Moammar Gadhafi dies of wounds after capture: report

 

 

Reuters October 20, 2011 8:40 AM

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Moammar+Gadhafi+dies+wounds+after+capture+report/5579555/story.html#ixzz1bKNjdiJ0

SIRTE, Libya - Former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi died of wounds suffered on Thursday as fighters battling to complete an eight-month-old uprising against his rule overran his hometown, Sirte, Libya's interim rulers said.

His killing, which came swiftly after his capture near Sirte, is the most dramatic single development in the Arab Spring revolts that have unseated rulers in Egypt and Tunisia and threatened the grip on power of the leaders of Syria and Yemen.

"He (Gadhafi) was also hit in his head," National Transitional Council official Abdel Majid Mlegta told Reuters. "There was a lot of firing against his group and he died."

Mlegta had told Reuters earlier that Gaddafi, who was in his late 60s, was captured and wounded in both legs at dawn on Thursday as he tried to flee in a convoy that NATO warplanes attacked. Mlegta said Gadhafi had been taken away by an ambulance.

There was no independent confirmation of his remarks.

An anti-Gadhafi fighter said the ex-dictator had been found hiding in a hole in the ground and had shouted "Don't shoot, don't shoot" to the men who grabbed him.

His capture occurred within minutes of the fall of Sirte, a development that extinguished the last significant resistance by forces loyal to the deposed leader.

The capture of Sirte and the death of Gadhafi would mean Libya's ruling NTC can begin the task of forging a new democratic system, which it had said it would get under way after the city, built as a showpiece for Gadhafi's rule, had fallen.

Gadhafi, wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of ordering the killing of civilians, was toppled by rebel forces on Aug. 23 after 42 years of one-man rule over the oil-producing North African state.

NTC fighters hoisted the red, black and green national flag above a large utilities building in the centre of a newly captured Sirte neighborhood Thursday, and celebratory gunfire broke out among their ecstatic and relieved comrades.

Hundreds of NTC troops had surrounded Sirte, a Mediterranean coastal town, for weeks in a chaotic struggle that killed and wounded scores of the besieging forces and an unknown number of defenders.

NTC fighters said there were a large number of corpses inside the last redoubts of the Gadhafi troops. It was not immediately possible to verify that information.

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Hindus and Muslims in India

There are umpteen websites to tarnish the Image of Islam. It's not new. It has been right from the days of Prophet Mohummad (Sal).

The Moguls ruled 800 hundred years. But the population of Muslim till October 2009 remains only 160,945,000 (13.4 per cent)-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Muslim_population.If the Moghuls had been fanatic rulers, the percentage of Muslim population would have been much higher by way of proselytism.But it did not happen.

This is obvious history that British prospered in India by preaching sectarianism, and pampering Brahmins, and they ruled India by divide and rule policy. 

There are scholarly retaliatory answer to all subversive  attempts. The following article by Dr.Nobel Laureate Professor Amartya Sen is a fitting answer to the fanatics.

'India's Two Great Emperors Were Both Non-Hindu'

