Now, Jayalalithaa demands Raja’s arrest

15/11/2010
Chennai: AIADMK Chief Jayalalithaa on Monday demanded that former Union IT minister A. Raja be arrested and charged under Prevention of Corruption Act for the 2G spectrum scam, saying his resignation was “only the beginning” and the case should be investigated threadbare.

In a statement, Jayalalithaa said "this (resignation) does not signal the end of the mother of all scams.
"This overdue resignation is not a case of sealing the moral high ground. Raja had been mocking at all constitutional institutions including the office of the Prime Minister, Central Vigilance Commissioner, Delhi High Court, the CAG and even the Supreme Court," she alleged.
Mr. Raja himself should be charged under Prevention of Corruption Act and arrested and tried for "perpetrating the biggest scam in the history of mankind", she said.
"It (resignation) is only the beginning. The Government of India has lost an unprecedented Rs 1,76,379 crores. It should be investigated threadbare as the people have a right to know," she said.
Source: PTI

K.Venugopal

Monday, 15 November 2010 15:36:47
I am not the befallen Minister's fan, but can somebody here tell me why he should be arrested? The corruption is only assumed. At the worst, the Minister was incompetent. But stupidity can’t be a reason for arrest, can it?

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4579101&pgnew=true&_p=6ad2a475-d01d-4281-9bef-00c0798f4b42&_nwpt=1#uc2Lst6ad2a475-d01d-4281-9bef-00c0798f4b42

Raja resigns, gives up Spectrum throne

15/11/2010
New Delhi: Union Telecom Minister A Raja on Sunday night resigned from the Cabinet over the alleged 2G Spectrum scam, putting an end to the standoff between the Congress and the DMK, which, at one point of time, threatened to destabilise the coalitions both at the Centre and in Tamil Nadu.

After about three days of hectic negotiations with the Congress, DMK chief M Karunanidhi on Sunday asked Raja to submit his resignation. Raja, who met the DMK supremo in Chennai earlier in the day -- his second meeting with him in the last 24 hours -- landed in New Delhi in the evening and called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to submit his resignation.
Though the DMK maintained its combative stance till the last minute, sources said the pressure on the party leadership mounted after the Prime Minister returned from the G20 meeting. The move to finally hang up on Raja was initiated on Saturday night, when a meeting was convened at Karunanidhi's residence at around 10 pm.
At the old Secretariat complex today afternoon, Raja met Karunanidhi again, and both returned to the Chief Minister's residence together. Former union minister and senior DMK leader TR Baalu joined them there. Baalu represents the other faction within the DMK. The meeting lasted for a little over half-an-hour. According to sources, Karunanidhi received "calls from Delhi" several times during the meeting.
Coming as it did less than a week after Ashok Chavan's resignation from the Maharashtra Chief Minister's post over the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society scam in Mumbai, the second high-profile resignation in the UPA government's second term has put the ruling dispensation at the Centre on the backfoot as the Opposition looked set to turn on the heat on a range of issues during the ongoing session of Parliament.
Emerging from the Prime Minister's residence on Sunday evening, Raja said: "In order to avoid the embarrassing situation to the government and running system of Parliament, my leader asked me to tender resignation to the PM. In accordance with the advice given to me by my respected and beloved leader, I tendered resignation to the PM but that does not mean I am accepting everything. I will prove that I did everything in accordance with the law."

The outgoing Telecom Minister said that his "conscience is clear" even as he maintained that he had brought about a "revolution" in the telecom sector during his tenure. "I did much to the people, to the country, and to my party," said Raja.
Raja's resignation came a day bafore the Supreme COurt is to take up the 2G spectrum case.
There is no word on the acceptance of Raja's resignation, but Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will make a statement in Parliamaent on Monday.
DMK chief M Karunanidhi's daughter and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi denied that she would replace Raja in the Cabinet, even as she maintained that he had to resign "to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament".
Senior DMK leader TR Baalu told The Indian Express: "The party has not taken any decision on his (Raja's) successor. The high command will decide at an appropriate time. The leader has asked him to resign and he resigned."
Congress sources said that although the telecom portfolio would remain with the Prime Minister for now, the DMK wanted to retain it. "It (whether the DMK will retain the ministry) will be decided at the time of the Cabinet reshuffle after the Parliament session, we have not decided whether it will go to DMK or not. We have not put our mind to it yet," said a senior Congress leader. Earlier in Chennai, before boarding the plane for Delhi, Raja put up a brave face, saying that there was no question of his resignation. While the DMK had stoutly defended Raja, it was given little choice by the Congress leadership, which was determined to take its clean-up operation to a logical end by removing Raja.
While Congress leaders were in touch with Karunanidhi to persuade him to ask Raja to resign, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, her political secretary Ahmed Patel, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister A K Antony, who met on Sunday afternoon, decided not to make any compromises on the Raja issue.
The Prime Minister is likely to make a statement in Parliament on the telecom scandal on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Opposition looked set to continue its attack on the UPA government. "If he (Raja) was wrong, then why was he not stopped... It is not just Raja who will have to go, other ministers who are involved in it will also have to go," said BJP president Nitin Gadkari.
Source: The Indian Express

K.Venugopal

Monday, 15 November 2010 12:23:22
The impression is that Raja has been forced to quit because of corruption. But no money trail has been discovered so far to establish there was corruption. A policy decision, which the Minister claims was a cabinet decision or approved by the PMO, was followed by him, which subsequently has been termed as a sell-out because higher amounts could have been obtained by the Government. At worst the Minister could be charged for incompetence. But where is the proof of corruption?

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4576903&page=0

Singhal criticises Sonia Gandhi over Ayodhya remarks

PTI, Nov 13, 2010, 05.52pm IST

RAJKOT: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) president Ashok Singhal on Saturday criticised UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for her remarks on the Babri Masjid, alleging it amounted to "contempt of court".

He objected to Sonia's recent statement that the Allahabad high court's verdict on the Ayodhya title suits did not condone the demolition of the Babri Masjid and those responsible for the act must be brought to justice.

According to Singhal, the comment was an insult of the court.

There was no evidence that the Mughal emperor Babar had constructed the Mosque there, Singhal said, adding that when the court has dismissed the claim, then we should respect it and refrain from making any comments on existence of the mosque.

He alleged that Sonia Gandhi was trying to provoke sentiments of the minority community by making such comments.

The Muslim Waqf Board should give up the fight for land at Ayodhya and help in constructing a Ram Temple, he said.

Babri structure represented a symbol of foreign conquest. By destroying it nationalists have symbolically said that India shall be rid of her heritage of slavery and reconnect to her glorious past which will once more lead to India being the leading light of world civilization. Those who do not understand this are still in the thralldom of a slave's mind.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Singhal-criticises-Sonia-Gandhi-over-Ayodhya-remarks/articleshow/6920509.cms#write

FIR against Sudarshan for anti-Sonia remarks

Updated on Saturday, November 13, 2010, 11:39
Zeenews Bureau

Jaipur: Former RSS chief KS Sudarshan finds himself in serious legal trouble after an FIR was filed against him here on Friday for his remarks on Sonia Gandhi.

A court ordered a case against the former RSS chief on a complaint by a Congress worker, Suresh Mishra.

"The case was filed following the directives of the chief judicial magistrate, Jaipur (City) on a complaint filed by a Congress worker Suresh Mishra," SHO Manakchawk police station Vidhyadhar told a news agency.

"The case was filed under Sections 153 (B), and 505 and 500 of IPC," he said.

Hundreds of Congress supporters on Friday staged demonstrations in the national capital, Bhopal and Ajmer against former Sarsanghchalak Sudarshan's derogatory remarks against party chief Sonia Gandhi.

Gandhi a CIA agent and accused her of plotting assassinations of her husband and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and his mother Indira Gandhi.

The following facts must be noted: Sonia Gandhi first declared her birth year as 1944 and birth place as Luciana, as per her birth certificate. This was confirmed by the Italian embassy which submitted her birth certificate to our Home ministry in 1983. Sonia Gandhi's name was Antonia Maino as per her birth certificate certificate. Antonia Maino's father, who was a mason and a fascist, Signor Stefano Maino, was a prisoner-of-war in Russia from 1942 till Italy surrendered to the Allies in 1945. When Rajiv Gandhi married Antonia Maino newspapers had written that both of them were of the same age. It also confirms that Sonia’s birth year was 1944.

As per the date of birth in Sonia's birth certificate, it is obvious that Maino could not have been the father of Antonia Maino. So the date of birth and place of birth of Antonia Maino alias Sonia Gandhi had to be changed to cover up this fact. (She justified the change saying that the date in her birth certificate was a typing mistake!) Her new date of birth became December 9, 1946, and her place of birth became Orbassano, as submitted to Parliament on becoming MP.

http://www.zeenews.com/news667793.html

BJP warns Cong to stop violent attacks on RSS offices

November 13, 2010 3:47:23 PM

PTI New Delhi

BJP today asked Congress to put a stop to attacks on RSS offices by its workers in protest K S Sudershan's remarks against Sonia Gandhi and warned that failure to do so would lead to nation-wide agitations on corruption in 2-G Spectrum, CWG and Adarsh Housing Society.

"We are giving a stern warning to Congress that if it continues with its violence and anarchy inspite of all clarifications by BJP and the RSS, which remained calm even after Congress leaders equated RSS with SIMI, we will launch a nation-wide agitation to expose Congress on 2-G Spectrum, Adarsh scam and CWG issues," BJP spokesperson Tarun Vijay told PTI.

Vijay said this violence showed the Congress was trying to "repeat 1984 (anti-Sikh riots)".

"Congress spokesperson Janardhan Dwivedi's statement and resultant attacks on RSS offices country-wide are a clear indication that to wriggle out from corruption and other scams, Congress will resort to creating violence and an atmosphere of social disharmony," he said.

