Palash Speaks

Secret Negotiations Continue Despite Truce with Left
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to speak to US President George W Bush on the nuclear issue
Palash Biswas
Contact: Palash C Biswas, C/O Mrs Arati Roy, Gosto Kanan, Sodepur, Kolkata- 700110, India. Phone: 91-033-25659551
Email: alashbiswaskl@gmail.com">palashbiswaskl@gmail.com
CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat has pulled off a major political victory.But secret Nnegotiations on Nuke Deal continues despite Truce with the Left! Given his determination to bring down the government, there is no doubt that the left parties would have withdrawn support and then arranged to introduce a no-confidence motion in Parliament the moment the government started safeguard negotiations with the IAEA. It was also clear that the Left would have voted along with the ‘communal’ BJP-led NDA to bring down the government. It is the misinformation campaign while the Truth remains the same as the Ruling classes, Left as well as right, have no alternative but to save US interests. So much happen to be on the stake besides the Imperialist Agenda of Post Modern Galaxy Manusmriti Order led by United States Of America!

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to speak to US President George W Bush on the nuclear issue on Monday night. The talks come in the backdrop of the latest comments by Manmohan Singh at the leadership summit organised by a leading national newspaper.THE IMPRESSION given by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi at a newspaper’s conclave that they were determined to continue their government for a full-term may not put an end to the ongoing speculations for midterm poll. That also may not be to put Indo-US Nuclear deal at cold storage. Singh had said that in life one had to live with disappointments hinting that the nuke deal was not likely to come through at the cost of the government.Unveiling his new vision of ties with Nigeria, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said the two countries should seek to upgrade their cooperation on security matters to meet the emerging threats of terrorism and challenges to social fabric.India and Nigeria are expected to sign a defence pact and three other accords to upgrade bilateral ties during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh`s visit. Meanwhile,Bulls ran amok on Dalal Street, home to the country`s stock market, carrying the benchmark Sensex past the 19,000 mark milestone in a record four sessions, as investors bet heavily on blue chip stocks and political truce. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had also ruled out the possibility of mid-term polls in the context of the nuclear deal.After having decided not to take its battle with the Left over the India-US nuclear deal to breaking point, however,Congress may still have to formally communicate this position to the comrades whose support is crucial for the survival of the Manmohan Singh government. Despite both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi ruling out early polls and making it evident that the deal would not take precedence over survival of the government at a public function last week, the Left leaders are expecting to be told as much, in so many words.As of now the Congress party’s strategists were working on two things — first, they were assessing the impact of the confrontation and the subsequent fallout if the party decided to go to the polls. Secondly, they were trying to find out if the government could survive without the Left in the Lok Sabha. It seems that the game was up as far as numbers were concerned. If BJP wins in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections and Congress fails to get control over Karnataka politics, it would be difficult for the party to maintain its lead in the national politics after one and half years. This made them to opt for midterm poll.
Following these comments, the government was criticised for allegedly “backtracking” on the issue. This was because earlier, the main party of the coalition, which is the Congress, had forcefully advocated the operationalisation of the deal. This was in spite of the Left, which is lending crucial external support to the government, having voiced its opposition to the same. Accusing the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre of buying time from the Communists to go for a snap poll, BJP said it was prepared to face mid-term elections though the party was against it at this juncture.Though presently Congress was forced to look like bowing down to the left pressures, it may be inevitable for them to go for mid term poll. Presently it was number game more than the left parties over the nuclear deal made the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s ‘U turn’.This has only exposed that how the UPA Government was plagued by inherent contradictions. The party is seems to be waiting for the out come of assessment of the public mood in the post-Rama Sethu row.Mayawati only recently declared her intention of keeping an eye on Delhi seat. In the event of hung parliament with neither UPA nor NDA able to form government without her support, she would naturally prefer back those who support her for Prime Ministership.At the same time, no one was sure whether Mayawati would go with the Congress on the nuclear deal after her recent tantrums. Even the secret negotiations with Samajwadi leaders were not re-assuring. But no one is certain whether life will continue as usual when the Parliament meets in November for its Winter Session.

The Left has stated that it was against the deal as US domestic law, the Hyde Act was in conflict with the 123 Agreement. And the Hyde Act according to the Left parties was not in the interest of India. There have been a number of meetings between the Left and the UPA to discuss nuke deal with the Left vehemently against formal negotiations with the IAEA to discuss safeguards. A joint panel formed by the government which also comprises the Left parties, has been confabulating on the issue. The next meeting is slated for October 22 of the panel. Prior to the summit, the latest comment on the controversial deal had come from veteran Left leader A B Bardhan that the government had assured the Left of not proceeding further on the deal until a compromise is reached by the joint panel on the matter. As of now, though the deal has been well and truly put on the backburner, the next meeting of the UPA-Left committee is slated for October 22 and has not been called off. Though the Left may seem to be nitpicking as the Congress leadership has gone public with its views that the deal can wait, the government’s ‘‘Red’’ supporters feel that this has to be communicated to them.
If a senior government emissary, in the next few days, does inform the Left in an official manner that the deal would not be proceeded with, the four parties comprising the Left Front would meet to take a view. This is the position that Left has conveyed to the Congress emissaries who have acted as a bridge with the comrades. Senior Left leader in West Bengal, Biman Bose, said as much according to an agency report. He said the government’s stand would be made clear when the UPA-Left panel next met to discuss the ‘‘foreign policy’’ implications of the deal with the US.
The national secretariat of the Communist Party of India (CPI) on Sunday reiterated the Left parties opposition to operationalisation of the India-U.S. nuclear deal.
Two days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi discounted the possibility of an early election, the CPI said it had not received any formal communication from the government on any change in its position on the deal. “We will see what they have to say at the October 22 meeting of the UPA-Left committee on the deal,” CPI national secretary D. Raja said.
The meeting of the national secretariat was scheduled prior to Dr. Singh and Ms. Gandhi’s comments at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit. It discussed the prevailing political situation, particularly with reference to the nuclear deal. Price rise was another issue that came up; particularly in the light of the party’s ongoing campaign against it.
The CPI national executive has been scheduled for October 29 followed by a two-day sitting of the national council from October 30.
On the other hand, A pact to jointly develop and produce a fifth generation fighter aircraft for the Indian and Russian air forces could be inked during Defence Minister AK Antony's four-day visit to Moscow Oct 16-19. The issue will figure prominently during the seventh meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC) that will also discuss a range of issues relating to further ramping military ties, additional purchases of Russian defence hardware and cost escalations in deals that have already been inked, a senior official said.
Antony and his Russian counterpart Anatoly Serdyukov will co-chair the IRIGC-MTC meeting. Antony's trip will set the stage for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Moscow in November for his annual summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had visited Moscow last week.
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - American economists Leonid Hurwicz, Eric Maskin and Roger Myerson won the 2007 Nobel for economics on Monday for laying the foundations of an economic theory that determines when markets are working effectively.
Hurwicz, a Russian-born American citizen, is at 90 years old the oldest-ever recipient of a Nobel prize.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said the three established "mechanism design theory", which looks at how well different institutions fare in allocating resources and whether government intervention is needed.
Hurwicz initiated the theory and it was further developed by Maskin of Princeton University and Myerson of the University of Chicago, the academy's citation said.
Hurwicz, born in Moscow in the year of the Russian revolution, is a professor emeritus of economics at University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
The economists will share a prize of 10 million Swedish crowns (765,000 pounds).
Mumbai:Indian stocks surged 3.5 percent on Monday, storming past 19,000 on the way to their 17th record high in 18 sessions, as the market celebrated easing fears of an early election and rode strong foreign investment inflows.Petrochemicals maker Reliance Industries and top private lender ICICI Bank led the gains.
The 30-share BSE index rose 3.47 percent, or 639.63 points, to 19,058.67, with 28 components gaining. The index, which only crossed 18,000 points for the first time last Tuesday, hit a record of 19,095.75 points during trade.
The leader of India's Congress party and the most powerful politician in the country, Sonia Gandhi, said on Friday she did not want an early election and was hoping to resolve differences with communist allies.
"When in 2004 we won the election we got together as a coalition, we made certain commitments to the electorate, to those who voted for us, and I think it's only fair we fulfill those commitments," she told a seminar in the Indian capital.
"We must do all we can to see to it that we complete those projects and those commitments and that we go till the end of our term which will come in 2009," she said. "No, we are not in favour of an early election."
The government's communist allies have threatened to withdraw crucial parliamentary support if it pushes ahead with a controversial civil nuclear cooperation deal with the United States.
But Gandhi echoed earlier comments from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh suggesting the government might not push the deal at the expense of its own survival.
"The position of the government and my position is that we are working in a coalition. We committed to the people to work for them for the full term and therefore we will try our best, we will work towards bringing a consensus with the left."
She said the nuclear deal "was just one issue within a large number of issues" which the government was pursuing, and said the government was trying to avoid confrontation with the left.

Abuja: It was the night the nearly 30,000-strong Indian community in Nigeria had been waiting for since they saw Jawaharlal Nehru in their midst 45 years ago. And their wish was fulfilled when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh toasted these "ambassadors of goodwill" who have acted as "the bridge that unites India and Nigeria."

“To the members of the Indian community let me say that India is proud of you. You are the bridge that unites India and Nigeria,” Manmohan Singh told enterprising and successful Indians who had come to listen to him from different parts of their adopted homeland in Nigeria on Sunday night.
"You have acquitted yourself most creditably. You have contributed to the development of friendship and goodwill between our countries," Manmohan Singh, the first Indian Prime Minister to come on a bilateral visit to India since Nehru in 1962, said at the glittering Hotel Hilton amidst repeated rounds of applause.
Manmohan Singh began his historic three-day visit to Nigeria on Sunday, a trip that is set to energise relations between India and Africa's oil capital and take bilateral ties to "a higher and qualitatively new footing."
Lauding the "remarkable adaptability and resilience" of Indian communities all over the world, Manmohan Singh promised them that India would do all it could to assure the safety and security of its citizens abroad - a veiled reference to the precarious security situation in the oil-rich Niger Delta where many Indians work in the oil industry.
There have been many cases of foreigners, including Indians, being kidnapped by militants operating in the Niger Delta.
"We have been assured at the highest levels of the host government that this is a matter that is being given high priority. Our mission will offer all necessary assistance to our citizens in distress," he said.
The Indian community in Nigeria has scripted a unique success story in Nigeria with "their initiative, enterprise and hard work".
Indian industry and business has emerged as the second largest employer in Nigeria. Nearly 22,000 Indians are settled in Lagos, the coastal city that is the country's business hub. Other cities Indians have made home in this country are Ibadan, Kaduna and the Nigerian capital Abuja.
"They enjoy a high social and economic standing in Nigeria," India's High Commissioner to Nigeria H H S Viswanathan said.
Indian teachers who came in the 1970s and 1980s have taught a generation of Nigerian leadership and elite and are fondly remembered in this country. The first wave of Indian migration started in the 1950s with mostly Sindhi traders setting their shop. Teachers and doctors followed in the 1970s and 1980s. The 1990s saw a more diverse mix of Indians coming in Africa's largest oil producing country with IT professionals topping the list.
The Prime Minister also enunciated his vision of shaping "a strong contemporary partnership" between India, the largest democracy in the world, and Nigeria, the largest democracy in Africa and praised "the openness of Nigerian society that has created an enabling climate for our people to do well and flourish".
Showcasing a strong and vibrant nation, which has entered a new phase, the Prime Minister invited the Indian community to contribute their "spirit, endeavour and enterprise in the services of your homeland".
Underlining the transformation of India's image in the world, the Prime Minister spoke about the surging confidence to sustain an economic growth rate of 9 to 10 percent in the days to come.
"We need this rapid economic growth to meet our socio-economic objectives and rid our country of chronic poverty. India offers limitless opportunities and is looking to its overseas communities to contribute to their might," he said.

