19 June 2006
Dehradun, June 19, 2006 (IMI)In a major victory for Anti-GM movement, Uttaranchal has disallowed GM seeds in the state. There is a growing movement against Genetically Modified food in India and Abroad.
In a meeting on June 18th 2006 with representatives of Coalition for GM-Free India including the President of Bhartiya Kissan Union [BKU] Chowdhary Mahinder Singh Tikait, the Chief Minister of Uttaranchal Mr Narain Dutt Tiwari assured that there would no permission given to GM seeds in Uttaranchal. This follows the call given by BKU and other members of Coalition for GM-Free India to make Uttaranchal a "GM-Free state".
Earlier in the day, Chowdhary Tikait and thousands of BKU members started marching towards Dehradun, the state capital from Haridwar, to secure their demand for a GM-Free state. The Chief Minister invited a delegation to a meeting on the issue later in the day.
Leading a delegation of the "Kissan Kumbh", Mr Tikait met the Chief Minister at Dehradun. Complimenting Mr Tiwari for his 'vision' to declare Uttaranchal as an organic state, Mr Tikait said that the organic status can only be preserved if genetically modified crops and foods are not allowed in the hilly state. "We are glad that the Chief Minister has seen through the design of the GM industry, which is keen to contaminate the environment and is not at all concerned about the grave risks that such crops and foods pose to human and animal health."
The Chief Minister was appraised about the likely introduction of Bt Brinjal through large scale trials and the serious health and environmental concerns it poses for the country. The Chief Minister sought more information on all such crops from the delegation.
The annual convention "Kissan Kumbh" of Bhartiya Kissan Union which ended at Haridwar on June 18th 2006 resolved that India does not need GM crops. 30,000 farmers have congregated for the 3-day Kissan Kumbh from the states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal.
Farmers attending the convention decided that they will send their protests to the Prime Minister through the district administration on July 10. There would be a massive education campaign launched with farmers in all villages about the various hazards of GM crops including Bt Brinjal, it was decided.
Meanwhile, members of the Coalition for GM-Free India are following up with the health and environment ministry on the assurances provided by the Ministers on the concerns raised.
Berlin, June 19 (DPA) Reigning champions Brazil improved on their opening performance against Croatia to beat Australia 2-0 and become the seventh team to qualify for the World Cup's knock-out stage.
In the other Japan vs Croatia match in Group F, Japan's Atsushi Yamagisawa produced an early contender for miss of the tournament, tamely shooting wide with the goal at his mercy as Zico's team drew 0-0 with Croatia.
In the France vs South Korea Group G match, French striker Thierry Henry scored his country's first World Cup goal on foreign soil for 20 years but France could only draw 1-1 with South Korea.
In Brazil's win over Australia, Ronaldo showed signs of improving form but again failed to score. He did have the ball in the net in the first half but was booked for his trouble because the referee had already blown for offside.
His misery continued moments later when he kicked fresh air as he tried to connect with Kaka's pass, and then blasted wide when set up by Adriano.
It was Adriano who broke the deadlock four minutes into the second half. Ronaldinho fed Ronaldo who squared to the Inter Milan striker and he found the bottom corner of Mark Schwarzer's net.
Australia had their chances but when Robinho fired against a post in the last minute, substitute Fred followed in the rebound to secure the win.
Brazil boss Carlos Alberto was happy with the form of his side and his troubled star striker Ronaldo. He said: "Ronaldo is reaching top form but he needs games. We will take it one step at a time but I'm happy with the improvement since the Croatia game."
Despite the defeat Australia are still in with a great chance of qualifying after Japan played out a goalless draw with Croatia in the group's other game thanks to a penalty save from goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi.
The former Portsmouth keeper flung himself to the left to stop Darijo Srna's spot-kick after captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto clipped Dado Prso's heels when he failed to reach a bouncing ball.
Japan would have won the game if only Atsushi Yamagisawa had not contrived to miss an open goal on 50 minutes after Akira Kaji's cross split the Croatian defence.
