Saudi can be interlocutor, not mediator: Tharoor

Shashi Tharoor, being a master writer, certainly has a way with words – a way with linking words and a way with keeping words apart. He has sought for Saudi the role of interlocutor, not mediator. The same Tharoor had given a new interpretation to the joint statement by Indian and Pakistan at Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt, by saying it was merely a diplomatic document with no "legally binding commitment". However he uses words, the aim seems to get the message across that India is willing to sabotage herself. He should be dismissed for his anti-India positions.

http://www.zeenews.com/news607674.html

Growing fury at Dubai killing reaches Australia

Reuters Limited , 26/02/2010

By Rob Taylor
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Mounting diplomatic fury over the killing of a top Hamas commander in a Dubai hotel reached Australia on Thursday, with Israel's envoy summoned over the use of Australian passports by a suspected assassination squad.
Dubai authorities have now identified 26 people suspected of involvement in the killing of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh. Fraudulent Australian passports were used by three of the 15 new suspects named, most of whom were Europeans.
"Any state that has been complicit in use or abuse of the Australian passport system, let alone for the conduct of an assassination, is treating Australia with contempt and there will therefore be action by the Australian government in response," said Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, without elaborating.
Mabhouh was killed last month in his hotel room in what Dubai police say was almost certainly a hit by Israel's Mossad spy agency.
Dubai police added 15 new names on Wednesday to a list of suspects wanted over the killing. Six carried British passports, three held Irish documents, three were Australian, and three French, the Dubai government said in a statement.
Among other suspects named earlier were 11 who travelled on fraudulent British, Irish, French and German passports to kill Mabhouh. Six were Britons living in Israel who deny involvement and say their identities were stolen.
"Dubai investigators are not ruling out the possibility of involvement of other people in the murder," a statement by Dubai authorities said.
Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said on Thursday his country was "angry" at the use of fraudulent Irish passports in the hit and that none of the suspects named were Irish citizens.
"Whoever did this forged the passports. We are angry about that because it violates the integrity of our passport system and places at risk the security of our citizens," he said.
Australia's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, who summoned Israel's ambassador in Canberra Yuval Rotem, said investigations were still under way, but the three Australians were also apparently innocent victims of identity theft.
"I made it crystal clear to the ambassador that if the results of that investigation cause us to come to the conclusion that the abuse of Australian passports was in any way sponsored or condoned by Israeli officials, then Australia would not regard that as an act of a friend," Smith said.
French magistrates will also investigate how three fraudulent French passports came to be used in the assassination, France's foreign ministry said on Thursday.
Some of the other governments involved have summoned their Israeli envoys and the EU slammed the abuse of passports.
INTEGRITY AT STAKE
Rudd said the use of fraudulent documents was of deep concern, as it called into question the integrity of the entire passport system, both in Australia and elsewhere, and could place the lives of identity fraud victims at risk.
Israel has not denied or confirmed it played any role but its foreign minister said there was nothing to link it to the killing. The United States, Israel's main ally, has kept silent about the affair.
The Israeli ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren, said no country except Dubai had accused Israel of involvement.
"I personally know nothing about it," Oren told Reuters.
Mabhouh, born in the Gaza Strip, had lived in Syria since 1989 and Israeli and Palestinian sources have said he played a key role in smuggling Iranian-funded arms to militants in Gaza.
Ironically, Mabhouh used the same tradecraft -- fraudulent passports and disguises -- as his killers during his secret missions to procure arms, a confidant told Reuters on Thursday.
A Hamas official and Israel have also said he masterminded the capture and killing of two Israeli soldiers during a Palestinian uprising in the 1980s.
Like last week, Dubai police released passport photos and closed-circuit television footage of the new suspects, who police said arrived from cities including Zurich, Paris, Rome, Milan and Hong Kong.
Once their part in the operation was completed, the suspects fled to different parts of the world, with two suspects leaving Dubai by boat for Iran.
Dubai police also released credit card details of some of the suspects. At least 13 credit cards used to book hotel rooms and pay for air travel were issued by the same small U.S. lender, MetaBank. The bank declined comment.
Two Palestinians suspected of providing logistical support were in detention and Dubai's police chief has said he believes the operation could not have been carried out without information from inside Hamas on Mabhouh's travel details.
(C) 2010 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters Sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
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K.Venugopal
#1
26 February 2010 11:37:40
Whoever did it should be congratulated for getting rid of a terrorist.

http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3664040&ucid=302280#uc2Lst302280

Raj's latest diktat: irrigated land only for Marathi Manoos

26/02/2010
Mumbai: Taking a new line to push his son-of-the-soil campaign, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has decided to hit the streets for a new state law which will deny a non-Maharashtrian possession of any land under irrigation.
In a letter written to mark the Marathi Language Day on February 27 -- and a copy of which is with The Indian Express -- Raj Thackeray stated that following the "successful agitations"for conducting railway examinations in Marathi and making taxi-drivers learn Marathi, he and his party have decided to press for a legislation which will ensure that land under irrigation is not given to a non-Maharashtrian.
His letter to party leaders in Mumbai will be distributed to the public on Saturday.
"Apart from the on-going Marathi language agitation, my party will begin a new agitation to ensure that land under irrigation is given only to Maharashtrians. The Maharashtra government should pass a resolution to this effect," Thackeray stated in the letter.
Taking it a step further, he said existing non-Maharashtrian land holders should be compelled to have Maharashtrian partners. "Those non- Maharashtrians who have bought land in the state in the past will now have to have Maharashtrian partners and stakeholders. The legislation should be applicable to all previous transactions as well."
Source: The Indian Express
PreviousNext
K.Venugopal
#1
26 February 2010 10:23:09
This Marathi Jinnah is unable to conceive of India, just as the original Jinnah. The original fellow succeeded in getting independent Pakistan but this fellow will not succeed in getting independent Maharashtra for the simple reason that the majority of Maharashtrians are Hindus.

Kanthi
#2
26 February 2010 09:51:20
God created both good and evil....On one hand he created Sachin Tendulkar and on the other hand he created Raj Thackeray.....strange that both are from Maharashtra but India is proud of one but doesn't think the same about the other


http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3664711&ucid=302217#uc2Lst302217

MF Husain conferred Qatar nationality

New Delhi: India's eminent artist MF Husain, who has been under attack from Hindu fundamentalists for his paintings of Hindu goddesses and has been living in Dubai and London, has been given Qatar nationality, it was reported here Thursday.


"I, The Indian origin painter MF Husain at 95 have been honoured by Qatar nationality," the celebrated artist wrote above a line sketch of a horse, the leitmotif of much of his work. The black and white drawing was carried by The Hindu newspaper.

In a signed article, The Hindu editor N Ram wrote that the artist had given him the news from Dubai "by reading out the few lines he had written on a black-and-white line drawing that he released to The Hindu".

According to the report, Husain did not apply for the nationality but it was conferred on him at the instance of the emirate's ruling family.

Photographer, designer and activist Ram Rahman, who is close to the Husain family, responded to the news by saying: "The citizenship has been offered by the sheikha, the wife of the sheikh of Qatar, and it has several implications.

"On a personal note, I feel it is quite clear that the man who is 95 years old and cannot return to his country to die, there is no point of him remaining an Indian citizen."

"It would be a tragedy. He has not given up his Indian citizenship yet but if he decides to take up the Qatari offer, he will not remain an Indian citizen anymore. It is also a reflection of our legal system because the cases against him will drag on for 20-30 years.... so it is justified if he takes up the Qatari offer," Rahman said.

