Swami Nityananda quits as head of his ashram, its trusts

Bangalore: Self-styled godman Swami Nityananda, who was purportedly caught in a sleazy video footage, today announced his decision to resign as head of his Dhyanapeetam ashram and from all trusts associated with it, living a life of "spiritual seclusion" for an indefinite time.

"I have decided to live a life of spiritual seclusion, for some indefinite time....and to enable the Dhyanapeetam to function with such amended agenda as may be necessary, I am resigning as the head of the Dhyanapeetam and from all the trusts associated with it," he said addressing his followers on his official website.

"In view of the developments in the last three weeks following the media reports about me as the head of Dhyanapeetam, (located at Bidadi near Bangalore), I had met some of the leading acharyas of Hindu Dharma at Haridwar Kumbh Mela," Nityananda, facing criminal cases, including that of rape, said.

He said he had briefed them about what was fact and what was fiction. "Candidly discussing what had happened, I had sought their spiritual and moral support, guidance for me, and their views on the future course of Dhyanapeetam."

I had also undertaken that I would act entirely in accordance with their counsel," the swami, whose purported sleazy acts in company of a Tamil actress were aired by TV channels on March 3, said in the message, also telecast on Youtube.

"I have decided to live a life of spiritual seclusion, for some indefinite time, to which the acharyas have agreed in principle," said the swami, whose plea for anticipatory bail and quashing of the cases against him has been turned down by the Karnatka High Court.

"In view of this, and to enable the Dhyanapeetam to function with such amended agenda as may be necessary, I am resigning as the head of the Dhyanapeetam," the 32-year old Nityananda said.

"A board of trustees consisting of sadhakas of Dhyanapeetam who are non-controversial, will henceforth manage Dhyanapeetam," he said.

Urging his devotees to continue on the path of spiritualism, he said, "Whenever if required I will return and talk about all that had happened as an independent witness to my conduct with a clean heart and clean soul and also in a less prejudiced atmosphere."

The swami, whose whereabouts are not known, has claimed that the images in the video have been morphed and he had not done anything illegal.

In his petition in the High Court, he alleged that one of his former disciples and driver Kurup Lenin (who he has claimed to have leaked the sleaze video) conspired to defame him and his ashram by levelling such charges against him.

The court termed as "unfounded" Nityananda's apprehension that he could be arrested and directed him to to approach the proper forum to seek bail.

Karnataka CID police yesterday sought information from "victims" of the godman against whom it has launched a probe.

Nityananda has been booked under various sections of IPC relating to deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religious beliefs, rape, unnatural sex, cheating, criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy.

PTI

The swami continues to be wishy-washy. What was required was a clear cut statement on whether he had sex or not. If yes, his position as a religious head claiming the path of sanyas is not tenable. If no, he has to go for the kill against those who sought to malign not just him but the institution of sanyas. As swami has vowed a life of "spiritual seclusion" and has resigned from his posts, it is assumed that he has tacitly acknowledged that the CD is genuine. What prevents him from conceding to his faults instead of seeking to be mystical about the whole thing and thereby running away from the truth?

http://www.zeenews.com/news615136.html

Congress to Amitabh: Do you endorse Modi's role in riots?

29/03/2010

New Delhi: Firing a salvo at Amitabh Bachchan, Congress today asked whether he endorses Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's "role" in the 2002 "pogrom" or condemns it.

"Does he (Amitabh) condemn the role of Narendra Modi in the 2002 Gujarat pogrom of 2002 or he endorses it?...What does he say about the Gujarat massacre and fake encounters that took place since Modi took over," Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari asked at a briefing here.
His salvo at the brand ambassador of Gujarat came after Modi hit out at Congress, saying those opposing Bachchan were "taliban of untouchability".

Tewari said "if he (Bachchan) is sensible and right-thinking, he will come out strongly against it (the riots)."
He said Bachchan "should not build the Chinese Wall between Modi and the sands of Rann of Kutch by justifying" brand ambassadorship of Gujarat.
Source: PTI

K.Venugopal
#1
Tuesday, 30 March 2010 00:13:12
The Congress is assuming Modi’s role in the Gujarat riots was negative. Actually Modi's actions ensured that the riots were quickly brought under control and therefore his role is a positive one. Therefore everyone who is not prejudiced would endorse Modi's role. We have to remember that Modi or the Hindus did not start the riots. The riots were a backlash against Muslims for burning 59 Hindu pilgrims in a train bogey. It would have been a larger catastrophe and would have spread all over India but for Modi’s timely actions.

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3755342&page=0

Chief Justice, Modi attend law convocation in Ahmedabad

NDTV Correspondent, Sunday March 28, 2010, Ahmedabad

Chief Justice of India (CJI) K G Balakrishnan and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday attended a convocation function in Ahmedabad.

Families of victims of Godhra riots and other activists had written an open letter addressed to the Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and the Zimbabwean Embassy asking them not to share the dais with the Gujarat Chief Minister at the first convocation ceremony of Gujarat National Law University in Ahmedabad.

The letter said, "An association of the Chief Justice of India with a person who is being examined for his role in killing of innocent people, under the directives of the Supreme Court will send out wrong signals and undermine the process of justice in Gujarat." (Read full letter)

On Saturday, Modi was questioned for almost 10 hours by the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) looking into the riots. (Read: Riots panel grills Modi for 10 hours)

The description of Modi as "a person who is being examined for his role in killing of innocent people" is misleading. The courts of law have not so far taken the view that Modi had any role whatsoever in the "killing of innocent people". Mere accusations by ill motivated people cannot be a basis for prejudice. The questioning of Modi was only part of the commission’s brief to unravel the complete picture of the riots. Modi's inputs would be useful for them to get a clearer picture of the unfolding of events. It might even be the conclusion of the commission that Modi had ably discharged his duties and prevented a greater catastrophe.

http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/chief-justice-modi-attend-law-convocation-together-18581.php

Meat ban by Indian-origin billionaire stirs row

IANS
Published on Sun, Mar 28, 2010 at 12:54, Updated on Sun, Mar 28, 2010 at 13:55 in World section
Tags: Meat Ban, Perth , Perth
Read Comment Post Comment
MEAT-O-METER: A woman looks at meat through the window of a butcher's shop in Buenos Aires.
The Western Australian construction union criticised the ban on building workers eating ham sandwiches and meat pies at the building site.
The ban was "absolutely wrong", said Joe McDonald, who is Western Australian assistant secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union.
"She still wants them to build her $70 million mansion, but she's telling them what they're going to eat... it's wrong. I respect everybody's right to practise their religion, but I totally disagree with anyone forcing it on others.
"That has caused more wars and destruction throughout the world than anything else I know of. If people are working on the job and they want to have a ham sandwich or a bacon and egg sandwich, they should have one," he was quoted as saying.
Workers said there was one small shed in which they were allowed to eat meat.
Perth Now quoted a source close to the Oswals as saying that some workers had continued to eat meat on the site "just to spite them".
Pankaj, who is currently in New York to help Radhika prepare for the launch of her vegetarian fast-food chain, Otarian, defended the meat ban.
He said: "This is our home."
Radhika has earlier charged the meat industry with "raping the earth" and said: "Meat eating is creating bad karma and you are also creating a vicious cycle. It's destroying us environmentally, economically and socially. I'm putting my money where my mouth is. I've always been a vegetarian so I have always felt strongly about it."
"First, because of religious reasons, but then later because I realised the greater good associated with it."

I think the issue is about terms of employment. Were conditions of dietary habit part of the employment agreement? If the subject is not there at all in the agreement, it has to be understood that it would not matter. We can’t go beyond the terms of employment once the same has been agreed upon by both parties. While we would be within our rights to employ the type of person we want, the conditions have to be settled before the employment.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/meat-ban-by-indianorigin-billionaire-stirs-row/112248-2.html?from=tn

Islam, Christianity alien, so cannot get quota: BJP

New Delhi: "Islam and Christianity are alien" to India and, therefore, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) feels people from the minority groups, even if their socio-economic condition is low, should not be given the privilege of quota in jobs, legislative bodies and education, a party official said Friday.

At a press conference here, BJP's newly-appointed spokesperson Ramnath Kovind called for scrapping of the Ranganath Misra commission report that recommends 15 percent quota in government jobs for socially and economically backward sections among religious and linguistic minorities in India.


The National Commission on Religious and Linguistic Minorities, headed by Justice Ranganath Misra, former chief justice of India, has in its report also recommended inclusion of Muslim and Christian converts as Scheduled Castes and given a quota to that category.

"No, that is not possible," said Kovind. "Including Muslims and Christians in the Scheduled Castes category will be unconstitutional."

Asked how Sikh Dalits were enjoying the quota privilege in the same category, Kovind said: "Islam and Christianity are alien to the nation."

He said that "it is very well known" that convert Dalit Christians and Muslims get better education in convent schools.

"The educational level of Scheduled Caste children remains much lower than that of convert Dalits and Muslims. The children of converts will grab major share of reservation in government jobs. They would become eligible to contest elections on seats reserved for Scheduled Castes. This would encourage conversion and fatally destroy the fabric of Indian society," he said.

"The Misra commission report should be scrapped because (its recommendations) will jeopardise the interests of Scheduled Castes," he said.

The Misra panel report, which was tabled in parliament Dec 18, 2009, has defined religious and linguistic minorities as backward classes and recommended 15 percent reservation for all minorities in jobs, education and welfare schemes.

Of India's 1.2 billion population, Muslims form the largest minority at close to 14 percent, followed by Christians at 2.3 percent, Sikhs at 1.9 percent, Buddhists at 0.8 percent, Jains at 0.4 percent and others including Parsis at 0.6 percent.