Clipping (55kbs) - Outlook, 21-01-2002. By Subhoranjan Dasgupta

Record Number : A0355244

Click to browse by keyword: Education History Hindutva Religion

'India's Two Great Emperors Were Both Non-Hindu'  http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/education.nsf/(docid)/C8B1B1D6979C15B9652571850021F04A On the Hindutva version of Indian history - and how India was never a Hindu rashtra. Though extremely busy with a workshop on 'education, equity and human security' in Calcutta, Nobel Laureate Professor Amartya Sen still took time out to talk to Outlook, and articulate his views on the Hindutva version of Indian history. Sen had condemned the Babri Masjid demolition in 'Threat To Secular India', published in the New York Review shortly after the epoch-changing incident. Here he describes the Hindutva version of Indian history as sectarian and combative, and argues that India was never a Hindu rashtra. Excerpts from an exclusive interview with Subhoranjan Dasgupta: In your address to the Calcutta History Congress last year, you described the spirit and discipline of history as 'capacious heterodoxy'. "To study history, we have to have a sense of space. Heterodoxy is important in understanding history."  That's a wonderful expression. Could you please elaborate on it? Well, I'm glad you like the expression. What I intended to say by that is that in order to study history, we have to have a sense of space—that there could be different ways of looking at past events and in case there are differences, we should be able to argue it out. Heterodoxy is important because understanding history requires different approaches. Furthermore, heterodoxy itself is sometimes among the most interesting things to study in the history of a civilisation or a culture. So, for both these points of view—heterodoxy as a method and as well as a subject matter to be studied—history has to be deeply concerned, I believe, with it. If you want to know what exciting things are happening at a certain period in a certain country, you look not just at what the ongoing tradition is, but where people are disagreeing and in what way. I am not a historian but that is the way I tend to see history, a subject on which I occasionally try to write and which I greatly like reading. If the study of Indian history is infused by this spirit, what sort of textbooks should our schoolgoers be reading? Because there is a current effort, for instance, to portray the Muslim period as an age of darkness.  Obviously blacking out the Muslim period—what you are describing as the "Muslim period"—as an age of darkness would be just a gross mistake. Textbooks should contain truths rather than falsehoods. It's not just a matter of understanding our past, but also our present. If you look at anything today—Indian painting, music, literature, philosophy, history itself as a discipline—the great contributions of Muslim scholars, intellectuals and artists are part and parcel of the richness of Indian civilisation. I think it's also important to emphasise that we cannot talk about the history of this period as if it could be split into Muslim activities and Hindu activities. They were interactive. Really, in every branch of art or intellectual study, you will find Hindu and Muslim activists, artists and scholars working side by side and interacting with each other. So, there's no way we can talk about the period without taking into account the massive contribution made in an interactive way by those who happened to be Muslims by religion as opposed to others who were Hindus or Sikhs or Parsis or Christians. "There is a 'category mistake' in thinking that comparisons with terrorists is a cogent way to assess historians." Your grandfather Kshitimohan Sen wrote the classic text Hinduism (Penguin Books, 1960). In what basic sense does his vision of Indian history and civilisation, or for that matter the vision of Rabindranath Tagore, differ from the saffron family's version? I shouldn't really comment on this as I am not a great expert on Hindutva of any kind, and my role in my grandfather's book on Hinduism was primarily that of a translator. I think the remarkable difference between the book and a sectarian view of Hindutva is that my grandfather's as well as Tagore's vision is not combative at all. They were both keen on seeing what different influences operated on Hinduism. Both authors locate themselves in an interactive environment. In The Religion of Man, the lectures that Tagore gave at Oxford, he mentions that his family was situated at the confluence of three sets of influences—Hindu, Muslim and European. The same would apply to my grandfather. As a Sanskritist, he was educated in Benares, in traditional centres of learning, which were, at that time, open and non-sectarian. "In 'The Religion of Man', Tagore mentions his family was situated at the confluence of three sets of influences—Hindu, Muslim, European." I should also mention that one of my grandfather's books—which I don't think is available in English, only in Bengali, called Hindu Musalmaner Jukta Sadhana (The Joint Work of Hindus and Muslims)—is quite a major work in the cultural history of India, showing that there is no substantial area of artistic or intellectual activity in which Hindus and Muslims have not worked together. You cannot think of Hindus and Muslims as somehow mechanically mixed together, rather than being chemically compounded in an integrated civilisation. Isn't there an affinity between the saffron version of Hindutva and Samuel Huntington's categorisation of Indian civilisation as Hindu? I think you are right there that Huntington's description of Indian civilisation as Hindu civilisation almost seems to be taken out of the writings of the Hindutva champions. In Huntington's case, the problem was that he wanted to classify the world according to one principle only and that was what he called 'civilisation', which in his case ended up being primarily religion. So he had to contrast Islamic civilisation with Western, Christian civilisation or Buddhist civilisation, etc. Then, well, how do I accommodate India? Since Islamic was already spoken for, he classified India as just a Hindu civilisation. Well, that's a serious mis-description. India has more Muslims than any country in the world with the exception of Indonesia and marginally Pakistan. Also, the entire cultural and intellectual history of India has been an integrated one, as we just discussed. Historian Romila Thapar has described Hindutva's history as propaganda where the past is manipulated as political instrument. What is the political goal in question—a Hindu rashtra? Well, I don't really know what the political goal in question is. Romila Thapar, of course, is