Sopore violence: Case of murder filed against Army

Sopore, Feb 22: The Jammu and Kashmir police on Sunday filed a case of murder against the Army in connection with the death of two civilians in Sopore yesterday. The two youths were killed and another was critically injured when unidentified gunmen in combat uniform opened fire on a group of people in Sopore town of North Kashmir. The incident sparked violent street protests by residents in the area, with the government ordering a magisterial inquiry into it. An FIR was filed in Sopore police station on Sunday under Section 302 against troopers of the Rashtriya Rifles, official sources said. On its part, the Army has also ordered an inquiry into the incident. "An inquiry has been ordered into the incident to identify the facts," an Army spokesman said. While locals alleged Army personnel moving in a bullet-proof vehicle resorted to firing at a place near a local bus stand without any provocation, the Army said militants in combat dress opened fire to escape from security forces. An Army spokesman said in Srinagar that Army personnel were not present at all at the site of the incident but "we are checking who opened fire at the civilians". Police said two persons in combat dress opened fire on a group of youths in the main bazar near local bus stand. The deceased were identified as Mohammad Amin and Javid Ahmed and the seriously injured youth as Firdous Ahmed. Police said the situation in the town was "tense" but under control. Official sources said prohibitory orders under Section 144, promulgated last evening in the town, continue to be in force but locals allege that curfew has been imposed there and citizens are not being allowed to move out of their houses. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is currently on a three-day tour of the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, ordered a magisterial enquiry into the incident and asked for the report to be submitted within 15 days.

Why were the police quick to file case against the Army even before an enquiry was ordered? This is a dangerous precedent. Probably part of a plot to evict the Army from patrolling in Kashmir. The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah must order an enquiry into the police over-enthusiasm in filing a case against the Army – otherwise he would be playing into the hands of the terrorists.

http://www.zeenews.com/nation/2009-02-22/509781news.html

Rediff News gets its act wrong

Are you for Valentine's Day or against it?
February 11, 2009

The chaddiwalas can do what they want and the sariwalas too can do what they want. India, after all, is a democratic country and everybody has a right to protest (obviously in a non-violent manner) what they think is harmful for India's youth and to her culture.
We at rediff.com have found a unique way (and it is totally non-violent) to register your protest. This is your chance to tell the world on which side of the divide you are: chaddiwalas or sariwalas.
Let us be clear that here Chaddiwalas are all those who think that events like Valentine's Day, pub-going, disco-dancing should be banned in India becasue they represent the decadent Western culture and so not good for Indians.
Sariwalas, on the other hand, believe in freedom of expression: Expressing their feelings, emotions, joys and sorrows by celebrating Valentine's Day, going to pubs, talking to people irrespective of their caste, gender or religion.
In other words, chaddiwalas are opposed to celebration of Valentine's Day and sariwala's support its celebration.
But in recent times, with the attack by Pramod Muthalik led Sri Ram Sene on pub-going women in Mangalore, this divide is yet again out in the open, getting starker by the day.
If given a chance -- and given the anonymity that the Internet provides -- which side of the divide would you stand for? Express yourself by giving a 'Thumbs Up' if you believe in Valentine's Day and are going to celebrate it this February 14th and a 'Thumbs Down' if you don't and oppose its celebration.

It is outrageous that Rediff News wants to call those who oppose Valentine’s day as chaddiwalas and those who are for it as sariwalas. The wearing of sari represents the Indian culture of modesty and the display of chaddis represents the culture of exposure imported from the West. Therefore, correctly, it is the sariwalas who are opposing Valentine's day symbolized by the chaddi and its permissive culture.

Rediff News – get your act correct.

Obama wants assurances from Pak on AQ Khan

Washington, Feb 07: US President Barack Obama wants assurances from Islamabad that released Pakistani scientist Abdul Qader Khan, accused of leaking atomic secrets, isn't involved in any of the activity that led to his arrest.

"Obviously the President and this government want assurances that Dr Khan is not engaged or involved in any of the activity that resulted in his house arrest earlier," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said on Friday.

A Pakistani court yesterday ordered the release of Khan, considered the father of Pakistan's atomic bomb, who spent five years under house arrest after admitting selling nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya.

"We've seen the reports of the release but have yet to receive official word from the government," Gibbs said. "Obviously, this President has made clear many times the great concern that he has about nuclear proliferation."

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton also expressed concern about the release of Khan. In the House, Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Howard Berman suggested that US aid to Pakistan could suffer because of the development. Berman said he is "deeply concerned" that Pakistan may be giving Khan "license to resume, perhaps directly, his past actions to aid, abet and profit from the spread of nuclear weapons."

