SCHOOL ENROLLMENT LEVELS AMONG MUSLIMS

The report of 64th Round (2007-08) of National Sample Survey (NSS)indicates that Muslims enrolled at secondary level of education from among those in education system is 10.2% which is higher than 9.8% for Scheduled Tribes (ST). 


The enrollment at secondary level of education for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) is 11.3% and 12.5% respectively.


Muslims currently attending educational institutions at secondary level are 5.0% in urban area and this is higher than 4.5% for Muslims in rural area.


Sachar Committee had used, inter-alia, data of 55th Round (1999-2000) and 61st Round (2004-05) of National Sample Survey (NSS); and the Ranganath Mishra Commission had used, inter-alia, data of 55th Round (1999-2000) and 2001 Census.
Courtesy:India Current Affairs.

Thackeray objects to Pak players' `namaaz' at Mohali stadium

Mumbai, March 30 (PTI)

After attacking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for inviting his Pakistani counterpart to the Cricket World Cup semi-final match between India and Pakistan, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has now objected to the Pakistani team performing 'namaaz' in Mohali stadium.

"The Pakistani team could have performed namaaz in their rooms, but by doing so on the greens (of the Mohali stadium), they gave a clarion call for a holy war," Thackeray said in an editorial in party mouthpiece `Saamana'. "Tanks, troops, artillery and missiles have been deployed at Mohali. Is this deployment because there is a match in progress? Such preparedness is not seen during other matches. Why should it be for Pakistanis," the Sena chief, an avid cricket lover, said. Thackeray had earlier said, "If Pak President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani can be invited for the match in the name of peace, why should injustice be done to Kasab and Guru," referring to the main accused in the Mumbai terror attacks and the Parliament attack. The Shiv Sena has been opposing Indo-Pak cricket ties, saying Indian soldiers were being killed on the border while fighting Pakistan and, "hence, our country should not maintain ties with the neighbouring nation." In 2005, Sena activists caused minor damage to the pitch at Mohali, then venue of a Test match beween the two countries.

.Of anthems and handshakes before clash

   UPDATED  30/3/2011 4:25:22 PM Mohali: 

There is never a dull moment in an India-Pakistan cricket clash and even before the start of their World Cup semifinal, the electrifying atmosphere came alive a bit more when the two countries' Prime Ministers walked into the stadium to greet the players.

 The combined enthusiasm of a 30,000-strong crowd at the Punjab Cricket Association ground made for quite a sight during the anthems ceremony before the match. The Pakistani fans sang their lungs out when their anthem was played but the decibel levels went up expectedly higher when the Indian national anthem was played. Post the ceremony, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistan counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani walked into the stadium, escorted by ICC President Sharad Pawar.

 The two leaders took turns to shake hands with players of both the teams. First in line was the Pakistan team. Skipper Shahid Afridi took up the role of introducer after enthusiastically shaking hands with Singh. The Indian Prime Minister was the first to exchange pleasantries with the Pakistan team followed by Gilani. When it came to Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men, Gilani was the first to shake hands followed by Singh. Even in this exchange of pleasantries, Sachin Tendulkar hogged the limelight with the Mohali crowd being at its loudest best when he shook hands with the two leaders.
Courtesy:PTI

India decimate Pakistan

UPDATED  30/3/2011 6:01:55 PM

Vivek/vikas

Mohali: India beat Pakistan by 29 runs in the second semifinal of the World Cup here on Wednesday. Now, they would meet Sri-Lanka in the final on March 2.

Earlier,India posted 260 for the loss of nine wickets against Pakistan in the high-voltage semi-final clash here on Wednesday. Indian batsmen failed to make their presence felt. With the exit of Sachin Tendulkar (85), who was out caught by Afridi at cover off an Ajmal delivery, it wont be easy as Pakistani bowlers have  steadily clawed back into the game.

