Rajya Sabha M.P. A.V.Swamy wrote the Chief Secretary of Odisha for Dispossession of Tribal and Scheduled Caste lands

CESC Mahimagadi Khyatigrasth Praja Samiti

Chhatia ( Neulpoi G.P. ), Dist. Dhenkanal, Odisha, INDIA, 09938893415

Rajya Sabha M.P. A.V.Swamy wrote the  Chief Secretary of Odisha for Dispossession of Tribal and Scheduled Caste lands of Chhatia Village of Gondia Tehsil of Dhenkanal district and raise allegation against District Administration’s involvement in favour of CESC Power Plant

Dhenkanal (23/6) – Rajya Sabha M.P. & Member of Parliamentary Committee on the Welfare of Tribals and Scheduled
Caste and Standing Committee on Science & Technology and Forests & Environment, Shri A.V.Swamy,  wrote a letter to the  Chief Secretary of Odisha Sri B.K.Patnaik for Dispossession of Tribal and Scheduled Caste lands of Chhatia Village of Gondia Tehsil of Dhenkanal district and raise allegation against District Administration’s involvement in favour of CESC Power Plant.

In the letter, he has mentioned regarding the memorandum given to him by Er. Debashisha Hota, the convener of CESC Mahimagadi Khyatigrasth Praja Samiti, Dhenkanal. 

·         56 tribal and scheduled caste families of Chhatia village were given K-Form pattas of land during the period of 1971-77 for which they have been paying khajana. Later the R.I. refused to accept khajana and booked encroachment cases on them. The recipients of the land were using it for their livelihood by planting Kaju and in other ways, Mr Swamy wrote.

·         The village came to know to their surprise that these K-Form patta holders land were transferred to CESC Power Plant authorities. Still surprising the District Administration has convened a tripartite meeting of the dispossessed land owners, the CESC authorities and District Authorities to decide on compensation, he added.

I think normally the lands should have been settled for K-Form patta holders and leave it to them to decide whether or not to sell them to the company. This sounds rather surprising that such an injustice (if true) could be done to the tribal and scheduled castes in the background of various Constitutional and other safe guards. I shall be thankful if an investigative report by District Administration of this issue is made available to me soonest, Mr Swamy suggested.

Here noteworthy that, The affected TRIBAL demanded a 3-Party-Discussions comprising of CESC Mahimagadi Loser-Citizen Forum with CESC Power Pvt. Ltd. Owner and the Representation from the Government as the Mediator, during their Mega Rally on last 21^st May 2012 under the leadership of CESC Mahimagadi Loser-Citizen Forum Convener  & great farmer leader Er. Debashisha Hota.

. But, on 7^th June there was a so-called 3-Party-Discussions. This meeting at Dhenkanal Collectorate between the Executive Officer of CESC Proposed Power Plant at Chhatia Mr. Goutam Chatarjee, top official Mr. Chandan Sanyal, ADM Mr. Babaji Charan Das, the Sub-Collector Mr. Pradipta Kumar Sahany & the Gondia Tahasildar Mr. Arun Kumar Behera with the K-Form Patta Holders of Chhatia was a farce, since all the 6 persons attended that meeting are from a single K-Form Patta Holder Family. This Divide & Rule British Policy of Dhenkanal Administration created tension among the villagers.

We’re thankful of Honorable M.P. Shri A.V.Swamy Jee for his kind support and request him to facilitate a proper 3-Party-Discussions within 7th July 2012, for the safeguard of the Panchayatiraj Democracratic System, i.e. Pallisabha, of our State, Hota requested.

Chakradhar Sendha

Secretary – CESC Mahimagadi Khyatigrasth Praja Samiti

+919938893415

J&K: New Compact goes nowhere

S.K.Sinha

The three eminent interlocutors for Kashmir, Dileep Padgaonkar, Radha Kumar and M.M. Ansari, went about carrying their complex task with great diligence, touring 22 districts of Jammu and Kash-mir, meeting 700 delegates and addressing three mass meetings attended by thousands of people. The separatists refused to meet them. In 2004, N.N. Vohra, the present Governor, was the one-man interlocutor and the separatists had refused to meet him. They boycotted the two Round Table talks convened by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. Mirwaiz Umar Faroooq refused to sit with other stakeholders whom he called “Tom, Dick and Harry.” Notwithstanding this, the interlocutors took into consideration the expressed views of the separatists.

The 176-page interlocutors’ report is a comprehensive document. It claims it avoids “the pitfalls of viewing the myriad issues bedevilling the state from the prism of any one region or ethnic or religious community.” However, there is a marked tilt towards the Valley in their recommendations, ignoring some ground realities. The oft-repeated questionable feeling of “victimhood” and assault on “honour and dignity” appears to have overinfluenced them. This applies to the 60-mile-long Valley only, and not to the remaining tens of thousands of square miles of the state.

The interlocutors have ignored certain basic facts. Kashmiri Muslims do not constitute a majority in the state. They are 45 per cent of the population, 20 per cent are other Muslims like Paharis, Gujjars, Bakherwals and Kargil Shias and 35 per cent are Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists. Separatists are confined primarily to Kashmiri Muslims and even amongst them many are not with them. A Mori poll conducted in 2002 by a British NGO, a known protagonist of Pakistan, found that 61 per cent Kashmiris are with India, six per cent with Pakistan and 33 per cent are undecided. The instrument of accession for Kashmir was not conditional.

It was exactly the same as the instruments under which other states that merged with India or Pakistan. The only difference in the case of Kashmir was that India on her own made a commitment, separately, to allow the right of self-determination after peace was restored. No doubt Sheikh Abdullah was the tallest political leader in the Valley, but he had negligible influence outside the Valley. He was given a full rein and he took full advantage of this. The Nehru-Sheikh accord of 1952 allowed for the Indian national flag to be flown alongside the Kashmir state flag in the state and the requirement for Indian citizens to obtain a permit to enter the state was scrapped.

The craze for restoring the pre-1953 status may even prohibit the national flag flying in the state and reintroducing the permit system. The interlocutors have adopted many recommendations in Justice Saghir Ahmed’s report. This was submitted to the government in a dubious manner, without showing it to the other members of the working group. Amazingly, there is no reference in the interlocutors’ report to the Indira-Sheikh accord of 1975 after which Sheikh Abdullah got back to power. Sheikh Abdullah won a thumping majority in the subsequent Assembly election. This endorsed the accord. That election for the first time in the state was acclaimed as free and fair. The Sheikh had the extending of Central laws to Kashmir after 1953 examined. He decided not to pursue the matter. In view of this, the attempt to put the hands of the clock back to the pre-1953 position is misconceived.

The interlocutors’ proposal to have a constitutional committee comprising members enjoying the confidence of all stakeholders and taking decisions by consensus on application of Central laws post-1953 to the state, is utopian. Changing Article 370 from temporary to permanent and even abolishing its first two clauses, making it further restrictive, is uncalled for. In the present political scenario, such a constitutional amendment, requiring a two-thirds majority in Parliament, is not feasible. A solution to the Kashmir problem based on minimum political links and maximum economic aid is unrealistic. The per capita Central aid to Kashmir is Rs 11,000 as against Rs 900-Rs 1,000 for states like Bihar and Orissa. The number of people living below the poverty line in the state has gone down from 41 to 21 per cent. Ninety-eight per cent householders in the state own houses against the national average of 66 per cent.