Congress workers had reportedly attacked and vandalised RSS offices in Delhi, Akola, Allahabad, Jaipur and in a few other cities in protest against former RSS chief's derogatory remarks.

RSS had expressed regret at Sudershan's statement while the BJP said its views on the issue were the same as that of the RSS. But this did not placate the Congress.

"Congress actions will be befittingly replied to by the people as we replied post-1975 (Emergency) and post-1984. Neither we are weak nor defensive.

"We are committed to expose Sonia Gandhi's most corrupt regime post-independence that has insulted the country by tagging terror to Hindu organisations and compromising India's integrity in Kashmir," Vijay said.

He insisted that BJP would not give up its fight against corruption and compromises with India's security.

"Congress should not put the patience of people in this democracy to test," Vijay said.

The following facts must be noted: Sonia Gandhi first declared her birth year as 1944 and birth place as Luciana, as per her birth certificate. This was confirmed by the Italian embassy which submitted her birth certificate to our Home ministry in 1983. Sonia Gandhi's name was Antonia Maino as per her birth certificate certificate. Antonia Maino's father, who was a mason and a fascist, Signor Stefano Maino, was a prisoner-of-war in Russia from 1942 till Italy surrendered to the Allies in 1945. When Rajiv Gandhi married Antonia Maino newspapers had written that both of them were of the same age. It also confirms that Sonia’s birth year was 1944.

As per the date of birth in Sonia's birth certificate, it is obvious that Maino could not have been the father of Antonia Maino. So the date of birth and place of birth of Antonia Maino alias Sonia Gandhi had to be changed to cover up this fact. (She justified the change saying that the date in her birth certificate was a typing mistake!) Her new date of birth became December 9, 1946, and her place of birth became Orbassano, as submitted to Parliament on becoming MP.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/DisplayContent.aspx?ContentID=296217&URLName=BJP-warns-Cong-to-stop-violent-attacks-on-RSS-offices

Sudarshan's anti-Sonia tirade leaves Cong fuming

November 11, 2010 19:05 IST

Former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief K S Sudarshan's controversial statements against UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Thursday led to a war of words between the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party with the former demanding that the party and the Sangh fountainhead condemn the statement if they do not concur with it.

Though the RSS did not come out with a statement, BJP distanced itself from Sudarshan's comments and even appeared critical of it.
"We strongly condemn Sudarshan's statement. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat should tell whether he agrees with the statement or not. If he doesn't, he should condemn it openly," Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh told media persons in New Delhi.
Dr Singh said that Gandhi's personality has been of an ideal wife, daughter-in-law and mother.
"To say such things against a person who has declined to accept the Prime Minister's post is totally condemnable," Dr Singh said.
While interacting with the media in Bhopal on Wednesday, Sudarshan had called Gandhi a CIA agent and accused her of plotting assassinations of her husband and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and his mother Indira Gandhi.
Sudarshan also charged Sonia for delaying medical aid to Indira Gandhi.

"Instead of taking her to Ram Manohar Lohia hospital she took her to a medical institute. Why was Rajiv Gandhi's Z plus security was withdrawn when he was on election campaign," former RSS chief asked.

He did not stop at that and described Sonia as illegitimate child who writes 1948 as her date of birth instead of 1946 when her father was in jail.

Responding to the article, Janardan Diwedi, congress general secretary and media incharge, said: "Who removed Z plus security cover of Rajiv Gandhi? It was the BJP government at the Centre. I appeal to the people of India to maintain calm. But as a Congressman, I ask the people and the party workers to fight such a malicious campaign. I seek the support of the people of India, party workers and media to fight tooth and nail and such organizations like RSS who take pride in describing itself as nationalist but do not hesitate to use such deplorable language."
The BJP distanced itself from Sudarshan's statement, saying Gandhi was an elected representative and should be treated with respect.
"As a democratically elected leader she (Gandhi) should be respected. She is the chairperson of a ruling coalition and as a democratically elected Indian leader she deserves our respect. Whatever political differences we have with her must be addressed within an accepted, democratic framework and behaviour," BJP spokesperson Tarun Vijay told PTI.
Sources said Sudarshan's attack on Sonia was triggered by Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's statement that RSS and banned outfit SIMI were both fanatical and held fundamentalist ideology.
However, many in the BJP feel Sudarshan seems to have gone overboard.
Vijay, however, used this opportunity to do some Congress-bashing as well.
"We have fought and will continue to fight against her (Gandhi's) Kashmir policy and the ever-increasing assault on Hindu organisations, icons and sensitivities. We will also continue to expose the corruption being protected under her leadership but in a political set-up," he said.

The Rajya Sabha MP said his party was bound by Parliamentary traditions and norms.
Distancing BJP from Sudarshan's remarks, Vijay said, "I do not think the media reports that have appeared are factually correct."

Additional Inputs: PTI

The following facts must be noted: Sonia Gandhi first declared her birth date as 1944 and birth place as Luciana, as per her birth certificate. This was confirmed by the Italian embassy which submitted her birth certificate to our Home ministry in 1983. Sonia Gandhi's name was Antonia Maino as per her birth certificate certificate. Antonia Maino's father, who was a mason and a fascist, Signor Stefano Maino, was a prisoner-of-war in Russia from 1942 till Italy surrendered to the Allies in 1945. When Rajiv Gandhi married Antonia Maino newspapers had written that both of them were of the same age. It also confirms that Sonia’s birth year was 1944.

As per the date of birth in Sonia's birth certificate, it is obvious that Maino could not have been the father of Antonia Maino. So the date of birth and place of birth of Antonia Maino alias Sonia Gandhi had to be changed to cover up this fact. (She justified the change saying that the date in her birth certificate was a typing mistake!) Her new date of birth became December 9, 1946, and her place of birth became Orbassano, as submitted to Parliament on becoming MP.

http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/nov/11/sudarshan-anti-sonia-tirade-leaves-cong-fuming.htm

'Why isn't the Indian nuke bomb called the Hindu bomb?'

Last updated on: November 11, 2010 10:12 IST

Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has expressed his bitter resentment toward United States President Barack Obama and his administration for developing a strategic partnership with India while using Pakistan only for its strategic convenience. While speaking at the Atlantic Council, a Washington, DC-based think tank, Musharraf lashed out against Obama's decision not to visit Pakistan during his recent visit to Asia, the first stop of which was India where he spent three days.
The former dictator-turned-president also blasted India for everything from human rights violations in Kashmir to fomenting terror against Pakistan from its (India's) consulates in Afghanistan.

The erstwhile military dictator said that the US obviously wanted to make a play for the defence market in India, reportedly worth $45 billion in arms purchases.
Reportage: Aziz Haniffa in Washington, DC

The Indian nuke bomb is not called Hindu bomb for the simple reason that India has not been declared a Hindu country whereas Pakistan, like Iran and Saudi Arabia, is a declared Islamic country and hence their bomb is called Islamic bomb or Muslim bomb.

http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-why-isnt-the-indian0nuke-bomb-called-the-hindu-bomb/20101111.htm

Ramesh cracks down on Adarsh Society

Updated on Friday, November 12, 2010, 16:50

New Delhi: The Environment Ministry on Friday issued a show cause notice to Mumbai's scam-tainted Adarsh housing society for removing the unauthorised structure for violating environmental laws.

In the notice, the ministry asked the society to show cause why the 31-floor structure should not be removed forthwith under section five of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986.

The society has been given two weeks time to reply to the notice.

The scam relates to the controversial residential block being built in Mumbai's upscale Colaba and in the neighbourhood of naval establishments. It was originally meant to be a six-storeyed apartment block for housing Kargil war heroes and widows.

However, it was surreptitiously converted into a plush 31-storeyed building. The society has over 100 members, including former service chiefs, senior serving Army officials, bureaucrats, politicians and their kin.

Instead of thinking of demolishing Adarsh, why don't we think of converting it into a super specialty hospital?

http://www.zeenews.com/news667641.html

BJP, RSS squirm over Sudarshan 'chakra'

12/11/2010

New Delhi/Bhopal: As the Congress raised a furore and protested in Parliament over former RSS chief K S Sudarshan’s remarks about Sonia Gandhi to journalists on Wednesday, the Sangh chose to disassociate itself from its ex-Sarsanghachalak’s claims. The BJP too expressed its disapproval, saying that as a democratically elected leader, Sonia deserved respect.
Speaking to a handful of journalists at the venue of the RSS protest over its leaders being charged with terror, Sudarshan -- without directly naming Sonia -- had accused her of being involved in the conspiracy to assassinate Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.
In bizarre charges, he also called her a CIA agent and said she had blocked an attempt to remove Satnam Singh as Indira Gandhi's bodyguard (he would later assassinate her along with another bodyguard). Sudarshan also asked why Sonia had "insisted" that the dying prime minister be taken to AIIMS instead of the nearby Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. Topping it all was Sudarshan's charge that Sonia was an illicit child.
Noting that Sudarshan "said things which cannot be repeated", Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal said the 80-year-old "seemed to have lost his mental balance". He also sought an apology from the BJP, saying it drew its inspiration from the RSS.

