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सानिया,सुमीत और पेस के मजहब का क्या? दरअसल नफरत के खिलाफ यह हुआ मुहब्बत का कारनामा दरअसल रब से कोई कर लें मुहब्बत तो इबादत करें न करें,इबादत फिर मुकम्मल है फिर इंसानयत के जज्बे से बड़ा कोई रब भी नहीं है यारों और मजहब किसी वतन काा होता नहीं है और इंसानियत के भूगोल का कोई बार्डर कहीं नहीं होता आइये, हमारी बेटियों की जीत का जश्न मनायेंं,बूढ़ापे के जोश को करें सलाम और जवानी को गले लगायें! क्योंकि ख्वाहिशों और ख्वाबों का कोई मजहब होता नहीं है,मजहबी हो जाये सियासत पूरी की पूरी लेकिन वतन कोई मजहबी होता नहीं है। माना कि इन दिनों ख्वाहिशों और ख्वाबों के खिलाफ बेपनाह बेइंतहा फतवे दनादन दस्तूर हुआ है कातिल जमाने का,किसी ख्वाहिश या क्वाब पर मुकम्मल कोई पहरा होता नहीं है और चिड़िया पर न मार सकें,इंसानियत को मजहबू दीवारों में बांटने का कोई बंदोबस्त मुकम्मल हो नहीं सकता। पलाश विश्वास

July 13, 2015, 1:28 am
≫ Next: 1880 के भू स्खलन में जीवित दफ्न हो जाने वाले 151 लोगों की स्मृति में बना बोट हाउस क्लब के सामने का यह उद्यान 5 जुलाई की मूसलाधार बारिश में रौखड़ बन कर चेता रहा है कि नैनीतालवासियों प्रकृति अब ज्यादा अत्याचार सहन नहीं करेगी। 1880 के बाद अंग्रेजों ने कठोर बायलॉज बनाये थे, निरापद रहना है तो तुम्हें और भी कठोर कदम उठाने होंगे..ब्रजेन्द्र सहाय कमेटी की रिपोर्ट को निर्ममता से लागू करना होगा....
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सानिया,सुमीत और पेस के मजहब का क्या?

दरअसल नफरत के खिलाफ यह हुआ मुहब्बत का कारनामा

दरअसल रब से कोई कर लें मुहब्बत तो इबादत करें न करें,इबादत फिर मुकम्मल है

फिर इंसानयत के जज्बे से बड़ा कोई रब भी नहीं है यारों और मजहब किसी वतन काा होता नहीं है और इंसानियत के भूगोल का कोई बार्डर कहीं नहीं होता

आइये, हमारी बेटियों की जीत का जश्न मनायेंं,बूढ़ापे के जोश को करें सलाम और  जवानी को गले लगायें!

क्योंकि ख्वाहिशों और ख्वाबों का कोई मजहब होता नहीं है,मजहबी हो जाये सियासत पूरी की पूरी लेकिन वतन कोई मजहबी होता नहीं है।


माना कि इन दिनों ख्वाहिशों और ख्वाबों के खिलाफ बेपनाह बेइंतहा फतवे दनादन दस्तूर हुआ है कातिल जमाने का,किसी ख्वाहिश या क्वाब पर मुकम्मल कोई पहरा होता नहीं है और चिड़िया पर न मार सकें,इंसानियत को मजहबू दीवारों में बांटने का कोई बंदोबस्त मुकम्मल हो नहीं सकता।



पलाश विश्वास

भाई आरिफ जमाल ने लिखा हैः


ईद की ख़ुशी दोगुनी हो गई --- विंबलडन में भारत की एक के बाद एक जीत का झंडा लहराया --- भारत के लिएंडर पेस ने मिक्स्ड डबल्स में , 17 साल के सुमित नागल जूनियर डबल्स चैंपियन में और सानिया मिर्जा ने वूमंस डबल्स का खिताब जीत कर ----- देश का नाम खेल के विश्व पटल पर रोशन करने के लिए -- तीनों होनहार खिलाडियों को बधाई।


जिनकी नजरें मजहब के इंसानी दायरे में कैद हैं,वे इंसानियत का जज्बा समझ नहीं सकते।ईद के पाक मौके पर माहे रमजान की इबादत और नमाज के बीच किसी मुसलमाऩ की और से इस बधाई  का मतलब बहुत मायनेवाला मजमूं है हालांकि हम जानते हैं आरिफ भाई हमारे हमपेशा कलमची हैं।


दरअसल उनने मुसलमान सानिया,ईसाई पेस और हिंदू सुमित की जीत पर इंसानियत का एक भूगोल मुकम्मल तामीर की है,जो दरअसल भारत देश हमारा है,जहां फासिज्म भले राजकाज और राजधर्म हो,लेकिन वह इंसानियत का मजहब कतई नहीं है।


तो नागरिकों औ नागरिकाओं ,बताइयें तो जरा

सानिया,सुमीत और पेस के मजहब का क्या?


हमारी मानें तो यह नफरत के खिलाफ मुहब्बत का कारनामा!

हमारी बिटिया जो पाकिस्तान की बहू भी है,उसका जज्बा भी तो देखिये!

मुहब्बत का कोई वतन होता नहीं है दरअसल,दरअसल मुहब्बत का भूगोल ही मुक्म्मल जहां है।मुकम्मल जहां लेकिन हर किसी को मिलता नहीं है।जिसे मिल जाता है ,उसका नफरत की आंधियां और सुनामियां कुछो बिगाड़े सकै नहीं है।


जरा याद कीजिये कि भारत का तिरंगा फहराने वाली हमारी इस मुसलमान बिटिया के खिलाफ क्या क्या कहा नहीं गया!


याद कीजिये,कि ओलंपिक,डेविस कप से लेकर प्रोफेशनल टोनिस में ईसाई लियेंडर पेस को हमने बाकी खिलाड़ियों के मुकाबले,विज्ञापनों में चमकते दमकते चेहरों के मुकाबले आखिर कितनी तरजीह दी है तभी हम सुमित के लिए भी अागे की सीढ़ियों पर कामयाबी के झंडे फहराने ख्वाहिशों के हकदार होते हैं!


क्योंकि ख्वाहिशों और ख्वाबों का कोई मजहब होता नहीं है,मजहबी हो जाये सियासत पूरी की पूरी लेकिन वतन कोई मजहबी होता नहीं है।


माना कि इन दिनों ख्वाहिशों और ख्वाबों के खिलाफ बेपनाह बेइंतहा फतवे दनादन दस्तूर हुआ है कातिल जमाने का,किसी ख्वाहिश या क्वाब पर मुकम्मल कोई पहरा होता नहीं है और चिड़िया पर न मार सकें,इंसानियत को मजहबू दीवारों में बांटने का कोई बंदोबस्त मुकम्मल हो नहीं सकता।


मेरी जीत मेरे देश की लड़कियों को प्रेरित करेगी: सानिया

शाबास बिटिया।हम अपनी किसी बिटिया का मजहब नहीं देखते।अपने वतन की और इंसानियत के भूगोल की हर बिटिया हमारी बिटिया है और दरअसल हकीकत की जमीन पर हमारी कोई बिटिया है नहीं।अपने वतन की हर बिटिया को अपना मान लें तो अपनी कोई बिटिया हो न हो,दिलोदिमाग में कमसकम इंसानियत के जज्बे को कोई कातिल मार सकें,ऐसा मौका भी नहीं है यकीनन।


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1880 के भू स्खलन में जीवित दफ्न हो जाने वाले 151 लोगों की स्मृति में बना बोट हाउस क्लब के सामने का यह उद्यान 5 जुलाई की मूसलाधार बारिश में रौखड़ बन कर चेता रहा है कि नैनीतालवासियों प्रकृति अब ज्यादा अत्याचार सहन नहीं करेगी। 1880 के बाद अंग्रेजों ने कठोर बायलॉज बनाये थे, निरापद रहना है तो तुम्हें और भी कठोर कदम उठाने होंगे..ब्रजेन्द्र सहाय कमेटी की रिपोर्ट को निर्ममता से लागू करना होगा....

July 13, 2015, 1:36 am
≪ Previous: सानिया,सुमीत और पेस के मजहब का क्या? दरअसल नफरत के खिलाफ यह हुआ मुहब्बत का कारनामा दरअसल रब से कोई कर लें मुहब्बत तो इबादत करें न करें,इबादत फिर मुकम्मल है फिर इंसानयत के जज्बे से बड़ा कोई रब भी नहीं है यारों और मजहब किसी वतन काा होता नहीं है और इंसानियत के भूगोल का कोई बार्डर कहीं नहीं होता आइये, हमारी बेटियों की जीत का जश्न मनायेंं,बूढ़ापे के जोश को करें सलाम और जवानी को गले लगायें! क्योंकि ख्वाहिशों और ख्वाबों का कोई मजहब होता नहीं है,मजहबी हो जाये सियासत पूरी की पूरी लेकिन वतन कोई मजहबी होता नहीं है। माना कि इन दिनों ख्वाहिशों और ख्वाबों के खिलाफ बेपनाह बेइंतहा फतवे दनादन दस्तूर हुआ है कातिल जमाने का,किसी ख्वाहिश या क्वाब पर मुकम्मल कोई पहरा होता नहीं है और चिड़िया पर न मार सकें,इंसानियत को मजहबू दीवारों में बांटने का कोई बंदोबस्त मुकम्मल हो नहीं सकता। पलाश विश्वास
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1880 के भू स्खलन में जीवित दफ्न हो जाने वाले 151 लोगों की स्मृति में बना बोट हाउस क्लब के सामने का यह उद्यान 5 जुलाई की मूसलाधार बारिश में रौखड़ बन कर चेता रहा है कि नैनीतालवासियों प्रकृति अब ज्यादा अत्याचार सहन नहीं करेगी। 1880 के बाद अंग्रेजों ने कठोर बायलॉज बनाये थे, निरापद रहना है तो तुम्हें और भी कठोर कदम उठाने होंगे..ब्रजेन्द्र सहाय कमेटी की रिपोर्ट को निर्ममता से लागू करना होगा....


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Sudhir Suman जन संस्कृति मंच, बिहार का चौथा राज्य सम्मेलन कल से आरा में। आप सब आमंत्रित हैं।

July 13, 2015, 1:39 am
≪ Previous: 1880 के भू स्खलन में जीवित दफ्न हो जाने वाले 151 लोगों की स्मृति में बना बोट हाउस क्लब के सामने का यह उद्यान 5 जुलाई की मूसलाधार बारिश में रौखड़ बन कर चेता रहा है कि नैनीतालवासियों प्रकृति अब ज्यादा अत्याचार सहन नहीं करेगी। 1880 के बाद अंग्रेजों ने कठोर बायलॉज बनाये थे, निरापद रहना है तो तुम्हें और भी कठोर कदम उठाने होंगे..ब्रजेन्द्र सहाय कमेटी की रिपोर्ट को निर्ममता से लागू करना होगा....
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जन संस्कृति मंच, बिहार का चौथा राज्य सम्मेलन कल से आरा में। आप सब आमंत्रित हैं।



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मदन जी,क्या जलेबी सिंघाड़ा और बालूसाहीके साथ लिट्टी धनबाद के जाके के साथ दिल्ली में उपलब्ध हैं,मुझे नहीं मालूम।आप को जन्मदिन पर आपकी प्रिय,ये तमाम स्वाद फिर मुबारक।

July 13, 2015, 1:59 am
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मदन जी,क्या जलेबी सिंघाड़ा और बालूसाही के साथ लिट्टी धनबाद के जाके के साथ दिल्ली में उपलब्ध हैं,मुझे नहीं मालूम।आप को जन्मदिन पर आपकी प्रिय,ये तमाम स्वाद फिर मुबारक।
वे देवघर के नरम गरम रसगुल्ले भी आपको मुबारक जो यकीनन दिल्ली में मिलते न होंगे।

धनबाद में मदन कश्यप न होते तो उर्मिलेश उनसे मिलने धनबाद न जाते और न हमें वे जबरन वहां भेजकर पत्रकार बना देने का करिश्मा कर पाते।हम तो वीरेनदा या मगलेश की तरह कवि बनना चाहते थे और हो गये पत्रकार।शुक्र है कि पत्रकारिता करते रहने के बावजूद मदनजी अब भी हमारे समय के अगुवा कवि ङैं।

साहित्य के लिए हमने सबकुछ छोड़ा और अब साहित्य से हमारा कोई नाता नहीं है।

मदन कश्यप हमारे सबसे पुरातन मित्र हैं और बेहतरीन कवि हैं,इसका हमें बहुत गर्व रहा है।रहेगा।

दरअसल मदनदी की कविताएं कोयलांचल की भूमिगत आग सेतपी हुई हैं औक उन्हें पढ़ते हुए हमें वही आग,उसकी तपिश और खुशबू महसूस होती है।

हमारा रिश्ता इस तपिश का भी है।

दूरियां भले ही बहुत हो गयी हैं इन दिनों और हम सभी लोग तन्हा त्नहा हैं,लेकिन उस आग की आंच से कमसकम हमारी रिहाई नहीं है।
मदन जी बहुत नफीस किस्म की शख्सियत हैं।तुनक मिजाज भी बहुत हैं।हम सारे लोग उनसे दनबाद में डरे डरे रहते थे कि उनका मिजाज कहीं बिगड़ नहीं जाये।
अब हमें नहीं मालूम कि राजधानी में उनके मिजाज की परवाह करने वाले कितने दोस्त हैं।
मदन जी,निजी जिंदगी में मुंह पर खरा खरा कहते हैं,आपको अच्छा लगे या बुरा कोई फर्क नहीं पड़ता और दोस्तों के खिलाफ जो बी कहना हो सामने कहते हैं,पीछे कभी कोई मंत्वय नहीं करते।

मदन जी की कविताओं में भी ये खूबियां बखूब हैं और उनकी महक भी जंगल की आदिम गंध की तरह है,जिस जंगल से वास्ता उनकी कविताओं का भी रहा है,जैसी मेरी दो कौड़ी की पत्रकारिता की।

हमालांकि साहित्यकी दुनिया से बेदखली के बाद हम यकीनन कविताओं पर कुछ कहने लायक हैसियत नहीं रखते,लेकि बाहैसियत पाठक यह सलाह तो दे सकते हैं कि देश निर्मोही के इस मंतव्य पर गौर भी करें क्योंकि देश भाई अब प्रकाशक भले हैं,लेकिन बुनियादी तौर पर वे साहित्य के बेहतर संपादक हैंः

हिंदी के वरिष्ठ कवि एवं समालोचक मदन कश्यप का आज जन्मदिन है। 

आधार प्रकाशन परिवार की ओर से उन्हें ढ़ेरों शुभकामनायें। हम उनकी 
सफल, स्वस्थ एवं दीर्घायु की कामना करते हैं। उल्लेखनीय है कि आधार 
प्रकाशन द्वारा प्रकाशित उनका पहला कविता संग्रह 'लकिन उदास है पृथ्वी'
बहुचर्चित और पुरस्कृत रहा है। उनका दूसरा कविता संग्रह 'नीम रोशनी में'
भी पाठकों व आलोचकों द्वारा सराहा गया है।

पलाश विश्वास


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आज पनि जाऊं जाऊं भोल पनि जाऊं जाऊं पोर्खि त नै जूंला स्टेशन सम्म पुगाई दे मलाइ पछिल वीराना ह्वे जूंला

July 13, 2015, 2:12 am
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चन्द्रशेखर करगेती
July 13 at 11:45am
 
आज पनि जाऊं जाऊं 
भोल पनि जाऊं जाऊं 
पोर्खि त नै जूंला 
स्टेशन सम्म पुगाई दे मलाइ 
पछिल वीराना ह्वे जूंला 

यह गीत आप सभी साथियों न (जो सभी उत्तखंड से हैं) सूना ही होगा । तो दगड़ियो कबूतरी दीदी का नाती और अब हम सब का अपना भाई पवन दीप राजन इंडिया वाइस में आ रहा टीवी में यह भी पता होगा । भौत साधारण परिवार का यह असाधारण बच्चा पहले भी सबसे कम उम्र में तबला बादन में लिम्का वर्ड रिकार्ड बना चूका है । और एक महान लोक गायन की परंपरा से आता है । बहुत प्रतिभावान है बहुत मुश्किल से यहाँ पहुंचा है अब इस कार्यक्रम में भोटिंग भी होगी भल तो निवेदन है इस हमारी इस प्रतिभा को सभी साथी अपना स्नेह देंगे और विजयी बनाएंगे । 
यह सोचकर कि- 

शिव की जटा से निकले है तो सागर तक बहना होगा 
ताल तैलल्या बन कर रहना अपने बस क़ी बात नहीं 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=893438697384094&set=a.454951164566185.103560.100001539153631&type=1&__mref=message 

पोस्ट साभार : अनिल कार्की
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कुठे नेऊन ठेवली माझ्या बाबाची चळवळ.....?

