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The propagandist of Union Carbide finally joins hands with Jihadists and criminals

June 30, 2019

When in 1986, the Bhopal disaster caused by the Union Carbide killed 3,787 and affected government disagreeing 5 lakhs Indians, a man lacking minimal moral ethics joined hands with the perpetrators of a heinous crime and finally has emerged as the paid agent of Jihadist criminal and most possibly Pakistani spy agency ISI.

So-called British journalist David Bergman, in September 1986 during his younghood at the age of 21, was arrested in violation of India’s Foreigners Act and National Security Act and was accused of working for Union Carbide.

After many years, it has been proved that Bergman is not only a man of moral decay but someone who can become a propagandist in favour of jihadist, more precisely Islamic State (ISIS). He is the husband of Barrister Sara Hossain, granddaughter of an anti-Indian Pakistani lawyer.

Being living in Britain, David Bergman, although portrays himself to be a journalist, in reality, does not have any job. Decades back, the only job he had was with a British TV program production company named Twenty Twenty. However, during these long years, he does not have any affiliation with any western newspapers, although he has served with a Bangladeshi newspaper named the New Age, which is known for its anti-Indian and pro-Islamist editorial policies.

In Dhaka, the New Age is known as a second-tier daily newspaper with pro-Pakistan and pro-Jihadist bias, possibly because of this particular reason the New Age has found their best ally in David Bergman.

The founder of the New Age, Enayatuallah Khan was a diehard pro-China and anti-India journalist.

During his days in the New Age, David Bergman dedicatedly confronted Bangladesh’s relentless effort in trying the war criminals. Bergman did not leave any stone upturned in defaming the international criminal court (ICC), which has handed down the death penalty to several prominent war criminals, including tough ranking leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh.

The ICC had to convict David Bergman for his dubious role as well as foul bids of making the trial process controversial.

Although Bergman lives a comfortable life in Sadiq Khan’s London, no-one knows where he is getting the expenditures from. It is anticipated that he is under the payroll of the Pakistani spy agency ISI.

Bergman, being rejected by the British media, has set up an account with BlogSpot-a notorious place of propaganda, against the Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government. He even does not spare the Bangladeshi agencies which are fighting against radical Islam and terrorism.

Recently David Bergman was hired by a man named Md. Shahid Uddin Khan, a fugitive criminal facing red notice issued by Interpol. According to media reports, Md. Shahid Uddin Khan is the founder of Islamic State(ISIS) as well as a business associate of Dawood Ibrahim’s D-Company. Bergman is publishing propaganda materials in his blog portraying Shahid Uddin Khan as an angel and victim of Sheikh Hasina government.

It may be mentioned here that on May 25, 2019, the front-ranking British newspaper The Sunday Times had exposed Shahid Uddin Khan through a report titled ‘Tory donor charged with arms dealing and funding terrorism’. Subsequently, Khan’s activities were exposed by Indian, Bangladeshi, and International media.

In 2009, Shahid Uddin Khan entered Britain with his wife Farjana Anjum and daughters and had invested millions of dirty money under visa tier-1. He has also been funding Islamic State and jihadist activities.

Sri lanka blasts — The blasts hit several high-end hotels and one church in the capital, while two additional churches were targeted outside Colombo in Sri Lanka.

According to newspaper reports, prior to the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka, Khan sent thousands of dollars to his jihadist counterpart from Dubai. He has also been actively plotting terrorist attacks inside Bangladesh and India. That possibly makes Khan the best ally of David Bergman because both of them want the destruction of India and re-establish Pakistan’s influence on Bangladesh.

By Muzaffar Ahmad Noori Bajwa

(The author is the Editor of The Eastern Herald. Follow him on twitter @MANooriBajwa)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

Teach them young

Jayanthy Subramaniam

June 30, 2019

Biologically, the first seven years of childhood are crucial, as a major part of brain development takes place. Natural play, both indoors and outdoors helps both generations explore the self. It is greatly felt that whatever you teach forever in his life. There is no doubt about your children at a young age will last it. Both parents’ self-awareness helps children. Moreover, there’s no substitute for time spent with your child. So, put the gadgets away and give your child your complete attention. Children are observers and they grow into young adults who replicate your behaviour.

