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'Conversion' fuels parliament heat, Bajrang Dal upbeat

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agra

New Delhi: The alleged forcible conversion of about 300 Muslims in Agra generated political heat Wednesday but the Bajrang Dal insisted it had done no wrong.

Opposition leaders in and outside parliament demanded to know the central government’s response to what they said was a breach of the constitutional provision of secularism.

Speaking at a Congress meeting in Kerala, party vice president Rahul Gandhi accused the central government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of triggering communal tensions.

“Their sole interest is come to power in the country. They are ready to use anything to come to power,” Gandhi said in Thiruvananthapuram.

“It doesn’t matter if people of different religion fight. It does matter to them if there is bloodshed,” he added.

In the Rajya Sabha, Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati called the Agra conversions an attack on the country’s secular fabric.

Mayawati was backed by opposition parties who sought a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On Wednesday, organisers of the Monday event again defended their action.

Ajju Chauhan, a Bajrang Dal leaders, said: “It is being wrongly propagated that the converts had been promised ration cards. They already have voting and ration cards. “They have on their own opted to convert to Hinduism,” he added.

Meanwhile, Muslim groups in Agra’s Mantola area staged a protest against the conversion. A police complaint has been filed against Nand Kishore, the state convener of Dharam Jagran Manch.

Unfazed by criticism, Hindutva groups Wednesday held several meetings in the Taj city. According to official sources, the situation in neighbouring Aligarh district was tense as a similar conversion programme has been announced for Thursday.

The nearly 300 members of some 60 Muslim families living in a slum on Agra’s outskirts reportedly embraced Hinduism Monday. The Bajrang Dal said it had organised the event.

Later, at least one Muslim claimed that he and the others were tricked into attending a fire ceremony by Bajrang Dal leaders, and that they were promised a better life if they gave up Islam and became Hindus.

Azam Khan, a senior leader from Uttar Pradesh’s ruling Samjawadi Party, accused the BJP of vitiating the atmosphere in the state.

“The BJP and the RSS have no issue. The Modi government has failed on various fronts. Neither could it create jobs not bring black money stashed abroad,” he said. “They just want to create tension.”

CPI leader D. Raja said: “Forcible conversions are a violation of our constitution. The government should take this into serious consideration.”

In the upper house, Mayawati said: “Our nation is run by a constitution which has secularism as a pillar.

“Whichever party is in the government is responsible to take care of the safety of the life and religious beliefs of people,” said the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister.

“They (Muslims) were lured. They (Bajrang Dal) took advantage of their poverty to convert them.”

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government was committed to secular ideals.

“We are as dedicated to harmony and secularism as anyone else. Secularism is not anyone’s monopoly,” he said.

“As far as this incident is concerned, an FIR has been registered. Naming a particular organisation for political reasons is not right.”

CPI-M’s Sitaram Yechury said: “The RSS has said that after 90 years they have their government in (Delhi). They say they will covert the nation into a Hindu nation.”

In the Lok Sabha, as soon as the house met for question hour, Trinamool Congress’ Sultan Ahmed waved a newspaper and asked: “What is happening in Agra?”

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan refused to allow a discussion.

(IANS)

Move to decriminalise suicide raises hope for Irom Sharmila's release

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Irom-Sharmila

Imphal: The central government’s move to decriminalise attempt to suicide has ushered in new hope for release of Manipur’s rights activist Irom Sharmila Chanu, who has been fasting for over 14 years.

The human rights fraternity of the northeastern state is now planning to move the court for release of Sharmila, better known as the “Iron Lady of Manipur”, who has been fasting since November 2000 to demand repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers’ Act (AFSPA).

Sharmila’s brother Irom Shinghajit expressed his happiness over the decision, saying this would help Sharmila get out of the jail and will boost their movement against the AFSPA.

Manipur-based rights activist Babloo Loitongbam said: “We are going to move court soon for necessary orders. The central government’s decision has removed criminal tinge from the Sharmila’s movement, we have been saying that her movement is a political one.”

Sharmila decided to sit for indefinite fast after the Assam Rifles killed 10 civilians at Malom in Imphal.

A court in August observed that the “charge of attempt to commit suicide was wrongly framed against the petitioner (Sharmila)” and asked the state government to release her immediately.

