IMC-USA Weekly News Digest – March 23rd, 2009

by on August 11, 2009

IN THIS ISSUE

NEWS HEADLINES

OPINIONS & EDITORIALS

NEWS HEADLINES

BRITISH INDIAN MUSLIMS RALLY AGAINST VISA POWER TO MODI (MAR 20, 2009, INDIAN EXPRESS)

British Indian Muslims have urged the British Government to declare Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi persona non grata and refuse him visa to enter the country. Accusing Modi of allowing the ethnic cleansing of Muslims in the state as its Chief Minister in 2002, the Council of Indian Muslims, UK, said he has reportedly accepted an invitation to address the India Summit 2009 being organised by Dow Jones Financial News in London in May. In a letter addressed to British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, the chairman of the Council of Indian Muslims, Mohammad Munaf Zeena, said Modi was responsible for the Gujarat genocide and posed danger to inter-communal relations in the UK.

Citing the revocation of Modi’s visa by the US as an example, the letter read: "It is widely believed that following the US example in 2005, the British Government had also advised the Indian government to cancel Modi’s trip to London." The letter referred to the Genocide Convention 1957, Rome Statue of the International Criminal Court 1998 and "a number of resolutions by the United Nations Security Council and the General Assembly" to which Britain is a signatory.

"United Kingdom is thus obligated under international law to ensure that a person against whom there is evidence that he has committed international crimes is subject to tracing, arrest, trial and if found guilty, to punishment, particularly if he is found on the UK soil. Such obligation is even more compelling if victims of the crimes are British citizens. And in this case, two members of the Dawood family, both British citizens, have been killed," it emphasised.

The letter also deplores some of the British MPs, who have shown support for Modi in the past. It said that British Muslims are outraged "to witness a mass murderer being allowed to be welcomed on the British soil and even see the disgusting rather shameless behaviour of 17 British MPs signing an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons initiated by Barry Gardiner praising ‘Vibrant Gujarat’." Gardiner followed this up by attending the Vibrant Gujarat summit on January 12-13 this year where Modi was hailed as ‘the lion of Gujarat’.

http://www.indianexpress.com/story_print.php?storyid=436753

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CONG MLA TO CALL ON PRESIDENT TO DEMAND KODNANIS DISMISSAL FROM GOVT (MAR 16, 2009, INDIAN EXPRESS)

A delegation of Congress MLAs from Gujarat will call on President Pratibha Patil on Monday afternoon in New Delhi to seek her intervention to have Minister of State for Women and Child Welfare and Higher Education Maya Kodnani dropped from the Modi government. They have alleged that the state government is shielding her despite the SIT having declared her as an offender in an affidavit submitted to the Gujarat High Court.

The MLAs, led by Congress Legislative Party leader Shaktisinh Gohil, in a memorandum to be submitted to the President, have pointed out that according to the affidavit, the controversial minister had used a pistol during the 2002 riots. They are now seeking her removal from the Cabinet on the apprehension that she could misuse her ministerial powers to tamper with evidences in the case. Gohil said that even days after the affidavit mentioned that Kodnani had led a mob during the infamous riots of 2002 at one particular area in Naroda, Ahmedabad, where over 95 people were killed the Modi government has not dropped her from the council of ministers.

"If Mr Modi does not want to drop Maya Kodnani from the Cabinet, he should face dismissal as the chief minister," he said. He added that it is unacceptable that Modi continues to have her as a minister even after it has been admitted that Kodnani is a mass-murderer and had played an active role in the Naroda riots. He said Modi was showing contempt for his statutory duty as the chief minister.

Quoting extensively from the affidavit, Gohil urged President Patil to intervene and restore democratic values in Gujarat. He added: "We want the President to ask Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to take action against Maya Kodnani. If the chief minister fails to discharge his constitutional obligation and retains an accused as his minister, then under the circumstances, we will demand an appropriate action against the state government.

http://www.indianexpress.com/story_print.php?storyid=434978

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MALLIKA SARABHAI TO CONTEST AGAINST ADVANI (MAR 21, 2009, THE HINDU)

The noted dancer, Mallika Sarabhai, daughter of the famous space scientist, Vikram Sarabhai, has decided to join the poll arena to challenge the Bharatiya Janata Party prime ministerial candidate, L. K. Advani, in Gujarat’s Capital city constituency of Gandhinagar. Ms. Sarabhai, who had also acted in several Hindi and Gujarati films, said she would contest as an Independent and would not accept the ticket of any political party. "But any party believing in secularist ideologies and supremacy of the common man will be welcomed to extend support to me from outside," she said.

