<!--emo&  --><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo--> Cong ex-MP alleges secret pact between Rajiv & RSS
[26 Apr, 2007 l 0210 hrs IST]
NAGPUR: In a startling disclosure, former Congress MP Banwarilal Purohit claimed on Wednesday that the government led by the then Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi had forged a secret pact with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in 1989 to allow âshilanyasâ and construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya in exchange for RSS support to the Congress in the 1989 general elections.
ââAs the Congressâ pointsman that time I facilitated a meeting between the then RSS chief Balasaheb Deoras and Rajivâs special emissary Bhanu Prakash Singh. It was secret one-to-one that lasted an hour. I played an important role in the Babri Masjid issue because of my personal conviction that creation of Ram temple at Ayodhya would correct a historic blunder,ââ Purohit said. ââDeoras agreed to extend electoral support to Congress if it allowed construction of the Ram temple. Soon after that Deoras had a meeting with the then Union home minister Buta Singh in New Delhi where the deal was endorsed,ââ claimed Purohit.
When contacted for comment, Buta Singh pooh-poohed Purohitâs claim. He said he couldnât even recall who Purohit was and what the man was talking about. ââI have no knowledge of the claimed meeting. But every fact about the episode has come on record. Now, people are planting stories to gain importance,ââ he told TOI. Congress appears to have been embarrassed with Purohitâs comment. Asked about the partyâs reaction to its MPâs remarks, a visibly uncomfortable Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said, ââYou have to ask the author of the comment to explain the basis of what he said.ââ
<b>Opposition to Maharashtra Government's Temple Assets Takeover </b>
www.rediff.com
MAHARASHTRA, INDIA, April 26, 2007: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has criticized the Maharashtra government for trying to take over the assets of the temples in the state citing the proposal of the 15th Law Commission. All India secretary Vyankatesh Abdeo said the Parishad has decided to unleash a full frontal campaign against the government through a specially formed committee called Matt-Mandir Adhigrahan Virodh Samithi. He said the VHP has started a signature campaign of like-minded people and temple trustees, for if the government plan goes through, the trustees will have no say in temple affairs.
The 15th Law Commission, under D.N. Chaudhury, formed the Temple and Religious Organizations (administration and regulation) Act 2006 <b>that would bring religious shrines of Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis under the government and install democracy</b> <!--emo&:blink:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='blink.gif' /><!--endemo--> . The Act excludes all Madrasas and Masjid's registered with the Wakf Board. The flip side of the matter and the government's trump card is the claim of mismanagement of temple funds. "The move is an assault on the Hindu religion and its followers. <b>The government would never ever dare to bring about such a scenario at Masjids or churches</b>," stated Abdeo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxpghghPxmw
watch laloo the liar getting exposed in talking about emrgency.
<b>Lalu claims don't add up in House panel report</b>
http://in.news.yahoo.com/070430/48/6f6nq.html
<!--emo& --><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo--> Indian wants electoral voice for "living dead"
REUTERS[ TUESDAY, MAY 08, 2007 09:50:45 AM]
LUCKNOW: A villager is campaigning in northern India for the rights of people declared legally dead by cheating relatives seeking to steal their assets.
Lal Bihari, a lower caste villager who lost his father's inheritance due to an unscrupulous uncle, formed the "Union of the Dead" in 1980 to fight for the rights of thousands he says have fallen victim to scams by relatives.
He is contesting as an independent in a month-long election in Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, which ends on Tuesday.
In 1976, an uncle allegedly connived with corrupt local officials to fudge village records and declare Bihari dead. The uncle then won the inheritance of Bihari's father.
"It was only as late as in 1994 that I succeeded in proving myself alive," Bihari, 52, said.
Like many poor in India, it was very hard for him to get a court ruling to reverse the decision, due to corruption and a backlog of millions of cases in the judiciary.
"Nearly 3,000 others are fighting their independent battles in other parts of U.P. (Uttar Pradesh) to prove that they are alive," Bihari said.
Senior state government official V K Sharma said as per records, there are 313 cases of persons who have been wrongly declared as dead even though they are alive.
"Another round of probe is currently underway and we suspect many more such cases could be unearthed," he said.
