INDIA SUMMARIZED

Hanging still remains the most preferred method of suicide, but jumping off high-rises is increasing in the metros. Bangalore tops the chart with 428 cases among cities in India when it comes to suicide by jumping off a building, as per the National Crime Records Bureau. It is a shocking rise of 580 percent from 25 in 2006 to 170 in 2011. Mumbai is second on the list with 227 cases recorded between 2006 and 2011. Delhi is third with 132 cases, followed by Ahmedabad (102), Chennai (100) and Hyderabad (95), reported V Narayan for Times of India. Figures from the last six years indicate that only one metro, Kolkata is missing from the list of cities with the maximum highrise suicides. The trend could also be an adverse imitation of the West, where it records for a significant number of suicides, simply because of easy access to tall buildings. Y P Singh, a former IPS officer who's turned lawyer said "Other modes of suicide require preparation... jumping from highrises re...

 Dowry is still widespread in our country. 3 out of five Indians pay dowry on their daughter’s marriage says a recent survey by NDTV. Haryana, which has the worst gender ratio in the country, tops the dowry list. Gujarat was seated at the bottom of the list. The three highest paying dowry states were noted to be Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh with a percentage of 94, 88 and 80 respectively. While, the lowest dowry paying states were noted to be Gujarat, West Bengal and Maharashtra showing a percentage of 20, 27 and 40 respectively. However, the country's dowry law seems set to be fixed. There have been changes proposed by the women and child development ministry that will make accepting dowry a bigger crime than giving it. As per the amendments mooted to the Dowry Prohibition Act, failure to maintain a list of gifts, including jewellery, exchanged during marriage will also now be punishable with a jail term extending from six months to one year. The survey had ...

Memorandum Submitted to Hon President of India through Hon Governor of Karnataka. Respected Sir, Tragic circumstances under which Assam is passing through is a matter of grave concern for all countrymen. The Save Assam Forum Karnataka (SAFK) expresses its deep anguish over the pain, sufferings and losses faced by the people of Assam in the recent outburst of violence in Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD) and Dhubri. The fact that a large number of people have been killed, many are injured and lakhs have been rendered homeless due to loot and arson shows that the situation is alarming. It is an irony that people have to live in refugee camps in their own country because of hostilities from foreign infiltration. The SAFK is also pained to know that a large number of students and young employees of North East states in several parts of our country especially Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune and Chennai are returning to Assam and other North-eastern states in an atmosphere of fear ...

CRIMES against women in Pakistan increased by 7% this year as 57 districts reported 982 cases in May 2012 compared to 922 in the same month last year. However, over the last two years, a 31% increase was reported in such crimes with 746 FIRs lodged in May 2010, says a Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) report. The report, released on August30, said it could not be ascertained if this increase was due to occurrence of more crimes or an enhanced reportage in certain parts of the country, or both. The report is based on data collected from District Police Offices (DPOs) in May 2010, 2011 and 2012 on FIRs registered for six categories of crimes against women in 57 districts. The crime categories include honour killing, forced marriage, offences relating to marriage, rape, attack on modesty and insult of modesty through word, gesture or act. Twenty one of the monitored districts were in Punjab, 16 in Sindh, 15 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), four in Balochistan and one in Is...

In this post-Anna, post-Baba Ramdev phase, it seems there is no limit to the brazenness of our netas and babus when it comes to corruption. But then, salt cannot be made more salty. There is an advertisement, often shown on TV, in which a young boy exhorts his father to be honest and pay taxes, since the money will help the government build infrastructure, etc. Unfortunately, there is no ad showing the daughter of a government official or politician encouraging him to avoid taking bribes. Everyday corruption is breaking the backs of the aam aadmi, including the much-reviled middle class. The index of middle-class misery can be measured by adding up the official tax rate, the inflation rate and the corruption rate. In this article, we attempt to estimate the real cost of bribes and corruption using various calculation methods and assumptions. And here’s the big number: the informal “taxes” we pay in the form of bribes probably add up to Rs 4,00,000 crore annually – nearly 6 p...

India has a long legal history of religious tolerance Pakistan is often in the news for its blasphemy laws and the arrest and persecution of people under it. How different is the case in India and why? Let’s have a look. On 27 May 1953, the Tamil reformer EV Ramaswami Naicker smashed an idol of Lord Ganesha in public at the Town Hall maidan in Tiruchirapalli. Naicker, who was angered by Hinduism’s caste system, made a speech announcing his intention to do this before breaking the idol. Veerabadran Chettiar, an offended Hindu, filed a case under two laws. Section 295: Whoever destroys, damages or defiles any place of worship, or any object held sacred by any class of persons with the intention of thereby insulting the religion of any class of persons or with the knowledge that any class of persons is likely to consider such destruction, damage or defilement as an insult to their religion, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend...

