Orissa violence national shame: PM

New Delhi, Aug 28:
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday termed the violence against Christians in Orissa as a “national shame” and assured leaders of the community that compensation would be paid to the affected families.

A group of Christian leaders met Manmohan Singh to seek his intervention in the ongoing violence against Christians in the state, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) spokesman Father Babu Joseph said.

He quoted the Prime Minister as describing the riots in Orissa as “a national shame”.

Christian leaders also said that Manmohan Singh assured them that the families of those who lost their life would be given compensation of Rs.300,000 from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

CBCI along with other Christian organisations announced that 40,000 Christian schools and colleges would remain shut Friday to “protest the violence against their community”.

Meanwhile, Manmohan Singh spoke to Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and asked him to take immediate steps to stop the violence and restore normalcy, a statement from the Prime Minister's office said.

“A delegation of Catholic Bishops Conference of India along with Archbishop of Delhi met the prime minister and apprised him of the recent situation in Orissa. The PM mentioned that the central government was in touch with the state government and every effort would be made to restore normalcy in the state,” the statement said.

“The PM later spoke to the chief minister of Orissa and requested him to take immediate steps in this direction. He also advised the chief minister to provide immediate relief to the affected people, particularly children,” it added.

Meanwhile, the Italian government has expressed its concern to the Indian mission in Rome over the violence against Christians in Orissa.

Foreign Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee discussed the issue with Nalin Surie, secretary ministry of external affairs (West).

-IANS

Your comment(s) on this article

Dear Prime Minister, It is a greater national shame that we give the right to Christian missionaries to go about telling poor and innocent tribals to renounce their ancestral religion in exchange for a few crumbs of bread? - K.Venugopal - Mumbai
Killing of Hindus is not a national shame, they are pigs , anybody can kill them , then the government will not react. what about bomb blasts and hindus killed , then why we do not call it a National shame. Hamare desh ke politicans hamare kaum ka beda gar kar rehe hai - Great Admirer - Gurgaon
Muthu you are absolutely right. His Congress Party was responsible for 1984 riots where so many innocent peolple were killed. It seems this pm is gutless and scared of his boss that she might throw him out. That is why he has to suck her day and night to keep her happy. Enjoy Mr. PM while you are in the power. - Kapil - Canada

Dalai Lama admitted in Mumbai hospital

Dalai Lama admitted in Mumbai hospital

Mumbai, Aug 28: Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama was today admitted to Lilavati Hospital here for treatment of abdominal discomfort. The 73-year-old Nobel laureate will undergo investigations tomorrow, the hospital's spokesperson Mohan Rajan told agencies. "There was no cause for concern," he said. The Dalai Lama was brought to the hospital in a chartered flight this evening and was admitted as he was suffering from abdominal discomfort, Rajan said. He is under the treatment of Narendra Trivedi, who is also the Vice-President of the private hospital, Rajan said. Earlier this month, the Dalai Lama had come to the hospital for a routine medical check up, hospital sources said. Bureau Report Your comment(s) on this article Wishing H.H. The Dalai Lama speedy recovery. - K.Venugopal - Mumbai

Amarnath row: UN demands “independent investigation"

United Nations, Aug 28:

Voicing concern over civilian casualties during protests over Amarnath land transfer issue in Jammu and Kashmir, the UN has asked India to conduct "a thorough and independent investigation" into the incident.

In its first comment since demonstrations began, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights also asked Indian authorities, to "respect the right to freedom of assembly and expression" and "comply with international human rights principles in controlling protests."

The use of force, it said, should be proportionate to the threat posed and firearms should only be used in dispersing a violent assembly to protect individuals against imminent threat of death or serious injury.

Calling on the demonstrators to use only peaceful means, OCHCR said, "leaders of the different protesting groups have a responsibility to ensure that demonstrations are peaceful and that the demonstrators are not carrying sticks, guns or other weapons and refrain from intimidation."

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has so far not commented on the situation and his spokespersons have refrained from making any comment, mostly saying that they have nothing to say.

Bureau Report


The UN and the whole world must be told that all violence is on account of Muslims of Kashmir indulging in anti-India activities, including opposition to Hindu pilgrims being given facilities to worship at Amarnath shrine in Kashmir. - K.Venugopal - Mumbai

Pope firmly condemns violence in Orissa

Agence France-Presse

Wednesday, August 27, 2008, (Vatican City)

Pope “firmly condemns” violence in Orissa

Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday "firmly condemned" the violence in Orissa and called upon Indian religious and civil authorities "to work together to restore peaceful co-existence and harmony between the different religious communities."

"I learnt with great sorrow the information concerning the violence against the Christian community in Orissa which broke out after the reprehensible assassination of the Hindu leader, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati," he said.

"Until now several people have been killed and many others wounded," he said. "Several places of worship belonging to the church and private properties have been destroyed."

"While firmly condemning the attacks on human lives, whose sacred character must be respected by all, I extend my spiritual comfort and solidarity to the monks and nuns who have been put through such a difficult test," he said.

Dear Pope, Please understand that Jesus is not the only saviour. Hindus have been saving themselves through their own saviours long before Jesus was born and would continue to have no dearth of saviours without any help from Jesus. All Christian conversion attempts must be to convert paid members of organized religions like Christianity into spiritual beings - akin to what Jesus actually was. Not into Pope-clones seeking to increase the organization's membership.

`Curfew in Kashmir was a clear message that enough is enough`

New Delhi, Aug 25: The Centre on Monday said the curfew in the Kashmir valley was imposed to send a clear message to the separatists that "enough is enough" and such kind of processions would not be allowed.

This was stated by Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta during a briefing of reporters here on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Enough is enough. Things can't go like this way. There was no logic in their (separatist) programme today," Gupta said.

Asked as to why these kind of processions were allowed earlier, Gupta, while making it clear that the matter was a state subject, said, "one becomes wiser by hindsight."

While speaking on the day's development in the state, he said, "militants had also fired at the security forces during the protests."

"Empty AK-47 cartridge was recovered after a crowd was dispersed in Beerwah (Budgam district)," he said adding that it implied that militants were in the crowd.

He tried to draw a parallel with the killing of Sheikh Aziz, a Hurriyat leader, during a procession fortnight ago.

However, the Home Secretary said no need arose for conducting a postmortem on his body as the crowd carried the body and kept it in Jama Masjid before being buried in Pampore on August 12.

"Investigations are on in this case," he said, four days after National Security Advisor M K Narayanan had told the Union Cabinet that Aziz was killed neither by a police nor an army bullet.

Bureau Report


Your comment(s) on this article

Sheikh Aziz was killed by agent provocateurs of Pakistan to cause a conflagration in Kashmir. - K.Venugopal - Mumbai

Zardari cites Indian model for PPP-led govt

New York, Aug 24:

Citing the India model where the Congress-led UPA government is close to finishing its tenure, PPP Chairman Asif Ali Zardari has said that his party-headed dispensation in Pakistan is "stable enough" to last for five years amid a deepening rift with the key ally PML-N. "The people in the West have little experience with coalition governments, but if you look at the Indian model, you will find that there are (17) parties today in coalition in India. With four or five parties, we can manage" to complete the tenure," Zardari told Newsweek magazine in an interview. His remarks came as the crisis in the ruling coalition reached its boiling point with the PPP refusing to comply with the PML-N demand on reinstating the sacked judges. The PML-N has also conditioned its support to Zardari's candidature for Presidency with reinstatement of the deposed judges. "The government is stable enough to last for five years," Zardari told the magazine in reply to a question. "...We are not even worried about a new election. If there is a fresh election, everybody will participate, and if another party is more popular than the PPP, they have a right to govern. And if they can't, we will come back," he said. Bureau Report

Your comment(s) on this article

Zardari has no business in seeking to become the President. He has to form a coalition with Sharif, with the position of PM alternating, as experimented in India. The one-upmanship game will result in politicking and not government. - K.Venugopal - Mumbai

SASS, Govt to work out peace draft

Zeenews Bureau Jammu, Aug 23:

In a possible breakthrough, the Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti (SASS) and the four-member panel set up by Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra to resolve the Amarnath land row are reported to have agreed on a compromise formula. After two rounds of talks, sources said that it has been agreed to allow the Amarnath Shrine Board to use the controversial 100-acre land in Baltal for three months, during which the Holy Yatra will be held. After two rounds of talks between the SASS and Governor’s panel held in the morning and the afternoon, sources said that it has been agreed to allow the Amarnath Shrine Board to use the controversial 100-acre land in Baltal for three months, during which the Holy Yatra will be held. Sources further said that both the Governor’s panel and SASS are framing a draft which will be approved by the 21-member Samiti spearheading the campaign in Jammu. It is also believed that an agreement on the reconstitution of the Amarnath Shrine Board has been reached, with security during the pilgrimage to be managed by the state. The two rounds of talks held today were the first between the SASS and the government since the agitation in Jammu began nearly two months ago, following the cancellation of the order transferring 40 hectares of land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB). Earlier in the day SASS members said that they were hopeful of a "positive outcome". During the first round of talks in the morning, the government had put forward a proposal which Samiti had agreed to consider and revert back. "We hope that some positive results will come out," Suchet Singh, leader of the SASS said after the talks aimed at ending the nearly two-month-long violent agitation that has paralysed normal life and sparked a counter movement in the state. Between the two rounds of talks today, SASS representatives who met the Governor’s panel held talks with the rest of the Samiti members to apprise them of the government’s proposal. The four-member panel had arrived here from Srinagar yesterday after the Samiti on Aug 19 agreed to hold talks with it, days after it spurned a similar offer for negotiations. A five-point agenda had been set for the talks in the invitation sent from Raj Bhawan to the Samiti which included reconstitution of the SASB, fleshing out, in appropriate details, the role and duties of the board, assessment of the total requirement of land by the Board and working out an arrangement for use of 100 acres of land at Baltal-Domail with the board during the period of yatra. Curfew lifted Curfew has meanwhile been lifted from Jammu and Samba districts with improvement in situation and ahead of the Janmashtami festival. However, curfew remained clamped for the second day on the border town of Hiranagar, while it was relaxed in Kishtwar town for six hours. Curfew was imposed in Hiranagar yesterday after protesters turned violent and torched a truck parked in the police station complex following the arrest of a youth. Six persons were injured as police fired tear gas shells and cane charged the protesters who forcibly released the youth from the police station. Army had conducted flag marches in the town yesterday. Day and night curfew has been lifted in Jammu and Samba districts, while only day curfew has been lifted in Udhampur town from 05:00 hours to 22:00 hours to facilitate people to celebrate 'Janmastami'. Centre for give and take formula Home Minister Shivraj Patil has said that the government was seeking a give and take formula that would satisfy both people in Jammu as well as Kashmir regions. He said the crisis related to "emotions" and expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved in a "very short time". "When matters are related to the emotions of the people, we should try to solve them as quickly as possible. I think we will be able to solve this matter in a very short time," he said in an interview. When emphasised that the issue has to be resolved somehow and "there has to be some give and take", the minister said "that is exactly what we are trying to do. And we would like to accept a formula which is acceptable to both, people living in Jammu and the people in Kashmir." Strike in Kashmir Meanwhile, life in Kashmir Valley was paralysed today following a three-day shutdown called by separatists, with protests being staged in some areas. The valley wore a deserted look as both public and private transport kept off the roads. Business establishments, markets, government offices, educational institutions, banks and other semi-government organisations remained closed in Srinagar and elsewhere in the Valley, officials said. There was no report of untoward incident from any part of Kashmir, they said. However, small groups of people assembled at various places across the Valley and raised "pro-freedom" slogans. The biggest gathering was at Anantnag town followed by smaller groups at Rambagh and Bemina in the city. Protests were also held at Iqbal Park, Magarmal Bagh, Hyderpora, Bagh-e-Mehtab and other areas of the city. A group of protesters carrying green and black flags went around Srinagar city on motorcycles and scooters raising slogans against BJP and Shiv Sena. The Coordination Committee -- an amalgam of separatist outfits -- yesterday revived its agitation, sparked by the Amarnath land row, asking people in the Valley to observe a three-day shutdown from today to press for "right to self determination". It also demanded a dialogue involving India, Pakistan and representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to resolve the Kashmir issue. Protests against the "economic blockade" of the Valley by SASS in Jammu began on August 7, leading to call by separatists for march to Muzaffarabad. As many as 22 persons including senior Hurriyat Conference leader Shiekh Abdul Aziz were killed in violence in three days from August 11. Kashmir has been by and large peaceful since August 15.

Your comment(s) on this article
Every inch of land in India belongs to every single Indian. This is the principle of nationalism. Partition may have happened once but it will never be repeated. The spirit of nationalism in India has become strong enough to ensure that. If Kashmir wants independence in the name of Allah, India will retain Kashmir in the name of Baba Amarnath. - K.Venugopal - Mumbai

in friday regligous gathering at eidgah which was later termed as kashmri sepratist show of strength also hailed Lashkar-E-toiba, raised pro pakisani slogan and shouhted praises for LeT militant outfits and whom PDP is calling criminals when they have 1000s of tranined militants in their own backyard, LeT, HM, JKLF, JeM, are common name in the streets of kashmir, Mast gul saludin, yasim malik, azar masod, bin laden, bitta karate are real life heros. mehbobba family traded 11 militants for their daughter in 1991, and gave shelter to militants who attcked akshardhan... can someone let this women to shut up.. or has al the men died in kashmir... why they allow this woman without burkha...... - Vikrant Dogra - Jammu
History shows that the whole of South Asia was Hindu land. But converted people carved it away and all still bussy doing this, in kashmir and elsewhere. - Kalawati -

http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?redirectpage=a&aid=463879&sid=nat

`Relocate Nano plant to Maharashtra`

Zeenews Bureau Mumbai, Aug 23:

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Saturday invited Tatas to set up their plant for manufacturing Rs 1 lakh car Nano in Maharashtra. "The Tatas will be accorded red carpet welcome to set up the project in Maharashtra and will be given land and necessary facilities," Deshmukh said in a statement here today. The invitation came a day after Tata Motors chairman Ratan Tata threatened to pull out of West Bengal if the violence and agitations against the project continued in Singur. Orissa CM Naveen Patnaik also reportedly said that he was ready to consider if Tata Motors approaches his government to relocate the plant in the state. A frustrated Ratan Tata yesterday said that they will have no other option but to relocate the Nano plant if the violence and agitations continue in Singur. Tata put the ball into the WB government’s court by making it absolutely clear that the company is not afraid of moving out of Singur even if it meant huge loses. “It’s impossible to work in such a situation; we don’t want to work in an area where we are unwanted,” said the man who had shocked the world with his Rs 1 lakh beauty ‘Nano’. A visibly disturbed Tata told reporters on the sidelines of Tata Tea's AGM that Rs 1500 crore of investments had already been made in the project. "It is not a hypocritical investment. Whatever be the cost, we will move out if the situation so demands. If anyone thinks we will not exit Singur because huge investments, they are wrong. We cannot compromise the safety of our men,” he asserted. Tata however, didn’t elaborate on whether the company would be able to meet the October deadline; he only said, "It is our desire to do so." But considering the time that it will take to relocate, it seems highly unlikely that the Nano can roll out at the onset of festival season.

Mamata Banerjee is short-sighted and stubborn. When she was with NDA, she threw tantrums for getting the Railway Ministry and when she finally got it, she did not prove to be great shakes. With people like her as the Marxists main opposition, do they need allies? - K.Venugopal - Mumbai

Sangh violence

By KA Shaji
09 August, 2008Countercurrents.org
The Sangh Parivar's attempts to wrest control of Kerala's Left bastion, Kodungallur, is threatening to undo the town's historic legacy of communal harmony.
Kodungallur Is an ancient seat of tolerance and communal amity. This coastal town in central Kerala, with a sizable population of upper caste Hindus, was supposedly where St. Thomas — one among the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ — landed in AD 52 to preach Christianity, and was welcomed by the locals. Later, the port town reaffirmed its faith in the harmonious co-existence of religions when its popular king Cheraman Perumal embraced Islam and went to Mecca for Haj. Even the unique taste of the presiding deity at the ancient Devi temple here caused no communal disturbances. Interestingly, the goddess likes risqué talk, sexual humour and sexually explicit songs. During the annual Bharani festival in April-May, devotees throng the temple and sing ribald songs to the deity. Despite these unusual circumstances, there has been no record of minority communities living close to the temple finding fault with the centuries-old tradition.
However, the situation is different now. Hindutva forces are now trying their best to get control of the temple and sow seeds of intolerance and animosity among different religious and social groups in Kodungallur municipality and its adjoining panchayat areas. The temple administration has been threatened against leasing out land to Muslim and Christian traders to put up stalls during the annual festival. For the last 10 years, lumpen elements of the Sangh Parivar have been forcibly removing the stalls of people from other religions during the annual festival. During the last Christmas season, the Sangh Parivar had enforced an eccentric and illegal ban: no trader near the temple was permitted to sell Christmas stars made out of glittering paper. These stars are traditionally displayed in front of homes to celebrate the arrival of the festival. Whenever India wins cricket matches against Pakistan, the Sangh Parivar uses that opportunity to hold mammoth anti-Muslim rallies. Muslim members of the CPM and its youth organisation Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) are often dubbed agents of the Muslim extremist organisation National Development Front (NDF).
KODUNGALLUR IS rapidly turning into a Hindutva lab. The BJP-RSS are determined to tear apart its rich legacy of communal harmony and social solidarity. "We will not allow them to implement their communal agenda here,'' says MB Rajesh, state president of DYFI. But Kodungallur is turning into a new flashpoint for CPM-BJP clashes, second only to the volatile Kannur district. With the CPM and DYFI coming out in support of the minority communities and declaring an ideological war against the Sangh Parivar's hate campaign, Parivar forces started engaging in murder politics. In the first week of July, DYFI area vice-president, Karekkattu Biju was allegedly stabbed to death by BJP-RSS men. The murder was followed by a three-day hartal and widespread destruction of property belonging to followers of the Sangh groups. Shops, houses and vehicles of innocent people were attacked; even pedestrians were not spared. Paramilitary forces have been deployed and an eerie silence prevails in Kodungallur.
"Both the BJP-RSS and CPM are equally responsible for the destruction. The police inaction in arresting the real culprits is equally condemnable,'' says Oommen Chandy, Kerala's Opposition leader and top Congress man.
"The CPM never abetted violence. We were just attempting to ideologically fight their hate campaign. Four DYFI activists were killed here in the recent past for fighting the communal agenda of the BJP-RSS,'' said Rajesh. He also said that his outfit was against murder politics but would not hesitate to give a fitting reply to unprovoked assaults.
Local BJP leader PK Sreekumar goes back to the 80s to trace the origin of murder politics in the region. "A young RSS leader named Satheesan was brutally killed in the beginning of the 80s by CPM-DYFI goondas. They were worried over his ability to win over youth to the RSS fold. The prevailing tension is a sequel to that,'' he said. According to him, another RSS worker was killed last year by DYFI activists without any major provocation. "The violence will stop once the CPM recognises our right to hold shakhas and conduct everyday political activity,'' he says. He remained silent when the long gap between the murder of Satheesan in the early 80s and those of 2008 was pointed out. Sreekumar also had no reply when asked about those who killed the four DYFI activists.
The CPM camp says Biju was a clean and honest political activist who never engaged in any violence. "The targeting of people with no criminal background shows the cruel mind of the BJP-RSS men. We are in the process of uniting all like-minded forces to fight their agenda,'' said CPM's local leader MA Vijayan.
"In the past, bloodletting in Kodungallur was limited only to the sacrifice of cocks as part of temple rituals. Though blood and belief blends in symbiosis during the Bharani festival, murders are quite new to the region,'' says TN Joy, a Kodungallur-based human rights activist.
According to him, the volatile situation emerged last year with the advent of a powerful local BJP leader — even his detractors are afraid to name him — who considered muscle power the best way to ensure growth for the party. His first agenda was to take control of the temple. First, he took the contract for conducting fireworks during festivals. "The revenue ranges between Rs 75 lakh and Rs 1 crore while the expense would only come to around Rs 17 lakh,'' informs Joy. The leader then took control of the right to allocate space for advertisements during festivals. He gets at least Rs 2 crore from this business.
"That leader is behind all the existing problems here. 'Groupism' and other internal problems made the CPM's ranks ineffective in the last three years. The BJP leader used that period to consolidate his position,'' says K Venu, former Naxalite leader and independent thinker.
Local journalists are also under threat. A passing reference to the criminal past of a BJP leader in an article resulted in the brutal manhandling of Kerala Kaumudi reporter KM Mithran. The house of Somasundaran, the owner of a local evening newspaper, was damaged in response to a series of articles against BJP-RSS activists.
"Only the CPM and DYFI are fighting the Sangh Parivar agenda in Kodungallur now. That is why their activists are getting killed. It is the duty of all secular and democratic forces to fight the communalists' agenda of segregation in Kodungallur using all democratic means,'' exhorts Venu.
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RSS is widespread in India but why only in Kerala is RSS accused of violence?