"Within the recommended 15 percent earmarked seats in institutions shall be 10 percent for the Muslims and the remaining 5 percent for the other minorities," the report had suggested.

The recommendations have triggered a row with Hindu parties severely opposing it. The government itself is doubtful about the implementation of the recommendations.

However, the Supreme Court in a ruling Thursday gave legitimacy to minority reservation by allowing four percent quota in jobs for backward Muslims in Andhra Pradesh. This could give a push to the Congress to go ahead with implementing the Ranganath Misra report recommendations.

IANS

Whether a man is rich or poor can be decided only on the basis of his financial position at any given period of time. Just because a person is a member of a certain community need not mean that he or she is necessarily poor. So the criteria of determining economic status on the basis of community is idiotic. As far as social backwardness is concerned, since laws already exist that prohibits discrimination on the basis of caste, religion, region, language or gender, the only requirement is to ensure that these laws are implemented to the letter and spirit. Where then is the necessity of reservations on the basis of social backwardness?

http://www.zeenews.com/news614379.html

Kerala ditches Big B; enraged Bachchan slams state

25/03/2010
Thiruvananthapuram: Enraged over the Kerala Government decision to abandon the idea to make him the state's tourism ambassador, Amitabh Bachchan has reacted sharply to the development.

The central leadership of the CPM had shot down the state government's plan to rope in Bachchan, citing that the thespian was already doing the same job for BJP-ruled Gujarat.
In his blog at bigb.bigaddad.com, Bachchan wrote, "You want to stop me from promoting tourism in a State, because you have reason to believe that there are political connotations to the event. This is such rubbish. All I shall be doing will be the working in a short film that shall highlight the various places of interest in the state (Gujarat), so that it encourages more tourists to visit the region.
"And that is what I would precisely do when I would be asked to similar acts in Kerala. It is a petty act of cheap convenience to prevent me from doing that, and by pitting me against political connotations and manoeuvres without paying any respect for the actual work that would be done.

"Fair enough! I shall abide by the judgment of the state Government. I did not ask them for it, they came forward with the invitation, I accepted, now they want to decline it, fine. Not the first time such incidents have happened. Invitation to be chief guest at the Goa International Film Festival and when I get there, they decline it."
Bachchan did not spare the media either. "It is a common Indian media trait --- finding fault at any cost to any act or event. Merit for the moment and the work, not interesting enough to sell and so. De-merit the moment. And in such matters if you could highlight a celebrity, preferably from the film world, into the matter, you would have discovered a way and means to keep the story rolling for a few weeks.
You take umbrage at my association with Gujarat, but never have the guts or courage to stop a Ratan Tata, or an Ambani from investing in the state and running successful factories and ventures there. Would you have the guts to tell them to not associate with the State, to pull out all their investment and manpower they build through years and years of their 'association' ?.

I guess not. You would happily bring politics into the matter just to dissuade. But what good does that do to a person that is non-political. Reason and common sense overrides all else in moments like this.
Such a shame really. You visit a foreign country and they decorate you with respect and dignity - Morrocco, UK, USA, France, Mid East, South Africa, China Hong Kong - and you come back to your own country and they have nothing but ugliness for the subject and your merit.
Reason enough to leave this excessive topic and move towards more pleasant times," he said.
Source: Indian Express

1-10 of 14
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K.Venugopal
#1
25 March 2010 17:08:13
The Marxist party of Kerala, who recently expelled a leader merely because he praised Modi's development initiatives, would hardly want to associate with anyone who is propagating Gujarat as they see it as propagating Modi by default! If the Big B is made Brand Ambassador of Pakistan, the Marxists of Kerala would be in the forefront to honour him. Or better still, if the Big B insults Hindus, he would become their icon like M.F. Hussain.

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3743939&page=0

Bihar distt issues circular on mentioning caste in exams

Updated on Wednesday, March 24, 2010, 21:54 IST

Muzaffarpur: The district administration here has issued a 'controversial' circular making it mandatory for students appearing in annual exams in state-run primary and high schools to mention their caste in answer sheets, otherwise their results would be withheld.

The circular, issued by Bihar Education Project (BEP) officials in Muzaffarpur district, said it would be useful to tabulate the percentage of students belonging to a particular caste appearing in annual examinations from class I to VIII for 'honest assessment'.

The circular was issued by BEP Programme Cordinator-cum-District Education Superintendent Arun Kumar and Primary Informal Education Coordinator Shankar Kumar through letter no. BEP/247 dated March 11, 2010.

PTI

It is likely that the Courts would strike down this circular, making it null and void. So it must be, for enough mischief has been done to our society in the name of caste. We need not carry the deadweight of history and stymie our growth into a healthy future.

http://www.zeenews.com/news613848.html

Karachi Project: A nefarious plan to destabilize India

By Raj Narayan , India Syndicate, 24/03/2010

The arrest of David Coleman Headley and his confessions to US intelligence authorities have pitch-forked Karachi Project to the fore.

A court room sketch of David Coleman Headley
Now, Indian intelligence agencies have been able to get a rough map of how major terror attacks, including the 26/11 attack on Mumbai, were planned and executed by an anti-India group comprising the ISI, retired and serving Pakistan armymen, non-state players like the Lashkar-e-Toiba, JuD and HuJi, the Indian Mujahideens and Pakistan-based anti-India underworld dons.
In a way, it is a regrouping of the various anti-India modules comprising both State and non-State players operating from within Pakistan.
Earlier, it was the ISI which that conducting a clandestine war against India by facilitating infiltration of jehadis and Lashkar operatives who waged an open war. The Karachi Project gives a new dimension to the move to destabilize India through various means including triggering bomb blasts, cultivating sleeper cells in India, funding Indian Mujahideen groups operating in India and by setting up facilities to print fake currency notes to derail the Indian economy.
With the Karachi Project, Pakistan now has two faces - a government that puts up a clean image and its intention to fight home-bred terrorists and hardbargain for arms and ammunition with the US and the other that tries to destabilize India. The common players in both the groups are the Pakistan army and the ISI.
What is Karachi Project? Who are the players and whom are they targeting? What are their motives? Where are they based and Why are they trying to do whatever they are trying to do?
Karachi Project is probably the best planned offensive against India by the ISI and its Jehadi operatives - an operation that has resulted in the death of more than 500 people in ten bombb explosions since 2005.
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K.Venugopal
#1
24 March 2010 17:59:32
We will no doubt unearth more Karachi Projects. But we have been lulled into forgetting the mother of all projects to destroy India - the creation of Pakistan. Pakistan is a pernicious idea propounded by Jinnah (?) that Muslims form a separate religion and therefore are a separate nation. This idea of de-linking from the Indian nation has other adherents too - like the separatists of the North East and the Naxalites. The only way to ensure fissiparous tendencies do not gain sustenance is to strengthen Indian nationalism. However, the secular parties of India are shy of going deep into Indian nationalism because the Hindu roots of Indian nationalism is anathema to their minority politics. The RSS is today the strongest adherent of Indian nationalism and this organization, among other proponents of Indian nationalism, must be encouraged to ensure that projects like the Karachi Project are doomed.

http://news.in.msn.com/internalsecurity/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3739896&pgnew=true&_p=2502ee2a-0c9e-40b7-ba17-4f86745acb7c&_nwpt=1#uc2Lst2502ee2a-0c9e-40b7-ba17-4f86745acb7c

'Pepsi bomber' used SRK's My Name is Khan to hire fresh hands

19/03/2010
Ahmedabad: No matter if an Asperger’s Syndrome-afflicted Rizwan Khan goes on to actually help nab a terror mastermind during his self-vindication journey through the reels of My Name is Khan, the movie has found endorsement from an unlikely quarter: the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).
At least, this is what the Gujarat Anti Terror Squad (ATS) has stumbled on, while interrogating the HM's alleged terror agent Bashir Ahmed Baba, suspected to have been scouting in Gujarat for impressionable recruits for terror training in HM facilities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The 32-year-old Bashir, known in his home state Kashmir as the Pepsi Bomber (for his alleged expertise in turning empty cans of soft drinks into explosive devices), had been asked by his HM handler in PoK , Bilal Shera, to use the movie as an indoctrination tool.
ATS sources say Bashir was specifically told to use the movie to propagate the idea that Muslim youth across the world were perennially facing humiliation and derision, and they need to come together for jihad.
Baba was nabbed on March 13 from Anand, while using the alleged cover of a medical camp trainer as he went about getting a network together to recruit young men for the HM. Sources said the ATS recovered from Bashir a ticket for the Shah Rukh Khan movie at the Fun Republic Theatre in Ahmedabad and grilled him on it.
Bashir, the sources said, confessed that he had gone to see the movie as instructed by his boss in PoK, Bilal Shera. After watching the movie, he made a call to Bilal who asked him to describe its content and what he thought of it.
According to ATS sources, Bashir told Bilal that it was a "nice movie, Shahrukh Khan acted well." Bilal snubbed him and told him that he was sent to watch the movie to realise how it conveyed that Muslims were being subjected to atrocities and discrimination all over the world. The handler asked Bashir to get as many young Muslims as possible to watch the movie and drive home the point.
ATS sources added that following his handler's instructions, Bashir focussed on at least three specific areas in Ahmedabad - Law Gardern, Lal Darwaza and Kankaria - to take groups of young men to watch the movie. Sources also added that Bashir even had got pirated CDs of the movie made and handed them to some of them for distribution.
Gujarat ATS chief Ajay Tomar declined to discuss the issue, insisting it would hamper the ATS probe into Bashir's links. "I would not like to say anything on this, it will harm our investigation. We will let you know about this at an appropriate time," he added.
Tomar, however, added that the ATS had not found if the movie's CDs were actually distributed.
Indian Express

K.Venugopal
#1
19 March 2010 10:27:21
To convey the impression that Muslims are being treated shabbily is exactly what Shah Rukh Khan, self-proclaimed ambassador of Islam, and director-in-cahoots with him, Karan Johar, wanted to convey. But is it actually true that Muslims are shabbily treated? At least not in India, where they have more rights than Hindus. America, whatever faults it may have, is a democratic country and Muslims, from all accounts, are not arbitrarily treated shabbily there - never mind what MNIK says. Our secular media failed to consider MNIK as Islamic propaganda movie - true to their secular credentials.

http://news.in.msn.com/internalsecurity/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3723010&page=0

Gadkari sheds kilos for a lean makeover

Mid-Day.com, Tuesday March 16, 2010, Pune

BJP chief announced a younger core team today, but not before getting himself a leaner, younger makeover.

