Category Archives: Community Involvement / Social Issues

Ahamed, Basheer likely to contest again

March 10, 2014Community Involvement / Social Issues, LeadersE. Ahamed, K.P.A. Majeed, Shihab Thangal, Syed Shihabmpositiveone@gmail.com

Ahamed says he is fit and would abide by party decision

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is unlikely to replace its senior-most leader and national president E. Ahamed in the Lok Sabha elections taking place on April 10. Although the high-level secretariat meeting of the party being held at Kozhikode on Monday will finalise the candidates for Malappuram and Ponnani constituencies, the IUML’s top leadership does not favour a change of the existing candidates. E.T. Mohammed Basheer and Mr. Ahamed are likely to contest the elections one more time from Ponnani and Malappuram respectively.

“We will not ask Ahamed Sahib, who is our senior-most leader with a national standing, to step down. It is up to him to decide whether to contest or not, depending on his health,” said IUML State general secretary K.P.A. Majeed. Mr. Ahamed, during a telephonic chat with The Hindu , said that he was in good health. “By the grace of God, I have no health problems now. But as a loyal party man, it is my duty to abide by the decisions of the party. I will obey what the party says,” he said.

Mr. Ahamed indicated that there was no situation where he had to step down.

Sources close to Mr. Ahamed too said that the party national president was fit and prepared enough to try yet another term as an experienced parliamentarian.

Senior IUML leaders, not willing to be quoted, said that it was a time when the party needed the experience and skills of Mr. Ahamed at the national level.

They said that the party could not ignore the fact that it got a ministerial berth twice in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre largely because of the diplomatic skills of Mr. Ahamed.

The IUML is a party in which the decisions of the top leadership are generally accepted by the lower rungs. This is largely because of the awe with which the Sayed Shihab family of Panakkad, which holds the top position in the hierarchy of leadership, is held by the cadres.

When the Shihab Thangal says something, seldom will there be an opposition to it in the party. Without ruffling any feathers, the top leadership of the IUML could overrule the demands of the party cadres many times before.

The demands from certain corners in the party against the candidature of Mr. Ahamed this time are likely to be overruled.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National / by Abdul Latheef Naha / Mallappuram – March 10th, 2014

Assam polls: Badruddin Ajmal’s AIUDF emerging as a new alternative?

March 9, 2014Community Involvement / Social Issues, LeadersAIUDF, All India United Democratic Front, Aminul Islam, Badruddin Ajmal, Maulana Badruddin Ajmalmpositiveone@gmail.com

The agar (Aquilaria agallocha) tree takes about eight years of infection by a fungus to yield agar oil, one of the costliest perfumery raw materials. It has taken almost the same time for All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) to shake off the minority tag and produce a universal ‘political perfume’.

Badruddin Ajmal at his barkat home at Nizammudin west in New Delhi on Tuesday. (HT photo by Arvind Yadav)

The agar business and the AIUDF are inseparable. Maulana Badruddin Ajmal, patriarch of arguably India’s richest agar oil exporting family, is the chief of AIUDF.

Many in Assam, a state wary of migrants aka ‘Bangladeshis’, allegedly went by Ajmal’s appearance – flowing beard, skull cap and clad in white kurta-pyjama – to label AIUDF as a pro-Muslim party. Some saw it as a one-election wonder, much like the United Minorities’ Front (UMF) that came and went after the 1985 assembly elections .

Both UMF and the AIUDF were formed to fight for the rights of the migrants they say are victimised with the Bangladeshi or foreigner tag. But the former did not have at its helm someone like Ajmal who, as party colleagues say, understands the politics of business or the business of politics.

Like the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi, the AIUDF took less than a year to make its presence felt in the 2006 assembly elections in Assam. The decision of the Supreme Court in 2005 to scrap an allegedly pro-migrants act hampering their detection and deportation, hasted the party’s birth.

The AIUDF won 10 of the 69 seats it contested, eating into the traditional Muslim votes of the Congress. Ajmal was the lone winner for AIUDF in its debut (2009) Lok Sabha polls, but the party came a close second in four more seats.