The question was raised because of the reported move by the Congress to put her up as the party candidate against Mr. Advani. The Congress is still on the lookout for a suitable candidate to challenge Mr. Advani in Gandhinagar but has so far not zeroed on any. Ms. Sarabhai, however, said, she would not contest on the Congress symbol and would prefer to remain independent. She said many of her well-wishers and supporters had set up "Friends of Democracy," to prop up her candidature and she would stick to it.

The noted dancer had developed differences with the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, ever since the 2002 communal riots in the State and had joined hands with many voluntary organisations and others opposed to Mr. Modi’s style of functioning. Some attempts were also made in the past to harass her by lodging some fictitious police complaints against her which her supporters claimed was done at the behest of the Modi administration. She, however, was acquitted by the court.

Ms. Sarabhai said the main reason for her joining the fray was to register her strong protest against "criminalisation of politics" and reducing the common man to the level of a non-entity. The present political parties had made "democracy for politicians, by politicians, of politicians" and "not for the people, by the people, of the people." "The people have been reduced to absolutely nothing," she said.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/21/stories/2009032151600300.htm

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GOA BANS SRI RAM SENE IN STATE (MAR 21, 2009, TIMES OF INDIA)

The Goa government on Saturday banned Sri Ram Sene (SRS) in the state. "I have personally signed the file pertaining to the ban. We don’t want such institutions in Goa which will spoil the state’s harmony," home minister Ravi Naik told reporters on Saturday evening. Naik had signed the file pertaining to the ban this morning.

The controversial outfit had stirred a hornet’s nest in the state after its chief Pramod Mutalik warned to stop the pub culture in Goa. The outfit had earlier in January stormed pubs in Mangalore. Mutalik in an interview to local media had termed Goa as the root cause of pub culture in the country.

Naik said everyone in the state is unanimous with the view that such outfits should not be encouraged. "If someone tries to open SRS branch in the state, we will arrest him," he said. The Home Minister, who dared Mutalik to enter the state, had received support for his stand from various quarters including the BJP. BJP leader Manohar Parrikar had termed SRS as bunch of criminals.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4297466.cms

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EC SLAPS NOTICES ON VARUN, BJP; SUSPENDS 2 OFFICIALS (MAR 18, 2009, INDIAN EXPRESS)

The Election Commission on Wednesday suspended two senior officials of Pilbhit district of Uttar Pradesh and transferred two others on the charge of failing to act against BJP Lok Sabha candidate Varun Gandhi for his alleged inflammatory speech. While the Additional District Magistrate and Additional SP were suspended the DM and SP have been shifted and would not be given any election-related work, Additional Chief Election Officer Amrit Abhijat said.

Holding that his anti-Muslim speeches amount to violation of the Model Code of Conduct, the Election Commission on Wednesday slapped notices on Varun Gandhi and BJP seeking their response by Friday, even as it ordered video tracking of his entire campaign. "The Commission is of the opinion that the above action on your part amounts to violation of the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct," the EC said in its notice, referring to the speeches made by Gandhi in Mohalla Dalchand, Kotwali Pilibhit and Kasba Barkheda in Uttar Pradesh on March 7 and 8.

"Therefore, you are called upon to explain by 11 hours on March 20 as to why action should not be taken against you," the EC said, a day after filing a criminal case against Gandhi for his inflammatory utterances. In its notice to BJP President, the EC said that it was of the opinion that the action of Gandhi as a member of BJP amounted to violation of Model Code of Conduct and asked it to reply by Friday as to why the party disregarded and violated the provisions of the Code.