IANS


Any country, when granting citizenship, goes into the antecedents of the person concerned. In the case of Qatar and M.F.Hussain, it has clearly overlooked the fact that there are many cases against him for hurting the religious sentiments of the Hindu community. However, it appears that Qatar, being an Islamic country, would not care if Hindu sentiments were hurt - not even on the basis of its own sentiments being hurt when cartoons depicting Mohammad was drawn by a Danish and Qatar was in the forefront of protests against it. For them Saraswati is of no value because it is not part of Islam. Qatar has verily insulted India by granting citizenship to M.F.Hussain.

http://www.zeenews.com/news606856.html

Exclude 26/11 mastermind from talks: Pakistan

Press Trust of India, Wednesday February 24, 2010, Lahore

On the eve of the Indo-Pak Foreign Secretary-level talks, Pakistan on Wednesday said that India's demand for handing over of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the Mumbai attacks, should not be bracketed with the parleys as it would be "counter-productive."

"In my view it is better not to view this (tomorrow's talks) from the point of success or failure. Let's wait till tomorrow. There will be more clarity on this tomorrow and we'll take it from there," Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir told reporters here in reply to a question before leaving for New Delhi.

Bashir will hold talks with his Indian counterpart Nirupama Rao, who is expected to raise the issue of terrorism during the meeting.

On India's demand for handing over of Saeed, he said Pakistan's stand was very clear "on these issues, on counter-terrorism and other problems."

"There is only one way -- the first thing is that the two sides had agreed in Sharm-el-Sheikh that terrorism is a common problem. That is, the threat of terrorism is both to India and Pakistan as it is to other countries of the world," Bashir said.

"In my view, there is great clarity that bracketing these specific issues with the talks is counter-productive."

Responding to a question on India's alleged interference in Balochistan and whether he would raise it during the meeting, Bashir said all this is part of counter-terrorism and if that issue is raised Pakistan will discuss this matter.


The Sharm-el-Sheikh joint declaration with Pakistan is coming to haunt India. There is a conspiracy by a part of the ruling UPA to sabotage the growing nationalistic view in India cutting across all party lines. The result was the joint declaration which said that terrorism is a problem that Pakistan also faces and inter-alia conceding that India had contributed to Pakistan's terrorism problem vis-a-vis India's Afghanisthan/Baluchisthan policy. This anti-national clique in the ruling UPA betrayed India's nationalistic forces and compromised our policy in Afghanisthan/Baluchisthan. So long as this clique continues to call the shots in the Government, India will tolerate Pakistan's terrorist adventures and seek to give the Pakistani government a clean chit so that America can befriend the ruling forces in Pakistan and continue with its agenda, which need not necessarily be in India's interest. This clique has to be exposed if India is to be saved.

http://www.ndtv.com/news/world/exclude_2611_mastermind_from_talks_pakistan.php

Gadkari-led BJP suffers from internal conflicts: Govindacharya

Indore: Attacking the BJP, its former general secretary and ideologue K N Govindacharya has described it as a party "suffering from internal conflicts and contradictions".

Govindacharya alleged that the Nitin Gadkari-led party lacks experience and has not done its homework properly on various issues including Ram Temple.


"The BJP is caught in the web of internal-conflicts and contradictions and now it is not possible for it to manage it," he told PTI.

"It appears there is a conflict going on within the party on the issue of liberalism and fanaticism and the same reflected during its meeting here from February 17-19," the senior leader said.

Referring to Gadkari's appeal to Muslims on the Ram Temple issue, he said the latter's views cannot be taken seriously. "It reflects that he has less experience, had not done his homework well and lacks coordination".

Advising Gadkari to "think well before commenting on any sensitive issue", the 66-year-old leader said politics is a field of fire where lack of knowledge is not pardonable.

He said Gadkari had taken over the reins of the party in a difficult situation.

Terming BJP as the 'Saffron Congress,' he charged that corporate culture is ruling the party where the place of leaders are taken by the managers and that of workers by the employees.

-PTI

It is undoubted that Govindacharya is brilliant and capable. However, since he is part of Sangha Parivar leadership, it does not behove of him to criticize the BJP publicly, particularly when RSS is striving to give it proper direction. Govindacharya should join the BJP and help set it right from within. Mere criticism would be of no help to anyone except those who wish to heap ridicule on Sangha Parivar.

http://www.zeenews.com/news606507.html

Crime: Jesus shown with a can, Delhi man on the run

24/02/2010

Today’s crime file opens with an unusual case – that of a publisher who put a picture showing Jesus Christ holding a beer can and a cigarette. The Delhi publisher has gone into hiding and is on the run. The file also has the murder of a 48-year-old BARC scientist. In another case, a teenaged girl was driven to depression and suicide as the police refused to complete her passport verification. Read on.
Objectionable picture of Jesus was a human error, says publisher
Shillong/New Delhi: A court in Shillong on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant against Inder Mohan Jha, the Delhi-based director of Skyline Publications, after the police moved a petition seeking his arrest for an objectionable picture of Jesus Christ in a school textbook.
After Chief Judicial Magistrate M Challam issued the warrant, DSP (Crime) Vivek Syiem said he would soon send a team to Delhi to arrest Jha.He said the state police team would team up with the Delhi Police to investigate how the objectionable picture of Jesus -- holding a beer can and a cigarette -- got into the textbook.
The picture had caused an outrage in the Christian-dominated state, after St Joseph Girls Higher Secondary School first detected it in a primary school cursive writing textbook and filed an FIR against the publisher.
Syiem said as of now the focus of investigation will be on the publisher with the printer and distributor of the book coming in later. Skyline had issued a frontpage advertisement on Monday morning apologising for the objectionable depiction of Jesus Christ.
Jha, meanwhile, is on the run. "I apologise for the mistake. I have tendered my apology with a local newspaper in Shillong. It was a human error,"he said.

"I am not in Delhi at the moment; I cannot say when I will be back. I should be back in three-four days," he said, refusing to disclose his current location.
Jha, 40, claims to be the one-man show behind Skyline, which he started "four months back." "It was my first published set of books. I had printed textbooks for classes I to V, and had printed a total of 1,200 copies," he said.
"I distributed 200 books in Shillong in December as the academic session had not started anywhere else," he said, adding that he had not distributed his books in any other state and was on his rounds across the country to do so when the controversy hit.
Jha, who would not give the location of his office, claims to have destroyed all remaining copies of his book. "I had given the job of designing the book to a Delhi-based agency, and they seem to have lifted an offensive photo off the Internet," he claimed, again refusing to share the name of his designer. He said that he would initiate legal action against his designer once he returns to the city, but expressed ignorance of any case registered against him.
Ranjith Singh of Students' BookStall, Shillong, which distributed about 120 copies of the book, said Jha had approached him in "November or December." "We stock so many publishers because most offer attractive discounts.
We cannot be expected to be so certain about their antecedents. It is up to the school to approve the book after receiving the sample copies," he added.
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K.Venugopal
#1
24 February 2010 11:01:09
It is no doubt objectionable to depict Jesus in a manner that goes against what he stood for. Showing him with a can of beer and a cigarette, a typical pose of today's restless youngsters, would be tantamount to glorifying the very culture that Jesus would have campaigned against were he to be amongst us today. However, I wonder why the secular press is not speaking up for the publisher as they spoke up for M.F.Hussain when he depicted Saraswati nude. Secular double standards where Christian sentiments are considered valid and Hindu sentiments are up for a toss?

http://news.in.msn.com/crimefile/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3646728&ucid=300866#uc2Lst300866

FBI shares details on Headley's recces across India

NDTV Correspondent, Wednesday February 24, 2010, New Delhi

The FBI has reportedly shared fresh information with India on terror suspect David Headley and his links to the Pune blast. The FBI has also given details about new sites recced by Headley.

It is confirmed that Headley recced targets in Pune. Headley also recced the Raksha Bhavan in Delhi.

The government had earlier claimed that there was a clear link between the Pune attack and David Coleman Headley, who is in a Chicago jail after being arrested by the FBI in September.