The skeptics were silenced when AIUDF bagged 18 seats in the 2011 assembly elections , emerging as the second largest party ahead of Asom Gana Parishad, once the ‘regional alternative’ to the Congress.

“Just because a Muslim cleric-businessman heads our party does not mean it bats for Muslims or migrants. Otherwise, I would not have been the working president of this party,” said Aditya Langthasa, former AIUDF legislator and a Dimasa tribal.

The composition of candidates for the assembly, panchayat and civic polls during the past few years underscores the secular, democratic structure of the party, he added.

According to senior party leader Aminul Islam, labelling AIUDF as a Muslim or minority party is a conspiracy of the Congress and BJP.

“Yes, Muslims are a decisive force in some LS seats (they constitute 30-56% of the voters in six of Assam’s 14 parliamentary constituencies) but we have come a long way to broad-base the party to appeal to every community, minority or majority,” he said.

So how many non-Muslims will the party put up? “What matters is the right candidate, and we will finalise the names after the Congress and BJP declare their lists,” Ajmal said.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> myindiamyvote / by Rahul Karmakar, HT / Guwahati, March 09th, 2014

I will never endorse fairness creams: Aamir Khan

March 7, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social IssuesAamir Khan, Actor, Bollywood Actormpositiveone@gmail.com

New Delhi :

One the eve of International Women’s Day, Bollywood star Aamir Khan faced a volley of questions from women journalists, ranging from social causes, to films, to politics, to celebrity endorsements and his diet regime that “makes him look young.”

When asked what he had to say about Bollywood celebrities (Shahrukh Khan, John Abraham) endorsing fairness creams, even for men, and reinforcing stereotypes such as “fair is beautiful”, Khan said “It’s a shame that some people are endorsing and selling these products.” He said he would never do that.

The usually reticent Khan, who has become media-friendly of late, also took great pains to defend his endorsement of aerated drink Coca-cola at a time when pesticide contamination near its bottling plant in Kerala was making news a few years ago.

“I have not been with Coke for 10-15 years now, but at that time I got certain products independently examined through my lawyer and found that pesticide content in Coke was lower than in milk, sugar, tea etc. I think it was because water had pesticide. Reports say that even mother’s milk has pesticide. So, at that time, I could not be dishonest with my decision,” the actor said.

As for water misuse, Khan said no entity, MNC or individual, should be allowed to drain or misuse water. “I am a strong votary of equal distribution of water,” he added.

The actor, who has just launched the second part of his television talk show Satyamev Jayate, got defensive when asked whether the team needed to do more follow-up work on the social issues raised in the show to gain more credibility. Citing the instance of falling number of female foeticide in Punjab after his show on the issue was aired two years back, Khan said even if one girl child survived because of the awareness created by the show, it was worth it. “I have spent two years on the show…the time I could have used on other activities, including spending it with my children. What have you (the critics) done?” he asked.

Parrying questions about his political leanings after sharing the dais with Anna Hazare during the anti-graft agitation and putting in a good word for Arvind Kejriwal, the actor ruled out joining politics. “I am an entertainer and have a social responsibility, which I will strive to fulfil from where I am right now,” he said.

The actor also hedged a question on who he saw as the next Prime Minister — Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi or Arvind Kejriwal. “Taking a name will not be right in a democracy, but I feel people should not look for messiahs outside, but within themselves. Till that day comes, nothing will change drastically. As of now, no single party instils confidence in me,” he added.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> News / by Our Bureau / New Delhi – March 07th, 2014

Jayalalithaa’s schoolmate Badar Sayeed quits AIADMK and joins AAP

March 6, 2014Community Involvement / Social Issues, LeadersAIADMK, Badar Sayeed, ex MLA, Lawyer, Tamil Nadumpositiveone@gmail.com

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa’s school friend Badar Sayeed has quit the AIADMK and joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Sayeed, 67, was an MLA from Triplicane constituency in Chennai from 2006 to 2011 while the party was in the Opposition.

“Sayeed formally joined our party in the presence of Tamil Nadu state convenor Christina Samy on Wednesday. The party welcomes her wholeheartedly,” said M. Lenin, AAP’s media in-charge, told Indiatoday.in.

