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http://www.deccan.com/headlines/lead4.shtml New Delhi, Nov. 30: With the process of Presidential election slated to begin from March next year, the saffron camp is reportedly keen on the Maharashtra Governor, P C Alexander to replace K R Narayanan. The election for the post of President is expected to be held on August next year. Sources disclosed that the BJP was not in favour of giving Narayanan a second term. A section of senior BJP leaders, have already started talking about Narayanan’s “poor health,” and his “inability” to carry on a second term. The BJP leaders were pitching in for Alexander with a view that Congress would not be able to oppose a “Christian candidate.” A senior BJP leader said that the Congress either could come up with a candidate or could ask for a second term for Narayanan. The BJP ruled government, which had a “problematic relationship” with the President and the saffron camp often accusing him of “favouring Congress”, was not in favour giving him a second term. The BJP strategists were also of the opinion that, since the country never had any “Christian President”, it would be “politically incorrect” for the Opposition to oppose the particular candidature. Vice-President Krishan Kant would be the conventional choice. http://www.deccan.com/national/template.shtml#Reject%20Poto%20in%20House:%20Amnesty%20to%20Opposition Reject Poto in House: Amnesty to Opposition New Delhi, Nov. 30: Human rights organisation Amnesty has appealed to political parties in the countries on Friday not to give Parliamentary approval to a controversial anti-terrorism decree and instead work to strengthen the criminal justice system. It said the decree, which has been slammed by Opposition parties and other human rights groups, endangered constitutional and internationally accepted human rights standards. “Amnesty is concerned that a weak criminal justice system, if armed with draconian laws, is only likely to end up victimising the socially and politically marginalised or those who are perceived as a threat to those with the power to influence the criminal justice system,” it said. Poto sets strict guidelines for arrest and investigation. It also allows suspects to be held for 30 days without trial. The decree which defines terrorist as one threatening unity, was issued under an emergency constitutional provision. http://www.hinduonnet.com/stories/2001120100581300.htm Dharna against atrocities on tribals, Dalits By Our Special Correspondent AHMEDABAD, NOV. 30. The minorities, tribals and Dalits staged a dharna in the city today to highlight the alleged atrocities against the weaker sections of society in Gujarat, often ``in collusion'' with the BJP Government in the State. The demonstrators expressed concern over the appointment of a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh activist, Mr. Narendra Modi, as Chief Minister, which, they said, could add to the woes of the minorities. Several Congress leaders, including the state office- bearers, besides representatives of various non-government organisations engaged in the welfare of the weaker sections participated in the dharna, held under the auspices of the All- India Christian Council. According to the Council's joint secretary, Mr. Samson Christian, it has sought an appointment with the President, Mr. K.R. Narayanan, and the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, in Delhi on December 4 to submit a memorandum detailing the plight of the weaker sections and the minorities in the country, with particular reference to the recent Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO), which was ``more awesome'' than the erstwhile TADA that could be used as a tool by the police to harass the minorities. The speakers criticised the BJP Governments in the State and at the Centre pointing out that the minorities were living under constant fear. In Gujarat, the tribals were being driven away from their lands in the forest areas with the BJP Government openly violating the previous Congress Government's decision to allocate forest land to the tribals who were cultivating the same land till October, 1980. There had also been discrimination in giving government jobs to the tribals and the Scheduled Castes and the reservation norm was being overlooked, they alleged. They said that though the State Government had acquired 93,817 acres of land under the Agricultural Land Ceiling Act for distribution among the landless tribals and Dalits, the scheme had only remained on paper. They expressed concern over the condition of the minorities, holding the Sangh Parivar activists responsible for their woes with the BJP Government either giving indirect support to the attackers or ignoring their complaints. Mr Christian claimed that since 1999, there had been 417 cases of attacks on Christians in the State in which 33 persons were killed and 203 seriously injured. In the last year, Gujarat topped the list of attacks on Christians in the country with 65 cases recorded followed by 62 cases in Tamil Nadu, 55 in Kerala and 50 in Orissa. The Hyderabad-based organising secretary of the Council, Mr. Sam Paul, questioned the sincerity of the Government in implementing the POTO in the light of the support it provided to the Bajrang Dal and other Sangh Parivar members. Questioning the amendment to the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA), Mr. Paul demanded that the Government publish a white paper on the funding to the Sangh Parivar organisations, including the BJP. He alleged the amendment was only intended at choking foreign funds to various welfare organisations for the tribals, Dalits and minorities. Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the Director General of Gujarat police to submit a report within a month on the death of a Christian woman, Markiben, who was allegedly gang-raped and killed and her body left hanging from a tree in Bokadiya village in Danta taluka of Banaskantha district on September 30. The complaint was filed by Mr. Christian, who alleged police involvement in the incident. "Mahasweta Devi: Witness, Advocate, Writer" brings us face-to-face with one of the most celebrated writers in India. This video provides an intimate view of the author's daily life set in the context of her tireless pursuit of justice for India's tribal poor. She reads from her highly acclaimed writing and discusses its relevance for social change. Mahasweta comes to life as an ordinary person in extraordinary settings, fighting back through literature while surrounded by nationalist, patriarchal and capitalist violence. The author's winning and macabre humor shines throughout, providing needed inspiration to a life of constant and successful struggle. She reads from her stories, recounting the grim tale that led to her founding of the Denotified and Nomadic Tribes Rights Action Group - one of the most important organizations fighting for the rights of India's poor and oppressed indigenous population. This informal documentary about the life and work of Mahasweta Devi introduces an Indian icon to a new generation of international readers. This video is an excellent aid to teaching Mahasweta's stories in undergraduate and postgraduate courses. More than that it is an exemplary introduction to world literature, international human rights, and the plight of aboriginal peoples everywhere. Director Shashwati Talukdar has been producing short films and videos since 1994. Primarily a maker of experimental and narrative works, this video marks her entrance into the documentary genre. Executive Producer Henry Schwarz has been teaching, researching and writing about India for over 12 years. This project brings critical understanding of social and literary issues together with artistic ingenuity in a fresh and informative way. Audiences in India have hailed this documentary as "utterly true to the spirit of the subject," and "entertaining and informative - everyone should see this." The 30 minute video is available now in NTSC or PAL versions for screening in the US or abroad. Tapes are available at the following rates: Individual: For $30 we will send you a copy of the tape. Institution: For $150 we will send you a copy of the tape and provide teaching materials, a bibliography of relevant publications, and information on various ways in which to support Mahasweta and her projects. This will include all of the above for library circulation. We encourage you to ask your libraries to purchase this video to be used for a variety of educational purposes. Kindly make checks payable to: Mahasweta Devi Film Fund Mail to: Henry Schwarz, 4215 NE 85th St., Seattle, WA 98115 [USA] 206.523.6891 (ph); 206.523.6940 (fax); schwarzh@georgetown.edu for more information: www.georgetown.edu/departments/pjp/dnt-rag The Times of India 2 December 2001 Does Indian history need to be rewritten? SUMIT SARKAR No. BJP's doctoring of history, so reminiscent of totalitarian states, is an attempt to turn the clock back and, if possible, do away with history altogether The Prime Minister has justified the deletion of ten passages from NCERT history textbooks (to be followed soon by their replacement and then the abolition of history as a separate subject till Class XI) on the ground that these books are "one-sided''. How does he know? And how does being Prime Minister give him the authority to issue such a fatwa? It is nobody's contention that the NCERT books are perfect, but any revision must be based on at least a minimum level of competence in the subject. It is significant that the names of those writing the new textbooks are being kept strictly secret. A second justification, offered by BJP spokesmen like V.K. Malhotra, is even more dangerous. The books are not factually inaccurate, but they are unsuitable because they hurt the "sentiments'' of children of sundry communities and religions. Once again, who decides, when, and whose sentiments? The passage in Satish Chandra's book about the execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur, which no one had objected to even at the height of the Khalistani movement, suddenly comes under attack, and sadly, first of all from the Delhi Congress - just on the eve of Punjab elections. And what if "sentiments'' are mutually opposed? References to the oppressive aspects of the varna system and, no doubt soon, any criticism whatsoever of the ancient Brahmanical society, are to be deleted. Dalits, subordinated castes, women, have obviously no "sentiments'' worth bothering about. Even more importantly, is it the function of history to ignore all "unpleasant'' facts, and become a collection of moral fables or happy tales, its contents dictated by "religious'' and/or "community'' leaders chosen by the Sangh Parivar for its political games? Surely, education is worthwhile only if it stimulates rational thinking and questioning and much of inherited common-sense necessarily comes under scrutiny: as when children learn that, contrary to the evidence of their eyes, the earth moves round the sun. Maybe, the scientific explanation for eclipses should be banned, for it might hurt the belief that they are caused by Rahu? But it is dangerous to be sarcastic about such things, for we have a minister who might think this to be a good idea.... "History'' of a particular kind is vital for the Sangh Parivar, to consolidate its claim to be the sole spokesman of the "Hindus'' who have to be convinced that their interests and emotions are and have always been unitary and inevitably opposed to those of Muslims or Christians, regardless of differences of caste, gender, class, immense regional variations. There had once been a certain fit between such assumptions and the habit, derived in part from the British, of slicing up Indian history into "Hindu'' and "Muslim'' periods, treating religious communities as unchanging blocs and defining eras in terms of the religion of rulers. All this changed as history-writing came of age and progressed beyond the deeds of kings and great or evil men. The BJP's doctoring of history, so