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Saturday, November 24, 2007

[vinnomot] General Musharraf now also referred as a ‘‘terrorist’’!

Pervez Musharraf is a democrat, a visionary, and a loyal ally in the war on terror for the president George Bush but to an ever-widening phalanx of critics, he is a ''thug, '' a ' power hungry dictator'' and now, a ''terrorist.'' A California daily has referred to him as a ''terrorist,'' attributing the epithet to critics.


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Re: [vinnomot] Some black records - facts about ex President late General Zia (based on some authentic documents)

dear all ,
              this may be the sayings of a polityically blind person.
\mr faize is very very obliged to BAL politics and sk hasina.
He is dead against bangladeshi nationalism. so he cant make a nutral comment about sahid zia.
amader somoy is blind BAL supporter.they called mujib "jatir pita"
Zia was a patriotic and democratic he believe in multiparty system. he is the father of multi party system in bangladesh.
zia not only established jamat  he established BAL CPB and other political party.
and mujib as dictator and killer od democracy banned all political party except his own.
this the difference between father of democracy and killer of democracy.

"Engr. Shafiq Bhuiyan" <srbanunz@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear politically conscious and enthusiastic readers, columnist & journalist.
 
 
I mentioning below some of the many black records - facts about ex President late General Zia (based on some authentic documents). I have collected these from different newspapers only.
 
 
  1. Zia and then his wife Khaleda Zia have only established Jamat -Shibir politically - economically - Said senior Journalist (anti Awami Legume minded) Mr. Foez Ahmed. For detail please read the news published in anti Awami League newspaper the Amadershomoy on 24.11.07
 
 
 
  1. Up to now in Bangladesh, inflation percentage was highest (18.46 %) during Zia era only .For detail please read the news published in anti Awami League newspaper the Naoyadigonta on 24.11.07
 
 
  1. Maximum numbers of people were hanged in Gen Zia era only (morethan70 %) 281 out of 400. For detail please read the news published in anti Awami League newspaper the Amadershomoy on 20.10.07
http://amadershomoy.com/news.php?id=206336&sys=3
 
 
If any one know any more and any other odd & black records - facts about late President Gen Ziaur Rahman (based on documented proof & authentic documents), then would you please send me.
 
I am planning to make some research on late President Gen Ziaur Rahman, what damages he had done to Bangladesh and Bangalee.
 
 
Any logical comments, arguments will be cordially welcome.
 
 


"Sustha thakon, nirapade thakon ebong valo thakon"

Shuvechhante,

Shafiqur Rahman Bhuiyan (ANU)
NEW ZEALAND.

Phone: 00-64-9-828 2435 (Res), 00-64-0274  500 277 (mobile)
E-mail: srbanunz@gmail.com

N.B.: If any one is offended by content of this e-mail, please ignore & delete this e-mail. I also request you to inform me - to delete your name from my contact list.
 



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[vinnomot] Re: [khabor.com] ATN Bangla supremo Mahfuzur Rahman interviewed on future of Bangla media technology

Do you think media people are any better in USA and India??
He is a smart chap--knows what he is doing. I don;t know more about
him but his contribution to Bengali media is definitely great,
Biplab

--- In vinnomot@yahoogroups.com, "Mr. Abul" <abuilla@...> wrote:
>
> Dr. Pal,
>
> I wonder why you don't find anybody else to interview with other
than a jerk like Mahfuzur Rahman. He is a funny character and his
channel is one of the worst in BD. Why are you promoting him?
>
> Why don't you upload some portions of the famous movie "The City
of Joy" and the video clip on "Tehelika Scandal" instead?
>
> Thanks you.
>
> -MA
>
>
> Dr Biplab Pal <biplabpal2000@...> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Be a better sports nut! Let your teams follow you with Yahoo
Mobile. Try it now.
>



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[vinnomot] Taslima's supporters in Calcutta were chased out by police!

Another ++ from Islamist appeasing Government of West Bengal!
 
They shut down a peaceful pro-Taslima demonstration!
 
Full press release from CAAMB in www.vinnomot.com
 
Biplab
 
From: CAAMB Kolkata < caambkolkata@hotmail.com>
Date: Nov 24, 2007 12:24 PM
Subject: CAAMB's silent sit-in at Park Circus stopped by Police
To: mohitray@hotmail.com
 

STOP PRESS

 
CAAMB's silent sit-in demonstration at Park Circus Crossing was stopped by Police after 20 minutes
 
 
As announced before and informed to local police, CAAMB started its silent sit-in demonstration at Park Circus Crossing at 2 pm under the statute of Jayprakash Narayan. This is the first demonstration on the street to demand Taslima Nasrin's right to stay in Kolkata and to condemn the Islamic violence on 21 November 2007.
 
The sit-in demonstration started well with hanging of different posters. There were a number of policemen present around. After about 20 minutes when a large number of media persons have arrived and our workers started to gather, Police intervened and told us to vacate the place. As we asked the reason for such order, police said they are being instructed from the top. Police felt that was a sensitive place and could not allow us to continue. As we did not want to worsen the scenario, we were forced to leave. The media people talked to us in length about the issue.
 CAAMB programme has been shown in 3 Bengali TV News Channel - Star Ananda, Chabbis Ghanta and E-tv
It was a black day for democratic rights of this state . While the police allowed the violent religious fanatics to carry on destruction throughout the day on 21 November, they could not allow a peaceful silent demonstration for more than 20 minutes. This shows the state of administration of West Bengal which is bent on appeasing the Islamic fundamentalists.
 
We appeal to everyone to condemn the police action on the freedom of expression by stopping our peaceful silent sit-in demonstration.
 
The press statement in Bengali attached

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[vinnomot] Re: Now Indian politicians want ban on "right to criticism of religion"

If religion is all about truth, why are its followers so afraid of it's vulnerability toward scrutiny, criticism and rational analysis? What kind of truth does a religion hold that cannot withstand self-appraisal and evaluation? If a single reason is to be quoted as to why civilization has advanced where it is today, then it's that- great minds had never abandoned the practice and analysis of truth.
 
