ख़ास ख़बर: News updates at this hour

अब तक की ख़ास ख़बरों पर एक नज़र 

Courtesy:Ministry of Information & Broadcasting//YouTube

peta2 Award

ModCloth, The North Face in the Running for peta2 Award
Companies Are Making the Smart Decision to Meet Young People's Fast-Growing Demand for Stylish and Cruelty-Free Vegan Apparel
Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382
Los Angeles – Businesses everywhere are responding to consumer demand—driven largely by young people—to drop fur, leather, down, and other products that cause animal suffering. That’s why peta2, PETA’s youth division, has nominated 16 companies for the ninth-annual Libby Awards in four apparel-related categories. “Libby” is for “liberation”—as in animal liberation. Visitors to peta2.com can cast their votes to help peta2 decide whom it should choose as the Libby Award winners and enter for a chance to win a giant Libby prize pack filled with goodies from last year’s winners, including a cookbook, personal-care products, and vegan treats.

This year’s nominees include cold-weather apparel leaders The North Face, nominated for a Best Vegan Makeover award for its revolutionary, down-free ThermoBall™ line, which is essential for people who refuse to let the cold cruelty of down permeate their hearts. The company will get a run for its money from ModCloth’s From Head to Moto Shorts, which offer fashionistas the bad-girl look of leather without the bloody violence of the leather industry.

“Today’s young people want their favorite brands to reflect their values as well as their sense of style,” says PETA Director of Youth Outreach and Campaigns Marta Holmberg. “All of peta2’s nominees are winners because they’re inspiring young people across the country to get active for animals every chance they get.”

Other Libby Award categories include Best Use of Internet Stardom for Animals, Best Vegan Makeover, and Best New Vegan Food Item. Voting ends on December 12 at 12 p.m. EST. Winners will be chosen by peta2—whose motto reads, “Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way”—based on several factors, including vote count, and will be announced on December 16. See the full contest details here.

For more information and to cast your vote to help peta2 decide whom it should choose as Libby Award winners, please visit peta2.com or click here.

Sangat Rising after Chaar Sahibzaade Film

Industry and commerce must occupy religious places

 Our society shall be facing more divisions

When the state failed to correctly establish educational and training places, people from industries and commerce came forward and occupy the place and now we have got better schools, colleges and training institutions.  Now the people having faith in religions are facing some difficulties and therefore, time has come when people from industry and commerce come forward and occupy religious places so that these institutions too must run properly.  When religious places too shall run by these institutions, we shall be having complete accounts, issue of receipts, auditing work and the people for services shall be recruited on merits and there shall be no family rule over these institutions.  The learned people shall be telling us things which are acceptable by the modern society and a sense of unity shall come into being.  The present system when people with low education are occupying these institutions, the people are learning fundamentalism, terrorism and rioting from these institutions  and so many new sects are being established and our society shall be facing more divisions.

Dalip Singh Wasan, Advocate, 

District Courts, Patiala-Punjab-147001

Love cannot be defined//Dalip Singh Wasan, Advocate

 It remains alive even after the deaths of lover and beloved

I was married.  I had got a son who was in 6th class.  My husband was well established in profession and had got good reputation.  I too was holding a high post.  All was going on well.  I was leading a good family life.  I was having good position at my work place.  My colleagues were having good relations with me and this work-place was like my family.  I had got love, affection, regard for all and all were responding well.

                    There were three people who were holding the same status which I was holding.  We all were spending our free time together.  One of them was transferred and another man from another office came and joined our batch.  His name was Rohit Sharma.  He was well qualified and belonged to a reputed family well established in industry.  He had joined service because he wanted to serve the people of India.  Within days I started sitting with him.  As and when I had got some spare time with me, I went to his room and started spending some time with him.  We had been talking on administrative matters, on political matters and sometime, we had been discussing on family matters.  I was surprised to note that this man was fully conversant with all the matters and was in a position to assist me even in my office work.  He was so nice that as and when I entered his room, he stood up and welcomed me with smiling face.  I never saw him in a serious  mood.    He too was married and had got two children.  I had invited me to his house and we all visited his house.  His wife was so nice and she welcomed us all.  She had started calling me, ' my dear sister' and it is on record that she often visited our house.  She had got no objections on my relations with her husband.  He was calling me ' madam' and I was calling him,' sir'.

                  As and when I was absent in my room, even the staff people were having information that I could be found in the room of Rohit.  People from my house were also known to Rohit and they never objected on my relations with him.

