Re: [ZESTCaste] BSP's social engineering proving succesful: Karimpuri
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Mayawati+to+be+next+PM%3a+Pollartid=Tqh66Rpek9U%3dSectionID=b7ziAYMenjw%3dMainSectionID=b7ziAYMenjw%3dSectionName=pWehHe7IsSU%3dSEO=Mayawati%2c+India%2c+London Mayawati to be next PM: Poll IANS First Published : 23 Feb 2009 07:06:46 PM IST Last Updated : 23 Feb 2009 07:12:12 PM IST LONDON:The coming Indian general election is likely to lead to a Left leaning government led by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, a leading pollster predicted Monday.Yashwant Deshmukh, who runs the Team Cvoter polling firm and has covered more than 100 state and national elections in India, will tell British politicians this week that neither the Congress nor the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be able to win a majority in elections to the Lok Sabha. In fact, he believes that both parties will see their number of seats dramatically reduced. This election result is less clear than any before it. It is not clear who will have the most seats, who will be able to form a majority and therefore who will be PM,� Deshmukh said, ahead of the House of Commons briefing. What is clear is that a lot of political deals will have to be done resulting in a leftwing coalition with protectionist tendencies having a much greater say than ever before. This time round the Congress party will be the loser and the BJP will be the even bigger loser. Both will all need to give away a lot of power if they're going to even come close to a majority,� he added. The briefing, which is being organised by the public relations company Saffron Chase, is expected to be attended by British MPs and leading businessmen and investors. Saffron Chase Managing Director Vikas Pota said the elections were expected to lead to a slowdown in the process of liberalization in India. It seems that the current world recession is leading to protectionist language from all nations. It will be difficult to grow the insurance, retail and banking sectors as a result,� he said. Comments PM post is reserved for the (Best Secular Party) BSP Prabuddha Bharatha Matha Mayawati ! What is BSP’s new name? Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati’s supporters have coined a new name for their party - not just Bahujan Samaj Party but also the Best Secular Party (BSP). Busy campaigning for the party, BSP activists in Lucknow can be seen these days carrying flags with the `new name’ - minus the original name. MAYAWATI FOR PRIME MINISTER ! VOTE BSP ELEPHANT FOR CHANGE FOR THE BETTER ! FOR SELF RESPECT! GET A VOTE AND A NOTE! FOR BSP! DONT WAIT BUT BAIT! TO GRAB THE MASTER KEY! Mayawati Make me PM Write Down on the Wall was Dr. Ambedkar’s Sign ! Two Thousand Nine ! Will Be Mine ! - Says Ms Mayawati Bahen ! Now is all that you have! By voting for BSP, the Nation you save! 2008 Bahen Mayawati the UttarPradesh Chief Minister !2009PrabuddhaBharatha Matha the Prime Minister !By Jagatheesan Chandrasekharan 4/3/2009 6:32:00 PM Of course, it is Behenji Mayawati's turn. BSP after coming to power in UP a biggest state of one of largest democratic country like India it is all set to move towards Delhi and make a history. Jai Ho ! BSP ! and Jai Ho ! Mayawatiji! By dawa tshering lepcha 3/25/2009 4:16:00 PM The Bahujan Samaj Party supporters do not accept bribe to vote. In fact they give a vote and a note to the party. MAYAWATI FOR PRIME MINISTER ! VOTE BSP ELEPHANT FOR CHANGE FOR THE BETTER ! FOR SELF RESPECT! GET A VOTE AND A NOTE! FOR BSP! By Bindusar , Nizamabad 3/10/2009 2:10:00 PM Now is all that you have! By voting for BSP, the Nation you save! next pm is mayawathi By Gunaratan,Nizamabad 3/10/2009 2:02:00 PM Now is all that you have! By voting for BSP, the Nation you save! next pm is mayawathi 2008 Bahen Mayawati the UttarPradesh Chief Minister ! 2009PrabuddhaBharatha Matha the Prime Minister ! By gangadhar.gaini tungini 3/10/2009 1:56:00 PM FOR SELF RESPECT! GET A VOTE AND A NOTE! FOR BSP! DONT WAIT BUT BAIT! TO GRAB THE MASTER KEY! Make me PM Write Down on the Wall was Dr. Ambedkar’s Sign ! Two Thousand Nine ! Will Be Mine ! - Says Ms Mayawati Bahen ! By vishnumudeerj jaheerabad mp candiate bsp 3/10/2009 1:59:00 PM behanji mayavathi is nest pm sure MAYAWATI FOR PRIME MINISTER ! VOTE BSP ELEPHANT FOR CHANGE FOR THE BETTER ! ‘UP hui hamari hai, ab Delhi ki bari hai’ (UP is ours, now it is the turn of Delhi), will turn into a reality,” said Mayawati 2008 Bahen Mayawati the UttarPradesh Chief Minister
Re: [ZESTCaste] Varna and Jati: Social Structure of Hindus
The british atrocities or Muslim invasion if they don't have relevance, how something that was allegedly manufactured several thousand years ago can have relevance today. Caste is different. Casteism is different. Everybody cannot be painted with the same brush. There is a law of the land and no person can be punished otherwise. What we have been witnessing is mass punishment being inflicted by a Kangaroo Court Justice system to avenge imaginary wrongs, all on the bidding of the Dravidian forces. Forcing current day citizens to accept responsibility for unknown acts of unknown people of a byegone era is grotesque and totally unconstitutional. Upper Caste, Lower caste etc are all inventions of politicians and the media. Every person in India can only be punished through the due process of the law, not because Karunanidhi believes so. From: Shailesh Arya shailbr...@yahoo.co.in Subject: Re: [ZESTCaste] Varna and Jati: Social Structure of Hindus To: ZESTCaste@yahoogroups.com Date: Friday, 3 April, 2009, 11:07 AM The relevance is certainly there because the caste system is still followed today. British atrocities or Muslim invasions have no relevance because they are not colonialists or invaders today. But caste system, untouchability and other retarded Hindu practices are still rampant. Otherwise why would even this group come into existence if there was no such thing as caste in the present times?