The Commission said it has received a report of the District Election Officer, Pilibhit, yesterday stating that "you (Gandhi) have violated the Model Code of Conduct by inciting communal feeling through your speeches". A copy of the CD was sent to both Gandhi and the party.

http://www.indianexpress.com/story_print.php?storyid=436139

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CASH FOR ALLIANCE SLUR ON AGP, BJP (MAR 16, 2009, THE TRIBUNE)

The Assam Congress is trying to rake up a ‘cash for alliance’ scam out of the seat-sharing deal arrived at by regional Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the BJP in Assam for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls. Assam Congress leader and state health minister Dr Himanta Bishwa Sharma accused the AGP of taking huge amount of cash to strike the seat-sharing deal with the BJP and claimed to have substantial evidence to prove his allegation.

He alleged that the "alliance" between the AGP and BJP was not based on any ideology but was possible after a huge amount of cash changed hands. Reacting sharply to the Congress’ allegation, AGP general secretary Atul Bora challenged the Congress to prove the charges. Another AGP senior leader Padma Hazarika vowed to quit public life if the charges of cash deal behind the seat-sharing agreement with the BJP could be proved by the Congress.

The AGP leaders have dared Congress leader Sharma to make public the reported video footage in his possession on cash transaction between AGP-BJP, failing which the regional party threatened to file a defamation suit against him. However, an unperturbed Dr Sharma today said he was ready with all evidences to prove his allegation in the court if the AGP filed a defamation case. "In case I fail to prove my allegations in court, I will quit politics," he said.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090316/nation.htm#4

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RABODI ACCIDENT SPARKS COMMUNAL CLASH (MAR 19, 2009, HINDUSTAN TIMES)

A clash broke out between Hindus and Muslims in the Rabodi area of Thane following a minor accident on the night of Tuesday. The police took about 30 minutes to bring the situation under control. The injured numbered 24 and included 18 policemen. The police registered three riot-related offences and arrested nearly 40 people on Wednesday.

The accident involved a Maruti car and an autorickshaw. A squabble ensued between the owner of the Maruti, a Hindu, and the autorickshaw driver, thought to be a Muslim. "The accident took place around 10.45 pm and a fight broke out between the car owner, M.K. Deodhar, and the driver, who is yet to be traced," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone I) Vikram Deshmane. "A police team was sent to the spot. Deodhar was brought to the police station, but the auto driver managed to escape."

The officer said all this was enough to provoke the Hindus and Muslims in the area. "Within minutes, around 500 members of each community had gathered near Krantinagar and started pelting stones and indulging in arson," said Deshmane. "The damage is estimated to be around Rs 5 lakh." The police said two shops were burnt and a house partially damaged in the fires, while 17 vehicles were damaged in the stone-pelting and arson.

There were swords being brandished and soda bottles being thrown around in the melee. The police, along with the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), tried to quell the violence with a baton-charge and by exploding tear gas shells. The police also had to fire 52 rounds to disperse the rioters. The firing injured two residents of Rabodi, Mohsin Khan (42) and Jaffer Sayyed (40). The injured were admitted to the Thane Civil Hospital and Kaushalya Hospital.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print.aspx?Id=55800984-547f-4dd2-9dc1-df764eabe91a

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BUDDHA RAGES: CONG KEY IN RAZING BABRI MASJID (MAR 20, 2009, INDIAN EXPRESS)

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Thursday said the Congress had lost its credentials as a secular party after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992. Bhattacharjee made this allegation in the state Assembly during his reply to the debate on the speech of the Governor. "That day (the day when the demolition took place) I was at the chamber of our then Chief Minister Jyoti Basu who called up Prime Minister Narasimha Rao and asked him: "Don’t you have military (to use)? And Rao reportedly told him: "They (kar sevaks) have gone there to sing Ramdhoon," Bhattacharjee told Manas Bhuniya, a leader of the Congress Legislature Party.

Bhuniya had earlier criticised the CPM for allegedly genuflecting before BSP leader and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati to form the Third Front. Bhattacharjee, who is also a CPM politburo member, said: "You know we did not want the BJP to come to power. We kept the BJP away and the UPA government went to side with the US. So we said drive both the Congress and the BJP out. We have constituted a third alternative, which will be a substitute for both," the chief minister said.

