Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Gadkari may’ve nine gen secys
10 Feb 2010, 0534 hrs IST, ET Bureau
NEW DELHI: BJP is contemplating raising the number of general secretaries from seven to nine at the national level, to provide more representation
to women and other sections. As things stand, the party president is empowered to appoint seven general secretaries (including the one in-charge of organisation), nine vice-presidents and as many secretaries. The party is now thinking of increasing the number of general secretaries to nine to give more voice to women and weaker sections and have a better geographical coverage. A final decision on the proposal, however, is yet to be taken.
Having formally been elected as BJP president here on Tuesday, Mr Nitin Gadkari can now be expected to rivet his attention to finalising the composition of his team of office-bearers to rev up the organisational machinery. The list is expected to be announced soon after the conclusion of the three-day-long national executive-cum-council at Indore on February 19.
The team, according to party sources, is likely to represent a blend of youth and experience. While Ram Lal is certain to be retained as the general secretary in-charge of organisation, Anant Kumar is expected to emerge as the senior-most general secretary. Thawar Chand Gehlot, a SC leader from Madhya Pradesh who was a member of Rajnath Singh’s team, is also likely to remain a general secretary.
Former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje and former Goa CM Manohar Parrikar are likely to make their debut at the national level by being accommodated as general secretaries. Ravi Shankar Prasad, who is at present in the panel of spokesmen, is likely to be elevated as one of the general secretaries. So is Dharmendra Pradhan, a secretary in the outgoing team.
The new party president is casting his net wider to zero in on more women office-bearers. Giving adequate representation to the minority community is also high on his agenda. There is talk that former Union minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain and Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu may find berth in the new team.
Hamirpur MP Anurag Singh Thakur is being tipped to head BJP’s youth wing, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, even though he faces stiff competition from Pilibhit MP Varun Gandhi. The party brass is seriously thinking of entrusting the latter with some responsibility.
Varun Gandhi deserves to be entrusted with major responsibility as he was bold enough in the last election campaign to raise deep rooted Hindu concerns.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Gadkari-mayve-nine-gen-secys/articleshow/5554341.cms
NEW DELHI: BJP is contemplating raising the number of general secretaries from seven to nine at the national level, to provide more representation
to women and other sections. As things stand, the party president is empowered to appoint seven general secretaries (including the one in-charge of organisation), nine vice-presidents and as many secretaries. The party is now thinking of increasing the number of general secretaries to nine to give more voice to women and weaker sections and have a better geographical coverage. A final decision on the proposal, however, is yet to be taken.
Having formally been elected as BJP president here on Tuesday, Mr Nitin Gadkari can now be expected to rivet his attention to finalising the composition of his team of office-bearers to rev up the organisational machinery. The list is expected to be announced soon after the conclusion of the three-day-long national executive-cum-council at Indore on February 19.
The team, according to party sources, is likely to represent a blend of youth and experience. While Ram Lal is certain to be retained as the general secretary in-charge of organisation, Anant Kumar is expected to emerge as the senior-most general secretary. Thawar Chand Gehlot, a SC leader from Madhya Pradesh who was a member of Rajnath Singh’s team, is also likely to remain a general secretary.
Former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje and former Goa CM Manohar Parrikar are likely to make their debut at the national level by being accommodated as general secretaries. Ravi Shankar Prasad, who is at present in the panel of spokesmen, is likely to be elevated as one of the general secretaries. So is Dharmendra Pradhan, a secretary in the outgoing team.
The new party president is casting his net wider to zero in on more women office-bearers. Giving adequate representation to the minority community is also high on his agenda. There is talk that former Union minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain and Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu may find berth in the new team.
Hamirpur MP Anurag Singh Thakur is being tipped to head BJP’s youth wing, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, even though he faces stiff competition from Pilibhit MP Varun Gandhi. The party brass is seriously thinking of entrusting the latter with some responsibility.
