Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh - Chennai

vsk chennai sandesh

2012-02-07T19:54:00.001+05:30

A letter bomb, 16 years and a verdict

After a letter bomb sent by Jihadis exploded and killed a Hindu Munnani worker leader Muthukrishnan's wife Thangam 16 years lapsed. Last week, Judge Vanhagaamudi delivered a verdict of life imprisonment to five Muslims in connection with the crime. Among them Ribai is the newly elected State President of TMMK (Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazagham), a muslim outfit. It happened thus:

On 3^rd July 1995, Smt Thangam, wife of Hindu Munnani worker received a parcel claiming to contain the copy of Bhagavat Gita. On opening the parcel, it exploded and killed her. On the same day, in the same manner, another parcel containing bomb was sent to Jagaveera Pandian of Mayiladuthurai. Since he was not there, the parcel was returned back. Later, police found a bomb in that parcel also. Police registered the two cases and arrested 7 Muslims naming Aru.Ismail, Ribai, Kutubuddin, Raja Hussain, Zakir Hussain, Subair, and Abdul Azeez. Out of seven, 5 were arrested and they have been punished with life imprisonment.

Huge Service activities of Hindus brilliantly showcased

Global Foundation for Civilisational Harmony (India) organized a Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair 2012 at Dwaraka Doss Goverdhan Doss Vaishnav College Ground in Arumbakkam Chennai from 25^th January 2012 to 29^th January, 2012. This is a unique forum that showcases the service activities of diverse Hindu spiritual organizations and exemplifies the Hindu philosophy of "Atmano mokshartham jagat hitaya cha", that is one can attain salvation through service. Around 160 stalls have been put by various spiritual and service organizations. Puyjasri Nirmalanandanantha Swamiji (Adi Chunchanagiri Math) inaugurated the fair. Sri Thavathiru Kumaragurupara Swamigal (Siravai Aadheenam, Kaumara Math, Coimbatore) delivered benedictory address. Sri M Rajaram, IAS, Secretary, HR&CE, Govt. of Tamilnadu was the guest of honour. Invocation Song was sung by S.Mahathi, Playback Singer and Invocation Dance by Association of Bharatanatyam Artists of India (ABHAI). A former DGP of Tamilnadu, Sri R Nataraj IPS (Retd) and the Chairman of the Exhibition Organization Committee welcomed the gathering.

Ashrams like "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living, Matha Amirthananthamayee ashram, Chinmaya mission trust..." and traditional mutts like "Vanamamalai mutt, Thirupaananthaa Adheenam, Thiruvaduthrai Adheenam" Ramakrishna Mutt etc. also participated. Large concentration of visitors were seen at the stalls put up by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), Prajapita Brahmakumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidhyalaya, Sri Sathya Sai Organizations, Melmaruvathur Adiparasakthi Peedam, Sri Narayani Peetam, Vellore, Seva Bharathi and Ayya Vaikundar Narpani Sangam, Kanyakumari. Jyotirlingas darshan, organised by Brahmakumaris, is one of the added attractions for visitors. Pictorial presentation of TTD's growth through a topic 'Then and now' drew good response from youth, as they were able to see some rare photographs of the temple and its development over the years. Stalls of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Departments of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and the Archeological Survey of India recorded a steady stream of visitors. More than 2.5 Lakh people have visited the 4th Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair. The Sanathana Dharma Tree has won the hearts of thousands of people.

Mammoth Gathering at Kanyakumari

2012-02-07T14:37:00.000+05:30

Prantha Sanghkik of Dakshin Tamilnadu welcoming the 150^th year of Swami Vivekananda is to be held on 12^th February, 2012 at 4.00 p.m.at Ramco Wind Farm, Kumarapuram, Kavalkinaru Junction, Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu. 25000 Poorna Ganavesh Swayamsevaks will be participating and one lakh people (including swayamsevaks) will be attending the Sanghik. Sri Mohan Ji Bhagawat, Sar Sanghachalak will be addressing the mammoth gathering. Justice AR Ramalingan (Retd) (Judge of Chennai High Court) will preside over the function.

Hazare failed to recognise workers’ contribution: RSS

2012-02-06T12:45:00.001+05:30

Hazare failed to recognise workers' contribution: RSS

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat addresses a meeting in Patna on Sunday. Photo: Ranjeet Kumar

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Sunday slammed social activist Anna Hazare for failing to acknowledge that its workers had played an "active role" in his nationwide crusade against corruption last year, though the Sangh itself was not part of the civil society agitation.

"It is a fact that the Sangh workers in individual capacity did play an active role in the anti-corruption crusade by the civil society headed by Hazare... It baffles me as to why the former did not acknowledge the fact," RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat told reporters.

Though the RSS had not directed its workers to join the civil society's crusade on corruption, a large number of them did take an active part in the agitation throughout the country on their own volition, he said.

However, it baffled him when the Gandhian did not acknowledge the role of the Sangh workers in his anti-corruption movement when the Congress attacked Mr. Hazare for soliciting RSS support on corruption issue, Mr. Bhagwat said.

Mr. Bhagwat, however, clarified that the RSS was not part of the civil society agitation on the corruption issue even as it shared similar views and had adopted a resolution on the issue in March last year.

The RSS leader said that corruption in the political system could not be addressed merely by taking stringent action against corrupt public servants.

Other remedies like electoral reforms and making the system transparent and accountable should also be considered to usher in good governance in the country.

Mr. Bhagwat clarified that it was not the RSS' decision to make Nitin Gadkari the BJP national president but it had merely played the role of a facilitator when senior BJP leaders had met him to find a replacement for Rajnath Singh after the debacle in the 2009 General Election.

"Some senior BJP leaders had called me to discuss the future of the party leadership following the debacle in the 2009 parliamentary polls... The names of a number of leaders were discussed for the BJP president's post with Gadkari being among the names," the RSS chief told reporters.

"It was the BJP leaders' call to select Gadkari as the BJP president," he said adding the Sangh had merely played the role of a facilitator.

The RSS flayed people giving communal colour to those accused being tried in terror cases and said that comments should be made only after charges against such persons could be proved in the courts first.

"There is no such thing as Hindu militants... prove the charges first before giving communal colour to terror cases accused," the RSS Sarsanghchalak said.

He was responding to a question eliciting his stand on the accusations being made by critics linking the Samjhauta Express and Malegaon blast cases accused to upsurge of Hindu militancy.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2863182.ece

RSS propels nation-wide J&K Calling campaign

2012-02-01T14:58:00.001+05:30

RSS propels nation-wide J&K Calling campaign

February 1st, 2012, 2:29 am

BANGALORE: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has begun a silent, yet aggressive mission to win the hearts of people who always look up to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) as India's problem-child. Part of a national initiative to bring justice to thousands of people who are caught between the six-plus-decade-old conflict, the RSS pleads that its move should not be seen as a Hindutva ploy.

Express caught up with Arun Kumar, National Executive Member, RSS, in Bangalore during his brief visit to promote the 'J&K Calling Campaign' in Karnataka. According to him the 'war' between national and separatists needs to be tackled with an honest approach. "First, we should put an end to the misinformation in J&K and later empower rest of India with the right kind of information. J&K problem is not a Kashmir problem. It is created by Delhi, nurtured by Delhi and carried forward by Delhi with active participation by politicians, bureaucrats and the so-called J&K experts," says Arun Kumar, who is currently positioned at Jammu.

In his views, the J&K problem was never addressed with the right perception. "Everyone should keep in their minds the strategic importance of J&K. People should also spare a thought for the plight of nationalist people there. It was due to the negligence of Delhi that the problem has aggravated," Arun said. He said the 'J&K Calling Campaign' should not be seen as a BJP agenda either, instead a national movement.

Appealing to corporates to take a look at the opportunities J&K offers to investors, Arun said a lot can be done to inspire the people there. "Be it in the social sector, education, health care and even in Ayurveda – the scope is enormous. If the industry comes to J&K, the government has provisions to lease the land for 99 years," he said.

Source: http://expressbuzz.com/states/karnataka/rss-now-propels-nation-wide-jk-calling-campaign/358691.html

RSS Sarasanghachalak Mohan Bhagwat's valedictory speech in Hindu Shakti Sangama-2012

2012-01-30T12:57:00.001+05:30

Hubli Janurary 29: "We belong to a Hindu nation, known as Hindu Rashtra. Hindutva is the only ideology which unites this nation, which has all solutions for national challenges" said RSS Sarasanghachalak Mohan Bhagwat

He was addressing a mammoth gathering of swayamsevaks at the valedictory of 3 day convention Hindu Shakti Sangama-2012 at Hubli.

"We have a great diversity in terms of food, culture, language and lifestyle. But by a basic inherited ideology of Hindutva we are related and united as a Hindu nation. It is a permanent theory and is never reactive. By Hindutva ideology our ancestors reached different part of the world from Mexico to Indonesia. Wherever they went, they contributed for the enhancement of their lives by teaching Yoga etc to those and seeded the eternal values of life" said Mohan Bhagwat.

"As said by Dr Kalam we forgot the worship of power (Shakti ki upaasana), due to which we were under slavery for thousand years. We need to regain the power make our society stable. RSS has doing this job of making these countrymen stronger to regain the power, to make a strong and prosperous Bharath"

"The power should be used for a better social cause. This power should be coupled with character (sheela). Then only this power will serve the society. Though Bharath was a victim for foreign invasion several times, they could not destroy this nation. We have a potentiality to resist all such attacks and to survive ourselves. The power should be utilised for join the society and should not divide"

"Men with character and social commitment are the need of the hour. In India we need such an awakened society to face challenges. This is the requirement for the world, as violence is growing globally; India has the potentiality to solve it. RSS is involved in making these countrymen to think and work for the nation" said Bhagwat

"This country is not just a piece of land for us. It is been worshipped as motherland since time immemorial. Our ancestors called it Mrunmayi. The society should remember 3 things, first the concept of Mathrubhoomi, Second proud of our Culture and third respect towards our ancestors. The one who always respects his ancestors and their contributions, values is a Hindu. He will feel that the river, mountains, environment and society is related to me directly or indirectly" opinioned the RSS Chief

"Hindutva always focuses on unity and integrity. Though India achieved Independence by administration, we should be self-dependent in our life. The Government and the Law (Shaasan and Prashasan) should help a common man in this direction. But due to short-sightedness and for mere political gains, people in govt are trying to divide the country by bringing new laws/bills or adhering to such policies of division. The administration should think of uniting people and not to divide. Hindutva ideology is the one which joins all countrymen" said Sarasanghachalak.

RSS has indulged in making a united society by educating a common man about his individual role. Reminding the vedic sentences (Sanghachadwam Samvadadhwam, let's walk together, let's have a common voice), we always focus upon national integration in our daily activities.

"RSS never demands publicity for its activities. Our work is towards a silent social transformation. We educate swayamsevaks to involve in works which strengthens our national unity. Swayamsevaks established more than 1.5lakh of social service activities or seva projects across the country. During natural calamities Sangh swayamsevaks reached the spot even before police or army men and involved in rescue operations"

Mohan ji said "RSS swayamsevaks always joined hands with all positive activities which make society stronger; Swayamsevaks never took part in any anti-social activities. If at all a swayamsevak is doing a mistake in social life, he should refill himself with Sangh values. Such cases are rare as Swayamsevaks has only aim of Rashtronnathi- the Prosperity of the Country"

"In India, the political leaders are not the masters, but the society is the master. The concept of Janata Janaardhan is well known. We suffered from imbroglio in Kashmir, Tibet etc due to lack of national vision. Though we didn't attacked any country so far, we should be stronger enough to resist any foreign attack. We should have such a stabilised society so that we can have a stable administration"

"RSS has supported all forms for anti-corruption movements and will never tolerate corruption of any form. How can a society be corrupt, If strong character persists in individuals? "asked Bhagwat

In his presidential speech veteran scientist L.G. Dr V J Sundaram said "India got political freedom in 1947, but it was not economical. We had problem in several sectors, later we successfully achieved green revolution, white revolution and technological revolution. India has proved its potentiality in technology; our missile technology is one of the best on the world. In construction of Pruthvi Missile, I realised the strength of India being its project director".

"India has made many missiles, army weapons indigenously. We proved our strength capacity in each sector in LAC. Dr Kalam was one of key man in this regard. " said Dr V J Sundaram.

"I admire the discipline of RSS Swayamsevaks. The need of the hour is a social or public discipline to make our country prosperous. The 3 years working plan of RSS in organising this Hindu Shakti Sangama is executed well here" he added.

Sri Rajayogeendra Mahaswamy, RSS General Secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi, Kshethreeya Sanghachalak Justice Parvat Rao, Pranth Sanghachalak Dr Khageshan Pattana Shetty, President of Working Committee Sathish Jagajinni were present on the dais.

Prior to the speech of Sarasanghachalak, a spectacular show of demonstration of various Sangh physical exercises by swayamseavaks, attracted the gathering. From 1894 villages of 13 districts of North Karnataka 21,554 swayamsevaks participated in this 3 day residential camp of exercise. Around 2000 swayamsevaks were working as Prabandhaks (volunteers in organising team).

The Hindu Shakti Sangama was held to commemorate 75^th anniversary of visit of RSS founder Dr Keshava

Baliram Hedgewar to Chikkodi of North Karnataka on January 16, 1937 from where RSS activities began in Karnataka.

The live webcasting of the programme was arranged for global viewers in www.samvada.org which is the official website of Vishwa Samvada Kendra, the media centre of RSS.

Earlier to this there was meeting of Saints (Sant Sammelan) and get-together of selected Intellectuals of north Karnataka was organised in which RSS Sarasanghachalak shared his thoughts and social concerns.

PHOTO-REPORT: VSK-Karnataka

vsk chennai sandesh

2012-01-29T14:00:00.000+05:30

Traditional Sankranti performed at Seashore

The traditional Sankranti function of Chennai was held on the sea shore of Foreshore Estate on 15^th January at 6.15 a.m. The function was celebrated by the Swayamsevaks of Chennai along with the fishermen families. Suryanamskar was performed by the Swayamsevaks exactly at the stroke of sunrise. After which Pooja and Arati was performed to the Sea Goddess with a prayer for the welfare of the world. Soon after the function, Sri H S Govinda, Kshetra Pracharak Pramukh addressed the gathering highlighting what exactly is revolution according to Hindu thought. This was followed by Pooja and Arati to the Amman Deity with Sweet Pongal as Prasad, prepared by the Swayamsevaks (around 650 in number) partook the Prasad along with the fishermen.

150^th year Celebrations of Swami Vivekananda

150^th year of Swami Vivekananda Jayanthi, was organized by Vivekananda Youth Forum (Project of Naalaya Bharatham) at Presidency College NSS unit (a famous Government College). 79 boy students & 28 girl students participated in the function. Shri.Prakash, Vibhag Saha Karyawah highlighted the importance of patriotism from the works of Swami Vivekananda. Presidency college Principal Dr. P.S.Raghuram gave presidential address. Presidency college NSS unit Professor Mr. Damodharan also participated. All the participants were highly motivated by the programme.

Thiruvellikeni Swayamsevaks offered pushpanjali to mark the 115^th Birthday Celebrations of great patriot Nethaji Subash Chandra Bose.

‘RSS will oppose reservation based on religion’ says RSS Gen Sec Bhaiyaaji Joshi in Press Meet .

2012-01-29T11:37:00.002+05:30

‘RSS will fight against all forms of corruption, at national and state level. We are not targeting any individual and the fight is on a cause. We demand good governance from any government in this country’ said RSS General Secretary Bhaiyyaji Suresh Joshi.

