Shankar Singh: From a tout to an activist

[To read in Hindi language , click here ]

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Shankar Singh was a tout at the Road Transport Office earlier and used to get people's work done by paying bribes to the officials and take his own cut. Today he is a right to information activist working with a team in Kanpur to check corruption not just at the road transport office but also at other offices.

Born to a family of JK Jute Mill worker, his early days were tough. His father met with an accident and had to leave the job. He became an associate of communist leader S.N. Banerji and started a restaurant named Raja Tea Stall which was managed by eight of the twelve children who survived in the family. As Shankar grew up he managed to get a job with the Roshan Transport Company. He was paid Rs. 2000 a month to be stationed at the RTO to take care of the company's work there. He used to get the roads and goods tax deposited. He used to take care of license, fitness, permit and registration of new vehicles. In 2006 he was unknowingly involved in the illegal sale of a Maruti van which was bought with loan from a company. When the new owner sought loan from another company, the first company objected as its payments were still pending and a complaint was filed. Shankar Singh was beaten by a clerk on the directions of the officer. This provoked his conscience. He decided to take on the system. He lodged complaints with the Chief Minister and the Commissioner about irregularities in the RTO. The Commissioner and the officer at RTO worked out a compromise for him and the clerk was made to apologize to him. That is how his file was closed.

But now he did not want to go back to the rotten system. He saw news about right to information campaign in the newspapers. He was attracted by it. He decided to go to the camp. Before he realized, he became a volunteer with the right to information campaign in Kanpur city. At the RTO where a learning license which costs Rs. 60 but is made for Rs. 200 and the regular license which costs Rs. 140 but is made for Rs. 350, when Shankar and his friends decided to organize a RTI camp, the licenses were made for the actual fees. His role was reversed. He was no longer facilitating corruption. He was there to check it. The staff of the office was terrorized by his presence.

Shankar now finds himself in a piquant situation. 1200 of his old colleagues, who prefer to call themselves as `transport advisors' and are formally registered as `Parivahan Salahkar Samiti' since 1982 as a society, want their profession to be legitimized. They claim that if their role is officially recognized and they are authorized to charge a legitimate fees for the service they render, they would stop facilitating corruption at the RTO. They have told Shankar that if he wants a corruption free system then he must lead the struggle for their livelihood rights. On the other hand Shankar has vowed that he would not allow any corruption to take place at the RTO even if it means going against his own former colleagues.

Shankar Singh joined the first RTI camp in Kanpur city on 15th November, 2006, the conclusion of which was attended by Central Government Minister Shriprakash Jaiswal, also the MP from Kanpur . Since then over the last two years Shankar Singh must have been present as a volunteer in hundreds of camps. There are about ten camps organized every month with two to three averaging per week. Anywhere from 50 to 200 applications are prepared in these camps which are filed in different government offices. Most of the applications are concerned with Kanpur Development Authority, Nagar Nigam, Kanpur Electricity Supply Corporation, Water Board, Police, RTO, Social Welfare Department, District Supply Office, Basic Shiksha Adhikari, Kanpur University , Awas-Vikas, Banks, Passport, District Magistrate's office, etc. Recently after results for the High School were announced there was a huge number of students wanting to know whether they could see their answer books. The Kanpur Right to Information Campaign Committee, of which Shanker Singh is now a permanent and important part, immediately organized a six day camp in which 1200 students filed applications seeking photocopies of their answer books for various subjects. They suspect that they have not been fairly evaluated and would like to verify this. The RTI campaign has generated an empowering awareness among people as a result of which people feel that they can ask legitimate questions as their democratic right.

In May 2008 Shankar Singh also participated in a social audit of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in the Miyaganj Block of neighbouring Unnao District. He now feels that his responsibility as a concerned citizen are not just limited to Kanpur city. As his horizon of understanding broadens he feels a growing commitment within him for other social issues too. He spent nine days in rural areas of Unnao trying to understand the way the village panchayats and the Block Development Office functions and how the vested interests are responsible for siphoning off huge sums of money from government schemes and how the papers are fudged. He proved to be an important member of his social audit team too which visited various villagers and interacted with ordinary village labourers and interviewed them to find deficiencies in the implementation of NREGS.

Shankar Singh's life has taken an about turn. From slipping into the ever deadly world of corruption and crime he has dragged himself out with some effort and placed himself in a position from where he is rising everyday as a shining star. He has become synonymous for hope for many a people who have been victimized in some way. And Shankar is full of optimism. He always encourages people to stand up and fight for their rights. His exuberance inspires confidence in others.

Shankar Singh's dream is now to serve the people from even bigger platforms. He wishes to contest an election some day. He has realized that the small battles that he is now fighting every day would become a little bit easier if he acquires a legitimate constitutional position. He wishes to serve more people and at a faster rate.

Dr Sandeep Pandey

(The author is a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) for emergent leadership, heads the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and did his PhD from University of California, Berkeley in control theory which is applicable in missile technology. He taught at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur before devoting his life to strengthening people's movements in early 1990s. He can be contacted at: ashaashram@..., www.ashaparivar.org)

High Court stays workers' right of unemployment allowance

[To read this in Hindi language , click here ]

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The affirmative and bold step taken by the Department of Rural Development in Uttar Pradesh to pay unemployment allowance to laborers of district Sitapur under the NREGA Act was challenged by the BDOs in the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court.

The Hon High Court has reaffirmed and upheld the jurisdiction and authority of the Commissioner Rural Development and has directed the Commissioner to give a hearing to the petitioners and ensure that payment is made to deserving persons only.

The Dept of Rural Development had indeed taken a very commendable step by upholding the Constitutional right of workers for unemployment allowance which is a right guaranteed to them if they do not get employment within the stipulated time period. (Schedule III Para 7 of the Act)

The amount has to be paid from the state treasury and not from the wages made available by central funds.

Incidentally, under the NREGA no laborer is prevented from working elsewhere. The state is bound to provide 100 days of labour failing which it has to give unemployment allowance if demanded.

The committee which was constituted at the district level to look into the whole issue of unemployment allowance in Sitapur was chaired by an SDM rank officer along with two more government officers along with representatives of the organization which raised the issue. The beneficiaries were part of the committee as NREGA itself gives power of social audit to the workers whose participation is in keeping with the basic spirit of the act.

I would like to underline that NREGA completes three years on February 2. However, in UP it has made commendable progress only during the last one year. The present administration has sensitively implemented the Act in its true spirit. This has been in terms of developing effective grievance redressal mechanism and introducing worker and gender friendly Schedule of Rate (SOR) to measure the workers' output.

NREGA however, is not in the pink of health in the state. There are issues which still need to be addressed such as checking corruption and pilferage, increasing coverage and ensuring work to the needy and facilitating smooth payment.

It needs to be seen if the state government manages to check incidents like the one which recently occurred in Hardoi. Here an influential pradhan under patronage of a ruling party minister physically manhandled workers demanding their right to work. The acid test for the state government lies in rising above political pressure to ensure the right of workers as guaranteed under the Act.

Arundhati Dhuru
Advisor to the Supreme Court Commissioners in the Right to Food case
Phone: 94150 22772

BSP's Abdul Mannan urged not to shield those who beat dalit workers

[To read this posting in Hindi language , click here ]

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A Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) office-bearer Ghanshyam rained baton rods on dalit workers on 14 January 2009. Ghanshaym is the husband of Urmila Devi, who is the Gram Pradhan of Gram Panchayat Aira Kake Mau, Block Bharawan, District Hardoi, UP. Ghanshyam is also the BSP Treasurer from the Vidhan Sabha constituency of Minister for Science and Technology in UP Government, Abdul Mannan.

