1 june 2014 edtion focus on globe

Page 1

Vol:2

Issue: 6

1- June- 2014

Page: 44

Rs 20/-

FOG FOCUS ON GLOBE t RNI Regd No JKENG/2013/50569

A Complete News Magazine

s a P e Th y r g o n t i s v i i l Re hmir H s a K

“Welcoming Ramadan”

State Scan* Society* In-Focus* Outlook* Cover Story* Misfortune * Between the Lines* Neighbourhood* Red Terror* world @ Glance *Health* Sports

State Scan* Society* In-Focus* Outlook* Cover Story* History * Between the Lines* Religion Ramadan Special*Neighbourhood* India Profile* world @ Glance *Health* Sports*Entertainment

“NARENDRA DAMODARDAS MODI FROM TEA-SELLER TO INDIA’S PRIME MINISTER”

I wouldn’t want to live in India if Modi becomes PM

Narendra Modi is not communal Anna Hazare

Congress Faces The Ignominy


2

Focus On Globe

1 June 2014

Message Dear Readers “Focus on Globe” is a complete News Magazine for the readers of the subcontinent. It shall be our primary concern and top priority to highlight the grievances of the people at large, for their redressal at the hands of the concerned so that sufferings of the people are mitigated within the shortest possible time frame work. The basic idea for creation of this magazine and to get it on the stands is to provide our valued readers, a variety of material on different topics viz current affairs / History/ finance / development/ information technology / travel / agriculture / media/ health / society / woman’s issue/ culture/ Qur’anic wisdom/ entertainment / sports / unemployment issues and so on and so forth. It is hoped this Magazine shall serve as a useful source to our readers particularly the student community to remain abreast of the latest happenings in the world particularly in our parts of the globe. The writer’s of this Magazine belong to different shades of opinion and we hope the readers would definitely enjoy the content of the magazine and will provide us with their valued suggestions for improvement of the magazine. The content of the articles reflect the views of the author and does not necessarily reflect our opinion and views what so ever. (c) The contents of the magazine cannot be reproduce in any form without the prior written permission of the Editor–in-Chief of this Magazine. To connect with the magazine please feel free to contact us on our email address at: focusonglobe@gmail.com

Thank you ADVISOR ER. N. A. JAN FOCUS ON GLOBE

MESSAGE

http://email us:-focusonglobe@gmail.com http://www.issuu.com/focusonglobe http://facebook/focusonglobe http://twitter.com/focusonglobe

CONTANTS

State Scan* Society* In-Focus* Outlook* Cover Story* History Between the Lines* Religion*Ramadan Special*Neighbourhood India Profile* world @ Glance *Health* Sports*Entertainment


Focus On Globe

1 June 2014

3

1

FOG FOCUS ON GLOBE Vol:1

Issue: 4

RNI Registration No:- JKENG/2013/50569

August- 2013

Page: 40

Rs 20/-

Complete News Magazine

H HISTORY H STATENo SCANJKENG/2013/50569 H CURRENT AFFAIRS H GUJRAT H NEIGHBOURHOOD H RED TERROR H COUNTRY AFFARIS H COVER STORY H RNI Regd WOMENS ERA H HEALTH H WORLD AT GLANCE H WOMENS ISSUE H BUSINESS H LEGAL H SOCIETY H RELIGIOUS H SPORTS H

VOL:2 ISSUE 06 JUNE 2014 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Muhammad Haneef Mahajan stone

COPY EDITOR H.Basharat yousuf EXECUTIVE EDITOR Nasir Ahmad Khan

Post election rout planning shake-up of bureaucracy in J&K

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT) Er. Abdul Majid Maharaji

KASHMIR BOIL AGAIN

CORRESPONDENTS Abdul Hafiz Lakhani (Ahmadabad) Dr. Atif Suhail Siddiqui, Ph. D (UP) Abrar Bhat Sumaiya Rafiq Zargar GENERAL MANAGER Sadat PHOTO JOURNALISTS Aijaz Ahmad Parray

Gool inocents crushed by BSF, ADVISORS Er. Nazir Ahmad Jan Syed Kil ed 4 persons Manzoor Ahmad Shah Dr.Khursheed Ahmad Mahajan 48 injured Gh. Jeelani Ghani Shabir Ahmad Wani LEGAL CORRESPONDENT Fahar Baba LEGAL ADVISOR Bilquees Rathore Gousia Rashid

WHAT PEOPLE SAY OR OPINION OF PEOPLE

Focus On Globe August 2013

GRAHPHICS Tamin Art Gallery 9419056944

EDITORIAL

PRINTER, PUBLISHER & OWNER Muhammad Haneef Mahajan PUBLISHED FROM: 24/Gulistani Mahajan SKIMS Road Upper Soura Srinagar-190020-Kmr (India) PRINTED AT: S.S.Printer Soura Near Police Station Soura Srinagar Kashmir Phone NO: +91 9796 363738, 9419078647 email: focusonglobe@gmail.com

An attempt to offset criticism for ‘poor’ delivery in the last five years In an attempt to offset criticism for ‘poor’ delivery in the last five years, Jammu and Kashmir’s beleaguered Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is understood to be mulling a major reshuffle in the middle and top rungs of his bureaucracy and the civil administration. The National Conference (NC) cadre, according to the well-placed political sources, has mounted pressure on Mr. Abdullah for a reshuffle in bureaucracy. They have also spoken of alleged “political ambitions” of some senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) officers and held them responsible for the ruling coalition’s rout in the Lok Sabha elections.While the NC and Congress drew a blank, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bagged three seats each. Those being assailed by the NC cadre in a series of introspection sessions include Chief Secretary Iqbal Khanday, whose daughter Sehar Iqbal contested the Assembly elections on a PDP’s ticket in 2008. Mr. Khanday served as Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in the PDP-Congress coalition government in 200304. Sources told that the Cabinet could sanction top-level changes in the State bureaucracy and the civil administration anytime this month. “Some key changes are expected even in the Cabinet meeting 3, June tomorrow said a highly-placed source. A 1977-batch IAS officer, Mr. Khanday is tipped to be the new Director-General of Institute of Management and Public Administration. A number of Ministers, both of the NC and the Congress, are reportedly projecting 1984-batch IAS officer Brij Raj Sharma as the new Chief Secretary. Mr. Sharma is Principal Secretary of Planning and Development. However, Mr. Sharma is junior to nine IAS officers and yet to be elevated to the rank of Financial Commissioner (FC). But the 54-year-old bureaucrat has certain advantages: all but one of his competitors reach retirement age by the end of next year; unlike many of his seniors, he has never gotten entangled in controversy.Madhav Lal, Parvez Dewan (1977), Anil Goswami and Pankaj Jain (1978) are currently Secretaries in the Union Government. None of them is reportedly interested in returning to the State. The 1979-batch IAS officers Arun Kumar and his wife Sonali Kumar hold the rank of FC in the State government but are unlikely to be chosen for the top slot on account of Mr. Kumar’s controversial statement that allegedly led to communal strife in 2008.


4

Focus On Globe

R

amadan

is

the

ninth

literally means "to refrain" - and

month of the Islamic

it means not only refraining from

lunar calendar. Every

food and drink, but from evil

day during this month, Muslims

RELIGION

1 June 2014

actions,

thoughts,

and

words.

around the world spend the day-

During Ramadan, every part of

light hours in a complete fast.

the body must be restrained. The

During the blessed month of

tongue must be restrained from

Ramadan, Muslims all over the

backbiting and gossip. The eyes

world abstain from food, drink,

must restrain themselves from

and other physical needs during

looking at unlawful things. The

the daylight hours. As a time to

hand must not touch or take any-

purify the soul, refocus attention

thing that does not belong to it. The

on God, and practice self-sacri-

ears must refrain from listening

fice, Ramadan is much more than

to idle talk or obscene words. The

just

drinking.

feet must refrain from going to

Muslims are called upon to use

sinful places. In such a way, every

this month to re-evaluate their

part of the body observes the fast.

not

eating

and

lives in light of Islamic guidance.

Therefore, fasting is not mere-

We are to make peace with those

ly physical, but is rather the total

who have wronged us, strength-

commitment of the person's body

en ties with family and friends,

and soul to the spirit of the fast. Ra-

do away with bad habits -- essen-

madan is a time to practice self-re-

tially to clean up our lives, our

straint; a time to cleanse the body

thoughts, and our feelings. The

and soul from impurities and re-fo-

Arabic word for "fasting" (sawm)

cus one's self on the worship of God.


Focus On Globe

1 June 2014

Focus On Globe News Network

partment in the premises of society of Human Welfare and Education at School for differently abled children at Solina near Ram Bagh Bridge,

Srinagar. The function was organized by Central Kashmir range Police Office Srinagar under the chairmanship of DIG CKR Srinagar Syed Aafad-ul- Mujtaba. Speaking on the occasion, the DIG said that it is our humble attempt to help the school. Since it is a challenge to run this school, we have got some requests from the administration, and we will look into these requests. He said these articles meant for the specially abled students are a token of love and assistance from police. We will try to help the school, in future as well.In his address he said that Policemen are friends of the society, however, while discharging his duties or enforcing the law, it has to get tough and it is this tough image which gets covered and presented before the people. The softer approaches and skills of the policemen remain unnoticed. Police is a part of the society, and I wish to request the civil society to come and help this school which is running for a noble cause. He praised the model under which differently abled children are being taught with the normal students. Sh. Syed Aafad-ul- Mujtaba distributed Braille Books along with full set of uniforms, stationary items and beddings among the differently abled students of the school, in addition other items of ration and first aid Medicines were also offered to the school authority.On the conclusion of function Mr. Qazi Mohammad Amin (Retd-IAS) chairman of the society extended his thanks for the Police Department in general and for central Kashmir range in particular for conducting such programs in the school.

DIG Mr.S.A. Mujtaba Distribute Study Material Among Specially Abled Children's in Srinagar

U

nder civic action programme, a function was held by J&K Police de-

5

STATE SCAN


6

Focus On Globe

1 June 2014

NABARD ORGANISES KISSAN CLUB PROGRAMME

Focus On Globe News Network

N

T

ational Bank

comprehensive presentation

for

Agricul-

on cultivation of various

ture and Ru-

crops, importance of crop-

ral

Develop-

ping system, diversification

Kashmir has launched 15-day long spe-

ment (NABARD) organised

of cropping system and its

cial drive from May 13, 2014 in the Valley.

an orientation programme

economic benefits for the

for the members of its Dehati

farmers,

balanced

278 Medical Shops were inspected in dif-

Kissan Club at Village Chak

dose of fertilizers, organic

ferent districts of Kashmir Division and

Slarian in Vijaypur block

manure and other measures

licenses of 48 Medical Shops were sus-

of district Samba under its

for obtaining maximum pro-

pended

Farmers Club Programme.

duction

sions of D&C Act, 1940, besides 05 Medical

The

orientation

pro-

use

of

and

Yograj

productivity

Slathia,

Agri-

and Food Control Organization,

During the first two days, as many as

for

violation

of

various

provi-

Shops were put on show cause notices.

culture

Officer

The special checking squads of the depart-

the

Development

(AEO) highlighted the role

ment suspended licenses of 10 Medical Shops

Manager of NABARD, Su-

of the department about the

in Anantnag district, 12 in Budgam district, 08

rinder Singh. Ashok Gupta,

different schemes including

in Pulwama district, 05 in Baramulla and Kup-

a renowned agricultural ex-

subsidised seed, Agriculture

wara districts, besides 13 licenses were sus-

pert and newspaper colum-

Machinery

pended by Central team in Srinagar district.

nist; Yograj Slathia, AEO,

RKVY and Vermi Compost

Moreover, a special team sealed un-li-

Vijaypur; Vikrant Sharma,

units etc. He also apprised

censed shops of Bashir Ahmad at Inder

District

District

Floriculture

Extension

o ensure availability of quali-

ty drugs to the consumers, Drug

gramme was organised by

Equipments,

Offi-

about the soil testing facili-

Pulwama,

cer; Vijay Bharti, Branch

ties that are available with

pora

Head,

Agriculture

Wapulpora

Axis

Bank

guided

the participants during the orientation

programme.

Vikrant trict

Department. Sharma,

Floriculture

Dis-

Mohammad

Budgam,

hammad

Kralpora Lateef

Yaseen

Ghulam at

at

Kral-

Mohammad

Budgam Kralpora

and

at Mo-

Budgam.

Officer

Moreover, the department has also lifted 238

Surinder Singh, while dis-

impressed upon the farm-

samples of various categories of drugs for test/

cussing the concept of Farm-

ers to take up floriculture

analysis in order to ascertain their quality.

ers club, explained how these

farming.

highlighted

In case of any complaint with regard to

informal forums at gross

various schemes of the Flo-

drugs and Medical Shops, the general pub-

root level can act as catalyst

riculture Department. Vijay

lic is requested to lodge complaint on the

in promotion of agriculture

Bharti apprised the farmers

help line No. 0194-2495191 of the Depart-

sector. He asserted that the

about various deposit and

ment of Drug & Food Control Kashmir.

clubs are the means for trans-

loan products of the bank.

mitting the latest agriculture

STATE SCAN

48 Medical Shop licenses suspended 238 samples lifted for drug analysis in the Valley

Capt.

He

Ajeet

Kumar,

techniques to the Farmers’

Chief Volunteer of the club

field, orienting them to es-

expressed

tablish better relationship

towards NABARD for or-

with banks, adoption of lat-

ganising them in form of

est

handling

a club and urged upon all

technology, value addition,

members to work steadfast-

etc. and enjoy the benefits of

ly towards excellence of the

collective bargaining power

club. He also expressed his

both for procuring inputs

thanks to all the

post-harvest

his

gratitude

resource

and select their produce. Ashok

Gupta

made

a

persons of the programme.

Change Always Change’s your Life Style So don’t think Much Book your Business Advertisement Today In

Focus On Globe

Email: focusonglobe@gmail.com Call: 09796 363738


Focus On Globe

7

1 June 2014

Focus On Globe News Network

Rs. 21 Crores spent on 3011 works under MGNREGA in Ramban

I

n a high level meeting District De-

son days for women of this hilly district.

velopment Commissioner, Ram-

ACD apprised the meeting that by this

369.49 Lacs has so far been utilised for

Under

BRGF

an

amount

of

Rs.

ban, M H Malik reviewed the prog-

financial year the department is shifting

creation of valuable assets on vari-

ress of works under Rural Development

to electronic transfer of funds to the bene-

ous

and achievement of targets of 2013-14.

ficiaries directly at the district and block

with other departments in the district.

The meeting was attended by ADDC,

levels so that the delay in payment of wag-

DDC directed the DPO and all concerned

CPO, ACD, Xen REW and BDOs of all the

es is brought to the minimum possible.

officers that the work progress on the

Blocks of district Ramban.During the sec-

Under IAY it was given out that so far

Panchayat Ghars should be expedited in

tor wise review ACD Ramban Dr. Arvind

an amount of Rs. 126.17 Lacs has been uti-

a time framed manner and should be com-

Kirwani revealed that in MGNREGA, 3011

lized against the availability of Rs. 127.26

plete in all respects by the end of July 2014.

no. of works have been completed benefit-

lacs during the Fiscal year 2013-14. During

ing 26463 families by spending an amount

this period 19 SOS IAY units were complet-

BA), Rs 998.60 Lacs were spent over

of Rs. 2084.06 Lacs against the availabili-

ed and the work on 359 units is still going

the IHHLs for the purpose of sanita-

ty of Rs. 2093.76 Lacs during 2013-14 finan-

on. DDC was apprised that the department

tion in the rural villages of the district.

cial year. In addition to this a liability of

will now be using the GPS facility for the

DPO was asked to sensitize the inhabi-

Rs. 10.95 Crores has been projected to the

identification and tracking of IAY houses

tants of this hilly district in a creative

government of India for release. As many

being constructed under the IAY scheme.

way so that 100% sanitation can be

as 50753 Job Cards were provided to the

While reviewing the progress on the

achieved by the end of this fiscal year.

unskilled job seekers under this employ-

works of model villages Paristan and

While concluding DDC directed the of-

ment generating scheme in the district

Deedha, DDC instructed the concerned

ficers that works demanded by the job card

during the financial year under review.

officers to first of all study and analyse

holders and approved should be started

DDC asked the ACD to complete the veri-

the needs of the villages identified in con-

by the commencement of the next month

fication of all the Job Card and their bank

sultation with the public representatives

so that the targets for the year 2014-15 can

accounts by the end of May 2014. The no.

and then frame the works to be taken up

not only be achieved but surpassed there-

of person days generated in the district

as per the needs of the villagers so that the

by generating employment and creating

was 1236407 which includes 301923 per-

precious money is utilised judiciously.

valuable assets for the rural population.

works carried out in convergence

Under

Nirmal

Bharat

Abhiyan(N-

SFC earns Rs.3.83 cr profit during last fiscal, achieves (+) net worth of Rs.25 cr against (-) Rs.104.58 cr in March,2009

W

Finance, Mr. B.B. Vyas, Managing Director,

in the overall functioning of the Corpora-

tive net worth of (+) Rs.25.01

SFC, Mr.