one of our leading historians. I haven't seen this particular writing of hers, but I guess what she's pointing out is that a lot of writing on history by people who are champions of Hindutva seems to have an underlying political agenda. Whether this is meant to be a preparation for a Hindu rashtra or whether it is just a misunderstanding of the nature of India, I don't know. You have to ask them. India was never a Hindu rashtra, even before Muslims came to India. In the first millennium BC as well as the millennium that followed, the Gupta period for example, India had a powerful presence of Buddhism along with Hinduism and Jainism. Christians came to India by the 4th century AD latest, and there were Christians here well before there was a single Christian in Britain. Similarly, Jews came to India very early. Parsis came when persecution began in Iran. Also, Muslims came first as traders across the Arabian Sea, well before the Muslim military conquests in the north. India has had a variety of religious influences all this time. Just to mention one thing—if you are thinking of the two greatest emperors of India, you would tend to think of Ashoka and Akbar. One was a Buddhist and the other a Muslim. Must a 'Hindutva' history necessarily depend on half-truths, lies and legends to sustain itself? For example, that ancient India revered the cow as 'gomata' and did not consume beef; that Akbar was a foreigner, despot and sectarian? Well, I think if one has a particular way of looking at the past and if there are uncomfortable facts which do not fit into that narrow way of looking, then the proponents of that way of looking would naturally tend to deny the facts.It's fairly easy to point out that these are not half-truths; these are not truths at all. Actually, I can give you many other examples of this kind. "The introduction of European scholars to the Upanishads was mostly based on the Persian translation by Dara Shikoh." Could you give just one? The introduction of European scholars to Hindu scriptures, in particular the Upanishads, was to a great extent based on the Persian translation of the Upanishads done by Dara Shikoh, the first-born son of Shah Jahan. Dara Shikoh was not a great Sanskrit scholar but he did work hard with the help of Hindu pundits to learn Sanskrit and he translated parts of the Upanishads into Persian. It is this translation that William Jones (pioneering Indologist) first read which attracted him to India and to the study of the Hindu religion. Quite a lot of the revival of our understanding of our Hindu past was based on Jones' efforts and those of others at the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal. I have not seen any mention in the Hindutva literature of the contribution of this Mughal prince to the spread of understanding of Hinduism at home and abroad. The publication of the Towards Freedom volume edited by Sumit Sarkar and K.N. Panikkar has been thwarted by the ICHR, apparently because it exposes the 'loyalist' role of the rss in the 1940s. Well, I can't comment on why the ICHR has held up the publication of this volume. It could well be that the rss figures in a rather negative light as a pro-British force in some of the documents. It could have been something else, I don't know. I have also not read the introduction Sumit Sarkar and K.N. Panikkar have written. But I can definitely say that the two are not only among the top historians in India, they would be regarded as major historians anywhere in the world. I personally happen to know Sarkar very well and admire his writings as well as the quality of his mind tremendously. I find it impossible to think that the introduction could have been devoid of their serious professionalism. The episode is puzzling and deeply disturbing. No one would claim that whatever the 'secular' school of historians has done from Sushobhan Sarkar onwards is flawless. In fact, quite a few critiques have been levelled against secularism per se and you have examined them in your essay 'Secularism and its Discontents'. But do these offer a better alternative in the Indian context? I wouldn't describe these historians as primarily 'secular'. They are primarily probing and conscientious historians. The fact that they also happen to be secular is interesting, but I don't believe that this dominates their writing of history. I can speak certainly about Professor Sushobhan Sarkar. He was a historian of impeccable scholarship, with great insistence on rigour and scrutiny. So I would describe him first as a terrific historian rather than as primarily a 'secular historian'. The second point is, as far as secularism itself is concerned, it is of course really a political belief and as such a subject matter of history, rather than a method of dealing with history. I think that if one has to look at India, one has to see the interactive presence of different religions as well as the presence of non-religious thoughts—sciences and mathematics for example. Aryabhatta, for instance, is quite sceptical of the received doctrines about eclipses and also about the belief that the sun goes round the earth. He didn't think that eclipses were caused by Rahu but by the earth's shadow over the moon and the moon obscuring the sun. He talked of the diurnal motion of the earth and the appearance of the sun going round us. So, a historian of Indian ideas has to look at non-religious thought as well as anti-religious thoughts like Charvaka and Lokayata. The subject matter of Indian history cannot be just Hinduism. The historian has to take note of different religious and non-(or-anti) religious ideas.Recognising these varieties does not require any special political belief in secularism. It has been proposed that religious leaders, like sadhus and imams, should vet history texts so that unpalatable facts—that could injure impressionable minds and specific communities—can be carefully eliminated from textbooks? I am appalled to hear about this proposal. I hope you don't vet this interview by a sadhu or an imam! HRD minister Dr Murli Manohar Joshi has described those he calls 'Marxist' historians, like Irfan Habib, Sumit Sarkar and liberals like Romila Thapar, as 'worse than terrorists'... If the report is correct, we must react with horror. First, there is what in philosophy is called a 'category mistake' here in thinking that comparison with terrorists can be a cogent way of assessing historians. Second, the historians mentioned are, of course, leading historians, and so acknowledged across the world. It is difficult to think how anyone could have made a remark of that kind, least of all the minister in charge of education. I have to believe that he has been misreported and will no doubt issue a corrective.