Headley's charges in the US include working as an operative of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) to plan and execute 26/11.

At the moment we should not be too bothered by Headley. He is in prison and not in a position to plan any future terror attacks. Why are we not able to catch those who planted the bombs in Pune? There are on the loose.

http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/fbi_shares_details_on_headleys_recces_across_india.php

What is your problem, Khan asks Bal Thackeray

19/02/2010

A defiant Shah Rukh Khan has again refused to bow down to Shiv Sena and says he fails to comprehend the logic behind the controversy. The Bollywood icon also said that he was hurt by questions that hovered around his Indian-ness.

Mumbai: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who drew Shiv Sena's ire for supporting the inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the IPL, says he does not understand the "logic" behind the controversy and would have apologised if they had a problem with his film 'My Name Is Khan'.
The 44-year-old superstar said what hurt him most was the fact that his "Indian-ness" was questioned again and again.
Khan said that he would have apologised to Shiv Sena if the content of his film, released on February 12, was found to be offensive but did not do so because he didn't understand the "logic" behind their anger.
"If they had a problem with my film, I would have apologised. I have done so earlier because I do not want to offend anyone with my films, my aim is to entertain. But this was about who I am as a person and my Indianness and I was hurt that I had to clarify it again and again," said Khan in an interaction with a TV channel.

The actor said that he has "great respect" for the Sena leaders but feels that politics and patriotism should not have been mixed with entertainment.
"They are much older than me and I have great respect for them. But I did not understand why was the film dragged in between. I am one of those who believe that entertainment and politics should not be mixed," he said.
"I did not understand why was my Indian-ness questioned. My father is a freedom fighter and I am proud of that," he added
Source: Agencies
K.Venugopal
#1
19 February 2010 15:11:13
SRK's request that patriotism should not be mixed with entertainment is not valid. There cannot be any entertainment that is anti-national. Shiv Sena at no time said there was anything unpatriotic about the film MNIK. Maybe they linked SRK's Pakistani comments about IPL rather unfairly. But Shiv Sena was well within its rights to protest against SRK's perceived soft corner for Pakistan at a time when Pakistan is hell-bent on causing trouble in India. When you support the enemy, you are certainly unpatriotic. But whether this applies to SRK is a moot question. I would like to think his Pakistani comments were rather philosophical but Shiv Sena saw it otherwise. Their democratic right.

http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3639569&page=0&ucid=298683#uc2Lst298683

Politicisation of fight against terror anti-national: Cong

Updated on Sunday, February 14, 2010, 21:08 IST Tags:Fight against terror, Politicisation anti-national, Cong

New Delhi: Without naming BJP and Shiv Sena, Congress today stepped up its attacks on the two parties for their remarks over the Pune blast, saying any politicisation or communalisation of the fight against terror is anti-national.

"It is imprudent, inadvisable and irresponsible to second-guess an investigation and arrive at pre-determined conclusion by jumping the gun," party spokesperson Manish Tiwari said when asked to comment on BJP's remark on the incident.


When asked how does the party view the main opposition party's reaction following the Pune blast, he said, "Any politicisation or communalisation of the fight against terror is definitely anti-national."

The Congress' reaction came after BJP opposed the recent initiative to resume the Indo-Pak composite dialogue and Shiv Sena's attack on the Maharashtra government after yesterday's blast.

BJP's leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitely criticised the UPA Government for not taking "the nation, Parliament or even the Congress" into confidence before deciding on resumption of the dialogue.

He said as long as the terror infrastructure in Pakistan is not dismantled and Pakistan does not stop sponsoring terror from its soil, the composite dialogue should not resume.

The Congress leader also said, "Let the investigation fructify ... if any inferences need to be drawn, we are confident that the government would factor them in and arrive at the appropriate decision."

To a question whether the blast will have any impact on the resumption of Indo-Pak dialogue, he said, "That is for the government to take decision."

Earlier, reacting to attacks on his party by BJP and Shiv Sena, party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said "unfortunately, a few political parties are trying to extract political mileage out of this unfortunate incident".

PTI


Pakistan seems to be having the best of both worlds - seeking all measures to weaken India by encouraging cross-border terrorism while wanting to hold talks with India so that it can flaunt its credentials as a peace loving nation. BJP's call for calling-off the talks makes eminent sense. Calling BJP stand political or communal only reveals UPA Government's own agenda of appeasing its Muslim vote bank.

http://www.zeenews.com/news604085.html

Shah Rukh plays safe post Pune blasts?

14 Feb, 2010 05:00 pm IST l INDIATIMES MOVIES

Just when we thought the Sena-SRK controversy is dying down and things are getting better, the national media found yet another big story to flash onscreen 24/7- the Pune blast.

Shah Rukh Khan’s film, 'My Name is Khan' which faced huge flak from the Sena before its release is now running to packed houses all across the globe with SRK getting accolades for promoting peace through his film. The actor’s Berlin visit was successful, too. Shah Rukh was supposed to address the press in Mumbai on Sunday for the first time post his film’s controversial release but eventually cancelled the meet.

“Mumbai is on red alert post the Pune blast and considering the ongoing tension brewing between SRK and Sena, SRK must have decided to stay out due to security reasons,” revealed a source.

It can be remembered that SRK was of the view that peace should prevail between India and Pakistan and was also keen to have Pakistani cricketers in his IPL team. However, given the sensitive circumstances post the Pune blast, quaestions regarding 'friendship' between the two countries are bound to be hurled at him. Our source said, "If any terrorist group operating from Pakistan is found involved in the Pune blast, it would be difficult for Shah Rukh to then face questions from the media on his views..."

Having had his fair share of controversy in the last month, it seems like SRK is choosing to play safe this time around, and staying away from controversial waters.


The message of SRK's film MNIK appears to be that not all Muslims are terrorists. The point is, are not the number of Muslims who are terrorists enough to validate the general charge that Muslims tend to be terrorists or, at least, given the fact that terrorism in India has links to Pakistan, that Pakistan is behind terrorism in India? This being so and proved again and again, we should prepare for war and not peace with Pakistan.

http://movies.indiatimes.com/News/Shah-Rukh-plays-safe-post-Pune-blasts/articleshow/5572868.cms

Senior BSF officer suspended over Kashmir teen's killing

Updated on Saturday, February 13, 2010, 13:55 IST Tags:Kashmir, BSF officer, Teenager`s killing

Srinagar: A senior Border Security Force (BSF) officer in Jammu and Kashmir was suspended on Saturday and a court of inquiry ordered after allegations that the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old boy at Nishat on February 5 took place on his orders.

Commanding officer (CO) of the 68 battalion, RK Birdi has been suspended, said an official source.

The suspension follows a statement by an arrested BSF trooper Lakhwinder Kumar that he had fired at the teenager on Birdi's orders. Kumar was suspended by the BSF following an in-house enquiry which found him involved in the shooting of Zahid Farooq Sheikh.


During questioning Kumar revealed that he had only followed the orders of his boss and fired three bullets from his automatic rifle, one of which hit Zahid on the chest. The teenager died while being taken to hospital.

The sources said Kumar told police officers questioning him that he had no option but to fire as he was under the orders of his CO.

Zahid's father had earlier challenged the version of the BSF and said it was the CO who had fired at the group of youths on that fateful afternoon.

Quoting an eyewitness, Farooq Ahmad Sheikh, father of Zahid, said that the CO of the BSF had snatched the rifle from a trooper and fired at his son.


BSF authorities have moved Birdi to Srinagar from his present posting on the Line of Control for questioning.

The state government has also set up a time bound enquiry headed by the Kashmir divisional commissioner which is likely to submit its report next week.