[ZESTCaste] Br Chandrabhan - congratulations
Dear Br Chandrabhan, Congrats of the occasion of your Dalit Diary’s 10th Anniversary. It is indeed; you raised several new concepts in Dalit perspective and new thinking among Dalit intelligentsia. One may agree or not, seeds of new thought at least provoke others to think in a new direction. Hope, you have achieved that. I surprise why other newspapers do not emulate the approach taken by the “Daily Pioneer” a decade ago? Had every other newspaper provided a little space in their publications there must have been a lot of Dalit perspective developed in the nation by this time. At least a few more Dalit journalists would have an opportunity to express the Dalit problems, aspirations, and thinking. The general tendency is that when a new approach is made, everybody else follow suit. But it is a tragedy that it didn’t happen in Indian newspaper community. I hope your Daily will have many more year of publication in future. I also wish that you would promote more aggressively the idea of giving space to more and more Dalit journalists in all newspapers and magazines of India. Non availability of Dalit journalists is not an excuse. First of all that may not be true. Even if it true, every newspaper should emulate the work of S Anand of Navayana to train more Dalit journalists. They cannot ignore it and claim themselves progressive intelligentsia of India. I once again congratulate you and the Pioneer management to break the ice. But I desire they advocate more aggressively for the promotion of similar columns in other newspapers, if required, by shaming them in the public platform. Change will happen only by a few and that too by drastic means. Wishing you all the best, Benjamin Paul Kaila -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Dr Ambedkar International Award 2009 declared to Dr. Munsilal Gautam,IAS.
Dr. Ambedkar International Award declared to Dr. Munsilal Gautam,IAS. A wellknown organization of India named JEEWAK WELFARE SOCIETY NAGPUR, who is co-related with WORLD WOMEN's SUMMIT FOUNDATION, GENEVA (Switzerland) declared DR. AMBEDKAR INTERNATIONAL AWARD 2009 to wellknown Buddhist Writer and eminent Social Thinker DR. MUNSILAL GAUTAM , IAS for his great contribution in Ambedkarite Buddhist's field.Dr Gautam borne in Dhansari,UP and his total life passed in Maharashtra. At Nagpur, Dr Gautam started IAS Training Center for the guidence and making the carrier of SC/ST students.And lot of students of Maharashtra has taken the benfit of this center.Dr Gautam has written many Dhamma Books and also giving his active participation to our sociaty.The Award ceremony will be organized at VIDHARBHA HINDI SAHITYA SAMMELAN HALL, SITABULDI, NAGPUR on April 17, 2009 at 6.00 PM. Following dignitaries will be present on that occasion * Chairperson : Dr. Milind Jiwane (Chairman of Civil Rights Protection Cell) * Chief Guests : Hon. Shantaram Waghmare (Addl. Police Commissioner ) Hon. Prof. Ranjeet Meshram ( Ambedkarite Thinker) With regards. * Mrs. Vandana Jiwane
[ZESTCaste] Imperfect sympathy - an article from Frontline
Friends, Most of the time, while speaking to my non Dalit friends and wellwishers, I always get the same questions. “Why special provisions are required for SC/STs? Why do the do not avail the provisions already available to better themselves?” While arguing about the benefits enjoyed by SC/STs, a friend of mine bluntly said, “There are only two castes in India, one is Govt caste (meaning reserved caste) and the other non-government caste (non reserved caste). Nothing else matters. No other caste discrimination exists.” Another said, “SC/STs are sons and daughters-in-law of the Government. What more they want when the whole Govt is at their disposal?” It is always a big task for me to explain what the reality of all these measures is. I agree there always be misuse of any welfare measure. But at the same time, when the promises and laws are not implemented with spirit by the very Govts that passed them, what is the use of any number of welfare measures? More over these promises of successive Govts (since independence) to SC/STs look them in a bad light, as pampered lot. Many Govts came and gone, but is there any real change in their lot? Is it wise to say the fault lies with them, as they are not using the provisions available to them on paper? Here is an article giving an understanding of a few recent Govts and their promises to these so-called pampered lot and how these measures are implemented when parties come to power. FYI Thanks Benjamin http://www.frontlineonnet.com/stories/20090410260702900.htm Imperfect sympathy P.S. KRISHNAN What the manifestos and common minimum programmes of political parties and governments in the past held for Dalits. K.R. DEEPAK IN the last two decades, major political parties and coalitions in power have expressed sympathy for the Scheduled Castes (S.Cs), the Scheduled Tribes (S.Ts) and the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs) /Other Backward Classes (OBCs)/Backward Classes (B.Cs) in their manifestos and common minimum programmes (CMPs). The CMP of the United Front government in 1996 laudably committed itself comprehensively to the Dalit Manifesto in the following words: “The United Front government will carefully study the Dalit Manifesto formulated by the National Action Forum for Social Justice and implement its salient recommendations.” The Dalit Manifesto referred to is the document of March 7, 1996, incorporating the rights and entitlements of the S.Cs, the S.Ts and the B.Cs authored by me under the auspices of the National Action Forum for Social Justice. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government’s National Agenda for Governance (NAG) in 1998 promised: “The interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes will be adequately safeguarded by appropriate legal, executive and societal efforts and by large-scale education and empowerment…. We will continue to offer all assistance to the S.Cs, S.Ts and Backward Classes to ensure their speedy socio-economic development. We will remove the last vestiges of untouchability…. We will present a National Charter for Social Justice (samajik nyay) based on the principle of social harmony (samajik samarasta).” One of the six basic principles of governance in the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP) of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in 2004 was: “To provide for full equality of opportunity, particularly in education and employment for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs and religious minorities.” Specific commitments listed in that CMP under the head “Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes” arranged subject-wise include: (1) Protecting, strengthening and adding to empowering assets of/for the S.Cs and the S.Ts “The UPA government will launch a comprehensive national programme for minor irrigation of all lands owned by Dalits and Adivasis. Landless families will be endowed with land through implementation of land ceiling and land redistribution legislation. No reversal of ceilings legislation will be permitted. “Eviction of tribal communities and other forest-dwelling communities from forest areas will be discontinued…. The rights of tribal communities over mineral resources, water sources, etc., as laid down by law will be fully safeguarded. “The UPA will urge the States to make legislation for conferring ownership rights in respect of minor forest produce, including tendu patta, on all those people from the weaker sections who work in the forests.” (2) Symbiosis of tribal communities and forests “The UPA administration will take all measures to reconcile the objectives of economic growth and environmental conservation, particularly as far as tribal communities dependent on forests are concerned….” (3) Rehabilitation “More effective systems of relief and rehabilitation will be put in place for tribal and other groups displaced by development projects. Tribal people alienated from land will be
[ZESTCaste] Mayawati slams Maneka over Varun row
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Maya-slams-Maneka-on-Varun-row/articleshow/4358257.cms Mayawati slams Maneka over Varun row 4 Apr 2009, 1248 hrs IST, TIMESOFINDIA.COM LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Saturday hit out at Pilibhit MP Maneka Gandhi for politicising the Varun Gandhi row. In a snub to Maneka Gandhi, Mayawati said if the BJP MP knew a mother's pain, she would not have endorsed the hate speeches of her son Varun Gandhi for which he has been booked under NSA, PTI reported. Hitting back at Maneka, who had said that the UP Chief Minister did not understand a mother's pain since she was not one, Mayawati said that if she was a good mother she would have inculcated the right values in Varun. Had Maneka inculcated good values to her son (Varun) he would not have to spent night in the jail. She must apologise not only to me but to the entire nation for her shameful and unfortunate comments, Mayawati told reporters. Justifying the action of Pilibhit district administration to charge Varun under NSA, Mayawati said that in case riots had erupted, thousands of mothers would have rendered childless. Maneka should understand pain of thousands of mothers, she said. Maneka kewal ek bete ka dard samajhti hain but main karodo beton ka dard samajhti hun (Maneka only understands the pain of one son but I feel pain of crores of sons), Mayawati said at a hurriedly called press conference. Maneka had on Friday attacked Mayawati for targeting her son and attributed political motive behind the move to keep him in jail during election time, PTI says. Ma ka dard samajhne ke liye ma hona zaruri nahi hai. Mother Teresa bhi ma nahi thi lekin unhone pyar pure vishwa ki janta ko diya. (It is not necessary to be a mother to understand her pain. Mother Teresa was not a mother but she bestowed her love on the people of the entire world), Mayawati said. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said that no one would be allowed to vitiate law and order situation of the state irrespective of their parties and position. 29-year-old Varun was held under NSA in connection with his hate speeches in Pilibhit last month. Varun had subsequently surrendered before a local court in Pilibhit and was sent to the district jail there. He was later shifted to Etah jail. After initial dithering, the state government on Friday had allowed Pilibhit MP Maneka Gandhi to meet her son and incarcerated BJP LS candidate from Pilibhit Varun Gandhi in Etah district jail. She is expected to call on Varun on Saturday. It all began on Friday morning when Maneka Gandhi reportedly informed the Etah district administration about her plans to visit Varun in jail. Her request, however, was turned down by the jail authorities who cited provisions of the Jail Manual and the National Security Act under which Varun has been detained. As per the Manual and the Act, any detenue is allowed only two meetings with the outsiders per week. Any further meeting by anyone is subject to an official written clearance from the office of the DM concerned. As Varun has already had his quota of meetings, including ones with his mother, aunt and some senior BJP leaders including Venkaiah Naidu, the jail authorities decided to decline Maneka’s request on Friday morning. However, the issue gained momentum when Maneka, in a statement to a news channel called the restriction as ‘‘frivolous’’ and ‘‘result of political vendetta’’. In no mood to grant the saffronites a political mileage, the state government on Friday evening issued a written clarification stating that no restrictions whatsoever have been imposed on Maneka meeting her son. The communique also stated that the Etah DM has been entrusted with the authority of granting permission to the visitors according to his discretion. Shortly after the order was issued, the office of Etah DM Gaurav Dayal informed Maneka that she may meet Varun on Saturday. Dayal’s office also confirmed to TOI that Maneka was slated to visit Varun on Saturday. INFORMATION OVERLOAD? Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to zestmedia-dig...@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ PARTICIPATE:- On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:- If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to zestcaste-subscr...@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/ Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ *
[ZESTCaste] Nepal: Rhetoric reality of exclusion