The interlocutors have recommended regional councils for Jammu, Srinagar and Ladakh. This has been stoutly opposed by the separatists and their fellow travellers, saying that it will lead to the disintegration of the state. Jammu region, with an appreciably larger electorate, has nine seats less than Kashmir region in the state Assembly. There is a ban on any change being made till 2026. Thus, regional council falls short of the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu.

In a New Compact with Jammu and Kashmir proposed by the interlocutors, there is emphasis on “harmonisation of relations across the LoC and development of joint association across the LoC for resource generation and other common matters.” The feasibility of this is questionable, what with the continued hate war being beamed from the other side, terrorist training camps flourishing and cross-border terrorism continuing. In 2005, we opened the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road but the Kargil-Skardu road could not be opened due to the obduracy of Pakistan. The interlocutors have ignored this. The Kargil Shias continue to suffer, for having no truck with separatists and terrorists!

The recommendation to provide pensions for the families of terrorists killed in encounters with security forces is bizarre. This does not happen anywhere in the world, including in the case of militants in the Northeast. Article 370 cannot be stretched to justify this. The jihadis believe that they will go to heaven if they sacrifice their lives for a holy cause. Government pensions for their families will only encourage them.

The interlocutors have ignored the case of one lakh homeless and stateless residents in the state. In 1947, 30,000 non-Muslims refugees had come from Pakistan to Jammu. They are now over one lakh. Elsewhere in India, refugees from Pakistan immediately became Indian citizens, with two of them eventually becoming Prime Minister and one deputy Prime Minister. These one lakh people in Jammu to this day are denied voting rights for the Assembly and local bodies, they cannot acquire immovable property nor get employment in the state government or admission for their children in technical educational institutions.

On the other hand, Tibetan Muslim refugees who came to Srinagar in 1950 were given full citizenship rights. Nearly 1,000 of them are today in the voters’ list of Zadribal and Idgah constituencies. As for the 5,00,000 Kashmiri Pandit refugees (official terminology is “migrant” implying that they moved out of their own volition), the report only pays lip service to their return to the Valley. No concrete or viable measures have been recommended. It is not surprising that the report of the interlocutors has evoked a negative response from almost all stakeholders. It has brought us nowhere closer to resolving the long-festering Kashmir imbroglio.

The author, a retired lieutenant-general, was Vice-Chief of Army Staff and has served as governor of Assam and Jammu and Kashmir.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/columnists/sk-sinha/jk-new-compact-goes-nowhere

Ratha jatra Avinandan

भाजपा में की उथलपुथल

मई माह के अंतिम सप्ताह में मुंबई में हुई भारतीय जनता पार्टी की कार्यकारी मंडल की बैठक के समय दिखाई दिया तनातनी का नाट्य, अभी भी समाप्त नहीं हुआ है. गुजरात के मुख्यमंत्री श्री नरेन्द्र मोदी के अहंकारी हठ के आगे, भाजपा के राष्ट्रीय नेतृत्व ने शराणागति स्वीकार की, यह किसी के भी गले नहीं उतरा. ३० मई के ‘भाष्य’ में, मैंने आगे ऐसा भी कहा था कि, पार्टी की प्रतिष्ठा की अपेक्षा व्यक्ति की प्रतिष्ठा सम्हालने की कृति न नैतिक दृष्टि से समर्थनीय है, न राजनीतिक दृष्टि से लाभदायक. मैंने ऐसा भी सूचित किया था कि, श्री संजय जोशी की बलि लेना योग्य नहीं था. मुंबई की बैठक के समय श्री संजय जोशी ने कार्यकारिणी की सदस्यता का त्यागपत्र दिया था. नया समाचार यह है कि, उन्होंने पार्टी की सदस्यता से भी त्यागपत्र दिया और वह स्वीकार भी किया गया. यह, श्री मोदी की संपूर्ण विजय मानी जा रही है लेकिन, इससे संजय जोशी की प्रतिष्ठा बढ़ी है, यह निश्‍चित.

अडवाणी जी द्वारा आलोचना

मैरी कल्पना थी कि, मामला उसी समय समाप्त हो गया. कम से कम, आगामी दिसंबर में श्री गडकरी का पार्टी के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्षपद पर चुनाव होने तक सब ठीक चलेगा. लेकिन यह कल्पना गलत साबित हुई. और उस कल्पना को धक्का देने वाली व्यक्ति कोई सामान्य नहीं. पार्टी के सर्वश्रेष्ठ और सर्वज्येष्ठ नेता लालकृष्ण अडवाणी जी ने ही वह गलत साबित की. जिस दिन भाजपा के साथ अनेक राजनीतिक पार्टियों ने, पेट्रोल की कीमत में हुई अमर्याद वृद्धि के विरोध में ‘भारत बंद’ का आवाहन किया था, उसी दिन, अडवाणी जी ने, नाम न लेते हुए, पार्टी अध्यक्ष श्री गडकरी की कडी आलोचना की. अडवाणी जी ने अपने ब्लॉग पर जो लिखा और उसका जो समाचार प्रकाशित हुआ, वह पार्टी के पदाधिकारियों को निश्‍चित ही अस्वस्थ करने वाला है.
अडवाणी जी ने लिखा है कि, ‘‘सांप्रत पार्टी में वातावरण उत्साहवर्धक नहीं. उत्तर प्रदेश विधानसभा चुनाव के परिणाम, भ्रष्टाचार के आरोप के कारण मायावती सरकार ने जिसे हकाला, उस मंत्री का भाजपा में स्वागत, झारखंड और कर्नाटक की परिस्थिति से निपटने की पार्टी की नीति - इन घटनाओं ने भ्रष्टाचार के विरुद्ध पार्टी ने जो अभियान शुरू किया है, उसे कमजोर किया है.’’
अडवाणी जी ने जो कहा, उसमें कुछ भी गलत नहीं है. बाबुसिंग कुशवाह को भाजपा में प्रवेश देना यह गलती थी. उनका प्रवेश रोककर वह गलती सुधारी गई. उसी प्रकार विवादास्पद उद्योगपति अंशुमान मिश्र को राज्य सभा में आने के लिए अनुमति दर्शाना भी गलती थी. लेकिन वह गलती भी सुधारी गई. फिर अडवाणी जी का गुस्सा क्यों है? और उन्होंने वह ‘भारत बंद’ के दिन ही प्रकट करने का क्या कारण? समाचारपत्रों ने, श्री गडकरी के नेतृत्व पर यह हमला है, ऐसा उसका अर्थ लगाया, तो उन्हें कैसे दोष दे?

नाराजगी का निश्‍चित कारण?