In 1980, Bihari added 'Mritak', or "dead", to his name.
He even got his wife to apply, unsuccessfully, for a widow's pension.
He once staged the kidnapping of a cousin so that a criminal case could be brought against him - and therefore prove legally he was alive.
"But even that did not happen as my relatives understood my intention behind the desperate move and knew that there was no danger to the cousin's life," he added.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp ID=IER20070509041452&Page=R&Title=Kerala&Topic=0&
<b>Aged and young queue up before Arya Samaj</b>
Wednesday May 9Â 2007 14:36 IST
KOZHIKODE: Sabeera, a 23-year-old Muslim woman hailing from Meenchanda, will now figure alongside film actresses Lissy and Annie for a crucial decision she took before entering into wedlock with a Hindu man in the neighbourhood. Following the footsteps of those charming wives of film directors Priyadarsan and Shaji Kailas, Sabeera is in fact the latest applicant at the Kozhikode Arya Samaj, for a conversion to Hinduism.
<b>With an authorisation from the government for issuing certificates of conversion to Hinduism, the Arya Samaj here has converted 4,102 persons to Hinduism since 1986. </b>
Though being watched closely by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials for reasons better known to them, about 13 to 15 persons are getting converted to Hinduism at the Samaj in a month over the recent years.
"They are from all age groups, from almost all other religions, and sometimes an entire family would turn up to embrace the ancient dharma," says B Ranaveer Singh, the secretary of the Kozhikode Arya Samaj.
<b>"It's rather a reconversion. A chance for a comeback for those who had left Hinduism to embrace other religions," he asserts. </b>
Conversion to Hinduism had been taking place here ever since the Arya Samaj branch was set up in 1922 by Pandit Rishiram who came here from Punjab .
"Somewhere between 16,000 and 18,000 conversions have been recorded in the early years when my father was the secretary after Rishiram."
Ranaveer Singh has taken charge after his late father Buddha Singh, a native of Bijinore near Ayodhya in UP.
The conversion ceremony, he says, is not a time consuming affair. "It's a sudhi karma (purifying ceremony) which may take one to one-and-a-half hour for completion. The applicant will have to render hymns from the four Vedas during the homam."
One among the four places in the state for conversion to Hinduism (the other three include Dayananda Salvation Mission, Ramadasa Mission and Ayyappa Seva Sangham - all in Thiruvananthapuram ) , Arya Samaj was included in the list through a government circular dated December 15, 1987 based on a government order dated March 19, 1985.
"However, we are authorised only to issue certificates of conversion to Hinduism and nothing on the caste," Singh points out. After getting converted to Hinduism, one may approach organisations like SNDP or NSS, citing family origin with substantial evidence.
"They will have to fetch a community certificate from the village office before getting it published in the government gazette."
<b>The most attractive feature of certificate issued by Arya Samaj: It will provide an entry into Hindu temples anywhere in the country. </b>
May be Devaswom Minister G Sudhakaran and his retinue, who are taking devotion beyond the confines of religions, are listening.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Left calls Baroda exhibition freedom of speech, don't know how they will react with Bhopalâs Bharat Bhavan exhibition
<b>Here Bajrang Dal fights for right to expression</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->BHOPAL, MAY 16: Freedom of expression is relative â- it changes in absolute terms from Vadodara M S Universityâs Fine Arts Faculty to Bhopalâs Bharat Bhavan, both centres of cultural excellence.
...............
Incidentally, Bharat Bhavan did hold back six of Tiwariâs paintings, considering their content explosive. These covered issues like gangrape, cow slaughter and the Godhra train carnage. All paintings are on display on Tiwariâs website, www.kailashtiwari.com.
....
<b>Ausaf Shahmiri Khurram of the All India Festival Committee of Muslims was among the few voices objecting to the paintings today</b>. âWere not those who killed Rajiv Gandhi or Indira Gandhi terrorists? What about Naxalites?â he says, demanding that the exhibition be wound up for conveying the impression that all Muslims are terrorists.