Congress, Berman said, will take Pakistan's refusal to allow US officials to interview Khan "into account as we review and create legislation on US-Pakistan relations and the circumstances under which US assistance is provided to Islamabad."

CIA spokesman George Little called Khan "one of the most dangerous proliferators in history" and praised the disruption of his smuggling network as "a genuine intelligence success."

Earlier, State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid describing Khan as "a serious proliferation risk" said in US view "it would be unfortunate if the court released him."

"We believe AQ Khan remains a serious proliferation risk. The proliferation support that Khan and his associates provided to Iran and North Korea has had a harmful impact on international security, and will for years to come."

"The Pakistanis are well aware of our position on this," he said. "This is not a new position."

Asked if the US was anticipating Khan's release when it recently announced sanctions targeting him, the spokesman said: "The sanctions were announced to target the AQ Khan network, which we are actively pursuing and we are trying to roll up."

"And the United States and its international partners have done a good job in tracking down this network. That should have no effect or influence on whether or not Mr Khan is let out of his current status of detention," he said.

IANS

How funny. When has giving assurances ever been a problem for Pakistan? Have they not always been giving assurances to act against terrorism? I think Bush would have put a tougher condition against Pakistan than just seeking an assurance.

Obama reaches out to Arab world

Editorial - Los Angles Times
His appearance on an Arab channel as his first TV interview was a striking change in tone and a savvy diplomatic move.
January 28, 2009

» Discuss Article (10 Comments)
President Obama is not going to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, crush the Taliban, end Iran's nuclear intransigence, get Syria to stop interfering in Lebanon or end the fighting in Iraq overnight -- or next week, or possibly ever. Yet his interview Tuesday with the Al Arabiya satellite channel laid a foundation for better U.S. relations with the Arab world than we've had in many years.Obama's savvy diplomacy started before he even opened his mouth, with his selection of Al Arabiya to air the first official television interview he has granted since taking office. Not only did this signal a new level of involvement in Middle Eastern affairs, but it gave a boost to a Saudi-owned news channel founded in 2003 to present a more balanced view of regional conflicts than was being produced by the more Islamist-leaning Al Jazeera network. The latter has since become more objective in its coverage, possibly because it was losing viewers to Al Arabiya. Now it has even more incentive to play fair: the chance of landing the next Obama exclusive.
Obama offered few clues about specific changes in policy, but the interview presented a striking change in tone from the belligerence and neglect of the Bush administration to respectfulness and engagement. "The United States has a stake in the well-being of the Muslim world," he said. "The language we use has to be a language of respect." He reassured Muslim viewers that the United States was not their enemy, acknowledged that this country had made mistakes in the region by "dictating" rather than listening, and reiterated his commitment to negotiating with Iran.The Arab reaction seemed widely positive, though Obama doubtless will be judged more by his actions than his words. He already has made progress on that front too, sending his Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, on an eight-day tour of the region that started Tuesday in Egypt. Unlike President Bush, who waited until late in his second term to make a concerted push for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, Obama has directed his attention to the conflict within a week of taking office.Obama's efforts to negotiate with hostile regimes are sure to rile many in this country, and not just the wingnut crowd that thinks the president's middle name proves he's a secret Muslim. They fail to see that diplomacy is not the same as surrender, that disputes are unlikely to end if opponents don't talk to one another, and that sanctions alone have been ineffective in changing the behavior of leaders in Iran and Gaza. A new approach couldn't be more welcome.


Obama wants to have a better image of America in the "Muslim World". Good luck to him. However the Muslim world, largely controlled by unpopular cliques who are supported by the US, have large populations who look up to Islamic fanatics as alternative. Since most Muslim countries are neither democratic nor secular, the new President’s exercise might only end up offering America's friendship to dictatorial forces or Jihadi forces unless he simultaneously works towards a democratic and secular Muslim World.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-obama28-2009jan28,0,6754894.story

'I was misquoted on pub culture'

Zeenews Bureau

Jaipur, Jan 29: Facing criticism, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday backtracked on his comments slamming pub & mall culture by claiming that his comments were quoted out of context.

The clarification came from the Chief Minister's office, mentioning that Gehlot was quoted out of context.

"Every street and every city has big liquor shops with big signboards and there are shops close to schools and religious places. The previous BJP government had pushed youth towards pub culture and boys and girls roaming round in malls holding hands. I want to end this culture," he had told reporters yesterday.

Ghelot said the government wanted an end to the liquor culture that harmed social and cultural values and would not promote such a culture.

He said his Government's decision yesterday to shut down 800 liquor shops in urban areas was a move in this direction.

His remark on curbing youngsters mixing freely at pubs had not gone down well as it was taken as a moral policing attempt.