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Life is ebbing away from India's controversial nuclear cooperation deal with the United States after the government appeared to back down in a row with its communist allies to save itself from a snap election.
But in equal trouble, political analysts said, is the credibility of the government and of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who had staked his reputation on a deal which he had said future generations would look back on as historic.
Looking rather crestfallen, Singh seemed to back down at a seminar on Friday, saying it would be a disappointment if the deal did not go ahead, but that life would go on. His government, he said, did not want an early election.
"Dr Singh says it is not the end of life. Which is true enough, but it could be the end of Manmohan Singh," the Business Standard wrote in an editorial titled "A hostage in office".
"There is life after the nuclear deal? Sure," echoed the Indian Express. "But what kind of life?"
The government's communist allies had threatened to withdraw crucial parliamentary support if it pressed ahead with the deal, which would allow India to import U.S. nuclear fuel and reactors despite having tested nuclear weapons but not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
For weeks the government seemed determined to face the left down. Earlier last week, Singh's Congress party and coalition leader Sonia Gandhi called opponents of the deal "enemies of development".
Then, in a meeting with the left last week, came the apparent flip-flop: more talks would be held with the left, and negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency -- crucial to the deal -- would remain on hold.

Friends,

This is a succinct summary of political situation by gopelalwani. For six decades we have seen (i) Politicians plundering the nation and going scot-free, year after year, (ii) Power without authority of some, (iii) Leaders devoid of leadership qualities (almost all leaders, prticularly the Left ones, belong to this category), (iv) A judiciary that considers itself above law, not even amenable to its own code of discipline, (v) A Police system that is power unto itself, as one reformist said, 'Dacoits in uniform' and (vi) The Indian Administrative Service with all the authority without any accountability and it runs from top to bottom. Where do we begin?

Seeking solutions through changes in the fundamental law of the land is a time taking, onerous task, with no guarantee of success. The US Presidential system, that so easily turned a vibrant democracy into a Police State without any one ever realizing it, is a glaring example of weaknesses nherent in any system, Parliamentary or Presidential.

Simple solutions are always overlooked: A major restructuring of Indian bureaucracy has been overdue by five decades. I don't see any reason why political partie should not have the right to determine appointment of top officials, heads of various ministries and departments and throw the positions open strictly on merit basis. Which essentially implies that passing the UPSC examination should strictly be viewed as a test of some ability but not competence; competence needs to be proved everyday, not just once. Secondly, w need a system within officialdom wherein competent officers are rewarded far more often. There are thousands of non-IAS officers in various Ministries, languishing at lower level, supervised by utterly incompetent, and contemptible IAS officers. This is the surest prescription for non-performance. Promote and reward competent officers. Thirdly, we need to delink rank with salary. I don't see any reason why a young bright IAS or PCS officer should not earn more than his boss if he/she is competent, motivated, and learns fast. In our profession (of management consulting), we do not penalise officers for making mistakes but reward those who are able to take hard decisions. 80: 20 rule. No one is God, even Gods make mistake. Everyone is enttled to make mistakes but responsible people accept and seldom repeat those mistakes. Finally, this is from my personal experience: If we did not have 15-18% absolutely upright, honest, totally dedicated, and extremely competent officers within our Police, bureaucracy and the army, we'd have been finished as a nation.

Let me support my contention: On this forum I have said several times that the US Government is world's largest criminal enterprise. A former officer of LAPD, Mike Ruppert, has documented how the CIA (world's largest drug runner) avoided transit route via India because of problems they might encounter with India's narcotic sleuths and the Police! Mike exposed the extent and depth of CIA and US Banks involvement in drug trade and money laundering. For his expose Mike faced harassment, destruction of his office, computers and data, and finally had to leave the US for some time. He had to close down his excellent news website 'From The Wilderness'.

Let us not condemn all and every Indian in positions of power and authority; some of them are doing an excellent job. As a former officer of the civil service in England, I found that more British civil servants were incompetent and utter deadwoods than I found here when I made India my home.

One last word: if we can can't reform the IAS, let us ensure that the services (IAS, IPS and IRS) are exclusively reserved for women. They will perform far better than Bihari and UP males from upper castes. At least they have more solid spine and are more humane than men folks.

Best regards
Arun Shrivastava

Manmohan Singh is paying a steep political price for his pursuit of a strategic partnership with the US. The Manmohan Singh government’s retreat on the Indo-US nuclear deal, after three years of do-or-die bravado, can only be explained by that adage: He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day. Martyrs get memorials and medals, but they don’t get a second chance. Dr. Manmohan Singh and Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, sensibly, have opted for a second chance in preference to a charge of the light brigade toward immediate elections.
The only politician riding high now is Prakash Karat, and that is because he rode steadily through intense turbulence. That is always the litmus test in leadership, the ability to be steadfast in a crisis. He was steady because Marxists have a stabilizer called ideology. It would be incorrect to minimize the storms he was facing. If there was a typhoon charging at him in Delhi, there was a tornado behind his back, in Bengal.
Milestones of Sensex
Here is a look at the journey over the years.
19,000 on Oct 15, 2007: The Sensex has re-written history by recording its fastest 1,000 point surge this afternoon. The barometer, which crossed the 18,000 milestone in late afternoon trade on Tuesday last week (October 9, 2007), has taken just four sessions to scale the 19,000 mark. At 2:43 pm, Bombay Stock Exchange’s Sensex was up 582 points or 3.16 per cent at 19,000.94.
18,000 on Oct 09, 2007: The Sensex opened low this morning with a negative gap of around 89 points at 17,402.24 . However, riding on the strength of information technology majors and a few old economy heavyweights, the barometer bounced back into positive territory in subsequent trades. The bulls shrugging off the political concerns, lifted Sensex to a new high at 18000 mark on global cues. Predictions that the US economy would weaken and funds would continue to find India a safe haven has made the Sensex shoot past to cross 18K.
17,000 on Sep 26, 2007: Sensex soars to all-time high of 17,000 points on 26th September. Barely a week ago, on 20 September 2007 to be precise, the barometer had crossed the 16,000 mark after global markets turned upbeat following a 50 basis point cut in US bank rates.
16,000 on Sep 19, 2007: Sensex crosses the glorious milestone of 16,000 points on 19th of September on account of the positive global cues. The US Fed rate cut which triggered the rally, has driven the Sensex up 363 points at 16,032.
15,000 on Jul 06, 2007: As buying in blue chip stocks gathered momentum, the benchmark BSE index Sensex scaled Mount 15k this afternoon. The landmark figure, which had proved elusive yesterday, appeared a distant dream when the market opened on a highly listless note this morning.
14,000 on Dec 05, 2006: The Sensex opened well past the 14,000 mark - at 14,028.47, to be precise - as the bulls, with their already upbeat mood boosted further by strong global markets, took guard on BSE this morning.
13,900 on Dec 04, 2006: The Sensex, which opened at 13,846.71, around a couple of points higher than its last closing mark, vaulted past the 13,900 mark to a new high of 13,911.64 in a flash and despite having dropped down a bit to 13,898.65, is up with a sharp gain of 53.87 points (0.39%) at present.
13,800 on Dec 01, 2006: At 13,817.77, a few points down from its new lifetime high of 13,820.34, the Sensex has posted a thumping gain of 121.46 points or 0.89% at present.
13,700 on Nov 22, 2006: Sensex past the 13,700 mark. At 13,703.77, the barometer is up with a big gain of 87 points or 0.64% at present.
13,600 on Nov 15, 2006: Sensex is now up 170 points at 13,600.
13,500 on Nov 15, 2006: After opening with a positive gap of over 50 points at 13,476.28, the Sensex breezed past the 13,500 mark to a new high of 13,505.34 in a flash and is currently seen moving around 13,475, up nearly 50 points or 0.37% over yesterday's closing mark.
13,357 on Nov 13, 2006: The Sensex has risen to 13,357.83, notching up a big gain of 74.92 points or 0.6% now. At 3848.60, a few points down from its new high of 3852.95, the Nifty has posted a gain of 23.85 points or 0.36%.
13,213 on Nov 10, 2006: At 13,213.89, the Sensex is 76.40 points or 0.58% ahead of yesterday's closing mark. The Nifty has risen to 3812.75, netting a sharp gain of 16.35 points or 0.43%.
13,163 on Nov 09, 2006: Sensex has moved up to 13,163.74, up 91.23 points or 0.7% over its previous closing mark now.
13,000 on Oct 30, 2006: The Sensex crossed the historic 13,000 mark on Monday.
12,906 on Oct 27, 2006: Robust quarterly earnings of top mobile phone company Bharti Airtel perhaps helped the 30-share benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange to rise 208 points, or 1.6 percent, at 12906. This is the second-highest closing for the Sensex.

