02-23-2005, 11:24 PM
Some discussions on AID
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->See the quote
So, this is what many AID volunteers recieved
Quote:
At each chapter, we should make a concerted effort to become members of local listservs of various organizations (student bodies, cultural organizations, places of worship etc). Then we can post positive reports about our work, as well as counter any negative propaganda.
So, AID members have been instructed to join various listservs and groups with an agenda unrelated to the original purposes of the group, that Shailabh is known as *infiltration*.
AID TSUNAMI EFFORT : CLARIFICATION
Author Message
PROUDER_INDIAN
Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 2
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 10:31 pm  Post subject: AID TSUNAMI EFFORT : CLARIFICATION Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement on Anti-AID smear campaigns
The volunteers of the Association for India's Development (AID) reject the smear campaigns on some email lists and media. AID's coordinators in Indiainclude professors at IIT Chennai, IIT Mumbai, IISc Bangalore, Jagannath Institute of Technology Management, professionals from local companies as well as reputed full-time workers recognized by both local people andagencies such as UNICEF and the government Relief Commission. In the US, AID volunteers are active members of the student and professional community at universities, corporations and organizations.
We thank all those who have positively supported AID's work, and we expect that our work will be judged on its merit. We caution the community that there are some deliberate attempts to misrepresent our work and take things out of context, exploiting the emergency situation caused by the tsunami. In short, AID categorically states that it is not aligned with the communists or any other political party, opposes violence by any group, and has given an open account of its relief work on its website. We are issuing this detailed statement in order to inform everyone about the true spirit and the specifics of AID's work and our stand for peace and non-violence.
1. Context of Tsunami relief efforts: The Tsunami saw neither caste nor creed nor religion nor political affiliations when it struck India and other
parts of Asia. The Tamil Nadu and Indian governments are coordinating with various groups, including mass-based, religious and social organizations.
AID's relief efforts began within hours of the Tsunami. By the 27th of December, AID-India's Chennai office had become the hub of activity for
coordinating relief efforts from AID as well as several other groups working in the districts of Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Chennai, Kanyakumari and Pondicherry. Simultaneously, hundreds of volunteers in the US have worked to give updates through a dynamic website and solicit help from the community. AID's efforts in both India and US have been well recognized by independent observers as well as the government [See references].
2. On the question of working with DYFI and SFI volunteers on tsunami relief, AID has made its approach clear in the FAQs at its website http://survivors.aidindia.org but some have continued to misrepresent the work.
In several villages AID-India was one of the first groups to reach [Ref A]. The choice was whether to do things that help the people, like finding survivors, burying/cremating the dead and addressing relief needs, or to be on the scene as spectators or worse still, do post-mortem analysis on the internet while people are to be saved. AID chose to work with various groups including local villagers affiliated with DYFI whose help was critical to find survivors, bury the dead and reach the poorest among the survivors.
The TN government, Collector's office and even corporate groups from Colgate Palmolive and Confederation of Indian Industry worked with DYFI and other field groups. Many independent observers and reporters have described positively the cooperation between individuals from various backgrounds during relief work. When groups collaborate it doesn't necessarily mean that there is an exchange of funds, since each group comes with its strength and resources.
The focus of the immediate relief work is to ensure that the needs of the survivors are met, and that the government relief and compensation reaches all sections, especially the poor and most disadvantaged. AID has no plans of collaborating with DYFI or SFI beyond this relief phase.
3. AID has not sent any funds to DYFI or SFI. Statements quoted selectively and out of context are being used to mislead people by the slander campaign. During the coordination of relief efforts, AID-India exercises full, independent control of funds to purchase relief material, transporting and distributing it. AID is working with several long-term partners to provide long-term rehabilitation. The strength of AID is to work closely with the local communities with their full participation.
4. AID-India has worked with people from various backgrounds - more than 800 city-based volunteers and executives from corporations have worked hand-in-hand with villagers in the first 3 weeks. This work has been widely recognized by Chennai citizens, independent reporters as well as the district Collectors and the Relief Commissioner of Tamil Nadu.
5. AID has been open about all its work with about 50 field reports available on its dynamic website, and regular updates to donors. These reports from a variety of sources provide a good picture of the various
groups that are working together, as well as our long-term plans. We urge everyone to visit http://survivors.aidindia.org - our only request is that you read the reports in full, in order to overcome the selective
misrepresentation and avoid taking things out of context.
6. AID is an organization inspired by Gandhi's teachings - particularly non-violence, identifying and working with the most disadvantaged sections, and insisting on social justice. In the past, AID has condemned the violence in Godhra and rest of Gujarat, the attack on Akshardham temple, bomb blasts in Mumbai and attacks in Kashmir, and called for peace and communal harmony. AID opposes use of violence by any group.
7. AID is not affiliated with any political parties or their organizations. AID is an independent public organization working for the interests of the
marginalized sections of people, on various issues such as education, health-care, natural resources, people's rights and democracy, livelihoods and income generation, women's empowerment, and environmental protection. An example is our micro-hydel collaboration which brought electricity to the Bilgaon village for the first time, and provided inspiration for the movie Swades [Ref G].
In fact, AID has been involved in campaigns on behalf of people's organizations against specific unjust policies of the government,
irrespective of the party in power. Examples are: fish-workers' campaign
against degradation of Sunderbans in West Bengal, right to primary education all over India, displacement without rehabilitation in Narmada valley in Maharashtra, MP and Gujarat, depletion of water resources in Kerala due to Coca Cola plant, election reforms in Andhra Pradesh, communal violence in Gujarat and justice for victims of Bhopal gas disaster.
In conclusion, AID rejects the gross misrepresentation of its work, and urges the community to get involved in AID's efforts and judge the work on its merits. We hope that our relationship is as strong as the challenge that AID faces to assist the tsunami survivors.
References:
A. "...decide to try the last address... AID India. How I wish I had gone there first ... AID is providing relief to the very remote coastal villages
that few have reached ." - Manjeet Kriplani, chief of BusinessWeek's India Bureau
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflas..._1576_db017.htm
B. "...enormity of the problem is so much that one must try and work with every sincere group that is doing work on the field... What matters now is reaching relief and rehabilitation to all those who need it. " - Dr. Balaji Sampath, coordinator AID-Chennai.
http://www.aidindia.org/updates/6.htm
C. "Serving the nation Cometh the hour, cometh the man. U.S.-educated engineers like Balaji Sampath, and their calling in development work in their homeland."- Sudhish Kamath, The Hindu
http://www.hindu.com/edu/2005/01/03/storie...10300301100.htm
D. And now, a wave of compassion... "Students, lawyers, doctors, slum-dwellers, IT professionals... help is pouring in from all quarters for post-tsunami relief works" - Shonali Muthalay, The Hindu.
http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/01/06/stories...10600990100.htm
E. Relief is on the way - By Mark Hansel, Cincinnati Post "AID would like to develop a network of agencies working together to provide relief. The group is trying to organize fund-raisers, multidenominational prayer vigils and other activities to help victims."
http://www.cincypost.com/2005/01/03/mercy010305.html
F. Focus on rehabilitation: NGOs - R.K.Radhakrishnan, The Hindu, on meeting between Tamil Nadu Relief Commissioner and key NGOs.
"The organisations that participated in the meeting organised by the
Bhoomika Trust include Christian Counselling Centre, Vellore; Abhiyan/KVMS from Gujarat; NIMHANS from Bangalore; IIT-Madras; Indians for Collective Action, U.S.A.; Association for India's Development, U.S.A.; The Banyan, SMILE and Samanvaya, all based in Chennai, ActionAid, People's Watch and SIFFS Tamil Nadu Fishermen's Society."
http://www.thehindu.com/2005/01/03/stories...10310240500.htm
G. Are NRIs Non-Returning Indians? - Chidanand Rajghatta, Times of India "Swades is inspired in part by a Maryland-based Association of India's Development (AID) effort that saw two of their 'jeevansaathis' - Aravinda Pillalamarri and Ravi Kuchimanchi... work on micro-hydel project in Bilgaon. Director Ashutosh Gowariker visited their project and acknowledges them in the credits."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/article...4,prtpage-1.cms
  Â
Proud_Indian
Joined: 05 Dec 2004
Posts: 11
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 7:33 pm  Post subject: Donating to AID is Anti-American Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Clarification from AID does not really mean anything. The person who posted the clarification on this boards regarding Aid's alledged Anti-American activities has not answered the key allegations about the organization.