July 13, 2015, 2:14 am
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Ramrao Jumle
July 13 at 11:13am
 
कुठे नेऊन ठेवली माझ्या बाबाची चळवळ.....? 
मोदीच्या समरसतेला आठवले यांचा विरोध....! 
डॉ. आंबेडकर जयंतीनिमित्त समता अभियानाची मागणी ...... 
रिपाई कार्यकारणीची सोमवारी मुंबईत यशवंतराव चव्हाण सेंटरमध्ये बैठक झाली. त्यात आठवले यांनी वरील मागणी केली. 
हे बरं केलं पण आठवले यांचे ऐकते कोण.......? 
..... खरं म्हणजे राज्यात पावसाळी अधिवेशनापूर्वी मंत्रीमंडळ विस्तार व महामंडळाच्या नेमणुका होत आहेत. त्यामध्ये रिपाईला वाटा मिळावा अशी आग्रही मागणी केली. त्यासाठी आपण भाजपाध्यक्ष अमित शहा यांची भेट घेणार असल्याचे आठवले यांनी सांगितले. (कारण नरेंद्र मोदी केंद्रात मंत्रिपद आणि वीरेंद्र फडणवीस हे राज्यात मंत्रिपद देण्यासाठी भाजप सत्तेवर आले तेव्हापासून आठवलेंना झुलवत आहेत. म्हणून आता भाजपाध्यक्ष अमित शहा यांचेकडे झोळी पसरणार....!) 
वसई आणि गोंदियाच्या पालिका निवडणुका स्वतंत्र लढल्यामुळे युतीला पराभवाचा सामना करावा लागला. त्यामधून धडा घेऊन पुढच्या वर्षी होत असलेल्या स्थानिक स्वराज्य संस्थाच्या निवडणुका युतीने एकत्रित लढवायला हव्यात असे आवाहनही आठवले यांनी मित्रपक्षांना यावेळी केली. (आठवले यांना किती काळजी आहे? भाजप आणि त्यांचे मित्र शिवसेना यांची....!) रिपाईला लेखी आश्वासन देवूनही भाजपने केंद्रात व राज्यात सत्तेत वाटा दिलेला नाही. तरीसुध्दा आपण युतीतून बाहेर पडणार नाही, असेही आठवले एका प्रश्नाच्या उत्तरात म्हणाले. ( याचा अर्थ आंबेडकरी चळवळ (आठवले यांची स्वाभिमानी चळवळ?) त्यांचेकडे गहाण ठेवली कि काय...?) 
एका कथेत द्राक्षाच्या झाडाकडे कोल्हा मान वर करून व तोंड वासून द्राक्षाचे फळ त्याच्या तोंडात कधी पडेल यासाठी तासनतास वाट पाहतो, तशीच गत आठवले यांची झाली आहे. 
माझ्या बाबाने २७ सप्टेंबर १९५१ रोजी केंद्रीय कायदेमंत्रीपदाला ठोकर मारली होती आणि हे मात्र झोळी घेऊन दारोदारी फिरत आहेत. तरीही ते माझ्या बाबाचे नाव छाती ताणून घेतात तेव्हा त्यांना काय म्हणावे....? 
संदर्भ- दैनिक दिव्यमराठी दि. ०७.०७.२०१५च्या बातमीवरून स्फुटलेख तयार केला.
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Dalit’s ‘custodial death’ turning into political issue.Dalits Media Watch - News Updates 13.07.15

July 13, 2015, 6:30 am
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Dalits Media Watch

News Updates 13.07.15

 

Dalit's 'custodial death' turning into political issue - Business Standard

HTTP://WWW.THEHINDUBUSINESSLINE.COM/NEWS/STATES/DALITS-CUSTODIAL-DEATH-TURNING-INTO-POLITICAL-ISSUE/ARTICLE7413941.ECE

Gokulraj Was Strangulated, Stabbed on Neck - The New Indian Express

http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/Gokulraj-Was-Strangulated-Stabbed-on-Neck/2015/07/13/article2917032.ece

Police clueless in RTI activist assault case, Meghwals protest - The Times Of India

 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Police-clueless-in-RTI-activist-assault-case-Meghwals-protest/articleshow/48046853.cms

State SC-ST commission summons PCMC chief - Pune Mirror

http://www.punemirror.in/pune/civic/State-SC-ST-commission-summons-PCMC-chief/articleshow/48045634.cms

SC Christians Allege Caste Discrimination - The New Indian Express

http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/SC-Christians-Allege-Caste-Discrimination/2015/07/13/article2917034.ece

Landlessness key to rural deprivation, census says - The Times Of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Landlessness-key-to-rural-deprivation-census-says/articleshow/48047026.cms

 

Please Watch:

Every Serena Williams win comes with a side of racism and sexism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=43&v=VF5OdUTT6Ro

 

Black In Latin America (Episode 1) Haiti and The Dominican Republic- The Roots of Division
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RlG4b3LV9o

 

Note : Please find attachment for DMW Hindi (PDF)

 

Business Standard

 

Dalit's 'custodial death' turning into political issue

HTTP://WWW.THEHINDUBUSINESSLINE.COM/NEWS/STATES/DALITS-CUSTODIAL-DEATH-TURNING-INTO-POLITICAL-ISSUE/ARTICLE7413941.ECE

OUR BUREAU

 

KOCHI, JULY 12:  

The death of a Dalit youth, allegedly due to custodial torture, is threatening to snowball into a political issue in view of the upcoming panchayat-municipal elections in Kerala.

 

While all political parties have come out to condemn the death of 40-year-old Sibi of Marangttupilly in Kottayam district, the Left Democratic Front has called for a hartal on Monday.

 

Sibi, arrested on June 29 evening by the Marangattupailly police for a drunken brawl, had allegedly been tortured in police custody.

 

He died in the medical college hospital at Kottayam after being in intensive care for days. He had suffered fatal injuries to the brain.

 

The police had got Sibi, who had collapsed unconscious, admitted to a government hospital. As his condition turned worse, he was taken to the medical college hospital. The police, who initially claimed that Sibi had collapsed because of high blood pressure, later alleged that the death was due to an injury caused in a brawl with a teenager.

 

A 16-year-old boy was booked for attempted murder, which drew sharp ridicule from child welfare organisations and political parties.

 

Following the death, the station house officer has been suspended, a crime branch investigation is on and the Kerala State Human Rights Commission has filed a suo motu case of custodial torture.

 

Sibi's death, along with the attempt to pass the blame to a teenager, has put the police, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and the Oommen Chandy Government on the defensive, particularly with local body elections just three months away.

 

The New Indian Express

 

Gokulraj Was Strangulated, Stabbed on Neck

Published: 13th July 2015 04:08 AM Last Updated: 13th July 2015 04:08 AM

 

NAMAKKAL: Investigations have been brought to light that the Dalit youth, Gokulraj, was strangulated and stabbed on the neck before his body was left on the railway track by a gang of four led by Yuvaraj, the founder of Dheeran Chinnamalai Gounder Peravai, a fringe caste outfit.

 

During interrogations, two of the main accused -- Sankar, a resident of Konganapuram in Salem district, and Kumar Aka Sivakumar, who was taken into police custody after surrendering before a court in Srivaikundam -- were stated to have confessed to the police how the gang had finished off the young Dalit engineer hailing from Omalur in Salem.

 

Yuvaraj, accompanied by Arun, Namakkal district president of the outfit, and Kumar, Salem district president, abducted Gokulraj who was spotted with a caste Hindu girl at Sri Arthanareewarar Temple atop the hillock in Thiruchengode on June 23.  They separated the girl and sent her back to her house with the help some other acquaintances, who were later nabbed by police, before taking him blindfolded to the foot hills, a police official said.

 

Narrating the incidents leading to the murder, he said, "Later, they were joined by Shankar, Arulsenthil and Selvakumar when Gokulraj was taken to Sankagiri in Yuvaraj's car."

 

They shifted Gokulraj to a jeep whose number plates were duplicated before taking him to the Orukamalai hill temple. There he was forced to write a suicide note and recorded his voice stating that he was going to end his life as he was frustrated over love and betraying girls".

 

Both the key accused stated that Gokulraj was boarded on the jeep and was taken to a secluded place along the railway track near SPB Colony in Pallipalayam.

 

While Arulsenthil and Selvakumar were guarding the jeep, Yuvaraj strangulated Gokulraj with a string of cloth while Kumar, Arun and Sankar overpowered him by holding his limbs together before taking him to the railway track, the official stated. Subsequently, Yuvaraj, Sivakumar and Arun stabbed the young Dalit's neck one after another while Sankar was keeping vigil in the place. Ensuring the young engineer was dead, they fled the scene and went on hiding.

 

The incident came to light only after a rag picker sighted the body on June 24 and informed a railway worker. Although the police initially presumed Gokulraj could have died after being run over by a train, the postmortem report stated that he died of multiple injuries, strongly indicating murder.

 

The police altered the case to murder (Section 302 of IPC) from 174 suspicious death under CrPC following the postmortem report.

 

The murder of Gokulraj evoked widespread outrage and condemnation from certain political parties and Dalit organisations and human rights groups. They called for enacting a special law to strongly deal with such honour killing perpetrated by chauvinistic caste-groups.

 

The Times Of India

 

Police clueless in RTI activist assault case, Meghwals protest

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Police-clueless-in-RTI-activist-assault-case-Meghwals-protest/articleshow/48046853.cms

 

Vimal Bhatia,TNN | Jul 13, 2015, 02.16 AM IST

 

JAISALMER: A day after a Dalit RTI activist-cum-school teacher, Baburam, was kidnapped, assaulted and dumped near Indira Gandhi Canal by a few youths in Ranau area of Jaisalmer, the police struggled to make any headway in the investigation. As all the suspected men behind the incident who even shaved the victim's head and forced him to drink urine continue to remain elusive, RTI activists in the area alleged that it will further embolden the mafia and corrupt people who are exposed by the activists.


People from Meghwal community from Ramgarh and nearby villages gathered at the Ramgarh police station and protested. Heavy police force was deployed to control the situation. Police officials said around half a dozen teams have been sent to canal area and other deserted areas to track the culprits and till now no arrests have been made.


Baburam is currently admitted in a hospital in Jodhpur and his condition is stated to be critical. The victim got mass support as the markets in Jaisalmer's Ramgarh town remained closed for half a day as a mark of protest against the incident.


One Aduram filed a complaint in the police station saying that his brother Baburam was returning from school to home. He was near Ranau village when about a dozen men, some of them identified as Bhoor Singh, Madan Singh, Kump Singh, Ganga Singh, Ganga Singh, Diwan Singh, Sumerpal, Gambhir Singh, Hokum Singh, Ganga Singh and Ram Singh, came in an SUV and kidnapped Baburam. They took him to a deserted area, broke his hands and legs and later shaved his head and forced him to drink urine.


Based on the report, the police lodged a case against the named culprits. The town was closed for half a day to protest against Baburam's assault on the request of Meghwal community. Meanwhile, social activist Kishan Giri, sarpanch Govind Bhargava, Mathradas Khatri, Kundan Lal Soni and others met SP and demanded for an impartial probe and early arrest of culprits. In the report, it was said that the teacher and RTI activist Baburam had raised issues, which had affected many people and these people were involved in the case. Baburam had raised 24 cases of water theft and 40 cases related to real estate frauds.


SP Pachar said police are making all possible efforts to arrest the culprits and special teams have been sent to different places. At present no arrests have been made and soon culprits will be caught, the SP added.

Around 300 people of Rajput community took out a procession asking the police to not arrest innocent Rajput people in this case, do an impartial probe, immediately release those Rajputs who have been called for inquiry and submitted a memorandum to the SP. SP Rajjiv Pachar and other senior police and district administration officers camped at Ramgarh from Saturday.


In the memorandum, the people of Rajput community condemned the incident and said that action should be taken against the culprits. They said the activist had enmity with many people and in such a situation, there is a possibility that people who had beaten Baburam did this to malign the Rajput community. They said police should conduct impartial probe and arrest the culprits.

 

Pune Mirror

 

State SC-ST commission summons PCMC chief

http://www.punemirror.in/pune/civic/State-SC-ST-commission-summons-PCMC-chief/articleshow/48045634.cms

 

By Vijay Chavan, Pune Mirror | Jul 13, 2015, 02.30 AM IST

 

Civic body has failed to give its sanitary staff basic equipment, which leads them to scavenge manually


Cracking the whip on Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) commissioner Rajeev Jadhav, the state commission for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes (SCST commission) has summoned him to appear at a hearing for not addressing the issues affecting sanitary staff.


The notice was served on Saturday after municipal authorities failed to submit a report on action taken to meet the staff's demands, even after four reminder letters were sent.


