Chinese dragon bares its fangs

C. Raja Mohan , 31/08/2010

As China adds a new wrinkle to its Kashmir policy, India will soon have to do a little more than send protest notes to Beijing. If China does not show sensitivity to India’s core interests, the current spat on visas could escalate to a dangerous contestation of mutual sovereignties in the vast and turbulent frontiers that they share.

Beijing's disinclination to host a senior Indian general commanding the northern sector, which includes Jammu and Kashmir, as part of a broader military exchange between the two countries is not the first sign of Beijing's disturbing new approach to the sensitive state.
Beijing's decision to cite the "disputed" nature of the state in refusing a visa to Lt Gen B.S. Jaswal comes on top of the Chinese government's decision to issue stapled visas to Indian citizens from Jammu and Kashmir.
If Indian concerns do not elicit a positive response from Beijing, Delhi will have no option but to conclude that China's new visa practice reflects a significant evolution in Beijing's Kashmir policy.

The very purpose of the military exchanges between India and China, for example, is to maintain peace and tranquillity on the border, pending the resolution of the territorial dispute.
Why then is Beijing spurning military confidence-building to make a political point in J&K? Has the continuous contestation of Indian sovereignty in J&K become so important for Beijing that it is prepared to rupture an expanding bilateral relationship? These are the questions that Delhi is asking itself.
In our obsession with Pakistan and the emphasis on "bilateralism" when it comes to discussing Kashmir, we tend to forget how China looms so large on J&K.
Until recently China's importance to Kashmir was reflected in three facts. China is in occupation of 38,000 sq km of territory in the Ladakh region that connects the original state of J&K with two Chinese provinces, Tibet and Xinjiang.

Beijing also controls another tract of about 5,000 sq km in Shaksgam valley that Pakistan ceded to China under a 1963 treaty. The Chinese People's Liberation Army spent vast amounts of blood and treasure in building the Karakoram Highway through Gilgit-Baltistan into Pakistan during the '70s.
As it reflects on the recent Chinese moves on J&K, India must come to terms with a number of new trends. As a rising power, China has begun to assert its territorial claims far more vigorously, as seen most recently in the South China Sea.
Its rapid growth over the last three decades has allowed Beijing to project its economic power across its frontiers into the neighbouring countries. As a consequence, China's capacity to influence decisions of its neighbours all along its periphery -- from the Russian far east to Central Asia through the Korean Peninsula and Southeast Asia -- has increased.

In the last few years, India has warily watched Chinese activism all across the Great Himalayas in Burma, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan. Until now India's challenge has been about managing an economic and diplomatic contest with Beijing.
The new questions that Delhi confronts are somewhat different. Is China's rising economic power and growing political influence across the Himalayas morphing into a threat to India's territorial sovereignty in J&K? Has China abandoned its three-decade-old cautious approach to J&K?

During the '50s, China avoided taking positions on the India-Pakistan dispute over J&K. Despite the positive Sino-Indian relations and India's acceptance of the Chinese claim to Tibet, China did not support India's sovereignty over J&K. But Beijing did not support Pakistan either.
As Sino-Indian ties deteriorated from the late '50s, China tilted decisively towards Pakistan and after the 1962 war with India it started supporting self-determination for J&K.
As Deng Xiaoping sought a peaceful environment for his economic reforms from the late '70s, the Chinese position on Kashmir acquired some balance, especially after Delhi and Beijing made an effort to normalise relations.

The latest Chinese moves suggest that in the fourth phase of its Kashmir policy, Beijing is less concerned about maintaining a balance between Delhi and Rawalpindi. While its new positions do help Pakistan in a tactical sense, India wonders if China wants to become a full-fledged party to the J&K dispute by contesting India's sovereignty.
Add to this, China's expanding presence in Gilgit-Baltistan, its plans to modernise the Karakoram Highway and link it to the Gwadar port in Pakistan, and its search for new access routes into Afghanistan. All these developments make India wonder if it must redo its sums in Kashmir.

India can certainly retaliate to China's moves on J&K, with visa denials of its own and stapled visas for Chinese citizens from across the borders in Xinjiang and Tibet. Such diplomatic tit-for-tat may make Delhi feel good but will not address its new China problem on its frontiers.
To deal with the rising Chinese power in Kashmir and other frontiers, India needs a long-term strategy that focuses on a rapid upgrade of India's own infrastructure on the borders, massive economic investments to develop the border regions all along our northern frontiers, strengthening cross-border economic cooperation with our smaller neighbours, and modernising India's military capabilities.

For its part, Delhi must first try and get Beijing to see the dangerous consequences of its moves on J&K. India must also offer to engage China in a comprehensive dialogue on stabilising our shared periphery.
From Balochistan to Burma -- through Afghanistan, FATA, Xinjiang, Kashmir, Tibet, Nepal and the Northeast -- there is great turbulence. India's preference must be to cooperate with Beijing in bringing peace and prosperity to this region.
If Beijing, however, continues to challenge India's territorial sovereignty across the Great Himalayas, even a reluctant UPA government -- widely seen as weak and lacking the political will on national defence -- might be forced to pick up the gauntlet.
Source: Indian Express

K.Venugopal
#1
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 10:14:18
To the question as to what India can do about China's aggression on India's integrity, India must immediately and unambiguously put across the message that however powerful China is India shall not go down without a fight and saying so India should deploy its nuclear arsenal upon China with the implication that even if India is completely destroyed, not much of China and its protégé Pakistan would survive either. We must put across the message of assured mutual annihilation. Therefore India has to get cracking on the nuclear arsenal front to hone its nuclear capabilities.

http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4325926&page=0

IIPM not recognised, can't confer degrees: UGC public notice

26/08/2010
Arindam Chaudhuri's institution is not entitled to award MBA/BBA/BCA degree.

New Delhi: The country's higher education regulator, the University Grants Commission, has said that the privately run Indian Institute of Planning and Management, New Delhi, is not recognised by it and is not authorised to confer degrees.

Without assigning reasons for its public notice brought out in dailies on Wednesday, the UGC said: "It is further clarified for information that IIPM is neither entitled to award MBA/BBA/BCA degree nor it is recognised by UGC."

Spokesperson of IIPM, run by management guru Arindam Chaudhuri, was not reachable for comments, while the chairman's office did not entertain calls. Calls to UGC Secretary Niloufer Adil Kazmi's office were not returned.

The apex higher education body, in the notice, also said that "IIPM does not have the right of conferring or granting degrees as specified by the University Grants Commission under section 22(3) of the UGC Act."

The notice said: "It is hereby informed to the public at large and students that IIPM, New Delhi, is not a University within the meaning of section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956."
It added that IIPM is not recognized by the Ministry of Human Resource Development or the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
Source: PTI

K.Venugopal
#1
Friday, 27 August 2010 03:10:21
Why has IIPM not got itself duly registered, all the while giving the impression through advertisements that it is about the topmost management institutions in the country. A very bad slip up indeed. Meanwhile, the government should bail it out of its awkward position by granting it due recognition because all said and done, the institution appears to be a top notch one and would be an asset in the field of education in our country. Neither side should get ensnared in procedural wrangles.

http://education.in.msn.com/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4309555&page=0

Madhya Pradesh: 103 more explosive laden trucks missing

NDTV Correspondent, Updated: August 27, 2010 10:35 IST

Bhopal: In a shocking revelation, the Bhopal police have divulged that a total of 163 explosive laden trucks had originally gone missing. The initial reports of 60 trucks appear to be just a small part of the story.

Trucks loaded with detonators and gelatine sticks were sent from the government's Dholpur Factory in Rajasthan to Chanderi and Sagar town in Madhya Pradesh.

Both companies are owned by Jaikishan Aswani who is now absconding.

His close aide Rajendra Choubey has been detained.

''The 60 trucks bound for Sagar did not reach Sagar. Likewise, 103 trucks headed for Chanderi never reached Chanderi,'' said AK Soni, Inspector General (Intelligence), Madhya Pradesh.

The police now say that this could be a link to a much bigger racket. There are possibly a few hundred more trucks unaccounted for and missing.

Investigators suspect they have been primarily sold for the purpose of illegal mining.
However, they can't rule out if some of it could have also reached terror groups and Naxals.

The police fears are raising concern. Also, where and who bought the explosives is still a big question.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/madhya-pradesh-103-more-explosive-laden-trucks-missing-47427?cp

This is a serious matter. A top level enquiry should go into this and those involved should be pursued, whatever the ramifications.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/madhya-pradesh-103-more-explosive-laden-trucks-missing-47427

China denies visa to J&K Army commander, India hits back

Updated on Friday, August 27, 2010, 10:11
Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi: The diplomatic war between India and China has turned worse after Beijing stunned New Delhi by refusing to allow the visit of the Indian Army's top commander in J&K, a state which China has maintained as disputed.

As per reports Friday, Lt General BS Jaswal, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Area Command, was nominated by the government to visit China as part of the regular high-level exchanges between the defence establishments of the two countries.

