The Tribune – Sangeet utsav begins

Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 12. The four-day Gurmat Sangeet Utsav, being organised by Gurmat Sangeet Department of Punjabi University, Patiala, began today at the university campus. SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar was the chief guest on the occasion.

Inaugurating the utsav, Makkar applauded the efforts of Gurmat Sangeet Department in the promotion and propagation of Gurmat Sangeet. He said it was the music which blends the human soul with Almighty. He announced that Gurmat Sangeet subject would soon be introduced in all colleges of Punjab so that the students could know about our traditional music. He even assured that the SGPC would also provide high scale jobs to kirtankaris as per the demands by the department.

Presiding over the function, Vice-Chancellor of the university, Dr Jaspal Singh said Gurmat Sangeet department and Chair played an important role in saving our culture and traditions.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111013/punjab.htm#18

The Tribune – Stop Duronto at Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Sirhind: Chawla

Chandigarh, October 12. Punjab Social Welfare and Child Development Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla today urged the Centre to take a decision on stopping the Chandigarh-Amrtisar Duronto Express train at Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Sirhind so that the passengers of these cities could also avail the facility.

Chawla also called for a change in the departure timing of the train from Chandigarh. She said with the departure timing fixed at 7 pm, the commuters faced inconvenience as they reached Amritsar late in the night. The minister also urged that half the seats could be reserved whereas the remaining half should be reserved under the “tatkal” services.

She said with the changed reservation system, the Railways could earn more revenue and the public could also be benefited. (TNS)

http://maninblue1947.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post-new.php?post_type=post

The Asian Age – It is not for me to lock up people: Salman

Asian Age Correspondent

New Delhi, 13 October 2011. Union law and justice minister Salman Khurshid tried to put a brave front after coming under criticism from the Supreme Court regarding his statement which said “if you lock up top businessmen, will investment come”.

Defending his remarks, the law minister said that while it was for the courts to decide as to who should be locked up, the dictum of bail being the rule and jail an exception has been laid down by the Supreme Court itself. Commenting on the SC observation, Mr Khurshid said “it is not for me to lock up people, it is for the courts to decide”.

He recalled that the Supreme Court had laid down the law “bail is the rule, jail is an exception”. In a controversial statement, Mr Khurshid had reportedly said that the judiciary needs to understand the “political economy” in the country, adding, “If you lock up top businessmen, will investment come.” This was termed “disturbing” by the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

The law minister clarified that his comments were not related to the 2G case. He added that in a changing society, every institution has to respond to the demands of changing time and the courts had done that in the case of protection of environment for which they needed to be complimented. “The demands of our time are that we must appreciate what dissent is,” he said.

He also pointed out that it was the Supreme Court that had given bail to Maoist sympathiser Binayak Sen without saying that he was guiltless.

http://www.asianage.com/india/it-not-me-lock-people-salman-382

Sangat Sahib Gurdwara, Halmaal, Sint-Truiden – Sevadars

Pictures taken on 18 September 2011

‘Chief Cook’ Nanak Singh frying panir

Nanak Singh and another sevadar

Nanak Singh, Kuldip Singh

Our new dough mixing machine !

To see more Sint-Truiden Gurdwara pictures go to :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157624495772533/

More Belgian pictures to follow
Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

The Tribune – J&K interlocutors moot ‘meaningful autonomy’; Submit report to Home Minister Chidambaram

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 12. Advocating “meaningful autonomy” and speedy development, the three interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir submitted their report to Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday, a year after they were appointed to draw a roadmap to peace, sources said.

The three-member panel comprising journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, academician Radha Kumar and former Information Commissioner MM Ansari regretted that people with separatist tendencies in Jammu and Kashmir had not come and met them.

Minutes after emerging from the North Block office, Padgaonkar, while replying to queries, said, “Had we spoken to separatists, the report would have been more worthwhile… They (separatists) missed the bus”. The report has taken into account both mainstream and off-stream opinions and in particular, various inputs from both Hurriyat factions whose stands on the matter are known publicly, he stated.

He went on to add that the aim of the report was to provide “a permanent political settlement in the state of J&K”.

The report would be shared with the all-party delegation and after that, put in the public domain. “We want a debate on the matter and would like to be available to the all-party delegation,” the veteran journalist added. The panel was formed after an all-party meet last year. The appointments were made when Kashmir situation had turned grim following street protests and killing of more than 100 youth.

Padgaonkar, who addressed mediapersons on behalf of the team, said, “This is the most accurate, comprehensive and broadest possible spectrum of opinion.” The team met 600 delegations across 22 districts of J&K. It also attended three round table conferences in which people from all three regions – Jammu, Srinagar and Ladakh – participated and went on to attend three mass gatherings.

The team has indicated it was in favour of ‘meaningful autonomy’ for Kashmir but, according to sources, it has avoided any reference to the word “azadi”, which is a complex issue of self-determination raised and interpreted differently by various groups. Padgaonkar, when asked about this, said, “I counsel patience to all those willing to comment on the report.” He turned down suggestions that Yasin Malik, a separatist leader, had rejected the report, saying, “How did he have access to it?”

Sources said the interlocutors had emphasised the need to reduce the Army’s visibility and address human rights violations urgently. The trio has also suggested that the government consider reviewing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). The team has also talked about lifting the Disturbed Areas Act (DAA) from areas which are now near normal.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111013/main2.htm

BBC News – Lawyer Prashant Bhushan beaten ‘for Kashmir opinion’

12 October 2011

A senior Indian lawyer has been beaten up in his chambers during a live TV interview, in an attack he says was provoked by his stance on Kashmir.

Prashant Bhushan – an aide of anti-corruption campaigner Anna Hazare – was set upon by two attackers who barged into his office during the interview.

He was slapped, dragged and punched repeatedly while pinned to the floor.

Mr Bhushan has spoken out in support of a referendum in Muslim-majority Indian-administered Kashmir.

“They [the attackers] were saying that I have made some comments on Kashmir to which they took objection,” Mr Bhushan said.

Delhi police have arrested one person in connection with the attack. Another suspect they say is still on the run.

India and Pakistan have a long-running dispute over borders in the region, and have fought two wars over Kashmir since the 1940s.

A 20-year insurgency against Delhi’s rule in Indian-administered Kashmir has claimed thousands of lives.

Mr Bhushan has also commented on proposals to repeal tough laws within the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

The law gives security forces sweeping powers of detention and the power to shoot suspected militants.

It has been blamed for triggering recent public unrest in Indian-administered Kashmir.

The act has been in force since 1990 across Indian-administered Kashmir.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15280595