According to the notice sent by C L Thul, chairman of the SC-ST commission, Jadhav has been asked to attend a hearing on Thursday. Many sanitary staffers have resorted to manual scavenging in the absence of basic equipment (gumboots, hand gloves, soap, masks, sweaters) to clean drainage, manholes and nullahs. They also claim deprivation from welfare schemes meant for communities attached to the profession.


After there was no response from the PCMC's health department, Sagar Charan, president of the Safai Karmchari Tarkrar Niwaran Samiti of PCMC, wrote to the commission, complaining about the apathy. Later, the commission asked PCMC to submit a status report in this regard.


"The notice speaks for PCMC's approach towards its sanitatary staff, who are still engaged in scavenging. Issues like health insurance and rest rooms for women staffers have also been neglected," said Charan.


Meanwhile, Jadhav said, "I will look into the issue seriously and comply with the instructions."

 

The New Indian Express

 

SC Christians Allege Caste Discrimination

Published: 13th July 2015 04:09 AM Last Updated: 13th July 2015 04:09 AM

 

COIMBATORE:  Alleging caste discrimination and untouchability by the bishop, dioceses, churches and Christian institutions, a group of people belonging to the Scheduled Caste Christian community staged a protest at St Michael's Cathedral in Coimbatore, where 21 Bishops from 18 Dioceses were participating in the council meeting on Sunday.

 

They also alleged that Bishop Jebamalai Susaimanickam deliberately blocked Michael Raj from being appointed as deacon, thus blocking his chances of becoming a priest. The deacon is the position below the priest. The protesters demanded that Michael Raj be appointed as priest of the Sivagangai constituency.

 

They also alleged that, even though the scheduled caste Christian community constitutes 75 per cent of the total Christian population, they have been discriminated against and have not been allowed to participate in the decision making process in the church and dioceses.

 

"Michael Raj underwent training at a seminary for 12 years and was on the verge of being appointed deacon, which will make him eligible to become a priest soon. It would have been a proud moment for us, but he was sacked from the seminary without any reason," said PJ Xavier, one of the protestors.

 

Explaining the developments that led to his ouster, Michael Raj told Express, "There was a function at the seminary in Tiruchy to welcome the novices. The very next day, six mikes that were used for the function went missing. Later, the mikes were found in a well inside the seminary. I and five others were blamed for it and all six persons were sacked from the seminary. A few days later the culprits confessed and the authorities were forced to take back all the six." However, Michael Raj was asked to go abroad to practice as a priest and the other five were appointed as priests elsewhere, said Michael Raj.

 

He raised the question that if he could be a priest abroad, why shouldn't he get the opportunity here. "The dioceses and Bishop always discriminate us and it is the reason why 13 people who finished their training in various seminaries have not become priests," he added.

 

Staff from the Bishop's office told Express that there was no logic behind the allegations. They said the Bishop would convene a press conference on Wednesday to clear all concerns.

 

The Times Of India

 

Landlessness key to rural deprivation, census says

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Landlessness-key-to-rural-deprivation-census-says/articleshow/48047026.cms

 

Subodh Ghildiyal,TNN | Jul 13, 2015, 02.55 AM IST

 

NEW DELHI: Landlessness and dependence on manual casual labour for a livelihood are key deprivations facing rural families, socio-economic census figures suggest.


This, experts say, means they are far more vulnerable to impoverishment than indicated by a plain reading of the census data.


While 48.5 per cent of all rural households are saddled with at least one deprivation indicator, the eye-opener is how much the other factors overlap with the worst of them — landless households engaged in manual labour.


The rural census mapped deprivation on the basis of seven indicators — households with kuchha house; without adult member in working age; headed by a woman and without an adult male in working age; with disabled member and without able-bodied adult; of SC/STs; without literate adults over 25 years; and landless engaged in manual labour.


The more the number of parameters on which a household is deprived, the worse its economic status and extent of poverty. It has been found that nearly 30 per cent have two deprivations, 13 per cent have three, though mercifully, only 0.01 per cent suffer from all seven handicaps.


The intersection of any of the six other handicaps with 'landless labour' makes it more acute than would otherwise be suggested by the observation that the household has "two deprivations". Nearly 5.40 crore households are in the landless-labourer category — dubbed by the rural development ministry as the "main running theme of deprivation"."The fact that a very high number of deprived households are also landless doing casual manual labour is significant. Land being the most important asset in rural India, its absence with other deprivations means a household has no asset and is that much more vulnerable. It has an uncertain source of income, without skills and also no asset to fall back upon," Shah said.


He added that along with landless families, what is also true is that small and marginal farmers are getting pauperized and are more engaged in manual labour.


As per figures, 59 per cent of households with kuchha houses are landless-labourers, followed by 55 per cent of those with no literate adult above 25 years and 54 per cent each of SC/ST households and female-headed households without adult male members.


At the same time, 47 per cent households without an adult member in working age are landless labourers followed by 45 per cent of those with disabled members and no able-bodied adult members.

 

News monitored by Girish Pant & AJEET

 

 

 

 

 

.Arun Khote
On behalf of
Dalits Media Watch Team
(An initiative of "Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre-PMARC")

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Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre- PMARC has been initiated with the support from group of senior journalists, social activists, academics and  intellectuals from Dalit and civil society to advocate and facilitate Dalits issues in the mainstream media. To create proper & adequate space with the Dalit perspective in the mainstream media national/ International on Dalit issues is primary objective of the PMARC.
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US Army considering hollow point bullets for pistols; ammunition use would violate international law

July 13, 2015, 6:32 am
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US Army considering hollow point bullets for pistols; ammunition use would violate international law
News Updates from CLG
13 July 2015
 
Previous edition: To facilitate passage of TPP, U.S. upgrades Malaysia in annual human trafficking report - sources

Breaking: Greece debt crisis: Eurozone summit 'reaches agreement' | 13 July 2015 | Eurozone leaders have reached a "unanimous" agreement after marathon talks over a third bailout for Greece, EU President Donald Tusk has said. He said that a bailout programme was "all ready to go" for Greece, "with serious reforms and financial support". "There will not be a 'Grexit'," said European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker, referring to the fear that Greece would have to leave the euro. #ThisIsACoup

US Army considering hollow point bullets for pistols; ammunition use would violate international law --'Expanding' bullets were banned under the 1899 Hague Convention. | 10 July 2015 | In a dramatic shift for the US military, the army is considering the use of bullets that can expand and break up when striking a target to make new pistols more lethal, raising concern that doing so would violate international law. According to the Army Times, the Pentagon recently reviewed the use of "special purpose ammunition" and determined the army could look into enabling its next-generation XM-17 pistol to use various kinds, including hollow point bullets. Currently, only ball ammunition is used in the army. 

US torture doctors could face charges after report alleges post-9/11 'collusion' | 10 July 2015 | The largest association of psychologists in the United States is on the brink of a crisis, the Guardian has learned, as an independent review prepares to reveal that medical professionals lied and covered up their extensive involvement in post-9/11 torture. The revelation, puncturing years of denials, creates the potential for leadership firings, loss of licenses and even prosecutions. For more than a decade, the American Psychological Association (APA) has maintained that a strict code of ethics prohibits its more than 130,000 members to aid in the torture of detainees prisoners while simultaneously permitting involvement in military and intelligence interrogations. The group has rejected media reporting on psychologists' complicity in torture; suppressed internal dissent from anti-torture doctors; cleared members of wrongdoing; and portrayed itself as a consistent ally against abuse. Now, a voluminous independent review conducted by a former assistant US attorney, David Hoffman, is said to undermine the APA's denials in full -- and vindicate the dissenters.

Former chair of Oregon Health & Science University psychology department worked with CIA on torture - report | 11 July 2015 | A prominent retired Oregon Health & Science University psychology professor served on a CIA psychology advisory committee and played at least a limited role in helping the agency develop its post 9/11 enhanced-interrogation torture program, according to an exhaustive new report commissioned by the American Psychological Association. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks [inside job], Joseph Matarazzo, former chair of the OHSU medical psychology department, exhorted his fellow psychologists to use their expertise to help the U.S. government force information out of detainees, according to the new report. "In this environment, things are different, and the CIA is going to need some help," Matarazzo reportedly told another psychologist at a 2002 conference in Singapore. "Things may get harsh. We may need to take the gloves off."

Psychologists and C.I.A. Torture | 10 July 2015 | A 542-page report concludes that prominent psychologists worked closely with the C.I.A. to blunt dissent inside the agency over an interrogation program that is now known to have included torture. It also finds that officials at the American Psychological Association colluded with the Pentagon to make sure that the association's ethics policies did not hinder the ability of psychologists to be involved in the interrogation program.
 
Baghdad car bombs and suicide attacks kill 35 - sources | 12 July 2015 | Car bombs and suicide attacks targeting mainly Shi'ite Muslim districts of Baghdad killed 35 people on Sunday, one of the heaviest recent tolls in the Iraqi capital, which has faced a wave of bombings by Islamic State militants. The deadliest attack hit the northern Shaab neighborhood, where a car bomb followed by a suicide blast killed 19 people, security and medical sources said...More than 100 people were wounded in the three explosions.
 
At least 25 civilians killed near US base in Afghanistan | 12 July 2015 | At least 25 civilians have been killed and sixteen more wounded in a car bomb explosion in Afghanistan's eastern city of Khost, authorities say. "We counted 25 dead and sixteen wounded," a doctor at a hospital in Khost told reporters on Sunday after the blast near an American military base, where Afghan and foreign soldiers are stationed. Initial reports said that only 18 people were killed and 6 others injured, but the toll was later raised by officials.
 
'Right Sector on combat alert': Ukraine Neo-Nazis refuse to lay down arms after shootout | 12 July 2015 | [US-backed] Ukrainian Right Sector militants, blocked in on the outskirts of Mukachevo after deadly clashes with police, are refusing to lay down their arms without their leader's orders. Civilians in the area have been evacuated, as negotiations so far have failed. SWAT police and special units of the National Guard, as well as Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) agents have secured the area and blockaded members of Ukraine's ultra-nationalist Right Sector group on the outskirts of Mukachevo, which lies a stone's throw away from Hungarian and Slovakian border.
 
US ally Saudi Arabia committing war crimes daily: 10 Yemeni civilians killed in Saudi airstrike on Sana'a | 12 July 2015 | More than 10 civilians have been killed in a Saudi airstrike on a residential area in the Yemeni capital Sana'a. According to reports, the attacks were carried out in the city's Sa'awan neighborhood, early on Monday. Meanwhile, Saudi [sociopaths'] jets bombed several medical and commercial centers in the country's northwestern province of Amran. On Sunday, the kingdom's warplanes launched attacks on the northwestern Hajjah province.
 
Car bomb hits Italian consulate in Egypt | 11 July 2015 | A car bomb exploded outside the Italian Consulate in downtown Cairo early Saturday morning, significantly damaging part of the building, police said. The blast caused some injuries but no deaths, authorities said. "There's significant damage to the side of the building, a wall has collapsed and there was blood on the debris," photographer David Degner told CNN from the scene.
 
Tunisia: 1,000 arrests and 15,000 prevented from leaving in counter-terrorism operations | 10 July 2015 | Tunisia authorities have arrested 1,000 people and banned a further 15,000 from leaving the country in the wake of two terror attacks in the country. Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid said the suspects were detained as part of the counter-terrorism operation in the wake of the shooting at the Bardo museum in March, which left 22 people dead, and the recent Sousse beach shooting that killed 38 people, including 30 Brits. The announcement arrived a week after a state of emergency was declared in Tunisia following the Sousse shooting and after the British Foreign Office urged all remaining Brits to leave Tunisia immediately as intelligence suggests a further terrorist attack is "highly likely".
 
Indonesian pilots may have been radicalized by ISIS - report | 11 July 2015 | Authorities in Australia are concerned about the potential radicalization of two Indonesian commercial pilots, according to an intelligence report obtained by the news website The Intercept. The report, marked Australian Federal Police (AFP), profiles two Indonesian pilots who "both appear to be influenced by pro (Islamic State) elements." It details the social media behavior of the two men who the AFP believe posed potential security threats because of their knowledge of aviation and possible radicalization.
 
Petition Calls on Congress to Reveal the Secret 28 Pages for 9/11 Transparency | 10 July 2015 | On Jan. 6, 2015, Walter Jones (R-NC) and Steven Lynch (D-MA) introduced a resolution to the House of Representatives calling on President Obama to release the 28 pages from the Congressional Joint Inquiry on 9/11. The resolution is called H.RES. 14. Visibility of the 28 pages issue has risen yet again with the introduction of Senate Bill 1471 introduced by Rand Paul on June 2, 2015, as a parallel action to H.RES. 14...Furthermore, release of the pages will reveal that certain Saudi royals and charities known for funding extremist groups are being protected, regardless that they continue to jeopardize U.S. national security. In other words, funding of extremist groups is being protected while the American people are being told to fear another "9/11 type attack" -- a blatant contradiction. Sign petition here.
 
Media not allowed to observe controversial Special Operations exercise Jade Helm 15 | 08 July 2015 | Jade Helm 15, the controversial Special Operations exercise that spawned a wave of conspiracy theories about a government takeover, will open next week without any media allowed to observe it, a military spokesman said. Embedded reporters won't be permitted at any point during the exercise, in which military officials say that secretive Special Operations troops will maneuver through private and publicly owned land in several southern states. The exercise is scheduled for July 15 through September 15 and is expected to include more than 1,200 troops. For months, some protesterspeople with an IQ over 80 have said Jade Helm is setting the stage for future martial law.
 
Texans organize 'Operation Counter Jade Helm' to keep an eye on the federal troops | 11 July 2015 | When the troops land in Texas for Operation Jade Helm next week, someone will be waiting for them. Hundreds of people have organized a "Counter Jade Helm" surveillance operation across the Southwestern states and in an effort to keep an eye on the contentious military drill that's sparked many suspicious of Uncle Sam's intentions. Three groups of volunteers, about 20 folks in total, hope to monitor the SEALs, Green Berets and Air Force Special Ops in Bastrop, Big Spring and Junction when Jade Helm kicks off on July 15. With media prohibited at the drills, the volunteers could be a main source of information for the highly-anticipate seven-state exercise.
 
FBI Director Says Background Check System Failed, Allowing Alleged SC Shooter to Purchase Gun | 10 July 2015 | The FBI says its background-check system failed, mistakenly allowing the man who allegedly opened fire inside a South Carolina church last month to purchase the gun he used in the rampage. FBI Director James Comey said 21-year-old Dylann Roof of Lexington, South Carolina, "should not have been allowed" to buy the weapon that ultimately killed nine people, including the pastor of the historic Emanuel AME church. Through a database known as the National Instant Criminal Background Check System -- or "NICS" -- the FBI performs background checks for those looking to buy weapons from dealers in 30 states, including South Carolina. If FBI examiners don't respond within three business days, federal law allows the dealers to decide themselves whether to proceed with the sale.
 