But Beijing responded to his nomination by saying that it was unwilling to "welcome" Jaswal because he "controlled" a disputed area, Jammu and Kashmir, a leading daily reported.

Taking strong exception to the move, India has through top diplomatic channels protested China’s action and has decided to suspend all defence exchanges with its eastern neighbour, for now.

Two Chinese defence officials, scheduled to come to India for a course at the National Defence College have been denied permission by Delhi. Moreover, a subsequent visit by Indian military officials to China also stand cancelled.

The ministry of external affairs (MEA) is likely to issue a statement on the entire issue today.

China has been raking up the Kashmir issue for a while, much to India’s discomfort. It had in the past refused to paste visas on the passports of residents of J&K, and staples them instead, despite repeated protests from India.

As such visas are not recognised in India; the end result is that people of J&K can't visit China.

Beijing, in fact, also denies visas altogether to the residents of Arunachal, claiming them to be Chinese citizens.

India should forthwith declare Tibet as disputed territory.

http://www.zeenews.com/news651034.html

Mother Teresa – One hundred years young

By Dipankar Paul, India Syndicate, 25/08/2010
A hundred years ago, in the northern coast of the Mediterranean, was born a woman the world would later call Mother Teresa. We at MSN take a moment to honour Mother’s life – a life dedicated to the service of humanity, a life we can all take examples from. This is a tribute to a true centurion.
The world knows her as Mother. But in India she was called by a name that instantly symbolises warmth, love, belonging, and safety - Ma.
Shaukat Ali, a 50-year-old homeless labourer who was born - and still lives - on the pavement outside Mother House, recalls one cold winter night with tears in his eyes. "I was shivering with cold. Ma came to me and gave me a blanket."
He was speaking, of course, of the world's most-loved messiah: Mother Teresa.
"Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person."
Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu was born on August 26, 1910. And now, one hundred years later, the world stands up in unison to celebrate the life of the little lady with a giant's heart.
As a little girl, Agnes was fascinated by stories of missionaries and by the age of 12 she had decided that she, too, would lead the life of one. She joined a group of Irish missionaries and came to India when she was 18. Years later, she took Indian citizenship and took an oath to serve the poor and the ailing.
In 1950, she set up the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, and set up her first home for the poor - Nirmal Hriday - near the famous Kali temple in Kalighat.
Whoever came in direct contact with Mother Teresa over the years recalls her kindness, her ever-willing spirit and the bond that they shared with her.
"Mother would always speak to me whenever she came to Nirmal Hriday," says Bijoy Kumar Samaddar, who owns a shop along the walls of Nirmal Hriday. "One day I was not feeling well, she came to my shop, sat down on the table I am sitting on now and asked about my health."
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world."
Mother Teresa's commitment to her work was unquestionable. Ace lensman Raghu Rai, who chronicled much of Mother's work, tells The Week about the time Pope John Paul II visited Kolkata in 1986. "Mother Teresa was waiting for Pope John Paul II with a lot of hope and faith. While waiting, she cleaned the excreta of a man who was in her care. Even when the Pope was coming to meet her, she would not ignore her daily work."
Navin Chawla, former Chief Election Commissioner and Mother Teresa's official biographer, recalls in his book Mother Teresa about the first time he suggested writing a book about her. "She said, 'All right, but don't write about me, write about the work.'"
Veteran journalist and writer Khushwant Singh has first-hand experience of Mother Teresa's strength of will. While on a visit to Nirmal Hriday in Kolkata, the writer and Mother passed a man who had only a few moments to live. Singh recalls Mother holding the man's hands and whispering to him Bhogoban achhen (God exists). By the time they completed a round, the man had passed away. Mother calmly asked the sisters there to remove the body.
"We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love."
Shy, diminutive, but with an iron will, Mother Teresa was also, as some have been fortunate enough to know, quite a witty person. She once famously said, "I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much."
She would often narrate the story of her interaction with a woman dying of cancer. "I told her, 'You know, this terrible pain is only the kiss of Jesus - a sign that you have come so close to Jesus on the cross that he can kiss you,' And she joined her hands together and said, 'Mother Teresa, please tell Jesus to stop kissing me.'"
Always accessible and always candid, Mother said once at a press conference, "The other day I dreamed that I was at the gates of heaven and St. Peter said, 'Go back to earth, there are no slums up here.'"
And that vividly summarises the life of the woman who would receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, and a year later, India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna.
"I never will understand all the good that a simple smile can accomplish."
Mother Teresa breathed her last on September 5, 1997, but left behind a legacy that has only grown. At the time her death, The Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity numbered 3,914 members, and were established in 594 communities in 123 countries.
Today, her work continues under the guidance of Sister Nirmala, Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity Sisters. The order has grown to over 4,000 members in 697 foundations in 131 countries of the world.
And when you step through the doors of Mother House in Kolkata, a little signs says that Mother is 'in'. Mother is always in.
Source: India Syndicate

K.Venugopal
#1
Thursday, 26 August 2010 10:08:35
Mother Teresa's main aim was conversion of Hindus into Christianity. Those who believe in conversions are maniacs. She used the tactic of serving the poor for her ulterior motive of conversions. Just like Pootana wanted to give milk to Krishna in order to kill him. Therefore Mother Teresa should correctly be referred to as Pootana Teresa.

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4293358&page=0

MSN Readers: Apology is pittance!

25/08/2010

It has been a case of shock and outrage not just in the whole of India but even the world after the Viswanathan Anand goof-up by the bureau'crazy' India. MSN Readers were busy coming up with their reactions and we welcome every one of them. The unanimous verdict from across all sections - apology not enough. People responsible should face action.

Former and current Olympains have slammed the bureaucracy for meting out this kind of treatment to India's greatest sportsperson. Abhinav Bindra , Beijing Olympics Gold medallist has termed this incident as a very unfortunate one.
" Whatever has happened with Anand is extremely disappointing as he is a big hero and should get his dues. He should be respected".
3-time Hockey Olympian and Padma Shri Awardee Mukesh Kumar termed the incident as a big insult. "I can tell you it is not the first time such a thing has taken place. I have faced it too many times and even two years ago I had to go through similar hell with bureaucrats. Such things should never happen again. Being a Hyderabadi, I am feeling especially ashamed as this incident has taken place in Hyderabad", said Mukesh.

MSN Readers too have been sharp and incisive with their verdict on the shocking incident. There has been 'mass' outrage and our Readers have come up with some pointers that will certainly leave our bureaucrats a shamed lot. The unanimous verdict from MSN Readers is that an apology is simply not enough and there has to be stricter action in this whole saga. Some readers went to the extent of saying bureaucrats should be dismissed for this lapse. Most readers even sought a more conclusive response from Kapil Sibal and said they were disappointed by the HRD Minister's response. We have pieced together some pointers from our readers..
- HRD Ministry's apology not enough. The PM should say sorry to Anand
- Why did it take 90 days for Anand's file to move from one clerical desk to other if Sibal's claims that he cleared it on May 22nd are true?
- Who is the boss in the HRD Ministry? Sibal Sahib or the clerks?
- Vishwanathan Anand towers over most men, especially the politicians and the bureaucrats...Even the Doctorate cannot sum up the worth of this great legend. All those in seats of power should learn humility from him
- Shame, humiliation and what not! What else bureaucrats in India are known for? Mr. Sibal, please expose the name of the officer who questioned Anand's nationality.
- Are not people holding Indian Passports are Indian citizens? Those HRD officials need reorientation.
- Even the President and Prime Minister should take up the issue seriously and all Parliamentarians irrespective of their Parties should also put up the matter before Parliament.

What is clear from the verdict of the MSN Readers and sportspersons is that this is a case of national shame and the guilty should not be let off with a small apology!

When will such 'humiliation' stop?
Sibal has blamed 'procedural delay' as the reason for the goof-up and added he was keen to award the Doctorate now but since Anand is 'upset', he will not be able to attend the event, which is why Anand likely to be conferred at a later date.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Sibal said, " Viswanathan Anand's file was cleared by me on May 22nd. It had to go the 'Visitor' and get the clearance there. Due to procedural delays, it could not be completed. I now take the responsibility as a HRD Minister to ensure Anand is conferred the Degree soon".
Virtually running for cover, Sibal added " We should be proud of people like Anand who are a part of global excellence by Indians and there is no way such a thing should have happened". But, what was shocking about Sibal's response was one line that stood out.
"Anand's file cannot be sent separately to the 'Visitor' (President's Office) but a consolidated bunch of files will be sent for clearance. That is the procedure which is followed".