For example, if you teach your children about playing a game of chess or carrom board at a young age, he tends to learn the finer points faster. To help them in their later part, we have online sights to look for how to play chess and learn the various moves that will help him out while playing at the highest level. Likewise, if you teach the names of cricketers or the names of scientist they will quick to learn and remember what the particular scientist did for the human cause etc., will be in his mind forever.

Use story or picture books as a way to teach young kids about both self-awareness and social awareness. For instance, various publishers have several beautiful books like Kali and the Rat Snake or Ismat’s Eid that help children learn to empathise with others and see things from others’ perspectives. Parents can ask their kids questions as they read and engage in discussions. For example, you might ask, “How do you think the character feels in this situation?” or “What would you do in this situation?” Also, use TV programmes this way. In this way, you can fine tune your children to learn and follow the methods in a proper way.

I remember my olden days when English poems were taught in the morning session, I used to pick up the words and learn the poems in the lunch hour. That is how I learned, “Old McDonald had a farm” poem, which I still remember and recite for my grandson, who is in LKG now. It is time to teach children from the regular happenings and that will be remembered in a better way rather than making them bookworm all the time.

By inculcating good habits, we can turn the children go for good moves in life and lead a peaceful living making them realise the realities in life and try to insist them to become God-fearing for a better future.

Use the ‘traffic light’ tool. Help a young child understand that when he’s feeling calm and happy, he’s in the ‘green zone’. When something is making him a little upset, he’s in the ‘orange zone’. And when he’s feeling angry or out of control, he’s moved into the ‘red zone’. Help children identify what kinds of things trigger them or make them angry, and how they can bring themselves back to the green zone. Having these discussions can help children manage their own emotions and find ways to restore their own sense of calm.

Play with them their favourite games and make them get involved rather than making them furious. Allow them to recover from their school chores and come back to the peace of mind to their homework or finish their arts and crafts work by evening.

In a digital world that draws them away from reality, parents need to help their kids be socially intuitive. There lies the real way of teaching the basics and at the same time make them involved in daily affairs.

Engage in conversations with your children, any opportunity you get, but especially if they’re going through a rough patch. Engage in a conversation to help develop their emotional quotient (EQ). However, first, just listen. Make the children self-dependent and help the children self-aware of certain aspects of life. Teach them from a young age and the efforts you put in the early stages will definitely fruits when the child grow up in life and when they attain their teens you can really feel the difference in the best way possible.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Letters to the Editor: 30 June, 2019

Web Team

June 30, 2019

Will Health Minister look into looting of patients?

Adequate facilities are not available in hospitals located in the rural areas; therefore, patients are advised in case of some ailments or those injured in accidents, to be taken to main hospitals in cities.

The number of government hospitals is high in cities like Mumbai and many patients from rural areas come to the city. Doctors from these hospitals advice to get different tests done but a very few can be done in these hospitals and patients are advised to get remaining tests done at other private testing labs.

The naive patient, with the hope of getting treatment in time, goes for conducting such tests to the centres though they are unable to afford. Many testing labs are located around the government hospitals and are run profitably with the connivance of doctors from government hospitals, having vested interests. Will the State Health Minister look into the issue of looting of patients?

Jagan Ghanekar

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Is ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ doable?

Rajesh Choudhary

June 28, 2019

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘One Nation, One Poll’ idea, the Union government is working on a plan to launch the ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ scheme for people.

The biggest beneficiary of this will be those migrant labourers who move to other States to seek better job opportunities. The scheme will ensure their food security and they can access the Public Distribution System from any PDS shop across the country. This will definitely benefit millions of migrant labourers in Mumbai.

However, there are many challenges and obstacles in the way of ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ scheme which question its feasibility in the country. There are 29 states and 7 union territories in India and every state has its own rules for Public Distribution System (PDS). If ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ is implemented, it will further boost corruption in an already corrupted Public Distribution System.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution will implement ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ scheme. Under the Integrated Management of PDS (IMPDS), people can avail their share of food grain from any district across the country. It is notable that IMPDS is already operational in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Tripura. So, migrant labourers of Maharashtra have no more benefits in the state. Means, at present migrant labourers from Marathwada, Vidarbha and other regions of Maharashtra are enjoying this in Mumbai and other metros of the state.

