Thursday, March 24, 2011

Orissa gets a new name: Parliament nod to Odisha

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/orissa-gets-a-new-name-parliament-nod-to-odisha/146984-3.html

New Delhi: Orissa will hereafter be called 'Odisha' and the Oriya language will be known as 'Odia' with Parliament giving approval to amendment of the Constitution and also passing the related bill.
The Rajya Sabha passed the Orissa (the Alteration of Name) Bill and adopted the Constitution (113th) Amendment Bill after a brief debate with members from all parties hailing the move as "historic" for people of the state.
Supported by all parties, including the Biju Janta Dal, the Constitution Amendment Bill was adopted by all 169 members present and voting.
Orissa gets a new name: Parliament nod to Odisha
Such a bill requires support of at least two-third of members present and voting. Besides, the majority of the strength of the House should be present for voting. The Upper House has a strength of 245 members.
Lok Sabha has already adopted these measures after the Centre received the resolution passed by the state Assembly.
While there was all round support for the measure, BJP and Congress members sought to target Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik charging him with non-performance and heading a government facing scams.
The bills were piloted by Home Minister P Chidambaram. However, the electronic voting system witnessed glitches during the division so much so that even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's vote was also cast wrongly.
Participating in the debate, members said the name change was the process of decolonisation as Britishers had changed the Indian names of cities and states.
Pyarimohan Mohapatra (BJD) said it was a "great moment" for people of the state and added that with the change of name, they are getting back their pride.
R C Khuntia (Cong) rued that the state, which was prosperous once, has become poverty-stricken. He, however, hoped the change of name will fulfil aspirations of people.
He said the state was facing many scams and corruption charges in the present rule.
Rudra Narayan Pany (BJP) charged the Orissa Chief Minister with non-performance and said Patnaik could not speak even the local language. His colleague Chandan Mitra said, "Orissa regains its prestige and sense of history."
Mitra said while India's heritage was revered in many parts of the world, "we have forgotten our own heritage."
There have been many cities and states that have been renamed after independence. These include Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Mumbai (Bombay), Chennai (Madras), Kolkata (Calcutta), Pune (Poona), Kochi (Cochin) and Bangaluru (Banglore).

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

CITIZENS FOR HORMONY- KARNATAKA

#55,  1ST MAIN SHESHADRIPURAM BANGALORE-560021 (m)98455487509, 9448052824
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PRESS RELEASE
A Jaatha has been organised on March 25, 2011 at 10.30am demanding a law to stop forced religious conversion in Karnataka. Several intellectuals, noted religious leaders, thinkers, writers, social workers will participate in this jaatha and submit a memorandum to the Governor of Karntaka.

The Jaatha will begin from Mahatma Gandhi statue at MG Road, Bangalore. Later a delegation will meet Governor of Karnataka and discuss various issues related impacts of forceful religious conversion in the state. The delegation will demand a law to be implemented to stop forceful religious conversions.

Nearly 200 noted Intellectuals, intellectuals, noted religious leaders, thinkers, writers, social workers will join the hands in this Jaatha(maarch). A book involving letters written by leaders of various institutions, organisations , thinkers and others will be submitted to the governor.

Well known litterateur Dr Doddarange Gouda, Dr Chidananda Murthy, Dr Sumatindra Nadig will lead this Jaatha (Maarch).

Regards,
Prakashraju
CONVENOR 

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You are earnestly requested to participate in this important jaatha and join hands to stop the rampant religious conversion, which is causing disharmony in the society.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Press Conference by RSS Gen Sec Bhaiyyaji Joshi: ABPS


http://samvada.org/2011/abps/press-conference-by-rss-gen-sec-bhaiyyaji-joshi/
March 13th, 2011, 3:05 pm
RSS Sarakaryavaha, Sri Suresh Joshi, popularly known as Bhiayyaji, addressing media persons said: ABPS is like an annual general body meeting which focusses on social and national issues, as well as review of last year programes and the future course of action. Dr Manmohanji Vaidya, Akhila Bharatiya Prachara Pramukh was also present.

