Pakistan praised for opening 'New Sikh Road'

Minorities hail launch of visa-free corridor for Sikh pilgrims from India.

Lahore:  Pakistan on Nov. 28 officially launched a visa-free road link for Sikh pilgrims from India to visit a famous shrine in the neighboring nation, a surprise development that is being hailed by minority groups.

Prime Minister Imran Khan attended the opening ceremony of the Kartarpur (Village of God) route across the India-Pakistan border, three kilometers from Gurdaspur in Punjab.

The route provides direct access to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur by the River Ravi, close to the border. Most Indian pilgrims use Delhi Transport Corp (DTC), which offers a service between Delhi and Lahore. Former Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee launched the service in March 1999.
The shrine is important to Sikhs because it is built on an historic site where Guru Nanak established a Sikh community in the wake of his missionary travels.

The gurdwara, which translates as "door to the guru" and refers to a place of worship for Sikhs, houses a samadhi, or funerary monument, as well as the grave of the founder of Sikhism and the first guru among Sikhs.

Guru Nanak spent the last 18 years of his life in the first half of the 16th century residing at the famous shrine.

Both Muslims and Sikhs revere the guru, and both performed rituals associated with their respective faiths to commemorate his passing.

Sikh devotees had long demanded that both countries collaborate to build a corridor linking the shrine with Dera Baba Nanak, a city in Gurdaspur district of India's Punjab state.

Until Nov. 28, they had to travel by a longer route via the Wagah border crossing.

India often accuses Pakistan of supporting an insurgency in the Indian part of Kashmir, an allegation Pakistan has consistently denied.

India also accuses Pakistan of supporting "a freedom struggle" in Indian Kashmir against Indian administration. Some groups have taken up arms in an effort to separate Kashmir from India.

The conflict dates back to 1947 when India and Pakistan became separate states after British rule ended. Citizens from both sides did not need a visa until June 1952.

Both countries claim Kashmir in full and have fought at least three wars and countless skirmishes over it. Calls to end violence and stress the importance of dialogue have come from various leaders, including church officials.

Human rights activists in Pakistan welcomed the opening of the new corridor as a major development in India-Pakistan peace talks after a hiatus of five years.

"We have 135 historical Sikh venues in our country, but the markets and roads around them are in a dilapidated state," Kalyan Singh Kalyan, a Sikh professor in Lahore, told ucanews.com.

"Our national economy can greatly benefit from tourism. Sikh pilgrims must be given visa upon arrival in Pakistan," he said.

"The state must protect minorities by making better legislation and adopting a better attitude," he added.

Around 52,000 Sikhs live in Pakistan today, mostly in the country's restive northwest. The area has been rocked by an Islamist insurgency for more than a decade, forcing many to leave their homes in tribal areas along the Afghan border for the city of Peshawar.

There, they have set up businesses and often work as traders, their men instantly recognizable by the distinctive untrimmed beards and high turbans that distinguish them from their Muslim counterparts.

This March, Pakistan became the first country in the word to introduce specific legislation for the registration of Sikh marriages — another move heartily welcomed by Sikhs.

But in May unknown attackers shot dead veteran Sikh peace activist Charanjeet Singh in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The slain activist regularly conducted interfaith programs and hosted iftar (evening) meals for Muslims during the fasting month of Ramadan.

In 2016, Minority Affairs Minister Sardar Soran Singh, the first Sikh to sit in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly, was killed in front of his home in Bacha Killay village in mountainous Buner district.

Ashir Nazir, the Catholic executive secretary of the United Religions Initiative Pakistan, described the new "peace corridor" as a big leap for interfaith harmony.

"It is a beautiful day today. We are making history," he said.

"This shrine is visited by both Muslims and Sikhs. The new corridor will strengthen their friendship. Pakistan needs more religious freedom."

Farooq Tariq, a Muslim spokesman for Pakistan's left-wing Awami Workers Party, disagreed. He said the visa-free road is nothing but a propaganda campaign.

"What a shame there's only one bus a day, two flights a week and four days of train travel allowed between these two nuclear-armed nations of over a billion people," he said.

"Opening another border crossing is just a political gimmick," he added.

"The whole process of getting a [Pakistan or Indian travel] visa is a major challenge. All efforts are made to follow you once you are in either country. Even national sports teams are not allowed visas. We demand further interaction between people [from both sides] and more trade routes."

Source: UCAN

Seoul Archdiocese starts YouTube Bible study course

Move aims to help hard-pressed South Korean commuters learn the words of God on their smartphones.

Father Mattias Hur Young-Yup, communications director of Seoul Archdiocese, gives a lecture on the YouTube channel. (Photo supplied)

Seoul:  As more people enjoy video content through their smartphones, Seoul Archdiocese in South Korea has launched a special Bible lecture channel.

The archdiocese's communications department started its Online Bible Channel on Nov. 24 following the pastoral direction of Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung of Seoul, who stressed that the words of God were the driving force for the new evangelization.

Three priests will give lectures on YouTube. Father Mattias Hur Young-yup, communications director, will address "Custom in the Bible," vice-director Father Peter Hwang Joong-ho will teach the Book of Exodus, and Father Thomas Lee Do-heang, undersecretary of the archdiocesan communications committee, will give lectures on the Gospel of Mark.

Their lectures, which will be uploaded to YouTube on a weekly basis, will not exceed six minutes to help the faithful learn the Bible in a short time. The content will be easy to understand for everyone from children to the elderly.

"Lots of faithful want to learn the Bible but it is hard for them to find the time. The channel was opened for them to learn the Bible during their commuting hours," said Father Hur.

"The lectures are designed to help the faithful to understand and learn the Bible easily in a fun way in a short time. We hope more people will get interested in the Bible through the channel."

Filipino Catholics honor Christian martyrs

Anti-persecution group points to a lack of awareness on persecution.

Father Teresito "Chito" Soganub, who was abducted by Islamic State-inspired fighters in Marawi last year, leads the faithful in paying tribute to Christian martyrs in Manila on Nov. 28. (Photo by Angie de Silva)

Manila:  Facades of Catholic churches and schools across the Philippines were bathed with red light on the evening of Nov. 28 to highlight the plight of persecuted Christians around the world.

It was part of the so-called 'Red Wednesday’ campaign initiated by Aid to the Church in Need — a global Catholic group under the auspices of the pope that supports Christian communities suffering persecution.

In the capital, Manila, Father Teresito 'Chito' Soganub, who was previously abducted by Islamic militants, led the faithful in paying tribute to Christian martyrs.

In his homily, the priest said he was passionately supportive of the event because of his experience as a hostage.

Victims of persecution such as himself cried from their hearts and souls as well as their eyes.

"You cannot do anything except pray," he added.

He said that in the midst of a difficult situation, with the bullets flying around, it had been difficult to see the presence of God.

The priest added that he even tried to bargain with God during his almost 116-day captivity from May 23 to Sept. 26, 2017.

"I prayed hoping the Lord will grant my prayer," the priest said.

Father Soganub felt that he had failed when he was not freed, but later realized he was wrong to have reacted in that way.

"I could not see the presence of God because fear swallowed me, because imminent death and the trauma covered my eyes not to see the wonders of God and his protection," Father Soganub said.

Data provided by Aid to the Church in Need noted that more than 90,000 Christians were murdered worldwide in 2016, equivalent to one every six minutes.

The group noted that many people in the Philippines remain unaware of how difficult it is to practice the Christian faith in some Muslim-majority areas of the southern island of Mindanao.

The 'Red Wednesday' event sought to improve awareness among Filipino Christians of such issues.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines invited all churches and diocesan shrines across the country to illuminate their façades in red, the color of martyrdom in the Christian faith.

Source: UCAN

India home to a third of world's stunted children: Report

According to report India tops the list of countries, with 46.6 million stunted children, followed by Nigeria with 13.9 million and Pakistan with 10.7 million.