IANS


I think the question that arises from the above report is what was the "group of youths" doing which led to the firing?

http://www.zeenews.com/news603789.html

US-Muslim body issues fatwa against airport body scanners

Updated on Friday, February 12, 2010, 13:05 IST Tags:US, Muslim, fatwa, airport, scanners

Washington: Some Muslim-American groups are supporting a fatwa issued by a body of Islamic scholars forbidding Muslims from going through full body scanners at airports, a media report said.

The Fiqh Council of North America issued the religious ruling this week that says going through the airport scanners would violate Islamic rules on modesty, Free Press reported.

It is a violation of clear Islamic teachings that men or women be seen naked by other men and women," reads the fatwa issued Tuesday. "Islam highly emphasises haya (modesty) and considers it part of faith. The Quran has commanded the believers, both men and women, to cover their private parts."

After the Christmas Day bombing attempt in Detroit by a Muslim suspect from Nigeria, some US airports are now in the process of buying and using the body scanners to find explosives and other dangerous materials carried by terrorists.

But Muslim groups say the scanners, which show in graphic detail the outlines of a person's body, go against their religion. One option offered to passengers who don't want to use the scanners would be a pat down by a security guard. The Muslim groups are urging members to undergo those instead.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says it endorses the fatwa. "We support the Fiqh Council's statement on full-body scanners and believe that the religious and privacy rights of passengers can be respected while maintaining safety and security," Nihad Awad, national executive director of CAIR was quoted as saying.

Currently, there are 40 full-body scanners at 19 airports in the US, including two in Detroit, said spokesman Jim Fotenos of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). There are plans for 450 more body scanners in US airports, he said.

In a statement, the TSA said it is committed to keeping passengers safe and also protecting their privacy.

"TSA's mission is to keep the travelling public safe. Advanced imaging technologies are an important tool in a multi-layered security system to detect evolving threats such as improvised explosive devices.

"TSA's use of these technologies includes strong protections in place to safeguard passenger privacy. Screening images are automatically deleted, and the officer viewing the image will never see the passenger."

The TSA stressed that the body scanners are "optional to all passengers". Those who turn them down, "will receive equivalent screening that may include a physical pat-down, hand-wanding, and other technologies".


"Physical pat-downs are performed by Transportation Security Officers of the same sex as the passenger in a private screening area, if the passenger requests."

Body scanners "do not produce photos", the agency said. Rather, the images "look like chalk outlines".

IANS


Scanners at airports have become vital in the light of airborne terrorism. The Mullahs are simply superimposing 7th century moralistic ideas out of context and proving themselves to be mere pests and even supporters of terrorism. -K.Venugopal - Mumbai

http://www.zeenews.com/news603515.html

Shah Rukh tweets to seek peace ahead of MNIK release

11/02/2010

New Delhi: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who is in Berlin for the premiere of his film "My Name Is Khan", says he is sad how this movie has generated angst among people despite being created to spread world peace.
"In Berlin. From the Grand Hotel and premiere in Abu Dhabi....sand to snow...the journey has begun...for Khan. Hope it ends well and peacefully. Ironic and sad...a film made for world peace has led to so much angst in my own house, my city, my country. Let not anyone be hurt is all I pray," Shah Rukh posted on his Twitter page.
"Do I say things which are wrong? My wife tells me so. Do I not make myself clear? Some friends feel so. Am I political or politically incorrect?" he added.
The actor is currently under attack by the Shiv Sena for his comments on the inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 cricket tournament. Shiv Sena had announced a "ban" on "My Name Is Khan" thereafter.
Since Tuesday, its supporters have been vandalising cinema halls and tearing up hoardings around Mumbai, forcing the authorities to arrest over 1,600 of them and to deploy extra policemen around cinema halls, where the movie is releasing Friday.
Shah Rukh, who plays an autistic Muslim Rizwan Khan in the film, also says that he has never attempted to hurt anyone's emotions in any way.
"I have never hurt anybody's sentiments...religious, nationalist or personal wittingly. I am pro relationships but not at cost of my nation...(I am) writing not to justify but to spell out clearly who I am and my beliefs. Seems otherwise I am misunderstood," he said.
He further did a personal rapid fire and posted: "I am Shah Rukh.
Age - 44. Favourite colours - black and white. Job - performing artiste. Likes - to make people smile. Profession - father.
"Nationality - Indian. Born in - Delhi. Owe everything to - Mumbai. Loves - My country India, my family and freedom. Desire - entertain all. Hate - anyone or anything that threatens my country. Wish - world peace, education for all, goodness and no poverty."
"My Name Is Khan", set in post 9/11 US, also features Kajol and has been directed by Karan Johar.
IANS

K.Venugopal
#1
11 February 2010 18:17:08
Shah Rukh Khan describes himself as a "Bloody Indian" in his interview on NDTV with Berkah Dutt. Would he describe himself as a "Bloody Muslim"? Probably not. Just like M.F.Hussain, who would draw a Saraswati or Sita in the nude but would not draw an Ayesha similarly and would not draw a Mohammad at all. Selectively secular, if I may say so.

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3622939&ucid=294217#uc2Lst294217

UK disputes Shah Rukh's claim on body scanners

Press Trust of India, Thursday February 11, 2010, London

Britain's airport officials have disputed the claim by Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan on a popular television show last week that his naked image taken from body scanners at the Heathrow airport were printed and circulated by staff. Khan claimed on the BBC prime time 'Friday Night with Jonathan Ross' show that female security staff at the airport had printed his naked image from the newly-installed body scanner and that he had autographed them.

However, the British Airports Authority (BAA) said the claim was 'completely factually incorrect' because the body-scanning equipment had no capability to print images. Also, the images captured by the equipment could not be stored or distributed in any form, a BAA spokeswoman said. Speaking on the widely-watched show, Khan said, "I'm always stopped by the security, because of the name. And I think its okay: the western world is a little bit worried, paranoid and touchy, I guess, and freely when they're frisking you".

Khan, who was on a visit here to promote his new film ,'My Name Is Khan', added, "I was in London recently going through the airport and these new machines have come up, the body scans. You've got to see them. It makes you embarrassed if you're not well endowed".

"You walk into the machine and everything, the whole outline of your body comes out. I was a little scared. Something happens [inside the scans], and I came out. Then I saw these girls they had these printouts. I looked at them. I thought they were some forms you had to fill. I said 'give them to me' and you could see everything inside. So I autographed them for them".

The BAA spokeswoman said the scanners had only been brought into use four days before the chat show was recorded and was only used for departing passengers, making it unlikely that Khan would have been put through them. She added that said there would be no investigation into Khan's claims because they "simply could not be true". The decision to install body scanners at UK airports was taken in the wake of the transatlantic Christmas Day terror attack on a plane as it neared Detroit.

Where is the British sense of humour? SRK was obviously cracking a joke.

http://www.ndtv.com/news/world/uk_disputes_shah_rukhs_claim_on_body_scanners.php?page=1#postcommentarea

Why slam SRK and spare Big B? Raj asks Shiv Sena

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena’s protest against actor Shah Rukh Khan’s new movie My Name is Khan is just “noise”, says Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray.
This is for the first time Raj, estranged nephew of Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray, has spoken about his rival party’s protests against the movie. “Such a noise is made over Shah Rukh Khan for this one statement of his. But no one is saying anything about Amitabh Bachchan singing poetry with Pakistanis for a newspaper,” said Raj at a press conference in Mumbai.
"They are demanding an apology from Khan for his remarks on Pakistani players. But Bachchan was seen a couple of days ago sharing the dais with Pakistani artistes and reciting poems. If Khan has to apologise, then why not Bachchan."
“Why is so much controversy/noise being made of this whole thing,” he said
Shiv Sena workers tore up the film's posters on Wednesday, continuing their protest against Khan for backing the participation of Pakistani cricketers in the Indian Premier League. Raj said it was a “mystery” why Khan had not selected Pakistani cricketers for his Kolkata Knightriders team.
“Why Shah Rukh Khan spoke (for Pakistani cricketers), was it for film's publicity? I don’t know, but if he did have sympathy for Pakistan or its players why didn’t he take players during auction it’s a mystery!” he said.
The cast and crew of "My Name is Khan" are attending its premiere in Abu Dhabi and later head to Europe for a screening at the Berlin film festival.
"I hope better sense prevails in Mumbai. We have worked really hard on the movie and we just want people to watch the movie," Khan said at a press conference in Abu Dhabi.