Confederate flag comes down on South Carolina's statehouse grounds [Great! Now if we could only get rid of -- or even get the media to mention -- the slavery codified in Obama's secret TPP...] | 10 July 2015 | The Confederate flag on South Carolina's statehouse grounds came down during a Fridaymorning ceremony, ending its 54-year presence at the Capitol. Members from a South Carolina Highway Patrol honor guard approached the Confederate memorial, and as one turned a lever to lower the flag, the assembled large crowd burst into sustained applause and chanted "U.S.A.!" The flag will be placed in a museum. Cheers and hugs punctuated the morning.
 
Up to 170,000 chickens set to be slaughtered after suspected bird flu outbreak | 10 July 2015 | (UK) Tens of thousands of chickens are being slaughtered on a poultry farm after a suspected bird flu outbreak. A control zone has also been set up 10km around a Lancashire farm to prevent any risk of the disease spreading but up to 170,000 laying hens are expected to be humanely culled [?] as a precautionary measure. Scientists have yet to discover what strain of flu is involved. Some strains of avian influenza, particularly the H5N1 form, are known to have jumped the species barrier and resulted in more than 300 human deaths worldwide.
 
Hero conservation officer suspended for refusing to kill two orphaned bear cubs | 07 July 2015 | B.C. conservation officer Bryce Casavant has been suspended without pay for refusing to kill two black bear cubs near Port Hardy after their mother was killed for repeatedly raiding a freezer full of meat and salmon [because she was hungry]. Despite an [*insane*] order to kill the cubs too, Casavant took them to a veterinary hospital. They are now at a recovery centre run by the North Island Wildlife Recovery Association in Errington, which like Port Hardy is on Vancouver Island. Robin Campbell, the recovery centre's manager, said the conservation officer did the right thing as the cubs are not habituated to humans and can be reintroduced to the wild.
 
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અમિત શાહે નરેન્દ્ર મોદીને દેશના પહેલાં ઓબીસી વડાપ્રધાન કહેતાં વિવાદ સર્જાયો

July 13, 2015, 6:35 am
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અમિત શાહે નરેન્દ્ર મોદીને દેશના પહેલાં ઓબીસી વડાપ્રધાન કહેતાં વિવાદ સર્જાયો
વી દિલ્હી- નરેન્દ્ર મોદીને દેશના પ્રથમ ઓબીસી વડાપ્રધાન કહેનાર બીજેપી અધ્યક્ષ અમિત શાહ ફરી એક વાર વિવાદમાં આવ્યા છે. જેડીયુએ અમિત શાહની આ વાતનું ખંડન કરીને આગામી વિધાનસભાની ચૂંટણીમાં બીજેપીની વડાપ્રધાનને જાતીય નેતાની તરીકે આગળ કરવાની કોશિશ પર પ્રશ્નો ઉઠાવ્યા છે. આરજેડી પ્રમુખ લાલુ પ્રસાદ યાદવે પણ આ વાતનું ખંડન કર્યું છે. જેડીયુના મહાસચિન કેસી ત્યાગીએ શનિવારે કહ્યું કે દેશના પ્રથમ ઓબીસી વડાપ્રધાન નરેન્દ્ર મોદી હોવાનો અમિત શાહનો દાવો ખોટો છે. આ પદ પર અગાઉ રહી ચૂકેલા ચૌધરી ચરણ સિંહ અને એચડી દેવેગોડા પણ ઓબીસી સમુદાયના હતા.
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આતંક અને ક્લાઈમેટ ચેન્જ વિશ્વ સામે સૌથી મોટા પડકારો ઃ મોદી

July 13, 2015, 6:36 am
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આતંક અને ક્લાઈમેટ ચેન્જ વિશ્વ સામે સૌથી મોટા પડકારો ઃ મોદી
વડાપ્રધાન નરેન્દ્ર મોદીએ તુર્કમેનિસ્તાનના પ્રવાસ દરમિયાન ઊર્જા ક્ષેત્રમાં લાંબા ગાળાની ઈચ્છા દર્શાવીને કુલ સાત કરાર પર સહી કરી હતી. આ દરમિયાન બંને દેશોએ આતંકવાદ સામે લડવા પરસ્પર સહકાર આપવા મુદ્દે પણ સહમતિ દાખવી હતી. આજે મોદી અને તુર્કમેનિસ્તાનના પ્રમુખ ગુરબાન્ગુલી બેરદિમુખામેદોવે ઔપચારિક ચર્ચા કરી હતી. આ દરમિયાન બંને દેશના વડાઓએ આતંકવાદ સહિતની ગુનાખોરી અને ડ્રગ ટ્રાફિકિંગ સામે કડક પગલાં લેવા મુદ્દે ચર્ચાવિમર્શ કર્યો હતો. આ દરમિયાન મોદીએ તુર્કમેનિસ્તાનમાં પરંપરાગત ઔષધ અને યોગ કેન્દ્રનું ઉદ્ઘાટન કર્યું હતું. અહીં તેમણે ગાંધીજીના પૂતળાનું પણ અનાવરણ કર્યું હતું. આ દરમિયાન મોદીએ વિશ્વ સામેના સૌથી મોટા બે પડકારો તરીકે આતંકવાદ અને ક્લાઈમેટ ચેન્જને ગણાવતા કહ્યું હતું કે, આ બંને પ્રશ્નોનો ઉકેલ મહાત્મા ગાંધીના જીવન અને આદર્શોમાંથી મળે છે. મને આશા છે કે, તુર્કમેનિસ્તાનના લોકો ગાંધીના જીવન અને તેમના આદર્શોમાંથી કંઈક શીખશે. વડાપ્રધાન મોદીએ તાપી (તુર્કમેનિસ્તાન, અફઘાનિસ્તાન, પાકિસ્તાન, ઈન્ડિયા) પાઈપલાઈન પ્રોજેક્ટને તમામ દેશો માટે અત્યંત મહત્ત્વનો ગણાવ્યો હતો. આ પ્રોજેક્ટ અંતર્ગત ઈરાન થઈને જમીન અને દરિયાઈ માર્ગે ગેસની આપ-લે માટે પાઈપલાઈન નાંખવામાં આવશે. આ ગેસ ભારત સહિતના દેશોને તુર્કમેનિસ્તાનમાંથી મળશે. તુર્કમેનિસ્તાનમાં વિશ્વના ચોથા નંબરના સૌથી મોટા કુદરતી ગેસનો ભંડાર આવેલા છે. આ મુદ્દે આપેલા સંયુક્ત નિવેદનમાં તાપી પ્રોજેક્ટને બંને દેશોના વિકાસનો 'મહત્ત્વનો પાયો' ગણાવાયો હતો. બંને દેશોના વડાઓએ તાપી સહિતના તમામ પ્રોજેક્ટના ખૂબ ઝડપથી અમલ કરવાની ઈચ્છા વ્યક્ત કરી હતી. આ દરમિયાન મોદીએ તુર્કમેનિસ્તાન સાથેની કનેક્ટિવિટી વધારવા પર પણ ખાસ ભાર મૂક્યો હતો. મોદીએ કહ્યું હતું કે, બે દેશોના સંબંધો વધારવા સંપર્ક વધારવા પણ એટલા જરૃરી છે.
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આસારામ કેસના મુખ્ય સાક્ષી પર શાહજહાંપુરમાં ગોળીબાર

July 13, 2015, 6:37 am
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 આસારામ કેસના મુખ્ય સાક્ષી પર શાહજહાંપુરમાં ગોળીબાર
શાહજહાંપુર (ઉ.પ્ર.) � આધ્યાત્મિક ગુરુ આસારામ બાપુ સામે જાતીય સતામણીના કરાયેલા કેસના મુખ્ય સાક્ષી પર અહીં અજાણ્યા ઈસમોએ ગોળીબાર કર્યો છે. તેને તાબડતોબ હોસ્પિટલમાં લઈ જવામાં આવ્યો છે. આસારામ સામેના કેસમાં એક સાક્ષીએ ગયા બુધવારે જોધપુરની કોર્ટમાં જુબાનીમાં ફેરવી તોળ્યા બાદ આ હુમલો કરાયો છે. તપાસનીશ અધિકારીઓએ હાલને તબક્કે વધુ કંઈ પણ કહેવાનો ઈનકાર કર્યો છે. પોતાના એક આશ્રમમાં સગીર વયની એક બાળા પર કથિતપણે બળાત્કાર કરવા બદલ આસારામ બાપુની ૨૦૧૩ના સપ્ટેંબરમાં ધરપકડ કરવામાં આવી હતી અને તેમને જોધપુરની સેન્ટ્રલ જેલમાં પૂરવામાં આવ્યા છે. આ કેસમાં ૫૮ સાક્ષીદાર છે, જેમાંના ૪૨ના મહત્વના ગણાય છે.
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મેડિકલ રિસર્ચ માટે ગુજરાત સરકાર પાસે નાણાં જ નથી

July 13, 2015, 6:41 am
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મેડિકલ રિસર્ચ માટે ગુજરાત સરકાર પાસે નાણાં જ નથી
ભારતમાં કેન્સર સહિતની બિમારીને લઇને સંશોધનકાર્ય જ થતું નથી પરિણામે કયો રોગ વધે છે, કયો રોગ ઘટે છે, કયા કારણોસર કયો રોગ થાય છે. કયા રોગનું કયા વિસ્તારમાં કેટલું પ્રમાણ છે તે તમામ બાબતો હજુયે ચોક્કસપણે જાણી શકાયુ નથી. અમેરિકા જેવા દેશો મેડિકલ રિસર્ચમાં અગ્રેસર છે . નિષ્ણાતોનું કહેવું છેકે, ભારતમાં હજુયે સરકાર મેડિકલ રિસર્ચના મામલે રસ દાખવતી નથી જયારે ગુજરાત સરકાર તો સ્વાસ્થય સબંધી રિસર્ચવર્ક માટે નાણાં જ વાપરતી નથી . અમેરિકા તો માત્ર કેન્સરના સંશોધન પાછળ વર્ષે રૃા.૩૫ હજાર કરોડનો ખર્ચ કરે છે. ગુજરાત વિદ્યાપીઠમાં પર્યાવરણ અને કેન્સર વિષય આધારિત બે દિવસીય સેમિનારમાં નિષ્ણાતોએ એવો મત વ્યક્ત કર્યો કે, ભારતમા વિવિધ રોગની સ્થિતિ વિશે કોઇ ચોક્કસ માહિતી નથી. પશ્ચિમના દેશોના આંકડા પર જ બધુયે નિર્ભર છે. મેડિકલ રિસર્ચ માટે મોટાભાગનું ફંડ વિદેશથી આવે છે. ઇન્ડિયન મેડિકલ કાઉન્સિલ ફોર રિસર્ચ દર વર્ષ મેડિકલ રિસર્ચ પાછળ વર્ષે માત્ર ૬૦૦ કરોડ ખર્ચે છે. ગુજરાત સરકારને તો જાણે મેડિકલ રિસર્ચવર્કમાં રસ જ નથી. રાજ્ય સરકાર મેડિકલ રિસર્ચ પાછળ નાણાં જ ખર્ચતી નથી . આ ઉપરાંત મ્યુનિ.કોર્પોરેશન પણ રિસર્ચ વિશે કોઇ ખર્ચ કરવા તૈયાર નથી. આ સ્થિતિમાં રોગના પ્રમાણથી માંડીને કારણો વિશે કોઇ અંદાજ આવતો નથી જે ભવિષ્યમાં ખતરો બની રહે છે. નિષ્ણાતો ,સ્વૈચ્છિક સંસ્થાઓનો મત છેકે, સરકારે હવે આ દિશામાં વિચારવું જોઇએ.
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વ્યાપમ કૌભાંડમાં 'મંત્રાણી'ની સંડોવણીને લઇને ઘૂંટાતું રહસ્ય, વિપક્ષ ગેલમાં

July 13, 2015, 6:42 am
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વ્યાપમ કૌભાંડમાં 'મંત્રાણી'ની સંડોવણીને લઇને ઘૂંટાતું રહસ્ય, વિપક્ષ ગેલમાં
ધ્યપ્રદેશ સહિત દેશભરમાં ચકચાર જગાવનારા વ્યાપમ કૌભાંડના એક આરોપી દ્વારા 'મંત્રાણી' (કોઇ પ્રધાનના પત્ની અથવા તો મહિલા પ્રધાન)ના ઉલ્લેખથી રાજકીય ગરમાવો વ્યાપી ગયો છે અને વ્યાપમ કૌભાંડની તપાસમાં એક નવો જ વળાંક પણ આવી શકે છે. તેના પગલે વિપક્ષ કોંગ્રેસને મધ્યપ્રદેશ સરકાર વિરુદ્ધ નવો દારુગોળો પણ મળી ગયો છે. મધ્યપ્રદેશ પોલીસની સ્પેશિયલ ટાસ્ક ફોર્સ (એસટીએફ)ની એફઆઇઆરમાં 'મંત્રાણી'ના ઉલ્લેખને લઇને રહસ્ય ઘૂંટાયું છે. વ્યાપમ કૌભાંડના મુખ્ય આરોપીઓ પૈકીના પંકજ ત્રિવેદીના કમ્પ્યૂટરની હાર્ડ ડિસ્ક એસટીએફે કબજી લીધી હતી, જેમાંની એક એક્સેલ શીટમાં રાજ્યની સરકારી મેડિકલ કોલેજોમાં બેઠકો ખરીદવા અને વેચવા સાથે સંકળાયેલા શખસોની યાદી હતી. તે પૈકીની એક કોલમમાં 'મંત્રાણી' લખેલું હતું. વ્યાપમના પૂર્વ કંટ્રોલર પંકજ ત્રિવેદીએ તપાસ અધિકારીઓને એમ કહ્યું હોવાનું મનાય છે કે 'મંત્રાણી'નો ઉલ્લેખ કોઇ પ્રધાનના પત્ની માટે અથવા તો મહિલા પ્રધાન માટે હોઇ શકે છે. કોંગ્રેસે શાબ્દિક પ્રહારો કરતા જણાવ્યું હતું કે એસટીએફે 'મંત્રાણી'ની લીડ તાર્કિક અંત સુધી કેમ ન લઇ જવાઇ અને એફઆઇઆરમાં જેમના નામ હતા તેવા રાજ્યપાલ રામનરેશ યાદવ સહિતના આરોપીઓ જાહેર થયા તો પછી 'મંત્રાણી'ની ઓળખ કેમ હજુ સુધી થઇ નથી તે અંગે ખુલાસા કરવા જોઇએ. નોંધનીય છે કે ભૂતકાળમાં કોંગ્રેસના નેતા દિગ્વિજયસિંહે મુખ્યપ્રધાન શિવરાજસિંહ ચૌહાણનાં પત્નીને વ્યાપમ કૌભાંડમાં ઢસડવાનો પ્રયાસ કરતા એમ કહેલું કે શિવરાજસિંહનાં પત્ની કૌભાંડના મુખ્ય આરોપીઓ પૈકીના ખાણ ઉદ્યોગપતિ સુધીર શર્મા સાથે લિન્ક ધરાવે છે.
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Your Account information might get leaked! Stay aware about SIM Swap fraud

July 13, 2015, 6:48 am
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HDFC Bank
Your Account information
might get leaked!
SIM Swap fraud
Stay aware about
SIM Swap fraud

Under SIM Swap fraud, fraudsters manage to get a new SIM card issued against your registered mobile number through the mobile service provider. With the help of this new SIM card, they get One Time Password (OTP) and alerts, required for making financial transactions through your bank account.
How do fraudsters operate?
Step 1
Fraudsters gather customer's personal information through Phishing, Vishing, Smishing or any other means.
 