              Rohit had been with us for four years.  Then he got promotion and left us.  He gave a long lecture at the time of his fare-well party and I too spoke,"  I could not understand what type of relations I could develop with this man.  He had been my brother and I can declare that he is more than my brother.  I had got no hesitation and I had been discussing with him all matters and at times, I could sha re with him what I could not share even with members of my own family.  This mand had been an open note book for me where I could write what I had been feeling and all had been done without any restriction, reservation and hesitation.....".  I had been speaking for half an hour and our head also spoke.  Some people from the staff also spoke and Rohit left our work place.  He is away, but as and when he comes to this station, he did not fail to visit my house and meet us all.  It is on record that he has become a member of my family and I had been calling him on marriages of my children and he too had been calling us on marriages of his children.  It is on record that when his wife died, I was present by his side and when my husband died, he was also there and was having me in his arms and was consoling me.  My children were calling him,'  uncle- maamaa ji'.

                  We are still meeting and sharing our problems and all that.  Till date, I am not in a position to understand as to what type of relations were there between us.  Rohit had said once,' love takes its birth in two hearts at one and the same time and once such a love takes its birth, it never dies.  It remains alive even after the deaths of lover and beloved.'  and these words of his are often in my mind as and when I recall times spent with Rohit.    

Please give me comments on dalipsinghwassan@yahoo.co.in.

Modi will address public rally in Kishtwar November 22-Grewal

Fri, Nov 21, 2014 at 4:37 AM

We are confident of accomplishing our Mission 44+

Jammu::(Jammu and Kashmir Screen Bureau):

Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi will campaign for party candidates from Chenab Valley, is scheduled to address a public rally in Kishtwar town on November 22, 2014 a day before the electioneering for the first phase ends of the State. After a public meeting here today, National BJP Leader from Punjab Sukhminderpal Singh told that our party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to hold five mega rallies of its star campaigners Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, Shri JP Nadda, and BJP President Shri Amit Shah, it's from today to November 22, 2014. Grewal expressed confidence over Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accomplishing its ambitious 'Mission 44+' in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls. He said people were increasingly reposing faith in the party which has strengthened their resolve to form Government in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It's clear that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is fighting the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir with a special strategy to come to power in the state. Grewal said that our party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is confident of accomplishing its Mission 44+, where it aims to win at least 44 of a total 87 seats. He said that we are watching enthusiasm and love of the people for BJP during our campaigning for some time now. People have created a wave-like effect for BJP in Jammu and Kashmir. Grewal said whether it was Jammu, Leh in Ladakh or Srinagar in Kashmir valley, people were reposing faith in the lotus and moving towards the party. He said the faith of people in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have strengthened our endeavor and resolve to meet the target and form the government in the state. He said the party needs to consolidate its gains that have been speedily achieved during campaigning. Grewal told that our party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to hold five mega rallies of its star campaigners Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, Shri JP Nadda, and BJP President Shri Amit Shah, it's from today to November 22, 2014.

GADVASU will conduct youth festival in November

 Fri, Oct 31, 2014 at 5:52 PM

The students are in Great Spirit 

                                                                                                                           Youth Festival at GADVASU--A file photo

Ludhiana- 31-October, 2014. (Punjab Screen Bureau):

Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, GADVASU, Ludhiana is going to organise Youth Festival in the second week of November. The whole show will be organize from 04 Nov. to 09 Nov. While disseminating this information Dr. Satinder Pal Singh Sangha Director Student’s welfare told that our students are doing well in different extra mural activities at all India Agricultural & Veterinary Inter University fests and they have won a number of prizes and trophies in these events so we organize this festival to polish and develop their talent and skill. It will be the spring board for students to achieve the new heights. Dr. Singh informed that to streamline all the functioning, committees have been formed and duties are allocated.

             Dr. Darshan Singh Barhi, Organizing Secretary of the Youth festival told that Painting, Poster making, Cartooning on 4 Nov, Collage making, Rangoli and Clay Modelling on 5 Nov,  Installation, Debate, Elocution, Creative Writing, Extempore, and Haas-Ras Poetry on 6 Nov,   Folk Songs, Creative Dance, Light Vocal and Group Songs on 7 Nov, Quiz, Mime, Skit, Mono Acting, Mimicry and One act play on 8 Nov, Shabad and Bhajan Gayan, Western Song,  Folk Dance and Prize distribution function will be on the Concluding day i.e 09 Nov. Dr. Singh told that these co-curricular activities are an essential part of studentship so it is right of students to enjoy this flavour. He told that these festivals develop cordial relations in students whereas help to build confidence in them.

Dr. N K Sood, President Dance, Drama and Music Club informed that whole fest will be conducted according to the notified rules of inter University competitions. The students are in Great Spirit and full of zeal to become the part of youth festival. They are devoting their extra time to prepare their events to stage it in exclusive manner he added. He hoped that the festival will leave healthy, cheerful and colourful impressions to all the participants and spectators.