AN APPEAL TO SAVE A LIFE

Allah Baksh, 21- year-old boy has sent communication to Amity India that he has been suffering from damage of two of his kidneys, and he has been under dialysis past 18 month. Each time he has to pay Rs.700.00 (US $ 14) per dialysis, says his letter. We hereby attach his photo and details of the hospital expenditure for a kidney transplant.

Since his life is hanging in the thread end, we publish this note on humanitarian aspect.

We request the philanthropist to save his life  by contributing funds generously.

All such contributions please may  be made directly to his bank account No. attached to the hospital concerned. A detail list of expenditure is herewith appended, and it’s certified by the hospital.  Kindly establish bona fide the case with the hospital authorities.

HOSPITAL DETAILS :

 BHARATHIRAJAA SPECIALITY HOSPITAL AND RESEARCH CNETRE PVT.LTD.,

G.N.CHETTY ROAD,CHENNAI 600 017.

PHONE : +91-44-3011 1310

FAX       : +91-44-28345303

Email      :brhospital@vsnl.net

Chief Nephrologist: Dr.Thiagarajan M.D

Nephrologist :Dr.Divakar M.D.

Estmated cost of surgery inclusive of all expenses : Indian Rs.3,80,00. (US$ 7600 aprox)

Bank account details

BHARATHIRAJAA SPECIALITY HOSPITAL ANDRESEARCH CNETRE PVT.LTD

State Bank of India,T.Nagar Branch.

Chennai 600 017, South India.

 Account No:30073562122 A/C M.Alla Bakas

Mobile No.Patient Alla Bakas : +91-98417 58663

Please read similar appeal in SAMARASAM Tamil magazine page 26 issue

Dated 1-15 October 2011.

Setback to Gujarat govt; Ahmedabad court to hear Bhatt's bail plea

By Newzfirst10/5/11

AHMEDABAD - In a setback to the Gujarat government, a sessions court in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, rejected its application against the arrested IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt and said the court would hear Bhatt's bail plea. Following this order, the hearing on the bail application of Bhatt is to begin soon.
The Gujarat government had opposed the hearing on the grounds that Bhatt's revision remand application was pending.

Session Judge V K Vyas said that Bhatt's bail application should be heard, even if the remand application was pending in another court.
The court had reserved its order on an application by the state government saying that Bhatt's bail plea cannot be heard as his revision remand application is pending.

Bhatt was arrested on September 30 in connection with an FIR filed against him by a police constable K D Pant in June, for allegedly threatening him and making him sign false affidavits regarding a meeting called by Chief Minister Narendra Modi on February 27, 2002, hours after the Godhra train carnage.

http://www.newzfirst.com/web/guest/full-story/-/asset_publisher/Qd8l/content/setback-to-gujarat-govt-ahmedabad-court-to-hear-bhatt-s-bail-plea?redirect=/web/guest/home

Rail Roko from 9th October

Wednesday, 5 October 2011

Hyderabad, October 05: Unlike last time when all services were stopped following the two-day Rail Roko call by the pro-Telangana parties, the South Central Railway would operate its services during the three-day Rail Roko call from October 9.

SCR Assistant General Manager Vijya Mohan on Wednesday stated that the railways were ready to operate trains on October 9-11 in the event of State Government provides proper security.

Talking to media persons after holding discussions with Chief Secretary Pankaj Dwivedi at the Secretariat, he said that railways might operate all the services if adequate is provide to its properties and passengers.

Mohan said that the Chief Secretary has assured to look into issue after discussing with Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, Home Minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy and Director General of Police V Dinesh Reddy.

Admitting that railways have lost huge income due to Rail Rokos, he said that the railways have proposed this new security system considering the interests of commuters and to reduce inconvenience to passengers.

Courtesy

-----INN

Sanjiv Bhatt Arrest: Citizens protest demanding release in many cities

By Newzfirst10/4/11

NEW DELHI - Civil rights groups, students, teachers and activists have come together to stage protests in different parts of the country against ‘arbitrary and unconstitutional arrest’ of suspended DIG Sanjeev Bhatt by the Gujarat Police. According to Shabnam Hashmi of Anhad, protests were organised in over 40 cities across the country. The protesters demanded immediate release of Mr. Bhatt. 

In the capital, a protest was staged at Gujarat Bhawan at the Kautilya Marg, Chanakyapuri on Monday afternoon. “It’s a clear case of intimidation of whistle-blowers and shows totalitarian character of Modi regime”, said Delhi-based activist Mahtab Alam, adding “We are here to express our solidarity with Mr. Bhatt and his family”. The activists also submitted a memorandum to the Resident Commissioner for Governor of Gujarat at the Gujarat Bhawan seeking immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Bhatt.

Addressing the protest meeting outside Gujarat Bhawan, Filmmaker and Activist, Mahesh Bhatt said, “Sanjiv Bhatt's fault is that he dared to reveal the truth behind the 2002 carnage as also the murder of Haren Pandya.” Referring to his conversation with Sanjeev Bhatt, he said, “I spoke to Sanjiv the evening he was arrested, asking that since the worst had happened, what he needed to tell the world outside. He said it was now for the courts to ensure that the rule of law was imposed in Gujarat and the nation.” Mahesh Bhatt also appealed, “We as civil society should come together and fight this trend of communal and fascist mentality.”