12,928 on Oct 16, 2006: Riding on consistent buying and strong macro-economic and corporate performances, the Indian benchmark stock index, Sensex, recorded its highest-ever trading at 12,928. before ending.
Worst days of Sensex: Checkout
12,700 on Oct 13, 2006: Sensex scaled yet another summit today when it moved past the 12,700 mark, re-writing history immediately on commencement of trade this morning.
12,500 on Oct 12, 2006: The BSE Sensex, staged a smart rally on 12th of October ending the session with a massive gain of 184.49 points at 12,537.98. The resultant surge in values of frontline stocks drove the benchmark indices Sensex and the Nifty past the 12,500 and 3600 marks respectively.
12000 on Sept 15, 2006: Amid immense volatility, the Sensex kept gaining ground till it sped past the 12,000 mark to a high of 12,041.70.
12000 on April 20, 2006: The BSE Sensex crossed 12,000 points on April 20, The benchmark BSE-30 Sensex closed at 12,039.55 on April 20, up 143.57 points (or 1.21 per cent). While the NSE`s S&P CNX Nifty index went up by 37.65 points (or 1.06 per cent) to 3573.50.
11000 on March 21, 2006: The overriding bullishness of the Indian stock market got another shot in the arm with the Sensex touching the 11,000 mark. It made this journey from 10,000 to 11,000 in a matter of 42 days.
10000 on Feb 6, 2006: The Sensex crossed the magical 10000-mark in 70 days but closed shy of this level at 9981.
9000 on Nov 28, 2005: It took 78 days to move to the 9000-mark on the back of surging FII inflows and active retail investors participation.
8000 on Sept 8, 2005: The surge in the FII inflow during 2005 was the key factor behind the bull market witnessed in the year 2005. The Sensex crossed the 8000 mark in 78 days.
7000 on June 20, 2005: June 20, 2005 was the day when Sensex travelled to 7000 mark. Though the Sensex crossed 6,000-mark in February 2000, it failed to close past it. It took more than four years for the Sensex to close past this level on Jan 2, 2004. Stock markets across the globe saw huge correction. It took almost 63 months for the Sensex to get back to 7000. Perhaps Ambani Brothers, Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani was considered to be superstar in the stock market. The reports of an amicable settlement between the Ambani brothers buoyed market sentiment. Led by the Reliance group pack, the Sensex moved past 7,000 points in about 63 months.
6000 on Feb 11, 2000: On Feb 11, 2000 the sensex entered 6000 mark. The global euphoria for technology sector stocks pushed the stock markets across the globe including the Sensex to historic highs. The index moved past the 6000-mark in a span of 126 days.
5000 on Oct 8, 1999: Exactly 7 years later since 1992, the market moved to a new mark. This was due to the crash following the Harshad Mehta scam that pushed the market into a bearish phase It is reported that it took more than 7 years for the Sensex to cross the 5,000-mark as the BJP-led coalition won the majority in the Lok Sabha election. Harshad not only shook the Parliament, but the stock market too.
4000 on March 30, 1992: Exactly a month later, Harshad Mehta was in limelight. On March 30, 1992 the sensex reached another new peak. Helped by the Harshad Mehta euphoria, the move to the 4000-mark was even more swift with the Sensex taking just 28 days to cross this barrier.
3000 On Feb 29, 1992: In the same month, on Feb 29, 2002 the Sensex crossed the 3000-mark just in a span of 45 days gap.
2000 on Jan 15, 1992: Almost after one and half a year on Jan 15, 1992 the sensex entered 2000 mark. Said that it took nearly 538 days for the index to move to 2,000. The move was due to the liberal economic policy initiatives undertaken by the then finance minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Present PM appeal to masses had this happen.
1000 points on July 25, 1990: July 25, 1990 was the day on which for the first time, the Sensex had touched the four-digit figure from the time of its debut in 1986 with the base year as 1978-79 and an initial score of 100. A day to remember indeed!

http://www.navhindt imes.com/ articles. php?Story_ ID=10158
Monday, October 15, 2007
Ramana highlights ill-effects of nuclear technology
NT Staff Reporter
Panaji, Oct 14 Dr M V Ramana, fellow of the Centre for
Interdisciplinary Studies in Environment and
Development, Bangalore, going into the bad effects of
nuclear technology, said that nuclear power is
costlier than other sources of power and added that
generation of nuclear power is susceptible to
catastrophic accidents like in the Chernobyl fiasco.
He further said that nuclear power generation produces
radioactive waste which is hazardous to human health
and that nuclear power is closely linked to weapons of
mass destruction.
Dr M V Ramana who was in Goa to attend a conference on
nuclear energy was addressing a joint press conference
with Mr Christopher Fonseca of the All India Trade
Union Congress. Both are also members of the national
co-ordination committee of the Coalition for Nuclear
Disarmament and Peace (CNDP).
Dr Ramana said that nuclear reactors have proven to be
more costly to build than coal or gas-based power
plants of the same capacity. Heavy water used in
reactors, is very expensive to produce and each
reactor requires several hundred tons of that
substance. Because of these capital costs, even though
fuelling expenses are lower in nuclear reactors, on
the whole nuclear electricity is more expensive than
thermal power.
Dr Ramana said imported reactors will be even more
expensive. The current costs of light water reactors
that might be imported from the US or France if the
present nuclear deal goes through is about $ 2000 to $
3000 per kilowatt of capacity. That is the “overnight
construction cost” or the cost without including
interest charges, he said.
Thus, a 1000-megawatt reactor would cost $ 2 or $ 3
billion or Rs 8,000-12,000 crores as per the current
dollar exchange rates. Since the reactor construction
could take five or six years at the very minimum,
there would be substantial interest charges that would
accrue, he said.
Just the capital cost of the reactor would cause the
tariff to be above Rs 4 or Rs 5 per unit of
electricity. Like the Enron power plant, this will
also be unaffordable to the consumer, Dr Ramana said.
He said nuclear reactors are also susceptible to
catastrophic accidents like the one in Chernobyl due
to which around 34,000 cancer deaths have occurred an

Only World Wide Black Untouchable Anti Imperialist Alliance May Lead to Sustainable Peace
Let Justice Come! Let There Be Peace!

Palash Biswas
Contact: Palash C Biswas, C/O Mrs Arati Roy, Gosto Kanan, Sodepur, Kolkata- 700110, India. Phone: 91-033-25659551
Email: alashbiswaskl@gmail.com">palashbiswaskl@gmail.com
Respected friends,
It was a quite thrilling experience to interact with delegates from this divided geopolitics as well as from USA and Europe during the Peace event in Tumkur. Our visit to rural Tumkur divided in eight zone and direct interaction from the dalit population well organised into Dalit Panchayat have enhanced our vision in Dalitology , Cosmology and Dalit Think, I believe. The concept of Bhooshakti is quite inspiring. I thank the Dalit Reds team from the innermost of my heart and I feel one amongst you provided you accommodate me! I talked to Jyothi already that we are planning to replicate the experience in north and east India. I am getting mails from North east, too. I have told you all that I often avoid to join workshops and seminars as those prove to be air-conditioned excursions only. But the experience in Tumkur was quite different from the word Go! I told you that I wanted to touch the heart of South India. Certainly I did. The beats were quite rhythmic. I felt the Reds team including Jyothi and raj, Archana, Roshni, Jobo and AMita George, the Bhoo sevikas, Bhooshakti students, rural participants, drivers and cooks always singing and dancing with full energy and lifeforce. To see the Bangladesh delegates hoisting their national flag, to hear the Srilankan Sinhali, Tamil and Tamil Muslim experience and to feel the peace attempts in different part of Asia including North east India have been memories reserved in the Ivory Towers of Human sensitivity. The topography, landscape, coastline appearance, weather and above all warmth of hospitality have been rare achievements. Group discussions, interactions, heated exchanges and individual to individual dialogues we relished most and enhanced our commitment and vision. I demand you to include this experience in the peace charter. For example I got Mr Chandra Shekhar as my room partner who shared all my thoughts awakened three full nights. In group discussions I found friends no less than John Dayal and VB Rawat. NCDHR, Bangladesh Dalit Human Rights organisation plus other orgs and NGOs and participants like Dr Manorama Ruth , a beautiful lady like Sayeeda Hameed , Bishakha Dharmadassa, Mina Devburman and so on encouraged us most. This spirit should have to be included in the charter.
Why?
Simply because Peace is an experience as I insisted during sharing, you remember! We have to escalate this experience. As you have already documented so well the concept of dalit empowerment in your books as well as in works, it should be highlighted to mobilise a worldwide Black Untouchable Resistance against Untenability, apartheid and Zionist, Hindu white supremacy well expressed in Post Modern global Manusmriti Order run by US Imperialism with full cooperation from emerging super Power Japan.While there is constant threat of War and civil War boosted by MNC Raj and Weapon industry with chemical flavour worldwide, while natural resources, indigenous people and their language, culture, society and economy are exploited on large scale, while the deployment of Nuclear War Heads continue with complete space dominance and colonisation of Moon and Mars, While Islamophobia and intense Dalit Hatred are the main elements of so called growth and sustainable development in Sensex shining India, while the Zionist Brahminacal Ruling class continue infinite persecution, marginalisation and eviction of majority Dalit, tribal and minority people in every part of the world, while political borders are quite irrelevant- we may not bank on false nationalism awhich is nothing else but naked communalism and in India it is the Brahminical Hindutva. You rightly have explained in your Dalitilogy why Dalits have no religion and no god. Hence I must emphasise on to finalise the Peace Charter with this correct Dalit perspective and surgical precision. Why should it not be.
The enslaved majority population is victimised, quite paradoxically by a polity elected by Majority Electorate system where minorities as well as Dalits and tribals have no say. We have to co relate this experience and share it with Black Brother hood as Caste System and Apartheid are the two sides of the same Hegemony coin! Since the causes of violence, strife,injustice and inequality consist of the singular worldwide global phenomenon of post modern Galaxy Manusmriti Order, we have no choice to resist this from broader liberal and democratic worldwide forum! The peace charter should clear ground for such a charter!
Remember, I quoted continuous refugee influx, persecution and opting for military solution and finally demographic rearrangement with large scale displacement.
You have quite correctly pronounced the negative role of the Government of India in south Asia. but some enlightened friends friends led by John Dayal who incidentally is a member of national Integrity council insisted to delete the criticism of Indian ruling Hegemony. While the borders have been made quite irrelevant by the Ruling World Order and the Ruling polities have nothing to do but to serve the Imperialist Interests, while we know that this nationality is only duping and the ruling classes use it as a tool of continuous enslavement, why should we hesitate to call a spade a spade after all? Policies of Ruling classes including GOI are responsible for the violence and strife in the most part of the third world countries including south Asia. What the GOI has done to stop minority persecution in Bangladesh and refugee influx across the border ? If we don`t question and avoid the objectivity of facts, we also contribute to the infinite genocides by Regemented Violence cadres crying Non violence! This peace charter must not pursue the destiny of Poona Pact glorifying Gandhi. Dalits and Minorities, Blacks and tribals need not any Gandhi, Lohia or JP, I am afraid to insist!
Remember I insisted also on misinformation campaign launched by the Ruling Hegemony with IT boost and Information explosion. unfortunately Tumkur Peace event is also victimised as the mainstream media highlighted the personal opinion of the Chief guest, a member of Planning Commision of GOI in favour of Indo US Nuke Deal. The delegates never expressed any favour to the disastrous deal. Hence the Peace Charter should include a rejoinder to contradict the misinformation camapign, too.
The charter should direct the ruling class to behave! We may not be detached with all the happenings around us ie Nepal, Bangladesh, Srilanka, Pakistan, Iran, China, Myanmar, Afganistan, Male and so on.We have to ensure discontinuation of SEZ, MNC, Chemical drive, Big Dams, continuous minority persecution, practice of Untouchability, refuggee influx and manupulation of Demography, military intervention within and outside, arms race, exploitaition of natural resources and environment and ecosytem, annihilation of indigenous production system, culture, language and society.
We may not address all these elements until and unless we are equipped with a black untouchable prespective. We must address the nationality problem and ensure the withdrawl of AFPSA in Kashmir and North East. At the same time we have to support Dalit Muslim Peasant Insurrection against ejection from life and livelihood.
I appreciate the draft and the labour and care shown. I also support the spirit. But once again I emphasise to single out the causes of injustice and inequality as without civil and human rights Peace is quite impossible. We all acknowledged that there won't be any Island of peace. It has to Worldwide and omnipresent as has been the sweet, energetic, young Girl, the programme coordinator Archana during the Peace event!
Well, I hereby submit the suggestions and reservations and the draft of the Peace charter to the General Readership to have further interactions.
Palash
Kolkata
15 the October 2007
Friends
It was wonderful having you amidst us during the Peace Event of
tumkur. Please find attached a Draf of the Charter of Peace. Send
you comments at the earliest.
Warm regards
jyothi and Raj

Rural Education for Development society
Shanthinagar
Tumkur 572102
Karnataka - India
Phone: ++91-816-2277026
Fax: ++91-816-2272515
Web: www.dalitreds.in
Jyothi's Mobile: ++91-9880184667
Raj's Mobile: ++91-9845144893
Let Justice Come! Let There Be Peace!