The main grievances of these dalit workers was that they had been paid less than what was due to them under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) and their Job Cards were either not given to them or contained arbitrary entries. The dalit workers had come to inspect the NREGS documents in accordance with the right of social audit given under the NREG Act, when they were beaten mercilessly by BSP office-bearer Ghanshyam.

The BSP cabinet minister Abdul Mannan is scheduled to visit the same Gram Panchayat of Aira Kake Mau in Bharawan block (Hardoi district, UP) on Saturday, 31 January 2009. If a senior BSP cabinet minister Abdul Mannan will support a person like Ghanshyam who has mercilessly beaten up the dalit workers, then activists will believe that BSP is supporting and protecting the human rights abusers of dalit workers.

The people of this region have strongly condemned the increasing criminalization and corruption in politics. The activists of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and Asha Parivar are resolute to challenge this rampant corruption and criminalization of politics from now on.

Ironically BSP has been claiming to be championing the cause of dalits. This is a blatant example where a BSP office bearer had been exploiting dalit workers, denying them their due and manhandling them in broad daylight as well. Instead of supporting the dalit workers and advocating for strict action against Ghanshyam, BSP's cabinet minister Abdul Mannan is likely to support Ghanshyam by going to the same gram panchayat and participating in his programmes. Is this the manner in which BSP is going to protect dalit people?

We at National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and Asha Parivar strongly condemn the violence on dalit workers and demand BSP and Abdul Mannan to stop shielding those who beat dalits.

For more information, please contact:
Ram Babu, 9452144454
Neelkamal, 9453898067
Ram Sagar Verma, 9451209863
Arundhati Dhuru, 9415022772 (senior Narmada Bachao Andolan activist)
SR Darapuri, 9415164845 (retd IG Police)
Dr Sandeep Pandey, 0522 2347365 (Magsaysay Awardee 2002)

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IN-FOCUS: Coca-Cola sued over 'VitaminWater'
Priyanka Tikoo in Miami
PTI/ Rediff News
20 January 20, 2009
---------------------

Coca-Cola Co, world's biggest beverage maker, has been sued by a
Washington-based nutrition advocacy group over what it
called 'deceptive and unsubstantiated' claims about its drink
VitaminWater.

The soft-drink giant, however, described the lawsuit as ridiculous.

Accusing the company of deceiving consumers into believing that
VitaminWater provides remarkable health benefits by marketing,
advertising and labeling the VitaminWater flavours with names,
including 'defense', 'rescue' and 'energy', the Center for Science in
the Public Interest said the drink was basically sugar water.

"Coke fears, probably correctly, that they will sell less soda as
Americans become increasingly concerned with obesity, diabetes, and
other conditions linked to diets too high in sugar. VitaminWater is
Coke's attempt to dress up soda in a physician's white coat.

"Underneath, its still sugar water, albeit sugar water that costs
about ten bucks a gallon," CSPI litigation director Steve Gardner
said.

However, describing the lawsuit as publicity stunt, the beverage
giant said: "Filing a lawsuit is an opportunistic PR stunt. This is
not about protecting the public interest. This is about grandstanding
at a time when CSPI is receiving very little attention."

Coca-Cola bought Glaceau's VitaminWater for $4.1 billion in June 2007.

The same year, Coke acknowledged the Securities and Exchange
Commission that 'obesity and other health concerns  may reduce demand
for some of [its] products,' and that 'increasing public awareness'
about health experts' concerns over sugar-sweetened beverage could
affect the company's profitability, CSPI claimed.

"The company makes a wide range of dramatic claims, including its
drinks variously reduce the risk of chronic disease, reduce the risk
of eye disease, promote healthy joints, and support optimal immune
function.

In fact, according to CSPI nutritionists, the 33 grams of sugar in
each bottle of VitaminWater do more to promote obesity, diabetes, and
other health problems than the vitamins in the drinks do to perform
the advertised benefits listed on the bottles," the Center accused.

"This is a ridiculous and ludicrous lawsuit. Glacau Vitaminwater is a
great tasting, hydrating beverage with essential vitamins and water,
with labels showing calorie content," the company stated while
reacting to the class action lawsuit filed in US District Court in
the Northern District of California.

Online at: http://www.rediff.com/money/2009/jan/20coke-coca-cola-sued-
over-vitaminwater.htm

INVITE: National Convention on Communal Harmony

[To read this posting in Hindi language , click here ]

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NATIONAL CONVENTION ON COMMUNAL HARMONY

30th and 31st January, 2009

Kabir Math, Jiyanpur, Ayodhya, District Faizabad, U.P.

DAY I

 30th January, 2009

Session I: 10:30 am to 1:00 pm, Challenges to Communal Harmony

Session II: 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm, Reports from various States

 6:00 pm, Songs for peace and harmony at Gandhi statue, Ram ki Paidhi, on the banks of river Saryu

DAY II

 31st January, 2009

Session III: 9:30 am to 1:00 pm, Strategy, Suggestions for Future Action

Session IV: 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm, Politics and Communalism

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Organizing Committee: Jugal Kishore Shashtri, Faisal Khan, Arvind Murti, Irfan Ahmed

Contact: Faisal Khan, 09313106745, 09968828230, Jugal Kishore Shashtri, 09451730269, Kabir Math, 09415404471

 [Railway Stations: Ayodhya, Faizabad (Ayodhya is a sister town of Faizabad)]

 Organizers: Ayodhya ki Awaz, Asha Parivar, National Alliance of People's Movements, Anhad, All India Secular Forum, Communalism Combat

BSP office bearer rains lathis on dalit labourers

BAHUJAN SAMAJ PARTY OFFICE BEARER BEATS DALIT LABOURERS ON THE EVE OF
MAYAWATI'S BIRTHDAY

The husband of Gram Pradhan of Gram Panchayat Aira Kake Mau, Block
Bharawan, District Hardoi, U.P., Ghanshaym, who runs the show in this
Panchayat on behalf of his wife Urmila Devi, started misbehaving with
labourers, all of whom were dalits, and activists of Asha Ashram
located in this Panchayat, when they reached his place according to a
pre-agreed programme on 14th January, 2009. The main grievance of the
workers was that they had been paid less than what was due to them
and their Job Cards were either not given to them or contained
arbitrary entries. They had come to inspect the NREGS documents in
accordance with the right of social audit given under NREGA.

When tension mounted the Station Officer of the Atrauli Police
Station arrived on the scene with his police. Ghanshyam, who is the
Bahujan Samaj Party Treasurer from the Vidhan Sabha constituency of
Minister for Science and Technology in UP Government, Abdul Mannan,
refused to show any records or make pending payments of the
labourers. The labourers then began to write their complaints in
order to register an FIR. As the first application was being written
he snatched the Job Cards, in the process of which he tore one of
them, and his supporters came out with lathis (wooden sticks) and in
the presence of the S.O. and police started raining the lathis on
labourers and activists. In this attack one dalit labourer Medai s/o
Narayan and an activist of Asha Parivar Ram Bharose were injured on
the head. The Police, labourers and activists showed restraint.