http://www.countercurrents.org/shaji090808.htm

Bombay HC suggests Ambani brothers to talk it out

Mumbai, Aug 21:

Saying that dispute between Mukesh Ambani-led RIL and Anil Ambani-led RNRL over gas supply from Krishna-Godavari basin might "affect the economy", the Bombay High Court on Thursday suggested that the warring brothers go back to their mother Kokilaben and settle the dispute. "Why can't the two brothers go back to the mother and discuss?" said Justice J N Patel. While Anil's lawyer welcomed the idea, RIL lawyers said they will get instructions from Mukesh's side. A division bench of Justices J N Patel and K K Tated is hearing case between RIL and RNRL over Gas Supply Master Agreement (GSMA) pertaining to supply of natural gas from RIL's Krishna Godavari reserves to RNRL's power plants. Earlier, a single judge of High Court has asked the parties to renegotiate the disputed GSMA but it did not work out. However, Justice Patel today said "no amount of litigation would put an end to the dispute" and suggested that perhaps both the brothers can sit together with their mother and find a solution. "If these two big industries keep fighting, it may affect the economy," the judge said. RNRL's lawyer Mukesh Rohatgi said "he (Anil) is ready to meet Mukesh anytime, any place." RIL lawyer Milind Sathe said he would seek instruction but said that despite the earlier judge's direction to sit together and renegotiate GSMA, it did not happen. "That was the end of the matter". GSMA was drafted following demerger of RIL following which whereby Anil Ambani got control of Reliance Natural Resources Ltd.


I think it is frivolous on the part of Bombay High Court to suggest 'Mummy's solution' in the case between the Ambani brothers before them. Both the brothers are running highly professional companies. Injecting an element of personal relationship may be good from the human resources point of view, but a court is supposed to judge any case on merits, based purely on facts and circumstances.

Thrissur boils; 1 hacked, hartal declared

Thrissur boils; 1 hacked, hartal declared

Thrissur, Thursday, August 21, 2008: A RSS worker who was admitted to hospital after he was hacked near Pavaratti in Thrissur today morning succumbed to injuries just a while before. The dead has been identified as a Baiju who was an auto driver, soon after that in retaliation two other NDF workers were hacked by unknown assailants. RSS workers alleged that NDF workers were behind the political killing.
VHP has called for a hartal in Thrissur tomorrow.
One Response to “Thrissur boils; 1 hacked, hartal declared”
Rakhi on August 21st, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Violence, Violence and Violence only??What is happening to Gods Own Country??When will be free from these idiot politics

K.Venugopal on August 21st, 2008 at 9:53 pm Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Whether in Kashmir or Kerala, Hindus are on the receiving end because they are not united. Beware of the moment when Hindus say in unison, “Enough is enough”.

http://keralaonline.com/news/thrissur-on-the-boil-1hacked-hartal-declared_2026.html#comment-91

Naik clarifies beggar remarks, refuses to apologise

Goa Home Minister Ravi Naik has refused to apologise for his alleged remarks on beggars, which created a storm in Bihar, saying his utterances were "misunderstood"."I never said that Biharis are beggars. While referring to the rail link from Patna, I said usually beggars from other states come here by train. I did not mean that Biharis are beggars," Naik on Wednesday said after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar demanded an apology from him."So, why should I apologise when I did not hurt Biharis?" he said.The Home Minister had on Tuesday in the Legislative Assembly had said that the proposed Patna-Vasco train would increase the number of beggars in the costal state. The House was discussing the increasing number of beggars in the state and means to control them.Naik said Union Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav called him up on Wednesday morning to seek details on his statement."Lalu Prasad Yadav had called me and was asking about the reported statement. I told him that the statement was not anti-Bihari and was misunderstood by the media," Naik said.


Every text has to be taken in its context. Since according to him beggars come to Goa by trains, what's the big deal about them coming in by a particular train from Bihar? All sorts of people come and go by trains. Therefore speaking in the context of this particular train, he has in effect called its potential passengers beggars and by extension, non-Goans beggars. He must have spoken out his contempt for people of other states. Such a person is not fit to hold public office as an Indian. He must be sacked, an apology is not good enough.

Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus from Aug 21

Srinagar, Aug 19:

The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, a symbol of peace and friendship between India and Pakistan, suspended last week due to violent protests over the Amarnath land row in Kashmir valley, will resume on August 21. "The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service will resume on Thursday to clear backlog of passengers," Regional Passport Officer B L Manavalan told media. He said the fortnightly bus service would also ply on on August 28 as per schedule. The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus, which runs a distance of 170 kms, was officially launched on April seven, 2005.The idea was inspired by the success of the Delhi-Lahore bus service which was established in 1999 as well as other cross-border initiatives such as the Samjhauta Express. The Indian government has proposed increasing the frequency of the bus service to weekly instead of fortnightly. Bureau Report

Your comment(s) on this article
How about making it a one-way bus service to Muzaffarabad, carrying Mr. Geelani, Mulayam, Laloo, Arundhati Roy and their ilk? - K.Venugopal - Mumbai
It is very strange that at the time when the sepratists are raising slongs openly that they are pakistani and are burning indian flags in the full public view and had already demanded to open Muzzafarbad road so that they can go to pak, but the goverment in order to take action against such extremists, who unfurled pakistani flags on 15th aug in lal Chownk openly is fulfiling their anti-national demands, but the Jammuties who are continously demanding for the restoration of land To SASB are still treated as useless as they are protesting peacefully with Indian flags in their hands, it would be better that they people under the Banner of SAYSS should be hoist Pakistani flags in Jammu also, then only the centre goverment would hear their voice. - vikas - Jammu city
Aman Bhai - Itene Khanjer peeth pe mare haien - Abhi koi gale bhi lagaye to Ankhe sar ke piche se khulti hain. Kaya koi pharak ade ga?? Dosti Dosti kahte hamko kamjoor samjan lage hain- Dausti do tarfa hoti hai. hamare apke kahne se kya hota hai. Niyat hai to dunya o dikhlayen- Tab maane. - Jai - India

J-K Crisis: Centre, state war of words begins

CNN-IBN
Published on Wed, Aug 13, 2008 at 13:59, Updated at Wed, Aug 13, 2008 in Nation section

New Delhi: After 48 hours of violence, there are some signs of peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
In Srinagar, curfew has been relaxed till 2 pm to allow people to buy necessary household items. Curfew has also been relaxed in Jammu city, Udhampur and Samba for varying periods.
In Kishtwar city in Doda district though, shoot-at-sight orders have been issued after communal clashes on Tuesday claimed two lives and injured over 30 people. Additional contingents of CRPF and Army have been deployed in the city.
Hurriyat has called for peaceful protests till August 15 but in a contradictory move, one of its leaders, People's Conference chairman Sajjad Lone, made another provocative comment. He said that the issue was no more about Amarnath, but about resolving the Kashmir dispute.
Look, I'll be very honest with you. If you want the real and honest analysis it is that the Amarnath issue has been left far behind. You have to understand that you are not dealing with a normal state. You call it sensitive, this is a disputed state. There are CBM's and talks with Pakistan. The Amarnath dimension is very irrelevant now. What solution are we talking about?" Lone told CNN-IBN.

However, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi shot back at the regional parties in the Valley saying they themselves triggered police action and that they were the ones responsible for communalising the situation.
Meanwhile, the Centre is looking increasingly helpless to find a durable solution.
Home Minister Shivraj Patil has submitted his report on the situation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday, but sources have told CNN-IBN that no breakthrough has emerged yet.
From Across The Border
Not losing an opportunity to capitalise on the situation was the voice from across the border. Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf voiced his concern over the escalating violence in the state.
He said Pakistanis are committed to providing diplomatic, political, and moral support to the cause of the Kashmiri people.
Musharraf called for a negotiated settlement of the Kashmir issue that would be acceptable to Pakistan, India and "most importantly the Kashmiri people" for lasting peace in South Asia.
Jammu Vs Kashmir
For the last two months, both regions have been locked in unparalleled strife along communal lines over the transfer and subsequent revocation of 40 hectares of land in north Kashmir to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) that manages the pilgrimage to the shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva.
This burning issue has set off an inexorable wave of protests, shutdowns and violence first in the Kashmir Valley, then in Jammu -- and now back in the Valley - paralysing the state.


The current agitations in J&K began with the Government decision to allot 100 acres of land to Amarnath shrine and the subsequent rescinding of the order. While the people in Jammu (of all religious persuasion) are agitating for re-allotment of the land to the shrine, apart from other perceived grouses, the Muslims of Kashmir have reignited their long running agenda of secession from the Indian union. They have, in the name of economic blockade of the Kashmir, latched on to the demand of opening the road to Muzzafarpur as the first step to unfold their renewed secession scheme. The Centre should forthwith intervene and allot the land to the Amarnath shrine. This will ensure that the agitation in Jammu is called off and only Kashmir will have to be tackled. No doubt Kashmir will erupt over the allotment, but the problem will be confined to Kashmir, which, as it is, is already on the course to secession. This has to be dealt with an iron hand. Moreover, opening the road to Muzzafarpur is an international issue between India and Pakistan and India has to calibrate its decision based on its relationship with Pakistan, which at the moment is not very savoury. If the Governor is unwilling to return the land to Amarnath shrine, economic blockade of Kashmir has to be resorted to.

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/jk-crisis-centre-state-war-of-words-begins/71095-3.html

Chiranjeevi apologises to Rajasekhar and his family

Hyderabad: Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi apologised to actor Rajasekhar and his family members after his fans attacked them on Monday.
Chiranjeevi went to Rajasekhar's house and met him and his family members, hours after they were attacked by fans in the heart of the city to protest some remarks made by Rajasekhar.
Strongly condemning the attack, the superstar tendered an apology before media persons. "You are my brother. Please forgive me," Chiranjeevi said holding Rajasekhar's hand.
"It is very unfortunate. In a democracy, one has every right to express his opinion and one can react but not in a violent way," he said.
Rajasekhar’s car was attacked in Panjagutta in the heart of the city when he was going home from the railway station.
The actor, his wife Jeevita and their two teenaged daughters received minor injuries and the windowpane of the car was smashed during the assault.
Rajasekhar had said on Sunday that he would not join the political party to be floated by Chiranjeevi, as the latter had no political experience.
"I am feeling very sad that Rajasekhar, Jeevita and their daughters were attacked. They (fans) have acted like rowdies. They should keep in mind that I also go out with my children," Chiranjeevi said.
"Rajasekhar expressed his personal views. My fans might have felt hurt over what he said but they should not have resorted to physical attack," said Chiranjeevi.
"My fans have not acted at my behest. This is not in my nature," added Chiranjeevi in an obvious reference to the allegation by Rajasekhar and his wife that he was behind the attack.
Panjagutta police registered a case on a complaint by Jeevita, a former actress. She alleged that four cars chased them and attacked their vehicle.
"They threw stones and chased us. They wanted to kill us. Anything could have happened," said Jeevita.
Following the incident, the police stepped up security at Rajasekhar's house. The actor appealed to Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy to provide security to him and his family members.
Angered by Rajasekhar's comments, Chiranjeevi's fans also staged demonstrations against the former in other parts of the state. Protests were also held at Guntur and Vijayawada as the fans demanded an apology.
Popular actor and former MP Mohan Babu and other film personalities also condemned the attack on Rajasekhar.

It is unfortunate that Chiranjeevi should have had to start his political career with an apology. Maybe he should have first schooled his fans about his political ambitions and sought to instill discipline in them. It is obvious that he did not seek to organize and educate his ready-made base of fan clubs before aspiring to contribute to the state politically.

Shabana's comments unfair, says BJP

NDTV

The BJP on Sunday lashed out at film-actress-turned-social activist Shabana Azmi, for accusing Indian polity of being unfair to Muslims, and termed her comments as "uncharitable and irresponsible'". At a news conference in Bangalore, senior party leader M Venkaiah Naidu termed Shabana's remarks "very, very unfair and uncharitable comment against the nation and the majority community".He stressed that Muslims are safe and secure in India than any other country in the world.In a television programme, Shabana had accused the Indian polity of being unfair to Muslims, making only "token gestures", instead of addressing the real issues.Naidu said that Muslims have went on to occupy high positions in India, including President of the country, Chief Justices of Supreme Court and captain of Indian cricket team, and noted that 'Khans are ruling the Bollywood' with people appreciating their work."Nowhere in the world, minorities get such importance than in India", he said.Dismissing her comments as an "irresponsible statement, that would send wrong signals", Naidu said: "This is the mindset that has to change".

The problem with the Muslims is that they expect to be treated specially. This is a hangover from the Mughal times when they were ruling the country and were its first citizens (with Hindus having to pay Jazzia and all that). Whatever problems the Muslim masses have today are common to the problems the rest of Indian masses have. They are problems relating largely to economic deprivation. Greater transparency in governance alone would ensure an equitable society where the benefits of economic prosperity would trickle down to the weakest of the weak in society. Muslims must treat religion as a personal affair and seek to see themselves socially as and indivisible part of the Indian society.

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080061904

SIMI behind Ahmedabad serial blasts, mastermind caught: Gujarat Police

Zeenews Bureau Ahmedabad, Aug 16:

The Gujarat police on Saturday confirmed that they have arrested the mastermind behind the July 26 Ahmedabad serial blasts. Addressing a press conference in Ahmedabad, state DGP P C Pandey said that the mastermind – Mufti Abu Bashir, a SIMI activist – was arrested on Saturday morning in Uttar Pradesh’s capital, Lucknow. Apart from Abu Bashir, who hails from Azamgarh, nine other SIMI activists have been arrested in connection with the serial blasts in Ahmedabad and the planting of live bombs in Surat. Bashir has been sent on a 3 day transit remand. He will be taken to Gujarat via a special plane and handed over to the Gujarat police for questioning. The UP police has also conducted raids on Bashir’s house on Saturday. Meanwhile, a Special CBI court in Lucknow today has sent Abu Bashir to three day transit remand. The DGP also said that the Indian Mujahidden terror group, which had claimed responsibility for the Ahmedabad blasts, was none other than the hard-line faction of the banned SIMI organisation. The police said that SIMI junked the Indian part of its name so that it became SIM, ‘Student Islamic Movement’ with global aspirations. It later took out the ‘Student’ from its name so that it was left with ‘IM,’ which was re-christened in ‘Indian Mujahideen.’ Pandey told mediapersons here that the Ahmedabad crime branch and the state Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), along with local intelligence units, had "nearly solved" the serial bombings in Ahmedabad as well as about 11-12 others including those in Jaipur, Bangalore, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. The conspiracy About 40-50 cadres of the banned organisation had participated in extensive training in the jungles of Kerala. They were trained in Jungle warfare, rock climbing, swimming etc, the police said. He further added that prior to the Ahmedabad and Surat blasts, Abu Bashir organised camps in Gujarat during April 2008 where they charted out the plan of Ahmedabad and Surat blasts. A meeting was held at the house of Yunus Mansuri in Bapunagar area of the city to plan the blasts, Bhatia said. They had purchased five pre-paid mobile cards for internal communications and they were traced after checking the records. It was found that the calls which were coming to these five cards had stopped after July 26, the day of the blasts. Bhatia also said police have indentified the shops from where the cycles used in the blasts were purchased. Explosives for the blasts came from Madhya Pradesh, Bhatia said. "Those arrested were present during a training camp organised by SIMI in Halol in Vadodara distrct in January 2008. They were given training on how to survive in adverse conditions and were trained how to tackle police interrogation," Bhatia said. "They were also taught how to drive motorcycle and fake an accident during the camp," Bhatia said. Those arrested include Jahid Sheikh, Yunus Mansuri, Shamsudin Sheikh, Arif Kadri, Gyasuddin, Imran, Usman Agarbattiwala, Iqbal Sheikh and Sajid Mansuri. Without ruling out the involvement of locals, he said that a lot of outsiders were involved in the blasts. He also claimed to have busted many sleeper cells of the banned SIMI across the state. In an eye raising discloser, the DGP said that most of the arrested were well educated. One terrorist, who hails from Mumbai, even worked in Wipro, said the police. But he was not able to provide other concrete details, as the person was still at large. According to the DGP, SIMI had a role in all the major blasts that shook the country in the past few years, including in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jaipur, Maharashtra and Hyderabad. The Gujarat police has leads which will lead them to those behind the blasts in other states, he added. According to Pandey, live bombs found in Surat failed to go off due to faulty chips. Ruing the media’s role during the terrorist attacks, Pandey said, “It is very unfortunate that media sometimes over excitedly and unknowingly project things in such a way that helps terrorists and gives them boost. Sometimes Police do not divulge things that will affect the investigation.” Brain mapping on Bilal : Mumbai ATS chief Meanwhile, addressing a press conference, Mumbai ATS chief Hemant Karkare said that the organisation is also conducting a parallel investigation into the Ahmadabad and Surat blasts. He further said that the police have conducted brain mapping test on Bilal Kagzi and another person in connection with the cases. He said that the police was not giving a ‘clean chit’ to the American national whose IP address was used to send the email, purportedly from the Indian Mujahideen, after the blasts. Investigations so far indicate that the plot could have been planned in Mumbai, as many of the clues lead to the metropolis. According to the Gujarat police, one Zahid Seikh of Mumbai had played an important role in arranging car bombs.
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Your comment(s) on this article