Addressing a Press Meet on the occasion of 3 day Hindu Shakti Sangama, the RSS leader said “There are several challenges before the country. Terrorism being the most affecting challenge, entire North-East, valleys of Jammu and Kashmir is suffering since decades. Common man so threatened by these activities leading for a difficult livelihood”

“Separatist movements in Kashmir, Infiltration on border areas of India, Caste based discrimination, poverty, illiteracy are some of the other challenges the country is facing. Christian Missionaries are taking an advantage of few factors and utilising these opportunities for religious conversions. Sangh already began its activities in several slums, tribal areas in the country. These efforts are not to compete with Missionaries, but to strengthen the life of backward communities” said Bhaiyyaji Joshi.

Answering a question from a media person on RSS’s role on upliftment of SC, tribal and backward communities, Bhaiiyyaji said “RSS began its works on the tribal upliftment in 1952 when Vanavasi Kalyan Ahram started in Jaspur of Chattisgarh. Now, across India we have works going on Tribal, SC, ST, other backward class upliftment through the activities of Samarasata Manch and other like-minded Sangh initiatives”

On a question on reservation, Joshi said, “RSS support the reservation for SC/ST and other backward communities. But RSS will oppose all reservations given based on religion. Even Dr Ambedkar demanded reservations based on caste, not based on religion. There are attempts of politicising reservation for mere political gain, the society should be aware of such attempts of creating such vote bank politics”

“RSS always will give sanskar (or Value based education through Shakha) to a swayamsevak in organisational activities. But if a person fails to learn good values throughout life, it is wrong to blame RSS. If a student fails in a class, it’s wrong to blame a teacher. There may be good and bad students, the performance depends on individuals”, said Bhaiyyaji.

“RSS will never advice the government for its performance. When the swayamsevaks in BJP seeks advice from RSS, we will give advices, nothing wrong in it. But in govt policies, we have no role. Government may be influenced by many factors like bureaucrats etc, but not by Sangh” clarified Bhaiyyaji.

RSS will oppose all forms of corruption and meanwhile RSS will support all anti-corruption raliies. RSS also oppose Communal and Targeted Violence Bill proposed by National Advisory Council (NCA) headed by UPA Chairperson Soniya Gandhi. ThIS bill divides the nation based on religion also a threat to national integrity, said Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi.

RSS Kshthreeya Sanghachalak Justice Parvat Rao, Pranth Karvavah Aravinda Deshpande, Pranth Sanghachalak Khageshan Pattanashetti , V Nagaraj were present during the Press meet.

Hindu Shakti Sangama - Hubli

2012-01-27T15:21:00.000+05:30

Hindu Shakti Sangam-2012 inaugurated by RSS General Secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi

Hubli: North Karnataka Januray 27: The 3 day mammoth convention of RSS Swayamsevaks, Hindu Shakti Sangama-2012 was jointly inaugurated by RSS General Secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi and Sri Rajayogeendra Swamiji of 3-thousand Mutt -Hubli, this morning.

Delivering his inaugural address RSS General Secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi said ‘Whenever our society witnessed attacks from foreign invaders and imbroglio within the country, the Hindu society has shown its potentiality to digest such challenges. The Hindu Shakti Sangama reminds us the potentiality of Hindu Society.’

‘The sangh has grown facing all challenges, now has reached across the country from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and deserts of Rajasthan to the hills Manipur. The society has accepted Sangh work and supported us whenever the situation demanded. The swayamsevaks are building a strong nation through the basic Sangh ideology’ said Bhaiyyaji Joshi.

Dressed in full RSS uniform, around 25,000 swayamsevaks from 13 districts of North Karnataka are participating in this mega convention.

The 3 day convention will be concluded on Sunday with the valedictory of RSS Sarasanghachalak Mohan Bhagwat.

During the ceremony D V Sadananda Gowda, Chief Minister of Karnataka, Sri Rajayogeendra Swamiji of 3-thousand Mutt -Hubli, RSS Joint General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, Dr Satish Jagajinni, Justice Parvat Rao, Sri Khageshan Pattanashetti, Akhila Bharatiya Boudhik Pramukh Bhagayyaiah, Akhil Bharatiya Karyakarini members Mai Cha Jayadev, Senior RSS Pracharaks N Krishnappa, S Ramanna, Mangesh Bhende, DM Raveendra, RSS Ideologue V Nagaraj, Dr Prabhakar Bhat, Kajampady Subramanya Bhat, Tippeswamy, Aravinda Deshapande, Dr Khagesshan Pattana Shetty and several other socio-religious leaders were present.

The convention of this kind is organised for the first time in Karnataka North Pranth. Over 2000 swayamsevaks are working dan and night for the success of the mega event.

A exhibition “Yugadrushti”, is arranged for the public which symbolises achievements of India, Culture and growth of Sangh in Karnataka, India.

The 3 day RSS convention is being held at Hubli outskirts in an articficailly built area, near Tarihar bypass off Gokul Road named 'Vijayanagar', remembering the glorious legacy of Vijayanagar Dynasty Kingdom of Hampi.

-Photos and report

VSK, Karnataka:

RSS terms news report of supporting BSP baseless

2012-01-24T13:31:00.001+05:30

RSS terms news report of supporting BSP baseless

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Monday threatened to take action against newspapers that published reports that the Sangh would support BSP nominees wherever BJP candidates were not strong.

'Sah-prant Sanghchalak' of Avadh Prant Prabhunarian Srivastava in a press release said RSS was contemplating action against newspapers which had published the report.

"Some papers had published misleading reports that RSS would support BSP candidates at those places where BJP nominees were not strong enough in the coming Assembly elections," he said terming the reports as baseless.

Arunachal Pradesh is an Integral Part of India: Dr. Mohan Bhagawat

2012-01-17T14:55:00.000+05:30

Itanagar, January 16: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghachalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat said that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and does not belong to anybody else and added that Arunachalis too uphold this truth and always stand by the nation.

“The people of Arunachal Pradesh are the worshippers of nature and they should stand up upholding their values and virtues. The Rashtriya Swayam-sevak Sangh would always stand by the efforts of the Arunachalis in this regard”, Dr. Bhagawat said.

He was speaking at the Arun Chetana Sangam organized at the school field of Daying Ering Memorial Govt. Hr Sec School, Pasighat on January 8,Northeast Today reported.

While complementing the Arunachali communities for it, the Sarsanghachalak briefly explained the efforts and service projects of the RSS in the remote and border areas to upkeep the national spirit alive in the people. The RSS chief said that regular and perennial development of any society is possible only on a strong foundation of its own identity,

“Every generation has the responsibility to lead the society forward and it has to be materialized by up-keeping the special feature, customs and traditions of the society”, he said.

While delivering the presidential address Oshong Ering IAS (Retd) president, Nagarik Swagat Samiti categorically stated that the people Arunachal Pradesh had been neither under the Chinese territory nor Chinese administration in its past.

He added that Arunachal Pradesh would always remain to be an integral part of India. Highlighting the pivotal role of the Kebang system in the Adi society, Ering stated that the Arunachali society is democratic in its blood and veins.

The RSS Chief also attended the 3 days Arun Chetana Shivir in Pasighat which started from January 6. Nearly 500 trained and active swayam-sevaks from 77 places across all the 16 districts of Arunachal Pradesh participated in the Shivir and interacted with the RSS chief.

Court issues summons Marathi Journalist, Editor for defaming RSS

2012-01-17T14:52:00.000+05:30

January 15th, 2012, 11:19 pm

Defamatory comments on Judiciary and RSS

Mumbai: In a major breakthrough, Dapoli court in Maharashtra on January 10 issued summons to Marathi journalist and Hindu bashing former Loksatta editor Kumar Ketkar to be physically present before Dapoli court on April 16, 2012. The court ordered Dapoli Police Inspector to approach Kumar Ketkar to hand over summons for the second hearing on defamation suit filed by social activist NR Shigwan.

After thoroughly studying the evidences produced by lawyer of Shri Shigwan, regarding objectionable comments made by Ketkar against judiciary, the Court reached to the conclusion that there is substantial content in Ketkar’s articles which defames Indian Judiciary and the RSS.

Ketkar, in his defamatory article published in Marathi daily Loksatta on October 25, 2010 about the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Indian Judiciary, gives an appall by saying that ‘RSS people with the ‘innocent’ and ‘harmless’ face have occupied key posts in media, bureaucracy, educational institutions, in police department and even in judiciary. Ketkar commented in the article that everyone has watched how strong is the ‘network’ of RSS from media to judiciary in the consequences of the Ayodhya verdict.

If Ketkar can’t prove his allegations against Indian Judiciary, he might face stringent punishment in near future. The only way out for Kumar Ketkar is to apologise in public for his defamatory comments and to produce written apology to court, otherwise he would have to face legal complexity. Petitioners have claimed that this is first court case Kumar Ketkar is facing in his life for his baseless series of articles targeting Hindu organisations. It would be interesting to see how Ketkar tackles this legal difficulty.

(Newsbharati.com)

Memorandum submitted by BMS during pre-budget meeting

2012-01-16T17:30:00.000+05:30

BHARATIYA MAZDOOR SANGH

Dattopant Thengadi Bhawan, 27 Dindayal Upadhyaya Marg, New Delhi-110 002

Tel. : 011-23222654; Fax : 91-11-23212648; E-mail : bmsdtb@gmail.com

PRE BUDGET MEETING WITH HON’BLE FINANCE MINISTER,

GOVT OF INDIA

JANUARY 16,2012, NEW DELHI

Hon’ble Minister of Finance

Govt of India

New Delhi

Sub: Memorandum submitted by BMS during the pre Budget meeting

Respected Sir,

We thank you for inviting BMS for these pre budget consultations

The American President appealed the Americans to buy goods from American producers and protect the interests of USA. In the same tune BMS expects the budget 2012-13 to infuse the ‘swadeshi spirit’ and encourage the Indian buyer to buy Indian commodities.

We wish to focus your kind attention to the neglectful attitude shown by the Govt of India towards the labour problems during past few years. That has caused the BMS and other central trade unions to take to streets. Through various forms of agitations BMS and other central trade unions have been trying to invite Govt to act positively on the issues on the table. Having done mass rallies, squatting programs, mass processions and courting attests, now the unity of CTUs is heading for the show down in form of All India ‘Industrial Bundh, proposed to be held on 28^th Feb 2012.

BMS demands immediate meaningful dialogue on all relevant and pending labour issues.

We remind the Govt that as a consequence of the Meeting of CTUs with the Hon’ble Prime Minister in 2006 that a high power tripartite committee was constituted at the behest of Govt and the findings are lying on the PM’s table since 2008 and no decisions have been made on the issues so far.

Likewise ,the Tripartite consensus arrived on issues relating to the contract labour across the board are waiting for a ‘go’ from Prime Minister and matter is in limbo for about 2 years.

There was an amendment mooted to the Gratuity Act that the amount would be properly protected through insurance, but so far that has not been notified by the Govt. As a matter of relief the payment of Gratuity is free from Income Tax. But those workmen who have secured a better benefit are required to pay tax on surplus amount. BMS demands that this tax be done away with now up to 10 Lacs.

The last budget spelt out & provided for Regulatory Authority for Coal workers and was a welcome move. But nothing on this front has taken place barring the budgetary announcement.

On promise of 1% commission made by the Govt some poor self-help people have been earning their bread by selling Govt investing schemes like NSC, NSS etc. Now Govt has reduced the rate from 1% to half. This is breach of promise.BMS demands that this must be undone.

The yester year’s wage boards for the industries like Sugar, Paper, Engineering, Textile, Transport etc have not been constituted and there is no problem solving mechanism obtainable now. BMS demands immediate constitution.

The recommendations of ‘Majithia commission ‘for journalists and other have been duly notified but no Corporate is paying any heed to this.BMS demands immediate Govt action.

The promises made to the labour to bring in dis- investment only after consulting the trade unions and proceeds of the disinvestment to go for reinvesting in the productive activity are almost forgotten.

It was then promised that all the issues concerning the labour would be decided only after due consultations with the Labour. That too has been conveniently forgotten now.

In order to secure access to productive resources for the down trodden lot of the society, BMS is demanding surplus Govt land allocation to them since last many years but Govt has no mind to make the decision on this

The activities to generate the alternate renewable energy resources through the masses were thought to serve both the productive employment generation and meet fuel needs. The massive scale ‘oil seed’ tree plantations envisaged by the 10^th 5 year plan has been given total go by. The wavering policies don’t seem to serve any purpose.

There is no policy initiative from the Govt in the matter of ‘power alcohol’. A fair and compatible rate with the petroleum products only would balance the table. This will ensure fast revival of the ailing industry and would ensure productive employment in rural India. This will ensure better level playing field for the sugarcane growers and thereby encouraging the generation of employment in the agriculture

BMS is demanding the creation of productive jobs and not mere ‘jobs’. From this point of view a major concern is to make the schemes of MGNAREGA to contribute to productive assets creations. The important resource generated from the tax collection deserves a better and purposeful allocation while consuming it on the MGNAREGA. The commitment of the Govt to increase the days to 200 per year awaits the implementation. The Govt employee working on these schemes in the name of Gramsevak/Gramsathi/muster clerks etc are kept to rot on the contract with meager income. They need permanency with allied benefits. The creation of the infrastructure has been major emphasis in the current phase of development. But the work done is one time job. Unfortunately the method of creation of infrastructure is not debated. Rather machines working on the work we want more labour intensive technology to become operative where 70% resource allocation should go to man/mule power and remaining 30% for the machines with need based use.

The corporate sector is creating the inequalities between labour and the other factors of productions. Sharing the gains of the productivity and profitability between the labour and the capital has been the issue. The GOVT’S policy of discouraging the Trade Unions only is helping in creating the inequalities/ disparities. The interests of the consumer also need to be paid attention to by the Govt of this welfare State. From this point of view BMS is demanding since last many decades for some kind of mechanism to decide the share of the labour in the prosperity of industry / Nation.

BMS therefore demands that 20% of the net profit of the industry to go to the labour in the form of the equity of the Company and 20% to the consumer for reducing the prices of the product. BMS demands urgent amendment in the company Law to accommodate these changes. We demand 20% to go to shareholders and 40% to be ploughed back to the reserve capital. We demand the Budget 2012-13 to open this chapter.

BMS has been raising the issue of implementation of the labour laws for quite some time now. This requires a close working relationship of the States and Central Govt. As a responsible social partner the Labour is ready to play the role of responsibility to hilt by offering co operation in implementation of the labour laws across country.

BMS is on the records with a suggestion to form ‘Labour Panchayat’ ,comprising of five labour representatives each from top five Central Trade Unions unto district level to assist Govt to deal with issues of labour disputes and elimination/regulation of the illegal labour contract. On State level BMS demands formation of Labour Tripartite Advisory Bodies forthwith. This mechanism also could be used for Fast Track disposal of the labour problems.

BMS wants Govt to take initiative in formulating the policies on tripartism. The implementation has been the key issue of Labour field.

Besides the production and service sectors where there are no labour laws applicable like SEZs, we demand that they may be brought expressly under the present labour laws.

The much debated issues of monetary policies of the Govt and the inbuilt defect causing the nonstop inflation and the constant price rise has been the matter of concern for last few years. The high level price equilibrium even if achieved is not welcome. The policies of forward trading and the entry of big corporate money in the fields of housing, real estate, retail trading and in agriculture/agro products has been causing harassment to common working people. The policies envisaged in the 10^th five year plan to generate productive rural employment have been given a go bye are some such issues which BMS has raised last year as well.

Lifting the ban on recruitment, extending the social security by a suitable budgetary support, bringing Domestic workers, Asha workers and Vidya volunteers, guest teachers, shiksha mitra ,mid day meal workers, Anganwadi workers, Sales/Medical Representatives, etc on employment schedule, lifting the poverty limit of and accommodating the people in the precarious employments within the scope of the various Govt schemes- are some such issues which need urgent attention of the Govt and there is no better occasion that this budget of 2012-13.