Jahed Ahmed  
 
 
   

Dr Biplab Pal <biplabpal2000@yahoo.com> wrote:
 
"Nobody has a right to criticise religion. I am a Muslim but I have no right to criticize Hindus or Hindu Gods or Sikhs or Christians.  In the Holy Quran, there is a verse which says you respect your religion and you respect other religions also. Now, when she has done this (blasphemous writing), she has been turned out of her country. India has given her asylum. If she wants to stay in peace and if she wants India to be in peace, she must not continue with that sort of dialogue," Dr Abdullah added.
 Biplab's addition:
 India is a liberal country because Hindu reformers like Ram Mohan, Vidyasagar, Vivekanda dared to criticize their religion and took to moderation as well as modernization.  Religion is a product of social evolution --that's why it is dynamic--there can never be a static form of a religion. Unless a religion is criticized, it can never be made vibrant and useful to meet the need of current time. Prof Abdus Salam said-greatest crime against Islam has been committed by not allowing it to subject to criticism--it is only criticism that would be taking out better interpretation of Islam.
 
According to Bhagbad Gita, it is duty of every Hindu to exterminate 'Bidharmi' in war--by all fair assessment, Muslims are aginst Sanatan dharma. Then according to Hinduism, all Hindus must exterminate Muslim population of India. Does Dr Abdullah want this?  Or say, given the amount of hatred against idolators in Quran, how a Muslim can love a Hindu if he has to go by scripture?
 
A religion must be continuously reformed to meet the standard of time.
 
Libreral democracy needs criticism of religion as essential oxygen for its meaningful evolution to a productive society.
 
Looks to me, people like Abdullah wants to convert India into Pakistan. However, good news is, yesterday West Bengal Govt officially declared that they are ready with security for Taslima and she can stay in Calcutta if she wishes. This has happened because  even today, there are still a lot of idealists are left in CPM and they have saved the party from ideological bankruptcy. Minister Subhash Chaktrabarty said, Taslima can stay in his house. Given the political clout of Subhash, I am sure nobody would dare to vandalize Taslima's stay in Calcutta again. We need a leftist strongman like Subhash to combat Islamists.
 
Biplab
 



"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do
everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."
-Edward Everett Hale
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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[vinnomot] Now Indian politicians want ban on "right to criticism of religion"

 
"Nobody has a right to criticise religion. I am a Muslim but I have no right to criticize Hindus or Hindu Gods or Sikhs or Christians.  In the Holy Quran, there is a verse which says you respect your religion and you respect other religions also. Now, when she has done this (blasphemous writing), she has been turned out of her country. India has given her asylum. If she wants to stay in peace and if she wants India to be in peace, she must not continue with that sort of dialogue," Dr Abdullah added.
 Biplab's addition:
 India is a liberal country because Hindu reformers like Ram Mohan, Vidyasagar, Vivekanda dared to criticize their religion and took to moderation as well as modernization.  Religion is a product of social evolution --that's why it is dynamic--there can never be a static form of a religion. Unless a religion is criticized, it can never be made vibrant and useful to meet the need of current time. Prof Abdus Salam said-greatest crime against Islam has been committed by not allowing it to subject to criticism--it is only criticism that would be taking out better interpretation of Islam.
 
According to Bhagbad Gita, it is duty of every Hindu to exterminate 'Bidharmi' in war--by all fair assessment, Muslims are aginst Sanatan dharma. Then according to Hinduism, all Hindus must exterminate Muslim population of India. Does Dr Abdullah want this?  Or say, given the amount of hatred against idolators in Quran, how a Muslim can love a Hindu if he has to go by scripture?
 
A religion must be continuously reformed to meet the standard of time.
 
Libreral democracy needs criticism of religion as essential oxygen for its meaningful evolution to a productive society.
 
Looks to me, people like Abdullah wants to convert India into Pakistan. However, good news is, yesterday West Bengal Govt officially declared that they are ready with security for Taslima and she can stay in Calcutta if she wishes. This has happened because  even today, there are still a lot of idealists are left in CPM and they have saved the party from ideological bankruptcy. Minister Subhash Chaktrabarty said, Taslima can stay in his house. Given the political clout of Subhash, I am sure nobody would dare to vandalize Taslima's stay in Calcutta again. We need a leftist strongman like Subhash to combat Islamists.
 
Biplab
 
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[vinnomot] Re: [khabor.com] Chief Justice Ruhul Amin -- The story behind the story

 

Thanks for informing the cheating backgrounds & history of Mr. Chowdhury Irad Ahmed Siddiky to guard against his shenanigans.

 

We have to be very careful also against many others cheaters, liars like this CIAS.

 

We have to expose their real face and background too to in these e-blogs and society.

 

 

Keep it up.

 

We are with you, will be with you. 

 

 

 
"Sustha thakon, nirapade thakon ebong valo thakon"

Shuvechhante,

Shafiqur Rahman Bhuiyan (ANU)
NEW ZEALAND.

Phone: 00-64-9-828 2435 (Res), 00-64-0274  500 277 (mobile)
E-mail: srbanunz@gmail.com

N.B.: If any one is offended by content of this e-mail, please ignore & delete this e-mail. I also request you to inform me by an e- mail - to delete your name from my contact list.



 
On 11/25/07, faridsrahman <faridsrahman@yahoo.com> wrote:

Reference:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/khabor/post?act=reply&messageNum=6710
"arefchowdhury" <arefchowdhury@...> wrote:

------------
Gonsalves, what about your real name?
------------

There is a history behind Chowdhury Irad Ahmed Siddiky's use of this
fake ID arefchowdhury@yahoo.com. It is important for khabor members
to know the history to guard against Irad's shenanigans.

Chowdhury Irad Ahmed Siddiky is an old sinner on the internet. One of
his favorite methods of harassing a person is to create an ID
suggestive of aperson he hates. And then to use that ID to make
preposterous posts.

shmir101@hotmail.com, for example, is one such ID used by Chowdhury
Irad Ahmed Siddiky. Whey did he assume this fake ID? Because the real
shomir had exposed Chowdhury Irad Ahmed Siddiky on
soc.culture.bangladesh in 2000 when convicted felon Nepo's pola Irad
tried to pass himself off as a double PHD (sic) with one Ph.D.
supposed to be in economics from Iowa while the other Ph.D. in
history from Yale.

So, Irad the 420, proceeded to do the only thing he does well -
harass the real shomir on internet. He opened an account on hotmail
(shomir101@hotmail) and then, pretending to be the real shomir,
posted preposterous posts to embarrass him.

