Khakira Third Degree Prayog ...

Article by Sri Rabi Narayan Panda

Adhogami Bharat O Bharatiya Samskruti

Article by Sri Madhab Sethi.

Rama setu, Affidavit and Secularism

Article by Sri Dandapani Panda

Puri Seer urged stringent punishment for conversion

Bhubaneswar (VISAKEO): The Puri Seer Jagadguru Swami Nischalananda Saraswati while addressing the three day conference of Dharma Prasar workers of Viswa Hindu Parishad, which ended at Puri on September 23, pleaded for stringent action by the Government to put an end to the conversion from one religion to another by groups of vested interests taking advantage of the simplicity of poor harijans, tribals and economically backward people. Shankaracharya of  Govardhan Pitha has urged the Government to amend the law relating to conversion and make provision for stringent punishment to people involved in conversion. The Sheer said , in order to refrain  attack on Hindu religion and philosophy , laws relating to conversion should be amended and provisions should be made for 10 years of Rigorous Imprisonment and Rs 10 lakh fine to the persons who would be found guilty of  misguiding poor and innocent people for conversion by allurement. " Unless such steps are taken and implemented strictly, the Hindu religion will face danger from non-Hindus who are getting huge foreign funding to carry on such activities," he added.

VHP demands ten-year imprisonment for religious conversation

Bhubaneswar (VISAKEO):Taking a strong note of the increasing religious conversion in the country, the Vishva Hindu Parishad has demanded for strict laws to control the activities of the missionaries and sought stern action against those, who are being involved in conversion activities in the country. In a resolution passed at the three-day long All-India Hindu Religious Conference, which ended at Puri on Sunday, VHP sought ten-year rigorous imprisonment for the accused involved in religious conversion and Rs 10 lakh as fine. Hindu religious preachers from 32 places of the country after discussing the issue, passed a resolution seeking ten-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10 lakh for those are being involved in religious conversion activities in the country, particularly the Christian Missionary. Meanwhile, several noted Hindu religious preachers, who were present at the three-day long religious conference turned the Sachar Committee report as socially divisive and attempt to hurt the sentiments of the Hindus. The real meaning of the Sachar Committee is to have job reservations based on religion, developmental priorities in the areas occupied by one religious value and communal budgeting. The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's declaration that minorities, particularly Muslims, have a first right to national resources is exhibit of this Government's intentions, VHP national general secretary Mohan Joshi said. He urged the Centre to reject the Committee's recommendations, and work for development of all regions and poverty alleviation of poor across the country rather than of one religious denomination. Puri Seer Jagadaguru Nischalananda Saraswati, VHP international general secretary Prabin Bhai Togadia, religious affair chief Dharma Narayan Sharma, VHP State secretary Gouri Prasad Rath and national co-convener Subash Chouhan were among those present.

VHP to conduct Ram Sethu Rakshya Padayaatras from Sept 27

Bhubaneswar (VISAKEO): After conducting nationwide chalka jam over Ram Sethu, VHP on Saturday announced to conduct Ram Sethu Rakshya Padayaatras and public awarness rallies over Ram Sethu. Announcing this here at a news conference, VHP International General Secretary Prabin Bhai Togadia said that as part of the revised campaign over Ram Sethu, padayaatras, rallies, public awareness campaign, pujas for Ramayan, Rameshwaram Shivlingam and Ram Sethu will be conducted from across the country from September 27 to October 10. He said that besides, one crorer Hindus will take oath to fight against the evil designs that has been promoted jointly by the Congress, DMK and the Communists to demolish the historic Ram Sethu. "VHP is appealing people of all caste, creed, faith and religion to participate in the padayaatras for the protection of Ram Sethu," Togadia said. "We would not stop our campaign over the issue, till the Centre scarped the project," he made it clear.

Criminal cases to be filed against Karunanidhi from Monday, warns Togadia

Bhubaneswar (VISAKEO): Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Saturday announced to file criminal cases under section 295 of the IPC against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK Chief Karunanidhi for misinterpreting the Valmiki's Ramayan while saying Lord Ram as a drunkard according to Valmiki. Speaking at news conference here, VHP International General Secretary Prabin Bhai Togadia said that VHP activists, Sadhus and Hindus across the country will file criminal cases against the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi for misinterpreting Valmiki's Ramayan while saying Lord Ram was a drunkard from Monday onwards. "If Karunanidhi wants a public debate over the existence of Lord Ram and Valmiki's Ramayan, then he should come to Ayodhya or Kashi and faced the Sadhus and Sathas of the country, why he challenging political leaders for debate," Togadia directly referring to Karunanidhi's challenge to Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha LK Advani for a debate on Lord Ram said. "Karunanidhi misinterpreted the Ramayan and his anti-Hindu stand, will be strongly replied, if the Centre did not scrape the project soon," Togadia warned. VHP always ready for a debate over the issue, but those who are in favour of debate should come to a proper platform instead politicising the issue, Togadia asserted. The Centre should immediately scrape the project and realise its mistakes committed during the file of the defamatory affidavit in the Supreme Court, he demanded.

