Presidential ‘race’: Republicans call Obama tar baby, boy

Washington: Republican Doug Lamborn of Colorado and commentator Pat Buchanan, a former candidate for the president, have both apologised for using racially charged terms to describe President Barack Obama.

Both Lamborn and Buchanan had called Obama, the first African-American president, alternately a “tar baby” and “boy”, giving new fuel to speculation that underneath much of the criticism of the president and his policies, lurks the shadow of racism.

Lamborn had made his comment on a Denver talk radio show on Tuesday. Referring to Obama, he said that it was like touching “a tar baby and you get it, you’re stuck, and you're a part of the problem now and you can’t get away”.

The term tar baby comes from the 19th century Uncle Remus stories, where B'rer Fox uses a doll made of a lump of tar to trap B'rer Rabbit, who gets more stuck the more he pummels and kicks the tar baby. In more recent parlance, tar baby is widely considered racial slur.

Former GOP presidential candidate and MSNBC contributor Pat Buchanan, in a tête-à-tête with the Rev Al Sharpton, referred to Obama as “your boy”. “My what?” Sharpton shot back. “My president, Barack Obama? What did you say?”

Buchanan hinted that he was using a boxing analogy, replying that the president was “your boy in the ring”. Lamborn, who apologised to Obama in a letter, said in a separate statement on Wednesday that he shouldn’t have used a term “that some find insensitive”.

“Some folks took what I said as some kind of a slur,” Buchanan said on Wednesday. He added: “None was meant, none was intended, none was delivered.”

Police thrash tribals in Satellite Ahmedabad

Police claim injuries were fallout of clash between two groups residing in area. Agitated tribals seek action against inspector; commissioner institutes inquiry



Ramaben Medasar who was badly injured could not walk and had to be carried

While police claimed the injuries inflicted on women and others were a fallout of a clash between two groups residing in the area, the agitated tribals met city police commission Sudhir Sinha on Thursday and demanded action against Senior Inspector J M Bharwad who led the charge.

“We were surprised to see the police team in the midnight. Without any provocation, they charged at us and started beating up us indiscriminately,’’ said Ramaben Medasar who along with others received injuries.

The tribal members alleged that the they were beaten up, at the stance of Bharward, who was annoyed with some members. “We have demanded action and sought suspension of Bharwad, who not only misused his position but also committed a misconduct by beating up elderly women and men,’’ said a member of the delegation.

Meanwhile, after meeting the delegation police commissioner Sudhir Sinha, has ordered an inquiry into the incident. The probe to be conducted by ACP division A, will also look into the allegations against Bharward.


Medasar shows her injury, while another tribal showshis fractured hand
Sinha also assured the delegation members, who were led by Alka Brahmbhat, member Gujarat state social welfare board, that a suitable action would be taken against Bharwad and other cops responsible.

Meanwhile Barwad denied the allegations and claimed that he was being falsely implicated.

“The area has been a shelter to a number of history sheeters, many of whom have jumped parole and escaped from the law. I had gone to the area following after my team received information about the history sheeters. We found that the members had clashed amongst themselves.

Bharwad also claimed that recently he got removed some illegal vendors from the area, which had led to resentment against him. The tribal members meanwhile maintained that they had been residing in the area for past several years and the inspector concerned had grudge against them. According to them, the habitants including old men and women were being harassed and beaten up by the local police, without any reason.

Is Crorepati ko lock kiya jaaye?

In the hot seat of Bhojpuri game show Ke Bani Crorepati, Rajesh Singh, a finance manager from the city, is vying for the grand prize. Psst... the 35-yr-old has already won Rs 50 lakh

The city might be home to a brand-new crorepati tomorrow. Rajesh Singh, an IIM Ahmedabad graduate, is set to win the grand prize in Ke Bani Crorepati, the Bhojpuri version of the popular game show Kaun Banega Crorepati.




Hosted by former Bollywood actor Shatrughan Sinha, the episode featuring Rajesh Singh will be aired in two parts — on Tuesday and Wednesday — at 9 pm on Mahuaa channel
Hosted by Shatrughan Sinha, the episode will be aired in two parts — on Tuesday and Wednesday — at 9 pm on Mahuaa channel. We will let you in on one secret: He has already crossed the halfway mark.

Urmika Rai, senior executive of Ke Bani Crorepati, confirmed, “Rajesh has definitely won Rs 50 lakh. He will attempt the Rs 1-crore question. He is the first to reach this point in the show.”