Many people sneered and misrepresented what Sushma Swaraj said about the bomb blasts being a distraction away from the cash-for-vote scam. With Mulayam Singh coming out in open support of SIMI, it is not untenable that he got his contacts in SIMI to orchestrate blasts in BJP ruled states. By cohabitating with Mulayam, Congress is also implicated. A CBI probe should be ordered into the Mulayam-SIMI connection. When is the Parliamentary committee on cash-for-votes scam concluding its hearing? - K.Venugopal - Mumbai

Douse J-K fire else it will spread, warns Shabana

CNN-IBN
Published on Sat, Aug 16, 2008 at 10:49, Updated at Sat, Aug 16, 2008 in Nation section


New Delhi: As the Central Government grapples for a solution to the raging inferno in Jammu and Kashmir, actor-activist Shabana Azmi has joined the chorus of voices slamming it for sleeping through the crisis.
In an exclusive interview with Karan Thapar, Shabana says that she fears that if the situation in Jammu and Kashmir could have repercussions on Hindu-Muslim relations in other parts of India
Shabana Azmi: It's a cauldron, the situation has been allowed to go out of hand and there's a deliberate attempt to communalise it, which is a huge pity.
Karan Thapar: Are you worried that what's happening in Kashmir and what could spiral out of control and could create differences between Hindus and Muslims elsewhere in India?
Shabana Azmi: Absolutely, absolutely. I can see that happening, and that's why I am so distressed over what's happening in Kashmir and for heaven's sake it should be brought to a stop, and this should have been brought to a stop right when it started with that nonsense.
Karan Thapar: So it’s not just Kashmir, it’s India that's at stake?
Shabana Azmi: Absolutely, yes
Watch the full interview with Shabana Azmi on Devil's Advocate on Sunday at 2030 hrs (IST) and Monday at 1630 hrs (IST) on CNN-IBN. Read the full interview on ibnlive.com


It appears that Shabna Azmi is worried that the situation will turn communal and spread all over India but has she ever come out against the freedom fighters of Kashmir? Would she be fair and lay the blame on this round of violence at the door of Kashmiris who came onto the streets to rescind the transfer of 100 acres of land to Amarnath temple? Let us wait and watch her interview.

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/douse-jk-fire-else-it-will-spread-warns-shabana/71341-3.html

Tehelka says SIMI is innocent

14/08/2008 07:44:35
Tehelka has done it again. Out government agencies have been searching and investigating SIMI for years now. And after three months of investigation by a reporter, Shri Arun tejpal has announced that the SIMI is being framed by the Government of India. The cases filed against them has been a conspiracy hatched by L.K.Advani.
And as always our BJP crazed media simply swallowed the story. They couldn’t be blamed through because even leaders like Laloo and Mulayam are ready to stand their ground to support the SIMI.
Citing ideology and religion for the indifferent attitude of the SIMI activists does not justify their Semitic outlook in a so called Secular country like India which has a majority of Hindus. There same religious sentiments don’t stand ground when it comes to issues related with Hindus like Amarnath or Ram Sethu. Then the Hindu values don't have any grading and spineless Semitic religion mongers like Sonia can question the authenticity of Lord Ram. In a Muslim country her head would have met the blade for even questioning the Koran or Allah.
Arun and his stooges need to take a tour of the middle east to study the activities of SIMI and the NDF. A casual enquiry with any muslim charity in the Middle East will show large amount of money being paid to the SIMI. The IB and the CBI wouldn't be running a goose chase against the SIMI in high profile cases. The training camps of the SIMI have been well exposed in many states. The suspicious evolving of the SIMI cadre starting countless new organizations all over the country is also for every small time investigator to see.
Its surprising how the Tehelkha channel missed all that.....

g kapuria 15/08/2008 14:02:46
Simple...Tehelka folks are only helping the Congress govt in their mission to lift the ban on SIMI.
menon 15/08/2008 08:23:34
Tehelka,Laloo, Mulayam,Amar SinghLet's all read it together, we can see who is behind tehelka and it's blackmailing journalists. Laloo and Mulayam plays their Bihar/UP dirty politics. It is good that Tehelka said so. That exposed them and people are not dumb.
K.Venugopal 15/08/2008 03:35:45
Pious Muslim slaves carrying out the Will of Allah.Our secular friends would never question any principle if it is based on Islam. Islam not only teaches that it alone is the true religion, but it also teaches that it is the duty of loyal slaves of Allah to endeavour to transform the world into an Islamic one, with Shariat as the constitution. Anything and everything to achieve this goal is righteous, according to Islam. Those whom we might call terrorists are in the eyes of pious Muslims people who are in the forefront of carrying out Allah's wishes. Arun Tejpals of the secular brigade interview SIMI leaders and come convinced that they are only talking to pious Muslims whom the communal Sangha parivar is not allowing to live in peace. I think our secular brigade should take a crash course on Islam at www.faithfreedom.org.
shivadas.s 15/08/2008 00:59:31
SIMI againThere is nothing surprising about the new findings by Tehelka. In a dark night one can hear a lot of dogs barking from all corners of the darkness. Hindustan is now passing through a such a degenerative darkness. Like a ship which is being steered through a severe storm we have to guide this nation to light through this darkness. We Hindus should see the danger but should act boldly and decisively.
Ganesh 15/08/2008 00:41:39
transparent investigationAfter reading this report I checked with the Tehelka site. There are umpteen SIMI investigation stories there by one Mr. Ajay Sahi. I think this reporter is in the same capacity as Rajinder Sacher was for UPA.The investigations are very simple. Contact some of the SIMI activists and sympathisers, ask them if they are guilty. If they say 'NO', take it as God's word and publish the results.Here after the Govt investigation agencies also must follow the same policy. Ask the suspects if they are involved and then if they say 'no', set them free.This country is the land of Gandhi and so nobody will utter lies.Media stooping to such abysmal levels is not new to this country.
Patriotic Indian 14/08/2008 22:22:30
The Truth is Out NowSo now everybody knows who was funding Tehelka? Of course, SIMI,anti-national congress and Dawood Ibrahim.No wonder they wanted to blacken the face of Bangaru Lakshman and BJP and to stop the progress of BJP in national politics. Many media agencies like indian express,hindu,times of india,telegraph,cnn-ibn,ndtv,aaj-tak,star news,etc etc are also under the grip of simi and anti-national elements since they are busy too to balcken the face of hindus and bjp and hindu organizations at every given opportunity and trying to save minorities and separatists from genocide like crimes and bomb blasts all over the country.Hope hindu voters vote in large numbers together in all coming elections and evict all anti-nationals from all positions of power in states and centre.
Vijayalakshmi 14/08/2008 10:11:39
Tehelka says.......This itself shows what a scoundrel Tarun Tejpal of Tehelka really is!He is in the pay-roll of the anti-Hindu, anti-BJP lobby.He also belongs to the Traitors Inc. of India that is Bharat.Watch these traitors carefully!
vinayak 14/08/2008 07:54:46
islamvisit www.faithfreedom.org andwwww.prophetofdoom.net to read about many unheard horrible facts about islam

Abortion case: Niketa suffers miscarriage

CNN-IBN
Published on Thu, Aug 14, 2008 at 09:39, Updated at Thu, Aug 14, 2008 in Nation section

New Delhi: Eight days after the Bombay High Court gave its ruling [Read Story] on an appeal that spurred a debate on medical ethics in India, Niketa Mehta – the woman who sought to abort her 25-week foetus – suffered a miscarriage on Tuesday.
Niketa, who was in her 27th week of pregnancy, complained of severe pain on Tuesday night and was rushed to the hospital where she is believed to have lost the baby.
Niketa's husband Haresh blamed the intense media scrutiny for her worsening health. The seven-month old foetus was buried at a municipal corporation-run centre in Mumbai.
The Bombay High Court had earlier rejected Niketa Mehta's plea to abort her foetus after it was diagnosed with congenital heart problem.

Niketa's problem arose because she trusted what appears in hindsight to have been unverified medical opinion. She should have had faith that her baby would be alright and she would be there to help it through whatever its problem would be. The baby should have been given the opportunity to breathe the fresh air of this world. But she unfortunately jumped the gun.