After breaking Gambhir-Sachin partnership, which was shaping up nicely for India, Pakistan hit back with the quick dismissals of Yuvraj (0) and Kohli (9). Wahab is emerging a hero for the Pakistan team by picking three crucial wickets.

He first got out the danger man Sehwag who gave India a flying start by smashing five boundaries in the third over.  With Sehwag`s fall the momentum dipped and after losing quick wickets, the official favourites are now batting on to prevent yet another middle order collapse, with an edgy Dhoni and Sachin at the crease.

Sachin scored his 95th ODI half-century off 67 balls when he hit a boundary off Afridi’s ball through extra cover. With eight boundaries in his innings, the Little Master and Gambhir were looking good till Hafeez stepped in to spoil the party.

Mohammad Hafeez provided Pakistan the second breakthrough when he deceived Gambhir in flight and got him stumped for 27 runs at the second semi final of the world cup at Mohali on Wednesday. Wahab struck again in successive deliveries to get Kohli caught at backward point and clean bowl Yuvraj with a swing.

Indian captain Mahendra Singh won the toss and opted to bat. India made one change to the team that won against Australia, seamer Ashish Nehra coming in place of Ravichandran Ashwin. Pakistan fielded an unchanged team that beat the West Indies in the quarterfinals.

Courtesy:News24

DMK AND EC AT LOGGERHEAD

 Chennai:30 March

                                  PRAVEEN KUMAR

EC’s strict enforcement of regulations, conducting vehicle checks as part of disallowing illicit money-flow in the poll areas has angered the DMK, and the party’s key, and active cadres feel that such an act is a total impediment to the commercial groups carrying cash for their trade transactions.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, and key party cadres banged  EC with tirade against the Election Commission, and as per the party report the Chief Minister is said to have   observed  EC as acting in favors of his opponents.(Malai Murasu:Tamil Eveninger:30 March)

But the earlier confirmed sources tell that EC had explained in its common counter filed to Madras High Court, that its actions and duties were unbiased and fair, to the powers issued as guidelines which could not be questioned. (The Hindu March 29)

“It was the EC's duty to ensure that law and order was maintained, free and fair elections were held and that money power did not affect the operation of democracy” the EC has said.

Women quota bill and Indian political dynasties

By Shafee Ahmed Ko

Whether women reservation bill will only strengthen political dynasties in India is a fear that has strong ground in the political history of the country which has seen several political families rising and capturing political power.

During the  Assembly Poll 2011 in Tamil Nadu, the state Congress president Mr.K.V.Thankgabalu left no stone unturned to fix his wife Mrs.Jayanthi shifting from Mylapore constituency to Krishnagiri craving for a political hierarchy, and earned bitter fury of the common public.

Even today there are a dozen odd families which have considerable presence in both state and national politics. The female members of such families are ahead in the grab.

When “Rabri Devi appointment as the Chief Minister of Bihar  was considered as one of the most unexpected and awkward decisions of the entire Indian Political history because she was a traditional housewife and had no interest nor any prior experience in politics until then”(wikipedia)  Mrs.Rabridevi Devi ruled Bihar, the bitter widespread cry was that she was under the remote control of Mr.Lalu Prasad, after his infamous fodder scam.

At present there are 59 women MPs. Majority of them are from Congress and next majority from BJP. Out of 556 women candidates fielded in the 2009 general elections only 10% of them are successfully representing now. Our Lok Sabha Speaker, though from Dalit community, is five time winner. However, most women MPs are from high class political families.

On women's bill the worry is if all the 33% MPs are drawn from such dynasties where could the lower echelon and downtrodden have to find electoral opportunities: Merit is agreed.

When the 80% of population is lower classes, we are ruled by 15% upper classes, and mention is to be made that out of this 15%, a particular group of 2% dominate the entire nation by virtue of merit and eliteness.

How many years more will the 80% take to have merits and eliteness?