Nitin Gadkari, one of India's most powerful men and leader of its biggest opposition party -- the BJP -- is throwing away his weight.

Workouts, yogic exercises and a more careful diet are all part of his rigorous weight-loss programme.

Considering that the leader is poised to announce a younger core team at the national level today with additions like Varun Gandhi and Hema Malini, the quest for a fitter, leaner image to lead a new generation seems in order. Photographs are proof that Gadkari is indeed shedding the kilos.

According to two senior BJP leaders, 52-year-old Gadkari has been grappling with his weight problem for some years but decided to take it seriously a few months ago after he was regarded a serious contender for the party president's job.

It is imperative that he does it, not just for his looks but also for his health. Now the entire party's responsibility is on him, said a senior BJP leader from Maharashtra.

Another BJP leader, who was witness to Gadkari's diet regime and meal timings during the national council meeting in Indore, said the latter even had trained personnel with him for workouts.

I think he had tried sticking to a professional trainer but since he is an extremely busy man, he couldn't find time for the trainer every day.

Currently, there is someone who is trained and stays with him at most times, said the source.

Whenever he gets time, after meals at home or between appointments, he does his workouts, the source added.

In spite of repeated attempts over several days, Gadkari was unavailable for comment.

His secretary Manoj Wadekar denied the news. No he is not working out, he is very busy these days, he said.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar admitted that Gadkari is fitter these days and attributes it to the party's inclination towards a healthy lifestyle.

"Everybody in our party is health-conscious and we try to keep fit. After all, politics isn't a short-term occupation and we need to maintain good health. The important position he is in, it is imperative for the party president to keep fit. And if he appears fitter, it is because of his dedication to move to a healthy lifestyle," said Javadekar.

The party itself seems to be in a healthy-living mode if the national council meeting in Indore is any indication. At the make-believe rural surroundings in the sprawling Kushabhau-Thackeray township, cycles were made freely available and even encouraged. The site had no cars, and most leaders including the top leadership either walked down or used cycles. Even the food was kept basic and healthy. Incidentally, the idea of the back-to-basics, healthy lifestyle came from Gadkari, said sources.

Food chart for Gadkari

Namita Jain, fitness expert and nutritionist, charts a course for Gadkari:

• His ideal weight would be 72-75 kg. Weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds per week is safe.
• The best way to achieve this is by reducing calorie intake and increasing calorie expenditure through exercise.
• His diet should include fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, sprouts, high-fibre cereals. His should have 8-10 glasses of water a day.

• 30-60 minutes of low-impact activity like walking, swimming or cycling daily is recommended.

• Deep breathing helps a person relax. He should also include yoga and deep breathing exercises two-three days per week to increase flexibility and de-stress.


I have read somewhere that Gadkari is overweight due to a serious road accident he had a few years ago. Would someone in the know clarify this?

http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/nitin-gadkari-in-youngistan-17791.php?page=1#postcommentarea

Freedom fighter now fights govt apathy

Mid-Day.com, Wednesday March 17, 2010, Mumbai


He sits by the Masunda Lake in Thane, his frail hands clutching a wooden staff. A far cry from the days when as a young freedom fighter, he fought for the country.

Today, thanks to bureaucratic apathy, 106-year-old CHB Vitthaldas has to shuttle between his hometown in Nizamabad in Andhra Pradesh and Thane to collect his pension, as he has not been able to get the account transferred to his hometown.

With no relatives in Thane, and unable to afford high cost of accommodation in hotels, he has to spend the nights by the lake.

After the demise of one of his sons, the other has been running the household. His family now depends on his pension. Time has failed to obliterate the Gandhian principles of the man who has participated in satyagrahas in Goa, Hyderabad and Nizamabad among others.

"In 1938, I met Gandhiji at Jinnah House in Mumbai. Gandhiji told me that one should persevere and continue trying... I am implementing his advice to get my pension transferred," said Vitthaldas who is still optimistic that he will succeed some day.

"I have requested the officials to transfer my pension to Hyderabad but they said it's a cumbersome procedure and would take time," said Vitthaldas.

"I have been coming here for the last 25 years to collect my pension, the government must respect my service to the nation," said Vitthaldas.

The Maharashtra state government, he says, had granted him the pension. "They should show some respect for my age. If health permits, and if I get a chance, I want to meet the Chief Minister and ask him to intervene," Vitthaldas added.

Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said, "I am hurt about the manner in which Vitthaldas is being treated. I will personally look into the matter and ask the concerned department to help the freedom fighter."

It is good that the Dy.CM has promised to look into this elderly freedom fighter's case and help him. I hope he does so. In fact, at 106 yrs, the government should ensure that he gets his pension at his doorstep and ensure he gets free medical help. This is the least we can do for such a venerable elderly freedom fighter.

http://www.ndtv.com/news/cities/i-am-following-gandhis-advice-1-17918.php?page=1#postcommentarea

ISRO shootout result of misunderstanding: Minister

Bangalore: The shootout at the sensitive Deep Space Network (DSN) facility of India's space agency ISRO near here appears to be the result of a "misunderstanding" and should not be given importance, the Karnataka government clarified on Wednesday.
"It appears to be result of misunderstanding and there is no need to give the incident importance," state home minister V S Acharya told reporters after briefing chief minister B S Yeddyurappa on the progress of the police probe into the incident that occurred early Tuesday morning.
According to a sentry of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) guarding the facility at Byalalu, about 40 kms from here, one of the two men moving under suspicious circumstances near the facility opened fire when questioned. The sentry, identified only as Jhadhav, told police he had fired eight rounds in retaliation but the two managed to escape in the darkness.
Acharya said senior police officials had visited the spot and talked to Jhadhav and other CISF personnel on duty at the time of the incident. There is no trace yet of the empty shell of the bullet fired by the unidentified man. Police are also searching for two empty shells of the bullets fired by the CISF guard as only six have been found.
Acharya said the state government has sent a detailed report on the incident to the union home ministry. If necessary, the minister said, the state government may order a probe by the elite CoD (Corps of Detectives).
Union home minister P Chidambaram said in New Delhi that the shootout did not appear to be a terror attack. "There is no threat to ISRO. It is an amateurish attack," he said.
The space network was set up in 2007 by the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation for receiving data and images from its first unmanned lunar exploration mission Chandrayaan-1 that was launched Oct 22, 2008, and orbited around the moon till Aug 30, 2009.
As one of the country's high-profile and vital installations, the space agency's sensitive facilities in Bangalore and other cities are reported to be on the radar of terror elements.
Source: IANS
K.Venugopal
#1
17 March 2010 15:07:11
When there has been a shootout at a very strategic ISRO facility, I think it was absolutely idiotic on the part of the Minister to advise there is no need to give the incident importance, without clarifying what the incident was all about. And what about the two persons who fired the shots and got away? Without a clue as to who they were, how is the minister in a position to measure the gravity of the situation? Misunderstanding indeed! Would the minister explain what the misunderstanding is all about?

http://news.in.msn.com/internalsecurity/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3702993&ucid=314610#uc2Lst314610

Swami says not guilty on Net

Express News Service
First Published : 12 Mar 2010 06:08:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 12 Mar 2010 08:16:14 AM IST

BANGALORE: Nithyananda Swami has made an online appearance once again. This time allegedly from Varanasi. He claims innocence and says that he has been framed by those who are jealous of his success. However, like the previous press meet organised by his associates back home in Bidadi, even Nithyananda Swami makes no reference to the scandalous video making the rounds.
A ticker follows saying, “Swami will be back from Kumbh Mela soon. He will address a press meet”.
Talking to the Swami in the online video is Rajiv Malhotra, a philanthropist and researcher from the US. Claiming to be hurt by the media representation about the Swami, Rajiv flew to Varanasi to get the Swami’s view about the allegations. “As I have known you after attending the 21-day inner awakening session, I came down to speak to you about the allegations,” he tells the Swami.
However all through the session, neither does Malhotra make any comments about the video, nor does the Swami speak about it.
“I will put up all legal documents on the Internet to maintain transparency,” the Swami says. On the alleged encroachment of land, he says, “The land was donated by the three children of philanthropist Sajjan Rao. They are ardent devotees. They used to perform poojas to the Banyan tree and the Shivaling at the Bidadi ashram”.
Due to this spiritual connection, Vinayak Rao, Prathap Rao and Jeevan Rao donated the land in 2003, he says.
He even refuted the allegations of the mysterious deaths and people being held captive in the ashram. “Anybody can come inside the ashram, which anyhow has no security. There are no restricted areas either. Students have been enrolled in the ashram after their parents gave consent,” he says in the video.
"Things have taken a new twist after allegations were made against me. There are several sandalwood trees growing naturally in the ashram.
Some thieves have tried to cut the trees and take them away. They took away the trunks, while small pieces were left behind. We even approached the forest department regarding this. They said this was a small issue which need not be recorded.
But later they raided the ashram and cases were registered,” he says.