After the incident Ghanshyam took all his supporters in a tractor-
trolley to Abdul Mannan. The labourers and activists started a dharna
outside his house. SDM, Sandila and Circle Officer arrived to resolve
the matter. When the talks failed a complaint was filed against
Ghanshyam under Section 25 of National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
for making wrong entries on Job Card, keeping the Job Cards of
labourers with him and tearing a Job Card.

Ram Babu, 9452144454
Neelkamal, 9453898067
Ram Sagar Verma, 9451209863
Arundhati Dhuru, 9415022772
S.R. Darapuri, 9415164845
Sandeep Pandey, 0522 2347365

Asha Parivar and National Alliance of People's Movements, U.P.

January 15: Political drama on Mayawati's birthday

Today, 15 January, is Mayawati's birthday. This "great" political entity of India would be turning 54 on this day which, if her dictates would hold over the Nation, might be announced as the National Day of rejoicing and celebration for its people. At present, since her power runs only in Uttar Pradesh, the celebrations and its official ramifications can be seen only in the fore-corners of this State.

On this occasion, she will announce very large projects for the poor and the downtrodden. She shall be stating them as if it were all her personal property, forgetting and letting us forget that what she would be supposedly providing us from her own coffers would be the hard-earned money being returned to us that each one of us would have contributed to the State exchequer, willingly or unwillingly.

This year, she would probably be celebrating her birthday at a low-key level, apparently on the pretext of the Mumbai incidents and as insiders say, more so because of the hugely adverse press she got from the Manoj Gupta murder case which was directly linked with the money-extortion spree that has been going on in the State for the last two months or so. Like a great Yagna, here again, everyone big or small, has been making his own contribution to this great celebration. As Marx would have said- " By each according to his capacity and (un)willingness.".
Praises would be sung in her name by her party men, who all know that whatever power, perks and privileges they are enjoying is because of her single-handed charisma. Thus the need to pay their deference to this great lady. The State machinery, with the senior officers leading the pack, would be more than willing to show their extreme regards and submission to her by sharing the remains of her Birthday cake. They would be singing paeans in her praise, using hyperbolic statements with no relations to facts and figures. At the same time, they would be coming up heavily against the leaders of the other major parties.

In short it would be one huge great BSP drama.

Now, let us look at what the other political parties have been doing and how do they fare vis-à-vis the ruling party. As we all know, the chief rival of BSP in the State is the Mulayam Singh led Samajwadi Party, supposedly guided by the socialistic and humanistic principles of Lohia, Karpoori Thakur and so many others. But this is all in paper. What is the Party up to on the ground? On the 15th of January, it would be organizing what it has weirdly called as "Thoo-Thoo Diwas" (Spitting Day) when they would attempt to spit on the photographs of the Chief Minister and would be using all sorts of permissible offensive and abusive language against her, even forgetting the decency of public speech or the fact that she is a woman.
The BJP, the party-in-waiting at the National level, has asked its State women cell to come up with the "Laaj bachao, Suhaag bachao" (Save Honour, Save Life-partner) stir. The Congress has its own "Gaddi Choro" (Leave the throne) program.

Some of the lesser parties have even more colourful names for the various small and big political programs they have planned for the day. The Lok Janshakti Party of Union Coal minister Ram Vilas paswan has planned the "Khooni Diwas" (Bloody Day) to the "Hatyara Diwas" (Murderer day) of the Apna Dal of Sone Lal Patel. The Republican Party of India will have the "Shoshit Diwas" (The Downtrodden day) while the National Dalit Front (a very small and inconsequential outfit) has moved for "Vasuli Diwas" (Extortion day).

In short all these political parties will have the same agenda, the same programs and almost identical language and words, each one eulogizing themselves and condemning and castrating the Mayawati led government for all the ills that Uttar Pradesh faces. They would try the people to come to start believing that they are the sole panacea for them and that the present regime must be ended with immediate effect.

The inherent meaning and intention of all of these would be that what Mayawati is doing presently should be done not by her but by them- they should be given the power to abuse it.

Thus, the entire drama would revolve around self-praise, other's bad-mouthing and a desire to dupe the people. No concrete words, no programs, no clear thinking, no facts and figures, no logic, no rational. Only loud words, only rhetoric and only sloganeering- to the tune of hooliganism.

If this is what we call democracy, then we in India have the best form of democracy. And Uttar Pradesh lags to none other.

Dr Nutan Thakur
(The author is the Editor of Nutan Satta Pravah)

PRESS-ALERT: Where are the Kanshi-Ram Houses for the poor?
------------

About 210 families living on the banks of Gomti river near Daliganj
bridge on the Mankameshwar temple side are facing eviction again. On
11th December, 2008 three buldozers of Nagar Nigam demolished
whatever skeletal structure they have in the name of covering their
head. The district level officials like DM and SSP told us they were
Bangladeshis. We conducted a survey and showed that out of about 210
families 200 were from different districts of UP. (The detailed
survey and copies of their ration cards are available with us). We
requested the DM to provide them houses under the Kanshiram Urban
Poor Housing Scheme.

The ADM Om Pathak agrees that these families belong to the BPL
category but since they have APL cards they are likely to be
disqualified for this scheme. The authorities agreed to provide them
houses under the Central government scheme Basic Services for the
Urban Poor under which the poor have to bear 10% of the cost. These
families have also started collecting Rs. 20 per day to save the Rs.
16,000 that they'll be required to pay for this purpose.
But today the budozers of Nagar Nigam have arrived at the basti once
again. These families are liekly to be evicted. The only question
that we want to ask is where are the Kanshiram Houses for the poor
and who are they meant for if not the real poor?

Chunnilal, 9839422521
S.R. Darapuri, 9415164845
Sandeep Pandey, 0522 2347365
Asha Parivar and National Alliance of People's Movements

PRESS-ALERT: Gram Pradhan agrees to provide NREGS documents
-----------

The Gram Pradhan of Aira Kake Mau Village Panchayat of Bharawan Block
of Hardoi District has agree to show the documents related to
implementation of NREGS in her panchayat in the wake of complaints
from labourers that they have been paid less wages than what has been
shown on their job cards. The people had assembled at the Pradhan's
place on 8th January, 2009 but since the husband of the Pradhan,
Ghanshyam, who actually runs the show was not there, they were told
to come again on 14th January, 2009.

The labourers of the panchayat are going to gather tomorrow at Gram
Pradhan's house with their job cards and the husband of the Pradhan
has agreed to redress their grievances.

Rambabu, 9452144454,
Ram Sagar Verma, 9451209863
Neelkamal, 9453898067
Sandeep Pandey, 0522 2347365
Asha Parivar and National Alliance of People's Movements, Hardoi

Shibu Soren- A case of political shamelessness

Dr Nutan Thakur

The defeat of the Jharkhand Chief Minister from Tamar seat which became vacant after its Janata Dal (United) MLA Ramesh Singh Munda was killed by unidentified gunmen on July 9, 2008 on January 8 to a political upstart has begun a fresh debate on public posturing, political conscience and probity/ responsiveness in public life. As is known to one and all Shibu Soren lost the seat by a margin of more than 9000 votes. This is possibly only the third instance in Indian democracy when a sitting Chief minister has lost his seat. This becomes all the more crucial because Soren was not a member of the State assembly and he needed to get into the Assembly as per the Constitutional requirements.

