UNESCO awards peace hero defenders – Dr. Anarkali Kaur Honaryar and Khaled Abu Awwad

United Nations: An Afghan women’s rights campaigner and a Palestinian peace activist are the winners of a United Nations award recognizing their outstanding contributions to the promotion of tolerance and non-violence, the UN announced.

Anarkali Honaryar, defender of the rights of women and minority groups in Afghanistan , and Palestinian activist Khaled Abu Awwad will receive the UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence, and will be honoured in a special ceremony on 9 December at the agency’s headquarters in Paris .

Ms. Honaryar will be honoured for her work helping women who suffer from domestic abuse, forced marriages and gender discrimination and for her commitment to promote the ideals of human dignity, human rights, mutual respect and tolerance in her country. Last year she became the first non-Muslim woman to become a member of the Afghan Parliament’s lower house.

Mr. Awwad will receive recognition for his work as a peace activist and leader in the reconciliation process between Palestinians and Israelis. He heads the Palestinian Branch of the Parents Circle Families Forum, an organization of Palestinians and Israelis who have lost immediate family members in the conflict, and is one of the founders of AI-Tariq (The Way), a Palestinian institution for development and democracy.

According to a news release issued by UNESCO, the two laureates, who were selected by an international jury, will receive a $100,000 award, to be split equally between them.

The UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize is awarded every two years and was created in 1995 on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, with the support of the Indian writer and diplomat Madanjeet Singh.

Source: http://womennewsnetwork.net/2011/11/17/unesco-awards-peace-hero-defenders/

The Tribune – Manpreet packs his first list with first-timers

GS Paul, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 31. People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) chief Manpreet Badal today released Sanjha Morcha’s first list of 41 candidates for the Assembly elections, most of whom are political greenhorns who quit cushy jobs to join politics.

The list included 29 PPP candidates, five each of CPM and CPI and two of SAD (Longowal). Most candidates in the list are fresh faces in the 35-50 age group with little or no political background.

Of the 29 PPP candidates, it will be the first election for 24. Manpreet, his father Gurdas Singh Badal, Harnek Singh Gharuan and Raghubir Singh have been in the political arena for a while. Gurdas Badal is the Morcha’s candidate from Lambi against CM PS Badal.

Academic qualifications are the candidates’ strength just like Manpreet, a masters’ in history and a law graduate from England. Not surprising then that his list comprised an Oxford graduate, an MNC employee, MBAs, bankers, doctors and lawyers in the 35-50 age group.

Amanpreet Singh Chhina, who has been fielded from Raja Sansi constituency, is a graduate from the University of Oxford. He belongs to the family of freedom fighter Comrade Achhar Singh Chhina, a close associate of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Chhina Senior was twice elected as MLA from Ajnala in 1952 and 1957. It was Manpreet’s ideology and vision that compelled Amanpreet to migrate back to Punjab from England in 2010 and join him.

Sat Pal, the party candidate from Kartarpur (SC) seat, quit his job as Chief Commissioner of Income Tax at Uttarakhand to join Manpreet. He did his postgraduation in science from UK and is also a law graduate.

Then there is orthopaedic surgeon Dr Navjot Dahiya. He gladly obliged Manpreet’s call to “bring about change in the governance system”. Dahiya will be PPP’s Shahkot candidate. Harwinder Singh Laddi quit his bank job to contest from Bhucho Mandi (SC). Also in the list is Ravinder Singh Bhana, an MBA, who quit his job as Nestle’s corporate affairs manager to join Manpreet from Moga.

Abhay Sandhu, the nephew of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, has been fielded from Nawanshahr. Manpreet will contest from Gidderbaha. Sukhdeep Singh Bhinder, who got the PPP ticket from Bathinda Urban, is a retired Additional Advocate General while Bhupinder Singh Ghuman, the party candidate from Dasuya, is also a lawyer.

“I believe if the masses send at least 100 honest, educated and determined people to the Vidhan Sabha assembly, Punjab could be brought back its pristine glory. Punjab is otherwise not an economically-backward state,” Manpreet said. Manpreet clarified that the PPP and SAD (Longowal) would share the same symbol, which would be granted on January 2. The final list of candidates would be released in Chandigarh on January 3.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120101/main3.htm

The Hindu – Rajya Sabha Chairman prevented a ‘dangerous precedent’ by adjournment

Special Correspondent

New Delhi, 1 January 2012. Chairman Hamid Ansari’s decision to adjourn the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha at the stroke of midnight on Thursday may have attracted some criticism but the act actually prevented a precedent that could have led to a constitutional crisis.

Officials in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat said the criticism in some quarters that Mr. Ansari could have extended the session beyond its scheduled expiry by midnight of December 29 on the ground that it was the Sense of the House, does not hold water.

The officials said there was no unanimity especially since the government said it was not prepared to go for an extension as it needed time to reconcile the 187 amendments — some of which it said were contradictory — moved by the members.

“In effect there was no clear ‘Sense of the House’ but at best it was a majority view minus the government,” they said, adding that the option of acceding to such a position would have created a dangerous precedent leading to a constitutional crisis.

Turning the argument around, they said, at a later date a similar majority in the House, in which the government does not have the numbers, can also demand that a session be curtailed.

Advancing it further, the officials argued that going against the opinion of the government would mean its absence in the House, which was a perfect recipe for a first-rate crisis.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2764207.ece

Keywords: The Hindu, India, Lokpal bill, Winter session, Rajya Sabha debate, Hamid Ansari

November visit to UK 14/11 till 21/11; many pictures of trains !