However, she was re-arrested within 48 hours of her release. Justifying her re-arrest, Manipur Police said Sharmila was re-arrested on charges of attempt to commit suicide under Section 309 of the IPC.

Union Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary Wednesday told the Rajya Sabha that the government has decided to decriminalise “attempt to suicide” by deleting section 309 of the Indian Penal Code from the statute book.

The AFSPA, which covers large parts of northeastern India and Kashmir, gives security forces sweeping powers to search, enter property and shoot-on-sight and is seen by critics as cover for human rights abuses.

(IANS)

Dilip Kumar turns 92

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Mumbai: Veteran actor Dilip Kumar, who is being treated at Lilavati Hospital for pneumonia is said to be recovering and will be discharged Thursday, in time to celebrate his birthday (December 11) at his residence.

According to Hindustan Times, Udaya Tara Nayar, a close friend of the actor who is also compiling Kumar’s autobiography titled The Substance and the Shadow, said: “I met him and he is fine now. He has been responding to the treatment very well.”

According to reports, the actor’s wife, Saira Banu, has planned a small dinner for his special day.

“We do have plans to get him back home before his birthday. The doctor will do his check-up tomorrow (Thursday) morning and he will be discharged by tomorrow afternoon. He should be back home by 1pm or 2pm,” said Nayar and added: “As far his birthday plans are concerned, it will be a quiet celebration only with his close friends.”

Born on December 11th, 1922 Dilip Kumar, one of the finest actor in Bollywood turns 92 today. He made his debut in Jwar Bhata in the year 1944 followed by variety of roles in movies such as Andaz, Aan, Devdas, Mughal-e-Azam and Ganga Jamuna. In his entire career he did approximately 60 films and was termed as the ultimate method actor by Satyajit Ray.

There is certain list of movie which Dilip Kumar did and are real nuggets which will remain embedded in history for the excellent storyline, chart buster songs and mesmerizing performances.

Dilip Kumar portrayed character roles in the year 1976 in films Krnati, Shakti, Karma, Saudagar and Qila. Every role which he played on-screen delivered great chemistry and was loved by the audiences. Dilip Kumar was honored with Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in the year 1991, followed by Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

Smith, Clarke score tons as rain mars second day's play

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Smith and Clarke punished India's ordinary bowling on Day 2. Photo: AP

Smith and Clarke punished India’s ordinary bowling on Day 2. Photo: AP

Adelaide: Steven Smith (batting 162) and skipper Michael Clarke (128) scored centuries to help Australia reach 517 for seven on a rain-affected second day of the first Test against India at the Adelaide Oval here Wednesday.

Intermittent rain plagued the day with the Australian duo ruthlessly dominating a listless Indian bowling, which conceded 163 runs in 30.4 overs.

A half-fit Clarke and Smith shared 163-run partnership for the seventh wicket and completely dominated with some scintillating strokeplay till the skipper, after completing his 28th century, lost his wicket when his sweep off a debutant Karn Sharma delivery went straight into the hands of Cheteshwar Pujara at square leg.

His wicket was India’s only success for the day.

The 25-year-old right-handed batsman Steven Smith once again showed mettle with a gritty knock. He batted with aplomb as his captain battled pain and initially struggled with body movement due to back spasm which had forced him to retire hurt Tuesday at an individual score of 60.

Early on, Smith kept the scoreboard ticking by peppering the boundary. His knock not only pressurised the Virat Kohli-led Indians but also took pressure off Clarke as he took time to settle down.

Though Clarke lacked in footwork and body movement due to the injury that has been troubling him for last couple of years, he trusted his class and experience to keep the Indians at bay.

He stood at the crease to fend off the Indian pacers, who were short on discipline and fire.

But regular breaks due to showers worked in Clarke’s favour and especially after lunch he looked a completely different batsman, using his feet to clinical precision against the debutant leg-spinner Karn. He also batted well against Varun Aaron, hitting him through cover and point.

Clarke’s knock comprised 18 boundaries and it came at a strike rate of 78.52, Smith hit 21 fours and his knock came at a strike rate of 70.12.

What didn’t help the Indians were the missed chances as Smith was dropped twice albeit after scoring his fifth ton.