On being asked about ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ scheme, senior Congress leader PL Punia told Afternoon Voice, “All these terms coined by the Modi government have become jumla — ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’, ‘One Nation, One Poll’, ‘One Nation, One Leader’. They have no practical knowledge. Suppose that a labourer migrates to any city leaving his family at a village, how will he receive his ration in the city and his family’s ration at the village? Similarly, different states have different PDS rates. Rice is just one rupee per kilo in Chhattisgarh while it is Rs 3 per kilo in other states. How will the centre tackle all these? The feasibility of this scheme is under question.”

It is worth mentioning that ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ will increase the woes of the common man and, the middlemen and corrupt PDS shop owners will exploit them. Even Aadhaar cards have been insufficient to check irregularities in the PDS. Many ration shop owners under the PDS allegedly replace the Aadhaar number of beneficiaries with people known to them and thousands of fake Aadhaar cards are used to withdraw food grains of ration. According to experts, any revelation of pilferage of ration is the tip of the iceberg. How this is happening when the government claims to have connected the Aadhaar numbers of genuine beneficiaries with the Public Distribution System.

An official of the Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection Department said, “We have no detailed information about ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ scheme. Only the officer who attended the meeting in New Delhi can give any information.”

Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan chaired a meeting on ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ scheme recently. Food secretaries and other officials of state governments, Food Corporation of India (FCI), Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) and State Warehousing Corporations (SWCs) attended this meeting in the national capital Delhi.

As per the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, the scheme is aimed at providing freedom to beneficiaries. They will not be tied to one PDS shop and it will reduce their dependence on shop owners and curtail corruption. The biggest beneficiaries will be migrant workers who move to other states to seek better job opportunities. In the meeting, the other states assured that they would implement IMPDS as early as possible.

Social activist Mayank Gandhi asserted, “It will be a very good scheme. With the help of ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’, migrant labourers of another state can avail medical facility Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana because ration card is compulsory for this scheme.”

Ram Vilas Paswan said, “The target is to complete the formalities of the scheme in one year. The availability of PoS (Point of Sale) machines needs to be ensured at all PDS shops to implement the scheme. PoS machines are available at all PDS shops in various states, like Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, but 100 per cent availability is required to provide the benefit across the country. Around 78 per cent of Fair Price, Shops has so far been automated by installing electronic PoS devices.”

He further said that information technology should be used right from the time of purchase of food grains until distribution to increase the overall efficiency of the PDS and curb corruption. Under the Public Distribution System, there are 81 crore beneficiaries. Every year, 612 lakh tonnes of food grains are stored in warehouses of FCI, CWC, SWCs and private godowns for distribution.

BJP spokesperson Prof. Suhas Farande said, “One Nation, One Ration Card’ scheme will be beneficial for migrants from Maharashtra to other states. They will immediately get ration at their new abode. Also, this scheme will check double or multiple ration cards of a person.”

Nationalist Congress Party spokesperson Nawab Malik said, “This scheme should be welcomed as migrant labourers will be benefited by it. But the government should concentrate on issuing ration cards to those who are eligible and they have not any ration card. As far as corruption in the PDS is concerned, only Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan can reply how it will check irregularities.”

One Nation is fine but One Ration Card should solve the purpose

Vaidehi Taman

June 28, 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) dubbed as One Nation, One Card. The indigenously-developed card will enable users to pay for multiple kinds of charges including transport, metro services, toll tax, parking charges, retail shopping as well as to withdraw money across the country. In short, it is a one-stop card for multiple utilities. One Nation, One Card will make our life easier by serving as the single card for all types of payments.

This One Nation, One Ration Card is to ensure no poor person is deprived of getting subsidised food grains under food security scheme when he shifts from one place to another in India. Wherever one might migrate within the nation, the card will give them all the facilities. This will also remove the chance of anyone holding more than one ration card to avail benefits from different states.

Migrant labourers will be the biggest beneficiaries of this initiative, as they will have food security. This will also provide freedom to the beneficiaries, as they will not be tied to any one PDS shop. It may curtail the occurrences of corruption.

