The Indian Panorama

Year: 2015

  • NOBEL PRIZE 2015 | Winners

    NOBEL PRIZE 2015 | Winners

    Every year, the prestigious Nobel Prize is given to honour those who have made outstanding contribution in the fields of science, literature and social service.

    Between 1901 and 2014, the Nobel Prizes and the Prize in Economic Sciences has been awarded 567 times. 

    The 2015 Nobel Prizes for Physiology or Medicine, Physics, and Chemistry were announced this week in Sweden. This year’s Nobel Prizes will be awarded on December 10th in a ceremony that will be held in Stockholm, Sweden. 

    In 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his last will and testament, giving the largest share of his fortune to a series of prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature and Peace – the Nobel Prizes. Since the start, in 1901 till 2014, the Nobel Prizes has been awarded 567 times and includes 864 Laureates and 25 organizations. 860 individuals and 22 unique organizations have received the Nobel Prize in total.

    The 2015 Awards

    • Nobel Prize winners in Literature has been awarded to One Journalist
    • Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to two scientists
    • Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine has been awarded to three scientists
    • Nobel Prize winners in Chemistry has been awarded to three scientists
    • Nobel Peace Prize Is Awarded to National Dialogue Quartet in Tunisia
    • The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences has not been awarded yet. It will be announced on Monday 12 October, 1:00 p.m. CET

    Here is the list of the winners of this year’s Nobel Prize in the field of literature, physics, chemistry and medicine:

    The Nobel Peace Prize 2015

    A coalition of labor union leaders, businesspeople, lawyers and human rights activists won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for what the Nobel committee called “its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011.”

    Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet has awarded 2015 Nobel Peace Prize for its role during the country’s transition to democracy in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011

    The quartet comprises four organizations: the Tunisian General Labor Union; the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts; the Tunisian Human Rights League; and the Tunisian Order of Lawyers. But the Norwegian Nobel Committee emphasized that the prize “is awarded to this quartet, not to the four individual organizations as such.”

    From left, Mohamed Fadhel Mahfoudh, Wided Bouchamaoui, Abdessattar Moussa and Houcine Abbassi before a meeting with President Beji Caid Essebsi in Tunis in January. They lead the four groups that make up the National Dialogue Quartet.
    From left, Mohamed Fadhel Mahfoudh, Wided Bouchamaoui, Abdessattar Moussa and Houcine Abbassi before a meeting with President Beji Caid Essebsi in Tunis in January. They lead the four groups that make up the National Dialogue Quartet.

     

    The Nobel Prize in Literature 2015

    Svetlana Alexievich. Photo- Reuters
    Svetlana Alexievich. Photo- Reuters

    Svetlana Alexievich

    Belarusian investigative journalist and prose writer Svetlana Alexievich has been awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize “for her polyphonic writings, a monument to suffering and courage in our time”.

    Being the 14th woman to win the prize, member of the Swedish Academy Sara Danius has referred to Alexeivich’s work as a “monument to suffering and courage in our time”.

    The Nobel Prize in Physics 2015

    Arthur B. McDonald and Takaaki Kajita. Photo- Reuters
    Arthur B. McDonald and Takaaki Kajita. Photo- Reuters

    Takaaki Kajita and Arthur B. McDonald

    The Nobel Prize in Physics 2015 was awarded jointly to Japanese physicist Takaaki Kajita and Canadian astrophysicist Arthur B. McDonald “for the discovery of neutrino oscillations, which shows neutrinos have mass”.

    On receiving the prestigious award, Kajita said that it was “unbelievable”, thanking the “neutrinos” for his success. He also said at a press conference in Tokyo: “And since neutrinos are created by cosmic rays, I want to thank them, too.”

    Neutrinos are subatomic particles produced by the decay of radioactive elements, and earlier were believed to have no electric charge. Kajita, at the University of Tokyo, and McDonald, at the Queen’s University in Kingston, proved otherwise, showing that neutrinos indeed have mass.

    The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2015

    Dr. Tomas Lindahl, Dr. Paul Modrich and Dr. Aziz Sancar were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2015. Photo- Reuters
    Dr. Tomas Lindahl, Dr. Paul Modrich and Dr. Aziz Sancar were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2015. Photo- Reuters

    Tomas Lindahl, Paul Modrich and Aziz Sancar

    Tomas Lindahl, Paul Modrich and Aziz Sancar were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2015 “for mechanistic studies of DNA repair”.

    These three pioneers discovered how cells repair their DNA and protect it from assaults that the body and the environment put them through.

    Dr. Lindahl from Sweden was honored for discovering ‘how cells generally fix DNA damage’, while Dr. Modrich, the James B. Duke Professor of Biochemistry at Duke University, was recognized ‘for showing how cells correct mistakes in DNA replication during cell division’, and Turkish Biochemist Dr. Sancar ‘for mapping how cells repair DNA damage from ultraviolet light’.

    The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2015

    This year, three scientists have won the Nobel prize in medicine for their discoveries concerning malaria and infections caused by roundworm parasites.

    William C. Campbell and Satoshi Omura. Photo- Reuters
    William C. Campbell and Satoshi Omura. Photo- Reuters

    William C. Campbell and Satoshi Omura

    Irish-born American biologist Dr. William C. Campbell and Japanese biochemist Satoshi Omura have jointly been awarded “for their discoveries concerning a novel therapy against infections caused by roundworm parasites”

    The two researchers have discovered avermectin, a treatment for roundworm parasites.

    Tu Youyou. Photo- ReutersTu Youyou

    The other half of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2015 has been given to Tu Youyou “for her discoveries concerning a novel therapy against Malaria”.

    The 84-year old Chinese pharmacologist has been recognized for her discovery of artemisinin, a drug that has the most rapid action against Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

  • No Copyright on Yoga Poses: US Court – Bikram Choudhury loses Lawsuit

    No Copyright on Yoga Poses: US Court – Bikram Choudhury loses Lawsuit

    Indian-American yoga guru Bikram Choudhury is not entitled to copyright protection over yoga poses and breathing exercises he uses in hot rooms developed by him, a US appeals court has ruled.

    In an order by the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in California yesterday, a bench of three judges ruled in favour of city-based Evolation Yoga, against whom Mr Choudhury had filed a lawsuit in 2011.