Dr. Aref Chowdhury is another person that Nepo's pola Irad loves to
hate and harass. Why? Just sheer jealousy. Rubel (Aref Chowdhury) and
Irad were both undergraduates at SUNY at Stonybrook in the early
1990s. But then their paths diverged. Ruble went on to earn his Ph.D.
in Wisconsin and is now an eminent scientist with Bell Labs. In 2004,
MIT recognized Dr. Aref Chowdhury to be among the top 100 innovators
of the year for his work in non-linear optics. Chowdhury Irad Ahmed
Siddiky was, of course, up to his usual hobby of faking degrees and
had added a couple of law degrees from Warwick and Essex in addition
to the two fake PHD (sic) degrees from Iowa and Yale that he had in
his CV.

Needless to say, the Crown Prince of Baliadi was jealous beyond
believe. He proceeded to bad-mouth and embarrass Rubel at every
opportunity. Not satisfied with that, Irad proceeded to bad mouth not
just Rubel's brother and sister but even his father, Professor
Mostafa Chowdhury who was chairman of political science at Dhaka
University.

When Professor Aftab Ahmed (close family friend of Professor Mostafa
Chowdhury and a former Vice Chancellor) was murdered, Chowdhury Irad
Ahmed made posts and send e-mails to many (including Dr. Aref
Chowdhury) expressing satisfaction at the murder and warning that it
was now Prof. Mostafa Chowdhury's turn to be murdered!

khabor members now know how jealous-prone and how vindictive
Chowdhury Irad Ahmed Siddiky can be. So, if Irad tries to say that
there is some hanky panky about the 2 million dollar "Nina aunty &
Fakhruddin uncle" house or about a property owned by Justice Ruhul
Amin's "son", khabor readers will do well to be on their guard. and,
especially so, if it is done under the fake ID of arefchowdhury to
spite his old nemesis Dr. Aref Chowdhury in the bargain.



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[vinnomot] Fwd: TASLIMA NASRIN LATE NEWS



Wasm  wrote:

Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2007 16:26:36 -0500
Subject: TASLIMA NASRIN LATE NEWS
From: To: SELECTED



The present e-mail is being sent collectively to the dozens who have e-mailed their support for and solidarity with Taslima Nasrin.  Thanks.  Your several hundred e-mails have been forwarded to Taslima, who has her laptop with her but likely cannot respond to all.

For the latest news about her reluctantly leaving Kolkata for Jaipur and then on to Delhi, a site with numerous other links, see

        http://news.google.com/news?client=safari&rls=en-us&q=taslima+nasrin&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wn

In Delhi, Andrew Buncombe wrote (24 November 2007) of India's problems in respect to the Muslim extremists:

        http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/article3191525.ece

Today (24 November 2007), The New York Times published the following article:

Muslim Extremists Threaten a Writer

Taslima Nasree
n has been the target of death threats from extremist Muslims since 1994, when she published "Shame," a novel that depicts violence against minority Hindus by Muslim fundamentalists in her native Bangladesh. Agence France-Presse reported that last week Ms. Nasreen, right, a self-proclaimed feminist and atheist, was being moved repeatedly, disguised in a black burqa, as authorities in India sought to assure her safety following violent Islamist protests calling for her expulsion from the country. "I am mentally distressed; I am not well at all," Ms. Nasreen told the Press Trust of India on Friday by telephone from an undisclosed location. She has lived in the Indian state of West Bengal since 2004, in an apartment guarded by Indian security forces, while seeking permanent residence in India, which is officially a secular country. So far, however, the government, fearful of upsetting the country's large Muslim minority, has granted her only six-month visa extensions. The All India Milli Council, a Muslim group, said in New Delhi on Friday that all Muslim organizations would "vehemently protest" her continued stay. In March, an offshoot group of the influential All India Muslim Personal Law Board declared a reward for anyone who "beheaded ... the notorious woman" who has "has put Muslims to shame." In August, Ms. Nasreen was assaulted in the Indian city of Hyderabad by Muslim activists, led by three state legislators, who hurled copies of her latest book at her and shouted for her death.

Whether or not India is a liberal and democratic country with a pluralist culture is at stake.  In October, Taslima told a French group – the Women's Alliance for Democracy – that if she is expelled from India, "I will never be able to live on the Indian subcontinent."


For Taslima:

Warren Allen Smith
New York City


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[vinnomot] Bangladesh needs "Pro Bangladesh Policy Makers and People" to move this country forward

Dear All,
 
I get lots of emails where most of them are positives and rest of them are negatives.  Negative means to me is that wasteful, without any basis or merit, and or not constructive criticism.  I actually want people to think different and provide constructive criticism to make it better.  Unfortunately Bangladesh is a nation where most of the people are blind, I mean political or ideological blind or can not or will think think outside of the box.
 
I will tell you what I like about CTG and what I do not like about CTG:
 
Positives about CTG:
 
1) Cleaning the mass where people gets rich with others people money.
 
2) Institutionalize the changes, so less corruption will take place in future.
 
3) Working for the people, not to get rich.
 
4) Trying to bring changes from Family politics to People politics.
 
5) I believe CTG has good intention for Bangladesh and its people.
 
Negatives about CTG:
 
1) I knew from the beginning that massive corruption hunt will shake up the Bangladesh economy since more than 40% Bangladesh economy is based on underworld people, means no tracking on that transaction or don't get tax/ VAT.  So I have advised CTG with "Proposal of General Amnesty Program 2007" which might help little bit to bring the trust among Bangladeshi business communities, CTG might working with part of the proposal now.
 
2) I oppose building the underground train system because it is unsafe and it can not be operational more than 90 days year, making a hostage point for the lost political parties, not enough electricity to operate it, massive works to keep it safe from tokai or bad people.
 
3) I oppose destruction policy of breaking buildings in Uttra Model Town if it's more than  three floors since people can not afford to rebuild it or Bangladesh Govt is not capable to compensate 30-40 lacs per apartment.
 
4) CTG was not able to pay enough attention on the rising essential prices in Bangladesh.  I think CTG could bring down the cost of essentials items at least 10-20% if CTG was doing its home work earlier.  I have advised them time to time about this issue.
 
5) CTG should done more Public Relationship (PR) with common people of Bangladesh.  Once there is a rumor against them, they should come out clean in national TV if it hurts Bangladesh and its policies.
 