"Karunanidhi is a history cheater and his double standard on Lord Ram's existence was evident from the fact that, in 1972, he admitted Lord's existence in Tamil Nadu District gazetteers," Togadia releasing a copy of the Gazetteers said. Accusing Congress Party Chief Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for their pro-US and anti-Hindu lobby, Togadia said "VHP is preparing itself for a greater movement over the issue and unless and until, the project get scrapped, nationwide agitation will continue," Four lakh fishermen along the Tamil Nadu Coast would be severely affected and they would lose their livelihood while thorium deposits along the Coast will also be affected, Togadia, who is here to attend an All-India Hindu Religious Conference underway at Puri argued. Locals, who live and work amid scores of Hindu temples across Rameswaram, believe it was blasphemous on part of the Government to question mythology, he claimed. "The Central Government has deliberately created circumstances that the Ram Setu be demolished. All Hindus are opposing this," he said.

Charging the CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat, who is backing Karunanidhi over Ram Sethu, Tagodia said the communists are now become a party of the international conspiracy that has been going on against India's economic progress. What they (the Communists) learned about Lord Ram, now backing Karunanidhi? He asked. "If no Ram, then why other political parties in Tamil Nadu including the main Opposition AIDMK is opposing the controversial statement over Lord Ram," he argued. Asked whether VHP will allow BJP to make a political issue, if the country faces a mid-term poll, Togadia said that matter is purely faith, belief and culture and VHP in fact not in favour of politicisation of the issue.

Centre’s affidavit over Rama Sethu unfortunate, says RSS

Bhubaneswar: Coming down heavily on the Congress led UPA Government for its affidavit over the controversial Rama Sethu issue, State unit of RSS on Thursday once again warned the Government for a massive statewide campaign. "Centre affidavit was unfortunate and all Hindus across the globe will reply to it," RSS said in a statement here. It warned the Centre that it would launch a Statewide movement if it did not immediately withdraw its affidavit that there was no historical evidence to prove Lord Ram's existence. RSS however accused the Central Government of insulting the Constitution, which it said contained images of Ram, Sita and Hanuman." The Government has made an assault on Hindu sentiments, which cannot be tolerated at any cost," RSS statement said.  " The Government has set in motion the process of questioning religious beliefs. We will launch a State wide movement if it does not withdraw immediately this blasphemous submission questioning the very existence of Lord Ram," RSS State spokesman Simanchal Khatua said.

Rashatravadi Sikhyaka Parishad threatens stir

Bhubaneswar (VISAKEO): State unit of Rashatravadi Sikhayka Parishad on Saturday demanded immediate regularization of service of some 500 lectures appointed between 1993 to December 1998 and working in 254 aided Colleges of the State. Parishad organising secretary Narayan Mohanty said that due to the apathetic attitude of the State Higher Education Department, the lectures are not getting their salary directly from the Governmnet while their service not regularised till now. He alleged that the Cabinet Sub-Committee was eyewash as it failed to solve the issue. "We will soon launch a State wide agitation against the Government," Mohanty said.

All India Hindu Conference in Puri from Sept 21

Bhubaneswar (VISAKEO): State unit of Vishwa Hindu Parishad will organise a three-day long Hindu religious conference in Puri, in which more than 400 Hindu religious preachers from the country and abroad are expected to join. VHP State secretary said on Saturday that the conference is being organised to discuss burning issues like cow slaughter, conversion and several other issues will be discussed. VHP International General Secretary Prabin Bhai Togodia, VHP's religious affairs chief Mohan Joshi and Dharmnarayan Sharma will join the conference. Puri Seer Jagadguru Swami Nischalananda Saraswati will inaugurate the conference, Rath said. Meanwhile, VHP sources said that conference is being conveyed in order to discuss the conversion issues and VHP will also plan its future course of action on Ram Sethu issue. "Orissa is one among the State, where conversion is a major problem and the conference will form fresh strategy to control the activities of Christian Missionaries," VHP sources said.  "Besides, as Togadia and several other top leaders are coming, they will discuss the issue again with the Puri Seer before taking final decision on Ram Sethu," sources said.

