Union minister, Anant Kumar Hegde, continuing with his tirade against rationalists and intellectuals, termed them as ‘idiots’ who have ‘sold’ their intellect and have been living under the ‘cover of secular makeup’.

He was speaking at a programme organized at Suchitra Film Society at Banashankari here to release the translated edition of Veer Savarkar’s book ‘Hindutva’, by critic and columnist, J B Harish, on Sunday, June 17. He accused some rationalists of having enough knowledge about Hindutva but acting out a drama about it. He felt that no one should work to create a division of Hindutva.

“Those who already know about Hindutva do not need this. Intellectuals who are in hibernation duly covering themselves in the blanket of idiocy will not understand in spite of one’s best efforts. Those who visit USA, Japan etc come back and criticize India for the improper network, bad condition of the road and shortage of electricity. For them, only these things make up a country,” he criticized.

Hegde said that Savarkar followed what he preached. He said it is impossible to totally explain Hindutva and termed such a demand as a height of foolishness. “I am not an idiot like the rationalists, and I was not born in such a lineage of idiots,” he stated.

Hegde pointed out that Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, Parsis etc proudly claim themselves to be belonging to their respective religions but Hindus are not proud of their religion. He wondered why they do not feel that pride. “We know our parents. Why should we not say that we are Hindus? Our people should free themselves from this state of mind,” he stated.

Hegde blamed some people of trying to project that Hinduism is being raked up as an issue for the election. “This is not a political football match. It is not a technique meant for election. Wearing flowers, and bangles, going to temples etc do not entirely depict Hinduism. Hinduism is our lifeline and culture. It is an excellent way of living,” he explained.

Writers, M N Vyasa Rao and Rohith Chakrateertha, critic, J B Harish and others were present.

India is striving to become a USD 5 trillion economy and the world’s third-largest consumer market by 2025, President Ram Nath Kovind has said as he highlighted investment opportunities in the country.

Kovind, the first Indian president to travel to Greece in 11 years, arrived here on Saturday on the first leg of his three-nation tour.

Addressing the diaspora here, he said his visit will strengthen ties between India and Greece.

Kovind praised overseas Indians for playing an important role in improving bilateral relations.

“Greece and India presented the ideals of civilization and culture in the ancient world. The relations between the two countries are very old and deep. Greek historian Megasthenes introduced India to the world through his book ‘Indica’,” the president said.

“We are working towards making India a USD 5 trillion economy and the world’s third-largest consumer market by 2025. According to the World Bank and IMF, our growth rate is going to be high,” he said.

Currently, India’s economy is estimated at USD 2.5 trillion.

Kovind said India had a very strong position in the world with the perspective of democracy, demographic divided and demand.

“We are proud of our overseas Indians and their successes. Today there are plenty of opportunities for business, innovation, and investment in India. I hope that whatever you can do for the development of India for the motherland, you will do that,” he said.

India-Greece bilateral trade stands at USD 530 million and some Indian companies are also present in the infrastructure, pharmaceutical and steel sectors in the central European nation. Greece is home to a 12,000-strong Indian diaspora.

Kovind will also travel to Surinam and Cuba during his trip.

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has asked for the Union government to give 50 percent financial assistance to waive off farmer’s loan remembering the interests of the farmers in the state.

Talking at the NITI Aayog meeting held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan under the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on June 17, Kumaraswamy said that in the state around 85 lakh farmers are in the debt. Farmers suffer a huge loss because of drought and other calamities, the state needs the help of the Union government, he asked.

“I am partaking in the NITI Aayog meeting for the first time. Our coalition government is prepared to react to the issues of the farmers, there is a requirement for help from the Central government. We will hold hands with the Center on the development issue.” he included.

The Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Malappuram has issued summons on a complaint filed by Ms. A.S. Sainaba, President, National Women’s Front (NWF) alleging that a show aired by Times Now had wrongly accused her of playing a major role in converting women into Islam and providing them a hideout.

The show titled “Hindu girls are hunted, converted, exploited in Kerala” had aired in August last year, and had alleged that a “secret NIA report” had found Sainaba to be a “mentor” who persuaded Hindu girls to embrace Islam.

The complaint has been filed against Mr. Rahul Shivshankar, the Editor in Chief of Times Now, and Mr. Anand Narasimhan, the anchor for the show. They have to appear before the Court on August 30.