Dear Swami Nithyanandaji, The question the world wants to ask you is very simple. Were you the one in close contact with a woman in the video that was widely shown on TV and in the internet? A yes or no answer is required. If yes, you would have to justify your act and those who buy your explanation would naturally continue to be your disciples and that would be the end of the matter. If your answer is no, then the onus is on those who accuse you of proving themselves in a court of law, for you would naturally be slapping charges against them.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Swami+says+not+guilty+on+Net&artid=1qFgLxpLKaM%3d&SectionID=Qz%2fkHVp9tEs%3d&MainSectionID=Qz%2fkHVp9tEs%3d&SEO=&SectionName=UOaHCPTTmuP3XGzZRCAUTQ%3d%3d

Railway platforms are not highways, Mr Gowda

Mid-Day.com, Thursday March 11, 2010, Mid-Day.com

In what can be termed as a gross violation of rules and utter misuse of power, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, along with his posse, drove two Toyota Fortuners onto the platform of Bangalore City railway station.

What's more, Deve Gowda got the cars parked right next to the train to see off farmers leaving for New Delhi on Tuesday to attend a protest rally he had organized. Gowda took a later flight to Delhi.

Akhil Agarwal, the divisional railway manager (DRM), said, "I don't know if Deve Gowda really required this special arrangement. Vehicles aren't allowed onto the railway platforms except for any medical emergency."

However, officials from South Western Railway claimed that Deve Gowda didn't violate any railway rules as he travelled just 10-15 metres from the main gate.

Milind Dharamsena, state general secretary JD (S), said, "Deve Gowda has been suffering from gastroenteritis and thus was unable to walk. We requested the railways to grant us the permission to let him drive up the platform to which they obliged."

Sources within the party said Gowda was hindered by his leg ailments. As he was on an official tour, he was left with no choice but to take the vehicles inside the station. "Several politicos, including the Chief Minister Yeddyurappa, do the same while they leave for official trips," a party functionary said.

Party officials even claimed that Deve Gowda has a special privilege of getting driven up to an aircraft at any airport to avoid security hassles. However, government rules do not permit this.

A R Infant, Additional Director General of Police, Railways, denied any knowledge of the incident. "It is a matter concerning the former prime minister's security. I cannot comment on this," he said.


Deva Gowda has set new standards in status. Now all and sundry politicians would want to drive up in a car right onto the platform to catch the train! Driving right up to the tarmac to catch a plane is old stuff. We certainly have an innovative neta in Deve Gowda.

http://www.ndtv.com/news/cities/railway-platforms-are-not-highways-mr-gowda-17558.php

BJP watched while Draupadi was being disrobed: Yadav

11/03/2010

New Delhi: Betraying the anxiety among MPs on how the women’s reservation Bill will play out in their constituencies, the BJP chief whip in Lok Sabha on Wednesday claimed “at least 70 per cent of MPs” were against the Bill while a senior BJP MP said he would defy any whip to vote in its favour even though his party had offered it “unequivocal support” in the Rajya Sabha.

Ramesh Bais, BJP chief whip in Lok Sabha, said there was strong resentment among Lok Sabha MPs over the Bill and his party leadership was engaged in placating MPs.
"A t least seventy per cent of MPs are protesting against the women's reservation Bill and the way the party supported the Bill despite marshals being used in Rajya Sabha. Top leaders of the party have assured that grievances of the MPs will be taken into account," Bais told The Indian Express, adding that Murli Manohar Joshi and Yashwant Sinha had already held the first round of discussions.
Hukumdeo Narayan Yadav, senior leader and BJP MP from Madhubani in Bihar, declared he would defy any party whip in Lok Sabha and vote against the Bill.

BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi. Ramesh Bais, BJP chief whip in Lok Sabha, said that Murli Manohar Joshi and Yashwant Sinha had already held the first round of discussions. REUTERS
A former Union Minister, Yadav told The Indian Express: "If they issue a whip (to vote in favour of the Bill), I will break it and vote against it. Let them end my membership, I am not bothered. I am a socialist and I cannot compromise on issues of social justice." He said he had asked the BJP leadership not to issue a whip in Lok Sabha and allow MPs to exercise their choice. He also slammed the use of marshals in Rajya Sabha to evict seven MPs who were opposed to e Bill.
Yadav said the use of marshals amounted to martial law" and his party had been a "mute spectator".
"History will not spare the BJP. The BJP was like Bhishmapitamah and Dronacharya in Mahabharata who remained mute spectators to the disrobing of Draupadi," he said. Attacking the policy of his party to support the Bill, he said the party would "decline further" if it ignored the backward classes.

Senior leaders like Yashwant Sinha are engaged in placating Lok Sabha MPs as there was strong resentment among them over the Bill. REUTERS
Yogi Adityanath, MP from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, too aired his protest, wondering why the party had shown such eagerness to back the women's reservation Bill when there were more pressing matters on hand.
Madhusudan Yadav, a first-time BJP MP from Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh, too objected that the party leadership had not protested the use marshals to evict MPs from Rajya Sabha.
"The allies and supporters of UPA are protesting against the Bill. They used the support of the opposition to use marshals and bulldoze the Bill through Rajya Sabha. We will not tolerate the e of marshals in Lok Sabha," Yadav told The Indian Express.
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PreviousNext
K.Venugopal
#1
11 March 2010 18:07:44
Women's reservation is an idea whose time has come. Reservation is not an alien word in Indian polity. It has a historical background unique to India. Political expediency, of course, often ensures that even policies with best of intentions can be perverted. With a free-for-all political robustness extant in Indian polity, reservation policies have often been turned on its head but nevertheless, they have met many of the social goals hoped for by the framers of various reservation policies. No doubt when the history of women's reservation is written, it too would have gone through roller-coaster rides of successes and disasters - but at some point of time in the future it would be said that an idea whose time had come could not have been aborted and had to see the light of the day.

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3697674&page=0

A bag that could solve India's toilet woes

Press Trust of India, Thursday March 11, 2010, New Delhi


It is a daily struggle for millions of slum dwellers in the country to get access to a toilet, a perennial problem that authorities have so far been unable to solve.

But, now a Swedish firm has come out with a solution -- Peepoo, a biodegradable toilet bag that can be used as fertiliser.

The toilet bag, which has recently undergone field trials in India, Bangladesh and Kenya, is expected to help mitigate the dreadful situation for millions, especially the women in the slum areas, says its developer Anders Wilhelmson, an architect and professor in Stockholm.

"Peepoo is not just a toilet bag, it's a solution to human waste disposal problem, the biggest obstacle to sanitation and public health in developing countries like India," Wilhelmson said in an email interview from Stockholm.

"It will be of great help particularly for women, who often wait all day until it is dark to go to the toilet, increasing their chances of infections."

According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 600 million people or 55 per cent of Indians still do not have access to toilets. About 54.71 per cent of urban slums have no toilet facility and most free community toilets built by the government are rendered unusable because of the lack of maintenance, the UNDP report for 2009 said.

Camilla Wirseen, one of the founders of the Peepoo project, said the bag is designed in a way that it is easy to use and hygienic.

The Peepoo is clean from the beginning and doesn't smell after use and very importantly, it makes collection of waste very easy," Camila Wirseen said.

"It works like micro treatment plant and cuts the contamination. This will save lives."

According to United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) data, an estimated 400,000 children under five years of age die each year due to diarrhoea and other infections caused by poor sanitation and hygiene which is largely because of open defecation of waste that contaminates drinking water.

The innovation will prove highly beneficial to control the situation, Wilhelson said, adding that his organisation (Peepoople AB) has carried out a small ground test in Bihar and "the response was overwhelming".

Megh Pyne Abhiyan, an NGO, has carried out the trial in three flood-hit districts of Bihar --Supaul, Khagaria, Saharsa-- last year.

Describing Peepoo's other features, the officials said the bioplastic bag can be used as fertiliser, which is an expensive and scarce commodity in countries like India.

Once used, the 14x38 cm slim elongated bag can be knotted and buried under the earth. With a layer of urea crystals, the waste can turn into fertiliser, killing off disease-producing pathogens found in feces.

"Not only is it sanitary, they can reuse this to grow crops," Wilhelmson said.

"You can use it directly in a small container or Garden-in-a-Sack. It can also be processed and mixed with topsoil and loam (clay+sand) creating a soil filled with nutrients."

About the cost of the bag, the officials said, it will be comparable to the price of polythenes used to collect garbage.

"I believe fertiliser is subsidised in India. Peepoo is fertiliser, maybe it can be subsided either by the government or international organisations," Camilla said.

She, however, said they have not yet collaborated with any Indian firm for its production or sale in the country.

"But, we are getting a lot of interest from Indian citizens who have expressed their willingness to cooperate and help," she said, adding that if things go as planned the bag will be available in India soon.

However they said, Peepoople is currently focusing on Kenya and Bangladesh.

Soon the company will start manufacturing and selling the toilet bag in both the two countries and soon a production unit with high capacity will be set up in India, they added.

The market for low-cost toilets in the developing world is about a trillion dollars, according the World Toilet Organization, a sanitation advocacy group, which has been organising World Toilet Summit ever year since 2001.