Asked about this demand, another Hindu activist, Devendra Rawat, was quick to defend Tiwari.<b> âIf you oppose the exhibition, you are supporting terrorism,â </b>he said.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Here are comments from Muslim
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->RSS has some serious inferiority complex when it comes to muslims, just because the art fraternity was talking about freedom of art in the hindu god dipiction, they come up with nonsense like this.Name - Nurul Habib <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
So insulting Hindu God is freedom of art, one should not say anything to Muslims.
Here are painting
<img src='http://www.hindujagruti.org/news/out/images/1179379504_tiwari_Travesty_250.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
<b>A Travesty Tiranga can not be hoisted in Kashmir excepting official functions </b>
<img src='http://www.hindujagruti.org/news/out/images/1179379617_tiwari_peace_250.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
<b>Peace Talk or an appeasement policy </b>
<img src='http://www.hindujagruti.org/news/out/images/1179379901_tiwari_Encroachment_250.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
<b>Indian land Encroached: Area of 65.77 sq.kms in 1876 reduced to 32 sq.kms after encroachment </b>
<!--emo&:ind--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/india.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='india.gif' /><!--endemo--> UPA changing the law to define who makes a minority at the state-level
SEEMA CHISHTIPosted online: Monday, May 28, 2007 at 0000 hrs Print EmailAmendment Bill gets Cabinet OK, will be in House for monsoon session
NEW DELHI, MAY 27: The UPA government is planning an amendment to the Constitution that seeks to redefine the term âminorityâ: if the Bill is legislated, minority status will be defined on the basis of population at the state rather than national level.
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Cleared by the Union Cabinet last week, the Constitutional (103rd Amendment) Bill 2004 is slated to be introduced in the monsoon session of Parliament. It incorporates many of the recommendations of the Parliamentary standing committee which met in February last year.
Presently, there are six states and Union Territories (Jammu & Kashmir, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Punjab) where the ânational majorityâ that is, Hindus, are in fact in a minority. Schemes designed nationally for âminoritiesâ as now understood, that is Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsees, are not applicable in these states. That is, schemes meant for Muslims nationally do not apply to Muslims living in J&K, for example.
In order to end these anomalies, and in keeping with the Supreme Court judgment of August 2005, the Bill will use states as the basic unit to judge which community is a minority in which state. In the crucial verdict by the Supreme Court, a seven-judge Bench had said that the most appropriate level to decide on minorities is the state level.
If the Bill is passed, states will be asked for their view on the basis of data available as to who is a minority. They will be consulted by the President of India, would then notify the minorities in that state.
While the President is to consult the states, he would not be bound to act on their advice. Moreover, once the notification of all the states and Union Territories takes place, it will not be possible for subsequent governments to alter the notification simply by a Cabinet order.
Changing of the status of any community, from minority to majority or vice-versa will need to go through Parliament.
Recently, on the eve of the state elections in Uttar Pradesh, a single-judge Bench in Allahabad suddenly decreed that Muslims (18.5 per cent of the stateâs population) were not a minority in the state. It was a ruling that came under considerable fire, and was stayed the next day.
The criticism against the ruling was that it went against what the Supreme Court had held were common-sense parameters to judge majority and minority, that is, the 50 per cent cut-off.
However, the new amendment Bill does not specify what the criterion, or percentage level, for deciding a minority community should be. That has been left to the government to work out at a later date.
Presently, Article 29-30 in the Constitution provide special protection to linguistic and religious minorities in the country, allowing them to preserve their culture and traditions through minority institutions in a more or less unfettered environment.
On 3/22/07, Radha Rajan <radharajan7@...> wrote:
> Rajiv, will sending the vigil NGO book to selective sensitive american govet
> establishments help to wisen them up to the presence of communists in the
> american womb? if so let me know and i will courier, the second edition, as
> many copies as you want, it will be expense well worth the effort if the
> american extablishment can throw some kind of spanner in their works. RR
>
Radha, not so simple as it seems - per your email below.