He expressed his anguish that some political parties are branding Hindu Organisations as terrorist organisations just to achieve their political means, which is a dangerous trend. He opined “If Hindus really want to become terrorists, who will survive then ?”.

“The height of corruption the country is facing” he said: “is dragging the common man also into it knowingly or unknowingly”. Corruption is rampant at the political leaders’ level, Minister level and at the judiciary level which is alarming. This could be attributed to wrong government policies, the general environment with which we live in, and the lack of value based education.

On the other hand there is an imminent threat to National Security due to China’s expansionist tendency. China is always a “Samrajya vadi”. Its symbol is a dragon which we must be aware, he said. It always wants to expand influencing smaller states and in turn increase its grip. Keeping this in mind the meet discussed the urgent need to strengthen the North-Eastern border as well as installing a strong communication network and transport system.

This apart, we also see several positive things happening in this country. Citing specific examples he said: there is a huge awareness among the Hindus regarding the issues plaguing the country. They are slowly taking to their cultural roots and that was evident in the huge Sanskrit Book Fare at Bangalore recently, where 4 – 5 lakh ordinary people visited the fair and bought books. Now, other states are also interested in arranging such fairs for the benefit of common man.

There is also a trend of Kumbha Melas happening at various parts of the country with the theme of Social Harmony which was earlier happening for Dharmic purposes and it is a welcome sign. The Shabari Kumba at Gujarat was one such which awakened their Dharmic responsibilities through Social Harmony. We even celebrate the birthday of rivers. One such was the Narmada Kumba at Madhya Pradesh which was attended by 30 lakh Hindus and a good example for Social Harmony.

Sangh work is always positive in spite of governments suppressing it. There could be some temporary setback here and there, but Sangh is surging forward with its positive work and that is what statistics says he said.  Be it Gram Vikas Yojana at a Universal level, Vishwa Go Gram yojana – protecting the indigenous cows, and the training camps and workshops from the micro to macro level through out the country.

Replying to a query he said: BJP is not a sister organisation of the Sangh and RSS has no wings. But they too carry the same ideology and during their difficult times they take brotherly advice. We always insist that every body work towards achieving the ideological goal.

Answering another question about successor to the highest post, he said, the some office bearers of RSS are elected through democratic process.

Regarding the specific topics chosen at the meet when there are so many issues troubling the country, he said, those topics which concerns the common man most and threat to national security were chosen for discussion. And he concluded saying: Corruption could be defeated with an action plan of mass mobilisation and awareness programme in a democratic way as well as cooperation with already existing movements which addresses these issues.

RSS Resolution: Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha, Yugabda 5112, Year: 2011

March 11-13, 2011 Puttur (Karnataka)
Resolution  1: Need for a decisive blow against corruption

The Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha expresses grave concern over the endless chain of incidents of widespread corruption surfacing in the country. It is all the more shocking that the people occupying the upper echelons in the Government, including the Prime Minister are engaged in protecting their guilty colleagues till the end by describing them as innocent in spite of incontrovertible evidences pouring out against them.

The ABPS is deeply pained at the way the cases of corruption coming to light, day in and day out are tarnishing the image and reputation of the nation. The magnitude of corruption is such that not only the common man, but even the experts get bewildered. The gross misdeeds in organizing the Commonwealth games have gravely damaged the prestige of the country.  People at the helm of power are either turning a blind eye or taking steps against the guilty as an eye wash under the pressure of the judiciary and media. The country wants to know as to what was the compulsion and which invisible hand was behind the misdemeanor of the top rung of power in a most sensitive matter like the appointment of the Central Vigilance Commissioner.

Unfortunately, the influence of politics is growing in almost every walk of life and the instances of corruption indulged in by the people in seats of power in the post independence era are constantly on the rise. After the Independence, the country has witnessed public anger against corruption resulting in powerful mass movements. The J. P. movement of 1974-75 and imposition of emergency and the mass movement triggered by the Bofors scandal in 1987-1989 culminated in the change of power at the center. But, the change does not seem to have brought about any decline in corruption. On the contrary the form and dimensions of corruption seem to have become more complex and extensive in the wake of economic liberalization. Whether it is the share scandal of 1992 or the recent 2G spectrum scandal, mind boggling figures of money are found to be involved. What needs special mention is that the people involved in these ever increasing acts of corruption are the ones who are highly educated and belong to the affluent class of the society. All these facts clearly indicate that there is need for further intensification and expansion of the process of man-making.