Peace Event Of Tumkur

10 – 12 October 2007

REDS, Tumkur

(This document is only a Draft. It is not a final charter. We shall wait for your suggestions till 18 October. If we do not hear from you we shall take it for granted that you are in agreement with the Charter. Your suggestions will be integrated into the document keeping in line with the spirit of the sharing we had during the Peace Event of Tumkur)

Preamble

In a world where hegemony and dominance are increasingly overpowering human realities of life Peace is becoming a rare and precious more by its absence and less by its presence. This has to be reversed to make peace become a human reality by its active presence in the living reality of the people who have every right to occupy the space that nature has generously provided. The reality of peace is constantly being disrupted by the emergence of engineered conflict in different parts of the world by forces that have a design to hold the reins of governance of nations in their hands. Such engineered disruptions of peace take place within communities of people, within nations and among nations. The whole world is put in an alarming situation of destroying its own peace and soon many communities of the world may be wiped out existence as a peaceful existence and co-existence may become impossible. Recognizing the increasing difficulties of peaceful existence 102 delegates from 19 States of India and from 4 countries outside of India assembled at the Rural Education for Development Society in Tumkur of Karnataka to celebrate peace and share the inspirational experience of establishing peace in situations where conflict are wrought by dominant forces of all hue and cry. The Celebrations and deliberations were part the National Peace Event that was held in Tumkur from 10 to 12 of October 2007. This Charter of Peace is the result of multiple endeavor not only of those who desire peace but also of all those who have worked consistently for peace either in their personal situations or in their community/national and international contexts.

Peace is Possible

This Peace Event firmly believes that despite the reality of peace becoming a rare human commodity, peace still has a chance if all lovers of peace and peacemakers come together and share their energy and commitment to spare the world of unnecessary conflict, war, systemic and structural destruction of peace. The world still has a large number of unrecognized ordinary and simple people who love peace and who believe in the possibility of peaceful co-existence despite differences or because of differences. Therefore, this Peace event makes the first and fundamental assertion that “Peace is Possible”.

You Can Inspire

This Peace Event of Tumkur deeply appreciates all the simple and ordinary people of the world, especially those who have been researched and whose personal stories of Peace have been published in the book “You Can Inspire”. This appreciation comes out of a recognition that these ordinary and simple people of Asia have worked in an extraordinary way for ushering in peace in their micro situation on their own. This Peace Event of Tumkur recommends that world peace is possible through such generally unrecognized rural and indigenous people of the world.

Causes of Conflict

The Peace Event of Tumkur acknowledges that the situation of extreme poverty is a major cause of conflict. The world claims to be very powerful with its modernization and weaponization. Yet it is a matter of great concern that even today there are many villages in many countries of the world that go without power and are plunged into darkness without electricity at all. The same can be said of education, health and many areas of basic needs of human communities. When people are deprived of their basic needs that have been enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the Constitutions of countries and at the same time a few people are allowed the privilege the enjoying unlimited luxuries disruption of peace becomes inevitable. This Peace Event of Tumkur asserts that such inevitable conflicts are caused by those who appropriate the right to unlimited wealth and power and not by the poor themselves as is generally attributed to them.

This Peace Event of Tumkur asserts that such gross neglect of the rights and dignity of poor, the Dalits, the Tribal people, the indigenous people and women of the world is the cause of injustice and its consequent untold misery for these sections of people. In the face of such enormous injustice conflict is not only inevitable but is often more than necessary in order to rectify the mistakes of misplaced priorities of ruling oligarchies as well as to establish justice on earth only which can bring about lasting peace for all people of the world.

Unipolar World

The Peace Event in Tumkur is aware that global governance in contemporary times is completely conditioned by the emergence of a Unipolar world constricting the possibility of a world of differences existing together with mutual respect. The world is moving more and more towards the adherence of the norms put forward by one unchallenged super power which is the United States of America. The Peace Event in Tumkur understands clearly that the emergence of a Unipolar world with its dominant strategies is not the atmosphere conducive to world peace. By its dominant discourses and strategies as well as by its crude attack on nations of the world the United States of America is constantly challenging the peace loving people of the world to take recourse to an inevitable conflict and sometimes even to violence in sheer self defense. Such unprovoked challenges will lead to destruction of peace in the absence of which humanity may be unable to exist. This Peace Event in Tumkur strongly condemns the dominant strategies of the United States and recommends that it gave up its role of being a promoter of military conflicts with weapons of mass destruction.

Nuclear Weapons

The Peace Event in Tumkur takes serious stock of the situation in India vis-à-vis world peace. The ruling classes and castes of India announce to the world that India is non-violent land of peace. While this Peace Event deeply appreciates the possible desire for peace beneath such global propaganda it recognizes a wide gap between what is professed and what is being practiced, especially by the dominant forces of India. Joining hands with the United States of America for nuclear power under the garb of development has many natural underpinnings that will not augur well for the realization of peace in the world and within India. Possession of nuclear weapons by India stands in stark contradiction to its profession of being an ambassador of peace. This Peace Event proposes to the ruling powers of India and appeals to all citizens of India to transform this country into a model of genuine non-violence and peaceful coexistence in Asia.

North East India

The Peace Event in Tumkur views with great concern the conflicting situation in almost all of the North Eastern States of India. The pace of the disruption of peace in these States is increasing at an alarming speed. The Peace Event recognizes that most of the conflicts in the North Eastern States are designed and executed by external forces that have vested interests. We also recognize that because of these external interventions for conflict the people of North East are often forced to be in conflict with the government whose agents are the bureaucracy and the armed forces. Unfortunately though, such conflicts which are forced upon the people of the North East are presented to the rest of the world as conflicts of the people of North East. This Peace Event of Tumkur recognizes that the root cause of conflict all over the world, as well as in the North East is injustice. This Peace Event asserts that gross injustice by external forces in the North Eastern region of India be removed according to the Constitution of India.

Vested Interests

The Peace Event in Tumkur recognizes the fact that there are intra and inter tribal conflicts of a less much magnitude among the different tribal communities of the North Eastern region. However, such conflicts are often engineered by vested interests that do not belong to any of the tribal communities of the region. While recommending to the Government of India to put in place appropriate conflict resolution capacity building for the people of the North East the Peace Event also strongly demands that the Government of India effectively prevent the predominant role of such engineering groups from outside as well as to remove the over-imposing presence of the military from the region. That India listens to the sound of guns is the loud message that one often hears from the military presence in the North East.

Sri Lanka

This Peace Event in Tumkur recognizes the fact that if the conflict in the North East of Sri Lanka stops there will be peace in the whole of Sri Lanka. In war torn Sri Lankan ordinary people are the ones who pay a heavy price for peace. There is also something called the war of silence. Many lives are being lost without any noise. The war of silence is not peace. Where human life is not respected it is a war of silence. We cannot win the war of silence with weapons. We can achieve peace only through negotiations. There needs to be a spirit of give and take in the negotiations for peace. Therefore, this Peace Event of Tumkur asserts that international mechanisms of peace making should be implemented with an unprecedented vehemence. The Event stresses the need for effective prevention of wars of all kinds and simultaneous conflict resolution mechanisms.

Peace with Dignity

This Peace Event of Tumkur is of the opinion that it is ordinary and simple people of the world who are the torch bearers of peace as they have a natural inclination to live in peace. The type of peace they sustain is based on mutual respect and theirs is peace with dignity. This Event asserts that in order to achieve peace with dignity there is a need to overcome the subjugated peace that is now prevailing in many parts of the world. Therefore, this Peace Event asserts the need for adequately integrating the peace culture of ordinary and simple people in many parts of the world and also equipping them with capacities for negotiating peace at the level of communities and governments.

Women Centered Peace

In this assuming of the responsibility for the restoration of world peace the Peace Event in Tumkur appeals to all women of the world to take up leadership positions. This Peace Event recognizes that women are naturally peace loving and are best equipped with capacities to spread peace and make peace possible. This Event acknowledges that often it is women and children who are the direct victims of violence that destroys peace and therefore the type of peace that they desire and establish will be the most needed one for the world.

Local Peacemakers

The Peace Event of Tumkur recognizes that external interference in conflict situations can lead to further disruption of peace among people of the region. Therefore, this Peace Event asserts the need for integrating the capacities of local peacemakers in conflict regions for the realization peace all over the world.

Distributive Justice

This Peace Event of Tumkur realizes the need for reconstructing the development process to ensure distributive justice as peace is being disrupted in many countries of the world in the name of development. Dominant countries have evolved development discourses that suit their greed and camouflage subjugated peace as real peace. Through their brute power they develop impunity for all their acts of peace destruction. Many countries of the world speak about freedom but practice slavery. Therefore, this Peace Event asserts the need for developing new language for social discourse, positive and assertive discourse and for reconstructing development priorities and processes in order to ensure distributive justice.
Dalits and Adivasis

The discrimination of Dalits, Adivasis and indigenous people by the governments in different countries is a major cause of the disruption of peace in their respective regions. Therefore, the Peace Event of Tumkur urges governments of different nations of the world to constitutionally and practically safeguard the rights and dignity of these marginalized sections of people and thus ensure lasting peace in the world. We further remind governments of nations that efforts for peace do not preclude the right to defend oneself. When discriminated people are pushed against the wall they will be left with no option but to defend themselves with limited resources.