New Delhi:  Stunting among children under five has fallen globally from 32.6 per cent in 2000 to 22.2 per cent in 2017, but India is home to almost a third of the world's stunted children, according to Global Nutrition Report.

The report released on Thursday states that India tops the list of countries, with 46.6 million stunted children, followed by Nigeria with 13.9 million and Pakistan with 10.7 million.

For the study, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) used district-level aggregate data from the 2015-2016 National and Family Health Survey (NFHS) covering 601,509 households in 604 districts in India to understand the causes of the spatial variation.

"India holds almost a third (31 per cent) of the world's burden for stunting and because India is so diverse from state to state, it is important to understand how and why stunting prevalence differs. Researchers used mapping and descriptive analyses to understand spatial differences in distribution of stunting," the report said.

The mapping showed that stunting varies greatly from district to district (12.4 per cent to 65.1 per cent), with 239 of the 604 districts having stunting levels above 40 per cent.

The three countries with the most children who are wasted are almost the same ones - India (25.5 million) and Nigeria (3.4 million) but also Indonesia (3.3 million), the report suggested.

Using regression decomposition models, the study compared districts with low (less than 20 per cent) versus high (more than 40 per cent) burdens of stunting and explained over 70 per cent of the difference between high and low-stunting districts.

The study found that factors such as women's low Body Mass Index (BMI) accounted for 19 per cent of the difference between the low versus high-burden districts. Other influential gender-related factors included maternal education (accounted for 12 per cent), age at marriage (7 per cent) and antenatal care (6 per cent).

Children's diets (9 per cent), assets (7 per cent), open defecation (7 per cent) and household size (5 per cent) were also important factors.

"India's national nutrition strategy - which is focused on addressing district-specific factors - draws on analyses such as these along with district-specific nutrition profiles to enable diagnostic work and policy action to reduce inequalities and childhood stunting," the report noted.

"The figures call for immediate action. Malnutrition is responsible for more ill-health than any other cause. The health consequences of overweight and obesity contribute to an estimated four million deaths, while undernutrition explains around 45 per cent of deaths among children under five," said Corinna Hawkes, co-chair of the Report and Director of the Centre for Food Policy.

IANS

Farmers from across the country gather in Delhi for mega agitation

The AIKSCC, which represents over 200 farm outfits, has demanded the Bills be discussed and passed in Parliament.

Farmers march towards Ramlila ground to press their demands for higher crop prices and farm loan waivers, among others in New Delhi on Nov 29, 2018. The farmers will congregate at the Ramlila ground by 8 p.m. (Photo: IANS)

New Delhi:  Thousands of farmers from across the nation are headed to the Ramlila ground here to press their demands for higher crop prices and farm loan waivers, among others.

The farmers are marching in from Nizamuddin, Sabzi Mandi Station, Anand Vihar Terminal and Majnu Ka Tila.

While Yogendra Yadav of Swaraj India is leading a 'Chalo Dilli' rally from Bijwasan to Ramlila Maidan, that has been joined by farmers from Odisha, Haryana, Rajasthan.

Two special trains carrying farmers, one from Maharashtra's Miraj and other from Bengaluru, were expected to reach Delhi later in the day.

The farmers will congregate at the Ramlila ground by 8 p.m.

Social activists, including Medha Patkar and noted journalist P. Sainath, have extended their support to the rally and said the situation of farmers in the country has deteriorated to a level like never before.

Many women farmers and students from Delhi University are also part of the rally to push the Centre to provide relief to the distressed farmers.

On Friday, under the umbrella body All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) they will march from Ramlila Maidan to the Parliament Street against the "anti-farmer" policies of the BJP-government and court arrest.

Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana leader and Member of Parliament Raju Shetti, who is also a part of the AIKSCC, introduced two Private Member's Bills in the Lok Sabha in 2017, seeking a loan waiver and a guaranteed remunerative prices for agricultural commodities based on the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission.

The AIKSCC, which represents over 200 farm outfits, has demanded the Bills be discussed and passed in Parliament.

It said 21 political parties have extended their support to the Bills and their representatives may visit the protest march on Friday.

Several prominent writers, intellectuals and artists, including Nayantara Sahgal, K. Satchidanandan, Ganesh Devy and Damodar Mauzo, have expressed solidarity with the farmers.

"I am one with the farmers in all their demands. The Indian state has been ungrateful to the point of cruelty to the farmers who feed the people of our country. This cannot go on. The Indian peasant's plight defines the nation's condition and the state needs to do everything to solve their problems.

"Their genuine grievances ought to be addressed by a special session of the country's parliament and concrete solutions should be sought," said Satchidanandan, a noted Indian poet and critic, who writes in Malayalam and English.

The group has come together under the "Artists for Farmers" banner and will join the farmers entering Delhi from four different directions and will congregate at Ramlila Maidan on the night of November 29 and will march to the Parliament for a public meeting on the morning of November 30.

Meanwhile, BJP parliamentarian Varun Gandhi's book, "Rural Manifesto", which will release in December, explores rural Indias innate perseverance and highlight potential solutions in development policy with a focus on making the rural economy resilient, New Delhi-based Rupa Publications has announced.

On Monday, book detailing how the Narendra Modi government's policies have led to a drop in farmers' income and caused rural distress across the country was launched in the capital. 'Modiraj Main Kisan, Double Aamad Ya Double afat' has been authored by Yogendra Yadav.

IANS

Sexual predators a growing menace for Indian children

Poverty, parental ignorance blamed for spike in cases of sexual violence against minors in New Delhi, other parts of nation.

Child rights activists stage a protest against child abuse in the southern Indian city of Bangaluru on Jan. 14 after news reports said a 38-year old man had confessed to raping more than 500 children over a period 12 years. (Photo courtesy of IANS)

New Delhi:  India is witnessing an unprecedented upsurge in sexual violence against minors and children's rights activists says poverty, parental ignorance, and unsafe living conditions are the chiefly to blame.

In the latest reported case, a 2-year-old girl was kidnapped and raped near a railway track in New Delhi's Kotwali area on Nov. 20.

The toddler, who had been sleeping with her parents on a footpath, was gagged and taken away by a 24-year-old man. She was later found lying unconscious, naked and bleeding near the tracks. Her condition reportedly stabilized after she was hospitalized.

Sexual crimes against minors are increasing, according to studies by the federal government's child development department.

The most vulnerable group is aged 5-12 years. The surveys conducted across all 29 Indian states indicated that more than half of Indian children, or 53 percent, reported experiencing one or more forms of sexual abuse.

The study conducted under the federal Child Development Ministry this year said some "21.9 percent of child respondents reported facing severe forms of sexual abuse."

In at least half of the cases, the abusers were persons "known to the child or in a position of trust and responsibility," it added.

A lack of parental awareness and unsafe living conditions of children were cited as the prime reasons for the rising number of cases of violence against children, according to Dilip Malhotra, a children's rights activist based in New Delhi.

Children under 18 comprise 44.4 percent of India's 1.2 billion people, reveals a study by David K. Carson, Jennifer M. Foster and Aparajita Chowdhury entitled "Sexual abuse of children in India."

The study, conducted in 2011, claims Indian children are prone to exploitation and abuse because of half of the population has no access to basic education, nutrition, shelter or healthcare.

An estimated 1.7 million Indians are homeless, living on the streets, sleeping on railway platforms, and seeking refuge in other public places.

Many children who suffer abuse have no means of reporting the crimes they are subjected to, Malhotra said.

"They mostly face these ordeals in private and suffer the consequences both physically and mentally," he added.

There have been at least six reported cases of child rape in New Delhi in recent months.

On April 24, a 13-year-old girl was raped in forestland in the capital. On June 12, a 12-year-old girl was raped inside a car. And on July 16, a 6-year-old girl was kidnapped and raped.