The relevant provisions on this issue are present in Part VI (The States) Chapter II (The Executive) has Article 164 whose clause 4 clearly says that a Minister who for any period of six consecutive months is not a member of the Legislature of the State shall at the expiration of that period cease to be a Minister. Soren had become the Chief Minister on August 27, 2007 and thus his six months expire on February 27. Anyway, with this loss Soren has lost all the chances of getting into the Assembly in the required time and thus legally, logically and ethically he should have resigned immediately. But what does this man do- he simply gives a blank look to every correspondent that comes to him, staring in the vacuum and saying that he would decide over things after having met with the higher ups of the UPA in New Delhi. This clearly means that he would make a last-moment concerted effort to save himself and to continue remaining in the seat- by hook or by crook.

With no morality left in politics and no remorse, no decency and no gentlemanliness, this is the latest visible drama of the worst kind where there is a free for all for everyone.

While Soren might finally have to resign but he would possibly try to get one of his own persons installed as the Chief minister and getting himself relocated back in the Union cabinet. Secondly, he might even stoop lower and say that he would resign from the post of CM and would then get back to the seat once again after some time, thus gaining another 6 months time to get elected to the assembly. The law seems a bit silent on this issue and he might try to take some advantage of this loophole. It might look too crass and cheap but does a leader like Soren, who is one of the true representatives of Indian politics, seem to be worried about such things. All that matters to him is power and like all the rest he would go all out for it- adopting all possible means and nefarious measures.

Look at the obstinacy and shamelessness of this man who instead of feeling ashamed was trying to show himself in complete control of the situation, all the time saying that  he would take a decision on his resignation only after meeting the UPA leadership at the Centre. This was the same Soren who had earlier compelled Madhu Koda, another wonder of the Indian political democratic jamboree who became the first independent Chief minister of any state and ruled for nearly 2 years with the support of a plethora of parties and individuals to resign.

To understand Indian politics, it would be interesting going through the life and times of Shibu Soren- another rags to riches game. He who was born in an ordinary tribal family later rose to dizzy heights. He has been a member of the Parliament many a times and has also been a Union Cabinet minister more than once and even got his life-time ambition of becoming the Chief minister fulfilled when he reached this coveted post firstly for a few days and then second time on August 27.

But the long career of this temperamental leader has also been replete with all kinds of controversies which are illustrative of the malaise the Indian political structure is facing in the post-independence period. While the latest of these is this defeat but even before this, Soren has often been in news for wrong reasons. He had been convicted by a Delhi district court in the murder of his private secretary Shashi Nath Jha in 1994 and awarded life term which was later set aside by the Delhi High Court in August, 2007 on some technical grounds. Yet another murder case in which he is an accused in the Chirudih case of 23 January 1975 where ten people were killed in a violent attack led by him. This case came haunting him nearly 30 years later in 2004 when an arrest warrant forced him to resign from the Union Cabinet. But look at the impunity of this person who after having secured  bail after spending over a month in judicial custody forced the present UPA government to re-induct him into the Cabinet and was given back the same coal ministry. Soon, there was the Jharkhand state elections in 2005. After the results he became the CM for nine days and then resigned after his failure to obtain a vote of confidence in the assembly.

Soren has also earned nation-wide notoriety for his alleged role in the JMM case where there was a reported deal between the Congress and the JMM to save the then Narasimha Rao government during the July 1993 no-confidence motion.
And despite all these badges of honour, the man remains completely unperturbed, undisturbed and unaffected as if these are part of a politician's required bio-data.

He believes in the dictum- "Might is right" and will remain here as long as he has his sway over his people, the poor lot who don't usually know who to choose between the two devils.

Dr Nutan Thakur
Editor
Nutan Satta Pravah
Lucknow

IN-FOCUS: Joint signature campaign by people of India and Pakistan

[To read in Hindi language , please click here ]

---------------------------------------------

Joint Signature Campaign by Citizens of India and Pakistan Against Terrorism, War Posturing and To Promote Cooperation and Peace

will be launched in many places including Lucknow on 9 January 2009 and shall continue till 8 February 2009 all over the region.

In Lucknow, it will be launched at:

Date: 9th January, 2009, Friday
 
Time: 3 pm
 
Venue: Gandhi Swadhyay Kaksha, Gandhi Bhawan, opposite Residency (enter from gate no, 6), Lucknow
 
For more information on Lucknow launch event, please contact:

Irfan Ahmed (9415349522), Dr Sandeep Pandey (0522-2347365), Bobby Ramakant, (9839073355)

Website: http://www.indopakcampaignagainstwarnterror.org

For online signatures Please Visits: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/indopak/petition.html

 (To be submitted to the Prime Minister of India and the President of Pakistan with Copies to important political functionaries and media houses of both countries.)

 We the Citizens of Pakistan and India demand that:

·         The Government of Pakistan and the Government of India should practice zero tolerance for religious extremism and terrorism in the interest of the very sustenance and prosperity of both the countries..

·         Recognising that the problem of terrorism in both the countries are qualitatively different,  we urge both the governments to take all appropriate initiates to contain and root out the activities of all fanatic and terrorist groups and catch and punish perpetrators of any acts of terror in their respective countries to make the subcontinent safe and secure for all.

·         Both the governments should immediately set up a Joint Action and Investigative Agency for total cooperation and mutual assistance to address and overcome the problem of terrorism effectively and without any further delay.

·         War can never be a solution but the beginning of insurmountable problems for both the countries. Hence both the governments should desist from war posturing and immediately engage in meaningful and effective dialogue and actions to address the issue of terrorism and to resolve all other outstanding problems. 

·         Both the Governments should follow in letter and spirit all the Conventions and Resolutions of UN and SAARC against terrorism and for cooperation to secure an atmosphere of mutual trust and holistic cooperation that alone could ensure security of all citizens and prosperity of the entire region.

·         We appeal to the media of both India and Pakistan to play a constructive role in this hour of crisis to propagate and strengthen positive attitudes for the resolution of all the outstanding problems and discourage escalation of conflict and adventurism that could jeopardize peace and prosperity of both the countries.

For more information please contact:

     For Pakistan:
    Indo-Pak Joint Signature Campaign Secretariat
    C/o PILER Centre, ST.001, Sector X  ,                     
    Sub-Sector V Gulshan-e-Maymar,                             
    Karachi 75340- Pakistan                                            
    Ph:. 00-92-21-6351145 – 7                                       
    Fax: 00-92-21-6350354

     For India:
    Indo-Pak Joint Signature Campaign Secretariat
    C/o COVA, 20-4-10, Charminar
    Hyderabad, A.P. India, 500002
    Ph: 0091-40-24572984
    Fax: 0091-40-24574527

Women's organizations on indefinite relay fast in imphal

Dr Sandeep Pandey, National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM)

[To read a related posting in Hindi language , click here ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear friends,
 
women's organizations in manipur, coordinated by 'meira paibee' (mothers' organization), have come together as 'sharmila kanba lup' (save sharmila group) to launch an idefinite hunger strike since the international human rights day, december 10, this year, with the slogan 'save sharmila, repeal AFSPA'. hundreds of women from nearby areas arrive every morning and sit for the entire day and next day it is the turn of women from another locality. with a strong network of 'meira paibees' in manipur the movement is self- propelling. groups of women are coming in by reading about the protest in local newspapers.
 