In a scathing attack, the Congress called Sudarshan a "fossil from the archaeological museum". "No language can be more uncivilised than this. There can be no bigger lies than these. If Congressmen get provoked after hearing all this, they (RSS) will be responsible for it... The reaction from the society to it should be such that none can dare use such uncivilised and obscene language again," AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said.
Incidentally, till yesterday, the RSS was in denial mode over Sudarshan's remarks, with its spokesperson Ram Madhav claiming to The Indian Express that he had not addressed the media in Bhopal. Its volte face today was a result of the sharp attack from the Congress, plus the sentiment within the BJP that such comments were simply unacceptable.
Senior RSS leader Manmohan Vaidya said Sudarshan's remarks did not reflect the views of the outfit. "The news item that appeared in newspapers about Sonia Gandhi in the name of Sudarshanji was not the views of the RSS. The issue was neither discussed in the Sangh at any level nor does the Sangh have any knowledge about it," he said.
In Indore, Sudarshan avoided the media and did not refute or clarify what he had said.
Though some BJP leaders made a feeble attempt to fend off the Congress attack by calling it a "diversionary tactic" by the UPA to shift attention from corruption charges against its ministers, top leaders of the party were clearly not amused. "I have high regard for Sudarshanji, but I don't agree with what he has said," Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj said.
BJP spokesperson Tarun Vijay, who was till sometime ago editor of the RSS mouthpiece, told The Indian Express that Sonia was an elected representative and deserved respect.
"I don't know what Sudarshanji has actually said. He is a scholar par excellence but because the Congress is raking up this issue, I would like to make it clear that as a democratically elected leader, Soniaji deserves our respect and our differences are regarding policy and programmes of the UPA," he said.
Differences should be "within the acceptable constitutional norms and democratic behaviour," Vijay added. "We have always supported usage of civil language and behaviour in politics. In fact, the use of bad language in politics was started by the Left and Congress."

Condemnations of Sudarshan came from all quarters of the Congress. "This kind of slanderous statement can be made only by a person who has lost his mental balance," said Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. "It is frivolous, baseless and a figment of Sudarshan's imagination. Everyone knows how many sacrifices the Gandhi family has made for the country, both before and after Independence. Both Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi laid down their lives for the unity and integrity of the country, the cause they worked for during their lifetime. The RSS has been and continues to work for communalising and dividing the country, a fact which finds reflection in the involvement of some RSS leaders in cases of bomb blasts in the country. Sudarshan should have looked inwards before levelling such a despicable charge. He and the RSS must apologise to Sonia Gandhi and the country."
"Sonia Gandhi needs no character certificate from people with deformed mentality like Sudarshan," added the Chief Minister.
Asked if the party would demand that the RSS be banned, AICC general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi said: "More than the government, it is an issue for the society."
Later in the evening, Praveen Davar, Secretary, AICC Ex-Servicemen cell, demanded that Sudarshan be arrested and the RSS banned in the same way as it had been after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.
Source: The Indian Express

K.Venugopal

Friday, 12 November 2010 13:40:52
Sudarshanji has alluded to Sonia Gandhi being behind the murder of Indira Gandhi (if press reports of what is attributed to him is true) based on charges brought up during the trial of both India Gandhi's and Rajiv Gandhi's murder. In Indira Gandhi's murder, the famous lawyer Lekhi said that while all the over a dozen bullets hit her from the front, one bullet was fired from behind and it was fired from within the house by Sonia Gandhi. The court took cognizance of the charge but the charge could not be proceeded against as the revolver from which the shot was fired was never recovered. Similarly, in the case of Rajiv Gandhi, it was widely speculated that while Sonia Gandhi accompanied him upto the last meeting before the fateful day, she did not accompany him to Sriperumbudur and based on this there was a controversy at the time of the trial. Sudarshanji was bringing out the fact that far more direct charges were brought up against Sonia Gandhi than has so far been brought up against RSS leader Indresh Kumar. Meanwhile the RSS has distanced itself from Sudarshanji's statement only because the charges against Sonia Gandhi in the end came to nothing.

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4568665&page=0

Ship docked in Mumbai 'invites Hindus to convert'

12/11/2010
Mumbai: A Kuwaiti vessel docked at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Mumbai has come under the scanner of security agencies after some members of the crew were allegedly found distributing a 12-page pamphlet, Nimantran Patra, "inviting people practising Hinduism to a better religion called Islam".
The vessel, CGM Everest, steered by a Pakistani captain, Sayed Hader, had travelled from Karachi port. Officials said they had allowed it to leave JN Port and it had set sail, but they had now asked it to return. The pamphlet is from the Islamic Dawa and Guidance Centre, based in Kuwait. The crew of 33 includes an Egyptian engineer, Karim Rehman, and two Pakistanis apart from the captain.
The incident, according to senior security officials, is the first reported instance in India where a vessel travelling in international waters has been used for religious propaganda.
Certain crew members allegedly distributed the pamphlets among port labourers and provisions supply agents who had access to the ship. "They were not coming on shore but were distributing the pamphlets to Indians entering their ship," an officer in Navi Mumbai said.
Officials have noted the "target audience" for the conversion pamphlets were specifically Indians as all pages were in Hindi.
Source: The Indian Express

PreviousNext
Venu10
#1
Friday, 12 November 2010 11:33:23
Islam has reduced the concept of God to a caricature who created man to test him as if a God would not know about his creation. Then, giving man only one life time, would punish him for eternity if he does not believe in Allah. Then Mohammad is presented as Allah's perfect exemplar who had to marry an 8 year old girl when he was 54 years old. Why should Hindus convert to such a sham religion?

Fair Buddy
Friday, 12 November 2010 11:56:55
@Venu10
Brother, U are taking about Islam without knowing about it

You say God created man to test him as if he would not know about his creation..

My friend You look into ur religion, the so called Lord Rams Wife Lord Seetha was kidnapped by another lord., Just Imagine how can anyone kidnap Lords Wife,
being a god does he not know how to protect his wife - and being a God himself it took him more than 14 years to find his wife - and he took the help of another god Hanuman ( ohhh!! how many gods -- my dear" ) to find his wife seetha.
" And You Call Him Lord Ram "
Finally after getting Seetha he suspects her chastity and tests her ( some agni test )
Imagine God Suspecting another God

Before u comment on Islam -
Pls tell me how u are practicing this Khichdi like religion - Hindusim

Brother i dont want to hurt ur feelings - but u made me to do so by commenting on Islam

take care
Proud Indian

Venu10
Friday, 12 November 2010 15:54:04
Dear Fair Buddy, If you say that Hindu God Ram also had to test Sita and wonder why he should need to do that, then that is exactly what I say. Why don't you ask the same thing about Allah? Why does he need to test man? Does it mean that Allah is no better than Ram? If so, why do you want Ram's followers to become Allah's followers?


http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4568662&pgnew=true&_p=4afbbd3f-fb69-4832-a2f3-c7757e8efd2f&_nwpt=1#uc2Lst4afbbd3f-fb69-4832-a2f3-c7757e8efd2f

SC grants bail to SPS Rathore in Ruchika molestation case

Dhananjay Mahapatra, TNN, Nov 11, 2010, 10.56am IST

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court granted bail to former Haryana DGP S P S Rathore in Ruchika Girhotra molestation case. The apex court took into account the CBI closure report against Rathore as well as the fact that he has already served 6 months of his punishment. The court has asked him not to leave Chandigarh without prior permission of the chief judicial magistrate.

Rathore's plea against conviction is pending in the Supreme Court.

Among the arguments of the CBI was that Rathore was not around when Ruchika committed suicide. But it was not anyone’s case that Ruchika killed herself in the presence of Rathore. The cause of her death was the molestation inflicted upon her by Rathore previously. So what was the CBI trying to say?

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/SC-grants-bail-to-SPS-Rathore-in-Ruchika-molestation-case/articleshow/6906024.cms

Non-Muslims too can create "Wakf" property: SC

Updated on Tuesday, November 09, 2010, 21:10

New Delhi: Even non-Muslims can create "Wakf" property but it would be invalid if done with a sinful objective to subvert the law, the Supreme Court has ruled upholding the land acquisition of a popular educational institution in the national capital.

A Bench of Justices G S Singhvi and Asok Kumar Ganguly in a judgement slammed Ramjas Foundation, an Educational institution, for concealing facts from the court in order to prevent DDA from acquiring its land at Chowkri Mubarikabad for development of NCR region.

The Bench said the instituiton had concealed the fact that its earlier batch of petitions in the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court vis-a-vis its other land in Sadhora Khurd claiming to be a Wakf property was dismissed.

However, it said dedicating one's property as "Wakf" (dedication) to God can be done even by non-Muslims.

Quoting the book on Mohammadan Law (Fourth Edition) Volume I, Ammer Ali, the apex court said "any person or whatever creed may create Wakf, but the law requires that the object for which the dedication is made should be lawful according to the creed of the dedicator as well as the Islamic doctrines.

"Divine approbation being essential in the constitution of a Wakf, if the object for which a dedication is made is sinful, either according to the laws of Islam or to the creed of the dedicator it would not be valid.

"This shows that a non-Muslim can also create a Wakf for any purpose which is religious under the Mohammedan Law. However, the object of the Wakf must be lawful according to the religious creed of the maker as well," Justice Singhvi, writing the judgement, said.

By notification dated 13.11.1959 issued under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, Delhi government had sought to acquire 34,070 acres of land, including 872 bighas and 17 biswas land at Chowkri Mubarikabad and 730 bighas land situated at Sadhora Khurd of Ramajas Foundation which it claimed to have been dedicated to Wakf by its original owner Rai Sahib Kedar Nath, himself a retired sessions judge.

The Foundation had challenged the acquistion of the land on the ground that it was a Wakf property and exempted under clause (d) of notification dated 13.11.1959.

The government, however, opposed the plea saying the apex court had in 2002 dismissed the Foundation's plea that the property held by it was a Wakf property and is exempted from acquisition.

Dismissing the appeal, the apex court said "strangely, in the list of dates of the special leave petition out of which this appeal arises, there is not even a whisper about large number of cases filed by appellant No.1 (Ramajas) challenging the acquisition of land situated at village Sadhora Khurd, the grounds on which the challenge was founded and the orders passed by the High Court and this Court.