    In the lawsuit, Mr Choudhury had claimed that Evolation founders, the husband-wife duo of Mark Drost and Zefea Samson had set up a “copy-cat yoga system that offers classes that utilise and infringe” on his copyrighted sequence of yoga postures.

    The appeals court ruled that the sequence of yoga poses and breathing exercises developed by Choudhury was not entitled to copyright protection because “it was an idea, process, or system designed to improve health, rather than an expression of an idea”.

    “Because the Sequence (of yoga postures) was an unprotectable idea, it was also ineligible for copyright protection as a compilation or choreographic work,” it said.

    Mr Choudhury founded the ‘Bikram Yoga’ form of exercise, which is among the most renowned forms of the art, with participants performing yoga postures in rooms heated to 40.6 degrees Celsius.

    The court noted that the Indian practice and philosophy of yoga date back thousands of years and “derived from ancient Hindu scriptures, including the Bhagavad Gita” and that the practice of yoga teaches students to attain spiritual fulfillment through control of the mind and body.

    The judges said that the question of whether the sequence of 26 yoga poses and two breathing exercises developed by Mr Choudhury “implicates a fundamental principle underlying constitutional and statutory copyright protection – the idea/expression dichotomy.

    “Because copyright protection is limited to the expression of ideas, and does not extend to the ideas themselves, the Bikram Yoga Sequence is not a proper subject of copyright protection,” they said, adding that by claiming copyright protection for the sequence of yoga postures, Mr Choudhury “misconstrues” the scope of copyright protection for compilations.

    “Our day-to-day lives consist of many routinised physical movements, from brushing one’s teeth to pushing a lawnmower to shaking a Polaroid picture, that could be… characterised as forms of dance,” the judges said.

  • Two Indian-Americans reach top ten in NASA’s 3-D Space Contest

    Two Indian-Americans reach top ten in NASA’s 3-D Space Contest

    Two Indian-American teenagers —  Rajan Vivek from Arizona and Prasanna Krishnamoorthy from Delaware featured in the prestigious 3-D Space Container Challenge held by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). The challenge asked young minds to make an innovative container that will make life of astronauts easier while they are in space. NASA has received number of innovative and revolutionary designs which will be used in upcoming Mars exploration project scheduled for 2017 and 2020.

    However, both Rajan Vivek from Arizona and Prasanna Krishnamoorthy from Delaware figured among 10 finalists of NASA’s national 3-D Space Container Challenge, however, failed to win the prestigious competition which went to Ryan Beam of California.

    Mr Beam’s ClipCatch design will allow astronauts on the space station to clip their fingernails without worrying about the clippings floating away and potentially becoming harmful debris.

    Mr Rajan’s Hydroponic Plant Box container tackles the challenge of containing water in a microgravity environment while still allowing plants to grow roots in it.

    Hydroponics, growing plants without soil, would be very effective in spacecrafts because it requires less space and plants grow faster and stronger, NASA said.

    Mr Prasanna on the other hand developed a Collapsible Container.

    In order to use the limited space on international Space Station, the Collapsible Container can expand and compress to perfectly fit its contents. When empty, it can compress fully for easy storage, NASA said.

    “The simplest tasks on Earth can be quite challenging, and even dangerous, in space,” said Niki Werkheiser, NASA’s In-Space Manufacturing project manager.

    “Being able to 3-D print technical parts, as well as the lifestyle items that we use every day will not only help enable deep space travel, but can make the trip more pleasant for astronauts,” he said.

    NASA, in partnership with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Foundation, which managed the competition, announced the winners of the Future Engineers 3-D Space Container Challenge yesterday.

    The winning designs focused on making life in space a little more comfortable for astronauts, NASA said. The 3-D Space Container Challenge asked students to design models of containers that could be used in space.

    They could range from simple containers that could be used to hold collected rocks on Mars or an astronaut’s food, to advanced containers for experiments that study fruit flies.

    Students across the US spent part of their summer using 3-D modelling software to design containers that could be 3-D printed, with the ultimate goal of advancing human space exploration on the International Space Station, Mars and beyond.

  • 11-year-old Indian student to represent UAE at World Education Games

    11-year-old Indian student to represent UAE at World Education Games

    A Dubai-based Indian student will represent the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the World Education Games (WEG) – a contest in literacy, math and science, a media report said.

    Maathangi Anirudh, 11, from the Millennium School, Dubai, is one of the very few ambassadors who have been chosen to represent UAE and the Middle East at WEG – a two-day gaming contest which will kick-off on October 13.

    Maathangi will pit her skills against five million pupils from 200 other countries and regions this week in the World Education Games (Weg) – described as the largest online education competition. She is encouraging other children to participate in a global maths, literacy and science competition to help provide education to the less fortunate.

    President of Arts and Culture of Dubai-based youth group Students for the Earth – involved in humanitarian and environmental activities, Maathangi supports the cause of “learning” and “education for all”, Emirates 24|7 News reported on Friday.

    Earlier this year, she organised an old book collection drive and gifted 900 books to Dubai Public Library. She has also been recognised as the Expo 2020 Dubai Youth Ambassador.

    WEG was established in 2007 and is an online game contest. It currently has nearly 6 million students participating worldwide.

    It has started practice sessions on October 1 and will run until October 12. Students aged 4-18 are eligible to participate for free.

    The first 20 games of the total 50 games will be marked.

    The WEG supports Unicef’s initiative “School in a Box” where points earned by students will be given to the organisation in the form of school supplies.

    The supplies will then be donated to needy schools and students in different parts of the world, the report said.

  • 1 dead, 1 wounded in Texas University shooting

    1 dead, 1 wounded in Texas University shooting

    HOUSTON (TIP): One person was dead and another wounded after a shooting at a student housing complex at a Texas university Friday, October 9, police said.

    University spokesman Kendrick Callis said the shooting was reported around 11:30 a.m. Friday at University Courtyard Apartments on the edge of the Texas Southern University campus. Callis said the campus was placed on lockdown and classes were canceled for the rest of the day. The lockdown was lifted Friday afternoon.

    Texas Southern President John Rudley said the student who died was a freshman. His name has not been released.