People to People

In this context of marginalization of sections of people and the prevalence of widespread practice of untouchability and atrocity on Dalits in the South Asian region this Peace Event of Tumkur urges the people and civil society actors of India to apply unlimited pressure on the government of India to genuinely play a major role to establish lasting peace in the region based on mutual respect and dignity. Getting dominant caste dominance out is a precondition for peace. In order to apply a collective pressure in the region this Peace Event recommends a people to people exchange for peace.

People’s Participation

This Peace Event of Tumkur reminds the Government of India and all people of the world that untouchability is still being practiced predominantly in India but also in other countries of South Asia. This is bound to cause disruption of peace as it is already doing in India. While this Peace Event urges the Government of India to implement the Constitution of India in favor of the Dalit people we also urge the people of India to participate in all the peace efforts of the civil society in India. People’s participation is much necessary for peace.

Land Distribution

Land is a bone of contention, a locale of conflict. There is enough land but the Dalits do not have land. This is injustice. There cannot be peace under these circumstances of injustice. Five acres of land for each Dalit family will go a long way in bringing about economic equality in the rural areas. Therefore, this Peace Event of Tumkur urges the Government of India to make a policy decision to give five acres of land to each Dalit family in India.

Proportionate Electoral System

The Peace Event of Tumkur recognizes that another locale of conflict is the lack of adequate representation of communities of people in the Instruments and Mechanisms of national governance in many countries. Majoritarian Electoral systems that are in practice in many countries of Asia is highly problematic for peace as it effectively gives representation to a minority dominant sections of society. Therefore, this Peace Event urges the government of India to reform its present electoral system and bring about a Proportionate Electoral System as is being implemented in 24 out of 28 Western European nations.

Dalit Panchayat

Dalit Panchayat is a noble concept and method which has no parallel in many other States of India. The replicability of the Dalit Panchayat model is very good. Civil, political and economic rights as visualized by the Dalit Panchayat Movement will bring lasting peace in many micro situations as it is being witnessed in the District of Tumkur in Karnataka. One of the most important aspects of Dalit Panchayat is that it is totally participatory. Dalit Parliament can connect people of the world because it is a world forum. Therefore, this Peace Event of Tumkur recommends to all civil society actors and organizations to actively promote the model of Dalit Panchayat and Dalit Parliament in their respective engagement with the liberation and development of the poor, Dalits, Adivasis and women. This Peace Event recognizes the Dalit Panchayat Movement and Dalit Parliament as the harbingers of hope for future world peace.

Conclusion

Peace is a process of sensitivity and it is taking responsibility. Peace is tolerance, inclusive, open and provides unlimited space. How do we response to the Dalit reality? The response to this will also be a response to Peace. Environment has to be free of discrimination and exploitation. Communal forces are dividing people. Religious fundamentalism and fascism of all kinds are the enemies of peace. Implementation of Constitution, Conflict resolution mechanism etc. need to be in place to ensure peace. Peace is holistic. Peace should also start within each one, within communities of people and within nations of the world. The world is in need of peaceful persons. The Peace Event in Tumkur appeals to all citizens of India, of Asia as well as of the world to immediately wake up to the impending danger of the losing individual, community and international peace in the near future. All citizens of the nations of the world and members of all communities must take on themselves the responsibility for restoring and establishing peace on the face of the earth as each one’s primary task in life. Peace is not a hobby of jobless people nor is it a part time responsibility of any one.
Reds, Bhoo Shakti Kendra: Peace Convention, inauguration by Poorna Tangaraj, book release by Dr Syeda Hameed, K N Rajanna presides, Dr Gubbi Veeranna Kalamandira, Time 2.30 pm.
A three-day “Peace Event” was launched by Syeda Hameed, Planning Commission Member, here on Wednesday. It is being organised by Rural Education Development Society of Tumkur, Booshakthi Kendra of Nelehal and the Dalit Panchayati Parliament. The three-day “Peace Event”, organised by Rural Education Development Society, Booshakti Kendra and Dalit Panchayati Parliament ended on Friday,12 th October.
Delegates from nineteen States in India and from Sri Lanka, Sweden and the U.S. exchanged their views on establishment of world peace at seven parallel sessions held here and at Nelehal, near here. Delegates visited several villages in the district and evinced keen interest in the working of the Dalit panchayats being formed to bring about amity between the Dalits and other sections of the people in the villages. They appreciated the peace that prevailed in these villages.
Speaking at the valedictory function of the event, President of the Booshakti Kendra, Dalit Thayi Jyoti Raj, said: “Women and children are easy targets during any violence. Lasting peace must be established in the world to ensure happy living for all.”
Tumkur is one of the districts of Karnataka state, located North-west from Bangalore at a distance of 70KMs. Tumkur town, locals call it Tumakooru, is the most populous and is the chief administrative, commercial and business center of the district. It is a center for education too with TumkurUniversity, four Engineering and a Medical college. Tumkur is well connected by rail and road. Nearest airport is at Bangalore. Etymologically Tumakuru is believed to have been mutated possibly from "Tumbe uuru" due to the abundance of Tumbe huuvu a kind of flower, or Tamate Uuru due to the folk musical percussion instrument Tamate, that might have been used most here.
Tumkur is a district of Karnataka. Tumkur town is the district head quarter. Tumkur occupies an area of 10597 sq km. The total population according to 2001 census is 2,579,516.Tumkur is the headquarters of the district of the same name. It is located to the North West of Bangalore at a distance of 70Km.City is in close proximity to Bangalore and has a decadal growth of about 40% over the last few decades. This is a city surrounded by mountains and hills ,pleasant place for learning , Siddhaganga Mutt is one of the god send to poor and Orphan children for getting educated , is gate way for Karnataka ,more than 15 Districts should pass through Tumkur to reach Capital city Bangalore , this city is also famous for good tourist palces like Kaidala Temple ,Devarayana Durga, Namada Chilume, Shiva Gange, Goravanahalli MahaLakshmi Temple etc.The area of the district is 4158 m². It consists chiefly of elevated land intersected by river valleys. A range of hills rising to nearly 4000 feet crosses it from north to south, forming the watershed between the systems of the Krishna and the Kaveri. The principal streams are the Jayamangala and the Shimsha. The mineral wealth of Tumkur is considerable; iron is obtained in large quantities from the hill-sides; and excellent building-stone is quarried. The slopes of the Devaray-durga hills, a tract of 18 m²., are clothed with forests, in which large game abounds, including tigers, leopards, bears and wild hog. The annual rainfall averages 39 inches.
Demographics
As of 2001 India census[2], Tumakuru had a population of 248,592. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Tumkur has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 79%, and female literacy is 70%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
The population in 1901 was 679,162, showing an increase of 17% in the decade. The cultivated products consist chiefly of millets, rice, pulses and oil seeds. The chief industries are the making of coarse cotton cloths, woolen blankets, ropes, watches(Hindustan Machine Tools),. WIPRO, TVSE and Karmobiles Ltd. which is merged with Rane Madras. have their industries around the town. Sri Siddaganga Mutt is situated in Kyathsandra and is governed by Dr Sri Sri Sri Shivkumar swamiji, and has more than 8000 students studying there coming from all over karnataka and of different community. It also have its own Engineering College by name Siddaganga Institute of Technology. On completion of 99 years and stepping into glorious 100th year, the Swamiji was honoured with " Karnataka Ratna" by government of Karnataka.
On the occasion of "Suvarna Karnataka", the 50th anniversary of the present Karnataka state, the formal name of the city was Tumakuru.
Another 10 cities of Suvarna Karnataka were renamed from November first marking the Kannada Rajyotsava day. The others are: Bengaluru (Bangalore), Mysuru (Mysore), Mangaluru (Mangalore), Chikmagaluru (Chikmagalur), Shivamogga (Shimoga), Belagaavi (Belgaum), Kalburgi (Gulbarga), Hubballi (Hubli), Hosapete (Hospet).

Tumkur is called the "Pensioners' Paradise" of Karnataka. The cost of living is much cheaper compared to nearby Bangalore. The city has all basic facilities like good hospitals, shopping centers and educational institutions. In fact, Tumkur can be called "Takshashila" of Karnataka, as it has educational institutions at all levels - right from schools to renowned engineering and medical colleges. With fresh vegetables at a comparatively cheaper cost, unpolluted air and good picnic spots around, Tumkur is a good place to stay for children's education and/or a retired life. There are few renowned industries in and around Tumkur, which have contributed to its working population.

Ms. Raj said it was the ordinary people who strived hard to establish peace in the world. They worked within the means of available resources and never aspired for recognition. She said, as a forerunner for the Peace Event, research was undertaken to identify persons working for world peace in Asian countries. Sixteen were chosen for the study. Sharada of Kanakuppe in Tumkur district was among them. The findings of the research group were published in the book “You Can Inspire”.

Horror in Banglore Air Port
Palash Biswas
Contact: Palash C Biswas, C/O Mrs Arati Roy, Gosto Kanan, Sodepur, Kolkata- 700110, India. Phone: 91-033-25659551
Email: alashbiswaskl@gmail.com">palashbiswaskl@gmail.com
It was my first visit in south India. I particiapted in the tamkur Peace Event . I landed Banglore airport on 9.30 AM on 10 th October by a Jet Airways flight right time. The organisers recieved me and I reached Tumkur around 1.30 PM. It was a traffic jam all around. I would be writing in detail about my experience and interactions during the peace event. here, I deal with the Myth of Sustainable development and infrastructure so much showcased by the Capitalist Marxists ruling in West Bengal. We visited Rural tumkur divided in ten zones on 11 th oct. and amazingly found Untouchability still existed. So bonded labour also prevails. Despite the first class roadways network, Flyover Network, gardens, multiplexes and supermalls and IT boom, we could not see any significant development in Rural Karnatak. Empowerment of SC St communities is a pity despite some good works of NGOs. Most significant amongst them seems to be the attempt of Dalit Reds led by JyothiRaj, the Dalit activist couple based in Tumkur. Bhoo Shakti Kendra and Dalit Panchayats looked highly replicable. I would deal these topics extensively as well as the draft of the Peace charter.
At present I am tryiong to highlight the horrible experience I had on 13 th October in the banglore Airport.
We left the hotel in Tumkur on 5.30 AM sharp and checked in the Airport on 8.00 PM. We know that Banglore is the heart of south India and due to industrial activities air traffic is too busy. But we entered into an overcrowded capus called Air Port stricken by Chaos. The Airport has got only two gates for security check. There were infinite que and airlines officials guiding and misguiding. When I chequed in with Dr Jassi from Punjab and a group of North East friends, who were also the participants of the Peace event, we were asked for Identity cards on the gate. On the Jet airways Window, the smiling lady managed a window seat without asking. She just saw my I card and offered a window seat. I felt quite relaxed. I with my northeast friends, eight of them had to catch the Jet Airways Flight 9 w 0516. I had to reach Kolkata and the North east team had to travel all the way to Guahati. The flight was scheduled on 10AM sharp. They announced security check on 9.35 and there was a traffic jam. We were behind near the Exit. We were watching the staff belonging to different airlines guiding and accomodating the passangers to the Gate.
We had passed halfway the que to the gate N. Two and rarely five minutes left to check in. meanwhile a Jet Airways staff asked us to go to gate Number One. We shifted and found with awe that we were behind a huge line. It was already 10 AM.There was a final call announced for security check in for flight 516 for Kolkata. Somehow I managed a security official and asked him to help us. he just allowed me to pass the gate superceding othres. There was a long que on the X- ray machines. finally I got through and it was already 10.10. A security official informed that they have closed boarding. I insisted and there were some other co passangers. Thus, we got a bus to reach the Aircraft. On the gate and in the plane I informed the crew that our copassangers had been stranded in security check jam. They told me that every paasanger has got the seat and the plane is ready for flight and it was already 10.15. I insisted and they asked me the seat numbers which I did not know. It was rather a very tense moment as I was not ready to fly without my friends stranded in the airport itself. Luckily, they were either convinced or had some other problems and finally all passangers got in around 10.30 AM. The plane took off on 10.45.
And it is the Banglore Airport story. What a pity!