Posted by Tushar1181 at 10:10 AM, Aug 15, 2008
PERHAPS A MESSAGE FOR THE CHRISTIANS THAT ABORTING THE CHILD WAS GOD'S WISH.Returning to the whole debate over Nikita's plea for abortion to be allowed after 24 weeks, one that our law does not allow. I was pretty amused at seeing the different viewpoints that TV channels brought forward. On CNN-IBN there was, as always the "religious" Christian view: abortion is a sin. We humans have no right to kill a creation of the almighty, and once a sperm and ovum meet, life has been created, and there is no justification for its termination. Then there was the view of those fighting for equal treatment of the handicapped: who claimed that aborting the foetus would mean treating all who are mentally or physically challenged as lesser creatures who don't deserve to be treated equally.There were also views supporting the lady but which I think were on a partly wrong path.Starting with my views on life: we are humans, capable of thinking and gifted with an ego, the "I”, which differentiates us from other animals. Humans don't merely exist, they live. And every person has the right to "live" happily. As creatures of God we aren't supposed to have anything in our hands, all our destinies are fixed by him and all we do our whole lives is merely follow the commands coming down to us from Him. In essence we should just accept whatever conditions we are placed in and make no efforts to change anything as that is not what God sent us "robots" down to earth for. I'd recommend all the "Christians" with this sick view rather jump down from the tallest building they can find (which of course they can't do as our lives and death is not in our hands) and leave the rest of us humans "live".The defenders of rights for the handicapped: it's absolutely justified that everyone be treated equally and not discriminated for any handicaps. But fighting for the installation of ramps for wheelchairs is totally different from allowing your legs to be cut off with a hand saw.I have no comments on those who thought that every woman has the right to decide whether she wants to give birth to a child; after all it is the parents who take all the responsibility of taking their care.Why did anyone not leave all this aside all think from the child-to-be born's perspective. A person who is born with a congenital disorder that had been detected and who could have been stopped from suffering his whole life is never going to forgive the law, the "Christians", or the defenders of the handicapped. Why doesn't anyone think of the trauma for example that a child born with defective legs would face every day of his life, every time he sees another child running, playing, even walking without having to move a chair around. If that child ever finds out that his parents knew he would be put in such a position and still gave birth to him he would hate them leave aside forgiving them. Does anyone know why capital punishment should be banned, because it is the least painful form of punishment: a minute hanging with a rope around your neck, a few poison injections, five minutes in a gas chamber, none of these is as painful as spending years if not your whole life alone in solitary confinement. Real punishment is being made to die every day, kept alive only to be killed again the next day. That is what the anti-abortion lobby, who will not allow a child detected with an incurable illness be relieved from a life of torture, is doing. Miracles happen, science is progressing constantly, illness that can't be cured can be controlled to live with.

But none of this can justify not allowing a couple who see a child being born only to suffer his whole life from being terminated before his ordeal starts. This is not murder; this is releasing a person from life-long suffering.I do not present these arguments with the appeal to allow indiscriminate killing of children but if the reasons are compelling enough and involve a life stopped from suffering for none of its fault it should be looked from a view of compassion and love.

Posted by ejvyas at 06:04 PM, Aug 14, 2008
I believe we should stop talking about this case. There are important topics like Olympics and people die everyday around me. This is normal and its a way of life!!!

Posted by crusader.crusad at 11:57 AM, Aug 14, 2008
One cannot believe this incident straight away and seeing the past history, I dont take it at its face value. There could be another angle to it though my sympathy is still with the couple.

http://www.ibnlive.com/conversations/topic/71170-1-3-1

"WB CM should be responsible for Rizwan murder case"

Kolkata, Aug 15:

Senior Congress leader and Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi Friday said West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee should be held responsible for the police action in the Rizwanur Rahman murder case. "Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee should be responsible for the police action in the Rizwanur murder case. He should think about his role as he heads the home department of the government," Dasmunsi said here. "Whatever he's doing he's just doing it for his party, not for the sake of the state administration," he said.Rahman, a Muslim youth who had married industrialist Ashok Todi's daughter Priyanka last year, was found dead by the railway tracks of Patipukur in north Kolkata, barely a month after the marriage.Dasmunsi's statement came in the wake of the Calcutta High Court order Thursday asking the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a charge sheet in the lower court against the four accused Kolkata Police officers and the Todi family.The high court also said that Rahman was provoked to commit suicide by his in-laws, Ashok and Pradip Todi, and four police officers - Gyanwant Singh, Ajay Kumar, Sukanti Chakraborty and Krishnendu Das - last year. The Todi brothers, along with four city police officers, were subsequently accused of threatening and pressurising Rehman to stay away from Priyanka. "This is the second time, after Nandigram, that the Calcutta High Court has condemned the state police action in tackling such a situation," Dasmunsi said.IANS


Rizwanur Rahman might have detested his son-in-law. No law can force anyone to love a person. Loving or hating are natural tendencies born out of particular circumstances. But so long as Mr. Todi did not physically kill his son-in-law or hire someone else to do so, how can he be held responsible for his son-in-law's death? I think the phrase "provoked his suicide" is casting the net of responsibility rather too wide. If Rizwanur committed suicide because he did not get the approval of his father-in-law, it only speaks of the instable mind of Rizwanur. In that case, suicide was self-inducted.

`We must stand united against threats emanating from terrorism`

New Delhi, Aug 14:

President Pratibha Patil addressing the nation on eve of Independence Day urged the people to work unitedly to realise their full strength and potential. She said that India is a conglomeration of a diversity of cultures, languages and religions but running through this is a unity which has given to us resilience and strength. "We must stand united against the threats emanating from terrorism. Terrorists, with their disruptive agenda, will never succeed in discouraging us from our resolve to build a strong India, or from working with our neighbours to eliminate this menace from our region, or from our commitment to forge co-operative relations with other countries across the world," the 73-year-old President said. "The ideologues of terrorism have little respect for human life. They incite violence and mindless destruction," she said. The President said she was confident that the concept of India that is functioning in unison in a milieu of a vast diversity will continue to define the country's identity. "We should pause and reflect on how our conduct and our actions are promoting unity. We must ask ourselves whether our actions are contributing to strengthening of the national fabric and bringing about tolerant thinking. "We should demonstrate our ability to listen to each other to understand each other and if perceptions do not agree, give to the others the freedom to hold their views," she said. Reminding the people that they have duties towards the country, society and family, said in discharging them there was "an obligation to act responsibly." Patil also touched upon energy security in her speech and said "as a developing country our demands for energy are growing. We cannot let lack of energy become a constraint on our ability to deliver high levels of growth. "With the challenges of increased oil prices and climate change, the question of energy security confronts us. We need to look at energy mixes that are sustainable in the long run and are cleaner sources of energy, gradually making deliberate shift to renewable energy," the President said. She said it should be country's national mission to begin exploring ways in which new sources of energy can be harnessed viably. "Technologies increasing efficiency in energy-intensive sectors need to be developed...any contribution to save energy is a step towards environment protection and in saving the wide diversity of flora and fauna on the planet," she said. Patil said due to the government's efforts and perseverance many achievements have been made by the country in different. "But there are several tasks that await completion and new challenges that need to be addressed. A nation's work never ends," she said. Referring to the government's flagship programmes for improving the lives of the people, the President said those involved in the implementation of development and social welfare schemes must work with dedication and zeal and without causing delays. "Implementation done in a transparent and accountable manner will ensure that welfare schemes reach the genuine beneficiaries in a timely manner. Thus, preventing corruption in our system and enhancing efficiency in governance," she said. Advocating special attention for the development of agriculture and rural areas, Patil said no one should forget that the food security of the country is dependent on the growth of its agriculture. "Seventy per cent of our population lives in villages and is dependent on agriculture. Therefore, the development of India will not be comprehensive or complete unless there is development in the rural areas and increased agriculture productivity," she added. The President said social evils like dowry, female feoticide, discrimination against girl child, domestic violence, tobacco, drugs and alcohol were blocking the country from becoming a progressive nation. "We must look at a nationwide addiction focussed eradication programme. Eliminating addiction and fighting social evils can be a slow process as it involves changing attitudes," she added. Stressing for inclusion of women in development programmes, the President said "real development cannot take root if it bypasses women, who represent the very pivot around which social change takes shape." Bureau Report

Your comment(s) on this article :

Traitors cannot inherit land. Kashmir is part of India. If you cannot accept India, you have no right to Kashmir.

my friend why should we go to pakistan...we have our own land, histroy,and culture...we are neither indains nor pakistanies...but both have occupied J&K in 1947 by force..when u were slaves of england we were free then.... Nehru has promised of pelibisite as per un resulations.... if u r faithful towards ur leader then u must fullfill his desire and wish...otherwise his aatma will not get peace... http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council_Resolution_47 - Taseen - J&K

We still wants "BHUMIHARRASTRA". Same on This week lady... We hate India and Indians. Jai BHUMIHAR.. Jai BHUMIHARRASTRA. - Azad Rastra - Bhumiharistan

Those who want independence may go to Pakistan, the holy land of Islam which was created by partitioning India. India shall never allow another partition. Kashmir is the land of Amarnath. - K.Venugopal - Mumbai
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council_Resolution_47 Madam please use ur position to make pelbicite in J&K..let them decide their fate and future. u r enjoying in independent countrylet us also taste independence..dont forget u were also under rule of england for 200yrs..and at that very time J&K was independent.please make justice - BhatMrRouf - J&K
shame on this wicked lady after killing 100,000 innocent kashmiris - ahmed - kashmir
all kashmiri all over the world should protest against india and indian independence day should be taken as black out day. We will protest and stand till we will not get freedom. inshallah. - riyaz - jammu

http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?redirectpage=a&aid=462279&sid=NAT

`J&K row a fight between nationalistic, separatists`

Zeenews Bureau New Delhi, Aug 14:

In a hard-hitting letter to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, BJP leader L K Advani on Thursday accused the United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre of being slack on the Amarnath Land row. “We are convinced that the government is not serious to find out a solution on the Amarnath row,” Advani wrote. Taking a dig on the separatists in the valley, he mentioned, “The problem in Jammu and Kashmir is not about Hindus versus Muslims, rather it’s about nationalists versus separatists.” He further reiterated his party’s stand on the revocation of the forestland allotted earlier to the Amarnath Shrine Board. “The decision to reverse the decision is against the J&K Shrine Board Act,” he cited. Violence erupted in the Kashmir valley after the state government allocated 40 hectares of land in North Kashmir to the Amarnath Shrine Board for raising temporary structures for pilgrims. But the order was revoked following violent protests in Muslim-dominated Kashmir valley who feared that this could mark the settlement of "outsiders" in the state that enjoys constitutional protection for its unique identity. The revocation sparked off a violent counter campaign in Hindu-majority Jammu. With conflicting claims over the land, Hindus in Jammu and Muslims in Kashmir are ranged against each other, almost pushing the only Muslim majority Indian state to the brink of division on religious lines. At least 40 protesters have been killed in nearly two months of violence in the state.