By toeing the policies of appeasement of wealthy people the Govt is causing harm to the needy and poor working people and at the same time causing middle class people to pay more through their nose while the rich is set free .BMS wants Govt to change the target group and force the rich to share responsibility for the social transformation.

1% rich and powerful want to exert remote control over the system and get the rule to allow them to lead the life of extortionists and cause the 99% to pay social cost for the their extravagant consumerism. This will have to be changed. The proposed restructuring of the taxation policy is only rich friendly. BMS demands that the erring corporate and tax evaders be handled sternly.

On the other hand the Bank deposit rates are touching 11%pa interest returns due to inflation but the rate on EPF has been unjustly capped down and investors of the EPF scheme are held much below the market rates. BMS reiterates the demand of 12.50%pa rate for EPF.

Likewise BMS demands a minimum indexed pension of Rs3000/-pm.

Due to unprecedented price rise in past few years the DA being paid to the Central/State Govt Employees and those of PSUs has crossed 50% mark. Now therefore Govt is bound by conventions and practices to revise the allowances by merging the DA with Basic. BMS demands that this demand be settled in the Budget 2012-13.

This fast fleeting upward price rise has eroded the net real worth of rupee and so the inflated income needs proportionate relief in the income tax. BMS therefore demands that the income tax relaxation limit be scaled up to the 5lac yearly income.

The consistent fall of rupee in the global market and downslide of dollar both are ringing alarm and hint at the failure of the Reserve Bank to monitor the money matter and function as a regulator, simultaneously.. BMS demands that RBI be relieved from duties as regulator and an independent mechanism of regulation be devised.

It has been time and again discussed that the real job creation is done by the SMEs and Govt concessions, packages; relaxations go into the kitty of the mighty and powerful. BMS strongly opposes any such efforts to save private operators by extending the packages.

Attempt of the Govt to restructure the insurance sector in general and disinvest LIC is not welcome move. The apathy of the Govt in sorting out the labour issues in Nationalised Banks is an act of neglect. Absence of National Rural Bank and Apex Co-opt Bank has caused a great deal of hindrance. The independent Co-op Commission founded in 2004 has no powers nor has been commissioned. Despite that there has been big rise in the deposit liked insurance premium for the bank deposits the reimbursement is restricted and in the event of calamity the depositor is big loser. The ‘Gramin Banks’ [RRB] have not yet extended the pension to the Employees ,despite Govt direction to implement Award and bring parity with Nationalised Banks.

The provisions of minimum wages made out till this date are quite inadequate and need immediate revision. The effort to jack up the table to bring into play the notions of fair wage and living wage envisaged in the Constitution of India have remained only on papers . Those who draw fair wages are without protection of Trade Unions, thanks to the policies of Govt.

In order to quell the rising sentiment against corruption, recently ‘Lokpal’ is in the debate. However the Govt/semi Govt/PSU Employees are being made subject of this new set of rules. They are already governed by the Article 311 of Constitution and are also governed by their service conditions and CVC as well. BMS demands that they be made subject to only one set of rules. This has created a condition of confrontation.

Without bothering about the risk of repetition we reiterate that BMS stands for unity of Trade Unions and stands for grand front of labour to mend the ways and concurs with the common demands the trade unions across India. But at the same time has faith in dialogue. Hence BMS demands a thorough dialogue on the highest level of Govt on policies and practices.

We again reiterate that the situation of confrontation and deadlock must have to be averted.

Demanding immediate relief to the Labour through the Budget 2012-13

We remain,

Yours Sincerely,

BAIJNATH RAI

General Secretary

BMS

NEW DELHI 16.01.12.

===============================================================

Nagarvasis should help the development of Vanvasi areas—Mohan Bhagwat

2012-01-09T14:40:00.000+05:30

Kalyan Ashram’s sixth national Vanvasi

sports meet in Pune

By Hanuman Narayan

"It is necessary for the proper development of the country that the foundation is strong and a strong foundation can be laid only with the joint efforts of both the nagarvasis (urban dwellers) and the Vanvasis,” said RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat while inaugurating the sixth national Vanvasi Sports Meet of Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram at SP College Grounds in Pune on December 29.

Kalyan Ashram national president Shri Jagdevram Oraon, vice president Shri Jaleshwar Brahm, general secretary Shri Gunwant Singh Kothari, joint general secretary Shri Kripa Prasad Singh, general secretary of Bharatiya Kho Kho Sangathan Shri Suresh Sharma, state president of Kalyan Ashram Shri Lakshman Tople and chairman of the reception committee Shri Lalit Jain were also present at the inaugural function.

Shri Bhagwat appealed to the city dwellers to come forward for the uplift of Vanvasi areas. “There are ample facilities and modern infrastructure in urban areas, but we lack Bharatiyata (Indianness) there, which one can find in abundance in Vanvasi areas, no matter there is acute shortage of modern development or infrastructure there. It is high time that we take the modern civic amenities like roads, electricity, water supply, educational and health services to rural and Vanvasi areas and in return learn Indianness from the Vanvasis,” he said.

He said there is no Vanvasi in Haryana, but the people of the state have formed district and town committees to collect assistance in kind or cash for the Vanvasis. “Vanvasis have always dedicated their might for the nation. It is now our turn to look after their needs,” he said adding that the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram is rendering yeomen services to ensure all round development in Vanvasis areas.

Shri Bhagwat further said the Vanvasis are strong and powerful, but they are being targeted from many sides. “Some foreign agencies with vested interest are active in Vanvasi areas to disturb their lifestyle, culture and healthy traditions. But the Kalyan Ashram is playing the role of Jambavant who invoked the inherent strength of Hanuman to fly over to Lanka in search of mother Sita. Like Hanuman, the Vanvasis have forgotten their strength. It is the Kalyan Ashram which is reminding them of their strength. This sports Meet will certainly help the organisation to achieve its goal,” Shri Bhagwat added.

Kalyan Ashram president Shri Jagdevram Oraon declared the Sports meet opened. Major (retd) SN Mathur hoisted the flag while Shri Lalit Jain welcomed the guests. Earlier, thousands of Vanvasis from Maharashtra reached the Grounds in a procession. Beautiful cultural programmes and march past by Vanvasis and the participating sportspersons were applauded by one and all.

The Sports meet lasted for four days i.e. from December 29, 2011 to January 1, 2012. Prominent sports events in which the participants tried their luck were Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, football, race, archery, discuss throw and long jump. Vanvasi boys and girls from all states (except Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab) reached Pune with enthusiasm. The biggest thing which impressed all at the Grounds was the feeling of unity and brotherhood. They might have competed in the courts, but showed full love and affection in the residential rooms or while having meals. When asked some of the participants said it was for the first time that they travelled such a long distance out of their remote villages. They thanked the Kalyan ashram for giving a chance to see the land of the country.

A total of 2032 boys and girls participated in different sports activities. It was for the first time that the teams from Delhi and Goa also attended the national sports meet. A total of 267 medals including 107 gold, 108 silver and 52 bronze medals were won by the participants. With 16 gold, 5 silver and 8 bronze North Bengal won the highest 29 medals. After that Chhattisgarh won 25, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh (West) 24 each, Jharkhand 22, Arunachal Pradesh 17, Goa 15, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Bharat 14 each, Jashpur and Odisha 11 each, Delhi 9, Andhra Pradesh (East) 8, South Bengal, Uttar Pradesh (East) and Assam 7 each, Karnataka and Tripura 6 each, Kerala 4, Rajasthan and Vidarbha 2 each and Bihar, Manipur and Uttarakhand 1 each.

Prior to the national meet, sports competitions were organised at block, district and state levels during the last one year. A total of 1,25,000 Vanvasi sportspersons participated in those events. The number of participants at state level tournaments was 10,000. In Arunachal Pradesh itself, 100 competitions were held at all levels.

Speaking at the valedictory function, Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha Shri Karia Munda appreciated the efforts and yeomen services of the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram. Another important event that won the heart of the participants was the matrihast bhojan. More than 2500 people from over 1000 families gathered in the Grounds on December 30, with prepared food to dine with the participants.

vsk chennai sandesh

2012-01-03T14:31:00.004+05:30

Tamilnadu Swayamsevaks matched speed of the ‘Thane’ storm in relief work

Gusty winds and torrential rains of Cyclone ‘Thane’ hit the coastal areas of Chennai, Cuddalore and Puducherry (UT). Several trees, street lamp posts and electric poles were uprooted causing extensive damage to the road and electrical network. The Prathamic Shiksha Varga of Puducherry Vibhag was concluded (on Saturday, December 30, 2011) one day in advance in order to carry out the relief work. Initially, RSS volunteers did field work to assess the extent of damage. Since there was complete breakdown of power supply throughout the two districts of Cuddalore and Pondy, it was ascertained that there is an urgent requirement of candles, mosquito coils, match boxes, and also drinking water.

Rescue services faced difficulty in reaching the affected areas due to damaged roads. Swayamsevaks cleared the uprooted trees and electric poles which helped the line man to attend and restore electricity immediately in some parts of Puducherry town. Mosquito coil, match boxes, candles, bread packets, water packets were distributed to 600 houses at five places of Puducherry town and to 1000 houses of the villages surrounding Villiyanur, Thirukannur, Kalapattu Panchayats of Puducherry.

In Cuddalore district, 3 kgs of rice were distributed along with candles, match boxes, mosquito coils etc. to 1200 houses of Vandipalayam and Pudupallayam villages. Councillor joined the RSS volunteers in the relief work inspite of a death of his Uncle. This act by the Councillor received appreciation from the local people. Another Ward Councillor who accompanied the swayamsevaks during relief distribution made it a point to inform the beneficiaries as follows: “These relief materials are from Swayamsevaks. Not from any other agency”. Door to door distributions of essential items were highly appreciated. 50 Swayamsevaks participated in the relief work organized under the Pondy Sanghachalak Sri Selvaraj and Secretarty Sri Guru Subramanian. Further relief work is under progress.

In North Chennai, food packets were distributed to 5 most affected fishing hamlets for 100 persons in each hamlet for two days. The Swayamsevaks who undertook this quick relief work were in fact undergoing training in a seven day camp of RSS. They attached greater importance to serve the needy and therefore were at the doors of the storm hit.

Consumers’ day observed by Grahakh Panchayat

The celebration of National Consumer Day on December 24, 2011 at Chennai by ABGP revealed that ABGP is gaining momentum in bringing relief to consumers. This was gathered from the talks made by speakers at the function. Sri G Krishnan, Divisional Engineer, BSNL presided over the function and distributed the prizes for the first three winners of elocution competition. Prominent among the participants were Sri M N Sundar, Co-ordinator, ABGP, Sri Vivekanandan, Advocate of Madras High Court, Sri Raveendran, Correspondent of Vivekananda Vidyalaya, Chrompet, Smt Prema Mahadevan, Principal of Vivekananda Vidyalaya, Chromepet. They highlighted on the legal aspect of Consumers’ Act, various measures that can be taken through forums etc., importance of consumer awareness, achievements of ABGP. Various achievements of ABGP and important Consumer Court Judgements were displayed. Sri Venkatraman, ABGP delivered the vote of thanks to the public.

vsk chennai sandesh

2011-12-31T16:09:00.001+05:30

Ayyappa devotees from Andhra find highly motivated swayamsevaks in Salem

Recently, the volunteers of Ayyappa Sewa Samajam was on the relief work of deceased persons when a van carrying Ayyappa devotees from Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh. The van met with an accident when the van collided with a bus at Thoppur, near Salem, Tamilnadu killing seven pilgrims in the early hours of the day. Two persons who were survived were admitted in the hospital. The DSP Muthu Karruppan and SP Muthusamy along with volunteers, tried to trace the whereabouts of the deceased persons. The volunteers of Ayyappa Sewa Samajam suggested that the addresses and details can be traced through mail for verification, so that the two persons admitted in the hospital were not disturbed. They took photo of the departed persons, called the relatives over phone, and took their mail id. They sent the photos for verification through mail. A police official was kind enough to offer as his contribution, a part of the expense. The entire expenses for post-mortem, ambulance etc. were met by the volunteers. The Salem unit of Ayyappa Seva Sangam helped in arranging ambulances to send the bodies to the natives to Guntur. To cap it all, when the ambulance entered the native village carrying the dead bodies after post-mortem, it is reported that around 15000 villagers were waiting. The anxiety of the villagers resulted in a glass pane of the ambulance getting broken. The driver was so impressed by the size of the mourning crowd that he did not press for the re-imbursement of the broken window.

It is to be remembered that High Court of Kerala had recommended the services of the Samajam for helping Ayyappa devotees during the pilgrimage. It is remarkable that the Samajam came into being as a result of extensive field study of the pilgrim route to Sabarimala by Swayamsevaks.

Conniving with Cola, Government delays payment of Compensation

2011-12-28T15:14:00.001+05:30

Organiser of Swadeshi Jagran Manch, South India Sri K V Biju, who is also the Convenor of the Plachimada struggle solidarity committee and 17 others have began their fast on 20, December, 2011 evening in Viyur jail protesting against the apathy of the State and Central Governments in getting the compensation of Rs. 216.26 crores from the multinational giant Coca Cola to the victims.

On 16th December, around 300 people headed by the Plachimada Anti-Coca Cola Agitation Committee and Plachimada Struggle Solidarity Committee "occupied" the premises of Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages Company in Plachimada demanding that early steps should be taken to pay the compensation to the victims. 22 activists including Sri K V Biju were arrested. When produced, the Magistrate ordered their release on furnishing personal bond but the activists refused to take bail condemning the delaying and subverting tactics of the Governments in favour of Coca Cola.

They all were sent to Chittur Sub-jail for a remand period of 15 days. On 19^th when they declared observance of indefinite fast in the jail, the authorities transferred them to Viyur central prison. The fast commenced there on 20^th evening. Former Minister Sri V.M.Sudheeran visited the jail on 22^nd and discussed the issue with the agitators but, no agreement was reached.

On the second day of the fast, Sri V.M.Sudheeran discussed the issue with the Ministers and Chief Minister Sri Omen Chandy. As a result, the Water Resources Minister Sri P.J.Joseph sent a fax message to the jail assuring the agitators that Plachimada tribunal would be formed as early as possible. On the assurance, the agitators ended the fasting at 5 pm.

The Struggle Solidarity Committee arranged protest programs in 13 district capitals. On 17^th evening, SJM workers protested in Palakkad and Trivandrum districts. SJM State Co-convenor Sri M Gopal led the protest march in Trivandrum. On the next day, in 5 districts, Struggle Solidarity Committee started fasting. In Ernakulam, former NEC member Sri P Krishnadas and in Palakkad and Thrissur BMS district leaders joined the fast. Many other eminent social activists took part in the fast in different places.

Leading personalities like former Minister Sri N K Premachandran , Sri K P Rajendran , AIYF All India Secretary, State Secretary Sri P K Rajan, BMS State Secretary Sri K Radhakrishnan, state Vice President Sri Sankaranarayanan and Sri M Gangadharan and Rama. Nambi Narayanan, State Organising Secretary, SJM, TN visited the jail.

The local Court has released the activists unconditionally on 24th December, 2011. After their release, a huge reception was arranged in Thrissur Town where many people participated.

But the prolonged battle against the Cola has a decade old history that needs a vivid account.

Plachimada, a predominantly Adivasi village in Perumatty Gram Panchayat in Palakkad District, Kerala, had over the last one decade, become synonymous with the fight of the common people against multinational corporate's over-exploitation of natural resources.

