Updated on Friday, July 31, 2009, 14:39 IST
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to ensure that no place of worship is constructed in public places.
The apex court asked Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium to file an affidavit in this regard within four weeks. "The Solicitor General will file an affidavit to ensure that no temple, church, mosque or gurudwara is constructed on a public street or a public space," a Bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and M K Sharma said. The direction to the Centre came during the hearing of the petition challenging the Gujarat High Court order of 2006 by which the authorities in Ahmedabad were directed to demolish all illegal structures including places of worship on public roads. The High Court order was later stayed by the apex court. During the hearing, the Bench said as far as existing religious institutions are concerned it can understand that demolishing them will create law and order problem but the Centre must ensure that no religious places comes up in future in public places. The Bench said even if a single institution is put up on public place, the officers concerned would be suitably punished. Subramanium said that the Centre will have discussions with all states and try to reach a consensus on this issue. The Bench posted the matter for further hearing on September 29. Bureau Report
This is a reasonable order by the SC. This should also apply to building of memorials of political leaders in public places. Except for Mahatma Gandhi's memorial in the capital, because the Mahatma was unique, all the other memorials, including those of the Nehru family and former PMs should be shifted to a common memorial at a single place and existing memorial sites should be converted to places of public utility.
http://www.zeenews.com/news551758.html
Friday, July 31, 2009
'Ensure no place of worship in public places'
Muslims unwelcome? Yes, says Emraan Hashmi
New Delhi: Accusing a Mumbai housing society of religious profiling and discrimination, actor Emraan Hashmi on Friday said that he never though he would have to give a “character certificate” to buy a house.
Hashmi tried buying an apartment in Mumbai’s posh Pali Hill locality but the actor believes the housing society is discriminating against him because he is a Muslim. He has filed a complaint with the State Minorities' Commission, demanding action against the housing society’s members.
“It is a very tricky situation. Nobody will tell you on your face that you will not be given a flat because you are Muslim. They did not tell me openly but it was very evident,” Hashmi said.
“It is a basic issue of me being Muslim. If as a celebrity I am facing such problem one can easily understand the problem faced by the common man,” he added.
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai along with filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, Hashmi said, “I never thought that I had to get a character certificate. I want to know why I am being not being given a NOC (no objection certificate).”
Hashmi explained how the society members were not forthcoming with his request to buy an apartment. “They delayed the NOC for five days and eventually I got to know that they don’t want me to get a membership in that society,” he said.
“There are lots of other places like Bandra where brokers say they don’t approach societies because of biases,” he added.
The actor also alleged that to dodge the issue now many are saying that “since I am a serial kisser in the movies so I will be a bad influence to the children around me.”
To which Mahesh Bhatt said, “In that building many Bollywood actors live. Some have done negative roles then how come they have been allowed to stay there?”
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Minorities Commission Vice-Chairman Abraham Mathai said the Commission is sending a notice to the housing society.
“Emraan Hashmi has complained that the building society is refusing to give him NOC to complete the transaction of the deal to buy the flat. He has given Rs 1 lakh as token money. Building society refuses to give NOC because he is a Muslim. He has made a written complaint. We are sending a notice to the society chairman. We will ask them to explain their stand. No such complaint filed ever,” Mathai said.
I think it should be left to housing societies to decide who they may want as members. If they decide not to have a member by virtue of his or her religion, social standing, cultural background or whatever else, so be it. A case would arise only if a prospective member was kept out by categorizing him wrongly. After all, we have exclusive colonies for Parsis, don't we? And we have reservations based on caste, region, language and religion. The Indian constitution of course is against discrimination between citizens on any ground. But the constitution itself gives protection to reservations. This dichotomy must be removed before attempting to break down segregation barriers. All these segregations, under one name or the other, would no doubt prove detrimental to the nation in the long run. Therefore let us start a revolution in social equality by getting rid of constitutional protection for reservations before pouncing on isolated housing societies who may deny admissions to categories of people who they may fear may not be in rhythm with their preferred values of living.