Varun Gandhi deserves to be entrusted with major responsibility as he was bold enough in the last election campaign to raise deep rooted Hindu concerns.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Gadkari-mayve-nine-gen-secys/articleshow/5554341.cms
Monday, February 8, 2010
VHP calls for boycott of My Name is Khan
Tuesday, February 9, 2010, 11:13 [IST]
By Raymond Ronamai
Shahrukh Khan's latest offering My Name is Khan is in for another big trouble with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) calling for a nationwide boycott of the film. The VHP general secretary Pravin Togadia called Shahrukh a traitor and called for boycott of his film. He even threatened to pull down the posters of the film.
However, the VHP is against the Shiv Sena's view that Mumbai is only for Marathis. Pravin Togadia said that every inch of India belongs to all Indians and every Indian has the right to stay with dignity in any part of the country. He added that India won't survive if 'Mumbai for only Marathis' stand prevails.
Shahrukh Khan has received flak from political outfit Shiv Sena for supporting the Pakistani cricketers at the IPL. However, the Shiv Sena has soften its stand with the Chief of the party Bal Thackeray declaring that they would not disturb the release of My Name is Khan.
But just as the problem is about to be solved, the VHP has stepped in to disrupt the release of My Name is Khan this Friday. Shahrukh and Kajol are acting together after 8 long years in this film produced by Karan Johar
Shah Rukh Khan should be boycotted if only for his usage of the phrase “Bloody Indian” in his interview with Berkha Dutt on NDTV.
http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/news/2010/my-name-is-khan-boycott-vhp-090210.html
By Raymond Ronamai
Shahrukh Khan's latest offering My Name is Khan is in for another big trouble with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) calling for a nationwide boycott of the film. The VHP general secretary Pravin Togadia called Shahrukh a traitor and called for boycott of his film. He even threatened to pull down the posters of the film.
However, the VHP is against the Shiv Sena's view that Mumbai is only for Marathis. Pravin Togadia said that every inch of India belongs to all Indians and every Indian has the right to stay with dignity in any part of the country. He added that India won't survive if 'Mumbai for only Marathis' stand prevails.
Shahrukh Khan has received flak from political outfit Shiv Sena for supporting the Pakistani cricketers at the IPL. However, the Shiv Sena has soften its stand with the Chief of the party Bal Thackeray declaring that they would not disturb the release of My Name is Khan.
But just as the problem is about to be solved, the VHP has stepped in to disrupt the release of My Name is Khan this Friday. Shahrukh and Kajol are acting together after 8 long years in this film produced by Karan Johar
Shah Rukh Khan should be boycotted if only for his usage of the phrase “Bloody Indian” in his interview with Berkha Dutt on NDTV.
http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/news/2010/my-name-is-khan-boycott-vhp-090210.html
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Thackeray to judge if Aussies can play IPL
PAWAR'S APPEAL TO SENA CHIEF
CNN-IBN
Published on Sun, Feb 07, 2010 at 20:54, Updated on Sun, Feb 07, 2010 at 23:09 in India section
Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray has asked the Indian cricket board to give him a “presentation” before he decides on letting Australian cricketers play at the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Mumbai.
Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Shashank Manohar, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, visited Thackeray at his residence in Mumbai on Sunday and urged him not to oppose the participation of Australian cricketers. Thackeray’s son Uddhav, executive president of the Shiv Sena, drove down from Pune for the meeting.
Pawar, a former BCCI president, didn’t speak to reporters but Manohar said Thackeray would “consider” the matter.
“We presented our viewpoint before Thackeray on this critical issue. We also explained to them the format of the IPL teams and matches and how there were one or two Australian players in each team. He agreed to consider the issue in a couple of days,” said Manohar.
“We have tried to convince him that the entire Australian team is not coming. Mr Thackeray was considerate enough and he asked to us give us a detailed presentation. So within a day or two we would give him a detailed presentation on the format of the tournament and the number of Australian players. Thereafter he would consider our request,” said Manohar. The IPL will also make a presentation on the issue before Thackeray.
The Shiv Sena has said it would not permit Australian players to play in Mumbai to oppose the attacks on Indians in that country.
The Australian cricket players association had expressed reservations about the players security in Mumbai, in light of the Sena's threats.
