REFUGEE

As raids in the Telecom Ministry over the alleged irregularities in allocating spectrum continued for the second day on Friday, the Congress-DMK ties appeared to have taken a downturn.

A day after raiding the offices of top officials of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in Delhi, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided 19 premises of telecom companies and department officials in eight cities.

The DMK remained tight-lipped after Telecom Minister A. Raja of the DMK refused to step down. But the party raised the pitch over Kerala’s plan to replace the aging Mullaperyar dam and the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils.

Tamil Nadu has been opposing the building of a new dam, as it may reduce the flow of water to the state.

Telecom operators send and receive signals using the spectrum, or frequencies. But as the number of frequencies is limited, they need to be allocated to different service providers against a fee.

The allegation against the Telecom Ministry is that it allocated spectrum to inexperienced telecom operators, leading to a possible loss of Rs 22,000 crore to the exchequer.

The DMK has already been upset with the Congress for the perceived sleights after the Lok Sabha elections. Now, DMK patriarch and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and the family of his second wife, Rajathi, are said to be very unhappy.

Karunanidhi’s daughter and Member of Parliament K. Kanimozhi, who is said to be close to Raja, accompanied a delegation of TN parliamentarians to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday to apprise him of their visit to Sri Lanka. DMK sources
said she could have utilised the opportunity to convey her party’s concern over the CBI raids.

DMK leaders loyal to Karunanidhi’s sons from his first marriage, M.K. Alagiri and M.K. Stalin, were said to be happy that Raja was in trouble.

But they also wondered whether the Congress was trying to put the DMK in a tight spot ahead of the 2011 assembly polls that might be held in early 2010.

Meanwhile, pressure is mounting from the opposition demanding Raja’s resignation. BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad asked PM to drop the minister.

Maran’s tenure also on CBI scanner

Sources said the CBI on Friday seized documents related to licences issued even during the tenure of Raja’s predecessors. The CBI officials also visited offices of all the firms that were issued new licences.

“CBI officials visited our offices and took away copies of the licence agreements and documents related to assignment of spectrum,” said head of a telecom firm that was issued licences in January 2008.

NEW DELHI: Three more swine flu deaths, all in Maharashtra, were reported Wednesday, taking the total toll in the country due to the influenza A

(H1N1) virus to 399, health authorities said here.

Also, 150 new cases were reported in the country, taking the total number of people affected with the virus to 12,334.

While one death was reported Wednesday from Maharashtra, where maximum H1N1 deaths have occurred in the country, two were recorded earlier. "But the laboratory confirmation came today. It confirmed that the earlier two deaths also were due to swine flu," a health official said here.

"Till date, samples from 65,803 people have been tested for influenza A (H1N1) in government laboratories and a few private laboratories across the country and 12,334 of them have been found positive," said an official statement here.

Among the new cases, 48 were from Delhi alone and the figure includes 19 children, state health officials said.

So far, Delhi has reported over 3,279 cases of swine flu and 15 people have died of the disease.

The Delhi government authorised two more private hospitals to treat swine flu patients.

"The government has authorised two private hospitals - Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Action Balaji Hospital - to treat H1N1 patients in Delhi after thoroughly examining their capabilities," Delhi Health Minister Kiran Walia said.

The minister said these hospitals would each establish a 20-bed isolation ward for swine flu patients.

With this, the number of private hospitals authorised by the government to treat swine flu has reached four, including Apollo and Moolchand hospitals.

"These hospitals can issue prescription for the purchase of Tamiflu medicine after seeing the positive reports of H1N1 from the accredited laboratories," said an official statement here.

The other states from where new cases were reported are Karnataka (23), Kerala (21), Tamil Nadu (19), Maharashtra (19), Haryana (16), Uttar Pradesh (2), Uttarakhand (2) and Gujarat (1).

Lucknow: Cine actor, former Member of Parliament, and one projected by the media as a strong supporter of women and human rights, Shabana Azmi gave a royal ditch to hundreds of Muslim women when she failed to honor her commitment to be the chief guest at the third national convention of Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) held in Lucknow on 11th October.