Plachimada is an important agricultural region of the Western Ghats and being in a rain shadow and drought prone area, it requires large quantities of ground water for irrigation. The villagers are predominantly agricultural labourers. The Coca Cola Bottling Plant set up in March, 2000 began drawing over five-lakh litres of ground water on its premises each day.

The people of Plachimada began to experience severe adversities within six months after the establishment of Coca Cola plant. The availability of ground water diminished considerably. Even the available water in the wells and rivers was contaminated after getting mixed with the toxic waste dumped from the factory which contained metals like cadmium, lead, nickel and chromium. The pollution came from the sludge, Coca Cola dumped in the area surrounding its plant, which the BBC had tested and declared to have a high content of cadmium and nickel. The Central Pollution Control Board had found the presence of lethal cadmium as high as 333.8 mg/kg, more than six times the permissible limit. It was heavily dumped into the agricultural fields making the poor and innocent farmers of the place believe that the sludge is of high quality manure. The disposal of the sludge also affected the general health of the people causing them skin ailments, breathing problems and other debilities.

The functioning of the plant caused environmental and soil degradation, water contamination due to over-extraction of ground water and leading to scarcity of drinking water, and hence decline in agriculture. As consequences, public health deteriorated and the agricultural economy was shattered. The plant operations thus caused gross violation of the villagers' human rights to life, livelihood and a pollution-free environment.

The local people started agitating and protesting against the Company within a year. Several non-governmental organizations and other sections of the mainstream society joined them. Sensing the mood of the people, the Perumatty Panchayat rescinded the license granted to the Company, on August 7th, 2003, and the Plant in the 40 acres of land was shut down. The matter is pending adjudication before the Supreme Court as the State has challenged the Kerala High Court's order quashing the cancellation of license.

However, despite the plant closure, the company was not ready to give compensation to the victims and the struggle was continued demanding compensation. So, the Kerala Government constituted a 14-member High Power Committee in May 2009 to be chaired by its Agriculture Production Commissioner to investigate whether the functioning of Coca Cola has resulted in the alleged violations, and if so, the cost of the damage. The Committee comprised of directors of various departments like agriculture, animal husbandry and groundwater, deans of Kerala Agricultural University, the representative of Kerala State Pollution Control Board, an environmental expert, and a retired judge.

The panel held eight meetings and conducted a public hearing at Perumatty Panchayat office which was attended by the affected people, voluntary workers, concerned citizens, and the panchayat representatives. It evaluated all the available reports on Plachimada besides visiting the village and also organizing two panel discussions with experts. The findings of the Committee are :

• The Coca Cola company caused environmental degradation through over-extraction of groundwater and irresponsible disposal of sludge. The water sources of the area have been affected and the water scarcity has become more acute.
• The company misguided the farmers by passing off the sludge as manure and is responsible for soil degradation, water contamination, and the consequent agricultural losses.
• There has been a steady decline in the agriculture production in the area and the production of milk, meat, and eggs has declined.
• Metals like cadmium, lead, and chromium have been detected in the sludge. Skin ailments, breathing problems, and other debilities among the locals have been on the rise.
• Low birth-weight in newborns has also been noticed.
• Women have to fetch drinking water from far-off places and this has deprived them of their wages.
• Children have dropped out of schools on account of the social, health, and economic factors caused by the pollution.
• The gram panchayat has been providing drinking water through tankers ever since the wells and water bodies were rendered useless by the pollution.
• The Coca Cola company is guilty under several laws in force.

The Committee has assessed the damages caused to be Rs. 216.26 crores, the break-up details of which are as follows :

Agricultural losses:                                Rs. 84. 16 crores
Health damages:                                   Rs. 30. 00 crores
The cost of providing water:                  Rs. 20.00 crores
Wage losses and opportunity cost:        Rs. 20.00 crores
The cost of polluting resources:             Rs. 62.10 crores
Total:                                                  Rs. 216.26 crores

Even though there are sufficient provisions under the existing laws to claim compensation from the company under the 'polluter pays principle', the panel felt it desirable to set up a dedicated institution to adjudicate the individual claims. It said that this body could either be a tribunal under Article 323 B of the Constitution of India to be legislated by the state legislature, or an authority under section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to be created by the central government. The tribunal/authority can then assess the individual claims and the polluter company made to pay it.

Based on the recommendation of the High Power Committee, the Kerala State Assembly, with the support of all the 140 MLAs, unanimously passed the 'Plachimada Coca-Cola Victims' Relief and Compensation Claims Special Tribunal Bill, 2011' on 24 February 2011.

As the High Power Committee had found that the Coca Cola company also violated the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; the Factories Act, 1948; Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989; the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989; the Indian Penal Code; the Land Utilization Order, 1967; the Kerala Groundwater (Control and Regulation) Act, 2002; and the Indian Easement Act, 1882, the State Government, in its wisdom, thought it fit to send the bill for Presidential assent.

The Kerala Governor had forwarded the bill for Presidential assent on March 30, 2011 and it had reached the Union Home Ministry on April 4. The Ministry had, in turn, referred it to the Ministries of Law, Agriculture, Environment and Forests and Water for comments on April 18. As per the Cabinet guidelines for disposal of State Legislative Assembly matters, the Bill would be processed without waiting for further comments if the concerned Ministry failed to submit their observations within six weeks. Within six weeks, the Home Ministry, which was coordinating the Bill at the Centre, received comments only from the Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Law and Justice and Ministry of Agriculture. The Home Ministry, headed by Mr. P. Chidambaram, instead of forwarding the Bill to the President, took cognizance of the legal opinion sent by the Coca Cola Company and sent the Bill back to the Kerala seeking explanation as reported by Mr. P K Biju, MP from Kerala at the Lok Sabha in December 2011.

Thus even after the passage of the bill in February 2011, the Central Government has slept over it for more than 9 months and sent it back to the State Government raising queries. This is a clear indication that the Central Government favours the multinational company at the cost of the poor people, denying them the due compensation for the losses suffered. The protest of the Agitation Committee is therefore significant in this context and if the people rise against the apathetic attitude again, squarely the blame lies with the Central Government.

Report by Rama. Nambi Narayanan,

State Organising Secretary, SJM, Tamil Nadu

vsk chennai sandesh

2011-12-26T18:56:00.001+05:30

MUTHU JI OF OMALUR

Bharadwaj, a youth from Kanchipuram, Tamilnadu went to Japan in the 10th century (736 AD). To the Japanese he was ‘Baramon’. He taught them Buddhism, Ramayana, Sanskrit, Dharma, Hindu Philosophy and gave them culture, art and music. Today everything with which the Japanese rightly feel proud of as their ancient heritage and culture was given to them by this monk. The Japanese have three scripts - one of them based on Tamil and Sanskrit. That was given by “Baramon Bharadwaj”.

A Japanese delegate Shri Shuzo Matsunoga participated in the Fifth World Tamil Conference held at Thanjavur in 1981 (30 years ago). He presented a paper on ‘Thirukural & Thiruvalluvar in the eyes of Japan’. Muthu, now 91years young, of Omalur off Salem, Tamilnadu came in contact with Sri Shuzo Matsunoga after the Conference. They discussed at length the Tamil culture and literature. Shuzo translated the English version of G U Pope’s Thirukuraal (aphorisms) as guided by Muthu Ji. Shuzo also translated various books of Subramania Bharathi (Kuil Paatu), Naaladiar, Vallalarr poems, Manimegalai and Silapathigaram into Japanese language. Shuzo not only translated the literature but also the culture/rituals of tamils from birth to death, which was greatly relished by the Japanese. Shuzo also bagged a prize for translation of tamil work in 1985 organized by University of Tanjore who also authors a book “My India as seen through letters”.

Shri Ravikumar and Shri Muthu

Postal Stamp of Muthu

Now, the Government of Japan has included this Thirukural as a lesson in the text book at college level. To cap it all, when the Japanese Government proposed to release a postal stamp to honour Shuzo Matsunoga for his works, he humbly refused and said, “To translate this tamil literature into Japanese language, Muthu from Salem has helped me. So the credit goes to him”. On his recommendation the Japanese Government released a postal stamp on Muthu (Salem) for 80 Yen (Rs.27/-) in 2007. Muthu, a humble and noble person, did nothing for selfish end. It was all for the tamil literature. He communicated all this over to his friend in Japan only through 200 letters, while, in the Facebook age, individuals transmit info electronically.

Shri Ravikumar of Vishwa Vibhag during his tour of Tamilnadu, met Muthu Ji. He was received well. Muthu ji lauded RSS for its social service and patriotic fervor.

PASUPATHI OF SALEM

Ravikumar of Vishwa Vibhag met Pasupathi, a wall writer of Salem Tamilnadu who inspires people by writing telling quotes on the walls of Salem City. His father, a freedom fighter inspired him to do something good to the society and to the nation. On his motivation, Pasupathi spends three hours weekly (on Thursday) to write good quotations at 20 places which will be displayed for a week. He has been continuously doing this service silently for about 20 years. His quotations have inspired many people. Recently, when his quotations were uploaded in the Face Book, (www.facebook.com/mmmcorner) Dr. Raghunathan, Brimingham, UK was inspired and compiled the quotations as a book on the occasion of his sons' wedding. Thus the good word spreads.

Shri Ravikumar and Shri Pasupathi

No Reservations in Lokpal Please! Let one Act be for All Indians – Says Ram Madhav

2011-12-26T13:20:00.001+05:30

It is clear now. Nobody wants the Lokpal Bill to be passed in Parliament. The ruling party has always betrayed unease at the prospect of a strong Lokpal for reasons not difficult to fathom. The Opposition, although seemed committed to the idea of an institutional mechanism to combat institutionalised corruption, is apprehensive of the motives of the Government. Some stake holders have problems with the haste in passing it – wanting it to be passed in just three days; others have problems with certain sleight of hand tactics of the ruling party like the introduction of religion-based reservations through backdoor.

Team Anna meanwhile has its own concerns, the primary one being their belief in the finality of their own wisdom which the Government draft wishes to negate. Passage of the Bill using the characteristic brute power by the Government may do double damage – it will take the wind out of the issue while at the same time render the entire 8-month old movement redundant.

The Left parties have a point when they question the tearing haste with which the Bill is sought to be passed. Such an important legislation should have been discussed sufficiently before it is passed. But the Government has no time. Anna's threat of another fast and another nationwide movement looms over the Government. It can't risk this at a time when it is heading for crucial elections in the coming months. However, Gurudas Dasgupta's comment that 'the Government is scared of an ex-bureaucrat, an ex-cop and someone who pretends to be the modern-day Mahatma' is quite uncharitable. He should instead have questioned the motives of the Government for bringing this Bill before the House at the fag end of the Winter Session. There can't be any justification for this delay. This is the simple and age-old technique of procrastination that all governments follow with legislations that they don't really want to pass.

That the leaders of the Government were never interested in this Bill became obvious on several occasions in the last few months. Their handling of anti-corruption movements, be it led by Anna or Ramdeo, clearly betrayed their utter antipathy to the idea of Lokpal. It got reinforced by their farcical negotiations with Team Anna. Team Anna had to finally walk out of the negotiation room realising that the Government is just not interested. Naturally for the Government all that is needed is an excuse to not pass the Bill. The way it was drafted and the craftiness with which the irrelevant issue of Minority reservations got tagged to it bares the real intentions of the Government. Senior and respected Minister Pranab Mukharjee tried a trick in the Parliament when he insisted that the question of Minority reservations as part of Lokpal Bill is a question of Legislative competence of the House. This is an utterly fraudulent argument. Firstly, the Lokpal is not an institution for empowerment. It is an institution for eradicating corruption.

What we needed were provisions to pick up people with enough profile to tackle corruption irrespective of caste, creed, language, sex or religion. All these considerations are necessary only when we promulgate laws for affirmative action. In that sense Pranabda's argument of Legislative competence is misleading. Secondly it is a wise trap in which it appeared that even the Opposition had initially walked into. The line of argument of some Members of the Opposition that the courts will reject such legislation indicates this amply. What needs to be made clear is that the question is not whether the courts will uphold the provision or not; the question is whether the Constitution permits such a legislation to be passed. In that sense the Legislature is not competent to promulgate or pass any Law that goes against the Constitution. Reservations based on religion have no sanction in our Constitution. Enough discussion took place on this subject in the Constituent Assembly and a decision was taken to extend reservations only to the Scheduled Castes and Tribes. The courts too have reminded this aspect to the governments several times before. The courts have additionally stipulated that reservations shouldn't exceed 49% in any given situation. Yet for the Government to propose that there will be a 50% reservation for SC, ST, OBC, women and minorities in Lokpal appointments is sheeraudacity. As opined rightly by the BJP, this is an attempt to bring in minority reservations by the back door. This unconstitutional act must be resisted.

Unabashed Minorityism has taken a heavy toll on our national unity and integrity. It can't be allowed to continue for narrow political gains. It doesn't help the minorities either. They better realise it. Some parties, especially the Congress, have the habit of flaunting this Minority card every time they are in trouble or they need some electoral dividends. Before the previous round of State elections they raised the false bogey of Ranganath Mishra Commission report and made promises to the minorities. Elections were over and everybody forgot about it. Just before the last General Election they again raised the issue of Sachar Committee Report. Lot of din followed. Elections were over and the Government forgot about it. Now since the ruling party is in trouble they started this cacophony about minority reservations again.

Even the proposed Communal and Targeted Violence Bill is a desperate act to mislead the gullible sections of the minority community. Let the members of those communities realise this game of the Congress party and its allies. Let the Government also be clear that the country won't tolerate such politics anymore. The larger question to be asked at least now is that can't we think of Indians even once to pass a legislation like Lokpal which wants to tackle the humongous problem of corruption that affects every citizen of our country irrespective of whether he is a Hindu or a Muslim or a Christian; or whether he is a Brahmin or a Thakur or a Baniya or a Harijan? If we make caste, religion or sex a criterion for selection in Lokpal committee we are falsifying the very constitution of it and creating divisions at the very inception level itself. How can then the committee be expected to be impartial? The very logic of selection through sectional representation will lead to protection of sectional interests. And that will be the nemesis of the Lokpal.

(Views expressed here are Personal views of Ram Madhav)
--

VHP will oppose Backdoor Entry of Muslim Reservations

2011-12-23T12:41:00.001+05:30

Dr Pravin Togadia, International Working President, VHP

VHP will oppose Backdoor Entry of Muslim Reservations

Through Lokpal or any other way

New Delhi, December 22, 2011

Manipulating public sentiments about Lokpal Bill, Govt of India & a few political parties are trying to push Muslim Reservations in the name of Minorities reservations in Lokpal Committee. It is a surreptitious way to cheat the people of Bharat into accepting Muslim Reservations. Constitution does not allow religion-based reservations. Govt & a few parties' efforts to woo Muslims & capture their vote bank through such anti-constitutional move for various elections is strongly opposed by VHP as it will permanently hurt Hindus.

Muslims produce unlimited children on the name of their religion & demand reservations based on that excess percentage, it is mockery of democracy. It is using Bharat's democracy to kill Bharat's democracy. Sachhar Committee claims they are backward. It itself is a blatant lie & even if in some parts they may be so, it is thanks to their own unlimited children whose burden now they are trying to put on majority & govt is forcing majority to bear costs of excess children of Muslims.

Muslim Reservation's backdoor entry in the name of Lokpal Bill is the dirtiest conspiracy to create precedence for further amend the constitution for religion-based reservations. Giving any percentage to Muslims & Christians even from OBC / Sc/ ST / NT is aimed at snatching education, jobs, bank loans & therefore life of majority Hindu youth & families.