Advice on Bangladesh Policies:
 
I have made numerous advice on Bangladesh policies for pro people, pro investment and pro Bangladesh:
 
1) How to Expand Bangladesh Economy.
 
2) How to fight inflation in Bangladesh regardless of the current Global inflation.
 
3) How to expand Pharmaceuticals sector in Bangladesh, I have communicated with CTG about Bangladesh Pharmaceutical companies concern and how to bring up the quality of Bangladeshi medicines.
 
4) How to raise FUND for Floods & Cyclone SIDR victims.
 
5) How to use the collected FLOOD and SIDR funds for dual purposes,  I always tell people that we will have various opinions how to solve a problem but choosing the right solution is the key to success in Bangladesh.
 
6) I have advised AWL and BNP what they have to do if either one is elected in the next general election.
 
7) I want more young leadership in Bangladesh politics and I have written extensively about it.
 
8) I want visionary, honest, talented, smart, international experienced, who has 5 years plan for Bangladesh to move forward, pro Bangladesh expatriates to join in the next general election under any parties in Bangladesh.
 
9) I tell people think how to unite among us, there so many elements in Bangladesh that is divisible, we need to be smart not to talk about it.  There always will be third evil forces to destroy Bangladesh and its people, but we have to be smart not to let them put poison on us.
 
10) I advise people that democracy, free speech, human rights are beautiful things if we can exercise with benefits, not to harm others or countries.  A true Democracy does not mean we loot poor people wealth and I become rich with others money.  Bangladesh need a true and people democracy, not for the few elites in Bangladesh.
 
At last I like to say Bangladesh will remain a poor country as far as I can see until we change our mind, thinking process to pro Bangladesh, pro development, pro general people policies.  Things will not change overnight,  some one has to start somewhere and put a seed in the soil, a tree will come out if we properly water it every day.  Even we elect honest and visionary people in Bangladesh,  they will not success if general people do not support them.
 
We have to find national issues like creating more jobs, increasing the people buying power. food security, expanding economy beyond garments, how ICT and pharmaceuticals sectors can flourish,  how Bangladesh can get chunk of excess $1 Trillion dollar emerging market investment in next three years from Middle East countries, I can go on and on.
 
I will urge people from all walks of life be united and think the national issues first, not who is the father of the nation or who is not, who is Rajakar and who is not.
 
Note:  I have all the archived emails about my advice, proposals, etc in case you want to see it.
 
Thanks,
M. M. Chowdhury (Mithu), USA
Director, Change Bangladesh Organization, USA
 
P. S:  Please delete this email if you do not like it.
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[ALOCHONA] Bangladesh needs "Pro Bangladesh Policy Makers and People" to move this country forward

Dear All,
 
I get lots of emails where most of them are positives and rest of them are negatives.  Negative means to me is that wasteful, without any basis or merit, and or not constructive criticism.  I actually want people to think different and provide constructive criticism to make it better.  Unfortunately Bangladesh is a nation where most of the people are blind, I mean political or ideological blind or can not or will think think outside of the box.
 
I will tell you what I like about CTG and what I do not like about CTG:
 
Positives about CTG:
 
1) Cleaning the mass where people gets rich with others people money.
 
2) Institutionalize the changes, so less corruption will take place in future.
 
3) Working for the people, not to get rich.
 
4) Trying to bring changes from Family politics to People politics.
 
5) I believe CTG has good intention for Bangladesh and its people.
 
Negatives about CTG:
 
1) I knew from the beginning that massive corruption hunt will shake up the Bangladesh economy since more than 40% Bangladesh economy is based on underworld people, means no tracking on that transaction or don't get tax/ VAT.  So I have advised CTG with "Proposal of General Amnesty Program 2007" which might help little bit to bring the trust among Bangladeshi business communities, CTG might working with part of the proposal now.
 
2) I oppose building the underground train system because it is unsafe and it can not be operational more than 90 days year, making a hostage point for the lost political parties, not enough electricity to operate it, massive works to keep it safe from tokai or bad people.
 
3) I oppose destruction policy of breaking buildings in Uttra Model Town if it's more than  three floors since people can not afford to rebuild it or Bangladesh Govt is not capable to compensate 30-40 lacs per apartment.
 
4) CTG was not able to pay enough attention on the rising essential prices in Bangladesh.  I think CTG could bring down the cost of essentials items at least 10-20% if CTG was doing its home work earlier.  I have advised them time to time about this issue.
 
5) CTG should done more Public Relationship (PR) with common people of Bangladesh.  Once there is a rumor against them, they should come out clean in national TV if it hurts Bangladesh and its policies.
 
Advice on Bangladesh Policies:
 
I have made numerous advice on Bangladesh policies for pro people, pro investment and pro Bangladesh:
 
1) How to Expand Bangladesh Economy.
 
2) How to fight inflation in Bangladesh regardless of the current Global inflation.
 
3) How to expand Pharmaceuticals sector in Bangladesh, I have communicated with CTG about Bangladesh Pharmaceutical companies concern and how to bring up the quality of Bangladeshi medicines.
 
4) How to raise FUND for Floods & Cyclone SIDR victims.
 
5) How to use the collected FLOOD and SIDR funds for dual purposes,  I always tell people that we will have various opinions how to solve a problem but choosing the right solution is the key to success in Bangladesh.
 
6) I have advised AWL and BNP what they have to do if either one is elected in the next general election.
 
7) I want more young leadership in Bangladesh politics and I have written extensively about it.
 
8) I want visionary, honest, talented, smart, international experienced, who has 5 years plan for Bangladesh to move forward, pro Bangladesh expatriates to join in the next general election under any parties in Bangladesh.
 
9) I tell people think how to unite among us, there so many elements in Bangladesh that is divisible, we need to be smart not to talk about it.  There always will be third evil forces to destroy Bangladesh and its people, but we have to be smart not to let them put poison on us.
 
10) I advise people that democracy, free speech, human rights are beautiful things if we can exercise with benefits, not to harm others or countries.  A true Democracy does not mean we loot poor people wealth and I become rich with others money.  Bangladesh need a true and people democracy, not for the few elites in Bangladesh.
 
At last I like to say Bangladesh will remain a poor country as far as I can see until we change our mind, thinking process to pro Bangladesh, pro development, pro general people policies.  Things will not change overnight,  some one has to start somewhere and put a seed in the soil, a tree will come out if we properly water it every day.  Even we elect honest and visionary people in Bangladesh,  they will not success if general people do not support them.
 