the fast is going on at PDA complex, next to jawahar lal nehru hospital in imphal, where irom chanu sharmila is under arrest in a hospital ward. she is charged with attempt to commit suicide.
 
it is now the 8th year continuing of irom sharmila's fast! her demand is very simple - 'repeal armed forces special powers act'. but the government has now even stopped talking to her. recently in protest she even gave up nasal feed, which has kept her alive, but later the doctors and jail staff convinced her to resume nasal feed. one can only imagine how she can go on being fed through nose every day for 8 years.
 
i met her in the hospital today along with some journalists. to meet her one has to get permission from the offices of CM, prinipal secy., joint secy., DGP and jail authorities. sharmila's brother singhjit arranged the permission for me.
 
since the last time i met her in sept. 2007, she has become paler - because of lack of nutrition and sunlight. but inspite of being disappointed that sonia gandhi has not responded to her letter that she gave us last time and which NAPM activist faisal khan had handed over to ahmed patel, she is determined to continue her struggle. she has tremendous faith in god and is certain that she will succeed one day.
 
i've extended NAPM's total support to the struggle of women of manipur. earlier bela bhatia had also come here to express solidarity with the women's movement in the early days of the ongoing fast. i think more activists from other states of india must come out to imphal to support this extraordinary struggle.
 
contact's in imphal: irom singhjit singh (brother of irom sharmila): 9862696184, shanti devi (one of the women coordinators of meira paibee): 9856192286
 
love,

sandeep
imphal, 29th december, 2008
 
Note: Dr Sandeep Pandey is the national convener of National Alliance of People's Movements - NAPM and can be contacted at: ashaashram@...)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read a related story online at: September 2007: Anti-AFSPA fast ends on a positive note

Dr Sandeep Pandey calls for support to Sharmila

Newmai News Network

[To read this posting in Hindi language , click here ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read a related story online at: September 2007: Anti-AFSPA fast ends on a positive note

Imphal, Dec 29: Proclaiming that hunger striker Irom Chanu Sharmila who has been fast-unto-death agitation, has chosen the right path of democratic protest, Dr. Sandeep Pandey, National co-ordinator of National Alliance for People`s Movement referred to her as the living Gandhi. Stating further that Sharmila has been eight years into the hunger strike, Dr. Pandey also called upon the people of the state to support her stance.

Visiting the `iron lady` on Monday evening at the Jawahar Lal Nehru (JN) hospital in Porompat, Imphal East where Sharmila is under custody of the state government on charges of suicide attempt and is being nose fed, Dr. Pandey held that the one of the prior duty of the state government was to solve the problems of the people of the state and bring peace. Enforcing draconian law such as the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, AFSPA in the state would only add to the problem of the state, observed the noted human rights activist and opined that political dialogue could help solve the problem. It is sad that the Union and Manipur governments are still silent on this draconian law of AFSPA in the state, lamented Dr. Pandey.

Extending his support in the fight against AFSPA, Dr. Pandey reminded that seven members from the National Alliance for People`s Movement had participated in the 5 days fasting organised by the Manipur Forward Youth Front (MAFYF) sometimes back.

Meanwhile, sharing his opinion on the news of the escape of Kangleipal, human rights activist and president of MAFYF from the police custody at the JN hospital early Monday, Dr. Pandey expressed his concern stating the human rights activist could be in more trouble following his escape. As a good form of democratic protest to uphold human rights Kangleipal should have fought from his present custody through legal process, held Dr. Pandey revealing for once that he had come to Manipur just to meet Sharmila and Kangleipal.

Referring to the relay hunger strike organised by the womenfolk of the Sharmila Kanba Lup, the `Iron Lady` of Manipur observed that women were been suppressed and ignored in the state. This is known from the fact that there is only one women representative in the state assembly, maintained Sharmila adding that it was time for women empowerment.

During her meeting with human rights activist Sandeep Pandey, Sharmila also presented a copy of the poems that she had written in Manipuri dialect.

Online at: http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=44687&typeid=1

[To read this posting in Hindi language , click here ]

Read a related story online at: September 2007: Anti-AFSPA fast ends on a positive note

Activists condemn Dumka police for detaining Dr Sandeep Pandey

[To read this news in Hindi language , click here ]

Dumka tremors felt in east India
Gautam Sarkar, The Telegraph

Dumka, Dec. 28: The state government is still facing the heat over the Kathikund police firing. The incident has become a national issue with social activists and organisations taking to the streets for alleged atrocities against Adivasis in Jharkhand.

Detention of noted social activist and Magsaysay award winner Sandeep Pandey by the Dumka police on Saturday has earned flak from activists across the country. Pandey was on his way to Amgachi village when he was detained

On December 27, a team from the postgraduate department of Gandhian philosophy of Tilka Manjhi University, Bhagalpur, visited the family members of Lukiram Tudu, who died in Kathikund firing, at Daldali. The team also visited other villages such as Amgachi, Pokharia, Saraipani and Amarpani. People in these villages were fighting to protect their land.

National convener of Gandhi Vichar Manch, Ajit Sinha, with professor Bijoy along with Ganga Mukti Andolan's Shyam Sundar, Angika Sahitya Sammelan's Bhagwan Pralay along with dozens of social activist visited the areas and conducted survey. The team alleged that the Kathikund incident was the result of apathy towards tribals.

According to Sinha, the social workers would start a non-violent movement in Bhagalpur against the gross injustice shown towards the tribals. "The movement would also be initiated in Patna and other parts of the country to mount pressure on Jharkhand government to provide adequate compensation to the victim families," Sinha said.

Online at: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081229/jsp/jharkhand/story_10315110.jsp

IN-FOCUS: Dr Sandeep Pandey joins anti-AFSPA fast in Manipur

[To read in Hindi language , click here ]

(Source: Hueiyen News Service)

**********************************

Imphal, December 28 2008: CONVENER OF the National Alliance of People's Movement, a Lakhanou base human rights protection group Dr Sandeep Pandey taking part in the 19th day of relay-hunger strike of the Sharmila Kunba Lup at Porompat PDA complex today condemned the state government silent attitude towards the demand of the Sharmila.

Today, nn the 19th day of the hunger strike, women volunteers of the Young Horizon, Manipur, Lairikyengbam Leikai Nupi Samaj Cohukhat Lup and Human Development Organisation, Lairikyengbam Leikai staged the hunger strike.

Speaking on the occasion, Sandeep Pandey expressed dissatisfaction on the responsible leaders of the state remaining silent even though the Sharmila's fasting had passed eight years demanding AFSPA terming it as an unfortunate thing on the part of the people of the state.

"It would be better of the state to set a deadline to repeal it even though they don't want to repeal it today," he cautioned the state leaders.

He also said that the insurgency in the state could not be solved by the imposition of draconian laws.

It should be sloved through political dialogue, he said.

If the government try to rule by force, obviously, it is sure to raise up by the people against it and if the people raise up then government should at least take some responsible, he said.

As a part of the support to the relay-hunger strike, executive director of the Human Rights Initiative LC Jinien and professor Rose Mansi also talked in support of the currently undergoing stir.

TambakooKills News Bulletin

Friday, 26 December 2008

Issue-525
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Arbitrary and illegal arrest of 'Nishan' Editor Lenin Roy
Dr Nutan Thakur

------------------------

Lenin Kumar Roy, the editor of Nishan, a Left oriented quarterly magazine published from Bhuvaneshwar (Orissa state in India) was arrested on 7 December 2008 around 1-1.30 pm and sent to jail on charges of writing provocative literature which as per the police version and the official report would disturb communal peace and harmony.

