Andhra politics

In a space of four months, two prominent Shiv Sena leaders have left the
organisation and joined the Congress party. In April, Sanjay Nirupam
made the transition, and in July it was the turn of Narayan Rane. The
former was the Rajya Sabha MP of Shiv Sena, and as of date he is only an
activist for the Congress party. The latter was the Chief Minister of
Maharashtra in the Shiv Sena/BJP government some eight years ago. He
has been made a minister in the present Congress/Nationalist Congress
Party government, given a lucrative (from the point of view of
corruption) ministerial assignment.

While both were in the Shiv Sena the intellectuals had attributed all
sorts of adjectives associated with communalism to both the persons.
When the switch was made, these adjectives are conveniently forgotten,
and a new set of adjectives associated with secularism will be attached
to them. To these intellectuals, there is no need to explain the
switch, and there is every need to pretend that the previous adjectives
were never associated with these two gentlemen - unless, of course, they
switch their allegiance back to Shiv Sena.

Both the gentlemen were hard-core Shiv Sena activists, and one of the
strong attributes associated to them, by the intellectuals, was that
they were anti-Muslim, and that they would like to see ALL the Muslims
in India to be sent to an Islamic country. However, the Congress party
is projected, again by the same intellectuals, as a party which is the
protector and benefactor of the Muslims, at least in Maharashtra. So,
the two gentlemen will have to make special efforts to prove their
pro-Muslim credentials. Not that they really have to do anything
serious - they can just mouth the same inaneness that other Congress
leaders do, and that is enough for the intellectuals.

The entry of Sanjayji did receive a mild rebuke from the secular media.
However, the switch by Naryanji has been merely mentioned as a news
item, with no comment from the secular media. Of course, how the giving
of the ministerial position will be explained will be seen in the next
few days. My hunch is that the secular media will use the natural
clamity of the heavy rains in Mumbai as an excuse why they have not
remarked on the issue.

There have been all sorts of allegations bordering on criminality made
against Sanjayji during his Shiv Sena days. The same is also the case
with Naryanji, who has been accused of being involved in murders of some
local political leaders in the Konkan area. As with the case of the
others from Shiv Sena who have overnight become secular, all these past
sins will be pardoned.

For the intellectuals in India, secularism is a political concept.
Having coopted themselves with the political parties which they have
labelled as secular, they will find it impossible to fulfill their
dharma to the society, and analyse events in the proper perspective.
And this is the major problem for the society in India.

Namaste.
Ashok Chowgule

In a space of four months, two prominent Shiv Sena leaders have left the
organisation and joined the Congress party. In April, Sanjay Nirupam
made the transition, and in July it was the turn of Narayan Rane. The
former was the Rajya Sabha MP of Shiv Sena, and as of date he is only an
activist for the Congress party. The latter was the Chief Minister of
Maharashtra in the Shiv Sena/BJP government some eight years ago. He
has been made a minister in the present Congress/Nationalist Congress
Party government, given a lucrative (from the point of view of
corruption) ministerial assignment.

While both were in the Shiv Sena the intellectuals had attributed all
sorts of adjectives associated with communalism to both the persons.
When the switch was made, these adjectives are conveniently forgotten,
and a new set of adjectives associated with secularism will be attached
to them. To these intellectuals, there is no need to explain the
switch, and there is every need to pretend that the previous adjectives
were never associated with these two gentlemen - unless, of course, they
switch their allegiance back to Shiv Sena.

Both the gentlemen were hard-core Shiv Sena activists, and one of the
strong attributes associated to them, by the intellectuals, was that
they were anti-Muslim, and that they would like to see ALL the Muslims
in India to be sent to an Islamic country. However, the Congress party
is projected, again by the same intellectuals, as a party which is the
protector and benefactor of the Muslims, at least in Maharashtra. So,
the two gentlemen will have to make special efforts to prove their
pro-Muslim credentials. Not that they really have to do anything
serious - they can just mouth the same inaneness that other Congress
leaders do, and that is enough for the intellectuals.

The entry of Sanjayji did receive a mild rebuke from the secular media.
However, the switch by Naryanji has been merely mentioned as a news
item, with no comment from the secular media. Of course, how the giving
of the ministerial position will be explained will be seen in the next
few days. My hunch is that the secular media will use the natural
clamity of the heavy rains in Mumbai as an excuse why they have not
remarked on the issue.