Responding to the Opposition’s demand for returning the land at the abandoned site of the Tata Motors’ small car project at Singur, the chief minister said the government was determined to set up industries there. "For Singur we have received a bunch of proposals from both Indian and foreign investors and we are examining them. We will take a decision at the right time. There is no question of returning the land as it is no longer cultivable and formal conversion of the land has been done. We cannot betray the people of Singur," he said. Bhattacharjee reiterated his earlier allegation that at Lalgarh the Trinamool Congress was hand in glove with the Maoists.

http://www.indianexpress.com/story_print.php?storyid=436906

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BJD ACCUSES BJP OF PURSUING HINDUTVA AGENDA IN ORISSA (MAR 17, 2009, HINDUSTAN TIMES)

The BJD on Tuesday accused the BJP, with which it shared power for nearly a decade in Orissa before snapping ties early this month, of trying to implement its "Hindutva agenda" in the state. "They (BJP) were creating disturbances for last six months. When government took bold steps to check trouble they started opposing," BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told an election rally. "BJP tried to implement its hindutva agenda in Orissa after realising that its vote base was declining. This was not acceptable to us," said BJD MP Pyari Mohan Mohaptra, who is considered the main strategist of Patnaik.

Claiming that BJD was not responsible for the break up of the 11-year-old alliance, Mohapatra alleged that BJP had made up its mind earlier to quit coalition to pursue its ‘communal aganda’. Mohapatra, often blamed by BJP leaders for the break-up, said the saffron party had no option but to work on its ‘Hindutva agenda’ to save its vote base.

"I am not responsible for the break up. I just placed the real picture before the BJD supremo on the dismal performance of the saffron party which was supposed to go to polls under Naveen Patnaik’s leadership," he said. The bureaucrat-turned-politician said BJP’s popularity graph could be gauged from its poor show in recent civic polls.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print.aspx?Id=00050a65-0e41-48f1-b0d4-e14f91a0f772

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HP CABINET NOD TO ANTI-RAGGING ORDINANCE (MAR 21, 2009, INDIAN EXPRESS)

Seventeen years after the state’s pioneering anti-ragging law expired, the Cabinet today approved a new ordinance, Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Ragging) Ordinance, 2009, proposing a total ban on ragging within or outside the premises of educational institutions. Heads of the institutions would be responsible for enforcing the law and any failure on their part will make them liable for the offence. Any student guilty under the law will be debarred from admission in any institution in the state for a period of three years.

A special Cabinet meeting convened here discussed the draft ordinance, prepared by the state’s home department. The law will come into force once Governor Prabha Rau gives her assent. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal presided over the meeting. The decision of the government to frame a new law has come after the death of first-year MBBS student of Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Aman Satya Kachru, early this month. The first law in Himachal Pradesh was framed by the Shanta Kumar government in 1992, but the ordinance lapsed as it was neither renewed nor converted into an Act after the government was dismissed in December 1992.

The 2009 ordinance, which happens to be an upgraded version of the 1992 ordinance, provides that ragging shall be a cognisable, non-bailable offence and, with the permission of the court, a compoundable offence. "Any student convicted of an offence under the ordinance shall be expelled from the educational institution and shall not be eligible for admission in any other educational institution for a period of three years from the date of expulsion. Such offenders shall be punished with imprisonment up to three years or fine of up to Rs 50,000, or both," the ordiance proposes.

Whenever any student or, as the case may be, the parents or guardian or a teacher of an educational institution, or an office-in-charge, make a complaint of ragging in writing to the head of the educational institution, he shall be required to inquire into the matter within 24 hours of the receipt of the complaint, in addition to intimating the higher authorities. If prima facie the complaint is found true, the student found guilty would be suspended. In case the complaint received is unfounded, he shall intimate the factual position in writing to the complainant.

It further provides that failure on the part of the institutional disciplinary authority or negligence, or deliberate delay in lodging the first information report with the local police shall be construed to be an act of culpable negligence and shall attract punishment up to one year imprisonment or fine up to Rs 10,000 or both. The head of the educational institution or in-charge shall also be punished for a term which may extend up to two years or fine up to Rs 25,000 or both, for failing to implement the provisions of the ordinance to check ragging. Meanwhile, the Cabinet approved setting up of an

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