Parties play politics over eviction notice

Today News: The eviction notice served by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to thousands of families living in Tughlaqabad village since the 14th century is slowly snowballing into a political issue. While the ASI takes the plea that the villagers have “encroached upon” the government land, the two prominent parties of Delhi — the Congress and the BJP — with their eyes set on upcoming Municipal elections, have openly come out in support of the villagers. 

A delegation of Congress leaders — south Delhi Member of Parliament Ramesh Kumar and Chhatarpur MLA Balram Tanwar among others — met chief minister Sheila Dikshit to reflect the tension prevailing in the village. 

The move came just two days after a BJP delegation, led by leader of the Opposition in Delhi Assembly, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, and area MLA Ramesh Bidhuri met Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna “to bring the matter to his notice”.

Yet another group of local leaders with west Delhi MP Mahabal Misra also met union culture minister Kumari Selja to request her to intervene into the matter. Senior political leaders accept that if municipal elections had not been around the corner, the issue would not have seen so much political frenzy. The issue has been in Court for quite some time now, but never managed to gather so much political support. 

“Tughlaqabad is among several Gujjar villages that are spread in south, south west and west Delhi. The elections in these areas are fought and won with the support of Gujjar votes. The political leaders know that lending their support to the cause would help them get some support and votes in the municipal elections next year,”said a senior Congress leader.


With the Congress facing dual problems of Corruption and inflation at the Centre, the local leaders are making efforts get some support at the grassroot level. On the other hand, Tughlaqabad is one of two Assembly segments in Delhi where BJP managed to get more votes than the Congress could in the 2009 Parliament elections.

Hisar witnesses political colours of Dussehra

The Vijaya Dashami here saw political colours, as supporters of Anna Hazare and members of India Against Corruption, Congress workers and INLD activists reached the venue of  Ravana Dahan at old college ground to spread their respective messages.

Interestingly, Congress candidate Jai Prakash, had arranged high-tech gadgets here by installing big LCD screens and DJ sound to canvass votes for Congress, while INLD supporters distributed pamphlets in support of Ajay Singh Chautala.

High drama was witnessed when the audience tried to stop them from doing this, but they did not pay any heed and continued their work. Soon, the `'Anna factor'' came into play when IAC members were welcomed by the audience.

"We welcome the supporters of Anna Hazare, because he is not political. Parties indulging in such kind of pomp and show during Ramleela is very strange for us and not appreciated by the public," said Umesh Pandey, a city resident. Another resident, Rameshwer Singh said, "The meaning of Ramleela has changed in this election. It's not good that they are playing politics during Vijaya Dashami."

There is a village near Delhi, which does not burn the effigy of Ravana as the residents believe that the Sri Lanka ruler spent his childhood here.

Pakistan to Afghanistan: Stop 'Playing Politics'

Today's News: Pakistan is calling on Afghanistan to refrain from "playing politics" following Afghan allegations of Pakistani involvement in recent high-profile attacks.


Afghanistan's intelligence agency has said that the assassination of the country's top peace envoy, former President Burhanuddin Rabbani, was planned in Pakistan and carried out by a Pakistani citizen.


Islamabad has denied the allegations and offered to cooperate with the probe of Rabbani's killing.  On Thursday, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tehmina Janjua urged Afghanistan to stop making such accusations.

She told reporters in Islamabad that Afghan officials should demonstrate "maturity and responsibility" and refrain from political grandstanding.


The foreign office ministry spokeswoman also said the Pakistani government was closely studying the strategic pact Afghanistan signed this week with Islamabad's archenemy, India.

The deal looks to boost security and economic ties between both nations, with India agreeing to help train Afghan forces.


Janjua said Thursday that any such deal should take into account the fundamental principle of ensuring stability in the region.


Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Wednesday that both India and Afghanistan are sovereign countries and have the right to do what they want.

India’s Agreement with Afghanistan

News Today: New Delhi Oct. 4, 2011: India and Afghanistan signed a strategic partnership in Delhi Tuesday, just a few days after Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s office accused a Pakistani citizen of carrying out a suicide attack against former president and peace envoy Burhanuddin Rabbani last month.

The partnership, which was signed an agreement after Mr. Karzai met with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, involves India training Afghan security forces. This takes ties between Delhi and Kabul to a new level, beyond the economic reconstruction that India has been very careful to focus on in the last decade since the Americans returned to Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. It is the first such agreement Afghanistan has with any country, including the U.S.

“The people of Afghanistan have suffered enough. They deserve to live in peace and decide their future themselves, without outside interference, coercion and intimidation,” Mr. Singh told the media Tuesday evening.

This agreement is aimed at forging a “deeper understanding between the two countries, especially at a time when the region is particularly unstable,” a highly placed Indian government official with responsibility for the matter said.

Off from politics, it's puja time for Pranab

Today News: MIRITI (WEST BENGAL): The usual image of  Pranab Mukherjee is one of a seasoned politician stepping out of Parliament and facing TV cameras. On Monday, villagers at Miriti, saw the 'other' Pranab Mukherjee - a Bengali at heart, spirit and tradition.

Dressed in a 'dhoti' and an 'uttoriyo', a traditional scarf, Mukherjee performed Durga Puja rituals, keeping alive a tradition started by his forefathers decades ago. His steps were measured on Monday, Saptami, when he walked towards a canal carrying a bamboo plankton (kalabou), chanting 'mantras' with a poise that matched the delivery of a Budget speech. He had the entire village as spectators when he dipped the plankton into the canal, then sat cross-legged on the cemented steps, his hands folded in devotion. Some more mantras followed before he finally got off at the end of the half-an-hour ritual.

Not many know that the ace politician is a religious man who makes it a point to celebrate Durga Puja at his ancestral home every year.

At 8.30am, Mukherjee, accompanied by son Abhijit - a newly elected MLA - walked down to the canal from his home. Priests took a backseat as he led the ritual, occasionally taking their help.

Later, his 'Chandipath' left the small audience that comprised relatives, friends and members of the press enthralled. Then he performed the aarati, much like a professional priest. Then it was time for a break as Mukherjee finally took up a chair, chatting with relatives. "I look forward to the puja every year. Every year I try to come here. I have missed it on a couple of occasions though. This is a traditional event in our family and I try to follow it. For me, Durga Puja is very important," said Mukherjee. But he did not consider the pujas to be holidays. "This is also a duty for me," he clarified.

Security was tight but cops didn't prevent hundreds of villagers from joining the celebrations and lunch at the Mukherjee residence. Along with businessmen, bureaucrats and party leaders, poor villagers were seen strolling around the house freely. There was no show of grandeur either. An idol has been placed inside a small temple, not decorated extravagantly. No special 'prasad' was arranged for VIP guests.

Mukherjee's son Abhijit assisted his father for performing the rituals. He carried the sacred earthen pot as he followed his father to the canal in the morning.