Shia cleric opposes Women””s Reservation Bill

Allahabad, Mar 13 (ANI): Leading Shia cleric and scholar Maulana Kalbe Jawwad has opposed Women””s Reservation Bill.

Addressing reporters here on Friday, Jawwad said that God has created women to bring up their children in a better way, and not for delivering speeches in public.

“Women are not created for doing horse-riding or firing guns. Women are not made for shoemaking, or working at liquor units or delivering speeches in public rallies like men…who will take care of a child when his mother is sitting in Parliament? … We can””t say that women are developing with all these parameters,” he added.

The Women””s Reservation Bill sparked off a mixed response from various Islamic scholars and clerics. Some strongly opposed the Bill while others welcomed the move.

Rajya Sabha had passed the Bill on Tuesday, but some regional parties have opposed it by saying that the Bill doesn””t provide reservation for minorities and women of lower castes.

The government had pushed ahead with this Bill, ignoring possible threats to its stability, even going so far as to evict lawmakers who created a ruckus on the floor of the House to show their opposition to the Bill. (ANI)

28th Agartala Book Fair attracts book lovers

Agartala, Mar 5 (ANI): Thousands of book lovers are coming every day at the ongoing 28th Agartala Book Fair.

Organised by the Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism (ICAT) Department of Tripura with the cooperation of state publishers, the twelve-day-long fair is being held at the Sishuniketan ground of Agartala. It ends on March 11.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar inaugurated the fair in the presence of Assam Sahitya Sabha Padma Shri Rong Bong Terang and Vice-Chancellor of Tripura (Central) University, Arunoday Saha.

Book sellers from Kolkata, Delhi, Bangladesh and others are participating in the 163 stall book fair.

Booklovers consider the fair to be a golden opportunity.

Writers and publishers are also very happy about the fair doing good business.

This type of fair not only creates a healthy atmosphere in northeastern state, but also ensures the huge public participation. (ANI)

Rashtriya Janata Dal celebrates good show in Bihar by-polls

Patna, Sept 20 (ANI): The activists of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) here celebrated the party’s good show in the by-election for 18 legislative assembly seats.

The RJD-Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) won eight seats in the by-election for 18 legislative assembly seats, a major set back to ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U).

The JD (U) bagged three seats while its ally the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won two seats.

The activists burst crackers and distributed sweets to celebrate the win at the party office.

RJD leader Lalu Prasad termed the results as referendum on the ruling government.

“It is not possible for the Bihar Government-led by Nitish Kumar to return. The RJD alliance will return to power. The people of Bihar have welcomed us with open arms,” said Yadav.

The RJD failed poorly in Lok Sabha election in April-May this year, winning just four seats out of the total 40 in Bihar. (ANI)

405th installation anniversary of Sri Guru Granth Sahib

Agra, Sep 19(ANI): People of all religions and communities gathered to celebrate the 405th anniversary of the installation of the Sikh holy scriptures, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, at Gurudwara Maithan in Agra.

This was a significant landmark for the Sikhs, as the 275-year-old handwritten scripture, whose front pages are written with gold, was put on display for the devotees.

“The Guru Granth Sahib has the preaching or ‘bani’ of famous poets like Kabir ji, Guru Ravidas ji and Baba Farid ji. It is symbol of humanity and so people of all the religions have gathered here to celebrate the ‘Prakash Parv’, the installation ceremony together,” said Kanwldeep Singh, President of Sri Gursikh Sabha.

Also on display was a miniature scripture of Guru Granth Sahib, which has been preserved at the Gurudwara Maithan for the past 15 years.

“We have Guru Granth sahib of 1 X 1 inches long. The British for the convenience of Sikh soldiers especially designed the holy book during the First World War, as they could not carry a normal sized book in the battlefield. The miniature Guru Granth Sahib was printed in Germany. It was kept in a silver box,” said Gyani Kashmir Singh, head Granthi of Gurudwara Maithan.