Showing total disregard for all norms and tradition Shabana did not even show the basic courtesy of informing her host that she was not coming. The BMMA members, who had gone to receive her at the Amausi airport, got a rude shock when they discovered that Shabana was not on the Mumbai-Lucknow flight on which she had been booked. Deeply concerned about her well-being they called her up. After many futile attempts Shabana picked up the phone. Sans any regret or explanation she simply told them that she had cancelled her programme for Lucknow.

Shabana Azmi with children of Kaifi Azmi School at her village in Azamgarh in Nov 2008. PTI photo

Back at the venue red faced, the organizers had to tell the media and the public, both of whom had been waiting for Shabana in the sultry heat all afternoon that madam was not coming.

The organizers explained how it was only after several e-mails, telephone calls, and personal meetings that Shabana had finally consented to attend the convention.

“Only when she gave us her acceptance to attend that we printed her name on the invite. We sent her air tickets, booked her a room at a five star hotel in Lucknow and were happily awaiting her arrival when we learnt that she was not coming,” Noorjahan, BMMA member conducting the programme told the audience.

“We are deeply unhappy about this let down. But we were never more convinced than now that this movement for our rights will have to be run on our own strength. BMMA poor, semi literate volunteers will carry it forward. We should not depend on any celebrity for help, for leadership,” is how Noorjahan described Shabana’s irresponsible behavior.

Terming it as a ‘hadsa’ (grave mishap) she said that BMMA volunteers were strong enough to carry on with this great mission and ensure that their dream of a more equal world for Muslim community became a reality.

Though Shabana did temporarily disappoint the hundreds of women who had gathered from across 15 states of India at the venue to hear her, but she has caused herself more permanent harm by her callous attitude towards a very important section of society. For someone who just a few months back shook the whole country by her statement that Indian democracy is unfair to Muslims and that it makes only “token gestures” instead of addressing the real issues Shabana has shown that she is no better than those who have failed to support Muslim community. Shabana not only let down her community despite being a woman she let down so many women. The lady has shown total disregard for the cause that she claims to uphold and also trampled upon public sentiments. These can sound a death-knell for any one in public life.

“Shabana’s stinging attack on the country’s polity sounds so hollow now. She seems to cry foul only when she or her own kith and kin are affected. This is total hypocrisy,” said a BMMA office bearer in anger and disgust.

Asserting that Indian Muslims are given an unfair deal in India Shabana had even gone as far as to accuse the Muslim leadership of inefficient handling of community sentiments and called it a failure to project ‘true Islam.’

When Shabana got a chance of sharing the ‘real’ issues with the masses she failed to do so. Shabana’s anger only boils when she allegedly is not able to buy a flat in Mumbai. She created media hype about it suggesting that the root cause was the fact that she was a Muslim.

She contradicts herself when she claims before the whole world that she has led a ‘liberal, bohemian life and religion played no part in her family.

Shabana must clear the cobwebs of confusion about her personal life before she attempts to address the problems of the community.

Is she a ‘victim of discrimination?” Or victim of circumstances?

By Kavita Bajeli-Datt
New Delhi, Oct 10 (IANS) As many as 20 million Indians are believed to be suffering from mental illnesses, but there are only 3,500 psychiatrists and 1,500 psychiatric nurses to treat them, say experts.

Not only does India lag far behind western countries when it comes to mental health manpower but it also falls short of some Asian countries, they say.

“India’s mental health manpower is grossly inadequate. The number of psychiatrists for one million population ranges from 0.4 in India to 3 in the Maldives, and the number of psychiatric nurses from 0.4 in India to 18 in Sri Lanka,” R.C. Jiloha, head of the department of psychiatry in G.B. Pant Hospital, told IANS.

He said it is estimated that about one to two percent of India’s billion-plus population suffers from major mental disorders and about five percent of the population from minor depressive disorders.

“The number of patients in this country is totally disproportionate to the number of doctors. We urgently need more psychiatrists,” he added.

“There are not many training centres,and less of teachers. Most of these students and teachers are going abroad for greener pastures. The number of such doctors is going up very fast,” he added.

He said the government expenditure on mental health in the majority of SAARC countries was less than one percent of the total national health budget.

