India’s Communal Gamble

Removal of minorities names from voters list

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By Zafar Agha

Behold! Another conspiracy is taking shape against Muslims of Uttar Pradesh. News have been received during the last few days from Rampur and many other districts that names of Muslim families are missing in new voter’s lists for the forthcoming elections.

This is a very serious matter because this is not simply a matter of chance but a well planned conspiracy being hatched by BJP and R.SS. Now their tentacles have spread so far that Indian bureaucracy is under their control. Even otherwise news had been making round from 1970’s onwards about Election Commission that election machinery was under their control. Now, most of the staff and managers on election duty are either members of the Sangh group or its sympathizers. In addition to this, members of the Sangh group have penetrated almost every branch of administration, including census department which collects all statistics about the country’s population. Their attitude is such that they visited all other houses of my locality but did not take the trouble of visiting my residence. Obviously they knew that a Muslim family lives there and when that family will not be mentioned in the census list, it is not at all difficult to remove its name from the voters list.

The news regarding Muslim families names missing from voters lists is making rounds in many districts and states for quite some time but these days such news are mostly coming from UP. Obviously, there are two objectives of this strategy. Firstly, the ratio of Muslims population should be reduced in the overall population of the country, and secondly, the names of as many Muslims should be removed from the voters lists as possible.

The most important problem for Sangh group is how to deprive Muslim voters from their voting rights. This is a very serious problem because a common man in this country may very well enjoy many constitutional rights but, in ordinary life he has one important right i.e the right to vote or to elect or remove a government. Now this RSS group, which includes BJP also, wants to deprive Muslims of their voting rights by hatching different types of conspiracies. The names of Muslims occupy the top place in the list containing the names and communities or classes who are prepared to be deprived of their voting rights. Dalits and other backward classes are also targeted for being deprived of their voting rights but for the present Muslims are their main targets for being deprived of voting rights for the UP elections.

The main reason for all this at present is that elections in UP are to be held shortly. The Sangh group feels that the earth is slipping from under the feet of BJP in UP, the most important state of India. The Sangh group, which includes BJP also, is extremely worried lest it may lose UP elections scheduled to be held early next year. And if BJP loses UP, the central government at Delhi will become shaky. This thought is giving them sleepless nights and they are trying their best to somehow or the other make BJP win the UP elections. For this they are prepared to employ any means. The first step in this plot is to somehow eliminate as many names of Muslims, ‘Dalits’ and other backward classes from the voter’s list as possible so that the numbers of these voters, who are generally opposed to BJP etc, may be reduced to the maximum possible extent. In other words, the Sangh in collaboration with BJP have planned to somehow hijack Indian democracy so that the Indian masses may not be able to remove BJP from power through elections.

It should be borne in mind that removal of BJP’s likely opponents from voters list is the first step of their conspiracy. The second stage of this conspiracy is to manipulate Hindu-Muslim tension and possibly organize riots in the states where elections are to be held. For example, preparations are in full swing to create Hindu-Muslim tension in the name of Ram temple. On the occasion of these elections, on one side their strategy is to rouse Hindu emotions in the name of Ram temple and to attract them towards BJP and on the other side, to spread rumour and create tension in and around Muslim localities just a couple of days before election day so that heavy police patrolling could be effected so that many people, specially Muslim bodies, may not dare to step out of their houses for casting absence, BJP supporters may cast their votes in favour of BJP candidates.

Another conspiracy has already been hatched to conceal this conspiracy in a different way. The government of UP has recently announced that Muslim backward classes will also be given reservation out of the quota of other backward classes. Firstly, this is not something new and secondly, a government which wants to destroy mosques and close down ‘madrasas’ on some pretext or the other, how once an expect of such a government to give reservation to Muslims? As a matter of fact the objective of this announcement is that there should at least be some logical reasons or bases to verify the bogus votes to be cast on behalf of Muslims and other backward classes who may not step out of their houses on account of the fear because of heavy police patrolling.

Another important objective of this new reservation policy is that the impression should be propagated through false opinion polls that normally are held and shown on the eve of elections that this time such and such percentage of backward classes of Muslims and other communities are inclined to cast their votes in favour of BJP which is because of the new reservation policy. Subsequently, when the elections are over, it should be shown in bold letters on TV and newspapers that in these elections such-and-such percent of Muslim votes were cast in favour of BJP and in this way BJP got the majority.

But there is no cause for worry. Muslims and other backward classes should carry on agitations along with their leaders for inclusion of their names in the voters list. Fort this purpose they should ‘gherao’ offices of election commissions. Again, the difficulties created on the eve of elections by creating tensions and police’ bandobast’ should be ignored and people should came out fearlessly, including womenfolk, and cast their votes against BJP.