SAD-Badal must take lessons from Haryana results

Tue, Oct 21, 2014 at 11:01 PM

BJP has emerged stronger-Grewal

New Delhi: October 21, 2014: (Punjab Screen Bureau)

National Secretary BJP Kisan Morcha and Prabhari Himachal Pradesh Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal said that the Shiromani Akali Dal , Badal must take lessons from the poll outcome in Haryana. He said the SAD , Badal should know that its experiment of having a coalition with other parties had failed to bring any harm to Bharatiya Janata Party. Grewal said that BJP has emerged stronger despite their opposition, our alliance partner must understand that it has failed to make any difference in Haryana. Advising to the SAD to re-think it's strategy, Grewal said the SAD claimed that the INLD was its long-term partner. Grewal said but it’s against the coalition Dharma of the NDA. The poll outcome of Haryana is expected to leave strong bearings on ruling alliance of Punjab. Shiromani Akali Dal, Badal leaders proactively campaigned in favour INLD candidates against their Punjab ally BJP candidates during Haryana elections. The assembly election results will make BJP more assertive in Punjab where it has a coalition Government with the Shiromani Akali Dal, Badal. For last few decades the BJP was acting as a junior partner in Punjab but after land sliding victory in Lok Sabha elections, followed by massive success in Haryana and Maharashtra assembly elections, the political out fit seem to be in mood of throwing away the junior partner jacket. The analysts suspect that the BJP may not be interested in triggering break up with immediate effect but it might decide to contest 2017, the state assembly elections alone in Punjab.

INDIA: Dalits snare trapped

Tue, Oct 21, 2014 at 4:05 PM

A Statement from the Asian Human Rights Commission

Two Teenage Untouchable Girls Gang-Raped and
Hanged While Police Dismiss Father's Pleas for help

The recent escalation in atrocities committed on Dalits is surprising even for Bihar, a province notorious for crimes against members of the community. The only things worse than the state’s failure to stop the crimes are the reasons the crimes are being committed.

Can one really burn alive a 15-year-old child for the “crime” of his goats straying into the paddy fields of a so-called upper caste man?

The gory incident in Rohtas is not a standalone one. It follows the gang-rape of six Dalit women on October 9 in Bhojpur and the incident involving more than 150 Dalits getting chased out of their village in Gaya after a member of the community was killed in September.

It is still too early to fear the return of caste-based massacres that once bedevilled Bihar. Yet, the situation is bleak for many reasons. The violence can be attributed, in part, to the changed political scenario. The BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP), considered to be the party representative of the upper castes in the province, deserted the incumbent government led by the Janata Dal United (JD-U), which itself, largely, draws its support from the backward castes and Mahadalits, a term it coined for those worst off amongst the Dalits.

The uneasy, yet successful, alliance between the JD-U and BJP had brought together communities with centuries of animosity and had resulted in a temporary lull in violence against Dalits. That is, to state it differently, while there was no decline in everyday acts of individual atrocities committed on the members of the Dalit community, large-scale organised violence along caste lines had witnessed a decline. And, of course, there were exceptions to this general reality; the community did face occasional collective attacks, such as in the aftermath of killing of Brahmeshwar Singh, alias Mukhyia, the head of notorious upper caste militia, blamed for many Dalit massacres.

The alliance had compelled erstwhile warring communities to share space without reconciliation, without dealing with past animosities. The upper castes in the alliance saw it as a political necessity – to keep the other backward castes away from power, after having a government more representative of their interests On the other hand, the marginalised saw it as a way to maintain their claim on state resources. However, the then chief minister, and JD-U’s top leader, Nitish Kumar’s dogged refusal to accept Narendra Modi as prime ministerial candidate unravelled the alliance and exposed the fault lines of old animosities and atrocities.

It is in this context that the state is witnessing a renewed cycle of atrocities committed on the community, often on the flimsiest of the grounds, i.e. grounds that would have earlier been ignored by the same criminals. The fact that few of the perpetrators get caught and punished for such crimes emboldens them. If one go by the recent verdicts of the High Court of Bihar, it would, perhaps, be the only place in the world where pogroms and massacres have been found committed by no one. This is the refrain in case after case, be it Bathani Tola massacre case of 21 Dalits, which witnessed the acquittal of the 23 accused that were convicted by a lower court, or the Nagri massacre case involving the killing of 11 Dalits, or the Lakshmanpur Bathe massacre case of involving 26 deaths, or even the Mianpur massacre case which saw the killing of 9 Dalits. All the accused have been acquitted for lack of evidence.

The acquittals were bound to create tension and re-open wounds, and that they did. These acquittals also emboldened the upper castes to attempt a reclamation of their political control in the state from the other backward castes and Dalits.

Unfortunately, the response to the renewed wave of attacks from the political leadership has been inadequate. The state administration keeps failing to enforce the rule of law and punish the perpetrators of caste violence to deter others. The BJP, on its part, has kept quiet on the increasing attacks, to ensure that its core support base remains unoffended.

And, this is precisely what makes the threat of further escalation in violence loom large. The way forward is to ensure that those guilty of committing such heinous crimes do not get away scot-free and for political will to be mobilized to normalise relations.