"The appellants also suppressed the fact that after dismissal of the first appeal by the Division Bench of the High Court, possession of the land was taken by the Land Acquisition Collector on 13.7.2001 and transferred to the Delhi Development Authority", the court said.

The Bench said the organisation suppressed the facts to ensure an interim stay order of dispossession.

"The principle that a person who does not come to the court with clean hands is not entitled to be heard on the merits of his grievance and, in any case, such a person is not entitled to any relief is applicable not only to the petitions filed under Articles 32, 226 and 136 of the Constitution but also to the cases instituted in others courts and judicial forums.

"The object underlying the principle is that every court is not only entitled but is duty-bound to protect itself from unscrupulous litigants who do not have any respect for truth and who try to pollute the stream of justice by resorting to falsehood or by making misstatement or by suppressing facts which have a bearing on adjudication of the issue(s) arising in the case," the Bench said.

PTI

Islamic law, whatever Islam itself may claim, must be valid only for Muslims. A non-Muslim should not have the jurisprudence to act according to Muslim law unless that person has first become a Muslim. In any case, would Muslims accept the superimposition of Hindu law upon them? Furthermore, the use of the word "sinful" in the judgement is surprising. Does Indian jurisprudence recognize the legal validity of sin?

http://www.zeenews.com/news666945.html

BJP in a fix: To slam him or not

08/11/2010

New Delhi: With Rajiv Pratap Rudy having jumped the gun in criticising US President Barack Obama for not mentioning Pakistan in his address at the Taj hotel, the BJP on Sunday went into a course correction mode and issued a gag order of sorts. However, what lay bare was the seemingly divergent views within its fold.
Some top leaders of the party hold conflicting views on the import of the Obama visit. And while a few downplayed Rajiv Pratap Rudy's ill-timed controvesy as "storm in a tea cup", the party seems to be facing a dilemma akin to the one it faced when it battled hard to take a comprehensive position on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.
While a meeting of the party was scheduled even prior to the Rudy fiasco, it cast a shadow over the BJP top leadership's huddle at L K Advani's residence on Sunday, with Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Murli Manohar Joshi, Jaswant Singh, Yashwant Sinha and Ananth Kumar attending.
Sources said BJP hawks want the party to aggressively flag off issues like outsourcing and terror emanating from Pakistan -- a glimpse of it being Rudy's feeble attempt on Saturday.
However, since the party favours "friendly and cordial" relations with Washington, the general mood is that the response should be nuanced and any criticism kept for after the visit.
During her courtesy meeting with Obama on Monday, Sushma may raise both outsourcing and terror. "I would like to see the joint statmement and his address to Parliament before firming up a view," senior leader Murli Manohar Joshi told The Indian Express.
Among those questioning the "hype" around Obama's visit are leaders like Yashwant Sinha, a former external affairs minister.
"It is being projected as if it is the second most important visit after 1912 when King George V visited India. There is so much obsession... Compare it with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's trip to the US. There must be some parity," he told The Indian Express.

Sinha argued that he had nothing against Obama's visit, but insisted that India-US relations should be "a two-way street".
Sources said the debate within the party was to some extent on these lines.
Given the controversy over outsourcing and Washington's recalcitrance on pushing Pakistan hard on dismantling the terror network, the question is whether the party should whole-heartedly back efforts to cement and strengthen ties with the US in line with its policy, or raise India's interests and concerns which strike a chord with the masses.
"The US has an elaborate social security system. But we don't have such a system. If because of protectionist measures, an Indian loses his job, a big family would be pushed to starvation. That is not the situation in the US," Sinha argued. "...The US has not said we will not do anything that will affect Indian jobs."
Source: The Indian Express

K.Venugopal
#1
Monday, 08 November 2010 11:25:06
It is rather unfair to consider Rudy's statement as a fiasco. It was balanced and sought to bring to centre-stage the point that Obama was evading - Pakistan's hand in the Mumbai attacks. Instead Obama sought to present it as if it happened in spite of Pakistan's good intentions! Furthermore, Rudy’s position is reflected in what is on the minds of today's youth because they put the same question before Obama. So Rudy must be congratulated for being prescient. Obama's position indeed disappointed Indians at large.

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4549909&page=0

Obamas visit Humayun Tomb after PM receives them in Delhi

Updated on Sunday, November 07, 2010, 17:35
Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi: After having been received by PM Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur at the Delhi airport, President Barack Obama and Michelle visited the 16th century Humayun Tomb as a cultural part of their three day visit to India.

Indicative of the importance India accords to its emerging strategic relationship with the US, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur personally welcomed Obama and Michelle at the city airport.

The visit that started at 5pm will last 45 minutes wherein the President will be shown around the Mughal era mausoleum. Humayun`s tomb, a world heritage site, is said to be a model for the Taj Mahal in Agra. Located in Nizamuddin East of Delhi, it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It was also the first structure to use red sandstone at such a scale. The tomb was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

The complex, swarming with plainclothesmen, had turned into a virtual fortress and kept out of bounds the general public.

The first couple also interacted with the children of those involved in the renovation of the complex. Obama bent on his knees and chatted with the children who were dressed in their school uniforms. He gave them gifts in golden wrappers and signed autographs too.

Before he headed to the monument, the Air Force One touched down at the Delhi Airport at 3.19 PM and the President and the First Lady waved their hands while getting down from the aircraft.
Soon after alighting from the aircraft, Obama hugged Singh after shaking hands with him and greeted his wife Gursharan Kaur with a peck on her cheek. Michelle did the same to Singh and Kaur.

The couples were seen chatting for a few minutes before the visiting dignitaries introduced to officials in the reception line including Minister-in-Waiting Salman Khursheed, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and Indian Ambassador to the US Meera Shankar.

Singh, 78, and Obama, 49, share a special chemistry and have praised each other on several occasions. Obama hosted the first state dinner of his presidency for Manmohan Singh in Washington on November 24 last year.

The Obamas are in Delhi on the second part of their three-day maiden visit to India. Specific announcements on issues like counter-terrorism, regional security and clean energy are likely to be announced after talks between the two leaders tomorrow.

Singh had received Obama`s predecessor George W Bush at the airport when he visited India in 2006. The Prime Minister had also gone to the airport to personally receive Saudi Arabia King Abdullah and Nepal’s Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

Obama then proceeded to the Roosevelt House located inside the US Embassy for the reception by the US Ambassador and will then meet the Embassy staff.
Obama, who arrived in Mumbai yesterday afternoon, paid tributes to the victims of the 2008 Mumbai carnage and said his stay at the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel, one of the targets of the Mumbai terror strikes, was intended to send a strong message. Before embarking for Delhi, Obama and Michelle celebrated Diwali with kids in a school in Mumbai and then interacted with students at the St. Xavier`s College in a typical US townhall style.

Later in the evening, the Obamas will be attending the private dinner being hosted by the Prime Minister at his official residence, 7 Race Course Road.

ITC Maurya under siege for Obama`s visit

ITC Maurya, where the Obamas will stay till Tuesday morning, was swarming with hundreds of US and Indian security personnel Sunday as the luxury hotel prepares to receive its most high-profile guests this year.

US President Barack Obama and First Ladey Michelle Obama are expected to check into the presidential suite at the hotel.

"We have placed several policemen from Delhi Police`s mounted division, ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force), and CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) personnel. Security officials in plain clothes are also manning the road," a senior police official said.

American security personnel and officials are also present outside the hotel.

Security agencies in Delhi have deployed snipers at rooftops, two battalions of Delhi Police outside the ridge opposite ITC Maurya, 15 companies of paramilitary officials and elite National Security Guard (NSG) personnel.

"We will also have around 400 Delhi traffic policemen to facilitate the movement of Obama`s entourage, on all routes it will take," the police official said.

Sardar Patel Marg, where ITC Maurya is located, will be blocked from both ends around half an hour before the American president and his cavalcade arrive. During his visit in Delhi, a five-tier security cover comprising Indian and American security officials will surround Obama.

Why is India show-casing Humayun's tomb, a member of the foreign dynasty that ruled India beginning with Baber, who destroyed the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir?

because there pretty much nothing that you may want to show is worth the attention is humayun tomb not a part of the history of this nation ????? - sgb - nis

Dear sgb - nis, It is not a history we can be proud of, unless you are the type who feels proud to be subjugated.

http://www.zeenews.com/obama/story.aspx?aid=666409

BJP asks Centre to intervene in Ayodhya dispute

Updated on Friday, November 05, 2010, 19:43

Ayodhya: BJP on Friday demanded the Centre's intervention in the ongoing negotiation process of the Ayodhya dispute.

"During Atal Bihari Vajpayee's regime in the NDA government, the negotiation started by Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati was almost finalised, now it the responsibility of union government to restart the movement from the same place where it stopped," BJP national general secretary and Member of Parliament Vinay Katiyar Katiyar told PTI.

He said, "Ayodhya dispute is not a local issue, it is now an international issue, concerned with Hindus and Muslims globally, to solve such a big issue, efforts must be done from the prime ministerial level."

Katiyar said, "We are accused of demolishing the Babri Masjid, but actually we were not behind the demolition. It was former prime minister Narsimha Rao who engineered the demolition. Even the makeshift temple of Ram lalla was made by Congress Prime Minister Narsimha Rao, BJP was not there."

PTI

What nonsense is Katiyar talking about when he says Narasimha Rao demolished the Babri structure? It was brought down by kar-sevaks and those kar-sevaks should be honoured for repudiating a symbol of foreign slavery on Indian psyche. And Katiyar was one of those who led the kar-sevaks.

http://www.zeenews.com/news666093.html

Ban on RSS unlikely to work: Congress

Updated on Thursday, November 04, 2010, 19:57
New Delhi: Against the backdrop of Rahul Gandhi equating the RSS with Students Islamic Movement of India, Congress on Thursday said a ban on the saffron outfit like the one on SIMI was unlikely to work as the Sangh has many sister organisations.