Retired DIG and colleague of Sanjeev Bhatt, R B Shreekumar alleged, “The arrest of Sanjeev Bhatt is the peak of the policy followed by the Modi government since the conception, organisation, mobilisation and perpetration of an anti-Muslim carnage in 2002. Of all the actions, this is the most atrocious.” Shreekumar, who himself a victim of Modi further said, “After the 2002 carnage, the Modi government started terrorising the bureaucracy, including the senior police officer who dared to speak the truth.” “If electoral victory is the license for violating the Constitution, the rule of law then our freedom and democracy is under serious threat,” he added.

Activists Shabnam Hashmi, Himanshu Kumar, Sanjay Sharaf, Gauhar Raza, Sandeep Kumar, Faisal Khan, Maulana Ejaz Urfi, Shakeel Ahmed, Madhuresh Kumar, Vani and others also spoke on the occasion. Earlier a similar protest was staged at Jantar Mantar by Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Jan Shakti Party. “We want immediate release of Sanjeev Bhatt,” said Amanatullah Khan, a party factionary.  “Our party will launch a nation-wide campaign if Mr. Bhatt is not released,” he added.

While a  protest march was organized by Citizen Forum in Patna to show their solidarity with Sanjiv Bhatt.

Citizen forum held the view that the arrest of Sanjiv Bhatt was unwarranted and this is yet an attempt to quell those voices which rose to expose the Gujrat pogrom 2002.

It is worth to be noted that In April, this year, Sanjiv Bhatt had filed an affidavit in which he alleged that Chief Minister Narendra Modi was sole responsible for the 2002 riots. Since then Sanjiv Bhatt became an eye sore for the Narendra Modi.

More than hundreds men, women, youths, from across all sections of the society participated in the march which started from Akashwani rounabout via Patna Junction roundabout ended at Budh Smirti Park gate. The walk started with slogans like Fascist takte hosh me aao, Inquilab Zindabad, Narendra Modi Murdabad, sanjivBhatt zindabad etc.  

Prof Apoorvanand from Delhi University said Sanjiv Bhatt arrest is another recent example how Narendra Modi Govt has been trying to influence impartial probe of 2002 riots.

Whereas Prof Vinay Kanth from Patna University said fascist forces have been trying to impose its will at any cost over us. The situation is grim and we all should unite at this hour of need.

Social activist, Arshad Ajmal said the arrest was made with malafide intention and was full of malaise. We all should oppose in united voice.

The other prominent members and speakers present on this occasion were Sudha Verghese, Tanveer Akhatar, Pushpraj, Ashok, mahendra Yadav, Binod Kumar, Prem Nath, Dr Shakeel, Ashok Priyadarshi, Vishwajit, Rajkumar, Anish Ankur, Anil Kumar Chand, Shehela, Visakha, Rupesh kumar, Sarfaraz etc.  

http://newzfirst.com/web/guest/full-story/-/asset_publisher/Qd8l/content/sanjiv-bhatt-arrest:-citizens-protest-demanding-release-in-many-cities?redirect=/web/guest/home

Indian Americans decry arrest of Sanjiv Bhatt

Posted on: 04 Oct 2011, 09:41 AM

 

Washington: Condemning the arrest of Gujarat IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, Indian-Aemricans have demanded the Indian Government to conduct a full-scale investigation into the allegations made by him.

"The government's alacrity in arresting Bhatt, stands in stark contrast to its criminal inaction against police officers who have been charged with complicity in the riots," said Shaheen Khateeb, President of Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) in a statement.

IAMC said the CBI should be tasked with conducting a full-scale investigation into the allegations made by Bhatt against the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, and other state functionaries.

"As the Haren Pandya murder case remains unsolved, Bhatt's claim of possessing documentary evidence that would point to his killers, should be probed without any regard to the status and position of the people he has implicated," IAMC said.

Another NRI group, Non Resident Indians for Secular and Harmonious India (NRI-SAHI) strongly condemned the Gujarat government for arresting Bhatt, who gave affidavits and presented information on the actions of the Gujarat Government and its police on February 27, 2002 for the control of riots.

"We the NRI-SAHI ask the Gujarat government to remove all charges against Bhatt and release him immediately. We ask the Gujarat government to let the judicial process started by the Supreme Court to take its course," it said.

"We ask the state government to stop intimidating police and civilian witnesses such as has happened with constable Panth who has recanted his testimony he gave in front of the SIT and Amicus Curiae," NRI-SAHI said in a statement.