Why is AID even associated with an organization like the DYFI? Why did they try to associate themselves with an Anti-American communist organization like the DYFI? Are they not aware of the Anti-American nature of these organizations?
AID's links with DYFI as well as the attempts by "AID volunteers" to hide their affiliations with the communist party in India from their website are well documented in the internet. Please visit the following websites to enlighten yourselves how money collected here in Pittsburgh is being used to fund organizations that are inherently Anti-American
Since there are many such sites, I will only list a few of them here)
http://www.varnam.org/blog/archives/2005/0...ing_the_co.html
http://www.indiacause.com/columns/OL_050117.htm
http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/jan/06amit2.htm
and of course the main site to track AID's activities:
http://www.geocities.com/aid_india_info/AID_DOC.html
(This rediff article neatly documents how deep a relationship AID has with DYFI. Note particularly the sentence: "DYFI suffers from the drawback of not having a high profile and, consequently, having rather low funds. But AID takes care of that."
It is very obvious what "that" means. Is it not??
A person has to be an idiot to believe that AID is not working with communist organizations like DYFI and SFI.
AID must explain to its donors here in the US why it is collecting "tax-free" money here in the US and then using it to work along side Anti American communist organizations overseas.
  Â
Proud_Indian
Joined: 05 Dec 2004
Posts: 11
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 7:57 pm  Post subject: Posting lengthy clarifications is of no use. Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would also like to state that posting lengthy clarifications is of no use if the clarifications completely miss the point.  Â
ShailabhNagar
Joined: 16 Feb 2005
Posts: 4
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 6:19 pm  Post subject: Here's a short reply then Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read
http://www.aidindia.org/AIDRebuttal
for a detailed demolition of all the nonsense thats been posted by the anonymous "Proud_Indian"......
Proud_Indian
Joined: 05 Dec 2004
Posts: 11
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 8:02 pm  Post subject: DO NOT DONATE TO AID Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ShailabhNagar is probably following the instructions of this senior "AID leader" who sent him this email:
http://www.geocities.com/aid_india_info/doc14.pdf
Anyways, as mentioned before, it seems AID does not want to admit its connections with the communists in India, which have now been exposed beyond doubt.
Terming hard evidence against AID as "smear campaigns" is not going to help.
Issuing long rebuttals that completely miss the point also do not help.
AID volunteers need to clarify why they collected funds (tax-free) here and then used them to work along side Anti American communist organizations overseas.
To give just one example of the Anti-American nature of DYFI, please visit:
http://pd.cpim.org/2003/0420/04202003_ko...rotest.htm
Several Anti- US protests have been organized by DYFI in the past outside the US consulates at India. Several more such protests will continue to be organized by this AID supported organization in the future, about which there should be no doubt.
What AID needs to do is tell us why they cheated people and not issue lengthy meaningless clarifications.
Proud_Indian
 Â
da_deepend
Joined: 08 Jun 2004
Posts: 11
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 8:11 pm  Post subject: AID Helping victims Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The way I see it..AID exists to help the underprivedged in India, and that's what they are doing. It really doesn't matter to me, if they are aligned with communists, since communism isn't a major factor in the rest of the world anymore. As long as they keep helping the underpriveledged in India..I am ok with them.
And Mr. Proud Indian, who are you aligned with? The Society of Paranoid Indians? You can actually leave your house now and not be scared that everyone is watching every move you make..even though it was funny seeing you pick your nose and lick your finger last week on the webcam spying on you.
Back to top    Â
peace_needed
Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 5
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 3:48 pm  Post subject: Re: AID Helping victims Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What AID leaders are doing is completely wrong - knowningly and on purpose.
RSS workers are the first ones to respond with a helping hand on any disaster struck region. AID could have certainily taken 'help' from them (as they did in the past).
AID officials are not able to counter this argument - there were many organizations as soon as disaster struck - WHY NOT GET HELP FROM THEM? AID only chose to go with people who appease their political ideology - communists.
Having taken this course and defending it, AID officials are duping its volunteers and more importantly its donors.
Back to top   Â
ShailabhNagar
Joined: 16 Feb 2005
Posts: 4
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 4:26 pm  Post subject: Diversions do not help Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whether AID will/wants/should have worked with RSS is completely irrelevant.
The website you cite and the claims you make are all based on the allegation that AID funds DYFI. Are you still sticking to this claim despite the clear denials listed in the AID rebuttal ?
Another interesting aspect of all the allegations is that the people making them choose to remain anonymous. Don't they have enough confidence in their stand that they can clearly state who they are ? Proud_indian is a laughable attempt at not taking taking responsibility for your statements and postings.
Back to top   Â
peace_needed
Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 5
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 4:58 pm  Post subject: Re: Diversions do not help Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Whether AID will/wants/should have worked with RSS is completely irrelevant.
Absolutely NOT. This is, I think, the integral part of the story. AID officials involve in heavy politics at the expense of volunteers and donors - without their knowledge. Poor volunteers have to stick up to their actions even if wrong/doubtful.
How politics one might ask? Just give it a thought, like a child: pure and unbiased.
1) Tsunami strikes
2) NGOs offer help - RSS, DYFI, hindu/christian/Buddhist/Muslim (RSS being the first one on ground zero)
3) Out of all these, AID picks DYFI and SFI.
4) DYFI has a dark and violent history too (as you might claim RSS has).
5) AID could have collaborated with RSS or its affiliates even for a short term.
6) Instead, people who "oppose religion" in general and the RSS are chosen (communists).
7) It has not been made clear why DYFI is in collaboration with only AID.
8] DYFI did most of the 'hands-on' work so why would they even need someone like AID other than for financial help?
9) If DYFI only provides volunteers, where are the funds going?
Bottom line: WHY ONLY DYFI - dont tell me whatever was available was used!!! cause thats a lie.
AID might want to answer some (or all) of these questions to come out clean.
> Another interesting aspect of all the allegations is that the people
> making them choose to remain anonymous.
Name calling is completely irrelevant.
Back to top   Â
ShailabhNagar
Joined: 16 Feb 2005
Posts: 4
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 7:32 pm  Post subject: Bottom line is that peace_needed hasn't read the report Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
peace_needed asks: WHY ONLY DYFI ?
Clearly you haven't fully read even the report which is being used to allege the DYFI funding. Otherwise you would atleast know that AID worked with several organizations on the field. See the last page of
www.aidindia.org/updates/6.html
and you'll see that AID worked with Tamil Nadu Science Forum, Pondicherry Science Forum, Bhoomika Trust, Vidyarambham, Sneha, CSG, Fisherman's Society amongst many others.
I can't help it if your prejudices make you notice only DYFI/SFI.
Please read the reports in full....atleast get your facts right.
Anyway, looks like you've made up your mind what to believe. We can argue for ever - unless you go to Chennai, I won't be able to "prove" to your satisfaction that no money was sent from AID to DYFI (incidentally you stlll haven't answered a simple question whether you still think AID FUNDED DYFI)
And why you continue to mix the AID DYFI issue with RSS beats me.
How would working or not working with RSS make any difference to the alleged wrong done by AID working (not funding) with DYFI ? Suppose AID had worked with RSS...would that make working with DYFI alright ? If yes, then you're effectively saying that RSS is in the same category as DYFI (so some sort of "balance" has been reached). If no, then how is it relevant ? I'm guessing from your attempts to seek AID approval of RSS that you don't think RSS and DYFI are similar. Then tell me again, how does any of that matter ?
