Re:India - Egypt by ganesh.rao · · Score: 0

    For the uneducated souls like yourself, the term "neocons" abbreviates for neo-conservatism. A fancy word for politically right-wing nut jobs. There are neocons in US, UK, India and in most democratic countries in the world. Surely, you jumped the gun too early. I suppose thats expected since you've been doing that with all your previous citations.

    Dumb people like you will always exist. But that's the beauty of India, ignorant people like you do get a chance to speak and we call that right democracy.

    I have travelled across the world visiting a wide spectrum of political and religious countries. From Afghanistan to Israel, England to Thailand. I don't need to justify my thoughts and work to the likes of you. You like calling names, lets hear your credentials.

    As for the RSS, they are the lowest living souls in this country. Hooligans that this nation hosts in Mumbai. You should have watched MNS Secretary General earlier last night, he used the phrase "super Ghandhisim" on live national television reflecting on the Mumbai police's "softness" on Aug 14th. He openly said that he wanted the Mumbai police to murder civilians during the unrest earlier this month just like the 1992 massacres (were you even born then?). BJP is very closely allied with these right-wing political parties.

    I hope for the sake of humanity that we never see such idiots in the Centre. They are only a source of embarrassment to this nation. While the Congress is far from perfect, I do not see any other political party even remotely suitable to even understand our sensitive country.

    You look like a depraved Hindu who would happily stand in Godse's shoes, on count. You seem not to understand the difference between corruption and democracy, I guess such understanding is for higher beings than yourself. Oh wait, racism runs in your blood. Ignorance is what is in your head. There is not much anyone can expect from you.

    Have a wonderful evening and good night.

  38. Re:India - Egypt by ganesh.rao · · Score: 0

    The solution to the problem is to throw the ruling bums out from the Centre.

    And replace them with bums like yourself?

    I'm sorry but that's not a solution. You just have a political view, not a solution. You need to read and learn a lot more.

    As much as I'd like to leave this non-productive conversation, it bothers me that people with half-baked information get so loud and unruly. Hence, the need to comment :P

  39. You're Not Even Indian, Are You? by sanman2 · · Score: 1

    [bunch of blather deleted]

    Heh, you're not even Indian, are you? Oh, you've got an Indian name, but you didn't even grow up there. You don't even have the foggiest idea of what you're talking about. That's why you completely digressed into some rant, trying to avoid looking like the dope you've exposed yourself to be. Anyone of us who's actually grown up in India and lived there understand the reality of govt corruption. It's a basic fact of life.

    You're just some kind of "abcd" (American Born Confused Desi) who doesn't even have any real exposure to the very real problems that Indians have to face from their govt. And yet you're busy waxing poetical on how great India's govt is? Uhh, why don't you stick to talking about things you actually have some firsthand knowledge about, rather than about weird fantasies you've acquired by watching National Geographic. The ruling kleptocracy loves to take people like you for a ride, because they know that you won't know any better, being some rootless wanna-be with no genuine knowledge of the country, or of them.

    Sad. Just sad and pathetic.

    1. Re:You're Not Even Indian, Are You? by ganesh.rao · · Score: 0

      I'm live in Bangalore :)

      You still haven't made one useful point in all your posts in this thread. You've simply accused the government yet not offered a single solution. You've accused me of being an outsider, yet you disgrace yourself of being an Indian. You apparently aren't educated at all, did you just finish school?

      Again I ask you, where are you and what background do you have with anything related to policies of this country?

      Do you really know what it takes to run the government of the largest democracy? You just seem like a kid blaming the government for all your personal short comings.

      Let me know when you have something useful to contribute.

  40. he doesn't even know - sad by sanman2 · · Score: 1

    You've got no real understanding of what goes on in India, do you? That's why you're just reflexively replying back, like some brainwashed simp. You need to get a life, and get a country. Because whatever you think you know is just fiction. Heh, "non-productive" - well, at least everyone's productively found out that you're not actually from the country you're claiming to know so much about, and whose kleptocracy you're defending.

    1. Re:he doesn't even know - sad by ganesh.rao · · Score: 0

      Heh, "non-productive" - well, at least everyone's productively found out that you're not actually from the country you're claiming to know so much about, and whose kleptocracy you're defending.

      I really don't like talking down to kids :)