Rathore grim, as law tightens its grip.

when law is determined, smile changes to grimness, with the fear of law tightening its grip.

When Rathore was sentenced a few weeks ago to six months in prison, he left court smiling, escorted by his wife. A man who once headed the police force in Haryana showed no remorse minutes after he was found guilty of molesting a teenager who went on to kill herself. India was incensed by that smile.

On Wednesday, there was no trace of that smile as Rathore once again left court.  He was grim as the law intends to tighten its grip for justice in the case of Ruchika.

 At the Panchkula Court in Haryana, Rathore asked for anticipatory bail in the two new police cases filed against him on Tuesday night by the friends and family of Ruchika Girhotra, the 14-year-old Rathore molested in 1990.

Ruchika’s family has now accused him of criminal conspiracy and fabricating records related to Ruchika’s post-mortem after her suicide in 1993.

The judge will decide on Rathore’s bail on the 1st of January. A request for interim bail was denied. While that means Rathore could be arrested, police sources say they’ll wait till the judge’s final decision on Friday.

Turning on the media, Rathore snapped, “The day you convince me that you are a constitutional power on judicial matters, I will speak (to you).”  Ratore highheaded ness is still at its peak.  

In an interview to a national TV channel. The man in charge of keeping a check on corruption in the system, the Central Vigilance Commissioner, Pratyush Sinha,  claims that files are delayed whenever there is an investigation against a senior bureaucrat. In an exclusive interview to CNN-IBN National Affairs Correspondent Sumon Chakrabarti, Sinha talks about corruption in the Government and said that the ills have reached the top.

Hope the moves by the Ministery to reform and make the law more proactive will help the process to bring respect to the system.

Home Ministers dictate to states, bold step in police reforms. Ruchika case helps…..

Home Minister P Chidambaram, may prove to be the man with direction to make the police force better.

Ruchi ka case helps to initiate a step in the direction of clensing the system, yet there is very long way to go.  This will be considered as a major first major step forward in bring the police reoforms.

Keen to avoid another Ruchika Girhotra – like case, the government has decided to make immediate registration of FIRs mandatory for all cognisable offences so that investigations can begin quickly.

To ensure the new system works, an accountability clause is being weaved into a proposed amendment to the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) that will hold station house officers (SHOs) responsible if this is not done.

The home ministry has decided to send a circular to police chiefs of all states and union territories, informing them of the proposed amendment on compulsory registration of FIRs.

Under this, any complaint made to a police station regarding a cognisable offence – under which an arrest can be made without a warrant – will automatically be treated as an FIR. Sources said the reason behind the move is to ensure quick action. The Ruchika case had exposed the flaws in the system. It had taken nine years and directions from the court for an FIR to be registered, by which time the budding tennis player had committed suicide.

According to home minister P. Chidambaram, “All complaints must be registered as FIRs and investigated. If a complaint is found to be false, the FIR should be ruthlessly cancelled. But it must be made a point to register all complaints as FIRs promptly as this would increase the confidence of the public for the police. We are totally against non-registration of FIRs and I, in fact, even favour online complaints from the public to be registered as FIRs.” A senior home ministry official said that after going through the Ruchika case files, the minister decided to issue the circular to all states and union territories.

“Even though it is already a law that all cognisable offences should be registered as FIRs, the police blatantly disregard this and resort to conducting checks and enquiries to determine if a complaint is genuine. The home ministry wants state police forces to do away with these checks before lodging FIRs,” the official said.

Former police chiefs have responded to the proposed amendment by saying that the changes will put enormous pressure on the system, but that the government appeared to be finally paying heed to a much-needed demand for police reform.

Referring to the Ruchika case as an instance of all that could go wrong with a probe, a senior home ministry official said, “The fact remains that it (the assault on Ruchika) being a cognizable offence, the SHO of Panchkula police station should have immediately lodged an FIR and begun the probe. But this was not done for nine years. Hence, no probe could begin for a decade.” The official pointed out that the SHO, DGP R. R. Singh or even the state home secretary did not need anyone’s permission to lodge an FIR in the Ruchika case and begin the probe into the cognisable offence.

Another official said that several citizens, during their interactions with Chidambaram, had said that the police did not register cases to keep the crime figures down in areas within their jurisdiction.

“Mandatory and immediate registration of all complaints as FIRs is hence being recommended,” he said.

Former Delhi Police commissioner and ex-chief of the National Security Guard (NSG), Ved Marwah, said the home ministry was responding to a long-felt need for change.