    “He was a beautiful young man trying to get his life together,” Rudley said. “I wish he was still here.”

    Two suspects were later detained, but a third got away, according to Houston police spokesperson Jody Silva.

    All of them are TSU students, Rudley said.

    In a tweet, the Houston Police said, “One person fatally shot, one wounded at 3545 Blodgett, an apartment complex near TSU campus. A possible suspect is detained. PIO en route.”

     

  • China’s military to recruit more civilian personnel

    BEIJING (TIP): China will recruit more civilian personnel for jobs in the PLA, the world’s largest standing army, and the Chinese People’s Armed Police. The spouses and offspring of military personnel who have fallen in the line of duty, and the spouses of those still in service will be eligible to apply to certain posts.

    More positions will be made available for candidates with relevant work experience. It is hoped that the drive will improve recruitment in remote areas and unpopular positions, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

    The announcement follows a recent decision by the government to lay off 300,000 troops by 2017 to further slim down the 2.3 million-strong People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The recruitment information will be publicised on Friday. People can sign up for examinations on the military talent net website and the tests will be held on November 22. The general political department of the PLA has called for a transparent recruitment process.

  • Saudi Arabia keeps November crude supply to Asia steady

    TOKYO (TIP): Saudi Arabia, the world’s top crude exporter, will supply full contracted volumes of crude oil to at least two Asian term buyers in November, unchanged from October, industry sources familiar with the matter said on October 9.

    The move was expected as the OPEC kingpin has supplied full contractual volumes to most Asian buyers since late 2009.

  • Store Robbed in Virginia, US | Indian-Origin Woman held at Gun Point

    Store Robbed in Virginia, US | Indian-Origin Woman held at Gun Point

    An Indian-origin convenience store owner has been robbed at gunpoint by three unidentified hooded men in the US state of Virginia.

    The three men wearing dark cloths entered the Du Drop store in Madison Heights on Tuesday. They pointed a gun at the owner, Sarla Patel, grabbed some cash and the fled the scene.

    “Today, It’s happened to me tomorrow somebody else,” wset.com quoted Patel as saying.

    Ms Patel has no visible injures but the emotional wounds of being held at gunpoint run deep.

    “I didn’t sleep for two nights. Every time that scene come to in my mind,” said Ms Patel.

    Investigators are still trying to identify three men who robbed a convenience store owner at gunpoint in Madison Heights. A surveillance camera at the Du Drop store captured the whole thing.

    Ms Patel and her husband opened the Du Drop convenience store in Madison Heights 9 years ago.

    “They just always used the bad language and just say ‘give me the money, give me the money’,” said Ms Patel.

    The report, however, did not mention how much cash was lost.

    If you know anything about this, Investigators urge you to call Crime Stoppers at 888-798-5900.

  • Guatemala mudslide death toll climbs to 221: Official

    GUATEMALA CITY (TIP): Rescuers have recovered 221 bodies from the remains of a village near the Guatemalan capital that was buried under a landslide one week ago, an emergency official said Oct 8.

    About 150 other people are still missing in Santa Catarina Pinula, where houses were buried last Thursday by a mountain of mud and debris following heavy rains.

    Julio Sanchez, of the volunteer fire brigade, told AFP at the scene that rescue work would continue, aided by specially trained dogs.

    But rescuers said it would be nothing short of a miracle if anyone were found alive at this point.

    The public prosecutor has opened an investigation into the disaster.

  • Coming: Woman superheroes to capture girls’ hearts

    Coming: Woman superheroes to capture girls’ hearts

    Inside Mattel’s headquarters just south of Los Angeles International Air port, Christine Kim grabs a shield and fires a plastic disc from it across a conference room. “I’m going to be playing with all my boys, deflecting their bullets and then be like, `I’m going to shoot you,” says Kim, one of Mattel’s top toy designers. Kim has in her possession what Mattel sees as a groundbreaking idea, one that could help end the years of malaise that sunk its sales and stock price and sent the company’s last chief executive packing.

    But even more important is that this may mean the toymaker has reconnected with its most important customer: little girls. For the shield is not Captain America’s -it belongs to Wonder Woman. And it’s a Wonder Woman designed by women for girls, not one crafted by men for boys. To show what a huge difference that makes, Kim picks up examples of the top-heavy Wonder Women and Batgirl action figures found on shelves. “Beautiful, but really sexualized,” Kim says.

    “There’s a very direct emphasis on a womanly part.”

    The new Mattel characters, created through a partnership with Warner Bros.’ DC Comics, are aimed at a 6 year-old girl.The DC SuperHero Girls line, which launches this spring, will include 12-inch dolls, 6-inch action figures, and gadgets such as a Batgirl utility belt.

    Some of the products will be unveiled for the first time this week at New York Comic Con. The two companies joined forces last year after seeing a hole in the market, one Warner Bros. wants to help fill with girl-oriented books and animated Web series. The studio also is pushing female superheroes into the mainstream with Supergirl, a television show airing this month on ABC, and a Wonder Woman movie slated for 2017.Mattel’s research has found that girls already purchase about 9%of action figures–and that’s despite the fact that most movies, TV shows, and toys aren’t made with them in mind.

  • Modi breaks his silence on Dadri, says fight poverty, not each other

    Modi breaks his silence on Dadri, says fight poverty, not each other

    NAWADA/BEGUSARAI (TIP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 8 broke his silence on the murder of a Muslim man in Dadri, near Delhi, over rumours that his family was consuming beef, by delivering a strong message against communalism and communal violence.

    He chose an election rally in Nawada to clarify his position, saying: “In a democracy everyone has the right to speak their mind. But Hindus must decide whether they want to fight Muslims or poverty. Muslims must decide whether they want to fight Hindus or poverty.”

    Reminding the crowd of his speech at Patna Gandhi Maidan during the 2014 Lok Sabha campaign, Modi said, “In the midst of bomb explosions I had said poor Muslims and Hindus had a common enemy in poverty.”

    Modi has been criticized for keeping silent on the Dadri murder even though his ministers, Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh, have condemned the killing. The fact that BJP party radicals have sought to minimize the mob’s guilt by calling it an “accident” or by focusing on the “sin” of cow slaughter, created an impression that the party was speaking in two voices.