Party general secretary Digvijay Singh told reporters that there could not be any comparison between RSS and SIMI as RSS has many sister organisations and suggested that therefore a ban will be of no use.

He wanted the RSS to rethink about its approach.

His comments came after Congress went full blast in attacking the RSS and its sister organisations during a day-long session of the AICC on Tuesday.

The AICC had accused the RSS of being involved in terrorism and held that the Allahabad High Court verdict on Ayodhya title suit does not condone the demolition of Babri Masjid.

PTI

The fact is there is nothing on the RSS to justify its banning except to say that some of its members are involved in terrorism. The RSS does not believe in terrorism because it does not believe that nationalism can profit by terrorism. However, with the Congress government unwilling to crush terrorism, some of the RSS cadres may have been drawn to terrorism just to send across the message that Hindus should not be taken for granted. Therefore it is important that the Congress government stops being soft on terrorism emanating from Islam and Communism, otherwise Hindus may be forced to take to protective terrorism.

http://www.zeenews.com/news665900.html

‘Army has taken beating due to Adarsh scam’

Updated on Thursday, November 04, 2010, 19:40
New Delhi: Army Chief General VK Singh on Thursday said allegations against top military officers including some former services chiefs in a housing society scam in Mumbai has "shamed" his force and its image taken a "beating".

Gen Singh also said he was "extremely saddened" at the scam and vowed that no one will be spared if the officers are proved guilty irrespective of who it is.

"I am extremely saddened and I think as an institution we have taken a beating. In 1.3 million Army this would be a very minuscule percentage but any incident which affects the hierarchy in the army, it is a sad thing because it also tries to break a bonding that we have with our men."

"It is painful to say the least."

Former Army chiefs Gen NC Vij and Gen Deepak Kapoor, ex-Navy chief Admiral Madhavendra Singh, former Army Vice Chief Lt Gen Shantanu Chowdhary are among those who have been alloted flats in the controversial 31-storey building in upscale Colaba area.

Singh made it clear that none of the guilty will go unpunished if the guilt is established.

Asked whether army men today felt pain and a sense of shame in the wake of the scam, Singh said "yes, they do."

"I think so because nobody knows what the truth is but when it is played out this way obviously people will start saying there is something wrong. Here is a man whom we trusted, here is a person in whom we had faith, here is a person in whose order we were ready to go to battle. I think it will hurt deeply," he added.

"I think it will have a great amount of psychological impact and the second part which is even more larger is that when people look at it and next time we have cases like this, in fact we have martyrs every day," Singh said.

Singh also said the intention of those asking anything for the martyrs will now be doubted.

"People are in operation everyday in Jammu and Kashmir and the North East...People are going to say anybody who is asking for something for martyr in his family is probably looking for personal gain and that is the saddest part of the episode," he added.

PTI

Army Chief General VK Singh's interview with Karan Thapar is an eye-opener. The General did not try to justify anything. He categorically said that the image of the Army has taken a beating. This is what honesty of leadership and transparency is all about. While the political and bureaucratic elite are trying to justify the indefensible or pass the buck, the Army Chief is showing true leadership by being prepared to weed out the black sheep. This is as it should be. Congratulations General. May the other elite segments draw a lesson from the General.

http://www.zeenews.com/news665890.html

No sniffer dogs at Rajghat, says trustee

Updated on Wednesday, November 03, 2010, 20:55

New Delhi: No "sniffer" dog will be allowed into Rajghat before US President Barack Obama visits the Mahatma Gandhi memorial, a mistake committed during then president George W. Bush's 2006 visit that sparked a huge row, Rajghat Samadhi Committee's secretary said.


"We learn from mistakes and don't repeat them. It was a mistake to bring sniffer dogs to Rajghat in 2006 and it will not be repeated when Obama visits next week," Rajnish Kumar, secretary of the Rajghat Samadhi Committee, said IANS.

In 2006, Bush was received at Rajghat by noted Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande. Now that she is no more, Obama will be welcomed by Kumar.

Earlier, Mahatma Gandhi's great-grandson Tushar Gandhi had cautioned Indian American authorities against repeating the 'sniffer dog' mistake.

"I know security is a concern and it has changed the way we live. But would they have allowed sniffer dogs at Lincoln Memorial or Washington monuments before our prime minister and president visits? There should be dignity in bilateral relations," Tushar Gandhi said Tuesday.

"I also understand that Mani Bhavan (the Gandhi museum in Mumbai) will be closed for two days prior to Obama's visit. That is also not right," he added.

Obama is scheduled to visit India Nov 6-8. He will visit Rajghat Nov 8.

Deputy Commissioner of Police for security U.K. Chaudhary said he was aware of the 2006 incident and promised it will not happen this time.

IANS

What is wrong with sniffer dogs at Rajghat? After all, it is for the protection of humans, is it not? Are dogs such abominable creatures?

http://www.zeenews.com/news665700.html

Never gave 'No Objection Certificate' to Adarsh Society: Navy to CBI

Press Trust of India, Updated: November 03, 2010 10:32 IST

• Mumbai: The Indian Navy has told the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing the upscale Adarsh co-operative housing society scam in south Mumbai, that it had not issued 'No Objection Certificate' for the construction of the building.

"After we sought details pertaining to the Adarsh Society, the Navy informed us that NOC was not given for the construction of the building," a senior CBI official told PTI on condition of anonymity.

A controversy has erupted over how the Adarsh Society in upscale Colaba, originally meant to be a six-storey structure for housing Kargil war heroes and widows, was converted into a 31-storey building.

The high-rise is built on 6,450 sq metres within the Colaba naval area and was cleared on the condition of housing war veterans but now has 104 members, including senior Army commanders, a former environment minister, legislators and state bureaucrats.

The CBI has also written to the Union and the state Ministry of Environment and Forests, seeking details about the clearance given to construction of the building.

The departments have been asked to provide details like if they have issued a clearance for the construction of building and if the area falls under Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) II, they added.

However, the source said the preliminary probe suggested the area where the building came up came under CRZ I.

If the Navy did not give NOC for construction of Adarsh, then were they sleeping when all of 31 stories came up right before their eyes? Can those who are entrusted to defend our nation be so callous about an unauthorized building coming up in their precincts without their permission?

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/never-gave-no-objection-certificate-to-adarsh-society-navy-to-cbi-64159

J&K interlocutors submit report to HM, hopeful of solution

Updated on Wednesday, November 03, 2010, 00:04

New Delhi: The interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday submitted their report to Home Minister P Chidambaram after their maiden visit to the state, with their leader Dileep Padgaonkar saying he is "hopeful" of a solution of the issue but did not have a "magic formula".

The three-member group today briefed Chidambaram about its visit to J-K and presented its report which included recommendations.

"This was our first visit to the state. We gave our set of recommendations," Padgaonkar told PTI but refused to divulge details about the contents of the report.

He said, "Let it be between government and the interlocutors".

When asked about their next visit to the state and possibility of talks with separatist groups, Padgaonkar said, "We do not have any magic formula other than to keep with our efforts to be engaged with them (separatists).

"We are hopeful and that's why our second visit will take place in less than a fortnight," he said.

The group also comprising academician Radha Kumar and former Information Commissioner M M Ansari was set up on October 13 by the Union Home Ministry.

The interlocutors undertook their six-day visit to the state from October 23.

PTI

Interlocutor Dileep Padgaonkar's report, going by his readiness to put azadi on the negotiating table and his defense of Arundhati Roy's right to say whatever she wants on Kashmir, is likely to be a Jaichand's report.

http://www.zeenews.com/news665512.html

Cong accuses RSS of being involved in terror activities

Press Trust Of India
New Delhi, November 02, 2010
Last Updated: 11:27 IST(2/11/2010)
Pledging to fight communal and terrorist elements, the Congress on Tuesday accused the RSS and its sister organisations of being involved in terrorist activities. "Recent revelations through detailed investigations have exposed the true character of the RSS and its sister organisations.
The investigations indicate the involvement of its members in terrorist activities," said an AICC statement circulated to members at the AICC Session in New Delhi.
It said the party would fight "at any cost" communal and terrorist elements, whichever source they originate from that aim at destroying the national fabric.
"The Indian national Congress will fight against all such sources that spread religious hatred, prejudice and bigotry and that seek to polarise our people along religious lines," the statement said.
The statement is likely to be adopted at the conclusion of the one-day AICC session which began in New Delhi with the hoisting of the party tricolour at the Talkatora Stadium.
Apparently concerned over the spiralling prices of essential commodities, the party asked the government to "redouble its efforts" to ensure that prices remain at "affordable levels".
The Congress also put the onus of reining prices on the state governments, saying their role was "absolutely essential and critical" in this regard.
Noting that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir had deteriorated, it welcomed the appointment of interlocutors to carry forward the dialogue process with various stakeholders.
It said normalcy was being restored with the cooperation of the state government.
Expressing concern over the Maoist activities in some parts of the country, it said the extremists have caused serious law and order situation leading to senseless killing of civilians and security forces and wanton destruction of public property.
"Armed struggle against the State by any section of the society cannot be tolerated. The Government should take all appropriate steps to curb it," the statement said.
It noted that lack of development was leading to alienation of tribals and sought time-bound implementation of the Integrated Action Plan of the government for tribal and backward areas.
The AICC congratulated Sonia Gandhi for getting elected as the party president for the fourth term.
"Under her leadership, two successive Congress-led coalition governments have been formed at the Centre.
She has injected new life and dynamism in this 125-year-old organisation through her untiring efforts and selfless work and unique qualities of sacrifice demonstrated by not assuming the highest office offered to her," it said.
It also commended the "wise and sagacious leadership" provided by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying he had brought "renewed prestige" to India by ensuring sustained high economic growth amidst the global economic crisis.
The AICC also appreciated and supported the initiatives taken by the Youth Congress and the NSUI under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi "to bring about a new era of inclusive participation of youth in national service".