Its not a valid assumption that US is naive/ignorant about its
sponsorship of the indian left. Co-opting the third world Left became
the explicit strategy of ford foundation after world war 2, with
active cooperation from CIA(Christian) etc. Why? one must understand this...Our
folks are too naive because they dont believe in enough purvapaksha of
the others except in superficial ways. US has and will play both sides
on most third world conflicts - see iraq, pakistan, the british
history in india. Which is why the russians threw out western
missionaries, china does not allow human rights interference by
foreign funding/influence - THESE (china/russia, etc) are topics of
great importance in reports on foreign(Christian) funding of indian ngo's,
because many middle-of-the-road desis do get influenced by
china/russia as reference points
the present axis of left-islam-christianity against hinduism is
weakest in the islam-christian clash globally. THIS has not been
utilized by hindus though i mentioned it a few times. The pat
robertson brigade has all the anti-islam masala one can imagine. at
the same time the islamic side has all the anti-christian rhetorec.
But india in the ONLY large country where they are being held together
(by the left incharge) because there is a common enemy - enough food
for all predators since the elephant is very large, unmanaged and
confused...
sending your ngo book will not help by itself without a bigger/broader
context in place first.
for the april event, the report that was done 2 years ago as rejoinder
to the anti-idrf report must get distributed to attendees even though
the orgsanizers of the event will try to block this. the HAF reports
on hindu human rights and gautier's reports on hindu holocaust must be
given out also. As part of such a package your NGO report belongs.
But most of all, there have to be bright courageous indian youth
participating, who are well versed in all this subject matter. and who
can raise objections from the floor citing these works as evidence.
The latest target of the left-islamist-christianevangelist axis is the
hindu diaspora, because these are selfempowered indians outside of
indian politics. Hence:
-- prema kurien has been bred as 'diaspora' expert (she will give a
talk at the madison conf on south asia);
-- jack hawley's 'hinduism here' project at columbia does surveillance
of hindu groups in usa using students;
-- the anti-IDRF report was done in this context;
-- various attacks on the california textbook matter shows how
organized they are.
WHERE IS THE COUNTER-MOVEMENT BY HINDUS?
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->From the recent edition of 'India Today':
http://www.indiatoday.com/itoday/20070611/cover4.html
{subscription required}
Excerpt:
------------
Gujarat has trebled agricultural productivity through excellent
agro-management programmes that include conserving water, soil health
care and making vital inputs available to farmers. In the rocky road
ahead, states will have to take the initiative and play a key role in
reviving Indian agriculture before it is too late.
-with Subhash Mishra and Stephen David
SHOWING A WAY OUT
Gujarat, the highest producer of oilseeds in the country, has
enhanced its agricultural production by almost one-and-a-half times
in the last five-odd years, thanks to a multi-pronged strategy. Apart
from successive good monsoons, the turnaround came because of
efficient agro-management based on conservation of surface water,
providing scientific information to farmers through the medium of
Krishi Rath, and disbursement of a soil health card to every farmer.
Tapping of surface water has been achieved by building 1.77 lakh farm
ponds and 1 lakh check dams in public-private partnership, and
deepening 5,000 village lakes, which has sent the water table
soaring.
The soil health card policyâunder which scientists attached to the
four agro universities in the state go to every farm and test the
soil qualityâhas played a major role. The card helps the farmer
provide the right nutrients to the soil, thus saving on wasteful
expenditure. Around 17 lakh farmers in Gujarat have already received
such cards. No wonder productivity has gone up.
-By Uday Mahurkar<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
here we go again.
Anand Sharma gets what he created a scene for: No airport security check for MoS
NEW DELHI, JUNE 16:Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharmaâs ugly spat with security personnel at the Indira Gandhi International Airport for the want of a privilege he was not entitled to has come full circle. Two months after that incident, first reported in The Sunday Express, <b>Sharma, along with 44 other Ministers of State</b>, has been accorded that privilege, officially: he will no longer have to undergo security checks at airports.
--------------------------
Not just that, itâs learnt that the Ministry of External Affairs is set to issue parallel orders authorising these ministers the use of the ceremonial lounge at the airport too, another privilege that Sharma insisted on using that night. Incidentally, the MEAâs protocol division comes under Sharma.
The fresh notification continues to mention Robert Vadraâs name â the only one in the list to be mentioned by name. This despite the fact that the new list says the privilege will also be extended to VVIPs/VIPS âand their accompanying spouseâ.
Such addition to the list is becoming a headache for security and immigration officials. It was under this VIP garb that some MPs were recently found involved in illegal trafficking of women.