The police did not stop here.

It also arrested two employees of Sovan Press, Bhubaneswar, after conducting a raid on it for printing the book `Dharma naanre Kandhamalre Raktara Nadi' published by Lenin Kumar. This was done at the Sahid Nagar Police Station.

When the activists came to know of this from Mrs Rumita Kundu, Lenin's wife, they contacted the officer in-charge of police station in the night who told them that he had been picked up for verification and he would be released within one hour or so.

In the meantime, the police was planning something nefarious. They were writing down documents preparing grounds for his so-called "Maoist links". The said book was alleged to be `Maoist literature'. Next day, he was produced in the court and the police alleged crime under Section 153-A and 295-A of Indian Penal Code (IPC) which relate to `publishing provocative literature which can disturb communal peace and harmony'. The police cited page 38 to 41 of the above book. And what do those pages have in them? They produce a letter allegedly written by the RSS (Hindu right-wing fundamentalist group) to its members for anti dalit, anti minority activities and also have some of Lenin's comments on this.

So, in India (and particularly in Orissa) it is a crime to write anything against the RSS or to produce an RSS letter or to comment upon it- more so if the government is supported by the BJP!

But the actual reason goes even more deeper. In reality, Lenin had become a pain in the neck for the Navin Patnaik government which has completely failed in protecting the minority rights in the Kandhamal episode and has proved to be blatantly partisan and completely ineffective on law and order front. Unfortunately, he has been consistently raising voice of dissent for last one year or so in the pages of Nissan on all these related matters, a fact that was to great distaste of the establishment, be it the Chief Minister and his party or the supporting ally BJP. In August 2008, Nishan was labeled as a Maoist organ by SP Jagatsinghpur though the editor had protested this allegation.

This is not the lone instance of the Orissa government coming up heavily against the dissenting members of the intelligentsia and the media who are critical about the government's activities. A few months ago, Rabindra Prasad Panda, a prominent Oriya writer, was sent to jail by the Orissa government for writing a book, using similar Sections of the IPC.

Thus as the NDTV has rightly said- "Orissa cops have taken the term gag order to a new level altogether."

I am never able to understand what does the police force in this Nation want to prove by arresting people like Lenin Ray. Is it not completely shameful and highly deplorable and atrocious? What is Lenin's fault- that he writes Maoist literature, that he speaks the language of Marxism, Leninism and Communism? Is this a free country we are living in?

I don't think there can be anything more condemnable than this- to arrest a magazine's Editor just because he sympathizes for a cause which every right-minded must be and internally is. I have not seen any sensitive person in the world who is not sympathetic to the poor and the downtrodden, who does not want all these differences and economic disparities and exploitations to end, who wants every person to be able to live a good life.

While the police force of this country is completely helpless before the terrorists and the extremists who kill them whenever they feel like, they never leave a chance to arrest such law-abiding and righteous persons who have a definite purpose in their life and are sacrificing it for the common man.

I don't know what will happen to our country where such local dictators who only want bards and sycophants around them. While it can be the case with the political persons, how can this be true also with the intellectuals and the Media? Is this the way our Constitution makers had envisaged our Chief Ministers and governments to behave? The Media is known as the fourth estate and the watchdog of a democratic society. But can any society function properly if its chosen representatives are so intolerant, biased, personally stymied and spiteful as to pursue matters on a personal level and stop any person from expressing his/her views.

Lenin's arrest is a blot on our society and must be resisted by each one of us as an example of complete dictatorship. Is this a free Nation?

Dr Nutan Thakur

(The author is the editor of 'Nutan Satta Pravah' and also represents Institute for Research and Documentation in Social Sciences (IRDS) in Lucknow. She can be contacted at: drnutanthakur@...)

PUCL-PUHR Report on bomb-blast accused Abu Bashar

Case of Abu Bashar arrested in connection with serial bomb blasts in Ahmedabad

             Mufti Abul Bashar Qasmi Isalhi or Abu Bashar for short, 22 years in age, was literally dragged and kidnapped from his house in Village Beena Para in Azamgarh District of U.P. on 14th August, 2008 at 11 am, by unidentified plainclothesmen who came in two vehicles. Complaints were immediately filed with the local police station as well as faxes sent to the District Magistrate and the CM. Local newspapers reported this event next day. Two days later, on 16th August, 2008, the UP ATS showed his arrest from Charbagh, the Lucknow Railway station area, and the Gujarat Police chief P.C. Pande, in a press conference in Ahmedabad, named him as the mastermind in July 26, 2008, Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts. He was also held responsible for the conspiracy of bombs planted in Surat . After being taken to Ahmedabad by the Gujarat police since then he has been shown to have been arrested a number of times while in police custody in different cases, one after another on 31/8/08, 15/9/08, 30/9/08, 8/10/08, 23/10/08, 6/11/08 and again twice recently, without granting bail in any of the cases, so that his police remand could be extended for what has been a very prolonged interrogation.

            The Gujarat police also claimed that he had traveled to Kerala and Gujarat in connection with imparting training to others and was also involved in planning Jaipur and UP court campuses blasts. P.C. Pande also claimed that Abu Bashar was the President of Indian Mujahiddin, a cover for SIMI, which sent e-mails claiming responsibility for some of these blasts. 

Abu Bashar is the eldest of six brothers among seven siblings. His family is very poor, sometimes living on the verge of starvation. Neighbours have to often take care of this family. Father has been affected by paralysis and brain haemorrhage and mother too is not fully physically fit. They live a mud house. Abu Bashar is physically very weak, probably not weighing more than 40 kg. He could not even ride a bicycle. Neither did he know how to operate a mobile phone.

            He studied to become a Maulvi at Madarsatul Islah. In 2004 he went to Darul Uloom, Deoband to become a Mufti. In 2005 he went in search of a job to Hyderabad and was teaching for Rs. 2000 p.m. in a Madarsa belonging to Maulvi Abdul Aleem. He was forced to return to his village in February, 2008 to look after his ailing parents. Except for his visit for study and job he never traveled for any other purpose.

            The headmaster of Intermediate College in Beena Para, Abu Sufyan remembers him as a lean, shy and confused boy. The headmaster said that he never spoke to Abu Bashar because he thought that Abu Bashar was not capable of any intellectual conversation.

Mahendra Chaudhary, Addl. S.P. belonging to Rajasthan Police and investigating officer in the case of accused in Jaipur Blasts, Shahbaz Ahmed of Lucknow, has confirmed to us that Gujarat Police does not have a single concrete evidence against Abu Bashar.

            Abu Bashar was never a member of SIMI. Shahid Badra Falahi, President of SIMI when it was banned in 2001, has also denied the SIMI membership of Abu Bashar. Abu Bashar's only contact with former SIMI office bearers was in a national seminar of Islamic scholars in 2006 where Abu Bashar was also a speaker.  

Conclusion: We think that Abu Bashar is innocent and it is a case of mistaken identity. He did not possess the skills required to carry out operations for which he has been charged as an accused. We find it surprising that a person with the abovementioned description has been framed in serial bomb blasts in Ahmedabad, among other cases.