“Most of the people needing treatment have to spend from their own pocket, and most are not covered by insurance schemes. The majority of poor people do not get adequate treatment, or they prefer alternatives which are not effective,” he added.

Jiloha said one way to handle the paucity is by training general practitioners and by exposing the undergraduate students to tackle mental health problems.

In fact, their hospital has trained 800 doctors in Delhi.

“Patients first go to general practitioners. If they get the right treatment there, half the problem is solved and there is not much burden on psychiatrists,” he said.

“The magnitude of mental health problems is huge, with limited financial and other resources, the paucity of skilled mental health professionals and more emphasis on treating communicable diseases. Thus a cost-effective strategy is necessary for better healthcare delivery,” Jiloha added.

M.S. Bhatia, head of the psychiatric department at G.T.B. Hospital, said: “A shocking 70 million people suffer from mental ailments and yet, 50-90 percent of them are not able to access corrective services. Awareness of mental health is just not enough.”

“Most of the psychiatrists are based in cities or private hospitals. But it’s the government hospitals that face an acute shortage, although they are the ones which treat the poor,” said Bhatia in whose hospital there are posts for five psychiatrists, but only two are occupied.

“I know some government hospitals where posts are lying vacant because of the slow recruitment process or doctors have gone abroad. These doctors have not returned after their two-year stint; nor have they resigned from the post,” Bhatia told IANS.

In some states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan, the situation is pretty bad, he added.

The government says it is planning to upgrade services under the National Mental Health programme that was launched in 1982 with the objective to provide at least minimum mental health services to all.

According to a health ministry official, the ministry has allocated Rs.1,000 crore for the programme in the 11th Five Year plan.

“There is a proposal to support the setting up of or strengthening more psychiatry departments in the country. This move will generate 60 psychiatrists, 240 clinical psychologists and 600 psychiatric nurses per year,” said the official who did not want to be quoted.

But experts said much more is needed to be done.

Praveen Thapar, chairperson for the Sanjivni Centre for Mental Health, said: “The national programme has been in place for a long time now. However, its implementation is hindered because of the shortage of manpower and because the focus has been more on illnesses than on overall mental well being.”

Post-production works are nearing completion for Putrudu produced by Boddam Indrasena under the banner of Friends Film Academy introducing Sravan Bapatla as director, with the producer himself playing the hero and Tanisha pairing opposite him as heroine.


Buzz up!Producer says, “We first thought of producing the film in Telugu, but Sharma of Mumbai watched the trailers and suggested to release it in Hindi as well. Hence we have decided to bring out the film simultaneously in Hindi and Tamil languages. There would be about 45 minutes of graphic works in our movie. All the songs were choreographed with superior quality. I would appear in a role which had two shades like Medico and Aghora.”


Director Sravan says, “The film is being made with ‘Parusavedi’ (a trick which makes iron as gold) concept as its backdrop. At the same time, it has several elements like suspense and comedy too.”

Bindu is playing the second female lead in this movie, while MS Narayana, Surya, Kondavalasa Lakshmana Rao, Duvvasi Mohan, Rajender, Uttej, Nalla Venu, Pruthviraj, Jeeva, Jayavani, Kavita and others are in the cast. Music is by Satya Y, camera is by V Prabhapkar, editing is by D Raja, while story, screenplay, dialogues and direction are by Sravan Bapatla. Bukka Venugopal is the co-producer.

Yes the new name has surfaced on the list of judges for Sony’s new reality show Dance Premier League. After Madhuri Dixit backing out at the last moment, the channel and production is clinging on the name of Rani Mukherjee now.

“Madhuri has ditched the channel and production house as she could not find a nanny to look after her kids. There were talks with Katrina Kaif too but things seem to be bit difficult there, thus now they have approached to Rani Mukherjee for the same,” chirps the source from the production house.

Elaborating more on the name surfacing now our source adds, “Rani is a good dancer and thus she fits in for the seat of the judge. Also the actresses haven’t signed in any films after her latest flick Dil Bole Haddipa.”

“Thus channel is very keen on having her in the panel thought things are almost finalist but nobody is ready to reveal anything till she signs on the dotted line,” concludes the source.