In order to achieve this target, the food ministry will create a central depository of all ration cards, which will help in eliminating duplication. Moreover, the card will have all your biometrics that would be linked to the Aadhaar card. So, the duplication of documents and misuse can be controlled.

Just like Aadhaar Card, which can be used as ID card everywhere, One Nation, One Card can be used as “payment” card everywhere. I mean to say now, you don’t have to carry different cards for the payments of different things. You can easily purchase metro tickets if you have One Nation, One Card. This card is a solution to all your payment problems. Earlier, a shopping card issued in one city was not working in other cities. But One Nation, One Card works in all over India. RuPay powers this card. Automatic Fare Collection Gate (SWAGAT) and Open Loop Automatic Fair Collection System (SWEEKAR) under the Make In India project has developed this card. 25 banks are issuing the card across the country. This will take some time to get fully implemented. For its operation, the public needs to be aware of its benefits, usage, and procedures of getting it from their particular bank.

The One Nation, One Card is India’s first indigenously developed payment ecosystem. The One Nation, One Card can be compared to a RuPay debit/credit card issued by your bank. Along with a swipe-to-pay option, the transport ecosystem card will also be contactless, allowing quick payment options like your metro smart card. You can use the card on public transport systems like buses, metros and suburban railways and also while shopping. It can also be used to pay for parking and in toll booths. You need to contact your bank to be issued a One Nation, One Card.

NCMC has partnered with 25 banks for this initiative. The list includes SBI and the Punjab National Bank. In addition to this, the Paytm payments bank can also be used to issue the card. In some cases, travel cards issued in a particular city did not function in a different city or state. This newly launched card will eliminate this issue and will be usable across the country. Along with cashback offers on certain merchant outlets, the RuPay One Nation, One Card will also be accepted at Discover and Diners Club International merchants and ATMs. The automatic fare collection system has been installed in a few stations of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and the first level trials have been marked as successful. This technology only existed in a few developed countries of the world but we too have joined that club who have this interoperable, scalable, dual interface, open loop payment card for the payment system. We can say that this card is an advanced version of the metro smart card that people use for travelling through the metro.

Nevertheless, with this National Common Mobility Card, they can travel through various means of transport and can use it at various payment terminals. The transactions with this card are secured with EMV Technology. EMV is one of the globally available and adopted technologies for safeguarding transactions against fraud. EMV stands for Europay, MasterCard and Visa. It is basically a global standard for debit and credit cards (chip-based cards) that ensures the security of payments at various PoS terminals. The National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), known as One Nation One Card, is a RuPay based card launched by the NDA Govt. on March 4, 2019. NCMC is definitely a good initiative and helps in hassle-free travel for people across India.

Ration Card is one of the most essential documents that every Indian is supposed to have. In India, there are two types of ration cards APL (Above Poverty Line) and BPL (Below Poverty Line). BPL ration card, however, is much sought after because of the benefits attached to it. Hope this one ration card has some provisions for both such categories or else with this new initiative, new corruption may hamper the intent of this scheme.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Don’t know who’s responsible for defeat, but had offered to quit as MP Cong chief: Kamal Nath

Web Team

June 28, 2019

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath has said he had offered to resign from the post of state Congress president after the party’s debacle in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

His remarks come in the backdrop of reports that Congress president Rahul Gandhi had expressed disappointment that none of the party leaders, holding top posts, took responsibility for the party’s poll rout after the Gandhi scion decided to resign last month.

Rahul has been adamant on stepping down as the Congress chief.

Nath said that he takes responsibility for the party’s poor performance in Madhya Pradesh, where the Congress bagged just one out of the 29 Lok Sabha seats.

“I take responsibility for the party’s defeat in Lok Sabha elections in the state. Rahul Gandhi is right.

“I do not know who is responsible for the defeat but I had offered to quit the party post,” Nath told reporters on the sidelines of a function here late Thursday night.

“I personally believe that I am responsible for the party’s defeat. I do not know who else in responsible, he added.

A senior Congress leader said Nath had offered his resignation as state party president after the Lok Sabha poll results.

“Nath had said he takes moral responsibility for the party’s defeat in the state,” he added.

Nath was appointed Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief in April 2018, while he took over as chief minister of the state in December last year.