            He has probably been arrested because of his association with the madarsa of Maulvi Abdul Aleem in Hyderabad . Abdul Aleem's son Moutasim Billah has been made an accused by Hyderabad police for obstructing police officers from performing their duty. Billah's brother was shot dead by Gujarat police officer Narendra Amin in October 2004 when he was part of the crowd assembled outside a police station to protest the arrest of Maulana Nasiruddin. Maulana Nasiruddin and his two sons, Yasir and Nasir, have also been made accused in different cases. Maulana Nasiruddin and Maulvi Abdul Aleem are neighbours in Hyderabad . 

            Hence Abu Bashar's involvement in either terrorist incidents or with SIMI is too indirect and far fetched to be taken seriously.            

Members of Fact Finding team:

            (1) S.R. Darapuri, IPS (Retd.), 9415164845, sdarapuri@...

            (2) S.M. Naseem, IPS (Retd ), 9839123786

            (3) Ramesh Dixit, Professor, Political Science, Lucknow University , 9415103162

            (4) Rajeev Yadav, Social Activist, 9452800752, media.rajeev@...

            (5) Shahnawaz Alam, Social Activist, 9415254919

            (6) Laxman Prasad, Social Activist, 9889696888

            (7) Maulana Zahir Ahmad Siddiqui, Social Activist, 9935221456

            (8) Sandeep Pandey, Social Activist, 0522 2347365, ashaashram@...

Report brought out on behalf of People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), UP Chapter, and People's Union for Human Rights (PUHR).

This week's headlines in The SouthAsian
Details at : http://www.thesouthasian.org

Kalpakkam's Forgotten People
Dr Pugazhendi is a physician in Kalpakkam who has been working there
for more than a dozen years. While treating people in villages around
the nuclear facility, he has come to conclude that people are somehow
affected by the processes inside the nuclear plant. After all, how
else can he explain high incidence of cases among people in these
communities with cancers, multiple myelomas, mutation in fingers, for
example.  An Indian Express article.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/kalpakkams_forgotten_people
.html

The Terror Nights of Mumbai
M. Burhanuddin Qasmi describes his trauma as a citizen of Mumbai at
the unfolding of the terrorist attacks.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/the_terror_nights_of_mumbai
.html

Opinions After Mumbai Attacks
Opinions after the attacks in Mumbai. Yogi Sikandar presents the
"Lies of the Lashkar". A.M.Jamsheed Bahsa says that Indian
Muslims stand in solidarity with the nation. Aijaz Zaka Syed asks
"Will we allow mainstream Islam to turn into a moderate fringe,
while extremists take centre-stage?" 
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/opinions_after_mumbai_attac
ks.html

Mumbai Under Siege
Yogi Sikand describes LET and its motivation in bringing terror to
Mumbai while also listing other groups with similar interests.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/mumbai_under_siege.html

Villages of Leprosy
Though leprosy is an old disease that is 100% curable by medicines,
there are over 600 leprosy villages in southern provinces of China
housing over 40,000 ex-leprosy patients. Japanese artist Kosuke
Okahara presents "Leprosy in China" at the Chobi Mela.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/villages_of_leprosy.html

Freedom Denied
A photo-exhibit Jalil at the Chobi Mela highlights the situation of
women imprisoned in Bangladesh.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/freedom_denied.html

Under Development: Singur
Dibyajyoti Ghosh writes that the struggles in Singur and Nandigram
are not over. And that the country needs to evolve a more inclusive
discussion on development, its impact and its gains.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/under_development_singur.ht
ml

The IMF is Dead; Long Live the IMF
Rumors of the International Monetary Fund's demise appear to have
been greatly exaggerated. While the IMF has spent most of the last
three years looking for clients and "relevance," the end of
the U.S. housing bubble and the resulting global credit crunch seem
to have given the institution a new lease on life. This is the
reproduction of an article by Sameer Dossani.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/the_imf_is_dead_long_live_t
he.html

Dangerous Liaisons
The arrest of a serving army officer in connection with a terrorist
attack targeting the Muslim community is a matter of deep concern.
Col (retd.) Pavan Nair opines that the 'secularness' of the Indian
Army may be under threat.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/dangerous_liaisons.html

Islamic Politics, Muslim Militancy and 'Jihadist' Movements
Yogi Sikand translates this note by Maulana Waris Mazhari. 
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/islamic_politics_muslim_mil
ita.html

The Politics of Big Capital and the Poor:  The Story of the People of
Narmada Valley
On the 5th  of November I was in Khandwa, a town in central India,
taking part in  a rally organized by the Narmada Bachao Andolan
(NBA), or Save the Narmada  Movement. Dr. Rahul Pandey writes
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/the_politics_of_big_capital
_an.html

RTI Inspections: Audacity or Moral Courage
Krishnaraj Rao supports conducting RTI inspection of files of public
authorities arguing that it is the duty of citizens to ensure
transparency and accountability of public institutions.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/rti_inspections_audacity_or
_mo.html

Who Controls Hindu Terrorist Groups
No longer can the Sangh Parivar and BJP ever disown its role in
terrorism. The involvement of affiliated organizations in bomb blasts
against citizens of its own country, with standing army officer
involved in training these organizations on bomb making leaves the
government with questions to be answered. This article by Kavita
Krishnan was first published in countercurrents.org
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/who_controls_hindu_terroris
t_g.html

Dalit Struggles in Marathwada
Sanjay Suman (CRY) shares how dalit empowerment is slowly ending
caste hegemony in Marathwada.
http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2008/dalit_struggles_in_marathwa
da.html

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I cannot hope to work towards equality and justice, towards non
violence, till I stop dominating other opinions, other voices.

Media falls in the old trap

Beena Sarwar

[Published in The Dawn , Pakistan]

------------------------------------------------

THE Mumbai nightmare has plunged the media in India and Pakistan into the dangerous, old trap in which nationalism trumps responsible reporting. This is not a new phenomenon, nor is it restricted to India and Pakistan.

American journalists fell into this trap after the attack on the Twin Towers in New York on Sept 11, 2001. They were vigorously criticised for their unquestioning over-reliance on the security establishment for information. The security establishment, with its blinkered security paradigm, fed them false information that prepared the ground for the Iraq invasion and the Afghanistan bombing.

As part of society, journalists may find it difficult to step back and see the larger picture, especially when their countries are under attack. Responsible reporting and commentary require recognising this fallibility. There is no such thing as objective journalism. All journalists have their own world views and political baggage but at least we can aspire to be fair — to our subjects, to our audiences, and perhaps to our common humanity rather than national identities."Media manipulation is less an issue of overt censorship than an internalisation of myths and mindsets," commented Rita Manchanda, summing up a radical critique of the mass media by Indian and Pakistani journalists (`Reporting conflict', South Asia Forum for Human Rights, May 2001).

If the Indian media tends to be nationalistic and trusting in its government (which Pakistan government representatives often ask the more cynical Pakistanis to emulate), the Pakistani media has clearly demarcated no-go areas. As the veteran Peshawar-based journalist Rahimullah Yusufzai said at the consultation, "Pakistani journalists never had the opportunity to professionally cover the 1965 or 1971 wars or the Rann of Kutch or Kargil conflicts." Add the conflicts in Balochistan and the northern areas to that list since then.

The Babri Masjid demolition, the nuclear tests and the Kargil conflict all fed jingoism and jingoistic reporting on both sides. Sometimes journalists are culpable more by omission than commission, ignoring or playing down certain aspects or not asking crucial questions.