reminiscent of totalitarian states, is an attempt to turn the clock back and, if possible, do away with history altogether. (Sumit Sarkar is a professor of history at Delhi University) Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com) Delete and control - the Parivar's mantra THERE IS a terrible irony in the fact that the BJP while using every possible form of caste and religious division to stoke election fires in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab has decided that school children must not learn about the ancient roots of the caste system. The Varna system along with half-a-dozen other passages (see box) in the existing NCERT-produced history textbooks are deemed unfit for children - not to be taught, not even discussed in the classroom. Freedom of thought is not something the BJP/Sangh Parivar is big on. It holds out for unitary truths and faith. It wants believers not thinkers. It is, after all, fighting a battle for minds. And history, especially as taught in school, is all important to this battle. For, it engenders the collective memory of a nation. And, the BJP/Sangh Parivar knows that to win its battle it must replace the shared memory of the modern Indian nation-state - born out of a struggle against colonialism - with its own construction of a Hindu nation stretching into antiquity and still waiting to be saved by the bhagwa army from the clutches of ``Macaulay, Marx and madrassa'', its shorthand for ``Christians, communists and Muslims''. It is, therefore, taking no chances. The direction to delete is only an indication of the thoroughness with which it is pursuing its goal. Its preferred weapon is a battering ram. The BJP favours diktat over debate since its marriage of mythology, fiction and faith does not stand up to intellectual scrutiny. It is in the process of producing new social science and history textbooks, in secret. By ``experts'' whose names are officially secret, but are widely known to be Sangh Parivar men. But, just in case these secret outpourings are delayed or, heaven forbid, discarded through legal intervention, it wants to ensure that historical issues which contest aspects of its version of the past, and its agenda in the present, are erased from textbooks and hopefully expunged from memory and obliterated from the collective conscience. There is a logic to the passages selected for deletion from the three textbooks. They fit rather nicely into some of the Sangh Parivar's major campaign planks - anti-cow slaughter, Ram Janmabhoomi, religious conversion - while pursuing its policy of making nonsense of history writing by getting rid of the critical methodology that separates history from mythology. With this agenda to pursue the Sangh's purpose would be badly served by Indian children - future voters - thinking that Brahminism was extractive and oppressive or wondering whether Rama and the Vanara Sena were aspects of faith or characters of history. By announcing this week that it is to use the controversy raised in Parliament by its diktat to delete sections of the history textbooks as an election plank in Uttar Pradesh (a State with abysmally low literacy levels), the BJP has also fully abandoned the pretence that its concern with re-writing the history of India serves any purpose other than sectarian politics. The party hopes to cash in on the fact that it favoured the deletion of passages it considered ``anti-Jain'' and ``anti-Jat'' and ``anti-Brahmin'' while its opponents did not. The BJP, in so doing, has also officially declared an open season on history in particular and social science education in general. These disciplines have effectively been torn out of academe - universities, schools, research institutions - and turned into electoral concessions to be traded for votes. The BJP is gleefully aware that in this final assault on the world of ideas it has an unlikely ally in the Congress which has its own short-term electoral accommodations to make. But, unlike the Congress, the BJP's obsessive concern with imposing its version of history on schools is not simply a function of its desperate search for an election plank - it is handy, of course, to be able to play defender of caste and religion when you have nothing else to offer. The BJP is preparing for a long battle which goes beyond Assembly elections. It is a battle to replace the tri-colour with the bhagwa dhwaj, to re-invent a nation, to alter the idea of India. Where the Congress and the rest of the self-aggrandising bunch, in the Opposition and in bed with the BJP, have lost sight of the idea that drove them, the Sangh has always understood the power of shared ideas. It understands well that the Independence movement, in which it played no part at all, produced the collective consciousness of a new nation defined by plurality, democracy and a desire for economic development; that the goals of this new nation and its history of a unifying struggle against colonialism have been the cement that holds the Indian nation together. The fact is the Sangh Parivar, and its political arm the BJP, are driven by an idea that can only succeed by destroying the modern Indian nation and the principle of plurality which underlines it. They believe in the superiority of Hindus and their superior claim, over people of other faiths, to being Indians. Re-writing school history textbooks to fit this idea of the Hindu Rashtra has always been top priority. In the States where it held power in the early 1990s - Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat - the BJP took over the State education boards and very quickly changed the history textbooks, producing material that replaced history with mythology, justified caste, the low status of women, and denigrated Muslims and Islam. The remarkable thing is that despite being part of an eclectic coalition the BJP has, since it came to power at the Centre, utilised institutions such as the NCERT to do much the same. So while the Opposition and the BJP's coalition partners weigh out which bits of which history textbooks can be auctioned off for votes, and teachers and parents stay on the sidelines wondering how this will all affect ``the load'' and ``exam results'', a few generations of young Indians will be primed to serve a Hindu Rashtra. Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com) ``AS THE study of history at this stage is intended to initiate the pupil into the rigours of the discipline, it is necessary to introduce him/her to the elements of historical methodology, of how the historian works. For this he/she should be acquainted with the various kinds of sources which form the raw materials of historical studies. The pupil may be encouraged to study the sources critically...'' This is a point made by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in its three-page rationale for the new higher secondary history syllabus. If familiarity with various historical sources is to be encouraged, then what did Prof. Satish Chandra do wrong. Unless, of course, the NCERT Director, Dr. J. S. Rajput, uses the same lexicon as that of the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Pramod Mahajan, where ``rapine'' has something to do with rape, and source has a different meaning. After all, the portions found to be objectionable in Prof. Chandra's book on Medieval India for Class XI have been picked from various sources. Be it the reference to Guru Tegh Bahadur resorting to ``plunder and rapine'' or the mention of his execution being the result of ``intrigues of some members of his family who disputed his succession'', both are not the author's viewpoints. While the former is from a Persian source, Prof. Chandra quotes from a Sikh tradition in the case of the latter. If anything, Prof. Chandra has spoken very highly of Guru Tegh Bahadur. After presenting a couple of different sourced interpretations for the Guru's execution, the historian makes his point:``The Guru, while being a religious leader, had also begun to be a rallying point for all those fighting against injustice and oppression... for the Sikhs, the Guru gave up his life in defence of cherished principles.'' Today, the whole section on the Sikhs in the chapter on `Climax and Disintegration of the Mughal Empire-I' stands deleted; thanks to the fact that neither the NCERT nor the CBSE - both autonomous organisations - has the gumption to stand up to the diktat of the Human Resource Development Minister, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi. And, as a consequence of this one populist action, the contribution of Sikhs to that phase of Indian history has been wiped out! This, when the whole purpose of the deletion is to inculcate a sense of pride among children in the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur. How, pray, will that be possible now when the only reference to him in the book has been struck off completely. Even more appalling is the NCERT's ignorance about the age of the children who study this book. Welcoming the CBSE's decision, the NCERT noted that ``parents of a 11-year-old child are entitled to inculcate in the child a sense of pride...'' Evidently, the eager-to-please-Dr. Joshi NCERT forgot that Prof. Chandra's book is not for 11-year-olds, but for Class XI students. Scroll back in time to the Vedic Age where the Class XI book of Prof. R. S. Sharma has had to reckon with a similar deletion. Gone is the section on `The Varna System'. All because there is a mention that religion influenced the formation of social classes in India in a peculiar way and Brahmanical indoctrination is identified as one of the reasons for the caste system taking root. References to ancient Indians being beef-eaters appears to be a particular irritant with the self-styled cleansers of history textbooks. Of the view that there is no need for Class VI students to know that beef was served on special occasions in ancient India, the NCERT has deleted similar references from even Prof. Sharma's Ancient India textbook for Class XI! ``What will they do next: Take back the Bharat Ratna given to Pandurang Vaman Kane, the great Sanskrit scholar and author of the `History of the Dharmasastra', in which he has mentioned the prevalence of beef-eating among ancient Indians,'' asked a teacher on condition of anonymity. As it is, most schools had finished teaching the portions that have been deleted. Even in schools where this is not the case, teachers see no way of avoiding discussion in the classroom - which, too, is not permissible as per the circular. ``How can discussion be banned - it goes against the tenor of social sciences and democracy.'' From: R.R.Punyani "Veer" Savarkar: Brave by Half Ram Puniyani The film on Savarkar is due to be released shortly. The film even before its release has created lot of ripples of excitement. It may be probably the first major venture eulogizing the pioneer of Hindutva ideology. One is aware that any objective discussion on Savarkar is filled with lot of emotional outbursts as he has been iconized amongst sections of population as the brave freedom fighter. He also gets the prefix of 'Swatantrya Veer' (Brave warrior for Freedom), which is only half true. One needs to look at the trajectory of his life to understand this transition from anti-British revolutionary to the ideologue of Hindutva. Savarkar's life underwent major transition during his confinement in Andamans. He was a changed man after the period of his jail life. He was a committed anti-British revolutionary prior to his deportment to Andamans but later he never associated with any thing even remotely sounding as anti-British. He had gone to study law in London and for his anti-British stance he was denied the barrister-ship. In England Savarkar formed 'Free Indian Society' committed to overthrowing British rule in India. That time he rejected the British proposal to give the undertaking not to participate in politics. His group had learnt the art of bomb making from a Russian revolutionary in Paris. One member of the group killed a top-ranking official in India office (London) and was sentenced to