मुंबई में जो हुआ, उसके कारण अडवाणी जी नाराज है, यह स्पष्ट है. लेकिन इस नाराजगी का निश्‍चित कारण क्या है? श्री गडकरी को, पुन:, तुरंत तीन वर्ष के लिए अध्यक्षपद मिले, इस हेतु से, पार्टी के संविधान में जो संशोधन किया गया, इस कारण वे नाराज हुए, या श्री मोदी के सामने पार्टी अध्यक्ष ने घुटने टेके इस कारण उनकी नाराजगी है? श्री मोदी और अडवाणी जी के संबंधों को देखे, तो श्री मोदी को खुष करने के लिए श्री संजय जोशी की बलि दी गई, इससे वे क्रोधित हुए होगे, ऐसा नहीं लगता. श्री संजय जोशी के बारे में उन्हें बहुत अधिक सहानुभूति थी, ऐसा पार्टी संगठन में काम करने वाले लोगों का मत नहीं है. श्री संजय जोशी का निष्कलंकत्व सिद्ध होने के बाद भी, उनका पुन: पार्टी में स्वागत करने के लिए अडवाणी जी ने प्रयास करने का समाचार नहीं है. इस कारण, उनकी नाराजगी का कारण, श्री गडकरी को पुन: तीन वर्ष अध्यक्षपद देने के लिए जो व्यूहरचना मुंबई में की गई, वही होना चाहिए, ऐसा निष्कर्ष कोई निकाले तो उसे दोष नहीं दिया जा सकता. समाचार यह है कि, कर्नाटक से लोकसभा में चुनकर गये सांसद अनंत कुमार को पार्टी अध्यक्ष बनाए, ऐसी अडवाणी जी की इच्छा थी. पार्टी संविधान में संशोधन के कारण, श्री गडकरी का रास्ता साफ हुआ और श्री अनंत कुमार का रास्ता बंद हुआ, इस कारण अडवाणी जी नाराज हुए, ऐसा एक तर्क है. अडवाणी जी की प्रतिक्रिया देखते हुए वही अपरिहार्य सिद्ध होता है और अपने ब्लॉग पर के वक्तव्य से वह गुस्सा उन्होंने सार्वजनिक रूप से व्यक्त किया, इस निष्कर्ष तक जाना पड़ता है. अडवाणी जी जैसे ज्येष्ठ, प्रगल्भ नेता संयम खोए इसका किसे भी आश्‍चर्य ही होगा.

दूरदर्शन चॅनेल पर की चर्चा

गत सप्ताह मेरे पास दूरदर्शन के दो-तीन चॅनेल के प्रतिनिधि आकर गये. ऐसा लगा कि, उन्हें मेरे ३० मई के ‘भाष्य’ में के कुछ वचनों की जानकारी होगी. उनके सब प्रश्‍न श्री नरेन्द्र मोदी के संदर्भ में थे. उस भाष्य में मैंने जो लिखा था, मैंने उसकी ही पुनरुक्ति की. मैंने उन्हे बताया कि, ‘‘पार्टी की अपेक्षा व्यक्ति श्रेष्ठ नहीं है. जहॉं व्यक्ति श्रेष्ठ और पार्टी कनिष्ठ होती है, वे पार्टियॉं व्यक्ति केन्द्रित होती है. ऐसी अनेक पार्टियॉं हमारे देश में है. मैंने सपा, बसपा, द्रमुक, अद्रमुक, शिवसेना, तेलगू देसम् जैसी पार्टियों के नाम भी गिनाए. भाजपा, वैसी व्यक्ति केन्द्रित पार्टी नहीं. हो भी नहीं सकेगी. इसलिए मोदी के हठ के आगे पार्टी ने झुकने का कारण नहीं था.’’ फिर उन्होंने पार्टी का, प्रधानमंत्री पद का उम्मीदवार कौन, मोदी उस दृष्टि से कैसे है, ऐसे प्रश्‍न मुझे पूछे. मैंने कहा, २०१४ में प्रधानमंत्री कौन बनेगा इसकी चर्चा आज अप्रस्तुत है. पहले अगले महिने में राष्ट्रपतिपद का चुनाव है. उसे अधिक महत्त्व है. फिर २०१२ समाप्त होने के पूर्व गुजरात विधानसभा का चुनाव है. श्री मोदी उस समय स्वयं चुनाव में उतरते है या नहीं, उस चुनाव का परिणाम क्या निकलता है, भूतपूर्व मुख्यमंत्री केशुभाई पटेल और सुरेश मेहता, भूतपूर्व गृहमंत्री झाडफिया मोदी के विरोध में मैदान में उतरे है, उनके विरोध का क्या परिणाम होता है, वह देखना होगा. उसी प्रकार २०१३ में होने वाले विधानसभाओं के चुनाव परिणाम भी देखने होगे. उसके बाद ही यह प्रश्‍न समयानुकूल सिद्ध होगा. उसके बाद दूसरे दिन ही समाचारपत्रों में, श्री मोदी, केशुभाई पटेल और उनके साथीयों के रवैये से हडबडाए है ऐसा सूचित करने वाला समाचार प्रसिद्ध हुआ है.

वह समाचार

३ जून को, भेसान नगर में भाजपा के एक नगर प्रतिनिधि भूपत भायानी पर गोली चलाई गई. इस गोलीकांड के निषेध में भेसान के लोगों का जो क्षोभ प्रकट हुआ, उसमें नौ दुकान जलाए गए. इन नौ दुकानों में बहादुर खुमान इस व्यक्ति की पान की दुकान थी. वह दुकान जलाए जाने के बारे में उसने न्यायालय में शिकायत की. और उस शिकायत में उसने आरोप किया कि, केशुभाई पटेल और गोवर्धन झाडफिया ने जो प्रक्षोभक भाषण किए, उसी कारण यह आगजनी हुई. इसलिए बहादुर खुमान ने इन लोगों के विरुद्ध भेसान के न्यायालय का दरवाजा खटखटाया है. यह सच है कि, भडकाऊ भाषणों के कारण लोकक्षोभ निर्माण हो सकता है. भेसान में भी यह हो सकता है. लेकिन दिलचस्व बात यह है कि, यह आरोपित भडकाऊ भाषण ११ मार्च को हुए थे. मतलब करीब तीन माह वातावरण शांत था. वह पौने तीन माह के बाद भडका. वह भाषण इतने उग्र थे कि, तीन माह तक उन्होंने निर्माण किया क्षोभ जनता के मन में सुलगता रहा और भायानी पर की गोलीबारी की घटना से ३ जून को प्रकट हुआ! और उसमें उस बेचारे गरीब पान वाले का ठेला जलाया गया. अर्थात्, अपराधियों के विरुद्ध अपराध दर्ज होना ही चाहिए. उस प्रकार केशुभाई पटेल और अन्य लोगों के विरुद्ध धारा २०२ के अंतर्गत अपराध दर्ज किया गया है. और उसमें भी मजे की बात यह कि, वह आरोपित भडकाऊ भाषण भेसान में हुए ही नहीं थे. भेसान के समीप मोटा कोटदा गॉंव में वह हुए थे. वहॉं ११ मार्च को लेवा पटेलों की एक सामाजिक बैठक हुई थी, उसमें वह भाषण हुए थे. इस कारण लेवा पटेल भडके और उन्होंने पौने तीन माह बाद बहादुरभाई की दुकान जलाकर अपना क्षोभ व्यक्त किया! यह कितनी मजेदार बात है!
यह सब ब्यौरा देने का कारण यह कि, राजनीति में अपने विरोधियों का बदला लेने की एवंगुणविशिष्ट श्री नरेन्द्र मोदी की यह शैली है. उनके सरकार की प्रेरणा के बिना बहादुरभाई ऐसी बहादुरी प्रकट करने की हिंमत करते?                       