    The PM sought to set doubts to rest by citing President Pranab Mukherjee’s statement on Wednesday warning people against any dilution in India’s core values of diversity and tolerance.

    “The Rashtrapati has shown us the way. There is no bigger inspiration than him, let’s follow his path,” Modi said.

    After his first two meetings in Bihar’s Samastipur and Begusarai, chief minister Nitish Kumar had tweeted wondering why the PM was silent on the Dadri issue.

    In Yadav-dominated Samastipur, Modi launched a strident attack on RJD chief Lalu Prasad for first saying Hindus too eat beef and later backtracking on it. Speaking before a mammoth crowd, Modi said he can’t even utter the words which Lalu said the other day.

    “Lalu says it was the devil which made him utter such words. People of Bihar should find out why the devil chose him. There are crores of people all over the globe but the devil chose Lalu,” Modi said.

    “It (Lalu’s beef remark) is an insult to Yaduvanshis and pains me the most since I hail from the city of Dwarka and the land where the white revolution started,” Modi said later at Begusarai.

    Modi asked the people to choose between “jungle raj” and “vikas raj”. He said, “Bihar has two very important assets — ‘paani’ and ‘jawaani’. Previous governments failed to utilize them. I will be ensure maximum utilization of water and job opportunities.”

    At a mammoth rally in Begusarai, Modi responded to Rahul Gandhi’s allegations that his government works only for the rich, saying that the rich do not need government for health, education and transport.

    “Governments work for the poor and they are bound to fulfil the basic needs of the people.”

    In Munger and Nawada, Modi said described the Mahagathbandhan of JD(U), RJD and Congress as “swarthbandhan”. He added, “Though the three parties have ruled Bihar for 60 years, they have a zero account on development. Roj subah ek ki kaam hai. Dictionary khol ke sab baith jaate hain aur sabse bade shabd dhoondhte hai ki aaj PM ko kaun si gaali di jaaye.”

  • Share and Care Foundation Raises over $1,000,000 for Rural India at the 33rd Annual Gala

    Share and Care Foundation Raises over $1,000,000 for Rural India at the 33rd Annual Gala

    NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ (TIP): Share and Care Foundation (SCF) held its 33rd Annual Gala on Sunday, October 4th at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, NJ. The sold-out show packed 1,800 people into the theatre to help Share and Care cross $1,000,000 in donations in 2015 towards its Signature Programs in Education, Healthcare, and Women Empowerment.

    Share & Care Foundation President Arun Bhansali introduces the Foundation and welcomes guests to 33rd Share & Care Annual Gala
    Share & Care Foundation President Arun Bhansali introduces the Foundation and welcomes guests to 33rd Share & Care Annual Gala

    SCF highlighted its Education programs in particular this year, with the theme “Bringing Education to India’s Forgotten Children.” The importance and benefits of investing in education were emphasized. The speakers raised awareness about the startlingly high school dropout rates in India, and spoke of SCF’s Signature Program, Educate to Success (E2S), which works to bring dropouts back to school and help them complete their high school education.

    The audience was filled with many of SCF’s top donors; accomplished doctors, lawyers, and businesswomen. Arun Bhansali, the president of the organization, asked them to remember their own path to success and all those who may have helped them along the way. “I urge you to consider how you may now provide a helping hand to those who need you,” he said. “In today’s rapidly changing philanthropic space, we invite you to use your time, talents, and resources to address society’s problems.”

    Time for presentation of awards. TV Asia Chairman H.R. Shah holds his award
    Time for presentation of awards. TV Asia Chairman H.R. Shah holds his award

    Deven Parekh, a successful New York based investor and philanthropist, served as the evening’s keynote speaker. He motivated the audience to find ways to give back to their community at large in any capacity they can, and spoke on the long-term impacts of supporting education programs. “In terms of returns,” he said, “I can think of no better investment than education.”

    SCF’s Education programs, Educate to Graduate (E2G) and Educate to Success (E2S) collectively support over 1,600 students over all ages. Both programs boast unique models, and empower marginalized student populations who are often looked over. E2S targets rural villages, where over 40% of students drop out before reaching eighth grade. E2G supports impoverished, yet brilliant students who cannot afford their college tuition to complete their degree and acquire a good job, effectively breaking out of the cycle of poverty in a single generation.

    The funds the gala raised ensured that these programs, along with SCF’s other Signature Programs, can expand in the coming years. “This year, Share and Care passed an important milestone,” Dr. Shirish Patrwalla, the organization’s treasurer said.

    Kanika cast a spell with her melodious singing
    Kanika cast a spell with her melodious singing

    Sukhwinder Singh and Kanika Kapoor, two of Bollywood’s top singers, entertained the excited crowd with song after hit song well into the night.

  • PRESIDENT INDICATES DISPLEASURE ON DADRI

    PRESIDENT INDICATES DISPLEASURE ON DADRI

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Apparently referring to the Dadri lynching episode, President Pranab Mukherjee on October 7 asserted that the core values of India’s civilisation cannot be given the slip.

    “We cannot allow core values of India’s civilisation to be given a slip,” President Mukherjee said.

    “Core values of diversity, tolerance and plurality must be kept in mind,” he added.

    The President’s comments came at a time when leaders from across the spectrum are deriving political mileage from the Dadri incident.

    Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has appraised the Prime Minister’s Office of the situation in the western Uttar Pradesh village.

    The Uttar Pardesh government had submitted a report to MHA on the probe into the Dadri incident.

  • Rupert Murdoch apologizes for ‘real black President’ tweet

    Rupert Murdoch apologizes for ‘real black President’ tweet

    NEW YORK (TIP): The founder of the global News Corp media empire, Rupert Murdoch, issued an apology on Thursday after he faced social media backlash following his suggestion that President Barack Obama isn’t a “real black President.”

    Apologies! No offence meant. Personally find both men charming. – Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) October 8, 2015

    Murdoch was praising Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson and his wife on Twitter on Wednesday when he wrote: “Ben and Candy Carson terrific. What about a real black President who can properly address the racial divide?”