It was a clear case of too little too late from the HRD Minister, who even tried to share the blame with the University of Hyderabad. The Minister also urged people to close the issue as it was resolved. But, the question Mr. Sibal is, who will own up responsibility for such s shameful incident? Meanwhile, the World Champion himself was unfazed by the controversial developments. Anand looked cheerful as he arrived to a grand reception at the International Congress of Mathematicians.
He may be upset over the Union Human Resources Development Ministry questioning his nationality but Vishy did not show it. The chess wizard enthusiastically walked into the huge hall at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre to take on simultaneously on 40 mathematicians from across the globe in a game of chess.Reacting to the controversy, Vishwanathan's wife Aruna said they were not disappointed but irritated at the developments.
"I don't think we are disappointed, it is just that it is irritating to answer these questions. Anand has always had an Indian passport and is still an Indian passport holder. So restating the obvious is a bit irritating.
"I was asked to send a copy of Anand's passport which I did. That is the only piece of information I have. I don't know what transpired between them" Meanwhile, the Head of Mathematics Department at University of Hyderabad Raja Tandon released a statement in which he said, "The Executive Committee of ICM 2010 and University of Hyderabad is deeply saddened by the fact that the special convocation to confer an Honorary Degree on one of our greatest sports personalities Viswanathan Anand could not be held because of insensitive bureaucratic obstructions".

At a time when most Indian sports associations are wooing Players of Indian Origin to play for India, a person who has put India above everything else in life has not been given the status of an 'Indian' by the Human Resource Development Ministry.

World Chess Champion and icon to every Indian chess lover, Viswanathan Anand has been in the news over 'confusion' owing to his citizenship status after an Honorary Doctorate was announced by the organisers of the International Congress of Mathematicians,2010 currently underway in Hyderabad. Anand himself reached Hyderabad along with Professor Mumford, a world renowned algebraic geometer from Harvard University who was also to receive the Honour and the duo were put up in a hotel room. Anand was hoping the clearances from the HRD Ministry would be completed before Sunday and the Convocation could go on as scheduled on Monday. But, that didn't happen for inexplicable reasons. The HRD Ministry felt Anand was not an Indian or in other words, Anand was a foreigner!

The proposal to honour Anand was not an overnight decision. The Executive Organising Committee (EOC) of the International Congress of Mathematicians had mooted this idea many years ago and were aptly supported by the University of Hyderabad. The UoH got the respective clearances from the Executive Bodies of the University back in February this year before they were forwarded to Ministry of Human Resource Development in June 2010.
All was well till a top Bureaucrat of MHRD had questioned Anand's nationality and gave indications that the proposal would need clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs. This evoked sharp reaction from the Organisers of ICM and the message also reached Aruna Anand, wife of Vishy. . On knowing the developments, Aruna dashed off a letter in which she minced no words and even sent a copy of Anand's Indian passport.
Sources also indicate to MSN India that the Organisers (EOC) made a last ditch attempt to approach the President's Office to obtain an automated mandate to go ahead with the Convocation. But, with no response reaching Hyderabad till as late as Sunday night, the proposal was shelved leaving Anand baffled, disgusted and confused. It is a known fact that Anand has been living in Spain for many years but all along he has maintained that his residency outside of India is only to keep in sync with the game of chess that is governed by a number of factors which also include acclimatisation of conditions. He and his wife Aruna have been categorical that they are very much Indians.

Anand has been one sportsperson, who has not been involved in a single controversy throughout his life. Anand was scheduled to receive the award in Hyderabad as he was to play simultaneous chess with 35 mathematicians and 5 nominees of Infosys and the youngest player in the lot Palden Ball, who is just 12. The incident sure takes the sheen away from such a wonderful moment of many brains at one location. HRD Minister Kapil Sibal stepped in after the controversy was brought to light by the media. He has assured Anand personally after speaking to him personally on the issue. Sibal also promised Anand that he would be given the Honorary Doctorate.
The big questions that tumble out from the controversy...
1. Why did the Ministry of HRD sit on the proposal for some long?
2. Where was Kapil Sibal for the last 3 months since the proposal was sent to the MHRD?
3. Does it need a media reminder to our Ministers to act on humiliations?
4. Why did the HRD Ministry revert twice to UoH on the same issue of Anand's citizenship? Was the HRD Ministry lurking in a zone of double standards?
5. Who is to blame for treating one of India's greatest sportspersons in such a humiliating manner?
These questions may remains unanswered for sometime but it is sad that a player who loves donning Indian colours is questioned about his citizenship.

This isn't the first time an Indian sportsperson has been subject to pain and humiliation by a Ministry in India. There were at least 3 instances in the last year or so that catches attention..
India's sprint queen who is the doyen of Indian athletics was provided pathetic accommodation where she was made to share a single room with 5 others during the National Open Athletics meet at Bhopal last year. Usha even broke down during the press conference .
Badminton ace Saina Nehwal was made to run from pillar to post for the renewal of her passport in Hyderabad by the Regional Passport Officer just 2 days before she had to play in the World Super Series Masters Final Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. After much media intervention, the Ministry woke up and fast tracked her passport issue and ensured the ace shuttler did not miss the flight to Malaysia.

When Pullela Gopichand took Saina for an informal meet with Sports Minister M. S. Gill after the Beijing Olympics, the former All-England Champion wasn't even identified by the man who runs sport in India. He had to introduce himself as 'I am Gopichand, the National Coach of Indian Badminton'.
Hard to even read about such instances leave alone facing them. When will such things stop in Indian sport?
Source: Rajesh Viswanathan, India Syndicate

K.Venugopal
#1
Wednesday, 25 August 2010 11:53:19
This is truly a case of the media making a mountain out of a molehill. Bureaucratic howlers are not uncommon and in most cases are as innocent as typographical errors. The Indian in Vishvanathan Anand cannot ever be taken away and even if he himself takes up Spanish citizenship, that would only be a technical right he could be availing himself of and in no way reduces his Indianness. Considering that the Minister concerned has apologized, it is clear that there is no controversy. The incident must sensitivise bureaucrats to apply their minds while at work, even if the work is often somewhat mechanical in nature.

http://sports.in.msn.com/othersports/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4298411&page=0

'Big' case against Madani

By: Imran Gowhar Date: 2010-08-20 Place: Bangalore

State creates history by filing India's longest affidavit ever, against Bangalore blasts case accused Abdul Nasser Madani

The state has created a history by filing a longest affidavit ever, against the 31st and most high profile accused in the Bangalore blasts case, Abdul Nasser Madani.

The state has filed an affidavit before the Karnataka High Court accusing him of wanting to form an Islamic India.

State Public Prosecutor HS Chandramouli, who filed the objections said that this is a historic one since never in the history of any criminal jurisprudence has such a lengthy objection been filed.

He said that the objections that narrate the modus operandi alone, run into 57 pages apart from the affidavit.

Opposing his application seeking discharge from the case, the state in the affidavit says that Madani conspired to make India into an Islamic nation, and Bangalore blasts was just the tip of the iceberg.

Not only do they accuse him of co-conspiring the serial blasts at Bangalore, but they also accuse him of being involved in the circulation of fake currency in order to destabilise the economy.

The affidavit further goes on to accuse him of planning a proxy war against the nation by using members of the PDP.

He had also planned on engaging other fundamental outfits to carry out this operation, the affidavit also mentions.

The state of Karnataka also states before the court that Madani had helped get the bombs, microchips manufactured which were finally used in the case.

What the State says

The government goes on to state that since the accused is high profile in nature and there is a need to
complete the trial against him urgently, a special court be set up for this purpose.

The state government says that there is an utmost need to complete the trial soon since there is every possibility of this man's associates destroying evidence.

"Forming an Islamic state" may be an ideal most Muslims might find quite natural for a Muslim to aspire to. The idea may be abhorrent in the Indian context only because a theological state runs counter to the values of the Indian constitution. Nevertheless, Madani's aspiring to it is unlikely to be considered as tantamount to seeking overthrow of the current government and constitution through violent means. Taking to violence, whatever the motive, is a legal offence and the investigation agencies have to prove that Madani was spearheading a violent enterprise. The investigation agencies could pin Madani just by establishing he was in contact with Nasir before and after the blasts. Surely the phone call logs would be sufficient circumstantial evidence. Establishing that Madani travelled to Coorg would cook the goose for Madani. But are the police anywhere near proving this? Going by Nasir's word won't be good enough.

http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/aug/200810-Abdul-Nasser-Madani-Bangalore-blasts-High-Court.htm