-----------------
FIFTH COLUMN Our Sunita complex
Tavleen SinghPosted online: Sunday, June 24, 2007 at 0000 hrs Print EmailSunita Williams brought out the worst in us. Through no fault of hers, she reminded us of how very Third World and second rate we are and how desperate for recognition from the West Tavleen Singh
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Sunita Williams was on the front pages of newspapers across India all of last week. Hard-boiled hacks sang paeans in her praise, while TV channels tirelessly followed her every move. Sunita on a treadmill in space, Sunita floating, Sunita posing for a farewell shot, Sunita longing to wash her hair and walk on the beach with her husband and dog, Sunita sad because her return to Earth was delayed. Sunita fever reached a hysterical pitch by late Thursday evening when that thunderstorm over Florida prevented her spacecraft from re-entering the atmosphere.
Hindus, Muslims and Christians came together to pray for her safe return â remarkable unanimity in our religiously divided land even if they prayed in their separate places of worship. The media was insatiable in its appetite for Sunita news. Intrepid TV reporters trawled schools in remote places to bring us soundbites of children saying things like, âI want to say to Sunita, you rocks (sic).â
Sunita Williams brought out the worst in us. Through no fault of hers, she reminded us of how very Third World and second rate we are and how desperate for recognition from the West.
The Indian economy may be booming and there may be those who talk of how we are on the verge of superstardom as the worldâs newest economic power, but our minds and hearts remain those of a colonised, defeated people. Our inferiority complex manifests itself most sickeningly every time someone with one drop of Indian blood gets recognition in the West. Sunita Williams is not Indian. She is as American as apple pie but we claimed her.
At least Sunitaâs is a real achievement. Six months in space makes her the first woman to have spent that long a time away from Earth. But, had she been just a beauty queen, we would have been as excited. Remember the hysterics when Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai became Miss Universe and Miss World in the same year? In a minute we forgot our qualms about our sanskriti being polluted by decadent western ways and behaved as if these two lovely ladies had won a Nobel prize. They made national headlines and were feted and fawned upon, but when Amitabh Bachchan tried to invite the organisers of the Miss World contest to India, we remembered that beauty contests went against Indian culture. The contest was driven out of India because offended Bharatiya womanhood took to the streets to show its rage.
Speaking of women achievers, please observe the headlines sweet Sania Mirza gets every time she wins a tennis match. She does not count among the worldâs top players, but at home she is a heroine. She meets the president and Sonia Gandhi and endorses all kinds of products for vast sums of money. Well, itâs not her fault that we have exalted her, but what is worrying is that it shows us up yet again as a mediocre country that strives not for excellence but for the smallest recognition from the white man.
Instead of striving towards winning every gold medal at the Olympics, as China does, we are jubilant if one of our athletes brings home a copper or silver medal. This hankering for western approval transcends all boundaries. Bollywood, with its extraordinary contribution to cinema, chases after an Oscar or even just a handful of plaudits in Cannes. Why not in Mumbai or Chennai? Why not at the annual Screen awards that this newspaper gives? Would there be more excitement if Shekhar Gupta was white instead of brown?
If you think I am being facetious, you are wrong. As someone who has never hidden my embarrassment at an Italian woman being Indiaâs most celebrated politician, I find myself wondering often if she would have made it had she been Nigerian or black American. After giving the subject considerable thought, I have concluded that she would not have, and this saddens me.
This is not to discredit Sonia Gandhi. That she has got where she has is evidence that the âtallestâ political leaders in the land are just a bunch of losers who should have retired long ago if they had any sense of dignity. What worries me as a little, brown Indian woman is our awe of the white skin. Sixty years after Independence we should have got over it, and it is my humble opinion that until we do, we will continue to be a nation that celebrates mediocrity and not excellence. Sunitaâs is not a mediocre achievement, it is a real achievement, but to think of it as an Indian achievement is not just absurd but embarrassing. She has done her country proud and that country is the United States of America. Not India.
Diaz apologises for hurting Peruvian sentiments with 'communist' bag
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->In Peru, the phrase reminds about the Maoist Shining Path insurgency that took Peru to the edge of chaos in the 1980s and early 1990s with a campaign of massacres, assassinations and bombings.