We have to find national issues like creating more jobs, increasing the people buying power. food security, expanding economy beyond garments, how ICT and pharmaceuticals sectors can flourish,  how Bangladesh can get chunk of excess $1 Trillion dollar emerging market investment in next three years from Middle East countries, I can go on and on.
 
I will urge people from all walks of life be united and think the national issues first, not who is the father of the nation or who is not, who is Rajakar and who is not.
 
Note:  I have all the archived emails about my advice, proposals, etc in case you want to see it.
 
Thanks,
M. M. Chowdhury (Mithu), USA
Director, Change Bangladesh Organization, USA
 
P. S:  Please delete this email if you do not like it.
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[vinnomot] Taslima

http://www.vinnomot.com/Nondini/Taslima_issue_Nondini.pdf

Pls publish this write-up.
 
Thanks.
Nondini Hussain
www.satrong.org


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[vinnomot] Mukto-Mona Condemns the Inaction of the Indian Government in Providing Security to Taslima Nasrin

Mukto-Mona Condemns the Inaction of the Indian Government in Providing Security to Taslima Nasrin

                                         Published on November 24, 2007
 
The world is witness again to the hypocrisy of India's so-called "secular" Congress Party and its Communist Allies in India's ruling coalition in the horrendous treatment of writer Taslima Nasrin. The Communists, claiming to be a secular party who have been working to defeat the Hindutvaite BJP electorally, have been in bed with the thuggish mullahs in the country in opposing Dr Nasrin from the moment she set foot in India. They have banned her books in West Bengal, allowed sundry thugs to threaten her physically and have opposed the granting of citizenship to her. Coming as this does from a party that wastes no time in sending goons to kill anyone opposed to its grand designs, it is, perhaps, no surprise.
 
And then comes the Congress Party, whose de-facto crown prince, Rahul Gandhi was gifted a cap by fundamentalist Muslim mullahs at Deoband, a fanatic seminary that has been responsible for inspiring murders, suicide bombings and a return to barbarism in basic issues like denying education and vaccination to poor Muslims across South Asia. The Congress Party's flirtation with fundamentalist mullahs is not a new one - this was the party that, after all, was responsible for overturning the landmark Shah Bano case judgment under Rahul Gandhi's father Rajiv.  The Congress' local allies in Hyderabad tried to kill Dr Nasrin when she went there on a book release function and then charged her with "inciting communal hatred" in an attempt at intimidating her judicially. Now, it sits idly by while its bedfellows, the West Bengal Commissars and mad mullahs force Ms Nasrin to move first from Kolkata to Jaipur and then from there to New Delhi.
 
This is unacceptable behavior by the Congress, the Communists and by the Indian government. For the second time in the course of this government's rule, a woman has been forced to run from place to place in the country because the incompetent dolts in New Delhi cannot provide her security. After actress Khushboo, we have a second woman who is being hounded by a criminal government that preaches democracy while behaving like Idi Amin, Khomeini and Hitler's regimes in combination. India is set to sign landmark defense deals with the US and Russia, to buy huge quantities of arms from both the world's top arms producing nations, it is also a nuclear power that is set to bypass nuclear non proliferation agreements with a private agreement with the USA. If the international community does not see the Indian government for what it is, then it will only have itself to blame if it is faced with a crisis at some point in the future.
 
A finger must also be pointed at the industrialists, both Indian and foreign, who have been using the murderous CPM government in West Bengal to make money off human misery. Billionaire financier George Soros has long been a friend of the Communists, investing huge sums of money in industries that benefit key Communist politicians while he lectures the world on democracy and peace. Indonesia's controversial Salim Group, owned by a Chinese businessman long considered a front man for the former Indonesian strongman Gen Suharto is in the process of promoting the chemical products industrial estate over which Communist party men have been busy killing people to grab their land. And, India's Tata Group which has widely been praised for its business practices by the western media including The Economist and Fortune magazines is due to make it's own land grab over blood a success at Singur in the state. Would people with a conscience boycott all of these businesses and their products? We sincerely hope that they would.
 


"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do
everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."
-Edward Everett Hale
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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[vinnomot] Mukto-Mona Condemns the Inaction of the Indian Government in Providing Security to Taslima Nasrin

 
 
Mukto-Mona Condemns the Inaction of the Indian Government in Providing Security to Taslima Nasrin
                                        
                                  Published
o
n November 24, 2007

 
The world is witness again to the hypocrisy of India's so-called "secular" Congress Party and its Communist Allies in India's ruling coalition in the horrendous treatment of writer Taslima Nasrin. The Communists, claiming to be a secular party who have been working to defeat the Hindutvaite BJP electorally, have been in bed with the thuggish mullahs in the country in opposing Dr Nasrin from the moment she set foot in India. They have banned her books in West Bengal, allowed sundry thugs to threaten her physically and have opposed the granting of citizenship to her. Coming as this does from a party that wastes no time in sending goons to kill anyone opposed to its grand designs, it is, perhaps, no surprise.
And then comes the Congress Party, whose de-facto crown prince, Rahul Gandhi was gifted a cap by fundamentalist Muslim mullahs at Deoband, a fanatic seminary that has been responsible for inspiring murders, suicide bombings and a return to barbarism in basic issues like denying education and vaccination to poor Muslims across South Asia. The Congress Party's flirtation with fundamentalist mullahs is not a new one - this was the party that, after all, was responsible for overturning the landmark Shah Bano case judgment under Rahul Gandhi's father Rajiv.  The Congress' local allies in Hyderabad tried to kill Dr Nasrin when she went there on a book release function and then charged her with "inciting communal hatred" in an attempt at intimidating her judicially. Now, it sits idly by while its bedfellows, the West Bengal Commissars and mad mullahs force Ms Nasrin to move first from Kolkata to Jaipur and then from there to New Delhi.
This is unacceptable behavior by the Congress, the Communists and by the Indian government. For the second time in the course of this government's rule, a woman has been forced to run from place to place in the country because the incompetent dolts in New Delhi cannot provide her security. After actress Khushboo, we have a second woman who is being hounded by a criminal government that preaches democracy while behaving like Idi Amin, Khomeini and Hitler's regimes in combination. India is set to sign landmark defense deals with the US and Russia, to buy huge quantities of arms from both the world's top arms producing nations, it is also a nuclear power that is set to bypass nuclear non proliferation agreements with a private agreement with the USA. If the international community does not see the Indian government for what it is, then it will only have itself to blame if it is faced with a crisis at some point in the future.
A finger must also be pointed at the industrialists, both Indian and foreign, who have been using the murderous CPM government in West Bengal to make money off human misery. Billionaire financier George Soros has long been a friend of the Communists, investing huge sums of money in industries that benefit key Communist politicians while he lectures the world on democracy and peace. Indonesia's controversial Salim Group, owned by a Chinese businessman long considered a front man for the former Indonesian strongman Gen Suharto is in the process of promoting the chemical products industrial estate over which Communist party men have been busy killing people to grab their land. And, India's Tata Group which has widely been praised for its business practices by the western media including The Economist and Fortune magazines is due to make it's own land grab over blood a success at Singur in the state. Would people with a conscience boycott all of these businesses and their products? We sincerely hope that they would.
 