Peepoo sounds promising. It is heartening that technology innovators can also be compassionate folks having the poorest of the poor in mind when innovating. Onward, peepoo revolution.

http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/a-bag-that-could-solve-indias-toilet-woes-17537.php?page=1#postcommentarea

Govt to consult all before bringing Women's Bill in LS

Updated on Thursday, March 11, 2010, 14:52 IST
Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi: The stand-off over Women's Reservation Bill ended Thursday with government announcing that the proposed legislation would be brought in the Lok Sabha only after consultations with all sections.

The breakthrough came after SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, RJD leader Lalu Prasad and JD(U) President Sharad Yadav, the three strong opponents of the bill, met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and DMK leader T R Baalu also attended the meeting.

Pranab then appraised the Congress core group, comprising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, party president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi amongst others, of the views of the opponents.


As per reports, the core group agreed to hold discussions on the Women’s Bill after taking into account the need to pass the Finance Bill before the current session of the Parliament ends, four days from today on March 16.

Making a statement in the Lok Sabha, Pranab referred to the discussion he held with the opponents of the bill and said, “ During the meeting, some sort of assurance was sought on the progress of the Constitution Amendment Bill (Women's Reservation Bill) before bringing it to the Lok Sabha. “

“Government will complete the process of consultations with all concerned," he assured the house.

"I think, this assurance would assuage the feelings of all members and the business would be conducted smoothly," he said, when the House re-assembled after two adjournments on the issue.

Pranab had earlier in the day too assured the house that ‘all issues’ regarding the bill is open for discussion and that the government is not averse to holding an all-party meeting.

.

Now it is expected that the Bill will be introduced in the Lok Sabha after April 12 when Parliament comes back from the month-long recess..

Clearly, the UPA government is, at the moment, preferring to keep its fingers crossed and wait for a more suitable situation as it is aware that any adverse development now might set the bill to the back burners.

Earlier in the day, Pranab had responded in detail - in the Parliament - to the accusations by Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Sharad Yadav that the bill is discriminatory against Dalits, OBCs and minorities, Pranab said, “The fact of the matter is that on this issue there are divergent views. There were discussions, we could not, unfortunately, reach at a conclusion, although various attempts were made.”

"I myself held several rounds of talks. Then Home Minister Shivraj Patil took meetings. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took meetings. Various attempts were made during UPA-I and NDA regimes to arrive at a consensus.

"But certain political parties took a particular view, some others took a different view. There was no convergence of views," Mukherjee said.

“You (Yadav trio) stated that an all-party meet be called. There is no harm in calling an all-party meet. This is a Constitution Amendment Bill which has to be passed with special majority and ratified by half of the states,” he stated.

"There are instances, one House had passed the Constitution Amendment Bill and the other House had rejected it," he said seeking to pacify the agitating members.

Pranab, however, took expectation to the continuing disruptions in both the houses of the Parliament over the issue, slamming the Yadavas, he said, “All these issues can be raised, can be debated and can be decided by the 543 members sitting here belonging to different political parties but opposition must allow the house conduct normal business. Nothing can be achieved by stalling the proceedings. Financial business has to be completed and there is a time schedule for it,” he added.

Adding, “All issues will be discussed before the introduction of the bill in the Lok Sabha. We will consult you”

Opponents protest

A response from the government was necessitated as today also the Rajya Sabha had to be adjourned over the issue. As soon as the Lok Sabha convened at 11 am, the Yadavs once again raised the tempo over their opposition to the bill.

SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav contended that the bill in its current form would benefit only women who have already made progress and ignore those who have been left behind.

"Those who have been pushed behind will be further pushed behind. We have to make provisions for reservation for Dalit, backward and Muslim women," Yadav said.

He said the Samajwadi Party was ready to support amendments to the Women's Reservation Bill.

As Yadav began to speak on price rise, there were suggestions from the BJP benches that he should not divert from the issue of women's reservation.

JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav said there was restlessness among political activists across the country over the bill.

"This is a Constitution Amendment Bill. Heavens will not fall if you hold discussions with all parties," he said.

"Talk to everyone. Let leaders of all parties sit together and find a way out," he said.

He contended that nobody, except political activists, has the ability to understand the country better and the bill sought to negate their work carried over a lifetime.

"Before being brought to this House, there should be consensus on it," Yadav said.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad said that a solution to the current deadlock could be found if leaders of all parties meet.

Prasad said he had also called up Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on the issue but did not specify whether there was any discussion.

No division over Bill: BJP

Meanwhile, the BJP has rubbished all reports of a division within its ranks over the bill. Party’s leader in the Lok Sabha Shushma Swaraj said that the BJP will issue a whip in favour of the bill when it comes for voting in the lower house.

It is obvious that the Congress has lost its enthusiasm in passing the Women's Reservations Bill after Muslims have objected to it. Congress, the creator and sustainer of Pakistan, can never be seen doing anything the Muslims dislike. They will now bring in amendments to the Bill to assure the Muslims that they still remain the premier appeasement party of India!

http://www.zeenews.com/news610297.html#

Swedish newspapers reprint Prophet cartoon

11/03/2010
Stockholm: Leading Swedish newspapers on Wednesday published a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed with the body of a dog by a caricaturist after he was targetted by an alleged assassination plot.
Sweden's paper of reference Dagens Nyheter published the controversial drawing, insisting artist Lars Vilks "is not alone in this conflict" after seven Muslims were arrested in Ireland for allegedly plotting his murder.
"A threat against him is, in the end, a threat against all Swedish people," the paper said in an editorial. Irish police on Tuesday arrested the seven -- four men and three women -- suspected of conspiracy to murder Vilks because of his cartoon, in an operation coordinated with US and European security agencies.
Police said there was a plot to assassinate Vilks, who has a 100,000-dollar (74,000-euro) bounty on his head from an Al-Qaeda-linked group.
US prosecutors also said a Pennsylvania resident Colleen LaRose, who was arrested in October 2009 operating under the online name "JihadJane", had agreed to carry out the murder of a Swedish resident, pledging "only death will stop me."
The Justice Department declined to comment on whether LaRose was connected to the alleged plot to kill Vilks. Dagens Nyheter called on the Swedish state to give Vilks "all the protection he needs."
It said authorities must take action "against an attack aiming at one of our most fundamental rights, freedom of expression." The Expressen tabloid also published the cartoon, insisting it was important "to defend freedom of expression which is more and more threatened."
"An open society must show that it will not give in to threats, that it is ready to fight for freedom of expression," added the daily in an editorial. The regional daily Nerikes Allehanda started the controversy when it first published Vilks' satirical cartoon on August 18, 2007 to illustrate an editorial on the importance of freedom of expression.
That paper did not choose to republish the drawing Wednesday. ¨I don't think it is relevant to publish the picture," Nerikes Allehanda's chief editor Ulf Johansson, who has also faced threats over the initial publication, wrote in the paper.
"If I were to publish it, it would have another symbolical value than when other papers publish it. Dagens Nyheter has published the picture three to four times already and no one has cared," he added.
The Aftonbladet tabloid, which published the drawing in 2007, also refrained from republishing it Wednesday, with chief editor Jan Hellin insisting "the picture has no news value today."
"Publishing the same picture now would ... only increase the level of conflict and provocation in a situation that requires enlightenment, discussion," he wrote. Vilks said Tuesday he was not worried by the arrests in Ireland or the threats on his life. "I'm not shaking with fear, exactly," he told Swedish news agency TT.
He also told the TV4 commercial broadcaster he would consider doing it all over again "if the occasion was right." "One is allowed to insult all religions but not Islam. That is the exception. There is a problem there," he said.
The threat against Vilks has its parallel in Denmark, where several plots to murder cartoonist Kurt Westergaard have been foiled since his drawing of Prophet Mohammed with a turban in the shape of a bomb was first published in September 2005, along with 11 other drawings focused on Islam.
The threat against Vilks "is very sad, I think," Westergaard told Expressen on Wednesday. "But I am impressed by his courage and that he refuses to give in," he added.
Swedish artist: Cartoon murder plot 'low-tech'
A Swedish artist who angered Muslims by drawing the Prophet Muhammad with the body of a dog says he believes the suspects in an alleged plot to kill him were not professionals.
Lars Vilks told The Associated Press on Wednesday that suspects arrested in Ireland and the U.S. appeared to be "low-tech." Commenting on media reports that the woman held in the U.S., Colleen R. LaRose, had visited the area where he lives, he said: "I'm glad she didn't kill me."
Vilks said he has built "homemade" defense systems against terrorists in his home, including a safe room and a barbed-wire sculpture that can be electrified. He said he didn't regret making the drawing, and that the point was to show that "there's nothing that is so holy you can't offend it."
At least three Swedish newspapers on Wednesday published a cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad with the body of a dog after an alleged plot to murder the artist who created it was uncovered in Ireland.
The controversial drawing by Swedish artist Lars Vilks was printed in Stockholm papers Dagens Nyheter and Expressen and the Malmo daily Sydsvenska Dagbladet.
Irish authorities on Tuesday detained four men and three women suspected of involvement in an alleged plot to kill Vilks. Irish police said Wednesday those arrested were two Algerians, two Libyans, a Palestinian, a Croatian and an American woman married to one of the Algerian suspects. They were not identified by name.
Sydsvenska Dagbladet said it printed the drawing as part of its news coverage of the alleged plot. Expressen said it printed it for its news value and to take a stance for the freedom of speech.
Dagens Nyheter said in an editorial that "Vilks doesn't stand alone in this conflict. A threat against him is, in the long term, also a threat against all Swedes."
Vilks has faced several death threats since the drawing was first printed by a Swedish newspaper in 2007, a year after separate cartoons of Muhammad in a Danish newspaper sparked furious protests in Muslim nations. Al-Qaida put a $100,000 bounty on his head.
Islamic law generally opposes any depiction of the prophet, even favorable, for fear it could lead to idolatry. Vilks said Wednesday he wasn't sure whether to take the alleged plot seriously. "Not until all the cards are on the table. I'm sure they have plans, but the question is how far they can go," he told The Associated Press by telephone.
Vilks said it was possible he was also being targeted by an American woman accused by U.S. authorities of recruiting jihadist fighters online. Colleen R. LaRose had discussions her alleged plans with at least one of the suspects apprehended in Ireland, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official wasn't authorized to discuss details of the investigation.
Sweden's security police, SAPO, declined to comment on whether the cases in Ireland and the U.S. were linked to Vilks.
Associated Press & AFP
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PreviousNext
K.Venugopal
#1
11 March 2010 14:24:16
I think depicting Prophet Mohammad as a dog is despicable and cannot be justified under any case of freedom of expression. It is a shame that the entire press in Sweden has supported such a depiction. However, it must also be seen that terrorism in the name of Islam has got into the nerves of many well-meaning folks around the world and their desire thereby to paint Islam in the darkest of hues is understandable. Muslims themselves must be seen to be rising in unison against Islamic terrorism. Otherwise Islam and its icons would continue to attract outpourings of hate, however unreasonable, by more and more people.

