State News And Discussion - 3

[Guest]

There are so many rights and wrongs in this article: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/art...epage=true

Ahmadbhai Shaikh is a muezzin in a mosque in the Behrampura area of Ahmedabad. If not reciting the ‘azaan,' he is busy helping Bharatiya Janata Party workers in his ward to campaign among members of his community. His reason for shifting from the Congress to the BJP is “the hope that our drainage problems will be solved, after all these years.” As one who was lucky to escape the arson and looting in the city in 2002, he merely calls that a “period of misfortune.”



It was nine years ago that Gujarat's biggest wave of Hindu-Muslim violence was triggered in Godhra. The burning of the Sabarmati Express marked the beginning of an anti-Muslim backlash that continued intermittently for the entire year amid allegations of State complicity. That period reinforced existing residential and symbolic segregation of Muslims in cities like Ahmedabad.



Nine years later, the victims of the violence are embracing their perceived perpetrators.



As has been already discussed extensively, Gujarat's Muslims voting for the BJP is an exceptional case compared to, say, Bihar where the BJP was accepted only on the condition of excluding Hindutva (and Narendra Modi), or even other parts of northern India where Sikhs voted for their perceived oppressors, the Congress, only after a public apology the party made to the community. The reasons for the transformation behind the new ‘all-inclusive' BJP have also been discussed widely.



Yet, what is far more exceptional is the kind of Muslims supporting the BJP in Gujarat.



Take Ahmedabad city, for example. The campaign trail of the BJP in the 2010 civic polls here included a patchwork of busybody Muslim clerics and traders: two groups that we would assume to have different voting preferences. The traders have an understandable, rational logic of voting for a party that has emphasised its economic development policies as never before. The voting preference of two significant trader-Muslim communities of Gujarat, the Dawoodi Bohras and the Khojas — both Shias — has always tended to be biased towards the party in power, be it the British in pre-independent India, the Congress in the 1980s to early-1990s, or the BJP later. “The Syedna or the head priest will always seek a cordial relationship with those in power. It is in his interests, and as he sees it, in the interests of the community,” says scholar-activist J.S. Bandukwala.



However, if one looks at the situation five years ago, it is fascinating and almost implausible why religious Sunni Muslims, including clerics, would come out to support the BJP.



In 2006, this writer spoke with Asma Saiyed, a student at St. Xavier's College in Ahmedabad. Enraged by the events of 2002, she had taken a significant decision: to add the burqa to her wardrobe of western wear. For this eloquent young woman, wearing her religion on her sleeve was a “slap in the face” of the BJP, which she viewed as the architect of violence against Muslims in 2002. “All of us friends felt cowed down by a constant anti-Muslim rhetoric since 2002. And we thought whether it made any sense to be scared. We said, okay so you want to hate us? Here are our burqas so we know that you know we are Muslims. Now come, get us.”



Ms Saiyed belonged to that section of Muslims who developed a collective identity in opposition to the majority, most of whom, they believed, endorsed the BJP's Hindutva rhetoric. This was similar to what John Ogbu's work on ‘oppositional culture' among Black American students in the U.S. tells us — that their identities as minorities were developed as a response to White racism, which then led them to oppose conformism in education and all that which would be “good” (White or majority) behaviour.



Religious symbolism became a shield for these Muslims to protect their identities against the threat of rising, rabid Hindutva. Compromise seemed impossible even in the exchange of economic development. So when Congress workers told this writer recently that Muslims were paid by the BJP to support it in the civic elections, it was paradoxical, even if the claim were true. People generally refuse to involve themselves in cost-benefit calculations and reach a self-serving decision on issues of a sacred nature when given material incentives in exchange. Assuming some Muslims did accept money from the BJP in exchange of support, does it mean they are no longer looking at the 2002 post-Godhra violence as an attack on their religious identity? If the Congress is not a favourable alternative and the BJP a lurking ethnic threat, why vote at all?