अकालिक चर्चा

यह कुछ विषयांतर ही हुआ. मूल प्रश्‍न २०१४ में भाजपा का प्रधानमंत्रीपद का उम्मीदवार कौन, यह था और हर तरीके से यही प्रश्‍न, दूरदर्शन के तीनों चॅनेलों ने पूछा. मैंने, जिस प्रकार २०१२ के चुनावों का संदर्भ दिया, उसी प्रकार २०१३ में होने वाले चुनावों का संदर्भ भी दिया. भाजपा की, जिन राज्यों में जड़े मजबूत जमी है, उन राज्यस्थान, मध्य प्रदेश, छत्तीसगढ़, कर्नाटक इन राज्यों की विधानसभा के चुनाव २०१३ में होने है. इनमें से तीन राज्यों में भाजपा की सरकारें हैं. उन चुनावों के परिणाम क्या आते है, इस पर सब निर्भर है. इस कारण, २०१४ में अपना प्रधानमंत्रीपद का उम्मीदवार कौन यह भाजपा, उससे पूर्व कभी भी नहीं बताएगी. इस पद के लिए लायक नेताओं की भाजपा में कमी भी नहीं है. मैंने यह भी बताया कि, इंग्लंड में जो विपक्ष का नेता होता है, उसकी पार्टी चुनाव में बहुमत में आती है, तो वही प्रधानमंत्री बनता है. हमारे यहॉं वैसी पद्धति होती, तो श्रीमती सुषमा स्वराज प्रधानमंत्री बनती. इसके अलावा, और एक बात ध्यान में लेनी होगी. और वह है २०१४ में भाजपा को मिलने वाली सिटें. भाजपा को २०० से कम सिटें मिलती है तो भाजपा को, अपने मित्र पार्टियों के मत का आदर करना ही होगा. लेकिन भाजपा २५० के करीब पहुँचती है (यह संभावना आज दिखाई नहीं देती. लेकिन २०१३ के चुनाव यह परिस्थिति बदल सकते है.) तो मित्र पार्टियों को भाजपा की बात माननी होगी. तात्पर्य यह कि भाजपा का प्रधानमंत्रीपद का उम्मीदवार कौन इसकी चर्चा २०१२ में अप्रस्तुत है, अकालिक (प्रिमॅच्युअर) है. दूरदर्शन चॅनेल के साथ की चर्चा पॉंच-दस मिनटों में समाप्त हुई. मैंने उन्हें जो बताया उसका यह सार है.

एक नई शंका

यह भाष्य लिखते समय, मेरे मन में एक संदेह निर्माण हुआ है. समाचारपत्र और प्रसार माध्यम श्री नरेन्द्र मोदी का नाम इतना क्यों उछाल रहे है? क्या इसके पीछे किसी की कुछ प्रेरणा है? श्री मोदी की प्रेरणा होगी, ऐसा मुझे नहीं लगता. इसका अर्थ श्री मोदी की प्रधानमंत्री बनने की महत्त्वाकांक्षा नहीं, ऐसा नहीं. उनकी वह महत्त्वाकांक्षा होगी भी; और उसमें अनुचित कुछ भी नहीं. राजनीति में इस बारे में किसे भी दोष देने का कारण भी नही. राजनीति राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ तो है नहीं, जहॉं ‘मैं नहीं तू ही’ का आदर्श रहता है. लेकिन श्री मोदी स्वयं यह सब करवाते होगे, ऐसा मुझे नहीं लगता. वे बहुत चतुर राजनीतिज्ञ है. अपनी चाल वे बहुत समझदारी से चलते होगे. वे अपना ऐसा अशिष्ट प्रचार नहीं करेगे. इसलिए, मुझे संदेह है कि, भाजपा के विरोधी पार्टियों की ही यह रणनीति होगी. भाजपा ने मोदी को प्रधानमंत्रीपद का उम्मीदवार घोषित किया, या जनमानस में ऐसा चित्र निर्माण हुआ कि, मोदी ही भाजपा के भावी प्रधानमंत्री होगे, तो अल्पसंख्यकों को और भाजपा की मित्र पार्टियों को भाजपा से अलग करना संभव होगा और फिर तीसरा मोर्चा मजबूत बनेगा, ऐसा उनका अंदाज होगा. भाजपा के विरोधियों ने अपने लाभ के लिए ऐसी कूटनीति का अवलंब करने में अप्रूप कुछ भी नहीं. लेकिन भाजपा, उस जाल में न फंसे, ऐसी अपेक्षा है.

एकजुट आवश्यक

३० मई के ‘भाष्य’ में भाजपा के भविष्य के दृष्टि से मैंने कुछ विचार प्रस्तुत किए थे. उनका पुनरुच्चार यहॉं नहीं करता. आज सबसे महत्त्व की आवश्यकता है, पार्टी में एकजुट रहने की और वह है ऐसा दिखने की. सब महत्त्व के निर्णय सामूहिक विचारविनिमय से लिए जाने चाहिए. निर्णय के पूर्व विचारविनिमय होते समय, भिन्न भिन्न मत प्रकट होगे ही. वैसा होना भी चाहिए. लेकिन एक बार समूह का निर्णय होने के बाद वह अपना ही निर्णय है, ऐसी सबकी भूमिका रहनी चाहिए. यह संघ की रीति है. किसी भी संस्था या संगठन के स्वास्थ्य के लिए यह रीति उपकारक है. क्या संघ के समान विशाल संगठन में भिन्न भिन्न मत धारण करने वाले नही होगे? लेकिन वह सब विचारविनिमय की बैठक में प्रकट होते है और जो निर्णय लिया जाता है, वह सामूहिक रूप से सबका और व्यक्तिगत रूप से हर किसीका निर्णय होता है. भाजपा में संघ के संस्कारों में से गये अनेक लोग है, उन्हें संघ की इस रीति की जानकारी होगी ही. लेकिन भाजपा में ऐसा दिखाई नहीं देता. पार्टी के संविधान में के संशोधन को विरोध होगा, तो अडवाणी जी ने वह उस सभा में व्यक्त करना था; और बहुमत का निर्णय मान्य करना था. निर्णय होने के बाद उस संबंध मे सार्वजनिक रूप में नाराजगी व्यक्त करना यह उनके जैसे ज्येष्ठ नेता का गौरव और सम्मान बढ़ाने वाली बात नहीं है. पार्टी एकजुटता से चल रही है, ऐसी मुहर जनता में और कार्यकताओं के मन में अंकित होनी चाहिए. इस दृष्टि से अडवाणी जी ने की आलोचना असमर्थनीय है.