On Aug. 24, a 16-year-old girl reported that four men kidnapped and raped her over a period of one week. On Sept. 18, a 22-year-old man raped a 7-year old girl at a park. And on Sept. 24, a 6-year-old girl was raped by one of her neighbors on the terrace of her home.

Malhotra said most child abuse crimes go unreported. For most parents from impoverished households, eking out a living is a more pressing concern than reporting sexual harassment to the police, which they see as futile given the low rate of convictions.

Even in reported cases, the conviction rate hovers around 28 percent.

Psychologist Ajit Nanda said the majority of child rapists are known to their victims.

"They could be anyone — an uncle, their father's friend, an elder brother's classmate. The problem is that the child for a long time doesn't even understand what is happening to them," Nanda said.

Srinigar-based rights advocate Shuja ul Hassan said those who prey on children often get away with it due to a lack of evidence against them.

"A child who is barely four or 5 years old doesn't know what rape means and therefore cannot really explain what happened to them. Due to the lack of evidence, the culprits usually get away scot-free," he said.

Hassan, a practicing lawyer, said parents should more closely monitor who their children interact with, in order to safeguard them and stop them from coming to harm.

Education is the key to check violence against children, said Imtiyaz Ahmad Khan, a children's rights activist who is based in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

Moral and sex education should be made compulsory in schools and college nationwide, and pornographic literature and films should be banned, he said.

"Separate tribunals should be set up specifically for cases of child sexual abuse," he said.

Mass media should also be better utilized to create awareness about the risks children face because most parents do not always understand the danger they are potentially in, experts say.

Source: UCAN

Christians denied vote in Madhya Pradesh state election

Plans to seek an official inquiry into the names of many Christians not being included on voter list.

Archbishop Leo Cornelio of Bhopal speaking to media outside a polling station Nov. 28 after he was denied the right vote in the Madhya Pradesh state election. Hundreds of other Christians also were turned away by officials who said their names were not on the voter list. (Photo provided)

Bhopal:  Hundreds of Christians, including a Catholic archbishop, were turned away from polling booths in India's Madhya Pradesh state because their names were not on the voter list.

Christian leaders claimed there was foul play in the Nov. 28 poll.

Archbishop Leo Cornelio of Bhopal, the state capital, and hundreds of other Christians, had to return home without exercising their franchise to elect 230 legislators.

This was despite them having election identity cards and other relevant documents.

Christian leader Saji Abraham flagged a petition to election authorities seeking an investigation of what he branded as a conspiracy.

He and other Christian leaders suspect that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has ruled the state for 15 years, influenced officials to remove from voter eligibility lists the names of Christians traditionally considered supporters of the BJP's archrival, the Congress Party.

"I'm sure my name was deliberately deleted from the voter list, which is unjust and not a good sign for the democracy," Archbishop Cornelio told ucanews.com.

The prelate said he was denied the right to vote, even though he showed his election identity card, on the basis of an incomplete voters' list.

"This is a stern message to the Christian community that they are no more in the reckoning," Archbishop Cornelio said.

"The message is subtly conveyed through deletion of names of senior community leaders."

Indira Iyengar, a 78-year-old Christian former member of the Madhya Pradesh State Minorities Commission, said there had been a BJP-supported move to lower the number of votes for the Congress Party. She was also denied the right to vote.

"It is a well known fact that I am a member of the Congress Party and my vote will never go to any other party," she said.

"Therefore, my name was struck out."

She added, in reference to the BJP; "It is a ploy of the Hindu party."

Christians comprise 0.29 percent, or some 211,000 of the state's 73 million people, with 91 percent of them Hindu.

Muslims, the largest religious minority, make about seven percent of Madhya Pradesh's population.

The BJP, which also runs the federal government, has been accused of providing politically motivated support to hard-line Hindu nationalist groups.

Source: UCAN

South Korea celebrates centenary of Columban mission

Archbishop appeals for peace on the Korean Peninsula at thanksgiving Mass in Seoul.

Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung of Seoul and concelebrants after the thanksgiving Mass to mark the centennial of the Missionary Society of St. Columban at Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul on Nov. 25. (Photo supplied)

Seoul:  The Catholic Church in South Korea celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Missionary Society of St. Columban.

A thanksgiving Mass was held at Seoul's Myeongdong Cathedral presided by Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung of Seoul.

Archbishop Alfred Xuereb, apostolic nuncio to Korea; Auxiliary Bishop Tomothy Yu Gyoung-chon of Seoul; Auxiliary Bishop John Moon Hee-jong of Suwon, president of the bishops' committee for foreign mission work and pastoral care of overseas Koreans; and St. Columban missionary priests concelebrated the Mass. About 1,000 religious and faithful joined the Mass and packed the cathedral.

During the Mass, St. Columban missionaries offered the society's constitutions and portraits of Bishop Edward Galvin and Father John Blowick, the society's founders.

Actress Sophia Kim Sang-hyun read a letter that Bishop Galvin wrote on April 20, 1927, which showed his deep faith, courage and determination as a church leader during a time of turmoil when Chinese communists were expanding their influence and Christian missionaries were at risk.

In his letter, Bishop Galvin said: "No matter what happens, we cannot give up our people of God. We can stay with the people whom God entrusted to us and, if it is God's will, we can die here. Our sacrifice will give them courage."

In his homily at the Mass, Cardinal Yeom said: "Their sweat and contribution to the Korean Church were the history of the Korean Church itself. The Columban missionaries actively responded to the call of God and bore fruits by choosing and spreading the spiritual works that were needed in Korea."

In his congratulatory message, Archbishop Xuereb appealed for peace on the Korean Peninsula. "Columban missionaries have been entwined with Korea during its hard times such as war, social turmoil and various challenges. We wish for peace on the peninsula and we need to pray for it," he said.

The Missionary Society of St. Columban was founded in Ireland in 1916 and approved by the Vatican in 1918. It works in 16 countries including Korea. It arrived in Korea in 1933 and has sent some 270 missionaries to the country.

Source: UCAN

Pope urges all faithful to prepare for Judgment Day

Everyone's hour will come, Pope Francis says during Mass in Rome.

Vatican City:  People would be wise to think about Judgment Day and wonder what God will see when he examines their lives, Pope Francis said.

"If the Lord were to call me today, what would I do? What will I say? What harvest will I show him?" the pope asked during Mass at the Domus Sanctae Marthae on Nov. 27.

In his homily, the pope reflected on the day's reading about the end of the world in the Book of Revelation, in which St. John uses the image of the Lord and angels armed with sharp sickles, reaping the harvest.

With the liturgical year coming to a close and the readings focused on the end of time, the pope said it would be good for people to examine their lives and reflect on how they might be judged when their hour has come.

"We don't like to think about the end," he said. "We always put this thought aside," especially when people are young, "but look how many young people go, how many are called. Nobody's life is guaranteed."

No one is on this earth forever; everyone's life will come to an end, he said, and God will want to see what has been harvested — "the quality of our life."

This examination of conscience will help people understand what they must fix in their lives and what should be continued because they are good, the pope said.

"Yes, there will be an end, but that end will be an encounter, an encounter with the Lord. It's true there will be accounting for what I have done, but it will also be an encounter of mercy, of joy, of happiness," he said.

"Thinking about the end, the end of creation, the end of one's life, this is wisdom, the wise ones do it," he said.

Source: CNS

MP, Mizoram witness 75 per cent polling

In 2013, Mizoram witnessed 83.41 per cent polling and 82.35 per cent voter turnout in 2008.

A voter shows her inked finger after casting her vote for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, in Bhopal on Nov 28, 2018. (Photo: IANS)

Bhopal:  Over 75 per cent of voters in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram voted on Wednesday in the Assembly elections in the two states where incumbent governments are seeking a straight fourth and third terms in office respectively.

Around 75 per cent polling was recorded till 6 p.m. in Madhya Pradesh's 227 assembly constituencies against 72.13 per cent recorded in 2013 assembly polls, Election Commission officials said in New Delhi.