In this regard the ABPS believes that there is a dire need to organise every rung of social order on the firm foundation of value-based and morally strong conduct of life rooted in the eternal principles of Dharma. This is possible only by reorienting education-system to reflect the national ethos and serve as an effective instrument of character-building and imparting noble samskars. At the same time it is imperative for the people in high positions that they present exemplary models of conduct in their private and public life.

Apart from these reforms of far-reaching consequences, reform in the system of governance & administration and mobilising effective public opinion in favour of that, is equally important. Transparency in governance, administration through minimum and simplified regulations, judicial system based on easy access and timely dispensation of justice, elimination of black money, electoral system capable of effectively curbing the criminalisation of politics and checking the growing influence of money power are a few reforms urgently needed. It is also imperative to ensure proper security for the whistle blowers who courageously expose corruption in the present system at different levels and to have stringent penal provisions against the corrupt. Indeed the poisonous creeper of corruption is responsible for all the contemporary social ills like inflation, unemployment and black money which has also been affecting the country’s development and the internal and external security. In connection with the problem of black money, the government should acquire black money stashed in the country and outside, declare it as the nation’s asset and deploy it for developmental purposes.

The ABPS appreciates the efforts of such courageous individuals, organizations ,  constitutional institutions, alert media and vigilant Judiciary for their efforts against corruption in the present challenging scenario and calls upon the countrymen to extend their active support for such noble endeavours with utmost personal integrity and also nourish our traditional social institutions actively involved in character-building of our citizens.

for details  http://samvada.org/2011/news/rss-abps-resolution-1-need-for-a-decisive-blow-against-corruption/

Resolution-2: Defeat Chinese Designs against our National Interests and Security

The Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha expresses serious concern over the growing multi-dimensional threat from China and the lackluster response of the Government of Bharat to its aggressive and intimidator tactics. Casual attitude and perpetual denial of our Government in describing gross border violations by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army as a case of ‘lack of common perception on the LAC’, attempts to underplay the severe strategic dissonance between the two countries and failure to expose the expansionist and imperialist manouvers of China can prove fatal to our national interests.
The ABPS cautions that the growing civilian and defence ties between China and Pakistan are a matter of grave concern to our national security. Presence of the 10,000-strong Chinese Army in Skardu ( PoK) in the guise of construction works and repairs to Karakoram highway is a serious issue as it allows China to encircle Kashmir . Other issues of concern that best exemplify Chinese’ assertiveness include its offer to export one – Gigawatt (GW) nuclear plant and transfer of ballistic missile technology to Pakistan thus precipitating potential nuclear conflict in the region.

The malafide intentions of China are conspicuous in a number of recent developments. It has falsely charged Bharat of occupying 90,000 sq. km of its territory (including Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim); It is excluding the state of J&K from Bharat in its maps; It is also excluding 1600 KM-long border in J&K from the LAC on the Tibet-Bharat border; It has initiated issuing paper visas for Bharatiya  citizens from J&K besides citizens from Arunachal Pradesh. The Chinese troops entered Gombir area in Demchok region last year and threatened the civilian workers to stop construction work. In November 2009, a road project under Centrally-sponsored National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in Ladakh, was stopped after objections were raised by the Chinese Army. Infact, it is China which has encroached upon our territory inside the LOC in that region and constructed a 54 km long road for military purposes.

The ABPS sees potential danger from the Chinese machinations in our North East. Its continued claims over Arunachal Pradesh shouldn’t be taken lightly as it has set its eyes not only on that state but on the entire North East. Recent expose’ in a leading Bharatiya weekly about the extent of the involvement of China in arming, encouraging and funding insurgent groups like the NSCN should awaken us to this danger. Besides NSCN insurgents other insurgent groups in the North East like the NDFB, ULFA etc also get patronage from China. It is also a matter of serious concern that the ISI too is operating in cahoots with China in this region. The A.B.P.S. expresses concern over the growing number of cases of Chinese spies being arrested in different parts of the country.