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/muslims-unwelcome-yes-says-emraan-hashmi/98289-8.html
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Nothing more to prove on Mumbai attacks, says Chidambaram
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
New Delhi: Unhappy over Pakistan's repeated claim about lack of evidence to prosecute Jamaat-ud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, India said it should not ask any more questions as enough proof has been provided in the dossiers on Mumbai attacks. "They should not ask any more questions. Everything is contained in the dossier," Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters here when asked to comment on Pakistan's claim that it does not have evidence to prosecute Saeed, whom India has identified as prime accused in Mumbai attacks. "It has been a little tiresome," he said while referring to Pakistan's repeated claim that it does not have proof to prosecute Saeed and it has been seeking it from India. Chidambaram said Pakistan has "enough evidence to prosecute the perpetrators... They should get on with their job." Pakistan's Interior Minister Rahman Malik said in an interview yesterday, "We do not have any proof against Hafiz Saeed. We have demanded and we are demanding from India that if you have proof, give (it to) us, but do not do propaganda." Contending that Pakistan cannot "arrest our citizen" on the basis of "hearsay", Malik had said "If New Delhi wants some credible action, it needs to provide substantial evidence."Business Standard
Venu10
#1
Wednesday, 29 July 2009 03:52:28
Pakistan is contemptuous of India. Whatever India says will never be taken seriously by them. They will carry on with a farce case, using it to seek extradition of Mohammad Kasab. Then they will seek to embarrass India on the Samjutha Express blast, which is a self-inflicted wound by India gifted by the Congress to paint Hindutva forces in a corner. Pakistan needs to be told clearly that we are not going to put up with its antics any longer and Congress needs to understand that its political compulsions should not put the nation in a bind.
http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3116857
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
CAG's indictment: Is it time for Metro Man to go?
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K.Venugopal
#1
Sunday, 19 July 2009 22:42:15
This article seems to be a motivated one by a private industry hack on behalf of people who want to get their fingers in every pie. Mr. Sreedharan has proved that big money is not the only motive for doing a good job. He is a challenge to the avaricious private industry.
Ranjith Mohan.K.G
#2
Sunday, 19 July 2009 22:39:10
Please give credits to a man who has done incredible things defying red tapes and political pressures. Do you think just because there is supervision and government subsidies, projects will come up in India? I have seen many roads and over bridges left halfway because there are too many people involved in it. I think every projects that come up in India should have someone like Mr. Sreedharan on top to get it completed. I don't think just because there is supervision and accountability, something incredible will happen. You need someone like him to make it happen. After Mr. Sreedharan, someone else will come out to head projects like this. Not all are like Sreedharan. Agree. But not all are corrupt too.
http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3112218&ucid=156933#uc2Lst156933
Monday, July 27, 2009
2003 Mumbai blasts: All accused convicted under POTA
Monday, July 27, 2009
Mumbai: A special Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) court on Monday convicted all three accused in the 2003 twin blasts in Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar.The quantum of punishment will be pronounced on August 4.The accused - Haneef Sayyed (46), an auto driver, his wife Fahmeeda (43) and Ashrat Ansari (32) – are convicted under Prevention of Terrorism Act for murder and criminal conspiracy.On August 25, 2003, two bombs left in taxis exploded in south Mumbai - the Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar in the busy Kalbadevi area, killing 52 people and wounding more than a hundred others.The attacks were carried out to "avenge" the deaths of Muslims during the 2002 Gujarat riots.Chronology
Following is the chronology of the 2003 twin blasts at Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar:August 25, 2003: Blasts at Zaveri Bazaar and Gateway of India in south Mumbai in which 52 killed and 100 injured.August 31, 2003: Three accused Ashrat Ansari (32), Hanif Sayed (46) and his wife Fehmida Sayed (43) arrested.October 1, 2003: Two more accused, Mohammed Ansari Ladoowala and Mohammed Hasan Batterywala, held.October 2, 2003: Another accused Zaheer Patel (name changed as he later became approver in case) arrested.February 5, 2004: Chargesheet filed against six accused in the case in Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) court for Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar blasts. Accused also alleged to have been involved in placing an unexploded bomb in a bus at SEEPZ in suburban Andheri in December 2, 2002 and placing bomb in bus at Ghatkopar in July 28 (rpt) 28, 2003 in which two persons were killed.May 5, 2004: Patel declared approver and pardoned by POTA court.
June 20, 2004: Charges framed by court against five accused.September 2, 2004: Trial commences.December 2008: Ladoowala and Batterywala discharged from the case by POTA court after Supreme Court upholds POTA review committee report stating no case against them.July 27, 2009: Three accused Ashrat Ansari, Hanif Sayed and his wife Fehmida Sayed convicted by special POTA court under sections of IPC, POTA, Explosives Act, Explosive Substances Act. Court says arguments on quantum of sentence to be heard on August 4. Source: ANI, PTI
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Venu10
#1
Monday, 27 July 2009 05:01:19
Is it because it was tried under POTA that there has been a conviction? Would they be bailed out because POTA no longer applies now?