Back to top   Â
peace_needed
Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 5
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 9:22 pm  Post subject: Re: Bottom line is that peace_needed hasn't read the report Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> and you'll see that AID worked with Tamil Nadu Science Forum,
> Pondicherry Science Forum, Bhoomika Trust, Vidyarambham, Sneha,
> CSG, Fisherman's Society amongst many others.
These NGOs dont form AID backbone as DYFI does. Listing them just increases the number of NGOs who work with AID and does not quantify who is involved how much.
And mind you, even you have not been to Chennai and seen for yourself where the money is being utilized! You cant argue on that lame point.
Let alone funding DYFI, even being affiliated to political parties like DYFI pose serious questions on AID claim that they are a non-partisan, non-political group.
I am sure DYFI volunteers did what Mr. Balaji says - unparalled work. But even Hamas does some philanthropic work. Does that mean one should get involved with them too? If one does, they are clearly taking political sides.
> How would working or not working with RSS make any difference to
> the alleged wrong done by AID working (not funding) with DYFI?
It does. Thats what matters. Supporting one over the other is getting into politics!!! Thats what I have been trying to say: WHY DYFI? For politics! That AID is not indifferent in choosing NGOs and thus driven by political agendas. That AID chooses not based on work done by them but by their ideology. Again, it goes against their mission statement! I would stand by people who at least stand for what they say.
P.S: I agree that AID did not fund DYFI - as per AID official statement.
Back to top   Â
ShailabhNagar
Joined: 16 Feb 2005
Posts: 4
Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2005 12:23 am  Post subject: From facts to speculation Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm glad atleast peace_needed finally agrees that AID did not fund DYFI. If that central allegation of the website/docs is false, what does it tell you about the rest of the claims ? Go figure. If you're still not convinced, read the rebuttal again.
As for working with Hamas and RSS and whoever else you can think of, I have only this to say. Speculating about what AID would or wouldn't do in a hypothetical situation doesn't have any meaning and indulging in it is a waste of time.
The only thing that matters is what AID has done. All the money collected has been used to help the affected people. None of it has gone to support DYFI. As simple as that.
AID is strongly committed to pluralism, non-violence, democracy and decentralized participative decision-making. So if you don't agree with any of these ideals, we'll just have to agree to disagree and continue working in our own separate ways.
Enough of the facts have come out that people can decide for themselves. I'm sure we both have better things to do so lets end this here.
Back to top   Â
peace_needed
Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 5
Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2005 3:54 am  Post subject: Re: From facts to speculation Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh please, truth is far from being disclosed. A legible reader can only make the following judgement: AID is a communist inspired/assisted organization and associates (if not funds) with other organizations with similar interests. True to its ancestry, it operates in disguise of pluralism, non-violence and democracy. All this at the expense of unsuspected volunteers and donors.
Back to top   Â
proudest_indian
Joined: 31 Jan 2005
Posts: 7
Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 1:54 am  Post subject: Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It appears you are here a Kirankumar Vissa's bidding.
So, this is what many AID volunteers recieved
Quote:
At each chapter, we should make a concerted effort to become members of local listservs of various organizations (student bodies, cultural organizations, places of worship etc). Then we can post positive reports about our work, as well as counter any negative propaganda.
So, AID members have been instructed to join various listservs and groups with an agenda unrelated to the original purposes of the group, that Shailabh is known as *infiltration*.
No wonder AID volunteers are buzzing all around like flies.
Back to top   Â
proudest_indian
Joined: 31 Jan 2005
Posts: 7
Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 2:11 am  Post subject: AID JHU leader calls for the economic boycott of Patels Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is slew of emails (we know where this comes from, don't we Shailabh Nagar ), the posts by SRIRAM ANANTHANARAYANAN have been put in bold.
SRIRAM ANANTHANARAYANAN is leader of AID JHU see http://www.aidprojects.org/projects-view.a...in=guest&id=188
Kaleem Kawaja, the initiator of this exchange is well known for his support to Taliban, in this article
http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/010...200254.htm
where he asks his brother to spare tears for Taliban.
Note the presence of Pakistanis like Ms. Toor in the exchange.
These are kind of people AID guys interact with. People are known by the company they keep.
Of course if you have any doubts about AID's leftisit connections visit
http://www.geocities.com/aid_india_info/AID_DOC.html
Quote:
Kaleem Kawaja
Email : kawaja@worldnet.att.net
Date : Jan 30 , 2004
Friends:
The butcher of Gujarat 2002 Narendra Modi has been invited by the Asian American Hotel Owners of America (AAHOA), an organization comprising mostly of people from the state of Gujarat who own thousands of motels in US, as the chief guest in their convention in March.
It is time for all like-minded Indians regardless of who they are to band together and take concrete action in this regard. The following actions can be taken.
1. Write letters to the US State Deptt requesting that based on his criminal & murderous record he should not be given a visa to visit US.
2. If he receives the said visa, we can group together to hold a massive protest against him when he visits US. When he visited London last year the Indian folks there organized a massive protest.
3. Let us not remain silent. Let us organize.
A few weeks ago I read an article in India Abroad by Prof Jyoti Motwani, a top Indian-American community leader and top leader of Overseas Friends of BJP, in NYC, who justified the killing of 2000 Muslims following the Godhara train burning incident as a "strategic necessity for India".
Kaleem Kawaja
Kaleem Kawaja
Email : kawaja@worldnet.att.net
Date : Feb 16 , 2004
Hello all:
As some of you may have heard, Narendra Modi, the butcher of Gujarat, is likely to visit US to be the chief guest at the AAHOA convention in Ft Lauderdale, FL, on March 24-26. A coalition of several Indian humanitarian organizations is planning to organize a protest campaign against Modi/his party BJP/those who are funding the campaigns of oppression of the minorities and secular folks in India. Part of the campaign is publishing advertisements in US newspapers to inform the US public about how the above culprits have violated the human rights of a segment of the preople of Gujarat and India.
The Coalition needs the support of everyone who believes in the basic humanity of mankind and believes that these human rights violations are awful. You can provide this support in many forms: Contribute financially so that an advertisement can be published in US newspapers; attend the public protest meetings/rallies (date, venue to be announced).
With only 1 month to go time is very short. Some volunteers have started the development of the advertisement. At this time the first and urgent need is to collect donations for the publication of the said advertisement. It will cost quite a few thousand dollars. So your immediate and generous donations are earnestly requested. You may send your donation to the Association of Indian Muslims of America (AIM), one of the members of the above mentioned coalition.
Kindly mail your checks to:
Association of Indian Muslims of America
PO Box 10654, Silver Spring, MD 20914.
Many thanks for your generous help.
Kaleem Kawaja
Name : Nicole Poyyayil
Email : npoyyayil@yahoo.com
Date : Feb 16, 2005
Initiative: No Visa for Modi
Dear Friends
I am very concerned about Modis`visit to the USA. As you are fully aware, AAHOA has invited Modi as the chief guest to the 2005 annual convention which will be held on march 24-26th at Ft.Lauderdale, Florida. I strongly emphasize that all possible actions should be taken to prevent Modi from entering the USA. Therefore it needs immediate actions by all of us. On my part, I have already contacted the US Embassy, where the responsible Mr. Scott Hartmann will act accordingly. As to him, it is very important to provide him with detailed facts and proved reasons why Modi should not get a visa to enter the USA. Beeing a swiss citizen, I am compelled to act through the US Embassy in Switzerland. I am counting on you and hope to get your support for this very important action.
What could you do:
- Please send me a list / summary of detailed facts (incl. sources etc) on Modis criminal actions (past and present).
- Please send me the informations as soon as possible
- You could also submit the informations directly to Mr. Scott Hartmann to the US Embassy. If you wish to do so, this is the addresse: US Embassy, Visa Section, To the Attn. Mr. Scott Hartmann, 3001 Bern, Switzerland.
I strongly believe that any possible actions must be taken and I will definitely do so.
Best wishes
Nicole Poyyayil
Name : Kamala Visweswaran
Email : kvis2001@yahoo.com
Date : Feb 16 , 2005
!PeoplePeoplePeople!