# # #

About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation that monitors human rights in Asia, documents violations and advocates for justice and institutional reform to ensure the protection and promotion of these rights. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.

Dr Supriya:IMA Punjab condoles the sad and irreparable loss

Fri, Oct 17, 2014 at 12:46 PM

Disapproves attempts to implicate two DMCH faculty members

Ludhiana: 17 October 2014: (Punjab Screen Bureau):

IMA Punjab condoles the sad and irreparable loss of a young and promising post graduate medical student, Dr Supriya recently in an unfortunate incident of suicide.  IMA Punjab expresses its full sympathy to the bereaved family and offers its heartfelt condolences to the parents of Dr Supriya.

it must be taken as a awake up call by the concerned authorities in the medical teaching institutions to decrease the stress levels of the medical students. Regular psychological counseling and stress management should be made a compulsory part of the teaching programs to prevent such unfortunate incidents.

However IMA Punjab disapproves of the attempts being made to implicate two faculty members of the DMC & H Ludhiana in the case and to give a cattiest angle to this unfortunate episode.IMA Pb is of the view that fair enquiry be held at the earliest to clear the confusion. IMA also feels that it should not become a mud-slinging contest against respective medical faculty until anything adverse is established in a high level probe.

IMA Punjab further deplores the media trial of the faculty members of the DMC &H Ludhiana and appeals for calm and balanced approach to the whole matter.  Who so ever is found guilty should be punished after a fair and thorough enquiry but it should be ensured that public and media pressure should not influence the trial. We pray that truth prevails.  

The Emergency Executive Meeting of IMA Ludhiana

 Fri, Oct 17, 2014 at 11:39 AM

Cases of Dr Sofat and Dr Supriya were discussed

Ludhiana: 17 October 2014: (Punjab Screen Bureau):

The Emergency Executive Meeting of IMA Ludhiana was held today in IMA House regarding action taken by PMC against a very senior doctor Mrs. Rama Sofat and Dr. Ruchika Sofat, Dr. Amit Sofat in which case their registration was suspended for three months and they were booked under a case of fraud allegedly for cheating people.

Dr. J R Sofat representing their cases said that they were not given the chance to represent their cases and in no way a case of fraud can be registered against them. The IMA members found it to be correct on basis of evidence submitted by Dr. J R Sofat.

The members reviewed the technicality of the case and were of the opinion that PMC is not taking any action against large corporate hospitals and laboratories but targeting individual doctors. The quacks are doing illegal practice right under the nose of PMC and fleecing innocent patients.

It was unanimously agreed upon that treatment metted to Dr. Mrs. Rama Sofat is very harsh and uncalled for.

It was reiterated that IMA should be involved before deciding such serious allegations and taking such harsh decisions against doctors. It was also decided to send the case to Punjab State IMA through its President Dr. Sudhir Raj, who is also ex-officio member of PMC

In the meeting the case of Dr. Supriya, a post graduate of DMC who committed suicide was also discussed. IMA convey all the sympathies to the family of deceased but strongly said that the two doctors, Dr. Punit Punni & Dr. Deepak Bhatt are being falsely implicated in the case. The IMA stand by the resolution submitted by management and faculty of DMC to the IMA Ludhiana. The matter has been brought to the notice of Punjab IMA also.

Jamalpur Shootout: Speedy Justice Assured

Thu, Oct 16, 2014 at 4:50 PM
*RS 2.5 LAKH COMPENSATION AWARDED TO FAMILY OF 
*RAJESH BAGHA, CHAIRMAN, PUNJAB STATE SC COMMISSION MEETS *FAMILY AND HANDS OVER CHEQUE WORTH RS 2.5 LAKH
*ASSURES SPEEDY JUSTICE AND JOB FOR VICTIM'S SISTER
*VICTIMS FAMILY TO GET POLICE PROTECTION
*MEETS CP LUDHIANA OVER SUICIDE OF DR SUPRIYA
*ASKS POLICE COMMISSIONER TO SPEED UP THE INQUIRY

Ludhiana, October 16, 2014: (Punjab Screen Bureau):

Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission Chairman Mr Rajesh Bagha today visited the family of Jamalpur Shootout victims at their house in Bhoapur village near Machhiwara and handed over a cheque worth Rs 2.5 lakh as compensation. This cheque has been handed over to the family on behalf of the Punjab Government.
         Mr Bagha, who was accompanied by other Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission members said that the remaining Rs 7.5 lakh will also be handed over to the family shortly. The State Government had announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh (Rs 5 lakh each) to the family of victims of Jamalpur Shootout.

In his more than an hour long meeting, Mr Bagha assured the family members that they would get justice. "An ADGP who is heading the inquiry would submit the report with the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission on October 29. Once the report is submitted, we would show it to the family members and if they are not satisfied with the report, a fresh inquiry would be ordered," he said while speaking to mediapersons today.