In the state's remaining three Maoist-affected constituencies of Balaghat district's Baihar, Lanji and Paraswada, polling was recorded at 78 per cent, 79.07 per cent and 80.06 per cent respectively. The polling in these three constituencies began at 7 a.m. and finished at 3 p.m.

Mizoram witnessed 75 per cent polling by 5 p.m. at the close of polling. However, the officials said that the polling percentage would go up as in many constituencies the communication facilities were not there, thus they had not received the actual figures.

"Once we get the actual figures from those constituencies, the percentage of polling would go up," the official said.

In 2013, Mizoram witnessed 83.41 per cent polling and 82.35 per cent voter turnout in 2008.

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were used in Mizoram after 2003. The official said the highlight of the day in Mizoram was that over 10,000 elederly voters exrcised their franchise with a 108-year old man, 106-year old woman on wheel chair and 103-year-old man coming out to vote.

In the case of Madhya Pradesh, violence was reported in a few places in Bhind district.

Two persons were arrested in a firing incident near an election booth in Bhind, police said.

Several Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) malfunctioned, which were replaced by the poll panel officials. The Election Commission also announced that Rs 10 lakh each would be paid to its officials who died during the voting exercise.

The highlight of the day in Madhya Pradesh was the voting by a 101-year-old woman, who exercised her franchise in Agar Malwa district.

In the central Indian state, the contest is mainly between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress, though the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) are also in the fray.

There are a total of 2,907 candidates. The BJP has fielded candidates for all the seats, while the Congress is contesting for 229 seats leaving one in Jatara in Tikamgarh district, for Sharad Yadav-led Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD).

The BSP has fielded 227 candidates and the Samajwadi Party is contesting for 51 seats. There are 1,102 Independent candidates.

In the last elections, the BJP won 165, Congress 58, BSP four and Independents three.

There are 2,63,01,300 male electorates, 2,41,30,390 women and 1,389 of the third gender.

In Mizoram, the last bastion of the Congress in the North-East, the party is striving for a third successive term against a stiff challenge from the Mizo National Front (MNF) headed by former Chief Minister Zoramthanga.

The fight is largely between the Congress and the Mizo National Front though the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is also seeking to make its presence felt.

The Congress has fielded 40 candidates while the BJP and MNF are contesting in 39 and 40 constituencies, respectively.

Around 7.7 lakh voters will decide the fate of 209 candidates.

IANS

Hindus seers to write to MPs, petition SC for early construction of Ram temple

The Shankracharya said the state government decision to install a bronze statue on the banks of the Saryu in Ayodhya was not acceptable.

Photo credit: Times of India

Varanasi:  A three-day 'dharma sansad' ended in Varanasi on Wednesday with the Shankracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati releasing a 'dharmadesh' (edict), saying it should be handed over to all MPs and the Lok Sabha Speaker so that the issue could be discussed in the winter session of parliament beginning December 11.

Media coordinator of the event, Sanjay Pandey, told IANS that it was also decided that the Supreme Court will be asked to decide the issue in four weeks, keeping in mind "public welfare".

The 'dharma sansad' will, on behalf of the Ramayan Trust, request the apex court to constitute a five-judge bench to hear the matter on an urgent and time-bound basis, according to the Shankracharya.

The Shankracharya said the state government decision to install a bronze statue on the banks of the Saryu in Ayodhya was not acceptable.

The Shankracharya also slammed the UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for calling Lord Hanuman a 'Dalit'.

"There is no word called Dalit in Hindu mythology and saying so was anti-religion. Hanuman was a Rudra Avtaar and took birth to serve Lord Ram", Swaroopanand said.

The 'dharma sansad' also objected to the demolition of some Hindu temples in Varanasi in the name of widening of roads.

IANS

SC entrusts all Bihar shelter home probes to CBI

Handing over the investigation, the court said: "If the state government had done its job properly, the cases may not have gone to the CBI."

New Delhi:  The Supreme Court on Wednesday handed over the investigation into all the 17 cases of sexual abuse and exploitation of children at shelter homes in Bihar to the CBI.

Handing over the investigation, the court said: "If the state government had done its job properly, the cases may not have gone to the CBI."

A bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur, Justice S. Abdul Nazeer and Justice Deepak Gupta directed the Bihar government to provide all the manpower, resources and logistical support to the Central Bureau of Investigation even as counsel for the state government made a last ditch bid to keep the investigation with the Bihar Police.

Permitting the CBI to expand its existing team of investigators that was already probed the Muzaffarpur horror, the court said that none of the member of the investigating team would be withdrawn without the permission of the court.

IANS

Bhopal disaster survivors revive compensation demands

As Indian state prepares for polls, victims remind political parties that justice has not been served.

File photo.

Bhopal:  Survivors of India's Bhopal gas tragedy have demanded politicians seeking their vote in a Dec. 28 state election make a commitment to settle their three-decade-old compensation claims.

They say a generation of people have lived and died without compensation since the disaster in the capital of Madhya Pradesh state 34 years ago, proving political promises to be futile.

"The new slogan is we will vote for candidates who will help us get compensation," said Rashida Bee, who leads the organization fighting for female survivors of the tragedy.

An estimated 5,300 people were killed and more than 500,000 injured when 40 tons of poisonous methyl isocyanate leaked from the Union Carbide Company plant on the outskirts of Bhopal on Dec. 2, 1984.

Activists working with survivors say about 25,000 more people have since died from exposure to the toxic gas in the world's worst industrial disaster.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been leading the state government for 15 years, is attempting to retain power in the state 231-seat legislative house. Its rival Congress, which led the state government during the tragedy and later years, accuses the BJP of neglecting survivors.

"Even our second and third-generation people suffer from the side effects of the poisonous gas. Young couples give birth to children with severe birth defects," said Bee, who takes care of 300 such children.

"Unless the new government finds a permanent solution, how long can the survivors fight?"

Bee and her group are demanding that each survivor be given 700,000 rupees (US$10,000) each as a final settlement.

Seven years ago, Bhopal's Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan promised to pay survivors 500,000 rupees (about US$10,000 then) but failed, said Rachna Dhingra of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action.

In the current election campaign, survivors have demanded candidates contesting the five constituencies where survivors play decisive roles in polls to present legally valid pledges to work for just compensation for all survivors.

Archbishop Leo Cornelio of Bhopal supported the demand for a permanent settlement of compensation "rather than keeping it as a never-ending saga."

However, he said, demanding a written pledge would not solve the issue. "A candidate may give it in writing just to win the election. It's no guarantee of compensation. He can later claim the government was against it," he said.

He said political parties should have been pressurized to make promises of compensation.

Union Carbide in 1989 paid US$470 million to India as a settlement for the disaster. Despite U.S.-based Dow Chemical owning the Indian company, the U.S. Supreme Court would not allow victims of the Bhopal disaster to seek damages in a U.S. court.

In 2004, India's Supreme Court ordered the Indian government to release any remaining settlement funds to victims and in September 2006 the government announced that all claims, original and revised, had been settled.

However, people such as Mohammed Farah Shareef, a 24-year-old graduate, believe that the settlement claims are a sham.

"My father is suffering from throat cancer. His two elder brothers and sister-in-law died of cancer. We have received collective compensation of 150,000 rupees (US$2,200) in the past three decades," he said.

"We need a final solution. If the political parties cannot solve it, tell us so that we can look for alternatives."

Source: UCAN

Philippine rights lawyers an endangered species

Sticking up for the voiceless and poor has become an increasingly risky enterprise.

Candles and flowers are offered in honor of slain human rights defenders in the Philippines during a protest in Manila. (Photo by Jire Carreon)

By Ernesto M. Hilario
Manila:  It was on a Sunday, Nov. 18, when slain human rights lawyer Benjamin Ramos Jr. was buried in the city of Sipalay in Negros Occidental province in central Philippines. Some 700 people, many of them farmers, joined the funeral procession.