The Capital par excellence Bangalore today has become an Industrial Metropolis. It is also called India`s science city. Sophisticated industries in the public sector employ thousands and thousands of workers. It is also called the Electronics city because most of the country`s basic electronic industries are based here. It is the fastest growing city in Asia. Aircraft-building, telecommunication, aeronautics, machine manufacture, etc., have taken giant strides here. Bangalore was known for its salubrious climate which however is now being debated because of the accelerated progress of modern industry. It was called an air-conditioned city and a pensioner`s paradise but with these advances it is to be seen how long it could retain these epithets.

Karnataka is beautiful not only in the eyes of her sons and daughters. She captivates any one who sets eyes on her. It was the great Mauryan Emperor Chandragupta who traversed all the way from Magadha to distant Sravanabelagola (Karnataka) to lay his remains in this land before entering the Kingdom of God. To sum up in the incomparable words of Shakespeare - "age cannot wither her charm, nor custom stale her infinite variety".
The Lovely Land
Situated in the southern part of India, the province of Karnataka spreads over the Deccan Plateau. At 300B.C., it had formed the southern tip of Mauryan empire. Its boundaries enlarged or receded swaying to the drum beats of history & today it accounts for a sixteenth area of India & has a population of about 45 million. Its language is Kannada & its people are known as kannadigas. The three distinct regions are a narrow coastal area along Arabian Sea; high hills, the Western Ghats; & sprawling plains towards the east.
The name of the land Karnataka has come from `Kari-nadu` meaning the land of black soil say the scholars, & some others hold that `Karunadu` also means beautiful country; either way the land is celebrated as beautiful throughout its ancient literature.

The water-soaked western strip across the Arabian sea is humid & warm in summer, water-soaked in monsoon, profuse with coconut grooves & paddy fields criss crossed by strips of silvery streams & sparkling stretches of sand.
The hilly uplands of Malnad, One of the wettest regions of the world, where the bamboo flourishes wild & areca, teak, rosewood & matti are grown. It is also the home of the stately gaur & langur. In its southern reaches frequent kheddas are held to capture roaming groups of elephants. Also the swift deer & the deadly tiger, whose eyes burning bright in forest night roam animatedly in the forests.
The east of the ghats is strikingly bare. This elevated stretch is supposed to be the oldest land on the earth where ancient rocks of earth are seen jutting in & out odd shapes. Rivers like Cauvrey, Sharavathi & Ghataprabha pass through upgraded valleys & resulting in water-falls & occasional rapids. The torrental fall of these rivers have been harnessed to generate hydro-electric power in an area where black coal is scarce.

Bangalore
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangalore
• Ten things you may not know about Wikipedia •Jump to: navigation, search
For other uses, see Bangalore (disambiguation).
?Bangalore
???????? (Bengaluru)
Karnataka • India
Vidhana Soudha
Coordinates: 12°58'13?N 77°33'37?E? / ?12.970214, 77.56029 Bangalore (Indian English: ['bæ?g?lo??] (help·info)), officially Bengaluru (Kannada: ????????, ['be?g??u?ru] (help·info)), is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore has an estimated metropolitan population of 65 lakh (6.5 million), making it India's third-most populous city and fifth-largest metropolitan area. Though historically attested at least since 900 CE, recorded history of the city starts from 1537, when Kempe Gowda I, widely regarded as the founder of modern Bangalore, built a mud fort and established it as a province of the Vijayanagara Empire.
During the British Raj, Bangalore developed as a centre for colonial rule in South India. The establishment of the Bangalore Cantonment brought in large numbers of migrants from other parts of the country. Since independence in 1947, Bangalore has developed into one of India's major economic hubs and is today counted among the best places in the world to do business.[2]. It is home to several public sector heavy industries, software companies, aerospace, telecommunications, machine tools, heavy equipment, and defence establishments. Known for a long time as the 'Pensioner's paradise', Bangalore today is commonly referred to as the Silicon valley of India due to its pre-eminent position as India's technology capital.[3][4] Home to prestigious colleges and research institutions, the city has the second-highest literacy rate among the metropolitan cities in the nation. However, as a large and growing metropolis in the developing world, Bangalore continues to struggle with problems such as air pollution, traffic congestion, and crime.
Economy
Main article: Economy of Bangalore
See also: List of IT companies in Bangalore
Bangalore's Rs. 260,260 crore (USD 60.5 billion) economy (2002–03 Net District Income) makes it a major economic centre in India.[33] Indeed, Bangalore is India's fourth largest[34] and fastest growing market.[35] Bangalore's per capita income of Rs. .49,000 (US$ 1,160) is the highest for any Indian city.[34] The city is the third-largest hub for high net worth individuals (HNWI / HNIs), after Mumbai and Delhi. Bangalore is home to over 10,000 individual dollar millionaires and around 60,000 super-rich people who have an investable surplus of Rs. 4.5 crore and Rs. 50 lakh respectively.[36] Bangalore is the third largest source of income tax to the government, after Mumbai and New Delhi. The 2006-07 collection was, Rs. 20, 650 crores, compared to Rs. 76, 096 crores and Rs. 38, 388 crores of Mumbai and New Delhi respectively. As of 2001, Bangalore's share of Rs. 1660 crore (US$ 3.7 billion) in Foreign Direct Investment was the third highest for an Indian city.[37] In the 1940s industrial visionaries such as Sir Mirza Ismail and Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya played an important role in the development of Bangalore's strong manufacturing and industrial base. Bangalore is headquarters to several public manufacturing heavy industries such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Bharat Electronics Limited, Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) and Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT). In June 1972 the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was established under the Department of Space and headquartered in the city. Bangalore is called the "Silicon Valley of India" because of the large number of Information Technology companies located in the city which contributed 33% of India's Rs. 144,214 crore (US$ 32 billion) IT exports in 2006-07.[38] Bangalore's IT industry is divided into three main "clusters" — Software Technology Parks of India, Bangalore (STPI); International Technology Park Bangalore (ITP, formerly International Technology Park Ltd. (ITPL); and Electronics City. Infosys and Wipro, India's second and third largest software companies, have their largest campus in Electronics City. As headquarters to many of the global SEI-CMM Level 5 Companies, Bangalore's place in the global IT map is prominent.

Infosys HeadquartersThe growth of Information Technology has presented the city with unique challenges. Ideological clashes between the city's IT moguls, who demand an addressal of the infrastructural problems of the city, and the state government, whose electoral base is primarily rural Karnataka's agricultural workers, are aplenty. In July 2004 Wipro CEO Azim Premji threatened to pull his company out of the city, stating, "We do not see the situation (state of Bengaluru's infrastructure) improving in the near future".[39] It must be noted, however, that IT companies do not pay any property tax to the state government, depriving it of much needed revenue to improve infrastructure. However, most infrastructural improvements are done only in areas that directly benefit IT companies, leading to the perception that the common people of Karnataka are subsidising the already rich IT industry.
Bangalore is a hub for biotechnology related industry in India and in the year 2005, around 47% of the 265 biotechnology companies in India were located here; including Biocon, India's largest biotechnology company.[40][41]

[edit] Transport

The HAL Airport has been an issue of contention between successive State and Central governments and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.Bangalore's HAL Airport (IATA code: BLR) is India's fourth busiest[42][43] and functions as both a domestic and international airport and is well connected to several destinations in the world. The liberalisation of India's economic policies has led to an increase in the number of domestic carriers within India, with several carriers such as SpiceJet, Kingfisher Airlines, Jet Airways and Go Air servicing the city.[44] Air Deccan and Kingfisher Airlines have their headquarters in Bangalore.[45] Unlike most airports in the country which are controlled by the Airports Authority of India, the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited owns and operates Bangalore's HAL Airport, and also uses it to test and develop fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force.[46] The airport, being a relatively small one, is currently facing difficulties in handling the spurt in air traffic. This situation is expected to be eased when the new Bangalore International Airport, which is being constructed in Devanahalli in the outskirts of Bangalore, becomes operational. Currently targeted to be inaugurated in April 2008, this airport will have two runways and is being built to handle 11 million passengers per year.[47]
Bangalore is well connected to the rest of the country through the Indian Railways. The Rajdhani Express connects Bangalore to New Delhi. The city is also connected to Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad, as well as other major cities in Karnataka. An intra-city rapid rail transport system called the Namma Metro is being developed and is expected to be operational in 2011. The Bangalore Metro, once ready, will encompass a 33 km (20.5 mi) elevated and underground rail network, with 32 stations in Phase I and more being added in Phase II.