“I can only hope that the home ministry circular has the desired impact on the state police forces. The reasons for non-registration of cases is mainly due to orders by political bosses to keep crime figures down as it would create a bad image for the government and make things difficult during elections. But now, as a politician in the form of Chidambaram is himself advocating the changes, I am hopeful that it will have the right impact,” said Marwah.

Former police officer Kiran Bedi said, “The country has finally woken up to the need to ensure that all crimes are registered.

This has been one of the major reasons for corruption and loss of trust and faith in Indian policing. For the first time the country will get to know how much crime did not get reported. But then we have to prepare the courts too to receive more of the work load.” Former DGP of Uttar Pradesh and exchief of the Border Security Force (BSF), Prakash Singh, said the home ministry’s idea may not practical.

“There will be a huge pressure on the system if all complaints are registered as FIRs without the basic enquiries. I am not sure how the society would react as such a step would lead to tremendous escalation in crime figures. We should instead try and change the work culture of the police force,” he said.

However, home ministry officials said that compulsory registration of FIRs was crucial to the success of the ambitious Crime and Criminal Tracking System (CCTNS) project being implemented by the home ministry, which aims to link all police stations in the country.

An official, however, admitted that a key challenge for implementing the compulsory FIR plan was to have the requisite number of policemen in the ranks as investigating officers.

According to the ministry, all the states and union territories together have a sanctioned strength of 17,46,215 policemen as on January 1, 2008. But, there were nearly 3,00,000 vacancies in these ranks. Home ministry estimates say that states would recruit over 4,00,000 constables by the end of 2011 to fill this gap.

There is need also to find a mechnism which will deter the fake and false compalints, this angle is imprtant or else there will be huge confussion and over load of work and in the process the real and genuine coplainants will be again put to sufferings and many innocent people may be effected and another type of problem may cropup.

Fasting in the Month of Muharram and its significance for Muslims. What is “Ashroora” ?

 

Moon in the sky, Keeps, Muslims, reminded of the days and months of Lunar Calander followed by them.

Muharram is the month with which the Muslims begin their lunar (Hegira) Calendar. It is one of the four sanctified months about which the Holy Quran Says (what means): {Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred…}[Quran 9: 36]

These four months, according to the authentic traditions (Prophetic narrations), are Thul-Qi’dah, Thul-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. All the commentators of the Noble Quran are unanimous on this point, because the Noble Prophet declared in his sermon on the occasion of his last Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah): “One year consists of twelve months, of which four are sanctified months, three of them are in sequence; Thul-Qi’dah, Thul-Hijjah, Muharram, and the fourth is Rajab.”

The specific mention of these four months does not mean that any other month has no sanctity, because the month of Ramadhaan is admittedly the most sanctified month in the year. But these four months were specifically termed as sanctified months for the simple reason that even the pagans of Makkah accepted their sanctity.

The sanctity of these four months was established right from the day Allaah created the universe. Since the Pagans of Makkah attributed themselves to Ibraaheem (Abraham) who observed the sanctity of these months, they also observed the sanctity of these four months and despite their frequent tribal battles, they held it unlawful to fight in these months.

In Islam, the sanctity of these months was upheld and the Holy Quran referred to them as the “sanctified months”. Muharram has certain other characteristics special to it, which are stated below:

Fasting during the month:

The Noble Prophet said: ‘The best fasts after the fasts of Ramadhaan are those of the month of Muharram.”

Although the fasts of the month of Muharram are not obligatory, yet one who fasts in these days out of his own will is entitled to a great reward by Allaah Almighty. The Hadeeth cited above signifies that the fasts of the month of Muharram are most rewardable ones among the voluntary fasts. It does not mean that the award promised for fasts of Muharram can be achieved only by fasting for the whole month. On the contrary, each fast during this month has merit. Therefore, one should avail of this opportunity as much as he can.

