Home Blog Page 5513

Congress shows alarming ‘lack of skill’ in Telangana issue

L Rajagopal, a Seemandhara MP, finely tuned the drama by spraying pepper spray in the air after being stopped from rushing to the Speaker’s chair. The pepper spray left several parliamentarians, staff and journalists coughing and teary-eyed. Many MPs tried to rush outside to avoid the smell and chemical effects of the spray. TDP MP Venugopal Reddy broke the Speaker’s microphone, while TV reports also claimed he brandished a knife during House proceedings. The lawmaker, however, denied the allegation saying he was merely waving the Speaker’s mic.

Hyderabad has always a dream city for Andhra Pradesh’s people. Poor public of Seemandhra area had always migrated to Hyderabad for better lifestyle and livelihood. Whenever problem arises due to issues of partition, no one wants to give Hyderabad to other parts of the state from their region. This city has always remained as source of earning for an average Andhraities. Andhra’s residents’ minds are ever changing, sometime they support separate Telangana and sometimes they want United Andhra. They are not firm on their decision. On the other hand, Telangana people always wanted a state of their own. So, separation is better and simultaneous development of any region and focusing on that line is the best solution instead of fighting every day.

Several politicians run their livelihood over separate Telangana issue. However, they had changed their stand when they saw the separate statehood granted to Telangana is reaching to reality which is genuine demand of the four crore people of the region. In 1973, they wanted a separate state because Supreme Court said that Mulki rules would be applicable to the people who live in Telangana. Several Seemandhra students and people died in that agitation. Indira Gandhi suppressed the problem by offering 6 point formula. Inspite of all the problems, later on corrupt and selfish Andhra politicians continued to ignore the development of Rayalaseema and cities in Andhra like Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. Instead, they pumped money into Hyderabad and thereby increased the public’s lure to move to Hyderabad rather than other cities in Seemandhra area. Actually, everybody knows that Hyderabad is far away from the Andhra area. Inspite of this, politicians encouraged Hyderabad to grow faster than Seemandhra cities.

The demand for Telangana state today is loud and clear across the social, economic and political spectrum and it is a demand based not only on numerous instances of discrimination and lack of development, but also as much about the self-respect and dignity of 40 million people of that region. The Telangana people will not be happy! It is the politicians from the Telangana regions who will be benefitted by this separation. They will not share their loot with other region politicians. They will get whole share of the loot. No new state is being formed from nowhere. It is by partitioning the existing state and there will be lot of invisible bloodshed when that state is cut. From the very next day, the very same people will be fighting for river waters followed by blockades and all! Why is it so difficult to treat the Telugu people as one? From more than 50 years, the state was called as Andhra Pradesh. Let it now be called as Telangana! All people of the state will become Telanganites! The Telangana people cannot be happy with this?

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde had recently met President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Hamid Ansari to appraise them on the Telangana Bill. And these unruly parliamentarians and the President of India on their instance call Arvind Kejriwal to be an anarchist. Shame on such lawmakers and to those who are undermining each and every act of reform Kejriwal has performed in the recent past. Government can create as many states as they want. If Telangana creation is successful then think about the future. The same episode can be repeated by every government before elections for other parts of India creating chaos every time. Telangana is not peoples demand. Its demand imprinted in the minds of people by powerless people who wants power. Suppose, if Mumbai and surrounding areas wants a separate state in the name of sentiments depriving the rights of other parts of Maharashtra, politicians will inject that ideas in peoples’ mind same thing. Same happened with Andhra’s people. Congress politicians from Seemandhra are upping the game to retain their popularity and get back to people to get re-elected.

Telangana statehood issue first came in front of the government in 1960s. Congress has taken a decision to declare Telangana as state but I think it will take some more time to officially get a separate identity. Since 1960s, many youth had lost their lives and the matter lingers in political corridors. Separate Telangana violence is one of the biggest violent moments in the entire history. The current government is riding a blind horse for the votebank and will create long term problems for the country’s unity and integrity. The UPA Government and its High Command, BJP and several other national parties are supporting the idea of separate Telangana. To my surprise, even BJP is also supporting this. Here question arises that, by separating Telangana, will they restore the parliamentary seats in both states as per 1956 status? Post 1956, some parliamentary seats of Telangana were increased at the expense of Coastal Andhra. All over India, number of parliamentary seats remained constant in all states. Restoring 1956 situation means restoring parliamentary seats as per 1956 status. Will the borders of 1956 be restored? Bhadrachalam, Chintur and other areas were part of the Coastal Andhra before 1956. It was subsequently transferred to Khammam district of Telangana. Do these entities have an action plan to create infrastructure of the truncated or just orphaned state of Andhra Pradesh?