Backward sections of India should remember that they have only one strong weapon at their disposal i.e the weapon of vote which the BJP and Sangh group is trying to grab from them. Educated people should educate the people about these sinister conspiracies. Teachers of institutions like Aligarh Muslim University can play an important role in this movement. These people should remember that if this weapon of vote is taken away from them, they will be destined to lead a life of slavery. (Translated from Urdu) q

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India’s Communal Gamble Dateline Patna

MOSQUE CAPTURED BY YADAVAS

By Syed Mohammad Iqbal

Bihar, where the ruling Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) leaders swear by their concern for the cause of minorities, increasing cases of encroachment upon their religious places have caused resentment among a good number of Muslims in and around the state capital. The latest update has come from the Danapur subdivision, where the chief minister Rabri Devi`s caste men Yadavas have forcibly turned a mosque at Maner some 25 km from capital Patna into a cowshed after driving away the mosque`s caretaker .

The mosque, one of the oldest in Maner is being used by Yadvas as a cowshed, making it difficult for the Muslims to offer prayers there. When the caretaker of the mosque protested the nefarious move, he was threatened with riots, says an aggrieved Muslim of Maner. It is also alleged that the place is also being used for gambling and prostitution. The graveyard at Maner also seems to be in the process of being encroached upon.

A statue of late Congress MP Ramnagina Singh, has been installed on the graveyard land, which has aroused Muslim suspicions about the motive of late Singh`s followers. Yet another plot of graveyard land, situated on the outskirts of Maner has also been encroached, with a cinema hall having come up on the land nearby, to the anguish of Muslims.Though the matter is now in the court, the state government`s silence from the very beginning has disheartened liberal circles and the minorities of the Yadav-dominated Danapur subdivision.

Incidentally, a similar case of encroachment upon Qabristan land was reported from Fatuha, 30 km east of Patna a few years ago. Several missives were sent to the district administration seeking its intervention to free the graveyard but to no avail. Here it may be recalled that the RJD supremo Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar, now Union Railway Minister, had together sat on dharna at Fatuha demanding immediate removal of encroachments from the graveyard. However, the same Mr Yadav maintained stoic silence on the issue when he had become the chief minister of the state later.

Mr Irshad Ahmad, general secretary of the Bihar Pradesh Muslim Conference at that time held the state government in general and Laloo Prasad Yadav in particular responsible for the wanton acts of yadavas during the last few years. He regretted that despite complaints lodged with the police station concerned, no step was taken to free the religious shrines. Mr Ahmad disclosed that the Bihar Pradesh Muslim Conference had drawn the attention of Mr Yadav during Iftar party in 1996 towards the forcible occupation of mosques, particularly in Maner, Fatuha and Patna city areas of the district.

However, he kept mum on the issue. Interestingly

Mr Ahmad alleged that Muslim ministers of RJD

government too preferred to remain silent. Another Muslim leader, who did not wish to be quoted, rued that while the RJD government talks about Muslim welfare and their leaders love to shout the slogan of M-Y combination, the Yadavas had launched a campaign of sorts to defile the holy places of Muslims. Many of the 40 mosques in the urban and semi-urban areas of the district are silent witnesses to encroachments by Yadavas and were being used as cowsheds.

Muslim leaders threatened to hold public shows throughout the state of video films on the mosques if the RJD government continues to ignore their religious feelings. Senior Janta Dal leader and former minister of state for finance, Faiyaz Bhagalpuri, meanwhile, has threatened to launch an agitation if the encroachments were not removed from the Muslims holy places soon. Mr Jawed a dynamic worker of RJD said that even for Mukhia election which was held recently only Muslims cast their votes to Yadavas but Yadavas never cast their votes to any Muslim candidate. They openly used to say that we never cast our vote to any community. q

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India’s Communal Gamble

The Anti-Muslim Circular issued by the Indian Union

Indian Express, Wednesday, March 1, 2000



Anti-Muslim circular is not just for prisoners of the past

ARUNA CHAKRAVORTY

FEBRUARY 29: The circular is apparent in its violation of the Constitutional rights of equality guaranteed to every citizen of the country, irrespective of religion, colour, caste, sex and place of birth. But it survived 40 years of active implementation. It is only now that the 1960 circular issued by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Prisons (Maharashtra), blatantly differentiating between Muslim and non-Muslim prisoners, is being challenged in the Bombay High Court.

Interestingly also, the circular challenged by the prisoner-petitioner Hemant Janardan Kantak was chanced upon by his advocates when collecting papers for the petition. Though the circular does not bear directly on his case, it is being challenged simply because of the prima facie violation of the Constitution.

Finding it ``on the face of it, arbitrary and discriminatory``, Justice T K Chandrashekhar Das today directed the chief secretary of the state to file an affidavit on it within two weeks.

The circular, based on a letter issued by the then DIG (Prisons) on October 1, 1960 deals with the surety amount to be paid by prisoners released for their furlough leave (a short leave of around 14 days mandatorily allowed to them during the time they are serving term in prison). It instructs the superintendents of all prisons to ``obtain a surety bond for the amount of Rs

100 from the relatives of non-Muslim prisoners



and a surety bond for Rs 1,000 in respect of



uslim prisoners.`` The letter, however, adds that the IG (Inspector General) can increase the amount of surety to be taken on individual cases on their merits in respect of ``non-Muslim prisoners`` only.