The day of ‘Aashooraa’:

Although Muharram is a sanctified month as a whole, yet, the 10th day of Muharram is the most sacred among all its days. The day is named ‘Aashooraa’.  According to Ibn ‘Abbaas the Prophet when he migrated to Madeenah, found that the Jews of Madeenah used to fast on the 10th day of Muharram. They said that it was the day on which Prophet Moosa (Moses) and his followers crossed the Red Sea miraculously and the Pharaoh was drowned in its waters. On hearing this from the Jews, the Prophet said, “We are worthier of Moosa than you,” and directed the Muslims to fast on the day of ‘Aashooraa’. [Abu Daawood]

It is also reported in a number of authentic traditions that in the beginning, fasting on the day of ‘Aashooraa’ was obligatory for the Muslims. It was later that the fasts of Ramadhaan were made obligatory and the fast on the day of ‘Aashooraa’ was made optional. ‘Aa’ishah said: “When the Prophet came to Madeenah, he fasted on the day of ‘Aashooraa’ and directed the people to do likewise. But when the fasts of Ramadhaan were made obligatory, the obligation of fasting was confined to Ramadhaan and the obligatory nature of the fast of ‘Aashooraa’ was abandoned. Whoever so desires should fast on it and any other who so likes can avoid fasting on it.” [Abu Daawood]

However, the Prophet used to fast on the day of ‘Aashooraa’ even after the fasting in Ramadhaan was made obligatory. Abdullaah Ibn Moosa reports that the Prophet preferred the fast of ‘Aashooraa’ on the fasts of other days and preferred the fasts of Ramadhaan on the fast of ‘Aashooraa’. [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

Misconceptions and Innovations:

However, there are some legends and misconceptions with regard to ‘Aashooraa’ that have managed to find their way into the minds of the unlearned, but have no support of authentic Islamic sources, some very common of them are these:

·        This is the day on which Aadam was created.

·        This is the day when Ibraaheem was born.

·        This is the day when Allaah accepted the repentance of Aadam .

·        This is the day when Doomsday will take place. Whoever takes a bath on the day of ‘Aashooraa’ will never get ill.

All these and other similar whims and fancies are totally baseless and the traditions referred to in this respect are not worthy of any credit. Some people take it as Sunnah (established recommended practice) to prepare a particular type of meal on the day of ‘Aashooraa’. This practice, too, has no basis in the authentic Islamic sources.

Some other people attribute the sanctity of ‘Aashooraa’ to the martyrdom of Al-Hussayn . No doubt, the martyrdom of Al-Hussayn is one of the most tragic episodes of our history. Yet, the sanctity of ‘Aashooraa’ cannot be ascribed to this event for the simple reason that the sanctity of ‘Aashooraa’ was established during the days of the Prophet much earlier than the birth of Al-Hussayn . On the contrary, it is one of the merits of Al-Hussayn that his martyrdom took place on this blessed day.

Another misconception about the month of Muharram is that it is an evil or unlucky month, for Al-Hussayn was killed in it. It is for this misconception that some people avoid holding marriage ceremonies in the month of Muharram. This is again a baseless concept, which is contrary to the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah (Prophetic Tradition). If the death of an eminent person on a particular day renders that day unlucky for all times to come, one can hardly find a day of the year free from this bad luck because every day is associated with the demise of some eminent person. The Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet have liberated us from such superstitious beliefs.

Lamentations and mourning:

Another wrong practice related to this month is to hold the lamentation and mourning ceremonies in the memory of martyrdom of Al-Hussayn . As mentioned earlier, the event of Karbalaa’ is one of the most tragic events of our history, but the Prophet has forbidden us from holding the mourning ceremonies on the death of any person. The people of Pre-Islamic ignorance era used to mourn over their deceased through loud lamentations, by tearing their clothes and by beating their cheeks and chests. The Prophet prevented the Muslims from doing all this and directed them to observe patience by saying “Inna lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon” (To Allaah We belong, and to Him is our return). A number of authentic narrations are available on the subject. To quote only one of them: “He is not from us who slaps his checks, tears his clothes and cries in the manner of the people of jahiliyyah (Pre-Islamic ignorance)”. [Al-Bukhaari]

All the prominent jurists are unanimous on the point that the mourning of this type is impermissible. Even Al-Hussayn sholtry before his demise, had advised his beloved sister Zaynab not to mourn over his death in this manner. He said, “My dear sister! I swear upon you that in case I die you shall not tear your clothes, nor scratch your face, nor curse anyone for me or pray for your death.” (Al-Kaamil, Ibn Katheer vol. 4 pg. 24)

It is evident from this advice, that this type of mourning is condemned even by the blessed person for the memory of whom these mourning ceremonies are held. Every Muslim should avoid this practice and abide by the teachings of the Prophet .

 

Sunday : 27/12/2009

Game of Cricket Ditched, by Kotala Pitch. Cricket is off, Blame game is on.

Disappointed and angre, the full capacity crowd was cheated, on a Sunday in holiday season become mere spectator to the Pitch Drama, ultimately abandoning the Match.