Nath had offered to resign from the post of MPCC president after the Congress wrested power from the BJP after a gap of 15 years and he became chief minister.

However, he was asked by the Congress high command to continue in the party post.

Rising demand for Bharat Ratna to Dalai Lama

Web Team

June 28, 2019

It’s been 60 years now since Tibetans inside and outside continue their struggle against the Communist regime of China for their legitimate rights over language, tradition, and culture. On March 10, 1959, thousands of Tibetans came to the streets protesting against the Chinese occupation and their picturesque capital city of Lhasa became the epicenter of the anti-Chinese movement.

Tibetans barricaded the Potala Palace, the iconic centre of Tibetan Buddhism, where their supreme leader the 14th Dalai Lama used to live and soon the uprising gained momentum. The protesters demanded the Hun Chinese to leave their land but they were responded with harsh and repressive measures from the People’s Liberation Army of the Beijing administration.

Facing the situation that went increasingly unsafe for the Dalai Lama, the revered Buddhist monk with thousands of his followers left for India and finally crossed the eastern border through Arunachal Pradesh (formerly North-East Frontier Agency) in the middle of April 1959. The Chinese invasion over the Himalayan region was earlier completed in 1951 following the Communist party took over Beijing in 1949.

The then Indian Premier Jawaharlal Nehru welcomed the Dalai Lama along with over 90,000 Tibetan exiles offering political asylum and allowed everyone to stay in Dharamshala township of Himachal Pradesh in northeast India with all dignity and supports. Now they run an exile administration in Dharamshala where lawmakers are being elected for the presidential form of government.

Indian people as a whole maintain high regards to the Dalai Lama, who lives in McLeodganj of Dharamshala and it began with an all India convention on Tibet held in Calcutta (now Kolkata) soon after the Tibetan leader’s arrival in the country. Under the leadership of legendary socialist Jayprakash Narayan the 30-31 May 1959 convention expressed unconditional support, solidarity, and friendship to the Tibetan people.

Today His Holiness is only the spiritual head for Tibetan people as he had relinquished political power in 2011. However, the Nobel laureate continues pursuing non-violent struggles for his people and hoping for a dignified return to his seat in Lhasa. His Holiness also carries the heartbreaking memory of Tibetan people’s anti-China uprising as Beijing captured their land in 1950 and wiping out of over 6,000 Buddhist monasteries, temples, shrines along with mass killings.

Now, the octogenarian Buddhist monk, widely known for his preaching of love, compassion, and peace, no longer demands a free Tibet out of China. In a recent interaction with this author in Dharamshala, the grand spiritual leader commented that he now does not mind seeing Tibet under the Chinese territory.

“But Tibetans must get the constitutional rights to safeguard and practice their language, tradition, and culture. Beijing administration should go for constitutional amendments for providing genuine autonomy to the Tibetan people,” commented the Dalai Lama with firmness in his face.

Need not to mention that the Beijing administration, which assumes the spiritual leader as a separatist agitator, had already rejected the demand for genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people as the Communist rulers perceived it another form of independent Tibet. They argued that Tibet cannot be allowed to have independent executive, legislative and judicial entities for the sack of high-level autonomy.

The 6th All India Tibet Support Groups’ Conference held on June 15-16 in the CTA headquarters accomplished the Dalai Lama as a holy ambassador of Indian culture enriched with non-violence, compassion and religious harmony to the world. And because of his immense contributions in creating goodwill for India in the last six decades, the Indian supporters proposed for the country’s highest civilian honour ‘Bharat Ratna’ to His Holiness.

A diligent crusader for non-violence, peace, and harmony in today’s world, the Dalai Lama was born in 1935 at Taktser of China. Initially named as Lhamo Thondup, a peasant family son was proclaimed as the 14th Dalai Lama in his early ages. His name was changed to Tenzin Gyatso and soon spiritual education began for him. A firm believer in Gandhian philosophy of non-violence, Dalai Lama has authored over 50 books on different issues.

“We have honoured non-Indian laureates like Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa (naturalised citizen) with Bharat Ratna. So there would be no wrong if New Delhi listens to numerous voices of India and decides to recognize the Dalai Lama as a jewel (Ratna) of Bharat as he has already received over hundreds of international awards,” added Khrimey.