The answer perhaps lies in the fact that India's is a patronage democracy wherein resource distribution depends on the discretion of elected officials as a form of market good rather than an entitlement. Staying close to the power centres in government is the key to survival. For the traders, survival is synonymous with their occupation. For the cleric, it could mean assimilation to avoid being labelled anything from anti-social to anti-national — no surprise that most Muslim BJP supporters, including religious Muslims, have patriotic songs as their phone caller tune.



“This terrorism taint is too much for the community. As long as the BJP is in power, we have to be part of the mainstream to shun this tag,” says Imranbhai, a fruit vendor in Ahmedabad. He fits the stereotype of the Congress supporter: white kurta-pyjama, skull cap, untrimmed beard and moustache. Only that he swears by the BJP. “There is no shame for a Muslim today to admit he supports the BJP,” he says. Indeed, the indifference of religious Muslims to saffron flags fluttering in the dense Muslim ghettos of Juhapura and Saudagar ni Pol in Ahmedabad — areas that are alien to the local Hindu except in scary stories — was unthinkable earlier.



Moin Khan, once a CPI(M) worker, soon to sign up with the BJP, explains that the power centre for a religious Muslim is the local cleric; for the cleric, it is the people in governance. “The maulvis can mobilise masses because people listen to them. For the maulvis to establish credibility among the people, they have no choice but to get their hands dirtied in their network of influential politicians.” He recalls how a Sunni Muslim cleric who was close to the BJP helped trace a local slum-dweller's daughter who had disappeared. “Some clerics help the Congress, many now [help] the BJP because there is no alternative.”



Moving back again five years ago, as one section of Muslims in Ahmedabad battled issues of identity using religion as a shield, another section had begun to develop a different kind of collective solutions to the discrimination. They were of the view that survival was possible only for the fittest Muslim — one who conforms to the mainstream majority. Prepping up for an existence war of sorts, they began to set up schools and focus on mainstream education for their children. Almost 70 per cent of Muslim-managed educational institutions, for example, were established in Ahmedabad between 1993 and 2005 — after the two waves of Hindu-Muslim violence.



Qutbuddin Ansari, who became the “face of the Gujarat riots,” his pleading picture making news in national and international media in 2002, refused an interview with this writer in 2007. His request: privacy. “I've moved on. Please let me be.”



The movement to “move on” had already started. The recent civic elections took it to a higher level.



Remember that this remains a discussion about a very small section of Muslims — most of whom relatively (that is, not directly) affected by the violence. Moreover, political attitudes in a civic election are based on ground issues. Slum-dwellers in the old city of Ahmedabad are ready to switch left, right and centre (the CPI (M) to the RSS to the BJP) as long as they get their local corporator to provide their daily quota of drinking water. Whether the BJP will continue to embrace Muslims at the cost of upsetting its majority target voters in Gujarat in the Assembly elections, will be seen in the future.



“The BJP will always be anti-Muslim, that is its identity. But the benefits it has given to Hindus, say in the Sarkhej ward, have indirectly reached Muslims,” says Shahid Ali, a Muslim entrepreneur. A Congress supporter, he is open to the BJP if it continues to welcome Muslim candidates. Speaking of former top cop Al Saiyed, who contested on the BJP ticket, he says, “I would not mind having a Muslim candidate like Saiyed. At least I have someone of my own to hold accountable for any sloppy work.” Mr. Saiyed, who managed to get over 13,000 votes in Sarkhej, himself believes that the recent change in political behaviour is driven by educated Muslims and those who have realised the need to be in the mainstream. “If we do not assimilate with other communities, it's the end of us!” he says.



(Raheel Dhattiwala is a doctoral researcher in the Department of Sociology, University of Oxford, who is doing field work in Ahmedabad.)

[ramana]

Re TN elections:



Pioneer reports:

Jaya-Vijay starrer set to flop DMK poll show

February 26, 2011 1:56:58 AM



Swati Das | Chennai



Clinching an alliance with actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth’s DMDK is the best thing that could have happened to the AIADMK in the current political scenario. Now, AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa has made sure that the DMK faces a Herculean task in its bid to retain power in Tamil Nadu.