Match with the full capacity Fans sent for a six. Kotla Let down,  may raise question, and  exerts pressure on much talked India’s  Prepared ness of the common wealth  games, scheduled in the Indian Capital  very soon.

In a very embarrassing turn of events, the fifth One-Day International between India and Sri Lanka at the Ferozshah Kotla Stadium in Delhi has been called off due to poor pitch conditions.

Since the start of the play on Sunday morning, it was clear that the newly laid Kotla track was uneven, with a few deliveries giving the Sri Lankan batsmen a scare. Tillakaratne Dilshan was hit on his left arm as a ball took off unexpectedly, leaving the batsman in pain.

But play continued till the 24th over when a Sudeep Tyagi delivery kicked off the pitch and skipper wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni struggled to collect it.

Sri Lankan batsman Thilan Kandamby first had a word with Dhoni before he approached the umpires. Umpires Marais Erasmus and Shavir Tarapore soon conferred and Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara was seen gesturing to his teammates from the dressing room.

Sri Lanka were 83/5 when skipper Kumar Sangakkara came onto the field to have a chat with the umpires and his Indian counterpart MS Dhoni. He looked clearly unhappy with the conditions.

Subsequently, Match Referee Alan Hurst also walked in and they were joined by Kotla curator Vijay Bahadur Mishra and BCCI Pitch and Grounds Committee chairman Daljit Singh. India coach Gary Kirsten joined them along with his Sri Lanka counterpart Trevor Bayliss.

Delhi and District Cricket Association officials, including vice president Chetan Chauhan, had offered another pitch to Hurst.

But the final official announcement came more than one-and-half hours later and by then the two teams had already left the venue, along with the officials.

The Kotla tracks have been long criticised for their quality, including during the Champions League T20 tournament. No Ranji games were played in Delhi this season due to the pitch. 

A huge crowd that had kept aside the weekend to watch the Delhi match was disappointed. While some spectators held up posters saying “I want my money back”, some fans turned violent and broke the chairs in the stadium.

“DDCA regrets the inconvenience caused to all spectators and others. We offer our apologies to them,” Arun Jaitely, DDCA President said in a statement.

He also said all gate tickets will be refunded. “All gate tickets will be refunded. A detail announcement in this regard will be made shortly,” he said.

The embarrassment, however, may not end here as ICC’s latest code of conduct regarding poor pitches states that a first such breach should be met with “a suspension of the venue’s international status for a period of between 12 and 24 months together with a directive for appropriate remedial action and the need for prior ICC re-accreditation as an international venue”.

The last time a match was abandoned on India was in 1997 in Indore. Jayasuriya, who scored 31 on Sunday, was the only player to feature in both the matches.

As reported in the media.

Ruchika is victim of our system, that is corrupt, indiffrent, insensitve and irresponsible. Rathore’s will smile, and rule as long as we don’t change our system.

Ruchika victim of our system, how many more ruchikas should sacrifice before the systme chnages.

The question faced today by the Nation is how will we bring back the lost glory of our ethical and moral value system that we enjoyed and inherited in the past ages from our forefathers and the cultural gurus and protectors of the moral schools in our part of the World.  

Who is really to be blamed for the abuse and misuse of power, contact and money in the case of Ruchika,  she gave her life not withstanding the agony and failure to beat the system and power of a ruthless and manipulative powerful officer on duty Rathode.  

She suffered three years of unbearable agony and abuse, with her family shattered and fragmented, asking for justice running from pillar to post, the several social and community bodies supporting her and raising her plea with the authorities of the time failing to get speedy justice for her and her family.  

If this is case with the victim supported advocated so strongly gets raw deal by our system, then we know what will the fate of the thousands out there struggling for justice in some form or the other in our wide nation.  

The root to this is deeper, the society we are in today is to be blamed, our ethical and moral system has suffered most, we the people are not truly concern about what happens around us, we are not ready to challenge the system most of the time we surrender to the system run by the powerful and wealthy, surrendering  this will not change and nothing can be done to it, we shelve our thoughts and get along with our routine. 

We need to inculcate, values, respect our being human beings, and learn to grow as good sensible, and protective people who can raise to the occasions and be brave and assertive to drive fear in the detractors, and manipulators of law, and degrades of our society. 

We have bad to very bad examples to be worried about,  we are see and hearing every day on our neighbourhood, in our city, in our print and electronic media. The lessons are not  learned it is apparent. 

How many more Ruchikas and families like her, need to pay the price and suffer before the system changes. 

Who are the real culprits. Can we say we are not part of the problem,  with great concern for our future as a nation, I am afraid we can’t.