At the end of British rule, India had only 12 per cent literary percentate. In the year 2007, she has attained 68 per cent. To achieve 56 per cent as an advanced level, India has taken almost 60 years, what counties like China achieved such levels within ten years. Litrtaracy in India means  to read and write. How many years will India need to achieve advancement at par with all elite countries? The great  impeding factor is that stands in superlative in corruption and nepotism.

Have a look at some political families.

The Nehru-Gandhi Family

Motilal Nehru (1861-1931) (politician and lawyer) (Father)
Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964) (Prime Minister, 1947-1964) (Son of Motilal)
Kamala Nehru, (1899-1936) (wife of Jawaharlal, Congress leader)
Indira Gandhi (1917-1984) ( Prime Minister, 1966-1977 and 1980-1984) (Daughter of Jawaharlal)
Feroze Gandhi (1912-1960), (Member of Parliament)(Indira Gandhi’s husband)
Rajiv Gandhi (1944-1991) (Prime Minister, 1984-1989) (Son of Indira)
Sonia Gandhi, (1946-) (president of the Indian National Congress party) (Widow of Rajiv)
Rahul Gandhi (1970-) (Member of Parliament and a General Secretary of the Indian National Congress) - (Son of Rajiv)
Priyanka Gandhi (1974-) (Home Maker) - (Daughter of Rajiv)
Sanjay Gandhi (1946-1980) (politician) - (Son of Indira)
Maneka Gandhi (1956-) (politician, ex-minister, environmentalist) - (Widow of Sanjay) - (not of Congress party)
Varun Gandhi (1980-) (politician) - (Son of Sanjay) - (MP, BJP)
Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, (1900-1990) (MP and diplomat) (daughter of Motilal)
Sheila Kaul, (1915-) (former Union Minister)(maternal aunt of Indira Gandhi)
Nayantara Sehgal, (novelist and political critic) (daughter of Mrs Pandit)
Uma Nehru (Member of Parliament) - (Indira’s cousin)
Arun Nehru (politician, ex-minister) - (Nephew of Indira, son of Uma) - (not of Congress party)

The Anugrah Narayan Sinha Family

Dr. Anugrah Narayan Sinha, (politician and first Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar)
Satyendra Narayan Sinha, Former Chief Minister of Bihar (Son of Dr Anugrah Narayan Sinha)
Kishori Sinha,(former Member Of Parliament)-(Wife Of Satyendra Narayan Sinha)
Rameshwar Prasad Sinha,(father of Kishori Sinha, Member Of Constituent Assembly)
Nikhil Kumar, Governor Of Nagaland (son of Satyendra Narayan Sinha)
Shyama Singh,(Ex MP) (Wife of Nikhil Kumar)
N. K. Singh, Rajya Sabha MP (Brother-in-law Of Nikhil Kumar)
Uday Singh, (Member Of Parliament)-(Nikhil Kumar’s younger brother in law)
Madhuri Singh,(former MP)-(Nikhil Kumar’s mother in law)

The Satpathy Family

Shri. Devendra Satpathy, Two times Lok Sabha MP from Orissa
Smt. Nandini Satpathy,Two times Rajya Sabha member,Union Minister,Chief Minister of Orissa
Shri. Tathagata Satpathy, Three times Lok Sabha MP from Orissa
Shri. Suparno Satpathy, Awarded Social Activist, noted writer,promising young political leader of Orissa

The Mishra Family

Lalit Narayan Mishra, Former Railway Minister of India
Vijay Kumar Mishra Ex MP, MLA and MLC and active politician in Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP (Son of Lalit Narayan Mishra)
Gouri Shankar Rajhans, Ex MP, Bihar (Husband of niece of Lalit Narayan Mishra)
Jagannath Mishra, Former Chief Minister and Union Cabinet Minister (Brother of Lalit Narayan Mishra)
Nitish Mishra, Ex Minister and MLA in Bihar (Son of Dr Jagannath Mishra)