    Ben and Candy Carson terrific. What about a real black President who can properly address the racial divide? And much else. – Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch)

  • Bangladeshi farmer named national rat-killing champion

    Bangladeshi farmer named national rat-killing champion

    DHAKA (TIP): Bangladesh has crowned a new national champion rat killer after his team eradicated more than 160,000 rodents in the past 12 months, officials said Oon Thursday.

    Farmer Abdul Khaleq Mirbohor won 20,000 Bangladeshi taka (USD 250) at a ceremony in Dhaka on Wednesday for eliminating 161,220 rats in a year as part of a nationwide campaign to stop grain being devoured by rodents.

    “Mr Mirbohor is a passionate rat killer. During the ceremony, he told the dignitaries that nothing gives him pleasure (more) than killing grain-eating rodents,” Abul Kalam Azad, head of the government’s plant protection unit, told AFP.

    Mirbohor hired mostly women volunteers to kill the rats in paddy and wheat fields, then submitted the tails of the deceased animals to the regional agriculture office to count them.

    “I’ve been killing rats since 1996. I love killing them. They are the enemy of the country and people. They devour grains, ground nuts and spread diseases,” the 55-year-old farmer told AFP.

    Government official Borhan Uddin said the farmer was “obsessed” with killing rats. “Fellow villagers called him mad. He is like a Pied Piper of Hamelin,” he said.

    Rodents destroy 1.5 million to two million tonnes of food in Bangladesh annually, the Ministry of Agriculture estimates.

    Farmers in the predominantly agricultural nation have killed nearly 13 million rodents in the last 12 months, saving$25 million of food, officials said.

  • Jackson Heights Merchants’ Association Diwali Mela on October 11th

    Jackson Heights Merchants’ Association Diwali Mela on October 11th

    NEW YORK (TIP): It is come one, come all at the 27th Diwali Mela of Jackson Heights Merchants’ Association on Sunday, October 11th.

    In a talk I had , October 8th evening, JHMA President Shiv Dass and his Secretary Chander Shekhar claimed that the Mela being organized is full of life, with 50 booths selling their products and services, and a wide range of entertainment items to be presented by Indian, Pakistani  and Bangladeshi artists. Mr. Dass  mentioned, in particular, the presence of legendary Noora sisters. Besides, there will be presentations of dances, including Bhangra. And then there are a number of local artists who will be performing. DJ Sohna will be overseeing the musical presentations and the audio system. The organizers expect over 10,000 visitors.

    Mr. Dass said about the Secretary of JHMA, Chander Shekhar  that he was working hard to ensure all arrangements are in place to make the Mela a memorable experience for visitors and the organizers. Chander Shekhar said that preparing the Souvenir for the occasion was a challenging task but he has received a lot of cooperation from Jackson Heights merchants fraternity and others and he would be able to come up with an impressive souvenir. Chander Shekhar is also in charge for booths. In case, anyone needs a booth, he/ she can contact Chander Shekhar at 646-239-8803.

    JHMA was formed in 1989 to promote business interests of traders in the  Jackson Heights market, then a thriving business center. Diwali Mela is the signature event of the JHMA since 1990 when it was first organized. The Mela affords an opportunity to bring together officials, local politicians, businessmen and community leaders.

    Over the years, many well known officials and politicians have participated in the Mela. Among them, former Mayor Bloomberg who is a personal friend of Mr. Shiv Dass participated three times. Mayor Bill de Blassio participated in 2012.

    The organizers also utilize the Mela to honor their sponsors, well wishers, politicians, officials and community leaders.

    Mahendra Patel of Patel Brothers who is also one of the Sponsors, is the Chief Guest at 2015 Mela. New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer is the Guest of Honor.

    The organizers invite all to visit the Mela on Sunday, October 11th from 12 noon to 6 P.M.

  • Indian American Dilip Chauhan appointed Director of South East/Asian Affairs in Nassau County Comptroller’s Office

    Indian American Dilip Chauhan appointed Director of South East/Asian Affairs in Nassau County Comptroller’s Office

    MINEOLA, NY (TIP): Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos announced, October 5, the appointment of Mr. Dilip Chauhan as Director of South East/Asian Community Affairs.

    Mr. Chauhan will be responsible for monitoring and enhancing minority and women owned business participation in County contracts and purchases.

    “Dilip is a diligent professional and a respected leader in the South East/Asian community,” Comptroller Maragos said. “In this new capacity, he will continue his outstanding community efforts, while assisting the Comptroller’s office to ensure that Nassau County is adequately addressing the challenges of our minority business owners and residents.”

    “I look forward to advancing the mission and goals of the Comptroller’s Office while helping members of the community to better navigate local government, and gain full access to business opportunities,” Mr. Chauhan said. “I am honored to serve in this capacity, and I look forward to working tirelessly on Comptroller Maragos’ and the community’s behalf.”

    In addition to serving as the South Asian Community Coordinator for several municipalities, Mr. Chauhan served as a past advisor to the Association of Indian American Physicians. He was a volunteer for the United Nations Millennium World Peace Summit and received numerous awards for his service and contributions to the South Asian community. Dilip Chauhan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering.

  • Bharara says it’s his ‘obligation’ to discuss public corruption

    Bharara says it’s his ‘obligation’ to discuss public corruption

    NEW YORK (TIP): U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara on Wednesday, October 7 defended his efforts to publicize his office’s public-corruption cases, saying it is his “obligation” to discourage public officials from committing similar crimes.

    Bharara, the top federal prosecutor for New York’s Southern District, spoke Wednesday, October 7 at the New York University School of Law, taking questions from a moderator and law students who made up the audience.

    When asked about the high-profile corruption cases he’s brought against officials like now-former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, the talk quickly shifted to criticism of Bharara’s office’s public handling of the cases, which had led the judge in Silver’s case to chide the prosecutor.

    Bharara said the criticism often arises out of cases involving “very, very, very sophisticated and high-priced lawyers” who can “afford to make accusations like that.” He said it would be “ludicrous” to criticize a prosecutor for talking too much about the need for after-school programs and a strong education system to combat street crime, and the same standard should apply for public corruption.

    “So to answer questions about why it’s happening – why is there corruption in Albany or the city council or anywhere else, and what ordinary people can do to make it better and to raise public awareness of this problem – I think is completely appropriate,” Bharara said. “And I would be in some ways remiss if I didn’t talk about these things.”