In her complaint filed through Advocate MP Abdul Latheef, Sainaba alleges that the report was trying to connect her with “love-jihad”, a terminology which was being used “to degrade Muslims in the country.”Calling the report false, she contends, “The entire news reports aired by the accused on 30-08-2017 was happened to be watched by millions around the globe and some of the friends, well-wishers, and sympathizers contacted the complainant and expressed their dissatisfaction towards the complainant due to the obnoxious picture of the complainant portrayed by the accused.

The status, reputation, and respect experienced by the complainant throughout her social life have been lowered and defamed due to the broadcasting of the news report mentored by the accused.

A number of people from different walks of life expressed their dissatisfaction towards the complainant in the wake of transmitting the defamatory news report.”

The secret NIA report in question appears to have been issued in the wake of the Hadiya case, which was decided by the Supreme Court in March this year. The NIA probe was ordered in August 2017, under the supervision of retired Supreme Court Judge R.V. Raveendran. Sainaba had then been interrogated by the NIA for her alleged role in over ten cases of conversions.

It may be noted here that Sainaba was once Hadiya’s guardian after the girl allegedly left her home to study Islam and later when she refused in the Kerala High Court to go with her parents. In fact, Hadiya’s father had made specific allegations against her in an Affidavit demanding his family’s security.

Her conduct in insisting on housing a complete stranger like Akhila, supporting her financially and otherwise taking responsibility for her by inter alia, arranging her so-called marriage with the Petitioner, raises serious disquiet about her intentions. Describes herself as “guardian” of Akhila,” his affidavit had said.

Thereafter, in March this year, the Apex Court had set aside the impugned Kerala High Court judgment which had called Hadiya’s marriage to Shafin Jahan a “sham”. The Court had, however, allowed NIA to continue its investigation into any aspects of criminality involved, while clarifying that the validity of the marriage between the two would not be a subject matter of investigation.

Landslides in as many as five places in Lumding – Badarpur hill section of Assam, owing to heavy rain in that area has affected the normal train running in that section. Landslides have occurred at following locations:
KM 75/7-8 between Dautohaja – Phiding, KM 83/1-3 at Phiding station yard, KM 87/7-8 between Phiding – Mahur, KM/113/8-9 between Jatingalampur – New Harangajao and Washout between tunnels no 9 and 10.
All the landslides have occurred between 01-30 hrs and 03-30 hrs today.

As a result, train running over that section has been suspended. Details are as follows:
1. Train number 55616 Guwahati – Silchar Fast passenger is controlled at Lumding from 05-17 hrs.
2. 25657 Sealdah – Silchar Kanchanjungha Express to be controlled at Lumding.
3. 55616 Silchar – Guwahati Fast passenger has been cancelled on date.
4. 15658 Agartala – Sealdah Kanchanjungha Express to be controlled at Badarpur.
There is no passenger train stranded within the affected section.
Although the extent of damage is yet to be fully ascertained, resotoration work has already started in all affected locations. Divisional Railway Manager / Lumding is already at site monitoring the situation. Work is going on to restart the train services as early as possible.
Hindusthan Samachar/Arvind/Shri Ram\

No major threat to EPS govt seen

  The Madras High Court will deliver its judgement today on the case involving the order of the TN Assembly Speaker Dhanapal disqualifying 18 MLAs of the ruling ADMK who had delivered a letter to the Governor expressing their desire to have the CM removed and select someone else in place of Edapadi Palaniswami.
The case was argued on behalf of both the parties by high profile SC lawyers like Abhshek Manu Singhvi, Kapil Sibal and others but the HC reserved the judgement after hearing the arguments. It is being delivered after 5 months.
The general expectation among the legal and political circles is that whichever way the judgement goes, the EPS government may not come under any immediate threat. One reason is the losing party will go to the Supreme Court and also that no MLA, from any political party wants to go back to the people for elections.
But the attention of the state and national media will stay riveted on the HC judgement.

Hindusthan Samachar/S. Mahadevan/Shri Ram\

Former President Pranab Mukherjee, who was in the eye of a storm and the butt of criticism from some Congress leaders for going to the RSS headquarters, attended the Iftar party hosted by Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday.

