ITGrunt: Hi Hindi Hitlers
By Bala Shah

The US had set up the H-1B visa program to hire on a short term basis highly skilled workers not available in America.  The ground reality is that some tech firms have used every loophole in the H-1B system to bring in low cost workers.  The ongoing misuse of the visas is an open secret.  A few Americans had started anti H1B and anti Indian sites.  The most caustic (with a tinge of humour) anti-Indian and anti-H1B site is ITGrunt.  ITGrunt was even interviewed by international magazine Businessweek.

IT Grunt is very vocal and has even called for metaphorically killing Indians.  ITGrunt uses the cover of anonymity to spew hate on Indians it calls ‘slumdogs’ and ‘American traitors’ who support the H1B Visa system.

But this hatred did not sit too well with many American companies indirectly associated with ITGrunt. As reported by Techgoss, in July 4 ITGrunt was evicted by its California-based web hosting company.  ITGrunt then moved his web hosting to Panama. He also stopped using Google mail as he feared Indians working at Google may not protect the anonymity of this American patriot.  He told his readers that he would dump Google and move elsewhere.

Where is ITGrunt now and what is he writing about Indians misusing the H1B Visa system? 

Firstly, ITGrunt was off the net for about 2 weeks. He has just come back online to explain his absence for so many days.  His ISP in Panama had suffered a Denial of Service attack allegedly at the hands of we ‘enemy slumdogs’. Apparently, the Panama ISP was a honey pot to track and record all threats from Indians bent on harming him and his website.

ITGrunt also lets his legion of admirers know that he has shifted his ISP from Panama back to GoDaddy in USA.  ITGrunts Tunnel Rat promises his American techie fans that he will never ‘go away and continue to be a beacon of inspiration for local techies’.

Whats an ITGrunt post which does not have some clever words mocking us?  ITGrunt says he will never let “Hindi Hitlers spoil his fun”

Welcome back ITGrunt’s Tunnel Rat.  You say you are ‘just a blogger’, but we slumdogs see you more than an American patriot, H1B activist and blogger.  This slumdog (Bala Shah) and writer learns clever turn of phrase and subtle sarcasm from each of your blog post. For this, I thank you. You say you hate Hindi Hitlers, and half of India agrees with you.

And ITGrunt, the next time you are looking for good reliable web hosting, consider India as well.

God bless America. God bless India.  

(Techgoss had published the following article on Oct 19, 2009)

Anti Indian site lockdown
By Bala Shah

The US had set up the H-1B visa program to hire on a short term basis highly skilled workers not available in America.  The ground reality is that some tech firms have used every loophole in the H-1B system to bring in low cost workers.  The ongoing misuse of the visas is an open secret.  A few Americans had started anti H1B and anti Indian sites.  The most caustic (with a tinge of humour) anti-Indian and anti-H1B site is ITGrunt.  ITGrunt was even interviewed by national magazine Businessweek.

IT Grunt is very vocal and has even called for metaphorically killing Indians.  ITGrunt used the cover of anonymity to spew hate on what it called ‘slumdogs’ and ‘American traitors’ who supported the H1B Visa system.

But this hatred did not sit too well with many American companies indirectly associated with ITGrunt. As reported by Techgoss, in July 4 ITGrunt was evicted by its California-based web hosting company.  ITGrunt then moved to Google’s blogger before declaring that bad Google may not protect the anonymity of this American patriot.  He told his readers that he would dump Google and move elsewhere.

Where is ITGrunt now and what is he writing about Indians misusing the H1B Visa system?  Don’t know, as ITGrunt has been locked down and you can only access the website if you are invited in.  Now that it is a private forum, it may not be subject to the same defamation and race hate laws.

It’s a pity that the articles are now private.  While most Indians found his anti Indian tirades irrational, Mr. ITGrunt certainly writes very well and has a brilliant, caustic way with words and of putting across his hate for slumdogs like me.

(Techgoss had published the following article on Sept 21, 2009)

Anti Indian site moving
By Bala Shah

The US had set up the H-1B visa program to hire on a short term basis highly skilled workers not available in America.  The ground reality is that some tech firms have used every loophole in the H-1B system to bring in low cost workers.  The ongoing misuse of the visas is an open secret.  A few Americans had started anti H1B and anti Indian sites.  The most caustic (with a tinge of humour) anti-Indian and anti-H1B site is ITGrunt.  ITGrunt was even interviewed by national magazine Businessweek.

But ITGrunt has made many enemies who want to unearth the identity of the anonymous man behind it.  Sometimes internet companies are unhappy to host such anti-Indian blogs.  On July 4, California-based ISP DiscountASP managed to pressurize ITGrunt to leave.  ITGrunt then moved his domain registration to Panama before returning to Google’s blogging platform Blogger.

But ITGrunt feared that slumdogs (what he calls us) working at Google would reveal his identity.  And/or Google would not support him if someone sued his anonymous blog.

So, ITGrunt has ditched Google’s Blogger platform.  Currently, ITGrunt.com cannot be accessed as he is ‘between’ blogging platforms.

Be assured ITGrunt will be back pouring venom on everything Indian.  Anonymous Indian commentators who sent ITGrunt death threats are waiting to react once he is back online.   

(Techgoss had published the following on Aug 27, 2009)

Anti H1B, anti Indian Blog bans us
By Bala Shah

The US had set up the H-1B visa program to hire on a short term basis highly skilled workers not available in America.  The ground reality is that some tech firms have used every loophole in the H-1B system to bring in low cost workers.  The ongoing misuse of the visas is an open secret. Now an anti H1B and anti Indian site has banned Indians from posting comments.