http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3695346&page=0&ucid=311891#uc2Lst311891

BMW case: Anand tenders unconditional apology to SC

Updated on Tuesday, March 09, 2010, 11:51 IST Tags:BMW case, R K Anand

New Delhi: Noted criminal lawyer R K Anand, who was held guilty of attempting to influence the course of justice in the infamous BMW hit-and-run case, has tendered an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court.


Anand tendered his "sincere and unqualified unconditional apology" for all acts imputed to him in the sting operation carried out by a news channel in 2007 and as observed in the Supreme Court judgement.

The reply by the advocate came on the apex court's show cause notice as to why he should not be given more punishment.

Anand pleaded before the court that his punishment should not be enhanced under section 12 of Contempt of Court Act.

The apex court had on July 29, 2009 upheld the conviction and stripping the status off senior advocate of Anand for contempt of court for attempting to influence the course of justice in the hit-and-run case.

A three-judge bench of apex court had asked as to why the quantum of punishment for Anand, who was the defence lawyer in the BMW case, should not be enhanced.

The apex court had held that the sting operation carried out by NDTV showing the defence and prosecution lawyers trying to influence controversial witness Kulkarni as not a typical case of trial by the media but undertaken in public interest.

The Delhi High Court had held guilty two senior advocates-- R K Anand and I U Khan, for obstructing administration of justice and, as a punishment, debarred them from appearing in courts for four months.

However, the apex court had set aside the conviction of Khan from charges of contempt of court.

PTI

Is a simple sorry enough to be free of criminal charges, even if it is couched in moralistic tones like sincere, unqualified unconditional etc? A senior advocate like him, who should have known better, ought to be taught that sorry is no cure.

http://www.zeenews.com/news609701.html

RJD, SP members climb Speaker's podium, snatch women's bill

08/03/2010

New Delhi: High drama prevailed in the Rajya Sabha on Monday when the House met at 2 pm following a series of adjournments over the contentious Women’s Reservation Bill. Voting on the Bill is expected to take place at 6 pm.

In the Lok Sabha there was high voltage drama. The moment Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar called for Question Hour, SP, BSP and RJD members trooped into the Well demanding quotas for OBC, Dalit and Muslim women within the proposed Women's Reservation Bill.
As soon as the House met and Law Minister Veerappa Moily was called to table the Bill, RJD and SP members rushed in and snatched the papers from the table of Speaker Hamid Ansari. They tore some papers and threw it at him. Some of them even tried to climb on to the podium. An embarrassed and shaken Speaker then adjourned the House once again.
In the Lok Sabha too there was high voltage drama. The moment Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar called for Question Hour, SP, BSP and RJD members trooped into the Well demanding quotas for OBC, Dalit and Muslim women within the proposed law to reserve 33 per cent seats in Parliament and State assemblies for the fair sex.
The Speaker refused to adjourn the House and carried on with the Question Hour. SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav gestured his party members to move forward and himself marched to the Well from the side of the treasury benches. Dara Singh Chauhan (BSP) and Lalu Prasad and Umashanker Singh (both RJD) followed Yadav.
Mithilesh Kumar (SP) tried to climb the table placed in front of the Speaker prompting Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee to request Yadav to control his members.
On the SP chief's directive, the members retreated a bit but stayed put in the Well and continued to raise slogans.
Yadavs withdraw support

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) President Lalu Prasad Yadav (R) and Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav (L) shout slogans against the proposed Women's Reservation Bill outside parliament in New Delhi on Monday. Photo Courtesy: AFP
Meanwhile, the Congress led UPA is likely to see a close finish over numbers on Women Reservation Bill in the Parliament. Both Mulayam Yadav's Samajwadi Party and Lalu Prasad's RJD have withdrawn support to the UPA government, pulling out 28 MPs. The Yadavs issued a whip against Women Reservation Bill early Monday morning.
Congress discusses floor strategy
A rattled Congress went into hurdle following the withdrawal of support. Senior party members including Ahmed Patel and Pranab Mukhejee met Sonai Gandhi at 10 janpath to devise a strategy on passing the Bill in Parliament.
Also protests have broken out in Delhi on the issue. Reacting to the charge of RJD that the Bill is anti- Dalit, the UPA govt said that the Bill is actually pro-minorities.
The UPA govt has also expressed hope that the Women's Reservation Bill will be passed in the current session of Parliament despite opposition and that the Bill will be passed with a comfortable margin.

Women supporters of India's ruling Congress Party carry placards portraying party president Sonia Gandhi as they rally in support of the proposed Women's Reservation Bill in New Delhi on International Women's Day on Monday. Photo Courtesy: AFP
The story of the journey of the Women's Reservation Bill cannot be told through its political math. With the Bill set to come up for consideration in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, the political calculators are out again. But as before, those calculations may not be crucial.
In each of its three previous (aborted) Lok Sabha outings in 1996, 1998, 1999, the three formations that officially supported the Bill -- the Congress, BJP and Left -- emphatically outnumbered the three political forces that most violently opposed it -- the RJD and JD(U) (subsumed in the Janata Dal, or as separate parties) and the SP.
In the 1996 Lok Sabha, the first three added up to 353 seats to the latter troika's 63; the equation was 371 to 43 in the 1998 Lok Sabha; and it became 339 to 54 in the 1999 Lok Sabha. Though this time the Constitution (One Hundred and Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2008, was introduced in the Rajya Sabha, the equation in the Lok Sabha remains just as outrightly skewed in favour of the pro-camp: 344 to 47.
If the political numbers haven't shifted dramatically, something else has. For one, none of the main outspoken opponents of the Bill is either part of the governing coalition or allied to it. This was not the case in either 1996, when the ruling United Front counted on Lalu Prasad, Mulayam Singh and Sharad Yadav, or in 1998 when Nitish Kumar, who had recorded his dissent to the Bill in the report of the Geeta Mukherjee-headed joint parliamentary committee in 1996, was railway minister in the Vajpayee government, or in 1999 when Sharad Yadav had also joined the ruling NDA.
Today Lalu and Mulayam support the UPA from outside, but their support is hardly crucial to the Congress in power. The subduing of both Yadavs, which happened primarily in their bastions of UP and Bihar, has come full circle in New Delhi.

Janata Dal (United) President Sharad Yadav arrives at parliament in New Delhi on Monday. An attempt by India's government to pass legislation reserving a third of all seats in the national parliament provoked uproar today as opposition politicians forced repeated adjournments. Photo Courtesy: AFP
For Sharad Yadav, the story has taken an even crueller turn perhaps. With his JD(U) colleague Nitish Kumar announcing his own U-turn on the Bill, Yadav is left to cope with a party that is internally divided. From Yadav's perspective, it is an acutely unfair tug of war: JD(U) MPs must choose between Yadav, titular head of an NDA that is a decidedly pale version of itself, and Nitish, the JD(U)'s only mass leader and chief minister in a crucial election year in Bihar.
But if the intensity of the opposition to the Bill has gone down rather dramatically, the reasons don't have to do with merely the reduced political-electoral clout of the principal opponents of the measure. Nitish's turnaround on the Bill shows that.
For Nitish, the rethink is perhaps part of a search for a new political idiom and constituency that has marked his tenure as chief minister of Bihar. Lacking the kind of committed caste base that was once -- and, in some measure, still is -- commanded by his rivals in Bihar, Nitish has tried to play the old caste game and also tread new ground. As part of his search for new constituencies, he has made efforts to craft new mobilisations, including that of women. The reservation of 50 per cent of seats in panchayats for women in Bihar is part of the Nitish experiment.
Though Nitish's attempt is driven by his specific compulsions in Bihar, it speaks of a wider change. Women are still not commonly seen to be a political-electoral constituency, but at the same time, for politicians who have exhausted the limits of the old kinds of identity politics and are in search of wider coalitions and newer mobilisations, the charge of being "anti-women" is not one that can be allowed to stick to the kurta anymore. Even those who once scoffed at the demands of political correctness can now do so only at their possible political peril.