“Good food, friendly faces and great conversation make for a memorable Iftar! We were honoured to have two former Presidents, Pranab Da and Smt Pratibha Patil ji join us, along with leaders from different political parties, the media, diplomats and many old and new friends,” Gandhi tweeted afterwars.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi was not present in the meeting as she has not returned from abroad. Rahul’s Iftar party was not attended by prominent opposition leaders like H.D. Deve Gowda, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, Samajwadi Party leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

Even Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, who was believed to have been invited, did not attend.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former President Patil and former Vice President Hamid Ansari were among the dignitaries who attended the function at a hotel where leaders from opposition parties including rebel Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav, Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, Janata Dal-Secular leader Danish Ali, Trinamool Congress leader Dinesh Trivedi and Bahujan Samaj Party’s Satish Chandra Mishra were also present.

Nationalist Congress Party leader D.P. Tripathi, DMK’s Kanimozhi, Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Jha, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s Hemant Soren and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal were the other opposition leaders who were present along with Congress leaders P. Chidambaram and A.K. Antony.

Gandhi also met foreign delegates and diplomats at the Iftar party.

Mukherjee, whose acceptance of the RSS invite became a matter of big controversy, greeted those present at the function as he moved among the guests. Rahul Gandhi welcomed him and other guests.

There was even speculation whether Mukherjee would be invited but the party issued an official statement to set at rest any such reports by saying that the former President has indeed been invited.

Mukherjee left after a while.

After three decades of war, Afghanistan is still not a secure place to live in. It is perhaps the most dangerous place to be born. Although after 2001 Afghanistan is considered to be a “post-war country”, violence, suffering, injustice, inequality, illiteracy and poverty remain unpleasant reminders of conflict in daily life. The “post-war” tag doesn’t make sense.

In addition to the many injuries from landmines and artillery, over 80 per cent of Afghan children reveal the psychological scars of war.

A survey conducted by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on the effect of war on children aged 8-18 in Kabul indicated that 41 per cent had lost one or more parents because of the conflict, and over half of them had witnessed torture and violent deaths around them.

My personal experience of what it means to be a child in a war-torn country forms the background of this analysis. Parents, families, writers, journalists, poets, schools and government and other non-government institutions are involved and responsible for creating children’s worldview in a society full of antagonism, hatred, and war.

From my childhood, I recall war, violence, killing, injuries, burning of buildings and sounds of different jet fighters, rockets and landmines, which affected my way of seeing and understanding the world. There is no change in the situation for my sons, and hundreds of other children living in the country. Violence and pain are still everyday experiences of people in Afghanistan, either directly or through the media.

Family and socio-economic background greatly influence children’s worldview. We learn from our environment how to behave and maintain social order in society.

Parent’s beliefs and their worldview affect their children’s beliefs and worldview. In creating a wider outlook for children several other influences are necessary, including those of teachers, care takers, other adults and institutions working for children.

Story books, storytelling, school books and comics are also important factors which shape a child’s worldview, as are toys, computer games, music and films.

I was in my uncle’s house a few years ago when there were five adults between the ages of 28 and 65 and 15 children aged between 2 and 12. Two persons had pistols and they set up a sign and started shooting at the sign. The children were happy watching their parents firing the guns.

My son Muzzamel was with me. He is four years old. I took him away from the firing and got him busy with my mobile phone football game. After they finished, I asked them how they could do this in front of their children. Their response was simple: The children need to learn these things because one lived in a country where everybody should know how to use guns.

Plastic guns imported from Pakistan are common and the most liked playthings by the children. Use of guns has become normal for most parents.

The everyday experience of bomb blasts, war, instability and poverty affect the psychology of children. They do not have the facilities for entertainment like public parks, cinemas and other leisure places which can have a great influence on their life and personality. In Afghanistan children are mostly deprived of the space outside their homes. Children are scared of going out, even those who go to school.

In such a complex situation, a child’s worldview is constructed by the adult’s world, which is loaded with fear, anxiety, insecurity and instability.

As one nine-year-old from Panjsher Valley told Save the Children in an interview: “I want to grow up as quickly as I can so that I can have a gun and find my father’s killer. And I will kill him because he killed my father.”

Even institutions involved in children’s welfare find it difficult to provide an alternate worldview free from war, violence and hatred.