PC’s “Wide ranging consultations on Telangana” greeted with, “Wide ranging arson, protests and resignations of most MP’s and MLA’s in Telangana”. Will the word “Wide” declare congress google as a wide.

A gutted Bus standing as a witness to the kind of problem the state of Andhra Pradesh is riding on, due to lack of wisdom in our political brethern, the issue of Telangana has taken a very wild turn after the 23rd statement reversing the 9th Dec stand on formation of new state of Telnagna.

On the 23rd of Dec 2009 a U-turn on formation of  Telangana came in the form of a Statement by the UPA Govt  from Home Minister P Chidambaram made in brief statement saying “a large number of political parties are divided on the issue”.

“There is a need to hold wide-ranging consultations with all political parties and groups in the state. Government of India will take steps to involve all concerned in the process,” he said at a hurriedly called press conference. He read out a four para statement but took no questions.

Justifying the December 9 statement made by him on initiating the process for forming Telangana state, Chidambaram said “however, after the statement the situation has altered.

This change in heart came due to counter agitation  in Andhra and backing out by the opposition parties like TDP and PRP who where in favour of  formation of Telanaga State took also a U Turn post 9th Dec, under pressure from there leaders and MLA’s and MP’s of their party.

The statement given by PC wanting  ” wide-ranging consultations on Telangana”  has shown no signs of any of the parties in the arena of Andhra Rayalseema and Telangana conflict agreeing to take the advice of the Home Minister to sit and discuss the area of conflict and reach to a consensus. But a wide range of protests, incidents arson, damaging of property,road blocks,  resignations of MP’s and MLA’s from Telangana, and massive agitating crowds in villages, district headquarters, and universities came on roads to protest and paralyse the normal life and threaten the peace and property both govt. and public.  How long this will go on none knowns.

The selection of the word  “Wide ranging” has played the havoc, the statement was not worded properly, the objection of the Telangana TRS leader is the Govt has betrayed the people of Telangana and the absence of time frame and clarity on Telangana is unacceptable and amounts to a betrayal to the Region and  of Telangana and its people.

The state has gone in to worst mode, as all the MP’s from the Telangana region are reported to have submitted their resignations to the Lok Sabha Speaker.

The Turmoil has entered in to a phase with advantage to the Andhra agitation which was for united Andhra Pradesh and against the formation of Telangana state, and disadvantage to the Region of Telangana.  This is like a Tennis Match there will be many game to be played before the final set is played.

Who are players, who is the match referee no one knows, there is a hint on the referee,  but the teams  have mixed up, the player who  plays  for whom is know one knows.   The poor spectator, the people of the state are at  risk as always.

“Cat on the Wall” Politicians Punished, in Telangana. Statement of PC added fuel to fire in AP.

For a change the Politician at the receiving end. Law is on a holiday in Andhra Pradesh, and TRS chief says Andhra Pradesh is non-existent.

The Cat on the Wall Position of various Political Parties, and the Politicians for several years in the Sate of  Andhra Pradesh over the Issue of formation of state of Telangana entered an absolutely intolerable stage in the recent times.

Since the 9th Dec Statement by the Home Minister P Chidambaram which was clear and in favour of formation of a state for Telangana Region, In his statement Mr. P C said the govt will like to start the process of carving a separate state of Telangana looking in the aspirations and concerns of the demands by the people of the Telangana region.

The Political parties couple of days prior to the central govt statement in favour of Telnagana State formation witnessed willingness and a clear stand in favour of Telangana by the Political Parties leaders like TDP Chadrababu Naidu and PRP Chiranjeevi supporting the formation of a state and to move a resolution to this effect in the state assembly.

The sentiments both Telangana and in Andhra Regions are so widely raised among the Political Parties that the Political Party heads found it almost reduced them to non performing heads of the parties with no control what so ever on any of the MLS’s and MP’s and the cadre, in such situation seeing the turmoil the same leaders who supported for the formation of a separate state backed out and started blaming the govt and the Home Minister for untimely and midnight drama and a hasty  by the Centre, in favour of Telangana with our takeing in to account the parties concerned.

This was seen as a major set back in the translate on the latest statement given on the eve of Christmas from the Congress High Command thru Home Minister Chidambaram where in he indicated almost as putting the Issue of Telangana on Back burner due to a  fortnight of intense campaign by leaders of coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions against bifurcation of the state which was countered by pro-Telangana groups, Home Minister P Chidambaram made a brief statement saying “a large number of political parties are divided on the issue”.