Obama is a Christian, says White House

20/08/2010
Washington: A day after a poll found that one in five Americans think US President Barack Obama is a Muslim, the White House has asserted he is a Christian, who prays every day.
"President Obama is a committed Christian, and his faith is an important part of his daily life," White House Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton told reporters on board Air Force One on the way to Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
"He prays every day, he seeks a small circle of Christian pastors to give him spiritual advice and counseling, he even receives a daily devotional that he uses each morning. The President's Christian faith is a part of who he is, but not a part of what the public or the media is focused on everyday."
"The President's strong Christian faith is what guides him through the challenges - a recovering economy, bringing troops home from Iraq, putting healthcare, and financial reform implementation in place. But he doesn't wear it on his sleeve," Burton said.
This assertion of his religious identity comes in the backdrop of Obama's controversial statement, where he pledged his support for the right to build a mosque just blocks from Ground Zero. Public outrage, especially from the families of 9/11 victims forced him to do a U-turn.
A CNN/Opinion Research poll had shown that 68 percent of Americans opposed the Islamic center plans, while only 29 percent supported them.
Congressman Peter King, who represents New York in the US House of Representatives, said the Muslim community was "abusing" its rights and "needlessly offending" many people.
"It is insensitive and uncaring for the Muslim community to build a mosque in the shadow of Ground Zero," said King, a Republican. "Unfortunately the president caved in to political correctness."
Obama later acknowledged that the site where the World Trade Center towers once stood remains "hallowed ground," and that the 9/11 terror attacks "were a deeply traumatic event for our country."
"I was commenting very specifically on the right people have that dates back to our founding. That's what our country is about. I was not commenting, and I will not comment on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque there. This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country, and will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are."
The US President was born to a Kenyan father and an American mother and was brought up by his maternal grandparents in Hawaii because his father, who was also called Barack, left for Africa when Obama was just two. He has said in his autobiography that his grandfather, Hussein Onyango Obama, was a Muslim.
According to a poll conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life released Thursday, nearly one in five Americans believe Obama is a Muslim, up from around one in 10 Americans who said he was Muslim last year.
While most of those who think Obama is Muslim are Republicans, the number of independents who believe he is Muslim has expanded significantly, from 10 percent last year to 18 percent now.
The number of Americans who express uncertainly about the president's religion, meanwhile, is much larger and has also grown, including among Obama's political base. For instance, fewer than half of Democrats and African-Americans now say that Obama is Christian according to the Pew poll.
Source: Agencies

K.Venugopal
#1
Friday, 20 August 2010 15:01:25
The American administration has found it imperative to reiterate that Obama is a Christian only because anti-Muslim sentiments are running high in America now and any notion that Obama is a Muslim could spell kaput to Obama's political career. If secularism is about keeping religion out of politics, then such a reiteration is not quite secular. The bottom line is that Islam is impacting America more than America would have bargained for - even to the extent of rocking the secular boat in which America has been traveling all along.

http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4286033&page=0

Madani refuses to sing to the police

Express News Service
First Published : 20 Aug 2010 04:15:47 AM IST
Last Updated : 20 Aug 2010 11:22:04 AM IST

BANGALORE: The Bangalore city police are yet to get anything substantial from the interrogation of People Democratic Party chief Abdul Nasser Madani, said police officials.
Madani, a senior police officer said, has denied any links with T Nasir, the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Bangalore blasts. The Kerala leader also said he had never visited Kodagu district. The Bangalore police have claimed in the additional chargesheet of the 2008 that Madani had visited a farm in Kodagu district where he had plotted the blast conspiracy with Nasir.
Madani reportedly told the police that he was under a round-the-clock police protection in Kerala and that it was impossible for him to go anywhere without the police’s knowledge.
The Bangalore police have decided to bring Nasir and the other witnesses who were in the farm for an identification parade before Madani, said an officer. “He is not revealing anything about the serial blast cases and trying to mislead the police. We need some more time to prove the charges against him,” he added.
Madani was brought to Bangalore on Tuesday after his arrest in Kollam, Kerala. The police are interrogating him at an undisclosed location.

The investigation agency has already produced the telephone log details to the court. How reliable are they to prove that T.Nasir was in touch with Madani? Apart from this have they only got Nasir's word against Madani? If so, they would be in hot soup. Nasir will surely change his statements.

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/madani-refuses-to-sing-to-the-police/199614.html

Judge delivers judgements in 111 cases in one day

Press Trust of India, Updated: August 20, 2010 09:04 IST

Guntur: A Judge here has delivered judgements in 111 criminal cases in one day, creating a record of sorts in the annals of judiciary.

Junior Civil Judge J V V Satyanarayana Murthy of Mangalagiri town delivered the judgements on Thursday, Mangalagiri Bar Association officials said.

The previous record in the country was of 80 cases, they said.

Of the 111 cases, in 78 the accused confessed to the offences, resulting in imposition of fines totalling Rs. 99,500. The cases related to theft, street brawls, domestic quarrels and road accidents, among others, they said.

Earlier also, Murthy had disposing of 808 civil cases in 20 days when he was posted at Pulivendhula town a few years ago, winning the admiration of then Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, the officials said.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/judge-delivers-judgements-in-111-cases-in-one-day-45792?cp

Like Anand is a maestro in quick-chess, this judge is a maestro in quick justice. With checks and balances to ensure that justice is not miscarried, this judge should be the role model for all judges, particularly considering that we have a huge pile of cases always awaiting disposal.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/judge-delivers-judgements-in-111-cases-in-one-day-45792

Union Cabinet clears Nuclear Liability Bill

Updated on Friday, August 20, 2010, 11:29
Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi: In a major development, the Union Cabinet on Friday cleared the controversial Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010, and agreed to make the amendments suggested by the main opposition, BJP.

According to reports, the Cabinet also agreed to remove controversial word “and” from the text of the clause 17(a) and 17(b) of the Civil Nuclear Liability Bill, 2010.

The text of the bill was examined by the Standing Committee on Science and Technology for over two months and it presented its report to both the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday.

The report addressed major concerns of BJP as it recommended provision for "clear-cut" accountability of suppliers for any mishap involving an atomic plant and raise of compensation cap from Rs 500 crore to Rs 1,500 crore among various amendments.

However, the BJP had expressed objection to an amendment carried out in the final report of the Standing Committee, saying it dilutes provisions relating to "suppliers" obligations in case of an accident.

The BJP and Left parties have opposed the addition of the word "and" in the proposed legislation after Clause 17(a) dealing with the right of recourse of an operator of a nuclear plant and a subsequent sub-clause 17(b) that deals with the suppliers obligations in case of an accident.

The BJP has made it clear that if the government does not drop its proposed amendment, which it considers as harmful, it would itself move an amendment.

The Left and the BJP have stated that the insertion of the word “and” in the text of the original draft will give the suppliers a free hand from paying damages.

Owning to the pressure, the government then agreed to address the concerns raised by the BJP and the Left and promised to stick to the original version.

According to the BJP, the original agreed text read: Clause 17 of the bill allowed the operator of the plant to seek damages from the supplier if:

A) There's a pre-existing contract on liability between them

B) Or if there's gross negligence or wilful act by the supplier

But in the final draft, the word "and" was added between Part A and B. This, the BJP and Left say, makes supplier liable only if there's a pre-existing contract with the government.

What infuriated BJP was a new page with the amendment that was stapled to the old page.

Furious BJP submitted an unsigned note to Minister of State Prithviraj Chavan to go back to the original, agreed text.

Union Cabinet’s clearance of the bill paves way for the bill to be tabled on the floor of the House either today or by this week.

With barely 10 days left in the Monsoon Session of Parliament, the government is also keen to pass the bill. However, with the BJP extending its full support to the bill, the government is now confident of the smooth passage of the bill in both the Houses of Parliament.

Despite the government agreeing to make changes in the text of the bill, Left Front continues to stick to its old stand of opposing the bill in the best interest of the nation.

Reacting to the Union Cabinet’s clearance of the bill, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury said, “We are happy that the controversial word ‘and’ has been removed but there are issues which need to be addressed. We continue to oppose the bill as it lacks clarity and on the issue of cap on compensation.”

The early enactment of nuclear liability law is crucial for operationalisation of India's nuclear deals with various countries.

Why a cap on the ceiling of compensation? The sky ought to have been the limit because there is no saying what catastrophe a nuclear accident may cause.

http://www.zeenews.com/news649594.html

Govt can’t supply free foodgrains: Pawar

Updated on Thursday, August 19, 2010, 14:34
New Delhi: The government on Thursday said it is not possible to implement the Supreme Court order that asked the Centre to distribute foodgrain for free to the poorest instead of allowing it to rot due to lack of storage facility.

"It's not possible to implement the Supreme Court order," Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar told reporters here.

He said that the apex court "had suggested to either distribute freely or sell at cheaper rates to the poorest of poor. The government cannot distribute foodgrains freely", but is providing rice and wheat at cheaper rates to the poor.

"We cannot distribute freely. Antodaya Anna Yojna (AAY) is applicable to the poorest of poor. We are buying wheat at Rs 16 a kg and distributing at Rs 2 a kg. What SC is telling, we are already doing it," he noted.

Last week, the Supreme Court had directed the government to distribute foodgrains to the hungry as a measure to overcome the storage problem. "The foodgrains are rotting. You can look after your own people. As a part of short-term measure, distribute it to the hungry for free," the court had observed.

The bench had passed the direction while dealing with a PIL filed by the civil rights group PUCL on rampant corruption in Public Distribution System (PDS) besides rotting of foodgrain in FCI godowns.

The bench had asked the Centre to ensure construction of a big godown in each state besides separate godowns in different districts and divisions within the states and expedite the computerisation process of PDS system to check pilferage and corruption.