First, when he was batting on 131, he danced down the track and missed a flighted delivery from leggie Karn Sharma but wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha failed to collect the ball properly.

Later, when he was on 161, Ishant misjudged a catch and ran behind instead of moving forward towards the ball at deep fine leg. He dived but it dropped few metres in front of him.

Wednesday’s play started 10 minutes late as overnight batsman Smith and Clarke did well to help their team reach the 400-run mark before drizzle forced an early lunch break.

After Mohammed Shami bowled four deliveries to complete the 90th over, Smith cut a short ball from Ishant Sharma through backward point to make his intentions clear.

He again punished Ishant in his next over with two cracking punches through covers as the Indian persisted with short and wide deliveries.

He reached his three figures by tucking a Shami delivery towards the deep mid-wicket for a couple. As part of his celebration, he ran towards the ground where late Phillip Hughe’s number 408 was written.

He looked skywards and was hugged by an emotional captain.

Mitchell Johnon (batting 0) was at the crease with Smith when the play was called off for the day due to bad light.

(IANS)

Will stay away from IPL till panel's decision: Srinivasan to SC

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Senior counsel Kapil Sibal told a bench of Justice T.S. Thakur and Justice F.M.I. Kalifulla that Srinivasan would stay away from the governing council and its activities

srinivasan

New Delhi: N. Srinivasan, the Indian cricket board’s sidelined chief, Wednesday told the Supreme Court that if he is re-elected, he would stay away from the Indian Premier League (IPL) governing council till a proposed committee decides on the larger question of conflict of between his BCCI role and his IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings.

Responding to a poser from the court Tuesday, senior counsel Kapil Sibal told a bench of Justice T.S. Thakur and Justice F.M.I. Kalifulla that Srinivasan would stay away from the governing council and its activities and also from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) meetings related to the IPL.

Sibal said: “Mr. N. Srinivasan, further undertakes that if he is elected as president of BCCI, till the (proposed) committee suggests the procedure to deal with the issue of conflict of interest, he will not attend any IPL governing council meeting or any other IPL related discussion in ant meeting of working committee or general body meeting of the BCCI.”

This the court was told in a note on the scope of reference of the committee to be appointed by the apex court or the BCCI into the question of conflict of interest. The note said the committee could suggest “the sanctions to be imposed, in accordance with the applicable IPL rules on person prima facie found to be involved in the act of backing by the Mudgal Committee.”

The committee may also determine the liability of the franchisees for the act of backing by their “team officials and to suggest the consequential sanctions that can be imposed on them in accordance with the IPL rules.”

The note said that another term of reference for the proposed committee would be to “consider and suggest a mechanism to identify the potential conflict of interest in the BCCI and to suggest the procedure to be adopted for dealing with situations of potential conflict of interest.”

Sibal said this during the hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by Cricket Association of Bihar which has sought to oust Srinivasan as BCCI president on the ground of his being in the conflict of interest situation being the president of the cricketing body and also the owner of CSK.

The PIL is also seeking the cancellation of IPL franchisee CSK on the ground of Srinivasan’s son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan’s alleged involvement in betting.

(IANS)

It was Sangliana's daughter, not the 'burqa-clad' women who started the altercation, say police

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Rachel Sangliana

Rachel Sangliana

Bengaluru: City Police Commissioner M N Reddy rubbished claims made by former city police commissioner H T Sangliana’s daughter Rachel, that she was racially abused by two unidentified women.

Reddy told reporters that it was not a case of racial abuse, but an altercation involving Rachel and the two women.

Citing a senior police officer, Deccan Herald reported that the police sent a team to the mall, where the incident took place. “Eyewitnesses told the police that it was Rachel who triggered the incident.”

“Rachel abused the women and they retaliated. Nobody in the mall ever indulged in racial abuse,” the police said.

“We requested her to lodge a complaint but she refused to do so. She said there was no need for the complaint, thanked the police and went away,” the officer is told to have said.

Rachel had earlier claimed that two burqa-clad women had attacked her at a mall. She had also claimed that she was beaten up and that she sustained injuries on the head and face. She alleged that the women had called her a Chinese woman and said that a lesson should be taught to outsiders in Karnataka.

