IMC-USA Weekly News Digest – April 20th, 2009

by on August 11, 2009

IN THIS ISSUE

NEWS HEADLINES

OPINIONS & EDITORIALS

NEWS HEADLINES

POST-GODHRA RIOT CASE: FORMER BJP COUNCILLOR HELD (APR 13, 2009, THE TRIBUNE)

A former BJP councillor was arrested here today in connection with the 2002 Naroda Gam post-Godhra riot case, in which ex-minister Maya Kodnani and VHP leader Joydeb Patel are already in custody.

"The Naroda police has arrested Vallabh Patel after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) submitted absconders’ list in the riot cases to them," SIT officer PL Mal said. "We have received a message from the Naroda police confirming that they have arrested Patel, who was absconding," he said.

The SIT was formed by the Supreme Court to investigate some of the post-Godhra riot cases. Patel had got anticipatory bail from a local court after his name was shown in the list of absconders in the chargesheet filed by SIT in December 2008. Eleven persons were killed on February 28, 2008, in the Naroda Gam area during the riots. Patel is alleged to be part of the mob, which attacked the members of the minority community.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090413/nation.htm#25

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ABHINAV BHARAT LINKED TO 2007 AJMER BLAST (APR 12, 2009, HINDUSTAN TIMES)

Investigations into the 2007 Ajmer Sharif blast have led the Rajasthan police to the members of self-styled Hindu group Abhinav Bharat, which was alleged to be behind the Malegaon blast, official sources said. A team of the state police had recently visited Mumbai to collect full statements and reports of narco-analysis and brain mapping tests done on Lt Col S P Purohit and other accused in the Malegaon blast cases, the sources said.

Purohit, an alleged mastermind of the Abhinav Bharat group had told investigators during narco-analysis and brain mapping tests that another member Dayanand Pandey, also an accused in the Malegaon blast, had planned the Ajmer incident, they claimed. The team which met officials of ATS Mumbai collected call details of Purohit, his detailed interrogation report besides other documents pertaining to investigations in the Malegaon blasts, the sources said.

The investigators in Rajasthan are having a relook into the call detail records in and around the blast site to see if any of the Abhinav Bharat groups members was present there at the time bomb went off.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print.aspx?Id=a46c6c7f-1368-4e23-a351-38a8e67d7265

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BJP CANDIDATE FROM KANDHAMAL ARRESTED FOR HATE SPEECH (APR 14, 2009, DECCAN HERALD)

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Lok Sabha candidate Ashok Sahu was arrested Tuesday for making an inflammatory speech in Orissa’s Kandhamal region earlier this month. "Sahu was arrested from Phulbani town," Kandhamal District Collector Krishan Kumar said. Sahu, who is the BJP’s candidate for the Kandhamal Lok Sabha seat, was accused of delivering a communally charged speech on April 5 at a public meeting in Raikia town. He allegedly accused the church of indulging in conversion. Sahu is facing charges under the Representation of People Act and the IPC. A criminal case was registered against him at Raikia police station in Kandhamal district on April 10.

Kandhamal district, about 200 km from here, witnessed widespread communal violence after the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides at his ashram on Aug 23, 2008. At least 38 people were killed in the state and more than 25,000 Christians were forced to flee their homes after their houses were attacked by rampaging mobs. More than 3,000 people are still living in government relief camps. Sahu, linked to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, had made similar remarks during the communal violence last year. Christian leaders had immediately refuted the allegations.

While Sahu is contesting the Kandhamal Lok Sabha seat, the BJP has also nominated Manoj Pradhan, an accused in the riots, for the assembly election from G. Udayagiri constituency in the district. Pradhan was arrested about four months ago and is still in jail.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Apr142009/national20090414130172.asp

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HINDU SAINT ASKS PEOPLE NOT TO VOTE FOR BJP (APR 13, 2006, EXPRESS BUZZ)

A Hindu saint Monday asked the people not to support or vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which has raised the issue of the Ram temple at Ayodhya again. "We have been cautioning people across the country that the BJP is eyeing to capture power at the centre by using the Ram temple issue again. It is another example of mixing or using religion for political gain at the cost of the people and nation," Mahant Janamjey Sharanji, the president of the Sri Ram Janam Bhoomi Nirman Nyas, Ayodhya said here. "The much awaited construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya is possible through common or mutual agreement," he said.