The Congress' resolve in fighting terrorism is demonstrated in its still keeping Afzal Mohammad alive in spite of it having received the go ahead from all levels of the due law. Therefore the Congress proclamation that it is going after Hindu terrorism is only to assure its Muslim vote-bank that it has got its priorities right and in painting the RSS as a terrorist organization it is trying to tarnish the image of the principal opposition party BJP. Hindu terrorism, to the extent that it may exist, is not terrorism to advance the goals of the Hindus, but as protection against terrorism upon itself. All the other terrorisms extant, that is Islamic terrorism, Communist terrorism and Christian terrorism (in the North-East) are terrorist activities to advance the goals of the respective religions/organizations. So long as the Congress does not understand this, it would only be weakening the nation in the name of Hindu terrorism.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Cong-accuses-RSS-of-being-involved-in-terror-activities/H1-Article1-621037.aspx

Some floors of the Adarsh Housing Society could be demolished: Jairam Ramesh

Press Trust of India, Updated: November 01, 2010 21:23 IST

New Delhi: The controversial Adarsh Housing Society in Mumbai is in the eye of another storm. The Environment Ministry has now said that the housing society has violated green norms and some of its floors could be demolished once the Maharashtra government submits its final report.

"There is no question about it that they (Adarsh Housing Society) have violated norms while constructing the building. The interim report submitted by the state government clearly shows that violation has taken place," Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said on the sidelines of a function in New Delhi

The minister suggested that some of the floors of the 31-storey building in upscale Colaba area of Mumbai could be demolished as has been done in similar cases in the past.

He said that his ministry is awaiting the final report from the Maharashtra Government after which appropriate action will be taken against the owners of the 100-metre tall building that has violated the CRZ limit of a height of 30 metres.

"Let's see. It all depends on what they have to say in the report," Ramesh said when asked what options the ministry has even as he referred to similar instances in the past when the illegal constructions have been razed by authorities.

He particularly referred to the demolition of additional four storeys of a high profile high-rise building White House at Bhagwan Das road in Delhi.

"We have some floors of the White House near Supreme Court demolished as they were constructed in violation," the Minister added.

The society, built on a 6,490 sq metre plot in the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) II, was initially promoted as housing for war veterans and widows but is in the eye of a storm for violating environmental and other norms and misusing the land granted to it.

The Environment Ministry has already made it clear that it never issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) on March 11, 2003, to the Society for construction of the residential building.

I think there is no need to demolish Adarsh or any floors of it. Instead, the whole building should be converted to a maximum security prison to jail those involved in the Adarsh scam and such other scams.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/some-floors-of-the-adarsh-housing-society-could-be-demolished-jairam-ramesh-63897

Karnataka HC upholds disqualification of rebel BJP MLAs

Bangalore, Oct 29 (ANI): The Karnataka High Court on Friday upheld the disqualification of eleven rebel Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators, who were disqualified by the state Assembly Speaker under the anti-defection law.
Justice V G Sabhahit, the third judge who heard the batch of petitions filed by the rebels challenging their disqualification from Assembly membership by Speaker K G Bopaiah, delivered the judgement

The MLAs are expected to appeal against the High Court verdict in the Supreme Court.

The case was posted before Justice Sabhahit after a division bench, comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice N Kumar gave a split verdict. While Khehar upheld the Speaker's ruling, Kumar set aside the disqualification order.

The hearing on another plea by five independent legislators against their disqualification was referred to a new bench, which will take up the case on November 2.

The BJP government had won the vote of confidence with 106 members supporting it and the opposition logging 100 votes in a House with an effective strength of 208.

Those BJP MLAs, who were disqualified are: Balachandra Jarkiholi, Belur Gopala Krishna, Anand Asnotikar, Dr Sarvabowma Bagali, V Nagaraju, Raje Kage, Y Sampangi, Nanjundaswamy, S K Bellubbi, H S Shankara Lingegowda and Shivanagouda Naik.

Former Ministers Venkataramanappa, Shivaraj Tangadagi, Goolihatti Sekhar and M P Narendraswamy and independent MLAs were also disqualified. (ANI)

By: Venugopal
On: 29 Oct 2010 6:02 pm
The Governor, if he has any sense of morality, should now resign. His was not merely a case of having a different view on the anti-defection law, but an instance of playing political games sitting in Raj Bhavan.

http://news.oneindia.in/2010/10/29/karnatakahc-upholds-disqualification-of-rebel-bjp-mlas.html

Vatican urges Hindus and Christians unity

Updated on Friday, October 29, 2010, 10:20
Vatican City: The Vatican's top body for promoting religious dialogue used the occasion of the Hindu festival of Diwali next month to call for greater harmony and trust between Hindus and Christians.

Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, has written a message to Hindus for Diwali which this year falls Nov 5.

The text, which also bears the signature of Archbishop Pier Luigi Celata, secretary of the pontifical council, calls for reflection "on how best we can strengthen our friendship and co-operation by mutually ensuring and enhancing respect and trust".

"Mutual respect", the message reads, is "one of the fundamentals for peaceful and harmonious co-existence as well as progress in society. Trust, on the other hand, nourishes every genuinely human relationship, both personal and communitarian."

"The greater our engagement in inter-religious dialogue, the fuller our respect and trust become, leading us to an increase in co-operation and common action. ...As people who hold in common the wellbeing of individuals and communities, may we give greater visibility with every means in our power to a culture that promotes respect, trust and co-operation," the Vatican message concludes.

IANS

When the Vatican says that "mutual respect" is "one of the fundamentals for peaceful and harmonious co-existence", is it difficult for them to understand that when you say your religion is the only true religion there can actually be no respect from that position for other religions? The Vatican must adopt the Hindu position that all religions are true in their own ways. Only then can mutual respect be genuine. Otherwise it would all be posturing for respectability.

http://www.zeenews.com/news664512.html

Shattering some myths on Kashmir

By E Jayakrishnan, India Syndicate, 27/10/2010

Arundhati Roy says Kashmir was never a part of India. We look at why she is wrong & why India’s position is not as vulnerable as it is portrayed to be

Myth I
Kashmir has never been an integral part of India: Arundhati Roy
The Story
At the time of Indian independence, none of the princely states — Hyderabad, Gwalior, Mysore, Baroda and Kashmir, to name a few — were part of India. They were called princely states — quasi-sovereign states ruled by the Indian princes under the "suzerainty" of the British. There were as many as 568 states in India when the British decided to leave India.
In 1947, under the Mountbatten Plan, they were given two options — either affiliate with India or with Pakistan. Though most of the princely states thirsted for freedom, that option was closed at the insistence of the Congress party. Though the choice of which entity to join was left to the rulers of the princely states, it was largely understood that the religious denomination of the majority of the citizens and geographical contiguities of the states would be the preponderant determining criteria.
Kashmir fulfilled both these paramount criteria to join Pakistan — geographical contiguity with the newly-formed state and religious domination of the majority of its citizens.
However, there was a problem: The Hindu ruler of Kashmir Maharaja Hari Singh wanted something which was not on the table — azaadi, or freedom from both India and Pakistan. He wanted Kashmir to remain independent. In spite of entreaties from various quarters including from the Governor General of India, Loius Mountbatten, the Maharaja continued to dither and remained non-committal. And the situation reached a stalemate.
Jinnah and Pakistan perceived this intransigence of the Maharaja to be a clever ploy by India and Mountbatten to pluck Kashmir surreptiously from Pakistan's grasp. So, in an operation that today can be seen as a precursor of the Kargil Operation, Pakistan launched a military invasion of Kashmir on October 22, 1947.
Pashtun tribals and irregulars, morally and logistically supported by the Pakistan army, were sent in to force the Maharaja to accede to Pakistan. The invaders reached the outskirts of Srinagar, the capital. And threatened to besiege the city.
A frightened and panick-stricken Maharaja radioed Delhi for military help. The Indian leadership argued that it would not be legally possible to send in the Indian Army unless Kashmir acceded to India formally. After another bout of resistance, the Maharaja finally yielded and Mountbatten's aide V P Menon was sent to Srinagar to secure his signature on the Instrument of Accession. Once signed (on 26 October 1947), the Indian Army was airlifted to Srinagar and the Pakistani invaders were beaten back, but not before they controlled about one-third of Kashmir.
The Reality:
As soon as the Maharaja signed the Instrument of Accession, Kashmir's accession to India was complete in the legal and formal sense — the same Instrument of Accession that was signed by more than 500 other princely states. That is a fact of history, which cannot be disputed without stretching the truth. It's there is black and white. In fact, it can be argued that it was Pakistan's folly of invading Kashmir, overplaying its hand, which sowed the seeds of the Kashmir imbroglio.