VHP once again warned Centre over Rama Sethu - Chalk jam hits rail, roads in Orissa

bhubaneswar (VISAKEO): Thousands of activists of the RSS, VHP, BJP, Bajrang Dal and AVBP blocked roads and stopped trains in several places across State to protest the Sethusamudram canal project that they say will destroy a 'bridge' held sacred in Hindu mythology. Activists blocked roads across the State from 8am to 11 am and the strike has been successful. Train service also affected due to chalk jam. BJP State president Suresh Pujari led protests in Bhubaneswar while hundreds of activists led by BJP MP Jual Oram staged protests at the steel city of Rourkela. Similarly, VHP State secretary Gouri Prasad Rath led the chalk jam at Balasore and VHP State organising secretary Tanmaya Mohapatra led the protests in Cuttack followed by Golekha Chandra Behera led the protests in Kendrapara. Roads were blocked in at least a dozen places in Bhubaneswar, leading to traffic jams. Activists also stopped several trains in Jatani, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Khurda, Puri, Ganjam, Berhampur, Sundargarh, Malkangiri, Dhenkanal, Angul, Sambalpur and in the State capital, apart from other towns. The VHP claims that the canal project, that will cut shipping time in the southern tip of India, would damage the Adam's Bridge or Ram Sethu, that many Hindus claim was built by the monkey brigade to enable Ram to reach then Lanka (now Sri Lanka) to rescue his wife Sita from the clutches of demon king Ravana. It also claimed that US space agency NASA had the bridge in the Indian Ocean carbon dated as being 1.7 million years old. However, NASA and Indian scientists say the 'bridge' was nothing but a natural string of underwater coral reefs. Meanwhile, just two days after the down to dusk bandh called by the Congress led Opposition Parties, commuters in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack had a harrowing time reaching their destinations due to road blockade at various places by VHP activists as part of their nationwide protest against Government's decision to go ahead with the Sethu Samudram project.  Vehicular movement across the city was affected with traffic snarls witnessed at Vani Vihar Square, Master Canteen Square, Khandgiri Square, Samanrapur Square and Rasulgarh Square, Kalpana Square. Police personnel in large numbers were deployed on streets to regulate the traffic. A number of activists, including some local leaders of VHP and BJP were also detained.

Students’ protest lacks leadership, ABVP blames

Bhubaneswar (VISAKEO - 8/9): Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad on Sunday alleged that due to lack of leadership, public properties worth lakh rupees have been damaged during a protest demonstration staged by the students of BPUT against the year-back policy for the Engineering students. "Damage of public properties during Students, agitation against any policy is purely lack of leadership and nothing," the Parishad said. Parishad State secretary Nirmal Sarangi said that in past many positive protests have been staged by different students' bodies and even they had succeeded in bringing a change. Supporting the striking students for their legitimate rights, Sarangi however urged the BPUT authorities to look into the issue with due care and give justice to thousands of students.
"If the BPUT authorities failed to solve the issue shortly, Parishad would carry out State wide agitation against the University,"Sarangi warned.

Sri Rama setu Surakshaya manch vows to stop Sethusamudram project.

Bhubaneswar (VISAKEO - 8/9): State unit of SriRama setu Surakhya manch on Saturday announced to carry out a massive agitation in the State in protest against the Sethusamudram Shipping Project.The  Surakshaya Manch however warned the Union Government against playing with the sentiments of Hindus and demanded immediate scrapping of the Sethusamudram project, which it said would damage Ramsethu in the Palk Straits. The belief that the Ramsethu was the bridge built by Vanar Sena as mentioned in the Ramayana was unquestionable. It is the belief of crores of Hindus, and the Centre should not hurt them. The Government should change the alignment of the project to save Ramsethu, State coordinator of Rama setu Suraksya manch, Gouri Prasad Rath said at a news conference here. Ramsethu was not just an issue of religious faith, it also had security value for the nation as it had a rich reserve of Thorium, used as a nuclear fuel, and also a natural barrier against disasters like tsunami, he said. The future course of agitation would be chalked out later if the Centre failed to respect the Hindu sentiments, he said. He further said that Puri Seer Jagadguru Nischalananda Saraswati has already given his morale support to the three-hour long Chakka Jam called on September 12 from 8am to 11am.