Multitudes, minions, and apparently sleeping masses. Time to do something about Modi's visit.
I am ashamed and embarassed at the relative silence on this list about Modi's visit, and the fact that Muslim and Christian organizations have so far had to take the lead in developing the Modi campaign. This is neither fair, nor tactically sound, given the vulnerability of the Muslim community in the US after 9/11. Secular organizations have to step forward to do the work, planning, and to shoulder responsibility. We need to build a broad coalition fast, which includes POI, CAC, CSFH, YSS, DRUM, Mango Sisters, Sakhi, Manavi, Worker's Awaaz, etc. etc.
We should definitely make all efforts to get his visa denied, but we cannot expect that it will be. We should write editorials and articles. But we need more. I propose:
1) We aim to mobilize 10 busloads of protesters to converge on Ft. Lauderdale March 24-25. Let's organize some freedom rides down the East Coast and into Florida to make M-24 Indian diaspora anti-genocide day. We need to issue a call immediately, rent the buses (maybe ANSWER has some discount rates we can avail of), literature, street theatre, drumming (Raja is hereby nominated) and agit prop. (I will try to mobilize a bus from Texas).
2) We tell AAHOA that if they persist in "honoring" Modi, we are organizing a massive boycott call of all AAHOA owned hotels in the US and Canada. We will take out ads, jam the diaspora list-servs, and show up unannounced at Patel Motels everywhere with signs, stickers, and literature explaining the boycott and listing alternate hotels in the area to be patronized.
I propose we form two commitees to organize each mobilization, and further propose that the East Coast FOILers who are more numerous and have more critical mass TAKE CHARGE NOW. We have 5 weeks to pull off something massive.
Please, people let's have the next slew of e-mails be people signing up to do work on either committee. We can debate the finer points of the mobilizational strategies in the work groups; let's not do it on the listserv.
Kamala
Name : SRIRAM ANANTHANARAYANAN
Email : sriram@jhu.edu
i'm in. particularly with committe number 2. do you have a list of action items? should we start by writing out an appeal of sorts, maybe a letter to send to aahoa bigwigs, and the participants in the trade show? what about letters to the state regarding the visa stuff?
once more people have signed up, maybe we should have a phone conference one of these evenings to thrash out action items.
sri
Name : Kamala Visweswaran
Email : kvis2001@yahoo.com
Hi Sri:
You are hereby nominated to head up the Boycott Committee; thanks. Who else is joining?
Can you come up w/a list of action items, maybe brainstorm w/some Alliance people? Who else is signing up to work on this committee.
Yes, there is a letter being drafted to the AAHOA suggesting that a boycott will happen. It will circulate soon.
Can also get you the membership list of AAHOA id the committee wants to do mailings to them.
Good idea to do a conference call in the next few days to consolidate ideas and strategy.
Kamala
Name : SRIRAM ANANTHANARAYANAN
Email : sriram@jhu.edu
among others, these are some of the action items i could think off
straight away:
1) boycott letter needed.
2) checked the aahoa website (http://www.aahoa.com). i think we should concentrate our emails more on the founding sponsor list (under "allied directory" on the left hand side). these have people from all over the country, and from different companies who can ill-afford bad publicity. this is in direct contrast to the board of directors (out of 9, 8 are patels), the exec committee (out of 10, 9 are patels), and the regional directors (out of 18, 17 are patels). all these can be found under "about aahoa" on left hand side. it is very likely that many of these people are quite entrenched with the sangh's philosophy, else they wouldn't have invited him in the first place.
3) we should consider contacting newspapers (particularly the investigative journalists) in atlanta (aahoa hq) and fort lauderdale (conf venue). there are 5 major newspapers in atlanta and 4 major ones in ft lauderdale. we could use the letter as a template, you know talk of the pogrom that took place in gujarat, the modi-govt's complicity, as well as the support the sangh recieves from expats in the states and request them to do an investigation, and a write-up.
4) we should also i think try and send the letter to managers/employees in the various companies that are there as founding sponsors of the aahoa.
5) maybe think of sending it to investigative journalists in other newspapers as well.
6) send it to hotels that are NOT under the aahoa. if nothing else they would like to help in hurting their competition.
please add more as you see fit. we should probably have a conf call this weekend.
thanks,
sri
Dear Sri:
These items are a terrific start. Am not sure that the other letter will circulate after all, but perhaps it's not bad to have multiple letters to AAHOA.
Great idea to send letter to the sponsors and to non-member hotels of AAHOA.
I think we should also think about what a long term successful boycott would look like. Can we draw up a two year time frame?
I think we may need to do a little research for the longterm:
1) What are the strategies used by other successfu boycotts: i.e. UAW boycott of grapes, GLBT boycott of Coors, etc?
2)How much money do AAHOA hotels make a year? Do they derive any part of their business from Universities, which we use student pressure to boycott? We should research the Ft. Lauderdale hotel/university connections first: if we find a link, we can use that to mobilize students in the area.
3)what percentage of the hotels are roadside POTELS? If we find that a alrge number of them are distributed along interstates, we will need to figure out a way of publicly identifying them.
--Kamala
Saadia Toor
Editor http://ghadar.insaf.net
(Pakistani Activist)
Email : saadiatoor@yahoo.com
may i also suggest that we mobilise support through other, non-south-asian social justice channels? for instance, if we can send a press release or action alert out to indymedia or z-net or something, that will help spread the word, and help in fund raising should we decide to go with any of the crazy ideas i'm about to throw out. i think it's best to have a base of support that is not limited to south asians or people of south asian descent... or at least hope that we can. and maybe this sounds very ambitious or whacky, but what about sending something, a short op-ed piece or a letter to the editor, to _the nation_? also, i think we may need to consider taking ads out in a newspaper or magazine? i have no idea how much buying space on a major newspaper would cost, but if we could manage to pool the resources of all or most of the organisations and groups fighting hindutva in the US, couldn't we manage something? having our message out there in a major newspaper conveys some!
thing about our strength and sends a message to the powers-that-be within the US political scene as well. and as long as i'm throwing out crazy ideas, how much does renting billboards cost? i can get in touch with ad-busters, whose raison d'etre is subversive anti-advertising, for help. we could do posters and flyers (and billboards?) using modi's words and the obnoxious cheery posters of the gujarat tourism board (which hit me as soon as i came out of the international terminal at JFK last year) in which modi invites people to come to gujarat for garba ras!!
saadia
Back to top   Â
peace_needed
Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 5
Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 6:35 am  Post subject: Peoples Science Movements are "AGAINGST RELIGION"! Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DYFI activist like Meera Nanda are lobying Peoples Science Movements (PSM) (Heavily funded by AID) to teach anti-religious (in the name of Gandhi - a religious personality) curriculum.
1) "They have to be employed as weapons against religion".
2) "It is important, indeed, not just to address ordinary people and children to motivate them to think scientifically, it is important to challenge the priests, the pandits, the astrologers directly"
3) Exact numbers are simply not available -for no one is keeping count -
but I challenge you: visit ANY modern guru or ashram, be it the
reformist Ramakrishna Mission or a charlatan such as Sai Baba. You will
find well-educated, well-known scientists, with Ph.D.s in advanced
topics in cutting edge sciences drinking in the obscurantism of these
gurus.
4) There was a tradition of Marxist philosophy of science
which emphasized sensory experience and naturalism to question the
soul-stuff. But it died when its major proponent (Debiprasad
Chattopadhyaya) died. Since then, the trend has been in the other
direction:
5) While they are overly eager to demolish the personal
God of Abrahamic faith, Hindu intellectuals have refused to cast a
critical look at the Vedantic conception of God as disembodied
soul-stuff.
It goes on and on.... very upsetting.
Challenging is fine - but AID doesnt make sure that it tells its donors that anti-religion is being tought along with science. Hinduism and science dont disagree with each other (unlike Christianity/Islam). Converesly, the only target is Hinduism!!!