Food Corporation of India, the nodal agency for procurement and distribution of foodgrain, has stock to the tune of 57.8 million tonnes at the start of the month against buffer norm of 31.9 million tonnes.

PTI

The government can go by previous years’ percentage of food grains that rotted and distribute that percentage of food grains free to the poorest of the poor. As storage facilities improve, this percentage might go down. Otherwise the government can apportion the food grains to reputed NGOs for a nominal value and they in turn should be asked to distribute it free. I am sure many NGOs would come forward and would be more than pleased to do it. Of course, everything must be strictly monitored so that there is no corruption along the way.

http://www.zeenews.com/news649399.html

‘Hemant Karkare was killed by right wing outfit’

Published: Wednesday, Aug 18, 2010, 1:05 IST Updated: Wednesday, Aug 18, 2010, 10:30 IST
By Mayura Janwalkar Place: Mumbai Agency: DNA

A petition filed in the high court has sought a re-investigation of the death of former ATS chief Hemant Karkare alleging that the attack on him on the night of 26/11 was orchestrated by Intelligence Bureau (IB) personnel and members of “right wing terrorist outfit” Abhinav Bharat.
The petition filed by Radhakant Yadav, 77, former MLA from Bihar is broadly based on the contentious book written by former IPS officer SM Mushriff. In his petition, Yadav has stated that a parallel operation was planned and executed by Abhinav Bharat with the connivance and aide of communal officers of the IB that coincided with the 26/11 attack.
The petition alleges that Karkare was targeted as he was about to arrest some industrialists, diamond merchants and builders who allegedly funded the activities of Abhinav Bharat.
“The IB, with the help of Mumbai police crime branch, stage-managed the encounter at Girgaum Chowpatty” where one of the terrorists, Abu Ismail, was gunned down and another, Kasab, was caught alive,” his petition states.
The petitioner has relied on the judgment of the trial court in 26/11 attacks case, wherein it is stated that names of Kasab and his slain aide Abu Ismail find absolutely no place in the intercepted conversation between the LeT operatives and their Pakistani handlers.
The government has to file a reply in two weeks.

The motive of "right wing terrorist outfit" to kill Karkare may be convincingly ascribed. After all, only grudge need to be established to imply motive. Since millions of Hindus might have held a grudge against Karkare for the way he went about treating Sadhvi Pragnya, particularly as reports of forcing her to view pornography surfaced, motive could have been ascribed to all of them to want to bump off Karkare. But the question is, how did Karkare die? He was clearly shot at by terrorists from Pakistan in full public view. Unless it is proved that these Pakistani terrorists were part of Hindu conspiracy, what the "Karkare was killed by right-wing terrorist outfit" chorus have on hand is simply an unproven conspiracy theory.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_hemant-karkare-was-killed-by-right-wing-outfit_1425023

Obama in a mess over mosque

16/08/2010
Washington: US President Barack Obama's support for the right to build a mosque just blocks from Ground Zero poured fuel on Saturday on a raging debate over religious freedom and sensitivities over the 9/11 terror strikes.

Muslims "have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country," Obama said at an Iftar meal at the White House for Muslims breaking their Ramadan fast late Friday.
That includes "the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances."
But Obama soon did a U-turn following public outrage, especially from families of 9/11 victims.
When the proposed location touched raw nerves -- Obama clarified that he was not addressing the appropriateness of the mosque's particular location.
"I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque there," Obama said on a visit to Florida.
"I was commenting very specifically on the right people have that dates back to our founding. That's what our country is about," he said.Obama had remained silent over plans to build an Islamic cultural center, which includes a mosque, two blocks away from the gaping Ground Zero hole where the Twin Towers were destroyed on September 11, 2001.

But after a New York city commission on August 3 unanimously approved the plans, the President came out to support the right to build the mosque.
"This is America," Obama had said, "and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country, and will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are."
Obama acknowledged that the site where the World Trade Center towers once stood remains "hallowed ground," and that the 9/11 terror attacks "were a deeply traumatic event for our country."
Planners say the multi-story "Cordoba House" will include a mosque, sports facilities, theater, and restaurant, and would be open to the public to show that Muslims are full community members.

Saturday the group 9/11 Families for a Safe & Strong America, which represents some relatives of attack victims, said it was "stunned" by the president's remarks.
Obama "has abandoned America at the place where America's heart was broken nine years ago, and where her true values were on display for all to see," the group said.
Building the mosque "is a deliberately provocative act that will precipitate more bloodshed in the name of Allah."
This president "declares that the victims of 9/11 and their families must ... stand silent at the last place in America where 9/11 is still remembered with reverence or risk being called religious bigots," the group said.

Another group representing other relatives of 9/11 victims, the September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, said in May that it "strongly supports" the Islamic center.
A CNN/Opinion Research poll earlier this month showed that 68 percent of Americans opposed the Islamic center plans, while only 29 percent favored them.
Congressman Peter King, who represents New York in the US House of Representatives, said the Muslim community was "abusing" its rights and "needlessly offending" many people.
"It is insensitive and uncaring for the Muslim community to build a mosque in the shadow of Ground Zero," said King, a Republican. "Unfortunately the president caved in to political correctness."
Obama said the Al-Qaeda terrorists responsible for the attacks do not represent Islam.
"It is a gross distortion of Islam," the President said late Friday. "In fact, Al-Qaeda has killed more Muslims than people of any other religion -- and that list of victims includes innocent Muslims who were killed on 9/11."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a US advocacy group, welcomed Obama's "strong support for Muslim religious rights."

Nihad Awad, a senior CAIR official, said he hoped the remarks will encourage "those who are challenging the rising level of Islamophobia in our society," and he urged "other national political and religious leaders" to speak out.
One of those reacting Saturday was New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
"I applaud President Obama's clarion defense of the freedom of religion," Bloomberg said, adding that the proposed site "is as important a test of the separation of church and state as we may see in our lifetime."
Passions over the issue run high across the country.
A Florida church has already said it will hold a "Koran-burning" on September 11 -- which this year coincides with Eid al-Fitr, the end-of-Ramadan holiday.
Obama himself is a Christian, but according to a Harris Interactive online poll from March, nearly one-third of all Americans, including 57 percent of Republicans, believe that he is a Muslim.
Source: AFP

K.Venugopal
#1
Monday, 16 August 2010 11:59:19
In Obama's subsequent clarification, two things must be borne in mind. One, he said America's tradition of freedom of religion ensured the right of Muslims to build a mosque anywhere, in accordance with local laws and ordinances. He was here reiterating what he first expressed during an Iftar party. The other point he made was that he was not commenting on the correctness of the Muslim decision to build a mosque bang opposite ground zero. I think there are two aspects to this. One, Muslims may have genuinely felt that a mosque very near the site of America's unforgettable tragedy would apply the healing balms. The other aspect would be a Muslim conviction that there is no stopping the Islamic onward march and the opportunity to build a mosque near ground zero would prove that Islam is the future, wherever. I think the Muslim leadership in America would be wise to abandon their project near ground zero and take it elsewhere. Who knows, Islam, against which there is much antipathy today in America, may by their act of voluntary withdrawal earn so much goodwill that the Muslims may be invited for special Islamic prayers when the ground zero towers are inaugurated? Continuing with their project at ground zero would only keep adding to the anger against Muslims. Whatever Obama has said holds sufficient hints as to which path would be the best for Muslims in America.

http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4271753&page=0

Obama backs mosque near ground zero

Updated on Saturday, August 14, 2010, 10:31

I would have understood it either way. That is, even if they had disallowed the mosque. Now that it has been officially decided to allow a mosque near ground zero, America has to be congratulated. It is a good point that they find it repelling to do onto the Muslims what the Muslims on the basis of strict adherence of Islam do in their supposedly holiest country - Saudi Arabia. Always, broad-mindedness defeats narrow-mindedness, though narrow-minded creeds often seem to be having the upper hand. It is also noteworthy that Obama has supported the mosque on the basis of the principles of the American constitution and not the basis of Christianity, which, as run by the multitudinous churches, might not have allowed a mosque at a place of such tragic memory. Congratulations, America - but be cautioned of the tale of the camel in the tent. On high moral grounds, a camel was allowed into a tent as it was cold outside and the owner thought, the camel has asked only its front legs to be put into the tent. Of course, after an interval of time, the camel also asked that its hind legs be allowed and before the Bedouin knew it, the camel was wholly in the tent and the poor chap found himself out in the cold.

http://www.zeenews.com/news648204.html

Back from the brink: The Jaguar Land Rover story

12/08/2010

Most termed it Ratan Tata’s vanity play when he acquired the marquee brand in the UK. Two years later, JLR’s performance has gone beyond everyone’s expectations.

When Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata announced the acquisition of British luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) in 2008, it was widely dismissed as a vanity play. Most analysts thought the losing British luxury carmaker was an unnecessary burden for a company which should focus more on its vast home market.
The unhappiness was evident at last year's Tata Motors annual general meeting when shareholders questioned Tata about the wisdom of paying $2.3 billion for acquiring the two brands, which had caused a $10 billion loss to Ford Motor Company, their erstwhile owner.
To make matters worse, the economic meltdown happened immediately after Tata Motors took over JLR, which went into a major downturn and started sucking a lot of cash. Tatas had to put in $1.5 billion to keep it up.