Rohit Chandavarkar, CNN-IBN’s political editor, west, says Pawar’s visit to the Thackeray residence would be a matter for the Shiv Sena.
The party is perceived to have been outsmarted by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who visited Mumbai on Friday but Shiv Sena workers failed to protest against him.
The Shiv Sena on Saturday backed away from protesting against actor Shah Rukh Khan, the owner of an IPL team, for favouring the inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the IPL and says it will not block the release of his new film. The party softened its stand against Khan after finding that the popular mood was not in its favour.
Pawar’s visit to the Thackeray residence will, however, lift the party’s spirit, says Chandavarkar.
What is most important for any individual anywhere in the world is that his nation survives so that he, as a citizen of the nation, survives. If we, in the name of money, sports or entertainment neglect the threat to our Indian identity and not be bothered when Indians are being attacked in Australia only because they are Indians, then we would be left with no nation to build our economic security, play sports and be entertained. Australians should not be allowed to play in IPL as a protest against the inability of the Australian authorities to prevent attacks upon Indians in Australia.
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/thackeray-to-judge-if-aussies-can-play-ipl/109815-3.html?from=tn
CNN-IBN
Published on Sun, Feb 07, 2010 at 20:54, Updated on Sun, Feb 07, 2010 at 23:09 in India section
Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray has asked the Indian cricket board to give him a “presentation” before he decides on letting Australian cricketers play at the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Mumbai.
Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Shashank Manohar, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, visited Thackeray at his residence in Mumbai on Sunday and urged him not to oppose the participation of Australian cricketers. Thackeray’s son Uddhav, executive president of the Shiv Sena, drove down from Pune for the meeting.
Pawar, a former BCCI president, didn’t speak to reporters but Manohar said Thackeray would “consider” the matter.
“We presented our viewpoint before Thackeray on this critical issue. We also explained to them the format of the IPL teams and matches and how there were one or two Australian players in each team. He agreed to consider the issue in a couple of days,” said Manohar.
“We have tried to convince him that the entire Australian team is not coming. Mr Thackeray was considerate enough and he asked to us give us a detailed presentation. So within a day or two we would give him a detailed presentation on the format of the tournament and the number of Australian players. Thereafter he would consider our request,” said Manohar. The IPL will also make a presentation on the issue before Thackeray.
The Shiv Sena has said it would not permit Australian players to play in Mumbai to oppose the attacks on Indians in that country.
The Australian cricket players association had expressed reservations about the players security in Mumbai, in light of the Sena's threats.
Rohit Chandavarkar, CNN-IBN’s political editor, west, says Pawar’s visit to the Thackeray residence would be a matter for the Shiv Sena.
The party is perceived to have been outsmarted by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who visited Mumbai on Friday but Shiv Sena workers failed to protest against him.
The Shiv Sena on Saturday backed away from protesting against actor Shah Rukh Khan, the owner of an IPL team, for favouring the inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the IPL and says it will not block the release of his new film. The party softened its stand against Khan after finding that the popular mood was not in its favour.
Pawar’s visit to the Thackeray residence will, however, lift the party’s spirit, says Chandavarkar.
What is most important for any individual anywhere in the world is that his nation survives so that he, as a citizen of the nation, survives. If we, in the name of money, sports or entertainment neglect the threat to our Indian identity and not be bothered when Indians are being attacked in Australia only because they are Indians, then we would be left with no nation to build our economic security, play sports and be entertained. Australians should not be allowed to play in IPL as a protest against the inability of the Australian authorities to prevent attacks upon Indians in Australia.
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/thackeray-to-judge-if-aussies-can-play-ipl/109815-3.html?from=tn
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Look poor to avoid attack: Oz top cop to Indians
Updated on Sunday, February 07, 2010, 11:48 IST Tags:Indian students, Australia racism, Simon Overland
Melbourne: Indian students living in Australia have slammed Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland’s advice that they should not work as taxi drivers and should “look as poor as you can” to avoid being assaulted.
Overland had made the comments at an international students’ safety forum attended by about 150 people in the city on Saturday.