Hail (and fund) the Marxists - Destroy India.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->See the quote
So, this is what many AID volunteers recieved
Quote:
At each chapter, we should make a concerted effort to become members of local listservs of various organizations (student bodies, cultural organizations, places of worship etc). Then we can post positive reports about our work, as well as counter any negative propaganda.
So, AID members have been instructed to join various listservs and groups with an agenda unrelated to the original purposes of the group, that Shailabh is known as *infiltration*.
AID TSUNAMI EFFORT : CLARIFICATION
Author Message
PROUDER_INDIAN
Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 2
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 10:31 pm  Post subject: AID TSUNAMI EFFORT : CLARIFICATION Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement on Anti-AID smear campaigns
The volunteers of the Association for India's Development (AID) reject the smear campaigns on some email lists and media. AID's coordinators in Indiainclude professors at IIT Chennai, IIT Mumbai, IISc Bangalore, Jagannath Institute of Technology Management, professionals from local companies as well as reputed full-time workers recognized by both local people andagencies such as UNICEF and the government Relief Commission. In the US, AID volunteers are active members of the student and professional community at universities, corporations and organizations.
We thank all those who have positively supported AID's work, and we expect that our work will be judged on its merit. We caution the community that there are some deliberate attempts to misrepresent our work and take things out of context, exploiting the emergency situation caused by the tsunami. In short, AID categorically states that it is not aligned with the communists or any other political party, opposes violence by any group, and has given an open account of its relief work on its website. We are issuing this detailed statement in order to inform everyone about the true spirit and the specifics of AID's work and our stand for peace and non-violence.
1. Context of Tsunami relief efforts: The Tsunami saw neither caste nor creed nor religion nor political affiliations when it struck India and other
parts of Asia. The Tamil Nadu and Indian governments are coordinating with various groups, including mass-based, religious and social organizations.
AID's relief efforts began within hours of the Tsunami. By the 27th of December, AID-India's Chennai office had become the hub of activity for
coordinating relief efforts from AID as well as several other groups working in the districts of Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Chennai, Kanyakumari and Pondicherry. Simultaneously, hundreds of volunteers in the US have worked to give updates through a dynamic website and solicit help from the community. AID's efforts in both India and US have been well recognized by independent observers as well as the government [See references].
2. On the question of working with DYFI and SFI volunteers on tsunami relief, AID has made its approach clear in the FAQs at its website http://survivors.aidindia.org but some have continued to misrepresent the work.
In several villages AID-India was one of the first groups to reach [Ref A]. The choice was whether to do things that help the people, like finding survivors, burying/cremating the dead and addressing relief needs, or to be on the scene as spectators or worse still, do post-mortem analysis on the internet while people are to be saved. AID chose to work with various groups including local villagers affiliated with DYFI whose help was critical to find survivors, bury the dead and reach the poorest among the survivors.
The TN government, Collector's office and even corporate groups from Colgate Palmolive and Confederation of Indian Industry worked with DYFI and other field groups. Many independent observers and reporters have described positively the cooperation between individuals from various backgrounds during relief work. When groups collaborate it doesn't necessarily mean that there is an exchange of funds, since each group comes with its strength and resources.
The focus of the immediate relief work is to ensure that the needs of the survivors are met, and that the government relief and compensation reaches all sections, especially the poor and most disadvantaged. AID has no plans of collaborating with DYFI or SFI beyond this relief phase.
3. AID has not sent any funds to DYFI or SFI. Statements quoted selectively and out of context are being used to mislead people by the slander campaign. During the coordination of relief efforts, AID-India exercises full, independent control of funds to purchase relief material, transporting and distributing it. AID is working with several long-term partners to provide long-term rehabilitation. The strength of AID is to work closely with the local communities with their full participation.
4. AID-India has worked with people from various backgrounds - more than 800 city-based volunteers and executives from corporations have worked hand-in-hand with villagers in the first 3 weeks. This work has been widely recognized by Chennai citizens, independent reporters as well as the district Collectors and the Relief Commissioner of Tamil Nadu.
5. AID has been open about all its work with about 50 field reports available on its dynamic website, and regular updates to donors. These reports from a variety of sources provide a good picture of the various
groups that are working together, as well as our long-term plans. We urge everyone to visit http://survivors.aidindia.org - our only request is that you read the reports in full, in order to overcome the selective
misrepresentation and avoid taking things out of context.
6. AID is an organization inspired by Gandhi's teachings - particularly non-violence, identifying and working with the most disadvantaged sections, and insisting on social justice. In the past, AID has condemned the violence in Godhra and rest of Gujarat, the attack on Akshardham temple, bomb blasts in Mumbai and attacks in Kashmir, and called for peace and communal harmony. AID opposes use of violence by any group.
7. AID is not affiliated with any political parties or their organizations. AID is an independent public organization working for the interests of the
marginalized sections of people, on various issues such as education, health-care, natural resources, people's rights and democracy, livelihoods and income generation, women's empowerment, and environmental protection. An example is our micro-hydel collaboration which brought electricity to the Bilgaon village for the first time, and provided inspiration for the movie Swades [Ref G].
In fact, AID has been involved in campaigns on behalf of people's organizations against specific unjust policies of the government,
irrespective of the party in power. Examples are: fish-workers' campaign
against degradation of Sunderbans in West Bengal, right to primary education all over India, displacement without rehabilitation in Narmada valley in Maharashtra, MP and Gujarat, depletion of water resources in Kerala due to Coca Cola plant, election reforms in Andhra Pradesh, communal violence in Gujarat and justice for victims of Bhopal gas disaster.
In conclusion, AID rejects the gross misrepresentation of its work, and urges the community to get involved in AID's efforts and judge the work on its merits. We hope that our relationship is as strong as the challenge that AID faces to assist the tsunami survivors.
References:
A. "...decide to try the last address... AID India. How I wish I had gone there first ... AID is providing relief to the very remote coastal villages
that few have reached ." - Manjeet Kriplani, chief of BusinessWeek's India Bureau
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflas..._1576_db017.htm
B. "...enormity of the problem is so much that one must try and work with every sincere group that is doing work on the field... What matters now is reaching relief and rehabilitation to all those who need it. " - Dr. Balaji Sampath, coordinator AID-Chennai.
http://www.aidindia.org/updates/6.htm
C. "Serving the nation Cometh the hour, cometh the man. U.S.-educated engineers like Balaji Sampath, and their calling in development work in their homeland."- Sudhish Kamath, The Hindu
http://www.hindu.com/edu/2005/01/03/storie...10300301100.htm
D. And now, a wave of compassion... "Students, lawyers, doctors, slum-dwellers, IT professionals... help is pouring in from all quarters for post-tsunami relief works" - Shonali Muthalay, The Hindu.
http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/01/06/stories...10600990100.htm
E. Relief is on the way - By Mark Hansel, Cincinnati Post "AID would like to develop a network of agencies working together to provide relief. The group is trying to organize fund-raisers, multidenominational prayer vigils and other activities to help victims."
http://www.cincypost.com/2005/01/03/mercy010305.html
F. Focus on rehabilitation: NGOs - R.K.Radhakrishnan, The Hindu, on meeting between Tamil Nadu Relief Commissioner and key NGOs.
"The organisations that participated in the meeting organised by the
Bhoomika Trust include Christian Counselling Centre, Vellore; Abhiyan/KVMS from Gujarat; NIMHANS from Bangalore; IIT-Madras; Indians for Collective Action, U.S.A.; Association for India's Development, U.S.A.; The Banyan, SMILE and Samanvaya, all based in Chennai, ActionAid, People's Watch and SIFFS Tamil Nadu Fishermen's Society."
http://www.thehindu.com/2005/01/03/stories...10310240500.htm
G. Are NRIs Non-Returning Indians? - Chidanand Rajghatta, Times of India "Swades is inspired in part by a Maryland-based Association of India's Development (AID) effort that saw two of their 'jeevansaathis' - Aravinda Pillalamarri and Ravi Kuchimanchi... work on micro-hydel project in Bilgaon. Director Ashutosh Gowariker visited their project and acknowledges them in the credits."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/article...4,prtpage-1.cms
  Â
Proud_Indian
Joined: 05 Dec 2004
Posts: 11
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 7:33 pm  Post subject: Donating to AID is Anti-American Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Clarification from AID does not really mean anything. The person who posted the clarification on this boards regarding Aid's alledged Anti-American activities has not answered the key allegations about the organization.