(Agencies)

http://post.jagran.com/indian-americans-decry-arrest-of-sanjiv-bhatt-1317701483

NEW COLLEGE NCC CADETS CELEBRATE GANDHI JAYANTHI WITH HOSPITAL PATIENTS.

Chennai: 4 October, 2011.

                 (R-L) Dr.Elongo,Sub.Maj.Bavas, Dr.Capt.Zahid Hussain

On the occasion of the Gandhi Jayanthi,October 2,the NCC cadets of New College (2 Company I, Tamil Nadu Battalion NCC,Army Wing) celebrated the day identifying the  inpatients of Government Royapettah Hospital, which is  adjacent to the college, in Chennai, says its press report.

The social service was organized by around 150 NCC cadets under captaincy of Dr.Capt.Zahid Hussain. He is the Commander of NCC Army wing of the college. Also Sub. Major Bavas from 1 TN Battalion NCC participated on the occasion.

                     Sub.Maj.Bavas,Dr.Capt.Zahid Hussain with hospital children

The NCC cadets met every ailing in-patient, and spoke kind words, wishing them a speedy recovery of their health. They shared the pains of the ailing patients of the Hospital, says their press report.

 The Resident Medical Officer (RMO) Dr.Elango extended a warm well come to the NCC cadets, and its Commander Dr.Capt.Zahid Hussain. On behalf of the college army cadets, and its officer, Dr.Elango distributed refreshments, biscuits to the sick children. Thus the occasion turned the hospital into  a cheerful atmosphere.

                      Cadets with a child offering snacks

The press report further adds that the in-patients of the hospital appreciated the cadets’ selfless service, and were grateful to them. The New College NCC cadets do not neglect any fine events to render civic services, be it cleaning the hospitals or conducting blood camps. Their contribution in community development is renowned and date back to 13 full years as a remarkable record.

Karzai in India on crucial visit

Afghanistan and India set to forge closer ties as Afghan leader visits New Delhi during an unstable time in region.

Last Modified: 04 Oct 2011 07:29

Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, has arrived in New Delhi on a two-day visit described by India as an opportunity for both countries to consolidate their strategic partnership and discuss bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Tuesday's visit comes against a backdrop of shifting relations in the region. 
During his second trip to the Indian capital this year, Karzai will meet Manmohan Singh, the Indian prime minister, and sign several strategic agreements, including ones on development aid and security.
Some analysts in India predict that Karzai will elevate the role of India in stabilising his violence-torn country as he eyes a drawdown of US-led troops by 2014 after more than a decade of fighting.

They argue that Karzai is losing patience with Pakistan, whom he accuses of funding anti-government groups, and is unable to count on the US.

"Karzai's visit comes at a crucial juncture to endorse India's involvement in Afghanistan," Saeed Naqvi from the Observer Research Foundation think-tank told the AFP news agency.

"Karzai is coming to India to confer on India the tag 'reliable ally'... India will get the right to play a more pronounced role [in Afghanistan] after Karzai's visit."

The Indian Express newspaper reported on Sunday that Karzai would sign a "strategic partnership" agreement with Singh, the first such pact with any country in the world.

The proposed alliance, which foreign ministry officials declined to confirm, was said to include an Indian commitment to increase its training of Afghan security forces, including the police.

Indian involvement in Afghanistan is sensitive because of the delicate and often deadly power games in South Asia.

Pakistan's 'double-game'

In a primetime national address on Monday, Karzai accused Pakistan of "pursuing a double-game", saying Islamabad is not co-operating in the battle against armed groups to establish peace in Afghanistan.

Karzai said he had always stood by friendly relations with Pakistan, hoping to face the challenge of cross-border extremism together, but his neighbour had failed him, continuing to use "terrorism as a means".
"The Islamic republic of Pakistan has not co-operated with us to bring peace and security to Afghanistan, which is unfortunate for us," he said.


He also called for a review of his country's plans to pursue peace with the Taliban, saying he will focus on talking to governments and not specific groups related to them.


Karzai acknowledged that his efforts for peace had failed as his overtures were met with more violence and targeted killings, most recently of his chief peace negotiator, Burhanuddin Rabbani.

"The killings show that our call for peace has not seen a positive response. One-sided desire for peace will not bring a resolution. Peace can only be achieved with those who believe in it."
"We have to fight decisively against those who do not believe in peace."


Karzai's comments follow Pakistan's criticism by Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, who accused Pakistan's intelligence agency last month of playing a role in the recent attack on the US embassy in Kabul.


Mullen called the powerful Haqqani network, operating out of Pakistan's borderlands,  a "veritable arm" of Pakistan's military intelligence.


The comments did not go down well with Pakistan.