    Public-corruption cases brought by Bharara’s offices have regularly captured headlines across the state, leading Silver’s attorneys to complain that the publicity efforts were hampering the lawmakers’ chances at a fair trial. A judge ultimately dismissed Silver’s arguments, but warned Bharara against going too far.

    The hour-long talk at NYU touched on a variety of issues, including Bharara’s thoughts on mass incarceration and issues in the state’s prison system.

    When it came to Bharara’s jurisdiction and its broad reach, the prosecutor said his office has long thought globally.

    “Somebody once made the mistake of asking me, ‘What again is your jurisdiction exactly?’” Bharara said. “And I said, ‘Are you familiar with Earth?’”

    He continued: “Long before I got there, we have a long tradition in the Southern District of thinking of the global reach that we have, because we do have a good amount of resources -not unlimited resources, but a good amount.”

  • Immigration Seminar Calls for Community Campaign

    Immigration Seminar Calls for Community Campaign

    NEW YORK (TIP): Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO-New York), South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS) and the Kerala Center organized an immigration seminar looking at the changing rules and updates for 2015 on Sunday, September 27th at the Kerala Center, Elmont, New York. The panelists were attorneys Michael Phulwani and David Nachman of NPZ Law Group, P.C. (Ridgewood, NJ) and Anand Ahuja (Law Offices of Anand Ahuja, Hicksville, NY). The seminar was moderated by GOPIO International Founder President Dr. Thomas Abraham.

    Kerala Center President Thambi Thalappillil and GOPIO-New York Vice President Inderjit Singh extended a word of welcome. SACSS Executive Director Sudha Acharya was also present.

    Initiating, Attorney Michael Phulwani spoke on how to read the visa bulletin which is available to everyone, H-1B alternatives, present status of DACA and DAPA.

    Attorney Anand Ahuja, who also serves as GOPIO-New York president, spoke on business and investment visas and special juvenile status.

    Attorney David Nachman spoke on AC-21, STEM OPT issues/changes, provisional wavers, President Obama’s immigration reform initiatives and consular processing issues.

    Some of the community issues which emerged out of this seminar included:

    • it’s time that US includes India into Treaty Investment and Treaty Trader category for the immigration visa purpose. This is been the source of a great deal of frustration between the United States and India for many years. It is not clear why Bangladesh and Pakistan and Sri Lanka all have E visas but India does not.
    • Need grass-root actions to support President Obama’s executive actions that were announced in November 2014. While immigration reform holistically seems to be stalled, President Obama’s executive actions are designed in a piecemeal manner aimed at improving the overall immigration law system.
    • The present Visa bulletin reflects extreme backlogs for Indian nationals in many visa classifications. These backlogs have resulted in families being separated for long periods of time. One of the major tenets underlying US immigration law is family unity. It continues to be our hope that these backlogs can be reduced in some fair manner.
    • H-1B nonimmigrant professional and specialty occupation work visas continue to be scrutinized heavily by such agencies as the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Department of State, and the US Department of Labor. Additionally, many of the largest users of the H-1B visa are very significant technology companies from India. Grassroots efforts should be made to help the government understand that India is not the only user of these technology visas. Attempts to avert a form of reverse discrimination should be undertaken soonest.

    It was resolved that GOPIO and other community groups must campaign with Obama administration and elected officials on these issues.

    GOPIO-New York Treasurer Rekha Sahgal concluded the seminar with a vote of thanks.

  • Indian television journalist shot dead in Uttar Pradesh: CPJ Demands Punishment to Culprits

    Indian television journalist shot dead in Uttar Pradesh: CPJ Demands Punishment to Culprits

    NEW YORK (TIP): The Committee to Protect Journalists, October 8, called on authorities in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh to thoroughly investigate the shooting death of journalist Hemant Yadav, determine a motive, and bring the perpetrators to justice. The attack follows the killing of another journalist in the state in June. Yadav, 45, was a reporter for the Hindi-language news channel TV 24. He was shot near his home on Saturday, October 3 night, in Chandauli district in Uttar Pradesh. His attackers fired at him from a motorcycle and then fled the scene, according to Agence France-Presse. No arrests have been made, AFP reported, citing police.

    It is unclear if Yadav was killed in relation to his work as a journalist. CPJ was unable to determine what Yadav covered at the TV channel. TV 24 did not immediately reply to CPJ’s message requesting comment.

    Police have not identified suspects or offered a clear explanation of a motive behind the attack, news reports said. He was shot while returning home from a local market, media reports said.

    “We call on authorities to step up their investigation into the killing of Hemant Yadav. Police must act quickly and decisively to investigate this case and bring his killers to justice,” said Bob Dietz, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator. “Far too often, journalists’ murders go unpunished in India, no matter the motive. It is time for India to address this tradition of impunity.”

    In June, freelance journalist Jagendra Singh, who reported critically on politics and current affairs in Hindi-language newspapers and on Facebook, died from burn injuries he sustained after a police raid at his home in Uttar Pradesh on June 1.

    Of the 11 journalist murders CPJ has confirmed as work-related in the last 10 years in India, all have been carried out with complete impunity. India ranks 14th on CPJ’s 2015 Impunity Index, which spotlights countries where journalists are slain and the killers go free.

    CPJ is an independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide.

  • Department of Education to present High School Admission Process Tips on October 21

    Department of Education to present High School Admission Process Tips on October 21

    QUEENS, NY – Borough President Melinda Katz will hold a regular meeting of the Queens Parent Advisory Board on Wednesday, October 21 at 6:00 PM at Queens Borough Hall (Borough President’s 2nd Floor Conference Room), 120-55 Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens.

    The meeting will feature a presentation by New York City Department of Education (DOE) officials for parents about how to navigate the high schools admissions process, as well an overview of recent changes to the DOE’s structure of superintendents of high schools. Those attending the meeting include MELINDA KATZ, Queens Borough President JUAN MENDEZ, Superintendent of High Schools for Queens, DOE MARGARET ROGERS, Queens Borough Director of Enrollment, DOE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS from the nine Reward Schools in Queens
    (Academy of American Studies; Aviation Career and Technical High School; Baccalaureate School for Global Education; East-West School of International Studies; Queens High School of Science at York College; Robert F Wagner Jr. Secondary Schools; Scholars Academy; Townsend Harris High School; York Early College Academy.

