Miscellaneous news and discussion - 2

[Guest]

<!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo--> First straw in the political wind? Mulayam, Naidu announce front
Express News ServicePosted online: Friday, April 07, 2006 at 0000 hrsNon-Cong, Non-BJP Claim Amma, NC and AGP on board, silent on Left support
New Delhi, April 6: While the BJP sorts out its yatra politics and the Congress is overshadowed by president Sonia Gandhi’s Rae Bareli re-election, regional parties are getting busy. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu came together to announce a “non-Congress, non-BJP” political front.

They tactically refused to call the front, the Third Front, and have instead christened it as the “National Alternative.”

At a joint press conference here with Yadav today, Naidu said, ‘‘The alliance already has Assam’s AGP, Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK, Farooq Abdullah’s National Conference and us. Both Mulayam and myself have already campaigned for the AGP, and with the CPI and CPI(M)’s support in the state, we are confident the AGP will win the state Assembly elections.’’

Asked if the Left Front would support this new group, Yadav said: “I cannot say anything about them (the Left).’’ On whether the UPA would last five years, he said: ‘‘Assembly elections in five states are underway. Wait till the outcome...where the Congress will be routed. Ask me the question after the results.’’

The UP CM said the new front would highlight the failures of the UPA Government, and “expose” the Congress-BJP’s common economic policies.

“Even on the Iran nuclear issue, both parties are on the same side. It is time all the regional parties came together,’’ he said. While Naidu accused the Congress of victimising enemies via tax raids and phonetaps, Yadav slammed Sonia saying her resignation drama was “melodrama,” not “sacrifice.”

[Guest]

<b>VHP reconverts 342 to Hinduism in Orissa</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The reconverted persons, who belonged to 74 families, were blessed by the Sankaracharya of Puri, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati.

Speaking on the occasion, VHP International President Ashok Singhal demanded that the Centre should enact a law to completely ban conversions from Hinduism.

However, there should not be any restriction on Christians if they wanted to return to their 'mother faith of Hinduism', he said while refusing to acknowledge as conversion the return of the people to Hinduism from Christianity.
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[Guest]

<b>Rajkumar's death sparks violence in B'lore</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Bangalore, April 12: An icon of south Indian cinema and star of more than 200 films, Rajkumar, died on Wednesday, sparking widespread violence as distraught fans torched buses and ripped hoardings in the country's hi-tech hub.
..............
His death effectively closed down much of the city, witnesses said, with major businesses--including cinema halls--downing shutters out of respect but also in fear of violent mobs that swept through the city as news of the actor's passing spread.

A Microsoft research institute in the city centre was stoned, the company said, and many of India's leading technology companies concerned over safety sent workers home early

Television reports showed huge crowds laying seige to an ambulance bearing the actor's body and trying to climb in through the vehicle's smashed windows.

A Reuters photographer saw a police car overturned and other vehicles set on fire
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<b>This year Moron Awards goes to .............. Bangalore Rioters. </b>

[acharya]

http://www.harvardmagazine.com/on-line/070591.html

[Guest]

Didn't know where to post it so here it is

Harvard's Nazi Past

http://www.wymaninstitute.org/articles/2...arvard.php

[acharya]

http://crs.org/our_work/where_we_work/over...&OVMTC=standard

[Guest]

Who are these people ?

http://ia.rediff.com/election/2006/apr/21p...?q=tp&file=.htm

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The profiles of the founder members of the newly launched Lok Paritran political party are impressive. Tanmay Rajpurohit, the National President, studied aerospace engineering at IIT Mumbai before doing a Masters in it at Georgia Tech, US, and a Masters in Economics at New York University. Srikant Chakravarti is a young lawyer. Chandrasekhar is from IIT Kanpur; Ajit Ashwalayan Shukla, from IIT Mumbai; and Chief Advisor Santhanagopalan Vasudev holds a PhD in Economics from New York University.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Who are these people ?

http://ia.rediff.com/election/2006/apr/2...&file=.htm<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Future, Sandeep Pandey.. They are trying to create new group looks like right wing(fake) but commie agenda.

[Guest]

Mudy , Interesting thing is that their claim to fame is their education. And atleast for now that is what they are offering as their USP. If this movement gains traction then that would mean that India is moving towards a society where hi-fi education sells when it comes to democracy. This has many implications, one of them might be that the current lot of politicos will feel endangered and hence would feel the need to effectively kill the 'brahmanical' institutions like IIT etc..

[Guest]

My question is who is supporting them? Who is paying bills? These guys were students in US and now trying to get elected in couple of states. Even Congress and BJP face money crunch during election. We know we had not seen open contribution for them in US or UK. My question is who is this hidden hand in US.
Why they are sitting in Raj. and planning to get elected in southern states? and in future Gujarat?
Why founder had organized token health camp in Raj. why not in West Bengal, Tamil Naidu where there is a poverty.
They didn't tried their luck in recent election in Bihar or West Bengal but interested in Gujarat. Why?
What they were doing after Tsumani?