The alliance, which was fructified after two months of uncertainty, is the second unusual alliance for Jayalalithaa. The first time was in 1998 when, after the 1996 corruption charges and going into political hibernation, she had clinched a deal with the BJP. That alliance went on to win the Lok Sabha election and performed very well in Tamil Nadu.



This time too, following the 2G scam and the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu on the defensive, the AIADMK now has a formidable side and a united Opposition — AIADMK, DMDK, MDMK, CPI, CPI(M) and a host of minor parties, including the Dalit party Puthiya Tamizhagam.



Vijayakanth has, in the five years of DMDK’s existence, always claimed that the party’s alliance is “only with God and people”. But he has now sought an alliance on the ground that DMK Government had to be ousted. “We want to oust the DMK regime in Tamil Nadu. Therefore, we are with the AIADMK,” is what the DMDK presidium chairman and former AIADMK Minister Panruti S Ramachandran told the media after meeting the AIADMK election panel on Thursday. He also said that this was the aspiration of Vijayakanth, who wanted the entire Opposition to unite. A formal announcement is expected on Sunday by Jayalalithaa.



The ‘oust DMK’ sentiment is the common platform for the Opposition to fight the DMK-Congress combine. The DMK has showered the State with freebies and populist schemes and this would definitely need a formidable team to counter.



The DMDK has fortified a vote bank of over 10 per cent, with its concentration in the southern districts. This could be used by the AIADMK to counter the strong presence of Union Chemicals & Fertilisers Minister MK Alagiri’s influence. Similarly, Vijayakanth’s influence could come handy in tackling the PMK.



DMDK’s strength lay in the fact that it drew voters who were averse to both DMK and AIADMK. With people’s disillusion with the key Dravidian parties, DMDK’s support base had grown. The DMK had allegedly influenced the DMDK into going it alone as it succeeded in splitting the anti-DMK votes. Formation of a third front, as was speculated once, would have split the anti-DMK votes, benefiting the DMK in the long run. But now, with DMDK’s decision to go with the AIADMK, the anti-DMK votes would get channelised to the Opposition rather than getting split.



The DMDK’s alliance with the AIADMK had been a matter of speculation for nearly two months.



However, negotiations over seat-sharing and Vijayakanth’s alliance indecision delayed the whole process. His wife Premalatha, who is a key figure during elections, is said to have influenced the actor in opting for the alliance. Even then, there were differences between AIADMK and DMDK on sharing seats.



Initially, PMK was in the picture and Jayalalithaa, according to sources, had given that reason to allocate 41 seats to the DMDK. Vijayakanth was scheduled to meet Jayalalithaa. But on February 18, when the DMK quickly made the pact with PMK (giving it 31 seats), Vijayakanth cancelled his appointment and demanded 50 seats -- part of the seats supposed to have been allocated to PMK. Jayalalithaa, who had wanted to complete all such pacts by February 21, found the whole process delayed.



According to sources, given the Opposition criteria to defeat the ruling DMK, a compromise is expected. Grapevine has it that the compromised number could be 45. If it is true, DMDK is certainly beginning its alliance innings with a bang.

[Guest]

[url="http://www.hindustantimes.com/Battle-for-the-states-poll-dates-for-5-states-out/H1-Article1-668239.aspx"]Battle for the states: poll dates for 5 states out[/url]

With parts of the state affected by Maoists activities, West Bengal will have elections in six phases on April 18, 23, 27, May 3, 7 and 10, in perhaps the longest ever in the state, also known for political violence.

Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will go to polls on Apri1 13, Assam's two-phased poll is scheduled on April four and 11.



Counting of votes in all the five states will take place on May 13.



The model code of conduct has come into force immediately, Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi said announcing the schedule.



While West Bengal has 294 assembly constituencies, Tamil Nadu has 234, Kerala 140, Puducherry 30 and Assam 126.