 It has been 65 years of Indian independence, a moment to be proud of. And women have come a long way. What started off as a small step is a big leap now. While two women Mary Kom and Saina Nehwal made the country proud at Olympics 2012, women have definitely made a mark over the years. India has slowly formed itself as a country with growing women power. Gone are the days of associating India with snake charmers and myths. As the nation is celebrating 65 years of freedom, it's also time to reminisce the progress made by the women so far. The country saw its first woman President in Pratibha Patil. India can now boast that the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is a woman. Further, there are two prominent female chief ministers currently with outstanding capacity for good administration. Sonia Gandhi, the Chairperson of the ruling party at the Centre is also a woman. So how do the women really fare in India? Are they still a target of the patriarchal society? Women in India have out s...

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION From Kashmir , exodus of Kashmiri Pundits issue is like an open book, will any leader say that till when they will be returned to their native places. Our pseudo-secularist leaders as well as political parties, NGOs or some hired personalities who never miss an opportunity in throwing mud over Gujarat Chief Minister, questioned Kashmir Chief Minister(s), Central Government or President of India that till when they will live as refugee in their own country. Is it not a matter of great shame for the nation? On August 19, 2012 I was viewing Humlog debate on NDTV, how the things were tried to manipulate by the anchor when illegal infiltration from Bangladesh was questioned and on the plight of Hindus from Pakistan issue it was argued the issue is communalized instead of taking the issue as human.So less said the better What Human Rights Commission is doing? What’s the object and motive was to establish this organization? Are only Muslims the humans others ...

Is our country again marching to be ruled by Mughals. Actually situation is likely the same before Mughals’ ruled over Bharat. Hold your pulse, to know the truth. There is a saying that history is never written but repeats itself. And what I am going to say is very thought provoking not as malice. Not today but in the days to come, these lines will be quoted and will be read with interest for having repentance. And in creating this situation, not only politicians every responsible citizen of India, --historians, bureaucrats , social organizations and our media—is totally responsible to clear the path for slavery. Indian history is mercilessly distorted. The figure, I think must be on finger tips, knowing actual history of India. For whom, just for the sake of political power and nothing else. The Assam problem is not new, it is as old as our Independence. Name any country allowing infiltration, overstaying after visa, having different laws. But in India, anything could be done f...

Ahead of the Gujarat assembly elections, chief minister Narendra Modi accused the UPA government of promoting cow slaughter for beef exports. On the occasion of Janmashtami, Modi appealed to the people to reject ‘pink revolution promoting slaughter of mother cow. "It saddens me that present UPA government led by Congress is promoting slaughtering of cows and exporting beef to bring ‘Pink Revolution’," the BJP strongman wrote on his blog while extending Janmashtami greetings. "Sadly, the UPA seems unbothered about the rich ethos of our culture. It wants to make India the biggest exporter of beef!," he said. Assembly elections in Gujarat are due in December. Modi said we not only revere Lord Krishna but also everything associated with him. The ‘Makhan Chor’ is always remembered as Sakha (friend) and protector of cows. "Our future generation is not getting sufficient milk and this Government wants to kill cows that provide us ‘ladder for life’," he...

Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev, who was finally taken into the Ambedkar Stadium here on August 13 evening by the Delhi Police, said his biggest fault is that he is pitching his voice against black money and corruption and devoting himself to the nation's cause.   In the morning of Aug 13, Ramdev was very harsh in words against Congress party. He said ,"Congress is the most corrupt party of India, I appeal to all the Indians to throw out this party in the coming elections."   In the evening of August 12, thundering on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he said, "Manmohan could be an honest man personally but politically more corrupt."   While attacking on the government, he quipped that "if that is not yours money why fearing in declaring it national asset? And what's problem in declaring the names of  those blackmoney holders?" As the Baba started to roar a huge crowd started to move towards Ramlila Maiden to strenghten him. And till the march started towar...

New Delhi, Aug 13 (ANI): Congress Party on Monday took the leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to task for joining Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev on his agitation against black money at the Ramlila Maidan .   Congress leader Rajiv Shukla claimed that the UPA Government has brought back black money worth Rs. 48,000 crore into the country.   "This (UPA) is the first government that has brought back black money worth Rs. 48,000 crore into the country. The Finance Minister has issued a statement in this regard. When the NDA and BJP leaders were in power, did they even bring back black money worth Rs. 48?" asked Shukla.   Rajiv Shukla said those who did not bring back black money worth Rs. 48 during their six-year rule and protected the black money holders, have no right to join Baba Ramdev on his platform and raise their voice that black money should be brought back.   Shukla further said the UPA Government brought 'White Paper' on black money, and added that f...