The Dharamshala declaration, read out in front of over 200 delegates from 21 provinces of India, also called upon New Delhi to prevail over the People’s Republic of China in Beijing for a constructive negotiation with the representatives of CTA for a sustainable solution to Tibet issues. It also appealed to the international community to support the CTA in its relentless quest for dignity, justice, and peace to millions of Tibetans (inside and outside Tibet).

The declaration strongly condemned the Chinese government for its systemic violations of human rights under illegal occupation over Tibet that results in an increasing number of self-immolations by freedom endorsing hapless Tibetans. Additionally, it expressed concern over the militarisation of the Tibetan region that threatens the peace across Indian sub-continent and insisted on complete freedom of language and culture pursued by the Tibetans.

Various speakers in the meeting also expressed grave concern over unrelenting exploitations of natural resources inside Tibet which are termed as the third pole (after north and south pole) having a huge source of fresh water outside Arctic and Antarctic. They apprehended that the disturbances over Tibetan plateau might cause severe ecological implications to various neighbouring countries like India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Lao, Cambodia, etc. Dr. Anand Kumar of India Tibet Friendship Society, Indresh Kumar of Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch, Ajai Singh of India Tibet Friendship Association, Dr. Abanti Bhattacharya from Delhi University, Prof Ramu Manivannam from Madras University, etc. were unanimous in their views discordant India’s border with China was once used to be a friendly boundary with Tibet. They also termed Beijing’s political and military advances as a threat to India’s national security.

Delivering his keynote address, CTA President Dr. Sangay reiterated his gratitude to India and its people for generous support to the Tibetan authority saying that no other country has done (or could do) more than India and none could be more helpful for Tibet than the generous people of India. He proclaimed that the regenerate Tibetan language and culture would continue portraying the ancient Indian wisdom to the world for years to come.

Tibetans are expected to get back their dues sooner or later, but popular urges surfaced among Indians that the Dalai Lama should get the opportunity to return to his seat in Potala with dignity and prides during his lifetime. Moreover, the north-eastern people would prefer His Holiness to take return journey to Lhasa through the same route through the Arunachal border as he had chosen sixty years back. The author is a journalist and political commentator based in northeast India.

By Nava Thakuria

Letters to the Editor: 28 June, 2019

Web Team

June 28, 2019

Fix the onus of safety

Corruption rules roost in our country and most certificates be it fire compliant or others are issued by taking bribes. Not a single restaurant or hotels in the city follow safety rules and almost all eateries are prone to fire due to crumbled wirings, excessive air conditioning without exhausts due to lack of space which is certified as fire compliant for money.

Human life has become cheap and the authorities don’t seem to have learned a lesson even after several tragedies that have killed many innocent lives. Fix the onus of safety on the department than on eateries for accountability. Both need to be taken to task with penalties and imprisonment for speedy implementation of safety standards!

S.N.Kabra

World Asteroid Day

World Asteroid Day (June 30) is a global awareness movement where people from all walk of life come together to learn about asteroids and what we can do to protect our planet. Although asteroids would seem like mere rocks floating in space, they are actually objects of great importance for astronomers, geologists, planetary scientists, among others. On the evolutionary field, they are pristine objects from the dawn of the solar system. They maintain their original chemical composition that speaks to us about how our solar neighbourhood was like about 4.5 billion years ago.

Jubel D’Cruz

Give home-cooked food to children

There was a news from Chandigarh about the lungs of a child getting burst after eating chow mein, a Chinese food item. Though the child has been saved due to doctors’ making their best efforts, one cannot deny that crispy and spicy food items sold in plastic packs for Rs 5-Rs 10 in the market are causing harm to the children’s health.

There were very few companies making such items about 5-6 years ago; however, the there number has considerably increased today. Parents don’t mind buying such stuff for children since they don’t cost much. Harmful acids and chemicals are used to make these things more attractive for children and to develop a certain taste.

Children’s internal organs are very delicate and regular consumption of such things can spoil their health. Children are taught the importance of eating home-made food, vegetables, fruits, etc. in their curriculum. Even during parents’ meetings, school teachers advise them to give homemade food to children; but rather than buying children’s sickness in Rs 5 in such manner and spending thousands of rupees on the doctors, there is a need to take out time for cooking different types of nutritious food at home so as to develop taste for home-made food amongst children.