Unidentified gunmen shot Ramos dead on Nov. 6. His murder underscores the dangers faced by those who choose to defend the rights and welfare of the disadvantaged and voiceless in the Philippines.

The lawyer had been assisting the families of nine sugarcane workers slain in Sagay, Negros Occidental, in late October. He was a staunch human rights advocate who readily provided legal services to embattled activists, farmers fighting for land rights, and victims of human rights violations.

Ramos was the secretary-general of the provincial branch of the National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL), a group that provides pro bono legal services to ordinary Filipinos who can ill-afford to engage legal counsel due to poverty. He was one of the founding members of the group in 2007 and also co-founded the nonprofit Paghida-et sa Kauswagan Development Group.

Even before conducting any investigation of note, the police had blamed rebels belonging to the communist New People's Army for the killing of the nine Sagay farmers.

Those killed were apparently new recruits of the National Federation of Sugarcane Workers, which the police and the military said was a front organization of the NPA.

But police officials could not explain why NPA rebels would kill members of a legal organization that they claimed supported the communists.

A fact-finding mission organized by human rights groups concluded later that the Sagay massacre — the victims of which included two minors — was perpetrated by an armed group linked to landowning politicians in the province.

Ramos was the 34th member of the legal profession killed since President Rodrigo Duterte came to power in 2016.

Another human rights lawyer, Kathy Panguban, is facing what appears to be a baseless charge of kidnapping.

Like Ramos, Panguban provided legal assistance to the families of the slain sugarcane workers in Sagay by facilitating a mother winning back custody of a 14-year-old witness to the killings.

Panguban was also one of the lawyers who assisted Australian missionary Sister Patricia Fox when the 73-year-old nun was ordered deported by the Bureau of Immigration for alleged partisan political activities in the Philippines.

Sister Fox had been in the country for 27 years helping farmers, workers and indigenous people assert their rights but was forced to leave the country in early November after the Bureau of Immigration canceled her missionary visa.

The killing and harassment of human rights lawyers has been roundly condemned by the Philippine government's Commission on Human Rights, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (the compulsory organization of all lawyers in the country), the European Union, and international human rights groups such as New York-based Human Rights Watch.

Ramos' family and colleagues believe big landowners and people who vilified him as a communist rebel were behind his murder.

"He told us to fight for our rights because our families have been living on the land for generations. He made us strong and made us understand laws through paralegal training," said a farmer who joined the funeral procession.

Other farmers recalled that Ramos as a lawyer asked for nothing except for "native coffee without sugar" to go with his favorite cigarettes.

Colleagues pointed out that Ramos not only offered free legal services but also spent his own money in representing his clients.

The slain lawyer's family said he was dedicated to his work but set aside time for them, even when he was already receiving death threats because of his crusade against injustice.

If human rights advocacy in the Philippines has become an increasingly risky enterprise, it's because the government appears unwilling to go after the perpetrators, thus reinforcing the very real fear that the Ramos killing isn't likely to be the last.

Ernesto M. Hilario writes on political and social justice issues for various publications in the Philippines.

Source: UCAN

The care that children need

Many 'throwaway kids' from the Philippine slums are languishing behind bars where they suffer horrific forms of abuse.

Children from the slums of Manila are considered the most vulnerable to abuse and discrimination. (Photo by Angie de Silva/ucanews.com)

By Father Shay Cullen
Manila:  Filipinos love their children. They care for them, pamper and spoil them at times. They do everything to protect and educate them, meet their needs and launch them on a career.

There it seems to end for many. Love and care for children in general is not projected outside the extended family of the well-to-do. It is clear the poor survive by helping each other.

There are some dedicated Christians and Muslims who work to help the abused and abandoned children but they are a vast minority among a population of 107 million Filipinos.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of children in need of Good Samaritans. In the Philippines and elsewhere, there are wounded, hungry, lonely, incarcerated children languishing in filthy jail cells.

They are largely ignored, unknown and abandoned by the population in general, and church authorities and well-off politicians in particular.

The government's Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council is working non-stop to try and change these attitudes. But it is fighting an uphill battle against uncaring politicians.

These poor youth are at risk, abandoned, and neglected. Consequently, they often come into conflict with the law.

They need special protection, care and therapy, and education. They are victims of physical and sexual abuse in their families and neighborhoods.

Instead of care and protection, they are treated as criminals and put behind bars with no beds, exercise, counseling, therapy, sunlight, fresh air, education, recreation, proper food, family visits, justice or compassion.

They are "throwaway children" considered by the government and society as useless human garbage. Some are as young as 9 years old.

They are badly treated by irresponsible and uncaring politicians as if they are the scum of the earth, and yet they are all innocent, good children.

Due process for youth in conflict with the law is wanting in the Philippines.

Children are the most important in the world, we learn from Jesus of Nazareth. Their tormentors and abusers must be brought to justice. Instead, their abusers are allowed to go on abusing and incarcerating innocent children.

These gospel values to care for poor jailed children are generally ignored by the church, by many children's agencies, and by society.

What the children deserve and need is to be freed, respected, helped, and encouraged, affirmed and supported. Instead, they are ignored.

Witness the hardship and listen to their voices begging to be freed and reunited with their parents. Listen to them wail as they lie on the cold, hard concrete floor, hungry and sick with no one to help them.

In most cases for kids behind bars, there is no official hearing, no interviews, no presumption of innocence. They get no legal aid, yet suffer violation after violation of their rights.

The younger ones are bullied, often sexually and physically abused by the older ones, and sometimes by the guards. Some small children are in cells with mentally challenged adults, which is a grave crime. They live in fear.

Many look at the children as criminals. Some government leaders even want to change the law so that 9-year-olds can be held criminally liable and stand trial.

These children need help. Our home for the children we rescued is in the countryside and it's almost full. There, they receive education, therapy, and can enjoy a good and happy life.

This could be possible for all Filipino children who run afoul of the law, if only government officials would show the commitment to really help.


Irish Father Shay Cullen, SSC, established the Preda Foundation in Olongapo City in 1974 to promote human rights and the rights of children, especially victims of sex abuse.

Source: UCAN

Caritas keeps water flowing in Pakistan

Villagers celebrate 29th anniversary of a water tank installed as part of charity's drive to provide safe drinking water.

Kotli Hajipur:  Every year in winter, Catholics in a Punjabi village in Pakistan gather in their church to celebrate the anniversary of a water tank.

Children dressed as angels stand in rows near the 10-meter blue cement structure as priests arrive for a cake-cutting ceremony. "Long live Lord Jesus Christ," the faithful shout as they shower rose petals.

Father Francis Gulzar, vicar general of Lahore Archdiocese, shares the slices of cake with village elders. Sweets are also distributed after a thanksgiving Mass at St. Vincent Catholic Church in Kotli Hajipur.

"This is the first time I have celebrated the birthday of a water tank. Do not waste this ultimate commodity. This tank is a symbol of your unity," he tells the congregation.

Inscribed with Bible verses and a white cross, the water tank is the only source of water for 50 Catholic families in the small village. The late Archbishop Armando Trindade of Lahore inaugurated the project on Oct. 14, 1989.

Besides constructing the 1,893-liter tank, the diocesan unit of Caritas Pakistan also installed an electric turbine pump and water pipes.

Qaiser Masih was studying in grade 6 on the day the water tank was launched.

"We worked the whole day decorating the streets. It was the answer to our prayers. I remember my mother going out with other women to collect brackish water from wells. They had to wait at least three hours for a refill," Masih, 42, tells ucanews.com.

"Our forefathers donated 76 square meters to Lahore Archdiocese for the installation of the tank. The community contributed 10,000 rupees (US$75) to the total cost of 400,000 rupees. Now we do not need a government water supply."

For almost three decades, the Catholics of Kotli Hajipur have been running this project without church funding. Running the motor for 30 minutes fulfils the daily requirements of the community. In return, each household contributes 200 rupees every month to maintain the facility.