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_detailsnews_id=3366 Rhetoric reality of exclusion JAINENDRA JEEVAN To win the favor of different racial groups and ethnic communities, the leaders of ‘New Nepal’ grossly politicized the issues of social exclusion and have blown it totally out of proportion. Being poorly educated and naïve, these leaders believed social problems could be solved through ideology or legislation. They stirred up racial aspirations, whether they were logically justifiable or not. They believed such a strategy would benefit them and in turn uproot their adversaries such as the monarchy. This worked for a short period of time. But it has also raised serious problems of secessionist tendencies, racial tensions and the nauseating pressure to create federal states based on ethnicity with right to self-determination. First, let us examine issues of social discrimination that were brazenly painted with political colors. One such issue is discrimination against women. Though discrimination against women was actually practiced in some theocratic states, it never was an actively-pursued policy by the state in Nepal. Many people seem to fail to realize this. Similarly, since the fall of Rana oligarchy, the practice of untouchability too has never been a state policy. Basically, these issues were and still are social problems. But some leftist politicians, ethnic and racial activists, NGO’s and INGO’s and self-styled champions of civil societies projected the whole thing as if the state had developed and actively embraced exclusionary policies. The Civil Code that came into effect in 1964 made untouchability, polygamy and other acts of discriminatory nature against Dalits and women punishable by law. Nevertheless, very little has changed in the status of either because a political system, however favorable towards Dalits and women, cannot fully eliminate social beliefs and attitudes that form the basis of discrimination against them. Similarly, even if the legislation is perfectly drafted, it cannot single-handedly eradicate the practice of untouchability from our society. In the same way, it may not work by simply incorporating such bans in the forthcoming constitution unless they are supported by massive education campaigns and social mobilizations. Also, the accusation of political exclusion is more perceived than real. Those who direct accusations at the dominance of the so-called upper caste Khas in civil service and political leadership are deliberately ignoring the underlying causes and nature of such dominance. Did the state, in any way, discourage members of other races or ethnic communities from taking their rightful share in those fields? No sane person would ever say yes. But one could still ask - why such an imbalance exists? Well, it’s because Khas Bahuns and Chhetris showed interest in those jobs, they contested for the positions and came out as winners through a competitive selection process. With regard to the recruitment of Nepali youths into British and Indian army, it is the same story with Janajatis. More than 90 percent of the successful recruits are from their communities. Less than one percent Bahuns are selected and that they are intentionally excluded is an open secret. These are facts and any survey or research will confirm it. Janajatis are well-represented in national armed forces as well. In fact, if we look back from 1951 till present, we find that most of the chiefs of the police force (IGP’s) were members of Janajati communities. Are the police and other armed forces not organs of the state? If Bahuns are over-represented in civil administration, they are far more under-represented in the armed forces. So, it is very clear that the imbalance is not a result of willful design of the regime. That imbalance was an outcome of the respective traditional skills, aptitudes, interests and the free choice that different communities exercised in the past. Yes, the exclusion of Madhesi community in the army might have been intentional, although not openly admitted. But, that was during the Panchayat rule. Such practice doesn’t exist anymore. Even among different tribes of Janajatis, there are glaring disparities when it comes to employment and economic status. For instance, Tamangs lag far behind Gurungs, Rais and Limbus. Similarly, Newars enjoy a disproportionately-higher ranking in the field of education, business and technical positions in governmental departments. As a community, they list quite high in the Human Development Index of the UN. Comparatively, Bahun and Chhetris rank lower in it, possession of wealth or GDP than many of the listed Janajatis. This would not have happened had they been exploiting, oppressing and discriminating everyone else since the last 240 years as alleged. Many more statistical data can be brought forth to counter the propaganda of exclusion that has been deliberately created. In fact, the Khas community wants to
[ZESTCaste] No ticket for Arjun daughter
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090404/jsp/nation/story_10772680.jsp Poll Calendar 12 DAYS TO GO* No ticket for Arjun daughter Bhopal: Papa Arjun’s month-long lobbying to get a nomination for daughter Beena has ended in disappointment. The Congress on Thursday announced the candidature of Sudhir Singh Tomar for the Satna Lok Sabha seat that Arjun Singh was eyeing for his daughter. Observers said it was now obvious that the Union HRD minister’s wish and recommendations were inconsequential for those calling the shots in the All India Congress Committee. a’s candidature was bitterly opposed by Arjun’s politician son Ajay, who was himself an aspirant for the Sidhi Lok Sabha seat. , however, made it clear at AICC screening committee and central election panel meetings that he would prefer to see Beena as his “successor”. Sources said that while seeking the ticket for Beena, Arjun sometimes became emotional about his “unflinching loyalty” towards the Nehru-Gandhi family. But party leaders involved in candidate selection said their feedback showed Beena was a green horn and did not fit into the caste equations in Satna. Moreover, Arjun and Beena had not been in regular touch with local Congress leaders in Satna. won Satna in 1991 but lost there in 1996. Since1998, the seat has been with the BJP. The buzz in the Congress circles was that Arjun has fallen out with 10 Janpath — meaning Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. A recently released book authored by Arjun’s close associate Ram Saran Joshi makes this obvious. The book, Ek Sahyatri Itihas Ka, has quoted Arjun’s wife Saroj questioning Sonia’s choice of President and wondered why her husband’s unflinching loyalty was not considered. “What harm would have taken place if she (Sonia) had made him the President of India, the person who gave his all to the service of the family?” Saroj told Arjun’s political biographer soon after Pratibha Patil was elected to the high office. But Arjun struck a philosophical note. “Ab theek hai, jo ho gaya so ho gaya (Now let it be, what’s happened has happened),” he said. According to some Congress leaders, the timing of book and Arjun’s tacit approval of its contents has not gone down well with the party leadership. For instance, the book claims that three years ago when Arjun was under fire for implementing the OBC quota in central higher education institutions, he had complained to Sonia about Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not coming to his rescue. INFORMATION OVERLOAD? Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to zestmedia-dig...@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ PARTICIPATE:- On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:- If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to zestcaste-subscr...@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/ Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:zestcaste-dig...@yahoogroups.com mailto:zestcaste-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zestcaste-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[ZESTCaste] Mystery shrouds cop's death in Junagadh
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Rajkot/Mystery-shrouds-cops-death-in-Junagadh/articleshow/4356916.cms Mystery shrouds cop's death in Junagadh 4 Apr 2009, 0555 hrs IST, TNN JUNAGADH: A cop in Junagadh has got other police running around to find out if his death was a suicide or an accident, as it is being portrayed. Officials of Junagadh police said that a police constable Hardas Dalit, 50, working in B-division police station was rushed to Civil Hospital in an injured condition on Thursday. He was declared brought dead. Police found a stabbing wound on his abdomen and sent the body for a postmortem. Primary investigations and the statements of family members have stunned the police. Hardas' family members said that he was peeling a carrot in drunken state when he fell and the knife penetrated his abdomen. Bleeding profusely, he was rushed to the hospital. Resident of police quarters, located at Bilkha road of the city said that Hardas consumed alcohol on regular basis after his duty hours. On returning home on Thursday evening, he had consumed alcohol. BG Limbasiya, police inspector investigating the case said, Things will become clear after the postmortem reports come on Saturday. Some of the investigating officials are not willing to buy this story and say that there seems to more to the case than it appears. Source : sandesh
[ZESTCaste] Mayawati lashes out at Congress and BJP
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200904040344.htm Top Stories Mayawati lashes out at Congress and BJP Madurai (PTI): Lashing out at both the BJP and the Congress, BSP supremo Mayawati on Friday alleged that the governments led by them at the Centre had failed to bring any change in the lives of Dalits, BCs and minorities and accused them of being backed by tycoons. Those parties (BJP and Congress) had formed the governments with the help of tycoons and naturally their economic policies did not help in wiping out the tears of poor people while the state of many upper castes is also pathetic, she said at an election rally here. Ms. Mayawati said BSP wants people irrespective of castes to come up and its doors are open to upper castes if they have changed their attitude. Her party's policy is not anti-upper caste she said. Cautioning the people not to fall prey to the freebies announced by the national and regional parties, Ms. Mayawati asked them to vote for her party in the Lok Sabha elections, for the welfare of people belonging to all castes. Ms. Mayawati, who introduced all the 24 BSP candidates, said her party was fighting the elections alone in almost all the places following the advice of Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar, who said political power alone is the powerful key to find solution to the problems of the people of all communities. Ms. Mayawati said that Dalit Christians and Muslims should be treated at par with dalit Hindus.
[ZESTCaste] IJP claims to be Dalit well-wisher, announces candidates
http://www.newkerala.com/nkfullnews-1-15001.html IJP claims to be Dalit well-wisher, announces candidates Lucknow, Apr 2 : Issuing an appeal to all those Dalits who were disillusioned with the Mayawati-led BSP, to support her party, the Indian Justice Party (IJP) President Udit Raj today said his outfit was the only sympathiser of their lot. ''If there were no reservation provisions, the BSP would not have given ticket to the Dalits,'' he said at a press conference, while releasing a list of 80 candidates from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Uttarkhand, West Bengal and Delhi. The IJP would contest the poll from a total of 23 seats in UP. Mr Raj would himself contest the election from Fatehpur Lok abha seat, while Mustak Khan and Ramakant were the party nominees from Lucknow and Allahabad constituencies. The other Parliamentary seats where the party has fielded its candidates included Dumariyaganj, Chandauli, Jhansi, Mirzapur, Kushinagar, Amroha, Phulpur, Varanasi, Jaunpur, Banda, Hamirpur, Gorakhpur, Kaushambi, Barabanki, Jalaun, Bulandshehar, Aonla, Ghaziabad, Kairana and Baghpat. --- UNI
[ZESTCaste] Dhavan lodges plaint against Bansal
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chandigarh/Dhavan-lodges-plaint-against-Bansal/articleshow/4357116.cms Dhavan lodges plaint against Bansal 4 Apr 2009, 0350 hrs IST, TNN CHANDIGARH: BSP candidate from Chandigarh, Harmohan Dhawan, on Friday lodged an official complaint against minister of state for finance and Congress candidate from Chandigarh Parliamentary constituency Pawan Kumar Bansal with the chief election commissioner (CEC) in New Delhi. Dhawan demanded that the guilty should be punished and the CEC should ask Bansal to stay away from the divide-and-rule policy. According to the letter sent to the CEC, the incident took place when the minister on March 31 undertook a padyatra without prior permission at Saheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Colony, Mauli Jagaran. Accompanying Bansal were Chandigarh Youth Congress president Harmohinder Singh Lucky and his other supporters. When the residents wanted to know about the promises made by him regarding issuance of SC/ST certificates and abolition of contractual system, he had no reply to these questions. Sensing trouble, Bansal asked Lucky to control the situation, who used castiest remarks, abused and misbehaved with the ladies, it mentioned. The letter further stated that in protest the Dalit community approached the police post and Lucky was detained for investigation. However, police post in-charge SHO and DSP received calls from senior officials to release Lucky immediately at Bansal’s behest. Lucky was made to escape in DSP PK Dhawan’s official vehicle and was dropped near Bansal. The action taken by the Chandigarh Police under pressure was met with strong resistance as people of dalit community went on a peaceful protest in a democratic way. Instead of getting their complaint registered, they were arrested without any ample proof, the letter added. Dhawan states in the letter that Lucky has resorted to such language earlier also in 1999 when he was the president of NSUI Chandigarh wing and it is very much clear that he is habitual of creating nuisance by uttering such castiest remarks.TNN INFORMATION OVERLOAD? Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to zestmedia-dig...@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ PARTICIPATE:- On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:- If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to zestcaste-subscr...@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/ Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:zestcaste-dig...@yahoogroups.com mailto:zestcaste-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zestcaste-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[ZESTCaste] Jet-set Mayawati is BSP's lone campaigner
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/jet-set-mayawati-is-bsp/s-lone-campaigner/353966/ Jet-set Mayawati is BSP's lone campaigner Aasha Khosa / New Delhi April 04, 2009, 1:32 IST Uttar Pradesh Chief Minster Mayawati’s day begins with taking off from Lucknow in one of the nine helicopters hired by her party — the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Generally by noon, she reaches the venue of her first election rally of the day. Her entourage — which comprises Satish Chandra Mishra, her confidant and Brahmin face of the BSP; Naseem Uddin Siddiqui, the public works minister and also the Muslim poster-boy; and Babu Singh Kushwaha, minister and the party’s state chief, who is projected as an OBC (Other backward class) face — returns to Lucknow by late evening. According to party sources, Mayawati’s jet-set campaigning began on March 21. Being the lone star campaigner of her party, she has given herself the task of addressing election rallies in 150 towns and cities across the country in a record 52 days — an average of three rallies per day. According to Ram Subramanium, the BSP general secretary in charge of southern states and a candidate from Coimbtore, his party’s campaign is centred around Mayawati and her cult. “We do not need banners, posters, radio and television campaigns. Every candidate wants Mayawati to visit his constituency.” He says Mayawati is too keen to return to Lucknow by evening so that she attends her office and her critics do not blame for ignoring her responsibilities as chief minister. “She surely is the most jet-lagged campaigner for the coming Lok Sabha elections,” Subramanium said. Nurturing an ambition of becoming the prime minister and seeing the BSP rule at the Centre, Mayawati has nominated candidates for nearly all the 553 Lok Sabha constituencies. “Except for the north-eastern states, we have done an analysis of all the constituencies,” a BSP leader told Business Standard. The BSP has no political manifesto, as it does not believe in this, yet the individual candidates have been permitted to circulate their “agenda for their constituencies”. Interestingly, Mayawati’s election rallies have only her as the speaker, while the trio of Mishra, Siddiqui and Kishwaha merely accompany her. Mayawati however, introduces them as a team to send across her message of the party’s inclusiveness of all communities. In her speech, Mayawati talks of her party’s theme slogan of “Sarvjan Hitaye Sarvjan Sukhaye” (welfare and prosperity for all) as against its Dalit-centred focus in the past. She highlights the secular ways of the Uttar Pradesh government under her leadership and scheme to benefits all the communities. She also dangles out the promise of reservation for the economically poor sections among the upper castes too at her rallies. According to Subramanium, the party’s presence in southern states the would bring together Dalits, who in Tamil Nadu alone comprise about 25 per cent of the voters. INFORMATION OVERLOAD? Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to zestmedia-dig...@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ PARTICIPATE:- On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:- If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to zestcaste-subscr...@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/ Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:zestcaste-dig...@yahoogroups.com mailto:zestcaste-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zestcaste-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[ZESTCaste] VHP threatens stir on lines of Amarnath, targets Maya
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/vhp-threatens-stir-on-lines-of-amarnath-.../442885/ VHP threatens stir on lines of Amarnath, targets Maya Express news service Posted online: Apr 04, 2009 at 0040 hrs Allahabad : Coming to the defence of Varun Gandhi, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has threatened to launch a nationwide protest on the pattern of the Amarnath agitation if the BJP's Pilibhit candidate was not released soon. Coming down heavily on UP Chief Minister Mayawati for slapping the National Security Act on Varun Gandhi, international president of the VHP Ashok Singhal said the BSP Government and Mayawati would have to answer to the people about reasons for imposing the NSA on Varun. He accused the UP Chief Minister of having dual standards for cheap political gains. She imposed the NSA on Varun for raising the issue of Hindu fundamentalism at a public meeting. However, she herself was promoting communalism by pleasing the Muslim community by slapping the NSA on Varun and giving a ticket to don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari from Varanasi, said Singhal. Regarding the Election Commission ordering registration of a criminal case against Varun for his inflammatory speech, Singhal said the commission should limit itself to holding peaceful elections and should not overstep its jurisdiction. All prominent religious leaders and lakhs of VHP activists, thousands of saints in 13 akharas and BJP supporters are behind Varun. I have had talks with all Hindu religious leaders and they all extended their support, Singhal added.