Mohammad Farooq Thoker, As-

tion. He also impressed on the Management

crore at the end of March

sistant General Manager SIDBI, Mr. Anuj

to ensure that loans disbursed to the entre-

this year against the negative net worth (-)

Jain, Mr. Taffazal Hussain, Deputy General

preneurs are practically utilized at ground

Rs.104.58 crore at the end of March -2009,

Manager of SFC, Mr. Mohammad Rafique

for setting up of business units. He assured,

the J&K State Financial Corporation (JKS-

Dar and Mr. N.A. Bhat, besides concerned

full support of the Government, to the man-

FC) has Crossed one more mile stone and

officers were also present in the meeting.

agement in restoring the past glory of the

has now become eligible for refinance from

The meeting was informed that the Corpo-

Corporation, adding that the management

the SIDBI. The Corporation has also earned

ration has sanctioned loans of Rs.20.42 crore

too has onerous responsibility to achieve all

a profit of Rs.3.83 crore during last fiscal

as credit in favour of entrepreneurs during

the targets assigned to it from time to time.

and has become the first PSU of the State, to

the last fiscal besides effecting recovery to the

The Managing Director, while briefing

have fully updated its annual accounts. The

tune of Rs.19.55 crore during the same period.

about the performance of the Corporation

statutory audit for the Financial Year 2013-

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rather

said that apart from recovering Rs.19.55

14 is in process and shall be completed and

called for a comprehensive and fool proof

crore during last fiscal, the Corporation

placed before the shareholders within sched-

system at pre-loan sanction stage to bridge

has recovered an amount of Rs.59.64 lakh

uled time frame prescribed under the Law.

the gap between sanction and disbursement

and Rs.37.20 lakh through auction and liti-

This was stated at the meeting of the

of loans. He also urged for an effective recov-

gation routes respectively. He said though

Board of Directors of J&K State Financial

ery drive besides imparting training to its

the old portfolio is highly grimy, the man-

Corporation held today under the Chair-

staff at both clerical and Officers level to up-

agement is fully geared up to optimize

manship of the Minister for Finance and

grade the skills of Human Resource. He also

the recovery from this sector through

Ladakh Affairs, Mr. Abdul Rahim Rather.

urged for a strong monitoring mechanism and

all possible routes,

The Economic Advisor to Government,

tight internal recovery management system

the first time, a separate target of re-

Mr Jalil Ahmad Khan, Principle Secretary

to bring further efficiency and improvement

covery in this sector has been fixed.

adding that, for

STATE SCAN

ith the achieving of posi-


8

Focus On Globe 1 June 2014 Jammu and Kashmir

VOICES UNHEARD

By Aasiya Jeelani

SOCIETY

C

rimes against women in war are not new. Every conflict sees women being intimidated by various crimes committed on them by the oppressor and theoppressed. Crimes against women in war are also committed to intimidate enemy. Women have been used as a tool since times immemorial. In the last few months many cases have come to light where women have been pressurized by the army or unidentified gunmen to work with them as informers. Many women who have refused to obey the orders have met the fate of 16-year-old Kulsoom who was shot dead by army. Although in newspapers it was written that unidentified gunmen killed her but her family and friends claim that army was forcing her to work for them and when she refused she was killed. Or of Akhtar Bano from Doda who was strangulated to death by unidentified gunmen dubbing her as an informer. In other incident two girls from Badgam, Zaheeda and Nuzhat were shot at. First the girls were dubbed as militant aides and then forced by the security

personnelto work for them and when they refused, they were shot at but miraculously they survived. Mahmooda Akhtar was arrested in September 2003 on the grounds of being a militant and subsequently she was released. Now she is torn between two sides with militants accusing her of turning into a army informer and on the other hand security forces still haunting her and suspecting her links with militants. The army on the pretext of having links with militants arrested Sakeena from Bandipora. The army even claimed recovery of weapons from her possession, a claim, which was strongly refuted by police. Already the people of this land are living in virtual fear, in a land where men cannot raise their voice against subjugation, how will na誰ve Sakeena prove her innocence? The nexus between women working for army and militants has shown an increase in the recent times. Newspapers reports are filled with news about women killed by unidentified gunmen. Who are these identified gunmen is never known with some saying they are security

forces and some militants. Sometimes militants take responsibility of the killings but army as such has never come up with admission of their crimes that is understood of course. Are all women forced to work for security forces and unidentified gunmen or is it that some are lured by the booty that comes along. In rural areas atrocities are unreported and people are illiterate. Often women in remote areas are pressurized to work as informers or face consequences. Women often compromise for the safety of their children and family. Poverty coupled with miseries sometimes lead women to compromise as the threat to life is tough to resist for any soul. Dilshada Bano stands ideal case. It may be recalled that Dilshada was mysteriously shot dead by unidentified gunmen in June this year. Her husband had been disappeared in custody and she was contesting the case in StateHuman Rights Commission (SHRC) and was a member of APDP. People in her native village said that she was an informer and that is why she was killed.


Focus On Globe

9

1 June 2014

Jammu and Kashmir Village being a small place and if a woman is seen several times moving around she is suspected of having links with army or militants and often both sides view her with suspicion. The present conflict has seen a considerable loss of male members and it is left to women to follow the cases of ex-gratia & SRO 43. These women have to visit various security camps to ascertain death of the killed or whereabouts of disappeared. The army personnel take undue advantage and make them do the regular rounds and sometimes force them to work for them, as was the case with Dilshada who had once confided that renegades were forcing her

to work for them. Even in the regular offices where women pursue these cases, they have to face humiliation from lower to higher ups in bureaucracy. Often these women are young and men look lecherously at them. It is not only that poor section of women are sometimes lured, cases have come to light where girls from affluent families in Baramulla and Sopore are seen visiting security camps at odd hours, reasons best known to them. Recently police exposed a nexus between soldiers and local girls. I nformer of security forces or not, sympathizer of militants or not women always suffer and are stigmatized. It is she who is stigmatized

like Mahmooda was, like Akhtar was and like Kulsoom was. Women are vulnerable and are an easy prey for the predators. Hence we see an increase in the number of killings of women in the guise of militant sympathizers or army aides. Women are stigmatized and the brunt of which she bears even long after she is gone. Crimes against women will continue as long as the crimes committed on them go unreported and unlamented and as long as certain sections of women are willing to compromise. The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world goes the maxim but definitely not true at least not true for women living in war zones.

“Words of Wisdom From The Qur’an And The Prophet”. ing your faculties of perception and conception) you must verify it for yourself. In the Court of your Lord, you will be held accountable for your hearing, sight, and the faculty of reasoning [17/36]. 24. Never think that you have reached the final stage of knowledge and nobody knows more than yourself. Remember! Above everyone endowed with knowledge is another endowed with more knowledge [12/76]. Even the Prophet [p.b.u.h] was asked to keep praying, “O My sustainer! Advance me in knowledge.” [20:114] 25. The believers are but a single Brotherhood. Live like members of one family, brothers and sisters unto one another [49/10]. 26. Do not make mockery of others or ridicule others [49/11] 27. Do not defame others [49/11] 28. Do not insult others by nicknames [49/11] 29. Avoid suspicion and guesswork. Suspicion and guesswork might deplete your communal energy [49/12] 30. Spy not upon one another [49/12] 31. Do not backbite one another [49/12] 32. When you meet each other, offer good wishes and blessings for safety. One who conveys to you a message of safety and security and also when a courteous greeting is offered to you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous or (at least) of equal courtesy [4/86] 33. When you enter your own home or the home of somebody else, compliment the inmates [24/61] 34. Do not enter houses other than your own until you have sought permission; and then greet the inmates and wish them a life of blessing, purity and pleasure [24/27] 35. Treat kindly ” Your parents ” Relatives ” The orphans ” And those who have been left alone in the society [4/36] 36. Take care of ” The needy, ” The disabled ” Those whose hard earned income is insufficient to meet their needs ” And those whose businesses have stalled ” And those who have lost their jobs. [4/36] 37. Treat kindly ” Your related neighbours, and unrelated neighbours ” Companions by your side in public gatherings, or public transportation. [4/36] 38. Be generous to the needy wayfarer, the homeless son of the street, and the one who reaches you in a destitute condition [4/36] 39. Be nice to people who work under your care. [4/36] 40. Do not follow up what you have given to others to afflict them with reminders of your generosity [2/262].

41. Do not expect a return for your good behaviour, not even thanks [76/9] 42. Cooperate with one another in good deeds and do not cooperate with others in evil and bad matters [5/2] 43. Do not try to impress people on account of self-proclaimed virtues [53/32] 44. You should enjoin right conduct on others but mend your own ways first. Actions speak louder than words. You must first practice good deeds yourself, then preach [2/44] 45. Correct yourself and your families first [before trying to correct others] [66/6] 46. Pardon gracefully if anyone among you who commits a bad deed out of ignorance, and then repents and amends [6/54, 3/134] 47. Divert and sublimate your anger and potentially virulent emotions to creative energy, and become a source of tranquility and comfort to people [3/134] 48. Call people to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful exhortation. Reason with them most decently [16/125] 49. Leave to themselves those who do not give any importance to the Divine code and have adopted and consider it as mere play and amusement [6/70] 50. Sit not in the company of those who ridicule Divine Law unless they engage in some other conversation [4/140] 51. Do not be jealous of those who are blessed [4/54] 52. In your collective life, make rooms for others [58/11] 53. When invited to dine, Go at the appointed time. Do not arrive too early to wait for the preparation of meal or linger after eating to engage in bootless babble. Such things may cause inconvenience to the host [33/53] 54. Eat and drink [what is lawful] in moderation [7/31]. 55. Do not squander your wealth senselessly [17/26] 56. Fulfil your promises and commitments [17/34] 57. Keep yourself clean, pure [9/108, 4/43, 5/6]. 58. Dress-up in agreeable attire and adorn yourself with exquisite character from inside out [7/26] 59. Seek your provision only by fair endeavour [29/17, 2/188] 60. Do not devour the wealth and property of others unjustly, nor bribe the officials or the judges to deprive others of their possessions [2/188]

WISDOM OF QUR’AN

1. Respect and honour all human beings irrespective of their religion, color, race, sex, language, status, property, birth, profession/ job and so on [17/70] 2. Talk straight, to the point, without any ambiguity or deception [33/70] 3. Choose best words to speak and say them in the best possible way [17/53, 2/83] 4. Do not shout. Speak politely keeping your voice low. [31/19] 5. Always speak the truth. Shun words that are deceitful and ostentatious [22/30] 6. Do not confound truth with falsehood [2/42] 7. Say with your mouth what is in your heart [3/167] 8. Speak in a civilized manner in a language that is recognised by the society and is commonly used [4/5] 9. When you voice an opinion, be just, even if it is against a relative [6/152] 10. Do not be a bragging boaster [31/18] 11. Do not talk, listen or do anything vain [23/3, 28/55] 12. Do not participate in any paltry. If you pass near a futile play, then pass by with dignity [25/72] 13. Do not verge upon any immodesty or lewdness whether surreptitious or overt [6/151]. 14. If, unintentionally, any misconduct occurs by you, then correct yourself expeditiously [3/134]. 15. Do not be contemptuous or arrogant with people [31/18] 16. Do not walk haughtily or with conceit [17/37, 31/18] 17. Be moderate in thy pace [31/19] 18. Walk with humility and sedateness [25/63] 19. Keep your gazes lowered devoid of any lecherous leers and salacious stares [24/3031, 40/19]. 20. If you do not have complete knowledge about anything, better keep your mouth shut. You might think that speaking about something without full knowledge is a trivial matter. But it might have grave consequences [24/15-16] 21. When you hear something malicious about someone, keep a favorable view about him/her until you attain full knowledge about the matter. Consider others innocent until they are proven guilty with solid and truthful evidence [24/12-13] 22. Ascertain the truth of any news, lest you smite someone in ignorance and afterwards repent of what you did [49/6] 23. Do not follow blindly any information of which you have no direct knowledge. (Us-


10

Focus On Globe 1 June 2014 Jammu and Kashmir

t s a P y r e to Th s i g H n i r i v i l m e R ash K

As one of world’s oldest reel-news agency moves its 85000 motion films from safe houses to social media for free, Kashmir gets its bit of history live. R S Gull scans the archive to relive the past

Shiekh Abdullah his wife after his release from jail in 1964

HISTORY

I

Women member of police in 1948

n the pre-digital era, at the peak of militancy two militants barged into the state information department one evening. Firmly surrounded by the security apparatus, the three-story building housing the director’s office, the newsroom and the film division was up in flames within half an hour. No bullets fired. It was gunpowder that created a situation that the burning, half dead militants, jumped out of the building and died on the road. Intervention in security affairs has always been a nogo area for the commoners. But some officials, that evening, had suggested the security grid to use other means to force militants out because part of the history was with the films division library. Every single reel went up in flames within minutes. Though some of it still exists in bits and pieces at various places, collecting it is a huge

Women outside polling station in 1957

task that probably no policy maker will ever think of. But part of the worries on this front is over. Pathé News that is one of the oldest producers of newsreels, cine-magazines, and documentaries has digitized 85000 of its news-reels in last few years and posted it on YouTube. Charles Pathé, who founded the company in 1896 in Germany has been acknowledged as the “pioneer of moving pictures in the silent era”. It has been operating from UK since 1910 and closed its operations in 1970. The company that changed many owners finally digitized 3500 hours of its archival footage with the help of National Lottery grant and posted it on the YouTube last week. Pathé News does not have tons of coverage on Kashmir but it has very significant footage of most violent events in recent history – the 1947 invasion and the immediate follow up, arrival of various UN officials to Kashmir, and then the 1965 war.


11

Focus On Globe 1 June 2014 Jammu and Kashmir

Tribal raiders surrendering their weapon in front of G.R.Kar

House damaged in khanmoh during 1965 war

Pathé News lacks any footage about the tribal attack, especially how they operated. But its coverage about the counter attacks by the Indian army is fantastic. Its 4.31 minute video Invasion of Kashmir offers visuals from the point when the IAF aircrafts landed, laden with soldiers and the ammunition. The camera then flies over Srinagar and records the battles near Srinagar. The smoke billowing from the villages offers some idea of what might have been happening on ground. Apart from showing the volume of air traffic and the number of soldiers being inducted into the battle field, this footage, in its concluding part shows lot many villages on fire. For all these years, every historian has been writing about the panic that the fighting created in the British people living in Srinagar. While most of them were caught in Srinagar, a few of them felt trapped in Baramulla. Pathé News offers 41 seconds footageBritons Evacuated From Kashmir with commentary about how the English men and women were evacuated from Srinagar. In the backdrop of IAF fighters landing with solders and the war machines being oiled, the footage shows a British pilot from Royal Air Force escorting people into an awaiting aircraft to fly the people out to Pakistan. It has two more collections on the fighting and about Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. The first is a 5.42 minute footage Nehru In

women sit outside damaged house Batmallo Srinagar in 1965 war

Kashmir that shows the arrival of Nehru in Srinagar. Welcome apart, he moves to the city, watches part of the devastation, interacts with Sheikh Abdullah and a top police officer and then he takes the ceremonial salute and inspects the guard of honour by the vigilantes whom National Conference (NC) organized against tribal in 1947. The footage then pans out to some place where a group of young women in Indian dress are welcomed by soldiers. In their presence, they open some sacks and open some boxes. It does not offer any idea what is in the boxes and what it is for. Momentarily it seems either currency or some food material or some ammunition. The camera has also captured some of the life in the HSHS where NC men were seen parading carrying the party flags. Apparently, in shot it seems as if Nehru and Indira are being shown some of the captured tribals somewhere. The 1.03 minute footage Pandit Nehru Visits Scene Of Indian Fighting, that has a running commentary, Nehru is seen landing in Srinagar with his daughter and Maharaja Hari Singh. He makes a speech to a huge gathering, possibly Lal Chowk, as the commentator says the issue of plebiscite is settled as Kashmir has decided to vote for India. The commentary ends with the line: “India and Pakistan have not yet found a solution for peace”.

HISTORY

The 1951 footage UN Mediator Flies Into Kashmir is 2.10 minutes. It shows the landing of UN mediator Dr Graham alighting from a USAAF aircraft at Delhi and being received by the officials from UN and India. After shaking hands with Indian officials, he poses for photograph with them and later talks to possibly, reporters. He then moves to the Rashtrapati Bhwan for a meeting with the then President Dr Rajendra Prasad.


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Focus On Globe

Tribal raiders captured during 1965 war

Britishers evacuated from Srinagar during 1965 war

The 1.34 minute footage Trouble in Kashmir offers very close range coverage of the Indian defences in city outskirts. With shots showing women crying over the loss of their houses, the video shows the captured weapons, partly manufactured in China, from the raiders and the activities of the United Nations Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan that was then led by Australian General R H Nimmo.

HISTORY

1 June 2014

The collection includes 1.48 minute footage Kashmir 1948 with a caption ‘Kashmir celebrates its newly gained independence’. It offers a plethora of activity in a series of functions that Nehru presided. There are celebrating crowds, dancing and playing traditional instruments on Srinagar streets. Main function took place in the Polo Grounds. Those who were attraction of the function were the female vigilantes of NC. They organize a march past in honour of Nehru and the VVIP is seen saluting them. Some of them are carrying the banners: “We will defend out Mother Land with Young Blood”. After Nehru makes the speech, he is being taken in a huge boat for a ceremonial ride and a river procession in Jhelum. As he is being followed by scores of small shikara boats, there are thousands of people greeting him from the banks. Interestingly, there are boats which are being rowed by scores of people together – a rarity that no more exists in Kashmir, within and outside the Dal lake. The 1951 footage UN Mediator Flies Into Kashmir is 2.10 minutes. It shows the landing of UN mediator Dr Graham alighting from a USAAF aircraft at Delhi and being received by the officials from UN and India. After shaking hands with Indian officials, he poses for photograph with them and later talks to possibly, reporters. He then moves to the Rashtrapati Bhwan for a meeting with the then President Dr Rajendra Prasad. Another non-war footage that Pathé News has uploaded is Kashmir Goes To Polls, a 1.08 minutes 1957 coverage of the elections in Kashmir. This capsule has commentary as well. Showing women with white shuttle-cock veils rowing their way to the polling stations in Kashmir, the commentary that runs in the background of this beautiful footage is more interesting. “In spite of Pakistan’s protest and UN disapproval, India has gone ahead with the incorporation of Kashmir with the Indian state. Now by road and river, the people of Kashmir flock to the polling stations, in the first ever general election,” the reporter says. Introducing NC as the most secular party cutting across the communal divide, the reporter says the party is unopposed in 38 of the 75 constituencies. “So it goes to the hastings with its victory already assured,” he says. The commentator says the fingers of voters are indelibly marked to prevent voting twice. “Particularly the Muslim women who look very much alike in their tent-like-burkhas,” the reporter says. “The feature of this age seems to first annex the country and then promote the elections.”