"For weddings or funerals, the motor is switched on for longer periods. The charges increase during these months but the community trust their elders," says Masih.

Provision of safe drinking water is one of the major programs of Caritas, the biggest Catholic charity in Pakistan. The organization installed 180 hand pumps and an equal number of toilets in the apostolic vicariate of Quetta and Karachi Archdiocese last year.

Caritas teams also conducted more than 200 awareness sessions in schools and communities as well as forming water initiative committees and water family clubs. About 1,000 pamphlets on best health and hygiene practices were also distributed among students and community members.

In 2015, Pope Francis wrote Laudato si': On Care for Our Common Home, an encyclical that urges the public to hear "both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor." The document has since become a staple of church run pro-environment groups in water-stressed Pakistan.

"The amazing story of these Catholic villagers shows how an underprivileged community can survive on its own with a little support. We focus on improving community health by providing them with access to clean water and improved sanitation facilities," says Amjad Gulzar, executive director of Caritas Pakistan.

"However, our projects can only sustain when the community takes ownership. Even government officials appreciate our trained volunteers and engage them in emergency situations."

According to the Water and Power Development Authority, Pakistan can store only 10 percent of its annual river flows. The International Monetary Fund claims Pakistan ranks third in the world among countries facing acute water shortages. Reports by the United Nations Development Program and the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources also warn that the South Asian country will reach absolute water scarcity by 2025.

All churches in Lahore Archdiocese deposited parish collections from two Sundays in August in a fund initiated by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar for the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams.

In a pastoral letter, Archbishop Sebastian Shaw asked the faithful to contribute 10 rupees each towards "the national cause."

Source: UCAN

Bangladesh dengue fever outbreak

People die because they ignore symptoms for too long, doctor warns.

A woman walks past a stagnant pond at Savar suburb of Dhaka in this file image taken on May 1, 2013. Heath experts blame unplanned urbanization and industrialization and unhealthy living conditions in cities and semi-urban areas for rise in vector-borne diseases including Dengue fever in Bangladesh. (Photo by Stephan Uttom/ucanews.com)

Dhaka:  Bangladeshi authorities and health experts are grappling with a record increase in dengue fever cases and subsequent deaths.

This year, about 7,450 cases of dengue infections and 17 deaths were reported in Bangladesh, according to the state-run Institute for Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).

The figure is alarmingly higher than last year when 2,769 cases and eight deaths were recorded. Most reported cases were in urban and semi-urban areas.

Dengue outbreaks normally begin with the start of the monsoon in June and end in September.

However, the 2018 outbreak is still unfolding with what has been a prolonged monsoon season.

Health officials described this year's dengue outbreak as the deadliest since relevant detailed records started being kept 18 years ago.

High tropical rainfall combined with unplanned urbanization and industrialization contributed to the breeding of mosquitoes that spread the disease, Doctor Tahmina Shirin, deputy director of IEDCR, told ucanews.com.

There are four different types of dengue infections and the real total of suffers would be considerably higher than the official figure, she noted.

"Dengue cases are reported when people get admitted to hospital with severe symptoms," Dr. Shirin said, adding that many cases were simply not reported.

Doctor Edward Pallab Rozario, secretary of Catholic Bishops' Episcopal Commission for Health Care, alleged that authorities are often negligent in controlling mosquitoes.

"Sometimes, we see people assigned by city corporations spraying areas to kill mosquitoes, but it is useless," Rozario told ucanews.com.

"Unless you make an area clean and devoid of breeding grounds for mosquitoes, only spraying yields no result.

"Moreover, the mosquitoes also develop resistance against spraying."

Dengue fever is a vector-borne tropical disease caused by female aedes mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus.

Usually, patients have symptoms of dengue infections three to two weeks after being bitten by one or more mosquitoes.

Symptoms can include high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains as well as skin rashes, according to the World Health Organization.

The same female mosquitoes transmit other serious diseases, including Chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika.

An estimated 390 million people worldwide have Dengue infections per year, according to WHO, with at least 3.9 billion people at the risk of infection from dengue viruses.

Doctor Abdullah Al-Omasum, who is based at a Bangladesh university, warned that the different types of dengue pose a grave danger.

Sometimes people ignored fever and pains several days and dengue became life-threatening, he warned.

Source: UCAN

Almost 300 million Christians persecuted around world

ACN report reveals worsening situation of grave violations of religious freedom in 38 countries.

International:  Christians continue to be the most persecuted religious group, according to a report by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

Almost 300 million Christians, or one out of seven Christians in the world, live in a country where they face violence, arrest and human rights violations.

Some 61 percent of the world's population live in countries where religious freedom is not respected, meaning that six out of every 10 people around the world cannot express their faith with total freedom, Vatican News reported.

These were some of the figures unveiled in the Religious Freedom Report 2018 by ACN, the international pontifical Catholic charity and foundation that helps persecuted Christians worldwide.

The report looks at 196 countries, examining the degree to which the basic right to religious freedom, as defined in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is respected with regard to all the major religious faiths.

The report, which contains data from June 2016 to June 2018, shows grave violations of religious freedom in 38 countries. In 17 of them there is serious discrimination on grounds of religious faith, while in 21 there is outright persecution of religious minorities, in some cases to the point of death.

The report reveals that in some of the worst countries for religious freedom, the situation has deteriorated over the past two years. On the global level in general, overall respect for religious freedom has also worsened.

The ACN study shows that in 22 countries the reasons for attacks on religious freedom are rooted in radical Islamism, while in other countries the dominant causes are the authoritarianism of states or governments which pursue policies of "aggressive nationalism." Among these countries are China, India, North Korea, Myanmar, Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan.

On a more positive note, the report pointed to an improved level of religious freedom for minorities in Syria and Iraq following the military defeat of terrorist group Islamic State.

Source: UCAN

Kerala HC rules no more protests at Sabarimala temple

The court also set up a three-member observer panel which will oversee the Sabarimala pilgrimage season.

File photo.

Kochi:  The Kerala High Court on Tuesday ruled that there should be no more protests at the Sabarimala temple during the ongoing pilgrimage season.

It also asked the police to deal properly with the pilgrims, allowed the pilgrims to chant Lord Ayyappa hymns, but refused to lift prohibitory orders in place in and around the temple town.

Sabarimala town has been witnessing repeated protests ever since the September 28 verdict of the Supreme Court allowed women of all ages to enter the temple that hitherto banned girls and women aged 10-50.

The High Court Devasom bench of Justice P.R. Ramachandran Menon ruled this after hearing around 30 petitions that came up before it.

It directed the Kerala government to submit in a sealed cover what arrangements had been made for women in the 10-50 age group if they desire to pray at the temple.

The court refused to interfere on the action of the Kerala Police which on Monday extended Section 144 of CrPC that prohibits assembly of more than four persons in one place till November 30.

But it asked the police to see that there should be no protests in the temple. And while the police could conduct searches, these should be done in a decent manner.

Since the ongoing two-month pilgrimage season opened on November 16, around 85 activists of the Sangh parivar including BJP and RSS have been arrested. Most have secured bail.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government-led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has been trying to implement the top court's order even as the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party and Hindu groups have been up in arms against it.

The court also set up a three-member observer panel which will oversee the Sabarimala pilgrimage season.

The court ruled that arrangements should be made for women (above 50 years), children and physically challenged pilgrims to rest near the temple.

The court, without naming a police official who was reportedly rash with a High Court judge who went to Sabarimala to pray, said had not the judge forgiven the police officer, tough actions would have been taken.

IANS

Indian Muslims asked to get educated, end self-centeredness

The 12th Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer Memorial Lecture was held in New Delhi Nov. 23 on the theme: “Muslims of India: Past and Present.

New Delhi:  Indian Muslims should get educated and their leaders should stop being self-centered to help their community emerge from its poor socio-political situation in India, says noted lawyer A.G. Noorani.