It seems the league of the judges on the show DPL is the reason for the delay of the sho

Of the several fears that haunt Indian Muslims today, the worry of being “picked up” by law enforcement agencies is the most compelling. At the end of a three-day national meet in the capital on Monday on the status of Muslims in contemporary India, community representatives from across the country voiced fear and despair as their immediate concerns.

Victims who had either been accused of being involved in terror activities or have relatives behind the bars for alleged involvement in acts of terror shared their experiences before a panel of eminent people who have now come up with a set of 12 recommendations.

Referring to the feeling of “despair and fear” among the Muslims, former bureaucrat, Harsh Mander, who was also a panelist said Muslims feel let down by the police and the judiciary in particular and by the media and the political parties to some extent as well.

Mr. Mander said the ongoing war on terror has emerged as a pattern that can be seen not just in Gujarat, but in several other States as well. “Muslim youths with no criminal records are picked up illegally by policemen in plainclothes taken to farmhouse etc. and kept for days on end and tortured brutally.”

Taking note of the feeling of discrimination felt by Muslims in various spheres, the recommendations put forth by the panel suggests a high-power judicial commission headed by a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court appointed to examine all cases of terror across the country. “Those that seem doubtful or fabricated should be handed over to a special investigation team. It should complete its task in a year so that prolonged detention of persons against whom there is little convincing evidence is not prolonged,” the recommendations said.

Prosecution of police officials who have tampered with evidence in cases which can result in capital punishment, compensation for victims who were detained but found innocent, concerted drive to recruit in larger number Muslims to all levels of the police, civil administration and judiciary have also been recommended.

The jury members after studying the submissions, which include complaints like discrimination in matters of renting houses in non-Muslim dominated areas, prejudices and biases of public institutions against Muslims and reinforcing stereotypes by the media also recommended the enactment of the Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill with changes suggested by the civil society groups.

“Strong action should be taken under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code against organisations which indulge in hate campaigns and communal propaganda. The requirement of prior sanction of the State government before a complaint is registered under this Act should be waived,” the recommendations state.

The panel has also sought a law against communal discrimination on the lines of the SC/ST Act to recognise specific crimes of discrimination against minorities and punish these severely.

“The Prime Minister should nominate a 10-member committee to undertake a nationwide campaign against communalisation of society, akin to the literacy campaign and temple entry campaigns of the past. This committee should also study and document these social processes of structural discrimination, some of which came to light in the national meet,” said the recommendations.

The panel has also called for suitable allocation to cover the largely deprived population in a minority sub plan-like the tribal sub plan and special component plan, which is proportionate to the population of the communities. It also wants the committee to be empowered also to ensure that the Waqf properties are managed in ways that their incomes are converged with public investment to ensure further topping up of resources.

Pointing out that the India society at present is not truly secular, film maker Mahesh Bhatt, who was also on the jury, said there is an immediate need to “implement an anti-discrimination law.”

The Indian government has assured Sri Lanka that it has taken immediate steps to strengthen security at Sri Lanka's High Commission (embassy) in New Delhi following a stone throwing attack at the embassy on Friday, the Sri Lankan government said Saturday.

Sri Lanka's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Indian Minister for External Affairs S. M. Krishna in a telephone call to his Sri Lankan counterpart Rohitha Bogollagama Friday evening assured immediate steps have been taken to strengthen security at the embassy and action will be taken against the perpetrators.

Krishna also said the incident is contrary to the cooperative relationship that exists between the two countries and certainly does not reflect the close and warm bilateral friendship that exists between India and Sri Lanka.

A mob comprising 40-50 persons arrived at the main gate of Sri Lanka's embassy in New Delhi Friday afternoon and some of them forcibly entered the embassy causing some damage to its premises.

They had been holding placards in English which read such as "stop killing Tamil Nadu fishermen", officials from the Sri Lankan government said.

The Indian police said the people were Tamils and they were extending support to Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan missions in several Western capitals came under attack by Tamil Tiger supporters earlier this year during the final battles between the government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels.

The rebels were defeated by the troops in May, ending their 30-year-old campaign to carve out an independent Tamil homeland in the north and east.