There have been all sorts of allegations bordering on criminality made
against Sanjayji during his Shiv Sena days. The same is also the case
with Naryanji, who has been accused of being involved in murders of some
local political leaders in the Konkan area. As with the case of the
others from Shiv Sena who have overnight become secular, all these past
sins will be pardoned.

For the intellectuals in India, secularism is a political concept.
Having coopted themselves with the political parties which they have
labelled as secular, they will find it impossible to fulfill their
dharma to the society, and analyse events in the proper perspective.
And this is the major problem for the society in India.

Namaste.
Ashok Chowgule

In a space of four months, two prominent Shiv Sena leaders have left the
organisation and joined the Congress party. In April, Sanjay Nirupam
made the transition, and in July it was the turn of Narayan Rane. The
former was the Rajya Sabha MP of Shiv Sena, and as of date he is only an
activist for the Congress party. The latter was the Chief Minister of
Maharashtra in the Shiv Sena/BJP government some eight years ago. He
has been made a minister in the present Congress/Nationalist Congress
Party government, given a lucrative (from the point of view of
corruption) ministerial assignment.

While both were in the Shiv Sena the intellectuals had attributed all
sorts of adjectives associated with communalism to both the persons.
When the switch was made, these adjectives are conveniently forgotten,
and a new set of adjectives associated with secularism will be attached
to them. To these intellectuals, there is no need to explain the
switch, and there is every need to pretend that the previous adjectives
were never associated with these two gentlemen - unless, of course, they
switch their allegiance back to Shiv Sena.

Both the gentlemen were hard-core Shiv Sena activists, and one of the
strong attributes associated to them, by the intellectuals, was that
they were anti-Muslim, and that they would like to see ALL the Muslims
in India to be sent to an Islamic country. However, the Congress party
is projected, again by the same intellectuals, as a party which is the
protector and benefactor of the Muslims, at least in Maharashtra. So,
the two gentlemen will have to make special efforts to prove their
pro-Muslim credentials. Not that they really have to do anything
serious - they can just mouth the same inaneness that other Congress
leaders do, and that is enough for the intellectuals.

The entry of Sanjayji did receive a mild rebuke from the secular media.
However, the switch by Naryanji has been merely mentioned as a news
item, with no comment from the secular media. Of course, how the giving
of the ministerial position will be explained will be seen in the next
few days. My hunch is that the secular media will use the natural
clamity of the heavy rains in Mumbai as an excuse why they have not
remarked on the issue.

There have been all sorts of allegations bordering on criminality made
against Sanjayji during his Shiv Sena days. The same is also the case
with Naryanji, who has been accused of being involved in murders of some
local political leaders in the Konkan area. As with the case of the
others from Shiv Sena who have overnight become secular, all these past
sins will be pardoned.

For the intellectuals in India, secularism is a political concept.
Having coopted themselves with the political parties which they have
labelled as secular, they will find it impossible to fulfill their
dharma to the society, and analyse events in the proper perspective.
And this is the major problem for the society in India.

Namaste.
Ashok Chowgule

To celebrate the Birth Anniversary of Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee, a function under the auspices of the Indian Parliamentary Group was held on Wednesday, the 6th July, 2005 ,in the Central Hall, Parliament House, New Delhi where the portrait of Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee was put up. Dignitaries and Members of Parliament paid floral tributes on the occasion.

A booklet entitled “Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee – a Profile” (in both English and Hindi) has been brought out by the Lok Sabha Secretariat to mark the occasion. A copy of the publication in both the languages is being sent to each member at their Delhi addresses.

To celebrate the Birth Anniversary of Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee, a function under the auspices of the Indian Parliamentary Group was held on Wednesday, the 6th July, 2005 ,in the Central Hall, Parliament House, New Delhi where the portrait of Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee was put up. Dignitaries and Members of Parliament paid floral tributes on the occasion.

A booklet entitled “Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee – a Profile” (in both English and Hindi) has been brought out by the Lok Sabha Secretariat to mark the occasion. A copy of the publication in both the languages is being sent to each member at their Delhi addresses.