A recent report in The Economic Times suggests that the income tax department has secured at least 17 “voluntary disclosures” from around 700 Indians who are alleged to have had secret accounts with the HSBC Bank in Switzerland.   Says the report: “The amount disclosed ranges from Rs 50 crore to Rs 300 crore. Many in the list have opted to file ‘revised return’ — a procedure allowed under the Income Tax Act for taxpayers who think they made a mistake while filing the original return. Revised returns are usually filed within a year of filing the original. The IT department has chosen to summon the alleged evaders and ask them to declare their undisclosed offshore deposits rather than initiate prosecution proceedings.”   Of the names that have come out, three are sitting MPs, one each from Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, and a leading business baron of Mumbai. Reuters   According to the newspaper, this has been done for two reasons. One, the tax department does not h...

IS IT FOR TRUTH ? SURELY NOT. OTHERWISE WHY THEY MOSTLY CENSOR GORY NEWS OF MURDER AND MAYHEM OF HINDUS IN JAMMU & KASHMIR ; OF RAPE AND ABDUCTION OF HINDU WOMEN AND ETHNIC CLEANSING OF CLOSE TO HALF A MILLION HINDUS FROM KASHMIR VALLEY ? WHY THEY REFUSE TO PRINT THE DETAILS OF STORIES ON THE HELLISH ACT OF SETTING FIRE AND BURNING ALIVE SIXTY HINDU PILGRIMS, INCLUDING FORTY WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN A CLOSED TRAIN COACH. WHY THEY TOTALLY CENSOR THE BARBARIC TORTURE ,LAND GRAB , EVICTION, FORCIBLE TAKEOVER OF HINDU BUSINESSES IN BANGLADESH. EVEN THE DESTRUCTION OF HINDU TEMPLES AND RAPE AND ABDUCTION, CONVERSION AND FORCIBLE "NIKAH" OF HINDU WOMEN ARE NOT REPORTED. THE MOST INJURIOUS TO INDIA'S SECULAR WELL-BEING IS THE INFILTRATION OF MILLIONS OF BANGLADESHIS AND PAKISTANIS WHO ARE BRED IN THEOCRATIC ISLAMIC STATE , WITH ISLAMIC THEOCRATIC MIND-SET . THAT IS ALSO A DANGER TO INDIA'S DEMOGRAPHY AS WELL TO POPULATION EXPLOSION . THESE ARE NEVER PROBED. WHY INDIA...

IT'S unfortunate that the largest and the oldest plain tribe in Assam with a rich cultural history have found themselves at war with different people from time to time with devastating results for both sides in the conflict. Their leaders would say it is about rights, not alone claim over land and local resources. “It is not land issue alone. It is deprivation on several fronts. Our areas remain underdeveloped,” All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) president Pramod Boro told Firstpost from Kokrajhar over telephone. He would not admit that Bodos are prone to picking up fights. “With the Assamese and Bengali population we have led a fairly peaceful life. In 1996, we had an ethnic clash with the Adivasis. But I believe that it was a third force that ignited the fire between the Santhals and the Bodos,” Boro said. Given the history of conflicts this only appears partial truth. The Bodos have been in fight against Bengalis too though it never escalated to unmanageable levels. The la...

How to bring the state to knees. Over the past few weeks a drama has been unfolding in the old Delhi area, where an underground metro station is being constructed. During the digging, a part of an old wall was discovered. Even before the Archaeological Survey of India could test and verify the area, the Muslims, led by MLA Shoaib Iqbal took over the place, declaring it to be the Akbarabadi Masjid, demolished by the British following the 1857 uprising. He even led the last Friday prayers there. Now, a new mosque is under construction there. All this with absolutely no confirmation from the ASI on the veracity of the claim. In Jungpura, South Delhi, an unauthorized mosque located in a land owned by DDA was brought down a few months ago. What followed that was mayhem, with Samajwadi Party, the proclaimed protector of Muslim interest descending on the crying minority oppression. Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit immediately announced that an alternate site in the vicinity would be ...

The cow is considered sacred in Hinduism. She is go-Mata, the one who should be worshipped for the various graces she bestows on humanity. The Hindu legends invariably treat the cow as sacred. Even some of the Muslim kings who ruled India decided to impose a ban on their subjects eating beef as it was considered offensive to the majority Hindus who revered the cow. Fair. In August, the government of India decided to introduce a bill banning the sale of beef across India. Several reasons including a constitutional directive, economy and religious sentiments were cited as the reasons for the same. There was immediate protest, as many of the BJP's own allies in parliament objected saying that they were not consulted. Sale of beef is already banned in many states in the country. The main opposition party, Congress, is divided on the issue as some of its chief ministers would like to see a ban imposed, if nothing else, for one-upping the BJP. Several states in India on the othe...