The 88-year Supreme Court lawyer and author was speaking at the 12th Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer Memorial Lecture in New Delhi Nov. 23 on the theme: “Muslims of India: Past and Present.

“Even after 71 years of India got independence, Muslims still beg for their rights, depend on someone’s mercy for everything which is very unfortunate things to happen to the Muslims in our country,” said Abdul Ghafoor Abdul Majeed Noorani, popularly called Noorani.

It is “not that we don’t have competent Muslim leaders in our country but most of them become the puppet of the ruling party which in term use them as vote bank and for their self goal,” he told the gathering chaired by Former vice-resident of India Hamid Ansari

He said Indian Muslims’ condition now is “worse” than it was in 1857 or 1947 “because they are not united and don’t take part in nation building activities. Most of them are self centered and think about self glory…the present muslims leaders are no exception.”

More than 300 people comprising of parliamentarians, former bureaucrats, scholars, professors, students, human rights activists and eminent citizens attended the lecture iorganized by Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, Mumbai.

Asghar Ali Engineer was an Indian reformist-writer and social activist, who died in 2013. The Mumbai-based Muslim leader was internationally known for his work on liberation theology in Islam. He wrote and worked enlighten people against sectarian movements and violence.

Irfan A Engineer, the organizer of the event told ucanews.com the event was also an occasion to celebrate Indian constitutional day, commemorating the Constituent Assembly adopting the Constitution of India on Nov. 26, 1949. It was promulgated on Jean. 26, 1950.

Muslims, the second largest religious group in India, making up approximately some 14 percent of India’s 1.2 billion people but suffer from economic and social poverty because lack of education and resources, studies show.

Noorani suggested to have an organizations dedicated for the advancement of minorities and seek support from Hindus for protecting secular values in the country.

He also suggested to document violence and discrimination and present them to larger public with agitations to bring social cohesion. They also have to bargain with political parties for their share of seats in decision-making bodies.

Noorani said Muslims “can’t isolate themselves from the national issues. They will have to lend their voice and take active interest in broader socio-political landscape of India,” he said.

Ansari in his concluding remarks stressed on how education is the key for the rights and advancement of Muslims. He pointed out that education of Muslims has been so far ignored and that has proved detrimental in today’s social order.

END

Colourful campaigns in Mizoram, despite Church diktats

The state never used to witness election rallies; there were not even posters or pamphlets distributed for the elections as the churches in Mizoram were opposed to it.

Aizawl:  With colourful, well-coordinated rallies and music, Mizoram is witnessing the most lively elections till date this time.

Young singers were recruited to an election campaign programme of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, son of former Lok Sabha speaker late P.A.Sangma, mainly in Aizwal. They sang popular local numbers and Western songs even as the flags of Sangma's National People's Party (NPP) and the BJP which is backing it were waved around. NPP has a considerable presence in all the northeastern states.

"There is no other way you could reach voters unless you address the youth," the chief minister had said.

Soon, others—the Mizo National Front (MNF), a strong contender this time, and the Congress—followed suit. Interestingly the same singers were hired to perform for these parties as well.

"You can call it an American style of election," said social activist, R. Laljinghania.

The state never used to witness election rallies; there were not even posters or pamphlets distributed for the elections as the churches in Mizoram were opposed to it. The churches, which play a key role in the governance of the state, including advising the government on various issues, had asked political leaders not to flood the state with banners, posters, pamphlets, and told them to stay away from holding massive campaign rallies.

However, the BJP decided to put an end to this custom and introduced massive political rallies with Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding a few campaign rallies in the state. The Congress too brought in Rahul Gandhi to address a massive rally in Aizwal ahead of the visit of the prime minister.

The churches agreed that this was a sharp deviation, but welcomed it nonetheless. "Yes, earlier we controlled this. But one silver lining this time is people got educated," Mizoram Baptist Church president K. Lalringthanga told THE WEEK.

He clarified that the churches were opposed to the high decibel election campaign as they wanted to restrict the flow of “illegal” money during the poll campaigns. "We all know how illegal money is spent in the name of election rallies. That is the reason churches kept a tab on the election campaigning," he said.

The churches appear to be ready to adapt to the changing times. However, many in the state agree that this would not mean the churches would not keep an eye on the election spending and reimpose the diktat if necessary.

Source: The Week

ROBERT JOHN KENNEDY: Repatriation of the Rohingya: Real deal or mind ga...

ROBERT JOHN KENNEDY: Repatriation of the Rohingya: Real deal or mind ga...: Repatriation of the Rohingya: Real deal or mind game? Muslim minority have become pawns in diplomatic game between Myanmar and Ba...

Repatriation of the Rohingya: Real deal or mind game?

Muslim minority have become pawns in diplomatic game between Myanmar and Bangladesh.

By Rock Ronald Rozario
Dhaka:  The failed attempt to send 150 refugees out of over one million currently residing in overcrowded camps in Cox's Bazar back to Rakhine State in Myanmar was the first concrete step for their repatriation.

The problem is that none of those in the first batch of 2,260 refugees due to be sent home were willing to go. Most of them responded by fleeing their temporary shelters and going into hiding. Others held daylong protests opposing the repatriation move.

Dhaka has been working enthusiastically to return the Rohingya to Myanmar but the deal has been delayed several times after a repatriation deal was signed in January of this year.

The first deal, inked without any third party involvement, sparked an international outcry.

Bangladesh, one of the world's most densely populated and impoverished nations, was forced to sign the deal as it creaks under the weight of domestic pressures including a shortage of resources. Finding more resources to feed some one million refugees has invited a backlash from many Bangladeshis.

Yet the deal failed to defuse the mounting international criticism of Myanmar's handling of the crisis. It did not include third party oversight and, importantly, lacked any input from those at the center of the crisis — the Rohingya.

That being said, none of the deals signed so far have taken into account the key concerns and demands of the Rohingya, including calls for justice over the atrocities they have suffered, the return of their property, reparations for the damage done, and the right to citizenship in Myanmar.

While Buddhists in Rakhine have strongly opposed any return of the Rohingya, Myanmar decided to accommodate the returnees in camps, much to their consternation.

Moreover, it will take years to rebuild the hundreds of Rohingya villages that were razed and fully resettle the returnees.

Yet it pressed ahead with the repatriation plan to spare itself more global criticism, looming sanctions, a faltering economy, and also to reduce pressure from its longtime ally and backer, China.

China and India have reportedly promised to pay for hundreds of houses for the refugees. The two regional rivals both have huge investments in Bangladesh that they are unlikely to let go of.

China also has a lot of financial sway over Myanmar's economy. China needs Myanmar to help realize the completion of its much-hyped Belt and Road Initiative, and it also cannot ignore an emerging regional economy like Bangladesh.

It is worth noting here that the first list of refugees to be repatriated only included Muslims, not the 500 or so Hindu refugees who are eager to get back to Myanmar.

Given the political and diplomatic dimensions of the deal, it was unlikely to be implemented in such a tense political atmosphere ahead of the polls.

The problem is that successive military rulers in Myanmar, and now its civilian government and hard-line Buddhists, have repeatedly made it known that the Rohingya are not welcome and they don't want the refugees to return.

Without a consensus-based deal, the repatriation of the Rohingya will remain elusive and unrealistic, leaving them as pawns in a diplomatic game being played out between two neighboring nations, and ultimately prolonging their misery and hardship.

Rock Ronald Rozario is a Dhaka-based journalist, writer and Bangladesh Bureau Chief for ucanews.com

Source: UCAN

ROBERT JOHN KENNEDY: Asia Bibi protest leader arrested in Pakistan

ROBERT JOHN KENNEDY: Asia Bibi protest leader arrested in Pakistan: Asia Bibi protest leader arrested in Pakistan Violence breaks out in Lahore after Tehreek-e-Labbaik chief is held in protective c...

Asia Bibi protest leader arrested in Pakistan

Violence breaks out in Lahore after Tehreek-e-Labbaik chief is held in protective custody by police.