Indian troops landing in Srinagar in 1965 war

Another footage that seems very exclusive is the release of Sheikh Abdullah from Jammu jail in 1964 after six years along with 12 others. The 1.08 minute video with sound Sheik Leaves Prison starts from the special jail with locked gates and then he comes into the frame. The camera gets a rare access into the jail as well. Once out of the gate, Sheikh is seen garlanded by his wife Begum Akbar Jehan in response to which he embraces her. Then a young Begum Khalida comes to embrace his father as a vehicle has his belongings being loaded. The reporter then follows Abdullah to the streets of Jammu where he is being welcomed from people of a state with “four million population”. The amazing part of the collection is the coverage of the 1965 war between India and Pakistan. There are four small films. The one Raiders Fire Villages has a caption suggesting that it belongs to the clashes that took place in Khunmuh, in the outskirts of Srinagar. This 1.27 minute capsule with commentary opens with the horse-driven carts moving around in less congested streets. The commentator says the village – part of the most beautiful but bitterest troubled spots, was burnt because the residents refused to cooperate with the raiders. The commentator says the villagers refused to collaborate and the raiders set afire their 100 straw-and-timber houses well before the army would arrive. In the ensuing battle a lot of raiders are killed and some captured. It shows some of them being driven blind-folded to some destination where they are being detained. “This could have gravest implication for the world peace”, the commentator concludes. The 1.34 minute footage Trouble in Kashmir offers very close range coverage of the Indian defences in city outskirts. With shots showing women crying over the loss of their houses, the video shows the captured weapons, partly manufactured in China, from the raiders and the activities of the United Nations Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan that was then led by Australian General R H Nimmo. The exclusive part of its 1965 coverage is On the Kashmir Front, a 9.10 minute capsule is the actual war theatre in Uri and Poonch. The crux of this footage is capture of Haji Pir Pass by Indian army and the best part of it is young Congressman from Sopore Ghulam Rasool Kar, then the state Works and Power Minister, visiting the newly captured area, speaking to the people, distributing relief and clothes among the people living in the inhospitable terrain. This footage apparently edited in Srinagar with Kashmiri music in the backdrop shows the Razakaars in “liberated” areas surrendering their arms and ammunition to Kar. It seems a grand function at the peak of Haji Pir. A young Kar is seen distributing sweets to the people. The residents are being given the Indian currency in exchange of Pakistani currency they owned. It was this era when India for the first time resumed its road connectivity with Poonch after clearing the Pakistani bulge in between – a gain that was later reversed by the Tashkent Agreement. With these speaking motion pictures getting into the public domain, the history of a conflict has refused to die. It hardly matters if the custodians of history in Srinagar watch mutely the destruction of the records that are so funda

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13

Gandhi's Letters Accusing Son of Raping His Daughter Find No Buyer At UK Auction

A

rape.

uctioneers on this month failed to find a buyer who was willing to pay even half of the expected amount for three historical hand written letters by Mahatma Gandhi accusing his eldest son Hiralal of committing

I

n an auction that was closely followed all across the world, auctioneers Mullock's expected the three letters written by Gandhi to fetch at least 80,000 pounds. However, the letters were opened up for auction at just 20,000 pounds. Even then, it did not find a buyer. The lot was "passed" - meaning remained unsold. The three remarkable letters dated June 6th, June 19th and June 27th 1935, discuss his son's situation, his relationships and his behaviour - saying he has been accused of lying in his behaviour with two women, adding "please let me have pure truth please tell me if still you are interested in alcohol and debauchery. I wish that you better die rather than resort to alcohol in any manner". Gandhi further states "you should know that your problem has become much more difficult for me even then our national freedom". The letters are written in Gandhi's native Gujarati and are in fine condition.The most important contents of the letter sees Gandhi accuse his son of rape.

n itte r w e are ativ ne s fi n r tte hi's e in e l r d e a t n an es t “Th n Ga i and ion”. r i po ter se at ndit r m a i j co st e let his o Gu e m of th cuse . Th “ ents i ac ape” t r dh con Gan n of so

IN-FOCUS

Auctioneers failed to find a buyer who was willing to pay even half of the expected amount for three historical hand written letters by Mahatma Gandhi accusing his eldest son Hiralal of committing rape.

"Manu is telling me number of dangerous things about you. She says that you had raped her before eight years and she was so much hurt that medical treatment was also to be taken," Gandhi says in one of the letters in reference to Harilal's daughter Manu who had come to stay with her grandfather at Sabarmati Ashram. Mullock's said in a statement "The letters are written in Gujarati and are in good condition. These have come via descent from a branch of Gandhi's family to the present vendor. As far as we are aware they have never before been seen in public and as such they provide remarkable new information on the troubled relationship Gandhi had with his son". Harilal Gandhi (1888-1948) had wanted to go to England to study to become a barrister, like his father. Gandhi firmly opposed this believing a Western style education would not be helpful in the struggle against British rule over India. This led to Harilal renouncing all family ties in 1911, and his troubled relationship with his father continued throughout his life, as evidenced in these letters. It is said that Harilal appeared at his father's funeral in such derelict condition that few recognized him. He died from liver disease in a municipal hospital in Mumbai. The troubled relationship he had with his father is the subject of the film and play 'Gandhi My Father' released in 2007.


OUTLOOK

Congress Faces The Ignominy Of Not Being Officially Declared The Opposition

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Focus On Globe

1 June 2014

According to the constitution a party can only be recognized as main opposition party officially only if it has at least 10% of the strength of the Lok Sabha

W

th the Congress routed by the Narendra Modi wave in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the party faces the ignominy of not being officially declared the opposition party when the Lower House of Parliament is convened. The one sided match was easily won by the BJP with its rivals throwing in the towel a couple of hours after trends started to pour in indicating a massive win for the Modi-led front. According to the Constitution of India a party can only be recognised as main opposition party officially only if it has at least 10 per cent of the strength of the Lok Sabha. So the Congress needs at least 54 seats in 543-member Lok Sabha to get the official status of an Opposition and its leader in the House as the Leader of Opposition. The Leaders of the Opposition is accorded statutory recognition and given salary and certain other facilities and amenities under the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977. The Leader of the Opposition occupies a seat in the front row left to the Chair. He/she also enjoys certain privileges on ceremonial occasions like escorting the Speaker-elect to the rostrum and a seat in' the front row at the time of the Address by the President to members of both the Houses of Parliament. But with the Congress all set to end with less than 50 seats, it is will fall from a ruling party to being just another entity in the Lok Sabha without any statutory recognition. Although it will not be an unprecedented situation as before the 1977 elections, except for a brief spell of one year (December 1969-December 1970), there had been no official 'Opposition' in the sense the term is used in the parliamentary system of government. In November 1969, for the first time since Independence, the Lok Sabha had a recognised Opposition party and a Leader of the Opposition. i


Focus On Globe

1 June 2014

India profile

15

India is the world's second most populous country after China

T

he world's largest democracy and second most populous country emerged as a major power in the 1990s. It is militarily strong, has major cultural influence and a fast-growing and powerful economy. A nuclear-armed state, it carried out tests in the 1970s and again in the 1990s in defiance of world opinion. However, India is still tackling huge social, economic and environmental problems. The vast and diverse Indian sub-continent - from the mountainous Afghan frontier to the jungles of Burma - was under foreign rule from the early 1800s until the demise of the British Raj in 1947. The subsequent partition of the sub-continent - into present-day India and Pakistan - sowed the seeds for future conflict. There have been three wars between India and its arch-rival Pakistan since 1947, two of them over the disputed territory of Kashmir.

At a glance

Communal strife

With its many languages, cultures and religions, India is highly diverse. This is also reflected in its federal political system, whereby power is shared between the central government and 28 states. However, communal, caste and regional tensions continue to haunt Indian politics, sometimes threatening its long-standing democratic and secular ethos. In 1984 Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was gunned down by her Sikh bodyguards after ordering troops to flush out Sikh militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar. And in 1992, widespread Hindu-Muslim violence erupted after Hindu extremists demolished the Babri mosque at Ayodhya.

Economic progress

Independent India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, dreamed of a socialist society and created a vast public infrastructure, much of which became a burden on the state.

From the late 1980s India began to open up to the outside world, encouraging economic reform and foreign investment. It is now courted by the world's leading economic and political powers, including its one-time foe China. The country has a burgeoning urban middle class and has made great strides in fields such as information technology. Its large, skilled workforce makes it a popular choice for international companies seeking to outsource work. But the vast mass of the rural population remains impoverished. Their lives continue to be influenced by the ancient Hindu caste system, which assigns each person a place in the social hierarchy. Discrimination on the basis of caste is now illegal and various measures have been introduced to empower disadvantaged groups and give them easier access to opportunities - such as education and work. Poverty alleviation and literacy campaigns are ongoing. Nuclear tests carried out by India in May 1998 and similar tests by Pakistan just weeks later provoked international condemnation and concern over the stability of the region. The US quickly imposed sanctions on India, but more recently the two countries have improved their ties, and even agreed to share nuclear technology. India launches its own satellites and in 2008 sent its first spacecraft to the moon. It also boasts a massive cinema industry, the products of which are among the most widely-watched films in the world.

India profile

• • 2012)

Full name: Republic of India Population: 1.3 billion (UN,

PROFILE

• Politics: Some 814 million people are registered to vote in the elections on 7 April 2014. Front runners are the ruling Congress party and the nationalist opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) • Economy: Fast-growing economy; large, skilled workforce but widespread poverty • International: Ongoing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir region; nuclear weapons state; world's most prolific film industry - Bollywood A peace process, which started in 2004, stayed on track despite tension over Kashmir and several high-profile bombings until the Mumbai attacks of November 2008, carried out by Islamist militants overwhelmingly from Pakistan and organised by the Pakistani movement Lashkar-e-Taiba. India announced that the process was

on pause the following month.


16

Focus On Globe • • bay)

Capital: New Delhi Most-populated city: Mumbai (Bom-

1 June 2014

in parliament. The emphatic defeat of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) confounded predictions of a close contest. While still needing the support of some smaller parties, the government looked to be in a much stronger position to pursue economic reforms, particularly against opposition from the left.Mr Singh made his reputation as a finance minister in the early 1990s, under the Narasimha Rao government, when he was the driving force behind economic liberalisation. A Sikh born in West Punjab, Mr Singh is a former International Monetary Fund official and governor of India's Central Bank. He was educated at Oxford and Cambridge.

There is no systematic filtering of the web. But in late 2011, the authorities were embroiled in a dispute with leading social networks over censorship of content deemed to be offensive. The tussle, which involved the courts, pitted the government against Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo! and YouTube, among other platforms.

Indian broadcasting is flourishing and TV and radio outlets are proliferating. India's economy combines traditional industries, such as brick making, left, and more modern ones such as a successful film industry with ''Bollywood'' stars, right • Area: 3.1 million sq km (1.2 million sq miles), excluding Indian-administered Kashmir (100,569 sq km/38,830 sq miles) • Major languages: Hindi, English and more than 20 otherofficial languages • Major religions: Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism • Life expectancy: 64 years (men), 68 years (women) (UN) • Monetary unit: 1 Indian Rupee = 100 paise • Main exports: Agricultural products, textile goods, gems and jewellery, software services and technology, engineering goods, chemicals, leather products • GNI per capita: US $1,420 (World Bank, 2011)

PROFILE

• Internet domain: .in • International dialling code: +91 President: Pranab Mukherjee Prime Minister: Manmohan Singh

Mr Singh became prime minister in May 2004 after the Congress Party's unexpected success in general elections. The party's president, Sonia Gandhi, the widow of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, shocked her supporters by declining the top post, apparently to protect the party from damaging attacks over her Italian origin. Mr Singh said his priorities were to reduce poverty and to plough on with economic reforms. He stated a desire for friendly relations with India's neighbours, especially Pakistan. During his first year in office he held together a coalition which included communist allies and ministers accused of corruption. He continued to pursue market-friendly economic policies and oversaw the introduction of nuclear non-proliferation legislation. But his promised "New Deal" for rural India - an attempt to raise the poorest citizens out of poverty - has still to bear fruit, and by 2011 he was facing demands for inquiries into a series of financial scandals. Though Mr Singh has repeatedly promised a crackdown on corruption, his critics say that the accumulation of graft scandals points to a pervasive culture of corruption in his administration. His government also came under intense pressure after the Mumbai attacks of November 2008, which left nearly 200 people dead and prompted a storm of criticism of security arrangements. However, Mr Singh's Congress-led coalition then went on to score an emphatic victory at general elections in April and May 2009, coming within 11 seats of winning an absolute majority

India has more than 150 million TV homes, of which 25% use direct-to-home satellite and 51% receive cable TV. The government plans to digitise all TV transmissions by December 2014. There are more than 700 TV channels. News programmes often outperform entertainment output. There is an array of 24-hour news TV stations. Doordarshan, the public TV, operates multiple services, including flagship DD1, which reaches some 400 million viewers. Multichannel, direct-to-home (DTH) satellite TV is a huge hit. Major platforms Dish TV, Tata-Sky, Sun Direct, Big TV and Airtel Digital TV have millions of subscribers. State-owned Doordarshan Direct runs a free-to-air DTH service. Music-based FM radio stations abound. But only public All India Radio can produce news programming. India's press is lively. Driven by a growing middle class, newspaper circulation has risen and new titles compete with established dailies. Journalists operating in areas with armed conflicts do not enjoy the same protections as those in the rest of India, says Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

India online

Nearly 12.6% of Indian citizens are online (ITU, 2012). The online revolution has largely bypassed rural India, a government study has shown. Facebook is the leading social network in India, with tens of millions of users. Twitter is used by celebrities, journalists and politicians.

Manmohan Singh initiated economic reforms in the 1990s Rules require internet companies to remove "disparaging" or "blasphemous" content if they receive a complaint from an "affected person". RSF argues that requiring sites to remove all offensive material "is an impossible task". It has urged the government not to enact "repressive" legislation. The authorities routinely suspend internet services in Indian-administered Kashmir during times of tension.

Press

• daily •

The Times of India - Mumbai-based The Hindu - Chennai-based daily

.

Some of them have a million or more followers

• The Hindustan Times - New Delhi-based daily • The Pioneer - New Delhi-based daily • The Indian Express - New Delhi-based daily • The Statesman - Kolkata-based daily • Deccan Herald - Bangalore-based daily • The Asian Age - New Delhi-based daily • India Today - New Delhi-based news magazine • Outlook - New Delhi-based news magazine India Gate in New Delhi honours Indian soldiers who fell in the First World War

Television •

Doordarshan - public TV; operates na-


Focus On Globe tional, regional, local andsatellite services • CNN-IBN - 24-hour news channel in English, partially owned by CNN's parent, Turner International • New Delhi TV (NDTV) - operates NDTV 24x7 and NDTV-India newschannels in English and Hindi • Star TV - operates satellite, cable TV services, owned by News Corporation • Zee TV - satellite, cable TV services operated by Zee Group • Sony Entertainment TV - commercial channel • Aaj Tak - 24-hour news channel in Hindi, owned by India Today magazine group

Radio

• All India Radio - public, operates domestic and external networks • Radio One - commercial radio network in six big cities • Radio Mirchi - commercial network, stations in Mumbai, Delhi and other cities, mainly music, operated by The Times Group • Radio City - commercial, FM stations in Delhi, Mumbai and other cities, owned by News Corporation • Red FM - commercial, operated by India Today Group

News agencies

• Press Trust of India (PTI) - non-profit, owned by newspaper titles • Asian News International (ANI) commercial, privately-owned multimedia news agency • Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) - privately-owned newswire

Mahatma Gandhi steered India to independence 1920-22 - Nationalist figurehead Mahatma Gandhi launches anti-British civil disobedience campaign. 1942-43 - Congress launches “Quit India” movement. 1947 - End of British rule and partition of sub-continent into mainly Hindu India and Muslim-majority state of Pakistan.

Newly independent

1947-48 - Hundreds of thousands die in widespread communal bloodshed after partition. 1948 - Mahatma Gandhi assassinated by Hindu extremist. 1948 - War with Pakistan over disputed territory of Kashmir. 1951-52 - Congress Party wins first general elections under leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru.

Regional tensions

na.

1962 - India loses brief border war with Chi-

1964 - Death of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

A chronology of key events: India has been home to several ancient civilisations and empires, some dating back to more than 2,000 BC. Culture and religions have flourished over the millennia, and foreign influence has ebbed and flowed.

1980 - Indira Gandhi returns to power heading Congress party splinter group, Congress (Indira). 1984 - Troops storm Golden Temple - Sikhs’ most holy shrine - to flush out Sikh militants pressing for self-rule. 1984 - Indira Gandhi assassinated by Sikh bodyguards, following which her son, Rajiv, takes over. 1984 December - Gas leak at Union Carbide pesticides plant in Bhopal. Thousands are killed immediately, many more subsequently die or are left disabled. 1987 - India deploys troops for peacekeeping operation in Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict. 1989 - Falling public support leads to Congress defeat in general election. 1990 - Indian troops withdrawn from Sri Lanka. 1990 - Muslim separatist groups begin campaign of violence in Kashmir. 1991 - Rajiv Gandhi assassinated by suicide bomber sympathetic to Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers. 1991 - Economic reform programme begun by Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao. 1992 - Hindu extremists demolish mosque in Ayodhya, triggering widespread Hindu-Muslim violence.

BJP to the fore

1996 - Congress suffers worst ever electoral defeat as Hindu nationalist BJP emerges as largest single party. 1998 - BJP forms coalition government under Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. 1998 - India carries out nuclear tests, leading to widespread international condemnation. 1999 February - Vajpayee makes historic bus trip to Pakistan to meet Premier Nawaz Sharif and to sign bilateral Lahore peace declaration.

The rail network covers the length and breadth of India 1965 - Second war with Pakistan over Kashmir. 1966 - Nehru’s daughter Indira Gandhi becomes prime minister. 1971 - Third war with Pakistan over creation of Bangladesh, formerly East Pakistan. 1971 - Twenty-year treaty of friendship signed with Soviet Union. 1974 - India explodes first nuclear device in underground test.

Democratic strains

1975 - Indira Gandhi declares state of emergency after being found guilty of electoral malpractice. 1975-1977 - Nearly 1,000 political opponents imprisoned and programme of compulsory birth control introduced. 1977 - Indira Gandhi’s Congress Party loses general elections.

Indira Gandhi served four terms as prime minister

Tensions over Kashmir brought India and Pakistan to war 1999 May - Tension in Kashmir leads to brief war with Pakistan-backed forces in the icy heights around Kargil in Indian-held Kashmir. 1999 October - Cyclone devastates eastern state of Orissa, leaving at least 10,000 dead.