To mark the anniversary of the installation of Guru Granth Sahib, special prayers were also held in the Gurudwara premises, which once the house of Mai jassi that was visited by Guru Sri Tegh Bahadur.he gurudwara is currently undergoing renovation and will be expanded to facilitate the large number of devotees visiting the shrine.

A total of 20 million dollars will be spent on renovation and construction of new Gurudwara, a 100-bed hospital and a community hall.

Gurudwara Maithan also upheld the tradition of Langar, which has been followed over the centuries. Guru Arjan Dev and Mata Ganga set the precedent of preparing and serving food to the hungry, in the langar hall, where all social, economic and religious barriers collapse and all – the laborer, the lord, the peasant and the prince, are treated alike and served the same food in the same manner.

This is a practice of great social significance, and it is the key to the understanding of Sikhism. By Brijesh Sharma (ANI)

RPI activists ransack Congress office in Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 18(ANI): Activists of Republican Party of India (RPI), a regional party in Maharashtra, on Friday ransacked the Congress office in Mumbai.

The activists were protesting against eviction of their senior leader and former Lok Sabha Member of Parliament, Ramdas Athawale from his official bungalow in New Delhi.

Athawale was evicted for overstaying after he lost the recently concluded Lok Sabha poll.

RPI activists raised slogans against Congress President Sonia Gandhi and broke windowpanes of the party office.

“I was in office of NSUI (National Students Union of India) when I came to know that alleged workers of RPI are ransacking Congress office. I was surprised that policemen standing outside remained mere spectator even though I told them they are attacking our office,” said Sadaf Aboli, President of National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), student wing of Congress.

According to reports, the police also arrested some of the activists. (ANI)

Election Commission issues notification for assembly elections in three states

New Delhi, Sep. 18 (ANI): The process for forthcoming Assembly elections in Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh will begin formally with the issuance of notification on Friday.

The prospective candidates would be able to file their nomination papers till September 25.

The prospective candidates can file nomination papers to the Returning Officer or to the Assistant Returning Officer from Friday till September 25.

The assembly elections in three states are expected to be a litmus test for all major parties after the Lok Sabha elections.

The vote-counting will take place on October 22.

It is notable that all the three states that are ruled by Congress, which shares power in Maharashtra with NCP as a major coalition partner.

Maharashtra has a 288-member Assembly, Haryana a 90-member House and Arunachal Pradesh Assembly has 60 members.

There are 2,061 polling stations in Arunachal Pradesh, 12,894 in Haryana and 82,028 in Maharashtra. (ANI)

Rashtriya Janata Dal celebrates good show in by-polls in Bihar

Patna, Sep 18 (ANI): Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) celebrated its good show in state by-election on Thursday.

The RJD-Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) won eight seats in the by-election for 18 legislative assembly seats, a major setback to ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U).

JD (U) bagged three seats while its ally Bharatiya Janata Party won two seats.

RJD activists gathered at the party office and burst crackers and distributed sweets to celebrate the win.

Rabri Devi, leader of opposition in Bihar legislative assembly, termed the results as referendum against the ruling government.

“Bihar government led by Nitish Kumar is fooling the public. The people of Bihar have understood it and that’s why they have rejected the ruling party. I congratulate the people of Bihar. I am sure that people will keep on voting for Rashtriya Janata Dal alliance,” said Devi.

RJD failed poorly in Lok Sabha election in April-May this year, winning just four seats out of the total 40 in Bihar. (ANI)

VHP leader accuses Advani of using Ayodhya issue for personal gains

New Delhi, Sep. 9 (ANI): Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal on Wednesday accused BJP leader LK Advani of taking out the Rath Yatra for personal political gain.

Advani, he said, should now think about stepping down from the post of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

He also noted that the BJP had deviated from its founding policies and that is the reason for its apparent ‘sinking’.

Singhal’s statements coincide with the times when the saffron party is facing rough weather and controversies have become an order of the day.