Now using Lokpal or elections, anyone tries to destroy the very fabric of Bharat & distort democracy by giving religion based reservations any which way or any name, then VHP appeals to Bharat to stand united irrespective of castes against it democratically & come forward for a strong peaceful agitation. This is only way for survival for Hindus now.

VHP will announce its agitation plans immediately if any move of Muslim or Christian reservations is done. VHP appeals to all parties & the Govt to immediately withdraw any such proposals either from Lokpal bill or in any other form, failing which the majority Aam Aadmi will take to streets democratically & peacefully.

Rashtriya Muslim Manch Programme at Delhi

2011-12-20T13:00:00.000+05:30

From Virag Pachpore in New Delhi

“Scrap Article 370, ensure employment to Kashmiri youths, retrieve areas forcefully occupied by Pakistan and China in Kashmir”. These are not the demands voiced by some hardcore Hindu organization or leaders. These demands were raised publically and in unison by the Muslims of India Jammu and Kashmir included on Sunday, December 18, 2011 at Jantar-Mantar in New Delhi.

The occasion was culmination of “Hum Hindustani-Kashmir Hindustan Ka”, a unique campaign launched some three months ago by Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), an organization of nationalist Muslims of India. During the three-month campaign the MRM activists conducted prayers in mosques, convened seminars and meetings all over the country. The campaign concluded at New Delhi on December 18 in which nearly 10,000 Muslims drawn from 23 states and 175 districts of India participated braving the chilling cold and dense fog to raise these demands.

They came from all directions carrying the national tricolors and placards displaying their demands to scrap Article 370, take back the areas of PoK and CoK and ensure peace and progress of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Initiating the discussion Mohd Farooq from Srinagar categorically stated that the Article 370 was the main problem of Jammu and Kashmir. This article should be removed. Even the common people were in favor of its removal, he stated. He also blamed Sheikh Abdulla and Pt. Nehru for the problems of Kashmir.

Mushtaq Ahmed Pir from Baramulla expressed that politics would not solve the problems of the people of Kashmir neither the problems would be redressed by raising the tricolor in Lal Chowk. A different approach needed to resolve and redress the issues blocking progress of the state.

Bashir Ahmed, who started his speech with ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ stated demanded voting right for the refugees residing in Kashmir for the past six decades. Engineer Gulam Ali, who came from Bakkarwal community, blamed Sheikh Abdullah and Pt. Nehru for the present state of affairs in J & K. He said that the political leaders conspired against the Muslims of Jammu and heaped injustices against them.

Demanding scrapping of Article 370, he added that this article helped only a handful of political leaders in the state. It has not done any good to the common masses, he added. Gulam Ali also demanded action on two resolutions adopted by the Parliament with regard to taking back the Indian territories forcefully occupied by Pakistan and China.

Halima, a sister from Kashmir called for steps to improve the economic condition of the common people in the state. Nazir Mir, who lost three of his brothers in terrorist violence said that political parties had been playing with the sentiments of the people. Denouncing the demand for ‘azadi’ Mir asked “who want ‘azadi’ when we are alresdy ‘azad’? He said that we were associated with the Muslim Rashtriya Manch and would remain so.

Mufti maulana Abdus Saami voiced similar sentiments regarding Article 370. He said that this constitutional provision was solely responsible the problems of the state. Stalwarts like Maulana Hasrat Mohani, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai had opposed the inclusion of Article 370. But Pt Nehru insisted on its inclusion and in the following years political parties were using this provision for playing their political game. He praised the MRM for raising the issues related to border security for the first time. He assured that the Muslims in India would associated with the MRM and work under the guidance from Sri Indresh Kumar.

President of Jamat-e-Hind said that this program was organized to insure progress of the nation. The situation in our border regions was serious even after sixty years of independence. The MRM was the first Muslim organization to raise the issue of border security.

Abbas Ali Bohra from Bangalore said that Muslims in south India were in solidarity with the nationalist Muslims of J & K. He urged the Muslims to unite under the banner of the MRM and give a befitting reply to those anti-national forces active in the Kashmir Valley. Stressing the need to erase the terrorist tag to Muslims, he said that we must rise in unison as ‘Hindustani’ as we did in the pre-independence days.

Dr Salim Raj, Chairman of Haj Commmittee, Chhattisgarh said that Muslims were always patriotic in nature. He blamed the Congress for defaming the Muslims. Tanveer Ahmed, President of BJP Minority Morcha reminded the people the history of Kashmir problem. He said that the accession of Kashmir with India was ‘full and final’ when the Maharaja Hari Singh signed the “Instrument of Accession” on 26th October 1947. The problem of Kashmir was created by Pt Nehru when he declared one-sided ceasefire and took the issue to the UN.

Quoting Rafi Ahmed Kidwai he said that Pt Nehru and his Congress were responsible for distorting the culture of Kashmir. He demanded implementation on Parliament resolutions.

Imran Ismail, Corporator from New Delhi It was Indresh Kumar, who stepped forward for helping the widows of Kashmir on whose appeal he took 724 sewing machines to Kashmir. Similarly during the earth quake, again it was Indresh Kuar who took initiative to organize help to Kashmiri victims. Not a single Muslims leader came forward to help the Muslims in Kashmir, Ismail said raising questions over attempts to bracket Indresh Kumar in terrorist activities. He blamed the political leaders for misleading Muslims regarding RSS and Hindu organizations and its leaders like Indresh Kumar.

These parties and leaders have created an atmosphere of doubt about the Muslims also, he said and added that this needed to be removed once again.

Dr J K Jain of BJP said that the demand for autonomy for Kashmir was based on wrong premises. The Congress and other parties were trying to divide the society by spreading falsehood and misbelieve against each other. He said that the Muslims of India were equally patriotic as their Hindu counterparts. He , however denounced terrorism in the name of religion and asked the Muslims as to whom they would accept as their leader Osama bin-Laden or the Prophet of Islam?

Indresh Kumar, Patron of the Manch, who could not make it to the program as his train was running behind the schedule, addressed the gathering on mobile phone. He said that MRM was a movement to rebuild a new India of peace, brotherhood and mutual love and understanding.

He blamed the government for playing dangerous game by blaming innocent Muslims and patriotic Hindus by falsely implicating them in terrorist activities in the country.

Indresh Kumar said the anti-India elements and political parties were trying to mislead people in Kashmir. He also demanded scrapping of Article 370 which drove a wedge between people of the same land. This Article spread hatred and divided people. He said that Maulana Hasrat Mohani had opposed this Article by presenting a nationalist view point. The MRM would carry forward this view to generate national and patriotic fervor in the country.

Referring to the presence of large number of Muslims from various parts of the country Indresh Kumar expressed confidence that this movement would usher in a new era of brotherhood, peace, love and mutual understanding among the people of this country.

vsk chennai sandesh

2011-12-15T15:38:00.000+05:30

A Shaka remembers patriot Bharathi

Mahakavi Bharathiyar, a great patriot, iconoclastic reformer lived in Thiruvallikeni, Chennai. Bharathiyar’s (revolutionist) jayanthi was celebrated as Vishesha Shanghik of Thiruvallikkeni Bhag, South Chennai on 11.12.2011. 74 tharunas, 9 Thaimargal, 1 Bala and 3 Sisus participated in the Vishesha Sanghik. Sri RBVS Manianji, State Vice President of VHP addressed on "Hindukkalukku Mahakavi Bharathiyarin Arivurai". After Vishesha Shanghik all were went to Bharathiyar Illam as a procession. During procession Bharathiyar songs were sung by the Soundariya Ratnamala Group, which was witnessed by the locals.

vsk chennai sandesh

2011-12-12T18:58:00.001+05:30

Grahak Panchayat comes to the aid of Chennai Bus passengers

City Bus users of Chennai heaved a sigh of relief following a remarkable effort of Akhila Bharatheeya Grahak Panchayat, Chennai, (A movement for Consumer awareness). Here is the detail:

Only 698 buses were plying as 'Ordinary' buses charging lower rates. This was increased to 1308 buses following representation by ABGP to the transport minister. The 6-tier ticket rates has been reduced to 4-tier. This also goes to the credit of ABGP. This is the latest achievement of ABGP educating lakhs of poor bus travelers. It is remarkable that ABGP secured signatures of 5,000 city bus travelers of Chennai in its Memorandum to the Transport Minister.

Mullaiperiyar Dam

2011-12-09T16:00:00.000+05:30

Appeal by Sri RVS Marimuthu Ji. Prantha Sanghachalak (Dakshin Tamilnadu) on Mullaiperiyar Dam issue

Market economy? or, market society?

2011-12-06T19:10:00.001+05:30

Market economy? or, market society?

S Gurumurthy

The ongoing debate on the FDI in retail is intolerably superficial at times. For a rational debate, the fundamentals of conflicting alternatives must be understood. Here are some basic truths about conventional Indian retail. For thousands of years, retailing in India has been local community business - selling retailers and buying households being familiar with each other. Even now Indian retailing is mostly neighbourhood, relation-based business.

There are 15 million retailers in India, including hawkers and pavement vendors. This translates to the greatest retailer density anywhere in the world - more than one retailer for 8 Indians! In contrast, China, more populous than India, has less than a twelfth of India's retail density; just 1.3 million retailers - one for 100 Chinese.

In India, one retailer does not stock all needs of all customers. Several neighbourhood retailers - hawkers, roadside vendors, bunks and kirana shops - taken together stock and meet all their needs. The Indian retail business is estimated at $400 billion. Of which the share of corporate is now 5 percent; the rest 95 percent is handled by traditional retailers. The wholesale-retail trade in India has evolved as part of its social milieu over millennia, organised and linked by local relations. According to an FCCI study, food - read agriculture - accounts for 63 percent of retail trade. Here, some 74 million strong small farmer-wholesaler-small retailer combine - a social inheritance of generations - works, not hierarchically, but laterally through neighbourhood relations.

Some 58.8 million small-marginal farmers from 6.8 lakh villages sell their produce at 47,000 haats/shandies to some 15 million wholesalers-retailers. It is the largest decentralised business in the world. They all operate within a radius of 16 km of where they are. Yet, only 40 percent of the food produced is traded; the balance 60 percent is barter-shared by social relations within villages. This [60 percent] sharing and [40 percent] trading keeps rural India alive.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee Report on the FDI in retail [June 2009] says that traditional retail employs 40 million people; and finds the corporate retail claim to 20 lakh job "highly exaggerated". The Committee is right. Walmart, with $422 billion global turnover, employs just 2.1 million people.

That is, with more than India's retail business in its balance sheet, it provides less than 5 percent of India's retail jobs! So the organised retail's proven job potential is less than 1/20 of the performance of traditional retail. Where from did Anand Sharma get his maths that the FDI in retail would generate 10 million jobs then?

This stentorian noise for the FDI in retail makes four claims. One, the organised retail would avoid the huge - `50,000 crore - waste of farm products due to lack of efficient supply chain; two, with middlemen eliminated the farmers would get better prices; three, Walmarts and Tescos would procure farm products and export them like they do from China, which traditional retail cannot. Four, it will yield more employment.

The claim about employment is bogus. What Walmarts and Tescos could not do elsewhere, they would not do here. The next claim, namely, like in China, Walmarts and Tescos would ramp up India's exports ignores the basics of Indian and Chinese economies. China's domestic consumption is low, just 35 percent of its GDP; the balance 65 percent is its exportable surplus. It has built this huge surplus over decades. India with a high domestic consumption of 58 percent has no such exportable surplus. Actually, it is sensible for Walmart to bring in goods from China, made cheaper by cheap yuan, into India.

Already Chinese goods are outselling Indian goods in India. India's annual trade deficit with China, now $20 billion, is estimated to reach $278.5 billion by 2014! Far from making India prosperous, Walmarts and Tescos may impoverish it.

The claim that the FDI in retail will eliminate middlemen and enrich farmers is not borne out by facts. See the record of Tesco, the largest retailer in the UK, in contrast. It "exploits small farmers in the UK and worldwide"; "hastens their replacement" with monoculture plantations; "poses serious risks for developing country farmers" who have traditionally supplied to local street markets.

Further, "rather than growing their produce and taking it straight to a market, they have to deal with a chain of middlemen, supermarket's standards of uniformity in shape and size, risking rejection of lot of their produce". Farmer-friendly FDI in retail is contradiction in terms.

The campaign that the FDI in retail would prevent waste by efficient supply chain management ignores two vital facts. One, the national highway forms only 2 percent of India's road network, but handles 40 percent of the road traffic! The other roads can handle only trucks smaller than 20'; and link only local markets.

Walmarts and Tescos can't build roads. The government has to. If it does, Walmart or Tesco are not needed. Two, on storage, a recent MIT paper says that as "demonstrated by the case study in rural India, the solution to food storage needs to be a bottom up approach. Communities need to be identified where the people have access to fresh food that is currently wasted and who are willing to put in the time to store it properly. Farm cooperatives are potential candidates." So, bottom up society, not topdown Walmarts or Tescos, is the answer.

Finally, the debate on the FDI in Indian retail misses out the most crucial point. Not only Indian retail, the whole of Indian economy functions more on relations, less on contracts. That is why 60 percent of the farm produce is socially shared. The trade in the rest are based on neighbourhood relations. When contracts replace human relations, it yields not "market economy" but "market society", where even families function on contracts.

Margaret Thatcher once said: "There is no such thing as society. There are individuals and families. That is all." But, the experience of the US/West has proved that traditional families cannot survive without functioning traditional society. As the US Bureau of Economic Research had foreseen in 1970s, now family functions have been effectively taken over by corporates and the State! Unbridled market first dismantles the relation-based society, then disturbs families, to yield a purely contract-based 'market society' finally.

The relation-less retail model of Walmarts and Tescos fits the contract-based US/West. But, of late, even in the West, debate on "market economy" vs "market society" has begun - "market society" being derided as Anglo-Saxon.

QED: The real issue is not the FDI in retail, but what does the Indian Government, economists and elites want in India finally? A relation-friendly "market economy"? Or, a relation-less "market society"?

http://expressbuzz.com/opinion/columnists/market-economy-or-market-society/340201.html

RSS demands immediate release of Hindu youths with 'unproven charges' in terror cases.

2011-11-19T14:01:00.001+05:30

RSS demands bail for right wing accused in Malegaon Blast case

New Delhi: (PTI)

Ram Madhav demands for release of right wing terror accused

A day after seven accused in the Malegaon blasts were released on bail, the RSS on Thursday demanded similar relief to other right wing accused who have been lodged in jail.

"The NIA should apply the same yardstick to other accused in the Malegaon and Ajmer blasts' cases," RSS leader Ram Madhav said.

He contended that in March this year, the NIA had opposed the bail plea of these seven accused. "What has changed on the ground that they have not opposed the bail pleas now. We think that this has been done due to political considerations," he said.

The seven accused in the Malegaon blasts were released on bail yesterday, five years after their arrest in the case, the probe into which took a new turn after names of right-wing groups figured in other blasts.

Madhav said the accused Hindu youths should also be released immediately as they were behind bars with "unproven charges" in terror cases.

"The logic of the agency which investigated the 2006 case should be applied to 2007 and 2008 terror cases in which some Hindu youths were arrested with no proven charges and no evidence," he said.

He went on to add that the charges against the seven accused Muslims were very much there as they have not been acquitted.

Madhav accused the National Minorities Commission of "strongly lobbying" with the NIA for not opposing their bail pleas.