Janmastami celebrated across the State

Bhubaneswar: (visakeo)Birth Day of Lord Krishna on Monday observed across the State with Krishna devotees throng to both ISCKON Temple and Ram Mandir here in the city for prayer. A Krishna competion was held here at ISCKON Temple premises, in which hundreds of School kids' partiocipated and dressed like Lord Krishna on this occasion. Similarly, Upasana, an NGO conducted Krishna competition at Sri Ram Baidika Sikhyasram in Kalinga Nagar on the outskirt of Bhubaneswar, where more than 40 students of 10 School participated. Sri Ram Baidika Sikhyasram's Rashmi Ranjan Behera was declared the best Krishna and Prakash Priyadarsan of Kalinga Nagar Saraswati Sishu Mandir stood second and Akankhya S Patnaik of Old Town Venkatswar English Medium School stood at third. Amrita Prabha Rai, Renubala Patnaik and Dipti Mohapatra were among those present on this occasion. Swadhya Pariwar conducted a workshop on Bhagavat Gita on the occasion of Janmastami here in the premises of the Abhin Chandra Homeopathic Medical College. Religious discourses were also organized on this occasion here at Ram Mandir.
Meanwhile, keeping law and order situation in the city, police have made elaborate security measures at all Temple premises in the city. Additional forces were deployed at Ram Mandir, Unit-8 Jagannath Temple and ISCKON Temple.

Kalinga Sena held demo in front of Raj Bhawan

Bhubaneswar (VISAKEO): In protest against the Reliance Retail Fresh, newly formed political outfit Kalinga Sena on Monday held a demonstration in front of the Raj Bhawan and urged the Governor to intervene into the matter and submitted a memorandum to him. Sena is opposing the entry of Reliance Retail Fresh into the city. "If Reliance will open retail shop here, small time traders will lose their daily wage and the State Government should immediately scrap all the deals with the Reliance Company," Kalinga Sena State president Hemanta Rath said. He further said that the Sena will carry out a State wide agitation against the move and would not allow the company to open retail shops in the city. "We have apprised the Governor Chandrakant Bhandare and if the State Government does not look into the matter, Sena workers will stall the Reliance Retail shops in the city," Rath warned.

CPI (M), CPI, Forward Block to jointly oppose Naval exercise on Bay of Bengal

Bhubaneswar (VISAKEO): State unit of CPI (M), CPI and Forward Block on Monday jointly announced to strongly opposed the proposed joint Naval exercise of India, USA, Japan, Australia and Singapore on Bay of Bengal begging from September 4. Jointly speaking at press conference here, CPI (M) State secretary Janardan Pati, CPI State secretary Dibakar Nayak and Forward Block State secretary Santosh Mitra charged the Manmohan Singh led UPA Government as pro-America Government and alleged that the Centre has violated the NAM treaty. This Naval exercise will have a bad impact of country's military policy and the USA is using India in order to consolidate its position in the Gulf countries, Dibakar Nayak
of CPI said. The Left Parties would organise a Jatha( a typee of protest rally) from two diffenrnt locations. One rally will be kicked off by CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat at Chennai and another will be flaged off by the CPI General Secretary AB Bardhan at Kolkata on September 4 and two Jatha will reach Visakhapatnam on September 8, the day the Naval exercise will conclude. Meanwhile, the Jatha, which will be flagged off by Bardhan at Kolkata, will reach Orissa border on Tuesday near Jaleswar and through Rajghat, Balasore, Soro, the Jatha will reach Bhadrak on Wednesday (September 5). From Bhadrak, the Jatha will move through Panikoili, Chandikhol, Tangi, Cuttack and will reach Bhubaneswar on the same day. From Khurda, the Jatha will traverse through Tangi, Balugaon, Keshpur, Rambha, Ganjam, Chhatrapur and Berhampur on Septmeber 6 and on Septmeber 7, the Jatha will leave for Ichhapuram from Berhampur, the three Left Parties said in a joint statement.

Intelligence worries as Maoists bee line to Gajapati

Bhubaneswar (VISAKEO): The recent detection of an unexploded bomb on the Khariguda-Bachipank road under the Mohona block of Gajapati district under the Southern Police range has alerted the police administration, who was under the impression that radical activities in this Maoists infected district had been under control. Mohona block is a part of the Assembly Constituency of Energy and Culture Minister Surya Narayan Patro while the rebels are reported to have warned the Minister Patro for dire consequence. The detection of this unexploded bomb is bound to create a scare as this road is on the important Berhampur-Mohona-Adava-Rayagada State Highway No-117. This is the shortest link from South Orissa to the State Capital here in Bhubaneswar. Most of the Ministers and top officials, who did not prefer helicopters, are using this road to visit the cholera affected regions of the district and after the incident, both police and intelligence officials are seemed worried. However, the local police reported to have advised Minister Patro not to move in these areas without full security. The Adava police had organised a health camp at the Karuna village during the day and district Collector DV Swamy and several other officials were touring the cholera affected villages, when the mine was detected. According to sources, the police were given a tip about a wire protruding along this State Highway by an anonymous caller and using a deep search metal detector and sniffer dogs the 3 kg metal box. Initially, police suspected a landmine but it turned out to be a remote control device. The persons, who would have activated the same, had fled after sensing the CRPF movement in the same locality. Investigation officials however denied revealing more on this. Meanwhile, the police agreed that the Bansadhara Regional Committee and the Kondavidi Dalam, who are part of Andhra-Orissa Border Gurilla Forces, have moved in to the Gajapati district and have already penetrated the Gumma, Nuagada and Mohona block. The presence of rebels in these blocks has been confirmed by the intelligence sleuths.