Population: 1 billion

2000 May - India marks the birth of its billionth citizen. 2000 - US President Bill Clinton makes a groundbreaking visit to improve ties. 2001 January - Massive earthquakes hit the western state of Gujarat, leaving at least 30,000 dead. 2001 April - 16 Indian and three Bangladeshi soldiers are killed in border clashes. A high-powered rocket is launched, propelling India into the club of countries able to fire big satellites deep into space. 2001 July - Vajpayee meets Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in the first summit between the two neighbours in more than two years. It ends without a breakthrough because of differences over Kashmir. 2001 September - US lifts sanctions which it imposed against India and Pakistan after they staged nuclear tests in 1998. The move is seen as a reward for their support for the US-led anti-terror campaign.

PROFILE

1858 - India comes under direct rule of the British crown after failed Indian mutiny. 1885 - Indian National Congress founded as forum for emerging nationalist feeling. 1920-22 - Nationalist figurehead Mahatma Gandhi launches anti-British civil disobediencecampaign. 1942-43 - Congress launches "Quit India" movement. 1947 - End of British rule and partition of sub-continent into mainly Hindu India and Muslim-majority state of Pakistan. Newly independent 1947-48 - Hundreds of thousands die in widespread communal bloodshed after partition. 1948 - Mahatma Gandhi assassinated by Hindu extremist. 1948 - War with Pakistan over disputed territory of Kashmir. 1951-52 - Congress Party wins first general elections under leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru. Regional tensions 1962 - India loses brief border war with China. 1964 - Death of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

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Focus On Globe Kashmir tensions rise

Disputed Siachen, dubbed the world's highest battlefield 2001 October - India fires on Pakistani military posts in the heaviest firing along the dividing line of control in Kashmir for almost a year. 2001 December - Suicide squad attacks parliament in New Delhi, killing several police. The five gunmen die in the assault. 2001 December - India imposes sanctions against Pakistan, to force it to take action against two Kashmir militant groups blamed for the suicide attack on parliament. Pakistan retaliates with similar sanctions, and bans the groups in January. 2001 December - India, Pakistan mass troops on common border amid mounting fears of a looming war. 2002 January - India successfully test-fires a nuclear-capable ballistic missile - the Agni - off its eastern coast. 2002 February - Inter-religious bloodshed breaks out after 59 Hindu pilgrims returning from Ayodhya are killed in a train fire in Godhra, Gujarat. More than 1,000 people, mainly Muslims, die in subsequent violence. Police and officials blamed the fire on a Muslim mob, but a 2005 government investigation said it was an accident. In 2012 a court convicts 32 people over the Naroda Patiya riots in Ahmedabad. 2002 May - Pakistan test-fires three medium-range surface-to-surface Ghauri missiles, which are capable of carrying nuclear warheads. War of words between Indian and Pakistani leaders intensifies. Actual war seems imminent. 2002 June - UK, US urge their citizens to leave India and Pakistan, while maintaining diplomatic offensive to avert war. 2002 July - Retired scientist and architect of India’s missile programme APJ Abdul Kalam is elected president. 2003 August - At least 50 people are killed in two simultaneous bomb blasts in Bombay.

PROFILE

Kashmir ceasefire

2003 November - India matches Pakistan’s declaration of a Kashmir ceasefire. 2003 December - India, Pakistan agree to resume direct air links and to allow overflights. 2004 January - Groundbreaking meeting held between government and moderate Kashmir separatists. 2004 May - Surprise victory for Congress Party in general elections. Manmohan Singh is sworn in as prime minister. 2004 September - India, along with Brazil, Germany and Japan, launches an application for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. 2004 November - India begins to withdraw some of its troops from Kashmir.

Asian tsunami

The Golden Temple at Amritsar is a place of pilgrimage for Sikh devotees

1 June 2014

The Golden Temple at Amritsar is a place of pilgrimage for Sikh devotees 2004 December - Thousands are killed when tidal waves, caused by a powerful undersea earthquake off the Indonesian coast, devastate coastal communities in the south and in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 2005 7 April - Bus services, the first in 60 years, operate between Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir and Muzaffarabad in Pakistani-administered Kashmir. 2005 July - More than 1,000 people are killed in floods and landslides caused by monsoon rains in Mumbai (Bombay) and Maharashtra region. 2005 October - An earthquake, with its epicentre in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, kills more than 1,000 people in Indian-administered Kashmir. Bombs kill 62 people in Delhi. A little-known Kashmiri group says it is behind the attacks. 2006 February - India’s largest-ever rural jobs scheme is launched, aimed at lifting around 60 million families out of poverty.

Millions of Indians depend on the farming sector

Nuclear deal

2006 March - US and India sign a nuclear agreement during a visit by US President George W Bush. The US gives India access to civilian nuclear technology while India agrees to greater scrutiny for its nuclear programme. Millions of Indians depend on the farming sector 14 people are killed by bomb blasts in the Hindu pilgrimage city of Varanasi. 2006 May - Suspected Islamic militants kill 35 Hindus in the worst attacks in Indian-administered Kashmir for several months. 2006 11 July - More than 180 people are killed in bomb attacks on rush-hour trains in Mumbai. Investigators blame Islamic militants based in Pakistan. 2006 8 September - Explosions outside a mosque in the western town of Malegaon kill at least 31 people. 2006 November - Hu Jintao makes the first visit to India by a Chinese president in a decade. 2006 December - US President George W Bush approves a controversial law allowing India to buy US nuclear reactors and fuel for the first time in 30 years. Train attack 2007 18 February - 68 passengers, most of them Pakistanis, are killed by bomb blasts and a blaze on a train travelling from New Delhi to the Pakistani city of Lahore. 2007 February - India and Pakistan sign an agreement aimed at reducing the risk of accidental nuclear war. 2007 March - Maoist rebels in Chhattisgarh state kill more than 50 policemen in a dawn attack. 2007 April - India’s first commercial space rocket is launched, carrying an Italian satellite. 2007 May - At least nine people are killed in a bomb explosion at the main mosque in Hyderabad. Several others are killed in subsequent rioting. 2007 May - Government announces its strongest economic growth figures for 20 years - 9.4%

in the year to March.

First woman president

2007 July - Pratibha Patil becomes first woman to be elected president of India. 2008 July - Congress-led coalition survives vote of confidence brought after left-wing parties withdraw their support over controversial nuclear cooperation deal with US. After the vote, several left-wing and regional parties form new alliance to oppose government, saying it has been tainted by corruption. 2008 July - Series of explosions kills 49 in Ahmedabad, in Gujarat state. The little-known group Indian Mujahideen claims responsibility. 2008 October - Following approval by the US Congress, President George W Bush signs into law a nuclear deal with India, which ends a three-decade ban on US nuclear trade with Delhi. India successfully launches its first mission to the moon, the unmanned lunar probe Chandrayaan-1.

Mumbai attacks

The 2008 Mumbai attacks were blamed on Pakistani gunmen 2008 November - Nearly 200 people are killed and hundreds injured in a series of co-ordinated attacks by gunmen on the main tourist and business area of India’s financial capital Mumbai. India blames militants from Pakistan for the attacks and demands that Islamabad act against those responsible. 2008 December - India announces “pause” in peace process with Pakistan. Indian cricket team cancels planned tour of Pakistan. 2009 February - India and Russia sign deals worth $700m, according to which Moscow will supply uranium to Delhi. 2009 May - Resounding general election victory gives governing Congress-led alliance of PM Manmohan Singh an enhanced position in parliament, only 11 seats short of an absolute majority. 2009 July - Pakistani, Indian premiers pledge to work together to fight terror irrespective of progress on improving broader ties. A Dehli court rules that homosexual intercourse between consenting adults is not criminal, overturning a 148-year-old colonial law. 2009 December - The government says it will allow a new state, Telangana, to be carved out of part of the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. Violent protests for and against break out. 2010 February - Bomb explosion in a restaurant popular with tourists in Pune, in the western state of Maharashtra, kills 16 people. 2010 May - The solve surviving gunman of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Ajmal Amir Qasab, is convicted of murder, waging war on India and possessing explosives. 2010 June - A court in Bhopal sentences eight Indians to two years each in jail for “death by negligence” over the 1984 Union Carbide gas plant leak. Thousands died in this, the world’s worst industrial accident.

Ayodha ruling

2010 September - Allahabad High Court rules that disputed holy site of Ayodhya should be divided between Hindus and Muslims; the destruction of a mosque on the site by Hindu extremists in 1992 led to rioting in which about 2,000 people died.


Focus On Globe

1 June 2014

2012 July - Pranab Mukherjee from the ruling Congress party is elected as president, comfortably beating his rival P.A. Sangma.

India tested its long-range Agni V missile in 2012 2012 August - Court convicts 32 people over the 2002 religious riots in Gujarat and acquits 29 others. Among those convicted in the Naroda Patiya killings in Ahmedabad are former state minister Maya Kodnani and Babu Bajrangi, a former leader of the militant Hindu group Bajrang Dal. 2012 September - The West Bengal left-wing

All India Trinamool Congress withdraws from the coalition government over plans to allow foreign supermarket giants to operate in India and cuts to fuel subsidies. Prime Minister Singh says the supermarket move is needed to increase foreign investment, despite widespread protests by shopkeepers. 2012 November - Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, the sole surviving gunman of the 2008 attacks in Mumbai, is executed in Pune prison. The Supreme Court upheld his death sentence in August. 2013 February - Two explosions in crowded Dilsukhnagar area of central Hyderabad kill 16 people. Police suspect the Indian Mujahideen Islamist armed group. 2013 March - Five policemen are killed in a militant assault in Indian-administered Kashmir - the first major attack in the region in three years. 2013 September - A court sentences four men to death for the gang rape and murder of a student in Delhi the previous December - a case that led to violent protests across India and new laws against rape. 2013 December - The Supreme Court reverses a 2009 Delhi High Court order which had decriminalised homosexual acts. It says parliament not the courts must resolve the issue. 2013 April - Start of month-long parliamentary elections

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unny country, ours is. We love to hate. We are so fed up of our own miserable problems and pathetic administration that we just need a media-created effigy to direct our hatred and burn. Beyond logic. Beyond rationale. Beyond the levels of tolerance and sophistication that one can expect from a country that boasts itself as the world’s largest democracy. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal humbled in the recent national elections. Just four members from his party got into parliament and Kejriwal himself lost by a mammoth 337,000 votes at Varanasi to the next PM of India, Narendra Modi. Honestly speaking, it was a stupid move by AK to challenge Modi at Varanasi. He could’ve contested from his home constituency, won his seat in parliament and actually made a difference from inside over the next 5 years. Isn’t that why he split from Anna Hazare in the first place?? The hate for AK started last year when he resigned as CM of Delhi within 49 days of being voted the majority government. Yes, he betrayed the trust of Delhi, and thewhole country, the eyes of which were constantly upon him. The disappointment turned to hate and we coined terms like Farjiwal, Fekriwal,Bhagoda and some of our trademarked Hindi swear words which never cease to evolve every-time they’re mentioned. In more ways than not, justified. All he asked for this week was forgiveness and another chance. He apologized to the people of Delhi, and India. He conceded his mistake and inexperience. Gave his reasoning, and came out pleading for a chance to make things right. And what do we do?? We lambaste him on social media, accusing him of dramatics, calling him all sorts of things, talking about flogging him publicly and what not! Not to mention his supporters being called AAPtards and baboons (which, thankfully, is not racist in India). Nobody wanted to touch AK before the elections. He came out and blasted the most influential people in India for corruption and money laundering, and nobody had the balls to do anything more than denying and reverse accusing him on the news. But now that BJP has swept off the elections, Nitin Gadkari comes along and files a defamation suit. Amazing things power does to people. [Correction: The case was filed a few months ago. Yet, of all the crimes people can commit, we see sense in filing a case for calling someone 'corrupt'.] Kejriwal, sent to judicial custody, refused to pay the bail/bond amount of Rs. 10,000 and said that he’d defend himself in court. Why do we accuse him of being above the law? Any defendant has the right to not pay the bail money. It’s an option, not a law. And he said he’d defend his stand in his court hearing. He’s not answerable to the pedestrian unappreciative masses on social media. Wake up and see sense, people. Hating him won’t get you anything. Back in 2011, he went to jail for similar charges. Back then, he was just an activist, not a political leader. It was easy to pick on him. He didn’t pay the bail even then. He was seen as a hero back then. Why wasn’t that perceived as above the law? Our very own national hero, Mahatma Gandhi, was sent to jail by the British. He was offered bail for as little as 1 Rupee, but, he still declined. We reelect criminals to parliament. People with blatant corruption charges, people who have more black money than most people earn legitimately their whole life, rapists, uneducated, worthless ministers. Everyone is forgiven and voted back to parliament.Why not Arvind Kejriwal? A clean record, a degree from India’s premiere technology institute and so many more qualifications that could bring the more than half of the current parliament to shame… and most of all, clean intentions a good heart. I don’t expect this article to be received well by most of you. I’m probably just another AAP-tard baboon on your timelines. Your hate for Congress and AAP has blinded you too much to read or hear anything against anyone remotely related to BJP, let alone trying to look at it objectively. But, to those who see sense like me, I hope you’re in Delhi. Give him another chance. He’s a good man.

BETWEEN THE LINES

Let’s All Think about Arvind Kejriwal

2011 March - Results of 2011 census put India’s population at 1.21bn, an increase of 181 million over ten years. India overtakes China to become the world’s largest importer of arms, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. 2011 August - Prominent social activist Anna Hazare stages 12-day hunger strike in Delhi in protest at state corruption. 2011 November - Fourteen people including a government minister go on trial in one of India’s biggest ever corruption scandals - a telecoms deal alleged to have involved the selling of mobile phone licenses at knock-down prices in exchange for bribes. 2012 January - Threats by Islamic extremists force British author Sir Salman Rushdie first to cancel his visit to the prestigious Jaipur Literary Festival, then to drop a video appearance. The extremists object to his book The Satanic Verses, which is banned in India. 2012 May - Manmohan Singh pays first official visit to Burma by an Indian prime minister since 1987. He signs agreements aimed at providing border area development and an Indian credit line. 2012 June - Police in Delhi arrest a key figure allegedly involved in planning the 2008 Mumbai attacks. They say Abu Hamza, also known as Syed Zabiuddin, was the “handler” of the 10 gunmen.


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NARENDRA DAMODARDAS MODI FROM ‘TEA -SELLER’ TO INDIA’S PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi sworn in as India's 15th Prime Minister.

COVER STORY

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arendra Modi did not only win the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, he won it in style, helping the BJP get majority on its own and decimating the Opposition, including the Congress along the way. So when he landed in the national capital on 17 May 2014, a day after the results were declared, he expectedly got a rousing reception which started at the airport and continued till the party office at 11, Ashoka Road. Modi seemed to enjoy every moment of it like a victor who had come to claim his prize and what a prize it was – the Prime Minister of the world’s largest democracy. He stood on the foot-board of his SUV flashing the “V” sign, he addressed the party workers and gave a thanksgiving speech at Varanasi for reposing their faith in him. And a day later, on May 20, at the cusp of history, in his first address in Parliament he broke down, as if all the acrimony and theaggression of months of campaigning was finally being washed away. His 30-minute speech after he was form ally elected leader of BJP’s parliamentary party was hailed by experts as ‘outstanding’ and even his critics had to admit that Modi is definitely one of the best orators in contemporary Indian politics. In his speech he promised to live up to the expectations of the 1.2 billion population of the country, especially the poor. He also promised to come up with a report card at the end

of his five-year term, clearly signalling that he was up for a long haul. And now that he has taken the oath administered by the President of India to be the country’s 15th Prime Minister, the countdown for Modi has begun. He has come to power on the plank of development, growth and governance and it will not be an easy task to meet the challenges ahead. But Modi is considered an able administrator and he will be aware at every step of the way of the hope that people have from him. He is also considered a hard-worker. This was evident from the humongous campaign that he undertook since he was anointed as BJP’s PM candidate on September 13, 2013. From addressing rallies after rallies in every nook and corner of the country, to reaching out to the voters through 3-D technology, to holding chai-pe-charcha, to giving interviews to the media, Modi was relentless in his approach and his opponents had a hard time catching up with him. He turned the campaign into a face-off with Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, slamming the dynasty and taking on the ‘first family’ head-on. He also took on the UPA government over corruption, scams, price rise and non-governance and appealed to the masses to give him 60 months and make India ‘Congress-mukt Bharat’. Yes, campaigning in the run-up to the General Elections was Modi show all the way. With Manmohan Singh’s

image taking a beating for being a ‘silent’ and ‘indecisive’ PM, Modi left no stone unturned in projecting himself as a decisive leader who symbolized hope and change in this country. He also did not shy away from evoking his humble background and showcasing himself as a man who had risen through the ranks of his party due to sheer hard-work and commitment unlike Rahul who did not earn but was bestowed with power due to being born a Gandhi. And when results were announced on May 16 it was clear that Modi had managed to connect with the voters, who in turn had decided to fulfil all his wishes. The BJP won 282 seats (335 with the NDA), making it the first party inIndependent India to win a majority on its own after the Congress and the grand old party suffered a humiliating defeat ending with 44 seats – its worst ever performance. A massive mandate like this was probably what the BJP must have only dreamt of. In hindsight, it was a winning decision by the BJP to make Modi as the party’s PM candidate. There were murmurs within the party over his projection as the face of the party. There were questions raised about his abilities to win over allies after Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) ended a 17-year-old alliance with the BJP over Modi ascent in the party. There was open ridicule by the Opposition including the Congress as to how the BJP had scored a self-goal by elevating Modi as their man and how the


Focus On Globe country would never make a ‘divisive’ and ‘communal’ person like him their PM. He was called all sorts of names including ‘Hitler’, ‘Butcher’, ‘Murderer’ and an ‘Impotent’. But on D-day it was Modi who had the last laugh. Though the Congress was in all probability prepared for a defeat, it was the magnitude of it which left them shell-shocked. As for other parties like the SP, BSP, JD(U) and RJD which said that he was ‘anti the idea of India’, the scale of Modi’s victory left them scrambling for cover. It was only the two ladies from West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, Mamata Banerjee and Jayalalithaa who held fort against him. Modi took the country by storm and his detractors by surprise – the so-called Modi ‘wave’ or the ‘Tsunami’ had delivered and how. His opponents probably erred in believing that they could play the secular card, project Modi as a polarising figure and win the elections. The common man has sent out themessage loud and clear through the power of their vote that all they want is a decent life and those who do not per-

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form will be punished. The very fact that the BJP along with its ally the Apna Dal won 73 out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh shows that people voted for the party cutting across caste and religious lines for development and growth. Nonetheless, inspite of the huge mandate that Modi has got, there is a fear in a section of the society that Modi might become too dictatorial or the minorities may be neglected under him or that freedom of speech and expression may be compromised. Of all the people it is Modi himself who perhaps will be more than aware of the misgivings about him. No wonder that he has talked about taking everybody along and has reiterated his ‘development for all’ slogan time and again. In a democracy there should always be room for critical analysis and diverse opinions. However, the new Prime Minister of India needs to be given the time to prove himself and apprehensions and misgivings without any basis or on the basis of what happened or did not happen in the past will not do anyone any good. Those who support Modi and feel that he is

the right man to take India out of the mess that it is in have a point. He has in many ways proved himself in Gujarat, he is considered a workaholic, he is believed to be a tough taskmaster, known for keeping bureaucrats and ministers on their toes and he is also seen to have the personality to position India as a force to reckon with at the world stage. But as they say one will have to wait and watch to see as to how the Modi saga will unfold and how history will judge him. Meanwhile, even as Modi settles down in the PM’s office, he, his party and his supporters have all the right to rejoice the day when he was sworn-in to occupy the top post in the country. Born on September 17, 1950, in a middle-class family in Vadnagar in Mehsana district and running a tea stall with his brother, as a teenager, Narendra Damodardas Modi has travelled a long distance. From being a RSS pracharak in his young days, to being the Chief Minister of Gujarat four times in a row, to being the 15th Prime Minister of India, Modi’s journey has truly been remarkable.