Yousuf Raza Gilani, the Pakistani prime minister, convened an all-party conference to discuss the US allegations and draft a strategy on how to move forward in the relationship.


In particular to accusations from Afghanistan, Pakistan has asked for the "blame game" to be stopped.
"Certain forces are at work to destabilise Afghanistan and Karzai should not play in their hands. Instead we should get united to foil their machinations," Gilani said on Sunday, according to the Pakistani paper, Daily Times.


Gilani said his government was committed to bringing peace through dialogue with Taliban in the tribal areas. They would not disarm but only "decommission" the Taliban, he said.


'No ties with ISI'


In a related development, the leader of the Haqqani network has rejected US allegations that his group is linked to Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI.


Sirajuddin Haqqani, in an interview with BBC Pashto, denied that the Haqqanis, blamed for the recent high-profile attacks on Western targets in Kabul, were behind the killing of Rabbani.


"We haven't killed Burhanuddin Rabbani and this has been said many times by the spokespersons of the Islamic Emirate," he said, referring to the Taliban


Afghan officials have blamed the Taliban for the September 20 turban bombing, saying Rabbani's killer was Pakistani and that the attack was plotted by the Afghan Taliban's leadership body, the Quetta Shura, in Pakistan.


However, no Afghan officials have specifically accused the Haqqani network over the killing.
The network is considered loyal to the Taliban supreme leader, Mullah Omar, and has a seat on the Taliban leadership council.


Afghan officials say they have shared their investigation with Pakistani authorities and that they will request a UN inquiry into the murder if Islamabad refuses to co-operate.

Photos:Courtesy:Reuter
http://aljazeera.com/news/asia/2011/10/201110453629522332.html

Haute Homes

Location: Jayachandran Nagar, Pallikaranai. It is a gated community in a very post locality about 7 KM from Velachery. There are many schools, hospitals and shopping malls in the vicinity.

About the project:

 The project has a total of 5 apartments. Each flat is well planned and has a total built up area of 750 sq ft with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a balcony. All flats have a covered car park.

Price:

 Rs 30 lakhs for each flat

Contact person
 A. Faizur Rahman

Phone: 7845636267 & 9444338822

email: hautehomes@gmail.com

2nd World Tamils Economic Conference in Dubai,UAE

  
Dear Delegate,                                                        Vannakam

                                                                         A warm greetings to you

         The 2nd World Tamils Economic Conference 2011 will be held from 1^st to 4^th October 2011 in Dubai, U.A.E.

         The main aim of this Conference is to bring the Tamils and Indian Brothers and Sisters of the World together, so that they can provide support and guidance to each other and utilize the immense wealth and human potential to be tapped. It will also provide a platform to discuss business and investment opportunities, professional network, knowledge sharing and present economic situation in the world.

         Honourable Ministers from the Government of India, Government of Tamil Nadu and other foreign Governments will be special guests at the conference. The speakers at the conference will include top ranking personalities in Government, business and other fields, from India and other countries.

         I cordially invite you to participate in the conference.

         If you want any assistance for your travel and accommodation, you may get in touch with our office. If you are interested to speak in the conference, please contact our office. You may send your delegate Registration Form duly filled at the earliest.

         Please visit our website www.economic-conference.in

         I look forward to welcoming you and your family and your friends, to participate in 2^nd World Tamils Economic Conference to create a network among ourselves to grow manifold towards development.

With warm regards,
Dr.V.R.S.Sampath
Convener of the Conference
President: Madras Development Society.

Jan Lokpal Bill: A Critique

Submitted by admin4 on 27 September 2011 - 12:02pm

• Articles
 
• India Politics
 
• Indian Muslim

By A. Faizur Rahman,

The Jan Lokpal Bill (JLB) imbroglio continues to intrigue the nation with Constitutional experts who deposed before the Standing Committee on September 24 & 25 warning that its provisions are unconstitutional and Anna Hazare threatening to gherao the houses of the Standing Committee members who do not support it, even urging voters not to re-elect such MPs. But the paradoxical aspect of this brouhaha is that most people who have taken up positions in support of the JLB haven’t read it. Mr. Kejriwal unwittingly conceded this in an interview; “When we conducted referendums on the JLB, we used to try and explain its contents to people. But they said they did not want to understand the details. They just wanted to put a mohar [stamp] on Anna” (http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article2412658.ece?homepage=true).

This essay therefore seeks to analyse the JLB and question the adamantine belief of the Hazare camp that their Bill is the singular, unalterable law that would eradicate corruption in India.