SRK was batting for Pakistan when he made his IPL comments. Big B neither bats nor bowls for Pakistan. Moreover, SRK seems comfortable calling himself a bloody Indian. Big B definitely should shirk at such usage. Raj Thackeray, in any case, is a Marathi Jinnah and therefore he is supporting SRK.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/why-slam-srk-and-spare-big-b-raj-asks-shiv-sena/109974-3.html?from=tn

Centre okays amnesty for PoK militants; can return home

Updated on Thursday, February 11, 2010, 14:13 IST

New Delhi: In a big confidence building measure for Jammu and Kashmir, the central government has accepted the state's proposal of amnesty to Kashmiri militants in Pakistan who want to return home without weapons and want to join the mainstream, Home Minister P Chidambaram said Thursday.

"The idea of granting amnesty to Kashmiri youth in PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) has been accepted. The idea must be translated into action now," Chidambaram told reporters here.

The home minister said that the government was now considering how to carry out the process of their return which involves many points to be looked into.

"There are many points for their travel back. Like identification, debriefing, rehabilitation and reintegration into the system," he said.

The announcement will bring cheer to hundreds of families in the Kashmir Valley and other Muslim-dominated areas in Jammu region whose male members had crossed over to Pakistan-administered Kashmir for arms training in the early 1990s and were now willing to return without weapons.


In Pakistani Kashmir they are living in pathetic conditions, doing petty jobs, many of them even begging, according to people who visit the area. They are craving to return home if government gives them amnesty but fear legal action in India.

Chidambaram said the government was willing to facilitate their return.

"They may have gone there for more than one reason but if they want to return we will facilitate," he said.

The home minister said the government would hold discussions with various political parties on the issue.

"Process of wider consultation would be carried and we will consult leader of the opposition and two main political parties in Kashmir," he said about the ruling National Conference and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The home minister thus put to rest a row that had erupted after central Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad opposed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's call for rehabilitation of Kashmiri militants.

"PoK (Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir) is an Indian territory, otherwise why should anybody question the idea," Chidambaram said about the controversy that had even threatened the coalition government of the Congress and National Conference.

Abdullah in Delhi last week proposed that a surrender and rehabilitation policy may be framed for the Kashmiri men in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

But Azad, a former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, during his visit to Jammu Tuesday said the surrender of the militants on their return from Pakistan could pose a serious danger to security in the state.

The idea to rehabilitate them on humanitarian basis was first floated in May 2006 when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held the second roundtable conference on Kashmir in Srinagar.

Manmohan Singh had listed this issue as one of the subjects to be looked into for addressing the internal dimension of the Kashmir issue, and at his press conference May 25, 2006, he had stated that talks would be held with Pakistan on this issue.

A working group headed by M Hamid Ansari, now vice-president, had recommended that the government should initiate talks with Pakistan to rehabilitate these youth.

IANS

Amnesty for Kashmiri militants in Pakistan? The government might as well complete its mission of appeasement by announcing amnesty for all the Kashmiri militants in India as well.

http://www.zeenews.com/news603265.html

Kashmiris wanting to return from PoK are welcome: Chidambaram

11/02/2010

New Delhi: In a significant gesture, the government on Thursday said it was ready to "welcome" Kashmiris who had gone to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) if they were ready to return after giving up militancy.
"The idea that any Indian who had crossed over to PoK and wishes to return India is certainly welcome," Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters backing the proposal mooted by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
"The idea is accepted... This idea must now be translated into a scheme," the Home Minister said, adding it was one of the recommendations of one of the Working Groups appointed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for recommending measures to address problems of Jammu and Kashmir.
Replying to questions at a briefing after meetings of the Cabinet and Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, Chidambaram said the return could be facilitated through a scheme which will entail identification, screening, travel, debriefing, rehabilitation and reintegration.
Noting that "PoK is actually an Indian territory", he said the government "should facilitate the return" of those who had gone across the Line of Control for "some reasons".
Significantly, his statement counters the view of his Cabinet colleague and former J and K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad who has questioned the idea of allowing the return as he apprehended that they could come here to "create trouble".
Thousands of Kashmiri youths had crossed over to PoK from 1989 to join militant ranks. While many of them infiltrated back, a large number has not returned. Around 800 of them are understood to have conveyed their desire, through various channels, to return home.
PTI
K.Venugopal
#1
11 February 2010 15:16:57

Is this an invitation to infiltration?

http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3622938&ucid=294107#uc2Lst294107

Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev to enter politics

Zeenews Bureau

Bhubaneswar: After saying no for years, the world renowned Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has finally expressed his desires to enter politics to clean up the political system of the country.

According to reports, the Yoga guru has revealed his intentions to join politics during an interaction with media persons in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.

Baba Ramdev announced that he plans to enter politics before the 2014 General Elections with an aim to strengthen the roots of Parliamentary democracy and clean up the political system.


However, he had clarified that he would not join any of the existing political party and instead float his own political forum.

The media-savvy yoga guru also shared his disappointment over the rampant corruption in the country and maintained that India could become an economic superpower only if an effective mechanism to tackle corruption is evolved.

Baba Ramdev also shared his views on the row surrounding the introduction of Bt brinjal in India.

The Yoga guru was quoted as saying, “The consumption of genetically modified food is injurious to health as it leads to kidney and liver disorders.

On the ongoing IPL controversy, Baba Ramdev stated that sports alone won’t help bridge the gap between the two hostile neighbours India and Pakistan.

He quizzed that we have been plying cricket for over 60 years but still it has not helped in easing tension. Moreover deliberate attempts have been made to drag sports in politics by the political parties, he added.



Baba Ramdev is no doubt a person of great capacity and stands for the best in Indian culture. A person like him entering politics would have a profound effect. However, to float one's own political party means starting from a scratch. He needs to have people who not only share his vision but also are as pristine in character as he is. The difference he hopes to make would hinge on the type of people who would make up his political party. Here is wishing him all the best.

http://www.zeenews.com/news603226.html

I am a bloody good Indian: SRK to NDTV

Barkha Dutt, Monday February 8, 2010, Mumbai

I feel hurt when people question my Indianness, says Shah Rukh Khan in an exclusive interview to NDTV's Barkha Dutt. He says despite all the success, he still feels powerless at times.

Here's the transcript of the interview:

Barkha Dutt: For the last week or more, Shah Rukh Khan has had India's admiration for standing up unequivocally to the politics of intimidation, even when most hurtfully his patriotism was questioned. To talk about these difficult last days and much much more, we are joined by SRK himself. You are smiling...

SRK: I am smiling because the last time I spoke with you, I wanted to do a fun interview with you. I had sent you a tweet saying that we must do a fun interview, which you have not done, I have not done.

Barkha Dutt: Things are not very funny around here...

SRK: They are not funny...as we were just speaking, that was the last time I tweeted you and I am back and things have changed so much. No fun interview this time too...

Barkha Dutt: We will have our time...but how is it to be back home?

SRK: It is very nice. I was very worried for everyone and when you are not in the house, you hear too many things and you know they are exaggerated but you still worry. But I am happy to be back. I was very happy being there. It was very nice and cold. Went to NASDAQ, did loads of stuff thinking that India has made me so proud and I am a part of all this good stuff happening for the country. And, strangely, you are also faced with the dichotomy that this is also a part of what is happening to the country.