The no-show in Lok Sabha polls, revelation on Advani’s lie on the Kandhar episode, Jaswant Singh’s controversial book on Mohammad Ali Jinnah and his subsequent expulsion from the party are the several episodes which hit the party’s image badly. (ANI)

Schoolteachers baton-charged in Lucknow on Teachers’ Day

Lucknow, Sep 5(ANI): At least 12 primary schoolteachers suffered injuries during a demonstration to demand confirmation of their jobs and increments on Teachers’ Day.

The teachers alleged they were staging a peaceful protest when the police, for no fault of their own, baton-charged them.

“The teachers had staged a peaceful protest. During the demonstration, the police baton-charged the teachers on the orders Chief Minister Mayawati. This is the gift to all the teachers on the occasion of Teachers’ Day,” said Suraj Yadav, a teacher.

Meanwhile, the police said they had to use force to disperse the protestors after they blocked the road.

“Today, in front of Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) teachers had staged a sit-in protest. Some people tried to block the road. They were requested to clear the road. Stones were pelted in which our ADM (Additional District Magistrate) and SP (Superintendent of Police) city and others have been injured. They were chased away by the police,” said R N Dwivedi, police circle officer.

The police further claimed that no one was seriously injured in the incident. (ANI)

CPI (M) defends Buddha over skipping politburo meet

New Delhi, Sep 5 (ANI): The Communist Party of India (Marxist) dismissed reports that West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was deliberately avoiding party’s two-day politburo meet, which began today on Saturday in the national capital.

According to reports, senior party leaders including Brinda Karat claimed that Buddhadeb had just recovered from viral fever and was advised by doctors to take rest, forcing party members urging him to stay back in Kolkata.

The CPI(M) Politburo is meeting to finalise a document to deal with its organisational problems, which led to its defeat in the recent polls in West Bengal and Kerala.

It is being assumed that topics regarding Lalgarh could be raised during the two-day meet, may have prompted Buddhadeb to give the meeting a miss.

It is also said that Buddhadeb is upset over reports of his successor or deputy being selected during the meet.

Differences between the West Bengal Chief Minister and CPI (M) leaders have been reported ever since party’s failure in the Lok Sabha elections, especially after the defeat they experienced in West Bengal during Lok Sabha polls. (ANI)

Independent candidate elected DUSU president

New Delhi, Sep 5 (ANI): An independent candidate, Manoj Chaudhury of the Department of Buddhist Studies won the president’s post of the Delhi University Student’s Union (DUSU) elections on Saturday.

After a gap of 18 years an independent candidate is becoming the president of DUSU. In 1991 Rajiv Goswami won the DUSU presidentship being an independent candidate riding the anti – Mandal wave.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s nominee (ABVP) Kirti Vadhera of Miranda House bagged the Vice President’s post.

The National Students Union of India’s (NSUI) Ashradeep Kaur of Campus Law Centre won the post of Secretary, while Samajwadi Chatra Sabha’s Anupriya Tyagi of Hansraj College bagged the post of Joint Secretary.

The Samajawadi Chatra Sabha (SCS), the student’s wing of Samajwadi Party has opened its account in the varsity body by winning the post of Joint Secretary.

Earlier, during the run up to the DUSU polls, both the major student wings the NSUI and the ABVP, had received a jolt as the nominations of three candidates each from both the outfits were rejected by the University election authorities for violating rules laid by the Lingdoh Commission.

A total of 29 candidates were in fray for the four DUSU posts of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Joint Secretary.

Nearly 30,500 of the total around 88,000 students voted in the polls. Chief Election Officer Gurmeet Singh said it was one of the cleanest and well-organised polls.

Increased security arrangements were made this time to conduct smooth and violence-free elections. About 750 electronic voting machines (EVM) were used for polls at 50 centres, he added. (ANI)

Karnataka Housing Minister resigns following defeat in by poll

Bangalore, Aug 31 (ANI): Karnataka Housing Minister V. Somanna resigned from the state cabinet on Monday following his defeat in the recent by polls to the state assembly.