The challenge to the circular is a part of a criminal writ petition filed by advocate Arfan Sait for his client, Kantak where Kantak -- sentenced to five years` severe imprisonment under section 3 of the TADA Act along with Section 25 of the Arms Act 25, serving sentence in the Nasik prison -- has been asked to furnish a personal bond of Rs 100 as well as two sureties of Rs 5,000 each from two relatives before going on his leave.

Arguing on his behalf, counsel for the petitioner, advocate N N Gavankar, has contended that for a short furlough leave of 14 days, a surety bond of Rs 10,000 is exorbitant and harsh. He has also argued there is no provision in the prison manual prescribing the value or amount of surety for the petitioner, and it is only on the basis of this circular that the surety amounts are being decided.

However, while this aspect of the petition remained inconclusive, the arguments against the circular that it was discriminating on the basis of religion and was thus violative of Article 15, met with instant response. Justice Das in his order noted that the circular was ``on the face of it, arbitrary and discriminatory``. The judge noted that the discrimination was ``quite startling and hits at the very roots of the concept of secularism promised in the Constitution of India.``

While the question to be asked is how the circular survived these 40 years, the bench directed the chief secretary of the state to file an affidavit in two weeks on the matter. The next hearing will take place after three weeks on March 21, 2000.

Reporting on Afghanistan Afghans in my experience ARE NOT the dummest ppl. i have seen.Then why do they occupy such unenvieable position of all groups.If its the 80s war with Russian,followed by another 10 yrs of civil wars ,Still what about before 20yrs ago .Again was it not the Afghan ppls. duty to make there life better after driving out Russian

Being martial is good but being ONLY martial is only good when you have perpetual war .But now prolonged war is not ,seen as a survival part rather harbringer of death by economic collapse.

Whether it is starvation ,diseases,clothing housing ,jobs,no country either Iran or India Or U.S.A can provide solution more than short term relief.

I have seen Afghan in U.S. Joffry of Jaffry Ballet,many Afghans rich in busines ,auto shops, etc. In India also fruit merchants in Mumai ,& much better than many local people.So you have need to tighten your belt ,you have talented ppl. healthy & hardy,.Of course after this bombing & osama -Omer chase ends ,whenever ,Looks like if by mid nov 2001,that is beginning of Ramadan ,if not caught ,Osama bin laden & Omer , will have enjoyable Ramadan & Eid in Dec2001 ,for then itS not going to happen till 2002 --Happy new year, Eid , & Ramadan

A Time for Renewal

Sux Sena,

You like a nutritionist expert (WHICH YOU ARE NOT) was trying to lay on AnNy ,the guilt of having to do favour ,to the millions of displaced families ove 2 decades (NO AMERICAN INTERFERENCE IN AFGHANISTAN DIDNT STAT IN OCY2001 BUT 1980)

Just as you advised us to take the issue with lousy news paper NYT,i will ask you take your issue with much nobler body than dirty plitical gossip of NYT.DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS and there recommendations given below!

Doctors Without Borders Denounces U.S. Food Drops

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By Robert James Parson, Reuters, 10 October 2001

GENEVA (Reuters Health) - At the same time Sunday that the US announced it had begun bombing Afghanistan, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld repeatedly stated that along with bombs the US was dropping food for the innocent whose supplies might be cut off because of the raids.

Jean-Herve Bradol, president of the non-governmental organization Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF, or Doctors Without Borders), sees it from another angle. For him, the food drops are a public relations move, and a very bad one at that.

While people within the Bush administration have been quick to point out that given the gravity of the situation anything is better than nothing, Bradol disagrees. ``In such circumstances,`` he told Reuters Health from Islamabad, ``you try to reach the most vulnerable. This is totally uncoordinated with no preparation, it`s expensive, the most needy won`t necessarily get any, much will be wasted, and worse, food dropped like that in the middle of the night may well end up in minefields.``

In its 2001 annual report, Landmine Monitor, published last month, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines--of which Human Rights Watch is a major participant--noted that 724 million square meters of land in Afghanistan is mine contaminated, making it possibly the most mined country in the world. Given the great movements of populations arising from 22 years of war, 3 years of drought and now the bombings, aid agencies differ on what this means, but a figure often advanced is that it translates into 27 persons per day becoming landmine victims.

Christiane Berthiaume, spokesperson for the World Food Programme (WFP), which has been the main food relief agency in the region and has been planning for its own substantial food drops, stressed the importance of good advance work for food drops to be worthwhile. ``They require much planning and days of preparation to arrange the right circumstances,`` she told Reuters Health.