In Sunday's final game Thierry Henry found the net but the Arsenal striker's first-half effort was not enough to win the game.
France should have gone 2-0 up when Patrick Vieira headed in Zidane's corner, but just after it crossed the line South Korean keeper Lee Woon-Jae scrambled it away and the goal was not given.
France paid for the error when Manchester United's Park Ji-Sung stole in to level late in the second half, leaving the Asians as surprise group leaders.
If Switzerland beat Togo on Monday, that would mean a draw with South Korea in the last game would see both teams through and France eliminated.
That would mean Zinedine Zidane has already played his last match. The Real Madrid star will retire after the World Cup, and having been booked in the second half he misses France's last group match.
Kuala Lumpur, June 19 (IANS) Three-time champions India defeated Malaysia 5-2 in a Pool A match of the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament here Monday.
India, who lost 1-4 to Olympic and defending champions Australia in their first match Sunday, led 2-0 at half time at the Bukit Jalil Stadium.
Hari Prasad (14th minute), Gagan Ajit Singh (24th and 60th) and Sandeep Singh (39th) and Tushar Khandekar (56th) scored for India, while Azlan Misron (40th) and Jiwa Mohan (47th) reduced the margin for the hosts.
India's next match is against South Korea Wednesday, while Malaysia will play Australia the same day.
India dominated most of the first half, but the Malaysians had their moments as they forced penalty corners in five minutes midway in this half.
Malaysians came back determined and mounted attack after attack early in the second half. Their persistence paid rich dividends as it resulted in two goals in seven minutes.
But soon India again gained the upper hand as they scored two goals in five minutes, including one off a penalty stroke awarded after the Malaysian goal-keeper had brought down Shivender Singh when he was all set to push the ball inside the goal.
Gagan Ajit made no mistake from the dreaded spot as he placed the ball in the top left corner of the goal.
India, taking part in the tournament for the 11th time, had won the title here in 1985, 1991 and 1995, and finished third in 1983 and 2000.
India, Australia, who won the title in 2004 and 2005, Malaysia and one-time champion South Korea are in Pool A, while Pool B has thrice winners Pakistan, the Netherlands, Argentina and New Zealand.
After round robin matches the top two teams from both pools will advance to the semi-finals, followed by the final June 25.
The Azlan Shah tournament was launched in 1983 as a biennial contest that became an annual event after 1998.
Patna, June 19 (IANS) More than 25 children have died of suspected encephalitis and many affected children have been battling for survival in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district for the past few days.
The district administration has sounded a high alert to check the spread of the killer disease. The children reported sudden light fever in the early morning, which was followed by bouts of unconsciousness and convulsion leading to their death.
Civil surgeon Ramnagina Prasad Singh confirmed the deaths of the children due to suspected encephalitis.
Unofficial figures say the number of children to have died of the mosquito-borne disease was high. The viral infection leads to inflammation of the brain.
Muzaffarpur-based S.K. Medical College and Hospital superintendent G.K. Thakur said he had urged health experts in Pune to visit Muzaffarpur to study the cause of spread of the disease and direct district officials on preventive measures.
"The team of experts from Pune will ascertain whether the children died from encephalitis. If encephalitis is proved, they will check to see if it is common encephalitis or Japanese encephalitis," Thakur said.
Singh told IANS over phone that DDT spraying would begin on Monday in the affected areas.
State health department officials said that the World Health Organisation has expressed serious concern over the recurrence of encephalitis in Muzaffarpur this time. This is the third time in seven years that encephalitis has hit Muzaffarpur. Last year over 30 children died of the disease in the district.
A WHO team is likely to visit Muzaffarpur soon to study the cause of the disease and submit a report to the government. "The WHO team will visit affected villages and meet the family members of children who have died," an official said.
Islamabad, June 19 (IANS) The era when Pakistan got some of the best Western writers to write in its favour, especially on the Kashmir issue, by showering titles and national honours, may be a thing of the past. But its penchant for "gift diplomacy" continues in the hope of receiving favours in return, says a media report.
