News views.

A day of happenings. News that have grabbed the headlines shall be gone through and analysed. So, without much ado, let me press on.

(a) Babri verdict is out.

The special CBI court has finally handed over the verdict on the Babri Masjid demolition case after 28 long years. It was investigating as to whether there was a criminal conspiracy in pulling down the monument. After going through a mountain of evidence, mostly circumstantial and interrogating about 130 witnesses, the court has concluded that there was no proof to show that there was a criminal conspiracy to bring down the structure.

It was a spontaneous and emotional action that was beyond the control of the leaders like LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and others. Consequently, all 32 accused were acquitted.

The tortuous case has finally found closure. However, parties aggrieved with the verdict can appeal to a higher court as is the usual legal procedure. The Congress and the CPM want to appeal, while Mamata Banerjee's TMC has asked the aggrieved party to go for appeal - an action clearly dictated by the forthcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal.

There are a couple of points to ponder * It took 28 years for the verdict to arrive * Was there a connivance by interested parties to make the demolition look as part of a conspiracy?

(b) The gang rape at Hathras, UP.

A 19 year old Dalit woman of Hathras, UP was brutally gang raped and strangulated by four upper caste men on 14 Sep. She was taken to New Delhi as she had spine injuries, cuts and bruises and a bitten tongue. She passed away at the Safdarjung Hospital on Tuesday but what has whipped up passions is by the news that the UP Police showed undue haste in carrying out the cremation of her body during the unearthly time of 0230 hrs, last night.

The natural query that comes up is as to why the UP Police showed such haste to dispose off the body. Was it to destroy evidence? Whom are they trying to help?

The PM had contacted the UP chief minister to fast track the investigation to bring the culprits to book. Accordingly, a special investigation team has been formed to look into the case.

The details of the case will be discernible once the fog of the charges and the counter charges are cleared. 

Here's wishing that the culprits be hanged for their heinous act....and that too, without delay.

(c) A case against the CBI.

The 'Life Mission' case is the flagship project of Kerala's LDF government for the providing housing to the poor - the landless and the homeless. An FCRA case has been filed by the CBI against the project, in that, necessary clearances that had to be taken from the central government were not taken. The head of the Unitac Builders - which had landed the plum project - has been taken taken into custody and interrogated by the CBI.

The state government has filed a case in the Supreme Court and also requested for its disposal tomorrow itself. Why is the state government worried? Or is it that the central government is unnecessarily poking its nose in this case? The outcome of the case, tomorrow, should clinch it.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. The KSEB had called for a power interruption from 1000 to 1700 hrs to carry out maintenance. Otherwise, it was a quiet Wednesday and the last day of September.