"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do
everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."
-Edward Everett Hale
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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[vinnomot] On GMOs + BIO-FUELs + Trade & Investment + Social Sector + US Presidential Polls

NEWS Bulletin from Indian Society For Sustainable Agriculture And Rural Development
************************************
 
On GMOs----
1. Disclose bio-safety data of GM crops: CIC
 
On BIO-FUELS----
2. EU says `Yes' but London says `No' to bio-fuels - 'Biofuels don't reduce CO2 to desired levels'
3. Tata Chem joins ICRISAT's sorghum ethanol project
 
On TRADE & INVESTMENT---
4. London offers better return on investments, finds survey
5. MMTC gets wheat supply offer at up to $488 a tonne 
6. Plan to import pulses yet to gather steam
7. Additional bonus for paddy gets Cabinet nod
 
On SOCIAL SECTOR---
8. India's employment rate for disabled falling: World Bank
 
US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION----
9. INTERVIEW : REVEREND JESSE JACKSON - 'Next US president will have to unravel in many ways'
-----------------------------
 
Disclose bio-safety data of GM crops: CIC
 
 
ASHOK B SHARMA
Posted online: Friday , November 23, 2007 at 1808 hrs IST
 
New Delhi, November 23: Bringing to an end the controversy over the disclosure of bio-safety data on genetically modified (GM) food crops, the Central Information Commission (CIC) on Thursday directed the department to make the data for Bt brinjal public.
 
The CIC set aside the seed company, Mahyco's argument before the Commission that the disclosure of such data has significant commercial implications to the company.
 
The CIC bench headed by its chairman, Wajahat Habibullah said ; "any further grounds for non-disclosure are invalid even if the information is in the process of development". It directed the CPIO and the department of biotechnology (DBT) to provide the information within 10 working days. The appeal was filed by Divya Raghunandan of Greenpeace India on February 23, 2006 asking the toxicity, allergenicity and other relevant data for GM brinjal, rice, okra and mustard.
 
In its impleadment petition to the CIC, the seed company, Mahyco had claimed that the public disclosure of anything beyond the summaries of the bio-safety data for brinjal would affect the competitive interests of the company. The bio-safety data is generated completely by the company either in its own labs or in other private labs.
 
The commission has set a precedent across the world where bio-safety data of a yet to be commercialized transgenic crop has to be made public.
 
The DBT had claimed during the hearing that it has not generated relevant data on these crops as yet, despite the fact that it has been sanctioning open-air field trials of the GM crops for past three years, said Raghunandan
 
Taking cognizance of the willful delay by the DBT in the disclosure of the information, interpreted by the commission as non-compliance of its previous order in April this year, and thereby, causing loss of time and effort to the appellant, the CIC offered a financial compensation for the appellant, Divya Raghunandan of Greenpeace.
 
In his reaction to this verdict, Shekhar Singh of the National campaign for people's Right to Information said, "this is a very important decision because it has positive implications not only on making public the data regarding GMOs but also sets a precedent that all information regarding public health and safety should be made available under the Riight to Information (RTI) Act."
------------------------------------
 
EU says `Yes' but London says `No' to bio-fuels
 
'Biofuels don't reduce CO2 to desired levels'
 
 
ASHOK B SHARMA
Posted online: Friday , November 23, 2007 at 0059 hrs IST
 
New Delhi, Nov 22 While the European Union has set its target of meeting   its needs of transportation fuel to the extent of 10% through bio-fuels by 2020, London thinks differently.
 
The mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, who was in Delhi on Tuesday, is of the view that bio-fuels do not reduce the carbon dioxide emission to the levels desired. London has prepared its own Climate Change Action Plan to deal with the intention of reducing 60% of the city's emission by 2025, he said.
 
According to the action plan, London is to promote low-carbon vehicles with hybrid fuel system which cut transport emissions by up to 4 to 5 million tonne .''Carbon dioxide emission from road transport would fall by as much as 30% if people simply bought the most fuel efficient car in each class,'' the action plan said.
 
Livingstone has sought Delhi's partnership in exchange of ideas in making life in both the cities more clean and green. He has initiated the Large Cities Climate Leadership Group - C40 - bringing together 40 of the world's largest cities to develop, procure and adopt low-carbons solutions showing best practices among cities. The C40 partners with Bill Clinton Foundation and the Climate Change Initiative.
 
London's example of refusing to use bio-fuels in transportation and resorting to other option is relevant in context when India has proposed to launch a massive bio-fuel programme and its use as auto-fuel.
 
Leading scientists like David Pimentel of Cornell University, Tad Patzek of University of California, Florian Siegert, managing director, Remote Sensing Solutions GmbH , Munich, Mario Giampietro of Institute of Environmental Sciences, Barcelona and Helmut Haberl of Klagenfurt University, Austria have questioned the very basis of the contention of the IPCC report that bio-fuel programme causes a reduction in carbon dioxide emission.
 
Explaining the action plan, the senior adviser to the London mayor in climate change and sustainable transport, Mark Watts said : ''Global experiences suggest that bio-fuels do not reduce the carbon dioxide emissions to the extent desired. We in London have, therefore, launched a programme to convert the entire 8,000-bus fleet to diesel-electric hybrid vehicles. We expect entire conversion of our bus fleet by 2012.''
 