First press release was all about Hinduism and we had not seen any action from them.

Yet to see any work from them on Hindusim, social work or on anything.

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Nationwide prayers for Mahajan</b>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
www.haindavakeralam.org
4/26/2006 4:40:06 AM

Mumbai : Prayers are being offered at thousands of places across the country for the speedy recovery of BJP leader Shri. Pramod Mahajan, battling for life at Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai.

Lakhs of viewers glued to their television sets seeing every development in the Mahajan case, is an example of the BJP leader’s charismatic personality.

While some people held yagnas or fire rituals, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan initiated prayers at the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain.

Rituals were also conducted at the historic Dhareshwar temple in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh and in Bhopal where over 150 Sadhus have been reciting the Ramayana round the clock.

The Bharateeya Janata Party on Tuesday expressed hope that both medicines and prayers would work and Shri. Mahajan would recover soon.

Meanwhile, <b>Hindi news channels saw an increase in viewer ship of over 36 per cent last Saturday and Sunday </b>on an average in comparison to the viewer ship for the previous four weeks. Similarly, <b>the viewer ship for English new channels grew by around 26 per cent in the same period </b>after the BJP’s all India general secretary was admitted to hospital.

<b>“There has been a sympathy wave cutting across all strata of society for Pramod Mahajan” </b>said Tapan Pal, chief executive officer, Audience Measurement and Analytics Ltd.

<b>There was over 73 to 78 percent increase in the viewer ship of business executives and self-employed professionals on English news channels. </b>

<b>A 67 to 70 per cent increase in housewives’ viewer ship was registered by Hindi news channels.</b> “Even when an iconic personality like <b>Amitabh Bachchan was hospitalised, there was only a five per cent increase in two days in viewer ship </b>of Hindi news channels,” said Pal. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-Mudy+Apr 27 2006, 10:39 AM-->QUOTE(Mudy @ Apr 27 2006, 10:39 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Nationwide prayers for Mahajan</b>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
www.haindavakeralam.org
4/26/2006 4:40:06 AM

<b>There was over 73 to 78 percent increase in the viewer ship of business executives and self-employed professionals on English news channels. </b>

<b>A 67 to 70 per cent increase in housewives’ viewer ship was registered by Hindi news channels.</b> “Even when an iconic personality like <b>Amitabh Bachchan was hospitalised, there was only a five per cent increase in two days in viewer ship </b>of Hindi news channels,” said Pal. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
[right][snapback]50382[/snapback][/right]
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I get goose bumps when I think of the increase in viewership when the ...[edited] <!--emo&:thumbsup--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbup.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='thumbup.gif' /><!--endemo-->

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Fasting to Blackmail</b>
epaper.hindustantimes.com
Khushwant Singh
MEDHA PATKAR went on indefinite hunger strike for one side; Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat, on a token fast for the other. Patkar was concerned with the fate of thousands of villagers, whose lands were being submerged because of the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat; Modi harped on the water and power shortages in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, which would be met by the project when it was completed. Which of the two is right? Is either justified in going on hunger strike to put pressure on the government and the Supreme Court?
In such cases, our point of reference has to be Bapu Gandhi. He often resorted to fasts when he was convinced that the truth was on his side. And invariably succeeded in convincing those opposed to him of their error. Would he have undertaken a fast over the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam? I don’t think so. Fasts should not be reduced to arm-twisting exercises.

First, take a look at the facts. For facts, I turn to my friend Ashutosh Tuli of Delhi. Dams are a must for increasing agricultural production and hydro-electric power. In 1952, our farm output was 52 million tonnes. Last year, it was 210 million tonnes (wheat, paddy, jawar, bajra, makka, pulses, chana etc.), mostly due to water stored in dams like Bhakra and others. People displaced were provided adequate land and housing as compensation. Nevertheless, as much as 70 per cent arable land still depends on the bounty of the monsoons: if they are good, we have bumper crops; if poor, we have droughts and go short of food.

<i>Barsaat ka baadal to diwaana hai Voh kya jaaney! Kis kay raah say bachna hai! Kis chhat ko bhigona hai.</i>

(Rain cloud is a rum kind of guy He does not know the reason why He should avoid soaking one field While leaving many roof-tops dry.)