Tiruppur relief action done by Swayamsevaks published in Dinamalar

2011-11-17T13:12:00.001+05:30

vsk chennai sandesh

2011-11-14T11:35:00.000+05:30

RSS at the service of Tiruppur flood hit

First week of November witnessed torrential rains which battered the Tiruppur city, the national knitwear export centre and a District Headquarters. Low-lying areas and dwellings got marooned as the Noyyal River entered the town causing flood. Nearly 15000 people were rendered homeless. RSS volunteers along with other Hindu organizations immediately plunged into relief action. They rescued the children, ladies and aged people from the flood and were safely sheltered in the nearby schools. Toothpowder, milk, bread, tea, water packets etc. were initially supplied to them. 600 rubber sheets, buckets, biscuits were also supplied. Food packets for around 6000 persons were distributed by the RSS volunteers. Ready Selfless Service by the RSS volunteers were well appreciated by the locals.

VHP puts a full stop to caste clash in Uthapuram

Three decades of animosity between the two sections of Hindu society Pillaimars and Dalits was brought to an end at the Sannithi of Divine Mother Muthallamman. (Kali) in Uthapuram., Maudurai on November 10, thanks to focused attempts of Hindu organizations led by VHP. Earlier, the village witnessed a major bloodshed when the two sections (Pillaimars and Dalits) clashed between themselves. Caste wall which was built in 1989 prevented the sight of the temple to the Dalits. Various measures were taken periodically to bring peace between the sections of Hindu society. Vishwa Hindu Parishad State Joint Secretary Chinmaya Somasundaram, BJP Joint leader of Education Wing Pon Karunanidhi and various community leaders participated in the meeting held by Madurai D/istrict SP Asra Garg. VHP saw to it that Hindus on both side of the caste divide were brought together in a congenial atmosphere for talks that achieved the purpose. These peace talks had given fruitful results to the village allowing the Harijan to enter the temple by the other section of Hindu society been widely appreciated.

RSS to celebrate 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda

2011-10-23T12:50:00.000+05:30

150^th birth anniversary of Vivekananda

Sri Dattatreya Hosabale, (Saha Sarakaryavah) Joint General Secretary of RSS addressed Press Persons on Saturday, October 22^nd, at Rashtrotthana Parishad, Bangalore.

“It will be the 150^th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda on January 12 of 2013. Hence Sangh has decided to launch massive nationwide Centenary celebrations on Vivekananda from January 12, 2012 on 3 issues. First, a compilation of various social organisations which are working in small and large scales across India so that a commonness will be achieved and this task will be headed by Swami Vivekananda Kendra of Kanyakumari. Vivekananda, even after 150years, still an inspiration for social works” says Dattaji. “Secondly, Vivekanda and his thoughts on Women, and Third Vivekananda and Rural India. Vivekananda was very much keen on Rural development specifically the upliftment of poor and backwards. His quotes like ‘Daridra Devobhava’ symbolises his in deeper concerns on common man,” Dattaji opinioned.

“At the very spot where in 1893 September 11 Vivekananda’s historic speech took place at Chicago, we are planning for a permanent multimedia presentation which could give basic information on Life sketch and contributions of Vivekananda. His thoughts on universal brotherhood and others can be taken to a larger scale for new generation” said Dattaji.

RSS will support all anti-corruption movements: Dattatreya Hosabale at Bangalore

2011-10-23T12:43:00.000+05:30

RSS National General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale at Press Meet Bangalore.

Bangalore, October 22: Answering to the questions from Journalists on few BJP politicians who were part of the government and were known Swayamsevaks, now behind bars for corruption charges,Dattatreya Hosabale told, “Indeed these incidents made us embarrassed. We advise our swayamsevaks when they need. Whenever BSY visited Sangh Headquarters, Keshavakupa, RSS Senior Functionaries advised him as he was a Swayamsevak.If he has not taken those advises seriously, it is wrong to blame RSS. If in a class of the 2 students one scores 90 marks and one scores 35 marks, we can’t blame the teacher for poor performance”

Responding to a question on RSS control over BJP, Dattaji Said, “RSS will never advise any political party. It just advises the Swayamsevaks in it. RSS will not involve in any party mechanisms and will never take decision on formation of Cabinet or on naming any person for ministerial post. RSS has no membership, anyone can become Sangh Swayamsevak, and hence there is no question of suspending anyone from Sangh. RSS is involved in character building and creating awareness among countrymen”.

Dattaji added, “RSS will never support any corrupt leader. In March 2011, in a supreme meeting of RSS held at Puttur, Sangh has passed a resolution to fight against corruption. In that we have clearly pointed that we will support all forms of campaigns by anyone against corruption. Our Swayamsevaks were the part of Anna Hazare campaign also, across the nation. Today, corruption is a major social issue, needs a great reform in social life as far as corruption is concerned.”

Sri M Venkataram, Karnataka Dakshin Pranth Sanghachalak, Sri Chandrashekara Bhandary, senior RSS Functionary, Sri Vadiraj, RSS Pranth Prachar Pramukh were present during this press meet.

vsk chennai sandesh

2011-10-19T14:06:00.001+05:30

The steadfast trouble of Hindus wins at Rasathipuram Panchayat

15 year patience struggle of a Hindus of a tamilnadu village has paid rich dividends.

Visharam is a town in the Arcot Assembly constituency in Vellore District, Tamilnadu. Visharam had two Pamchayats – Melvisharam dominated by Muslims and Keelvisharam dominated by SC's and MBCs. Melvisharam is termed as a 'Darul Islam' in Tamilnadu.

Local residents of municipal wards of 3, 4, 5 and 6 attached to Melvisharam Municipality, were boycotting the local body polls for the past 15 years. Jamaath of Melvisharam practiced discrimination against Hindus of the four wards. Both visharams (Melvisharam and Keelvisharam) were merged and Upgraded to Grade III Municipality giving no room for the Hindus to survive by the secular Governments of Tamilnadu. Dr. Swamy filed a PIL in support of village status demand. In November 2009, Supreme Court had given a direction to the State Governor to the submit details and ordered that the four wards be converted into a village. Based upon this order, the residents fielded around 17 candidates for the local body elections and cast their votes in the local body election conducted on October, 2011.

Muslims hate reservation to Scheduled Caste

It was come to light that Muslims in Coimbatore are not ready to allow people of Scheduled Caste (SC) to enjoy the legal reservation available to them.

In yet another local body election held at Kurichi and Kuniamuthur of Coimbatore district, Tamilnadu residents registered 'No Vote' option under Rule 71 of the Tamilnadu Town Panchayats, Third Grade Municipalities and Municipal Corporation Councils Rules, 2006. Residents said that under the expansion (from 72 to 100 wards) and delimitation exercise carried out by the Coimbatore Corporation, Wards 1, 2 and 21 in Kuniamuthur Municipality had been merged to form Ward 87 of the Corporation, Wards 1,2,3 and 6 of the Kurichi Municipality had been merged to form Ward 95. They said that the new wards had been reserved for the members of the Scheduled Caste and Women. The residents pointed out that of the 20,000 voters in these new wards, 90 per cent belonged to the Muslim community. They alleged that the reservation was against their community and hence decided to abstain from voting for the Councillor's post.

Bhaiyya Ji Press Statement at Gorakhpur

2011-10-16T17:45:00.001+05:30

Press Note

Akhil Bhartiya Karyakari Mandal (All India Executive Committee) meeting

October 16, 2011, Gorakhpur

Shri Suresh (Bhaiyya Ji) Joshi, Sar Karyavah of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Sunday described the media in detail about an entire array of discussions and meetings held during the last three days of Akhil Bhartiya Karyakari Mandal (All India Executive Committee) at Gorakhpur. He said it has been our tradition to proceed on all courses of action only after due diligence and discussions. The meeting also analyzed several ongoing organizational activities of the RSS.

During the meetings there were elaborate discussions wherein it was deliberated upon how to take the thoughts and ideals of Swami Vivekananda to our mothers, sisters, intellectuals and others in our society. January 2013 would mark the 150^th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda and Sangh would initiate a series of functions to mark his Jayanti.

Discussions also centered on the proposed Communal Violence Bill that would soon be introduced by the NAC (National Advisory Council).

The Communal Violence Bill will strike at the root of nation's unity, weaken the social fabric of our country, widen the gulf between majority and minority communities and will endanger the integrity of our country. The said Bill would lead to distrust within the society and lead to divisions within scheduled castes and scheduled tribes of the Hindu community. The Communal Violence Bill will neither serve any purpose for the society nor for the country. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh will begin a country wide mass awareness campaign against this Bill.

Concerns were also raised about the rising pollution levels in the revered River Ganga. There were discussions about how to make the Ganga's water clean and pollution free.

Bhaiyya Ji said that it is quite clear that the foreign forces would pose a grave security threat for our country in the near future. Specially, China's growing influence with an eye on our country's border and its increasing military presence on our borders testifies the fact that it has made elaborate plans to encircle our country. The strategists of our country should give serious thoughts to these issues and devise our own strategies accordingly.

China is building a massive infrastructure on its side of the Indo-China border. We expect the same from the government of Bharat that it builds requisite security infrastructure at Laddakh, Jammu & Kashmir and in Arunachal Pradesh. We demand that the government looks into this issue and implements a concrete plan of action. The morale of our armed forces is high, yet if due to lack of facilities it looks weak then it is a matter of grave concern for all of us.

We urge the government that it initiates action to ensure the nation's security and secure our country's border.

Responding to a question about Prashant Bhushan's views on Kashmir, Bhaiyya Ji expressed surprise and said this is the language of separatists. He said under no circumstances can Jammu & Kashmir be ever separated from our country.

On the issue of participation by Sangh's Swayamsevaks in the anti-corruption agitation by Shri Anna Hazare, he said that the Swayamsevaks participated in the movement as common people. Bhaiyya Ji added that it has been Sangh's tradition that it does not feel necessary to take credit for any work done in the interests of the country.

We have no reservations for Shri Anna Ji, if at all he has reservations for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh then the question should be best answered by him. Responding to Shri Anna Hazare's silent fast (a vow of silence) Bhaiyya ji said Shri Anna Ji usually keeps such fasts. Bhaiyya ji added that he has already given his views on Shri Anna Ji in a press statement issued yesterday.

On Shri L.K. Advani's candidature for the post of Prime Minister, Bhaiyya Ji said there is quite some time for a decision. The said decision will ultimately rest with the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and the party will eventually decide when time is right.

Responding to a question on transparency wherein it was asked why are Sangh's meeting held in discreet ways, Bhaiyya Ji said we are all available before the media with elaborate presentations of our discussions. Where is the question of maintaining secrecy about our meetings? he asked.

The press meet was also attended by Dr Manmohan Vaidya, the All India Prachar Pramukh of RSS.

Press Statement Sarkaryavah Suresh (Bhayyaji) Joshi - Anti Corruption Movement & Anna Hazare

2011-10-16T08:30:00.001+05:30

Public discourse taking place with regard to the involvement of the RSS in the anti-corruption movement is

ill-intentioned and betrays a political conspiracy to weaken the movement.

Sri Anna Hazare is a man committed to noble ideals. He has been leading a massive popular movement

against corruption in the country. Entire credit for the success of this movement goes to him only. Me and

thousands of other activists of the country are familiar with and inspired by the ideas articulated by him on

several occasions and the developmental activity undertaken by him.

In his reply to the redundant controversy raked up in a conspiratorial manner by the General secretary of

the Congress Party, Sri Anna had made some comments on the RSS Chief Sri Mohan Bhagwat and also

indicated that he viewed the letter written by me in support of his movement as a conspiracy. These views,

which were published widely in the media, go beyond my comprehension and cause immense pain to me.

It is tragic that a person of Anna’s stature too has got influenced by narrow political conspiracy. The views

expressed in his letter would prove detrimental to the anti-corruption movement only. It will be most

unfortunate.

The Swayamsevaks of the RSS along with millions of countrymen genuinely aspire to see a Bharat

completely free of corruption. It is the paramount responsibility of the leaders of the anti-corruption

movements to safeguard them from narrow and low-level conspiratorial politics.

The general public which plunges into such movements fired by the spirit of patriotism gets disturbed by

such controversies. Hence the leadership is expected to be vigilant. Who will be responsible if the people

feel disillusioned and get disheartened? All the nationalist forces should close ranks to defeat such

machinations. Country can expect to achieve freedom from corruption only when the movements reach

their logical ends successfully.

RSS ABKM Baithak Gorakpur Resolution

2011-10-15T21:38:00.002+05:30

ABKM Resolution at Gorakhpur -
Need for Comprehensive Strategic Initiative for National Security

The Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal is gravely concerned about the indifferent attitude of the Government towards growing tensions along the borders; rising incidents of encouragement to separatism and terrorism from across the borders; emerging challenges across aerial and oceanic borders; and increasing threats in the international seas and outer space. The ABKM wishes to highlight the following challenges in this context.

Challenges from China:

China is constantly exerting military pressure on our borders; indulging in repeated incursions into our territory; demolishing military and civilian assets and intimidating civilians in the border areas. Presence of Chinese military in our neighbouring countries, development of military bases in those countries and strategic partnership with them with the objective of military encirclement of Bharat must be taken seriously. Some conspicuous examples of this encirclement are: arming Pakistan against Bharat; patronizing anti-Bharat terrorism there; its military activism in the PoK; attempts to control the reins of power in Nepal through Maoism; and the presence of defense experts in countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

The ABKM is of the considered opinion that apart from abetting terrorism and separatism from across the borders, China’s active support to the insurgent groups in our North-East is a direct challenge to the unity and integrity of our nation. Incidents of China using its cyber warriors for breaking into the information and communication systems of our country and spreading its spy network near sensitive areas by capturing projects through low cost tenders is also going to pose serious threats to nation’s security.

Government of Bharat has on one hand completely forgotten the resolution of the Parliament on 14 Nov 1962 for taking back the 38,000 sq. km territory annexed by China during the war that year; on the other hand its response to China’s new claims over another 90,000 sq km has also been woefully feeble. Government’s utter apathy towards development of basic infrastructure facilities like telecommunications, railways, roads and airports etc in view of these claims and military maneuvers of China in our border areas is ominous.

Stationing of long distance ICBMs capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads along the Bharat’s border by China is a serious challenge. China has successfully tested anti-satellite and anti-ship missiles. It has developed nuclear submarines that are equipped with missiles, which can carry nuclear warheads and hit targets upto a distance of 8,500 kms. It is imperative on the part of Bharat to immediately develop capabilities to effectively counter these things.

Indian markets are brimming with Chinese goods thus leaving our native industry in doldrums; additionally the huge trade deficit with China is also emerging as a serious challenge to our economy. In Telecommunications area Bharat has not made any efforts to go beyond developing first generation technology. As a result all the equipment required in 3 G and 4 G technology is being supplied by China only. This is posing a serious danger to our information and communications systems. Our over dependence on China in high technology areas including power generation is leaving us permanently at the mercy of that country.

Bharat should take a firm stand against China’s attempts to divert river waters in Tibet and China including the waters of Brahmaputra and take lead in mobilizing nations that get affected by the diversion of these rivers like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar for securing a just water sharing agreement with China.

Conspiracy by Pakistan:

On the western front activities of Pakistan are a matter of concern. Addressing the top military brass the Prime Minister has himself acknowledged the fact that there was an unprecedented rise in the cross-border infiltration in the last few months. According to one estimate seventy incidents of firing from across the borders or infiltration have occurred in the last four-and-half months along the Kashmir border alone. Growing influence of the fundamentalists in Pakistan Army is posing serious challenge to the safety of the nuclear arsenal there.

Recent killing of the fountainhead of global terrorism Osama bin Laden on Pakistan soil, where he had taken shelter for years along with his family, exposes the deep nexus between the Pakistan Army and ISI and the international terror network. It needs mention here that the doctor who was instrumental in the capture of Osama is being tried on charges of sedition.