When asked to comment about Delhi's CNG-run buss fleet, Watts said : ''Emissions are not reduced to the desired extent.''
-----------------------------------------
 
Tata Chem joins ICRISAT's sorghum ethanol project
 
 
ASHOK B SHARMA
Posted online: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 at 2003 hrs IST
 
New Delhi, November 21: Tata Chemicals has joined ICRISAT's sweet sorghum ethanol research project by signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA).
 
The International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) director-general William D Dar and the managing director of Tata Chemicals Ltd (TCL) Homi R Khusrokhan signed the MOA in Hyderabad.
 
According to Dar this partnership will go a long way in enhancing the commercialization of sweet sorghum for bioethanol production. Production of ethanol from sweet sorghum as a biofuel can provide additional income to dryland farmers and does not compromise their food security.
 
Through the ICRISAT Sweet Sorghum Ethanol Research Consortium (SSERC), the Institute promotes the technology for producing the biofuel through public-private partnership.
 
TCL is today a leading manufacturer of inorganic chemicals, fertilizers and food additives. The company has an annual turnover of about $ 1.5 billion and is part of the $ 28.8 billion Tata Group, India's foremost business conglomerate. Recently TCL has entered biofuels production and is setting up a plant in Nanded, Maharashtra, for manufacture of bioethanol from sweet sorghum.
 
Through the MoA, TCL can now avail the sweet sorghum research outputs of ICRISAT. This includes supply of seeds of sweet sorghum varieties and hybrids along with technical know-how on sweet sorghum cultivation aspects.
 
Khusrokhan said that he was very happy that TCL had joined the consortium and was very impressed by the wonderful developmental work done by ICRISAT all around the world. It is envisaged that there is a huge global opportunity for all partners to work together to benefit millions of farmers by offering new market opportunities through this new venture, he said.
---------------------------------------
 
London offers better return on investments, finds survey
 
 
ASHOK B SHARMA
Posted online: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 at 0022 hrs IST
 
New Delhi, Nov 20 Six out of ten Indian and US Companies surveyed in London believe the city offers the best return on investment (ROI) for expanding into the global marketplace, according to research commissioned by Think London, the inward investment agency for London.
 
Indian Companies grow fastest in London than in any other European city, according to consultants Penn Schoen & Berland, authors of the research report.
 
The report identifies three key factors as being most important to US and Indian businesses when expanding into Europe, with London playing a significant role—Companies generate a better ROI in London than anywhere else in Europe; Indian and US Companies grow faster in London; and London is the best location to offer the softer factors such as corporate social responsibility and environmental best practice.
 
Michael Charlton, chief executive of Think London said "US and Indian businesses are the top two sources of new FDI projects into London. This research demonstrates that these Companies investing in a London presence do indeed get a better return when compared to other European locations."
 
The survey took place to coincide with a visit to India by Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London. He is spending a week in the country with a high-level delegation, to strengthen relationships between London and India in business, tourism, academia, creative industries like Bollywood.
-------------------------------------
 
MMTC gets wheat supply offer at up to $488 a tonne
 
 
ASHOK B SHARMA
Posted online: Monday , November 19, 2007 at 2337 hrs IST
 
New Delhi, Nov 19 Seven global bidders have offered to supply 1.06 million tonne wheat to India in the price range of $387-488 a tonne.
 
Public sector MMTC had floated a global tender on November 12 for importing 350,000 tonne wheat. "We are surprised to receive an overwhelming response to the tender," said a MMTC official after the bids were opened on Monday. The bids are slated to be finalised on November 24.
 
The seven exporters in the fray are Cargill, AWB, Glencore, Toefpfer, Ameropa, Concordia and Riaz Trading. "The bid of Starcom was rejected as it lacked proper documentation while Australian firm AWB is entering for the first time this year," said the official.
 
Riaz offered the highest price at $488 a tonne while Cargill offered to supply 65,000 wheat at the lowest price of $397.03 a tonne at Mundra port. However, Glencore offered to supply the highest quantity of wheat (325,000 tonne) at Mundra port at $407 a tonne.
 
According to the tender, imports should be completed by February 10, 2008 through eight ports — Mundra, Kakinada, Kandla, Chennai, Vishakhapatnam, Tuticorin, Cochin and Mumbai. Among the price range quoted by individual bidders, the price for delivery at Mundra port is the lowest.
 
The government had given permission to three public sector trading houses — MMTC, PEC and the State Trading Corporation of India (STC) — to import 1 million tonne wheat. Monday's bids showed that MMTC alone could attract an offer of over 1 million tonne.
 
PEC and STC are expected to follow with import tenders of their own after the MMTC bids are finalised on November 24. Shipments are expected to be tied up for the period between December, 2007 and March 2008.
 
Already 1.3 million tonne wheat has been contracted for imports in response to the last two tenders floated by STC.
-----------------------------------------
 
Plan to import pulses yet to gather steam
 
 
ASHOK B SHARMA
Posted online: Thursday , November 22, 2007 at 0021 hrs IST
 
New Delhi, Nov 21 Government's plan to import pulses has proceeded at a slow pace. Three public sector agencies, namely. PEC, MMTC, State Trading Corporation of India (STC) and the marketing cooperative, Nafed could contract an import of only 1,188,550 tonne, since April, this year.
 
Of the contracted quantity of 1,188,500 tonne pluses only 721,163 tonne have been actually imported by the middle of this month, according to official sources.
 
Government had liberalised the import of pulses by scaling down the effective duty to zero with a view to augment its supply and contain the rising trend in prices.
 
Accroding to the break up of imports, PEC contracted an import of 357,300 tonne out of which only 133,976 have been imported. MMTC contracted an import of 256,250 tonne, out of which only 198,200 tonne have been imported. Nafed contracted an import of 260,000 tonne, of which 174,694 tonne have been imported and STC contracted an import of 315,000 tonne, out of which only 214,293 tonne have been imported.
 
Yellow peas lead in terms of quantity contracted for imports being 840,000 tonne, while other pulses including urad (black gram), moong (green gram), tur, chick peas, red lentils, masoor, dunpeas together constitute 348,550 tonne.
----------------------------------
 
Additional bonus for paddy gets Cabinet nod
 
 
ASHOK B SHARMA
Posted online: Friday , November 16, 2007 at 0006 hrs IST
 
New Delhi , Nov 15 The government has decided to raise the effective minimum support price (MSP) for common variety paddy to Rs 745 a quintal and that of grade A variety paddy to Rs 775 a quintal.
 