Barkha Dutt: And people are questioning - there you are representing India at the NASDAQ and people are questioning your Indianness, your patriotism.

SRK: And that is one thing no Indian should be questioned on because you don't have to ask and you don't have to explain why you have to love your motherland. How you are and I am, strangely very proud, strangely but naturally, that my dad was a freedom fighter and I don't have very many principles, I am a movie star...(laughs)

Barkha Dutt: You are being self-deprecating as usual...

SRK: No, but you are self-centred, you do your job, you want a comfortable life. You want to have a good life, you want to do entertainment...Maybe I have made compromises in my life and I will never deny that, but I know that I have been a good citizen, I pay my taxes, I try to be okay law-wise and then suddenly you are subjected to questioning of this form and I get very emotional about the things that people say...because my parents gave me nothing else. I am very proud of the Tamrapatra that my father has and I feel very special, especially with the people of my age group because my father was a freedom fighter, he gave me this country. So, I have this strange positive chip on my shoulder that I really like this. And when somebody asks and says that you are not a nice guy and you are not patriotic enough, I find it very strange.

Barkha Dutt: One of your tweets said that you are back and you are busy proving that you are Indian. You were being sarcastic. You know that you don't really have to prove this to 99 per cent of this country. There is that one per cent fringe but....

SRK: Yeah, and it is so strange. I mean everyone knows that Barkha, everybody believes that we cannot start describing one man, two men, ten people's actions to a certain country...and there is nothing wrong. I was watching one of your programmes...I think Mr Pankaj Pachauri...and he was saying something and there were some actors where one of them said that we have some issues with the country and we shouldn't say anything good about it. I say whatever issue we have, let's kill those guys and hang them for troubling India. Let's not even say that we will play cricket with them. Let's not be so insensitive like that. Even if we are being sarcastic, or angry or disturbed and say make that person the captain of your team. That is not right for people who have lost their lives to hear evil or sarcasm or anger or a passionate outburst from anyone and those people should be punished, but the rest of us meet them all over the world...your channel is carrying something about forming relationships and building ties and buses are going to the other side...

Barkha Dutt: The governments are about to begin talking officially...

SRK: Just now? So why is it such a...and sports, every time I know this question has arisen...two years ago they all came and played here...there were no issues...Shoaib Akhtar came and took a lot of wickets...we lost badly to Mumbai Indians...the thing is that sports and culture, these are the things which bind us together. Now those things are being questioned, that is a little sad.

Barkha Dutt: I remember meeting you after 26/11 and I remember how angry you were...it took you a while to come out and speak because you were disturbed by what had happened. Now it is your position on 26/11 which is being questioned. You are being accused of not being sensitive to those who died in 26/11.

SRK: I didn't see it like that...but yeah...

Barkha Dutt: I am not saying that...that is what the people accusing you are saying.

SRK: I think any of us, normal people, who may not have the chance of talking about their patriotism, also how can any one have two different points of view on what happened on 26/11? Naturally we can't have it, we would never have it...because we all know what happened was totally wrong...and here I was trying to, being a Muslim and being an Indian, was trying to say that we should not over-react. And I was saying exactly the same thing actually. Let's not take the side of those people because they are bad human beings but it does not mean that the rest are also like this. Let's try to keep some kind of equilibrium, some kind of sanity...obviously when the government from the other side says that all those people were not from here...those denials are all a part of politics and now it is all coming around and there will be international pressures and it is exactly what I said then that I am saying now. And suddenly on the eve of the release of your film, it starts getting even more vulnerable and disturbing and then there will be the other point of view that this was for publicity...

Barkha Dutt: I have been accused of having a tie-up with you to promote this film...people accusing you are utterly bigoted and revolting...so in some way it is being read that I have a My Name Is Khan (MNIK) tie-up...

SRK: (...laughs...)

Barkha Dutt: But no, more seriously, look back at this week. Did you consider, did you contemplate at any point that this is not worth the fuss...let me go and say sorry.

SRK: As I sit here and talk, I think that it is not worth the fuss, day before yesterday I thought, since the day it started I thought it was not worth the fuss. When I say this I say this with a lot of humility that I am not confrontational about this. I am not scared to be confrontational about any issue that needs confrontation. But this does not need any confrontation. Is it worth the fuss, man...? I will give you an example...If certain things happen with my earlier films, certain people said we don't like this work...we said why, he said my daughter is teased when she uses the word baba...so I felt very bad and I said remove it and everybody told me not to back down but I said I am not backing down. I think if somebody's child feels bad, let it be. There was a set of Muslim people who thought that I had said something wrong in the Marjani song. And I said I didn't mean it, I explained the song to them and I apologised to them...I am not being confrontational. In this case there should have been no fuss. What is the fuss about? And again I say with all humility that we should have good relationships with everybody. And if I have taken the name of Pakistan or any other country what is the harm in it? I have not understood this. So that is why when people tell me are you going to retract, I don't know what to retract? So, here on your show I will say -- let's not be friendly to any country in the world. It's okay, thing over, let my film release with happiness.

Barkha Dutt: I hope Bal Thackeray is watching this interview.

SRK: It's okay, I will say whatever they want me to say or retract. Even if I say this in all seriousness, will that change the fact that we should be friendly to all the neighbouring nations? Who am I? In that programme they said why didn't I buy a Pakistani player? Razzaq...he injured his wrist. At 12 O'clock I had to rush to town...I am not talking about Pak players as from Pakistan. I am talking about them as players. Even if I didn't choose them, it was not based on the fact that they were from Pak but it was based on merit. My team has been losing. I can't take them on an emotional basis.

Barkha Dutt: So are you saying that out of all 12 Pak players, you only found Razzaq wanting on the basis of merit?

SRK: See they are going to have some thoughts now on T20 and at the space we are lying in, I have to go by some thought. We thought it was a secret but six months back people knew that we are trying to buy him. I personally requested so many teams not to buy him because I really needed him but he broke his wrist. There is an issue today if you try to take a Pak player in your team.

Barkha Dutt: Now, what do you mean...this part of your statement did not get enough media attention. There is an issue...what is the issue?

SRK: This is it. I have only said it and the world has broken all around me. So if you are sitting as a businessman you will be skeptical about your choices.

As a team owner, you start thinking should we play or not..there might be some problem...no...good sense prevails but there was a diktat that it shouldn't be allowed.. Australian players? I don't know! Why get into a mess?(Pange mein kyun ghusu?) {vacillating between the two stands..should I or shouldn't I?}

Barkha Dutt: Do you think that's what happened?

SRK- 100 percent!

Barkha Dutt: Do you think the franchisees somewhere decided subconsciously that God knows what happens when we buy a Pak player, koi aur jhanjhat na pad jaaye?

SRK: There were many issues, that of visas, NOCs, security and the main issue was whether they will be allowed to play in Mumbai or not. It is not allowed here.

Barkha Dutt: By whom?

SRK: By groups like the Shiv Sena. They might just say No. Even though they played the last time, you can never be sure. And you are saying that this is an unconscious decision. It is conscious, that you decide, let's take someone else. But I was very keen. My captain and my coach wanted a certain player but it was unfortunate that he hurt himself. We were very clear...the only player we wanted was Abdul Razzaq.

I think they spoke with him also and then he gave an interview and we spoke with him. There are rules that you can't buy him out of auction. So, he was brought into the auction...he hurt himself and he went away and we couldn't take him, so we took the next best choice...or whatever we felt was the nicest thing to do. I was just trying to explain on Dr. Prannoy Roy's show that it is an issue that people have to consider these things...it's a big business, stakes are high. Just me mentioning that there are these things has resulted in such problems for the last seven days.