Principal adversary India, with rapid economic strides, may have beaten Pakistan in many fields but in "gift diplomacy" it is Pakistan that beats India. On this score, it is a "no-contest" between the neighbours, the Daily Times newspaper said.
Late President Zia-ul Haq was known to surprise foreign visitors by declaring them "sadar sahib ke mehman" (president's guest), open the car door to them, treat them to sumptuous meals, complete with home-made kebabs, after which they would receive expensive carpets as gifts.
The present ruler, President Pervez Musharraf, following in his footsteps, is leading Pakistan's "gift diplomacy", the newspaper said. Gifts are showered on visitors, and even on hosts during foreign visits.
Musharraf presented US President George W. Bush with a dark wooden table inlaid with bone valued at $1,400, an antique muzzleloader from the 1800s, a cream wool Pakistani coat and a hat during his December 2004 visit to Washington.
His wife Sehba Musharraf gave First Lady Laura Bush a gold light and dark pink garnet and pink tourmaline chandelier earrings, and a 17-inch light and dark pink garnet and pink tourmaline beaded necklace, the newspaper said.
Pakistan's "munificent leaders are by far the most generous visitors to Washington, lavishing expensive gifts on American government officials from President George W. Bush down to unnamed Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officers".
In contrast, the paper notes, when Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met Bush in September 2004, he gave him a round marble tabletop worth $550.
A list of gifts accepted by US officials from foreign government sources in 2004 published in the Federal Register last week shows that Pakistan outdid most countries in the world, gifting US officials carpets, rugs, shawls, jewellery and antique pieces.
"While it is normal for visiting leaders to present gifts to top US leaders, Pakistan really laid it thick, with gifts to (then) Secretary of State Colin Powell, then deputy national security adviser Stephen Hadley, lower level officials, senators and even a couple of CIA employees," South Asian News Agency (SANA) added.
Over the years, Pakistan's national day list of honours includes high civilian awards - called 'Nishan', 'Hilal' and 'Tamgha' - on a large number of foreign politicians, parliamentarians, officials, military men and businessmen whose association has benefited the country.
This is in contrast to the Indian list of honours, like the Jawaharlal Nehru Award and Indira Gandhi Award for International Understanding that are given to advocates of peace, religious harmony, scientists and those who have benefited mankind.
Islamabad, June 19 (IANS) An US-based security think tank has linked recent arrests in the US and one associated with the July 7, 2005, London bombings to the Pakistani branch of the Islamist militant group al-Muhajiroun.
The group has evolved into one of many support networks connecting Western Muslim youths, mostly from Europe, to jihad in southwest Asia, according to an analysis circulated by Stratfor, the US-based online news analysis service.
This occurred after the Pakistani branch's 2003 announcement of independence from the parent group in London. The Pakistani branch of al-Muhajiroun had decided to participate more actively in the jihad in Afghanistan, which necessitated its secession from the parent body.
Omer Bakri Mohammed, the organisation's founder, blessed this decision as he wanted to maintain plausible deniability for the group as a whole, the Daily Times newspaper said in a report from Washington.
Stratfor writes: "Groups like al-Muhajiroun's Pakistani branch are channels for bringing conditioned Western Muslim youths into contact with Al Qaeda recruiters. This is likely the same medium that allowed the July 7 London bombers to go from being radicalised youth to becoming actual suicide bombers."
Stratfor cites the example of Syed Hashmi, a 26-year-old US Muslim and New York City resident, who was arrested on June 6 at London's Heathrow Airport as he prepared to board a plane for Pakistan. He was charged with aiding an Al Qaeda plot to stage attacks in London and shipping equipment to the jihadi network headquartered in Pakistan.
Hashmi, the analysis notes, is a US citizen of Pakistani origin who grew up in New York. He graduated from college in 2003. During his student days, he was exposed to radical Islamic ideas, particularly those of the now defunct London-based group al-Muhajiroun.
According to Stratfor, "In 1996, the nascent and small New York branch of al-Muhajiroun, like its parent group in London, comprised members who had parted ways with Hizb al-Tahrir a trans-national radical Islamist group seeking to re-establish the caliphate through non-violent means.