Selection process

The 34-year-old, who works as a manager at a micro-finance bank in the city, hails from Kushinagar, a small town in Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. He called up the show and was selected for the primary round following a lucky draw. “I went to Varanasi for auditions on June 17. Then, I was called for the shoot on July 17 and 18 in Kolkata,” said Singh, who lives in Jodhpur with his wife Manisha and children Aditi (5) and Arnav (2).

Interestingly, Singh had earlier participated in KBC. “In KBC, I reached the Rs 25-lakh question but had exhausted my lifelines. I gave the wrong answer and won Rs 3.2 lakh only.”

His KBC experience helped Singh fix his nervousness. “I had decided that I would not use the lifelines in panic. As a result, in the second show, I had two lifelines — audience poll and phone-a-friend — till the end,” he said.

Interestingly, Singh was also the fastest contestant in the fastest finger round. He set a record of 3.2 seconds — the highest among participants of all shows in the crorepati format, Singh claimed.

Pucca Amdavadi

Singh comes from a humble background. He tilled a farm for almost 20 years before moving to Gorakhpur. “I realised I had to leave my village if I wanted to achieve something in life. After completing my BSc, I got a job in State Bank of India and was posted to Gujarat. I lived in Godhra, Surat and Vadodara for eight years before settling in Ahmedabad.” He did a one-year course in post-graduate programme for executives in Public Management and Policy from IIMA in 2009.

“When I came to Ahmedabad three years ago, I was not sure what the city would be like. But my attachment to the city grew so strong in a year that I turned down a job in Hyderabad and settled for a less-paying one here. This is an interesting city where life is not as fast as it would be in Mumbai and yet, does not lack in luxuries,” he said, pointing out that his bond with his friends also made it tough for him to shift to another city.

“During the show, I spoke a lot about Gujarat and Ahmedabad. I hope they haven’t edited it,” he said.

Friends in deed

Manish Tanwar, who had worked with Singh for eight years, said, “If Singh believes in something, he goes for it. Be it a book or a cricket match. Once he made an overnight train journey and still made it to the ground to play a match. No excuses.”

Sherin Joseph, who worked with him for two years, said, “Rajesh has been an inspiration for me. He is persistent and has great endurance. Be it constructive criticism, social debate or casual talk, Rajesh has a unique style of making his point. His wit supplemented by his exceptional flair for ‘shayiri’ ensures that his presence never goes unnoticed.”

Fulfilling dreams

What will Singh do if he wins Rs 1 crore? Singh plans to begin at home and then cast the net wide. He said, “I want my kids to do what they are passionate about without having to worry for money. Then, there are relatives and friends who need financial support. I also want to start career counselling for kids from weak backgrounds. Their parents tell them to get admission to engineering or medical courses without thinking of the pros and cons. I want to help such confused kids.”

SGVP fans attacks DPS players after team loses match

The unidentified fan hurled a stone at the player after SGVP team lost to DPS in the under-16 basketball match held on home ground; matches for district-level selection for school games postponed after incident.

Unable to digest a third consecutive defeat on home ground, an irate fan of SGVP International school’s basketball team hurled a stone at a Delhi Public School, Bopal player shortly after an under-16 match on Thursday.




The player, identified as Aatish Shah, suffered a head injury and had to take three stitches to close the wound, sources told Mirror.

The incident took place at SGVP International (Chharodi), which was hosting the tournament being held for district level selection for school games. All further matches have been rescheduled and will be held at a different venue now, sources said.

DPS Bopal had defeated SGVP in the first round of under-19 tournament and even won the under-14 final. On Thursday, the team again defeated SGVP (12-10) in the first round of under-16 tournament, much to the chagrin of SGVP students.

Witnesses said the DPS players were being booed constantly by SGVP fans during Thursday’s match. Despite all the hooting, the DPS boys maintained their composure and won the match, they said.

“The attacker has to be an SGVP student since only students and officials conducting the matches were present at the venue,” said a witness on condition of anonymity.

“SGVP fans created a furore after losing the match. Just when DPS players were leaving the court, somebody from crowd hurled a stone at them. One player was injured and immediately taken for emergency medical treatment to SGVP’s clinic. The victim has been identified as Atish Shah, a student of Class X. He had to take three stitches,” said another witness.

He added, “The DPS sports coach had spoken to the SGVP coach about the lack of discipline among SGVP students before the match. However, no warning was issued to the fans or the players.”