    In addition, Borough President Katz will recognize the nine Queens high schools that were recently designated as “Reward Schools” by the New York State Commissioner of Education for having made the most significant progress or have the highest achievement in the state with no significant gaps in student achievement.

    The Parent Advisory Board gives Queens public school parents an opportunity to be heard on education issues and concerns and provides a forum to meet with senior city and state education officials. The meetings are open to the public, especially to any and all parents with children in the public school system. The Board is chaired by BP Katz, BP Katz’s Panel for Education Policy (PEP) appointee Deborah Dillingham and BP Katz’s Education Director, Monica Gutierrez. The Board is comprised of Parent Teacher Association (PTA) members, Parent Coordinators, the Community Education Councils (CECs) in school Districts 24-30 and the Education Committee Chairs of each Queens Community Board. The Board regularly meets at Borough Hall. (Based on a press release)

  • Nepal govt mulls airlifting fuel to ease crisis

    Nepal govt mulls airlifting fuel to ease crisis

    KATHMANDU (TIP): Nepal is mulling airlifting fuel either from Bangladesh or Malaysia and may build a petroleum storage plant near its border with China as the fuel crisis deepened due to continued blockade of land trade points with India amid protests over the new constitution.

    Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has been tasked to prepare alternative plans for fuel import by the commerce ministry following the blockade, The Kathmandu Post reported.

    In its proposal, the state-owned enterprise has drawn short- and long-term plans for fuel import. The NOC has planned to import fuel either from Bangladesh or Malaysia as short term solution. “The NOC meeting on Wednesday has considered air-lifting fuel as an option for now. However, we are yet to reach to any conclusion,” said an NOC source told the paper. In the long term plan, the NOC has recommended for importing fuel from China and sending a technical team there for a feasibility study.

  • US in talks with Pakistan over capping its nuke range

    US in talks with Pakistan over capping its nuke range

    WASHINGTON (TIP): The Obama administration is exploring a possible civilian nuclear deal with Pakistan ahead of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to Washington later this month, a Washington Post columnist has reported, citing a sole source “familiar with the talks” who said Islamabad has been asked to consider “brackets” relating to the deal.

    Brackets, in diplomatic parlance, are numerous alternative formulations that are negotiated towards an eventual agreement. According to the report, the deal centers around a civilian nuclear agreement similar to the one the United States arrived at with India, in exchange for a Pakistani commitment that would “restrict its nuclear program to weapons and delivery systems that are appropriate to its actual defense needs against India’s nuclear threat.”

    Pakistan might, for example, agree not to deploy missiles capable of reaching beyond a certain range, the report said, citing the source, who indicated that the US might support an eventual waiver for Pakistan by the 48-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the same way it has done for India.

    The Obama administration said it was in “regular contact” with the Government of Pakistan on “a range of issues” as it prepared for the visit on October 22 of Prime Minister Sharif, but declined comment on the specifics of the discussions.

    “The United States urges all nuclear-capable states, including Pakistan, to exercise restraint regarding nuclear weapons and missile capabilities. We encourage efforts to strengthen safety and security measures and continue to hold regular discussions with Pakistan on a range of global issues, including nuclear security, counterterrorism, and international norms,” an administration spokesperson said in a tacit acknowledgement that some sort of dialogue is taking place on the nuclear issue.

    Successive US administrations both under Presidents Bush and President Obama, have knocked down the idea of a deal for Pakistan like the one Washington arrived at with India, saying the background and circumstances surrounding the US-India civilian nuclear agreement was entirely different, and pointing to Pakistan’s record of nuclear proliferation.

    However, President Obama’s recent track record vis-a-vis Iran and Cuba, both regarded for a long time as outlaw nations, suggests there may be some substance to a nuclear outreach towards Pakistan. There is also less pathology about Pakistan in Washington’s official circles, where many veterans have a romanticized recall of Islamabad’s role in the Cold War when it offered its services to Washington, for a price. The strategy helped Pakistan circumvent nuclear non-proliferation roadblocks that the US all too readily winked at.

    In recent months, Pakistan has tried to project itself as a responsible nuclear power, although some of its politicians and generals reflexively brandish the country’s nuclear weapons to assure themselves and their constituents about security against India. “We are a nuclear-armed country and we know how to defend ourselves,” Pakistan’s National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz boasted recently in a suo motu assertion although no one had talked of a nuclear war.

    While a few regional experts have floated the idea of a nuclear deal for Pakistan in the past, most analysts are aghast at the prospect. It will be “sheer madness wrapped in folly,” said Sumit Ganguly, a South Asia scholar at Indiana University, among several experts who have critiqued Washington frequent free passes to a country that has a reckless history of nuclear proliferation and home-grown terrorism.

    The WaPo report however conceded that inasmuch as Pakistan prizes its nuclear program, “negotiations would be slow and difficult, and it’s not clear that Islamabad would be willing to accept the limitations that would be required.” But, it said, the issue is being discussed quietly in the run-up to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to Washington on October 22.

  • Pakistan rejects accusations of involvement in Kunduz attack

    Pakistan rejects accusations of involvement in Kunduz attack

    ISLAMABAD (TIP): Pakistan’s military has rejected allegations by Afghanistan’s deputy army chief that Pakistani generals were involved in the Taliban’s brief capture of Kunduz and had escaped the city wearing burqas.

    Taliban fighters seized control of the northern Afghan provincial capital for three days last week, their most spectacular victory since being toppled from power by a US-led coalition in 2001.

    General Murad Ali Murad, Afghanistan’s deputy army chief, told Afghan media Monday that Pakistan’s military had helped lead the attack.

    “We will identify and detain these Pakistani generals who are hiding now and escaped wearing women’s burqas,” he said, according to Tolo News.

    Pakistan was the Taliban’s main ally during their 1996 – 2001 rule and is frequently accused by Afghanistan of supporting the present insurgency.

    A Pakistani military spokesman said in a statement late Tuesday the allegations of Pakistani involvement in the Kunduz attack were “mischievous”.