Assuring victims father Mr Satpal Singh, Mr Rajesh Bagha said that they would also write to the state government that his daughter be provided government job. "Besides this, we have also asked the Khanna SSP for providing security to the family," he said.
         Mr Bagha was accompanied by Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission members Ms Bharti Kennedy, Mr Dalip Singh Pandhi and District Welfare Officer Mr Rajinder Kumar, besides others.
         Later, Mr Rajesh Bagha and Ms Bharti Kennedy met Police Commissioner, Ludhiana, Mr Promod Ban and ADCP Mr Harmohan Singh Sandhu at Circuit House, over the suicide case relating to Dr Supriya, an MD student of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, here. During the meeting, Mr Bagha inquired about the case in detail and directed the police commissioner to speed up the inquiry so that truth comes out at the earliest.
         While speaking to mediapersons after the meeting, Mr Bagha said that the Police Commissioner has been ordered to complete the inquiry soon. He said that if the police finds about the role of any doctor who had pressurised Dr Supriya which led to her suicide, we would take strict action against them.

MTSM College: 60 CSA members elected as representatives

Harleen Kaur selected as President

Ludhiana: 15 October 2014: (Rector Kathuria//Punjab Screen): 

An eventful day was marked at MTSM as Installation ceremony was organized in the presence of college Principal and senior staff. Ceremony was initiated by following the divine ritual of lightening diyas by College Principal Dr. (Mrs.) Parveen Kaur Chawla.

As many as 60 CSA members from the whole college were elected as representatives for the year 2014-15. Dr. (Mrs.) Parveen Kaur Chawla intrusted them their duties by handing over their respective saches.

Harleen Kaur, Megha Jain and Manisha Arora were selected as President, Head Girl and Deputy Head Girl respectively. Besides them Anjali was chosen as cultural secretary and Charanpreet Kaur as treasurer.

College Principal congratulated the selected CSA representatives and addressed them by apprising the importance of the responsibilities and the position they have been handed over. She asked them to be devoted, sincere and optimist in their approach. She laid special stress on maintaining discipline in college campus.

An aerial survey of cyclone affected areas

 PM Modi taking an aerial survey

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi taking an aerial survey of cyclone affected areas of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, on October 14, 2014.

Raid of Forward Press office-attack on freedom of expression

 Tue, Oct 14, 2014 at 3:23 PM

A Statement from the Asian Human Rights Commission

The police raid on the Nehru Place office of Forward Press is a deplorable attack on freedom of expression. The Forward Press, a progressive magazine aimed at marginalised and underprivileged sections of India society, had focussed on Bahujan-Shraman (roughly meaning the majority that lives off its labour and not by exploiting others) traditions. The issue carried articles reinterpreting stories in Hindu scriptures including one that reimagined the story of the killing of Mahishasur (buffalo demon) by Goddess Durga as a struggle between the Aryans and non-Aryans. The article was opposed by the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) unit of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for harming religious sentiments. On the evening of the 9 October, the protests had turned into a clash between ABVP members and other JNU students who were celebrating Mahishasur Martyrdom Day.

That same night, the Special Branch of the Delhi Police raided the office of Forward Press and detained four of its staffers. The police team also vandalized the office and confiscated all the copies of the October issue of Forward Press on the basis of a complaint filed in the Vasant Kunj Police Station. Evidently, the action was taken without any orders from a competent authority. Raiding the office of a reputed magazine and confiscating its latest issue without any court order reveals the increasing threats to the tolerant culture that allows intellectual debates. It shows that the government is planning to muzzle all dissent with force.

The raid also raises a pertinent question over the increasing use of the bogey of "hurt sentiments" as a weapon of silencing the dissenters. Deciding the veracity of such claims is strictly the job of the courts and not the police. The police, in fact, are duty bound to protect the dissenters from majoritarian bullying and protect their right to celebrate whatever they want (so long as it does not pose a genuine threat to public safety). Both the magazine and the students commemorating Mahishasur martyrdom day posed no such threat.

Additionally, India has a long tradition of engaging with religious symbolisms and myths and reinterpreting them for mobilising underprivileged communities. Further, Bahujan renditions of popular texts also have a long tradition, starting from Jotiba Phule and going up to Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and Periyar E. V. Ramasamy. Periyar, in fact, had publicly burnt down the idols of Hindu gods and used very harsh language for Hindu deities. Would Delhi Police have arrested him if he was around today?  Hinduism itself has many sects whose religious beliefs are absolutely different from the mainstream version. There are communities who worship Ravana and not Lord Rama. There are communities which celebrate Bali Raja (king Bali) as their god and not Lord Vishnu. Can one banish such communities because they "hurt the sentiments" of some group or the other? Can one even think of banning polytheism on demand from minority communities as it might offend their monotheistic traditions? Does it sound absurd? It does and so do the police actions at the beck and call of ever ready to get hurt sentiments.