विकल्प भाजपा ही

आज का सत्तारूढ संप्रग (संयुक्त प्रतिशील गठबंधन), बहुत ही बदनाम हुआ है. अनेक आर्थिक घोटालों के कारण ग्रस्त और त्रस्त है. २०१४ में वह पुन: सत्ता हासिल करेगा, ऐसी यत्किंचित भी संभावना नहीं है. इस परिस्थिति में भाजपा ही सर्वोत्तम विकल्प है. लेकिन जनता को इसका अहसास होना चाहिए. इस दृष्टि से भाजपा के वरिष्ठ नेताओं ने गंभीरता से आत्मपरीक्षण करना चाहिए. २०१३ के विधानसभाओं के चुनाव के लिए उम्मीदवारों का चयन, घोषणापत्र की निर्मिति, प्रचार यंत्रणा आदि के बारे में पार्टी एकजुट होकर खड़ी है, ऐसा चित्र निर्माण होना चाहिए. वही कार्यकर्ताओं के बीच उत्साह का वातावरण निर्माण करेगा. इस उत्साह निर्मिति की प्रक्रिया में जो बाधा निर्माण करने का प्रयास करेंगे उन्हें सही तरीके से समझ देने की क्षमता और सिद्धता पार्टी नेतृत्व में होनी चाहिए. फिर वह व्यक्ति कितने भी बड़े पद पर हो. ऐसी एकजुटता से युक्त, संयम के साथ प्रतिक्रिया व्यक्त करने वाले, अनुशासित, चारित्र्यसंपन्न कार्यकर्ताओं की पार्टी के रूप में भारतीय जनता पार्टी आगामी दो वर्षों में खडी होनी चाहिए. इसीमें पार्टी और राष्ट्र का भी हित निहित है.


- मा. गो. वैद्य
babujivaidya@gmail.com
(अनुवाद : विकास कुलकर्णी)

The Kashmir issue: Myth and reality

Mahesh Kaul

Neither Nehru nor Patel had promised a separate political status for Jammu & Kashmir

The Kashmir problem is the outcome of a game that the British played to keep the separatist Muslim elements alive in the country. This move was further meant to make the northern Indian borders weak and pregnable forever. The British had clearly moved to sow the seeds of the balkanisation of the Indian Union.

The process of maintaining the checks and applying brakes on the Indian nationalists was already devised by the British well before 1947. Mohammed Ali Jinnah was a British prop to help materialise the separatist Muslim claims for the partition of India.

These ploys and what was going on in the British mind has been revealed by Krishna Menon, who was close to the British circles, in the following words to Lord Mountbatten well before partition on June 14, 1947, “Is this frontier of (the  northwest of India abutting Afghanistan and Iran) still the hinterland of the  Imperial Strategy? Does the British still think in terms of being able to use this territory and all that follows from it? There is considerable amount of talking in this way; and if Kashmir, for one reason or another, chooses to be in Pakistan, that is a further development in this direction. I do not know of British policy in this matter. I do not know whether you know it either. But if this be the intent, this is tragic…As it becomes more evident, the attitude of India would be resentful and Britain’s hold on Pakistan would not improve it”. (Pp 15-16, The Untold Story of India’s Partition) written by Narender Singh Sarila)

Menon was pointing towards the British strategy of using West Pakistan as a base to stop the Soviet expansion towards the Indian Ocean, Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf. He implied that was the British policy so “subterranean” that even the Viceroy was ignorant about it. These intrigues shaped the Kashmir problem and the end result is the present state of chaos and desperation in the State and especially in the Kashmir Valley.

The accession of Jammu & Kashmir to the Indian Union needs to be understood by keeping in mind the traits of the British and the separatist Muslim mindset of the Muslim League, which was nurtured by imperial policy-makers to divide India to suit their strategic hold on the sub-continent.

There is a false premise on which the State’s accession to India is always understood by certain vested interests. It is that the Radcliffe Boundary Commission  award giving Gurdaspur district to the Indian East Punjab was announced on August 17, 1947, two days after the new Dominions of India and Pakistan had already come into being. This is a totally absurd premise.

The demarcation of the areas that would go to Pakistan had been devised by the British well before 1947. Its blueprint was already prepared by the then Viceroy Lord Archibald Wavell in 1946 to forge an alliance with Jinnah’s Muslim League, and the foundation of this unholy alliance was laid in 1940-41 by Wavell’s predecessor VAJ Linlithgow to project Jinnah as the sole spokesman of ‘Muslim India’.

Narender Singh Sarila, who was an ADC to the last Viceroy, Lord Louis Mountbatten, was a witness to British decisions and policy. He has observed candidly in his book that “secret archives cannot be depended upon to reveal the entire picture. Many decisions that are taken by Government are never committed on paper or, if so committed, are not revealed, even after the probationary period for keeping them under wraps has lapsed. For instance, Lord Mountbatten’s reports to London, sent after August 15, 1947, while he was the Governor-General of India, have not been unsealed even after almost 60 years, thereby depriving us information surrounding British policy on Kashmir”.(Pp168)

Wavell was constantly in touch with the Secretary of State in London. His blueprint for partition was being taken seriously in London. On January 29,1946, the Secretary of State revealed the British policy by stating in a telegram to Wavell that “it would help me to know when I may expect to receive your recommendation as regards definition of genuinely Muslim areas if we are compelled to give a decision to this” (Pp194-195).

Gurdaspur district was not incorporated into the Indian Union after partition. In fact, Wavell’s partition plan forwarded to London on February 6-7, 1946, makes it clear as to what was in store for millions of people of the Indian subcontinent. His partition plan, which was implemented by his successor Mountbatten reads:

“(1) If compelled to indicate demarcation of genuinely Moslem areas I recommend that we should include (a) Sind, North-West Frontier Province, British Baluchistan and Rawalpindi, Multan and Lahore Divisions of Punjab, Less Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts. (2) In the Punjab the only Moslem-majority district that would not go into Pakistan under demarcation is Gurdaspur. Gurdaspur must go with Amritsar for geographical reasons and Amritsar being the sacred city of Sikhs must stay out of Pakistan…” (Pp195).

Therefore, it becomes clear that the decision regarding Gurdaspur district was taken well before partition and the argument regarding its inclusion in the Indian Union after partition does not hold any ground.

So, the point raised by the fifth columnists and other Left liberal intellectuals that ‘Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu & Kashmir could not accede to the newly created Indian Dominion and the Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, could not accept such a request on or before August 15, 1947, because, under the provision of the July 1947 Indian Independence Act passed by the British Parliament, Pathankot tehsil at that time, the only geographical link of Jammu & Kashmir, was located in Gurdaspur district of west Punjab which had been notified under the aforesaid Act as part of Pakistan’, is a falsification of the reality.