Women supporters of India's ruling Congress Party rally in support of the proposed Women's Reservation Bill in New Delhi on Monday. However, the battle for greater representation to women in our legislatures never really needed to be this hard fought -- women's representation has crossed 10 per cent for the first time in the 15th Lok Sabha Photo Courtesy: AFP
While Nitish's reversal has been dramatic, the DMK's quieter reversal -- it opposed the Bill in 1996 and has now pledged its support -- attests to the same shift in a political culture in transition.
Of course, the new opening that the Bill has found in the polity is riddled with its own closures. Be it the old opposition to the Bill, or the newly consolidated support for it, the Women's Reservation Bill itself remains a black box. While they swear their commitment to women's reservation, supporters of the Bill refuse to discuss the efficacy of its specific modalities.
The battle for greater representation to women in our legislatures never really needed to be this hard fought -- women's representation has crossed 10 per cent for the first time in the 15th Lok Sabha; among the major states, women make up only 12 per cent of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, 10 per cent in Bihar, 9 per cent in Gujarat, 10 per cent in Haryana, 4 per cent in Maharashtra, 9 per cent in Tamil Nadu, 6 per cent in Uttar Pradesh and 13 per cent in West Bengal.
But there has never been a debate in the House on whether rotational reservation, for instance, which will involve the unsettling of two-thirds of candidates in every election, is the best way to ensure greater representation of women leaders from the ground level. It remains to be seen whether that debate will be joined in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Source: India Syndicate, Indian Express


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K.Venugopal
#1
08 March 2010 18:05:41
The Women's Reservation Bill has been made a farce and the Congress is complicit in the plot because the Yadavs have projected it as an issue of Muslim interest and there is no way the Congress is going to displease the Muslims in any way. Congress would indeed have supported the bill if the Yadavs only clamoured for OBC reservation but the sly guys have brought in the Muslim angle and cornered the Congress. The Communists will also find a way to put the bill without Muslim reservation in cold storage. Only the BJP is committed to pass the bill in its present form. Will the women of this country take note?

paln
#2
08 March 2010 18:00:49
I have my doubts about success of such quota system, we have so nefariously used over years and years..its also true that just being a woman politician is not a sinecure for political evils..and we know quite a few female names and thier dids.
Nevertheless, its worth trying. Its always good to balance. Now 33% could be too high. Than there should be a time frame for such a quota. We have seen how reservation of schedule caste card is not played endlessly, now going to reservation for minorities and than god knows where..
Then a serious question is behavious of our politicians. Its just insane, shameful, disgusting and insulting on democratic system and all of us to see our so called polticians ( i wont call them leaders0 behave in parliament. Its most indecent and arrogant way. Cannot be tolerated, whether they are right or wrong.
•
null1
#3
08 March 2010 17:49:47
In the name of quota and reservation politics this country has already suffered enough.....please put a stop to this.....Mayawati, Mamta Banerjee, Jaya Lalitha, Sushma Swaraj and many other female politicians did not need any reservations to make it big in politics. And the matter of fact is that women politicians are not better than male politicians. Actually some of the groups in this country have got used to get things easily.... and feminists should understand that this way they would only get alms and not rights....you do not beg for your rights...you fight it out...

apnaAgam
#4
08 March 2010 17:35:21
Well done Mayawati , Mulayam and Laaloo, in the name of reservation of women the manuwadi castiest uppercaste Hindus want to increase there numbers abd throttle downtroddens through back door, without sub quota for Minorities SC ST and OBC amongst minorities the Bill should be dumped all Minority and Downrodden MPs ignore the whip and ensure there unity and make there Govt, Do not expect support and right decisions from Manuwadi Akalis as they are blot on the face of minorities and sold completely to evil forces of Manuwadis.

anil 1976
#5
08 March 2010 17:35:00
Just have a look if this bill goes passed, then if any SWAMY will come in parliament so they will stuck to them like Swamy ji i am rajya sabha member i want to become a Finance minister or railway minister or home or chief. like what swamy ji had done with AIR hostess & post gradute women so then once entered they cannot out from the field.
even in european countries you can count on your fingers how many countries have womens leadership even in usa or uk who is pm or president the word women are equal to men comes from there why they only just providing State secretary why they dont hand over the country to women, UPA congress is under pressure from USA to pass this bill because they knows INDIA can become super power in the next few years & this is the negative point & this all foolish things Credit goes to MRS SONIA GANDHI .
this goverment is not having any quota or reservation for smaller caste or they dont want poor become richer they just want who is having money create money in congress rulling power and all of poor go to village at the election time only we will knock your door then RAHUL GANDHI will sleep in CHAMAAR house that we are equal then after BYE BYE this is what we can expect from congressowhat the plus point has come from CONGRESS even rates for everything is increasing & increasing they jaut want NUCLEAR POWER if you dont have food dont worry we had bought NULEAR Power enrgy with electricity you eat food & youll get better job then only our factory will work

p786p786p
#6
08 March 2010 17:21:21
shame !1
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KOTA
#7
08 March 2010 17:13:17
Womans reservation is a forward thinking bill for empowerment of females of India.

Laluji, has already empowered his wife to be CM of Bihar when he was stuck with fodder scam.I do not understand why he should have reservation for the womans bill in present form.

Mulayamji, please understand this is a national requirement.you had already empowered Jayaprada in your party from your state- though she does not belong to your state.

There are so many reservations in Indiameant for upliftment of variuos sections of our society, and undo the social unjust perpetrated on them for centuries....!

I am confident reservation for women, in what ever form will bring in good to our country.
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researchers
#8
08 March 2010 17:12:57
I dont knw what are the plus and minuses of passing a reservation bill, but the actions of such people is not acceptable...they should understand the value of house...which gives them enough power to rule the country.....action is required against such politicians....this behvior is nt acceptable

mobilr234
#9
08 March 2010 16:00:09
Women are even worst placed in society than SC, ST and OBC, who have got reservation. If these segment of society can get quotas, why can not the worst affected member of society. country will definitely benefitted from women's empowerment. We should whole heatedly support the bill

INTENSIVEKS
#10
08 March 2010 15:57:38
From the FIRE TO THE FRYING PAN.....
The KATTAR BIHARIs and the UP ke gunde were ruling the roost of Indian Politics of "no mercy...ONLY MONEYBAGS..." and the smart WOMEN SADASYAS have learnt the ART of MAKING MONEY through the SANSADs from these very gundes in Parliament...
Why wait for their "masculine genders" like LALOO PARSHAD and not-so-MULAYAMS who drank the Milk and Cream of the Public Money and the women-folk attending to the maintenance of the BECHARAS AND BACHHADAS..???
MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3688176&ucid=309744#uc2Lst309744

Tainited swami Nityananda surfaces, says he never breached law

08/03/2010
Chennai: Breaking his silence in the sex scandal in which he allegedly figured, self-styled godman Nityananda Swami on Sunday claimed he has not done anything "illegal" and that he was a victim of a smear campaign.
"There have been many allegations against me and my organisations in recent days...I want to assure you all, all of you, that nothing illegal has been done by me or by any of my organisations," he said in a video clip recorded at an undisclosed location, a week after his alleged sleazy acts were telecast on TV channel drawing widespread protests. The tainted swami gave an impression of 'all is well' in the video clip, putting forth his point of view on the matter.

"We are in the process of collecting evidence to establish the falsity and motive of this smear campaign that has been going against me. I will address all the allegations and issue a detailed explanation. We will find out the truth and will come back to you very soon.
Another case filed
Meanwhile, another case has been filed against self-styled godman Nityananda Swami on a complaint by an ashram inmate who has claimed that he had shot the video purportedly showing the Swami in a compromising position with an actress which was later telecast on TV channels.
Police Commissioner T Rajendiran told reporters here today that Sri Nithya Dharmananda alias K Lenin had said in his complaint that he had shot the video and submitted a CD of the purported act caught on camera.
"We have filed a case under different sections of IPC (including rape and criminal intimidation) based on the complaint. The case does not come under our jurisdiction, and it would be transferred to Karnataka police and Tamil Nadu DGP (Letika Saran) has spoken to her Karnataka counterpart," he said.
Police had earlier filed a case of cheating against Nityananda following a complaint by a group of Madras High Court advocates.
Rajendiran said Dharmananda had said in his complaint that he had been staying in the Nityananda Dhyanapeetam in Bangalore since 2006 and levied different charges against the Swami including that he had forced some individuals into homosexual acts who had later left the ashram, besides being intimate with women devotees. He had also said one person was found dead under "mysterious circumstances" in the ashram while another attempted suicide.
Dharmananda said he had shot the latest video "showing Nityananda with the actress" in December last year with a view to expose him and sought police action against him to "protect devotees and Hinduism", Rajendiran said.
He had alleged that he was threatened twice by Nityananda and some of his disciples on suspicion that he had shot a video, Rajendiran said.
The video aired on Tamil TV channels recently had caused a furore, with some Hindu groups and others protesting against Nityananda even as Karnataka government promised "very strict" action against him.
The Ashram, however, has said there was a "conspiracy" to malign Nityananda's reputation and maintained that the video footage was morphed.
Source: PTI, India Syndicate
1-1 of 1
PreviousNext
K.Venugopal
#1
08 March 2010 10:42:22
The swami's statement is a disappointment, coming as it does after so many days. What evidence is he waiting for to establish the falsity of the charges against him? And why is he speaking from an undisclosed location, even camouflaging his background in the video statement - almost like what the terrorists do. All he has to do is to simply say that he has not had sex with anyone. If he is not able to state this directly and unambiguously, he will always be suspected of trying to escape the charges on technical grounds. I hope the detailed explanation he has promised will salvage his image.

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3685595&ucid=309475#uc2Lst309475

India voices concern over US equipping Pak army

Press Trust of India, Sunday March 7, 2010, Thiruvananthapuram

Defence Minister A K Antony on Saturday expressed serious concern over the US equipping Pakistan army with modern weapons and asked Washington to ensure that they were not used against India.