He said it is up to the party to field her in the Lok Sabha elections.

Sayeed was feeling sidelined and aloof in the AIADMK for quite some time, more so after Jayalalithaa came back to power in May 2011.

But her decision has surprised the AIADMK and political observers.

“I joined the AAP for personal reasons. I can’t reveal what these reasons are. There are no political reasons. Whether I will contest or not can’t be revealed now,” Sayeed told Indiatoday.in.

A leading lawyer in the Madras High Court, the 67-year-old is known for her outspokenness and boldness.

Six months ago, she filed a petition in the Madras High Court challenging the authority of Muslim qazis to grant ‘talaq’ (divorce).

She challenged the practice quoting Indian law and scriptures and said qazis granting divorce is illegal and anti-Islam and prayed the court to ban the practice.

The case is pending.

Sayeed was two years senior to Jayalalithaa in the Chennai’s Church Park Convent school.

She has a son and a daughter and her husband is a neurosurgeon in Chennai.

Political observers are surprised by Sayeed’s move.

Only on rare occasions have AIADMK leaders quit the party, especially when Jayalalithaa is in power.

“It is surprising. Jayalaltihaa has an iron grip over the party. People are afraid about even thinking of deserting. If this trend continues, it will be good not only for the AIADMK, which lacks even basic rights of dissent but also for democracy and Tamil Nadu politics,” said V. Durai Kannan, a senior journalist and political observer.

source: http://www.indiatoday.intoday.in / Home> India> South / by R. Ramashuramanian, Chennai / March 06th, 2014

Aamir Khan, Pappu Yadav to help Mountain Man’s family

March 5, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issuesmpositiveone@gmail.com

Days of abject poverty for Bhagirath Manjhi and Basanti Devi, son and daughter-in-law of a man who single-handedly carved out a road by cutting through a hill in Bihar, are likely to end soon.

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan and Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, former MP who was last year acquitted in the murder case relating to a CPI-M leader, have come forward to provide financial help to Bhagirath and Basanti.

Yadav has already provided Rs.1 lakh in cash to them and also promised to provide Rs.10,000 every month.

“We were pained after we came to know that Bhagirath and Basanti were living a life full of misery and decided to help them financially,” Yadav told IANS over telephone Monday.

He said monthly financial help would be provided to Bhagirath and Basanti by Maa Maati, the voluntary organisation of his wife Ranjita Ranjan, also a former MP.

Aamir Khan, who visited their village for his TV show “Satyamev Jayate” last week, is set to provide financial help to them.

Shafi Ahmad, state coordinator of Khan’s production house, said a team would visit the Dasrathnagar Dalit tola near Gahlaur in Gaya district, around 100 km from here, soon on behalf of Aamir Khan as he had requested that their requirements be looked after.

Khan, during his visit, also assured help to Bhagirath and Basanti.

Both of them told Khan that they have been left in the lurch, ignored by politicians and officials despite repeated assurances.

Basanti added that she, along with her husband, begs for money to conduct an annual ritual in the memory of Dasrath Manjhi.

Bhagirath and Basanti work in the village primary school as cooks for preparing the mid-day meal for children. Both of them are paid Rs.1,000 a month.

Dasrath Manjhi had single-handedly carved out a 360 feet long, 30 feet high and 30 feet wide passage by cutting through a hill near Gahlaur with a hammer and chisel, working day and night. He died in 2007 after a battle with cancer.

The hill was between Attari and Wazirgunj blocks in Gaya district. Thanks to Manjhi, the village blocks have been brought closer. Manjhi began his uphill work when his wife was injured and he had to take a detour around the mountains to reach the nearest hospital.

source: http://www.dnaindia.com / DNA / Home> Entertainment / Agency : IANS / Tuesday – March 04th, 2014

Azad announces two medical colleges in Himachal

March 2, 2014Community Involvement / Social Issues, Science & Technologympositiveone@gmail.com

Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) :

Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Saturday announced two new medical colleges, two trauma centres and a burn centre in Himachal Pradesh.

The minister was here to lay the foundation stone of the 100-bedded mother-child block at the zonal hospital compound. It will be constructed at a cost of Rs.17 crore.