What must at all times be ensured if India is to remain a democratic and secular nation is that all sorts of freedom must be allowed so long as such freedom does not prove detrimental to harmony in society. What constitutes a detrimental act should be well clarified and written down in the statute books.

Antony to stand in for PM in R-Day functions

IANS

First Published : 24 Jan 2009 12:46:45 PM IST

Last Updated : 24 Jan 2009 12:55:02 PM IST

NEW DELHI: Defence Minister A.K. Antony will stand in for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is undergoing a bypass surgery, at the Republic Day function, the defence ministry said.

Antony will lead the nation in paying homage to the martyrs by laying a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti, the memorial to the Unknown Soldier, Monday morning, a defence ministry spokesperson said.

"These are defence ministry functions and it is normal for the defence minister to perform the role in the absence of the prime minister," ministry spokerperson Sitanshu Kar told IANS.

Singh, who is undergoing a bypass surgery at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), will miss the Republic Day function this year.

"The defence minister will receive President Pratibha Patil and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, India's guest of honour at the Republic Day parade, at Rajpath on Monday," Kar said.

Antony will also preside over the National Cadet Corps (NCC) rally Jan 28 and host a tea party for the NCC cadets and members of the Republic Day tableau at the lounge of Teen Murti Bhawan.

According to doctors, Singh likely to remain in hospital for a week after the bypass surgery. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is officiating in place of Manmohan Singh, till he fully recovers.

Comments

Is A.K.Anthony going to be the next Prime Minister of India?

By K.Venugopal
1/26/2009 5:26:00 PM

when sick people like n.krishna and Vmehta are using internet, computers all invented by christians, what is wrong in Christian taking the honour. Dont use any of it idiots.

By Tony
1/25/2009 4:34:00 AM

AK ANTHONY WHO IS A CIA PRODUCT FROM KERAL WAS SEEN FAINTING EARLIER. MY QUESTION IS WHO WILL STAND IN FOR ANTHONY IF HE FAINTS AGAIN. MANY GOVT SPONSORED NEWS CAHNNELS HAVE BECOME SICK DICUSSION CHANNELS.

By n.kkrishna
1/24/2009 3:09:00 PM

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Antony+to+stand+in+for+PM+in+R-Day+functions&artid=Yy116L5w4Xs%3d&SectionID=b7ziAYMenjw%3d&MainSectionID=ngGbWGz5Z14%3d&SectionName=pWehHe7IsSU%3d&SEO=AK+Antony.+Manmohan+sing%2c+PM%2c+India%2c+Ripublic+day

Dear Amitah Bachchan - on Slumdog Millionaire

Comment 476
• K.Venugopal says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
January 19, 2009 at 10:03 pm

Dear Mr. Amitabh Bhachchan,

You appear to have missed out on a greater audacity committed by Slumdog Millionaire than simply showing the underbelly of Mumbai. The movie has a Muslim hero who lost his mother in a communal riot shown as instigated by Hindus. Later on, among the questions posed to the hero in the quiz show is the question, “What are the weapons in Rama’s hands? The hero in a soliloquy comments, “If Rama was not born, my mother would have lived”. Is not having the hero say this an insult to Hindus?

Regards
K.Venugopal
venu1005@hotmail.com

http://bigb.bigadda.com/2009/01/16/day-267/#comment-271458

Shivalinga says:
January 19, 2009 at 11:55 pm
My God! I can’t believe this Taliban-style madness here. Some dialogue said something in a movie, and a silly hero surfaces out of nowhere to claim that it is an insult to Hinduism.

And another person is asking Amith to pardon the media….Gee! what is wrong with you people?

Lord Rama asked his wife to jump into a fire and commit suicide to prove that she was not had by Ravan……that too based on a gossip by an ordinary man. Not to mention, Rama shot a guy in the back and killed him. Talk about virtues! Gee! What a great guy! And Venugopal worships him.



#
moviemeh says:
January 21, 2009 at 9:59 pm

@Mr K.Venugopal (comment 476)

I believe the quote is:

“You think I don’t wake up every morning wishing I didn’t know the answer to that question? If it wasn’t for Ram and Allah, I would still have my mother. ”

So it appears more generalized anti-religion that anything else. However one of the premises of the movie is that his destiny is written, which raises the question, written by Whom?

Shivalinga says:

January 24, 2009 at 10:07 am

Quote from Slum Dog Millionaire
“You think I don’t wake up every morning wishing I didn’t know the answer to that question? If it wasn’t for Ram and Allah, I would still have my mother. ”

hmmmmm! But Indians like Venugopal distort it deliberately to prove that this movie is anti Hinduism. Destructive fundamentalist muslims are bad, but Indians like Venugopal are equally bad.

Dear Amithji,

Please spank people like Venugopal.