It is once again established that the ISI was involved in the recent bomb blasts outside the Delhi High Court. There is also adequate evidence that the ISI network is helping China in giving assistance to the Maoists. The links between the ISI and the dreaded Haqqani terrorist group that is active in Pak-Af region are well known.

Pakistan is relentlessly trying to destabilize the Karzai regime in Afghanistan. On the eve of withdrawal of the US forces from Afghanistan starting from next year owing to their internal situation Pakistan is pushing hard to install anti-Bharat fundamentalist Taliban regime there. Any such situation in Afghanistan will be a serious direct challenge to Bharat. The ABKM wishes to draw the attention of the Government towards these developments in the Pak-Af region. However the response of the Government of Bharat in this scenario still remains ineffective.

Border issue with Bangladesh:

During the talks with Bangladesh in September 2011 adequate attention has not been paid to the national interests. Handing over of several thousand acres of our territory in Assam and West Bengal to Bangladesh under the pretext that it was already under the latter’s control can’t be justified on any account. It is unwise and unacceptable to cede more territory and get less in the name of territorial exchange. This would result in a large number of Bangladeshi Muslims in CoochBihar and Jalpaiguri automatically becoming citizens of Bharat. This will lead to serious demographic distortion in the region causing enhanced threat of separatism. It is unfortunate that the issue of millions of Bangladesh infiltrators residing in Bharat never figures in these talks. The ABKM demands that in all the treaties with Bangladesh the interests of our nation, its unity and integrity be considered paramount.

Challenges in Indian Ocean region:

The ABKM notes with concern that the region of Indian Ocean is fast turning in to the new battleground for supremacy between the new power blocks reminiscent of the cold war days Europe. Countries of the Indian Ocean Rim are resource-rich and also strategically located in the new power-order.

Bharat has been a prominent presence in this region for millennia. The ABKM opines that Bharat's two millennia old civilizational and cultural relations across the region should be further strengthened.

China has drastically improved its naval strength as well as its activities in the region. Its intimidating presence is leading to rising tensions in the region. On the other hand the US seems to be desperate about its distant presence in Diego Garcia and scrambling for foothold closer in the region. Creation of East Timor out of Indonesia in 2003, war between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan forces in our neighborhood, Taiwan issue etc represent the growing big power conflict in the region. This race for influence between these two countries is offsetting the balance in the region and escalating tensions.

The ABKM feels that Bharat cannot remain a mute spectator in this situation. A large number of countries in the IOR region too want Bharat's benevolent presence to be a reassuring factor for regional peace and stabilization.

Our Government’s initiative of "Look East" is completing 20 years now. The ABKM calls upon the Govt. of Bharat to transform this "Look East" policy in to "Act East" policy and further our engagement with a large number of countries in the region. Our foreign policy objectives must be in consonance with our strategic needs. In this connection it welcomes the new initiatives with countries like Myanmar and Vietnam.

Bharat has been experiencing the belligerence of China and its allies in the Indian Ocean region of late. Two recent incidents vividly illustrate this highhanded behavior -one between Bharat's and Chinese Navy near Vietnam in the South Chinese Sea and another in the Arabian Sea between Bharat and Pakistan's naval ships. From Gwadar to Hambanthota to Chittagaon to Coco Islands, the influence of China in the Indian Ocean region is growing fast posing serious challenge to our security. License for mining Poly-Metallic Sulphides in a 10,000-sq. km area in the Indian Ocean will provide China a plausible excuse to position its Navy there.

Our armed forces are capable of warding off threats from these forces. They have demonstrated their capability several times. However they seriously suffer from lack of infrastructural support as well as support for weapon's modernization from the Government.

There is a serious disconnect between the nationalist aspirations widely present among the general public and the policy approach of the political establishment. Bharat has scientific capability, military prowess and patriotic fervor in abundance. But it is unfortunate that these aspects do not reflect in the policy initiatives of the Government.

In view of these security challenges the ABKM urges the Government to initiate effective measures to safeguard the entire national borders including the Indo-Tibetan border, sea and aerospace borders and also protect the national interests in the entire oceanic region; and adopt strong measures to counter the challenge of separatism, terrorism and infiltration. In order to counter all the security challenges before the nation, the ABKM demands that the Government should develop effective defense mechanisms and also to initiate extensive measures to achieve comprehensive self reliant in the fields of economy and high-technology. The ABKM appeals to the people to be ever vigilant on the issues of national security and prevail upon the government to take effective measures in this behalf.

RSS Press Brief at Gorakhpur

2011-10-14T10:44:00.003+05:30

Press Note by Sri Manmohan Vaidya, Akhila Bharatha Prachar Pramukh at Gorakhpur.

RSS National Supreme Body meet ABKM begins at Gorakhpur

2011-10-14T10:40:00.001+05:30

3 day RSS National Supreme Body meet ABKM begins at Gorakhpur

: ABKM Baithaik Gorakhpur Dias- Mohan Bhagwat and Suresh Joshi

October 14: Gorakhpur; UP:

Rashtreeya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS), supreme body, Akhil Bharateeya Karyakarini Mandal Baitak (ABKM), one of the highest body for policy formulation and decision making of began today in Gorakhpur. The meeting will be held for 3 days on October 14, 15 and 16th at Saraswati VIDYA Mandir Premises at Gorakhpur of Uttara Pradesh.

Representatives elected from RSS-Shakhas of all regions of the country, state level office bearers of RSS, National office bearers of Sangh affiliated (Sangh Parivar) organizations will attend all the three days of the meeting.

RSS Sarasanghachalak Mohan Bhagwat Inaugurated this event along with Suresh Joshi, RSS General Secretary.

Prominent leaders from Bharateeya Kisan Sangh, working for the farmers; Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram, a tribal welfare organization; Akhil Bharateeya Vidyarthi Parishad, one of the biggest student organization of the contry; Bharateeya Mazdoor Sangh, a leading trade union; Vishwa Hindu Parishad, a forum of Sadhus, Sants and Pontiffs; Bharatiya Janata Party, one of the two most important political parties of India; are attending the meeting.

Office bearers of Vidhya Bharati, Vijnana Bharati, Kreeda Bharati, Seva Bharati, Samskrit Bharati, Samskar Bharati, Laghu Udyog Bharati as well as leaders from Rashtra Sevika Samithi, Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, Deendayal Samshodhan Samsthan, Bharat Vikas Parishad, Shaikshanika Mahasangh, Dharmajagaran will be participating in the conclave.

Several organizations with special focus like – Sakshama, working for the blind; Seema Suraksha Parishat, which is committed to boost confidence among people of border districts, Poorva Sainik Parishat, working among retired soldiers will be represented in the meeting.

Reports of activities of all these organizations will be submitted in the meeting. State wise activities of the RSS will be reviewed. Important national issues will be discussed and necessary resolutions will be passed in the meeting.

More than 400 prominent Sangh functionaries at Pranth Level (State), Several Social workers of different walks of life from nook and corners of the country will be participating in the meeting.

vsk chennai sandesh

2011-10-11T14:21:00.001+05:30

RSS attracts more community leaders

‘RSS is a disciplined service organization like NCC. There are various negative versions about this organization. But when I came here and observed, I felt that they are not true. I am proud to preside over this function. Recently, my 75th birthday celebration was conducted on a grand scale. But this function gives me more happiness. This organization should grow in strength. I will also render my support to this organization’, said Sri Chinnamani Naadar President of Naadar Community Association who presided over the Vijayadhasmi function on 6th October, 2011 at Jain Temple Grounds, Porur, Chennai.

Sri Chinnamani Naadar addressing the gathering

‘This is an excellent programme. I have criticized and opposed this organization many times. I have written articles criticizing the organization. Elders here, explained me about the services rendered by the Organization. Seeing the exercise done by you, a transformation occurred in me. This day gives me a great pleasure. Today, in name freedom, lots of atrocities are being done. There are several instruments destroying Hindus and Hindu faith. RSS is rendering service to correct this. This organization should grow. I promise that I shall work shoulder to shoulder with RSS’, said Sri Krishna Paraiyannar, President of Ambedkar Puratchi Puligal (who proudly declares himself as a person of Paraiya community). Various community leaders from Yadhava Sangam, Devar Sangam, Vishnu Sharma Sangam and All India Iyyappa Seva Sangam etc. participated in the function.

Sri Krishna Paraiyanaar

Sri D Shankar, Sri Chinnamani Naadar, Sri Krishna Paraiyanaar, Sri Durai Shankar on the dias

Sri D Shankar, Pranth Shareerik Pramukh, Uttar Tamilnadu spoke on relevance of Vijayadhasmi and emphasized the need for forces of the good to organize. Sri Durai Shankar, Vibhag Sanghachalak participated in the function.

New Website 'www.hindusanghaseidhi.net' Launched in Tamil

2011-10-08T12:19:00.002+05:30

Namasthe

A new website called http://www.hindusanghaseidhi.net/ has been launched from Vijayadasami day. This website is in TAMIL. Apart from providing news details about Hindu organisations, it would also have articles, current affairs and news pertaining to the society at large. This website would also provide regular updates on sangh parivar activities happening in tamilnadu and the country as a whole.

Kindly visit the website and also share this information to all nationalistic people known to you. Do provide your valuable feedback to improve this website

Online Editor

hindusanghaseidhi.net

Vijayadashmi Speech of P.P.Sarsanghchalak Shri Mohanji Bhagwat

2011-10-06T10:29:00.001+05:30

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh came into existence on this auspicious occasion 86 years ago. The founder of the RSS Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar was a born patriot. He had been an active and committed worker associated with every struggle, movement and campaign aimed at awakening and enlightening the people for the independence of the country and betterment of social life. After a deep introspection, cogitation and discussion with the eminent personalities of the above mentioned endeavours, he reached a common conclusion. Working honestly and selflessly in the interest of the country, however, pursuing different ideologies and methodologies, all such people then and now have been echoing the same ideas in their own words. An objective analysis of the contemporary situation in our country and the world once again lead us to the same conclusion. Since the last Vijayadashmi festival (2010), till now, the changed circumstances brought about by the passage of time have only increased our concerns and they demand from us a sustained endeavour in a particular direction. The scenario in the world and our country and its effect experienced in our day to day life has created a disturbance in all minds.

GLOBAL SCENARIO IN THE CONTEXT OF BHARAT

The powerful countries of the world mount all kinds of efforts to exploit the international situation to establish their hegemony. This explains the current unhealthy competition between US and China for establishing their superiority. On the pretext of its war on terror the active intervention of America have reached our neighbouring Pakistan. Corruption of the ruling class that has caused a wave of mass-anger and brought in the change of regimes in some of the countries of the middle east is also seen in some corners as a promotion of the interests of America and other western countries. Our neighbour in the north, communist China, is also boosting its strength to establish dominance in the world. Naturally, we can not remain untouched by the turmoil created by this power game. We have always regarded the whole world as one family and we seek an intimate friendship with it rather than dominance. The other countries of the world acknowledge this through their experience of exemplary behavior of Bharateeya’s living abroad. That is why they have trust in us and they welcome us whole heartedly. In tune with this world view of ours and keeping intact our sovereignty, dignity and security, we should take initiative to transform the current disturbed situation of the world into one of mutual trust and cooperation.

We have deep cultural relationship with our neighbouring countries particularly in south-east Asia. Even today this relationship is remembered with gratitude, joy and happiness. We are bound by common economic interests. There is general consensus in these countries that Bharat should lead them and stand by them through thick and thin. We should strengthen our economic, diplomatic and cultural ties with all these countries. We will have to be more focussed in our efforts in making the neighbouring Nepal stable and more favourable to us. We should also initiate efforts to end the miseries of Sri Lankan Tamilians and create a situation where by they will be able to contribute to Sri Lankan society and national life on equal footing with their civil rights and status intact. We have to tighten our security on the Bangladesh border, prevent the border being porous and stop infiltration and illegal trafficking of arms, cattle, fake currency and drugs, while we also have to see that the atmosphere in Bangladesh turns favourable to us. Even though Tibet is still occupied by China, we have to help Tibetans living there as well as those living in Bharat and other parts of the world to vent proper voice to their emotions and protect their human-rights, faith and traditions in their homeland as well as in the world.

CHINA’S MOVES

Occasionally in its own interest China seems to be taking initiative to strengthen its economic, diplomatic and cultural ties with Bharat. But recent events show its intention to expand its influence in the Asian continent and also in Bharat even by using its war strength.

Intrusion by the Chinese soldiers in Leh and Ladakh, their entering into the Bharateeya territory and demolishing our bunkers, threatening Bharateeya ships in the South China Sea in utter violation of the principle of the international waters and preventing Bharat from oil exploration are the recent examples of the same. China has objection when we improve our relations with countries like Vietnam. It is published in the media that as per our intelligence agency sources China has forged links with terrorists in the north east of Bharat. It is true that we want neither enmity nor war against anyone, but we must remember that we have once in 1962 been a victim of our own dreaming mentality, innocence and also the shrewd and crafty war tactics of China. Still maintaining our cultural ties that we have been enjoying with China since the time of Budhha and also our current economic relations, we nevertheless have to remain vigilant against China, build necessary infrastructure in place on the border, and not allow our military preparedness and vigilance to wither away. There is need to influence international diplomatic dialogues more effectively to garner global support for ourselves in any possible eventuality.

SITUATION IN KASHMIR

Hand in hand with Pakistan, whose military establishment has an avowed enmity with us, China has entered into Gilgit-Baltistan in the northern area of Jammu Kashmir. We have not grasped the geopolitical importance of this northern part of Bharat wherein meet the boundaries of six nations and have allowed them to be victimised by the aggressors.

Terrorists are instigated to infiltrate and disturbance is created in Jammu and Kashmir at the behest of Pakistan. The truth is that even the constitution of Pakistan and the highest Court of the POK don’t regard Jammu and Kashmir as a part of Pakistan. Pakistan, even then is engaged in creating trouble in Jammu & Kashmir. Why despite all this, our Central Government and the interlocutors appointed by them insist time and again that Kashmir is a political problem? Kashmir is not merely an internal political problem. It is a problem created by aggression and terrorism instigated from across the border and fanatic fundamentalism, as also by our weak-kneed and indecisive policy. The Centre and the State Governments should pursue a policy of strengthening the voice of patriotic elements opposed to this aggression.

The Hindu refugees of 1947-48 should be speedily settled there with full citizenship rights and the displaced Kashmiri Hindus should be able to settle back in their birthland and the land or their ancestors with full preparedness and with impeccable guarantee of their safety so that they can live there as Hindus and Bharateeyas. There should be a sensitive and transparent administration in the State of Jammu and Kashmir which should end discrimination against various castes and classes in the population as well as against regions of Jammu and Ladakh. Article 370 that hinders integration of Jammu and Kashmir with Bharat needs to be abolished. The mentality that harps on the pre-1953 situation and seeks separation of Kashmir from Bharat must be abandoned. The central government and its interlocutors should change their mindset. The pre-1953 situation cannot be the basis of the solution to the Kashmir problem. The unanimous resolution passed by Parliament in 1994 that POK be restored to Bharat should alone be the basis of the tone of discourse on the Kashmir problem.

PROBLEMS OF THE NORTH-EAST

It has now become imperative for our political class to appreciate the pains of the people of the north-east. They should make their understanding and knowledge deeper and thorough as to how to solve problems of those people. Completely deprived of the mass base and almost defunct terrorist groups are being given a fresh lease of life by the Centre and the State governments by initiating dialogues with them. Even a 60 (sixty) days blockade of Manipur some years ago did not show any impact on the government, nor is there any willingness visible at present to take action against the uncontrolled terrorism there. The Riyang tribe displaced from Mizoram to Tripura is facing its total extinction; but the administration is not even remotely aware of it. Without trying to understand or even listen to the problems of the people in the region and in spite of the problems arising out of a large scale infiltration into Assam, the Bharat Government seems to be over-willing in its talks with Bangladesh to part away Bharateeya Territory. Our incomplete and superficial understanding and awareness and our indifference to the difficulties of the people, our lack of a clear-cut national perspective and our mentality to exploit anything and everything for political gains have compounded the problems of the north-east as is the case with Jammu and Kashmir.