Nearly 70,000 people were killed during the insurgency.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Reconversion to Hinduism-Authorize more Hindu bodies in Kerala</b>
6/30/2007 2:26:39 AMÂ HK
Thiruvananthapuram:Kerala Yogeeswarasangham demanded for the authorization of more Hindu organisations to approve conversion to Hindu religion. According to them, temple trusts and several caste based service societies must be legally empowered to approve conversion to Hindusim. Members of Yogeeswara sangham met the Devaswom minister and submitted their memorandum proposing the need for law amendment for this cause.
Current scenario allows only a few organisations like Kerala Hindu Mission or Arya Samajam to provide legal certification for converts to Hinduism. Moreover, these organisations are not into the masses and quite often, believers are unable to obtain certification for their faith in Hinduism. Therfore it is the very denial of a person's rights to practice the religion of his choice, which is guaranteed by the Indian constitution and being enjoyed by other Religions.
Shri Venugopal, state Gen.Secy of Yogeeswara sangham has pointed out in his memorandum that, it is the violation of Human rights and an example of injustice, when local bodies within non-Hindu religions have the rights to legalise conversion into their religious folds in each where as the same rights are denied to Hindu temple trusts and various mutts!
Yougeeswara sangham has requested the Kerala Government to make necessary amendments required for enabling the Ashrams and trusts âfor legalisation of conversion to Hinduism', during this assembly session itself.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Chandrashekhar a truly secular nationalist: PM
8 Jul 2007, 1435 hrs IST,IANS
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday expressed "profound sadness" at the passing away of former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar, describing him as a "truly secular nationalist".
In a condolence message, the Prime Minister noted Chandrashekhar's rich political and administrative acumen, saying, "He steered the ship of our nation and economy through stormy waters with statesmanship and wisdom".
"I received the news of the passing away of former prime minister Shri Chandrashekhar ji with profound sadness...(He) was a truly secular nationalist, a man of the people, committed to their welfare and well-being," Manmohan Singh said.
"He belonged to a generation that felt deeply about the importance of ideals and idealism in politics. During his brief tenure as Prime Minister, he steered the ship of our nation and economy through stormy waters with statesmanship and wisdom.
"He was not afraid of taking unpopular decisions if these were in the larger national interest and served the nation in the long term," the Prime Minister added.
Recalling his "privilege and pleasure" of working with Chandrashekhar when he was Prime Minister and having had the "benefit of his sage advice, abiding trust and sincere affection for me over the years", Manmohan Singh added: "In recent months, I was deeply moved by the courage with which he fought his illness and soldiered on."
"In his passing away, our country has lost a distinguished son and a great patriot who was passionately committed to sustained development and social equity."
"I convey my heartfelt condolences to his family and millions of his admirers across our country."
Chandrashekhar passed away early on Sunday after a long battle with cancer.
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not sure if it goes in here. 'To become an artist requires a life's dedication'
I thought MF Hussain never wore shoes. or wa that some sort of propoganda?
Vision for the nation emanates from Parliament"
Billion Smiles
Honourable Members of Parliament, my greetings to all of you. It has been a great experience for me working with the members of Parliament during the last five years. I have addressed the Parliament ten times; I have had the benefit of interacting with you at individual and specialistâs group levels. I thank every one of you for your cooperation.
During my period of presidency, two Governments have been in place and both the Prime Ministers Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr. Manmohan Singh have had many meetings with me and I have had the fortune and benefit of their counsel. The Presiding Officers of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have the important mission of catalysing the best performance of the parliament. I would like to congratulate the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri Somnath Chatterjee for his efforts to create a high tech museum depicting the continuum of democratic heritage in India. Also his efforts in creating Loksabha TV for televising the proceedings are in line with the needs of the modern democracy. Our Former Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, a remarkable person with a wide canvass of experience, has received general appreciation from all about the way in which he conducted the Rajya Sabha proceedings. I also enjoyed working with him as a Vice President. I congratulate the President elect Smt. Pratibha Patil on this historic occasion and wish her all the best in her mission.