“There is a need to hold wide-ranging consultations with all political parties and groups in the state. Government of India will take steps to involve all concerned in the process,” he said at a hurriedly called press conference. He read out a four para statement but took no questions.

Justifying the December 9 statement made by him on initiating the process for forming Telangana state, Chidambaram said “however, after the statement the situation has altered.

Chidambaram’s announcement drew immediate condemnation from TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao who met leaders of various parties from the region and called it a “betrayal”.  This erupted wide range of violence and arson in the State Capital  Hyderabad of Andhra Pradesh. The students of Osmania University  greeted the TDP leaders Nagam Janardhan Reddy and likes with Chappell and damaged their vehicles, in protest to their action of playing politics of Cat on the Wall by keeping the issue of  Telangana on Hanger and allowing to dry.

Political Clarity and truthful political culture is missing, in all the political parties of the Nation, each is working to promote and strengthen its base with no concern or value for what the people want we are a democracy but with a difference how different are we democratic to make it easy for the political system to make us mere spectators.

Govt. Comissions to assess condtions of Minorities is fine, but will it implement, their recommendations with same sprit ?

The Commission noted that the minorities especially the Muslims are very much under-represented and sometimes wholly unrepresented in government jobs.

Many commissions are formed with sincere desire by the govt. to help the minorities and give them their rightful place in the society.  Many surveys and  commissions proved time and again that the minorities on India are left out and are a backward, in many areas of education, economic, social life. since the independence the condition of muslim minorities in particular has not shown signs of growth as it should have.  The minorities are supressed and disadvantaged due to their economic, educational and social backwardness which is growing as the years and decades pass by.

Why the Minorites are backward

Their backwardness has given way to very odd and unhealthy colors to some of them, as we know economic and education backwardness make an individual weak, he becomes the weak link and these elements due to personnel insecurity become tool in the hands of opportunists and evil masters of the anti-social colors.  

There is factor  contributing to this backward trend in minorities first and foremost the lack of inclination in the minority community to educate themselves, the other factor the environment, support and counselling by the organizations to motivate them and educate them about the various governmental schemes available for them to give them the necessary support, one other factor is the leadership in the Minorities is not focussed on doing their bit to support them with organised effort and guidance and support.

UPA sincere in Intentions.

However not all is dark as we like to present, the truth is the nation India is a the biggest democracy of the world with a billion population. The challenges faced by the country are big and diverse with voices, for and pro to all schools of thoughts and the diversity is bond to be influenced most of the times by the majority voice in the system we live in.

The govt of Dr. Manmohan Singh  for the benefit of the minorities formed commissions and committees to study and report and recommend suggestions to the govt. for takeing concrete measures in order to uplift the Minorities of India, commissions such as the Schachar committee, and Ranganath Mishra Commission. The findings of both are now public and recently on the 9th of Dec the Ranganth Mishra Commission findings and with its suggestions is placed in the parliament for the process to start and take action on its recommendations.

Justice Ranganth Commission Recommendations

The report of the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities headed by former Chief Justice of India Rangnath Mishra, is considered a step ahead of Sachchar Committee report that went into the backwardness of minorities mainly Muslims.

The Commission, was notified in October 2004 and began functioning in 2005. Two years later, it submitted its report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in May 2007

With regard to quota, the Commission says that 10% should be reserved for Muslims and  5 % for other minorities in central and state government jobs in all cadre and grades.

It added that in case of non-availability of Muslims to fill the 10% earmarked seats, these may be made available to other minorities but in “no case” shall any seat within the recommended 15% shall be given to anybody from the majority community.

OBC   “non-exclusion of ineligible” castes has hurt genuine backward groups.

The failure to exclude castes from the OBC list has led to a sharp increase in number of OBCs — provocation for Mishra panel to slam “political considerations” and “vested interests in remaining backward” for distortion of the system.

The purging of OBC list is a sensitive issue which saw the government plump for status quo when Mandal Commission completed 10 years in 2003 and the first exclusion exercise was to be taken up. Citing inclusion of Jats and Vokkaligas in OBC list as examples of “political compulsions”, the report said “non-exclusion of ineligible” castes has hurt genuine backward groups.

If the report’s comments threaten to touch a faultline in backward politics, its recommendation for 8% subquota for minorities within 27% OBC quota is a testing proposition too. The panel has suggested the measure for increasing representation of minorities in government jobs.