MSF`s Bradol decried so much publicity for an effort she said was likely to have little effect. ``The US dropped 37,500 daily ration units during each of two nights, with no precise idea of where they went nor who might collect them, and there are 8 or 10 million people to feed.``

The greatest danger, however, according to Bradol, is that the planes dropping the bombs are now dropping food, which creates the image of humanitarian aid coming from the attackers. ``There is already much anti-Western feeling in that part of the world,`` he told Reuters Health, ``and there`s a tendency to lump together all Westerners, all aid agencies, the UN, etc. We do not want to be perceived as a part of the US military campaign.``

Other non-governmental organizations share this view but have been loath to speak out for fear of being sidelined by the US as its actions more and more dominate the situation. Although UN agencies such as the WFP and UNICEF have so far been silent, UN officials have said, off the record, that some sort of common stance on the question is being worked out. Following the first night of bombings, in Quetta, Pakistan, near the Afghanistan border, the UNHCR`s building was pelted with stones and UNICEF`s was set on fire.

A Time for Renewal

HINDIAN GENES CAUSE EARLY ONSET (69)SENILE DEMENTIA

Naipaul calls Taliban a vermin, favours its ouster







ONDON: Nobel literature Prize winner V S Naipaul has described Afghanistan`s Taliban militia as `vermin` and said it must be overthrown.

In an interview published in The Sunday Telegraph, the writer of Indian descent expressed his contempt for the Muslim fundamentalists who have brought terror and misery to Afghanistan`s 23 million-strong population.

Naipaul who is one of the foremost British writers of the 20th century, has raked up a controversy in the past with his critical writings about Islam, but, until now, has refused to talk publicly about the war in Afghanistan.

This weekend, however, while visiting the Cheltenham Festival of Literature, which he is attending with his Pakistani wife, he broke his silence when asked about his views on the Taliban government.

``They are absolute vermin,`` said Naipaul`s wife Nadira Khannum Alvi and Naipaul agreed with her assessment. ``I think they are as awful as they appear,`` he said.

When Naipaul was asked whether he believed that the overthrow of the Taliban government should be a war aim of America, Britain and their allies, Alvi intervened again and said: ``absolutely.``

Once again, Sir Naipaul agreed. ``I hope so,`` he said, adding ``I think there should be a profounder aim: They should stick to this idea which they announced at the beginning of getting rid of terrorism generally.``

( PTI )

A Time for Renewal Oct-13-01 22:43:5 EST Reply #: 142

Gowardhan

Sharia giving all the power to women makes proud debut in another part of ummah

Nigeria ready to stone its first woman to death. She is pregnant.



GOBAR,

There are 40 million Sex workers in Infdia

5 laks of bride burning through oput India in 5 years

20 million foeticides of female foetus in 5-10 yrs after ILLEGAL USE of gender identifications by ultra sound

Woman beaten to death by husband

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HT Correspondent

(New Delhi, )

AFTER YEARS of harassment for dowry, a young woman was beaten to death by her husband at her house in Narela, North West Delhi yesterday. The incident occurred in the presence of her elderly in-laws who did not step forward to help her. North-West district police have arrested the victim`s husband Balwan, his father Dulichand and uncle Ramkrishan. The 20 year-old victim`s younger sister Anju saw her brother-in-law physically assaulting Manju in his room. When she attempted to intervene, she was shoved aside and Balwan shut the door of his bedroom on her face. During the next 60 minutes, Manju`s pleas of mercy fell on deaf ears while her sister pounded helplessly at the locked door. The incident occurred at 5 pm yesterday. anju had been married to Balwan, who has been in cable business for four years. Both sisters had been married into the family in the same year. ``Apparently, Manju had been harassed for dowry over this period. There were allegations of continuous demands for money by Balwan`s family,`` said R P Upadhyaya, DCP North-West. Last evening, Manju had just returned home from her father`s house when her husband Balwan, accosted her. According to the police, Balwan had asked his wife to bring a specified sum from her house. However, Manju could not comply with Balwan`s demands completely and brought a lesser amount. Enraged over this, Balwan picked up a fight with his wife and soon the matter came to blows. As Manju screamed in terror, her sister Anju came rushing out of her own room and asked Balwan to stop. ``She even attempted to intervene, but Balwan shoved her aside and she sustained bruises in the process,`` said Mr Upadhayaya.

Whitman’s World

Round up

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Eklavia,Dost Mitter,Shammi,Zafar,Jawahra,Farzana ,for Harbouring pro-ak sentiments.

Pro-Pak rallies get opposition`s goat

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TIMES NEWS NETWORK



UMBAI: The opposition Shiv Sena-BJP alliance plans to launch a campaign to counter ``pro-Pakistani`` elements in the state.

``Public demonstrations pledging support to Pakistan were recently held in Jalgaon, Dhule and other places. The demonstrators were seen carrying Pakistan`s flags. The Democratic Front (DF) government in the state has turned a Nelson`s eye to such brazen display of anti-India feelings. If such public displays continue, the Sena-BJP activists will come out on the streets. The government will be solely responsible for the consequences thereof,`` senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde said on Thursday.

Leader of the opposition Narayan Rane promptly endorsed Mr Munde`s idea and said, ``The Sena-BJP stir will reflect the popular ire, not only against terrorism but also against those who pledge support to terrorism``. Mr Rane and Mr Munde addressed a joint press conference at Vidhan Bhavan.