The elections are the first battle of the ballot in the new year and would involve over 14.39 crore electorate in the five states with West Bengal having the largest number of over 5.60 crore electors followed by Tamil Nadu 4.59 crore.



While Kerala has 2.29 crore electors, Assam 1.81 crore and Puducherry is merely over eight lakh. Polling will be held through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMS).

[Guest]

came via email

This newsreport which appeared in Dinamalar a reputed Tamil daily says the mysterious parcel found in the RSS office in Madurai this morning carried the severed head of a little calf. Whoever did this is a thirdrate bastard even as bastards go. Why use an animal to make a point? The Taliban routinely in Afghanisthan and once in Kashmir, animals were used instead of suicide human bombers as carriers of explosives. I hope, really hope whoever did this suffers the most long lasting excruciating unending pain in this lifetime. RR



http://www.dinamalar.com/News_Detail.asp?Id=197517



ஆர்.எஸ்.எஸ்., அலுவலக வளாகத்தில் மர்ம பார்சல்



மதுரை:மதுரை எஸ்.எஸ். காலனியில் உள்ள நாவலர் தெருவில் இருக்கின்ற ஆர்.எஸ்.எஸ் அலுவலக வளாகத்தில் இன்று அதிகாலை ஒரு பையில் கன்றுகுட்டியின் தலையை வைத்து மர்மநபர்கள் வீசி எறிந்துள்ளனர். இச்சம்பவத்தால் பதறிய அப்பகுதியினர் போலீசிடம் மனு கொடுத்துள்ளனர். இது குறித்து போலீசார் விசாரனை நடத்தி வருகின்றனர்.

[Guest]

[url="http://www.hindustantimes.com/Cong-leader-Arjun-Singh-is-dead/H1-Article1-669480.aspx"]Cong leader Arjun Singh is dead[/url]

One less Prime Minister candidate.

[ramana]

They say dont speak ill of the dead but this one is good riddance.

[Guest]

[quote name='ramana' date='04 March 2011 - 11:56 PM' timestamp='1299262721' post='111012']

They say dont speak ill of the dead but this one is good riddance.

[/quote]

This man had destroyed everything he had touched .

[Guest]

[url="http://janamejayan.wordpress.com/2011/03/05/upa-ii-on-the-brink/"][size="6"]UPA II on the brink[/size][color="#FF0000"][/color][/url]

[Guest]

DMK budges, Cong gets 63 seats in TN



It means no case against DMK family. Congress sold India.

[ramana]

Mudy, Not so fast. MK says no choice on the 63 seats. So he plans to give the ADMK strongholds to INC!

Also DMK was ready to give 60 seats. The three were demanded as a show of dominance. So DMK persuaded its allies to give up three seats. The IUML gave up one and the others I don't know. Could be Ramdoss party.



PP guy says the idea is to launch the CBI inquiry after Lok Sabha adjourns and before the March 31 deadline set by SC. That means DMK even if it gets mad can't pull the govt down and after TN elections could be a defeated party and thus irrelevant. Plan is to get SP (22 MPs) into the UPA II to offset DMK (18MPs).

[Guest]

[quote name='Mudy' date='08 March 2011 - 09:13 PM' timestamp='1299636306' post='111066']

DMK budges, Cong gets 63 seats in TN



It means no case against DMK family. Congress sold India.

[/quote]

DMK is a small fish in the racket; and hooking them is just one step in the processes. INC will never bring to books all the business people and INC politicians involved. One would be naive to think it was just a DMK plan all along and that INC knew zilch about the saga.

[Guest]

[url="http://janamejayan.wordpress.com/2011/03/12/the-end-of-the-reddy-reign-has-begun/"][media][size="4"]The end of the ‘Reddy’ reign has begun![/size][/media][/url]

[Guest]

Here is a chance for the Hindus to have their say in the elections in Tamilnadu.