Step 2
They then approach the mobile operator and get the SIM blocked. After this, they visit the mobile operator's retail outlet with the fake ID proof, posing as the customer.
Step 3
The mobile operator deactivates the genuine SIM card and issues a new one to the fraudster.
 
Step 4
Fraudster then generates One Time Password (OTP) required to facilitate transactions, using the stolen banking information. This OTP is received on the new SIM held by the fraudster.
How to protect yourself from fraud:
If your mobile no. has stopped working for a longer than usual period, enquire with your mobile operator to make sure you haven't fallen victim to the Scam.
Register for SMS and Email Alerts to stay informed about the activities in your bank account.
Regularly check your bank statements and transaction history for any irregularities.
Warm regards,
Vijay Kamath 
(Head - RIC)
 
Sameer Ratolikar 
(CISO)
Sercure Banking
 
Social Media
 
*Terms & Conditions apply
#PowerOfBanking   
 
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एन जी टी का आदेश कंपनियों के हित में-जबकि स्थानीय वाशिंदे होंगे बंचित.Note on NGT order on Manali Rohtang Tourism

July 13, 2015, 6:52 am
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हिमालय नीति अभियान

गाँव खुंदन, डाक बंजार, जिला कुल्लू , हिमाचल प्रदेश।

 

Note on NGT order on Manali Rohtang Tourism  to  Press for publication and public debate

 

एन जी टी का आदेश कंपनियों के हित में-जबकि स्थानीय वाशिंदे होंगे बंचित

दिनांक:12-7-2015

 

नेशनल ग्रीन ट्रिवूनल (एनजीटी) के 6 जुलाई 2015 के आदेशानुसार अब घोड़ों, वर्फ के स्कूटर, ATV, पेराग्लाइडिंग इत्यादि के चलाने पर भी रोक लगा दी है। इस से पहले मनाली रोहतांग सड़क पर दस बर्ष पुराने व डीजल वाहनों के चलाने पर पाँच मई से रोक लगा दी गई  थी तथा इस सड़क पर दिन में केवल छ: सौ पेट्रोल व चार सौ डीजल के पर्यटन वाहन को चलाने की अनुमति दी थी। 2008 से चल रहे इस केस में कई अलग –अलग आदेशों में एन जी टी ने सोलंग नाला व इस सड़क के अन्य स्थलों पर से सभी खोखों  व ढ़ावों को हटाने तथा लघु पर्यटन से जुड़ी बहुत सी सेवाओं पर भी रोक का फर्मान जारी किया है।  

पर्यावरण संरक्षण के नाम पर लिए गए इन एक तरफा आदेशों में हजारों लोगों की आजीविका की सुरक्षा पर गोर नहीं किया गया व न ही कोई वैकल्पिक रास्ता दिखाया गया। यह भी नहीं बताया गया कि कैसे स्थानीय लोगों की आजीविका बचेगी व कैसे पर्यावरण मित्र पर्यटन का विकास होगा।

कोर्ट के इस कदम से छ: हजार से भी ज्यादा स्थानीय व प्रवासी कामगारों का रोजगार छिन जाएगा। इस क्षेत्र में पर्यटन के विकास में पिछले तीस सालों से भरी बढ़ोतरी हुई है। इस से पहले यहाँ के ग्रामीण गरीबी व अल्प शिक्षा के हालतों में जीवन जीने को मजबूर थे, क्योंकि यह पिछड़ा इलाका 6 माह बर्फ छादित रहता था।  पर्यटन के विकास से लोगों को आजीविका उपार्जन के नए अवसर प्राप्त हुए। स्थानीय लोगों ने चाए व खाने के ढ़ावे खोले, छोटे-छोटे खोखे खोल कर दुकानों चलाई, जिन में कोट, बूट, दस्तकारी का समान व कारयाने का व्यापार शुरू किया, टेक्सी चलना,घोड़े व याक की सवारी, वर्फ के पहाड़ी वाहन, स्थानीय पहनावे की थड़ी, जोरबिंग, ट्रेंपलिंग, स्लेज,फोटोग्राफी, पेराग्लाइडिंग, और स्कीइंग इत्यादि का कम शुरू किया । स्थानीय ग्राम पंचायत बुरुआ,शनाग, पल्चान, वशिष्ठ व मनाली तथा आसपास के हजारों लोग इन करोवरों में पिछले कई वर्षों से संलग्न हैं और इस से वे अपनी आजीविका उपार्जन कर रहे हैं । इन्हीं पर्यटन सहयोगी गतिविधिओं के कारण आज इस इलाके में पर्यटन का भरी विकास हो पाया है। 

इस से पहले के आदेश में एन जी टी ने सरकार को वशिष्ठ से रोहतांग दर्रे तक पी॰पी॰पी/ मॉडल पर रोप वे स्थापित करने व सीएनजी बसें चलाने का सुझाव दिया था और "लोगों को पर्यावरण संरक्षण व टिकाऊ विकास के बारे में समझाने को कहा। यह धारणा कि इस से लोगों के रोजगार प्रभावित होंगे, के लिए लोगों को ठीक से पढ़ाएँ कि टिकाऊ विकास खुशाली लाने के लिए वाध्य है जो उन्हें भविष्य में रोजगार प्रदान कराएगा।" 

 

उक्त आदेशों की पालना करते हुए प्रशासन ने सेंकड़ों ढ़ावों व खोखों इत्यादि को अभी तक हटा दिया है। पाँच मई के बाद पर्यटन वाहनों पर भी प्रतिबंध लगा दिया गया है। ऐसे में आज यहाँ अराजकता का वातावरण बन हुआ है।  

सोलंग नाला में निजी कंपनी रोप वे चला रही है, विद्युत परियोजना व दूसरे निजी बड़ी पूंजी के करोवरी वन भूमि लीज पर लेकर व्यापार कर रहे हैं। क्या इन स्थानीय ग्रामीणों जो छोटा कारोवार पिछले तीस-चालीस वर्षों से कर रहे हैं को भी लीज पर वन भूमि दी जा सकती थी, जो आज तक नहीं दी गई और न ही इस पर कोई बात होती है।

अपुष्ट सूचना यह भी है कि बशिष्ठ-रोहतंग रोप वे की परियोजना PPP मॉडल पर 450 करोड़ रुपया में TATA कंपनी को देने का प्रस्ताव सरकार के पास विचारधीन है। दूसरे बात यह है की 2019 के बाद जब सोलंग – लाहौल सुरंग बन कर तैयार होगी और सेना रोहतंग सड़क के रखरखाव व वर्फ हटाने के काम से हट जाएगी, जिस पर आज सेना का लगभग 70 करोड़ बार्षिक खर्च होता है,उसके बाद इस सड़क का रखरखाव का कार्य कैसे होगा व कौन करेगा? क्या हिमाचल सरकार यह कार्य करने की जिम्मेवारी उठाने को तैयार है या TATA जैसी किसी कंपनी को सड़क ही PPPमॉडल पर यह भी सोंप दी जाएगी?

PPP क्या है- Public Private Partnership, यह आज कल देश में एक व्यापार का माडल विकास के नाम पर चल रहा है, जिस में निजी कंपनी परियोजना में पैसे लगाती है और सरकार उसे जमीन इत्यादि अन्य सुविधाएं मुफ़त में देती है। कारोवार कंपनी का होता है तथा मुनाफा भी कंपनी ही लेती है। 40-50 साल बाद यह परियोजना सरकार को सौंप दी जाती है । इस का सीधा अर्थ होता है सरकारी (जनता) के पैसे व जमीन से निजी व्यापार । आज कल इस तरह की परियोजनाएं सड़कों, जलविद्युत इत्यादि की भी चल रही हैं।

ऐसे में कोर्ट व सरकार के सारे प्रयत्न यही लगते हैं कि फिर से SKI VILLAGE जैसी कोई योजना (पर्दे के पीछे से) चलाई जाए, जिस का मात्र उदेश्य पर्यटन कारोवार से स्थानीय लघु व्यवसायियों को हटना ही लगता है। इस के लिए कोर्ट में तर्क भी दिए गए और कहा गया कि स्थानीय लघु पर्यटन व्यवसायियों के कारण पर्यावरण को इस संवेदनशील इलाके में भारी नुक्सान हो रहा है, ये प्रदूषण फैल रहा है, इन्होंने गंदगी व कचरा फैला दिया, नाजायज कब्जे किए, पर्यटकों की लूट की जा रही है इत्यादि-इत्यादि ।

पिछली बर्ष जब NGT के आदेश आए उसके बाद फरवरी 2015 को हिमालय नीति अभियान के कार्यकर्ताओं ने क्षेत्र का दौरा किया। हमने स्थानीय लघु पर्यटन व्यवसायियों के समूहों, होटलवालों तथा जिला प्रशासन से बात की और उसके बाद एक रिपोर्ट इस पर सार्वजनिक की। इस से पहले बर्ष 2011-12 में हमने EQUATION, Bangluru तथा ENVIRINICS TRUST, दिल्ली के साथ मिल कर, हिमाचल के पर्यटन उद्योग की संभावनाओं, टिकाऊपन तथा ज़िम्मेवार पर्यटन के लक्ष्य को ले कर छ: गोष्ठियों का आयोजन चंबा, मक्लोड्गंज, मनाली, बंजार, रिकोङ्गपीओ व कुफ़री में किया था। इन गोष्ठियों में प्रदेश के पर्यटन से जुड़े अलग- अलग विधाओं के करोवरियों ने भाग लिया था। हिमालय नीती अभियान इस से पहले SKI VILLAGE के खिलाफ चले जन आंदोलन के साथ रही है, इस लिए प्रदेश में पर्यटन उद्योग को  पर्यावरण मित्र, टिकाऊ व ज़िम्मेवार उद्यम बनाने के लक्ष्य से हमने यह पहल की थी।

हमने पाया कि पर्यटन के टिकाऊ नियोजन, कायदे कानून व प्रचार प्रसार की कमी, पर्यावरण व साफ़सुथरा वातावर्ण, गैरकानूनि कृत्य, सरकारी विभागों की भ्रष्ट कार्यप्रणाली पर उचित दिशानिर्देशका भी अभाव है। इसी कारण आज प्रदेश में पर्यटन का कारोवार अराजक तरीके से चल रहा है। इसलिए छोटे स्थानीय करोवरीयों को इस स्थिति के लिए जीमेबार नहीं ठहराया जा सकता है।

हमने पाया कि प्रदेश में आज लगभग छ; लाख से भी ज्यादा लोग इस उद्योग में नौकरी व प्रत्यक्ष/अप्रत्यक्ष रूप से अपनी आजीविका उपार्जन कर रहे हैं। यह भी देखा गया कि प्रदेश के राजस्व में इस उद्योग  की 7% के करीब भागी दरी है।

आज दुनिया में यह उद्योग 25% की दर से वृद्धि कर रहा है। ऐसे में यह उद्योग अभी और भी फले-फूलेगा। इसीलिए कारण कारपोरेट की नजरें इस तरह की परियोजना पर टिक्की हैं और मुनाफे के लिए इस क्षेत्र में निवेश करना चाहते हैं न कि पर्यावरण की चिंता के कारण। इस उद्योग में फ़ैली अराजकता, पर्यावरण का नुक्सान, लूट-घसूट व बुराइयाँ तथा गैरकानूनि गतिविधियां जो सरकारी  संरक्षण व लापरवाही से ही पन्नपी हैं, असल में मात्र बहाना है, जबकि छुपा हुआ मकसद कुछ और ही है। 

चार दिन पहले मेंने एक चर्चा पत्र सरकार, पर्यटन उद्योग से जुड़े जानकारों व मनाली के लघु पर्यटन करोवरियों को जारी किया था। उस में भविष्य में क्या होना चाहिए पर कुछ विंदु उठाए थे।

1         क्योंकि इस उद्योग से कई बुराइयाँ पन्नपी हैं, तो क्या इसे बंद कर दिया जाए?

2         क्या कारपोरेट व बड़ी कंपनी के आने से पर्यावरण का नुक्सान नहीं होगा और अनैतिकता व बुराइयों का खातमा हो जाएगा तथा लूट बंद होगी और पर्यटक को सस्ती सेवा मिलेगी, इसलिए कारपोरेट को कारोवार सँभाला जाए?