Autorickshaws are a popular form of public transportThree-wheeled, black and yellow auto-rickshaws, referred to as autos, are a popular form of transport. They are metered and can accommodate up to three passengers. Taxi service within Bangalore is provided by several operators commonly referred to as Citi taxis which can take in up to four passengers and are usually metered and more expensive than auto-rickshaws.
Buses operated by Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) are the only means of public transport, available in the city. While commuters can buy tickets on boarding these buses, BMTC also provides an option of a bus pass to frequent users. BMTC also runs air-conditioned red-coloured Volvo buses on major routes.[48]

[edit] Demographics

The Bull temple, one of Bangalore's oldest templesAs of 2005 Bangalore had a population of over six million, making it the third most populous city in India and the 27th largest city in the world by population. With a decadal growth rate of 38%, Bangalore was the fastest-growing Indian metropolis after New Delhi for the decade 1991–2001.[37] Residents of Bangalore are referred to as Bangaloreans in English or Bengaloorinavaru in Kannada. While Kannadigas are the majority of the population, the cosmopolitan nature of the city has caused people from other states of India to migrate to Bangalore and settle there.[49] Scheduled Castes and Tribes account for 14.3% of the city's population. Kannada, the official language of the state of Karnataka, is widely spoken in Bangalore.
According to the 2001 census of India, 79.37% of Bangalore's population is Hindu, roughly the same as the national average.[50] Muslims comprise 13.37% of the population, which again is roughly the same as the national average, while Christians and Jains account for 5.79% and 1.05% of the population, respectively, double that of their national averages. Women make up 47.5% of Bangalore's population. Bangalore has the second highest literacy rate (83%) for an Indian metropolis, after Mumbai. Roughly 10% of Bangalore's population lives in slums[51] — a relatively low proportion when compared to other cities in the developing world such as Mumbai (42%) and Nairobi (60%).[52] The 2004 National Crime Records Bureau statistics indicate that Bangalore accounts for 9.2% of the total crimes reported from 35 major cities in India. Delhi and Mumbai accounted for 15.7% and 9.5% respectively.[53] Tensions between one of the minority lingual groups, the Tamils, and the majority Kannadigas have led to numerous altercations.[54] Later the same year, the Karnataka Government, acting upon the directives of the Government of India, agreed to release 205 tmc of water from the river Kaveri to the Government of Tamil Nadu, which resulted in anti-Tamil riots that left 20 people dead.[55] After the demolition of the Babri Masjid in the North Indian city of Ayodhya in 1992, communal violence between Hindus and Muslims spread to Bangalore, during which Muslim houses and huts as well as an Arabic school for Muslim girls were raided and torched.[56]

[edit] Culture
Main article: Culture of Bangalore

The Lal Bagh Glass House, once famous for its flower shows, is now a heritage monument.Bangalore is known as the "Garden City of India" [57] because of its climate, greenery and the presence of many public parks, including the Lal Bagh and Cubbon Park. Deepavali, the "Festival of Lights", transcends demographic and religious lines and is celebrated with great vigour. Dussera, a traditional celebratory hallmark of the old Kingdom of Mysore, is another important festival. Other traditional Indian festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Ugadi, Sankranthi, Eid ul-Fitr, and Christmas are also celebrated. Bangalore is home to the Kannada film industry, which churns out about 80 Kannada movies each year. Most Kannada movies are musicals, and their soundtracks are very popular in the city. The popularity of Kannada movies has spawned a new colloquial dialect, Bangalore Kannada, which draws upon youth culture and influences from English and other Indian languages.
The diversity of cuisine available is reflective of the social and economic diversity of Bangalore. Roadside vendors, tea stalls, and South Indian, North Indian, Chinese and Western fast food are all very popular in the city. Udupi restaurants are very popular and serve predominantly vegetarian, regional cuisine.

Brigade RoadBangalore has many clubs and bars, and is sometimes referred to as the "Pub Capital of India". Bangalore also hosts many rock concerts, with Iron Maiden, Aerosmith, Scorpions, Roger Waters, Uriah Heep, Jethro Tull, Joe Satriani, INXS, No Doubt, Safri Duo, Deep Purple, Mark Knopfler, The Rolling Stones, and Bryan Adams, among others, having performed in the city.
Cricket is the most popular sport in Bangalore. A significant number of national cricketers have come from Bangalore, including former Indian cricket team captain Rahul Dravid. Other cricketing greats from Bangalore are Gundappa Vishwanath, Anil Kumble, E.A.S. Prasanna, Venkatesh Prasad, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, Syed Kirmani and Roger Binny. Many children play gully cricket on the roads and in the city's many public fields. Bangalore's main international cricket stadium is the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, which hosted its first match in 1974.[58] Bangalore has a number of elite clubs, like the Bangalore Golf Club, the Bowring Institute and the exclusive Bangalore Club, which counts among its previous members Winston Churchill and the Maharaja of Mysore.[59

Black Flags For Capitalist Marxist Buddha
Palash Biswas
Contact: Palash C Biswas, C/O Mrs Arati Roy, Gosto Kanan, Sodepur, Kolkata- 700110, India. Phone: 91-033-25659551
Email: alashchandrabiswas@gmail.com">palashchandrabiswas@gmail.com
Black Flag for the Capitalist Marxist chief minister of West Bengal is quite symbolic for the crisis faced by Hegemony Polity in India. Muslim Vote bank and demogrphic rearrangement under so called sustainable development of sensex shining India is not quite sufficient for the survival strategy of indian communists in Majority Electrote based Political system. Nandigram singur Insurrection, false land movement, Nuke deal, Asian Nato and strategic regrouping in Indian Ocean region in US lead and the Parliamentary ramp Show on Imperialism have not solved the crisis of Muslim Vote Bank equation for the Marxists. All factions of Bangla majority communal ruling hegemony are being mobilised in Rizwan episode while ration riots intensify to threat Kolkata as the fire escalates to North 24 Parganas. The Ruling Class is dying to appease the persecuted Muslim psyche as the shadow of a Love Tragedy overshadows ID Mubarak and threats to change the mood of Hindu Puja Festival!The West Bengal government is blaming the Centre for the ration riots that spread across the state in the last one week. People in the Bankura, Birbhum, Murshidabad and Burdwan districts look law into their own hands attacking ration dealers for allegedly selling subsidized food-grains in the open market at higher prices. But the West Bengal government blames the Centre to have fuelled the crisis by slashing the state's quota of food grains. Hundreds of government food distributors were hiding in fear of their lives inWest Bengal after riots that were triggered when villagers accused them of stealing and hoarding food meant for the poor. The protests follow a central government inquiry that revealed widespread corruption in the food distribution system.
The investigation found that most rural poor in eastern and northern India were not getting regular supplies of the food to which they are entitled.In India, villagers living below the poverty level -- about 28 percent of the rural population in West Bengal -- are sold heavily subsidised paddy, wheat and sugar under a central government scheme through thousands of private franchisees.Villagers in the communist-ruled state have looted and set storehouses on fire over the last week. Police have shot dead two villagers during the riots, and more than 300 villagers have been injured in clashes, officials said.For those of you understandably too busy all this while worrying about the passage of the nuclear deal, the death of a 30-year-old man in the heart of a state ruled by very bhadralok communists looks like a tragic anomaly that needn’t be seen as a cause for major alarm. After all, even if the police are wrong about branding the death as a suicide, the death of Rizwanur is no Gujarat massacre.Kolkata, true to its reputation as a bastion of spirited secularism, has treated this as a human rights issue, rather than a communal problem. Kolkatans have lots of reasons for pride in their city; this one is at the top.
''It's been 23 days since Rizwanur died. Today is the holy day of Id and we have been out greeting people on the occasion of Id. But in this neighbourhood no one is celebrating Id for obvious reasons. There have been no arrests and no progress in the case,'' said Mamata Banerjee.The other day Mamata said that the foolish arrogant chief minister is thinking whether it is the right protocol for him to go and see the mother of the murdered son.
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya finally visited Rizwanur's family at their Tiljala Lane home on Saturday.Earlier, Rizwanur's mother had refused to meet the chief minister.On this day next week, the terribly liberal city of Calcutta will still be bathed in the magic of Durga Pujo. This being a terribly liberal city, the pujas will hardly be celebrated by Bengali Hindus alone. All across the city, Bengali Hindus will enjoy the festivities with non-Bengalis and non-Hindus; police officers will pass fish orleys around to industrialists; Marwaris will hop from one pandal to another happily brushing shoulders with Muslims.The Marxists are in a poor shape in Bengal (which makes Prakash Karat’s ideological clarity all the more praiseworthy). Ration riots — not seen since 1967 — have erupted in Marxist strongholds, and bode ill for the left in an election. A left bulwark in Bengal has been the substantial Muslim vote: Muslims account for 27 percent of the population and over 30 percent of the vote since they tend to vote in larger numbers. This support has weakened in rural areas because of Nandigram, and in Kolkata because of the case of a young man called Rizwan ur Rehman.
Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari on Friday accused the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre of targeting the Muslim youth for their alleged links with terror outfits. Yet others are killed in fake encounters or locked up in different jails in the country, without access to the judicial process. Addressing the gathering after the prayers on Jummat-ul-Vida (last Friday in the holy month of Ramzan), the Shahi Imam said, "Today, the circumstances are absolutely against the Muslims in the country. The Justice Sachar Committee report has exposed the claims of the so-called steps taken for the amelioration of the condition of Muslims, in the social, educational or economic sectors. We have been saying that Muslims are being pushed into the pit of backwardness in every field. The Sachar Committee report graphically brings out the plight of Muslims." The Shahi Imam also brought the West Bengal government under the scanner for the brutal killing of Rizwan-ur-Rehman in West Bengal. All the parties in West Bengal are convinced that Rizwan was murdered, for which high-ranking police officers were responsible, but the Left Front government remained unmoved. There is none in the government to hear out the grievances of the Muslims with regard to Rizwan, he said. The Shahi Imam blamed the Andhra Pradesh government of one-sided action against the Muslims for the Hyderabad blasts.Even for Haren Pandya murder, several Muslims were picked up from Hyderabad, while the guilt could not really be fixed.
West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Saturday finally did his bit to neutralise growing public ire over the death of Rizwanur.The atmosphere was charged in and around Tiljala Lane hours before Buddhadeb Bhatacharjee walked in. He was preceded by former local CPI-M MLA Mr Rabin Deb. The duo was followed by Mr Abdus Sattar, minister for minority affairs and senior police officers. The crowd that had gathered shouted slogans (hamein insaaf chahiye, Todi ko giraftaar karo), as he came in and some women even brandished their shoes at him. Senior police officers including Mr Ranvir Kumar, joint commissioner of police (traffic) and Mr Javed Shamim were flanking the chief minister, apart from the rank and file. Incidentally, save Mr Shamim, all other senior police officers were in mufti. But men in uniform standing guard for the chief minister lined both flanks of Rifle Range Road. Posters claiming that the gory death of the graphic designer was a murder case and not a suicide were plastered on walls all the way to Rizwanur's house.
Ruling Class in Bengal has got another Icon! West Bengal's singing sensation Aneek Dhar emerged the winner of Zee TV's popular talent hunt show ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa,’ beating Raj Hasan of Rajasthan and Amanat Ali from Pakistan at a star-studded event here. The Hegemony works thus. It was a craze to get Aneek through quoting bangla nationality. Rizwan case exposes the truth that the Majority Society has no space for minority once again! As the campaign for justice for Rizwanur Rehman is gaining ground in Kolkata. Sources state that Rizwanur's friends are stepping up their fight. The latest effort comes as a candle light vigil to be held later this evening (October 14, 2007).Friends and supporters of Rizwanur have demanded a CBI inquiry into his mysterious death that sparked off a controversy involving senior Kolkata police officers.The protests were joined by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee. Mamata has left the ration Riot scenerio and the War Cry for Tea gardens as well as Nandigram Singur Insurrection to show her presence in Rizwan Resistance! Even Mahashweta Devi and the Intellegentsia focused on Rizwan as the Rizwanur murder case has evoked huge public outrage. Protests have been held ever since the graphic designer's death last month. The pressure even prompted West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, to visit Rizwanur's mother to assure her that justice would be done. The Chief Minister also declared that, the policemen allegedly guilty of interfering in Rizwanur's marital life, would be punished once the judicial probe report was out.