Your comment(s) on this article :
Dear BA, Are all Kashmiris Muslims? Why can't Hindu Kashmiris use 100 acres of land for pilgrimage facilities on the way to Amarnath? I am sure the Rajasthan government, which is BJP, would have no objection if more land is sought by Ajmer shrine for the facilities of pilgrims. And what about all the Hajj facilities that are provided by the Indian state for pilgrims on the way to Mecca? The reason why you fear that 100 acres could be a state-within-a-state is because of the separatist mindset. All problems would be solved if everyone is taught also to think of themselves as Indians. In fact ideally, we should be Indians first and anything else afterwards.

it is very unfortunate that what hindus think as common forest land is one of the most prized, eco-sensitive and the life line of the river Jehlum. Already a considerable piece of land is under the control of shrine board and still they want to get more.. for what purpose.. just to creat a state-within-a-state.you all think that this is a real estae piece of property.. No it is one of the most famous tourist and health resorts in the world. For Kashmiris it is their heart. Those politicians who advocate such transfer must realize that their efoorts will only lead to more amn more alienation of the valley from India, which will not be good for our country. - BA - India

Dear Mr. Imran, The Hindus in Jammu are not against Muslims. If they were so, they would have attacked the Muslims in Jammu. Nothing of this sort has happened. The Hindus of Jammu and the rest of India are against the separatists, who unfortunately happen to be all Muslims. In fact the separatists are wearing the Islamic identity on their sleeves. When separatists pose as torch-bears of Islam, then the fight against separatists would inevitably turn into a fight against Muslims. The best way to avoid this is for Muslims themselves to come out against the separatists. - K.Venugopal - Mumbai
I honestly feel a small issue has been blown out of proportion due to poor handling of the issue by the Kashmir Government.I think the amarnath shrine board should be given the land by the government . - Ranjeet - Kolkata
Well you are potential prime minister ,you should act like a statesman ,you mean all those who are opposing land to shrine board are anti nationals than all those who are pro indian political parties in j&k ,who for their life struggled to estabilish indian rule in kashmir are in the same category.one among them you supported as home minister of india and another was your Collogue in the cabinet.We as nationalist kashmirs request you to douse flames in j&k.The land is still being used by yatris and no body will use it for any purpose in future. - saneman - kmr
Mr.l k advani is opposing PM for his act of not giving the land back to the amarnath committee.But all was fine till BJP and VHP started there agitation in jammu and directed the jammu people towards the wrong agitation.In jammu BJP is saying it is against kashmiri muslim and Mr l k advani is now saying it is against separatist. - imran - srinagar


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US, UK seek graceful exit for Musharraf

Islamabad, Aug 14: Last ditch efforts are on to secure a "safe passage" and indemnity for Pervez Musharraf with US and British diplomats pressing the government not to impeach the President as it will further harm crisis-racked Pakistan. However, several preconditions put forth by Musharraf with army's backing including his demand that he be allowed to stay in the country were dragging the behind the scene negotiations and delaying the announcement of his resignation, sources told the Pakistani newspaper Daily Times . There was speculation that the 65-year-old former General will announce his decision to bow out during a speech on Wednesday night, but Musharraf refused to reveal his cards and instead harped on political reconciliation. "There is an understanding between the Pakistan People's Party-led coalition and Musharraf on the President resigning before impeachment proceedings begin in earnest against him," the Times said. However, Musharraf is refusing to take "safe passage" to mean going into exile outside the country immediately after his resignation. He is insisting on two conditions -- that he will be entitled to stay in his house at Chak Shahzad on the outskirts of Islamabad and be provided full security and privileges as allowed under law to all ex-presidents. He is also demanding that the "cast-iron guarantees of indemnity" will be provided from any action against him following his resignation, preferably through an act of parliament, the sources said. British and US diplomats have, meanwhile, covertly come to Musharraf's rescue seeking a "graceful exit" for him, British daily The Guardian reported. Bureau Report

Having got the mandate to rule, Zardari and Sharif should have been quietly working for the development and progress of Pakistan and strengthening its democratic institutions and ensuring peaceful co-existence among its citizens. Instead, they are wasting their time in trying to kick out a President who has largely become a figurehead. This will have its own repercussions and cause instability in Pakistan's polity, with Zardari and Sharif's next moves being to undercut each other. Democracy is going to die a nascent death in Pakistan yet again.

Kashmir: One killed in police firing

Published on Thu, Aug 14, 2008 at 13:36, Updated at Thu, Aug 14, 2008 in Nation section

New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir continues to remain on the edge with violence showing no signs of abating. Anarchy ruled Srinagar streets on Wednesday with protests rocking downtown areas. The tension spilled over to Thursday when various incidents of violence were reported from across the city.
People poured out on to the streets after rumours of the CRPF barging into homes and assaulting people started doing the rounds in the sensitive areas of Rozabal, Safakdal, Kamangarpora and Zaina Kadal.
The CRPF says it's looking into the complaint.
Meanwhile, the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service – a symbol of the Indo-Pak peace process – has been indefinitely suspended because of the unrest and curfew.
Home Minister Shivraj Patil has told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that reports of an economic blockade are wrong.
The Home Ministry says 236 trucks carrying essential items have successfully crossed Jawahar bridge into Kashmir.
Meanwhile, one person was killed and four others wounded when security forces opened fire on protesters at Safakadal in Srinagar, official sources said.
The deceased has been identified as Shabir Ahmad Handoo, a mobile repair technician of the locality.
Sources said the firing took place when protesters turned violent and attacked a police station with stones.
They were protesting against alleged high handedness of security forces while dealing with the agitation against the "economic blockade" in the wake of the Amarnath land row.
They said a police vehicle was also set on fire by an agitating crowd at Rawalpora on the outskirts of the city.

It is ironical that Kashmiri Muslims want the road to Pakistan opened up to facilitate business (and more, of course) but do not want to provide any facilities to the pilgrims to Amarnath, at least not by allotting 100 acres for this purpose. I say let them agree to allotting 100 acres to Amarnath shrine first before thinking of opening the road to Pakistan, which is fraught with anti-national consequences.

Don’t internationalise J&K issue, India tells Pakistan

Zeenews Bureau New Delhi, Aug 13:

An angry India cautioned Pakistan on Wednesday against internationalising the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, amid widespread violence in the state in the wake of Amarnath land row. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Navtej Sarna, while condemning statements by Pak Foreign Minister on the situation in J&K, urged the neighbouring country to desist from interfering in India’s internal matters. Sarna also condemned as objectionable Pak’s bid to take the J&K issue to UN and other international forums. Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq had said earlier in the day that his government has "set in motion" the process to call on the "international community, in particular the UN, Organisation of the Islamic Conference and human rights organisations to take notice" of the “deteriorating” situation in J&K. The world community and global organisation would also be asked to "impress upon India to observe restraint and rein in the extremist elements that are seeking economic destruction of the Kashmiri people", the spokesman added. After being warned by India not to, Pak Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi again, for the second time in a week, today condemned what he called the "excessive” use of force against the people of Kashmir. He also went ahead to demand an immediate end to the J&K violence. The minister further expressed concern at reported attacks on the life and property of Muslims in the state and even took special interest in expressing "great sorrow and grief" at news of the death of All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader Shaikh Abdul Aziz during a protest. ‘Composite dialogue won’t get hurt’ His spokesman, Sadiq, while replying to a question on India's assertion that Pakistan's statements on the Kashmir issue could affect the composite dialogue process, said Jammu and Kashmir was a "disputed territory" according to UN resolutions. The composite dialogue process too "considers Kashmir a disputed territory" and the Kashmir issue was the "second item on the agenda of the dialogue process", the spokesman said. He however added that the situation in Kashmir would not affect the composite dialogue. With this renewed interest in Kashmir by the ‘new bosses’ in Pakistan now coinciding with the possible exit of President Pervez Musharraf, who had ruled for over nine years, it gets amply clear that Kashmir is now going to be at the centre stage of all future engagements with India. It surely seems democracy in Pakistan was and will in the future too mean that Kashmir is turned into an emotive issue for the consumption of the masses. And that all promise to tackle terror will be linked meeting of its demands on Kashmir. The seriousness of the establishment in Pakistan can be gauged by the fact that Pakistan Senate went ahead to pass a resolution condemning the ongoing clashes in J&K over the Amaranth land row. The resolution accentuated that the Indian Army had violated the ceasefire agreement and that this had led to violence in the region. The Senate had also expressed concern over the economic blockade of the Valley and what it described as attacks on Muslims in the state by Hindus. And the Kashmir issue should be resolved according to the UN mandate. India concerned at other fronts, too The renewed Kashmir banter by Pakistan has led to the development of some serious concerns for India. National Security Advisor M K Narayanan is in fact on record claiming that the exit of Musharraf would act as a fillip for al Qaeda elements operating from within Pakistan. And it is needless to say that would have a direct bearing on India’s internal security. Moreover, the sudden increase in incidences of the breach of LoC by Pakistani forces has also not gone unnoticed by mandarins in the PMO and North Block. India maintains that it would not tolerate any interference from other countries in what are its internal matters. The signal is clear from New Delhi but it remains to be seen whether the ‘democratically’ elected Pakistan government would budge.