19/11 – New Dockland Light Rail service Stratford International – Canning Town
Stratford International station

19/11 – New Dockland Light Rail service Stratford International – Canning Town
Stratford International station

19/11 – New Dockland Light Rail service Stratford International – Canning Town
West Ham DLR platform
Change for Jubilee Line, District Line and 2C2 services

19/11 – New Dockland Light Rail service Stratford International – Canning Town
Southbound Jubilee Line train

To see more UK public transport pictures go to :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157611244941713/  

More UK pictures to follow
Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

The Tribune – PM’s New Year wish: An effective Lokpal

Anita Katyal, Our Political Correspondent

New Delhi, December 31. Having been under constant fire on the twin issues of corruption and governance, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today sought to set the record straight on both fronts with a special New Year message to the nation in which he delineated the UPA government’s future roadmap and reiterated his personal resolve to “provide an honest and more efficient government.”

Seeking to put behind a “very difficult year”, the Prime Minister admitted that the Indian economy had slowed down, inflation had edged up and corruption had moved to the centre stage but did not feel the need to feel downcast at these events.

While pointing out that corruption is a serious problem, he said it calls for a multi-dimensional response and the establishment of new institutions like the Lokpal and Lokayuktas are a part of the solution. He said it was unfortunate that the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill could not be passed by the Rajya Sabha but reiterated that his government is committed to a strong and effective anti-graft law.

He said the government had also initiated several other measures like the Citizen’s Charter and a Bill on Judicial Accountablity as part of its ongoing effort to increase transparency and minimise discretion.

The Prime Minister’s eight-page message is part of a media blitzkrieg launched by the UPA government to counter the Opposition’s campaign against it on the Lokpal Bill fiasco in the Rajya Sabha. The ruling coaltion’s media managers moved in swiftly yesterday itself as the Opposition is all set to up the ante with an eye on the coming Assembly polls.

While a number of senior Congress ministers are being fielded to take on the BJP and defend the government, the PM’s message is primarily meant to dispel the widespread notion that the UPA government is in the grip of a “policy paralysis” and that the PM suffers from leadership deficit.

Consequently, the PM’s “take charge” message spoke of the government’s achievements and the tasks ahead. ahead.

Stating that he did not wish to dwell on the year gone by, the PM said he would rather focus on the five key challenges facing he country, which he identified as livelihood security, economic security, energy security, ecological security and national security.

In a clear message to key ally Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who recently vetoed the Centre’s policy on FDI in retail trade and its Pension Bill, the PM admitted that some of the economic reforms attract controversy and cause nervousness. However, he urged people to learn from their past experience with liberalisation and recalled there was a similar controversy 20 years ago when economic reforms were first introduced.

“We should remember that change is necessary for development,” the PM said, adding that ” we should not lock ourselves into a blind refusal to contemplate change.”

Speaking of the country’s economic situation, the PM said though there was reason to be satisfied with the performance, the country faces many challenges if it is to maintain this growth in the years ahead.

Expressing concern over the country’s fiscal deficit which, the PM said, has worsened over the past three years, the PM made a strong pitch for the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax which, he said, would modernise the indirect tax system, increase economic efficiency and increase total revenues.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120101/main1.htm

BBC News – Pakistan court orders ‘memogate’ inquiry

30 December 2011. Pakistan’s Supreme Court has set up an inquiry into a controversial unsigned memo that asked for US help in curbing the powers of the military.

The court said a panel of four high court judges would conclude its findings within a month.

The “memogate” scandal concerns a note allegedly sent from Pakistan’s political leadership to US Admiral Mike Mullen, via a former ambassador.

President Asif Ali Zardari’s aides deny any links with the document.

Pakistan’s civilian leaders were allegedly worried that the army was about to launch a coup after US forces killed Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad in May.

They say any court inquiry into the affair would be unnecessary and politically motivated. The government argues that a parliamentary committee is already looking into memogate.

Correspondents say Friday’s ruling will put additional pressure on the government and could even lead to President Zardari’s fall from power if a link is established.

“I think that this is one of the darkest days in history for the judiciary,” said a lawyer for Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US, Husain Haqqani – who denies any role in the affair.

“I said in the Supreme Court too that this is a very disappointing judgement. This is a judgement that places national security above fundamental rights,” lawyer Asma Jahangir said.

Earlier this week President Zardari accused Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry of failing to investigate the murder of his wife, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

He was addressing party supporters on the anniversary of Ms Bhutto’s killing.

He pointed to a hearing the Supreme Court opened over the leaked memo as proof the court has been inconsistent.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16366386

A very happy, blessed, healthy and successful 2012 to you all

Dear readers of/ visitors to the Man in Blue weblog,

Vahiguru Ji Ka Khalsa  Vahiguru Ji Ki Fateh

The very best to you all for 2012. No doubt it will be another year full of economic ups and downs, which hopefully will stimulate people to leave the path of ‘more, more, more’ and ‘me, me, me’.

The yogi Sikhs devised the phrase ‘If you do not see God in all, you will not see God at all’. Practising this will start you on the path of true happiness.

I started this blog in June 2008 and in that year we had an average readership of 35 a day. In 2009 that went up to 157 a day, in 2010 to 220 a day and in 2011 to 299 a day !

Thanks to God for blessing me, thanks to those that visit my blog for appreciating my efforts.

Around July of this new year I will move back to Southall and I hope to have better facilities there to again write and publish my weekly Man-in-Blue columns.

Gurfateh,

Hartjinder Singh