On this occasion, I would like to recollect with appreciation the contributions made by the past Presidents of India, each one bringing his own core competence to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. I would like to thank the Governors and Lt. Governors of all the States and Union Territories and the Chief Ministers of all the States for their co-operation, when I visited the States and Union Territories. Particularly, I would like to thank the Chief Ministers and the Presiding Officers of the Legislative Assemblies of fourteen states and union territories for facilitating me to share the vision for their States and the missions thereon.
Dear Parliament members, I realize and appreciate how Parliamentary debates and decisions have led the nation today towards an ascending economic trajectory. Nationâs standing in the world is clearly visible. I have witnessed this special aspect during my visits to sixteen countries. As the President of India, I had the privilege to address various Parliaments abroad including the European Union Parliament. I am happy to note that the special respect for Indians during my interactions with many Heads of States and delegations visiting India.
Distinctive Profile of India 2020
With this background, I visualize the following distinctive profile of India by the year 2020.
1. A Nation where the rural and urban divide has reduced to a thin line.
2. A Nation where there is an equitable distribution and adequate access to energy and quality water.
3. A Nation where agriculture, industry and service sector work together in symphony.
4. A Nation where education with value system is not denied to any meritorious candidates because of societal or economic discrimination.
5. A Nation which is the best destination for the most talented scholars, scientists, and investors.
6. A Nation where the best of health care is available to all.
7. A Nation where the governance is responsive, transparent and corruption free.
8. A Nation where poverty has been totally eradicated, illiteracy removed and crimes against women and children are absent and none in the society feels alienated.
9. A Nation that is prosperous, healthy, secure, devoid of terrorism, peaceful and happy and continues with a sustainable growth path.
10. A Nation that is one of the best places to live in and is proud of its leadership through creative and effective leadership in Parliament, State Assemblies and other institutions of the State.
Integrated Action for developed India
To achieve the distinctive profile of India, all of us have before us the mission of transforming India into a developed nation. In order to succeed in our mission, the key five areas where India has a core competence for integrated action are: (1) Agriculture and food processing (2) Education and Healthcare (3) Infrastructure: Reliable and Quality Electric power, Surface transport and Infrastructure for all parts of the country. (4) Information and Communication Technology (5) Self reliance in critical technologies.
These five areas are closely inter-related and if progressed in a coordinated way, will lead to food, economic and national security. One of the major mission within these five areas is the development of infrastructure for bringing rural prosperity through Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA) by creating three connectivities namely physical, electronic, knowledge leading to economic connectivity. The number of PURA clusters for the whole country is estimated to be 7000. Simultaneously, both from energy and environmental considerations, we should aim at achieving Energy Independence by 2030. Energy independence has got to be achieved through three different sources namely renewable energy (solar, wind and hydro power), electrical power from nuclear energy and bio-fuel for the transportation sector. Energy independence throws very important technological challenges to the country.
While we are happy that our economy is in the ascent phase and our GDP is growing at nearly 9% per annum, it is evident that economic growth is not fully reflected in the quality of life of a large number of people, particularly in rural areas and even in urban areas. Hence, we have evolved what is called a âNational Prosperity Index (NPI)â which is a summation of (a) annual growth rate of GDP; ¬ plus (b) improvement in quality of life of the people, particularly those living below the poverty line plus © the adoption of a value system derived from our civilizational heritage in every walk of life which is unique to India. That is NPI=a+b+c. Particularly, âbâ is a function of availability of housing, good water, nutrition, proper sanitation, quality education, quality healthcare and employment potential. âcâ is a function of promoting the joint family system, creation of a spirit of working together, leading a righteous way of life, removing social inequities, and above all promoting a conflict free, harmonious society. This will be indicated by peace in families and communities, reduction in corruption index, reduction in court cases, elimination of violence against children and women and communal tensions. There should be progressive reduction in the number of people living below the poverty line leading to its becoming near zero by 2020. All our efforts in improving the national economic performance should be guided by the measured National Prosperity Index of the nation at any point of time.
How shall we realize this vision? What are the immediate steps that we need to take to realize this vision?