Somanna handed over his resignation to the Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa.

“I will take a decision on accepting his resignation after consulting the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief D.V.Sadananda Gowda and national general secretary Ananth Kumar and the party high command,” Yeddyurappa told reporters after receiving the resignation letter.

Somanna, who was earlier, elected from the Govidrajnagar constituency in Bangalore resigned from his seat as well as from the Congress Party to join BJP in February.

Subsequently Somanna was rewarded with a cabinet birth in the Yeddyurappa Government.

Somanna who is known for his innovative election strategies, tasted maiden defeat in his political career against debutant Priyakrishna of Congress in the by polls on August 18.

The two-day southern region meeting of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) held in Davangere in central Karnataka on Sunday asked Yeddyurappa to seek the resignation of Somanna.

The BJP is reward Somanna with another post as the elections to the Brihat Bangalore Municipal Corporation (BBMC) are on the cards. Somanna played a crucial role in party’s victory in all the three Lok Sabha seats in Bangalore in the 2009 general elections.

Somanna is the third minister to resign from the Yeddyurappa government during the last one-year. Earlier S.K. Bellubbi, and Krishnayya Setty resigned from cabinet to make way to accommodate new faces in the cabinet. (ANI)

RSS chief Bhagwat says Advani, Rajnath will decide role in BJP

Haridwar, Aug 31(ANI): Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday said that BJP leaders LK Advani and Rajnath Singh will decide on their role within the party.

Talking to reporters here, Bhagwat said, “Rajnathji, Advaniji and others will decide on their role in the party. Everything will be fine in the BJP in future.”

“There are people with moral standing like Advani and under their guidance, they will solve all problems. We have nothing to do with this,” he added

While the BJP had said that Rajnath Singh will not get an extension as party president beyond his three-year term that ends in December, there were reports that Advani may step down as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha but the timing for it has been left to him.

Bhagwat had a breakfast meeting with Advani on Sunday and had discussions with other senior leaders.

Sunday’s breakfast meeting between Advani and Bhagwat was the second between the two. They had earlier met on Saturday afternoon for about two hours at the RSS headquarters Keshavkunj in Delhi to discuss various issues.

Saturday’s meeting took place amid reports that the RSS has readied a succession plan for the BJP. However, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters at a press conference that no succession plan was discussed.

The RSS is believed to have told the BJP leadership to set its house in order. That this is being given serious thought was evident when top brass of the BJP met at Advani’s residence yesterday morning for about two hours and briefed him about their discussions with Bhagwat on Friday.

Sources said the RSS has firmly asked BJP leaders to end the infighting in the party and reach consensus on a new party chief. (ANI)

Vasundhara Raje to meet Venkaiah Naidu today

New Delhi, Aug 31 (ANI): Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje will meet Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu here today.

Earlier, the BJP central leadership had said that they have asked Raje to report to them in New Delhi on August 30.

On Thursday, Raje had asserted that she had no plans to leave Rajasthan and would continue to serve the people of the state “post or no post”.

Raje, however, declined to comment on whether she would resign from the post.

She has been asked by the BJP high command to step down as the Leader of the Opposition in the wake of the party’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha and the state Assembly elections.

In the 2009 general elections, the BJP was reduced to four seats from 23 that it had in 2004 in Rajasthan. (ANI)

Raje arrives in New Delhi to meet senior BJP leaders

New Delhi, Aug 30 (ANI): Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje arrived in New Delhi on Sunday evening to meet senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders.

Raje is to meet M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday.

On Thursday, Raje asserted that she had no plans to leave Rajasthan and would continue to serve the people of the state “post or no post”.

Raje, however, declined to comment on whether she would resign from the post.

She has been asked by the BJP High command to step down as the Leader of Opposition in the wake of the party’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha and Rajasthan State Assembly elections.