Barkha Dutt: But there are people who think you made these nice statements about Pakistan...that there should be neighbourly relations and people-to-people contact should be there. But when it came to the actual bidding, how come you didn't want other than one player. My question to you is, did all these other factors that you've spoken about...the fact there could be complications, stop you?

SRK: There are only personal merit thoughts about each player...the second best choice that we always had was Shane Bond or Roach. I think we wanted a pace bowler...we wanted a top pace bowler who could bowl over 145/143 kind of a thought. That was very clear... I'm giving you the strategy of my team.

Barkha Dutt: That's okay...larger picture.

SRK: Larger picture yeah...so we wanted a pace bowler very clearly. With that we had one player to choose from, we had just one slot so we went for it...and beyond that there was no decision. I hadn't gone for the auction because I was there till 3.30 in the morning...and I had some work for the film. So, I got back and we didn't consider any nationality while deciding the players.

Barkha Dutt: What do you think the others did? Why do you think nobody got picked up?

SRK: I don't know, I can't speak for others but you and I could think it could be because of this. But it would not be right for me to think about it. Because when it had come down to the auction, everyone was a little unfriendly. We were like no no no, we won't tell and everybody would do their own thing. I'm not trying to say that Shah Rukh is saying nice things...but when I'm thinking about it...maybe just logically thinking about it...if I have a problem tomorrow, I would think to myself, lelenge kya yaar phir?

Barkha Dutt: High risk.

SRK: It's a high risk thing and it's unfortunate and if that makes me look like a coward, so be it. But at least I spoke about it. I may not have taken a player, but I spoke about it and I stick to it and I believe in it. I totally believe that anyone who is not related to terrorism or bad deeds from any nation, we cannot club them together...I kept repeating this...then by that logic we should not take anyone from Goa...because there is a Goan gentleman...sorry I should not be saying gentleman, there was a Goan who raped a nine-year-old girl from Russia. If suppose I think that is anti-national...if I think that you have raped a nine-year-old little girl and that it is hugely anti-national...that we should not have anyone from Goa also.

Barkha Dutt: Or Australia.

SRK: Or Australia...so if things like this are going to be, then how are we not looking at ourselves...haven't we done some corporate crimes all over the world? So does that mean all Indians are corporate cheats? There have been bad guys, I don't know about the London bombing? There was one person who got burnt, if I'm not mistaken? And his brother was in Australia and some SIM card thing happened but he was in it. So all Indians are terrorists?

Barkha Dutt: The Glasgow bombing, Yes.

SRK: And it is amazingly ironic because maybe I am brown...and maybe my name is Khan, so in America I would be treated like this anyway so that sort of irks me a bit. I followed the rule but yeah it irks me a bit that arre yaar yahan pe yey problem ho gaya...suddenly I'm clubbed as part of a group. I'm part of that group, I'm sure all of Indians are clubbed in that group when we travel abroad and we don't like it. So how come we don't mind them...

Barkha Dutt: So the least we can do is not label other people?

SRK: We should not label because we don't like the label...I've been frisked, I've been stopped at airports. It's not a big issue but na ho to better hai...instead of having to do all this...there are two ways to look at it: oh mere saath hota hai, mai sab ke saath karunga, but I don't think that's very mature. I don't think it's logical and I don't think it's democratic.




What SRK said was, “If I was not in such a vulnerable position of being a movie star, I am going to show power. I am a thinking bloody Indian. I will show power then.” Why has NDTV headlined it as, "I am a bloody good Indian"? One secular individual (Berkha Dutt) trying to save another secular individual's (SRK) arse?

http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/i_am_a_bloody_good_indian_srk.php?page=1

http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/as_a_movie_star_im_vulnerable_srk.php

On SRK comment in India Today

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/83193/Ask%20Prabhu/Shah+Rukh+Khan+has+insulted+all+the+Indians+by+saying+on+NDTV+that+I+am+bloody+Indian,+he+meant+all+Indians+are+bloody+Indians.+What+a+dirty+way+of+presenting+the+people+of+India..html

Gadkari may’ve nine gen secys

10 Feb 2010, 0534 hrs IST, ET Bureau


NEW DELHI: BJP is contemplating raising the number of general secretaries from seven to nine at the national level, to provide more representation

to women and other sections. As things stand, the party president is empowered to appoint seven general secretaries (including the one in-charge of organisation), nine vice-presidents and as many secretaries. The party is now thinking of increasing the number of general secretaries to nine to give more voice to women and weaker sections and have a better geographical coverage. A final decision on the proposal, however, is yet to be taken.

Having formally been elected as BJP president here on Tuesday, Mr Nitin Gadkari can now be expected to rivet his attention to finalising the composition of his team of office-bearers to rev up the organisational machinery. The list is expected to be announced soon after the conclusion of the three-day-long national executive-cum-council at Indore on February 19.

The team, according to party sources, is likely to represent a blend of youth and experience. While Ram Lal is certain to be retained as the general secretary in-charge of organisation, Anant Kumar is expected to emerge as the senior-most general secretary. Thawar Chand Gehlot, a SC leader from Madhya Pradesh who was a member of Rajnath Singh’s team, is also likely to remain a general secretary.

Former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje and former Goa CM Manohar Parrikar are likely to make their debut at the national level by being accommodated as general secretaries. Ravi Shankar Prasad, who is at present in the panel of spokesmen, is likely to be elevated as one of the general secretaries. So is Dharmendra Pradhan, a secretary in the outgoing team.

The new party president is casting his net wider to zero in on more women office-bearers. Giving adequate representation to the minority community is also high on his agenda. There is talk that former Union minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain and Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu may find berth in the new team.

Hamirpur MP Anurag Singh Thakur is being tipped to head BJP’s youth wing, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, even though he faces stiff competition from Pilibhit MP Varun Gandhi. The party brass is seriously thinking of entrusting the latter with some responsibility.


Varun Gandhi deserves to be entrusted with major responsibility as he was bold enough in the last election campaign to raise deep rooted Hindu concerns.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Gadkari-mayve-nine-gen-secys/articleshow/5554341.cms

VHP calls for boycott of My Name is Khan

Tuesday, February 9, 2010, 11:13 [IST]
By Raymond Ronamai

Shahrukh Khan's latest offering My Name is Khan is in for another big trouble with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) calling for a nationwide boycott of the film. The VHP general secretary Pravin Togadia called Shahrukh a traitor and called for boycott of his film. He even threatened to pull down the posters of the film.
However, the VHP is against the Shiv Sena's view that Mumbai is only for Marathis. Pravin Togadia said that every inch of India belongs to all Indians and every Indian has the right to stay with dignity in any part of the country. He added that India won't survive if 'Mumbai for only Marathis' stand prevails.


Shahrukh Khan has received flak from political outfit Shiv Sena for supporting the Pakistani cricketers at the IPL. However, the Shiv Sena has soften its stand with the Chief of the party Bal Thackeray declaring that they would not disturb the release of My Name is Khan.