Narendra Modi's younger, slimmer, gender-friendly Cabinet is here

COVER STORY

As the sun went down behind the majestic dome of the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Narendra Damodardas Modi took oath in the name of God as the 15th prime minister in the presence of of seven SAARC leaders and the country’s who’s who. In the front row were Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse and other SAARC heads of state. Along with Modi, 23 others took oath of office and secrecy as cabinet ministers, 10 as ministers with independent charge and 12 as ministers of state. The cabinet includes Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu and Nitin Gadkari. Officially, no portfolios have been allotted. Only two cabinet ministers – Najma Heptullah and Kalraj Mishra – were born before Independence. For Gadkari, it will be a sort of the birthday gift on May 27, when he turns 58. Of the 45 council of ministers, 36 took oath in Hindi and the rest in English. The Union Cabinet has the Modi stamp. He has neither given in to alloting ministerial quota in proportion with the number of MPs an ally has nor to accommodating sons and daughters of party leaders. In the previous NDA government, allies were given one cabinet berth for four MPs. Despite winning many more seats than the Lok Janshakti Party, the Telugu Desam Party and the Shiv Sena are on the same page as the Ram Vilas Paswan-led LJP and Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Samata Party. In another departure, Modi has given no space for dynastic politics, keeping out sons and daughters of prominent politicians from his team of ministers. Poonam Mahajan (daughter of late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan), Jayant Sinha (son of senior party leader Yashwant Sinha), Dushyant Singh (son of Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje) and Abhishek Singh (Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh’s son) have not found a berth. It was apparent loyalty that counted. So, Arun Jaitley, despite losing the election, and Singh, the party chief, find prominent place in the cabinet. Swaraj, who may be an exception to the loyalty criteria, is also among the top ministers. As expected, Nitin Gadkari figures among the cabinet ministers. Other cabinet ministers are Ramvilas Paswan of Lok Janshakti Party, a BJP ally which won six seats and a Dalit face from Bihar. Yet another Bihar MP who got the thumbs up was Upendra Kushwaha of the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, which had fought the elections in alliance with BJP. Another woman MP who figures in the cabinet list is Harsimrat Kaur Badal of the Shiromani Akali Dal. Modi’s cabinet also includes “tall leaders” of the BJP who were responsible for the BJP sweeps in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, such as Narendra Singh Tomar, MP from Gwalior. When he was called to take the oath of office, there was loud cheering and sporadic chants of ‘Modi, Modi, Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and even ‘Jai Sriram’ as the democratic carnival spirit invaded Rashtrapati Bhavan. Hindu sanyasis, Christian padris and Muslim mullahs were quite conspicuous in the curious crowd that turned up for the occasion. Hema Malini, the dream girl who won from Mathura, walked in wearing a deep blue with Dharmendra. Salman Khan, MS Dhoni and Sunil Gavaskar walked in wearing black suits. The entire Ambani family, Hindujas and Adanis were also present. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was in the front row. RSS’ Suresh Soni and VHP’s Ashok Singhal were also present at the swearing-in ceremony.


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Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Uma Bharti and Rajnath Singh sworn into the new cabinet Also a 45-member cabinet takes oath and joins him. Narendra Modi took oath as the 15th Prime Minister of India at Rashtrapathi Bhavan amidst SAARC leaders. His 45-membered cabinet members were all sworn in at the ceremony.

Following are the ministers

COVER STORY

Rajnath Singh takes oath. He's set to be Home Minister.

Modi swearing-in: Nawaz Sharif, Manmohan Singh greet Bhutan's

Friend from across the Ocean! Prez Yameen of Maldives arrives for PM designate at Narendra Modi swearing-in ceremony.

Modi swearing-in: Sonia Gandhi speaks to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif LK Advani. waves on his arrival at New Delhi airport

*Raosaheb Dhanve sworn in as Minister of State *Mansukhbhai Dhanjibhai Vasava sworn in as Minister of State *Sanjeev Kumar Baliyan sworn in as Minister of State *Krishan Pal sworn in as Minister of State *Kiren Rijiju sworn in as Minister of State *Upendra Kushwaha sworn in as Minister of State *Pon Radhakrishnan sworn in as Minister of State *Nihal Chand sworn in as Minister of State *GM Siddeshwara sworn in as MoS (Independent Charge) *Manoj Sinha sworn in as Minister of State. *Nirmala Sitharaman sworn in as MoS (Independent Charge) *Jitendra Singh sworn in as MoS (Independent Charge) *Narendra Modi sworn in as 15th Prime Minister of India. *Piyush Goyal sworn in as MoS (Independent Charge) *Prakash Javdekar sworn in as MoS (Independent Charge) *Sarbananda Sonowal sworn in as MoS (Independent Charge) *Dharmendra Pradhan sworn in as MoS (Independent Charge) *Harsh Vardhan is set to take charge of Health ministry after taking oath *Shripad Naik takes oath as Minister *Harsimrat Kaur Badal takes oath as Minister *Najma Heptullah takes oath as Minister *Ramvilas Paswan takes oath as Minister *Narendra Modi takes oath as Prime Minister *Uma Bharti takes oath as minister *Sadanand Gowda takes oath as Minister *Nitin Gadkari takes oath as the minister *Arun Jaitley takes oath as minister *Sushma Swaraj takes oath as the minister sters who were sworn in: *Maneka Gandhi: Woman and child welfare *Rao Inderjeet Singh – MoS (ind) Statistic & planning, MoS Finance *Najma Heptullah – Minority affair *Nitin Gadkari-Transport ministry *Rajnath Singh: Home Ministry *Nitin Gadkari: Mega unified Transport ministry-surface transport, navy, air etc *Sushma Swaraj: Foreign Affairs Ministry *Maneka Gandhi-Woman and child welfare ministry *V.K Singh: MoS Independent charge of North-East, assistant Mos in Foreign ministry to Sushma Swaraj *Smriti Irani: HRD Ministry *Prakash Jadvekar: Information and Broadcasting ministry, Enviornment Ministry *Piyush Goyal could take charge as MoS (Independent Charge) of Power Ministry, Coal ministry (merger) *Radha Mohan Singh could take charge as the next Agriculture Minister *Dharmendra Pradhan: Independent charge for Oil ministry *Prakash Javadekar could take charge as MoS (Independent Charge) of I&B Ministry *Nirmala Sitharaman could take charge as MoS (Independent Charge) of Commerce Ministry Narendra Modi is set to be sworn in as India’s 15th prime minister at the Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourt this evening.


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n unprecedented 4,000 guests, including heads of the government of eight countries (of which seven are from SAARC), all 777 MPs of both Houses, the outgoing PM and his council of ministers, all governors, CMs, ambassadors and other constitutional authorities like the chief justice of India will attend the event. Here are some international delegates setting their foor on Indian territory for the ceremony:

Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif offers prayers at historic Jama Masjid

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COVER STORY

akistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif offered prayers at the historic Jama Masjid in Delhi on Tuesday 27 May 2014 and also visited the Red Fort in Old Delhi area. Sharif, who arrived in Delhi on Monday 26 May to attend the swearing in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, visited Jama Masjid, one of Asia's largest mosques, and Mughal era monument the Red Fort along with other members of his delegation. The Pakistan prime minister will later hold bilateral talks with Modi during which both sides are expected to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation, before leaving for Pakistan. Sharif had said on Monday he intends to pick up the threads with India's new leader Modi from where he and then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee left off in 1999. The Pakistan prime minister had said that both governments have a strong mandate and this could help in "turning a new page in our relations". Sharif 's visit is seen as significant by political observers here given that hardline elements in Pakistan have expressed their unhappiness over his responding to the invitation positively. Sources said it is expected that the Pakistan leader will also extend a formal invitation to Modi for a visit. No breakthrough is expected during the visit but it will provide the two leaders an o p p o r t u n i t y to cultivate personal relations which may go a long a way in reducing tensions. "The way the Indian Prime Minister invited him and he (Sharif) accepted it and from the discussion I had with him I can say that he has come here in good spirits," Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, told reporters after Sharif 's visit to the mosque. "He wants that relations between the two countries should improve and the bitterness and differences are reduced. He said both India and Pakistan should move toward peace and happiness," he said. "I have come here with a message of peace," Bukhari quoted Sharif as saying. The Pakistan Prime Minister told Bukhari that although there was no specific agenda for the talks between him and his Indian counterpart, he wants that relations between the two countries to improve as soon as possible. "Sharif said that although there was no agenda on which he will hold talks with Modi today, but whenever I get invitation, whether I come or the Indian Prime Minister visits Pakistan, we would want relations to improve as soon as possible," said Bukhari.


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Narendra Modi's swearing-in: SAARC makes history, comes together for a new experience

President Pranab Mukherjee and PM Modi with heads of SAARC countries at Rashtrapati Bhavan

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oon after being sworn-in, prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday night met the leaders of SAARC countries, including Pakistan's prime minister Nawaz Sharif, at a dinner hosted by president Pranab Mukherjee. Modi had brief exchanges with Sharif as also with Afghan president Hamid Karzai, Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa, Bhutan prime minister Tshering Tobgay, Nepal prime minister Sushil Koirala and Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, official sources said. All the leaders, who were here to attend Modi's swearing-in ceremony, gathered at the reception hosted by Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan, they said. Modi will formally meet Sharif and other leaders on Tuesday. Promising to turn a "new page" in India-Pakistan relations, Pakistan's prime minister Nawaz Sharifcame to India on Monday to attend the swearing-in ceremony of prime minister Narendra Modi. In a way it was life coming full circle for him as it was Sharif who had started the dialogue and peace process with the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1999. Apart from extending good wishes on behalf of the people of Pakistan, Sharif is also expected to extend an invitation to Modi for a visit to Pakistan. Before leaving for the ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Sharif told the mediapersons waiting in the lobby at Taj Mansingh Hotel where he is staying that he has a "message of goodwill and good wishes from Pakistan" for India's new prime minister and his government. Sharif had a slew of meetings with Indian

journalists and businessmen during the day before the ceremony in the evening. After the ceremony, Sharif and other SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) leaders attended the dinner hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee. Sharif is scheduled to meet Modi on Tuesday noon when the two leaders are expected to discuss various measures to increase co-operation and dialogue amidst other things. Steps to remove clouds of mistrust are also expected to find their way into discussions. Earlier in the day, Sharif said that both governments – Indian and Pakistani – have a strong mandate and that could help in 'turning a new page in our relations'. While talking to a news channel, Sharif said that he intends to take up threads from where he and Vajpayee left in 1999. Though no great breakthrough is expected from the Modi-Sharif meeting, it is hoped it would re-start the dialogue that had taken a severe hit since the Mumbai attack in November 2008. Meanwhile, the day also saw history being made when leaders of all SAARC countries and Mauritius came together with Modi after the swearing-in ceremony. Incidentally, at present, all eight countries have democratically elected governments. This was the first time that SAARC heads of government were invited for the swearing-in ceremony of an Indian prime minister. Sri Lanka's president Mahinda Rajapaksa, who attended the ceremony even as political parties in Tamil Nadu voiced their displeasure, said, "in electing Modi as their prime minister, the people of India have

unambiguously chosen the path of change, development and effective leadership." "The decision of the people of India (to elect Narendra Modi as PM) resonates across boundaries. India's progress can, no doubt, enhance the region's growth, development and security," said Rajapaksa. Modi's masterstroke of inviting leaders of all seven SAARC countries as well as Mauritius's has been hailed as a positive diplomatic start to his reign. He would hold bilateral meetings with them starting with Afghanistan's president Hamiz Karzai at 9.30am on Tuesday which would be followed by a meeting with presidents of Maldives, Sri Lanka, prime minister of Bhutan, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan and then speaker of Bangladesh. Leaders of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Mauritius would return home by Tuesday while leaders of Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal fly back on Wednesday.


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1 June 2014

Sushma Swaraj is First Woman To Be India's External Affairs Minister

India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj

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COVER STORY

ushma Swaraj on Monday became India's first woman External Affairs minister, in yet another firstfor the 62-year-old Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader. Apart from having the distinction of becoming the youngest cabinet minister in Haryana government at the age of 25, Swaraj has also many other firsts such as being the first woman Chief Minister of Delhi and woman spokesperson for any political party in the country. Swaraj has also been given the charge of Overseas Indian Affairs. Swaraj is assuming the charge of the Foreign Ministry, one of the senior-most offices in the Union Cabinet, at a time when India's growing international influence gives it a prominent voice in global affairs even as issues in the region keep the largest democracy busy. Ties with Pakistan and China are some of the perennial challenges for Indian foreign policy practitioners. Incidentally, the Ministry of External Affairs also has a woman Foreign Secretary, Sujatha Singh. In 1977, at 25 years of age, Swaraj became the youngest-ever cabinet minister. She held the education portfolio in Haryana. In 1979, she became the state president of the BJP in Haryana. She was also the first woman spokesperson for any political party in India and won the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award. Swaraj, a law graduate who practised in the Supreme Court, has been elected seven times as aMember of Parliament (MP) and three times as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). She began her political career with RSS student wing ABVP in the 1970s. A member of the Haryana Assembly from 1977 to 1982 from Ambala Cantonment, she was sworn in as a Cabinet Minister in the Devi Lal government. She was Cabinet Minister for Information and Broadcasting during the 13-day Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government in 1996. She resigned from the Cabinet in the next Vajpayee regime to take over as the first woman Chief Minister of Delhi in October 1998.


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What Author Says on SEPTEMBER 20, 2013

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nanpith awardee and acclaimed Kannada writer Dr UR Ananthamurthy has said he will not live in a country with Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister, triggering angry reactions from BJP which said he was free to leave India. As a controversy broke out over his strident anti-Modi remark, Ananthamurthy on Thursday stood his ground and said the Gujarat chief minister would create fear among people if he becomes Prime Minister. “I would not want to live in a country where Modi is the Prime Minister,” he said at an event here recently. Against the backdrop of vitriolic attacks against him from the BJP and its sympathizers for his remarks, Ananthamurthy said, “He (Modi) will create fear and if a fearsome man is sitting there, people will just bow down to him because a bully creates cowards.” The country needs to build a citizenry who are not afraid and a governance where people do not follow a leader slavishly, he told reporters. Furious at Ananthamurthy’s remarks, BJP and supporters of the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate dubbed him “parasite like” alleging he swayed according to political climate, having supported Congress and JDS in the past and “currying” favours with the government of the day. BJP MP Ananthkumar Hegde and several local party leaders said he was free to leave the country. Several writers , including Baragur Ramachandrap-

1 June 2014

“I wouldn’t Want To Live In India if Modi Becomes PM Author Ananthamurthy says” pa and K Marulasiddappa, have come out in support of Ananthamurthy while some others such as noted scholar Dr Chidananda Murthy flayed him. Ananthamurthy — who lost the Man Booker International Prize to American writer Lydia Davis in May this year — said there was dignity attached to Prime Minister’s post when Pandit Nehru and Narasimha Rao assumed the charge, but this will wane away if Modi becomes PM. “We had people like Nehru who could write a book in jail — Discovery of India, a great book even today. Rao was a great scholar too. There was some dignity for the Prime Minister’s post, but that dignity will go (if Modi becomes PM), he said. On BJP leaders’ attacks on him, Ananthamurthy said he had been critical of Indira Gandhi and Nehru in the past but was never abused as much as the saffron party did. “If I say something and I am abused so much by a gang of people, imagine when they are in power what will happen,” he said. Ananthamurthy said the BJP has always criticized him because he did not buy the RSS Hindu philosophy. “They are a fascist party and don’t understand Hinduism. It is a great religion,” he said. On UPA government, he said it is not anti-people but was corrupt and should be punished. “But the way out is not choosing a man like Modi,” he said.


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A s ay s are 13 z a 20 H a 19, n An LY t a U wh IN J

1 June 2014

Narendra Modi is not communal Anna Hazare says be elected directly by the people stating that people must elect only independent candidates. Earlier talking to the media in Ujjain, he said our constitution states that people are the owners and government and public representatives play the role of servants, in practice the actual situation is reverse with people (voters) becoming servants and the elected representatives the masters. He said corruption is the biggest menace and only a powerful Jan Lokpal Act could address it. Recalling his earlier years, Hazare said he had decided to devote his whole life to serving society when he was just 26 and even refrained from marriage. I am able to pick up fights with the government as I lead an honest life, he said. Former chief of the army staff general V K Singh who was accompanying Anna asked the people whether they have the enthusiasm to bring changes in country’s system. Earlier, Hazare visited the Mahakal temple and offered puja.