death. For involvement in this and for another charges on him in Indian courts, Savarkar was arrested, sentenced and was to undergo life imprisonment. He was deported from England. The ship carrying him stopped at Marseilles, where he jumped into the sea and swam to the shore to claim asylum on French soil. He was captured back and was transported to Andamans for life imprisonment. The conditions in Andman jail were very painful and he was tortured severely. It seems that conditions of jail life broke his spirits. Incidentally from 1920 Indian National Congress was asking for his unconditional release, but due to reasons best known to him Savarkar preferred to give a written undertaking to get released from the jail, "I hereby acknowledge that I had a fair trial and just sentence. I heartily abhor methods of violence resorted to in days gone by and I feel myself duty bound to uphold law and constitution (British, added) to the best of my powers and am willing to make the 'reform' a success in so far as I may be allowed to do so in future" (from facsimile of Savarkar's letter to British authorities, Frontline, April 7, 1995. Pg. 94). The reforms he is referring to here are the Montague Chelmsford proposals of 1919, which did not satisfy the nationalist movement's demands. In response to this, as a trade off, the British Government released him under the condition that he will stay in Ratnagiri district in Bombay province and will seek permission of the government to leave the district. Also that he will not engage in any public or private political activities without the consent of the government. The period of conditions lasted till 1937, when the Congress ministry was sworn in. Subsequent to this he assumed the office of the President of Hindu Mahasabha. This aspect of his total surrender is totally hidden by the Hindutva forces, they confer on him the epithet of 'Veer (brave) Savarkar'. Why did British government release him? How is it that after his release the track of his politics totally changed and he came to adorn the mantle of ideologue Hindu Rashtra? How is it that later he never undertook any anti British agitation? How is it that he never joined and supported the major movements of those times like Quit India movement? How is it that instead of being the part of freedom struggle, he chose to help the British in recruiting Indians for their army? One can have ones' own inferences but his compromise with British hides lot of messages about the nature of his politics from then on. He did emerge as the undisputed leader of Hindu Mahasabha. In most of the times, post-1937, his politics was the polar opposite of National movement led by Gandhi and 'no support to Congress move' was his basic dictum. This can be best exemplified in the 1942 Quit India movement, when Gandhi gave the call for the people to leave the government jobs. Instead Savarkar issued the edict "I issue this definite instruction to all Hindu Sanghathanists in general holding any post or position of vantage in the government services, should stick to them and continue to perform their regular duties". (Quoted in A G Noorani Frontline, Dec. 1, 1995). Also working committee had passed a resolution on August 31, 1942 asking all Mahasabhaites to remain at their jobs. Savarkar does have the 'honor' of brewing Brahminical Hinduism with nationalism, and he was the first exponent of the doctrine of Hindutva. Savarkar's initial anti-British struggles were very impressive but after assuming the role of the proponent of Hindutva his major energies were channelised in strengthening the politics of hate, formation of communal Hindu Mahasabha and helping RSS from distance. Savarkar's work `Hindutva: Who is Hindu' (1923) became and remains the basic text defining this political concept. With the simultaneous rise of Muslim communalism, in due course most of the Hindu consolidations took place by showing the fear of Muslims. This nationalism consolidated itself on the ground of the 'threatening other', but this threatening other was not the British imperialist colonizers whose rule the country was suffering but was the `Muslim'. As an aside we should note here that Savarkar's anti-British struggles and anti-British activities totally ceased after his release by the British, and from then on all his guns were to be targeted against the Muslims. Savarkar argued (later on this became the ideological base of most of the Hindutva organizations) "the Aryans who settled in India at the dawn of history already formed a nation, now embodied in the Hindus.... Hindus are bound together not only by the tie of the love they bear to a common fatherland and by the common blood that courses through their veins and keeps our hearts throbbing and our affection warm but also by the tie of the common homage we pay to our great civilization, our Hindu culture."(Hindutva, Page108) Thus Hindutva according to him rests on three pillars: geographical unity, racial features and common culture. He further went on to elaborate the criterion for who is Hindu? According to him all those who regard this land as their fatherland and holy-land are the only ones who are Hindu and thereby the people to whom this land belongs. This led to the automatic interpretation that the Christians and the Muslims, whose holy places are in Jerusalem and Mecca are not on par with the `Hindus' who 'own' this country. Initiating the theorizing of the `doubting of patriotism of Muslim's', Savarkar states, "but besides culture the tie of common holy-land has at times proved stronger than the claims of a motherland. Look at Mohammedans: Mecca to them is a sterner reality than Delhi or Agra." Savarkar's politics was rival to Gandhian politics. Gandhi - the representative of Indian Nationalism was branded by Savarkar as conciliator and appeaser of Muslims. Savarkar propounded that struggle for supremacy would begin after British left and that the Christians and Muslims were the real enemies who could be defeated only by "Hindutva". He maintained that this land belonged