To celebrate the Birth Anniversary of Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee, a function under the auspices of the Indian Parliamentary Group was held on Wednesday, the 6th July, 2005 ,in the Central Hall, Parliament House, New Delhi where the portrait of Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee was put up. Dignitaries and Members of Parliament paid floral tributes on the occasion.

A booklet entitled “Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee – a Profile” (in both English and Hindi) has been brought out by the Lok Sabha Secretariat to mark the occasion. A copy of the publication in both the languages is being sent to each member at their Delhi addresses.

HT Correspondents

Lucknow/Jaunpur, July 28, 2005

A powerful blast ripped through a general coach of the moving Shramjeevi Express near Singramau railway station, some 40 km from Sultanpur, killing at least 10 people on the spot and injuring over 50 on Thursday. The explosion took place around 5.20 pm.

The Delhi-bound train from Patna was on its way to Lucknow. The blast, near the toilet, was so powerful that the bodies were blown into pieces. The dead included a young girl.

Investigating officers are not yet clear whether a time device or any other method was used to trigger the explosion. A team of explosive experts from Agra has been rushed to the site. The intensity of the blast indicates that it was a terrorist act, said senior officials. The bomb was kept in a bag near the toilet, they said. Minister of State for Railways Narain Bhai Rathwa too said the terrorist angle could not be ruled out.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav said in Patna that investigations had begun to ascertain the nature of the explosion. He did not rule out the possibility of a gas cylinder explosion either.

As a result of the explosion, the second coach from the engine was blown off, while another was partially damaged. The police have cordoned off the entire area.

“There were many people seated on the entrance of the ill-fated coach. Therefore, the toll would not be less than 20,” said an eyewitness, Ram Balak. Another eyewitness said the impact of the explosion was such that several passengers were thrown in the air.

The Lucknow division of the Northern Railways has rushed an accident relief train to the spot. The train, according to the villagers, reached the spot almost two hours after the blast. The villagers helped the blast victims reach hospitals by private vehicles.

PTI quoted DGP Yashpal Singh as saying that 80 persons have been injured, 20 of them seriously. Those injured seriously have been taken to a Jaunpur hospital while the others have been admitted to public health centres at Badlapur. Some have been rushed to the BHU hospital.

The GRP and the civil police got the passengers removed from the coaches and sent them in batches to Sultanpur for their onward journey.

UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh to the relatives of the dead, Rs 50,000 to the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for those with minor injuries.

www.hindustantimes.com/ne…010004.htm

HT Correspondents

Lucknow/Jaunpur, July 28, 2005

A powerful blast ripped through a general coach of the moving Shramjeevi Express near Singramau railway station, some 40 km from Sultanpur, killing at least 10 people on the spot and injuring over 50 on Thursday. The explosion took place around 5.20 pm.

The Delhi-bound train from Patna was on its way to Lucknow. The blast, near the toilet, was so powerful that the bodies were blown into pieces. The dead included a young girl.

Investigating officers are not yet clear whether a time device or any other method was used to trigger the explosion. A team of explosive experts from Agra has been rushed to the site. The intensity of the blast indicates that it was a terrorist act, said senior officials. The bomb was kept in a bag near the toilet, they said. Minister of State for Railways Narain Bhai Rathwa too said the terrorist angle could not be ruled out.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav said in Patna that investigations had begun to ascertain the nature of the explosion. He did not rule out the possibility of a gas cylinder explosion either.

As a result of the explosion, the second coach from the engine was blown off, while another was partially damaged. The police have cordoned off the entire area.

“There were many people seated on the entrance of the ill-fated coach. Therefore, the toll would not be less than 20,” said an eyewitness, Ram Balak. Another eyewitness said the impact of the explosion was such that several passengers were thrown in the air.

The Lucknow division of the Northern Railways has rushed an accident relief train to the spot. The train, according to the villagers, reached the spot almost two hours after the blast. The villagers helped the blast victims reach hospitals by private vehicles.

PTI quoted DGP Yashpal Singh as saying that 80 persons have been injured, 20 of them seriously. Those injured seriously have been taken to a Jaunpur hospital while the others have been admitted to public health centres at Badlapur. Some have been rushed to the BHU hospital.