TERRORISM

It is perhaps this very lack of perspective, study and sensitiveness that our Home Minister has recently come out with a strange statement. He has stated that out of the various terrorist activities in the country the Maoists or the Naxalites are the more dangerous outfits.

Does it mean that there are less or more dangerous forms of terrorism? Then if it is so, how could the Central Government appoint a person on a Committee of the Planning Commission, when a State Government suspects that person of having links with this “more dangerous” terrorist outfit?

There are people who shirk their responsibility of strongly fighting problems that threaten the unity and integrity of the country and instead foist the responsibility on the State governments. These people should desist from spreading misinformation and gloom amongst the people. Because of such thinking, the demand for quashing the death sentence of the killers of our former Prime Minister is getting political support. The Jammu and Kashmir assembly allowed the tabling of the resolution for quashing the death sentence given to Afzal Guru, guilty of attack on Parliament, while it did not even allow a discussion and support on a resolution passed unanimously by Parliament in 1994. Political activities in our country do not seem to be inspired by a clear national perspective.

ECONOMIC POLICY

The lack of clear vision and perspective is also reflected in the economic policies and activities of the country. The failures and shortcomings of the economic model of the West have been abundantly exposed in the world. Therefore, we will have to look for a distinct developmental model which should be based on our own unique world view fulfilling the requirements of our people and promoting prosperity and culture hand in hand and also strengthening the pace of progress with our identity. Over the last six decades we have simply been avoiding to achieve this and instead are imitating the West. The common people are made to pay for this through nose. While the prices of goods are sky-rocketing, the salaries of the members of the parliament and the assemblies are being hiked frequently. The poor are getting poorer and we are still indulged in defining the criteria of poverty. Moreover, instead of protecting agricultural, grazing and forest lands for the future, keeping pace with the growing population, we are forcibly acquiring agricultural land for creating Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and opening fire on the farmers who are opposing such acquisitions.

Instead of tapping our own abundant resources such as geothermal, bio and thorium based sources of energy, we are hell bent on acquiring on costly terms and conditions the expensive nuclear energy which the west itself is jettisoning.

Instead of providing the retail traders with necessary training and ability to compete with the organised trade houses, foreign investment is being wooed in the field of retail trade.

How can a common man with limited income for his family afford to provide expensive education to his children? He is totally lost in distress. Common man sees with growing concern the government’s reluctance in getting back the black money stashed away in foreign banks and also the deliberate laxity and delay in initiating legal proceedings against these account holders.

ANTI-CORRUPTION MOVEMENT

The pent up rage of the common man created out of the above frustrating conditions exploded into massive support for the recent anti corruption movements. Return of the black money from the foreign banks, effective legislation against corruption and its implementation without any outside interference and influence, and bringing the Prime Minister and other top functionaries within the ambit of the anti graft law – all these have become issues that give vent to the feelings of the people. The Government had to cave in to the popular pressure but total success is still not in sight. In the cases of corruption some people are in the dock as scape-goats, but known and unknown bigwigs are still at large. All the big and small organizations participating in the anticorruption movement need to sink their differences and unite to achieve long term success. The issue of corruption is not concerned merely with the theft of wealth. Investigations about major corruption cases have revealed that foreign secret agencies or criminal groups have been managing the black money of these corrupts. Thus it becomes a serious issue involving integrity, sovereignity and also the security of the country.

Hence we should stay clear from power groups which have dubious background and are impatiently credit hungry. Rejection of symbols of patriotism such as “VANDEMATARAM” and ‘BHARATMATA” and gimmies to gain cheap popularity can never be tolerated in any national movement. It is necessary to keep away from those tendencies and forces existing in the so-called minorities that pander to the narrow, fanatic and separatist ideas. We will have to take care that, persons and tendencies that maintain total transparency especially in the matter of money and resources, are on board. Otherwise, taking advantage of these weaknesses, the elements that oppose the movement can create an atmosphere of distrust and calumny. This may give boost to the elements involved in creating problems for the security of our country.

The RSS volunteers are already active in all movements against corruption without craving for their own position and credit. But everyone should keep it in mind that the law alone cannot solve the problem of corruption. We will have to bring about fundamental changes in the very system that breeds in corruption. For this the administrative system will have to be made more transparent and responsive to the needs of the common people. We will have to create an environment conducive for developing cultural values. We will have to bring electoral reform to bring in the end of crime and money power. Only then we can ensure true representation of the people. The tax system will have to be more rational. We will have to end the commercialization of our educational system and make it more conducive for cultural upbringing. In this way we will need to bring in a total and comprehensive change in reform and keep up the pressure for its implementation.

The most important thing is that we will have to inculcate good values in society such as the sense of social responsibility, pure character and social services and altruism. Total eradication of corruption from society is next to impossible without setting examples through our good and moral conduct that creates an environment for such values in every village and hamlet. The RSS is working with full concentration on this fundamentally important issue.

However, the way the top leaders in the Government seem to be inclined to see things during the movement causes surprise and concern. The use of brute force, deception and arrogance by a foreign government against the innocent people agitating for their legitimate demands could be expected but using such tactics by a government in an independent country is never acceptable. Our political environment has become predominantly power-centric.

Concomitantly, the national interests have receded in the background and there prevails insensitivity against the common people. Though not excusable, its reasons are not difficult to understand. But the new happenings have given rise to question whether the future of our country is safe or otherwise in the hands of such political forces..

PROPOSED COMMUNAL AND TARGETED VIOLENCE BILL

The National Integration Council at its recent meeting held on September 10, 2011 discussed the proposed Communal and Targeted Violence Bill. Majority of its members have categorically and strongly opposed the proposed bill. Honourable Prime Minister promised to put forward a revised draft for discussion, but even a cursory look at the original draft shows that it is a deceitful action of destructive mind and distorted ideology aimed at destroying the social harmony thus violating the spirit of our constitution. Moreover, one does not know the constitutional position and power of the so called National Advisory Council that has prepared the said draft bill. Curiously, the chairperson of that NAC is also the President of the leading party of the ruling coalition, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). One may ask as to how such a draft bill that can cause permanent civil disturbances and strife in the country could be prepared under her leadership. Is it true that some of the members of the NAC are under a cloud and their integrity has been questioned by the highest court of the land?

Whether our country is run by our Cabinet or by such elements with a distorted and antinational mind? Are we really independent or living in a hidden subjugation? The proposed legislation seeks to destroy the federal structure and contemptuously disregards the rights of the States giving absolute power to the Centre to dismiss a State Government on mere allegation. The Bill is absolutely anti democracy as it provides wide ranging powers to a body that will leave everyone, including the chief minister of the state to the level of an ordinary employee cowering under fear of suspension and behave like puppets. This goes against the basic principles of public administration. Is it not an attempt to clamp a permanent emergency on the people of the country through a backdoor? As per this legislation a mere allegation leveled against a person is enough to implicate him, his organisation or party or government. Is it not unethical to the concept of justice? There is mention of imaginary crimes such as “mental torture”. Does this anti-justice, anti-democracy and anti-constitutional legislation which is a product of perverted minds, merit any consideration at all? The proposed legislation seeks to destroy our sense of national unity and divide the citizens of the country. This legislation represents a total negation of our national interests.

Parliament and the Government elected by the people of Bharat with the hope that they will provide protection and promote love and justice for all should not allow this draft bill even for discussion in any form; and should summarily reject it. The security and justice for the so- called minorities can be guaranteed by law combined with the goodwill prevailing in society. Any attempt to bring in this piece of legislation that destroys social harmony even in any other form would meet with stout opposition and disapproval from the people, because though the form may change, the very draft of the Bill had made it clear that there was an anti-national conspiratorial mentality working at the back of these efforts.

ORGANISED GOOD PEOPLE, SPIRITED SOCIETY– THE ONLY SOLUTION

A politics bereft of will power and clear and fearless national perspective becomes a collection of shaky policies, cowardice, shirking of responsibilities and selfish considerations creating an atmosphere of mistrust and frustration. Our society has to take the onus of marching ahead on its glorious path by checking aggressive and dangerous tendencies threatening us on one hand and creating power and unity in all endeavours of our national life on the other. The ever victorious benevolent divine power in form of Durga arose out of collective endeavours of the gods and defeated the demons. This is the ancient history of today’s auspicious festival. The existing circumstances are once again demanding of us the same collective endeavour with will to be victorious and it is the native Hindu society that will have to meet this demand.

Saint Gyaneshwar has prayed in the concluding chapter of “The Gyaneshwari” that good heartedness, wisdom of good actions, feelings of mutual friendship amongst all, everybody pursuing life based on Dharma and fulfillment of everybody’s wishes should prevail. He has sought blessings for the evolution of a society that teams with groups of people who are God-fearing, gentle, virtuous and dedicated to the welfare of all. This was the conclusion of all great men of creative minds in modern Bharat to transform their dream of a Bharat as independent, harmonious, powerful and vishwa-guru into a reality. This again is the final verdict of all those selfless and honest people who are working to promote the interests of our country.

People who are not even slightly affected by selfishness, who are immensely sensible and devoted to society and who without fear and equivocation keep proclaiming the identity of our ancient nation, its all-unifying culture and glory and devotion towards its embodiment in Bharat Mata - undivided and overflowing with consciousness. Living examples of such persons will have to rise in every village and locality. It is through the nationwide collective selfless and dedicated efforts of these good people that our country could feel incandescent with wellbeing and good fortune.

CLARION CALL

The RSS is an effort to realise and establish this universally acceptable thought and conduct by organising the Hindus and was founded in a miniscule form 86 years ago. Today it stands before you in its vastly expanded form as an invaluable means of mobilising the well-meaning people. Let us become a part of it. Let us create an atmosphere of goodwill, fearlessness and patriotism in society. All the RSS volunteers should realise this responsibility and apply themselves to this work with full vigour and enthusiasm.

Let us discharge our duty in keeping our society united and harmonious with full confidence that our truthful path will prevail. Our victory is inevitable.

With heart filled with devotion to Rashtra

If the country stands as one

Overcoming all its problems

The Rashtra will stand victorious.

In the words of Rashtrasant Shri Tukadoji Maharaj

Let us become the yogis of Hind

To look after the interests of Bharat

Pick up the flag of Dharma

And take Bharat forward

This is the fulfillment of our Janma

This is the reason of our Moksha

This is the path to Swarga

AND This very is the arising of Bharat

II ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ II

Court upholds Hindu temple administration rights

2011-10-05T20:38:00.002+05:30

Law Court foils attempt of Christians to make inroads into Hindu temple administration

In a landmark judgement, the Madras High Court decreed that a Hindu temple administration can appoint only Hindus as its employees, while dismissing a petition by a Christian group. Following are the case particulars:

A Private Security Agency (Forte) owned by family of Christians challenged a tender notification issued by Subhramaniya Swamy Temple at Tiruchendur in Tuticorin district, Tamilnadu, on July 29. Justice K Chandru dismissed the writ petition filed stating that 'Hindu temple cannot be compelled to engage the services of a security agency owned by non-Hindus. Ultimately, reforms in matters of religious administration, if any, have to come from within and not outside, and the court could not thrust reforms'.

He held that courts cannot direct a temple management to engage the private security agency owned by non-Hindus even if it the agency undertook to provide security personnel professing Hindu faith alone.

A temple cannot be termed 'State' so as to compel it to engage contractors professing other faith. "Guarding a temple or a place of worship is a sensitive issue and ultimately it is for the temple to decide on such matters," the judge said.

He also pointed out that Section 10 of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act clearly stated that all servants of a temple, right from the Joint Commissioner to the last grade servants, including the security guards, must be Hindus.

He rejected the petitioner's contention that its exclusion would amount to discrimination practiced by a State Government official such as the Joint Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department in the name of religion.

He also pointed out that the Joint Commissioner was only a supervisory authority in his capacity as the Executive Officer of the temple, which was actually managed by a Board of Trustees which had decided to engage a security agency owned by Hindus alone.

‘VIGIL’ Organises Meeting on 'Threats to Social Harmony'

2011-10-01T15:14:00.003+05:30

‘VIGIL’ ORGANISES

MEETING ON ‘COMMUNAL VIOLENCE BILL’

A meeting was organized by VIGIL (A Public Opinion Forum) in Chennai on 28^th September 2011 to highlight the dangers of the proposed ‘Communal Violence Bill’. Ma.Shri Dattatreya, Saha-Sarkaryavah and Shri Aditya Reddy, Advocate of Madras High Court addressed the gathering pointing out the dangers/flaws in the proposed ‘Communal Violence Bill’ followed by question & answer session.

The meeting was presided over by Shri T.V.Ramanujun, Sr.Advocate and President of ‘Vigil”. Shri R G Rajan Chartered Accountant and Secretary delivered the vote of thanks. The response to the meeting was very good that the venue of the hall was overflowing. Some prominent personalities like Justice Vallinayagam, Shri Satish Parasaran, Former Principal Shri Gopalan of Theosophical Society of India, Shri Ananthanarayan, General Secy. Asian Union, were among the audience.

A booklet on ‘Communal Violence Bill’ written by Shri Ram Madhav was released in the meeting. Ms. Lakshmi Secretary of the Meenakshi Engineering College received the first copy.

'Communal Violence Bill' will create differences among citizens: Mohan Bhagwat ji

2011-09-26T10:54:00.002+05:30

'Communal Violence Bill' will create differences among citizens: Mohan Bhagwat

Jammu , Sun, 25 Sep 2011ANI

Jammu, Sep 25 (ANI): Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said the proposed 'Communal Violence Bill' would create differences among the citizens and divide the country on the basis of caste, creed and religion.

Addressing a meet in Jammu and Kashmir's Jammu city, Bhagwat said the bill does not adhere to the constitutional principles and democratic values.

"Communal Violence Bill is about to be introduced. If somebody goes through it cursorily, you do not need a scholastic approach for it, that person will understand that it is a bill to create differences. So, that tension and differences prevail in the country and India will break due to differences. Such kind of a bill it is," said Bhagwat.

"It is contrary to the general rules of law, neither it follows the constitutional principles, nor it holds the democratic values. It discriminates among the citizens of the country," he added.

The Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Regulations) Bill 2011, seeks to protect various groups from communal riots.

It has proposed to define the victim groups as 'religious and linguistic minority, in any state in India, or Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes'.

Talking about the UPA Government, Bhagwat said the government is neck-deep in corruption and has lost its credibility due to their alleged involvement in various scams.

"In such a situation, people who should guide the society are quarrelling for being in power. These people have lost their credibility due to corruption. They are extremely selfish. Just to attain power; they are ready to stoop down to any level. The existence of country, for which they are attaining the power, has been put on stake," said Bhagwat.

Speaking about the perforated international borders, Bhagwat said the borders are not fully secured and are not fenced properly and there are repeated attempts of infiltration.

"In northern region, there is China, which time and again keeps on threatening the country. It has its peripheral presence surrounding the country and has befriended India's enemy Pakistan. The friendship is so strong, that Pakistan dares threaten America, that if they (America) will interfere much in the country's (Pakistan) matters, then we (Pakistan) would end this friendship and they (America) will lose a friend," said Bhagwat.

"And in this condition, our borders are perforated. Our borders are not fully secured, infiltration bids are taking place, and borders are not fenced. At some places, the demarcation of border lines is unclear," he added. (ANI)