‘THEY THREW LEMONS EARLIER’

A DPS student who had witnessed all the basketball matches of his school team, said, “In the under-19 match held on Tuesday, SGVP fans threw lemons at our players. In another match, held the next day, they displayed rowdy behaviour by hooting and abusing our players. But what happened on Thursday, just cannot be tolerated.”

“Our boys never reacted to their abuses and name-calling. They simply played well and won matches. A school that doesn’t know how to inculcate sportsmanship spirit in its students should never participate in sports,” said another eyewitness.

Sources told Mirror that a police complaint in the case is ruled out since SGVP principal spoke to teachers, principal and players of DPS school, assuring them such incidents will not take place in future.

MATCHES RESCHEDULED


Sources said no police complaint will be filed since both DPS Bopal and SGVP have sorted out the matter District Sports Officer Baldev Desai, however, tried to downplay the incident. “Someone from the crowd threw a stone at DPS players in a fit of rage. We still do not know who did it. But the injured boy is out of danger. There is no enmity between the players of DPS and SGVP. Further matches have been put on hold. These will be rescheduled and held at a different venue.”

SGVP Principal Caesar D’Silva said, “Both DPS and SGVP students were present in the audience when the attack took place. But we don’t know who threw the stone at the student. We took the injured boy to the doctor as soon as we learnt about the incident. It is not a serious injury. I have already spoken to DPS school authorities, assuring them such an incident will not take place in future.”

DPS authorities informed Mirror that they made it very clear to SGVP principal that what happened was not right. “Our student’s condition is stable now. We have no idea who threw the stone at him. But we have made our displeasure about the incident very clear to SGVP principal. Further matches will now be held at another venue,” said Pradeep Chudasama, assistant manager, media and advocacy DPS (Bopal).

Court slams cops for cover-up in custodial death

Metropolitan magistrate trashes police version which states the 48-yr-old prisoner succumbed to injuries sustained after ‘collapsing several times’ on jail premises. Court to conduct its own inquiry based on post-mortem report



Anwar Rangrez suffered 33 injuries (L), On the day Rangrez was to be freed, his family received news of his death (R)
Metropolitan court blasted Sabarmati police after they allegedly tried to cover up a custodial death by submitting a C summary report, winding up the probe. Magistrate U K Trivedi, while dismissing the report which brazenly contradicted post-mortem and FSL reports, stated the court will now conduct its own inquiry into the 2008 case.

A 48-year-old rickshaw driver, Anwar Rangrez, died after he was allegedly beaten up inside Sabarmati Central Jail in December 2008. The post-mortem and FSL reports state that Rangrez suffered cardiac and respiratory failure due to 33 injuries inflicted on his body. It also said the injuries were caused because the victim was hit by a rod or some such hard object.

However, the C summary report filed by ACP K M Vaghela, states that Rangrez, a drug addict, sustained injuries after “he fell down” a couple of times on jail premises. It says he suffered a seizure on December 11 and collapsed, injuring himself. It also says he fell from the bed of the jail clinic on December 15 and near the compound wall again, the next day.




Rangrez’s mother with his photograph BAIL GRANTED, RELEASE NOT ALLOWED

Interestingly, Rangrez had been granted bail from the court on December 17, a day before the news of his death was conveyed to his family. He, however, was not allowed to leave the jail despite his son Mehboob submitting the bail order to the tantri before 6 pm. This, because the tantri allegedly demanded Rs 500 from Mehboob who did not have the money at that time.

The next day, he went to the jail at 7 am to bring his father home. Mehboob waited till 10 am, but jail authorities did not tell him anything about his father. He then received a call from his mother asking him to come back home. When Mehboob reached home, he learnt that the prison officials had called up the mother to inform her about Rangrez’s death.

FIR REGISTERED AFTER 4 MONTHS

Mehboob remembered that on one particular visit to the jail to meet his father, the latter had told him that a bearded jailer used to beat him up. Suspecting foul play in Rangrez’s death, he went to Sabarmati police station to lodge an FIR against jail authorities and unidentified persons. However, the cops registered the FIR four months after the post-mortem report.

‘MISLED INTO FILING FIR’

On Friday, ACP Vaghela told the court that Sabarmati police were “misled” into filing an FIR under section 302 (punishment for murder) of the IPC. But Rangrez’s lawyer Amit Balsari strongly opposed Vaghela’s claims by producing the post-mortem and FSL reports. Metropolitan magistrate U K Trivedi then dismissed the C summary report, stating the court would conduct an independent inquiry into the case.