For its part, Forward Press has clarified that its October issue was a special number devoted to "Bahujan-Shraman tradition", has well researched articles from leading writers and professors of prestigious universities, and carries "absolutely nothing in the issue that can be described as objectionable under the Indian Constitution". It also argues that their objective was "not to humiliate or hurt the sentiments of any community or group" and they are merely trying "to identify and rejuvenate the symbols of Bahujan culture and civilization".

These claims may be challenged but the right place to do that is a court of law and the proper authority is a judicial magistrate, not the police. The AHRC strongly condemns the raid and vandalism, as well as the arrest of Forward Press staffers. It also is concerned for the security of the consulting editor and the editor-in-chief of the magazine. The two have gone into hiding fearing arrest and are demand that their rights be respected, not trampled upon.

# # #

About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation that monitors human rights in Asia, documents violations and advocates for justice and institutional reform to ensure the protection and promotion of these rights. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.

PSLV-C26 to be Launched in the Early Hours of 16th Oct

14-October-2014 14:28 IST
Launching to be held at Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota
ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C26, is now scheduled on Thursday, October 16, 2014 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota. The launch window of the mission opens at 0132 hrs IST and lasts till 0147 hrs IST. The lift-off is scheduled at the opening of the launch window at 0132 hrs IST. PSLV-C26 will carry the 1425 kg Indian Navigation Satellite IRNSS-1C. 

IRNSS-1C, the third satellite of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, has already been integrated with PSLV-C26 and the final phase of checks is progressing. The Mission Readiness Review (MRR) Committee and the Launch Authorisation Board (LAB) met on October 07, 2014 to review the progress of prelaunch activities and cleared the launch for October 16, 2014. The 67 hour count down for the mission has already commenced at 0632 hrs IST yesterday. (PIB)
******

End Firing at Indo-Pak Border

Mon, Oct 13, 2014 at 3:17 PM

Resume Talks, Demands:CPI

Ludhiana: 13 October 2014: (Punjab Screen Bureau):

Nobel peace prize to Kailash Satyarthi and Malala, the citizens of India and Pakistan is an opportunity we should avail of and both the countries should move forward for a meaningful dialogue for lasting peace in the region.  This was the crux of rally and march taken out by the Communist Party of India today from Railway station to clock tower Ludhiana to congratulate the Nobel laureates and to appeal the government of India and Pakistan to shun war rhetoric against each other. 

Speaking on the occasion Com Amarjeet Kaur- national secretary of the CPI said that it is unfortunate that the tension between the two countries is being used for petty electoral gains in both the countries.  We have nothing to gain by teaching a lesson to each other. She was critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s irresponsible statement that we have taught Pakistan a lesson and a similar statement by Pak PM Nawaz Sharif that India should not take Pakistan lightly. Such rhetoric has already caused damage to peace in the region. Only alternative for the two countries to develop is to live in peace she said.

Addressing the gathering district secretary of the Ludhiana unit of the CPI Com Kartar Singh Bowani said that both countries have a common history, culture and values. All issues between the two countries should be sorted out through peace initiatives and mutual dialogue.

Dr Arun Mitra – Asstt. Secretrary expressed serious concern at the ongoing firing on the Indo-Pak order by both sides leading to several casualties. There is a danger that this could escalate into a larger conflict and threaten peace and development in the region. It must be remembered that both the countries posses nuclear weapons.  We are poor nations and peace is the only alternative for both the countries for prosper. This is even more important particularly in the wake of flood on both sides in Jammu and Kashmir which have caused large scale devastation and requires lot of empathy and finances to meet with this loss.

Com D P Maur- Asstt . Secretary of the district unit of the CPI said that during peace times trade between the two countries has increased to the benefit of both. People in the countries want to live in peace. This has been proved from the experience of the people while visiting each other country. 

Others who addressed include Com Gulzar Gorea, Com Gurnam Sidhu, Com Kewal Singh, Com Gurnam Gill, com Ramesh Rattan, Com Vijay Kumar

Few more links:

A beautiful song on Indo-Pak peace by Gulzar

BSNL Employees strongly condemned the brutal police lathicharge

A Report to the Nation: IMA team returned from J and K

A beautiful song on Indo-Pak peace by Gulzar

Lakeeren hain.. toh rehne do

Lakeeren hain.. toh rehne do,
Kisi ne rooth kar,
Gusse mein shayad khench di thi
Inhi ko ab banao paala,
Aur aao Kabaddi khelte hain
Lakeeren hain.. toh rehne do! Kisi ne rooth kar,
Gusse mein shayad, kheench di thi
Kisi ne rooth kar,
Gusse mein shayad, kheench di thi 
Inhi ko ab banaao paala
Aur aao.. aur aao Kabaddi khelte hain
Lakeeren hain toh rehne do
Mere paale mein tum aao, mujhe lalkaaro
Mere haath par tum haath maaro, aur bhaago
Mere paale mein tum aao, mujhe lalkaaro
Mere haath par tum haath maaro, aur bhaago
Tumhe pakdu liptu,
Aur tumhe waapas na jaane doon 