[ZESTCaste] BJP turns ultra populist, promises sops to every section, pledges to save 'Ram Sethu' and build Ram temple
http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/16547 BJP turns ultra populist, promises sops to every section, pledges to save 'Ram Sethu' and build Ram temple Sat, 2009-04-04 10:29 By M Rama Rao, India Editor, Asian Tribune New Delhi, 04 April (asiantribune.com): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday turned to populist platform, returned to its Ram temple agenda though in passing and promised to save 'Ram Sethu'. In a 49-page manifesto, which has something on offer for every section from soldiers to farmers and from youth to women and middle classes, the party said it would be tough on matters national security. A tough anti-terror law and a thorough overhaul of Intelligence Bureau and Research and Analysis Wing and Intelligence Bureau are amongst the promises in the manifesto drafted by nuclear physics professor turned Hindutva ideologue Murali Manohar Joshi. L K Advani released the manifesto here at a glittering party function. While the Congress has promised rice at Rs 3 per kg, the BJP promised to make available wheat and rice at much cheaper prices. We will provide will provide 35 kgs of rice or whet at Rs 2 per kg for Below Poverty Line (BPL) families against food coupons. The party has gone out to woo the farmers offering them to waive off all current loans and provide fresh loans at four per cent interest rate. Every school-going girl child belonging to BPL families will be provided by a bicycle, the manifesto said, which also promised hike in income exemption limit to Rs. three lakh for the salaried class and IT exemption to all categories of defence personnel, Unlike the Congress and the DMK, the BJP vowed that it would not allow any damage to the Ram Sethu. It pledged to curb foreign funds for outfits promoting separatist ideologies and get back black money stashed in tax havens Temple Only After Clear Majority Murli Manohar Joshi said if the BJP gets a clear majority in the coming Lok Sabha polls, its government will build a Ram temple at Ayodhya. Construction of the temple is a matter of nishtha and aastha (commitment and faith) for BJP, he said. He reiterated that if a consensus on erecting the structure is not reached, BJP would go ahead with enacting a law for this purpose. 'Ram Temple is not only ours but the issue of the whole country and a demand of the whole nation. Construction of the temple is important for the country. It is better if all get it constructed by a consensus, otherwise the party will do it by making a new law, which we have been saying for quite long', Joshi was quoted as saying in an interview. Congress Critique Congress has rubbished the BJP manifesto as of no value. It said the BJP is ‘not in tune’ with India and has lost its way. ‘This manifesto is a reflection of the fact that they have lost their way. They will never be in tune with India. They will always be the BJP which is never in tune with India’, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said’. He went on to add: ‘BJP’s problem is they give an agenda to people which has no value because when it comes to NDA, the partners are not willing to accept their agenda. Therefore, this is not a national agenda. This is a parochial BJP agenda which has no value’. Sibal also claimed that the BJP would not be able to carry forward the Ram temple issue as ‘later they will say that they cannot take it forward as allies are against it’. The Congress leader charged the BJP with reinventing the Ram temple issue to ‘mislead’ the country. ‘They have no issue today, neither economic nor social. Therefore, they are again talking of Ram temple and cow protection’. Summary and Highlights: Putting Poor First 1. All BPL families to get 35 kg of rice or wheat every month at Rs 2 per kg. This will be available against Food Coupons redeemable both at PDS and private outlets. 2. Ensure farm loans at a maximum interest rate of 4 percent. 3. Waive agricultural loans. 4. Introduce a Farm Income Insurance Scheme through which both price and produce will be insured 5. Irrigate 35 million hectares of additional farmland within 5 years. 6. Initiate special schemes for the urban poor, such as loans at 4 percent interest to poor vendors. 7. Set up a Workers Bank to provide a safety net for unorganized sector workers. 8. Revise minimum wages and ensure strict implementation of the Wages Act. Economy Grows, India Prospers 1. Generate employment through massive public spending on infrastructure projects. Complete the implementation of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s dream projects: National Highway Development Project by building 15-20 km of new highways every day; and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, to link all villages with over 500 people by all-weather road. 2. Introduce schemes to encourage private industry and services sectors. Ensure a low tax, low interest rate regime. 3. Exempt personal Income Tax for those earning up to Rs 3 lakh per annum. For women and Senior Citizens, the exemption will be Rs 3.5 lakh per annum. This will
[ZESTCaste] In milk city, Cong is ‘taste of India'
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1245218 Saturday, April 04, 2009 11:17:00 AM In milk city, Cong is ‘taste of India' Urvashi Dev Rawal / DNA Anand, the cradle of India's white revolution and milk cooperative sector, has been a traditional Congress bastion with stalwarts like Ishwarbhai Chavda and Madhavsinh Solanki having been its MP and MLA respectively. This time, too, it seems poised to go the Congress way, unless the BJP has an ace up its sleeve. Madhavsinh Solanki had successfully milked the KHAM (Kshatriya, Harijan, Adivasi and Muslim) combination here. This equation is still the mainstay of his son and sitting MP, Bharatsinh Solanki. Ishwarbhai Chavda, senior Solanki's father-in-law, was elected MP from Anand in 1980, 1984, 1991, 1996 and 1998. In 1999, Chavda lost to BJP's Dipak Sathi, but in 2004 the seat went back to Congress when Bharatsinh won. Interestingly, this time the BJP has put up Dipak Sathi who was denied party ticket in 2004 after his involvement in Charotar Nagrik Cooperative Bank scam surfaced. The BJP has won the seat only two times, in 1989 and 1999. In the recent delimitation exercise, a new seat, Anklav has been created by merging some villages from Borsad, Bhadran and Sarsa assembly segments. While five of the seven assembly segments — Khambhat, Borsad, Anand, Petlad and Sojitra — (before delimitation) have been retained in Anand, Umreth has been taken out of Kheda and made part of Anand constituency. Since it is traditionally a Congress seat, it will benefit the party. Of the seven assembly segments, Borsad, Umreth and Petlad are with the Congress, while Khambhat, Anand and Sojitra are with the BJP (Anklav is a new seat). The total electorate in the constituency is around 13.94 lakh. The OBC Kshatriya voters, whom the Congress is hoping to woo successfully again, number around 4 lakh. The next largest community is Patels (around 2 lakh), followed by Dalits (1.7 lakh) and Muslims (1.2 lakh). The