``An all-party meeting held recently in New Delhi decided to observe Anti-terrorism Day all over the country. However, the DF governemnt did not allow us to torch an effigy of terrorism in Mumbai. On the other hand, pro-Pakistani demonstrations are being held with impunity. This is serious,`` said Mr Munde. ``Aamhaala mukabala karavaa laagel (We will have to retaliate)``, he added.

Mr Rane and Mr Munde came down heavily on the Congress-led DF government, which will complete its two years in office on October 19, for its ``overall failure``.

Lamenting that the state had lost its number one position, in terms of industrial growth, to Gujarat, Mr Rane said Crisil had, in its latest report, rated Maharashtra as B-B.

``It is matter of shame that the government should curtail the state`s annual plan outlay from Rs 12,161 crore (during 1999, the Sena-BJP`s last year in office) to Rs 10,854 crore. There ought not to have been even a rupee`s cut in the plan outlay. Contrast this with the finance minister`s statement, made on the floor of the legislative assembly, that Maharashtra`s revenue had gone up by Rs 8,000 crore. Where, then, has the money gone?`` asked Mr Rane, adding, ``The farmers, farm labourers and industrial workers are ekeing out a meagre existence. The state government employees will not get their Diwali bonus. There is widespread scarcity and load-shedding. This government is a nightmare``.

Pointing out that as many as 36 communal riots had rocked the state during the two-year DF rule, Mr Rane said the state government was creating more problems than it had resolved.

Mr Munde demanded a white paper on the state of power generation in Maharashtra in view of the threat of electricity shortage. ``By next year, Maharashtra`s electricity shortage will go up from the present 1800 MW to 2500 MW. The state electricity board, on the other hand, has been spreading disinformation that Maharashtra has enough power. But rural areas have a four-hour load-shedding, while in urban pockets there is no power for at least two hours every day. What are the facts? A detailed white paper should tell us the truth.``

Mr Munde cited the rise in water tax, power tariff and house tax as three failures of the DF government. ``The social welfare and nutrition schemes are in a state of shambles as the aid doesn`t reach the beneficiaries,`` Mr Munde said, adding, ``In ineptitude the DF government seems to have taken a cue from the Mohammad Tughlaq`s regime``.

Whitman’s World

Round up

* * * * * * * * *

Eklavia,Dost Mitter,Shammi,Zafar,Jawahra,Farzana ,for Harbouring pro-ak sentiments.

Pro-Pak rallies get opposition`s goat

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *



TIMES NEWS NETWORK



UMBAI: The opposition Shiv Sena-BJP alliance plans to launch a campaign to counter ``pro-Pakistani`` elements in the state.

``Public demonstrations pledging support to Pakistan were recently held in Jalgaon, Dhule and other places. The demonstrators were seen carrying Pakistan`s flags. The Democratic Front (DF) government in the state has turned a Nelson`s eye to such brazen display of anti-India feelings. If such public displays continue, the Sena-BJP activists will come out on the streets. The government will be solely responsible for the consequences thereof,`` senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde said on Thursday.

Leader of the opposition Narayan Rane promptly endorsed Mr Munde`s idea and said, ``The Sena-BJP stir will reflect the popular ire, not only against terrorism but also against those who pledge support to terrorism``. Mr Rane and Mr Munde addressed a joint press conference at Vidhan Bhavan.

``An all-party meeting held recently in New Delhi decided to observe Anti-terrorism Day all over the country. However, the DF governemnt did not allow us to torch an effigy of terrorism in Mumbai. On the other hand, pro-Pakistani demonstrations are being held with impunity. This is serious,`` said Mr Munde. ``Aamhaala mukabala karavaa laagel (We will have to retaliate)``, he added.

Mr Rane and Mr Munde came down heavily on the Congress-led DF government, which will complete its two years in office on October 19, for its ``overall failure``.

Lamenting that the state had lost its number one position, in terms of industrial growth, to Gujarat, Mr Rane said Crisil had, in its latest report, rated Maharashtra as B-B.

``It is matter of shame that the government should curtail the state`s annual plan outlay from Rs 12,161 crore (during 1999, the Sena-BJP`s last year in office) to Rs 10,854 crore. There ought not to have been even a rupee`s cut in the plan outlay. Contrast this with the finance minister`s statement, made on the floor of the legislative assembly, that Maharashtra`s revenue had gone up by Rs 8,000 crore. Where, then, has the money gone?`` asked Mr Rane, adding, ``The farmers, farm labourers and industrial workers are ekeing out a meagre existence. The state government employees will not get their Diwali bonus. There is widespread scarcity and load-shedding. This government is a nightmare``.

Pointing out that as many as 36 communal riots had rocked the state during the two-year DF rule, Mr Rane said the state government was creating more problems than it had resolved.

Mr Munde demanded a white paper on the state of power generation in Maharashtra in view of the threat of electricity shortage. ``By next year, Maharashtra`s electricity shortage will go up from the present 1800 MW to 2500 MW. The state electricity board, on the other hand, has been spreading disinformation that Maharashtra has enough power. But rural areas have a four-hour load-shedding, while in urban pockets there is no power for at least two hours every day. What are the facts? A detailed white paper should tell us the truth.``

Mr Munde cited the rise in water tax, power tariff and house tax as three failures of the DF government. ``The social welfare and nutrition schemes are in a state of shambles as the aid doesn`t reach the beneficiaries,`` Mr Munde said, adding, ``In ineptitude the DF government seems to have taken a cue from the Mohammad Tughlaq`s regime``.