Laqeerein hain toh rehne do 

Tumhaare paale mein
jab kodi-kodi karta jaaun main
Tumhaare paale mein
jab kodi-kodi-kodi-kodi karta jaaun main
Mujhe tum bhi pakad lena
Mujhe chhoone nahi dena
Mujhe tum bhi pakad lena
Chhoone nahi dena
O sarhad laqeerein!  
Kisi ne rooth kar,
Gusse mein shayad khench di thi
Kisi ne rooth kar,
Gusse mein shayad khench di thi
Unhi ko ab banao paala
Aur aao, aur aao kabaddi khelte hain
Lakeeren hain toh rehne do..
A post by a friend from Trivandrum Kerla ആർദ്ര എസ് നായർ

End Firing at Indo-Pak Border

Shri Gyan Sathal Mandir:206th ration distribution function held

 Sun, Oct 12, 2014 at 4:21 PM
"Hands that serve are much holier than the lips that pray" 
Balramji Dass Tandon, Hon'ble Governor assured all kind of assistance

Ludhiana, October 12, 2014:: (Punjab Screen Bureau)
Shri Gyan Sthal Mandir and Lala Jagat Narayan Nishkam Sewa Sangh organised its 206th ration distribution function here today. During this function, monthly ration and quilts were distributed to more than 700 needy widows at Shri Gyan Sthal Temple here this morning. Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, Hon'ble Governor of Chhattisgarh, was the chief guest on the occasion.

Besides providing 51 items of ration to the widows, it also provided text books, exercise books to hundreds of needy schoolchildren. A truck full of quilts was also flagged off for flood victims in Jammu and Kashmir and Mr Ratan Lal Garg donated Rs 21,000 for this purpose.

Addressing the function, Mr Balramji Dass Tandon said that the mandir trust under the able leadership of its president Mr Jagdish Bajaj was carrying out excellent services for the suffering and needy humanity. He said that responding to the great services of Jagdish Bajaj, a large number of philanthropists were coming forward every month with liberal the contributions. He assured all kind of assistance for this cause of humanity.

"A common phrase of English language says 'Hands that serve are much holier than the lips that pray' and serving the humanity is the holiest thing one can do," he said.

Jagdish Bajaj, President, Sri Giyan Mandir Trust, said that for the last two decades, the Trust was conducting monthly function to provide assistance to needy women, books to poor students and training to poor girls. 

Mr Vijay Kumar Chopra, editor-in-chief, Hind Samachar Group, was also present on the occasion. Prominent among those present during the function included Sunita Aggarwal, Senior Deputy Mayor, Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, office bearers of several social organisations, district administration and police officials, besides leaders from different political parties.

BSNL Employees strongly condemned the brutal police lathicharge

Fri, Oct 10, 2014 at 3:49 PM
Even the parents of protesting lady teachers were not spared

Ludhiana: 09 Oct. 2014: (*Balbir Singh//BSNL//Punjab Screen):

Protesting ETT teachers being taken to a
police station in Mohali on Thursday.
Photo Courtesy The Tribune

BSNL Employees union Punjab circle strongly condemned the brutal police lathicharge on protesting ETT, TET teachers of Punjab at Mohali yesterday in which several leaders of union and workers were injured seriously some of them become unconscious, even the parents of protesting lady teachers were not spared. In a joint press statement issued by Com. Balbir Singh Circle Secretary & Balwinder Singh District Secretary Ludhiana unit, demanded registration of cases against the erring police personals, who brutally lathicharged the protesting teachers. In this lathicharge even the leaders of other unions/Associations were not spared. The police arrested the state president of Aganwadi workers union Usha Rani along with ETT, TET Teacher and Bhartaya Kisan union leaders. It is pertinent to not here that Punjab Govt. Lead by Shri Parkash Singh Badal , is curbing the Constitutional right to protest in Punjab and trying to shut the voice of thousands of teachers, Pharmacists, Aganwadi workers, factory workers, farmers etc. The news of police atrocities are appearing in a daily routine. Inspite of providing jobs the Govt. has given the police a free hand to frighten the agitating masses. BSNL Employees Union Punjab circle will fully support the agitating ETT,TET teachers and other organisation who are fighting for their demands in Punjab.  
*Balbir Singh is a circle secretary of the BSNL Employees union Punjab circle

A Report to the Nation: IMA team returned from J and K

Sat, Oct 4, 2014 at 4:42 PM

people in J-K are reeling under severe health problems

Ludhiana: 4th October 2014: (Rector Kathuria//Punjab Screen):