Both Tata and his trusted lieutenant Ravi Kant tried to soothe shareholders' nerves by saying that the two luxury brands can be put on the path of recovery and that JLR will become profitable in two years. Few believed them at that time.
But Tata Motors has achieved that feat a year earlier by reporting first quarter results that are way beyond everyone's expectations. And the main reason was JLR, whose revenue jumped 10.5 per cent quarter-on-quarter while Ebitda jumped 50 per cent in the same period. This was much better than the standalone results of Tata Motors.
JLR also turned free-cash flow positive after accounting for capital expenditure and product development expenses of around Rs 2,000 crore.

Tata Motors MD & CEO Carl-Peter Forster, till recently head of General Motors Europe, says "demand for JLR vehicles has exceeded our estimates and we are currently struggling to cope up. The markets in the US, UK and Europe have bounced back, even though China is cooling off".
Sales in the United Kingdom, JLR's home country and also its second largest market, rose by 23 per cent to 13,200 units during the recently concluded quarter as compared to 10,700 units. Similarly, North America recorded sales growth of 23 per cent to 12,600 units as against 10,300 units.
Forster says the company is focusing on selective hiring for JLR. "We have a very ambitious cycle ahead of us and need additional engineers for product development".

So how has Tata Motors achieved this? While a slowly improving global economy played a crucial role, sales volumes have also been rising as the new management compressed the time frame of product launches and launched high-margin cars, resulting in higher realisations.
Its 2010 range of revamped Land Rover, Range Rover Sport and Discovery 4 is doing well. Meanwhile the stunning Jaguar XF and XJ take on all-comers. The two brands had bagged a massive 13,000 units, $850 million, three- year order from China last year. However, it is pushing its facilities to the maximum to be able to wrap up the full order by this year itself.
In addition, Ratan Tata's plans to launch a new entry-level model, a roadster and a station wagon for Jaguar and a completely new Range Rover as well as hybrid vehicles in the coming period will add to the overall product portfolio.
It shows how important JLR's £800 million investment in green technologies really is, and how key the LRX (a lightweight hybrid 'baby' Range Rover) will be.

The compact, three-door LRX concept built on a sustainability-focused platform
The company has also created national sales organisations in all the countries where it sells JLR and all the new models are high margin products.
Besides, JLR's traditional markets - US and Europe, which had shown a sharp slump during 2008 following the global meltdown - are beginning to get back on its feet. Tata Motors also made the business more accountable and appointed KPMG and Roland Berger Strategy Consultants to cut costs at JLR.
It then went for major cost cuts through a thorough review of the manufacturing process, rationalisation of platforms and increasing the share of components purchased from low-cost countries like India and China.
A year and a half ago, JLR sourced 14-15 per cent of its total component requirements from low-cost countries. This has now risen to more than 20 per cent and the company targets to increase this to around 30 per cent. It has already opened purchasing offices in China in 2009. JLR thus directly gains a cost advantage of 30-40 per cent in components.

Total sales in China now account for about 10 per cent of JLR's total sales, and the company plans to increase sales to around 25,000 units in future. For this, the company plans to establish a separate national sales company in China shortly.
The management is also working towards joint development of engines, vehicles and platforms which will yield substantial savings in operations in the coming period. As per the senior management, JLR will explore the possibility of making small capacity engines with Tata Motors, while reducing its dependency on Ford Motor Company, from where it presently purchases all its engines.
Tata Motors also appears to be steadfast in its decision to close one of the three plants of JLR in the UK, in an attempt to further rationalise costs while consolidating the remaining two plants.

K.Venugopal
#1
Thursday, 12 August 2010 16:29:03
TATA is a name all Indians are proud of. Now that they are getting ready to have a new helmsman to head the empire, may I chip in my uncalled for but very much legitimate opinion because TATA is not simply a multi-national Indian brand but the blue eyed boy of the Indian Parivar and as an Indian, I must have my say. Tatas can afford to have the best of most competent names in the world to head it and such names might almost be dying to be the successor to such a worthy name as Ratan Tata. Many such names are already in the fray. But there is only one name that can carry forward something so cherished like no other name can - and that is a name which has mystique - TATA. Therefore Noel Tata, no pushover when it comes to exposure in Tata, though not as experienced, maybe, when more eminent candidates are considered, should almost automatically be successor to Ratan Tata. Ratan himself was somewhat, it was thought at that time, in the sea and had to be expertly guided by honchos of grey eminence till be broke free to set his own pace and become a legend in his own lifetime. Naturally - he had the TATA mystique. Let us not lose out on that mystique by denying Noel the role he is obviously born for.

http://autos.in.msn.com/autonews/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4260005&page=0

Arjun Singh blames Rao for Anderson's exit

Updated on Thursday, August 12, 2010, 09:39

Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi: New Delhi: Amidst allegations of soft handling the Bhopal gas tragedy case, senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh CM Arjun Singh spoke for the first time in his defence on Wednesday.

Singh rejected allegations that he had been soft on Warren Anderson saying that he ensured that the Union Carbide CEO was arrested after the tragedy.

“I personally briefed the officers (about) the decision to arrest Anderson and the Superintendent of Police escorted him to the state guest house for detention when he landed in Bhopal a day after the tragedy,” a frail Singh read out from a statement, while remaining seated in the Rajya Sabha.

He informed the House that Anderson was “so arrogant” when he got surprised that the CM himself had not arrived to receive him. He said he had also given the orders in writing to the officials.

Singh insisted that he had to let Anderson be in state protection and let him fly out quickly because there was threat of his being lynched by Bhopal mobs. Giving for the first time his side of the story, Singh said it was "incongruous that Anderson took a state plane to leave Bhopal" but did not go into details, saying he did "not want to enlarge on these things as it would add grief and bitterness".

“I did it with a heavy heart but I had to ensure his physical safety so that trial could be carried out against him,” Singh said, adding he would do it again if he was the CM of the state now.

Anderson and two other Carbide executives were picked up by police as soon as their aircraft touched down. They were whisked away through a side gate to avoid the waiting press corps.

Singh appeared to point fingers at the late P V Narasimha Rao in the exit of Anderson. "The Chief Secretary Brahm Swaroop informed me that there have been persistent calls for granting bail to Mr Anderson from Home Ministry officials in Delhi. I told him (MP Chief Secretary) that he can do whatever he likes, but the arrest be duly recorded so that we can summon him whenever we want," said Singh who did not share a good relationship with Rao during his days as HRD Minister in Rao's Cabinet at the Centre later.

Singh said the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was on tour in Harsukh town of Hoshangabad district in the state when he initially telephoned the Prime Minister's Office.

He said he had offered to step down as chief minister when Gandhi visited Bhopal Dec 6, 1984.

"But Rajivji turned down the offer. He said providing relief to the affected should be the priority," Arjun Singh said. Rajivji did not not utter a single word in the next two days either in support of Mr Anderson or try to mitigate his problem. Attaching motive to the then Prime Minister would be a figment of imagination of persons who can see nothing constructive of a person of that stature," he said giving a clean chit to Gandhi. He also said that Rajeev’s team had reached Bhopal within hours of the accident.

Singh said he was ready to share the blame “that is due to me and will not shift it onto anyone else. I am ready to suffer the blame.”

He also said that he endorsed the government of India’s efforts at deporting Anderson from the US and all claims to victims should be cleared. He called upon the PM Manmohan Singh to pressurise President Obama when he visits India for Anderson’s extradition.

Not satisfied with Singh's version, Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley said that the senior Congress leader was attributing blame on people who were not alive, neither the then Union Home Minister nor the Chief Secretary.

Jaitley said if Rajiv Gandhi had no sympathy with Anderson, then why did he listen to the Home Ministry. "His statement is concealing more".

-Agencies inputs

Arjun Singh's absolving Rajiv Gandhi cannot be any other way. He has for too long been a loyal lapdog in the menagerie that the Nehru dynasty has collected during its long rule of India. The question really is not who let Anderson off. The question is who invited him in the first place. Anderson would not have risked arriving in India at such a time unless someone had guaranteed him amnesty and that someone could not have been any other than Rajiv Gandhi. Why would Gandhi have wanted Anderson to come down to India? To strike a deal, of course. Arjun Singh was not in the loop (lapdogs rarely are) and therefore arrested Anderson, which he had to rescind after a word from Rajiv.

http://www.zeenews.com/news647548.html

Kalmadi should resign if found guilty: Digvijaya Singh

Updated on Tuesday, August 10, 2010, 10:02

Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi: Apparently voicing the discomfort within the Congress over the corruption scandal surrounding the Commonwealth Games, senior Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh has opined that Suresh Kalmadi should resign as chairman of the organising committee if found guilty in the ongoing probe into irregularities in the CWG funds utilisation.