250 dead in cholera outbreak in Orissa, claims NGO

New Delhi (VISAKEO): Nearly 250 people have died of cholera in three districts of southern Orissa recently, an NGO claimed on Sunday. The official death toll in the outbreak has been put at 115.

"Official figures are being kept deliberately low in order to minimise the amount of compensation. If the government reveals the true figure, they would have to offer compensation to many more families," a press release issued by ActionAid said.
The disease had mostly spread in tribal-dominated districts of Koraput, Rayagada and Kalahandi. The State Government has announced compensation of Rs 10,000 to the families of the dead. "The affected people are tribals who suffer from widespread discrimination and official neglect," the NGO alleged.

The State Government should invest in repairing the defunct tube wells, disinfecting water sources and scale up medical facilities in the tribal pockets, it said.

Religious leaders can help eradicate foeticide: Sushma

Cuttack (VISAKEO): The bane of female foeticide in the country cannot be eradicated without involvement of religious leaders and spiritual gurus who have mass following, said former Union Health Minister and BJP MP Sushma Swaraj here on Saturday.

No amount of law or regulation can put an end to the practice that is rampant across States and communities of the country and has begun to cause social imbalance of disastrous proportions.

The evil practice was not evident in the poorer sections or States. It was more prevalent in the forward States like Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and the flourishing communities like Sikhs and Jains.

''I have started talking to the religious leaders of these communities and sects and they are ready to extend their mite,'' she said. The mothers are not willing to get rid of their unborn daughters but they are forced by their families, particularly the elders.
The elders have great faith in the religious leaders and gurus and would heed the latter's instructions. She also advocated roping in celebs, who have only daughters to campaign against foeticide on a more larger scale.

Swaraj launched the Jago Maa Jago nationwide campaign for protection of female foetuses spearheaded by the All India Marwari Yuva Mahasangha here.

The campaign would involve youth to create awareness on the despicable practice through publicity, door-to- door approach, community meetings, competitions, cultural programmes, school and college interventions.

Every person would be motivated to take a pledge not to resort to female foeticide. She also observed that the developments in science and technology amidst all its boons had also added to the menace by enabling people know the gender of their child before birth.

The aggressive family planning programme also added to it in some way or the other.

State Higher Education Minister Samir Dey, MPs Surendra Lath and Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, member of National Commission of Women Manju S Hembram, Cuttack Mayor Nibedita Pradhan, national convenor of the campaign Sampati Moda and national president of the manch Anil Jajodia were present.

RRSPM calls Chalka Jam on Sept 12

Bhubaneswar (VISAKEO - 31/8): State chapter of the Rameswaram Ram Sethu Protection Movement on Friday warned of a series of agitations if the Centre did not go in for an alternative alignment in Palk Straits. RRSPM has called a three-hour long chalka jam through out the State as part of its nation wide campaign to save the mythological Rama Sethu. "Some people may be atheists. But there are crores of people who believe in God. A democratic Government should respect the sentiments of majority people," RRSPM State coordinator Gouri Prasad Rath said on Friday. Stressing that the existence of Ram Sethu was not a figment of imagination and there were references about it in ancient literature and epics, he said the bridge also stood as a symbol of unity and integrity of the country. Members of RSS, VHP, BJP, Bajrang Dal and ABVP will join the chalka jam, Rath said. Pointing out that all Hindu religious leaders, including the Shankaracharyas, had unsuccessfully appealed to the Centre to stop the destruction of Ram Sethu, Rath said, "the voice of religious minorities is respected in the country. But, the voice of majority Hindus goes unheeded." He said the Movement would strive to create social awareness on the issue, besides waging a legal battle to protect the Ram Sethu. "If the Centre does not accede to our request, the struggle will be intensified to an unprecedented scale," he warned.