Why is AID even associated with an organization like the DYFI? Why did they try to associate themselves with an Anti-American communist organization like the DYFI? Are they not aware of the Anti-American nature of these organizations?
AID's links with DYFI as well as the attempts by "AID volunteers" to hide their affiliations with the communist party in India from their website are well documented in the internet. Please visit the following websites to enlighten yourselves how money collected here in Pittsburgh is being used to fund organizations that are inherently Anti-American
Since there are many such sites, I will only list a few of them here)
http://www.varnam.org/blog/archives/2005/0...ing_the_co.html
http://www.indiacause.com/columns/OL_050117.htm
http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/jan/06amit2.htm
and of course the main site to track AID's activities:
http://www.geocities.com/aid_india_info/AID_DOC.html
(This rediff article neatly documents how deep a relationship AID has with DYFI. Note particularly the sentence: "DYFI suffers from the drawback of not having a high profile and, consequently, having rather low funds. But AID takes care of that."
It is very obvious what "that" means. Is it not??
A person has to be an idiot to believe that AID is not working with communist organizations like DYFI and SFI.
AID must explain to its donors here in the US why it is collecting "tax-free" money here in the US and then using it to work along side Anti American communist organizations overseas.
  Â
Proud_Indian
Joined: 05 Dec 2004
Posts: 11
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 7:57 pm  Post subject: Posting lengthy clarifications is of no use. Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would also like to state that posting lengthy clarifications is of no use if the clarifications completely miss the point.  Â
ShailabhNagar
Joined: 16 Feb 2005
Posts: 4
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 6:19 pm  Post subject: Here's a short reply then Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read
http://www.aidindia.org/AIDRebuttal
for a detailed demolition of all the nonsense thats been posted by the anonymous "Proud_Indian"......
Proud_Indian
Joined: 05 Dec 2004
Posts: 11
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 8:02 pm  Post subject: DO NOT DONATE TO AID Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ShailabhNagar is probably following the instructions of this senior "AID leader" who sent him this email:
http://www.geocities.com/aid_india_info/doc14.pdf
Anyways, as mentioned before, it seems AID does not want to admit its connections with the communists in India, which have now been exposed beyond doubt.
Terming hard evidence against AID as "smear campaigns" is not going to help.
Issuing long rebuttals that completely miss the point also do not help.
AID volunteers need to clarify why they collected funds (tax-free) here and then used them to work along side Anti American communist organizations overseas.
To give just one example of the Anti-American nature of DYFI, please visit:
http://pd.cpim.org/2003/0420/04202003_ko...rotest.htm
Several Anti- US protests have been organized by DYFI in the past outside the US consulates at India. Several more such protests will continue to be organized by this AID supported organization in the future, about which there should be no doubt.
What AID needs to do is tell us why they cheated people and not issue lengthy meaningless clarifications.
Proud_Indian
 Â
da_deepend
Joined: 08 Jun 2004
Posts: 11
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 8:11 pm  Post subject: AID Helping victims Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The way I see it..AID exists to help the underprivedged in India, and that's what they are doing. It really doesn't matter to me, if they are aligned with communists, since communism isn't a major factor in the rest of the world anymore. As long as they keep helping the underpriveledged in India..I am ok with them.
And Mr. Proud Indian, who are you aligned with? The Society of Paranoid Indians? You can actually leave your house now and not be scared that everyone is watching every move you make..even though it was funny seeing you pick your nose and lick your finger last week on the webcam spying on you.
Back to top    Â
peace_needed
Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 5
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 3:48 pm  Post subject: Re: AID Helping victims Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What AID leaders are doing is completely wrong - knowningly and on purpose.
RSS workers are the first ones to respond with a helping hand on any disaster struck region. AID could have certainily taken 'help' from them (as they did in the past).
AID officials are not able to counter this argument - there were many organizations as soon as disaster struck - WHY NOT GET HELP FROM THEM? AID only chose to go with people who appease their political ideology - communists.
Having taken this course and defending it, AID officials are duping its volunteers and more importantly its donors.
Back to top   Â
ShailabhNagar
Joined: 16 Feb 2005
Posts: 4
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 4:26 pm  Post subject: Diversions do not help Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whether AID will/wants/should have worked with RSS is completely irrelevant.
The website you cite and the claims you make are all based on the allegation that AID funds DYFI. Are you still sticking to this claim despite the clear denials listed in the AID rebuttal ?
Another interesting aspect of all the allegations is that the people making them choose to remain anonymous. Don't they have enough confidence in their stand that they can clearly state who they are ? Proud_indian is a laughable attempt at not taking taking responsibility for your statements and postings.
Back to top   Â
peace_needed
Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 5
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 4:58 pm  Post subject: Re: Diversions do not help Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Whether AID will/wants/should have worked with RSS is completely irrelevant.
Absolutely NOT. This is, I think, the integral part of the story. AID officials involve in heavy politics at the expense of volunteers and donors - without their knowledge. Poor volunteers have to stick up to their actions even if wrong/doubtful.
How politics one might ask? Just give it a thought, like a child: pure and unbiased.
1) Tsunami strikes
2) NGOs offer help - RSS, DYFI, hindu/christian/Buddhist/Muslim (RSS being the first one on ground zero)
3) Out of all these, AID picks DYFI and SFI.
4) DYFI has a dark and violent history too (as you might claim RSS has).
5) AID could have collaborated with RSS or its affiliates even for a short term.
6) Instead, people who "oppose religion" in general and the RSS are chosen (communists).
7) It has not been made clear why DYFI is in collaboration with only AID.
8] DYFI did most of the 'hands-on' work so why would they even need someone like AID other than for financial help?
9) If DYFI only provides volunteers, where are the funds going?
Bottom line: WHY ONLY DYFI - dont tell me whatever was available was used!!! cause thats a lie.
AID might want to answer some (or all) of these questions to come out clean.
> Another interesting aspect of all the allegations is that the people
> making them choose to remain anonymous.
Name calling is completely irrelevant.
Back to top   Â
ShailabhNagar
Joined: 16 Feb 2005
Posts: 4
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 7:32 pm  Post subject: Bottom line is that peace_needed hasn't read the report Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
peace_needed asks: WHY ONLY DYFI ?
Clearly you haven't fully read even the report which is being used to allege the DYFI funding. Otherwise you would atleast know that AID worked with several organizations on the field. See the last page of
www.aidindia.org/updates/6.html
and you'll see that AID worked with Tamil Nadu Science Forum, Pondicherry Science Forum, Bhoomika Trust, Vidyarambham, Sneha, CSG, Fisherman's Society amongst many others.
I can't help it if your prejudices make you notice only DYFI/SFI.
Please read the reports in full....atleast get your facts right.
Anyway, looks like you've made up your mind what to believe. We can argue for ever - unless you go to Chennai, I won't be able to "prove" to your satisfaction that no money was sent from AID to DYFI (incidentally you stlll haven't answered a simple question whether you still think AID FUNDED DYFI)
And why you continue to mix the AID DYFI issue with RSS beats me.
How would working or not working with RSS make any difference to the alleged wrong done by AID working (not funding) with DYFI ? Suppose AID had worked with RSS...would that make working with DYFI alright ? If yes, then you're effectively saying that RSS is in the same category as DYFI (so some sort of "balance" has been reached). If no, then how is it relevant ? I'm guessing from your attempts to seek AID approval of RSS that you don't think RSS and DYFI are similar. Then tell me again, how does any of that matter ?
