Indians For Guns

KAVITA CHOWDHURY & KOTA NEELIMA
Posted: Dec 15, 2002 at 0000 hrs IST NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 14

This star parade can thank the Government for letting them have guns at throwaway prices. Because the Delhi High Court this week put an end to the Government policy of selling seized weapons at nominal rates to MPs and VIPs—these can now only be sold at market rates.

Part of court records is the list of VIPs who cashed in. The Sunday Express contacted some of the big guns to ask why they need a weapon:

• Uma Bharati: Union Minister. Smith & Wesson (S&W) revolver; sale price Rs 13,000; market price Rs 1.5-2.25 lakh. ‘‘I am a Hindu and a Kshatriya and we worship weapons during Dussehra. I am not ashamed of having a weapon. it gives me confidence.’’

• Vijay Goel: Minister of State (MoS) in the Prime Minister’s Office. S&W revolver; ‘‘I led an agitation against lottery and unauthorised builders. Once I became an MP, I bought a gun because there was such a provision.’’

• Rajnath Singh: BJP MP, ex-UP CM. Webley .32 revolver; sale price Rs 9,000; market price Rs 1.5-2 lakh. ‘‘It’s a family tradition. My father, grand father had guns. That’s why I have one.’’

MORE IN THE SERIES •

'A revolver is easy to carry, simpler to use' The second in the series of the political heavyweights who got guns at throwaway prices from the Central Government.
• ‘I bought a gun because of my political stand’ Concluding the series on the Capital’s political elite who got guns dirt cheap from the Centre.

• Rajiv Pratap Rudy: MoS, Commerce. Webley .32 revolver. ‘‘I am from Bihar where it’s good to keep a firearm.’’

• Vinod Khanna: MoS for Tourism. Magnum .357 revolver; sale price Rs 23,500; market price Rs 2-3 lakh. ‘‘It’s for personal safety. I don’t take it around. I am an actor and have to go to remote places.’’

• Vasundhara Raje: MoS, Personnel and Rajasthan BJP chief. S&W revolver; ‘‘Our families have always had weapons. We travel to inhospitable areas. It’s always good to keep a small weapon for personal safety.’’

• Madan Lal Khurana: BJP MP and Delhi party chief. Walther pistol; sale price Rs 4950. ‘‘I bought it in the ’80s when I was a councillor. We had no security then. My name figured in the hit-list of Punjab militants.’’

• Margaret Alva: Congress MP. Magnum .357 revolver; sale Rs 11,000; market price Rs 2 to 3 lakh. Currently abroad, unavailable for comment.

• Sanjay Paswan: MoS, Communications. Harrington and Richardson .32 revolver; sale price Rs 7,832. ‘‘It gives me a sense of confidence. I am a Dalit and I feel Dalits are more vulnerable.’’

• Rajendrasinh Rana: BJP MP and Gujarat party chief: Webley .32 revolver; ‘‘I bought it only for security.’’

• Suresh Kalmadi: Congress MP. Webley revolver; Unavailable for comment.

• Vinay Katiyar: BJP MP and UP party chief. Arminius revolver; sale price Rs 4,900; market price Rs 1.25 to 1.75 lakh. ‘‘You can never say what can happen when you are active in public life.’’

• M S Gill: Ex-Chief Election Commissioner. S&W revolver; Declined to comment.

• Renuka Chowdhury: Congress MP. Arminius revolver; sale price N/A; market price Rs 1.25 to 1.75 lakh. Unavailable for comment.

• Syed Shahabuddin: Babri Masjid panel chief. ERMA .32 revolver; sale price Rs 16,000. Unavailable for comment.

Already i posted this - viewtopic.php?f=14&t=17356

As per the High Court orders, are the weapons to be sold at market prices only to MPs or to members of the general public also?

Regards.

Good One.

• Suresh Kalmadi: Congress MP. Webley revolver; Unavailable for comment.

And old report but still good for laughs..
Since I have closely seen most of these politicians and their ways let me assure you that they still have these weapons and despite the high court order nothing has changed.

TC