“Don’t display your iPods, don’t display your valuable watch, don’t display your valuable jewellery. Try to look as poor as you can,” Overland said before adding that foreign students should try to avoid living in Melbourne’s poorer suburbs where crime rates are higher.
However, Federation of Indian Students of Australia secretary Gautam Gupta blasted the advice, saying that Indians should not have to look “poor” to feel safe.
“What is he saying? Indians don’t have the right to be rich? And if they look rich, do they maybe have to get bashed? On one hand, everyone should look poor. On the other, don’t live in poor areas. I don’t understand,” The Age quoted Gupta, as saying.
He further said that taxi drivers had a right to feel safe no matter what their nationality is.
“It’s a workplace. Every workplace should be safe. I think it's a ridiculous idea. It is blaming the worker. It is blaming the victim,” Gupta said.
Australia not a racist country: Lee
Though the Indian media has gone to town describing Australia as a country where racism, especially against the Asian minority thrives, the continent’s pin-up boy – Brett Lee – has taken the initiative in saying this is not the case.
Lee is virtually playing the ambassador's role for Australia. He returned from the subcontinent last week concerned at the Indian media's perception of Australian society.
"I've been trying to explain to the Indian media that we're not a racist country," The Daily Telegraph quoted him, as saying.
"The general chit-chat around the Indian public is fine, they love Australians coming to their country, but most of the problems seem to be driven through the Indian media. I tried to make it very clear over there that Australian people and our society, which is so multi-cultural, welcome Indian people with open arms. What has happened is terrible, no matter who's at fault," he said.
ANI
It is said that the first Australian immigrants were criminals deported from England. So now Indians are being advised to look as poor as they can so that the latent criminal tendencies of the present day generation of the original criminals are not aroused. Talk of treating the symptoms!
http://www.zeenews.com/news602226.html
Rahul Gandhi addresses students in Kerala
NDTV Correspondent, Saturday February 6, 2010, Thiruvananthapuram
A day after making a statement to the Shiv Sena and their threatening ways in Mumbai, Rahul Gandhi is in Kerala, continuing with his countrywide interaction with young people.
Rahul addressed about 100 elected members of the district and state level members of the Kerala Students Union and those from Lakshadweep.
Referring to his impromptu train ride in Mumbai on Friday he said that though there had been a few Sena protesters on the train, there were thousands of supporters. He also said this was the way to oppose the Sena, not by violence but by mobilising people.
On his visit to Mumbai on Friday, Rahul Gandhi addressed college students and urged them to join politics.
It is interesting that Rahul Gandhi's logic painted himself in a corner while interacting with students in Mumbai when he said that his great great-grand father was from UP and therefore he was a UPite, his great grandfather was from Kashmir and therefore he was a Kashmiri, his grandfather was from Mumbai and therefore he was a Mumbaiite and his mother was from Italy and therefore he was an ...! He caught himself in time to avoid his slip of logic and went on to say that he is from Delhi and therefore he was a Delhiite, which, therefore, qualified him to be a pucca Indian. Moreover, he appears to have got his personal history wrong when he said that his forefathers went from UP to Kashmir whereas Nehru in his Discovery of India writes that they were originally from Kashmir and settled in UP. A slip of knowledge here. His commuting in a local train in Shiv Sena's den appears to have excited him so much that he got his logic and facts wrong!
http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/rahul_gandhi_addresses_students_in_kerala.php
A day after making a statement to the Shiv Sena and their threatening ways in Mumbai, Rahul Gandhi is in Kerala, continuing with his countrywide interaction with young people.
Rahul addressed about 100 elected members of the district and state level members of the Kerala Students Union and those from Lakshadweep.
Referring to his impromptu train ride in Mumbai on Friday he said that though there had been a few Sena protesters on the train, there were thousands of supporters. He also said this was the way to oppose the Sena, not by violence but by mobilising people.
On his visit to Mumbai on Friday, Rahul Gandhi addressed college students and urged them to join politics.