Another observation by these individuals that the ‘Maharaja Sahib had, therefore, no other option than to think of Standstill Agreement with both new Dominions of India and Pakistan and making Jammu & Kashmir an Eastern Switzerland of Asia’, is also a misinterpretation of constitutional realities and facts. As India under the British was composed of British India and the Princely States which accepted the British paramountcy, the rulers of these States were thus bound to accede to one of the Dominions and there was no provision for an ‘independent’ existence. Celebrated political scientist MK Teng in the preface to his book titled, Kashmir, the Myth of Autonomy, has cleared this misconception regarding the accession of Jammu & Kashmir and other Princely States to the Indian Union.

He writes, “The partition of India did not envisage the accession of the Princely States to the Dominion of India and Pakistan on the basis the British India was divided. The partition of India left the States out its scope and the transfer of power accepted the lapse of the paramountcy: The imperial authority the British exercised over the States. The accession of the States to India was the culmination of a historical process which symbolised the unity of the people in the British India and the Indian States.” (Pp VII)

The populist view in order to cover the truth regarding the accession is that Maharaja Hari Singh was trapped and was hence indecisive on acceding to India. To clear this misconception Mr Teng writes, “In 1947, when Jammu & Kashmir acceded to India, the ruler of the State, Maharaja Hari Singh signed the same standard form of the Instrument of Accession which the other major Indian States signed. The accession of the State to India was not subject to any exceptions or pre-condition to provide for any separate and special constitutional arrangements for the State. Neither Nehru nor Patel gave any assurances to Hari Singh or the National Conference leaders that Jammu & Kashmir would be accorded a separate and independent political status on the basis of the Muslim majority character of its population” (Pp VII).

http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnists/item/51786-the-kashmir-issue-myth-and-reality.html

The truth of Satyamev Jayate:

Beaware  !

 Since last few days we have seen viral effect across the nation for a television show hosted by Bollywood Star Amir Khan named “Satyamev Jayate “and these days ... I’ve come across a large number  of people discussing and praising the show and also some of them were considering making donations and sending SMSs to the show in public interest, my purpose for writing this post is to let those people know that how

and where their donations and revenue generated by SMSs will be used.

 The foundation where your donations and income via SMSs will go is called “Humanity Trust” and this is the website of this trust

http://www.facebook.com/l/bAQE0HNX2/www.humanitytrust.com/

this website says that objective of their foundation is :- Masjid Construction assistance.

(Bore/construction helps) :- Placement assistance for Islamic youngsters (notifications about jobs across various geographies)
{do visit this website and check yourself}
 Now look at the Irony here, people from all over the country belonging to different religions and communities are sending SMSs and making donations, and you can see clearly that money is spent on people of just one particular community and religion.
Now isn’t it unfair that first you are attracting the people from different religion on emotional grounds, and when they fall prey to it and gives donation, you are using that money for communal purpose without even informing the people where their money is going to be used,
 I just wanted to know how does building mosques and madrasas helps our nation? And if it doesn’t then why people of this country are being fooled like this and no one is raising questions? are only Muslims unemployed in this country ? if not then why this
step-motherly treatment with people of different religion and community?
About us
www.humanitytrust.com
 

-

GOD AND GURU BLESS YOU & THEIR GRACE IS ALWAYS WITH YOU.

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY FILLED WITH MIRACLES.

MAY YOU HAVE JOY ORIGINATING ALWAYS FROM PEACE

ANAND

Discovery in Kodumanal: A 2,500-year-old industrial estate!

T.E. Narasimhan

Last updated on: June 12, 2012 09:42 IST

It is a long, tiring journey to Kodumanal, a tiny village in western Tamil Nadu -- a place virtually unheard of until archaeologists recently unearthed a 2,500-year-old industrial estate there.

The trip from Chennai to this inland village happens in three stages: eight-hour bus ride to Erode (district headquarters), two-hour bus ride to Kangeyam (small town in the textile district of Tirupur), final bus ride to Kodumanal.

The last leg is the most interesting. At first the rickety bus passes farmland and pretty bungalows, but then the surroundings grow barren.

There is only the occasional coconut tree. It is hard to believe that this area once held a thriving town. Modern Kodumanal has just around 1,000 people to make a living they breed cattle and work in the nearby textile town of Tirupur.

The chatty bus conductor asks, "Sir, are you from the archaeological department?" When I shake my head, he says, "So many people from the archaeological department come here these days that I assumed you were one of them."

At the archaeological site near Kodumanal, even at 8 am the sun is merciless. Approaching the arid excavation area, one hears the sounds of digging, and of instructions being yelled to the scores of archaeology students busy on the site.

K Rajan, professor and head of the Department of History at Pondicherry University, leads the team. Rajan is in his early 50s. He stands in the heat talking to the students gathered around. Today is the last day of this dig at Kodumanal.

Kodumanal, Rajan explains, was a manufacturing and trading centre in the 4th century BCE. It is mentioned as such in the Sangam literature of classical Tamil (circa 300 BCE-300 CE). The settlement, which would have accommodated several thousand people in its heyday, appears to have been abandoned after the 3rd century CE.
Archaeologists arrived in Kodumanal in 1961, when V N Srinivasa Desikan of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) led the first dig. In 1980 a second, trial excavation was carried out by the Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department.

More digs were executed in 1985, 1986, 1989 and 1990 by the Departments of Epigraphy and Archaeology of Tamil University, with the Department of Ancient History and Archaeology of Madras University, and the State Archaeology Department.

However, not much was found. Between 1985 and 1990 the archaeologists laid 49 trenches but collected only 170 inscribed potsherds (pottery fragments).


In 2012 the pattern has broken, and Rajan's team has struck gold. Between April 21 and this week, they laid four trenches and collected as many as 130 inscribed potsherds. Yathees Kumar V P, 32, a PhD student of archaeology from Pondicherry University, has worked at Kodumanal for two months.

"I have worked in four different sites since 2005," he says. "In those areas, finding one script itself is a big thing, here in one site we found 130."

Kumar and another student have found two large pots, one of which bears a Tamil-Brahmi inscription in tall letters reading "Samban Sumanan" -- a name. The pot is 4 ft tall, says Kumar, and was used to store water. Nearly all the newly unearthed inscriptions, in fact, are personal names; a few also refer to the trade performed by the named individual.

The words on the pots are in Prakrit, a north Indian language of the time. This tells us, says Rajan, that Kodumanal had cultural and trade contacts with the north.

Hard, slow work led up to these exciting discoveries. Rajan has been involved in excavating this site since 1984. The last excavation was in 1990. For this year's dig, the professor managed to raise Rs 3.5 lakh from the ASI and the Central Institute of Classical Tamil.

From the trenches have emerged fascinating and beautiful artefacts. Among the more decorative items are semi-finished bangles and bracelets made from beryl, a crystalline mineral. Some of these stones are so pure that they are colourless. One find is a tiger-shaped object made of copper, about 15 cm long (see image above).

It was studded with carnelians, sapphires and diamonds. Old quartz stones and broken beads -- of sapphire, beryl, agate, carnelian, amethyst, lapis lazuli, jasper, garnet, soapstone and quartz -- are strewn across the village.