Military Action Begins in Afghanistan The CPM.which rules 2 large states like KERALA & W.Bengal & CPI with its spread out M.P. s from diverse states have always had brain to stand upto America both in 70s against Vetnam & through out loose cannon policy of America.Even if it doesnt matter internationally due to SOLD out Foreign poicy of proverbial dumb north Indian `satu khor` HIndian,less intelligent & straight jacket persons of Sangh Parivar & And its Limlings following coalition smaller parties!!

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 09, 2001

THE TIMES OF INDIA



Left opposes US action, Congress plays safe



TIMES NEWS NETWORK



EW DELHI: The Left parties have cautioned the government against joining the attack launched by the US and its NATO allies on Afghanistan. ``Such a step would have dangerous consequences for our region and for national sovereignty,`` the four Left parties said in a joint statement on Monday.

The CPM, CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc gave a call for a joint campaign to protest against the ``unilateral war`` and directed their units to organise demonstrations on October 12 all over the country.

``By launching a full-scale war against Afghanistan, the main sufferers will be the people of that country,`` the four parties said, claiming that any action against the suspected terrorist elements should have been under the aegis of the UN and on the basis of international law.

An ambivalent Congress responded cautiously. Not wanting to antagonise the US, it did not oppose the war but expressed sympathy for the ``innocent citizens of Afghanistan``. It also urged the NDA government to use this opportunity to ensure that India`s concerns were addressed adequately, and noted that it had failed to pursue India`s case vigorously.

``If this is to be a global effort, all those spots which are suffering from terrorism need to be addressed, and Jammu and Kashmir is one of them,`` party spokesperson Jaipal Reddy said. The Congress statement ``noted with sadness that Afghanistan has once again been pushed into the trauma of war`` and regretted that the Taliban had not been responsive to the world concerns against wanton terrorism and violence.

It reiterated support for a global alliance against terrorism, but said, ``We are still to see a satisfactory global coalition that addressed concerns and interests of India.`` It was pointed out that India had been a long-suffering target of cross-border terrorism, and the people expected the government to strive more vigorously to end it.

BJP president Jana Krishnamurthy said he did not expect the military operations in Afghanistan to have any fallout on India, as he hoped it would be a short, limited action. ``What concerns us more,`` he said, ``are incidents such as the attack on the Jammu and Kashmir assembly. And chief minister Farooq Abdullah rightly said his patience was running out.`` He also repeated that India must look for a solution to the Kashmir problem on its own, and not expect help from any other country to check terrorism there.

Appealing to the Congress and the opposition not to undermine the government at a difficult time, he said the BJP stood solidly behind the government. ``If any opposition leader wants any clarifications from the government, he is welcome to meet the PM,`` he said.

Violent Changes

A World Upside Down

IS THIS THE KIND OF TECHNO REVOLUTION INDIANS TALK ABOUT.??

http://in.news.yahoo.com/011005/57/1631z.html

Friday October 5, 2:27 PM

10,500 engg flunkeys want to be promoted

OVER 75 per cent of first-year engineering students who failed are demanding promotion to the second year, alleging that they had very little time to prepare for the final examination.

Around 10,500 students out of 14,500 who gave their first-year engineering exams, failed when the results were declared on September 28. The rest have passed on to the second year with a maximum of six ATKTs (allowed to keep term) as per Mumbai University rule. Till last year, the pass percentage was between 50 and 60 per cent.

Students say they had as little as a two-day gap between the first-term ATKT examination and second semester examination. First-year students have eight papers each in the first and second semesters. While colleges began only in November end, 2000, first semester exams were held in February 2001. Those who failed appeared for the ATKT exams from June 10 to June 27, 2001. The second semester examinations began three days later, on June 30.

Said a student from Bharatiya Vidyapeeth College, Navi Mumbai, who failed in nine papers, “Earlier, there was a gap of at least 15 days between two semester examinations. This time, we didn’t get preparation time.” Students complained the exams were held in a hurry due to the delay in admissions. “This year, first-year engineering students started class in September; we started two months later and by February, we had our exams,’’ said a student of Father Agnel Engineering College, Vashi.

Students are also upset that the syllabus for first-year students changed this year. While the old course has 16 subjects, the new course will offer 10 subjects. “We are not sure if we will have to appear for the old or new course,’’ said a student of the Bharatiya Vidyapeeth College.

Said the principal of an engineering college, “This year, the number of students in the second year is less than last year. Not many could manage to keep up to six ATKTs and go into the second year.”

In certain cases, students had already enrolled in classes for the second year, hoping they would get promoted. Said a student, “When students of second- and third-year engineering get promoted irrespective of the number of subjects they fail in, why should there be a different rule for us?”