"By the end of 1999, the chapter had undergone a complete turnover, and the group gained notoriety for being an Al Qaeda propaganda front organisation."
New Delhi, June 19 (IANS) Security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir have been startled by revelations that a large number of people arrested on suspicion of being terrorists are not actually so, but are unemployed youths, orphans and petty criminals ready to carry out attacks for a price.
Investigations in the recent terrorist strikes in the state revealed that unemployed youths, orphans and petty criminals were ready to carry out terrorist attacks for amounts between Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 15,000, depending on the nature of the threats they might have to face.
"For the past few months we have been arresting people who neither have past records of any terrorist activities nor have they had any training," said A.P. Maheshwari, Inspector General of Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Srinagar.
"During interrogation we found that they were not linked to any groups in particular but were paid small sums of money to carry out attacks against the security forces," Maheshwari told IANS.
Officials said the nature of attacks was limited to throwing a grenade at a bunker of security personnel or a gun shot at an official in a busy market place.
"Most of these individuals are orphans, unemployed youths and petty criminals who desperately want money to make a living," said Maheshwari.
"The number of unemployed youths in the state is very high and these people are lured by terrorists and given money to create disturbances in the state," said Maheshwari.
In the past month, there has been a string of attacks on security forces and tourists, who have come to Srinagar.
Maheshwari also said that since these new generation attackers do not have past records, it is difficult to trace them. "We are re-activating some of our sources to find out the groups that are financing such attacks," said Maheshwari.
"We are also taking help from the general public because somewhere these terrorists are getting support from the common people, as some of them sympathise with them," he added.
"There is a general apprehension about the security forces amongst the people and we are trying to make them familiar to the security agencies so that they come forward to help us control the extremists," he said.
To garner support from the people, the agency is appointing 3,500 men from different areas of Jammu and Kashmir so that unemployed youths could get a source of income, said senior officials of CRPF.
"We are purposely taking men from the far-flung areas of the state," said a senior official. The selection procedure of these men has been completed and their training would begin soon," he added.
"The men have been appointed specially for counter-insurgency activities and most of them would be posted in the state for the first few years of the service," said the official.
Chennai, June 19 (IANS) It's been a year since the Right to Information (RTI) Act came into effect to supposedly empower citizens with a potent tool - but the people of Tamil Nadu still cannot obtain even basic information, NGOs here say.
Applications to seek information from the Chennai Municipal Corporation or the Public Works Department on who has granted permission to dig a road or who monitors if the road is restored after repairs or the progress of the work on a new bridge have elicited little response, according to the Tamil Nadu Right to Information Campaign.
The campaign, part of a Drive Against Bribe that works towards creating more public awareness about the RTI Act - which came into effect in June 2005, is a common platform of about half a dozen NGOs working in the state.
The Corporate Accountability Desk, an NGO part of the campaign, made repeated requests to the state secretariat on civil and road works in the coastal Pattinapakkam area that was hit by tsunami in December 2004.
The secretariat however obfuscated, saying its public information officer (PIO) who was responsible for furnishing the information had retired. In some cases, the applicant was asked to go to a post office to file the information request.
"A lot of difficulties were faced while filing the application. The government staff was oblivious of the RTI and was unable to direct us to the PIO," the NGO said.
The silence is even more deafening when uncomfortable questions are asked, for example, about steps taken by the city's civic body to dispose of medical waste or the amount of computer waste being let into the country from Chennai port.
"The central PIO replied that the requested information 'concerned a third a party', thus masking the information. The officer did not provide information on screening facilities at the port either," another NGO said.
When the Department of Cooperation, Food and Consumer Protection was requested for information on the constitution and processes of the State Consumer Protection Council, its PIO went into "procedural roundabouts" which were "highly perplexing as there seems to be a lack of uniformity in the requisite procedures laid down in the RTI act," said another NGO.