Mokshada Ghanekar

Pakistan honours Maharaja Ranjit Singh

Pakistan is going to honour Maharaja Ranjit Singh on his 180th death-anniversary by installing his life-size bronze statue near his Samadhi at Lahore, also to promote religious tourism for Sikh devotees. Earlier Pakistan government started exhibiting historic documents, books and news-clippings relating to great Indian martyr Bhagat Singh from March 26, 2018, including court-order and black warrant relating to his hanging on March 23, 1931, at Shadman Chowk (Lahore), recognising him as a common hero of India and Pakistan. Earlier Pakistani authorities had even named Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh after persistent demand of civil-society there, though the decision was later put on hold because of some fundamentalist elements there. However, celebrations are held at Shadman Chowk even presently on every March 23.

Indian politicians who celebrate birth and death anniversaries of their political mentors and family members should take a lesson from Pakistan. It is indeed sad that Indian politicians worship such personalities who deliberately chose not to stop hanging of martyr-trio of freedom struggle of India, and misused veto-power as king-maker by crowing such a person as first Prime Minister of India whose policies and acts created many problems including of Kashmir.

Currency-notes and coins in India should figure rather heroes of Indian freedom struggle rather than only of a politically worshipped person. An attractive stature of trio Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev should be installed at the empty canopy of famous India Gate.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

How can we stop mob lynching in India?

Web Team

June 28, 2019

It is a bitter reality that we never thought of that the human values of tolerance are to kiss of death and horrendous acts of mobocracy are being created across the country. It was heart ranching to read the incident of 24 yrs old person named Shams Tabrez, taking place in Jharkhand, who was caught by the mob, tied to a pole, beaten for more than seven hours and ultimately died. Was it not a horrific murder in the name of religion? How human beings can be such cruel as human life has less important than a vermin?

The most ridiculous fact in such cases is that the administration tries to protect the criminals rather than to stand shoulder to shoulder with victims or bereaved families! The government and administration should realize that lynching and mob violence of any kind shall invite serious consequences such as anarchy, chaos, disorder and eventually there can be an emergence of a violent society.

Mob violence has been a concerning matter in India for a couple of years as the country has witnessed a spate of mob attacks in some past years. The elements that fuelled this bloody mix include religious fanaticism (specifically, cow protection), increased penetration of social media and politicians, who ranged from being apathetic to instigators of violence.

Though there are no government statistics of hate crimes in India there are a few media outlets that have attempted to track them. According to IndiaSpend, there have been 117 Gau Raksha-related incidents of violence in India since 2015. As per media reports, there have been 88 people killed in lynching since 2015 across India.

The Supreme Court, in July 2018, has recommended the Centre and states to put some preventive measures in place in order to combat the incidents of mob lynching. However, regretful to say, the result nowhere is seen. It is the duty of the State to ensure the law and order in the country. So why then the states remained unsuccessful to carry out its responsibility in this regard?

The Supreme Court also commanded the government to bring legislation that specifically targets lynching. Apart from this SC ordered states to appoint nodal officers to prevent such incidents. Despite all the directions from the Apex Court, the incidents are taking place frequently.

I don’t know why the government has made all intentions and priorities to enact a law against Triple Talaq while the innocent people are being killed mercilessly all over the country? As far as the legislation regarding lynching is concerned, neither opposition nor ruling parties seem to be serious to prevent threatening incidents.

However, more sorrowfully, the political parties and their leaders use these incidents as to suit their own political vested interests not to satisfy the victim’s demands.

So, there is only one way to restrain public lynching that is the government must put harsh and preventive measures to set an example for the culprits. In addition to it, we every individual citizen, must commence discouraging such elements that have this sort of thinking because it is hazardous for the entire nation if we remain, mute spectators, not uttering a word concerning the incident happening in our surrounding, we lead the country to a disastrous situation and we only would be the responsible.

By Faheem Usmani Qasmi

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

#MenInOrange: Is Cricket being Saffronised?