COVER STORY

nti-graft crusader and veteran social worker Anna Hazare on Wednesday JULY 19, 2013 said that there is no evidence of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi being communal. However, he said that he cannot support the BJP leader because he is associated with a political party. Addressing media persons, here on Wednesday, he said, “The purpose of his ‘Jantantra yatra’ is to bring back democracy in its true spirit and force the government to introduce the Lokpal Bill”. Referring to the large number of scams involving the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, he said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has no right to continue in his post, and he should resign on moral grounds. “When the multi-crore coal scam took place, he (PM) was also holding the additional charge of the coal ministry,” said Hazare. Castigating the political parties, he said the Parliament is full of “corrupt people and criminals”. He said Prime Minister should

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1 June 2014

Pakistan PM Mr Nawaz Sharif catches a glimpse of ZEE group's upcoming channel 'Zindagi'

Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra with Pakistan’s prime minister Nawaz Sharif during their meeting in New Delhi

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s Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, the world's leading television network with 700-plus million viewers in 170 countries, prepares to launch its latest channel 'Zindagi' next month, primarily with content from Pakistan, Dr Subhash Chandra, Chairman, ZEEL & ESSEL Group, met with the visiting Pak prime minister Mr Nawaz Sharif, in New Delhi, and showcased a glimpse of the channel to Mr Shariff. This was a true 'Jodey Dilon Ko' moment, which is also the channel proposition. The launch of Zindagi is significant in many ways as it is not just an entertainment channel but a philosophy that will help Indians empathise with the lives of those across the geographical borders. Zindagi reinforces the vision of ZEE's corporate philosophy 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam The World Is My Family' and aims to unite people in India and across the world with shows produced overseas. Entertainment is seamless as it cuts across boundaries and acrossstratas of society. With the message of 'Jodey Dilon Ko', Zindagi will touch hearts and break barriers to relate with people living across borders. As the

first-ever national launch for a Hindi language channel, the objective is to continue to deliver and spread strong human values through hand-picked content across the world. Starting June 23, Zindagi will bring viewers in India stories from across the border, starting with stories from Pakistan that embrace universal emotions. A variety of shows, written by award-winning novelists, literary stalwarts and adapted from famous novels and books, will engage audiences as a fresh alternative on television. Zindagi is a first in its category of Hindi GECs and another first that ZEE is trying to bring to its viewers. It will offer alternative fiction content suitable for Indian sensibilities and produced by global content creators. The mutual respect that audiences share for the culture and talent from across the borders will surely go a long way to build a new model of entertainment, inspiring generations to come. Being launched on June 23, Zindagi will be available 24 hours on both Analog and Digital (DTH and digital cable) platforms in India.


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1 June 2014

T Th erro ere ris Eve m I r B n In e A dia nE :W nd ill To It?

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constantly waging a proxy war by protecting, abetting and training terrorists. In 2008, Ajmal Kasab along with his nine associates carried out the barbaric Mumbai terror attacks - a clear proof of Pakistan’s hand in destroying our nation`s peace. In the last decade alone, the death toll due to terror has been humongous. India’s markets, hotels, hospitals, business centres, railway stations have all been targeted time and again. The other threat is from the terrorists, who are spreading fear from inside the country. Terror outfits, movements and individuals have been using the pseudo-religious garb to make people of different religions and communities fight among themselves. But, probably the biggest threat internally to India is from the Naxals. The presence of this extremist group today has spread to almost every state in India - with Odisha, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Andhra, and Chhattisgarh leading the pack. To fight against these armed uprisings and terrorism, some key points need focus: Political issues: In states like Assam and Tripura, terrorism has been a problem for a long time now. Political factors, like failure of Government to control large scale illegal immigration from Bangladesh and demand for economic benefits have forced people to take up arms. Economic issues: Economic factors such as absence of land reforms, rural unemployment, exploitation of the landless labourers by the land-owners etc. put people in vulnerable positions. These economic grievances and gross social injustice have given rise to ideological terrorist groups such as various Marxist or Maoist groups operating under different names in large parts of India. Ethnic issues: Lot of blood has been shed in the name of ethnic cleansing in every part of the country like the Bodoland issue. Religious issues: Terrorism in the name of religion is one of the oldest ways to spread fear. Previously in Punjab, some Sikh elements belonging to different organisations took to terrorism to demand

the creation of an independent state for the Sikhs called Khalistan. In J&K, people are constantly being polarised in the name of religion and a huge terror network is being run for decades now. It is high time that terrorism should be brought down with an iron fist. The government’s approach should be of zero-tolerance towards terrorism. It is also important to talk tough with Pakistan - who is been feigning ignorance - about stopping all kinds of terror acts across the border. If they don’t, India should suspend all kinds of relations and peace talks. It is important to understand that peace talks cannot happen under the shadow of guns. It is time to stop being resilient and to fight back the evil of terrorism. The image of a country’s stability is the biggest casualty of terrorism, especially for a rapidly growing economy like India. The most lethal blow that terrorist activities can deliver is that it can cripple the image of a nation on the international platform. Even after losing two Prime Ministers to brutal assassinations, the outgoing UPA government learnt no lessons. Terror attacks in places like Delhi, Pune, Varanasi, Gaya, Mumbai etc. have rocked the nation in past few years. Some of the biggest terror attacks have occurred in the last decade, with Mumbai being targeted several times. All eyes are now on the Narendra Modi-led BJP government. Expectations are running high that the new government will tackle the issue of terrorism firmly. Pakistan seems optimistic about its future relationship with India as the BJP`s manifesto was focused on economy and sought good ties with its neighbours. Modi made it clear that terror and dialogue cannot go hand-in-hand. While there are expectations that the new PM would continue India`s broad engagement with Pakistan, he would also respond firmly if any cross-border terror attack is orchestrated or ceasefire along

the Line of Control (LoC) is violated.

MISFORTUNE

wenty three years ago on May 21, 1991, Rajiv Gandhi, the sixth prime minister of India, was assassinated while campaigning for Margatham Chandrasekar, the Congress candidate from Sriperembudur, near Chennai in Tamil Nadu. The then Congress president was campaigning for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections that he fought with the AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa as an ally in the state. The mind behind this heinous act was - battle scarred Tamil Tigers’ leader, Vellupillai Prabhakaran - who emerged from Sri Lanka in early 90s. The LTTE chief was looking for revenge since the Indian Army waged a war along with the Sri Lankan government against the Tamil Tigers. During the war, the terror outfit lost hundreds of cadres and even Prabhakaran himself, came very close to being killed. At a time, when Rajiv Gandhi was out of power, the Tiger chief decided to draw a plan to assassinate him. A huge plot was hatched which was assigned to Sivarasan, who identified three women suicide bombers to carry out the plan. Amongst them, Dhanu was chosen as the main suicide bomber. When Rajiv Gandhi finally reached Sriperumbudur to campaign for his party, LTTE was ready to strike. Dhanu garlanded Rajiv on the pretext of wishing him, then touched his feet and detonated the bomb. Seventeen people including the country’s youngest PM were dead. The politician who, everyone thought would change India, was no more. It was perhaps one of the most chilling and meticulously planned assassinations in India. In the memory of the late Prime Minister, the central government started observing May 21, as Anti-Terrorism Day since 1992. On this day, the employees in government offices, public sector undertakings and other public institutions in the country take a pledge to oppose all forms of terrorism and violence. Post-Independence, India has been waging a double-edged war against the terror outfits. On the one hand, are those from the neighbourhood country, which has been


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1 June 2014

“In The Month of Muharram in 1417 H, Usamah Arrived in The Land of Kandahar” Teachings From The Kandahar Mosque

Source: Ashabu Raayati Suud

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fter the “Asr” evening prayer, one of the Mulla’s who had routinely taught at the Jami’ Masjid in Kandahar sat down with his back leaning on the wall at one of the corners of the masjid. Then, dozens of youths were seen racing towards him and they all sat down around him. After seeing all his students sat down with discipline, the Mulla began to speak while showing a book that he had brought: "I am bringing the “History Of Kandahar” book, and today we are going to read the story of a Mujahid named Usamah." Then, he passed the book to one of his students who sat nearest to him while asking the student to read the book and let his voice be heard by all of the fellow students. The man accepted the book politely and enthusiastically. He looked very pleased receiving the task from the Mulla. Then, he began to open the index of the book and chose the title written as “The Story Of Usamah bin Ladin’s Arrival to Afghanistan And His Struggle Along With Amirul Mu’mineen Mulla Muhammad Umar Mujahid”.Then he began reading the Basmallah and praised Allah SWT. And he continued by reading the book audibly: “In the month of Muharram in 1417 H, Usamah arrived in the land of Kandahar. His arrival was instigated by his eviction from his people due to his firmness in refusing to join in worshipping an idol named America. He resolved to fight America but he did not receive a good response from his people except for just a few of them, and also a few others hailing from other countries who were willing to join him… but they were all strangers and weak, they did not have any power to defend themselves. Then, Usamah approached the leaders of every Arab tribe, asking them to help him and give him assurance for a secure living place, for him and his followers to prepare themselves in fighting the idol named America. One day, he heard that an Islamic Shari’ah law was going to be implemented in Sudan. Therefore, he sent an envoy to meet the “King” in order to get assurance for secure living place for him and his followers. Mr. King said, “Our door is always open and our land belongs to anyone... please come as an

honored guest... bury your wealth here and if you please, join us in our Jihad (fighting the rebels of Sudan led by John Garang).” Usamah was very happy hearing the response and soon he made preparations to do “hijrah” to Sudan. Then, he lived there and established various Mu’askar (camps) and trained the Mujahideen along with the fighters of Mr. King, and they were happy there for a moment while building up the country... roads were repaired, markets were renovated, and the country became more prosperous. One day, the idol: America, barked out at Mr. King and said, “Expel them from your country”. Mr. King answered... "Yes Sir! Your royal command we do esteemed highly, for the sake of seeking your pleasure". Mr. King went back to Usamah and said to him: “Get out of our country...!!!” Usamah replied, “Didn’t we tie an agreement to do Jihad together?” Mr. King replied, “Yes... but it’s Jihad against John Garang and not America.” Usamah answered, “I have been intending to destroy it and its allies for a long time”. Mr. King replied, “We do not have the strength... please get out of our country.” The Mulla indicated to his student, who was so absorbed in his reading, to stop for a while because he wanted to give a little explanation, the Mulla said: “In the case of Usamah, Sudan was obviously more scared of America than Allah SWT, and at that time Sudan was in a confusion for a while as it had to let go of Usamah’s wealth which had been deposited so much for the commerce of the country, but the fear of the King of Sudan towards America was apparently bigger than the concern for his citizens itself, to the extent that Mr. King chose to expel Usamah for the sake of Mr. Idol’s pleasure, even though America was still not pleased with the King of Sudan as Mr. King refused to step down and be replaced by John Garang.” Then, the Mulla said, “Now... continue your reading, son!” The youth who was immersed in the explanation by the Mulla was startled and he quickly tried to find the last line that he had read... then, he continued his reading, “Usamah had to find the people who would be willing to assure and help him in destroying Mr. Idol. Then, he heard that the Islamic Sha’riah law was again implemented in Kandahar by a community who called themselves the Taliban. They were led by a courageous man named Mulla Muhammad Umar Mujahid who was entitled as an Amir.

At Jindo harbour, relatives of the missing watched Mr Chung make his speech

Then, Usamah sent an envoy to him. The Amir of the Taliban said: “Let’s pick up weapons... and fight the rebels and the thieves in our countries” Usamah replied: “Our aim is to destroy Mr. Idol” The Amir answered: “Allahu Akbar... destroying idols is our hobby” Usamah said: “Not merely a hobby... but for the sake of Jihad Fie Sabilillah” The Amir replied: “We are of course the men of Jihad and we were the children who were born along with the whistles of the bullets. The war is like a mother that suckled and fed us” Usamah said: “Would you be willing to accompany me in fighting the Crusader forces?” The Amir replied: “Fight and make peace with whomever you want, communicate with whomever you wish, take as many as you want from our properties, we will certainly be patient in the fight and we will be bold to move forward, even if you invite us to wade the oceans and cross the continents to fight Mr. Idol, of a surety we will bear it together with you” Usamah said: “But you will all be shot with arrows by the entire Arab people and the Romans from the same bow” The Amir replied: “Have faith, all those would never happen except if the Creator allows it to happen” Usamah said: “But Mr. Idol will come and pay the various tribes to finish you off” The Amir answered: “Allah is our protector… whereas they do not have any protector” Usamah was still not confident, and thus he said: “Do you know that Mr. Idol possesses a huge fighting force and a very sharp sword? They will come and invade your country” The Amir answered: “Yes, we know, but we would not speak the words spoken by the people of Moses AS to their Prophet, "Go thou, and thy Lord, and fight ye two, while we sit here (and watch)." Indeed, O Usamah we will shield you from the right and left, from the front and your behind, with the hope that Allah may show to you what makes your heart happy, indeed this country has never been invaded by any army, they will surely run away helter skelter… except for the forces of Qutaibah” Usamah said: “Mankind would never have anything to do with you and all the populations of the world will forsake you” The Amir said: “Enough for us is the existence of Allah, and if He wills, He would unite


Focus On Globe us with the dwellers of Firdaus in Heaven” Usamah said: “They would boycott you and let you starve” The Amir replied: “Indeed Allah is the Best Sustainer and the Possessor of the Ultimate Power” Usamah said: “They would only want to capture me” The Amir said: “Calm down… they would never touch you as long as our eyes are still awake” Usamah said: “Would you all protect me as you protect your children and wives?” The Amir replied: “Yes, by Allah, in fact we would let them out from our houses so that you could live in our houses. Blood should be paid by blood, the same goes with destructions. Hit the idol and don’t forget to utter the Basmallah,

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hit it…!!! We would sacrifice our children and mothers, hit and take shelter behind us, let our necks be strangled as long as your neck is safe. Continue your beatings, may the Rabbul Jabbar be with us” Suddenly, the youth stopped reading as he heard the sobs from the Mulla. He was surprised to see the Mulla covering his face with the turban and his body was shaken as he withheld himself from sobbing while continually shouting the takbeer, all of the youths were silent without a word. The Mulla started to wipe his eyes which had been filled with tears, and then said, “I have read a lot of history books, but I have never come across a people who are more truthful than them when helping someone in the time of need, except for the people of Aus and Khazraj, the Ansar

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in Gulozai village on the edge of the frontier city of Peshawar. "Salma was fast asleep next to me when the men came in, beat me and tied me and the children up," said her husband, Mohammad Karim Khan. "It took us an hour to free ourselves and then we saw that Salma had disappeared." Ihsan Shah, the police inspector responsible for the neighbourhood, said it was premature to speculate about the possible motives of the attackers. But Tariq Khan, an uncle of the dead woman, said he was convinced she was targeted for her work. "We have no enmity with anyone, but she had been taking part in the polio vaccination campaign for several years," he said. "The government only provide security during the vaccination work because they are being paid millions of dollars by the international community." The day before her violent abduction, Farooqi took part in a polio campaign, part of a massive effort by the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to stamp out the crippling dis-

NEIGHBORHOOD

he unusual night-time kidnapping and brutal murder of a female poliovaccinator in the troubled Pakistani city of Peshawar has heightened fears among health workers struggling to stamp out the virus in the face of violent opposition from militant groups. The body of Salma Farooqi, a 30-year-old who had been involved for years in Peshawar's battle against polio, was recovered from a field 4km (2.5 miles) from her home on Monday, a day after armed men stormed her house, tied up family members and took her away. Police said the mother of five had been tortured and repeatedly shot. Attacks on vaccination teams, many of whom are drawn from the country's 100,000 strong army of "Lady Health Workers", are common, with more than 30 killed in the last two years. But attacks at their homes are almost unheard of. Family members said armed men entered the house at about 1am on Sunday morning, after some of them climbed over the boundary wall of the building

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Pakistan Polio Vaccinator's Murder by Militants Raises Health Workers' Fears

A Pakistani health worker marks the finger of an Afghan refugee child after giving her a polio vaccine.

who helped Rasulullah SAW. "Look at their graves by the hillside in the mountains of Tora Bora, Shahikot, Kandahar and Kabul… as testimonies that they were indeed brave people… I have heard that the Crusader forces had managed to capture one of them… then he was offered so that he would tell the whereabouts of Usamah who was in hiding… with the reward that he would be freed and given huge sums of money… but he answered, “By Allah, if Usamah is hiding under my foot, I would never lift it up to show him to you”". Then, the Mulla began to sob again… and this time it was getting louder… apparently the Mulla could not continue his teaching session again… he got up to leave the circles as he kept on crying….


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1 June 2014

A child held by his brother receives a polio vaccine from a Pakistani health worker on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan.

NEIGHBORHOOD

ease. Peshawar was recently named by the World Health Organisation as the "largest reservoir of endemic polio virus in the world". Each weekend for three months up to 8,000 vaccinators are attempting to give oral polio drops to almost every child aged under five in the city. As in other parts of the country, the threat of attacks by militants has forced health workers to be accompanied by armed police as they go door-to-door looking for children to inoculate against a disease that has been eradicated in almost every other country in the world. Militants are deeply suspicious of the vaccinations,

which have been demonised by radical clerics as supposedly part of a western plot to sterilise Muslim children. They also fear the campaigns could be used as a cover for spies. In 2012, Taliban commanders in Waziristan, a tribal area bordering Afghanistan, banned polio teams until US drone strikes came to an end. Mohammad Tahir, a national spokesman for the country's Lady Health Workers, said a committee had been launched to investigate whether Farooqi had been killed because of her work. "The killing has created an even greater sense of fear," said Tahir. "We have to have better security."

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Africa

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Bring Back Our Girls

The United Nations, Community of Nations, and elected officials must ACT

How Colonialism Benefits from Boko Haram’s Mass Kidnapping of Girls

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den outcry about the kidnapped Nigerian girls throughout western governments? Why the sudden headlines in western corporate media? In October 2012, the Irish analyst Finian Cunningham pointed out Boko Haram’s role as an instrument of western modo-colonialism, writing: On the surface, a militant group known as Boko Haram appears to be the protagonist. But some believe that powerful Western interests are using the violence to consolidate foreign control over Nigeria’s vast oil wealth. Cunningham stressed that some Nigerian analysts believe that the organization is being used by powerful external forces as a conduit for destabilizing Nigeria. A “believe” which since then has been substantiated. He quoted political analyst Olufemi Ijebuode saying: “The upshot of this latest massacre is to destabilize the state of Nigeria by sowing sectarian divisions among the population. The killers may have been Boko Haram operatives, but Boko Haram is a proxy organization working on behalf of foreign powers.” Note, that the rapid growth of the Nigerian economy and the country’s oil export coincides with the increased incidence of terrorist attacks and the increased presence of US AFRICOM troops.