to Hindus and so by implication Muslims with Hold Land in Mecca and Christians with Holy land in Jerusalem cannot have equal status to `Hindus'. It is also worth remembering, that murderer of Gandhi, Godse was his ardent follower. Savarkar himself was the co-accused in Gandhi murder, but was let off as Godse took the whole responsibility of this murder totally on his own self. While the film and the present projection of Savarkar is going on, one has also to assess his role in second half of his life. An honest assessment of our past will show us the different versions of Nationalism and their political stance. The present hysteria of paying blind obeisance to Vinayak Damodar Savarkar should not come in the way of objectively assessing his changed role in later part of his life. (The writer works for EKTA, Committee for Communal Amity, Mumbai) http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=1763414358 TIMES NEWS NETWORK LUCKNOW: After the November 4 rally at Delhi, chairman of the All India Confederation of SC\ST organisations Udit Raj (Ram Raj) once again succeeded in roping in several people into his new faith, Buddhism. At a function organised at the dharna sthal, newly converted Buddhists, Munnilal, Uddal, Mukh Ram, Bhola Ram Shastri, Ram Charan, GD Choudhry, Hari Chand and Ram Gautamand, became monks. On this occasion, nearly fifty people who embraced Buddhism got their heads tonsured and took a vow to follow the path shown by Lord Buddha in letter and spirit. Talking to newsmen earlier Ram Raj said that if the government introduced a uniform education system, dalits would gladly forgive their claims on reservation in jobs. "Unless casteism was removed, the country could not forge ahead on the path of progress," he said. Recalling events of November 4 at Delhi, he told newsmen how the government had let loose a reign of terror that day. He said people willing to embrace Buddhism were prevented from reaching near the venue. Ram Raj explained before newsmen how the government had laid a siege to the venue to scare people away from coming out of the fold of Hinduism. This, he said, was done at the behest of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Rastriya Swyamsevak Sangh and the Minority Commission. He said he was surprised at the behaviour of Dalit leaders who claimed to be followers of Ambedkar. "When Ambedkarites were being attacked, Dalit leaders kept quiet", said Ram Raj. He reminded the people of Ambedkar's famous speech in which the maker of the Constitution had said that Dalits were initially followers of Lord Buddha. Ram Raj said that there was a clamour for embracing Buddhism, especially amongst people living in the jhuggi-jhopris. It would be prudent for us to convert them to Buddhism soon. He criticised the Bahujan Samaj Party for not having enough programmes to reform the society. He ruled out his outfit's direct participation in the election. Addressing the office-bearers of the SC/ST organisations at the Sahkarita Bhawan state president of the AICSC\STO, Jagjiwan Prasad said that he was hopeful of getting 10 per cents quota in admissions in Christian schools of Uttar Pradesh. He said Christian schools of Karnataka and Maharastra had announced that they would earmark 20 per cent and 10 per cent of the seats respectively for the Bhuddhists in their states. Long, long before the American zionist think tank, Samuel P. Huntington, propounded his now world famous "Clash of civilisations theory" in 1993 in the Foreign Affairs journal and created a tumultuous trouble the world over, we had sounded a clear warning about the White Western racist, zionist and Hindu nazi horrendous conspiracy against Muslims. In our introduction to the article, "A global gang-up of Whites, zionists against Blacks & Muslims" (DV Nov.16, 1990 p.20), we had clearly predicted the dangers posed by the above three deadliest enemies to world peace. Fool's paradise: This was followed by our Editorial of March, 16, 1992: "Why the whole world hates Islam & Muslims? Why this obsession? Why this deadly nightmares?" Then came another report, "Will clash of cross & crescent lead to III-World War?" (DV Sept.16, 1994 p.6). Yet another Editorial warned: "White Western & zionist hate-mongers launch their civilisational war against Islam and China" (DV Edit March 16, 1998), predicting that the "United Africans, Muslims, Dalits and China will win". We are citing only four major write-ups without mentioning the myriad shorter reports and articles warning the oppressed of the world about the impending catastrophe. But the leadership of the oppressed millions refused to heed our warnings. The contours of the zionist-manufactured global conspiracy have now become as clear as the day light. Even a child can now understand what these deadly enemies are up to. But alas the victims of this conspiracy — namely Muslims, Blacks, India's Black Untouchables — are living in a fool's paradise. Hunting Muslim head: Except China, which is also in the hit list of the three tyrants, nobody else is taking note of the typhoon that has already felled them and badly battered them even after the Durban debacle. (DV Edit Oct.1, 2001: "World comes to know of racism in India: Gang of Three stand isolated at Durban"). The beauty of the US-led operation to hunt for the Muslim head is that they will not say it is against Muslims and Islam. They say it is against "terrorism" though honest intellectuals like Naom Chomsky have declared the US as the world's biggest terrorist. The whole thing is camouflaged and the Western monopoly media is sugar-coating the operation of playing football with Muslim lives to mislead the world. President George Bush is holding iftar party in the White House for the first time in US history to fool gullible Muslims. Corrupt Muslim leadership is purchased and errants are threatened. The entire Muslim world stands divided though the Muslim masses as a whole is united and has identified the Enemy and impatient to wage a Jehad. Here is a blood-curdling report on the seriousness of the