Vijay Panchal

June 27, 2019

Team India’s decision to wear the orange jersey has divided Indian fans. While some fans came in support of the decision, others opposed the move and termed it as the saffronisation of the Indian cricket. Team India wearing the orange jersey against England on June 30, 2019, has come at a time when the Modi government is in power at the centre. Many of them alleged that the government is trying to saffronise cricket while some others didn’t find any fault with the team wearing the orange jersey. Many fans took to Twitter to express their loyalty towards the Indian team while some others raised objections against the Team India’s decision to wear the orange jersey. Team India is wearing the orange jersey in order to avoid any confusion while playing against England as they too are wearing the blue jersey which is the same colour worn by the Indian team.

When AV spoke to Shiv Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande, she said, “The opposition has got no agenda and they have lost public support. They are coming out with such childish issues. Saffron colour is one of the colour existing in the tri-colour of India and we are proud of it. The fault lies with the eyes of the beholder. The opposition must focus on solving people’s issues. They should go and meet people and also introspect about why the party has lost the election. Sports must be free from politics and why are they politicising it?”

Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi has raised objections against Team India wearing the orange colour jersey for their final league match against England in the World Cup. Azmi alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi of saffronising everything after coming to power. The Indian team will wear the orange jersey while playing against England as the current blue colour of Team India matches with England’s blue colour jersey. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has asked every team to carry two sets of jerseys except England.

BJP spokesperson Dattaprasad Naik said, “BCCI and ICC have taken the decision pertaining to which jersey a cricket team should wear. It has nothing to do with the government. As far as the interest of the nation is concerned a psychic person only can make such type of statement.”

Speaking to reporters outside the state legislature, Azmi said he feels happy when the Indian cricket team wins. “But Modi wants to paint the entire country with saffron,” he said.

“Today, jerseys are being made saffron. Modi-ji, the person who decided the colours of the national flag was a Muslim leader. If you want to pick a colour for the jersey, pick the tricolour, I won’t mind,” he said. “But it will be unjust if you paint everything saffron…people should oppose it,” Azmi said.

NCP leader and advocate Majeed Memon said, “When the Team India is representing the country at the highest level we should not mix politics with sports. Since England team will be wearing the blue jersey, Indian Team had changed the colour of its jersey. The back side of the jersey will flaunt the saffron colour. If people give a communal colour to this, then it is not right. Let the Indian players play with a free mindset. By bringing politics into sports, we should not disturb our players.”

Maharashtra Congress MLA MA Khan too called the politics of saffronisation unfortunate which is hampering the unity of India. When reporters asked MA Khan about the saffronisation of the Indian jersey, he became angry. He said, “The BJP is saffronising everything right from sports, cultural programme and education. It is unfortunate that saffronisation has been happening in the country since the last five years.”

Congress MLC Anant Gadgil said, “Why did the Indian team change the colour of the jersey? The BJP government is doing saffronisation of every aspect. Sports must be kept away from politics.”

Netizens took to Twitter to post their reaction about the Indian team wearing the saffron jersey.

Sonam Mahajan tweeted, “SP and Congress’s Muslim leaders have a problem with Indian team’s new jersey now cuz it has orange colour in it. The design is inspired by India’s old T20 jersey, that had orange too but it’s only a problem now cuz Modi……
Hindu-hatred have made these Mullahs go full retard”

Actor Paresh Rawal tweeted, “Ha ha ha … those who have objections should write script for Hera Pheri part 3 … it will be super hit !!!”

Tilak Chouhan tweeted, “The lobby who tried hard for saffronisation of terror in India and it’s acceptance in Indian society is opposing #MenInOrange and designating it as saffronisation of Indian team, despite of knowing that it’s just for one World Cup Match due to fair reasons.”

Biplab Goswami tweeted, “Agar yea green hota to secular ho jata”

Satish Kumar Menon tweeted, “The colour of the jersey should not matter, provided the team has done its bit by putting up a good show.”

The BJP government during it last reign had attempted to saffronise education. The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education had revamped the syllabus of standard 10 history books. In the History textbook of Class 10, Veer Savarkar has been described as a great revolutionary and great patriot. It helped to create the myth that Savarkar was brave and he made several sacrifices for the sake of India’s independence struggle.

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