3         या फिर कोई और भी विकल्प है, जो टिकाऊ व पर्यावरण मित्र हो, स्थानीय युवाओं को रोजगार व आजीविका का आधार प्रदान कर्ता हो, साथ में बुराइयों व लूट-घसूट पर अंकुश लगा सके।

चर्चा उपरांत हम इस निष्कर्ष पर पहुंचे हैं कि पर्यटन उद्योग बंद नहीं हो सकता बल्कि भविष्य में और ज्यादा फैलेगा। कारपोरेट व कंपनी स्वच्छ व पर्यावरण मित्र पर्यटन का विकास एक भ्रम है जिस कि मिसाल केरल व दूसरे स्थानों पर देखि जा सकती है कि किस तरह ये पर्यटन के बड़े व्यापारी पर्यावरण को नुक्सान पहुंचा रहे हैं। स्थानीय युवाओं को रोजगार नहीं देते, जिस के कई बहाने होते हैं जैसे स्किलल इत्यादि। छोटी मोती बेटर इत्यादि की नौकरी जरूर मिल सकती हे,परंतु उस मे भी स्थानीय कर्मी ज्यादा नहीं लिए जाते हैं, क्योंकि उन का यूनियन बनाने का खतरा होता है। जबकि प्रबंधन में कभी भी स्थानीय लोग नहीं लिए जाते हैं, यह देश भर में इन कंपनियों के बारे में सर्वविदित अनुभव है। सस्ती सेवा तो इन कि हो ही नही सकती हे। सोलांग नाला में बने रोप वे व उस के रेस्टोरेन्ट का बिल जरूर देखें, आप को रेट मालूम हो जाएंगे।

आज प्रदेश में दस लाख से ऊपर वेरोजगारों की  फौज रोजगार की तलाश में है, यह उद्योग एक संभावना है, जिस में इन्हें रोजगार मिल सकता है। पर्यावरण संरक्षण, प्रदूषण नियंत्रण व वनों का विकास कभी भी स्थानीय जन भागीदारी के बिना संभव नहीं हो सकता है। हमारी सरकार,नीतिनिर्धारक व राजनेता इस तरफ सोचना चाहिए।  ऐसे में एक ही रास्ता है की सरकार जन भागीदारी से इस समस्या का समाधान निकालें तथा उझी क्षेत्र के स्थानीय लोगों, होटल व लघु पर्यटन सेवाओं से जुड़े करोवरीयों से मिल कर कोई रास्ता प्रदेश व स्थानीय लोगों के हित में निकले जो पर्यावरण मित्र हो तथा स्थानीय लोगों को रोजगार व आजीविका प्रदान करे। हमारा निम्न सुझाव है ;-

1         उझी क्षेत्र के स्थानीय लोगों, होटल व लघु पर्यटन सेवाओं से जुड़े करोवरीयों को एक मंच से एक राय के साथ अपना मत टिकाऊ, पर्यावरण मित्र, रोजगार मूलक,लोक मित्र व जिम्मेवार पर्यटन पर रखना चाहिए।

2         सरकार को इस मुड़े पर जनता के साथ चर्चा में बैठना चाहिए और जो लोग मिल कर तय करें उस पर अमल करके एनजीटी के समक्ष अपना पक्ष रखना चाहिए। और भी कानूनी रास्ते मिल कर तलाशे जा सकते हैं।

3         मनाली रोहतंग पर एक पूरी परियोजना का प्रकल्प तैयार कर्ण चाहिए, जिस में क्या-क्या पर्यटन से संबन्धित गतिविधियां संचालित की जाएंगी का उलेख हो तथा पर्यावरण संरक्षण व रोजगार की संभावनाओं को इंगित करना होगा। उन्हें कैसे संचालित किया जाएगा का पूरा हवाला देना होगा, जिस में पर्यावरण सरक्षण,स्वछता, कचरा प्रबंधन, पार्कींग, काम से काम छ: स्थानों पर शॉपिंग व खाद्य तथा मनोरंजन के स्थानों का निर्धारण व उसकी प्रबंध योजना का प्रारूप पेश करना होगा। इस का प्रबंधन कौन करेगा, नियम कायदे भी बनाने होंगे जिस का लागू करने का जिम्मा किस का होगा भी दिखाना पड़ेगा।  

4         प्रदेश सरकार को भी अपनी पर्यटन नीति बनानी होगी जो टिकाऊ, पर्यावरण मित्र, रोजगार मूलक, लोक मित्र व जिम्मेवार पर्यटन जैसे पहलुओं पर आधारित हो।

में अगले कल 13 जुलाई को मनाली में स्थानीय लोगों से चर्चा करने के लिए इस मसले पर आऊंगा। इस संदर्भ में जिलाधीश कुल्लू से मेरी बात आज सुबह हुई थी, वह भी शायद 14 जुलाई को स्थानीय लोगों से बात करेंगे।

 

 

गुमान सिंह

राष्ट्रीय संयोजक – हिमालय नीति अभियान

National Coordinator, Himalaya Niti Abhiyan

Village Khundan PO. Banjar, Kullu HP.

Mail: gumanhna@gmail.com, Ph. 9418277220

 

 

 

 

 

NGT Order ON Manali Rohtang Tourism

 

Document for debate on 9th July 2015 for Internal circulation

Dear all,

 

Principal Bench of National Green Tribunal in CWPIL No. 15 of 2010 in the matter of Court on its Motion V/S state of Himachal Pradesh & others order on dated 20 and 21 January, 2015 in original application No.237 (Tac) of 2013, to stop ply vehicles from Manali to Rohtang which are 15 years old from coming tourism season later on 10 year old vehicles were banned.. Secondly the NGT ordered to "immediately demolish all Khokas and Dhabas unauthorised and illegally being carried on. NGT has also ordered to start a Rope Way project from Vashist to Rohtang on PPP mode and ply CNG busses only. This court has issued many other orders later on such as no diesel vehicle be allowed and then 600 petrol 400 diesel vehicles be allowed to Rohtang. 

NGT has passed latest order on 6-7-2015 in matter of Manali –Rohtan tourism operation in which court is intending to stop/regulate all activities related to tourism and has been justified by the report of a environment Scientist.  This is not first time, it happened last year when team of experts/court officers visited the site and after the submission of their  report  NGT ordered to demolish Khokha /Dhawa, suggested to plying CNG buses, stop 10 year old vehicle and proposal for rope-way on PPP basis etc. was  pronounced by the same court in the interest of environment protection and suggested that people shall taught regarding the sustainable development ; which will provide employment and livelihood  later on.   

 

At that time I visited the site and met local people who were involved in small tourism related activities such as Dhawa/Khokha operators,  Coat boot shop owners,  taxi operators, snow scooters, ATVs, horse riding, paragliders, snow biking, tyre tube gaming owners etc and district administration too.

 

After that, I sent a report to all concerned such local effected community, media, state government and general public. I found that livelihood of more than 6000 persons is at stake directly (see t report). Nobody took this issue seriously, rather the matter was politicized and both major political parties (ruling and opposition) played with the sentiment of affected.  Government official as usual were unconcerned and are still relaxed and has not taken any proactive initiative to resume the matter in the interest of local host community, tourism industry as well as environmental concerns.

 

So called issue of cheating by these small tourism operators remained main hidden mind set of all authorities/regulators due to which they were not interested to find prompt solution. Actually, this had been the negligence in connivance of local administration, tourism department and other regulators since long at Manali, hence failed to check and regulate tourism business fairly.  I also found some instances of cheating but it has emerged systematically in connivance of whole system in place for which these are not exclusively responsible.

 

Interest of big business houses and it reflection on regulators seems major reason. I am a witness of Sky Village project of Ford worth Rs. 6500 crord and was associated with the local people of the region those who were opposing this project four year back. Now new investors have their eyes on this lucrative business at this site. These investors have capacity to influence system. At present an investor is running rope-way with restaurant on leased land of forest at Solang Nala and may interested to expand his business or may be some other party behind this systematic campaign against local small operators.       

 

Issue of environment protection and so call eco sensitive region is a least priority in this case but it can be good and convincing factor to pave smooth path for big investors.

 

 We  as Himalaya Niti Abhiyan are saying since long that unscientific and unregulated constructions in hilly areas, unplanned urbanisation producing just shit and dumping it into rivers, Hydro projects and power transmission lines even near glacier, cement plants and mining for them,  four line roads,  hazardous chemical industry in peripheral region of the state, over burdened population inflow in Himalaya for so called leisure and searching peace,   plying huge number of vehicle for luxuries by rich, heavy army installation across the Himalaya by all bordering  countries are main reasons for environmental crisis, deforestation,  glacier depletion, pollution, erratic weather and disasters in this Himalayan region, which are actually responsible for  contributing to climate change and carbon imitation.

 

Sorry, no one is interested to speak and stand with truth even courts today. Let's search which court has stop and took notice by its own motion against Hydro projects and power transmission lines, hazardous industries, Sky village, SEZ, cement plants and even thermal plant of JP at Nalagarh; which were really climate criminal proposals. There is no evidence available where court on its own motion took justified notice but my experience is that people resisted of their own and compelled government and judiciary to stall some of these disastrous projects in Himachal. 

 

On This recent issue of Manali Rohtang tourism operation we had been suggesting on simple prospects; first is Himachal Pradesh needs employment for its more than ten lekh unemployed youth and tourism is a sector; which can absorb and generate employment and huge number of livelihoods opportunities.  Himalaya Niti Abhiyan and Equation(Bangloru) organised six communities gathering on the issue of tourism in 2011-12 in which people from tourism industries particularly Hoteliers, home stay and guest house owners, Taxi operators, rafter, pony owners, small dhawa and shop owners and others related participated. These meeting were conducted at Chamba, Meclodganj, Manali, Kufari, Recongpio and Banjar. We found that more than six lekh people are involved in tourism and related businesses in Himachal. Tourism industry is contributing about 7% to states revenue receipt today.

 

We were informed by the participants and on the bases we found many irregularities such as poor planning and promotion of the business, poor regulations and guidelines, poor security measures for tourists, unhygienic service, missing garbage disposal regulations in practice, corruption by government agencies such as Tax department, tourism department, police, and others on government side.  On the other hand found that cheating of customers by  operators, poor garbage disposals and filth at all sites, unprofessional, unhealthy and violent behaviours, poor infrastructure and risky constructions at many places and encroachments over forest and government land, illegal activities such as prostitution, drug addiction, exploitation of migrant labour particularly child labour.

 

Reply These-

 

1.        These are flip side of this business, so shall we stop this business?

 

2.        Is there an alternate to it, which will be based on equity, protecting the interest of host community, socially and culturally responsibility, sustainability and environment friendly?

 

3.        Shall this business be handed over to big investors and mega tourism operators?

 

 

I am proposing debate on the matter and also suggest a meeting of all concerned i.e. government, local tourism operators of Manali and experts on the matter so that we could come to some solution.

 

Tourism industry is going to increase in future; hence there is no question and possibility to stop it; but we have to search solution which really can be safe, responsible, non exploitive and sustainable in its practice.

 

Guman Singh

 

 

 

 

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Peoples Movement – Ripples of Hope

July 13, 2015, 6:56 am
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Peoples Movement – Ripples of Hope

By Special ArrangementA demonstration by the Save Vellar Movement near Vriddachalam in Cuddalore district.

SLOWLY but steadily, local communities in Tamil Nadu which have so far been mute witnesses to the plunder of sand from the rivers have started raising the banner of revolt in order to protect the vital natural resource. From a few pockets where local youths raised their voice against quarries in their localities, the protests are turning into a "people's movement".

For instance, the Save VellarMovement, which was formed by people living on the banks of the Vellar river in Vriddachalam block in Cuddalore district and which functions in close coordination with the Human Rights Protection Centre (HRPC), Vriddachalam, and theCuddalore and Vriddachalam units of the Makkal Kalai Ilakkiya Kazhagam (MKIK), has forced the district administration to suspend mining in the river. The State-level Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) had, in its order dated January 9, 2014, allowed the manual quarrying of 1,91,000 cubic metres of sand. However, the sand cartel is exploring all avenues to reopen the quarry. "People are being enticed with money to refrain from opposing the reopening. There are attempts to divide them on caste lines. But they are united," said C. Raju, a lawyer-activist of the HRPC who has been mobilising people in the area against the sand mafia.

Confronting the sand mafia is not easy. The lifting and loading contractors in many quarries have employed as "managers" men mainly from the southern districts, including Theni and Pudukottai, to supervise the quarrying works and pay the labourers their wages. "These men have emerged so powerful that they virtually run the quarries at many places 'replacing unofficially' the PWD [Public Works Department] officials who are supposed to monitor the extent of the sand quarried. The state has only a token presence here," said Raju.

Subramani, 65, of Aankudi, a farmer, said that the water table in nearly 20 villages on either bank of the river had fallen abysmally. "We used to grow two crops of paddy and one of sugarcane. Now agriculture has been badly hit; even farm work is not available," he said.

Panchamoorthy, another farmer, said that all caste groups, Dalit, Vanniyar, Reddiar and Pillai, own tiny parcels of land and that "many of them have had to abandon agriculture and migrate to Chennai for sundry works".

The miners, however, donate liberally for renovating temples, conducting annual festivals, building community halls and school buildings, laying roads and sinking borewells so that the people do not complain about their illicit activities. In many village panchayats, residents have been given flat screen colour television sets, streetlights have been installed, and burial grounds have been given a facelift. "In some places even medical camps were organised," said Raju.

They give interest-free loans to buy lorries, motorcycles and even earth movers. "These vehicles are used in quarries and the money earned is adjusted against the cost of the vehicles," said another activist.

"I was given Rs.15 lakh to buy a lorry. Now I am transporting sand for the lessee," said Murugan, a farmer in a village near Thottiyam inTiruchi district where a quarry is located on the Cauvery riverbed. He has stopped farming on his small parcel of land that once grew sugarcane and paddy.

"They lift excess sand ensuring free flow of water in the river. Besides they donate liberally to villages. They renovated our village temple," said Kumar, another resident.

A prolonged agitation led by Raju and his team of activists ensured the closure of a 15-year-old quarry in the Vellar river at Mudikandanallur in Kattumannarkudi block although criminal cases were registered against them.

To condemn the police action against the activists and to express their solidarity with the struggle of the residents of the village, lawyers ofVridachalam and Chidambaram boycotted court proceedings for a day in January 2015. Ironically, the huge money that the mafia makes from quarrying helps it to infiltrate the close-knit ranks of village communities. Miners today have usurped the economy of many a village on the banks of several rivers. That miners have taken control of many river-side habitations was evident at a hamlet near Amoor village in Karur district where a major quarry has been functioning for nearly four years.

A woman in her forties who was tending to vegetables on a small piece of land near the quarry reacted violently when this correspondent asked her how the quarrying had affected her livelihood. Such an outburst did not surprise many of those who were fighting against the sand mafia. "We have participated in various struggles against the sand mafia for long in Tiruchi and nearby districts. We mobilised local communities. But only a few of our interventions have paid dividends. The mafia has been able to indoctrinate the people by purchasing them," said Sivan Suriyan,Communist Party of India leader of Tiruchi district.

Not all are falling into the money trap, though. The residents of Kalathur near Vellore have opposed miners from lifting sand from thePalar river. The Palar "Paadhukavalargal", or the Palar Protectors' Coordination Committee, has urged the State government to close down all sand quarries, including the ones at Thottalam, that are functioning despite a Central government's order to stop quarrying.

Ilangovan Rajasekaran

http://www.frontline.in/cover-story/ripples-of-hope/article7391591.ece


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Praful Bidwai – Organic intellectual #Obituary

July 13, 2015, 6:58 am
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Praful Bidwai – Organic intellectual #Obituary

BY N. D. JAYAPRAKASH

Rajeev BhattPraful Bidwai.
. Activist, humanist, pacifist, journalist, columnist, uncompromising secularist, Praful Bidwai (1949-2015) was passionate about his quest for justice and equality. By N.D. JAYAPRAKASH

Praful Bidwai was born in the town of Dewas in Madhya Pradesh. His parents, who had hailed from Amravati in the Vidharba region of Maharashtra, settled down in Nagpur. Praful had two younger sisters. His father was Head of the Department and Professor of Geography at the Government College, Nagpur. After completing his schooling, Praful pursued his Pre-University Course at the Science College, Nagpur. Since he emerged as one of the top-ranking students there, he succeeded in securing admission to the electrical engineering course at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay in 1966.

According to Suhas Paranjape, who was Praful's room-mate at that time, it was during his sojourn at IIT that he was radicalised through his interactions with a progressive group on the campus (with Kumar Ketkar, Sudhir Bedekar, Suhas Paranjape and others as members).

Javed Anand, who was Praful's course mate and who too became a journalist later on, says he is indebted to Praful for prodding him to join the progressive group. Suresh Khairnar, one of Praful's friends in Nagpur, recalls that Praful considered Kumar Ketkar (currently Chief Editor of Dainik Divya Marathi), who was then working in the Computer Science & Engineering Department at IIT Bombay, as one of his earliest mentors.