The Ramachandran Family

M.G. Ramachandran, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
Janaki Ramachandran, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (wife of MGR)

The Karunanidhi Family

M. Karunanidhi, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
M.K. Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (Son of Karunanidhi)
M.K. Azhagiri, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers (Son of Karunanidhi)
Kanimozhi Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha (Daughter of Karunanidhi)
Murasoli Maran, former union minister (nephew of Karunanidhi)
Dayanidhi Maran, Union Minister for Textiles (son of Maran)

The Abdullah Family

Sheikh Abdullah, Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
Begum Akbar Jahan Abdullah, Member of Parliament (wife of Sheikh Abdullah)
Farooq Abdullah, Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (son of Sheikh Abdullah)
Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, former Union Minister, (son of Farooq)
Sara Abdullah, (daughter of Farooq)
Sachin Pilot, Member of Parliament (husband of Sara)
Begum Khalida Shah, President of Awami National Conference, J&K State (daughter of Sheikh Abdullah)
Ghulam Mohammad Shah, Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, (husband of Begum Khalida Shah)
Muzzafher Shah, Senior Vice President of Awami National Conference, J&K state (son of Ghulam Mohammed Shah)

The Owaisi Family

Abdul Wahed Owaisi
Sultan Salahuddin owaisi, Former Member of Parliament, Hyderabad.
Asaduddin Owaisi, Member of Parliament 2004 - Present
Akbaruddin Owaisi, MLA Andhra Pradesh

The Bahuguna Family

Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna, Former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
Vijay Bahuguna, Member of Parliament
Rita bahuguna Joshi President of UPCC.

The K. Karunakaran Family

 
K. Karunakaran, Kerala chief minister
K. Muraleedharan, Former State Minister for Electricity and Member of parliament (Son of Karunakaran)
Padmaja Venugopal, (Daughter of K. Karunakaran)

The Kodoth Family-Kodoth, Kerala India

Kodoth Krishnan Nair, State politician-assassinated
Kodoth Govindan Nair, Congress Politician, K. Karunakaran associate

The Ramadoss Family - Tamil Nadu, India

S. Ramadoss, PMK founder, Tamil Nadu Politician
Anbumani Ramadoss, Former Cabinet Minister, rajya Sabha MP

The Kumaramangalam Family (father-son and daughter)

P. Subbarayan (Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu)
Mohan Kumaramangalam (Indian National Congress cabinet minister)
Lalitha Kumaramangalam (Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politician in Pondicherry)
Rangarajan Kumaramangalam (BJP cabinet minister)

The Naidu Family

Sarojini Naidu (freedom fighter and poetess) (Mother)
Padmaja Naidu (Governor) (Daughter)

The Mirdha Family of Rajasthan

 
Baldev Ram Mirdha
Ram Niwas Mirdha
Nathuram Mirdha
Harendra Mirdha
Richpal Mirdha
Raghuvendra Mirdha

The Patnaik Family

Biju Patnaik
Naveen Patnaik, son of Biju
Gita Mehta, daughter of Biju

The Pilot Family

Rajesh Pilot
Rama Pilot, wife of Rajesh Pilot
Sachin Pilot, son of Rajesh Pilot
Sara Abdullah Pilot, wife of Sachin Pilot and daughter of Farooq Abdullah

The Lalu Yadav Family

Laloo Prasad Yadav, former Bihar chief minister, former Railway minister
Rabri Devi, former Bihar chief minister
Sadhu Yadav,(former MP) Rabri Devi’s brother
Subhash Yadav,(Rajya Sabha MP)Rabri Devi’s brother

The Nandamuri Family

Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao ”NTR”, Former Film Actor & Former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh
Laxmi Parvathy, Second wife of NTR, erstwhile leader of TDP (NTR) faction.
Nara Chandrababu Naidu, son-in-law of NTR, former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh
Nandamuri Harikrishna, son of NTR, Member Of Parliament, Ex Transport Minister.
Nandamuri Balakrishna, son of NTR, Recently Entered into Politics
Daggubati Purandareswari, Daughter of NTR, Minister of State, Human Resource Development
Daggubati Venkateswara Rao, son-in-law of NTR, Member of Andhra Pradesh State Assembly, Ex Member of Parliament, Ex Health Minister.