Congress hold on the Kaira Milk Producers' Union as well as the Charotar Cooperative Bank, which have around 2 lakh members, will also help the party. Says Borsad MLA and Bharatsinh's cousin, Amit Chavda: Anand and Kheda have around 1,100 cooperative mandlis which have some 2 lakh members. Says Nimesh Joshi, faculty at SEMCOM College in Vallabh Vidyanagar: Bharatsinh has been successful in getting his community's vote. The BJP is not strong because it has not been able to find a strong candidate from here. There is no anti-incumbency factor against Bharatsinh and Sathi has not been active in politics for the last five years. The constituency has a diverse geographical and cultural mix, from the ancient port town of Khambhat to NRG-funds rich Anand, which boasts of GCMMF and several educational institutions like Irma, to relatively underdeveloped Sojitra and Borsad. The poll issues vary in different parts of the constituency. In Khambhat, the locals complain about the bad quality of water. It is not even fit enough to bathe, they say. The rural areas in Borsad, Sojitra and Petlad are still not well-developed, and there are few employment opportunities. Bharatsinh claims he has approached the Centre with proposals to set up food processing industries in the district. The BJP, which is on the back foot on the issue of Sathi's tainted image, is banking on the work done by him when he was the MP, as well as the achievements of the state government. Sathi is a very friendly and accessible person. When he was MP, he had started a Demu train from here to Ahmedabad, says Mahesh Patel, Anand district BJP president. Bharatsinh only wins because of his community votes. But the OBC community, too, does not blindly vote for the Congress now. They have become discerning and will vote on the merit of the candidate, he adds. Meanwhile, the Congress is confident of its win on the back of work done by Bharatsinh Solanki and various achievements of the UPA government. Borsad MLA Chavda says: During the UPA government rule, development works entailing an expenditure of Rs400 crore were completed in Anand district. Roads have been built, and farmers and daily wagers have benefited from the Centre's schemes. Around 40,000 rural households have been electrified. INFORMATION OVERLOAD? Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to zestmedia-dig...@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ PARTICIPATE:- On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:- If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to zestcaste-subscr...@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting
[ZESTCaste] BJP bets on Hindutva, middle class, military
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=BJP+bets+on+Hindutva,+middle+class,+militaryartid=hY/bkp9RjVA=SectionID=b7ziAYMenjw=MainSectionID=b7ziAYMenjw=SectionName=pWehHe7IsSU=SEO=elections,%20bjp,%20manifesto,%20election By IANS 03 Apr 2009 12:57:13 PM IST BJP bets on Hindutva, middle class, military NEW DELHI: Making a determined pitch to return to power in what promises to be one of India's toughest elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday unveiled major sops for the military, the middle class and the poor as it sought the popular mandate. Leading the multi-party National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the BJP, however, stuck to its Hindutva agenda while making it clear that nothing controversial would be thrust on its allies without whose help it cannot form a government. BJP's prime ministerial nominee L.K. Advani told journalists at the BJP headquarters that the so-called Third Front did not stand a chance in the April-May Lok Sabha elections and that any new government would be linked either to the Congress or his party. The 48-page manifesto made no reference to the India Shining theme that led to the NDA's shock defeat in 2004, propelling the Congress, which then focussed on aam admi (common man), to power. The BJP said it was committed to building a grand Ram temple at the site of Ayodhya's Babri mosque that was razed in 1992 after an emotive campaign led by Advani. It vowed to work for an altered shipping channel through the Palk Strait so as not to damage the Ram Setu, which it is believed was built by Hindu god Ram. There is an overwhelming desire of the people in India and abroad to have a grand temple at the birthplace of (Lord) Ram, the manifesto said. The BJP will explore all possibilities, including negotiations and judicial proceedings, to facilitate the construction of the Ram temple. The BJP added that it remained firm on abrogating article 370 of the constitution which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, India's only Muslim majority state. Advani underlined that the manifesto reflected the BJP's thinking and he was not asking (its allies) to accept it. We will send it to them and ask (what) they agree with and then jointly prepare a NDA agenda. Even as it harped on Hindutva issues, it announced a string of fiscal concessions amid the current economic downslide to attract the millions of decisive poor and middle class votes. The manifesto promised that a BJP-led NDA government would provide 35 kg of rice or wheat every month at Rs.2 per kg to the poorest of the poor and waive off farm loans. The BJP said all military and paramilitary personnel would be exempted from income tax, take steps to set up a separate Pay Commission for armed forces and implement a one-rank-one-pension scheme. The party said those earning up to Rs.300,000 a year would be exempted from paying income tax, the amount going up to Rs.350,000 for women and senior citizens. And for a party that has traditionally counted on traders as its support base, it pledged a ban on foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail sector so as to help the domestic retail trade. The manifesto blamed the Congress for the socio-economic backwardness of Muslims, India's largest religious minority, and said every Indian felt proud about the success stories of Muslims in sports, cinema, industry and a host of other fields. The BJP said it would promote all languages, Urdu included. Advani made no reference to the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which last month ended its 11-year-old alliance with the BJP, but pointed out that besides the Shiv Sena, Akali Dal and Janata Dal-United (JD-U), four new parties had teamed up with the BJP to fight the elections that begin April 16. He identified them as the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM). In other promises, the BJP said it would introduce: -- education and job quotas for economically backward sections other than Dalits, tribals and Other Backward Castes (OBCs). -- an improved law on the lines of the Prevention of Terrorist Activities (POTA). -- use of coercive diplomacy against countries engaging in exporting terror. -- a comprehensive National Identity Card for all Indians. The Congress dismissed the BJP manifesto as one of no consequence. Congress spokesperson Kapil Sibal told reporters: They have a narrow agenda, narrow vision and narrow mind. This manifesto has no meaning since it is not the NDA's manifesto.