Pepper-spray in Parliament, bangles and lipstick in Delhi assembly

Delhi-assemblyOn a day pepper spray was used, a computer flung and a mic yanked out in unprecedented scenes in Parliament, the Delhi assembly was not far behind.

A BJP legislator, RP Singh, placed bangles and lipstick before Law Minister Somnath Bharti, who was targeted by the main opposition party over his raid at his constituency targeting African women he alleged were involved in a drugs and sex racket.

The Congress, which provides external support to the Aam Aadmi Party government, too joined the opposition in demanding Mr Bharti’s sacking.

A Congress lawmaker walked up to Delhi Speaker MS Dhir, tore up a file at his table and wrenched out his mic. The MLA, Asif Mohammad Khan, then walked to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and tried to rip out his mic too. Soon, other legislators followed and continued vandalism in the house.

“The Congress-BJP match-fixing was exposed today. I don’t think any legislature in the country has seen the BJP and the Congress joining hands this way,” said Mr Kejriwal.

“When the BJP was not slogan-shouting, then the Congress took over. When the Congress stopped, the BJP took over. It was coordinated.”

The AAP government has called the four-day assembly session to pass its two pet proposals, the anti-corruption Jan Lokpal Bill and the Swaraj Bill.

But the opening day was drowned out in protests, shouting and general chaos. The house was adjourned repeatedly, with BJP leader Harsh Vardhan declaring, “Unless the Law Minister is sacked, we will not let the House function.”

Acted in self-defence, says L Rajagopal, the ‘pepper-spray MP’

L Rajagopal, the man who used pepper spray in Parliament, says he acted in self-defence. He is among the richest MPs from Andhra Pradesh, with 300 crores to his name according to his affidavit to the Election Commission in 2009. The 53-year-old parliamentarian from Vijayawada may have shamed Parliament, but supporters at his constituency claim he is their hero.

Mr. Rajagopal walked into the Lok Sabha armed with a spray can, and during a fight between MPs, pulled it out and aimed it indiscriminately across the house. MPs rushed out the house holding handkerchiefs to their eyes and nose. Many MPs, including Mr. Rajagopal, were taken to hospital with complaints of burning eyes and coughing.

“I did it in self-defence. They pounced on whoever opposed the Telangana bill. I would have done the same thing anywhere. It’s not a lethal weapon,” the MP said, claiming that he has carried pepper spray for protection in the past.

Mr. Rajagopal was among the six MPs expelled by the Congress for moving a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the proposal to split Andhra Pradesh and create Telangana.

These MPs belong to Seemandhra, or the non-Telangana region that is vehemently opposed to bifurcation. Mr. Rajagopal said he would do all he can to block the Telangana bill in Parliament.

Mr. Rajagopal has always displayed a flair for drama. In December 2009, he sat on a protest fast for more than a week against Telangana, holding the national flag, and emerged as one of the most prominent faces of the United Andhra Pradesh movement.

BJP, Congress demand removal of AAP minister Somnath Bharti

Utter chaos prevailed in the Delhi Assembly on Thursday as legislators of the BJP and Congress raised slogans demanding the removal of Law Minister Somnath Bharti over the issue of midnight raid against African women, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the proceedings twice.

The Opposition ceased to let the House function and scenes similar to the Parliament were witnessed when Congress MLA Asif Mohd broke the microphone place

As the House met, the BJP legislators objected to the Speaker’s reference of “special session” to the proceedings in his introductory address. They demanded that he call it the budget session.

The four-day assembly session, which began today, has been called for passage of contentious anti-corruption legislation Jan Lokpal Bill and Swaraj Bills by Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi Government.

The BJP also gave a Calling Attention notice against the Law Minister. The notice was read out by Speaker M S Dhir following which Bharti’s comments were sought.d before Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

It was also reported that RP Singh, BJP MLA from Rajinder Nagar constituency, threw bangles and lipstick towards Somnath Bharti in a bid to force him into resigning.