It is interesting to note that this progressive group in IIT Bombay was formed under the influence of the institution's alumni who had emigrated to the United States and Europe and who in turn were influenced by the radical movements that were emerging in those regions, especially in the late 1960s. The impact of the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. and the movements initiated by the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) in the U.S. and by their counterparts in Britain, France, Germany and elsewhere in Europe was felt in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Students across the world sought not only educational reforms but also raised their voices against all kinds of injustices and inequality in society. They opposed all forms of colonialism and imperialism; they felt outraged by the continuance of Apartheid, Zionism and the U.S. war in Vietnam; they called for the elimination of nuclear weapons and drastic reduction in all other types of weapons and weapon systems. They also supported the adoption of confidence-building measures between peoples and nations and the bridging of the gap between developed and developing nations on the one hand, and between the poor and the rich on the other.

The happenings in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere were extensively covered in the Indian print media as well as foreign publications available in India, which were the major sources of information then.

Radical political activist

In India, inequality was so stark and the plight of marginalised sections —particularly Dalits and Adivasis —was so pathetic that any person who was aware of this reality would have been deeply distraught by all that was happening around him or her. Praful was so overwhelmed by his new-found awareness that he initially began working with trade unions and Dalit youth in the slums of what was then Bombay. Subsequently, in 1969, in the third year of his five-year course at IIT, he decided to discontinue his studies to become a full-time radical political activist and devote his energies to the cause of the people.

He joined the Shahada movement in Dhule district of Maharashtra to defend the rights of Adivasis against the oppressive practices of the non-tribal people. Later, this movement breached tribal and caste boundaries and evolved into a peasant movement. Along with activists like Kumar Shiralkar (who later emerged as one of the foremost leaders of the peasant and agricultural workers movement in Maharashtra), Praful became a part of the Shramik Sanghatana.

His sister Meera recalls that his parents were aghast at his reckless decision to discontinue studies. As a reaction to his parents' admonition, Praful practically severed all ties with his family for a fairly long period. However, his mother's illness led to a reconciliation with the family and he maintained steady contact with the family thereafter. By not being constrained by family responsibilities, he was able to devote his time to activities of his choice. He was also a connoisseur of music, especially of Hindustani classical music.

After a couple of years with the Shramik Sanghatana, Praful was forced to move back to Bombay reportedly due to indifferent health. In May 1972, he, along with Sudhir Bedekar, Suhas Paranjape, Anand Phadke and others, established Magowa (Search), a progressive group in the quest for building a new society, in Bombay. The group attracted scientists, engineers, doctors, social scientists and other professionals from leading institutions in the city such as the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), IIT, and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), and from similar institutions in Pune and elsewhere in Maharashtra. Although the proclamation of Emergency in 1975 curtailed the group's activities, with only some 12 full-time campaigners, Magowa managed to remain active until around 1978.

As a journalist

Meanwhile, Praful gradually moved away from Magowa and started spending more time with the Workers Democratic Union. He also began contributing articles to the Economic & Political Weekly (EPW). After a brief stint as a proofreader with the Oxford University Press (OUP), Praful joined Business India in 1978 as a journalist. He shifted to The Times of India around 1981. (One of his closest friends at The Times of India was Achin Vanaik.) Praful remained with The Times of India until about 1993, when he opted to become a freelancer. His articles were published regularly in several newspapers and magazines in India and abroad. It may be noted that Praful unfailingly contributed to Frontline for over 12 years. Speaking at a condolence meeting held in Thiruvananthapuram to pay homage to Praful, veteran journalist B.R.P. Bhasker said:

"Unlike the journos of the present times, he used to write an article only after deep study and research. He managed to gain an independent space of his own for expressing his political views. He was a person who refined the raw material called information."

Such was his standing in his profession. Some of the causes that he tried to highlight through his writings include the following.

Bhopal Disaster

Praful covered the Bhopal gas leak disaster of December 2-3, 1984 extensively in the columns of The Times of India after taking due care to study the impact of the disaster and analyse the causes that led to it. He also kept track of the court proceedings in the case and was highly critical of the unjust Bhopal settlement, which took place on February 14-15, 1989. He continued to express his support to the cause of the Bhopal gas victims in several ways.

Narmada Bachao Andolan

As a person who was sensitive about the ecological and social impact of reckless development, Praful was sympathetic to the cause upheld by the Narmada Bachao Andolan. In an article titled "Fighting the New Green War: Medha Patkar's contribution" (December 7, 2014), he wrote: "NBA was set up in 1985 to oppose the displacement of lakhs of people by the Sardar Sarovar project and other giant dams on the river Narmada, and demand their just rehabilitation. The agitation, relentless but always peaceful, highlighted the projects' ecological, social and economic irrationality and horrendous human costs, and led to the World Bank pulling out of the Sardar Sarovar project, and the creation of an independent complaints mechanism in the Bank—a major gain for the global ecology movement."

Non-Aligned Movement

Praful supported the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in earnest as is evident from an article he wrote opposing the views expressed in 2010 by a Union Minister of State. It was his considered opinion that:

"Non-alignment, along with the other pillars of the Nehruvian consensus—democracy, secularism and self-reliant equitable development—retains much of its relevance. Today's world is even more conflict-ridden and unequal than in 1950, with income differentials of 90:1. If India is to do any good to the world, it must promote global equality, justice and peace, and speak for the poor and underprivileged— and not ape the West." ("India's non-aligned policy", January 18, 2010, The News, Pakistan.)

Message from Palestine

Praful was a staunch opponent of Zionism and an unwavering supporter of the cause of the Palestinian people, who have been striving for the last seven decades to free their land from Zionist occupation and who are intent on creating an independent state of Palestine. His contribution to that cause through his numerous writings was so significant that the Palestinian Embassy in New Delhi issued a condolence message. The message reads as follows:

"Deepest condolences from the Embassy of the State of Palestine and its people. Mr Bidwai's support towards the cause of Palestine will always be etched in our heart. An upright man, an uncompromising journalist and a public intellectual with a conscience, Mr Bidwai's departure will be sorely missed."

Praful's writings covered several other areas. He was shocked and dismayed by the wanton destruction of the Babri Masjid. He condemned communal riots in no uncertain terms and demanded that the guilty be brought to book. He expressed his strong opposition to the attempts at communalisation of education. He was an uncompromising secularist and was opposed to any type of discrimination on religious grounds.

Nuclear disarmament

Praful supported nuclear disarmament. In fact, he was a proponent of unilateral nuclear disarmament, a position many of us could not agree with. Similarly, he was a proponent of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as well as the so-called Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (NWFZ)—again positions that many of us deeply disagreed with. Despite these differences, what was germane to our understanding of the issues was the united and firm opposition to the threat or use of nuclear weapons in any manner and …our demand for global nuclear disarmament. Praful was one of those (along with Admiral Ramdas, Lalita Ramdas, N. Ram, Achin Vanaik, Prabir Purkayasta, D. Raghunandan, T. Jayaraman, Vivek Monteiro and others) who took the initiative to form the Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP) in 2000 in response to the nuclear weapons test conducted by India and Pakistan in 1998.

Similarly, while all of us were strongly opposed to the unbridled expansion of the nuclear power industry in violation of safety norms, Praful was opposed to the production of nuclear energy in any manner. He was equally concerned about the impact of climate change and about the manipulative tactics adopted by Western powers to hoodwink the developing world by exerting pressure to sign discriminatory treaties.

As a humanist, Praful was passionate about the concerns of the people of his homeland; as a pacifist he was an internationalist to the core. In the sudden and untimely demise of Praful, the world's democratic, secular and progressive movements—especially those in India and Pakistan—have lost one of their most ardent campaigners. His friends in Pakistan—Pervez Hoodbhoy, A.H. Nayyar, Karamat Ali, Beena Sarwar and others—are deeply distraught at his passing away. Praful was a Fellow at the Transnational Institute in Amsterdam. It was during his visit to the city to attend a conference at the TNI that he died under tragic circumstances.

The younger generations have a lot to learn from his writings, which have covered a wide range of topics. Of course, one need not necessarily agree with all that he said and wrote at face value; the spirit, intent and intensity with which he expressed them is what matters. The most enduring tribute to Praful would be continuing to uphold the causes and concerns that were dear to him.

N.D. Jayaprakash is National Coordinating Committee Member, Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace.

http://www.frontline.in/other/obituary/organic-intellectual/article7395147.ece

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Modi government’s hounding of Teesta Setalvad is a message to all dissidents

July 13, 2015, 7:01 am
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Modi government's hounding of Teesta Setalvad is a message to all dissidents

The numerous cases foisted on her have little substance but are intended to paralyse work to seek justice for the victims of the Gujaratriots.
Modi government's hounding of Teesta Setalvad is a message to all dissidents

Photo Credit: Jaffar Theekkathir / Wikimedia Commons
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Incredible as it might sound, the government of India is so irritated with the activities of one woman that it is finding all kinds of ways to catch her and lock her up.  The woman who continues to be a thorn in the flesh of the Modi government is Teesta Setalvad. The reason the government thinks she should be locked up is because this tenacious woman refuses to allow India, or the world, to forget what happened in Gujarat in 2002.

It's another story that the multiple cases being foisted on her have little substance.  What one needs to realise is that together they are part of a plan to paralyse her ability to work and eventually to find a way to take her into custody.

The latest in the long list of inquiries and cases against Teesta Setalvad, her husband Javed Anand, and the organisations they established and run – Sabrang Communications, Sabrang Trust and Citizens for Justice and Peace – are so numerous and complex that one would need hundreds of pages just to run through the bare description.

The earliest cases date back to 2006. The latest was just last week when newspapers reported that the Central Bureau of Investigationhad filed an FIR against Setalvad under Sections 120b read with Sections 35, 37 of IPC and Section 3, 11 and 19 of the FCRA Act of 2010 (criminal conspiracy and receiving funds illegally).  Setalvad has not received any notice but only heard about it from the media.

So how does one make sense of these cases that began almost a decade back but have accelerated in the past year?

Work began in 1993

Setalvad and Anand did not begin their work on communalism after the 2002 Gujarat violence, as is sometimes assumed. In fact, they set up Sabrang Communications in 1993 and began publishing the journal Communalism Combat.  After two public-spirited individuals, Jyoti Punwani and Vijendra, printed 500 copies of the Justice Srikrishna Commission Report into the Mumbai communal riots of 1992-'93, Sabrang also published it.  This was at a time when the state government would not make it available to the public.

Copies of the report were sold outside Bombay High Court and at all possible venues for as little as Rs 60. It was the only way people in the city read in detail about the culpability of the police, the Shiv Sena and the Congress state government in what happened during the weeks of violence that permanently scarred a city once considered liberal and cosmopolitan.

Between 1993 and 2002, during which period Setalvad and Anand also set up the Sabrang Trust in 1995, they were never questioned for their activities. On the contrary, they won several awards for their work. The trouble began after they established Citizens for Justice and Peace in 2002 and actively pursued  the courts cases against the perpetrators of the Gujarat violence.

This work meant collecting testimonies, providing witnesses with protection, getting on board lawyers who could formulate the arguments and ensuring that a couple of cases were moved out of Gujarat because the Supreme Court accused the state government of judicial failure.  That this effort resulted in 120 or so convictions in the different cases is a testimony to this work. The record of convictions in communal violence cases in India is so abysmal that it would not be an exaggeration to state only this type of civil society intervention could make convictions possible.

From Gujarat to Delhi

The one case that cut too close to the bone for the Gujarat government, then headed by Narendra Modi, is that of the widow of the Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, who was killed by a mob during the riots. Aided by Citizens for Jusice and Peace, Zakia Jafri filed a criminal complaint for criminal and administrative culpability against top politicians and policemen, including Narendra Modi. This is separate from the Gulberg trial on the killing of Ehsan Jafri and 68 others.  That trial is still ongoing and is under appeal in the Gujarat High Court.

Jafri had questioned the report of the special investigations team set up by the Supreme Court to look into the charges about criminal conspiracy in the Gulberg Case.  The report is popularly believed to have given a "clean chit" to Modi.  In fact, it merely stated that there was not enough evidence to prove his involvement.

Although Jafri's initial protest petition was rejected on December 26, 2013, in the magistrate's court, she has not given up and is still pursuing the case. Eight days after this, an FIR was filed against Setalvad and four others, including Jafri's son, for embezzlement of funds. This was followed by all the organisation's accounts and Setalvad's personal accounts being frozen. Despite this, Jafri and Setalvad managed to file a criminal revision to the protest petition by March 15, 2014.  This is the case that will now be heard on July 27 before the magistrate's court in Ahmedabad.

What we need to recognise is that while between 2006 and last year, the cases filed against Setalvad and her colleagues were mostly initiated by the Gujarat Crime Branch, since the Modi government was formed at the Centre, they are now coming from agencies in Delhi.

For instance, in response to a letter sent by the Gujarat Crime Branch to the Ministry of Home Affairs in Delhi in March 2015, raising questions about Setalvad's organisations receiving funds from Ford Foundation, the ministry sent notices to them about violating provisions of the Foreign Contributions Regulations Act. Ford Foundation also faced the heat and is now required to get clearance before releasing funds to any non-governmental organisation.

Squeeze from all sides

There were a series of inspections of the accounts of Sabrang and Citizens for Justice and Peace. These organisations have sent in over 25,000 pages of documentation answering every query about funding.  Despite this, the CBI has reportedly filed an FIR against Setalvad.  Why, when the charge is being investigated, and the people charged are cooperating and answering all questions?

What this means, once you wade through the mountain of legalese, is that the government has a single objective: to find a way to get Setalvad into their custody.  By filing FIRs and sending out warrants for her arrest, the government has ensured that a large part of her time, at least three or four days a week, is now spent running from one court to another to get anticipatory bail. These applications can only be made before the Gujarat High Court or the Supreme Court. Setalvad lives and works out of Mumbai.

The other part of her time is spent dealing with the multiple inspections into the accounts of the three organisations and preparing the required documents. What time is left is then devoted to cases such as Ehsan Jafri's and the Naroda Patiya case, in which a minister in Modi's cabinet in Gujarat, Maya Kodnani, was convicted and sent to jail. Although Kodnani has managed to get bail, Setalvad and her group are fighting hard to ensure that she does not get acquitted.

In sum, the government's strategy is to squeeze organisations like Setalvad's from all sides until they give up. On the surface, it would appear that the government is cracking down on all non-governmental organisations receiving foreign funds.  In fact, it is carefully picking the ones that it wants to shut down. Teesta Setalvad's organisations are on top of that list.