My interaction with many of you and my understanding of the various central and state programmes, the initiatives of private and non-governmental organizations as well as the overwhelming desire of citizens to participate in the national development gives me the confidence that our society is ready to work for these missions. May I suggest that you all work together to evolve two major initiatives:
(i) To formulate an Energy Independence Bill - A three dimensional approach for energy choice towards realizing clean planet earth.
(ii) To adopt a resolution for Vision 2020: Adopt a Resolution that India will be transformed into a safe, prosperous, happy and socio-economically developed nation before the year 2020 using National Prosperity Index (NPI) as a measure.
You will agree with me the importance of making these bills a reality in a time bound manner.
Challenges before Parliament of the 21st Century
I have narrated the profile of the nation by 2020 and the actions needed to achieve the missions. While we have made significant gains in our economic performance, our performance on a range of human development and governance indicators require significant improvement to achieve the status of a fully-developed nation. The future political leadership the world over has to rise to the challenge of sustainability of growth, development, environment and resources. Honourable Members, you have a major role to play in the creation of future leadership for the 21st century in creating missionary zeal among the youth of the nation to promote moral strength, security and prosperity for our people.
Parliamentary vision for the Nation
At the dawn of 21st Century, Parliament, like any other institution, faces greater challenges than ever before, especially on matters related to human development and governance. India can be rightly proud of its leadership and its many achievements in economic, social, scientific and political fields over the past 60 years. But we cannot afford to rest content with the past achievements and we have to march in tune with the challenges of 21st century in technology, industry, agriculture, trade, governance system and leadership style. National leadership has to radiate confidence in our people that âwe can do itâ.
The challenges in realizing the developed India vision 2020 provide also opportunities for innovation in every aspect of governance and legislative actions. As we review the governance system and legislative processes for the 21st century, full advantages and implications of technological revolutions, national and global connectivities, globalization and international cooperation and competition have to be taken into account.
Conclusion
Honourable Members of Parliament may like to debate these suggestions and evolve, with unified and harmonious leadership, a Parliamentary Vision for the Nation, in the same manner as when our Constitution was first drawn up. This 21st Century Parliamentary Vision for India needs to have a global and long term perspective, and needs to be underpinned with implementation strategies, integrated structures and action plans for transforming India into a developed country by 2020 with National Prosperity Index as a measure and acquire energy independence before 2030.
It is this unique Parliamentary Vision and its effective implementation that would make our billion people smile and smile together. Working together in unity and harmony for a national Vision is the greatest need of the hour for our parliamentarians. You will agree with me that this is one of the most important mission of our Parliament today.
May I once again convey my gratitude to all the Honourable Members of Parliament and my best wishes to all of you in your mission of realizing the goals of developed India 2020.
May God bless you.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>200 Re-enter Hindu fold in MP </b>
Dewas, MP, Oct 11 (UNI) About 200 people from Gujarat's Dang district re-entered Hindu fold here today at a programme organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad.
Maharashtra's Sant Narendracharya Maharaj was among those present.
The people had earlier embraced Christianity.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Looks like Pepto-Bismol time for IndianExpres.
<b>VHP âreconversionâ ignored by MP town, so Gujarat fills gap</b>
Kodaâs gaffe
Follow footsteps of âlateâ Sonia Gandhi
Ambarish Dutta/TNS
Patna, November 1
The opposition NDA in Jharkhand today virtually caught the already red-faced Congress, a supporting partner of the ruling UPA there, on wrong foot following a major faux pas by none other than Chief Minister Madhu Koda himself.
The incident, that reportedly humiliated both Madhu Koda and the Congress, was in connection with the 23rd death anniversary of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi yesterday.
Reports said Koda, at a function organised by the Congress to mark the occasion, paid tributes to Indiraâs daughter-in-law and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi instead of Indira Gandhi. Reports quoted Koda saying, âSonia Gandhi sustained bullets in her body. She sacrificed her life for the countryâ.
And Koda reportedly did not stop there. Talking to the media he further highlighted the need of the hour was to follow the footsteps of âlate Sonia Gandhiâ.
While embarrassed Congress leaders in Jharkhand chose to describe it as a âslip of the tongueâ by the Chief Minister and not an intended mistake, the opposition NDA termed it as a major blunder demanding unconditional apology from Koda.
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