Take the festering issue of prisoners. The young Indian fisherman Lakshman who died in a Karachi jail on March 10, 2008 received scant mention in the Pakistani media. The body of a Pakistani prisoner Khalid Mehmood who died in an Indian prison, sent home around the same time, made front-page news, with many journalists accusing the Indians of torture.

Prison conditions and how the police treat prisoners in both countries are no secret. It is not that we treat Indian prisoners well, while they viciously torture Pakistanis. Sometimes a prisoner's death results not from outright torture but illness arising from neglect — poor living conditions in a hostile environment, extreme temperatures, lack of medical attention, all compounded by lack of contact with loved ones back home.

When the Maharashtra government stopped two Pakistani artists from continuing their work in Mumbai, TV reporters here got sound bites from passers-by who condemned the action. The reporter did not ask, and nor did the respondents bring up, the question of what would have happened had the situation been reversed — would Indians have been allowed to continue working here in the aftermath of such an attack, in which the attackers were widely believed to have links with India?

Similarly, talk show hosts let hawkish talk go unchallenged. In one recent instance, a retired army general referred to India as Pakistan's dushman mulk (enemy country). They invite more balanced commentators also but give them get far less time and space. Channels play up Mahesh Butt's criticism of the Indian media but, as the analyst Foqia Sadiq Khan asks, would they quote someone from Pakistan criticising the Pakistani media? "They quote Shabana Azmi ad nauseum that she couldn't find a flat in Bombay being a Muslim, but not on her opinion of fundamentalism."

Media might have brought the people closer but when nationalism rears its head, the beast of 24-hour television news also fuels conflict. This is where the commercial aspect comes in. When something big happens, the public seeks answers. The channels which cater to this need improve their ratings. Sensation sells. With viewers glued to the screens, channels keep them there with a continuous virtual reality show. They fill the time with speculative commentary, `expert' guests and whatever footage is available. Sometimes such footage is repeated ad nauseum — like when the Twin Towers were destroyed on 9/11, when the Marriott hotel was attacked, when the FIA building in Lahore was struck.

Even when nothing big is happening, information is packaged in an exciting way in order to attract attention. This often means playing up bad news and downplaying good news. TV channels continuously showed the scene of the blasts that rocked the World Performing Arts Festival in Lahore on its second-last day, injuring two people. They did not give the artists who defied fear and went ahead on the last day the same kind of attention.

When Zardari was sworn in as president, a breaking news ticker reported: "Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh congratulates Zardari". Breaking news? At least it was true. In the rush to be the first, channels often misreport.

The Mumbai nightmare provided several examples, as Kalpana Sharma documents in her critique of the Indian media's coverage of the first 60 hours, `Unpacking the pixel' in Tehelka. She concludes, "it is essential that reporters be trained to handle such extraordinary situations, that they learn the importance of restraint and cross-checking…. Professionalism and accuracy will ensure that we don't contribute to prejudice and panic."

Some Indian channels are running the Pakistan factor like a movie trailer, complete with sound effects and watch-for-the-next-episode commentary. This obviously fuels Pakistani indignation. However, this indignation could be tempered by being less reactive and empathising with the Indians' pain and grief that many Pakistanis share. Zealous commentators could also recall the times that their own media houses sensationalised an issue.

Journalists may argue that they are just the messenger, reflecting official or public opinion. But the media must also question, and get people to think. The stakes are high in our nuclear-armed countries, in a post-9/11 world where the major players include armed and trained men around the world who subscribe to the ideology of Al Qaeda and the Taliban.

As President Asif Ali Zardari said, even if elements within Pakistan were involved it is these same elements that the Pakistan government is fighting. So how much sense does it make to push the Pakistan government in a corner and divert its attention from fighting these elements?

Beena Sarwar is an independent journalist based in Karachi.

Online at: http://www.dawn.com/2008/12/03/op.htm#1

INVITE: Lucknow citizens express solidarity with Bhopal gas victims

National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and People's Political Front (PPF)

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Date: 3rd December, 2008, Wednesday
 
In solidarity with the struggle of Bhopal gas victims
 
March from Gandhi Bhawan, opposite Shaheed Smarak beginning at 4 pm to Sardar Patel statue, Hazratganj in Lucknow ending at 5:30 pm
 
Candle light demonstration to demand justice for people of Bhopal at 5:30 pm in front of Sardar Patel statue, Hazratganj, Lucknow
 
Contact Dr Sandeep Pandey (2347365), Amit Dwivedi (9839412418), for more information.
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PEOPLE OF BHOPAL AWAIT JUSTICE

             It has been 24 years now since that terrible night of 2-3 December, 1984, when India witnessed its most tragic industrial accident at a US company Union Carbide's plant in Bhopal city. There was a massive leak of lethal methyl isocyanate and other toxic gases. The safety systems failed totally. Thousands of people died during the first three days after the accident and deaths have continued even after that. The total casualty is estimated to be over 12,000 people. Over a lakh people were affected by some kind of illness or the other due to this accident.

            Union Carbide tried to evade its responsibility for the accident ever since it happened. It refused to appear before Indian courts. The Indian Government filed a case for $300 crores in compensation from Union Carbide but settled for merely $47 crores and dropped all charges against the company. Some of these criminal charges were reinstated later but again diluted. In 2001 another US company Dow Chemicals took over Union Carbide but refused to own its liabilities arising from the Bhopal accident.

             The toxic spill is till lying at the accident site  poisoning the ground water. The poison has entered the food chain of people living here. People's health is being adversely affected. Yet Dow refuses to decontaminate the water and soil around here. On the other hand Dow wants to invest in India to set up business. It has set up a plant in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra to produce a pesticide chlorpyrifos, Dursban, which is banned for household use in the US as it can hamper the mental development of children.

            It is an affront to the survivors of Bhopal gas tragedy that even before outstanding issues are resolved, the government has allowed Dow to set up operations in India . The survivors of Bhopal have waged a most brave battle from the streets in Bhopal to Delhi , from the courts to shareholders' meetings of Dow in the US for the last 24 years. Their demands are very simple – rehabilitation of people whose lives and livelihood have been affected by the accident, clean water to be made available, clean up of toxic wastes and legal action against Union Carbide and Dow Chemicals. However, even the most simple of demands are not being met satisfactorily by the government and hence there is a reason to suspect its motive. In the last two years the survivors of the tragedy have marched to Delhi from Bhopal , a distance of 800 km, twice on foot but to no avail.

            The basic question is who is the government more accountable to – the people or private corporations? Whereas it may be necessary to protect the interests of corporations to strengthen the economy but in the case of such a tragic disaster it is unfair for the people that they should be left in lurch merely because the government does not want to displease the corporation. The action of the government is anti-people and anti-democratic and hence condemnable.

            At a time when corporations seem to be getting stronger than the governments a clear cut stand needs to be taken by the Government of India in the case of Bhopal victims to reassure its citizens that we still live in a democracy. Profits cannot supersede public interest. All the industrial activity is meant for the good of people. If corporations take away lands or forests or water for commercial exploitation marginalizing the interests of people or endanger people's lives and health in any way, the acts of such corporations needs to be questioned not just by the people but also by the governments and courts. Unfortunately in case after case, the governments and courts seem to side with the power of corporates rather than listening to democratic voices.

            We hope the people will emerge victorious in their long drawn struggle.

 National Alliance of People's Movements & People's Politics Front