It is well-known that the weapons from the Chinese government weapon manufacturers find their way to the Maoists and other terrorist groups in Bharat through illegal weapon ports like Cox Bazar in Bangladesh. Fake currency also is being pumped into Bharat from China. The ABPS wants to draw the attention of the Government and people to the occasional publications in the officially-controlled Chinese media about dismembering Bharat into 20-30 pieces.

Penetration of Chinese goods into Bharatiya  market is affecting our manufacturing industry adversely besides posing a serious challenge to our security, health, environment and strategic concerns. The ABPS wants the Government to tackle this issue of China’s penetration into our system through trade and commerce with utmost seriousness. All citizens should refrain from using Chinese products as an expression of patriotism.
The ABPS wants to draw the attention of our government and countrymen to the threat from China in the form of diversion of river waters in the South Central  Tibetan region. In the process it would be robbing lower riparian states like Bharat, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand of their right to the waters from rivers like Brahmaputra and Sindhu which originate from Kailash – Manasarovar in Tibet. Joint mechanism established in 2007 between Bharat and China to oversee water related issues remain dysfunctional mainly due to the utmost secrecy maintained by China in its water management plans. Two of our states i.e. Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh were hit by flash floods and it was suspected at that time that these floods were due to some form of interference in the river flow by the Chinese. Our engineers were not allowed to inspect the upper streams of the river by the Chinese government. The ABPS warns the government that unless the issue is addressed immediately the situation may lead to serious crises between the two countries.

The ABPS urges our Government to take note of the expanding military and diplomatic might of China not only in the immediate neighbourhood but also in the strategically important regions like Africa and the West Asia. China’s 3.1 million strong  Army is being rapidly modernized with newer weapons and technology. It has built all-weather roads and extended railway network along Tibet, Nepal and Bharat border. China today is a formidable player in the Indian Ocean region. It is establishing contact with all kinds of renegade dictators in the world including the North Korean and Sudanese dictators. Its strategic experts are propounding such disdainfully dangerous theories like Preventive Use of Nuclear Weapons suggesting that China should reserve the right of first attack against any nuclear power with nuclear weapons as a preventive measure.

In such a challenging scenario the ABPS calls upon the government to:

1.        Reiterate the Parliament’s unanimous resolution of 1962 to get back the territory acquired by China to the last inch.
2.        Take effective measures for rapid modernization and upgradation of our military infrastructure. Special focus should be on building infrastructure in the border areas. Towards that, constitution of a Border Region Development Agency should be considered which would help prevent the migration of the people from the border villages.
3.         Use aggressive diplomacy to expose the Chinese’ designs globally. Use all fora including ASEAN, UN etc for mobilizing global opinion.
4.         Disallow Chinese manufacturing industry free run in our markets. Prohibit Chinese products like toys, mobiles, electronic and electrical goods etc. Illegal trade being carried out through the border passes must be curbed with iron hand.
5.        Follow strict Visa norms and maintain strict vigil on the Chinese nationals working in Bharat.
6.         Restrict the entry of Chinese companies in strategic sectors and sensitive locations.
7.         Mobilize the lower riparian states like Myanmar, Bangladesh etc to tell China to stop their illegal diversion of river waters.

for details http://samvada.org/2011/news/abps-resolution-2-defeat-chinese-designs-against-our-national-interests-and-security/