Amid shouting of slogans by BJP MLAs, the House was adjourned for 20 minutes by the Speaker.

However, when the business resumed in the Assembly, Congress MLAs trooped into the well of the House and shouted slogans against Bharti. They were carrying placards accusing Bharti of fuelling racism in the city.

Following uproarious scenes, the House was again adjourned for 20 minutes. Somnath Bharti has been in the eye of the storm for carrying out controversial midnight raid last month in South Delhi’s Khirki Extension area alleging drug trafficking and sex racket by some of African nationals living there.

Former J&K minister, accused of sexual assault, finally appears in Srinagar

sexual-assault-jkFormer Jammu and Kashmir Health Minister Shabir Khan, who is facing charges of molesting a woman doctor, reached Srinagar today. He was missing for a week.

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court had ordered Mr. Khan to appear before the police. However, Mr. Khan, a powerful Congress leader in the state, is yet to meet the police, and is staying at a government guest house. Despite resigning as a state minister after the woman doctor alleged molestation, Mr. Khan is reportedly enjoying all the official privileges including security and an official car.

Sources say Mr. Khan, who has managed to evade his arrest for over a week, is insisting that the police officials should come to the guest house to question him, rather than him going to the police station despite the high court’s order.

Mr. Khan has been booked under non-bailable sections by the police.

The woman has said in her complaint that she received repeated calls from Mr. Khan’s staff last month and was told that the minister wanted to know what announcements Union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad made during his visit to the hospital where she works. Despite her requests that Mr. Khan should obtain the information from senior officials, the doctor alleged, she was compelled to report to his office on January 28.

When the minister came to meet her, she said, he acted like a “sexual predator” and made “provocative advances – both verbal and physical”.

Mr. Khan has alleged a political conspiracy, saying he is innocent and judiciary will give him justice.

Supreme Court tells Karnataka to check Devadasis practice

supremecourt1The Supreme Court on Thursday directed Karnataka’s chief secretary to ensure that no girls are offered on Thursday night or Friday as devotees to temples in a practice known as Devadasis.

The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam, while issuing notice to the Karanataka government directed the chief secretary to take all “preventive measure in the conduct of the programmes to be held in the early hours of February 14, where girls are being dedicated as devotees to the temple”.

“We also direct the chief secretary (to ensure) that no such incident (of dedicating girls as devotees to temples) takes place either on February 13 or February 14.”

As counsel for a PIL petitioner mentioned the matter before the court, the chief justice observed: “Such an important matter and you (petitioner’s counsel) come at such belated stage?”

Asaram pleads not guilty of charges in rape case

Self-style godman Asaram Bapu and four others, accused in sexual exploitation of a minor girl, pleaded not guilty of the charges after these were read out to them by the Jodhpur District and Sessions Court judge on Thursday.

Asaram and the four co-accused denied the charges against them and opted for trial, upon which judge Manoj Kumar Vyas adjourned the matter till 17 February.

The self-styled godman appeared pale and broken in the court after hearing the charges, but while boarding a bus back to jail he said that “everything will be fine”. Asaram and the four co-accused, including Shiva and Shilpi who had been granted bail, appeared in the court today.

The court framed charges against Asaram for rape, criminal conspiracy and other offences on Friday.

Charges have been framed under sections 342 (for wrongful confinement), 354A (sexual harassment), 370(4) (trafficking), 376(2)f (rape on a woman when she is under twelve years of age), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509/34 and 120 (B) (Criminal conspiracy).

He has also been charged under section 23 and 26 of Juvenile Justice Act and section 5(f)/6, 5(g)/6 and 7/8 of POCSO Act.

Two other accused Shiva and Prakash have been framed under the same sections except section 109/120(B) instead of plain 120(B) and section 7/8 read with section 17 of POCSO Act instead of plain section 7/8 of POCSO Act. They have not been charged under J J Act.

Meanwhile, Asaram’s counsel has moved an application in the court praying to make available the statements of the victim recorded by Delhi Police.

Amarinder making false claims on Operation Bluestar: Badal

The war of words between Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Congress leader Amarinder Singh intensified as the 86-year-old Akali stalwart on Thursday accused the latter of vitiating the political atmosphere of the state with his “false” claims on Operation Bluestar.