Raj Thackeray Choose Hindi to Make Communication in Gujarat Tour

MNS chief Raj Thackeray, known for imposing the use of Marathi in Maharashtra, began his nine-day visit of Gujarat and spoke in Hindi the entire day. That is, until media pointed out his blooper

Was he being opportunistic or plain street smart? All those who met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday, the first day of his nine-day-long “state visit” of Gujarat, were left wondering at the language in which he chose to interact with them.



I speak Marathi in Maharashtra. I do not speak Gujarati. So I chose to speak in Hindi here
- Raj Thackeray,
MNS chief The Thackeray scion, known for his acerbic tongue and roughish ways against Hindi and Hindi-speaking people on his home turf, looked pleased and at ease speaking in Hindi everywhere and with everyone he met in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. He realised he had fallen into a trap of his own creation in the evening when someone from the media drew his attention to his opposition to Hindi in Maharashtra.

Thackeray blamed media for creating controversies and promptly switched over to Marathi.

But by that time, the word had spread far and wide. “This won’t do. Violently opposing Hindi in Maharashtra and speaking in Hindi outside the state is rank opportunism. In this era of globalisation, this is not done,” said translator Kishor Gaud. “If he has so much love for his mother tongue, I could have offered my services as an interpreter. I know Marathi and Gujarati languages and cultures well to help him speak in his mother tongue even in Gujarat,” said Gaud who has translated as many as 25 Marathi books in Gujarati.

Thackeray, the estranged nephew of Shiv Sena patriarch Balasaheb Thackeray, began his Gujarat “study tour” with a visit to Sardar Patel Memorial in Shahibaug in the morning. He spoke to memorial officials, and sources said he evinced keen interest in knowing about the life and work of the Iron Man of India.

“All in Hindi,” said a memorial official.

The next stop was Sabarmati Ashram. He paid tribute to the Father of the Nation and was presented with a copy of his autobiography in Marathi — Satyache Prayog — by ashram director Amrut Modi. Thackeray and his wife Sharmila interacted with trustees and members of the ashram. Those present there were quite impressed with their eagerness to know about Gandhi. “Questions were few but sharp,” said Modi.

“All in Hindi,” Modi added.

Ashram officials offered him the VIP visitors’ book in which he could have entered his tribute or
comment.




Thackeray opted not to give either. An opportunity to do so in Marathi was lost. The state guest was offered a chance to spin Gandhi’s wheel (charkha). While most of the visiting dignitaries latched on to the opportunity and tried their hands at it, Thackeray was quite frank.

“It is beyond me to spin the wheel and draw a thread,” Thackeray said. In Hindi.

Gandhi Sena, an assembly of some members of the ashram’s residential quarters, presented him with a small replica of the charkha. “Bahut achha (very good) ... thank you,” Thackeray exhaled.

Part English, part Hindi.

“We were not surprised,” said Dhimant Badhia, Gandhi Sena secretary. “He seems to have broadened his world view.”

Later in the day, the MNS chief called on Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Thackeray was visibly overwhelmed by his host and lavished praise on his development work.

Thackeray watched audio-visual presentations on Gujarat’s development, something that he has come to study and draw lessons from. Modi presented him with a shawl and a figurine of Maratha ruler Shivaji. Thackeray had quite a few queries and Modi patiently answered all of them. Thackeray expressed his gratitude. The interaction lasted for three hours.

“Mostly in Hindi,” said an official.

Mediapersons caught up with the visiting leader at Circuit House in Gandhinagar where he is staying. Someone was prompt to ask, “You have spoken in Hindi all day long. Why then do you insist on speaking in Marathi in Mumbai?”

A visibly disturbed Thackeray retorted, “You (media) create such controversies.” This was in Hindi.

Having realised he had fallen into a trap, Thackeray switched over to Marathi: “I speak Marathi in Maharashtra. I do not speak Gujarati. So I chose to speak in Hindi here. Had I spoken in Marathi, would you’ve understood?”

To which the media persons said there are professionals called interpreters.

CHIDED BACK HOME

Incidentally, Thackeray was chided back home as he embarked on the tour. Members of the Congress-NCP took a pot-shot at him. On Monday, Mumbai Congress chief Kripashankar Singh had taunted him: “Which language is he going to converse in during his Gujarat visit? Is he going to hire an interpreter?”