"The implementation of the RTI Act in Tamil Nadu leaves much to be desired by civil society. Procedural uncertainties, lack of knowledge on the act among the PIOs and inadequate infrastructure has caused unnecessary delays and frustration amongst citizens," say the Chennai RTI and the Citizen Consumer Action and Civic Action Group (CAG).
"In fact, these reasons deter citizens from using this powerful tool in order to address their day-to-day difficulties and organisations from accessing public documents lying with the government," the NGOs have said.
The review singles out the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and the Department of Environment and Forests as among the "big violators of the RTI".
When corporate watchdog NGOs sought details about allegedly illegal copper smelting in Tuticorin district and expansion of a chemical plant in Cuddalore, only incomplete information was provided by the board and the department, and that too months later - compared with the 30-day period the act provides for.
New Delhi, June 19 (IANS) Sahara Computers and Electronics Ltd (SCEL), a joint venture between South Africa's Sahara Computers Ltd and the Sahara India Pariwar, could soon offer laptops for below Rs.25,000.
"Laptops with a price tag of less than Rs.25,000 is not a remote possibility any more, as the average cost of production has come down drastically over the years due to growing sales volumes in the Indian market," SCEL chief operating officer George Van Der Merwe told IANS.
"It is not the cost but the taxes that are compelling us to price the laptops slightly above Rs.25,000. If the government can liberalise the tax structure a bit, sub-25k notebooks are a real possibility," Merwe said.
However, with growing sales volumes, SCEL is looking at the possibility of breaking the barrier, he added.
SCEL has already announced its intent to invest Rs.4 billion ($87 million) in the Indian market over the next couple of years with a major focus on small cities and towns.
"We think the future lies in smaller towns and cities, where a huge untapped market exists. SCEL is focusing on that in a big way," Merwe explained.
As part of its marketing strategy, the company has also introduced a range of consumer electronics products in the Indian market.
"We are also looking at a greater share in the tablet PC market, which is expanding at a rapid pace. Its size may not be that big but it has great potential and we already have a strong foothold in this market," Merwe added.
According to him, despite hardware prices tumbling, there was no price war among major players in the market.
"The Indian market is so big that there is room for everyone," he maintained.
Leipzig, June 19 (DPA) Park Ji Sung's late equaliser gave never-say-die South Korea a 1-1 draw with wasteful France in a Group G match that could mark the end of Zinedine Zidane's stellar career.
Thierry Henry put the French ahead on nine minutes with their first World Cup goal Sunday since they won the 1998 final on home soil, improving on a goalless opening draw with Switzerland.
But despite dominating most of the match, the French were left with just two points from two games - though Mexican referee Benito Archundia failed to allow what television replays showed as a clear goal by Patrick Vieira.
Zidane, who will be 34 when France play Togo on Friday, received his second yellow card of the tournament for pushing a defender in the penalty area just after the South Korean equaliser.
That means the French captain and mastermind of the 1998 champion squad will miss the final group game against Togo, which could be the last in France's 2006 trophy campaign unless they win.
"We were greatly improved on the match against Switzerland. We put some good moves together," embattled French coach Raymond Domenech said.
"We controlled the match for long spells, but we're unlucky the referee didn't give the goal on Vieira's header."
South Korea, playing their sixth World Cup in a row, now lead the group with four points before Togo and Switzerland meet in their second Group G game Monday.
Domenech blamed "strange" refereeing for Zidane's second booking, but he praised the fighting spirit of the Koreans, who were semi- finalists four years ago when they co-hosted the World Cup.
"Their goal was bit flukey, but that's football," he said. "We know where we are: We have to win the last match."
France swiftly took control of the match and for a long time seemed headed for their first World Cup victory on foreign soil in 20 years.
Arsenal striker Henry split the Korean defence on six minutes with a pass to Sylvain Wiltord, whose shot inside the area forced goalkeeper Lee Woon Jae to save with his feet.
Three minutes later the French went ahead when Henry sped between two defenders and craftily took a Wiltord pass, controlling the ball with his right foot and slotting it home with his left.
It was one of the only times in the game that an generally sluggish Zidane showed why he was called out of international retirement to lead the French squad when their World Cup qualifying seemed headed for disaster.