It is interesting that Rahul Gandhi's logic painted himself in a corner while interacting with students in Mumbai when he said that his great great-grand father was from UP and therefore he was a UPite, his great grandfather was from Kashmir and therefore he was a Kashmiri, his grandfather was from Mumbai and therefore he was a Mumbaiite and his mother was from Italy and therefore he was an ...! He caught himself in time to avoid his slip of logic and went on to say that he is from Delhi and therefore he was a Delhiite, which, therefore, qualified him to be a pucca Indian. Moreover, he appears to have got his personal history wrong when he said that his forefathers went from UP to Kashmir whereas Nehru in his Discovery of India writes that they were originally from Kashmir and settled in UP. A slip of knowledge here. His commuting in a local train in Shiv Sena's den appears to have excited him so much that he got his logic and facts wrong!
http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/rahul_gandhi_addresses_students_in_kerala.php
Varun wants BJP focus on the Ganga, cows and temples
Updated on Saturday, February 06, 2010, 19:34 IST
Bulandshahr (Uttar Pradesh): Contrary to new party chief Nitin Gadkari's campaign for development, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Varun Gandhi on Saturday said the party should focus on the Ganga, safety of cows and care of temples.
"Price rise is an issue alright, but we should not forget what our party was formed for. We should not compromise on our self-respect," he said while addressing a rally at Shikarpur here.
"If we don't fight for our self-respect, the Ganga (river), Gau mata (cows), our temples and the youth, then everything else will fall apart," he added.
He said he has constructed around 200 temples in his parliamentary constituency of Pilibhit with his own money.
"While I was coming here, I saw many minars on the way. But I don't have any problem with that. What I feel bad about is the poor condition of our temples today. They are the signs of our faith and we should do everything to take care of them," Gandhi said.
Even as slogans of "Jai Shri Ram" raged on, Gandhi said: "I will ensure that no cow slaughter takes place here and if you hear of any such case, you can call me any time and I will be there. We will get our hands cut off, but won't let any cow get slaughtered".
Gandhi said the country wants strong leadership today.
"People want a completely new kind of politics. They don't want leaders to sit in their bungalows and not visit their constituency. Unlike others, even after I won the elections, I regularly keep visiting my constituency," he said.
Gandhi also spoke about issues of land acquisition and the plight of farmers.
IANS
Varun Gandhi is right. BJP should focus on Hindutva issues. Development would take care of itself, powered as it is by the realities of economics. What should be ensured is the prevention of corruption in development. While development would take care of the material needs of the citizens, it is only the high concepts of Hindutva that can ensure that our citizens value the merits of bearing an upright character.
http://www.zeenews.com/news602103.html
Bulandshahr (Uttar Pradesh): Contrary to new party chief Nitin Gadkari's campaign for development, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Varun Gandhi on Saturday said the party should focus on the Ganga, safety of cows and care of temples.
"Price rise is an issue alright, but we should not forget what our party was formed for. We should not compromise on our self-respect," he said while addressing a rally at Shikarpur here.
"If we don't fight for our self-respect, the Ganga (river), Gau mata (cows), our temples and the youth, then everything else will fall apart," he added.
He said he has constructed around 200 temples in his parliamentary constituency of Pilibhit with his own money.
"While I was coming here, I saw many minars on the way. But I don't have any problem with that. What I feel bad about is the poor condition of our temples today. They are the signs of our faith and we should do everything to take care of them," Gandhi said.
Even as slogans of "Jai Shri Ram" raged on, Gandhi said: "I will ensure that no cow slaughter takes place here and if you hear of any such case, you can call me any time and I will be there. We will get our hands cut off, but won't let any cow get slaughtered".
Gandhi said the country wants strong leadership today.
"People want a completely new kind of politics. They don't want leaders to sit in their bungalows and not visit their constituency. Unlike others, even after I won the elections, I regularly keep visiting my constituency," he said.
Gandhi also spoke about issues of land acquisition and the plight of farmers.
IANS
Varun Gandhi is right. BJP should focus on Hindutva issues. Development would take care of itself, powered as it is by the realities of economics. What should be ensured is the prevention of corruption in development. While development would take care of the material needs of the citizens, it is only the high concepts of Hindutva that can ensure that our citizens value the merits of bearing an upright character.
http://www.zeenews.com/news602103.html
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