    “The allegations levelled by an Afghan official are totally unfounded, baseless, uncalled for and mischievous,” he said.

    “Such allegations are not even comprehensible.”

    Pakistan for its part has been demanding Afghanistan hand over hardline cleric Maulana Fazlullah, head of the Pakistani Taliban, who is believed to be hiding in eastern Afghanistan.

    Islamabad organised the first set of direct peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government in July. But another round scheduled for later that month was cancelled following the announcement of the death of Taliban founder Mullah Omar.

    Hopes for better ties between the neighbours were high following the election of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani last year, who said he wanted a rapprochement similar to France and Germany after World War II.

    But they have plummeted since then, with Kabul blaming Islamabad for a surge in Taliban violence this year, as Ghani accused Pakistan of sending “messages of war”.

  • THE POLITICS OF BEEF

    THE POLITICS OF BEEF

    On Sept. 28, in a village less than 60 miles from New Delhi, a Hindu priest announced in a local temple (under threat by some hot heads, he claims) that a Muslim family was consuming beef.

    Shortly afterward, a frenzied (Hindu) mob, wielding sticks, swords and cheap pistols barged into the family’s house and pulled out Akhlaq & his 22-year-old son, Danish, accusing the family of having slaughtered a cow and consuming it. They beat the men with such rapturous fury that within minutes the father was dead and his son in a coma.

    Times cannot be treated as normal if the President of India feels the need to issue a public advisory. What can explain the inexplicable silence of the otherwise hyper-expressive Narendra Modi.

    While, leaders of the political parties have left no stone unturned in trivializing the issue. PM Modi did not issue a single tweet, nor posted a Facebook statement expressing regret or offering condolence for this dead citizen.

    The Prime Minister finds himself unable to condemn utterances of his own party leaders & ministers. Isn’t this what happened in Godhra, when Modi was the Chief Minister.

    PM Speaks – Only too little too late 

    Less than 24 hours after the President’s subtle reprimand, India’s Prime Minister did speak – Not against the murderers of Akhlaq. Not even on the provocative comments by his party men/women in Dadri. No, not even on the urgent need to put an end to beef politics. All this can wait. After all, elections in Bihar happen just once in five years.

    Its all Politics for Narendra Modi – Why else would he choose an election rally to indirectly mention the incident. What are the compulsions of Narendra Modi who has brought to his party 284 seats in the Lok Sabha?

    Why Laloo alone comes to his mind; and people like Mahesh Sharma, Sanjeev Balyan, Sakshi Maharaj, Yogi Adityanath, Sangeet Som, Azam Khan and AIMIM leader Assaduddin Owaisi are allowed to get away with their shameless statements?

    Akhlaq’s family members can wait. And the President of India should learn to wait. Prime Minister of India is busy consolidating his position. And for this he must win Bihar. India’s core civilizational values can wait too

    While only hinting on the raging row over the Dadri lynching incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Hindus and Muslims should decide whether to fight each other or together overcome poverty while asking the people to ignore “irresponsible” statements of politicians.

    Its to be noted that the above statement comes at his 4th Bihar election rally this week and that too after blowing all the jibes on the beef row towards BJP opponents like Laloo.

    “The country has to stay united,” Modi asserted. “I have said it earlier also. We have to decide whether Hindus should fight Muslims or poverty. Muslims should decide whether to fight Hindus or poverty,” he added.

    The silence does not douse flames, it fans conspiracy theories

    Adding Fuel to the Fire – Our Politicians whom ‘WE’ elected

    Why are these shallow leaders not expelled? Every time a party has been questioned, their answer has been simple -point fingers at the other parties.

    Outrageous Things Leaders Have Said – For the record, BJP leads here. 

    Mahesh Sharma 

    Modi’s Culture Minister & BJP Leader Mahesh Sharma, a moral idiot recently opined that India’s late President Abdul Kalam was patriotic “despite being a Muslim,” and dubbed the vicious beating an “accident.” He consoled the family by noting that at least the 17-year-old daughter of the slain man was untouched!

    Azam Khan
    Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan took one step further and wrote to United Nations on the condition of Muslims in India.

    He goes on further to hint on a new partition of India, “There should be a round table conference on what will be the new map of India and how people will live in the country” and “Aaj poori duniya dekh rahi hai ki Babri se le ke Dadri tak ka mansooba kya tha”.

    He clubs the incident with the demolition of Babri Masjid to harness the power of hatred.

    Sangeet Som 

    BJP MLA Sangeet Som, infamous for making controversial speeches during the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots & one of the accused, declared, “Agar nirdoshon ke khilaf karyawahi ki gayi, to munh-tod jawab hamne pehle bhi diya hai aur abh bhi dena jante hain (If action is taken against innocent, we have given a befitting reply earlier and can do so again). We can give a reply whenever we want.” He made this statement at a temple on the outskirts of Bisara, near where the incident occurred.

    Asaduddin Owaisi

    “This murder was premeditated. He has been killed in the name of religion. It is an attack on our community. It cannot be an accident. All of this is being propagated by the state and central governments,” Owaisi says. The Hyderabad MP also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the killing. “This mother has seen her son getting beaten to death in front of her. Where are his condolences?”

    Owaisi also slammed Union Minister Mahesh Sharma for describing the killing in the Dadri village as “an accident”. “He is the country’s Culture Minister. It is unfortunate that a minister who has taken an oath on the Constitution does not have the courage and intellectual honesty to condemn the incident unconditionally.”

    Tarun Vijay 

    BJP MP Tarun Vijay said, it wasn’t the Hindu community’s responsibility to maintain peace and the Muslim community should remain mute.

    “Why responsibility to keep peace and maintain calm is always put on the Hindus alone? Be a victim and maintain silence in face of assaults!!” tweeted the former editor the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) weekly in Hindi, Panchajanya.

    Muslims & Minorities in India – whatever the politicians may think – have a right to live with their heads held high as anyone else. They cannot & must not be ‘dumped’ or ‘subdued’.

    As Indians we need to fix our dysfunctional democracy. The idea of democracy cannot begin and end with elections alone. Until then we will continue to lose lives like Mohammad Akhlaq’s because of let’s call it “the politics of food “.

    Is anyone there listening???