Azad also inaugurated a super-specialty hospital block set up at a cost of Rs.150 crore at the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College in Tanda town through video conferencing.

According to official sources, the minister couldn’t fly to Tanda in Kangra district from here owing to bad weather.

Addressing a gathering here, he said the Indian government has doubled the budget allocation in health sector for the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

Azad announced to set up two trauma centres and a burn centre at the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMCH) in Shimla.

“I want to see Himachal emerging as a model state in every sphere of development, especially in the health sector in the next four years,” he said.

He said six health institutions equivalent to the All-India Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have been developed in the country, of which Tanda is one.

A similar super-specialty hospital worth Rs.150 crore would be developed in Shimla.

“This will give relief to the people of the state who otherwise had to rush to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh or AIIMS Delhi for specialised treatment,” he added.

He said two cancer institutes would be set up in Shimla and Mandi, besides a financial aid of Rs.190 crore each would be provided to open two medical colleges in Chamba and Nahan towns.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh thanked Azad for providing liberal assistance to the state for strengthening the health infrastructure.

“I always wanted to see Tanda medical hospital and college to become a prestigious health institute of the country along with the IGMCH in Shimla and I can foresee that my dream project is being transformed into reality,” he said.

The chief minister said with the starting of super-specialty block at Tanda the people of adjoining districts of Kangra, Chamba, Mandi, Hamirpur and Una will get better treatment at affordable rates.

State Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur said Rs.45 crore each would be spent to establish two cancer hospitals at Mandi and Shimla towns.

Transport Minister G.S. Bali, while interacting with the union minister through video conferencing, requested him to increase the MBBS seats from 100 to 150 at the IGMCH and Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College.

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.

source: http://www.firstpost.com / FirstPost. / Home> Fwire / March 02nd, 2014 / Mandi (Himachal Pradesh), IANS – March 01st, 2014

Endowment talk focuses on development, people’s welfare

March 1, 2014Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, LeadersAbdul Rahman, Abdul Rahman Memorial Committee, Trade Union Leader of Visakhapatnam Port Trustmpositiveone@gmail.com

V. Venugopal, Editor of Veekshana monthly magazine, Hyderabad, delivering 'Abdul Rehman memorial lecture' at the Public Library in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. / Photo: A. Manikanta Kumar / The Hindu — V. Venugopal, Editor of Veekshana monthly magazine, Hyderabad, delivering ‘Abdul Rehman memorial lecture’ at the Public Library in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. / Photo: A. Manikanta Kumar / The Hindu

Services of former trade union leader of VPT recalled

The concept of development had been redefined by former trade union leader of Visakhapatnam Port Trust Abdul Rahman, who passed away 15 years ago.

But his selfless contributions to the port employees in many forms were something to be remembered for a lifetime, senior journalist and editor of monthly magazine ‘Veekshanam’ N. Venugopal has said here on Sunday.

Recalling the expertise of Abdul Rahman on the occasion of his 15 death anniversary at an endowment lecture on the theme ‘Development and its alternate perspectives’ hosted by Abdul Rahman Memorial Committee here at Visakhapatnam Public Library, he said: “Development per se doesn’t have any relevance if it is not in line with people’s welfare. In the modern day context, the definition of development has taken a new dimension and is often confined to individual’s growth in the form of assets and other privileges. However, for Abdul Rahman it was beyond personal and professional preferences.”

His associates and others recalled that Rahman dedicated his life in service to society.

Several political and societal issues were discussed.

Former Union Energy Secretary E.A.S. Sarma highlighted how people’s views should never be ignored in a democratic country like ours. He said that before setting up any unit, it was important to draft policies in an inclusive manner.

“It was a privilege to work under the leadership of Abdul Rahman.

Till his last days, his focus was always on employees’ welfare. He was an epitome of hard work and perseverance who had led by example,” said convener of the committee P.V. Ramana.

With the first annual event inaugurated by former Mayor D.V. Subba Rao, committee members said that the annual feature will have experts speak on different subjects that would have a positive impact on society.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Staff Reporter / Visakhapatnam – February 17th, 2014