In the 2009 General Elections, the BJP reduced to four seats from 23 that it had in 2004 from Rajasthan State. (ANI)

BJP will solve its problems, soon, says key RSS leader

New Delhi, Aug. 30 (ANI): Senior Rashtriya Swayam Sewak (RSS) leader Madan Das Devi on Sunday said he was confident about the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) taking appropriate steps to resolve all of its problems, including the issue of the party succession plan.

Addressing a press conference in the capital this morning after between RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and LK Advani, Devi said: “We (RSS) are hopeful that the crisis in the BJP will be resolved. The RSS is assured that the BJP will overcome all problems.”

“We all think that a large party such as the BJP has the capability of being given new direction and end its problems. Important BJP leaders met leaders of the RSS. Shri L.K.Advani and other senior BJP leaders met us. We discussed issues of national importance, party issues etc. They have assured us that the problems of the party will be resolved,” he added.

Efforts to resolve the growing crisis within the BJP continued on Sunday, with Bhagwat travelling to Advani’s residence here to hold a breakfast meeting.

Bhagwat, who was accompanied by senior RSS leader Madandas Devi, is expected to continue discussions on a new roadmap for the BJP, including a possible change of leadership.

Sources said the BJP will most likely announce a succession plan on Sunday. It is indicated that individual responsibilities in the party would be finalised in the coming weeks.

On Saturday, Bhagwat stepped up efforts to mediate an end to the BJP crisis. He held hectic parleys with L K Advani and top leaders including Murli Manohar Joshi.

There were indications that BJP could come out with some statement tomorrow but Sangh Parivar sources said nothing spectacular could be expected.

Advani is reportedly under pressure from rebels to step down as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha.

Various names are under consideration, including Arun Jaitely, Sushma Swaraj and Bal Apte. However, both the RSS and the BJP have maintained that they were not discussing any succession plan. (ANI)

BJP top brass meets Advani, immediate change in party leadership ruled out

New Delhi, Aug.29 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) top brass met senior leader L.K. Advani at his residence late on Friday night for almost two hours.

Among those who met Advani were Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar.

Sources claimed that despite RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat chalking out a succession plan for the BJP, there are no immediate plans to ring in changes in the leadership.

The RSS succession plan is reported to have been discussed during the meeting.

BJP leaders were reluctant to reveal to the media what exactly transpired at the meeting claiming that it was a routine meeting.

The other issue that came up for discussion was Jaswant Singh’s charge that Advani knew about and was in favour of exposing the cash for vote scam that hit Parliament in July last year, as the UPA Government was seeking a vote of confidence.

Firing a fresh salvo, Singh said Advani was “at the centre” of the cash-for-votes scam drama enacted in the Lok Sabha last year.

“It’s a great sense of pity. Here was a man who was consumed by an ambition to be Prime Minister, and that desire made him commit so many mistakes. Do you know this whole wretched thing of money for votes is a classic example of wrong decision-making and it’s extremely troubling that he did not stand up and say no? Advaniji was at the centre of this whole drama,” he told Outlook magazine.

Singh was referring to the episode when three BJP MPs displayed bundles of currency notes totaling Rs.10 million, claiming they were being offered as bribe to support the government.

Singh said the facts were clear and he stumbled on to the whole thing when Sudheendra Kulkarni, a former aide of Advani, brought a very strange looking fellow to his house.

“I was not consulted but I was appalled that Advaniji was giving the MPs the go ahead to display money in Parliament,” he said adding that Advani had two choices — either to take the money to the Speaker or into the House. But he told the MPs to display the money in Parliament.

The options left for Advani are to break his silence and publicly clarify his stand to take on his detractors or else resign as Leader of Opposition and end his political career, leaving the BJP to battle the crisis.

Advani could also stay on till BJP presidential election in December to chart out a comprehensive succession plan.