Background check made compulsory for Bengaluru cab drivers

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Bangalore Taxi

Bengaluru: Police Tuesday made background check compulsory for cab drivers to ensure safety and security of citizens, especially women using taxi service for commuting across the city, a top official said.

“We have directed all taxi operators in the city to do a thorough background check of drivers employed with them and not to employ any drivers without verifying their service record with us,” Bengaluru police commissioner M N Reddi told reporters here.

The decision was taken at a meeting state transport commissioner Ramegowda had with senior police officials, cab operators and taxi unions here in the wake of an alleged rape of an woman executive by a cab driver in Delhi December 5.

“Cab operators and taxi owners will be liable if they are found employing drivers without background check,” Reddi said.

“They must submit a list of their drivers (employed) to the jurisdictional police stations with a copy of their (drivers’) profile, including details of driving licence, temporary and permanent residential address, educational qualification, mobile number and a health certificate to ensure their professional conduct.”

Reddi told cab operators and taxi owners that their permit would be suspended by the transport department if customers lodge serious complaints against drivers of misbehaving, rash driving, using foul language or acts of criminal misconduct.

Meanwhile, Ramegowda instructed officials of the regional transport offices (RTO) across the city to conduct regular checks on cab drivers and suspend their licences if they do not carry the requisite documents, including insurance cover and registration certificate.

Victims of Muzaffarnagar communal violence are at imminent risk of eviction

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People living in the 6 Camps, set up in post-Communal Violence in Muzaffarnagar (UP) are at imminent risk of forced eviction.

Muzaffarnagar Riot hit victims Malakpur camp in the Shamli District where fourty five hundred people have been living.

Muzaffarnagar Riot hit victims Malakpur camp in the Shamli District where fourty five hundred people have been living.

There are around 22 camps across the both districts Shamli and Muzaffarnagar. In Tehsil Kairana, district shamli, the following are the camps Malakpur, Dabheri khurd, Noorpur Khurgaan, Sunheti and Barnawi in which around 250 families are living on forest department land in a pathetic condition. Most of them are from Soram village of Muzaffarnagar, Pura Mahadevi village Meerut, chakroli village Badaut, kutba and kutbi villages of Muzaffaranagar, Bitawda of Muzaffarnagar, Bhaju village of shamli, bhora village of Muzaffarnagar, Soop village of baghpat.

Administration believes that these people are staying in camps in greed of 5 lac compensation (govt provided this compensation to affected persons from nine villages). Also, the administration says that these people are not victim of riot so bringing them into the purview of compensation does not make any sense. Hence SDM kairana and forest department officers gave them ultimatum to vacate the land (six camps mentioned above) within 72 hours on December 6th, 2014.

On the contrary, the activist working on the ground who visited these camps and interacted with camps dwellers in this regard, report that the camp residents said “Hame Paiso Ka Koi Lalach Nhi Hai, Hum To Sirf Apna Ghar Chahte Hai” when they asked them why they do not want to return their villages, they added “Kis Muh Se Jaye Ab Wapas, Ye To Hamari Izzat Ka Sawal Hai”(They are adamant because if they go back, they face harassment by the Jat villagers). In addition to this, they have not been called back by their village Pradhan nor administration ensured security to them after the incident happened so that they could have gathered the strength to go back. They fled from their villages due to fear of violence but do not want to return as it is the matter of their self-esteem, and respect. Their only demand from the administration is to relocate them to a place they can call their own.

Please call following authorities, asking them to:

  1. Stop Eviction Immediately,
  2. Provide proper rehabilitation, and
  3. Ensure that the victims are not harassed.

DM Shamli: 09454449618
SDM Kairana: 09454417007

For more details, please contact:
Akram Akhtar: 09897974647

Muslim families in Agra deny embracing Hinduism, say they were lured

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Conversion_Agra

Agra: A Bajrang Dal leader said Tuesday that all the 300 poor Muslims who he said had embraced Hinduism here will be given ration cards they badly lacked.

Amid claims by one of the 300 that they were forced to give up Islam, Bajrang Dal’s Ajju Chauhan said everyone in the group would be now taught Hindu rituals.

The Bajrang Dal organised the conversion ceremony Monday.