In May, the government, on the basis of the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), fixed the MSP for common variety paddy at Rs 645 a quintal and grade A variety paddy at Rs 675 a quintal. Subsequently in October, after the MSP for wheat was raised to Rs 1000 a quintal, the government decided to raise the MSPs for both the varieties of paddy by rendering a bonus price of Rs 50 a quintal on procurement.
 
However, this increase in paddy MSPs could not satisfy the farmers in major rice growing states, who alleged a large gap between the MSPs of wheat and paddy.
 
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), which met on Thursday, decided to give an addition incentive bonus price of Rs 50 a quintal on both the varieties of paddy, thereby, raising the effective MSP for common variety paddy to Rs 745 a quintal and A variety to Rs 775 a quintal. The marketing season for paddy has already begun from October.
 
The Union Cabinet also gave its approval for ratification of International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA) 2006. As India is a member of ITTO, the ITTA, 2006 would help in country's contribution to the global trade in tropical timber and will generate goodwill to the country and enhance its status on the world forestry map under the aegis of this UN organisation, an official press release said.
 
Taking note of the warning issued by the India Meteorological Department about the possibility of a cyclonic storm on the eastern coast, the Union Cabinet called for surveillance and preparedness.
 
The CCEA gave approval to a Rs 1817.10-crore Artificial Recharge of Ground Water through Dugwell Scheme in hard rock areas. The inclusive central subsidy amount for this scheme is earmarked at Rs 1499.27 crore
-----------------------------------
 
India's employment rate for disabled falling: World Bank
 
 
ASHOK B SHARMA
Posted online: Tuesday , November 20, 2007 at 2318 hrs IST
 
New Delhi, Nov 20 They are referred to as the 'children of a lesser God', but they can be as productive as anyone else. All that these 40-90 million disabled people in India require is better education and access to jobs, which has eluded them till now. "Low literacy and employment rates and widespread social stigma are leaving disabled people behind", says a new World Bank report, People with Disabilities in India: From Commitments to Outcomes.
 
In the midst of galloping economic growth, "disabled adults have far lower employment rates than the general population - and this fell from 43% in 1991 to 38% in 2002," says the report, which was prepared by the Bank at the request of the government. A decade after a legislation came into force for promoting the rights of full economic and social participation in society to persons with disabilities, the progress has not reached near the desired level.
 
Maintaining that it is not desirable or possible for the public sector to "do it all", the report finds the private sector wanting in this regard. "Private sector employment incentives for hiring disabled people are few and piecemeal," it says. In the late 1990s, employment of people with disability among large private firms was only 0.3% of their workforce. Among multinational Companies, the situation is far worse, with only 0.05% being people with disability.
 
As far as the states are concerned, despite approval of a national policy in 2006, only two states, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka, have draft disability policies. "India has an impressive set of policy commitments to its citizens with disabilities. The challenge facing Indian society now is to translate those commitments into better lives for disabled people", said World Bank country director for India, Isabel Guerrero, in a release on Tuesday.
 
Noting that India's implementation capacity is "generally weak in a number of areas of service delivery, which are most critical to improving the situation of disabled people," the report calls for involvement of non-public sectors as also greater coordination between both public and private institutions.
 
The key step in such partnerships is bringing disabled people themselves into the policymaking process along with public and non-governmental institutions, it adds.
--------------------------------------
 
INTERVIEW : REVEREND JESSE JACKSON
 
'Next US president will have to unravel in many ways'
 
 
Posted online: Monday , November 19, 2007 at 2321 hrs IST
 
Reverend Jesse Jackson, Baptist minister, leading civil rights activist and a former presidential candidate, is slated to deliver the annual Nehru Memorial Lecture today. Soon after landing in India, he held forth on a wide range of issues. Here he is in conversation with (The Finanacial Express, India) FE.
 
Q. Who are you supporting in the presidential polls next year? What are the most important issues?
 
Both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are doing very well. However I am not campaigning for either, though Obama is a neighbour. I do think Hillary is running a magnificent race. Her great strength has been in building relationships.
 
However whoever wins will have to unravel in a lot of ways, both for within the country as well as in relations with other countries. They will have to re-engage with Iran and Syria, promote democracy in Pakistan. The elections need more focus on issues like the current sub-prime lending crisis and corruption in banking, poverty and the state of emergency among young black males in the US. The country is gearing up to welcome a new president but there is not enough discussion on these and other crucial issues. There is a fair degree of tension in the air.
 
Q. Will having the first African-American or woman president be a significant step for the US? Did your presidential campaigns help in paving the way?
 
The campaigns, Iran in 1984 and 1988 , showed that it could be done. However the US is actually way behind many other democracies which have had women leading their nations. The Clinton campaign instead should be looked at more from the point of view of a constitutional expert who could help enormously.
 
Q. Are there efforts to check the 'gun culture' in the US?
 
There is no doubt that the US is the most violent nation. The Bush administration has allowed the open sale of semi-automatic weapons, and in unlimited numbers. We do want to bring back legislation which will check this. We went to Iraq seeking weapons of mass destruction, but these arms have created a similar situation in our country itself.
 
Q. How do you reconcile Gandhi's non-violence with a nuclear India?
 
Gandhi, and leaders like Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela, advocated the path of non-violence and stressed on soul force. We think that weapons, nuclear weapons are a sign of strength. That's not correct. I have a basic fear of nuclear weapons and support denuclearisation. However on the issue of the Indo-US nuclear deal and the impasse, I feel the deal is in the best interests of both countries.
 
Q. How do you perceive the Emergency in Pakistan?
 
Suspension of democracy and civil rights is never positive. I would urge Musharraf to go back to the negotiating table and free all the jailed civil rights activists at once. I have requested the Pakistani authorities to arrange a meeting with Musharraf. The US has invested in the Musharraf regime and should use its leverage to restore democracy and order in Pakistan. With each passing day, their confidence is eroding. And yes, after Iraq, US' moral authority has gone down.
 
Q. Are Indians taking a more prominent role in the US?
 
Indians are playing a much more prominent role than ever before in American society, especially second and third generation ones who are making confident strides in sectors like information technology.
--------------------------------------------


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