It is clear that the fault line in the BJP have widened with a number of senior leaders rebelling against the party high command. With some much infighting there seems to be three distinct camps within the BJP – the Rajnath Camp, the Advani Camp and the Vajpayee Camp. (ANI)

Advani was at centre of cash-for-vote drama in Parliament: Jaswant Singh

New Delhi, Aug 28(ANI): Expelled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jaswant Singh on Friday sharpened his attack on the BJP by saying that senior party leader L K Advani was “at the centre” of the cash-for-votes scam drama enacted in the Lok Sabha last year.

“It’s a great sense of pity. Here was a man who was consumed by an ambition to be Prime Minister, and that desire made him commit so many mistakes,” Singh has told the Outlook magazine in an interview.

“Do you know this whole wretched thing of money for votes is a classic example of wrong decision making and it’s extremely troubling that he did not stand up and say no. Advaniji was at the centre of this whole drama,” he added.

Singh further said that Advani had two options to choose from, either to take the money to the Speaker or into the House.

“I was not consulted, but I was appalled that Advaniji was giving the MPs the go ahead to display money in Parliament,” Singh said.

Singh was referring to the episode, when three MPs, Ashok Argal, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahavir Bhagora, stunned the nation by brandishing wads of cash in the Lok Sabha shortly before the Manmohan Singh government was to face the trust vote last July. (ANI)

Indian farmers along Pakistan border in Punjab resent restriction

Amritsar, Aug 28 (ANI): Anguished Indian villagers in Punjab, whose farms lie across the fencing along the Pakistan border have staged a protest over problems faced in tilling their fields.

The protest was staged under the banner of the Jamhuri Kisan Sabha (Democratic Farmers Council) and the Border Area Sangharsh (Struggle) Committee.

Hundreds of agitating farmers gathered in Bhindi Saiydan village of Amritsar on Thursday, saying that the Border Security Force has enforced stiff restrictions, giving them little access to till their land and tend the crops.

“We are facing a lot of difficulties. The gate opens at 9 in the morning and around 1 to 2 pm in the afternoon, they ask us to go back. If any farmer has work left, they even ask those farmers to leave,” said Balbir Singh, a farmer.

“We also demand that close relatives of these border farmers be given employment opportunities,” said Satnam Singh Ajnala, president of Jamhuri Kisan Sabha.

Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts alone have about 170-kilometre long border with Pakistan.

India began setting up a long fence along the disputed border with Pakistan in the mid-90s to stop militant groups and illegal immigrants from sneaking into Indian territory.

Pakistan initially objected to the fence, but India hurriedly set it up at least 2-4 km away from the border line in some places, saying they were coming under heavy firing from across the border.

As a result, vast areas of fertile land in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, were left outside the fence, leading to protests from Indian farmers. (ANI)

Raje to hold BJP Legislature Party meeting in Jaipur

Jaipur, Aug 26 (ANI): Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, will hold a meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Legislature Party here on Wednesday, to chalk out strategy for the upcoming State Assembly session.

According to sources, the issue of electing a new Leader of Opposition as per the direction of party’s high command is not likely to figure in the meeting.

Raje, who has been asked by the BJP central leadership to resign from the leadership of the party’s legislature wing is, appears to be in no mood to quit.

She returned to Jaipur on Tuesday evening from Delhi after holding meetings with party chief Rajnath Singh and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani.

According to party’s deputy whip Rajendra Rathore; the meeting is likely to take up the issue of suspension of three MLAs from the State Assembly.

Speaker Deepender Singh Shekhavat suspended MLAs Gyandeo Ahuja, Bhawani Singh Rajawat and Hemsingh Bhadana on July 28 for the remaining period of the Assembly.

The BJP, which boycotted all the legislative committee meetings, in protest against the suspension will decide on attending the House Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting to fix the agenda for the remaining days of the session.

Most of the legislatures are in favor of boycotting the committees till the suspension is revoked, sources said. (ANI)