But just as the problem is about to be solved, the VHP has stepped in to disrupt the release of My Name is Khan this Friday. Shahrukh and Kajol are acting together after 8 long years in this film produced by Karan Johar

Shah Rukh Khan should be boycotted if only for his usage of the phrase “Bloody Indian” in his interview with Berkha Dutt on NDTV.

http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/news/2010/my-name-is-khan-boycott-vhp-090210.html

Thackeray to judge if Aussies can play IPL

PAWAR'S APPEAL TO SENA CHIEF

CNN-IBN
Published on Sun, Feb 07, 2010 at 20:54, Updated on Sun, Feb 07, 2010 at 23:09 in India section
Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray has asked the Indian cricket board to give him a “presentation” before he decides on letting Australian cricketers play at the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Mumbai.
Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Shashank Manohar, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, visited Thackeray at his residence in Mumbai on Sunday and urged him not to oppose the participation of Australian cricketers. Thackeray’s son Uddhav, executive president of the Shiv Sena, drove down from Pune for the meeting.
Pawar, a former BCCI president, didn’t speak to reporters but Manohar said Thackeray would “consider” the matter.
“We presented our viewpoint before Thackeray on this critical issue. We also explained to them the format of the IPL teams and matches and how there were one or two Australian players in each team. He agreed to consider the issue in a couple of days,” said Manohar.
“We have tried to convince him that the entire Australian team is not coming. Mr Thackeray was considerate enough and he asked to us give us a detailed presentation. So within a day or two we would give him a detailed presentation on the format of the tournament and the number of Australian players. Thereafter he would consider our request,” said Manohar. The IPL will also make a presentation on the issue before Thackeray.
The Shiv Sena has said it would not permit Australian players to play in Mumbai to oppose the attacks on Indians in that country.
The Australian cricket players association had expressed reservations about the players security in Mumbai, in light of the Sena's threats.
Rohit Chandavarkar, CNN-IBN’s political editor, west, says Pawar’s visit to the Thackeray residence would be a matter for the Shiv Sena.
The party is perceived to have been outsmarted by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who visited Mumbai on Friday but Shiv Sena workers failed to protest against him.
The Shiv Sena on Saturday backed away from protesting against actor Shah Rukh Khan, the owner of an IPL team, for favouring the inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the IPL and says it will not block the release of his new film. The party softened its stand against Khan after finding that the popular mood was not in its favour.
Pawar’s visit to the Thackeray residence will, however, lift the party’s spirit, says Chandavarkar.

What is most important for any individual anywhere in the world is that his nation survives so that he, as a citizen of the nation, survives. If we, in the name of money, sports or entertainment neglect the threat to our Indian identity and not be bothered when Indians are being attacked in Australia only because they are Indians, then we would be left with no nation to build our economic security, play sports and be entertained. Australians should not be allowed to play in IPL as a protest against the inability of the Australian authorities to prevent attacks upon Indians in Australia.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/thackeray-to-judge-if-aussies-can-play-ipl/109815-3.html?from=tn

Look poor to avoid attack: Oz top cop to Indians

Updated on Sunday, February 07, 2010, 11:48 IST Tags:Indian students, Australia racism, Simon Overland
Melbourne: Indian students living in Australia have slammed Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland’s advice that they should not work as taxi drivers and should “look as poor as you can” to avoid being assaulted.


Overland had made the comments at an international students’ safety forum attended by about 150 people in the city on Saturday.

“Don’t display your iPods, don’t display your valuable watch, don’t display your valuable jewellery. Try to look as poor as you can,” Overland said before adding that foreign students should try to avoid living in Melbourne’s poorer suburbs where crime rates are higher.

However, Federation of Indian Students of Australia secretary Gautam Gupta blasted the advice, saying that Indians should not have to look “poor” to feel safe.

“What is he saying? Indians don’t have the right to be rich? And if they look rich, do they maybe have to get bashed? On one hand, everyone should look poor. On the other, don’t live in poor areas. I don’t understand,” The Age quoted Gupta, as saying.

He further said that taxi drivers had a right to feel safe no matter what their nationality is.

“It’s a workplace. Every workplace should be safe. I think it's a ridiculous idea. It is blaming the worker. It is blaming the victim,” Gupta said.

Australia not a racist country: Lee

Though the Indian media has gone to town describing Australia as a country where racism, especially against the Asian minority thrives, the continent’s pin-up boy – Brett Lee – has taken the initiative in saying this is not the case.

Lee is virtually playing the ambassador's role for Australia. He returned from the subcontinent last week concerned at the Indian media's perception of Australian society.

"I've been trying to explain to the Indian media that we're not a racist country," The Daily Telegraph quoted him, as saying.

"The general chit-chat around the Indian public is fine, they love Australians coming to their country, but most of the problems seem to be driven through the Indian media. I tried to make it very clear over there that Australian people and our society, which is so multi-cultural, welcome Indian people with open arms. What has happened is terrible, no matter who's at fault," he said.

ANI


It is said that the first Australian immigrants were criminals deported from England. So now Indians are being advised to look as poor as they can so that the latent criminal tendencies of the present day generation of the original criminals are not aroused. Talk of treating the symptoms!

http://www.zeenews.com/news602226.html

Rahul Gandhi addresses students in Kerala

NDTV Correspondent, Saturday February 6, 2010, Thiruvananthapuram

A day after making a statement to the Shiv Sena and their threatening ways in Mumbai, Rahul Gandhi is in Kerala, continuing with his countrywide interaction with young people.

Rahul addressed about 100 elected members of the district and state level members of the Kerala Students Union and those from Lakshadweep.

Referring to his impromptu train ride in Mumbai on Friday he said that though there had been a few Sena protesters on the train, there were thousands of supporters. He also said this was the way to oppose the Sena, not by violence but by mobilising people.

On his visit to Mumbai on Friday, Rahul Gandhi addressed college students and urged them to join politics.

It is interesting that Rahul Gandhi's logic painted himself in a corner while interacting with students in Mumbai when he said that his great great-grand father was from UP and therefore he was a UPite, his great grandfather was from Kashmir and therefore he was a Kashmiri, his grandfather was from Mumbai and therefore he was a Mumbaiite and his mother was from Italy and therefore he was an ...! He caught himself in time to avoid his slip of logic and went on to say that he is from Delhi and therefore he was a Delhiite, which, therefore, qualified him to be a pucca Indian. Moreover, he appears to have got his personal history wrong when he said that his forefathers went from UP to Kashmir whereas Nehru in his Discovery of India writes that they were originally from Kashmir and settled in UP. A slip of knowledge here. His commuting in a local train in Shiv Sena's den appears to have excited him so much that he got his logic and facts wrong!

http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/rahul_gandhi_addresses_students_in_kerala.php

Varun wants BJP focus on the Ganga, cows and temples

Updated on Saturday, February 06, 2010, 19:34 IST

Bulandshahr (Uttar Pradesh): Contrary to new party chief Nitin Gadkari's campaign for development, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Varun Gandhi on Saturday said the party should focus on the Ganga, safety of cows and care of temples.

"Price rise is an issue alright, but we should not forget what our party was formed for. We should not compromise on our self-respect," he said while addressing a rally at Shikarpur here.


"If we don't fight for our self-respect, the Ganga (river), Gau mata (cows), our temples and the youth, then everything else will fall apart," he added.

He said he has constructed around 200 temples in his parliamentary constituency of Pilibhit with his own money.

"While I was coming here, I saw many minars on the way. But I don't have any problem with that. What I feel bad about is the poor condition of our temples today. They are the signs of our faith and we should do everything to take care of them," Gandhi said.

Even as slogans of "Jai Shri Ram" raged on, Gandhi said: "I will ensure that no cow slaughter takes place here and if you hear of any such case, you can call me any time and I will be there. We will get our hands cut off, but won't let any cow get slaughtered".

Gandhi said the country wants strong leadership today.

"People want a completely new kind of politics. They don't want leaders to sit in their bungalows and not visit their constituency. Unlike others, even after I won the elections, I regularly keep visiting my constituency," he said.

Gandhi also spoke about issues of land acquisition and the plight of farmers.

IANS


Varun Gandhi is right. BJP should focus on Hindutva issues. Development would take care of itself, powered as it is by the realities of economics. What should be ensured is the prevention of corruption in development. While development would take care of the material needs of the citizens, it is only the high concepts of Hindutva that can ensure that our citizens value the merits of bearing an upright character.

http://www.zeenews.com/news602103.html