Family of slaves in modern Mauritania.

Core NATO Members Engineered Conflict Drives Slave and Trafficking Business.

Core NATO Members Engineered Conflict Drives Slave and Trafficking Business. This prompts the questions, why the sud-

Family of slaves in modern Mauritania. Cultural Factors Play a Minuscule Role. A relatively small part of African slavery and human trafficking problems are related to cultural factors. Mauritania is one of the countries where slavery is a remainder of the age-old Arab

slave trade and the colonization of the Maghreb by Arabs. Slavery was banned in Mauritania in 1980. The remaining problems in Mauritania, as tragic as they are, are minuscule in comparison with the conflict related slavery and trafficking. Moreover, most slaves in Mauritania are living within family units, which is in stark contrast to the destiny of the vast majority of those who are enslaved or trafficked in connection with conflicts.

Laurent Gbagbo – An African leader with Visions of Independence

Slave Trade in Africa and Middle East worth 1.6 Billion Annually. In an article about slavery in Africa, Emma Christopher stressed that the NGO Free the Slaves estimates that 1.6 billion dollar in profit derives from African and Middle Eastern slavery per year. Christopher adds, that his amount is greater than the combined GDP of eight African countries in 2013. Christopher stressed that Around 40% of the world’s chocolate comes from cocoa produced in the Ivory Coast and that children from across West Africa are trafficked to work there: there is no guarantee that those children have not grown the chocolate you enjoy. What Christopher doesn’t address in her article is that core NATO member France engineered the 2010 coup d’état against Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo who was about to end the French usurpation of the country and with it the usurpation of the other UMEOA member states. Neither the conflict in Ivory Coast and the continuation of the slavery in and around the country can be understood without un-

WORLD @ GLANCE

he mass kidnapping of Nigerian schoolgirls by Boko Haram is only the tip of on iceberg of slavery in Africa. Slavery and trafficking is more often than not tied to conflicts in which core NATO member states and terrorist organizations with ties to their intelligence services play central roles. Ultimately, conflict, slavery and trafficking, as well as prostitution are tied to issues about sovereignty. Boko Haram began its insurgency five years ago. Experts stress that Boko Haram is covertly funded and armed by intelligence services of core NATO member states. The function of the covert support for Boko Haram is the destabilization of a country to justify a NATO military presence. One of the most recent incidents that supports this assessment comes from a clandestine recording of a phone conversation between Mustafa Varank, who has close ties to Tukey’s AKP government and Turkey’s intelligence service MIT and a Turkish Airlines official, in which the two are discussing details about arms smuggling to Nigeria. Emma Christopher, an expert on slavery and human trafficking, stressed that tens of thousands of people are bought and sold in Nigeria every year. The majority of them are children. Christopher is referring to the International Labour Organization which estimated that in 2003, as many as six million Nigerian children had been trafficked at some time in their lives.

By: Christof Lehmann (NSNBC)


34

derstanding the system of usurpation France installed in its former colonies and UMEOA member states.

WORLD @ GLANCE

The system was described in great detail, in the article “French Africa Policy Damages African and European Economies”. The problem can be reduced to the following: • France has installed commissars in the UMEOA region’s three central banks. The commissars have veto right and can, in fact, block any financial, monetary or economic decisions. • France is printing the regions money, the Franc CFA in Chemaliers, France. • UMEOA member states “must” deposit 65 % of their foreign currency reserves in the French National Bank against 0 (ZERO) % interest. • France earns about 3 % interest on the deposits and “lends” the profit back to individual UMEOA member states against 5 – 6 % or more as “development aid”. • UMEOA member states “must” deposit “all” of their gold reserves in France. No audit has taken place for decades. • Any head of state who wants to get his country out of the French racket is faced with the prospect of assassination, imprisonment or a coup d’état. Laurent Gbagbo has since 2010 been held in a prison of the International Criminal Court.

Christopher also, correctly points out that seven types of slavery are prevalent in eastern Congo. Men and boys are enslaved in the mines of the region, whose products we all have in our mobile phones and other electronics. A covert investigation in 2013 by Free the Slaves found that more than 90% of mine-workers were enslaved, the majority through debt bondage or having been kidnapped by armed groups. Nearby, they found women and girls who had been trafficked to work as prostitutes to serve the miners. (emphasis added) The Sudanese parliament reported in 2008 that at least 35.000 people remained enslaved, the majority of them being Christians from the South held by Islamic families in the North. The problem has received little international attention, although it has been noticed when US and Qatari intelligence services began targeting the country for civil war and its separation into Sudan and South Sudan. That development came when depletion of oil resources made the exploration of Sudanese resources attractive.

Focus On Globe

1 June 2014

NATO Engineered Conflict and Sex Slavery. October 2013 the Tunisian Interior Minister Lofti Ben Jeddou complained that Tunisian girls were being trafficked trough Turkey. Young Tunisian girls are being lured into traps or simply kidnapped and trafficked to Syria via Turkey. Ben Joddou announced to Tunisia’s National Assembly, that Tunisian girls are forced to satisfy the sexual needs of terrorists in Syria under the euphemism sexual jihad. Ben Jeddou stressed, that Turkey has become a bridgehead for sex jihad and declared that the trafficked Tunisian girls are forced into having sex with 20 – 30, in some cases 100 of the “holy warrirors”. Ben Jeddou stressed, that most of them return pregnant.

Besides the psychological trauma the young Tunisian girls suffer, the large number of children which will be born due to the forced sexual service will create a sociological time bomb in Tunisia. Another problem, which remains largely unaddressed, is that many of the girls who return, have been infected with sexually transmittable diseases, including HIV. Yet others again never return because life has become a chap commodity since the country was targeted for holy war. It is worth noting that these holy warriors, for the greatest part, are US-UK-TurkishSaudi Arabia and Qatar-funded mercenaries who are fighting a war on behalf of core NATO member states, CGG member states and Israel. For those who have not noticed the fact yet, a statement of the former French Foreign Minister, Roland Dumas is a good starting point to understand the situation in Syria. During an appearance on the French TV channel LPC, Dumas made a short remark, saying that top British officials were preparing the subversion of Syria with the help of “rebels” two years before the first protests in 2011, and that he was asked, whether he wanted to participate. During the TV appearance on LPC, in June, Dumas said:

Kidnapped Tunisian girls trafficked through Turkey to work as sex slaves for terrorists.

“I am going to tell you something. I was in England two years before the violence in Syria on other business. I met with top British officials, who confessed to me, that they were preparing something in Syria. … This was in Britain not in America. Britain was organizing an invasion of rebels into Syria. They even asked me, although I was no longer Minister of Foreign Affairs, if I would like to participate. Naturally, I refused, I said I am French, that does not interest me … This does not make sense, it is time to fix all this again. … there are some sides who have the desire to destroy Arab states, like what happened to Iraq and Libya before, particularly given Syr-

ia´s special relations with Russia. … that if an agreement is not reached, then Israel will attack and destroy the governments that stand against Israel”.

During an appearance on the French TV channel LPC

Kidnapping of girls and trafficking of girls to Syria has also been reported from Mali, invaded by France and NATO members in 2013 as well as from Egypt and Libya invaded by NATO and NATO-led Al-Qaeda “rebels” in 2011. Since 2014 the kidnapping of girls has begun spreading into Europe, with the “disappearance” of two Austrian – Bosnian girls being the best known incident. Conditions. One of the greatest Arab importers of migrant workers who are working under slavery-like conditions, is Qatar. About 88 % of all workers in Qatar are migrant workers. Many of them are kept in appalling conditions. Violence and abuse, including sexual abuse is rampant. Many female migrant workers are literally being held as sex slaves. Similar conditions can be found in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain. An Entirely Different Problem – Trafficking for the Western Sex Industry. Trafficked African sex workers can be found in as good as every red-light district in every European capital as well as in most larger provincial cities. African girls are also being trafficked to Asia.

nQ

si ker wor t n gra

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Mi

Many of the girls are lured into traps with promises about a cleaning job, au-pair jobs and other. Once they arrive, the standard procedure is that their passports are taken away and that they are “broken in”. In an interview with several trafficked African prostitutes in a provincial town in Denmark, one of the girls told the author that she was hospitalized with severe blood loss after having been forced to service numerous “clients” one day. Asked how she managed at the hospital she reported that a health insurance card was “lent” to her by her pimp. When she was asked why she didn’t use the occasion to escape, she said that she was scared. Her pimp knows who her family is, and they will kill someone if I run away, she said. The standard price for these trafficked African girls in Denmark is between 170 and 200 dollars per hour. A trafficked girl can expect to earn about 20 to 30 of the 200 dollars. From that income, they are often forced to pay 50 – 100 dollars per day for accommodation and other “services”. Trafficked African girls in similar situations can be found in their thousands across Europe. The vast majority of them are from the former French colonies, now UMEOA


Focus On Globe A Question of Sovereignty. Ultimately, what one is dealing with is a question of sovereignty. That is, national sovereignty as well as individual sovereignty. The girls kidnapped by Boko Haram have been deprived of their sovereignty over themselves and their own bodies. Boko Haram is used by core NATO member states to deprive Nigeria of its sovereignty by subverting the country, to place AFRICOM troops, to “secure” the country’s resources for the USA and its western allies. The slave or migrant workers in Ivory Coast and its cocoa plantations have been deprived of sovereignty over themselves and their bodies. They have been reduced to an instrument for a modo-colonialist system of usurpation. Ivory Coast and the other 14 UMEOA member states don’t have any sovereignty. France can and does dictate their fiscal, monetary and economic policies and changes regimes which threaten to break free from the racket. The trafficked girl in the Danish provincial city does not have sovereignty over herself or her body. The thousands of girls in similar situations in Europe have been deprived of their sovereignty. Double Moral in Western Prostitution Laws – The Ultimate Betrayal. Nobody should live in slavery or work under slavery-like conditions. Nobody, neither woman

1 June 2014

or man should be kidnapped, trafficked or otherwise forced into prostitution. That said, some women and men alike are making the conscious decision to escape sweatshops in the Maghreb, cocoa plantations in Ivory Coast, gold mines in Congo, uranium mines in Mali, or minimum wage, zero hour contract jobs at a McDonald in London.. etc..

Brothel raiders. West Midlands Police

Some people make the sovereign decision to say unequivocally “no” to working as industrial slaves in a rigged game. Some of these people recognize that all that the system

in which they are entrapped leaves them with is sovereignty over themselves, their own body and their entrepreneurial spirit. Some of these people make a sovereign decision to sell sexual services under conditions which they themselves determine and agree to. People who empower themselves by providing sexual services to paying clients. Some of them travel from Africa or Asia to Europe to work and provide for their family and to save money to build a life when they return. If there was a political will to crack down on trafficking there would be very few trafficked women in western countries. Instead, we see increasingly restrictive prostitution laws which target those who are working as free entrepreneurs as well as their clients. Restrictive prostitution laws which prevent these people from empowering themselves with the only resource this system, in many cases, has left them with. These laws drive them into the hands of exactly those criminals who will abuse them - this is, the ultimate betrayal of their sovereignty – this is, the ultimate enslavement that denies even, that one uses one’s own body as a sovereign. So why all that sudden interest about those girls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram, which is clandestinely financed, fueled and instrumentalized by modo-colonialist powers?

35

By Fahar Baba Legal Correspondent (FoG)

Prostate Cancer May Be Sexually Transmitted P

LIFESTYLE FACTORS

rostate cancer could be a sexually transmitted disease caused by a common infection passed on during intercourse, scientists are claiming. Research by the University of California found a sex infection called trichomoniasis supported cancer growth when a team of scientists tested human prostate cells in a laboratory. Trichomoniasis is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection and is understood to have infected an estimated 275 million people around the world. Infected men can experience pain during urination and thin white discharge from the penis. In women, the infection may trigger soreness and itching around the vagina and a change in discharge, although half of all men and women show no symptoms at all. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), discusses how the STI could make men more vulnerable to cancer. However, Cancer Research UK has said it is too early to add prostate cancer to a list of other cancers caused by infections. This research follows a study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health in 2009, which found a quarter of men with prostate cancer showed signs of trichomoniasis and were more likely to have advanced tumors. A team led by professor Patricia Johnson found the parasite responsible for causing trichomoniasis, Trichomonas vaginalis, produces a protein that in turn promotes the growth and progression of benign and cancerous prostate cells. The authors say more research should look into developing their findings as the cause of prostate cancer remains unknown and their study is not a definitive link between the STI and cancer of the prostate. Nicola Smith, health information officer at Cancer Research UK, told the BBC: "This study suggests a possible way the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis could encourage prostate cancer cells to grow and develop more quickly. But the research was only done in the lab, and previous evidence in patients failed to show a clear link between prostate cancer and this common sexually transmitted infection. There are still no known lifestyle factors that seem to affect the risk of developing the disease - and no convincing evidence for a link with ."


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g in n m a o d c a l e m W Ra

A

RAMADAN SPECIAL

lmighty Allah says: "The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number of other days. Allah desireth for you ease; He desireth not hardship for you; and (He desireth) that ye should complete the period, and that ye should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that peradventure ye may be thankful" (Al-Baqarah 2: 185)

This blessed month is a great opportunity for goodness, blessing, worship, and obedience of Allah. It is a great month, a noble season, a month in which rewards for good deeds are multiplied and in which committing bad deeds is more serious than at other times. The gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are shut, and the sinners’ repentance to Allah is accepted. It is a month whose beginning is mercy, whose middle is forgiveness, and whose end is redemption from the Fire. So give thanks to Him for the season of goodness and blessing that He has bestowed upon you, and for the means of bounty and various kinds of great blessings for which He has singled you out. Make the most of this blessed time by filling it with acts of worship and leaving haram (unlawful) things so that you may attain a good life in this world and happiness after death. For the sincere believer, every month is an occasion for worship, and his whole life is spent in obeying Allah. But in the month of Ramadan he has even more motives to do good, his heart is even more focused on

worship, and he turns even more to his Lord. By His grace, our generous Lord bestows His bounty upon the fasting believers and multiplies the reward for them on this blessed occasion, so He gives abundantly and rewards generously for righteous deeds. Time passes quickly Days pass so quickly, as if they were mere moments. We welcomed last Ramadan, then we bade it farewell, and only a short period of time passed and we are welcoming Ramadan again. So we should hasten to do good deeds in this month and strive to fill it with what Allah is pleased with and with what will help us on the Day when we meet Him. How can we prepare for Ramadan? We can prepare for Ramadan by taking stock of ourselves and recognizing our shortcomings in living up to the Two Shahadahs (Testimonies of Faith, i.e., there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah), or our shortcomings in fulfilling our duties, or in not keeping away from the desires and doubts that we may have fallen into. We should set ourselves straight so that in Ramadan we will have a higher degree of faith. For faith increases and decreases. It increases through obedience to Allah and it decreases through disobedience and sin. The first act of obedience that a person should achieve is that of being a true slave of Allah and believing that there is none that is rightfully worshiped except Allah, so he directs all kinds of worship to Allah and does not associate anyone else in worship with Him. Each of us should realize that whatever has befallen him could not have missed him, and whatever missed him could not have befallen him, and that everything happens by the will and decree of Allah. We should avoid everything that could undermine our commitment to the Two Shahadahs. This means keeping away from bid`ah (innovations) and things that have been introduced into the religion. We should also follow the principle of al-wala’ wal-bara’ (loyalty and friendship vs. disavowal and enmity), by taking the believers as our friends and by regarding the unbelievers and hypocrites as enemies, and we should rejoice when the Muslims gain a victory over their enemies. We should follow the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions and adhere to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the way of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs who came after him. We should love the Sunnah and love those who adhere to it and defend it, in whatever country they are and whatever color or nationality they are. After that, we should take stock of ourselves and recognize our shortcomings in do-

ing acts of worship such as praying in congregation; remembering Allah (dhikr); paying attention to the rights of neighbors, relatives, and the Muslims; spreading the greeting of salam; enjoining good and forbidding evil; urging one another to follow the truth and be patient and steadfast in doing so; being patient in avoiding evil actions and in doing good deeds; and accepting the decree of Allah with patience. Then we should take stock of ourselves, our sins, and our following whims and desires. We should stop ourselves from persisting in that, whether the sin is great or small, whether it is a sin of the eye, by looking at that which Allah has forbidden; or by walking to things that Allah does not approve of; or by using one's hands to strike in a manner that Allah is not pleased with; or by consuming things that Allah has forbidden such as riba (interest) and bribes, or any other means of consuming people’s wealth unlawfully. We should never forget that Allah stretches forth His hand during the day to accept the repentance of those who sinned at night, and He stretches forth His hand at night to accept the repentance of those who sinned during

the day. Almighty Allah says: (And vie one with another for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who ward off (evil); those who spend (of that which Allah hath given them) in ease and in adversity, those who control their wrath and are forgiving toward mankind; Allah loveth the good; and those who, when they do an evil thing or wrong themselves, remember Allah and implore forgiveness for their sins — Who forgiveth sins save Allah only? — and will not knowingly repeat (the wrong) they did. The reward of such will be forgiveness from their Lord, and Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide for ever, a bountiful reward for workers!) (Aal `Imran 3: 133-136)


Focus On Globe

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1 June 2014

Historical Jamia Masjid Srinagar Kashmir

is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, with all decrees. (That night is) Peace until the rising of the dawn.) (Al-Qadr 97: 1-5) So worship on this night is better than worshiping for a thousand months. 2. In this month was revealed the best of Books to the best of the Prophets (peace and blessings be upon them all). Almighty Allah says:

“In the month of Ramadan the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are shut. The devils are put in chains and a caller cries out each night, “O seeker of good, proceed! O seeker of evil, desist!” (The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong).) (Al-Baqarah 2: 185) (We sent it (this Qur’an) down on a blessed night [(i.e. the Night of Al?Qadr) in the month of Ramadan — the 9th month of the Islamic calendar]. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship]. Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments. As a Command (or this Qur’an or the Decree of every matter) from Us. Verily, We are ever sending (the Messengers).) (Ad-Dukhan 44: 3-5) Ahmad and At-Tabarani narrated in Al-Mu`jam Al-Kabir that Wathilah ibn AlAsqa` (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The Scriptures of Ibrahim were sent down on the first of the month of Ramadan. The Tawrah was sent down on the sixth of Ramadan. The Injeel was sent down on the thirteenth of Ramadan. The Zaboor was sent down on the eighteenth of Ramadan, and the Qur’an was sent down on the twenty-fourth of Ramadan.” (Reported by

Ahmad) 3. In this month the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are shut, and the devils are chained up. It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are put in chains.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) An-Nasa’i narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When Ramadan comes, the gates of mercy are opened and the gates of Hell are shut, and the devils are put in chains.” (Reported by An-Nasa’i) At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Ibn Khuzaymah narrated: “When the first night of the month of Ramadan comes, the devils and rebellious jinn are chained up and the gates of Hell are closed, and not one gate of it is opened. The gates of Paradise are opened and not one gate of it is closed. And a caller cries out: ‘O seeker of good, proceed! O seeker of evil, desist!’ And Allah has those whom He redeems from the Fire, and that happens every night.” Some may ask, why do we see many evil actions and sins committed in Ramadan, for if the devils are chained up that would not happen? The answer is that evil actions become less for those who observe the conditions and etiquette of fasting; or that the ones who are chained up are some of the devils – namely the rebellious ones – not all of them; or that what is meant is that evil is reduced in Ramadan, which is a proven fact. If evil happens at this time, it is still less than at other times. Even if all of the devils are chained up, that does not necessarily mean that no evil or sin will happen, because there are other causes of that besides the devils, such as evil souls, bad habits, and the devils among mankind. 4. There are many kinds of worship in Ramadan, such as fasting, praying Qiyam AlLayl (Night Vigil Prayer), feeding the poor, performing i`tikaf (religious retreat), giving charity, and reading the Qur’an. I ask Allah, the Exalted, the Almighty, to help us all to do that and to help us to fast and pray Qiyam Al-layl, and to do acts of worship and to avoid doing evil. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.