problem: Washington: Iraq tops the lists of countries where the United States might take its war on terrorism next. Some other places — Somalia, Sudan, Kashmir — could also face military attacks if Osama bin Laden flees there. Beyond that, America's next steps probably won't involve bombing runs. Instead, US officials will work with police and armies to find suspects, as they've done in the Philippines and Germany, work to cut off money for terror, as they have in Somalia and Saudi Arabia, and urge governments to end support of terrorists as they have with Syria. In all, the US will turn, after Afghanistan, to another 40 to 50 - perhaps even 60 — countries where global terrorist networks operate, top Bush administration officials say. "Any government that supports or harbours terrorists should be very worried right now", Deputy Defence Secretary, Paul Wolfowitz, the main Bush administration supporter for hitting Iraq, said recently. (AP - Hindu Nov.25, 2001). Warning to Iran: This list also includes Iran, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia though not named here. The last two are obedient to the slave master. Iran might not have joined this list of slaves but its recent behaviour particularly after the Sept.11 incident makes it a suspect. The three deadliest enemies of humanity and world peace have not said in so many words that they are out for the Muslim blood. But even a child can now make out that it is an all-out war on Muslims and Islam. The long list of targets make us fear that it is the beginning of the Third World War. Though the US has been fighting a futile war in Afghanistan for the past over 1 1/2 months, it is no where near victory. It destroyed lot of things in Afghanistan. Destruction is very easy. What is difficult is construction. To kill a mosquito where is the need for a bomb? Perhaps, more bombs have been dropped on the poor, starving Afghanistan than what was used in the entire II-World War. But such achievements cannot be called victory. Who cares for UN: The US and its allies do not care for the United Nations, nor do they take note that all these Muslim countries are sovereign nations. Every rule is flouted, every democratic norm is violated, every sane voice is suppressed. Might is right. The zionist grip over America is mounting and President Bush is speaking like a mad man even as war-mongers of the entire world are applauding. We don't know when Dalit Voice will be silenced. "Saddam is evil" Washington: Looking beyond what Washington now regards as an assured victory in Afghanistan, US President George W. Bush has publicly laid out American strategy for tackling the terrorist threat from Iraq and beyond. "Saddam is evil", said Bush, the first time he had applied that adjective to the Iraqi dictator. "I think he's got weapons of mass destruction, and I think he needs to open up his country to let us inspect". Bush used an interview with Newsweek magazine to identify Hussein as a target and appeared to relish the prospect of finishing the job of neutralising the Iraqi dictator, which his father did not achieve after the Gulf War 10 years ago. (Hindu Nov.27, 2001). The global master plan prepared by the zionists and being faithfully executed by the White Western racists and India's Hindu nazis is quite clear. There need be no more confusion about it. Their target is Muslims, Blacks, India's Black Untouchables and China. China's strange behaviour: Only the last, China, is well aware of this danger and proceeding cautiously and confidently. But we don't know why China is not understanding that when the world of Blacks, Muslims and Dalits are drowned, how it can still survive alone and float? The unthinking Muslims, Blacks (Africans) and India's Black Untouchables are deeply divided and quarreling between themselves. In spite of our warnings made over the past 10 years and repeated many times later, we have not been able to wake up the sleeping slaves though they are already buried neck deep. We have been consistently sending these warning signals and not even a comma in our predictions has gone wrong. Ours is not a false claim but a fact in cold print. It is there for all to verify and refute if we are wrong. The three deadliest enemies of the world are united, solid and working with a single-minded devotion. Put together, their population is a petty peanut before the rest. But what is the use of this unthinking masses who are willing to remain slaves – slaves enjoying their slavery? (Nov.30, 2001). (Dalit Voice Editorial, Dec.16, 2001) Tribune News Service Chandigarh, December 1 The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) having a seat adjustment with the Chandigarh Vikas Manch (CVM), today accused the Congress and the BJP for removing the photograph of Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar from the Mayor’s office and vowed to punish the two parties. The BSP local unit president M.R. Dhiman, while releasing the party manifesto for the Municipal Corporation election, said that Ms Harjinder Kaur, who won on the support of the Congress and the BJP-SAD alliance, removed Baba Saheb’s photo from her office. He said that the party had reached an understanding with the CVM where the latter would support party candidates on two seats in lieu of the former’s support to them on 10 seats. Mr Dhiman said that on the other seats where both the parties are contesting, there would be a friendly fight. Mr Dhiman released a 13-point manifesto promising allocation of funds as per the population of villages and colonies, opposition to contract system, filling of posts in schools and colleges, implementation of Mandal Commission in Chandigarh which had been hanging fire for a decade, issuing SC and BC certificates immediately from one counter and making available water, power and gas at minimum prices. Twentyfour-hour supply of water and power, allowing changes in houses without any penalty, a playground in Mani Majra, subsidy and low rate of interest for the unemployed for setting up their businesses, regularisation