The seer, who is leading the "Sanatan Sant Sufi Yatra", said the nine member team – comprising four Muslim Sufi saints and five Hindu seers – will go around India to create awareness among the people to teach a lesson to those playing politics in the name of religion. He made it clear that their campaign from Kashmir to Kanyakumari to spread the message of peace, love and communal harmony by countering hatred, has nothing to do with any political party.

"We have been requesting people to discard politicians if he or she is playing politics in the name of religion. They may belong to any political party," he said. The seer also termed senior BJP leader L.K. Advani’s letter to Hindu saints last week as a "gimmick" to influence them before elections. Sufi Mohd Geelani Kattan, the president of Ajmer unit of the World Sufi Council, said millions of people across the country were facing unemployment, starvation and poverty but none of the political parties had a clear stand on these issues. "We are asking people to vote for those who promise to provide employment, food and fight against terror," he said.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/print.aspx?artid=q|GtzEnqXHc=

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COMMUNALISM IS BIGGEST MENACE (APR 15, 2009, THE HINDU)

The former Chief Minister Marpady Veerappa Moily is a rare blend of politician, poet and thinker. As the Chief Minister (1992-94), he put in place the Common Entrance Test system for admissions to professional courses. He also introduced the reservation system in accordance with the recommendations of the Chinnappa Reddy Commission. Sixty-nine-year-old Mr. Moily is the author of the epic work in Kannada "Ramayana Mahanveshanam". The veteran Congress leader from Dakshina Kannada district lost the Lok Sabha elections from Chikmagalur and Mangalore constituencies in 1998, 1999 and 2004. He is now trying his luck for the fourth time from Chickaballapur, which is alien turf.

What made you to shift from Mangalore to Chickaballapur? Was it because you lost the previous elections from there? There was no question of me shifting constituencies. It was not my personal choice. The party high command and the Central Election Committee have fielded me from Chickaballapur. As I have been associated with this constituency for the past 35 years, the rank and file of the party in Chickaballapur wanted me to contest from here. I also had offers to contest from Mangalore, Haveri and Bangalore North. Will the decision of the sitting Chickaballapur MP, R.L. Jalappa, to remain inactive affect your chances? Mr. Jalappa has chosen to be inactive for health reasons. We have no malice towards each other. He blessed me when I called on him. There is no more factionalism in the Congress, and even those who were ‘neutral’ have started enthusiastically working for the party.

How crucial is it for you to win this election? I have been the Chief Minister and also enjoyed the rank of a Union Cabinet Minister as Chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC). But, a lot of energy is left in me still. I have to enter the Lok Sabha to complete my half-finished and unfinished agenda of implementing the recommendations of the ARC and giving a push to expansion of Central educational institutions. Secondly, I want to utilise my expertise and experience to develop Chickaballapur constituency. During the campaign you have been severely attacking the BJP. But you have been too soft towards the JD(S). What is the reason? Communalism is the biggest menace, and it is represented by the BJP. The BJP’s agenda is dangerous. It has not learnt a lesson even after the demolition of the Babri Masjid, and the Godhra carnage. Congress will always fight against those who are opposed to the national ethos and integrity.

What role do you envisage for yourself at the Centre in the event of the Congress returning to power? In view of the demographic explosion, proper planning is needed to provide livelihood security to the masses and deal with problems of poverty and unemployment. Thus, I have a big role to play in the backdrop of the recommendations I have made as Chairman of the ARC and also the Overseeing Committee.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/15/stories/2009041554170400.htm

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BJP PURSUING DIVISIVE POLITICS: GOGOI (APR 12, 2009, HINDUSTAN TIMES)

Launching a counter attack on BJP leader Narendra Modi for his criticism of the Congress, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Sunday accused him of indulging in "vote bank politics through divisive policies of hatred and ill will". Reacting to Modi’s allegation at an election rally here that the Congress was pursuing vote bank politics, Gogoi said "on the contrary it is the BJP which is indulging in vote bank politics through its divisive policies of hatred and ill will".