The biggest shortcoming of the JLB, as pointed out by many experts, is that it has been drafted on the presumption that an “act of corruption” will be committed only by a “Government Servant” which includes “any judge.” This is evident from partial inclusion (in Sec. 23(3)) of “business entities” and the total exclusion of NGOs, media and other similar categories of institutions from the ambit of the JLB. And interestingly, section 23(1) proposes a maximum punishment of life imprisonment for corrupt public servants. Whereas as per Chapter VI titled “Accountability of Officers of Lokpal” the punishment for a Lokpal member found guilty of corruption is just “dismissal, removal or reduction in rank.” The bias is obvious

.

Then there is the questionable selection process. Sec. 4(6) to (9) states that the Chairperson and members of the Lokpal shall be selected by a Selection Committee “from out of a short list prepared by the Search Committee” consisting of 10 members, five of whom will be selected by the Selection Committee and who will in turn co-opt the other five from the “civil society” through consensus. But as “civil society” itself is not defined, it leaves the door open for members of communal organisations to infiltrate into the Search Committee and infuse a sectarian or religious bias into the selection process. After all, many such faces were visible at the Ramlila Maidan during the Hazare fast.

Moreover, why should a high power Selection Committee (which consists of the PM, the leader of the opposition, judges of the Supreme Court and CJs of the High Courts, the CEC and CAG of India) be made dependent on a lesser ranked Committee which has not been secured against infiltration? It makes no sense. Therefore, the idea of a Search Committee is superfluous and must be dropped.

Another unwarranted clause is Sec. 17 which proposes that a 7-member Lokpal Bench will give permission to prosecute high functionaries such as the Prime Minister or any of his Council of Ministers, any judge of the SC or HC and any MP. The drafters of the JLB would be deluding themselves if they believe that Sec.17 would remove the impediments in prosecuting high ranking public servants. On the contrary, this section would further complicate the issue as it proposes seven persons in place of the present system of one person (such as the PM or the Chief Justice of India) for granting sanction to file an FIR against a Minister or a Judge. The question is; how does it simplify matters to bring in seven persons in place of one? A better remedy would be to do away with the system of seeking permission completely.

Apart from this, Sec. 4(4), which lists out persons not eligible to become Chairperson or member of the Lokpal, needs to be modified to exclude any person who is, or has been, a member, sympathiser, associate or supporter of any communal organisation or person. A clause should also be added to Sec. 11 to remove any Lokpal member including the Chairperson if he is found guilty of praising, supporting or sympathising with organisations or persons known for their communal bias. This is the only way of allaying the fears of a section of the society which suspects that Hazare and his team are backed by the communal outfits.

The JLB also contains some provisions that could make the Lokpal a heavy-handed parallel oligarchy. For instance, Sec. 7 grants to “Investigating Officers” and members of Lokpal the combined powers of a Police Officer, director of enforcement and a civil court. And as per Secs. 8 & 29(12) Lokpal has the powers “to approve interception and monitoring of messages” transmitted through telephones, internet or any other medium.

Furthermore, Sec 12, seeks to circumscribe the powers of the High Court under Art. 226 of our Constitution by stating that the HC cannot “ordinarily” stay the orders of the Lokpal and if it does, it will have to decide the case within two months, “else the stay would be deemed to have been vacated after two months and no further stay in that case could be granted.” According to H. M. Seervai (whose seminal work Constitutional Law of India led to the development of the "Basic structure doctrine", that inhibits politically-motivated changes to the Constitution) “any law that took away or abridged the powers of the High Courts under Art.226 would beultra vires, for the powers to make laws is subject to the provisions of the Constitution [as per Art.245].” Yet it is being claimed that all provisions of the JLB are within the legislative competence of Parliament.

The behemothic nature of the institution that the JLB seeks to create can also be gauged from its huge annual budget which Sec. 26(2) assures will be kept “less than ¼ % of the total revenues of the Government of India.” The total estimated revenue of India for 2011-12 (assuming “total revenues” refers to total revenue receipts) as projected in the last budget (http://indiabudget.nic.in/ub2011-12/bag/bag1.pdf) is Rs 7, 89, 892 crores. ¼ % of this works out to nearly 2000 crores which the Lokpal will have access to without “any administrative or financial sanction from any government agency.” An explanation from the drafters of the JLB is in order as to why such a huge amount of money is required for an institution which according to “Team Anna” is not going to be flooded with thousands of complaints.

Anna Hazare is certainly right in demanding a strong law against corruption. But he must also understand that in a democracy no law can be passed without proper debate, and therefore, it would be most unfair on his part to pressurise the MPs into voting only for the JLB. If indeed he and his team are confident of the genuineness of the JLB they must be willing to openly discuss it with those who challenge its constitutionality.

[A slightly different version of this article appeared in the DNA on September 27, 2011]

(A.Faizur Rahman is the secretary general of the Chennai-based Forum for the Promotion of Moderate Thought among Muslims. He may be reached at faizz@rocketmail.com)