"United States decision to provide sophisticated weapons (to Pakistan) is a matter of serious concern to India. The US should ensure that these weapons are not targeted against India", Defence Minister A K Antony told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.

Noting that the issue had already been taken up with the US Defence Secretary during his visit to India recently, he said the American explanation that Pakistan army has to be strengthened to fight terrorist outfits like Al-Qaida and Taliban in Afghanistan was not convincing to India.

Antony, who inaugurated a new building at the Coast Guard Station at Vizhinjam, said, "Our past experience is bitter" on this issue.

The Defence Minister said he told US Defence Secretary that even though they were providing equipment to fight terrorists, Pakistan army was deploying them on Jammu and Kashmir borders.

"This is a matter of concern to India and I hope that the US will take a serious note of this," Antony said.

He said while India preferred to carry on talks with Pakistan, Islamabad should take firm action to dismantle as many as 42 terrorist camps operating on its soil.

"Unless these terrorist camps are destroyed, it is a difficult situation. We want some action (by Pakistan) to dismantle these camps," he said.

On infiltration from across the border into Jammu and Kashmir, Antony said the situation in the state had improved and tourists had started visiting it again. However, there were forces that still create trouble.

"Normalcy is returning and tourists are coming. But some forces against India have not reconciled with the situation.

So, they have redoubled their attempts to infiltrate but our forces have by and large checked their attempts," he said.

After Mumbai terror strikes, Indian forces had been maintaining an "eternal vigil". It was due to the alertness of the defence forces that many attempts by terrorists to strike were foiled, he said.

Rejecting the criticism by certain defence analysts that the acquisition of equipment for the Army had been less in the last few years, Antony said, in fact, this had doubled in the last five to six years.

On the latest position on purchase of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov from Russia, he said the process was in the final stages.

Antony ruled out the use of military to combat Naxal violence, saying a permanent solution to deal with it was to strengthen state police forces.

However, he said military would provide logistic support like training and assistance to state police forces in their effort to combat the Naxal threat.

Replying to a question, Antony said the government has no information on China instigating Maoists in India.

Earlier after inaugurating the Coast Guard Administrative complex, Antony said Coast Guard plans to set up Coast Guard Air Enclave at Kochi, Goa, Mangalore and Vishakapatnam.

Indian Coast Guard Director General Vice Admiral Anil Chopra said Coast Guard would be strengthened by inducting 85 more ships by 2012.

As part of expanding its marine intelligence gathering activities, Coastal Surveillance Network has been established, Chopra said.



America can only see through the prism of dollar-making and has always been eager to sell itself to the highest bidder. All the high values of liberty and democracy are only confined to the writings of its scholars and the world has been taken in by such writers and has assumed that America is the land of freedom and equal opportunity. Muslims, Communists and Christians in India, are largely serving the cause of Pakistan, China and America and therefore only the Hindus are left to defend India. We need a Hindu government to make India strong on its own terms and take on its enemies.

http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/india-voices-concern-over-us-equipping-pak-army-17314.php?page=1#postcommentarea

Babbar Khalsa threatens to attack Himachal temples

Updated on Sunday, March 07, 2010, 09:49 IST Tags:Babbar Khalsa, Navratra festival, Terror attack

Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi: Sikh terror group Babbar Khalsa has threatened to attack most prominent temples in Himachal Pradesh during the Navaratra festival.

The threat, issued in the name of the group, was received by the Additional Director General of CID.


The letter threatened to hit religious places such as Naina Devi, Brajeshwari Devi temple, Chamunda Devi, Kangra, Jawalamukhi temple.

Meanwhile, the security officials are examining the letter. The security has already been tightened as the auspicious Hindu festival starts next week.



Lakhs of devotees visit these temples during this festive season.

Last month, intelligence agencies had warned of Laskhar-e-Toiba and Babbar Khalsa International joining hands and planning terror attacks across India.


Babbar Khalsa is no doubt hooked to the Islamic terrorists in Pakistan and Pakistan government is encouraging the terrorists while putting up a face of peace. The short-sighted Indian government has fallen for it and has engaged them in talks to make them respectable in the eyes of America. Unless we declare Pakistan a terrorist state and prepare to wage war against it, our problems are only going to keep compounding.

http://www.zeenews.com/news609202.html

HAILY NITHY. HE IS BACK IN ACTION.

March 5th, 2010 8 Comments Posted in Great Hindu
Nithy is going to be back soon. For the time being, he has accused some inmates of video-morphing and he has also tried to legally restrain SUN TV from airing the defamatory video. He is expected to give a video message today. Meanwhile people are moving out of his ashram… as confusion reigns supreme. The next court hearing is on March 8th.
8 Responses to “HAILY NITHY. HE IS BACK IN ACTION.”
1. 1
Vijayalakshmi Says:
March 5th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Yes, he must file a defamation suit against Sun TV, and see that his name is cleared. The culprits who are responsible for the fake video and its airing/publicity must be punished as per the law of the land. The damage done to his reputation and the properties of his ashram must be adequately compensated.
2. 2
Devi Says:
March 5th, 2010 at 5:36 pm
If he is really a good person, he would have came clear before the poeple and tell the truth.
He didn’t do that, so he definately involved such scandal.
Dont fool the people again and again in the name of GOD
3. 3
Vinagayamoorthi Says:
March 5th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
He will not come back, he made our religion name got collapsed.
Such people has to be sentenced.
4. 4
Tag Pillay Says:
March 5th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
How do we know that Kripalu Maharaj and Nithia were a victim of the alliance of the Cia/Kgb/Vatican/M16. This could be a perfect sting operation as both Kripalu Maharaj and Nithia were drawing huge crowds. On the other hand, a Swami is a Swami when a Swami has banished reproductive activities.
5. 5
venugopal Says:
March 6th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Well he’s no saint…..that’s for sure…just like u and me…..always remember…its “kalavuga days”….wonder what he preaches…hmmmmm
6. 6
karthik sunder Says:
March 6th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
kunju enthirakathavanuku ranjitha kekuthaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!
7. 7
krutika Says:
March 6th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
If you believe these sanyasis one is going to get mad 4 sure.
Unless we introspect rather than blame others for our fault this is gonna continue for ever.
8. 8
K.Venugopal Says:
March 6th, 2010 at 8:59 pm
Phoney video?
It does not appear to be a genuine video. It does not seem to be caught by hidden CCTV but appears to be produced with look-alikes and a directed camera. A sting operation would have intended to catch the swami in the act of sexual intercourse. But the light was conveniently switched off. Was the plot to show minimal of swami’s body because anything more and the look alike would have been compromised? Also, why no audio? Is it because the actor could not mimic the swami’s voice?

http://greathindu.com/2010/03/hail-nithy-he-is-back-in-action/comment-page-1/#comment-34356

Definitions of 'had sex' not consistent

05/03/2010

If someone says he or she "had sex," one can't really define what exactly transpired, because there is no uniform consensus on what it exactly means, a new study found.

The study from the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University found that no uniform consensus existed when a representative sample of 18- to 96-year-olds was asked what the term meant to them.
Around 30 percent of the study participants did not consider oral sex as sex, while for 20 per cent of the participants anal sex was not sex either.
A surprising number of older men did not consider penile-vaginal intercourse to be sex.
More than idle gossip, the answers to questions about sex can inform - or misinform - research, medical advice and health education efforts.
"Researchers, doctors, parents, sex educators should all be very careful and not assume that their own definition of sex is shared by the person they're talking to, be it a patient, a student, a child or study participant," said Brandon Hill, research associate at the Kinsey Institute.


The study, conducted in conjunction with the Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention in IU's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, delves deeper into a question first examined in 1999 - in the midst of a presidential sex scandal where the definition of sex was an issue.
Researchers from The Kinsey Institute asked college students what "had sex" meant to them, taking the approach, which was unique then, of polling the students on specific behaviours. No consensus was found then, either.
The new study examined whether more information helped clarify matters- study participants were asked about specific sexual behaviors and such qualifiers as whether orgasm was reached-and researchers also wanted to involve a more representative audience, not just college students.
"Throwing the net wider, with a more representative sample, only made it more confusing and complicated. People were even less consistent across the board," said Hill.
The study involved responses from 486 Indiana residents who took part in a telephone survey conducted by the Center for Survey Research at IU.


Participants, mostly heterosexual, were asked, "Would you say you ''had sex'' with someone if the most intimate behaviour you engaged in was ...," followed by 14 behaviourally specific items.
Responses did not differ significantly overall for men and women. The study involved 204 men and 282 women.
95 percent of respondents would consider penile-vaginal intercourse (PVI) having had sex, but this rate drops to 89 per cent if there is no ejaculation.
81 percent considered penile-anal intercourse having had sex, with the rate dropping to 77 percent for men in the youngest age group (18-29), 50 percent for men in the oldest age group (65 and up) and 67 percent for women in the oldest age group.
71 per cent and 73 per cent considered oral contact with a partner's genitals (OG), either performing or receiving, as having had sex.
Men in the youngest and oldest age groups were less likely to answer "yes" compared with the middle two age groups for when they performed OG.
Significantly fewer men in the oldest age group answered "yes" for PVI (77 per cent).
Source: Indian Express
1-1 of 1
K.Venugopal
#1
06 March 2010 10:18:22
Sex could be defined as the act of genital arousal.

http://lifestyle.in.msn.com/relationships/aboutsex.aspx?cp-documentid=3451377&page=0&ucid=308662#uc2Lst308662