The GRP and the civil police got the passengers removed from the coaches and sent them in batches to Sultanpur for their onward journey.

UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh to the relatives of the dead, Rs 50,000 to the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for those with minor injuries.

www.hindustantimes.com/ne…010004.htm

HT Correspondents

Lucknow/Jaunpur, July 28, 2005

A powerful blast ripped through a general coach of the moving Shramjeevi Express near Singramau railway station, some 40 km from Sultanpur, killing at least 10 people on the spot and injuring over 50 on Thursday. The explosion took place around 5.20 pm.

The Delhi-bound train from Patna was on its way to Lucknow. The blast, near the toilet, was so powerful that the bodies were blown into pieces. The dead included a young girl.

Investigating officers are not yet clear whether a time device or any other method was used to trigger the explosion. A team of explosive experts from Agra has been rushed to the site. The intensity of the blast indicates that it was a terrorist act, said senior officials. The bomb was kept in a bag near the toilet, they said. Minister of State for Railways Narain Bhai Rathwa too said the terrorist angle could not be ruled out.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav said in Patna that investigations had begun to ascertain the nature of the explosion. He did not rule out the possibility of a gas cylinder explosion either.

As a result of the explosion, the second coach from the engine was blown off, while another was partially damaged. The police have cordoned off the entire area.

“There were many people seated on the entrance of the ill-fated coach. Therefore, the toll would not be less than 20,” said an eyewitness, Ram Balak. Another eyewitness said the impact of the explosion was such that several passengers were thrown in the air.

The Lucknow division of the Northern Railways has rushed an accident relief train to the spot. The train, according to the villagers, reached the spot almost two hours after the blast. The villagers helped the blast victims reach hospitals by private vehicles.

PTI quoted DGP Yashpal Singh as saying that 80 persons have been injured, 20 of them seriously. Those injured seriously have been taken to a Jaunpur hospital while the others have been admitted to public health centres at Badlapur. Some have been rushed to the BHU hospital.

The GRP and the civil police got the passengers removed from the coaches and sent them in batches to Sultanpur for their onward journey.

UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh to the relatives of the dead, Rs 50,000 to the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for those with minor injuries.

www.hindustantimes.com/ne…010004.htm

HT Correspondents

Lucknow/Jaunpur, July 28, 2005

A powerful blast ripped through a general coach of the moving Shramjeevi Express near Singramau railway station, some 40 km from Sultanpur, killing at least 10 people on the spot and injuring over 50 on Thursday. The explosion took place around 5.20 pm.

The Delhi-bound train from Patna was on its way to Lucknow. The blast, near the toilet, was so powerful that the bodies were blown into pieces. The dead included a young girl.

Investigating officers are not yet clear whether a time device or any other method was used to trigger the explosion. A team of explosive experts from Agra has been rushed to the site. The intensity of the blast indicates that it was a terrorist act, said senior officials. The bomb was kept in a bag near the toilet, they said. Minister of State for Railways Narain Bhai Rathwa too said the terrorist angle could not be ruled out.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav said in Patna that investigations had begun to ascertain the nature of the explosion. He did not rule out the possibility of a gas cylinder explosion either.

As a result of the explosion, the second coach from the engine was blown off, while another was partially damaged. The police have cordoned off the entire area.

“There were many people seated on the entrance of the ill-fated coach. Therefore, the toll would not be less than 20,” said an eyewitness, Ram Balak. Another eyewitness said the impact of the explosion was such that several passengers were thrown in the air.

The Lucknow division of the Northern Railways has rushed an accident relief train to the spot. The train, according to the villagers, reached the spot almost two hours after the blast. The villagers helped the blast victims reach hospitals by private vehicles.

PTI quoted DGP Yashpal Singh as saying that 80 persons have been injured, 20 of them seriously. Those injured seriously have been taken to a Jaunpur hospital while the others have been admitted to public health centres at Badlapur. Some have been rushed to the BHU hospital.

The GRP and the civil police got the passengers removed from the coaches and sent them in batches to Sultanpur for their onward journey.

UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh to the relatives of the dead, Rs 50,000 to the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for those with minor injuries.

www.hindustantimes.com/ne…010004.htm