The American Government’s H1B policy has its fair share of supporters and critics.  The critics have lobbied powerful politicians, launched public campaigns and even started a number of anonymous blogs.  Some of these anti-H1B blogs stick to facts and civilized opinions; others are viciously anti-H1B and anti-Indian. The American constitution protects such ‘free’ speech.

One of the most vocal anti-Indian sites is ITGrunt.  Itgrunt has built up such a high profile amongst anti-H1B campaigners that leading Business magazine Businessweek sought its views on the American working visa system. Its criticism of Indians became so personal and abusive that its California-based hosting company refused to host Itgrunt. Itgrunt refers to Indians as ‘slumdogs’ and much worse.

Itgrunt.com then moved its website to Panama. But its readership is mainly from America.

What Itgrunt dishes out, the Indian techies give it back in full measure.  Indians have sent in hate mail and even death threats. Till last week, Itgrunt allowed comments criticizing Itgrunt.

Last week, Itgrunt had enough.  It chose to only dish out anonymous criticism of Indians and all things India. Indians cannot retaliate. Itgrunt posted last week

“
Slumdogs Are Now Banned

Since I get nothing but death threats, Hinglish cursing, Hindu-supremacist rants, lies about the Nazi-like upper-caste culture, and retarded, delusional boasting, I am banning all slumdog comments.

Since the Indian scum have been trying to ban Americans in the American I.T. industry for years, I feel that it is time to give them a taste of their own medicine.

GET THE F*** OFF MY BLOG, M**** C***.
“

American commentators are still allowed.

(Techgoss had run the following story on July 6, 2009)

US Web host kicks out anti Indian site
By Bala Shah

The US had set up the H-1B visa program to hire on a short term basis highly skilled workers not available in America.  The ground reality is that some tech firms have used every loophole in the H-1B system to bring in low cost workers into USA.  The ongoing misuse of the visas is an open secret. Now an anti H1B and anti Indian website has been forced overseas.

The US Government allocates 85000 H1B visas every year, 20 thousand of which are reserved for foreign students who have done higher degrees in USA. Favouring such an H1B Visa system were the Bush Government backed by powerful tech companies like Microsoft, Oracle, Google and GE. 

Not surprisingly, many Americans dislike the huge H1B quotas.  American techies who have lost their jobs to highly skilled but relatively low cost Indian workers dislike such a system.  So do Unions which want to keep American jobs in America.

Till last year, big business and their pro H1B stand were winning.  Recession in America and a new Government has ensured that H1B quotas will not be increased in the near future.  Also, any misuse of the H1B Visas will result in investigation and prosecution. Congress has passed laws that any American company getting bail out funds should give preference to American tech workers.

One of the key figures in the anti H1B Visa movement is Norm Matloff, a computer science professor from the University of California, who feels that the current system exploits workers in America as well as India. Norm Matloff cannot be dismissed as a racist as his wife is from China.  A number of mainstream media like Businessweek have interviewed Norm Matloff.

As the American Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, a number of websites/blogs have been set up with the sole purpose of criticizing the H1B system and the Indian companies who misuse such Visas. One such blog on the fringes is Itgrunt.com.

Businessweek felt that Itgrunt.com was important enough to interview for an article on University of California lecturer Norm Matloff and his anti-H1B views.

ITGrunt is vicious to us Indians.  It calls us “slumdogs”.  The ITGrunt site abuses us next to its Logo by saying: “I refuse drink from your Clay Cup, M**** C***.”. (Techgoss had censored the abuse for obvious reasons).

When HCL boss, Vineet Nayar,  said that some American graduates were unemployable,  ITGrunt lashed out: “Jesus F******' Christ!!! Where is a nice Paki terrorist when you need one? How come some Paki psycho hasn’t killed this slumdog already?”

The Indian techies have sent in abuse and death threats to ITGrunt.  They have also complained to its hosting company California-based Discountasp.net (a certified Microsoft Gold Certified partner)

Hosting company DiscountASP’s Michael sent an email to ITGrunt’s Kevin asking him to tone down the anti Indian rants and death threats.  Or else,  ITGrunt would be ejected.

Kevin of ITGrunt was not happy and abused DiscountASP in the following blog post before ITGrunt was ejected.

“
Michael,

Instead of threatening me and lecturing me in a vulgar manner, you could have told me that I am in violation of the terms.

I don't need creepy emails from some sanctimonious punk who wants to "dialogue" with me and act as a my censor. This isn't Iran or India.

And your implied threats of revealing my identity (you know who I am, or at least who pays for the hosting) makes me want to contemplate taking legal action against your company. I have a family and don't need to have them put in jeopardy by some sys-admin who has been bribed or threatened by my enemies, or wants to act like DiscountASP is the Southern Poverty Law Center.

So here's deal, creep -- I am taking my business elsewhere. I don't like to live in fear that someone like you will get a hair up his ass and try portray me as some domestic terrorist and destroy my reputation and violate my privacy.

This whole exchange has been sordid and unpleasant. This is a free country, Michael, and you don't get to run around and demand that people "explain" things to you. If you don't like what they write, you are more than free to take action to terminate the business deal. BUT YOU DON'T GET TO TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK, THREATEN ME, AND LECTURE ME. EVER. I AM A PAYING CUSTOMER, NOT YOUR BITCH.

I've already made arrangements to move the domain offshore, and I'll do you a favor and not post this absurd "dialogue" on my blog and mention YOUR NAME. I'm just a blogger, but I know of other people in the insurgency who are a bit more militant. Trust me, you don't want to meet them.

Good riddance, you creep.
Kevin
“

Ironically,  ITGrunt will now be hosted offshore in Panama. In another irony,  ITGrunt was ejected on July 4.  But ITGrunt will be online in a few days. In the meantime ITGrunt.com is unavailable.