RAMADAN SPECIAL

(Say: My slaves who have been prodigal to their own hurt! Despair not of the mercy of Allah, Who forgiveth all sins. Lo! He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.) (Az-Zumar 39: 53) (Yet whoso doeth evil or wrongeth his own soul, then seeketh pardon of Allah, will find Allah Forgiving, Merciful.) (An-Nisa’ 4: 110) By taking stock, repenting and seeking forgiveness—this is how we should welcome Ramadan. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The smart man is the one who takes stock of himself and strives to do that which will benefit him after death, and the helpless one is the one who follows his own whims and desires and engages in wishful thinking, (assuming that Allah will forgive him regardless of what he does and that he does not need to strive to good deeds).” (Reported by Al-Bukhari) The month of Ramadan is the month of great gains and profits. The smart trader is the one who makes the most of special occasions to increase his profits. So make the most of this month by doing lots of acts of worship, praying a great deal, reading the Qur’an, forgiving people, being kind to others, and giving charity to the poor. In the month of Ramadan the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are shut. The devils are put in chains and a caller cries out each night, “O seeker of good, proceed! O seeker of evil, desist!” So, O slaves of Allah, be among the people of good, following the path of your righteous forebears who were guided by the Sunnah of your Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), so that we may end Ramadan with our sins forgiven and our righteous deeds accepted. We should note that the month of Ramadan is the best of months. Ibn Al-Qayyim said in Zad al-Ma`ad,: “Another of example of that [the differentiation between the things that Allah has created] is the fact that the month of Ramadan is superior to all other months, and the last ten nights are superior to the other nights.” This month is superior to others in four things: 1. In it there is the best night of the year, which is Laylat Al-Qadr. Almighty Allah says: (Lo! We revealed it on the Night of Power. Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Night of Power is! The Night of Power


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Focus On Globe

1 June 2014

By Saeeda Mir The writer is Payroll Administrator Dealer Track Collateral Management Services USA.

HEALTH

“Here are few benefits of Honey It will help you cold weather, body ache and cough.....Try it you will feel better”

Honey has one proven benefit: it stops the growth of bacteria. When used topically, it may help heal wounds and minor burns. It’s often reported to relieve sore throats and may treat swollen gums. Honey is sometimes touted for its ability to treat high cholesterol and high blood pressure, but its safety and effectiveness have not been proven to date, according to MayoClinic.com. As a treatment for coughs, it may work better than some, but not all, over-the-counter cough medications,according to a review published in March 2012 by the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Infants younger than 12 months should never consume honey because they’re vulnerable to infant botulism. NaturalNews) Hopeful newcomers to holistic health marvel at reports about honey and cinnamon as a miracle cure-all. On the other hand, alternative health skeptics scoff at the notion of cinnamon and honey as medicine, pointing out that the plethora of articles about the curative benefits of this food duo originated with a 1995 article in the tabloid newspaper Weekly World News. The truth is that cinnamon and honey have been used to promote health for centuries, but their efficacy depends largely on a lifestyle of energetic activity and whole foods.

Traditional Healing

Complaint In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), cinnamon is viewed as possessing heat or yang, and is thus used to cure ills stemming from excess yin or coldness. Honey, in this system, is viewed as a neutral substance, balanced between yin and yang. Ancient practitioners of India's healing tradition, Ayurveda (from the Sanskrit Ayur meaning life and Veda meaning knowledge), classified 8 different varieties of honey each with its own healing properties. Ayurvedic healers use cinnamon to help heal gum disease, erectile dysfunction, and many other conditions.

Health Benefits of Honey

Honey and Cinnamon Benefits

Folk wisdom still retains knowledge of the healing properties of both honey and cinnamon. Honey and cinnamon are still used as medicine in many situations, especially among people who, because of distance or income, have reduced access to mainstream health care. Honey possesses natural anti-bacterial properties. Honey poured on wounds or burns prevents infection and promotes healing. Regular consumption of honey and cinnamon together, when combined with an overall healthy diet and moderate activity level, can prevent heart disease by clearing clogged arteries. Drinking honey and cinnamon in lukewarm water results in them moving through the bladder and cleansing it, as well as clearing infections there. Drinking this beverage on a regular basis can also relieve, and in some cases entirely cure, arthritis pain. This drink also strengthens the immune system, helping ward off colds as well as some viruses. Applying a paste of honey and cinnamon to infected gums can ease pain and bleeding as well as slow the progression of the infection. When consumed together, honey and cinnamon can ease digestion, helping to prevent gas. Honey and cinnamon also provide energy, making people more mentally alert and ready for physical activity. The two biggest claims for honey and cinnamon are that they enhance the ability to lose weight, and they are effective against some forms of cancer. While these latter two claims are unproven, however nature does provide an amazing range of natural healing substances, most of which are untested by medical science. Relying exclusively on honey and cinnamon for either weight loss or eliminating cancer is not advisable.

How to Gain Maximum Benefits

Cinnamon and honey can boost your health, both separately and in combination. However, our modern dependence on the pharmaceutical industry has fooled us into believing that medicines should be able to provide a cure regardless of lifestyle. If you follow health news, it becomes obvious that the pharmaceutical industry's "magic bullet" drugs make one set of symptoms disappear, only to create a new set of symptoms. Disease results from imbalance, so finding health and balance again requires a recalibration of choices about how we live. A couch potato who follows up a dinner of fried chicken and potato chips with a dessert of cinnamon and honey will receive few health benefits. You are more likely to reap the full healing power when you include honey and cinnamon.


Focus On Globe

1 June 2014

FIFA World Cup 2014

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13 June, 2014

Brazil 3-1 Croatia Neymar- (29) Marcelo - (11' - OG) Neymar - (71') Oscar - (90') ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mexico Oribe Peralta - (61')

1-0

Spain Xabi Alonso - (27')

Cameroon

14 June, 2014

Netherlands Robin Van Persie - (44') Arjen Robben - (53') Stefan De Vrij - (65') Robin Van Persie - (72') Arjen Robben - (80') -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chile Australia Alexis Sánchez - (12') Tim Cahill - (35') Jorge Valdivia - (14') 3–1 Jean Beausejour - (90') 1–5

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Colombia Pablo Armero - (5') Teófilo Gutiérrez - (58') James Rodríguez - (90')

3–0

Greece

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15 June, 2014

Uruguay Edinson Cavani - (24')

1–3

Costa Rica Joel Campbell - (54') Óscar Duarte - (57') Marco Urena - (84')

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------England Daniel Sturridge - (37')

1-2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ivory Coast Wilfried Bony - (64') 2-1 Gervinho - (66')

Italy Claudio Marchisio - (35') Mario Balotelli - (50') Japan Keisuke Honda - (16')

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Argentina Sead Kolasinac - (3' - OG) Lionel Messi - (65') Germany Thomas Müller - (12') Mats Hummels - (32') Thomas Müller - (45') Thomas Müller - (78')

2-1

Bosnia-Herzegovina Vedad Ibisevic - (85') Portugal

4-0

SPORTS

Switzerland Ecuador Admir Mehmedi - (48') 2-1 Enner Valencia - (22') Haris Seferovic - (90') -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------16 June, 2014 France Honduras Karim Benzema - (45') Noel Valladares - (48' - OG) 3-0 Karim Benzema - (72') ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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Focus On Globe

1 June 2014

17 June, 2014

Iran

0-0

Nigeria

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Ghana André Ayew - (82')

1-2

Belgium Sofiane Feghouli - (25')

2-1

United States Clint Dempsey - (1') John Brooks - (86')

4 1

Algeria Marouane Fellaini - (70') Dries Mertens - (80') -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------18 June, 2014

Brazil

0-0

p u C

0 2

Mexico

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Russia Aleksandr Kerzhakov - (74')

1-1

Korea Republic Keun-Ho Lee - (68')

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Australia Tim Cahill - (21') Mile Jedinak - (54')

lr d o W

2-3

19 June, 2014

Spain

Netherlands Arjen Robben - (20') Robin Van Persie - (58') Memphis Depay - (68')

0-2

Chile Eduardo Vargas - (20') Charles Aranguiz - (43') -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Croatia Ivica Olic - (11') Cameroon 0-4 Ivan Perisic - (48') Mario Mandzukic - (61') Mario Mandzukic - (73') ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Colombia James Rodríguez - (64') Ivory Coast Juan Quintero - (70') 2-1 Gervinho - (73’)

A IF

F

20 June, 2014

Uruguay England Luis Suárez - (39') 2-1 Wayne Rooney - (75') Luis Suárez - (85') ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Japan 0-0 Greece

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Italy

0-1

SPORTS

Costa Rica Bryan Ruiz - (44')

21 June, 2014

Switzerland Blerim Dzemaili - (81') Granit Xhaka - (87' )

2-5

France Olivier Giroud - (17') Blaise Matuidi - (18') Mathieu Valbuena - (40') Karim Benzema - (67') Moussa Sissoko - (73') ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Honduras Ecuador Carlo Costly - (31' ) 1-2 Enner Valencia - (34') Enner Valencia - (65') ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Argentina Lionel Messi - (90')

1-0

Germany Mario Götze - (51') Miroslav Klose - (71') Nigeria Peter Odemwingie - (29')

Iran

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------22 June, 2014 Ghana André Ayew - (54') Asamoah Gyan - (63') ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-2


Focus On Globe

Belgium ivock Origi - (88')

41

1 June 2014

1-0

Russia

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

23 June, 2014

Korea Republic Heung-Min Son - (50') Ja-Cheol Koo - (72')

2- 4

Algeria Islam Slimani - (26') Rafik Halliche - (28') Abdelmoumene Djabou - (38') Yacine Brahimi - (62') --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------United States 2-2 Portugal Jermaine Jones - (64') Nani - (5') Clint Dempsey - (81') Silvestre Varela - (90') --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Netherlands 2-0 Chile Leroy Fer - (77') mphis Depay - (90') --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Australia 0-3 Spain David Villa - (36') Fernando Torres - (69') Juan Mata - (82') Cameroon Joel Matip - (26')

20

24 June, 2014

lr d o W

p u C

4 1

Brazil Neymar - (17') Neymar - (35') Fred - (49') Fernandinho - (84') -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Croatia 1-3 Mexico Ivan Perisic - (87') Rafael Márquez - (72') Andrés Guardado - (75') Javier Hernández - (82') Costa Rica 0-0 England ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Italy 0-1 Uruguay Diego Godín - (81') -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25 June, 2014 Japan Colombia Shinji Okazaki - (45') 1-4 Juan Cuadrado - (17') Jackson Martínez - (55') Jackson Martínez - (82') James Rodríguez - (90') ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Greece 2-1 Ivory Coast Andreas Samaris - (42') Wilfried Bony - (74') Georgios Samaras - (90') --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-1 Iran Edin Dzeko - (23') Reza Ghoochannejhad - (82') iralem Pjanic - (59') Avdija Vrsajevic - (83') --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Nigeria 2-3 Argentina Ahmed Musa - (4') Lionel Messi - (3') Ahmed Musa - (47') Lionel Messi - (45') Marcos Rojo - (50')

A F I

1-4

F

26 June, 2014

Honduras

0-3

Switzerland Xherdan Shaqiri - (6') Xherdan Shaqiri - (31') Xherdan Shaqiri - (71') ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Ecuador 0-0 France -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Korea Republic

26 June, 2014 0-1

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Algeria 1-1 Islam Slimani - (60')

Ghana Asamoah Gyan - (57') Germany Thomas Müller - (55') Belgium Jan Vertonghen - (78') Russia Alexander Kokorin - (6')

SPORTS

Portugal 2-1 John Boye - (31' - OG) Cristiano Ronaldo - (80') -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------United States 0-1


42

Focus On Globe

Brazil Luiz - (18’) David Luiz - (120’) Marcelo - (120') Neymar - (120') Colombia James Rodríguez - (28') James Rodríguez - (50') Netherlands

1-1

France

2-0

Uruguay

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Match 51 21:30 Mexico IST Round of 16

30 June, 2014

Match 52 1:30 Greece IST Round of 16 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Match 53 21:30 Nigeria IST Round of 16

01 July, 2014

Germany

Chile Alexis Sánchez - (32') Charles Aranguiz - (120') Marcelo Díaz- (120')

29 June, 2014

Costa Rica

1 June 2014

28 June, 2014

p u C

4 1

0 2

Match 54 1:30 Algeria IST Round of 16 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Match 55 21:30 IST Round of 16

Argentina

lr d o W

Switzerland

02 July, 2014

Match 56 1:30 IST Round of 16

Belgium

A IF

W49

United States

04 July, 2014

Match 57 21:30 IST Quarterfinals

F

W50

05 July, 2014

Match 58 1:30 Brazil IST Colombia Quarterfinals ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Match 59 W51 21:30 W52 IST Quarterfinals

06 July, 2014

Match 60 1:30 IST Quarterfinals

W55

W56

09 July, 2014

SPORTS

W57

Match 61 1:30 IST Semifinals

W58

Match 62 1:30 IST Semifinals

W60

10 July, 2014 W59

13 July, 2014 L61

Match 63 1:30 IST Third Place Game

L62

14 July, 2014 14 July, W612014

Match 64 0:30 IST Finals

W62


Focus On Globe

1 June 2014

43

Would Prefer 5-Month Gap Between My Film Releases Akshay Kumar t a time when his contemporaries are doing one film a year, Akshay Kumar has six A releases lined up but the actor says he would prefer a few months` gap between his releases. Akshay has `Holiday`, `It`s Entertainment`, `Gabbar`, `Baby`, `Shaukeen` and `Singh Is Bling` - lined up for release in next 12 months. His last film `Boss` released in October last year. The actor says though it would be ideal to have some gap between his films, he leaves the final decision on his producers. "Every producer comes up with a dateand has a mindset. I would prefer a gap of at least five months between my films. But, ultimately it is the producer`s decision when to release the film. I can surely manipulate them (producers). "Lot of actors do it by saying `I will not dub for the film.` An actor can control it but I have never ever manipulated in my career. I have always allowed my producers to take the call," Akshay said in an interview here. The 46-year-old actor, popular for his `Khiladi` series, tries to convince the producers to make changes in the release date but says the decision is ultimately left to them. "I told Reliance Entertainment and producer Vipul Shah to release `Holiday` in January or March but they decided to release it in June. After three months, `It`s Entertainment` will release, produced by Tips Industries Ltd. I had asked producers to change the release date but they think releasing the film in August is apt," he said. "I cannot argue or dictate terms with them. I try and keep myself aside from having a conflict with producers as they know their job well. Also, they put in crores in a film. They must be doing some study on when to release the film," he added.

Matinee idol Shah Rukh Khan has emerged as the second richest actor in both Hollywood and Bollywood combined list.

ealth-X's Hollywood and Bollywood Rich List reW leased on Wednesday puts comedian Jerry Seinfeld right on top of the rich list. With an estimated net worth of $820

ENTERTAINMENT

million, the 60-year-old comedian emerged as the wealthiest actor. However, it was Shah Rukh Khan, who was the only Indian actor in the top 10 combined rich list of Bollywood and Hollywood stars. Khan was found to be richer than Hollywood giants like Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Clint Eastwood or Adam Sandler. Wealth X said "Khan is estimated to be worth $600 million. Immensely popular around the globe as well as in his home country, India, Khan is also a producer, TV host, co-owner of an Indian cricket club and a philanthropist. He has appeared in more than 50 Bollywood films and is a regular at the annual Cannes Film Festival". Tom Cruise is the third richest actor worth $480 million followed by Johny Depp and Tyler Perry both tied at $ 450 million. Several Academy Award winners are featured on the list, including three-time Oscar winner Jack Nicholson, who has a net worth of $400 million, which puts the 77-year-old actor in 7th spot. Tom Hanks, who won best actor Oscars for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, is in 8th place with a personal fortune of $390 million. Clint Eastwood, who at 84 is the oldest actor in the Rich List, has an estimated personal fortune of $370 million, making him the 9th wealthiest actor on the list. Bill Cosby stands 8th in the list with $ 380 million while Adam Sandler is 10th being worth $ 340 million.


Sports

OWNER, PRINTER, PUBLISHER, EDITOR MUHAMMAD HANEEF MAHAJAN RNI Regd. NO :- JKENG50569/2013

DATED: 17/1/2012


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