Myth II
India refuses to uphold the UN-mandated plebiscite that gives the right of self-determination to the Kashmiri people: Pakistan
The Story
When the irregulars from Pakistan invaded India on October 22, 1947, Prime Minister Nehru went to the UN in good faith to call on the world body to intervene and ensure that Pakistan pull back its troops. Based on the Indian complaint and the counter-arguments of Pakistan, the UN Security Council called for not only an immediate ceasefire, but also a plebiscite to determine the wishes of the Kashmiris.
Ignoring the advice of his Home Minister Sardar Patel and Indian Army commanders that India should not agree to a ceasefire before the area captured by the invaders was reclaimed, Nehru went ahead and not only ordered an immediate ceasefire but also agreed in principle to the plebiscite — a promise that has not been kept.
The Reality
This is the instance used to castigate India for not only breaking the spirit of the UN resolution but also ignoring the legitimate aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
But just look at what UN Resolution 38 of 17 January 1948 actually says about the run-up to the plebiscite —
"The Government of Pakistan should undertake to use its best endeavours: To secure the withdrawal from the State of Jammu and Kashmir of tribesmen and Pakistani nationals not normally resident therein who have entered the State for the purposes of fighting, and to prevent any intrusion into the State of such elements and any furnishing of material aid to those fighting in the State".
Please read that again.
The much-bandied resolution, used to whip India with by the critics, clearly states that Pakistan will "withdraw" all "Pakistani nationals" and "tribesmen" who infiltrated on October 22, 1947 from the soil of the whole of Jammu and Kashmir as it existed then, without exception. This was the UN resolution's 'first condition' for the beginning of the process towards the plebiscite.
Has that condition been fulfilled by Pakistan? Has the land 'occupied' by the Pakistanis and the tribesmen in 1947 been vacated? Isn't the reality that Pakistan occupied and continues to occupy more than one-third of the territory of Kashmir?
As a way to fulfill the mandate and hold the plebiscite, will Pakistan be willing to vacate PoK now, 63 years after the resolution? The answer is written on the wall.
For all intents and purposes the UN resolution on Kashmir is as good as dead.
No wonder then that the wily but pragmatic General Musharraf gave up the usual Pakistani harping on self-determination in Kashmir for a more practical and doable out-of-the-box solution, which unfortunately is being disowned by the present Pakistani government.

Myth III
Pakistan has always stood by Kashmir, as against the brutality of the Indian security forces in the Indian side of Kashmir: Pakistan
Pakistan in Kashmir
a) Pakistan has carved out the Northern Areas (now called Gilgit-Baltistan, almost 72,971 Sq km) from Kashmir into a separate administrative and political unit. This area, which was part of the undivided Kashmir at the time of independence, has been 'annexed' by Pakistan, as it were, and separated from Kashmir.
b) In 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5,800 sq km in the Trans-Karakoram Tract to China. The Tract was part of the original state of Jammu and Kashmir.
c) Pakistan actively encourages "other people" to settle in PoK and have even allowed the Chinese a huge presence in Gilgit-Baltistan, ostensibly for developing the infrastructure of the region.
In contrast:
a) Territorially, the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir is the same entity that existed in 1947, except for the portions gobbled-up by Pakistan/China.
b) The Freedom House Report, 2010, on the level of 'freedom' in PoK characterised it as "not free', while the Indian side of Kashmir was defined as "partly free".
d) No non-Kashmiri can buy as much as an inch of land in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. There has been no attempt by India to change the demographics or the state's ethnic character. The only demographic change that has happened in the state has been the "ethnic cleansing" of the Kashmiri pundits from the Valley. A mass exodus which has largely been ignored by the media and the powers-that-be.
Therefore, there is nothing much really that India has to feel defensive about. Whatever Arundhati Roy or others may put out on the air.
Source: India Syndicate

K.Venugopal
#1
Thursday, 28 October 2010 17:09:07
In talking about Princely states, its ascension to India or Pakistan etc., there is a need for nationalistic forces in India not to accept those British created political divisions of India as defacto or dejure reality. India as a nation has existed for thousands of years and maybe more and the nation has been celebrated in the Vedas as extending from the Himalayas to the seas in the south. There has always been a Hindu nation and this nation was not just a culturally united nation but also politically united nation having a single nationalistic spirit. Down the centuries many conquerors have come and divided the nation in many ways but no political division could kill the spirit of its national unity. Thus it is important that the leaders of today's India do not recognize Kashmir as ever been outside the ambit of India or even the idea that it can be considered non-Indian territory. Therefore there is no need for any nit-picking about Kashmir's status as artificially contrived by the British. We must think long term and plan for remerging Pakistan and Bangladesh in India. But before that we must dilute the social disharmony that tends to rise in Islamic societies.

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4504093&page=0

Prepare a roadmap for azaadi, Padgaonkar tells Kashmiri students

Last updated on: October 26, 2010 04:02 IST

Dilip Padgaonkar, who heads the group of Centre's interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir, asked students to prepare a roadmap for azaadi (freedom) by the time they return for a second visit to the Valley. "Next time when we come (to Kashmir), let us discuss 'azaadi' and its economic and strategic implications. We have to discuss it threadbare. If this is your wish, we can discuss it," he told a group of university students in Srinagar "Prepare a roadmap with a time-line which can be delivered. Make it precise, make it practical, which can be achieved in a time-bound manner," the journalist told them. The students presented to the interlocutors a three-point formula for reducing the trust-deficit. The three-point formula suggested by them included the demand for immediate release of students and youths who have been arrested on charges of stone-pelting during the unrest, repeal of all the "draconian laws" and demilitarisation of the state. "Such steps will help in reducing the trust-deficit,"a student said. Padgaonkar said he wished to see more schools and fewer jails in Kashmir.

Mohammad Ali Padgaonkar alias Jinnah:

Padgaonkar must have secretly converted to Islam. Otherwise how can he be talking about preparing a road-map for azaadi? Is he planning to be the Mohammad Ali Jinnah of Kashmir?

http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/oct/25/prepare-raodmap-for-azaadi-padgaonkar-tells-kashmiri-students.htm

Why Arundhati Roy may not be charged with sedition

Nazir Masoodi, Updated: October 26, 2010 23:26 IST

New Delhi/Srinagar: First came the calls for azaadi by separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani and writer-activist Arundhati Roy. Then came rowdy interruptions by a group of Kashmiri Pandits and workers of the Akhil Bharti Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the youth wing of the BJP.

"Kashmir has never been an integral part of India," said Roy, provoking the BJP to demand that she, along with Geelani, be charged with sedition. Others jumped to her defense, arguing this was an example of democracy on full display.

The storm erupted as the government's panel of interlocutors was in the Kashmir valley, trying to kickstart a political process.

The headlines shifted from them to Roy once she reached Srinagar over the weekend, stating at a closed-door event, "After attaining freedom from the British, India itself has become a colonial power."

The BJP reasserted its demand. "There is a perfect case against Arundhati Roy and Geelani of sedition and that's why we have also today demanded that they should be arrested," said the party's spokesperson, Prakash Javadekar.

The interlocutors, navigating their way through a political minefield, say this would be an over-reaction.

"We should see through this attempt by some people to get noticed... we should not be provoked," said Dileep Padgaonkar.

The government concedes that legally, it has possible grounds for action. "The remarks by Ms Roy and Geelani are not in good taste. And let me tell you frankly, we are concerned," Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily said.

But privately, government sources say acting against the internationally-famous author or Geelani wouldn't be smart politics at a time when the government is struggling to control the unrest and violence that ravaged the Valley till recently.

As the interlocutors meet everyone from jailed militants to young students, the separatist statement is one they will have to contend with.

"We simply told them that people here are demanding freedom - and they are genuine," says Nida, a student.

Faced with a possible sedition case, Arundhati Roy, who has famously called herself "an independent, mobile republic", threw the gauntlet back at the Indian state, saying "What I say comes from love and pride. It comes from not wanting people to be killed, raped, imprisoned or have their finger-nails pulled out in order to force them to say they are Indians... Pity the nation that has to silence its writers for speaking their minds." (Read: Arundhati Roy's statement on possible sedition case)

As India debates whether democracy should permit dissent even if it challenges the very entity of the nation state, in the Valley, the real concern is that the row over Roy may further weaken an already-fragile peace process eve.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/why-arundhati-roy-may-not-be-charged-with-sedition-62578?cp

Why is the Government unwilling to charge sedition against Arundathi Roy? Have they been asked to hang her directly? If a case is charged, it would go to the courts and this is an ideal case for the courts to consider so that the constitutional position on the matter of sedition is clarified. Let us not resort to appeasement of citizens who are wont to challenge the very basis of our nationhood in the name of freedom of speech. Clear lines have to be drawn and this is an opportunity for the courts to do so.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/why-arundhati-roy-may-not-be-charged-with-sedition-62578

Rajasthan BJP attacks Gehlot for remarks on Sudarshan

Updated on Tuesday, October 26, 2010, 22:27

Jaipur: The Rajasthan unit of BJP on Tuesday dubbed Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's remark on the speech of senior RSS leader K C Sudarshan as "an example of despair mentality" and asked him to broaden his knowledge of history.

"Whatever Sudarshan said on the Kashmir issue was based on historical facts, be it about wrong decisions and policies of Congress party or other reasons due to which Kashmir problem has arisen," BJP state president Arun Chaturvedi said.

"Gehlot should advance his knowledge on history. The language he used for Sudarshan is condemnable and shows his despair mentality," Chaturvedi said, claiming that the facts talked about by the RSS leader had been raised by several political analysts from time to time.

Sudarshan had on Sunday said in a lecture here that the Kashmir problem had arisen because of wrong decisions of the Congress party and Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru.

Reacting to the remarks, Gehlot said in a statement, "Communal face of the RSS has once again come before the public and Sudarshan is now making baseless statements just to divert public attention."

PTI

It is well known that the Kashmir problem has arisen because Nehru did not allow Sardar Vallabhai Patel to handle it and instead decided to handle it himself in the name of it being his family's birthplace. The result - he screwed up Kashmir. Compare this with the over 500 princely states that were handled by Sardar Patel and every single one of them was swiftly integrated into India.