“Amarinder Singh was divested of the office of Chief Minister and the president-ship of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee due to his die-hard habit of vendetta, making false claims and beating about the bush,” Badal told.

“I have not ever seen such a big liar like Captain Amarinder Singh in my life who has not only eroded the credibility of Congress but also vitiated the political atmosphere of the state,” he added.

Yesterday, Amarinder had alleged that Badal had asked the Union Government to go for military action at the Golden Temple at a secret meeting with the then Home Minister P V Narasimha Rao on March 28, 1984.

On being asked to react on Amarinder’s allegations, Badal said the curfew was clamped across the state during Operation Bluestar and he had been arrested two days after he entered Haryana from his village.

“Amarinder Singh was not imprisoned even for a day… while the entire world knows that I was put in jail for several years,” Badal claimed.

He further said that Amarinder over the years had enjoyed important positions including president of the state unit of Congress, a party “which was responsible for Operation Bluestar”.

“Why didn’t he issue such statement when he was holding the chair of the Chief Minister?” Badal asked.

Amarinder was Punjab’s Chief Minister between 2002-07.

Lok Sabha incidents a fallout of Centre’s inept handling of AP division: Kiran

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Thursday said the ugly incidents in the Lok Sabha is the fallout of the Centre’s “bungling” in handling the sensitive state bifurcation issue.

“The Centre bungled up the state bifurcation issue from the start and at every stage. The current situation is a result of that (bungling). It should understand that,” Kiran said while terming the incidents as “very unfortunate”.

“The Prime Minister says his heart bleeds over such incidents. But he should understand that hearts of crores of Telugu people are bleeding because of the undemocratic acts of the Centre,” the Chief Minister told reporters this afternoon.

Kiran is on a collision course with the Centre over division of Andhra Pradesh to create Telangana.

The chief minister termed as the “most undemocratic act” the tabling of the AP Reorganisation Bill in Lok Sabha today.

“It is not the way to introduce a Bill. There are rules, procedures, constitution and years of experience. It’s not enough to say we are a largest democracy…We should uphold democratic values,” Kiran said.

He also found fault with the suspension of 17 MPs belonging to Seemaandhra region from Parliament for the rest of the session.

Taking a dig at the Congress high command, Kiran said how his party could sup with BJP.

“My party calls BJP ‘communal’ but why is it having lunch with such a party?..You are spreading poison,” Kiran remarked, referring to the Prime Minister’s lunch hosted for BJP leaders yesterday to ensure smooth passage of the AP Reorganisation Bill.

“They are ready to dine with a communal party but not willing to talk to their own people,” he lashed out.

The revival of print media

People might be saying that print media might be dying a slow death after the advent of television and internet. However, print media has transformed itself with changing times after the raise in FDI ceiling and also is witnessing good growth. After the liberalisation of the Indian economy there has been a tremendous change in people’s lifestyle and spending habits. Today everyone wants to look good and be in sync with the modern lifestyle. Youths are relying on print media to groom themselves and undergo a makeover.

Teenagers don’t have time to watch television hence they carry magazine along with them and read it for getting updated about the latest information. Nowadays many special theme based magazines are available in the market which only focuses on one subject. Youth mostly prefer health magazines for obtaining information about health and live a happy life. These magazines also offer vital tips to youth about how to look good, what to eat and how much to quantity of food to be consumed. Thus youth magazine has become very popular among youngsters.

Women are very conscious about every aspect right from their looks to the clothes they choose. They often subscribe to women’s magazine for getting tips about beauty, health, attire, cooking, parenting, grooming etc. Most of the shows are aired on television when women are working in the office hence they are unable to watch them. Hence they are reading women and lifestyle magazines for getting the latest knowledge. They can carry magazines along with them while commuting in buses and trains. Some of them subscribe to wedding magazines for getting information about the attire and jewellery to be worn during marriage.

Like magazine even newspapers provide in-depth analysis about various incidents happening across the country. A woman was reading a magazine while commuting in the train. I asked her from where do she get the news? She replied that she relied on print media like magazines, newspapers for getting the news. According to her, electronic media only provides the latest updates but print media provides comprehensive report of the news. Moreover, news gets repeated again and again on electronic media which can be big turn off for viewers. According to me, print media is not dying and has revived itself with changing times.