Who is a casteist?

Using a caste name to escape prosecution seems a tactic adopted by most parties- the same parties which claim to be pioneers of social justice and leaders of anti caste movement. In almost all the states ruled by these parties, caste system flourishes and no improvement in ground reality has emerged. Caste fightings, tumbler system, entry to temples all continue to be news and life goes on as usual. It is difficult to understand why it is so. These parties want the system to remain, for electoral reasons and they will as long as people do not wake up. 

Whether Raja did wrong or not is not my issue but to use his caste to cry foul is very ugly and immoral. There is enough suspicion in air due to the CAG report and the figures quoted there are mind blowing. Obviously all eyes are in it and some questions like the Swan, Uninor and close links with the party etc do make the suspicion even more solid. Now what are the defenses.

see Unlikely Person at the Heart of India’s Scandal [New York Times]

He was a small-town lawyer from a regional political party in a southern Indian state. By almost any measure, Andimuthu Raja, who had no background in telecommunications or in business, seemed an unlikely candidate to be the government minister presiding over the fastest-growing cellphone market in the world.

 Mr. Raja may not have been a threat to Mr. Karunanidhi’s children, who jealously guard control of the party as their birthright. But his handling of the spectrum sale has undermined confidence in what initially appeared to be India’s most stable and competent government in years.

India's 'season of scams [ BBC]

There should be zero tolerance for corruption, India's well-meaning law minister Veerapa Moily told a meeting of federal investigators last year.

When institutions fail or are subverted by their political masters, the time comes to wage an old-fashioned war against graft. This war has to be fought by the people. Right now, it's only a section of the media and a clutch of brave freedom of information whistle-blowers who are fighting the battle.

All Lines Are Busy [ Outlook]

India, the republic, is now on sale. Participating in the auction is a group of powerful individuals, corporate houses, lobbyists, bureaucrats and journalists

Radia’s conversations show how even cabinet berths can be decided by this select oligarchy. Her interface with discredited (now former) telecom minister A. Raja, DMK mp Kanimozhi and Ranjan Bhattacharya, the foster son-in-law of former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, shows how she successfully lobbied for several cabinet berths. see There Was A Swan, It Had A Tale

 Indian PM under pressure over 40-billion-dollar scam [France 24]

India's parliament adjourned in uproar Friday over a massive corruption scandal that has ensnared Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, whose popularity partly resides in his "Mr Clean" image.

Barkha Dutt coverage which she uses to defend herself  

Is it legitimate to hold up Parliament over 2G scam?  | November 23, 2010

Congress' CVC conundrum, BJP's Karnataka compulsion  | November 22, 2010

Centre cannot act on CAG report alone, says Kapil Sibal  | November 19, 2010

2G scam: Is PM's silence in Parliament counter-productive?  | November 18, 2010

Does the 2G scam go well beyond Raja?  | November 16, 2010

CAG report: Is telecom giant Telenor alarmed?  | November 16, 2010

Does India live in a Scam Raj?  | November 15, 2010

Is corruption in our roots?  | November 14, 2010

Raja and the Congress crown of thorns  | May 4, 2010

The phone-tapping debate in Lok Sabha  | April 29, 2010

Is phone tapping India's worst kept secret? | April 26, 2010

Can Congress dump Raja?  | October 26, 2009

Sunil Mittal 's call for transparency  | October 14, 2009

Team Manmohan gets to work  | May 28, 2009

Scindia: 'It is a very important assignment'  | May 28, 2009

Team Manmohan: Suspense over  | May 27, 2009

Portfolios distributed: Team Manmohan ready  | May 27, 2009

Clear mandate, unclear portfolios  | May 26, 2009

New Team Manmohan: Who'll be in?  | May 20, 2009

Allies Vs Congress: Jostling begins  | May 20, 2009

Mamata's Left hook  | May 20, 2009

The Cabinet Buzz  | May 19, 2009

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/page/?type=barkha-statement&cp

1.  Raja is a Dalit, so he is targeted : No one has ever come in a news with a one lakh crore due to his actions. Either he was gullible or competent enough to be part of a huge scam. I am sure he would not mind the latter for no politician has ever been fixed for corruption in India, being gullible may make him get out of the lucrative politics. So it is not about a Dalit or anything it is about One lakh crores, a huge amount we have never previously heard linked to scams. Today Tamil media club is convening a meeting with a provocative title Why is certain section of media bent upon hunting Raja? - making it seem he is a poor victim of media persecution. I mean this is the limit. The meeting is chaired by the DK activist Veeramani, who is close to the rulers. The others who are to speak are also well known cronies. What is surprising is Nakeeran Gopal's name is not in the list. However he does his master a service by penning in his magazine, again in almost same grounds and also with an insider news that Raja has been assured that he will be sworn in again.   

2. A certain section is targeting Raja: Raja has always been a darling for press. He is articulate and bold and hence by force most media gave him enough air time to tell his view point on all matters. So I guess to accuse any section of media is unfair. A crime has been committed and the evidence is in public domain now. Unlike other scams, here the inference of a crime is very easy and even an illiterate or one who does not know law can easily see it glaring at his face. So it is a crime only if media is not covering this story. Hence probably another debate should happen as to why only a set of media is inciting a caste division? 

3. However it is also a fact that media should defer from announcing judgement as it is not in their domain. Most of the people who resigned recently was because of media persecution and is it fair to let perception caused by media influence positions in politics can be a point for debate. Going by the thumb rule, not guilty till proven in the courts, none need to resign- However they were shown doors due to pressure and now that they have yielded, media is only prone to doing it in excess.

Breaking News: PM Pats Raja.