The people in the disaster affected areas in Jammu and Kashmir are reeling under severe health problems and economic difficulties. They require long term planning for a comprehensive health care, economic uplift through massive aid by the central government. This was the impression gathered by the medical relief team which left Ludhiana on 27^th September and returned on 3^rd October. The team included Dr Arun Mitra, Dr Arun Kumar Handa from Ludhiana, Dr Shakeel Ur Rahman & Dr Satyajit Kumar Singh from Patna, Dr.Dharmakari Ramkishan from Hyderabad, Dr.Uzair, Dr Suhail from Jammu, Dr.G.M.Malik-national vice President IDPD, Dr Latif Mohamad, Dr Bashir Ahmed, Dr Aijaz, Dr Salim Khan from IDPD. Mr.Ramadhar Singh, Mr.Anod Kumar, Mr.Sanjeet as paramedical staff and Mr.Rafiq. The mission was organized by the joint efforts of  Indian Doctors For Peace & Development (IDPD), Indian Medical Association (IMA) Ludhiana,  Rotary Club Ludhiana Greater, Whole Sale Chemists Association, Ludhiana Distt. Chemist Association, All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA) and All India Youth Federation(AIYF). The team split itself into different groups and gave medical care to the people in the badly affected areas of Srinagar and villages in district Pulwama. The relief material blankets, sweaters, other garments and eatables were distributed in several areas in coordination with different voluntary groups in the valley.

In all nearly ten thousand patients were examined. Large number of population particularly women and children were found to be anaemic and poorly nourished. The infectious diseases particularly abdominal, skin, allergic reactions, joint pains were in very high number as a result of staying in water for long time. Population in the affected area were suffering from anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder.

Dr A K Handa told that the team was shocked to see the two major hospitals, the Govt. Medical College and Hospital and JVC Medical College and Hospital still under water. Most of small hospitals and clinics severely damaged. Almost all the equipment in these hospitals completely destroyed.

Dr. Arun Mitra - General secretary IDPD and Former President IMA Ludhiana, who led the team said that they found filth and silt all around the city. The whole city was stinking very badly. Many areas around the Jhelum river were still submerged under water. Most of the commercial establishments were damaged. Many people lost their houses as well as shops. The cleaning effort was found to be at a very low pace. This could pose serious health problems in time to come.

There is need for a continuity of work on the health care and economic uplift of the people. There is need for long term planning to avert and manage disasters of such magnitude by making a disaster management force of trained and effective workers with latest equipment. There is need for proper planning to preserve ecology by preventing deforestation & adopting development strategy keeping the environment into consideration to avoid any such disaster in future.

We appeal to the government to clear the city of garbage on war footings; immediately give sufficient aid to restore working of the medical institutions; to announce economic measures like interest free loans for building houses and commercial establishments. Give aid to the economically lower strata.  Team also felt that the people are angry at unplanned distribution of the material by the government machinery. This should be streamlined and there should be no hesitation in accepting aid from the well recognized international agencies to meet up the requirements of this disaster.

Dr N S Bawa – Vice President IDPD, Dr.R.K.Sharma – President IMA Ludhiana and Dr Manoj Sobti – Former President IMA Punjab, Dr Karamveer Goyal – former president IMA Ludhiana, Dr.Narjit Kaur – Sr. Vice President IMA Ludhiana and Maj. (Retd) Sher Singh Aulukh – President Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha said that they would always be in the forefront to help the needy in the event of any calamity.  

SRI LANKA: Police brutality continues

Thu, Oct 2, 2014 at 6:18 PM

A Statement from the Lawyers Collevtive, Sri Lanka forwarded by the (AHRC)

Courtesy Photo

‘Lawyers Collective’ condemns the killing of a suspect in police custody at Cinnamon Gardens while being taken handcuffed and the brutal attack on a girl at the Ratnapura Bus stand by a police officer in the view of the public.  These two incidents are a continuation of the trend in recent times of unarmed persons being subject to attacks by the police in violation of all norms and in violation of the fundamental rights of the citizens.

 

What is of grave concern is the impunity with which these blatant violations of the law is taking place without any intervention or atleast a condemnation from the government or the authorities concerned in the enforcement of law and order and the protection of human rights.  

 

These incidents are not isolated incidents, but has come to pass as daily events in our country.  We are faced with the serious question as to whether the Sri Lankan State is capable or not interested in the protection of the rights of the citizens of this country including the right to life.  The BASL has intervened in numerous occasions in defense of the victims of these attacks by the police and/or other forces.  

 

We are fast moving towards the establishment of the police state and we call upon civil society organizations to join the BASL and other organizations that are committed to fight against this trend and committed to prevent the establishment of a police state.

# # #

About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation that monitors human rights in Asia, documents violations and advocates for justice and institutional reform to ensure the protection and promotion of these rights. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.