[size="4"][url="http://janamejayan.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/janata-party-to-contest-from-12-to-15-seats%e2%80%8f/"]Janata Party to contest from 12 to 15 seats‏[/url][/size]

[Capt M Kumar]

Today, it was learnt that the state secretariat of the party had chosen home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan to lead the campaign. The state secretariat meeting of the party was attended by CPM general secretary Prakash Karat and politburo member S Ramachandran Pillai.



The decision is considered a huge blow to the VS camp in the party, which had been at loggerheads with the 'official' faction in the party identified with Pinarayi Vijayan. Political observers say the decision to drop the chief minister may have been taken on the assessment that a repeat of cadres hitting the roads in support of Achuthanandan, as had happened in 2006, was unlikely at this juncture. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news...719582.cms

[ramana]

Presse reports that Batcha, the prime contact for A Raja, in 2G scam was suicided.

[Capt M Kumar]

In accordance with due procedure, the state government has asked the HC to ''grant leave to appeal against the judgment''. If the high court grants permission, the government's appeal can be filed and admitted.



The additional public prosecutor filed the appeal on February 28 but Sen's family and lawyers learnt about it on March 14. ''I had gone to meet Binayak in jail when he gave me the copy. It is strange that the notice is served to a man in prison who has no way of communicating anything to anybody,'' said Ilina Sen, the activist's wife. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india...750022.cms

[Guest]

[url="http://sarvesamachar.com/click_frameset.php?ref_url=%2Findex.php%3F&url=http%3A%2F%2Fin.news.yahoo.com%2Fbjp-imposing-bypolls-karnataka-deve-gowda-20110327-054900-183.html"]BJP imposing bypolls on Karnataka: Deve Gowda[/url]

Bangalore, Mar 27 (PTI) Former Prime Minister and JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda today accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of imposing too many bypolls in Karnataka by indulging in ''Operation Lotus'' to lure other MLAs to its fold.



Addressing a JDS workers'' convention here, Gowda claimed his party would teach a "bitter lesson" to the ruling party by defeating it in the bypolls to the three Assembly constituencies of Chennapatna, Jagalur and Bangarpet to be held on April nine.

He declared he would continue his fight against the "communal BJP" despite his advancing age and "money power" used by the ruling party to win elections.



"BJP is desperate to win the bypolls and have sought the help of religious institutions besides unleashing the power of money. But in politics religious mutts are not the only consideration and it is the people''s verdict that matters. (Karnataka Chief Minister) Yeddyurappa should realise this," he said.

Gowda further criticised BJP and its parent organisation, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), for "practising defection politics".

Deve Gowda is anti Hindu, now others are pro Hindu, What's the problem? He can join Hindu Band wagon.

[Guest]

Jayendra Saraswathi has inspired two new political parties in TN: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/assem...777368.cms



While he lit the traditional lamp because his devotee was a leader, the media choice of words "launching" is poor in my opinion. It should have been "inspired".



Anyways...

[Capt M Kumar]

The chief minister said if a government official failed to deliver a work or service within a given timeframe,he/she will be held personally responsible for it and the government will impose a fine for the delay.



Sources said the bill proposes to impose a fine of Rs 250 per day that can go up to Rs 5,000,which will be deducted from the salaries of the defaulting officials.While campaigning in assembly polls,Nitish had promised to send corrupt officials to jail and seize their property if he returns to power.AGENCIES



URL: http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getp...blabel=TOI

[Guest]

[quote name='Capt M Kumar' date='29 March 2011 - 03:30 PM' timestamp='1301392360' post='111273']

The chief minister said if a government official failed to deliver a work or service within a given timeframe,he/she will be held personally responsible for it and the government will impose a fine for the delay.



Sources said the bill proposes to impose a fine of Rs 250 per day that can go up to Rs 5,000,which will be deducted from the salaries of the defaulting officials.While campaigning in assembly polls,Nitish had promised to send corrupt officials to jail and seize their property if he returns to power.AGENCIES



URL: http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getp...blabel=TOI

[/quote]



This is a gimmick! It is an escape route for corrupt politicians!



I like Nitish and he should stick to his original plan to send corrupt officials to jail and seize their property.