Consequently, much as I respect Patkar, I disagree with her tactics. I have no doubt she will succeed in getting fair compensation for the ousted farmers of MP.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

www.mandir.org/news&events/2006/04/pm_visit/photo.htm
___________________________________________________________________


timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1514739.cms

<b>Blair wears Hindu sacred thread</b>
[ Wednesday, May 03, 2006 09:46:54 pmIANS ]

LONDON: British Prime Minister Tony Blair sported a sacred Hindu red thread on his wrist during heated political exchanges in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

A spokeswoman for the government said the wristband was a gift presented to Blair when he visited a Hindu temple in Neasden, north London, last week.

Journalists spotted the thread on Blair's wrist as he was facing tough questioning from the opposition parties over a string of recent government scandals.

[Guest]

<b>Red alert on Husain</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Artist MF Husain’s apology for the nude painting, Bharatmata, has not helped. The Union Home Ministry has alerted the police chiefs of Delhi and Mumbai to his “objectionable” paintings and asked them to take “appropriate action”. It is the first time the Centre has decided to go against the Padma Vibhushan winner.

The Home Ministry’s advisory follows concerns — backed by intelligence reports — that Husain's Bharatmata and other controversial paintings of Hindu goddesses can spark communal trouble. A case against him is already pending in an Indore court.
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Why this reaction now?
Sonia election in Hindu dominated area and Katiyal and Uma is rasing Husain issue.

[Bharatvarsh]

Secularism in action:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Verma backs bounty for Danish cartoonist

Press Trust Of India
Posted Saturday , May 06, 2006 at 12:07
Updated Saturday , May 06, 2006 at 12:18 Email  Print

Barabanki: Virtually endorsing an Uttar Pradesh minister's announcement of a reward for anyone beheading those reponsible for caricatures of Prophet Mohammed, Samajwadi Party leader Beni Prasad Verma on Saturday said he would give half his properties to the person who killed the cartoonist.

Speaking to reporters here, SP General Secretary Verma, alleged Christian countries had always been "anti-Muslim".

Haji Yaqoob Qureshi, Uttar Pradesh's minister for Haj, had earlier announced a reward of Rs 51 crore for anyone who beheaded the artist reponsible for the cartoons first carried by a Danish publication.

The move triggered a widespread controversy that cost Qureshi his ministerial post.

Verma said the Samajwadi Party had always fought for the dignity and pride of Muslims and would not tolerate their humiliation.

Alleging that the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre was anti-Muslim, Verma claimed it had pressurised Uttar Pradesh Governor T V Rajeshwar not to give his assent to the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Urdu University Bill.

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/verma-backs-bo...ist/9600-4.html<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Bharatvarsh]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->We are part of Hindu community, don’t need minority status: Jains

Opinion divided among various sects, but by and large community leaders think Centre is acting in haste; call it political ploy

Surat/Ahmedabad, May 11: THE Centre may be mulling over according Jains the status of a religious minority, but several leaders of the community have opposed the decision saying that Jains are a part of the Hindu community. Their argument: ‘Hindus are not in the minority and thus there is no question of Jains accepting the minority status.’

Despite Minister for Minority Affairs A R Antulay’s statement that he had held talks with ‘various Jain organisations’ and that ‘there was consensus in the community’ over the issue, many Jain leaders in Gujarat feel the Centre has taken a hasty decision without getting an across-the-board consensus from the community.

In fact, there is reportedly a difference of opinion on the issue among the various Jain sects themselves. While the Shwetambars are opposing the proposal tooth and nail, the Digambars are divided about it, as are the Sthanakwasis. However, the Terapanthis are in favour of the minority status.

Sheth Ananji Kalyanji, a religious charitable trust representing All India Jain Shwetamber Murtipujak Shree Sangh, claims that a majority of Jains in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra are not in favour of being declared a religious minority. ‘‘We are separate as believers of a religion but as a community we are Hindus only...this is a ploy to divide Hindus and Jains, and nothing else,’’ said an official on terms of anonymity, adding that the heads of the sect had the ultimate right to take a public stand on this.

‘‘In fact, we Shwetambars are mostly in business while Digambers are into government and other jobs, and therefore want minority status for better career prospects and other incumbent benefits,’’ he said. Prominent Shwetamber businessmen include Mehtas of the Torrent Group, the Adanis, the Lalbhais and Rajendra Shah of Shah Alloys, according to him.

Another Jain leader and trustee of the Omkarsuri Aradhana Bhavan in Surat, Sevanti Mehta, said, ‘‘Giving Jains the status of a religious minority is a sensitive issue, and a broad consensus of the community is required. A consensus will be reached when acharyas and religious leaders from all the four phirkas—namely Digambar, Shwetambar, Terapanthi and Sthanakvasi—are willing to accept the minority status.’’

Mehta said the Centre seems to have taken the consensus of some like-minded Jain religious leaders and others have been neglected in the process, and added that a handful of religious leaders could not decide the fate of the entire community in the country.