Crushing dissent

This attack on Setalvad has also to be placed against what is happening in the country since the Modi government took office. We have not seen a major communal conflagration like Gujarat 2002.  But there is a steady stream of incidents of communal violence in various parts of the country.  It is more than evident that minorities are being targeted in direct and indirect ways (the beef ban, questioning education in madrasas, attacks on churches, ghar wapasi etc).  Modi has remained silent on all this, including the inflammatory statements made by ministers in his cabinet.  Against this reality, the effort put in by Setalvad's team to keep alive Gujarat 2002 in our collective memories, and to get justice for the victims of that period of violence, is relevant.

On the other side, while people like Setalvad are being hounded for pursuing these cases of violence, we are watching the disintegration of the cases against Hindutva extremists in the Ajmer bomb blast case of 2007, where witnesses are turning hostile, and the Modasa case the next year, which has been closed for lack of evidence. In Maharashtra, special prosecutor Rohini Salian went public about the National Investigation Agency asking her to "go soft" on the Malegaon bomb blast case of 2008, in which Hindutva extremists have been implicated. All this has happened in the last one year.

The message is loud and clear.  If you come in the way of this government, you will be hounded till you give up. If you are on their side, even if you are guilty, you have a good chance of getting a reprieve.

So the issue is not just whether the Modi government will succeed in catching Teesta Setalvad and detaining her, but also whether there is any hope for dissent and justice when the state uses its power to crush those who question it.

http://scroll.in/article/740762/modi-governments-hounding-of-teesta-setalvad-is-a-message-to-all-dissidents

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Warning notes from Marathwada: how water wars can consume India

July 13, 2015, 7:03 am
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Warning notes from Marathwada: how water wars can consume India



Warning notes from Marathwada: how water wars can consume India

PARTH MN

|13 July 2015

Warning notes from Marathwada: how water wars can consume India ITU CHAUDHURI DESIGN/CATCH NEWS

WATER WARS

Warning bell

  • Marathwada is facing an acute water crisis. Its wells are running dry even 400 feet deep
  • The per capita surface water available is just 438 cubic metres. The ideal is 1,700 cubic meters
  • Deep aquifers in the ground take a 1,000 years to fill. Panicked villagers are emptying them out
  • The government has had to deploy 1,400 tankers to supply drinking water to the area

The parable

  • Farmer Ejaz Khan's 400-foot well is useful for only half an hour a day in the monsoon. Rest of the year, it's a dry pit
  • Khan has dug four borewells in the past few years, each costing around Rs 35,000
  • They have yielded little: it takes him two hours to fill one 250 litre drum from it

Underlying issues

  • Most rivers originate from the drought-hit region itself
  • The Godavari is the only lifeline, but it has been dammed upstream
  • Jayakwadi dam is drained by steel and beer industries
  • Jalna alone houses over 30 steel industries: each guzzles 1 lakh litres of water every day
  • Aurangabad, the beer capital of India, devours 6 crore litres of water daily
  • Urbanisation, sugarcane factories are hampering ground water recharge

Possible solutions

  • A water-sharing pact to release more water to Jayakwadi dam
  • Not allowing any more dams on the Godavari upstream
  • Limiting the water usage of factories and digging of deep borewells

The intense water crisis in parts of Maharashtra is not someone else's problem. It is a warning note for India. The apocalyptic idea of water wars is barely one turn away.

As the monsoon beats down on the country, it seems hard to heed warnings about water crises, droughts, desertification and emergency water trains being despatched to despairing citizens.

But water management in many parts of India is so poor, the monsoon is only an illusion: it is not effectively recharging groundwater.

Vidharbha has become a short code for despair in India. This story from Marathwada is a reminder why this is not an isolated story.

One man's story: parable for the country

Farmer Ejaz Khan's borewell dried up eight months ago. In mid-June, when pre-monsoon rain showered his Nagzari village in Jalna district, he hastened out of his tin-roofed house to bail out the collected water from his 400-foot-deep borewell before it was soaked up. He managed just a bucketful.

It wasn't much for his family of five, but it brought hope: the monsoon was on its way to fill up his well. It would be in use for the next four months, if only for half an hour a day, and Khan would be able to irrigate his 3-acre farmland, the sole means of subsistence.

"This is the way it has been for the last few years," says Khan, "useful for half an hour a day during the monsoon and absolutely useless for the remaining eight months."

Khan has dug four borewells in the past few years, each costing around Rs 35,000. "I did not know how else to overcome the paucity of water," he explains.

The investment hasn't yielded much.

Khan has dug four borewells in the past few years, each costing around Rs 35,000. He still does not have access to water

Even the little water the borewells have isn't fit for consumption, Khan says, as he flings a pail into the well that he shares with fellow villagers. He lifts out a bucketful of brownish water with an odd worm squirming in it.

"This is what we have been consuming," he says, emptying the bucket into a 250-litre drum. It takes him nearly two hours to fill one drum up. He has two.

"This is my family's quota for the next week," says Khan, who has a wife and three sons. "Whether we are bathing, cleaning or cooking, we have have one eye on the backyard where the drums are."

To tide over the crisis, the state has deployed over over 1,400 tankers to supply drinking water to the region, which comprises the four districts of Aurangabad, Jalna, Beed and Parabhani.

This is only a short-term bandaid though, and it solves only the problem of drinking water. Not irrigation.

Even the monsoons only bring a brief respite, not a solution. The land will go back to being parched.

Disaster in the making

So much so, in fact, that experts warn the region could be headed towards desertification. "Marathwada's water management and governance is so poor, it appears an environmental disaster is in the making," says Pradeep Purandare, a former expert member of the Marathwada Statutory Development Board.

The per capita availability of surface water in Marathwada is 438 cubic metres, as against 1,700 cubic metres deemed ideal by hydrologists, and, with the population increasing, it's only going down.

Most of Marathwada's rivers originate in the drought-prone region itself, so the riverbeds are dried up almost all the time. Its only lifeline, thus, is the Godavari, which fills up the Jayakwadi dam, on which are dependent most of region's 305 villages, industries and irrigation projects.

But even this lifeline has been choked with dams coming up in Jayakwadi's catchment area in Nasik and Nagar.

As a result, almost all the water in Jayakwadi in the past few years has been consumed by industries and for drinking, leaving virtually nothing for irrigation. Jalna alone houses over 30 steel industries on its periphery, each guzzling one lakh litres of water every day.

Given its poor water management and governance, experts say Marathwada could be headed towards desertification

Aurangabad, the beer capital of India, devours six crore litres of water daily to keep the beer flowing. The district had long ago caught the eye of the global brewer Fosters, which realised the region's silted water was conducive for making beer and erected a factory; others soon followed.

Ill-conceived rescue plan

In the past few years, the state has come up with several projects to mitigate Marathwada's crisis, but they are either languishing or, like Jayakwadi, being choking by upstream dams.

Governments across the board are loath to mandate comprehensive assessment impacts for development projects. The situation in Marathwada is a textbook example of what happens when this is not done.

The Krishna Bhima Stabilisation Project was envisioned to divert excess water from Kolhapur to Ujjani and Marathwada. But it has been derailed, to the harm of Osmanabad and Beed.

The Pentakali project, similarly, has diminished the Upper Painganga Project, severely affecting Nanded and Parbhani.

Apart from worsening the water crisis, these ill-conceived plans have triggered regional feuds as well.

In February this year, 11 villages from Jalna's Mantha taluka went on a hunger strike to protest Vidarbha's appropriation of water from the Purna river. And Marathwada has long been at loggerheads with western Maharashtra over Godavari.

Marathwada has struggled to win these battles because its politicians "do not have the same clout" as those from Western Maharashtra, says Purandare. "Politics in Maharashtra flows through the canals."

Purandare insists the drought is "man-made", brought on by urbanisation and a mushrooming of sugarcane factories, which require substantial amount of water.

"Urbanisation ensures the use of concrete," he explains. "It kills tiny water bodies, adversely affecting the ground water recharge."

If this continues, Purandare warns, there will be "no water left for farming".

Nowhere to go, but down

The signs are already visible, and glaringly. Of Marathwada's 76 talukas, 61 have seen a critical drop in ground water levels, the trend coinciding with a spree of digging wells and borewells in the farmland.

"In a state of unawareness and panic, farmers go on digging deep," says Sanjeev Unhale, a senior journalist from Aurangabad. "But they do not realise that the deep aquifer takes a thousand years to be refilled. It can't be disturbed. To dig up to 20-25 meters is understandable, but farmers are going a thousand feet down."

Yet, in non-monsoon months, even the deepest wells come up dry, forcing Marathwada's residents to forage elsewhere. It's a torturous quest.

Jalna alone houses over 30 steel industries on its periphery: each guzzles one lakh litres of water every day

"We dig up the parched riverbed or the bottom of a well until a muddy puddle of water comes to the fore," says Pralhad Magar, 65, from Jalna's Kharpudi village. "We scoop it up into our pots and then physically strain the mire and stones out."

It obviously takes hours to collect enough water this way, so everone in the family, men, women, young and old, pitch in. "I can't carry on doing it for hours. My body doesn't allow me now," says Magar.

It's only when monsoon arrives that they get some relief. Afterwards, it's back to square one, until the next monsoon and the next.

It's a cruel cycle Marathwada's farmers are stuck in. To free them, the state needs to come up with a long-term solution.

Purandare has one. There was a dispute in the past between Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh over water from Babhali Bandhara, he explains, "and it was resolved after the Supreme Court intervened and said Maharashtra can't use more than 2.74 TMC of water from the Bandhara."

"It's necessary to arrive at a similar solution for the release of water for Jayakwadi from dams upstream," says Purandare, adding the upper Godavari basin should be "spared of any new construction".

Until that happens, thousands of Marathwada's farmers are at nature's mercy. "The only time we spend less time storing water is during the monsoons," says Khan, and abruptly ends the conversation.

He has noticed dark clouds gathering over Nagzari. He hysterically collects his empty pots and utensils and arranges them outside his dimly-lit room to catch the flow from the roof.

Soon, it's pouring down. And as his pots start filing up, a grin appears on Khan's face. When the solution is missing, dangerously, the respite seems enough.

http://www.catchnews.com/environment-news/warning-notes-from-marathwada-how-water-wars-can-consume-india-1436754435.html

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Why I Am Speaking About My Gang-Rape – Sapna Bhavnani #Vaw

July 13, 2015, 7:05 am
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Why I Am Speaking About My Gang-Rape – Sapna Bhavnani #Vaw


Why I Am Speaking About My Gang-Rape - by Sapna Bhavnani
Sapna Bhavnani's picture and blog for Humans of Bombay has gone viral since it was posted yesterday with over 65,000 likes and 6,000 shares. Here is an excerpt: "One Christmas Eve in Chicago, I walked out of a bar alone late at night in a short dress and red lipstick. I was 24 and had been drinking, when from a dumpster a group of guys walked up to me and put a gun to my head asking me to give them blow jobs, eventually leading to gang rape. I remember walking home, showering and pushing this incident to the back of my mind for years and never letting it break my spirit – I still wear short dresses and the brightest red on my lips." (To read the entire post, scroll below)

Humans of Bombay is a Facebook community that says it 'catalogs the beat of the city, one story at a time.'

When we called Sapna to ask about what motivated her to share such a difficult experience on Facebook, she was on her way to get inked (as her picture shows, she has a bit of a thing for tattoos). She said she has started the process of "opening all the chakras in my body with tattoos".

NDTV.com: Why did you choose to do the Humans of Bombay shoot and share your story?

Sapna: You know, it's something I've been debating for a long time.Nirbhaya (the play by Yael Garber in which Sapna was among the women who recounted her ordeal onstage) was for a niche audience, where it would not reach the people I wanted it to. Last year, I quit the play. Reliving the process every day onstage was not healing at all. And it was making me more a victim of my circumstance. It didn't show me as who I am. Not as the woman I am today.Then, I did a show on Doordarshan because I felt to tell the story in Hindi would speak to the people I wanted it to speak to. And it really did. In villages where I work (she helps set up nursery schools and women's centres) people had seen the show. They would come up to me and tell me this.

Karishma of Humans of Bombay had been wanting to meet me, and so I met her. I didn't know exactly what she expected from me, or rather, what the blog was all about. She had seen the play and said "Do you want to talk about the play?" I was taken aback and then said "Ok".

NDTV.com: Did you imagine the Facebook blog would have this kind of reach?

Sapna: I kid you not, I had no idea this was going to happen. I thought maybe 1,000 people would like it. Just to read the comments on that page has baffled and delighted me; all these women sending messages of such support and positivity. Women who've been quiet, who are dealing with domestic violence and with low self-respect -they are telling me that this has helped them and given them self-respect. Because I've understood that they're not weak. I know so many feminists who haven't spoken out and are going through things every day. That's why it was important to say that last thing – no woman would ask to be beaten up, no woman ever said I want to sell my body and make a living, no one thinks a rape can happen to me.

In my blog, I say this – "It took me 20 years to voice my incident, but for me a woman keeping it all within her because she has no other choice isn't a sign of weakness – it's a mark of strength and something we need to start respecting." I thought it was important to say this because it happened to me. I could walk out, so many can't. And what happens to these women who stay? We label them as weak whereas I want to salute them.

NDTV.com: Is it difficult sharing things to personal and so painful with people who are strangers?

Sapna: I've been battling this for the longest time. Should I? Should I not? The more I have been watching the media, I knew the minute I came out with the story that I would be put on a pedestal and called a hero. And that's not what I wanted because I don't want to be a hero because something awful happened to me. So I thought let me start working on the grassroots level. And today I respect myself. I've made a difference. Today if I'm on a pedestal, I've actually earned it, beyond what happened to me. I'm tired of this definition as either victim or survivor. I'm neither. I'm me. Both terms have connotations. One means bechari, the other is often seen as just angry.  I'm none of those. I'm just me. Always have been.

I made sure I mentioned the lipstick, the short dress and the drunkenness (in my blog) because people tend to believe that if you did that, you deserve it. I wanted to make sure I said it. I still wear lipstick and short dresses, and I still don't deserve it. It was vital for me to say that.

Another thing: everyone says when something awful happens, "Let's kill the rapists". Nobody wants to talk about what we are doing for the survivors, how to integrate them back into normal life. And my goal in life is dedicated to that: I don't care about the rapist.  How do I help the survivor be ok without judgement?

I've never said this before, but I'm saying it now: today, if I had to meet my perpetrators, I have no anger towards them at all. I don't want to hang them. I have forgiven them. And if I can forgive this, the trolls can troll me, it won't matter. Healing begins when you let go of the anger. I don't want to chop their dicks off. If I met them, I would just say "have a nice day" and go about my business.

NDTV.com: What does empowerment mean to you?

Sapna: Just to be comfortable in your skin. Just to sink in, where it doesn't matter what ANYONE thinks. Even my mother. Even someone that close to me. It's so empowering and freeing to feel that…  I'm a roaring feminist and not ashamed of it. It's not a bad word, and I'm very proud of that. My idol Roxane Gay said -"I'd rather be a bad feminist than no feminist at all". These are words I live by.

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