File photo

Karachi:  Pakistan has launched a crackdown on a religious group who paralyzed the country for three days after the acquittal of Catholic death row inmate Asia Bibi.

Bibi, a mother of five who had been held in solitary confinement on death row since 2010, had her blasphemy conviction overturned by the Supreme Court on Oct. 30.

The court's ruling sparked three days of violent protests led by Khadim Hussain Rizvi, the firebrand cleric and chief of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), a politico-religious group known for its staunch support of draconian blasphemy laws.

The protests prompted the government to sign a controversial deal that drew condemnation from minority and human rights groups.

The Christian woman was eventually released on Nov. 8 in Multan and flown to Islamabad. Her whereabouts have been kept secret due to threats to her life and her family.

On Nov. 23, police, rangers and other law enforcement agencies detained Rizvi and hundreds of his followers in an undeclared crackdown against the group. The move sparked clashes between Rizvi's supporters and police in Lahore in which at least five people were injured.

Government spokesman Fawad Chaudhry said Rizvi was taken into protective custody after he announced plans to hold a rally in Rawalpindi.

"Khadim Hussain Rizvi has been taken into protective custody by police and shifted to a guesthouse. They insisted on coming to Rawalpindi and refused the government's proposal for alternative arrangements," Chaudhry said shortly after the arrests.

"The government did its best to convince them but they refused every offer and started to provoke violence. The public are requested to stay peaceful and calm. The law shall take its course and it cannot be left to individuals."

In a press statement on Nov. 25, TLP Karachi head Allama Razi Hussaini said the group was being punished for staging protests against Bibi's acquittal.

"Our more than 500 leaders and workers have been missing ever since the crackdown was launched by the police," Hussaini said.

He also condemned the house arrest of Islamic scholar Mufti Muneeb ur Rehman for his support of the TLP.

Bibi was sentenced to death in 2010 on charges of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad during an argument with a Muslim farm worker.

Her lawyer Saiful Malook has fled Pakistan after threats to his life.

The raw video below shows TLP supporters clashing with police at Numaish Chowrangi in Karachi on Nov. 24. (Video courtesy of TLP media)

Source: UCAN

ROBERT JOHN KENNEDY: Scams in Jan Dhan, Ujjwala schemes will be unearth...

ROBERT JOHN KENNEDY: Scams in Jan Dhan, Ujjwala schemes will be unearth...: Scams in Jan Dhan, Ujjwala schemes will be unearthed in future: Mamata Terming the BJP and RSS as worshippers of the demon king R...

Scams in Jan Dhan, Ujjwala schemes will be unearthed in future: Mamata

Terming the BJP and RSS as worshippers of the demon king Ravana, the Trinamool Congress supremo accused them of selling their Gods to get votes.

Mamata Banerjee. (File Photo: IANS)

Kolkata:  Claiming that the scandals in the BJP-led NDA government have come out in the open due to disputes within the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Reserve Bank of India, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said more wrongdoings by the Centre will be unearthed in the future.

Banerjee claimed that there are scams within the central government schemes like the 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana', that aims to provide affordable access to financial services, and the 'Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana' under which LPG subsidy is being provided.

"They (Centre) are busy looting people's money and scamming them in every way possible. Today, the cat is out of the bag due to the ongoing CBI and RBI controversies. In coming days, same things would happen in the Jan Dhan accounts or in case of LPG subsidy," Banerjee said at a public rally in Jhargram district.

All the development in this region has been done by the state government. But some parties come here with bags of cash and alcohol before the elections and ask for people's votes.

"You can take the money if you need it, but do not vote for them. Remember, the money they are distributing is not theirs, it is common man's money," she said in a veiled reference to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The saffron outfit has increased its strength considerably in the tribal belt of Bengal, especially Jhargram, where it gained a majority in the last Gram Panchayat elections.

Terming the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as worshippers of the demon king Ravana, the Trinamool Congress supremo accused them of selling their Gods to get votes.

"They worship Ravana, not lord Ram. They sell their Gods to get votes. That's why they stoke fire of unrest in the country. We do not do that. Our Gods and Goddesses are like our mother," Banerjee said.

Banerjee said that her government also provides special assistance to the people of Maoist-infested Jangalmahal, comprising Bengal's western districts including Jhargram, and urged people to drive away the forces that practise division and intolerance.

"Those who spread false propaganda, try to divide people, and dictate terms on the basis of religion should be ashamed. Where were they when the people of Jangalamahal used to spend their life in fear? When the youths used to get killed at the hands of Maoists or get arrested by the police everyday?" Banerjee said.

"I urge the 'Kanyashrees' (girls) to convince their parents, family and children not to be with the divisive forces," she added.

IANS

ROBERT JOHN KENNEDY: Hindu groups revive demand for controversial Ram t...

ROBERT JOHN KENNEDY: Hindu groups revive demand for controversial Ram t...: Hindu groups revive demand for controversial Ram temple Pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party has been using emotive Ayodhya issue to ...

Hindu groups revive demand for controversial Ram temple

Pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party has been using emotive Ayodhya issue to garner votes, say critics.

Sadhus and monks were part of a dharma sabha (religious meeting) in Ayodhya in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on Nov. 25. They gathered to revive a decade-old demand to build a temple on land that once had a Muslim mosque. Hindu hardliners destroyed the mosque in 1992. (Photo by IANS)

New Delhi:  Tens of thousands of Hindus gathered in the northern Indian city of Ayodhya on Nov. 26 to demand a Hindu temple be built where a mosque once stood before it was demolished by Hindu hardliners more than two decades ago.

An estimated 200,000 Hindus gathered in the city for a dharam sabha (religious meeting) to pressure Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party-led government to build a Ram temple at the site of the 16th century Babri mosque which Hindu hardliners destroyed on Dec. 6, 1992.

A temple cannot be built as a dispute between Muslims and Hindus over who controls the land continues in the courts.

Hindu groups say they have proposed designs for a temple and are ready to build a temple.

"We will not sit in ease until temple construction is achieved," said Krishna Gopal, a leader of Hindu umbrella organization RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) who chaired the meeting.

Hindus consider Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh state the birthplace of Hindu lord Ram. They claim Mughal ruler Babar demolished a Ram temple and built over it with the mosque. Hard-line Hindu groups stress the land originally belonged to them.

The 1992 mosque destruction triggered Hindu-Muslim riots that killed some 2,000 people nationwide.

Before the large numbers arrived on Nov. 26, hundreds of Muslims fled the city fearing violence as the anniversary of the demolition was barely a week away.

The BJP has been accused of engineering the 1992 demolition and its action is seen as helping push the BJP to political prominence and eventually take power in Delhi.

The BJP said the mosque was an insult to Hindu self-esteem and its past party slogans said only a Ram temple at the place of mosque could help revive Hindu pride.

In the past six general elections since the demolition, the BJP promised a Ram temple would be built in Ayodhya but failed to deliver.

Critics say the Hindu party has been using the emotive issue purely to garner votes.

"The RSS-BJP is trying to set the country on fire by raking the temple issue. At a time when people need jobs, food and economic well-being, it is a huge distraction from the failures being created by the BJP," Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury told the media.

Another prominent opposition leader, Akhilesh Yadav of the socialist Samajwadi Party, said the BJP is attempting to divert people's attention from the Modi government's "big-time failures."

Muslim trader Nassim Haque in Ahmedabad told ucanews.com that the main opposition Congress party — which traditionally enjoyed Muslim support — has taken an approach of "soft Hindutuva," meaning a soft appeasement of Hindus.

Haque gave the example of how opposition parties and Muslim groups used to observe protest meetings on the anniversary of the Babri mosque demolition.

"A few years ago, the Congress party started playing their vanilla secularism and ordered that no such protest should be held," he said.

"Muslims are no longer wanted in this country. Everyone is after Hindu votes, so the temple movement is back."

Source: UCAN