Srenik Vidani, leader of the Akhil Bharatiya Sanskruti Rakshak Dal termed the Centre’s plan as a political arrangement. He said, ‘‘Jains are a part of the Hindu community and we have been living with this identity for centuries. We do not want to divide ourselves from the Hindu fold. The Centre is trying to divide Hindu unity by giving Jains the status of a religious minority.’’

Nirav Shah, president of the Shwetamber Murtipujak Jain Yuva Mahasangh said, ‘‘This issue should be discussed in the entire Jain sangh and not with just a handful of Jain leaders. Those who have favoured the minority status are senseless people. We do not believe in minority politics because we are part of the Hindu community and will continue to remain so.’’

http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory...sid=182140<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Bharatvarsh]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->AMU prof suspended for sexual assault of US scholar
Wednesday May 17 2006 00:00 IST

ALIGARH: Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has suspended Mohammad Shabbir, a senior professor of law, for alleged sexual harassment of a research scholar from the US. The suspension comes more than a year after the complaint was lodged.

The victim, aged 30, had been working last year on a research project on university-going women and their views on the Muslim Personal Law when the alleged incident took place in the professor’s chamber. The Vice-Chancellor had placed the professor under suspension, said university spokesperson Rahat Abrar.

The victim’s complaint was taken up by the Women’s Grievances Cell and a five-member committee headed by Shamim Zahan Rizwi looked into the matter. According to Amina Kishore, principal, Women’s College, and a member of the probe panel, there was prima facie evidence to suggest that the professor had indulged in sexual misconduct. ‘‘The recommendation of suspension has been made with the proviso that it is subject to the final disposal of the case,’’ said Kishore.

Shabbir, who has been teaching in the university since 1978 with a seven- year stint in International Islamic University in Malaysia, says he was not given a chance to explain. ‘‘I was sent a copy of the complaint demanding my response last year in March to which I had given a detailed reply. Now after 14 months, I am told that I am being suspended on recommendation of the committee,’’ he said. Kishore said the committee did not feel the need to call him in person as the written reply was sufficient to act upon. ‘‘There were no grey areas.’’

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?I...~assault~in~AMU<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Centre not responsible for maintaining temples </b>
New Delhi
The Union Government on Thursday said it cannot undertake maintenance of Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi shrines as these were not under the Archaeological Survey of India. Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni said this in Lok Sabha during the Question Hour.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

But Indian Government mantain Jama Masjid. Government never fails to collect or loot Indian temples and give that money for Haj or Chruch.

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Manmohan trips on Mandal</b>
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, say his aides, is dissatisfied — even frustrated — with his government’s performance as the UPA marks two years in office on Monday. And the voters are growing disenchanted with him, according to an HT survey conducted in six metros by C-fore last week.

<b>Respondents gave the PM a 5.86 out of 10 on his performance. Compare that to a similar HT survey conducted a year back, when he was given 6.46; that’s about a ten per cent drop in approval</b>. The reason? Broadly, a perception of general inaction. Specifically, it seems that the quota stir has tarnished Manmohan Singh’s image in the metros.

The move by HRD Minister Arjun Singh (who scored lower than the PM) to introduce reservations in educational institutions has frustrated the PM as well. Aides say that the PM’s desire for a legacy that reinforces the watershed economic reforms he introduced as finance minister in 1991, keeps getting thwarted by “political tsunamis and earthquakes”. For instance, his fiat last week to the Planning Commission, to address the problem of farmers’ suicides, has been overshadowed by the medicos stir.

Not that the protests are going to derail reservations. <b>“We didn’t allow Medha Patkar to hold us to ransom, we won’t allow the students either,” says a PMO official. For a PM who’s been synonymous with meritocracy, however, this will only further dent his image.</b>
And while the PM may lay emphasis on building foreign relations (experts see the US N-deal as his major achievement) that may not impress the voters too much — even in the metros. In reply to what the priority for the UPA’s 3rd year should be, foreign relations came last; creating jobs was number one.

Regarding the major players in his team, Finance Minister Chidambaram scored the highest. Running neck-and-neck with him was Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.

An aide says that two years ago, the PM had urged both Lalu and agriculture minister Sharad Pawar to do something substantial with their portfolios; it is the PMO's assessment that while Lalu has done wonders, Pawar has been ore busy with cricket.

Aides harp on the PM's frustration that India is at a juncture where big things can happen but his government is not exploiting the opportunities. He let some of that frustration show in February, while addressing retired foreign service officers: he bemoaned the lack of strategic thinking in the country.

Perhaps he ought to look at fresh blood. <b>The people seem to think so; 27 per cent wanted an immediate induction of youngsters into his ministry, while another 19 per cent said it should happen in the next six months. Less than a quarter wanted to wait till after the next parliamentary elections.</b>
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