"It is the BJP which has sowed seeds of discord among two communities by raking up the Ram-Janmabhumi issue and taking the lead in demolition of Babri Masjid," the chief minister said. "The role of Modi in Gujurat riots will remain in the annals of our country’s political history as the darkest chapter. Even the Supreme Court passed strictures against the Modi government and hauled ministers and officials for their role in the communal riots," he said.

Taking a dig at the regional Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), which has electoral understanding with BJP, the chief minister said, "it was unfortunate that the party which takes pride of the state’s rich ethos have joined hands with Modi."

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print.aspx?Id=c973751c-b221-4ecd-b6a5-f6a14e671a51

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ANGRY AZAMGARH PICKS UP A WEAPON: VOTE – FOR ULEMA (APR 17, 2009, INDIAN EXPRESS)

Underlinging its "anger against all political parties" and its "solidarity", the Lalganj parliamentary constituency housing the native village of the two youths killed in Delhi’s Batla House encounter today voted en masse for a candidate put up by the Ulema Council. Initially, there was talk of a boycott, but finally the largely Muslim voters of the reserved constituency decided to turn up in support for the Council’s Chandu Saroj, knowing that there was little chance of him winning. They wanted to send out the message that they had lost faith in all political parties, they said in one voice.

While Sanjarpur in this constituency hit the headlines after the Batla House encounter, Beenapara and Sarai Mir villages are barely 10 km away. Beenapara was in the news after one of its natives, Mufti Abu Bashar, was picked up by the Gujarat police in connection with the Ahmedabad blasts. Sarai Mir is the native place of jailed underworld don Abu Salem. "We are not bothered about the victory of our candidate. We are not thekedars (contractors) whose task is to ensure the defeat of BJP candidates across the nation. Ye election apni unity ke liye hai," said Rizwan Ahemad, Sanjarpur’s pradhan for the last 18 years.

With more than 80 per cent of Sanjarpur’s 4,679 voters Muslims, polling agents of other parties took it easy today, knowing their appeals would fall on deaf ears. "It is the BJP vs Ulema. People are voting on the same lines," BJP leader Jitendra Gupta said, claiming the party had little to worry in Sanjarpur. While the sense of outrage over Batla House may be the glue holding them together, the community says they have long felt isolated in the current political situation. "Dalits have their own party – the BSP. Yadavs have their Samajwadi Party. So the Muslims must form their own party," said Aheshan Ahemad Daudi, a committed Congress voter for 40 years. Aheshan’s friend Azazuddin nodded in agreement, saying the approach of voting for the candidate who could defeat the BJP "had already done a great damage to us".

In Sarai Mir, where more than 50 per cent of the 5,285 voters are Muslims and which has always supported the SP, the Ulema Council is being seen as a much-needed "experiment". "Many leaders of both the BSP and SP approached us to drop the idea of supporting the Ulema Council. Irada nahin badla (We did not change our mind)," said Mumtaj Ahemad. Even the BSP’s Sarai Mir leader, Azam Advocate, admits that more than 70 per cent of the Muslim vote may have gone to the Council. "But the BSP has got its share," he added. Beenapara’s 2,000-plus voters also saw today’s election as a chance to show their "strength". "We too have guts and we won’t bow down before anyone. This is a long battle," said Abu Khair. The Principal of Beenapara’s Inter College, Abu Sifiyan Khan, called the Ulema Council an attempt to create a separate unit for the Muslims.

http://www.indianexpress.com/story-print/448036/

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BATLA HOUSE: NHRC RAPS COPS (APR 16, 2009, HINDUSTAN TIMES)

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday pulled up Delhi Police for its argument that a judicial probe into the September 19 Batla House encounter will "demoralise" the force.

"The magisterial inquiry is to inquire if a police bullet which killed a suspect in the encounter was really intended for his leg? Why was the accused shot on head? Was it necessary to take his life

Related posts:

  1. IMC-USA Weekly News Digest – July 20th, 2009
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  3. IMC-USA Weekly News Digest – April 13th, 2009
  4. IMC-USA Weekly News Digest – April 27th, 2009
  5. IMC-USA Weekly News Digest – September 20th, 2010

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