Today it appears that the Congress is working towards an American sponsored plan which seeks to unite Indian Kashmir and Azadi Kashmir of Pakistan and give them independence in degrees. With Kashmir no longer a problem for India and Pakistan, America can have Pakistan concentrate totally in Afghanistan. The first step was marked when the interlocutors said there can be no Kashmir solution without Pakistan.

http://www.zeenews.com/news663974.html

Why we must allow Arundhati Roy to speak freely

New Delhi, October 26, 2010
Writer and activist Arundhati Roy is in trouble for saying Kashmir isn't an integral part of India. Her critics want her charged with sedition for saying that. But it will it be fair to book Roy?

K.Venugopal

As exercises in academics, those who are genuinely pursuing it must have the freedom to write and consider anything under the sun and beyond it. Nothing aught to be taboo for them. But those who in the name of freedom call for arms against civil society must be punished by laws that uphold the harmony in civil society. Arundhati in her current two theatres of activism - in the theatre of Maoism and in the theatre Kashmiri Azadi, is in both places calling for or justifying armed insurrection against the society. The nation that does not know how to draw lines would not remain a nation for long. India must decide if the likes of Arundhati Roy have crossed the line of national harmony and if they have, they should not be allowed to go any further.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Have-Your-Say/Why-we-must-allow-Arundhati-Roy-to-speak-freely/sp-article10-618030.aspx

Jethmalani backs Kashmir interlocutors over Pak

Updated on Tuesday, October 26, 2010, 15:30

New Delhi: Taking a different line from Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP), Rajya Sabha member Ram Jethmalani Tuesday said it was "childish and churlish" to accuse the government's interlocutors of internationalising the Jammu and Kashmir dispute simply by suggesting that Pakistan should be involved in talks over the disputed state.

"It is childish and churlish to attack them for internationalising the issue. Prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee by his confabulations with (then) president Pervez Musharraf and recently Foreign Minister SM Krishna confabulating with his counterpart (Shah Mahmood) Qureshi were exactly doing that," Jethmalani said.

The BJP has criticised Dileep Padgaonkar, head of a three-member team of interlocutors, for saying that there was a need to involve Pakistan in any dialogue on Kashmir, India's only Muslim-majority state where separatsit violence has left thousands dead since 1989.

Jethmalani said that Padgaonkar and his team's task of finding a "peaceful and lasting solution" to the Kashmir problem is "almost superhuman". He said he prayed for their success despite having "serious misgivings" with their mission.

"Even if they achieve partial result, the nation would owe them a debt of gratitude. Neither by acts nor by words we should add to their difficulties," he said.

The other interlocutors are academic Radha Kumar and information commissioner MM Ansari. The team is visiting Jammu and Kashmir meeting a cross section of the people.

IANS

Ram Jethmalini should remember that Atal Behari Vajpayee’s interactions with Pakistan were simply on the basis of it being India's neighbor. He never discussed Kashmir with Pakistan except to tell them to end cross border terrorism in the name of Kashmir. Kashmir is an internal matter of India and what locus-standi has Pakistan except to be told to piss off?

http://www.zeenews.com/news663862.html

Roy: I spoke against brutality

26/10/2010

Srinagar/New Delhi, Breaking her silence, Booker prize winner and self-appointed right activist Arunathi Roy on Tuesday said she pities the nation that tries to jail its writers for speaking their mind while communal elements, rapists, murderers and corporate scamsters went scot free.
Reacting to moves by the Centre to slap sedition charges on her, she refuted allegations that her speeches on Kashmir were seditious.
"I write this from Srinagar, Kashmir. This morning's papers say that I may be arrested on charges of sedition for what I have said at recent public meetings on Kashmir. I said what millions of people here say every day. I said what I, as well as other commentators have written and said for years," Arundhati said in the statement from Srinagar.
She claimed that she had called for justice in her speeches and accused the Indian state of indulging "in one of the most brutal military occupations in the world".
"Anybody who cares to read the transcripts of my speeches will see that they were fundamentally a call for justice. I spoke about justice for the people of Kashmir who live under one of the most brutal military occupations in the world; for Kashmiri Pandits who live out the tragedy of having been driven out of their homeland; for Dalit soldiers killed in Kashmir whose graves I visited on garbage heaps in their villages in Cuddalore; for the Indian poor who pay the price of this occupation in material ways and who are now learning to live in the terror of what is becoming a police state," she said.
"Yesterday I traveled to Shopian, the apple-town in South Kashmir which had remained closed for 47 days last year in protest against the brutal rape and murder of Asiya and Nilofer, the young women whose bodies were found in a shallow stream near their homes and whose murderers have still not been brought to justice. I met Shakeel, who is Nilofer's husband and Asiya's brother. We sat in a circle of people crazed with grief and anger who had lost hope that they would ever get 'insaf' -- justice -- from India, and now believed that Azadi -- freedom -- was their only hope. I met young stonepelters who had been shot through their eyes. I traveled with a young man who told me how three of his friends, teenagers in Anantnag district, had been taken into custody and had their finger-nails pulled out as punishment for throwing stones," said Arundhati.
She said that whatever she said in Srinagar on Monday and at the convention on 'Azadi - The Only Way' in New Delhi came from love and pride.
"In the papers some have accused me of giving 'hate-speeches', of wanting India to break up. On the contrary, what I say comes from love and pride. It comes from not wanting people to be killed, raped, imprisoned or have their finger-nails pulled out in order to force them to say they are Indians," she said. She also accused the Government of trying to muzzle her voice.
Meanwhile, terming the remarks made by Hurriyat hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani and writer Arundhati Roy at a seminar here as "most unfortunate", Law Minister M Veerappa Moily on Tuesday said freedom of speech cannot violate patriotic sentiments of the people.
"Yes, there is freedom of speech...it can't violate the patriotic sentiments of the people," he said.
While terming their remarks as "most unfortunate", the Law Minister said in India there are people who support one view or the other since the time of Ramayana. On BJP's allegations that government remained silent on the developments, he said, "Politics cannot be mixed with statements which border sedition."
Asked whether his ministry had received a request from the Home Ministry seeking its legal opinion on whether the two can be booked for sedition, the Law Minister said, "I was away for three days...I have not seen the file so far".
The remarks made by Geelani and Roy at the seminar had evoked a strong reaction from the BJP with its leader Arun Jaitley accusing the government of "looking the other way" when a number of separatist groups met at a conference to instigate sedition.
Arundhati had whipped up a storm by stating rather vocally that Kashmir was never a part of India.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police is looking into the controversial speech of Arundhati Roy on Jammu and Kashmir's accession to India and does not rule out taking action against the high profile writer and activist. In fact, sources in the government said that a case under 124-A under Indian Penal Code for sedition is possible against Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and writer Arundhati Roy for their anti-India speeches.
Highly-placed sources in the state home department said the transcript of the speech delivered yesterday at a seminar 'Wither Kashmir: Freedom or enslavement' organised by Coalition of Civil Societies (CCS) here has been handed over to the legal department for examination.
Meanwhile, the law officers of Delhi Police have concluded that there is a case for booking writer Arundhati Roy and hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani for sedition under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code. But the decision on whether to actually take action will be made only after further consultations at the highest level, sources in the Home Ministry said.
Delhi Police sources said they had sought legal opinion on the nature of charges, if any, against Geelani and Roy, and clearance from the Home Ministry.
If legal opinion favours registering a case against the Booker prize winner, the state police would register the same, sources said. Roy is alleged to have questioned Jammu and Kashmir's accession to India.
"Kashmir has never been an integral part of India. It is a historical fact. Even the Indian government has accepted this," she said, and also alleged that New Delhi became a "colonising power" soon after its independence from British rule.
This is not the first time the writer has run into rough weather over her speeches. Earlier, her pro-Naxal write up and speeches had forced Chattisgarh Police to seriously think of booking her for waging war against the country.
On another occasion, Biswajit Mitra, a former BSP leader, had accused her of supporting naxals and demanded action against her following which Director General of Chattisgarh Police Vishwa Ranjan had asked the state legal department to give their opinion.
Roy has come under criticism for her article on naxals -- "Gandhian with guns". The Chief of Chattisgarh Police had said in April this year, "I do not know whether Arundhati Roy has been wrongly influenced by others or she is actually a mole in the civil society. How do I know?"
Cong wants Arundhati to withdraw J&K statement
A senior Congress leader asked noted writer and activist Arundhati Roy to withdraw her statement on Kashmir, saying it was 'contrary to historical facts' and could mislead the nation and the international community.
Reacting to the comment made by the writer at a seminar in Kashmir on Sunday, AICC member Satya Prakash Malaviya said, "It was really surprising to see such an irresponsible statement from someone who is one of the country's best-known writers.
"She must withdraw her statement which is contrary to historical facts and could mislead the nation as well as the international community," he said. The Booker Prize winning author had said "Kashmir has never been an integral part of India. It is a historical fact. Even the Indian government has accepted this."
The former Union Minister said that Roy "would do better to brush up her knowledge of history and know that the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir had acceded to the Union of India after its erstwhile ruler Maharaja Hari Singh duly signed the Instrument of Accession on October 26, 1947.
"And the state, consequently has become as much an integral part of India as all the other erstwhile princely states have."
Source: Agencies
#1


K.Venugopal
Tuesday, 26 October 2010 17:57:20
Anyone who is surprised by Arundathi Roy's statements is a bit naive. The easiest way to predict whether a person is a patriot is to observe whether he or she is anti-Hindu. Thus the Mirwaizs of Kashmir, the Babri Masjid proponents of the rest of India, the Naxlite leadership and the sophisticated secularists of the English media are all pro anything but Hindu. Attempts to make such folks see patriotic light is a waste of time. Let us simply get involved in strengthening patriotism by tapping the intrinsic patriotism of the Indian masses.

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4504147&page=0