Dissent on the recommendations by Asha Das

Member Secretary of the Commission Asha Das has, however, given a note of dissent on the Commission’s recommendation for conferment of SC status on Dalit converts to Christianity and Islam saying there was “no justification” for it.

Besides, she has said that as Dalit converts to Christianity/Islam do not qualify for inclusion as SCs, they should continue to form part of OBCs and avail facilities and reservations given to the OBCs until a comprehensive list of Socially and Educationally Backward (SEB) is prepared.

The Commission has, however, rejected the contentions made by Das in the dissent note and said “(we) firmly stand by every word of the recommendations, we have made under this term of reference.”

Alternative Route Sujested by the Commission for satisfying the 15 % reservation for the Minorites.

The Commission also suggested an alternative route for reservation to minorities if there is “insurmountable difficulty” in implementing the recommendation for 15 reservation.

In this regard it said since minorities constitute 8.4 percent of the total OBC population according to the Mandal Commission report so in the 27 percent OBC quota, an 8.4 percent sub quota should be earmarked for minorities.

The internal break-up should be 6 percent for the Muslims, commensurate with their 73 percent share in the total minority population at the national level and 2.4 percent for other minorities.

Besides it has recommended that the reservation now extended to the Scheduled Tribes, which is a religion neutral class, should be carefully examined to assess the extent of minority presence in it and take remedial measures.

The Commission noted that the minorities especially the Muslims are very much under-represented and sometimes wholly unrepresented in government jobs.

Some are of the opinion that the reservations is not going to help the Muslims and the Minorities.

This can not be true in India one should understand that India since its formation was forced to protect and support its backward and supressed classes of populations,  the scheduled caste, backward caste, on the basis of caste, social placement, linguistic, and economic backwardness. It is to be understood that the SC Sheduled castes are mainly the caste originating from the Majority Hindu community and it is found that the SC category Hindu when converts to other religious belief is deleted from the SC category and he will not be treated as a SC he will have to be considered in the religious minority.

Among a host of recommendations, the Commission recommends delinking of Scheduled Caste status from religion and abrogation of the 1950 Scheduled Caste Order which “still excludes Muslims, Christians, Jains and Parsis from the SC net.”

The Order originally restricted the SC status to Hindus only but was later opened it to Buddhists and Sikhs.

In such as set up when every class and section of the population is given reservation it becomes more important that muslims should be given reservation to make up for the gap both socially and economically between them and the rest of the Indians.  If it is not done the effect will be multiple and the gap will be widened and will come to a level of apathy

National Effort to be made to influence and help the govt. to implement the recommendations at the earliest.

The Minorities across  political party line, regional and cultural divides should influence  and help the govt. with all available means to implement the recommendations of both the Ranganth Commission and the Sachar committee recommendations in true spirit.

This should be  single point focussed agenda of all the Minorities of India.

22nd Dec. a Big Day , PM to give statement on Telangana, All parties keep fingures crossed.

Can his statement satisfy all regions of AP, Telangana, Andhra, and Rayalseema today. It is tough, AP keeps figures crossed much depends on his statement, which direction AP will take.

Today is a very crucial test of ability and skills of political wisdom for Prime Minster Dr Manmohan Singh.

As after a month long agitation on pro and anti Telangana by Various Political Parties, members of parliament and assemble protesting and many MLA’s resigning in protest to the statement made by the Home Minister P Chidambaram on 9th of Dec night, on the eve of a protest rally by the Telangana protestors on 10 in Hyderabad the state capital of Andhra Pradesh.

The statement diffused the agitation for separate Telengana and prompted the Leader of Separate Telangana Movement K C Rao of TRS breaking his 11 days old hunger strike in NIMS hospital in Hyderabad, statement on Home Minister change the mood from agitation to celebration and distribution of sweets and night lit by crackers and profuse celebration in the districts of Telangana, The people of Telangana appreciated the gesture of the Sonia Gandhi and the Congress Party and looked forward to it formation at the earliest.

But the celebration did not last long as the day progressed on 10th of Dec several MLS’s across party line resigned in protest to the statement given by Chidambaram the Home Minister demanding unified Andhra to remain.

The chorus on this demand was supported by the Congress party MP’s and MLA’s too, they where to most active in protest, going totally against the dictates of the party high command the Congress leaders on the State from Rayalseema, and Costal Andhra. The agitative mood and aggressive expression over night shifted from Telangana shifted to otherwise peaceful and disciplined regions of Costal Andhra and Rayalseema. The agitators burned and damaged public property and disturbed normal life in cities like many cities and districts of Andhra and Rayalseema regions of A P.