Dean of the engineering faculty Dr P V Parameswaran said, “The students have been allowed six ATKTs. All they needed to do was to study five subjects per semester. Can’t they do that much? There is no point in carrying too many subjects into the second year.”

He admitted that the preparation time was less but said he would provide enough time for the students to prepare for their ATKTs. “They have time till December to study,” he said.

A World Upside Down

What did Kalam expect U.S.A. should give him the blue print of NASA,or the technology of guided Missile so that like in other cases they can just change the label to ``MADE IN INMDIA`` like the fake song by Alicia Chiffon!!:-))

http://in.news.yahoo.com/011005/43/1635k.html

http://in.news.yahoo.com/011005/43/1635k.html

Friday October 5, 3:16 PM

U.S. sanctions on strategic sectors still valid: Kalam

By Rezaul H. Laskar, Indo-Asian News Service

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New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) The U.S. waiver of sanctions imposed on India in the wake of its 1998 nuclear tests does not extend to strategic sectors like defence and space research, noted scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has said.

Noting that U.S. technology denial regimes would continue to affect strategic research and development activities, Kalam, who is scientific advisor to the prime minister, called for strengthening of efforts to achieve self-reliance in space and defence technologies.

``U.S. sanctions have not been removed from strategic items in space and defence (research),`` Kalam, often referred to as the ``father of the Indian missile programme,`` said in the course of a public lecture late Thursday. ``But we have successfully combated such sanctions since 1998.``

U.S. President George W. Bush last week waived sanctions imposed by the U.S. Congress on India and Pakistan in the wake of their nuclear tests, saying the measures were not ``in the national security interests of the United States.``

The announcement, made October 23, came in the wake of U.S. efforts to hunt down Afghanistan-based terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, who Washington believes is responsible for the terror attacks in New York and Washington, with the help of Pakistan and other countries.

``Agni is the power of the nation,`` said Kalam, referring to the successful development and test firing of the nuclear-capable Agni-II intermediate range ballistic missile. ``Every one of us has to become an Agni to make our country strong.``

Several laboratories and establishments of India`s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Department of Atomic Energy and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) continue to be on the U.S. list of entities that cannot import American goods and technologies.

Most of these establishments are engaged in missile and nuclear weapons research. They include the Bharat Dynamics Limited, Missile Research and Development Complex, Indira Gandhi Atomic Research Centre, all Indian nuclear reactors and several ISRO facilities.

U.S. officials have said they are taking action to remove 51 Indian establishments from the entities list. Among these entities are the Avadi Heavy Vehicle Factory, Combat Vehicle Research and Development Establishment and several ordnance factories.

``We must cut the umbilical cord of dependence (on Western nations) in key areas,`` said Kalam, who spearheaded several programmes to develop indigenous technologies for the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) and the Light Combat Aircraft programme during his tenure as DRDO chief.

The LCA has completed several phases of tests after flying for the first time in January this year. The Agni-II, the most sophisticated of the missiles developed under the IGMDP, is slated to enter service with the Indian armed forces early next year. It has a range of about 2,500 km and can carry a one-tonne warhead.

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A World Upside Down #43

Layman

Its time for class,get in & unbecome from naive LAYMAN to Informed Layman!!

US to ensure political stability in Pakistan: Armitage

WASHINGTON, October 05 (PNS): U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard

Armitage has said that his country would not put much burden on Pakistan

during the on-going anti-terrorism campaign in order to ensure political

stability.

http://www.paknews.org/main.php?id=3&date1=2001-10-05

A World Upside Down





It’s criminal — women just aren’t safe

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

DILNAZ BOGA

TIMES NEWS NETWORK



12-year-old girl is beaten to pulp by her father. A woman suffers 70 per cent burns and lives to testify that she was being harassed for dowry by her husband. Another woman is stabbed to death with a kitchen knife by her husband who suspects her of having an affair with their 17-year-old son.

Crimes against women are rising with sickening consistency. Factors like low conviction rates and long trials ensure that not only is justice delayed, in many cases it’s also denied. Recently, the National Crime Record Bureau released its report for 1999 on Crimes in India.

Of all offenses registered nationally under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), only 77.8 per cent were investigated, 78 per cent led to chargesheets, 15.8 per cent went to trial and only 39.6 per cent resulted in conviction. 30 per cent of the cases are still pending, coupled with a disposal rate of only 10,000 per year. Overall reporting of crimes has increased by 0.8 per cent from last year.

According to the report, Delhi reported the highest crime rate of 2.4 per cent, while crimes against women have increased by 3.3 per cent nationally with the highest incidence in Uttar Pradesh. Also, cases of foeticide increased by 60 per cent, according to the Lawyers Collective (July 2001).

“But statistics are not what one should go by,” says Senior Inspector Shirish Inamdar, Social Service Branch, Mumbai. “Women are illtreated in every other household. Most of them don’t even know their rights. We get 10,000 grievances a year. Of these, it is impossible to say how many are registered and how many are reported. What we do here is present the woman with various options.”