Back to top   Â
peace_needed
Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 5
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 9:22 pm  Post subject: Re: Bottom line is that peace_needed hasn't read the report Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> and you'll see that AID worked with Tamil Nadu Science Forum,
> Pondicherry Science Forum, Bhoomika Trust, Vidyarambham, Sneha,
> CSG, Fisherman's Society amongst many others.
These NGOs dont form AID backbone as DYFI does. Listing them just increases the number of NGOs who work with AID and does not quantify who is involved how much.
And mind you, even you have not been to Chennai and seen for yourself where the money is being utilized! You cant argue on that lame point.
Let alone funding DYFI, even being affiliated to political parties like DYFI pose serious questions on AID claim that they are a non-partisan, non-political group.
I am sure DYFI volunteers did what Mr. Balaji says - unparalled work. But even Hamas does some philanthropic work. Does that mean one should get involved with them too? If one does, they are clearly taking political sides.
> How would working or not working with RSS make any difference to
> the alleged wrong done by AID working (not funding) with DYFI?
It does. Thats what matters. Supporting one over the other is getting into politics!!! Thats what I have been trying to say: WHY DYFI? For politics! That AID is not indifferent in choosing NGOs and thus driven by political agendas. That AID chooses not based on work done by them but by their ideology. Again, it goes against their mission statement! I would stand by people who at least stand for what they say.
P.S: I agree that AID did not fund DYFI - as per AID official statement.
Back to top   Â
ShailabhNagar
Joined: 16 Feb 2005
Posts: 4
Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2005 12:23 am  Post subject: From facts to speculation Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm glad atleast peace_needed finally agrees that AID did not fund DYFI. If that central allegation of the website/docs is false, what does it tell you about the rest of the claims ? Go figure. If you're still not convinced, read the rebuttal again.
As for working with Hamas and RSS and whoever else you can think of, I have only this to say. Speculating about what AID would or wouldn't do in a hypothetical situation doesn't have any meaning and indulging in it is a waste of time.
The only thing that matters is what AID has done. All the money collected has been used to help the affected people. None of it has gone to support DYFI. As simple as that.
AID is strongly committed to pluralism, non-violence, democracy and decentralized participative decision-making. So if you don't agree with any of these ideals, we'll just have to agree to disagree and continue working in our own separate ways.
Enough of the facts have come out that people can decide for themselves. I'm sure we both have better things to do so lets end this here.
Back to top   Â
peace_needed
Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 5
Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2005 3:54 am  Post subject: Re: From facts to speculation Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh please, truth is far from being disclosed. A legible reader can only make the following judgement: AID is a communist inspired/assisted organization and associates (if not funds) with other organizations with similar interests. True to its ancestry, it operates in disguise of pluralism, non-violence and democracy. All this at the expense of unsuspected volunteers and donors.
Back to top   Â
proudest_indian
Joined: 31 Jan 2005
Posts: 7
Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 1:54 am  Post subject: Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It appears you are here a Kirankumar Vissa's bidding.
So, this is what many AID volunteers recieved
Quote:
At each chapter, we should make a concerted effort to become members of local listservs of various organizations (student bodies, cultural organizations, places of worship etc). Then we can post positive reports about our work, as well as counter any negative propaganda.
So, AID members have been instructed to join various listservs and groups with an agenda unrelated to the original purposes of the group, that Shailabh is known as *infiltration*.
No wonder AID volunteers are buzzing all around like flies.
Back to top   Â
proudest_indian
Joined: 31 Jan 2005
Posts: 7
Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 2:11 am  Post subject: AID JHU leader calls for the economic boycott of Patels Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is slew of emails (we know where this comes from, don't we Shailabh Nagar ), the posts by SRIRAM ANANTHANARAYANAN have been put in bold.
SRIRAM ANANTHANARAYANAN is leader of AID JHU see http://www.aidprojects.org/projects-view.a...in=guest&id=188
Kaleem Kawaja, the initiator of this exchange is well known for his support to Taliban, in this article
http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/010...200254.htm
where he asks his brother to spare tears for Taliban.
Note the presence of Pakistanis like Ms. Toor in the exchange.
These are kind of people AID guys interact with. People are known by the company they keep.
Of course if you have any doubts about AID's leftisit connections visit
http://www.geocities.com/aid_india_info/AID_DOC.html
Quote:
Kaleem Kawaja
Email : kawaja@worldnet.att.net
Date : Jan 30 , 2004
Friends:
The butcher of Gujarat 2002 Narendra Modi has been invited by the Asian American Hotel Owners of America (AAHOA), an organization comprising mostly of people from the state of Gujarat who own thousands of motels in US, as the chief guest in their convention in March.
It is time for all like-minded Indians regardless of who they are to band together and take concrete action in this regard. The following actions can be taken.
1. Write letters to the US State Deptt requesting that based on his criminal & murderous record he should not be given a visa to visit US.
2. If he receives the said visa, we can group together to hold a massive protest against him when he visits US. When he visited London last year the Indian folks there organized a massive protest.
3. Let us not remain silent. Let us organize.
A few weeks ago I read an article in India Abroad by Prof Jyoti Motwani, a top Indian-American community leader and top leader of Overseas Friends of BJP, in NYC, who justified the killing of 2000 Muslims following the Godhara train burning incident as a "strategic necessity for India".
Kaleem Kawaja
Kaleem Kawaja
Email : kawaja@worldnet.att.net
Date : Feb 16 , 2004
Hello all:
As some of you may have heard, Narendra Modi, the butcher of Gujarat, is likely to visit US to be the chief guest at the AAHOA convention in Ft Lauderdale, FL, on March 24-26. A coalition of several Indian humanitarian organizations is planning to organize a protest campaign against Modi/his party BJP/those who are funding the campaigns of oppression of the minorities and secular folks in India. Part of the campaign is publishing advertisements in US newspapers to inform the US public about how the above culprits have violated the human rights of a segment of the preople of Gujarat and India.
The Coalition needs the support of everyone who believes in the basic humanity of mankind and believes that these human rights violations are awful. You can provide this support in many forms: Contribute financially so that an advertisement can be published in US newspapers; attend the public protest meetings/rallies (date, venue to be announced).
With only 1 month to go time is very short. Some volunteers have started the development of the advertisement. At this time the first and urgent need is to collect donations for the publication of the said advertisement. It will cost quite a few thousand dollars. So your immediate and generous donations are earnestly requested. You may send your donation to the Association of Indian Muslims of America (AIM), one of the members of the above mentioned coalition.
Kindly mail your checks to:
Association of Indian Muslims of America
PO Box 10654, Silver Spring, MD 20914.
Many thanks for your generous help.
Kaleem Kawaja
Name : Nicole Poyyayil
Email : npoyyayil@yahoo.com
Date : Feb 16, 2005
Initiative: No Visa for Modi
Dear Friends
I am very concerned about Modis`visit to the USA. As you are fully aware, AAHOA has invited Modi as the chief guest to the 2005 annual convention which will be held on march 24-26th at Ft.Lauderdale, Florida. I strongly emphasize that all possible actions should be taken to prevent Modi from entering the USA. Therefore it needs immediate actions by all of us. On my part, I have already contacted the US Embassy, where the responsible Mr. Scott Hartmann will act accordingly. As to him, it is very important to provide him with detailed facts and proved reasons why Modi should not get a visa to enter the USA. Beeing a swiss citizen, I am compelled to act through the US Embassy in Switzerland. I am counting on you and hope to get your support for this very important action.
What could you do:
- Please send me a list / summary of detailed facts (incl. sources etc) on Modis criminal actions (past and present).
- Please send me the informations as soon as possible
- You could also submit the informations directly to Mr. Scott Hartmann to the US Embassy. If you wish to do so, this is the addresse: US Embassy, Visa Section, To the Attn. Mr. Scott Hartmann, 3001 Bern, Switzerland.
I strongly believe that any possible actions must be taken and I will definitely do so.
Best wishes
Nicole Poyyayil
Name : Kamala Visweswaran
Email : kvis2001@yahoo.com
Date : Feb 16 , 2005
!PeoplePeoplePeople!