Chauhan, the group’s co-convener, said Tuesday that all those who converted to Hinduism would be “Sanskritised”. They would be registered as voters and would get ration cards.

He said the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), to which the Bajrang Dal is allied, had been working “hard for three months to persuade them to convert to Hinduism”.

The 300 members of some 60 Muslim families who reportedly embraced Hinduism Monday evening live in a slum on the outskirts of the Taj city — and are miserably poor.

Most of them had lived near Madhu Nagar on Gwalior Road for 17 long years after migrating either from West Bengal or Bangladesh.

Munira, one of the 300, alleged they were lured to the event on the promise of giving them a plot of land and ration cards.

“We were taken to a place where a fire ceremony was on,” Munira told ABP news channel. “We were made to sit there. We became panicky. We were told to pray to Hindu gods. We did whatever they told us…

“But now we are again reading the Holy Quran and our family members offered namaz today,” he added.

Some of the converts, picked from a colony of rag-pickers, claimed that they had been lured with incentives like a ration card and other cards that would entitle them to subsidized welfare schemes.

“We were told we will get ration card, Aadhar card, the police will not bother us. We are poor so what do we do?” said one of the converts.

Others like Sufia Begum got emotional and said, “Please forgive me and let us remain Muslims.”

However, the groups, which undertook the conversion ceremony, remain undaunted.

“Come to Aligarh on 25th, both Christians and Muslims will be converted under Adityanath’s blessings,” said Rajeshwar Singh, area chief of the Dharam Jagran Samanvay Vibhagh.

The episode, which has come after days of protests revolving around the ‘hate speech’ of Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, has provided the opposition with fresh ammunition. Parliament is scheduled to debate on the rising cases of communal tension on December 17.

BSP chief Mayawati has said that these events were being organised by communal forces and that her party was against it. Rajiv Shukla of the Congress said that this was being done keeping in mind the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls in 2017.

Cases of cheating and promoting enmity have now been filed by policemen who visited the families late last night.

(With input from IANS)

Belagavi session: Karnataka Assembly adjourned twice as BJP raises farmers' issue

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The Suvarna Vidhan Soudha in Belagavi where the Winter Session commenced from Tuesday, December 9, 2014. Photo: D.B. Patil.

The Suvarna Vidhan Soudha in Belagavi where the Winter Session commenced from Tuesday, December 9, 2014. Photo: D.B. Patil.

Belagavi: The Karnataka Assembly was on Tuesday adjourned twice after BJP MLAs demanded adjournment motion to discuss problems faced by farmers, including sugarcane price issue, as the winter session of the Legislature began.

Former Chief Minister and Opposition Leader, Jagadish Shettar sought adjournment motion and criticised the government for failing to keep its promise on payment to sugarcane growers made on the floor of the House in the last winter session.

The government had come under intense pressure to increase the State Advised Price (SAP) after a protesting sugarcane farmer committed suicide in front of the state secretariat during last winter session at Belagavi.

Sugarcane growers, who had rejected the price of Rs 2,500 a tonne fixed by the government, had staged protests, demanding that it be raised to Rs 3,500 per tonne.

The government is neglecting farmers’ problems even as they are on the streets, Shettar alleged.

Speaker Kagodu Thimappa said he would not allow adjournment motion, but the issue could be discussed under a different rule. Not satisfied with Thimappa’s assurance, BJP members who were staging protest in the well of the House raised slogans against the government.

Thereafter, Thimappa adjourned the proceedings till 3 PM.

Earlier also, Thimappa adjourned the House for ten minutes after he assured the members that he would take up the issue after the Question Hour.

Intervening in the matter, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the intentions of the opposition is “nefarious” to derail democratic norms by demanding adjournment motion before the Question Hour.

Objecting to Siddaramaiah’s remarks, BJP raised slogans which prompted Thimappa to adjourn the House for ten minutes.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders and party workers staged protest outside Suvarna Soudha, the state secretariat building here, to highlight the government’s ‘failure’ in protecting interests of farmers. The protest was led by BJP’s National Vice President and former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.

BJP is also seeking resignation of four ministers – HS Mahadeva Prasad, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Qamarul Islam and KJ George for alleged land grab and failure of the Siddaramaiah government in preventing sexual assaults on women and children.

(PTI)

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