In one memorable case, the archaeologists found 2,220 carnelian beads in a single grave. This may be the first instance of its kind in India, Rajan says.

There are sources of sapphire, beryl and quartz near Kodumanal, but carnelian, agate and lapis lazuli came from distant sources -- as far away as Gujarat, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. The ancient economy, too, was global.

The finds show that workshops for cutting and shaping precious gems, for making semi-precious stone beads, and also, incidentally, for shell-cutting, were present in Kodumanal more than 2,300 years ago.

But the workers' technical skills did not begin and end with gem-making. They also worked with iron and steel. In fact, ancient sources of iron ore have been found in and around Chennimalai hill, 15 km to the east.
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There was, the archaeologists say, "constant movement of foreign traders between Chennimalai, where there are iron ore deposits, and Kodumanal where the ore was processed" and from where finished items were exported.

And in Kodumanal itself, Rajan's team has found pieces of a crucible furnace. Such furnaces can withstand heat up to 1,300 C, well over the melting point of cast iron. This find has been confirmed, Rajan says, by Sharada Srinivasan of the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, who has examined the crucible.

Kodumanal was one of the earliest wootz steel centres of the world. Wootz steel, a form of carbon steel, was a prized, highly durable speciality of ancient India, and much sought-after in the West.

In Roman literature there are references to the import of steel from the Chera country, or south India. References to wootz steel in Sangam literature indicate that Roman Egypt imported its finest steel from here. The rust-free ancient iron pillar still standing near the Qut'b Minar in Delhi is said to be made of iron from this region.
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Kodumanal is not far from Tirupur, the textile hub of modern India. Ancient Kodumanal also manufactured textiles. A number of terracotta cotton spindles pierced through the centre with an iron rod have been unearthed here. Incredibly, a well-preserved piece of actual cotton has been found. It is believed to be 2,200 years old.

More proof of Kodumanal's trade links comes in the form of Roman coins, dug up in hoards as well as single pieces. The town lay on a trade route frequented by Roman merchants, who came to buy beryl, quartz and other stones.

Goods to be exported to the West were carried by road to the Chera port of Muziris (Pattinam) on the west coast near Thrissur, and then went by ship. Goods for South-east Asia were carried east to Karur, capital of the Chera kingdom, then to Poompuhar near the mouth of the Kaveri, and then overseas.


Judging by the trade pattern, and as is suggested by finds of beryl jewellery in eastern Europe and elsewhere, Kodumanal's exports went a long way.

Although Kodumanal is on the Noyyal, a tributary of the Kaveri, the river was not used by shipping. The Noyyal is shallow, rocky and has strong currents, so the trade route followed its banks.

Rajan's findings suggest that only about half of the Kodumanal site, which is about 100 acres in all, was inhabited in ancient times. The other half is a huge burial ground. In the last three months, the archaeologists have opened some 180 graves.

The number of graves is not so unusual, says Rajan, as the kinds of graves. There are three types: pot, urn and chamber stone burials. The last is for people of high status, and in these graves the archaeologists have found gold and other items.

A few of the big tombs are surmounted by stone megaliths (though some 300 megalithic tombs in all, of different grades, have been found in the region). The archaeologists have also recovered three skeletons, two female and one male.

One that may be typical is of a person buried with legs crossed, a large stone under one knee and a gold ring in the hand. As Rajan explains, this tells us about the dead person's profession. It was jewellery workers who sat in this position with a stone under a knee, to work the precious stones.

The cists, or chamber burials, come in three varieties depending on orientation, the number of connected chambers and layout. The cists are covered by individual capstones.

The number and variety of the tombs and graves tell us what the rest of the site already makes clear: at its peak this was a prosperous place, with many residents, whose pride in their work, which was organised on an industrial scale, reflected the strong worldwide demand for it.

This is the last day of the dig at Kodumanal. Work has been on for three months, since April, performed by six PhD scholars, numerous students and 40 local labourers. And yet it is as if the archaeologists have merely scratched the surface.

There is still a large historical treasure trove, of material and insight not bullion, waiting to be unearthed. According to Rajan it will take another 10 years to complete the excavation.

Not only does this excavation bring to light the rich industrial and cultural past of this region, and reveal to us an important chapter in India's economic history, it also offers the people of Kodumanal a better future.

Roads are being laid, drinking water and electricity being provided. Youngsters from Kodumanal have started going to school and college — and some will have been inspired to learn history.

http://www.rediff.com/business/slide-show/slide-show-1-big-discovery-a-2500-year-old-industrial-estate/20120612.htm

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Japan, a Country keeping Islam and Christianity at bay

Read how Japan keeps, not only the Jehaadis but also vulture missionaries at bay, and how the proud Japanese preserve their native Japanese culture. They are indeed a very evolved race. These Japanese take no prisoners, when it comes to preserving  their ethos. Something we Hindus sadly lack in spite of having an equally great, or shall one say even better ethos.
 Have you ever read in the news paper that a political leader or a Prime Minister, from an Islamic nation has ever visited Japan?
 Have you ever come across any news paper that King of Iran or Saudi Arabia has visited Japan?

Japan, a Country keeping Islam and Christianity at bay.

1. Japan has put strict restrictions on the Islam and Muslims.

The reasons are:
a) Japan is the only nation that does not give citizenship to Muslims.
b) In Japan permanent residentship is not given to Muslims.
c) There is strong ban on the propagation of Islam in Japan.
d) In the University of Japan Arabic or any Islamic language is not taught.
e) One cannot import ‘Kuran’ published in Arabic language.
f) According to data published by Japanese government, it has given citizenship to only 2 lakhs Muslims. These Muslims speak Japanese and carrytheir religious ritual in their homes.
g) Japan is the only country in the world having negligible number of embassies of Islamic countries.
h) Japanese people are not attracted to Islam at all.
i) Muslims residing in Japan are the employees of foreign companies.
j) Even today Visas are not granted to Muslim doctors, engineers or managers send by foreign company.
k) In majority of the companies, it is stated in their laws that no Muslims should apply for the job.
l) Japan government is of an opinion that Muslims are fundamentalist and even in the era of globalization, they are not willing to change their Muslim laws.
m) Muslims can not even think about getting a rented house in Japan.
n) If anyone comes to know that his neighbor is a Muslim then the whole colony stays alert.
o) No one can start a Islamic or Arabic ‘Madarsa’ in Japan
p) There is no personal law in Japan.
q) If Japanese women marry a Muslim then she is banned.
r) According to Mr. Komico Yagi (Head of Department, Tokyo University) “There is a mind frame in Japan that Islam is narrow minded religion and one should stay away from it.”
s) Freelance journalist Mohammd Juber toured many Islamic countries after 9/11 incidence and at that time he went even to Japan. He found out Japanese are confident that extremist can do no harm in Japan.