Our government tells Pakistan, "Don't internationalise". We tell our citizens, "Don't communalise". Why don't we be honest and accept the truth that it is the Islamic mindset that caused partition of India and is behind the separatists in Kashmir? We must break all relationship with Pakistan and declare it enemy state and crush the separatist movement in Kashmir. Our intention should be made clear symbolically by allotting 100 acres of land to Amarnath shrine forthwith.

Railway seeks ideas from public to improve performance

New Delhi, Aug 13:

In a paradigm shift in its approach to incorporate public opinion in its policies, Indian Railways will tap innovative ideas from the people to achieve higher customer satisfaction and provide value-added services. An Innovation Promotion Group (IPG) is being set up to seek innovative ideas from the public including reputed institutions, universities and industries to improve services and productivity, a senior Railways Ministry official said. The IPG will comprise nine senior railway officials dealing with various departments including traffic, finance, telecom, civil and electrical. The multi-departmental IPG will also interact with national and international railway organizations, railway customers and railwaymen to promote innovations for improvement in productivity of resources. "The IPG is being set up at Rail Bhawan to receive innovative ideas. We will publicise this to get a good response," said the official. The other basic objectives behind setting up the IPG are improvement in system efficiency, enhancement of the existing capacity, introduction of modern systems and technologies besides improving reliability in railway system and reduction of maintenance costs. Bureau Report

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The Indian Railways must be privatized very systematically. - K.Venugopal - Mumbai

Kerala temple galore with uniqueness

Kannur, Aug 13:

Accepting liquor and fish as offerings and providing solace to devotees through 'divine counselling', a nearby temple of Lord Muthappan, reverently worshipped across Kerala's north Malabar, has got another unique distinction of not revising its negligibly priced ticket rates for various poojas for several decades. Devotees thronging the temple, known in local parlance as "Parassini Muthappan Madapura" at Parassinikadavu, symbolically offer toddy, alcohol, grilled dry fish and meat, the most favourite delicacies of Muthappan, considered the incarnation of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Unlike other temples, the devotees can 'interact' with the God here as they pour out their grievances in a free-wheeling 'chat' with the tastefully decorated "Muthappan Theyyam", an artist who assumes 'divinity' by representing the God. The theyyam responds with convincing solutions, which are believed by the devotees as sacred and that of the God. Muthappan theyyam then parts with the liquor and elder male devotees take it as +necter+ while the other offerings are set apart for dogs, considered the Lord's pet animal, which eagerly wait outside the temple to pick up the dishes, P M Sugunan, a Madapura trustee member, said. He said the temple, considered as +dharmastala+ of north Kerala, also provides free food and accommodation to devotees. On an average, nearly 2,000 devotees visit the temple daily and many more during the festival season. The temple, located on the prestine banks of Valapattanam river, about 20 km from here, has one of the lowest rates in the country for poojas starting from just 25 paise. The maximum of Rs 13.25 is charged for +thiruvappana+ while for marriage it is Rs 5.25 and rice feeding for kids is fixed at a mere 75 paise. Bureau Report


They provide you sumptuous breakfast, lunch and dinner (with freshly pounded rice) and tea in the afternoon. Accommodation with fans, toilet facilities and ghats leading to the river to bath. Also, money to return home in case you have run out of it. Also, the temple town has a free library and reading room. - K.Venugopal - Mumbai

Muslims call for Kashmir independence

Wednesday, 13 August 2008
Belfast Telegraph

Indian Kashmir has been convulsed by the biggest pro-independence rallies for two decades, with tensions between Muslims and Hindus spilling over into violence that has so far claimed 13 lives and left more than 100 people injured.
The deaths were a result of Indian police and troops firing on Muslim protesters who were defying a curfew imposed by the authorities following the killing of a high-profile separatist leader. In some of the worst violence in the region in recent years, there were at least a dozen shooting incidents as large numbers of Muslims ignored the curfew and took to the streets.
In Srinagar last night up to 10,000 people defied the curfew to bury the separatist leader, Sheikh Abdul Aziz, whose body had been taken to the city's main mosque.
Mr Aziz, a senior figure within the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, a coalition of more than two dozen moderate religious and social groups campaigning for independence for Kashmir, was killed on Monday along with four other people when police fired into a crowd of Muslims protesting against what they said was a Hindu blockade of the road linking the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India. The protesters, up to 100,000 strong, were trying to march to the Pakistan-controlled part of Kashmir when the shootings took place.
The deaths are the latest violent twist in a summer of increasing tension in Kashmir that was initially sparked by a row over land being donated to a Hindu shrine. In June, faced by protests from Muslims, the state government reversed the decision it had taken to donate 99 acres of land to the Shri Amarnath shrine, a site of pilgrimage that draws thousands of Hindus a year from across India. In turn, the decision to reverse the donation angered Hindus in the state. Since then, tensions between the two communities have worsened, amid evidence that local politicians have sought to use the row to further their own interests.
As a result, not only have there been the largest demonstrations for independence in the past 20 years, but trade between the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley and the Hindu-dominated region around the city of Jammu, has been drastically curtailed. Muslims say the government is behind a blockade of a 185-mile link road that is leaving many communities low on food and medicine. They also complain that hundreds of truckloads of Kashmiri fruit are going to waste because they cannot be delivered and are rotting in the heat. The situation is so bad that producers are now demanding to be allowed to export their crops across the border to Pakistan.
"The first thing is that the whole event is very undesirable in terms of both the domestic situation in Jammu and Kashmir and its linkage with the larger bilateral peace process [between India and Pakistan]," C Uday Bhaskar, a strategic analyst, told Reuters. "I think this will have a bad impact and considering that Pakistan is going through bad turmoil now, the overall impact on the peace process will not be very positive."
Indian-administered Kashmir has long been a flashpoint for religious violence and an estimated 68,000 people have been killed in the past two decades as a multitude of militant groups have fought either for independence or a merger with Pakistan. But in the past couple of years a fragile peace had descended upon the state, to the extent that Indian authorities had begun once again to promote Kashmir as a tourist destination
After Sheikh Aziz was killed in Chehel, about 30 miles from the border between the two portions of Kashmir, the Indian authorities imposed the curfew.
At the burial last night of Mr Aziz and the four other people killed with him, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of Hurriyat and the most powerful separatist leader in Kashmir, told a huge crowd of mourners: "Sheikh Aziz's death is big loss to the Kashmir nation, we will take his mission to its logical end." Another leader of the organisation, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, also attended the funeral, defying both the curfew and house arrest.
As the crowd chanted for independence, Mr Farooq added: "Our struggle for complete independence from India will continue. No power on earth can deter us from achieving this."
Conflicts at the Hindu Shri Amarnath shrine
The Shri Amarnath shrine is located inside a remote mountain cave about 80 miles from Srinagar. The holy site is 12,000ft (3,658m) above sea level and contains a large, phallus-shaped icicle said to represent Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction and rebirth.
Thousands of Hindu pilgrims come each year to pray at the shrine, one of the religion's most important sites, and the number is rising. There was concern last year that the high number of visitors and the impact of global warming were causing the icicle to melt at a faster rate than usual.
The government of Kashmir had intended to hand over about 100 acres of state land to the shrine board so that it could build facilities for the pilgrims, who walk more than 10 miles to worship before the representation of the deity. The government reversed the decision but said it would provide those facilities instead.
The annual pilgrimage to the site, said to be more than 5,000 years old, has been controversial. Many Muslims argue that Indian officials use the event, which lasts for two months, as a political statement to bolster their claim over the Himalayan region, which is divided between Pakistan and India but claimed by both. India denies the claim, saying it has never sought to promote Hindu migration to Jammu and Kashmir state, as it is formally known.
While the site is mentioned in ancient texts, it was lost for hundreds of years. Tradition has it that it was rediscovered about 150 years ago, somewhat ironically, by a Muslim shepherd who lost his sheep and found they had wandered into the cave.
Key events
1989: Armed resistance breaks out in Kashmir, with some groups demanding it joins Pakistan, while others call for independence.
1997: As India and Pakistan both celebrate 50 years of independence, the countries hold a series of diplomatic meetings.
1998: Stakes are raised as India's underground nuclear tests are followed by similar tests by Pakistan.
1999: Fighting breaks out as India launches air strikes against Pakistan-backed troops who enter Indian Kashmir.
2001: An attack by militants on the Kashmiri assembly in Srinagar – the capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir – kills 38. Delhi parliament is attacked and 14 are killed, including attackers. India blames Kashmiri militants backed by Pakistan.
2004: Peace initiative launched.
2008: With peace talks ongoing, more than 60 people are killed in a suicide bomb attack at the Indian embassy in Kabul. India, the US and Afghanistan accuse Pakistan of involvement, which it denies.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/muslims-call-for-kashmir-independence-13937495.html?startindex=-1

The famous historian Arnold Toynbee had said that Muslims are an intolerent majority and a turbulent minoritty.