Monday, March 14, 2011

RSS nurturing nationalism in the virtual world too

The alma mater of the Sangh parivar is ensuring that its foothold in the virtual world remains firm. About 70 special shakhas run by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are ensuring that close to a thousand techies from India’s Silicon Valley do wield lathis too in between clicking the mouses.
The special shakhas keep the nationalistic fervour alive in techies, who attend daily sessions that include singing the praise of the motherland, light exercises, playing rustic games like Kabbadi, and listening to the heroic tales of freedom fightersnarrated by the karyavahas or mukhya shikshaks of the respective shakhas.
“The IT hub has 900 techies in the RSS and they are more regular to the shakhas. They are more meticulous too in maintaining their decorum in the shakhas though they are required to wear the ganaveshas (RSS uniforms) only on special occasions or weekly joint sessions. Some of them do take pride in wearing the khakhi shorts and carry the chequered dandas (lathis) daily to the shakhas near their residences or workplaces,” Ram Madhav, a member of the RSS national executive, said.
The RSS runs special IT shakhas not only in Bangalore but also in Mysore, Mangalore, Hyderabad, Noida and Delhi. Some of the swayamsevaks have had ties with the organisation for as long as 40 years and are in the higher echelons of the top IT companies. Some swayamseveaks work in MNCs. In all, there are 150 special RSS shakhas for techies across the country, he explained.
“With over six million members, the RSS is growing at a steady pace, paving the way for the starting of new shakhas. In several instances, the swelling ranks of swayamsevaks has resulted in the splitting of shakhas into two and three units,” Madhav said.

http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_rss-nurturing-nationalism-in-the-virtual-world-too_1519674

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Meeting with PM on Lokpal bill 'bad': Anna Hazare

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Meeting-with-PM-on-Lokpal-bill-bad-Anna-Hazare/articleshow/7661758.cms

Eminent social activist Anna Hazare on Wednesday said that the meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Lokpal bill was 'bad'.
 
Commenting further on the meeting with the Prime Minister Hazare said, "We want joint committee of citizens and ministers for formulation of a strong Lokpal bill."
 
He said that agitation against corruption would be intensified.
 
The eminent social activist had threatened to go on an indefinite fast from April 5 if the Prime Minister does not initiate action for formulation of a strong Lokpal bill, or anti-graft legislation, in consultation with the civil society by March end.
 
"I have written to the Prime Minister, if he doesn't takes a decision on drafting a strong Lokpal bill by March-end, I will go on an indefinite fast from April 5," Hazare had said on March 26.
Hazare, in his letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has demanded that the government immediately set up a committee with at least half of its member being from the civil society.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

25 lakh houses visited during Sampark Yajna in Kerala

18-day Sampark Yajna of RSS concludes in Kerala25 lakh houses visited, CM, Ministers, Bishops and Islamic leaders contacted: By S Chandrasekhar

WITH the Congress-led UPA bent upon attaching a terrorist label to nationalist RSS and coining a new word ‘Saffron Terror’, the RSS conducted a massive Sampark Yajna throughout the country, presenting its point of view, its role in various calamities and tragedies and the two lakh odd service projects run by it throughout the country.

In Kerala, 25 lakh houses were visited in all the 14 districts. Lakhs of swayamseveks, led by adhikaris Shri KC Kannan, Shri AR Mohanan, Shri Kummanam Rajasekharan, Shri Sanjayan etc. visited Ministers, Bishops, Ashram heads, traders, businessmen, professionals etc. during the 18-day Yajna.
Most of the Hindus visited expressed apprehension of growing jehadi extremism and the absence of pro-Hindu MLAs to take up issues, affecting the Hindus.

Few of the visited dignitaries included Sri Sri Ravishankar Guruji, Mata Amritanandamayi, Ministers Vijaya Kumar, K Ramachandran, poets Sugathakumari, Kavalam Narayana Panicker, DGP Jacob Punnose, ADGPs Hema Chandran, Shankar Reddy, film thespian Madhu, politician CP John, Kairali TV (CPM) MD John Brittas, Bishops and Arch Bishop’s of various denominations, various Muslim Jamaats etc.
The visiting RSS leaders had long and fruitful task with Justice VR Krishna Iyer, Bishop Varkey Mar Vidhayathil and MP Veerendra Kumar, etc.

As a grand finale on February 28, RSS Prant Pracharak Shri A Gopalakrishnan and Thiruvananthapuram Vibhag Pracharak Shri Sudarshan met Chief Minister VS Atchudanandan at his official residence in Cliff House and exchanged various RSS publications and phamplets. The CM welcomed them whole-heartedly and had a long interaction with them.