''We are not demanding anything as the probe is on but only if he is found guilty, the resignation should be the logical outcome,'' Singh told reporters in Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh late Monday.

He said a lot had been said with regard to CWG funds and everyone should wait for the result of the probe before jumping to any conclusion. 'We should not forget that organising hassle-free Games is prestigious for the country and should look forward to it in a positive frame of mind,'' he added.

Digvijaya Singh’s comment – after Mani Shankar’s open attack - comes at a time when there are reports that Suresh Kalmadi has sought support from his party MPs.

In a letter sent to all Congress MPs, Kalmadi has reiterated his openness to a judicial probe or by the CAG.

But clearly, Digvijaya’s pointed intervention on the contentious issue has given rise to speculations that the Congress top brass irked with Suresh Kalmadi, IOA chief of 14 years, especially after the opposition took the dealings of the CWG 2010 in the Lok Sabha debate yesterday.

After a pounding by the opposition, which demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee to go into allegations of corruption in Delhi Games, government had said that irregularities would be inquired into "exhaustively" and the corrupt would be pursued till the "end of the earth".

Sports Minister MS Gill is set to reply to the Lok Sabha debate today. The government has already found itself on the back foot with key ally Trinamool Congress calling for a statement from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue.

UPA also appealed to parties, cutting across lines, to ensure that the games are held successfully.

"I don't say that corruption has not taken place. No one can say that. All irregularities will be inquired into exhaustively," said Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy in a spirited intervention during a debate on the games in Lok Sabha.

There are, I think, two aspects in this case. First, a lot of allegations of corruption are floating around. Unless the courts take cognizance of them, how can anyone be held guilty? Even charge sheets have not been filed against anybody. Kalmadi's critiques are asking him to resign only on moral grounds. Kalmadi may well have his own criterion as to what constitutes morality on this issue. For him, it may well be that running away from battle-field when the battle is about to begin is immoral.

The other aspect is the role those who have placed Kalmadi in the crucial post have to play. With so many charges flying around, with even the Queen being "coldly miffed" about the affair (though I personally do not believe it - it is likely to be an imagined scoop by London's famous yellow journalists), should the impression go out that Kalmadi is irreplaceable? When Satyam Infotech bubble burst, was not an alternate arrangement put in place successfully and quick enough? Of course, it would be pleaded that in the case of the CWG we do not have the luxury of time. Nevertheless, going into the games with a tainted (maybe unfairly, but images matter in these things) person at the top is disgraceful. Someone with a squeaky image and with proven capacity should be brought to the helm so that, at least when commentators all over the world report on the opening ceremony onwards, they would not have occasion to remind the world that the Games is being run with a man of questionable character at the top. Is this asking for the sky?

http://www.zeenews.com/news647162.html

Is India ready for scriptural reasoning?

The practice of reading spiritual texts together is gathering momentum. Technically known as scriptural reasoning — a practice of reading sacred scriptures, in small groups, together — there are about 20 such groups in the US and the UK, where it is gradually moving towards becoming a civic and community practice, its creator Peter Ochs co-wrote in a recent paper. Titled, Grassroots Scriptural Reasoning on Campus, this paper comes out of the presentation and practice of scriptural reasoning at the annual meeting of the National Association of College and University Chaplains at Duke University in February 2010.
Universities usually follow and try to decode the real world. But in a delightful change, two of them — Cambridge University and University of Virginia — are leading the charge on scriptural reasoning, a subject that could tomorrow turn into a field.
: spiritual reasoning, “a practice of reading sacred scriptures, in small groups, together,” according to Ochs, a professor of modern Judaic studies at University of Virginia.
“Normally the passages of scripture chosen are Jewish, Christian and Muslim and are linked together by a particular issue, theme, story or image,” Ochs, a professor of modern Judaic studies at University of Virginia, writes. “When read together in this way participants — or “reasoners” — have found that astonishing, powerful and, at times, quite surprising, new conversations and relationships may open up.”
The idea was to understand other religions, and expand the subject of theology. “Spiritual reasoning began in the 1980s as textual reasoning, a university-based forum for Jewish scholars of philosophy and Jewish textual scholars to meet and learn texts together in an effort to better understand each other, and to be able to tackle key questions about Judaism in the present and future,” according to the Cambridge Inter-Faith Programme. “In the 1990s, the doors were opened first to Christians and then to Muslims. Now it is an “open-ended” practice, going on in groups in the UK, the USA and beyond.”
I think India needs such groups — it will help balm the otherwise hatred-filled, exclusive, suspicious or simply indifferent attitude that the popular discourse seems to be adopting in an otherwise harmoniously religious nation.
Ochs suggests how this can be done.
“If spiritual reasoning is to serve the good, then it must be facilitated and nurtured in a way that moves each circle of study to offer open and caring hospitality to each and all participants: the religious and the nonreligious, from this background and that, the learned and the not so learned.”
This diversity in place, he goes on to the modus operandi: “The ‘formula’ for such study is simple: a table, chairs, two or more sets of texts from the different canons, some variety of participants, a sensitive facilitator (or two), a spirit of respect for all texts on the table and trust that, however challenging the verses may at times appear, persistent and open dialogue and careful word by word study will in time — we pray! — open each fellowship of study to mutual care and friendship and open each participant to the possibility of simultaneous affection (at the very least, deep respect) for the wisdoms he or she brought to the study and those encountered anew around the table of study.”
I like the idea and I’m sure within the next six months some of you will test it. The question is: will vested interests who benefit from religious divisions allow this experiment to take form? Worth finding out.
Posted by Gautam Chikermane on Sunday, August 8, 2010 at 11:16 pm

Comments
1. shan says:
@Gautam , there is not a great deal to understand , only reason that needs to get through to these nutters is the context of the genesis of religion. All religion grew out of fear from nature , thus nature gods, indra, thor in nordic , next came illness , perpetual enslavement in case of jews , thus the concept of messiah , then came prophecy , and followers , and that led to business , with priest class that brought its antithesis and prophets. And that is what is worth for, also there is still fear of impernanece , so there is still demand for the old school , bring the ray of rationality and you will realise you were looking for god but were made captive in the dungeon of religion.
2. Amit Julka says:
@gautam:I myself thought about the same concept and how we could tap religious channels to start the dialogue. Channels like Aastha and Sanskar could probably lead the way….And it would also be a welcome respite from the drivel they normally telecast all day

K.Venugopal Reply:Your comment is awaiting moderation.
August 9th, 2010 at 11:42 am

Mr. Amit Julka says Aastha and Sanskar normally telecast drivel all day. If he participates in a scriptural reasoning session, wouldn’t we be having an extremely prejudiced participant? Is prejudice reasonable?

3. K.Venugopal says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
A sentence, whether in a scripture or in an ordinary book, unless it is in a do-it-yourself sort of instruction manual, is likely to suggest more than one approach to it. So in “scriptural reasoning” sessions the direction the reasoning would take would depend on the direction the most determined moderator of the session would want the session to take (and there are likely to be such committed moderators in these sessions because these sessions would not have popped themselves up from a vacuum). These are all hare-brained ideas that become a fad for sometime and then vanish into meaninglessness. Scriptures in a collective way would benefit us much if no scripture insists that it alone is the only repository of wisdom.
http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/cutting-the-edge/2010/08/08/is-india-ready-for-scriptural-reasoning/comment-page-1/#comment-3834

Now a fatwa against women judges

Now a fatwa against women judges
Updated on Friday, August 06, 2010, 23:38

New Delhi: Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband has issued an edict saying that Muslim women should not become judges as it is forbidden in the religion.

The seminary posted the fatwa on its website after a question was posed to it on the issue.

The edict which said that women should not become judges has drawn sharp reaction from various quarters.

"Somebody's qualification should be judged by education and upbringing and not by gender. This is bias," said advocate and women activist Mumtaaz Akhtar.

Contending that the welfare of the community should be kept in mind before issuing such decrees, she said, "A woman understands the plight of another woman better. These types of diktats only dishonour the work done by several Muslim women in the field of judiciary."

In 1989, the country saw M Fathima Beevi from Kerala becoming the first Muslim woman judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court. Then in 2006, Seema Ali Khan was made a permanent judge of the Patna High Court.

According to Supreme Court advocate Kamlesh Jain, such fatwas affect the mindset of people and pose hurdles for Muslim women who want to opt for this profession.

"There are only 10-15 per cent women who are working in different departments of judiciary and they are performing extremely well. A woman advocate or judge is preferred in cases related to women issues but there are not enough women in the field," Jain said.

Rukhsana Zabeen, who works with Radio Kashmir in Srinagar as an assistant station director, says it is difficult to accept that women should not become judges.

"How can someone suggest that women cannot be capable judges without giving them an opportunity to show their competence," she asked.

"It is, however, a different matter that according to Islam, women should stay away from cases related to death as they are likely to take decisions emotionally," Zabeen said.