Newspapers reported NCP member Nawab Malik as saying, “Even though I’m from north India, I make it a point to use the state language, Marathi, while addressing the house, and communicating with the natives. But will the leaders who further their political agenda using the Marathi language as leverage ever deliver a speech in Hindi? Hindi is the national language, and we must honour it. Maharashtra is an integral part of the nation.” Malik’s remarks created quite a stir among MNS members present.

CONGRESS DEMANDS APOLOGY

Meanwhile, state leader of opposition Shaktisinh Gohil on Wednesday protested Thackeray’s Mukesh Ambani-related statement in strong words and demanded an apology from him for his anti-Gujarat expressions.

“Raj Thackeray has criticised industrialist Mukesh Ambani in his statement for investing in Gujarat. This is highly objectionable and Thackeray should apologise for his statement. Any person in India is free to invest in Gujarat. We would not tolerate such anti-Gujarat statements at any cost,” said Gohil.

Even Obama does not know who shot Osama

Revealed: fascinating details of the Abbottabad raid, including the SEAL’s first words after he killed the world’s most-wanted man: “For God and country — Geronimo, Geronimo, Geronimo”



Washington: Osama bin Laden’s killing in a covert US operation in Pakistan on May 2 was the culmination of months of meticulous planning during which the US explored options like tunnelling in and an attack by B-2 Spirit bombers.

Tunnelling would have avoided ground troops sneaking through the town of Abbottabad as they penetrated the walled compound, The New Yorker magazine reported. But they determined from satellite photos that a water table was probably just below the surface of the building land and that tunnelling was highly unlikely to be successful.

A less exotic option for striking bin Laden was to bomb from the sky. The article detailed how then secretary of defense Robert Gates preferred a strike by B-2 Spirit bombers. But President Barack Obama disliked that idea and said the helicopter raid should go ahead.

In the end, bin Laden was shot by a SEAL, who gave his account of the assault in an interview with The New Yorker magazine.

When he pulled the trigger on his silenced rifle in a darkened bedroom and shot a tall, unarmed man with a straggly beard, he ended a nine-year manhunt for bin Laden, the man who claimed 2,973 lives on September 11, 2001.

But no one — not even President Barack Obama — will ever know the name of that SEAL, nor of the comrade who wrapped bin Laden’s wives in a huge bear hug and dragged them aside in case they were wearing suicide bomb vests, knowing he would absorb most of the blast and save the men behind him.

In the interview, for the first time, the fascinating details of that raid have been revealed, including the SEAL’s first words after he killed the world’s most-wanted man: “For God and country — Geronimo, Geronimo, Geronimo”.

The SEAL told The New Yorker, “There was never any question of detaining or capturing him — it wasn’t a split-second decision. No one wanted detainees.”

He told the magazine how he stepped into the terror leader's bedroom and “trained the infrared laser of his M4 [rifle] on bin Laden’s chest. “The al Qaeda chief, who was wearing a tan shalwar kameez and a prayer cap, froze; he was unarmed.” The SEAL fired, hitting bin Laden once in the chest and above the left eye.

Moments earlier, the SEAL told The New Yorker, another SEAL had entered the room and was confronted by two of bin Laden’s wives. One screamed and appeared to charge at him. The SEAL shot her in the calf and then, “fearing that one or both of women were wearing suicide jackets, he stepped forward, wrapped them in a bear hug and drove them aside.

The report also revealed that the SEALs were not wearing cameras on their helmets, and Obama and his colleagues spent 25 minutes waiting to hear the news.

After the first dramatic words from Abbottabad, the SEAL added: “Geronimo E.K.I.A — enemy killed in action”. Geronimo was the codename for a hit on bin Laden. The president pursed his lips, and speaking to no one in particular said: “We got him”.

The SEALs then put bin Laden in a body bag and carried him out of the house, where a medic took two bone marrow samples and DNA swabs.

Five days after the May 2 operation, Obama went to Kentucky where he met the assault team and spoke to each one in turn, but he never asked one crucial question — who pulled the trigger.

The men didn’t volunteer the information either. Known as ‘the best of the best’, whoever shot bin Laden is likely to have received acclaim within the unit, but will never be revealed outside it.

Instead, The Daily Mail reported, Obama settled for a flag, taken from one of the Chinooks, which the team had framed, signed, and inscribed. The message read: “From the Joint Task Force Operation Neptune’s Spear, 01 May 2011: For God and country. Geronimo.”