Multitudes, minions, and apparently sleeping masses. Time to do something about Modi's visit.
I am ashamed and embarassed at the relative silence on this list about Modi's visit, and the fact that Muslim and Christian organizations have so far had to take the lead in developing the Modi campaign. This is neither fair, nor tactically sound, given the vulnerability of the Muslim community in the US after 9/11. Secular organizations have to step forward to do the work, planning, and to shoulder responsibility. We need to build a broad coalition fast, which includes POI, CAC, CSFH, YSS, DRUM, Mango Sisters, Sakhi, Manavi, Worker's Awaaz, etc. etc.
We should definitely make all efforts to get his visa denied, but we cannot expect that it will be. We should write editorials and articles. But we need more. I propose:
1) We aim to mobilize 10 busloads of protesters to converge on Ft. Lauderdale March 24-25. Let's organize some freedom rides down the East Coast and into Florida to make M-24 Indian diaspora anti-genocide day. We need to issue a call immediately, rent the buses (maybe ANSWER has some discount rates we can avail of), literature, street theatre, drumming (Raja is hereby nominated) and agit prop. (I will try to mobilize a bus from Texas).
2) We tell AAHOA that if they persist in "honoring" Modi, we are organizing a massive boycott call of all AAHOA owned hotels in the US and Canada. We will take out ads, jam the diaspora list-servs, and show up unannounced at Patel Motels everywhere with signs, stickers, and literature explaining the boycott and listing alternate hotels in the area to be patronized.
I propose we form two commitees to organize each mobilization, and further propose that the East Coast FOILers who are more numerous and have more critical mass TAKE CHARGE NOW. We have 5 weeks to pull off something massive.
Please, people let's have the next slew of e-mails be people signing up to do work on either committee. We can debate the finer points of the mobilizational strategies in the work groups; let's not do it on the listserv.
Kamala
Name : SRIRAM ANANTHANARAYANAN
Email : sriram@jhu.edu
i'm in. particularly with committe number 2. do you have a list of action items? should we start by writing out an appeal of sorts, maybe a letter to send to aahoa bigwigs, and the participants in the trade show? what about letters to the state regarding the visa stuff?
once more people have signed up, maybe we should have a phone conference one of these evenings to thrash out action items.
sri
Name : Kamala Visweswaran
Email : kvis2001@yahoo.com
Hi Sri:
You are hereby nominated to head up the Boycott Committee; thanks. Who else is joining?
Can you come up w/a list of action items, maybe brainstorm w/some Alliance people? Who else is signing up to work on this committee.
Yes, there is a letter being drafted to the AAHOA suggesting that a boycott will happen. It will circulate soon.
Can also get you the membership list of AAHOA id the committee wants to do mailings to them.
Good idea to do a conference call in the next few days to consolidate ideas and strategy.
Kamala
Name : SRIRAM ANANTHANARAYANAN
Email : sriram@jhu.edu
among others, these are some of the action items i could think off
straight away:
1) boycott letter needed.
2) checked the aahoa website (http://www.aahoa.com). i think we should concentrate our emails more on the founding sponsor list (under "allied directory" on the left hand side). these have people from all over the country, and from different companies who can ill-afford bad publicity. this is in direct contrast to the board of directors (out of 9, 8 are patels), the exec committee (out of 10, 9 are patels), and the regional directors (out of 18, 17 are patels). all these can be found under "about aahoa" on left hand side. it is very likely that many of these people are quite entrenched with the sangh's philosophy, else they wouldn't have invited him in the first place.
3) we should consider contacting newspapers (particularly the investigative journalists) in atlanta (aahoa hq) and fort lauderdale (conf venue). there are 5 major newspapers in atlanta and 4 major ones in ft lauderdale. we could use the letter as a template, you know talk of the pogrom that took place in gujarat, the modi-govt's complicity, as well as the support the sangh recieves from expats in the states and request them to do an investigation, and a write-up.
4) we should also i think try and send the letter to managers/employees in the various companies that are there as founding sponsors of the aahoa.
5) maybe think of sending it to investigative journalists in other newspapers as well.
6) send it to hotels that are NOT under the aahoa. if nothing else they would like to help in hurting their competition.
please add more as you see fit. we should probably have a conf call this weekend.
thanks,
sri
Dear Sri:
These items are a terrific start. Am not sure that the other letter will circulate after all, but perhaps it's not bad to have multiple letters to AAHOA.
Great idea to send letter to the sponsors and to non-member hotels of AAHOA.
I think we should also think about what a long term successful boycott would look like. Can we draw up a two year time frame?
I think we may need to do a little research for the longterm:
1) What are the strategies used by other successfu boycotts: i.e. UAW boycott of grapes, GLBT boycott of Coors, etc?
2)How much money do AAHOA hotels make a year? Do they derive any part of their business from Universities, which we use student pressure to boycott? We should research the Ft. Lauderdale hotel/university connections first: if we find a link, we can use that to mobilize students in the area.
3)what percentage of the hotels are roadside POTELS? If we find that a alrge number of them are distributed along interstates, we will need to figure out a way of publicly identifying them.
--Kamala
Saadia Toor
Editor http://ghadar.insaf.net
(Pakistani Activist)
Email : saadiatoor@yahoo.com
may i also suggest that we mobilise support through other, non-south-asian social justice channels? for instance, if we can send a press release or action alert out to indymedia or z-net or something, that will help spread the word, and help in fund raising should we decide to go with any of the crazy ideas i'm about to throw out. i think it's best to have a base of support that is not limited to south asians or people of south asian descent... or at least hope that we can. and maybe this sounds very ambitious or whacky, but what about sending something, a short op-ed piece or a letter to the editor, to _the nation_? also, i think we may need to consider taking ads out in a newspaper or magazine? i have no idea how much buying space on a major newspaper would cost, but if we could manage to pool the resources of all or most of the organisations and groups fighting hindutva in the US, couldn't we manage something? having our message out there in a major newspaper conveys some!
thing about our strength and sends a message to the powers-that-be within the US political scene as well. and as long as i'm throwing out crazy ideas, how much does renting billboards cost? i can get in touch with ad-busters, whose raison d'etre is subversive anti-advertising, for help. we could do posters and flyers (and billboards?) using modi's words and the obnoxious cheery posters of the gujarat tourism board (which hit me as soon as i came out of the international terminal at JFK last year) in which modi invites people to come to gujarat for garba ras!!
saadia
Back to top   Â
peace_needed
Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 5
Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 6:35 am  Post subject: Peoples Science Movements are "AGAINGST RELIGION"! Â
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DYFI activist like Meera Nanda are lobying Peoples Science Movements (PSM) (Heavily funded by AID) to teach anti-religious (in the name of Gandhi - a religious personality) curriculum.
1) "They have to be employed as weapons against religion".
2) "It is important, indeed, not just to address ordinary people and children to motivate them to think scientifically, it is important to challenge the priests, the pandits, the astrologers directly"
3) Exact numbers are simply not available -for no one is keeping count -
but I challenge you: visit ANY modern guru or ashram, be it the
reformist Ramakrishna Mission or a charlatan such as Sai Baba. You will
find well-educated, well-known scientists, with Ph.D.s in advanced
topics in cutting edge sciences drinking in the obscurantism of these
gurus.
4) There was a tradition of Marxist philosophy of science
which emphasized sensory experience and naturalism to question the
soul-stuff. But it died when its major proponent (Debiprasad
Chattopadhyaya) died. Since then, the trend has been in the other
direction:
5) While they are overly eager to demolish the personal
God of Abrahamic faith, Hindu intellectuals have refused to cast a
critical look at the Vedantic conception of God as disembodied
soul-stuff.
It goes on and on.... very upsetting.
Challenging is fine - but AID doesnt make sure that it tells its donors that anti-religion is being tought along with science. Hinduism and science dont disagree with each other (unlike Christianity/Islam). Converesly, the only target is Hinduism!!!
Hail (and fund) the Marxists - Destroy India.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->