Mid-way through the first half the Real Madrid star tried to slip a back-heel pass to Florent Malouda on the touch line. The ball went out, and Zidane cracked a wry smile.
A bit later, he back-headed a corner kick wide at the back post in the 27th.
France seemed to have made it two on 31 minutes when Patrick Vieira rose high on a corner and Lee Woon Jae appeared to palm the ball away behind the goal-line, but the referee waved play on.
Henry played the ball into the box in the 41st after a classy move just inside the area, but Florent Malouda was one step too late to reach the pass.
France continued to dominate after the break, but sloppy passing and tight marking by the Koreans spoiled most French moves. Malouda tried from afar on 74 minutes, sending a left-footed volley over the crossbar from 25 metres out.
France's slack finishing came back to haunt them in the 81st when Manchester United midfielder Park Ji Sung equalised on South Korea's first compelling attack.
Substitute Seol Ki Hyeon looped in a cross from the right, Cho Jae Jin headed the ball into the goalmouth from the far post and Park Ji Sung bundled it past goalkeeper Fabien Barthez as William Gallas' attempt to save on the goal-line came too late.
"We are very happy that as a small footballing country we won a point against the French," said South Korea coach Dick Advocaat. "We were lucky to score one goal out of two chances."
On the French side, the game also marked a milestone for defender Lilian Thuram who equalled Marcel Desailly's record of 116 French caps.
Match statistics:
France: Fabien Barthez - Willy Sagnol, Lilian Thuram, William
Gallas, Eric Abidal - Patrick Vieira, Claude Makelele - Sylvain
Wiltord (60. Franck Ribery), Zinedine Zidane (90. Trezeguet), Florent
Malouda (88. Vikash Dhorasoo) - Thierry Henry.
South Korea: Lee Woon Jae - Choi Jin Cheul, Kim Young Chul, Kim
Dong Jin, Lee Young Pyo - Kim Nam Il, Lee Ho (67. Kim Sang Sik), Lee
Eul Yong (45. K Seol), Park Ji Sung - Lee Chun Soo (71. Ahn Jung
Hwan) - Cho Jae Jin.
Referee: Benito Archundia, Mexico
Attendance: 43,000
Yellow Cards: Abidal, Zidane / Kim Dong Jin, Lee Ho
Best players: Vieira, Henry / Park Ji Sung, Lee Woon Jae
By Asif Anwar Alig
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is once again encountering the biggest crossroads that it hadn’t faced in the past. Its minority status and the decision to grant fifty percent reservation to the Muslims in the Professional Courses has been declared “unconstitutional�. The attacks on AMU are designed to remove its Muslims character.
The existence of Aligarh Muslim University “without its minority status� will have no meaning. It will have its identity like hundreds of other universities of the country with its peculiar ‘town tag’ prefix to the word `university'. Hence AMU readies to become AU (Aligarh University) that most of its former students, the ultra secular ones, are already acknowledging for keeping their own secularism intact.
Unless both the houses of the Parliament take interest and the visitor of the university, President A.P.J Abdul Kalam intervenes to restore the identical aspiration of AMU any fruitful solution remains bleak. He should even surpass the rule of law to save AMU’s fate. AMU’s contribution in helping the Muslim community to prosper in education is its biggest achievement ever. The role of Aligarh Movement in freeing India from the British enriches the leaflets of Indian history.
Where will AMU stand without its principal objective? In the name of secularism the constitution is being applied for the tokenism that pushes the historical movement turned educational movement turned university on the path of failure. It is an obvious fact that AMU was founded at a time when Muslims were facing the paradigm shift under the utter tyranny of the British rule. This was around 1857 that the British had developed hostile attitude towards the Muslim community because of their involvement in the nationwide revolt.
British prudently favoured the Hindus because they proved themselves more loyal and were better educated. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, the educational reformer and one of the Muslim visionaries, was looking into the future of his community. He felt the necessity to establish an educational institution that fulfils the educational vacuum amongst his community.
Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College, the precursor to AMU, was aimed to equip the Muslim elites with modern (Western) education to keep abreast of their Hindu counterparts. In furtherance of his aim was to keep his community ready for the equal representation in the revolution that followed to free the country from the clutches of the British rule.
Since then and particularly after 1920’s when MAO College became a full-fledged university, AMU has been acknowledged as the greatest bastion of the Muslim intelligentsia and politics. After the partition of the country AMU became the educational hub for the middle and lower middle class Muslims of India.
Muslim students from affluent as well as backward families come to study at this great institution of learning --- the Oxford of the East. This boom coincides with the educational plans of the central governments to educate Indian youth to become instrumental in developing modern India. This created a wave amongst the Indian masses to get educated from this site of learning.
Aligarh Muslim University with the perceived `minority tag' is fighting for its 2000 seats of the professional courses, out of which about 70% go to the Muslims. After the minority tag is removed, all these seats will be open to all Indians, irrespective of religious denomination. Most probably, all the seats will go to the better-educated and better-prepared Hindu students. This is the greatest fear in whose grip the Muslim community finds itself today.
Muslims need to think of a movement like that of the pre-independent scenario when Sir Syed Ahmed Khan fought for his community. This is unfortunate that none, including those who levied Fatwa on Sir Syed when he thought of providing Western Education to the Muslim Youths, are ready to produce another Sir Syed.
Practically speaking, the Muslim community would lose thousands of professionals (primarily doctors and engineers) year after year once the minority status of the university is quashed. At present the world is better fitted with Muslim professionals at every part. And this has happened due to a fattening contribution of AMU. Without minority quota AMU would loose this dominancy and sooner or later another vacuum would create.
Reservations on minority status or caste and creed are meant for those who are the exploited classes. Majority of the Muslims are still not better off than other castes like Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes. AMU has been playing crucial role in uplifting the less educated Muslims.
The president of the Republic of India, in the capacity of the visitor of the university needs to take the matter personally. A visionary himself, he might think of the constitutional norms and extra constitutional powers on letting the suppressed community to stick to their legacy. This would help the Muslim community to have self-esteem along their counterpart majority community that too is equally benefited from AMU even with its minority status, the first AMU graduate was a Hindu.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Asif Anwar Alig is an Executive Producer of ETV Networks and can be contacted at asifanwaralig[AT]yahoo[DOT]co[DOT]in
Lucknow, June 19 (IANS) Two young girls were burnt alive and nearly 100 houses torched in an Uttar Pradesh district as rival Hindu and Muslim groups clashed over the murder of a youth.
The violence in three villages of Pratapgarh district, about 150 km from here, took place Sunday evening following the murder of Ashish Pathak, a close aide of the local ruling Samajwadi Party legislator, over what the police called a case of "old enmity".
His uncle Shashidhar Pandey also suffered bullet injuries, but was declared out of danger by Sunday evening.
Pandey, the sole witness to the killing, identified Pathak's assailants, triggering the large-scale violence.
With active support of the ruling party legislator, the goons went on a retaliatory attack, burning down Muslim houses in Gurwa, Badlu and Subedar villages, police sources said.
Caught unawares, the villagers, mostly belonging to the Muslim community, ran for their lives.
Eyewitnesses claimed that two teenaged girls were burnt alive after being flung into the blaze by the attackers.
According to the police, even though the clash has not aggravated into any kind of communal violence, an alert has been sounded and additional forces have been deployed to prevent any escalation in tensions.
Said Pratapgarh District Magistrate R.S. Verma: "The girls were not thrown into the fire but got caught in the blaze that engulfed their house."
Blaming the incident on "old enmity" between two families, he said: "The tension dates back to 1997 when Ashish was named as one of the key accused in the murder of a local Muslim, Jumman. His son Sohrab, who was then just a minor, had vowed to avenge the father's death, which he accomplished by gunning down Ashish."
Verma, who was camping in Gurwa village where most of the houses were set ablaze, was confident that the situation would not acquire a communal colour.
"We have enough force stationed here to ensure that there was no recurrence of violence," he claimed.