The reaction from political parties which heralded the cause of formation of Telangana in 2009 Elections TDP and PRP not able to control the situation by resignations of many of the Andhra and Raylseema MLS’s back tracked on the issue of Telangana under the changed circumstances, diluting there political stand on separate state of Telangana, This is Politics we can expect the unexpected by our political leaders even the likes of Chnadrababu and Chiranjeevi could spare themselves.

With several Hunger strikes by business interests giants like Rajgopal MP from Congress, and brother of YSR joining the voice to keep the state united, with many others in various districts protesting the complication and uncertainty increased in the state. The Central leadership of congress kept its vigil and the state CM Roshiah kept and tried to keep the conditions under control with mix of success and failure. Add to the fire to the fury the many hero of Andhra agitation to keep AP united in his 8th day of hunger strike broke the police bandobast and sneaked out of the govt hospital in Vijaywada on 10th 10 15 pm only to be surfaced in dramatic manner in NIMS hospital, on 21st Dec this embarrassed the state govt and the police dept.

As this was not enough Rajgopal ( Lagapati) MP’s who is protesting against formation of Telangana added like a catalyst to the separate Telangana agitator who where silent and were in mood of celebration and waiting for the govt to being the process of the resolution and the formation of the state of Telangana, became violent and protested at the NIMS against the stand taken by Lagapati Rajgopal MP the leader of united Andhra Agitation.

The situation has become worst and the tempers on both sides have grown. Andhra Pradesh a otherwise a peaceful and state which produce thousands of engineers, and IT professional keep its young section of the population busy with intense involvement in studies is harming its main asset base knowledge and educational discipline.

What ever is to be done the key would be it has to done quickly and make things clear and allow the minds to rest and settle. All representatives of the parties involved to the conflict, Telangana, Costal Andhra, Rayalseema and the Central Govt and the State Govt should enter in to a close door dialogue for several session and reach to common terms and amicably solve this issue to the benefit of all parties concern.

The tempers are high and damage is huge this will percolate further and could harm in a way it could be a point of no return.

Dr. Singh Please do your best and let the state and its people agree to your advice and decision as PM of the Nation and a person who cares for the aspirations of lakhs of people of AP and its regions.

Anti Telangana Protesting MP on Hunger Strike is missing, He Sneaks out from Hospital. State Police in search and on alert.

Lagapati Rajgopal Vijayawada Congress MP Sneaks out of Hospital with the help of his supporters opposing formation of Telangana State.

Congress MP from Vijayawada, Lagadapati Rajagopal, who was admitted to a hospital after being brought from a hunger strike site over the Telangana issue, walked out of the room on Sunday night. The MP’s supporters facilitated his ‘escape’ by preventing the 300-odd police team camped there.

He was confined in the Government General Hospital here for the last three days and was insistent that he be admitted to the NIMS Hospital in Hyderabad, police said.

Around 10.30 pm, he walked out of the room and got into a waiting car as hundreds of Congress workers mobbed the 300-odd police personnel and facilitated his exit from the hospital. Police have launched a search for the MP.

 The lawmaker has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the last eight days in protest against the proposed bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. He was forcibly evicted from the camp three days ago and shifted to the hospital.

He had refused to take any medical help though doctors said his condition was deteriorating. He wanted to be shifted to NIMS for better treatment. State Human Rights Commission also had directed that he be shifted to NIMS immediately.

However, the state government did not comply with the SHRC order as it feared that his admission to NIMS might cause a law and order problem in the state capital in the wake of protests by Telangana supporters. Krishna district administration wanted to shift the MP to NRI Hospital at Mangalagiri, 15 kms away from here, sources said.

The State Police, Officials, and the Media is kept guessing about his where abouts. There is no clue yet on his where abouts, the police is keeping vegil on National Highways leading to state capital Hyderabad. The state govt. is in state of shock, how Lagapati and his supporters planned this escape fromthe hospital. All checkpost are on alert, it is understood that he is accompained with a doctor, few supporters with a convey of cars. 

How this move by a responsible MP and Anti Telnagana portestor will be seen by the poeple of Andhra  is to be seen,  will it help the anti Telangana movement or it will short circuit the Anti Telangana movement and give advantage to the Central Govt and the Telangana Cause.  

Will this amount to mockery of the age old act of nonvoilence to express dissent  “Hunger Strike” . Will it amount to breaking of law too. Is Lagapati confident that this way he will help his objective of opposing separation of Telangana from the State of Andhra Pradesh.