The Sayeed Family

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, former Home Minister, India, ex-CM, J&K
Mehbooba Mufti, daughter of Mufti Muhammed

The Scindia Family (former Maharajas) (mother-son and daughters-grandsons)

Rajmata Vijayraje ScindiaBJP
Madhavrao Scindia, son of Vijayaraje INC
Jyotiraditya Scindia, son of Madhavrao
Vasundhara Raje Scindia, Chief minister of Rajasthan, daughter of Vijayaraje
Dushyant Singh, son of Vasundhara Raje
Yashodhara Raje Scindia, daughter of Vijayaraje

The Thackerary Family

Balasaheb Thackeray

Udhav Thackeray, son of Balasaheb
Smitha Thackeray, daughter-in-law of Balasaheb
Raj Thackeray, nephew of Balasaheb

The Pawar Family

Sharad Pawar, Agriculture Minister, India
Supriya Sule, daughter of Sharad Pawar, local politician
Ajit Pawar, nephew of Sharad Pawar Irrigation Minister, Maharashtra
The Chavan Family
Shankarrao Chavan, ex chief minister of Maharashtra, ex home minister of India
Ashok Chavan, current chief minister of Maharashtra
Bhaskarrao Bapurao Khatgaonkar, member of Lok Sabha of India

The Devegowda Family

Devegowda, Ex-Prime Minister, India; Ex-Chief minister Karnataka

H.D. Revanna, Son of Devegowda, Ex-minister Karnataka
H.D. Kumaraswamy, Son of Devegowda, Ex-Chief Minister Karnataka

The Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Family

Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy,Ex-Chief minister, Andhra Pradesh
Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, M.P Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh (son of Y.S. RajaSekahara Reddy)
Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy,Ex-M.P Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh ( Brother of Y.S. RajaShekara Reddy)

The Mulayam Singh Yadav Family

Mulayam Singh Yadav Ex-Chief Minister Uttar Pradesh.
Akhilesh Yadav,Member of ParliamentSon.

The Chautala Family

Chaudhari Devi Lal (1914-2001) (Deputy Prime Minister of India, 1989-1991), (Chief Minister of Haryana, 1977-1979 and 1987-1989) (Father)
Ch. Om Prakash Chautala (Ex-Chief Minister of Haryana)(Son)
Abhay Chautala MP (Grandson)
Ajay Chautala MP (Grandson)

The Bansilal Family

Chaudhari Bansilal Former Chief Minister of Haryana, Defence Minister of India, Railway Minister of India
Surendar Chaudary Member of Parliament,(Son)
Ranbir Mahender Ex President BCCI, MLA (Son)
Kiran Chaudhary Ex Depy Speaker Delhi Assembly, Ex MoS Haryana (Daughter-in-Law)
Shruti Chaudhary MP Bhiwani (Granddaughter)

The Naik Family

Ganesh Naik, Minister of State excise and non conventional energy,Maharashtra
Sanjeev Naik , Member of Parliament
Sandeep Naik , Member of Legislative Assembly
Late Tukaram Naik ,EX-Leader of opposition , Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation

The writer submitted this article to twocircles.net on March 9, 2010,and revised certain suitable portions.

·                                 

KRISHNAGIRI CONSTITUENCY TN : A RIGMAROLE

Haseena Syed withdraws her nomination from Krishnagiri

 

Chennai, Mar 30 : Confusion continued to reign high in the Congress camp as Haseena Syed, nominated to contest from Krishnagiri in the April 13 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, withdrew her papers today.