The police had already arrested some of the suspects and more would follow, the official added.
By Mahendra Ved, With a general election in Bangladesh around the corner, the US is keeping a close watch on a country where the intelligentsia fears growing Islamic terrorism could cloud the democratic process.
"No one can forecast what may or may not happen in Bangladesh. But I can say in general that whenever democracy comes under threat, the US can opt to use any number of tools, including diplomatic measures at multilateral organisations such as the UN, or in bilateral relations, to express its concern about that threat."
With these words, senior US State Department official Oscar DeSoto gave a reassurance to a group of Bangladeshi journalists during a recent website chat of Washington's keen interest in Bangladesh's political well-being.
What is billed as the most contentious general election is still months away. But strikes and rallies, often turning violent, are the order of the day. Amidst a complete absence of a dialogue among the political contenders, the media and the intelligentsia have turned to international agencies and foreign missions as never before.
A military takeover or even an enhanced role for the men in uniform is a constant apprehension in Bangladesh. It is a reminder of the long phases of martial law in the erstwhile East Pakistan and since 1971 in independent Bangladesh.
Not surprisingly, DeSoto was asked if the US had any role to play in "protecting" democracy in Bangladesh from any "extra-constitutional move in the wake of failure of political leadership" to resolve their election disputes.
His reply: "I trust that the people of Bangladesh will reject that option and work hard to protect its long tradition of democracy."
All this can hardly be taken as an attempt by Bangladeshis to win accolades from the West. But the fact is that there is widespread apprehension about growing activities of Islamist militants. Especially since the present government of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, having an influential Islamist component, took office immediately after 9/11. The last four years have been a trying time for religious minorities and political opponents.
Taking place after the 9/11 and the 7/7 terror attacks in the US and Britain respectively, the forthcoming elections are critical for all concerned.
To quote DeSoto: "Terrorists are determined to crush democracy, but, ironically, elections are a legitimate means for people to advocate their views peacefully.
"Simply put, the best defence against terrorism is a thriving democracy arrived at through free and fair elections, which give voice to those with grievances against their governments."
In expressing such views, DeSoto is not alone. US envoy in Dhaka Patricia A. Butenis has also been pro-active, meeting the country's leadership, the opposition and captains of trade and industry to urge them all to work together to ensure smooth elections.
Like the envoys of the European Union (EU) and other donor nations, she has been fielding questions on issues that one would consider as being Bangladesh's internal matters but are nevertheless of interest to them.
They have spoken about the need to improve governance, of ridding society of corruption and, above all, to shun strikes and public protests and hold the much-needed political dialogue. However, they have met with little success so far.
This has generated new doubts about the elections being smooth and fair. A close watch by the US, the EU and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is already on the cards.
A UNDP team from its New York headquarters will be studying the "pre-election environment", talking to all concerned, including the election officials, political parties, academics, civil society and journalists, during a 10-day appraisal mission.
The UNDP is also planning to set up a secretariat before the elections to provide logistic support to UN observers and other organisations like the EU, should they seek it. In the 2001 general election, the UN had sent 40 election observers. This time around, the EU is planning to send around 150 observers.
DeSoto appeared to reflect the sentiments of all when he said: "What we hope for is that the process produces a representative government, which advocates freedom and tolerance and preserves the right of its citizens to continue to choose its leaders. Democracy can take many forms, but only through a truly democratic process can the rights of all individuals be upheld."
(Mahendra Ved is an expert on South Asian affairs. He can be contacted at mahendra.ved@gmail.com)
Munich, June 19 (DPA) Microsoft's new Windows Vista operating system, expected in 2007, is reportedly able to adapt itself to the hardware of any computer it is installed on.
This means fairly basic minimum set-up requirements as an 800 MHz processor and 512 MB of working memory and a graphic card with DirectX 9 support are perfectly adequate, Computerwoche magazine reported.
But more computing power opens up many more security and system set-up possibilities, as to get the most out of Vista would require at least a one GHz processor, the report said.
There should also be at least one GB of working memory and a 40 GB hard drive with 15 GB free.