PTI

This is yet another example that the Quran is not the word of God because God would not have written anything that would in later times come through as Quixotic. The Quran is the outcome of the higher consciousness of Mohammad, obtained in the course of his meditations. However, since the expounding of the Quran was spread over a period of 27 years, Mohammad obviously had many relapses to common consciousness and his sayings during that time also found its way to the Quran, thus explaining the many contradictions in the Quran.

http://www.zeenews.com/news646427.html

No conviction for demanding dowry: Supreme Court

Press Trust of India , Updated: August 05, 2010 20:04 IST
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has ruled that a person cannot be convicted for merely demanding dowry unless the demand is followed by mental or physical torture resulting in the death of the victim.

A Bench of Justices R M Lodha and A K Patnaik said in a judgement that the prosecution has to establish convincing evidence that the accused had subjected the victim to torture soon before her death in connection with the demand.

"The evidence of Prosecution Witness-2, PW-4 and PW-5 shows that Jagdish and Gordhani played a role in the demand of dowry for a scooter or ` 25,000 for Amar Singh but demand of dowry by itself is not an offence under Section 498A or Section 304B IPC.

"What is punishable under Section 498A or Section 304B of IPC is the act of cruelty or harassment by the husband or the relative of the husband against the woman," the Bench said.

The bench passed the judgement while upholding the acquittal of Gordhani, mother-in-law, and Jagdish, brother-in-law, in a dowry death case of newly-married woman Santosh in Rajasthan's Alwar district in March, 8, 1993. It however, upheld the conviction of the husband Amar Singh.

The sessions court had convicted all the three for dowry death (304B) and 498A (harassment of married woman by husband/relatives).

The Rajasthan High Court had on an appeal from the accused quashed the conviction of Jagdish and Gordhari while sustaining the life sentence imposed on Amar Singh.

While the state government had appealed against the acquittals, Amar Singh challenged his conviction.

I think this is a retrogressive decision by the Hon’ble Supreme Court. What message are they trying to send? That the asking of dowry is a cultured act? Can’t their Lordships see that asking for dowry and giving of dowry, even unasked, spells the ultimate consumerism of sacrosanct marriage? Justifying dowry by saying that it is intended for the future welfare of the daughter etc. is only an excuse to cover up the cheapest of minds. Transforming marriage into commodity trading is what dowry is all about. If dowry has the sanction of the Supreme Court, then clearly it will become a respectable word to be used when formalizing marriages. The Apex Court saying that there is no stink to dowry so long as it does not generate violence is begging the question because if dowry is as sacred as the SC has made out, then wouldn't violence in its name be justified? It may come to pass that the Courts will end up demarcating the quantum of violence that is permissible in demanding the dowry promised. After all, doesn't this report indicate that the Court said that dowry violence is not a crime unless it results in death? Maybe this report is misleading because I do not believe any Court could have said anything like that. Anyway, the issue should be placed before a larger bench and regurgitated.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/no-conviction-for-demanding-dowry-supreme-court-42298

Hindu victim of Pak air crash labelled ‘kafir’

Updated on Thursday, August 05, 2010, 14:28

Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi: The labelling of the coffin of a Hindu killed in last week’s plane crash in Islamabad as 'kafir’ (non-believer) by the authorities raised a storm in Pakistan over the treatment meted out to minorities in the country.

Premchand, a social worker from Sanghar in Sindh, was one of the six members of the Youth Parliament, who died in the plane crash.

The controversy erupted after friends of Premchand claimed that his coffin came marked 'kafir or ‘infidel’ - mostly used as a serious slur in Pakistan - written out in bold strokes as it lay at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences awaiting collection by his devastated family.

Although, the incident is being termed as “clerical error”, reactions in Pakistan range from remorse and disgust at denying the youngster respect in death.

“It was shocking. He could have been marked as Hindu or non-Muslim, but using the word 'kafir’ is the worst example of intolerance.’’ Muneeb Afzal, a Member of the Youth Parliament (MYP) was quoted as saying.

Expressing their anger and remorse in online discussion forums, Premchand’s friends said the death of all passengers, irrespective of their caste, colour and religion, should have been treated as a matter of national tragedy.

Several members of the Youth Parliament wrote, “Literally labelling someone’s coffin as 'kafir’ and not even giving them the respect to list their religion by its proper name is a shameful and disgusting way to disrespect the last remains of anyone. All the more so the last remains of a patriotic Pakistani, who was on that plane solely to represent Pakistan, and to seek to be a better citizen, deserved a much better treatment.’’

MYPs, in a good gesture, later wrote on his coffin, "We love you – from the Youth Parliament’’

I can hear the likes of Dr. Zakir Naik saying that the labeling was only to distinguish a person who is not a Muslim so that, he might even say, the non-Muslim is not mistakenly subjected to Muslim rites. But that is not the whole truth. Though Dr. Zakir Naik might like to make it out, kaffir does not simply mean non-Muslim. It means one who keeps the truth hidden. This is based on the Islamic teaching that only what is taught in the Quran is truth and everything in other scriptures is untruth. That is to say, by kaffir they are labeling non-Muslims as purveyors of untruth. Would this not be objectionable to non-Muslims? The correct thing would have been simply to have labeled that particular non-Muslim as Hindu, because that is what he was.

http://www.zeenews.com/news645999.html

PM calls high-level meet on Kashmir as violence continues

Updated on Sunday, August 01, 2010, 18:45
Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has convened a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Sunday evening to discuss the situation in Kashmir in the wake of renewed violence resulting in civilian causalities.

Official sources said the meeting, to be held at 8.00 pm, is expected to be attended by Home Minister P Chidambaram and Defence Minister A K Antony.

The development came as three persons including a woman were killed today in fresh clashes even as protest-hit Kashmir Valley remained under curfew for the second day.

Police opened fire to disperse mobs who blocked a national highway and snatched weapons from security personnel in Pampore on the city outskirts.

The mobs blocked NH-1A at Galandar, Kadlabal, Barsoo, Frastabal and Pampore and also torched office-cum-residence of a tehsildar. They set afire a police vehicle and damaged several others.

The protesters snatched weapons from local court guards and also indulged in heavy stone pelting on a police station and security personnel, a police spokesman said, adding the situation turned worse when suspected terrorists fired on the personnel from amongst them.

After a baton charge and tear gas shelling failed to disperse the mobs, police opened fire to quell them. While Nayeem Ahmad Shah died on the spot, two others sustained injuries.

A number of policemen including a Deputy Superintendent of Police of Awantiopora suffered injuries. Another person Raees also succumbed to his injuries later in the hospital.

In Khrew, protesters attempted to set afire a police post and take away the weapons. As the crowd refused to calm down, police fired at them leading to the death of a woman identified as Afrosa.

There were minor protests in some parts of the Valley but the situation in North Kashmir, which was on boil yesterday, remained calm and as well as in downtown Srinagar.

With the three deaths, the number of people killed in violence since Friday has risen to nine.

Barring Handwara, Baramulla town, Budgam, Awanitipora and Ganderbal, curfew remained in force in rest of the Valley.

(With IANS/PTI inputs)

The best solution would be to put J&K under Military rule, with a mandate to wipe out anti-national forces within 6 months. Democracy can be restored after that.

http://www.zeenews.com/news645015.html

RSS ideologue worried over term 'Hindu Terror'

Updated on Sunday, August 01, 2010, 17:51

Nagpur: RSS ideologue M G alias Baburao Vaidya, today expressed concern about the usage of newly coined term "Hindu Terror" appealing Hindu leaders to remove the blot.

"The word Hindu Terror has earned its place in the media and no one knows who invented it. Though somebody gives credit to NCP president Sharad Pawar and others says it was Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh who has coined the concept," Vaidya wrote in his weekly column in a local Marathi daily here.

He said the government has accused Abhinav Bharat and Sanatan Sanstha, Goa based right wing Hindu organisation, of being involved in violence and some arrests have been made in this regard but none of the accused have been convicted by the courts till date.

The term of "Hindu terror" was being used to woo Muslim votes in the country and thereby defaming Hindus, he said.

Those who had earlier claimed that terrorism has nothing to do with religion were now tagging Hindu community with the term "Hindu terror" to justify that terrorism was not just restricted to Islam but also to other religion (Hinduism), Vaidya wrote in the article.

Vaidya asked all religious and social leaders to take initiative to remove the blot on Hindus.

"Swami Vishweshatitha of Uddipi, Dr Pandya of Gayatri Parivar noted Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev and Dayanand Sarastwati of Coimbatore should tell the government to stop defaming Hindus," he said.

"Should we call it Congress terror when 3,000 Sikhs were massacred in Delhi during 1984 riots broke out after the assassination of Indira Gandhi," Vaidya asked.

PTI

Even if Hindu terrorism is accepted, it must be clear that Hindu terrorism came after Islamic terrorism and as a consequence to Islamic terrorism. Therefore Hindu terrorism will end when Islamic terrorism ends.

http://www.zeenews.com/news645017.html