Strict restrictions on the conversion to Christianity
 a. In Japan there are strong restrictions on conversions to Christianity.
b. If due to any reason one converts his religion then both, one who converts, and one who helps both are severely punished.
c. If a foreign citizen does this then he is given a strict notice to leave Japan immediately.
d. Christen missionaries are influential all over the world but in Japan they could do no magic.
e. The POPE of Vatican is unhappy on two things: 20th century is about to end but they could not convert India in to a Christen nation as Greek and there is no rise in number of Christens in Japan.
f. Japanese do not convert to other religion for the sake of money. They are very loyal to their religion and do not convert even if they are tempted with large remuneration.


Reference :
1. This astonishing information about Japan is by Mr. Mahani Yamo, Chairman of Solidarity Network, an Institute dedicated to Survey.
2. Some part is taken from an article written by Mr. Muzaffer Hussain in the ‘Panchjanya’ dated 30/05/2010 ( monthly magazine ‘Savarkar Times' July 2010).

SC refuses stay on HC order

Questioning the government on giving 4.5 percent sub-quota for minorities on the basis of religion, the Supreme Court today refused to stay the Andhra Pradesh High Court order quashing the decision.

"We are not inclined to grant stay," a bench comprising justices K S Radhakrishnan and J S Khehar said while issuing notices to the petitioner on whose PIL the high court had quashed the 4.5 percent sub-quota for minorities carved out of the 27 per cent OBC quota in central educational institutions like the IIT.

The bench, before which the Ministry of Human Resource Development placed the relevant and supporting documents forming the basis for the sub-quota, asked "can you make classification on the basis of religion".

It further said that the December 22, 2011 Office Memorandum on the issue of sub-quota did not have the legislative support.

The bench, which also questioned the calculation of providing 4.5 percent sub-quota within the 27 percent OBC quota, wanted to know from the government as to "whether there was any constitutional and statutory support for granting 4.5 percent sub-quota.

"We are asking whether 4.5 percent sub-quota has got constitutional or statutory support or not," the bench said.

It said "the second question is whether the office memorandum has constitutional and statutory support or not".

Additional Solicitor General Gourab Banerji made all efforts that the apex court considers his plea for staying the high court order in view of the on going counselling for IITs for which 325 candidates have been short listed under the 4.5 percent sub-quota for minorities.

However, the bench said it was not inclined to stay the high court order and noted that there was ambiguity in the calculation for carving out sub-quota within the 27 percent OBC quota.

The bench was of the view that carving out sub-quota from minorities would have a bearing on the OBCs.

The court once again questioned the government for not consulting statutory bodies like the National Commission of Minorities (NCM) and National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) in determining the sub-quota.

"Why you overlooked the NCBC and NCM. They are two most important statutory bodies," the bench asked.

At the outset, the bench told the Centre that voluminous documents, which have been placed before it now, should have been produced in the high court.

When Banerji said the high court was under the impression that the sub-quota was for all minorities, the bench shot back "it was because that was the reflection in the office memorandum".

Banerji said, all religious minorities like Buddhism and Zoroastrianism are not in the list of 4.5 percent sub-quota.

He said though the OBCs among the religious minorities are covered under 27 percent OBC quota, 4.5 percent sub-quota is granted to lowest ranks of Muslims or converts to Christianity.

Banerji said the first cut-off identifying the OBC within the minorities for 4.5 percent sub-quota were that they have to be socially and educationally backward and they have to be religious minorities.

At this, the bench said "that is the difficulty and that is the point. We can understand if its is across the board. How you made the calculation?"

The Centre had yesterday placed before the Supreme Court the "relevant" material and documents on the basis of which it carved out 4.5 per cent sub-quota.

The apex court had on June 11 asked the Ministry of Human Resources Development to place the material before it.

The bench had ticked off the government for the way it had handled the "complex" and "sensitive" issue.

The apex court had also expressed its "unhappiness" that the Centre was blaming the High Court when it had itself failed to produce documents to support its case.

The bench was critical of the Ministry of Human Resource Development rushing to the apex court with the appeal against the May 28 order of the High Court with out documents to justify the policy of carving out 4.5 per cent sub-quota within the 27 per cent OBC reservation.

The Union government had moved the apex court challenging the High Court order quashing the 4.5 per cent sub quota for minorities.

The December 22, 2011 Office Memorandum for the sub-quota for socially and educationally backward classes of citizens belonging to minority communities in central educational institutions and jobs was announced by the Centre ahead of the Assembly elections in five states including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.

http://dailypioneer.com/home/online-channel/top-story/72696-supreme-court-no-to-stay-on-andhra-sub-quota-order.html

Papular Raja Festival in Odisha

Raja is the living cultural heritage of Odisha . It is a manifestation of the agricultural way of life. Village and agriculture based Odisha People observes Raja festival at the end of Jyostha and with the first two day of Asadha. The first day is called Pahili Raja,second day is Raja Sankranti,third day is Basi Raja. The word Raja comes from the word Rajaswala which means menstruation.

            As all agricultural activities remain suspended and a joyous atmosphere pervades, the young men of the village keep themselves busy in various types of local games, the most favorite game 'Kabadi'. Competitions are also held between different groups of village.

The special variety of cake prepared out of recipes like rice-powder ( Chuna), molasses, coconut, camphor, ghee etc. goes in the name of "Poda Pitha" (burnt cake). The size of the cake varies according to the number of family members. Cakes are also exchanged among relatives and friends

Slap by Hon Supreme Court to Union Govt for Muslim Quota

After Hon Supreme Court’s Slap to Union Govt on 4.5% Muslim Quota

Govt must withdraw the quota & apologize to Bharat

- Dr. Pravin Togadia

New Delhi, June 11, 2012

Today Hon Supreme Court has lambasted the Union Govt for 4.5% quota given exclusively to Muslims by snatching from 27% OBC quota. Union Govt has gone to Supreme Court in an appeal in a great hurry against Andhra HC decision against 4.5% quota to Muslims. Hon Supreme Court has even refused to admit Union Govt’s appeal unless & until the Govt gives some evidence & basis for  such unconstitutional religion based quota within quota.

Further lambasting the Union Govt, Dr Pravin Togadia, International Working President of VHP said, ‘This is a severe blow to the Union govt & also to all other state govts who have been trying to appease Muslim vote bank by such special favours like quotas & reservations to Muslims by snatching the rights of real poor & needy OBCs, SCs, Tribals & from Open Merit.’

Dr Togadia demanded:

1. Union Govt & state Govts should immediately withdraw any quotas given to Muslims in any field like education, jobs, bank loans, etc.
2. Govt must immediately apologize to Bharat for such an unconstitutional vote-focused decision forced on to Bharat depriving the real needy poor OBCs, SCs, Tribals & open merit citizens of their right to education, jobs, bank loans etc.
3. After such a severe slap by the Hon Supreme Court, now the Govt must scrap in total the reports by Rangnath Mishr Commission & Rajendra Sachhar Committee as Govt doing a special study for a specific religion with the obvious intention to favor it over other religions is itself unconstitutional.
4. Union Govt & many state Govts have spent Hindu Tax payers’ money in all such baseless studies & then for court cases. As a compensation, this year, all Hindu tax payers should be given 1% rebate in all tax payments & the expenses that have been incurred for such unconstitutional surveys & the appeals in the courts should be recovered from Muslims.