Like in Mylapore in the city, where TNCC President became the official candidate after the papers filed by his wife, Jayanthi Thangkabalu were rejected, Syed Zia-ul-Haq became the official candidate in Krishnagiri after his wife Haseena Syed withdrew her papers.

Ms Syed was at the centre of controversy after local partymen opposed her nomination stating that she was an outsider and the party should change the candidate.

Heeding the protests, the Congress high command had announced change of candidate, replacing her with Maqbul Jan.

As Mr Jan could not file his papers in time on the last date for filing of papers on March 26, Ms Syed remained the official candidate.

In a surprise development, she withdrew her papers today along with 16 rebel candidates, leaving the field for her hushand, who had filed his papers as a dummy candidate.

Thangkabalu's role was suspected in preventing Mr Jan from filing his papers.

The TNCC President was also accused of entering the electoral arena through the backdoor after deliberately asking his wife to file her papers without signature, so that they would be rejected.

The papers filed by Ms Jayanthi Thangkabalu were rejected, when the nominations were taken up for scrutiny on March 28. The Returning Officer said Ms Jayanthi had not signed in the two sets of nominations.

--UNI

Radiation from Japan n-plant reachesBritain

London, March 29 :

Faint traces of radiation from Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant have been traced to the Scottish city of Glasgow, officials said.

The radiation was, however, "extremely low" and the Scottish government said there was no threat to public health, Sky News reported.

Traces of radioactive iodine 131 were picked up by an air sampler in the city, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency said, adding that the value of the sample was low and similar to those detected in other European countries like Iceland and Switzerland.

James Gemmill, the radioactive substances manager of the agency, said: "The concentration of iodine detected is not of concern for the public or the environment."

Britain is now collecting samples from 92 monitoring sites around the country. Air samples are checked every hour and the data is then checked by the Met Office in London for any abnormal radiation readings.

Three reactors of the Fukushima nuclear power plant blew up after the March 

Courtesy:IANS

Left caught in flap as leaders go slap,slap

·          March 30, 2011                    

·         By DC Correspondent

A day after CPM MLA P. Jayarajan assaulted a TV reporter, Kerala’s food minister C. Divakaran, allegedly slapped a voter on Tuesday for refusing to commit his vote.

It now looks as if the acerbic election debate in Kerala is tipping over into violence as the state speeds towards the crucial poll date. The signs are there for all to see - verbal abuse and physical attacks on journalists, threats to voters and assaults on election officials. And it is mostly the ruling LDF and its leaders who are in the dock.

Mr Divakaran’s alleged assault on a voter occurred at a railway station in the southern constituency of Karunagapally in Kollam where he is seeking re-election.

“First he caught me by the collar, snatched my files and slapped me, asking which department I was working for,” said the rattled voter, Mr Sudhakaran.

He was among the morning commuters, seated on a bench at the station when Mr Divakaran walked in, with folded hands, seeking votes.

Assam: Only 8 pc women candidates in first phase

Press Trust Of India  Posted on Mar 29, 2011 at 06:54pm IST 

Guwahati: Women contestants for the first phase of assembly elections in Assam on April 4 form only 7.84 per cent of the 485 candidates in the fray. While only 38 women, nominated by political parties and as Independent candidates, are contesting, the number of male candidates is 447.

The ruling Congress and opposition BJP have nominated 10 women contestants each, while Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has put up only two women candidates. Among the other parties, NCP has given tickets to four women, Trinamool Congress and SUCI(Communist) two each and CPM one. Four women are trying their electoral luck as 

Independents in the first phase.

The current assembly has 10 women legislators in a house of 126. Among the 62 of the 126 assembly constituencies going to the polls in the first phase, Karimganj (South) has the highest number of contestants at 25 and well as having the highest number of Independents at 20. The least number of contestants are in Bokajan (ST) seat with one candidate from the Congress and the BJP and one Independent.

 Courtesy:IBNLIVE