The Tribune – Tota Singh must quit: Kaka

Tribune News Service

Moga, May 6. Sukhjit Singh Kaka, SGPC member, who was defeated by Agriculture Minister Tota Singh from the Dharamkot constituency, says the SAD-BJP government is shielding corrupt politicians.

Since Tota Singh had been convicted in a case, he should resign from the Cabinet on moral grounds, he said today. “Misuse of official machinery is a big crime. Tota Singh should resign from the assembly and seek a fresh mandate”.

Kaka also said CM Parkash Singh Badal had no right to remain in office with two of his ministers convicted by courts.

Meanwhile, Badal has not yet sought the resignation of Agriculture Minister Tota Singh, sentenced to a year’s imprisonment for misuse of cars between 1997 and 2002 when he was Education Minister. Provisions under the Representation of the People’s Act, 1951, allows Tota Singh to continue as member of the assembly, said Charanjit Singh Bakhshi, Tota Singh’s counsel.

He said there was no provision in the Representation of the People’s Act, 1951, to disqualify an already elected member of Parliament or the state legislature. Under Section 8, a person could be barred from contesting elections if sentenced to more than two years in prison and that too after three months from the date of pronouncement of the court orders.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120507/punjab.htm#8

The Tribune – Restore Wakf Board to earlier form: Jamait

Chandigarh, May 6. The Jamait-e-Ulma Hind has demanded restoration of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh Wakf Board to its earlier form that existed before 2003.

Addressing mediapersons here today, Hazrat Maulana Arshad Madni, Jamait president, said the way Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal was advocating single Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for Punjab and Haryana, the Jamait also wanted that all these states be brought under single Wakf Board to effectively deal with problems of the Muslim community.

He demanded that instead of giving land for education and religious purposes on lease, the government should permanently transfer land in the name of the organisations concerned. He also demanded that encroachments on places related to the community be dismantled and further encroachments be checked.

He said in 2009, the Centre Wakf Board directed that the Punjab Wakf Board be reconstituted on the old pattern by bringing the boards of Punjab, Haryana, HP and Chandigarh under one umbrella. (TNS)

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120507/punjab.htm#11

The Hindu – Hillary’s visit signals growing importance of regional players

West Bengal keen on showcasing it as an attractive investment destination

Marcus Dam

Kolkata, 6 May 2012. The significance of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s scheduled meeting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Writers’ Buildings — the State Secretariat — on Monday morning cannot be overstated.

While it is being viewed as a sign of recognition by the U.S. government of the growing importance of regional players like Ms. Banerjee in the national political scenario, the West Bengal government is working towards seizing this opportunity to showcase the State as an attractive destination for U.S. entrepreneurs keen to invest in the region.

It is only obvious that the U.S. administration is closely watching the developments in West Bengal that barely a year ago witnessed a major political transformation with Ms. Banerjee assuming power after 34 years of Left Front rule.

Time magazine nominating her in its 2012 list of the 100 most influential people in the world could just be an indication of heightening American interest in Ms. Banerjee.

U.S. Ambassador Nancy Powell’s remark here ahead of Ms Clinton’s visit to the city that it is “exciting to sense the new energy in the State” and her being “amazed by all the transformation that has taken place” is symptomatic of U.S. interest in the goings-on in the State.

As Ms. Powell had put it, Ms. Clinton’s visit would be an opportunity for her to see first-hand “how much this city and eastern India have transformed and what a bright future lies ahead.”

There are also certain contentious issues Ms. Clinton could be looking forward to get a better understanding about. This could include Ms. Banerjee’s opposition to foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail trade — that has put on back-foot the UPA government of which her party is a part of, not to speak of its impact on prospects of American corporations like Walmart.

On her part, Ms. Banerjee would like to remove prospective investors’ misgivings about her government’s land policy of not acquiring plots for industry.

Though there has been no official word on the matter, there is considerable speculation that the issue of sharing of Teesta waters between India and Bangladesh could crop up in Monday’s meeting, particularly in view of the fact that Ms. Clinton also visited Bangladesh.

Ms. Banerjee’s reservations on the quantum of water for release are well known. Left leaders here have, however questioned the propriety of discussions involving a U.S. official on an issue concerning just two countries.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3391178.ece

8 April 2012 Easter Sunday walk

‘t Speelhof

‘t Speelhof

‘t Speelhof

‘t Speelhof

To see more Belgium (mostly Limburg) pictures :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157622046344528/

More Belgium pictures to follow
Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

The Tribune – From separatist hub to heritage site, Srinagar turns a leaf

Majid Jahangir, Tribune News Service. Srinagar, May 6. As you walk down the narrow, crowded lanes of Safakadal, Nowhatta, Khanyar or Rainwari of old Srinagar, picture this: old houses, crowded lanes – nothing much to write home about. Rewind to 2008: angry stone-throwers emerging from nowhere, triggering a cruel cycle of violence.

Fast-forward to a few years from now: old Srinagar landscape etched with a patina of its historical uniqueness.

A period of calm in Kashmir has had its positive spin-offs. The state government is all set to develop old houses and historical religious structures as major heritage sites.

“Those who visit Kashmir don’t want to see a concrete jungle. The old city is our heritage centre and we are working on a multi-pronged strategy to develop it as a heritage destination,” said Tourism Director Farooq Ahmad Shah. “The aim is to promote the uniqueness of the old city.”

The work has already begun and many heritage sites, which include monuments and religious places, are being renovated to attract high-end tourists. “Apart from renovating heritage sites, we are also creating basic amenities for the tourists,” Shah said.

The state government has woken up late, though. “Some European experts on a visit to the old city took keen interest in seeing the old buildings, mosques, narrow lanes and heritage sites. They advised us that the old city could be projected as a heritage destination,” said a tourism official.

The former DG of Tourism and present head of The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Saleem Beg, said a lot needs to be done. “We have to work on a number of things to attract tourists. We should not limit ourselves to only monuments’ upkeep. The stress should be on landscape, cleanliness and providing good transport,” he said.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120507/main7.htm

Dawn – By-elections if PML-N’s legislators quit: Prime Minister Gilani

Lahore, 7 May 2012. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Sunday that the government would hold by-elections if the PML-N resigned from assemblies.

“If the PML-N has courage it should resign from the assemblies, but let me tell you we will hold by-elections,” the prime minister said while talking to office-bearers of the Lahore Press Club at his residence.

He said that Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan should have read the Constitution before expressing solidarity with the judiciary. The prime minister said he was an elected representative of 180 million people of the country and only the parliament could send him home.

He said the PML-N had signed the Charter of Democracy and now it was talking about holding a long march against a democratically-elected government.

He said he would ask the Sharifs why they had forgotten the Swiss case at the time of signing the charter.

“How will Nawaz Sharif take on the Gilanis and Zardaris when he could not challenge a dictator,” he said, adding the Sharifs hoodwinked people by signing a 10-year agreement with a dictator and pledging not to take part in politics.

“Both Z. A. Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto took on the dictators and sacrificed their lives but never compromised on principles,” he said.

The PML-N was holding ‘small’ rallies, Mr Gilani said, adding that even his son could hold larger public gatherings.

He asked the opposition to table a motion of no-confidence against him and said it should not think about sending him home by illegal and unconstitutional means.

He said that bar councils had supported his stance.

http://dawn.com/2012/05/07/by-polls-if-pml-ns-legislators-quit-gilani/