of houses beyond Lal Dora and immediate provision of civic amenities in new colonies. Mr Dhiman said the party is the third largest party of the country. Our Correspondent The Tribune Phagwara, December 2 Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Kanshi Ram today flayed the controversial POTO for the first time and stated that the BSP was opposed to it. Talking to newsmen after addressing the “Hukamran Bano” rally here, Mr Kanshi Ram supported the stand of the Opposition against the reinduction of Mr George Fernandes as Defence Minister. Mr Fernandes should have been reinducted only after he was cleared by the commission probing the Tehelka expose, he said. Mr Kanshi Ram said the Panthic Morcha would be accommodated in seat-sharing by the BSP only after observing latter’s strength in its December 9 rally at Ludhiana. Asked how many seats the BSP would leave for the Morcha, Mr Kanshi Ram quipped we wanted to win 60-70 Assembly seats for forming government in Punjab and wanted to play the role of dominant partner in our pact with the Panthic Morcha. The BSP was capable of contesting all 117 seats, he added. He said octroi abolition was an election stunt and declared that his party’s election manifesto would be announced after the dates for the election were announced. Earlier, Mr Kanshi Ram said if voted to power his party would set up a Guru Ravi Das University in Doaba region. Addressing a rally of workers from nine segments of the Phillaur parliamentary constituency at Phagwara — one of the segments where he promised to implement the Mandal Commission report within 24 hours on coming to power he said his party would focus on eradication of corruption, uplift of the downtrodden and providing a clean government. Corruption was the biggest problem of Punjab and the SAD-BJP government was the most corrupt government, he added. Calling upon Dalits not to rest on their oars till votes were polled and their government was formed, Mr Kanshi Ram cautioned them not to be misled by the propaganda against the BSP in the media. He alleged that the media underplayed the BSP’s rally but overplayed those of the ruling parties and the Congress. The BSP would form the government in Punjab and capture Delhi within three years, he declared. The NDA government represented only 11 crore voters, while the BSP represented 62 crore voters, he claimed. The “alapjats” (minorities) would be converted into “bahujan” (majority) by unifying 6000 castes, he asserted. He said similar rallies would be held at Khanna on December 8, Moga on December 23 and Bathinda on December 30. Study centre for weaker sections Tribune News Service Chandigarh, December 2 Panjab University has decided to set up a “Centre for Socio-Economic Studies for Weaker Sections of the Society and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes”. A decision with regards to setting up a centre had earlier been taken by the senate in a meeting on September 30. The decision was taken following the acceptance of a proposal put forth by Prof K.C. Shenmar, a fellow of the university house. Prof K.N. Pathak, Vice Chancellor, in a recent communique has appointed Prof Manjit Singh, Department of Sociology, to work out preliminary details for setting up of the centre. The department is not likely to make any fresh appointments. At the preliminary stage, faculty from other departments is likely to be goaded on to make contributions towards the centre for study on the economically weaker sections of the society. Regular appointments would be made later on. When the proposal of Professor Shenmar was accepted, in principle it was also decided that the university would look into more details regarding the centre before a formal opening. The centre proposes to build a database of facts and figures on the life of the related sections of the society. It has been pointed out that the university data could also be used by leading government and private agencies and research institutes for preparing any programmme for the welfare of the weaker sections of the society. The data can also be used to carry out research. As a related activity, the centre is being seen as an important organ in keeping a tab on the university’s adherence to the reservation policy in matters of governance. Naiks to be listed as SCs: Verma Our Correspondent The Tribune Mansa, December 3 Dr Sahib Singh Verma (MP), former Chief Minister of Delhi and Senior Vice-President of the BJP said the Naik community would shortly be included in the list of Scheduled Castes. He said he had already spoken to the Prime Minister in this regard. He was addressing a public meeting organised by the Naik community here today at the old grain market. Dr Verma said around 20 lakh persons of the Naik community had no particular profession or land holding to make both ends meet. He said with the inclusion of the community in the list of Scheduled Castes, its members would be able to avail financial benefits and avail reservation in the matter of employment. He said owing to the increasing costs of agricultural inputs, cut-throat competition and decreasing income, a large number of farmers were thinking of giving up agriculture. Mr Verma further said the Union Government was formulating a plan to revive agriculture in Punjab. He said he would talk to Mr Parkash Singh Badal for granting relief of Rs 15,000 per acre to the farmers whose cotton crop had been damaged by the American bollworm. He added that if a suitable candidate for the BJP was found he would certainly be given the party ticket to contest elections to the forthcoming Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Justifying Sangat Darshan programmes, he said Mr Badal was doing a yeoman’s service for the villages of the state. Mr Jagpal Singh Chahal, senior BJP leader, said the district unit of the party would organise rallies in Mansa. Among others who addressed the rally were Mr Madan Lal, advocate, district president, Mr Radhey Lal, former district president, and Ms Santosh Joga Municipal Commissioner, Mansa. |