“What is even more important are the causes behind these crimes. Domestic violence, molestation, rape have their roots in societal problems,” says Inamdar. “We have fantastic ideas about marriage, thanks to films. In addition, if things don’t go as per our plans, we are not mature enough to take it in our stride. Young girls are coerced into marriage after completing their education. They are viewed as liabilities by their families. This feeling of disposal of liability should be erased as it creates an inferiority complex among young women. Other factors like segregation of boys and girls from a tender age increases their curiosity. This hampers their ability to judge each other effectively. Also, a majority of people operate with double standards.”

He explains with an example, “Parents pamper their daughters, but when it comes to the daughter-in-law, the noose is tightened. The mother-in-law can chat with her daughter on the phone for hours, but if the daughter-in-law calls her mother, then there is a lot of taunting. This shows lack of maturity.”

Inamdar adds, “Similarly, a pampered girl will not be able to adjust to harsh treatment from her in-laws. This is where tension is created and the husband has to take sides. After the situation reaches breakpoint, the girl leaves the house and expects her parents to fight for her. Unfortunately, the in-laws fight and the problems of the couple take the backseat.”

Inamdar complains, “Women are hesitant to file complaints because they are worried about what others will say. That question should not even be considered. These are barriers that stand in the way of timely recourse that could have been taken to save the marriage.”

Commenting on the issue of sensitivity training for cops, Inamdar says, “Sensitivity must be inculcated in the form of social sciences at an early age. A day spent at a sensitivity workshop is an exercise in futility. Society should be made to realise its inadequacies.”

Inamdar also stresses the fact that women should be aware of not only their rights, but also the recourses they can take. NGOs and advocates, instead of helping the couple to stay together, increase marital rifts by contorting facts to support the legal case, he says.

dilnazboga@indiatimes.com

A World Upside Down





It’s criminal — women just aren’t safe

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

DILNAZ BOGA

TIMES NEWS NETWORK



12-year-old girl is beaten to pulp by her father. A woman suffers 70 per cent burns and lives to testify that she was being harassed for dowry by her husband. Another woman is stabbed to death with a kitchen knife by her husband who suspects her of having an affair with their 17-year-old son.

Crimes against women are rising with sickening consistency. Factors like low conviction rates and long trials ensure that not only is justice delayed, in many cases it’s also denied. Recently, the National Crime Record Bureau released its report for 1999 on Crimes in India.

Of all offenses registered nationally under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), only 77.8 per cent were investigated, 78 per cent led to chargesheets, 15.8 per cent went to trial and only 39.6 per cent resulted in conviction. 30 per cent of the cases are still pending, coupled with a disposal rate of only 10,000 per year. Overall reporting of crimes has increased by 0.8 per cent from last year.

According to the report, Delhi reported the highest crime rate of 2.4 per cent, while crimes against women have increased by 3.3 per cent nationally with the highest incidence in Uttar Pradesh. Also, cases of foeticide increased by 60 per cent, according to the Lawyers Collective (July 2001).

“But statistics are not what one should go by,” says Senior Inspector Shirish Inamdar, Social Service Branch, Mumbai. “Women are illtreated in every other household. Most of them don’t even know their rights. We get 10,000 grievances a year. Of these, it is impossible to say how many are registered and how many are reported. What we do here is present the woman with various options.”

“What is even more important are the causes behind these crimes. Domestic violence, molestation, rape have their roots in societal problems,” says Inamdar. “We have fantastic ideas about marriage, thanks to films. In addition, if things don’t go as per our plans, we are not mature enough to take it in our stride. Young girls are coerced into marriage after completing their education. They are viewed as liabilities by their families. This feeling of disposal of liability should be erased as it creates an inferiority complex among young women. Other factors like segregation of boys and girls from a tender age increases their curiosity. This hampers their ability to judge each other effectively. Also, a majority of people operate with double standards.”

He explains with an example, “Parents pamper their daughters, but when it comes to the daughter-in-law, the noose is tightened. The mother-in-law can chat with her daughter on the phone for hours, but if the daughter-in-law calls her mother, then there is a lot of taunting. This shows lack of maturity.”

Inamdar adds, “Similarly, a pampered girl will not be able to adjust to harsh treatment from her in-laws. This is where tension is created and the husband has to take sides. After the situation reaches breakpoint, the girl leaves the house and expects her parents to fight for her. Unfortunately, the in-laws fight and the problems of the couple take the backseat.”

Inamdar complains, “Women are hesitant to file complaints because they are worried about what others will say. That question should not even be considered. These are barriers that stand in the way of timely recourse that could have been taken to save the marriage.”

Commenting on the issue of sensitivity training for cops, Inamdar says, “Sensitivity must be inculcated in the form of social sciences at an early age. A day spent at a sensitivity workshop is an exercise in futility. Society should be made to realise its inadequacies.”

Inamdar also stresses the fact that women should be aware of not only their rights, but also the recourses they can take. NGOs and advocates, instead of helping the couple to stay together, increase marital rifts by contorting facts to support the legal case, he says.

dilnazboga@indiatimes.com