Just days after rapping the government for inaction in the Rizwanur Rehman case and promising tough action against the erring officers, Left patriarch and former WB chief minister Jyoti Basu has done a turnaround by saying that no action would be taken against the accused officers. While,West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Saturday visited the house of computer graphics teacher Rizwanur Rahman in the Tiljala area here and assured the bereaved family that justice would be done and none would be spared if found responsible for Rahman’s death.Mr. Bhattacharjee’s visit came a day after he expressed regret that his appeal to Rahman’s mother to visit his residence was turned down by the latter. Rather than await a response from her to his renewed appeal to talk matters out with him an anxious Chief Minister himself visited Rahman’s house. The security was tight. The crowd that had gathered in the area in the morning showed black flags and chanted slogans demanding a CBI probe. Meanwhile, Fire Brand kanya Mamata Banerjee on Sunday visited the home of slained computer graphics teacher Rizwanur Rehman.On the other hand,Human Rights commission summoned five Kolkata police men in the Rizwanur Rehman murder case and found anomalies in the report submitted by police.
“Have faith in me, justice will be done ... just give me some more time,” he reportedly told Rahman’s mother, who was in tears as Mr. Bhattacharjee held her hand and conveyed his anguish over the death of her son.
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee faced a grieving mother on Saturday afternoon, who pleaded for “insaaf” for her son Rizwanur Rehman. Chief minister Buddha-deb Bhattacharjee was hurt when he came to know that Rizwanur Rahman's bereaved mother Kishwar Jehan was not willing to meet him. A day later, on Saturday, he reached out to the grieving mother and the rest of Rizwanur's family to reassure them he wouldn't spare those found guilty in the probe. But that did not move the family to drop their demand for a CBI inquiry. They are still sceptical about the state-level probe, whether conducted by CID or a judicial commission. He was not the first VIP to travel this way as Miss Mamata Banerjee, Trinamul supremo, Mr Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, mayor and Mohammad Selim, the CPI-M MP for the area had called on the bereaved family earlier.
"Don't worry. You will get justice. Have faith in me. Give me some time, we will take the guilty to task after the judicial probe," Bhattacharjee told the family.
The veteran CPIM leader now says that since the matter was sub judicious the government would not take any action against the tainted officers. Ironically Basu's u-turn comes just days after he slammed the probe and said that two police officers would be suspended. West Bengal government today told the Calcutta High Court that all officers of CBI could not be termed impartial and independent while opposing a plea for an investigation by the central agency into the death of Rizwanur Rehman who married the daughter of the industrialist. Liberal Calcutta’s breath was taken away when the square-jawed police commissioner Prasun Mukherjee stated that it was “natural” for Priyanka’s family to oppose the marriage and that the police were bound to intervene. Then came statements from the policemen under investigation that they were “merely following instructions from their superiors”. CID investigators also stated that they were told to go slow on the investigations. The fact that Prasun Mukherjee was allegedly ‘helped’ by Ashok Todi during the Cricket Association of Bengal presidential elections may point matters to a certain direction. The fact that Mukherjee has been Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s blue-eyed cop points further in the same direction.

Rizwanur was found dead on the September 21, 2007. He died just weeks after his marriage to Priyanka, daughter of businessman Ashok Todi - a marriage that was reportedly against the wishes of Priyanka's family. He died weeks after his marriage to Priyanka, daughter of businessman Ashok Todi, reportedly against her family’s wishes.Rizwanur had alleged that he was warned of dire consequences by Todi and some senior police officers unless he broke off his marriage with Priyanka.Playing outraged sociologist, however, is missing the point. A wealthy family having serious issues about a daughter marrying outside its socio-economic-religious fold is not the same as ‘hiring’ cops to bump off the ‘intruder’. Rizwanur and Priyanka Todi had married against the wishes of Priyanka’s father, Ashok Todi, the owner of the Rs 200 crore-plus Lux Hosiery Industries. Eight days after their marriage was certified, the police registered a case of abduction against Rizwanur. Threats followed. On September 18, Sadique Hossain, Rizwanur’s friend who was a witness to the marriage, was threatened with arrest for ‘forcing’ Priyanka into the marriage. (He went underground only to surface earlier this week.) The next day, Rizwanur approached a human rights organisation stating how he had been threatened by the police. Two days later, his lifeless body was discovered.
After the Chief Minister’s 40-minutestay at her residence, Rahman’s mother told newspersons, “I now have some faith in him [Mr. Bhattacharjee] who has promised us justice and a fair investigation [into the case].”According to Rahman’s elder brother, Rukhwanur, who was present during the meeting, the Chief Minister said he was looking into the matter “personally” and if Mr. Todi was found to be responsible necessary action would be taken against him too.
On the demand for a CBI inquiry by the family, Mr. Bhattacharjee was reportedly non-committal, pointing out that a CID investigation and a judicial inquiry were already under way.
The Chief Minister’s security had a trying time escorting him back to his car as the locals who gathered in the area tried to surge towards him demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into Rahman’s death. They also demanded immediate action against police officials allegedly involved in the events leading to the death.

The CM conceded he took time to fathom the tragedy. "Initially, we were confused. Then we discussed the matter with party leaders," he said, indicating why he broke his silence and ordered a judicial probe only three days after the death.The Chief Minister reportedly told the Rahman family that his government would do all that was required to ensure justice and take action against those responsible. He was aware of questions raised over the role of the police in the incident and assured them that those officials suspected to have a had hand behind the death would not be allowed to influence investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department.
The State had already ordered a judicial inquiry into the death.
Rizwanur's brother Rukbanur later said he had faith in the chief minister, but not in CID. He insisted on a CBI probe and made it clear he wouldn't budge from a legal battle to secure it.
As reported by Statesman News Service :
Chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is reportedly "personally convinced" that Rizwanur Rehman had been murdered and has assured the victim's family that Rizwanur's body would be exhumed for a second post-mortem, if necessary. That was what Mr Rukbanur Rehman, Rizwanur's brother, claimed after a meeting with Mr Bhattacharjee at the Rehman house this afternoon. The chief minister also reportedly assured Rizwanur's family that those found guilty, no matter if they are commissioner of police Mr Prasun Mukherjee or Priyanka's father Mr Ashok Todi, would be punished. With the government under covert pressure from within its own ranks and facing vocal criticism from civil society groups and the Opposition, Mr Bhattacharjee undertook a damage-control exercise today and visited the family of Rizwanur Rehman three weeks after his death in mysterious circumstances and promised the bereaved justice. Mr Bhattacharjee was greeted with black flags and posters demanding “justice” as well as a CBI probe. “Chief minister hai hai,” was the slogan raised. Mr Bhattacharjee, who had earlier wanted Rizwanur's mother to come and see him and had been turned down by the grieving woman, spent 40 minutes with her and other members of the Rehman family. Mr Bhattacharjee reached Rizwanur’s 7B Tiljala Lane address around 12.30 p.m. and spoke to Rizwanur’s mother Mrs Keshwara Jahan, his brother Rukbanur and Rizwanur's uncles. He, however, left without speaking to the media. Later, Mr Rukbanur Rehman and his mother addressed the media. Mr Rehman said: “The chief minister heard us patiently and said he was personally convinced that Rizwanur had been murdered. He is also convinced that the couple had been harassed and pressured by some senior IPS officers of the Kolkata Police. He assured us that we would get justice but asked for some time. He said that he was personally looking into the matter.” When asked if Mr Bhattacharjee had spoken of a CBI probe into the mysterious death of Rizwanur, he said: “The CM told us that he would do everything possible to unearth the truth but made no commitment on seeking a CBI probe."

The CM's motorcade rolled into the locality around 12.30 pm. Kishwar Jehan, Rukbanur, Rizwanur's sister-in-law Zahida and three uncles were all huddled in a corner of the two-room house in Tiljala when Bhattacharjee walked in. Accompanied by CPM leaders Abdus Sattar and Rabin Deb, Bhattacharjee spent 35 minutes with the family.
Rukbanur told Bhattacharjee he didn't believe Rizwanur had committed suicide and claimed the CM tended to agree with him.
All the while, Kishwar Jehan was silent. Taking note, the CM enquired about Rizwanur's academic background and said he was a hardworking young man. "I can't return your son. His death is not only your personal loss, but a loss to society."
One could discern the mood in the locality from the posters and black flags. Residents stood on rooftops displaying posters that sought a CBI probe and punishment for the guilty officers and Rizwanur's father-in-law Ashok Todi. Some others gathered near the lane leading to the house and shouted slogans as the CM was escorted in.
By the time Bhattacharjee's motorcade left the locality, the alley was crowded, trapping the CM's car for some time.
The Cm urged the family to cooperate with the judicial inquiry. "The probe is on," he said. "A writ is pending before the high court. You have also made a complaint to the human rights commission. The government has sent its report. I would urge you to depose before the judicial commission. Take the help of lawyers. Your neighbours can also depose before it."
Rizwanur's family, however, was sceptical about an impartial probe as the accused police officers are still at the helm. "I don't think it is possible," Rukbanur said. "But the CM told us he would remove the guilty only after the probe."
Rukbanur also told the CM his "family has no problems if the government wants to exhume the body for post-mortem". Bhattacharjee left this option to the high court. "We won't stop it if the court says so," he told Rizwanur's brother.
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Sunday visited the home of slained computer graphics teacher Rizwanur Rehman, who married a Hindu girl, and demanded for a CBI investigation into his death.
"Rizwanur's death is not an individual's case. We are demanding a CBI probe because only such an inquiry could expose the guilty," she said after meeting Rizwanur's family.
She also demanded removal of those IPS officers, who were accused of pressurising the youth to part with his wife, till the probe was completed.
"If the police officers are not removed during the probe, the inquiry will not be objective," she told reporters.
Citing the Nandigram firing which claimed 14 lives, Banerjee said, the guilty were still roaming free.
She termed the death of Rizwanur as "state sponsored terrorism".
Stating that th