Hundreds of CPI-ML (Liberation) activists burned job, red, yellow and white cards at the collectorate of Bihar's Bhojpur district here alleging short- supply of foodgrains and the difficulties the poor people face in drawing ration at subsidised rate, official sources said.
The CPI-ML workers led by its leader Kamata Prasad Singh assembled before the District Magistrate's office here yesterday and held demonstration for two hours.
They also burnt the cards in protest against alleged short-supply or lack of food grains.
Later, a delegation of party activists called on the District Magistrate Sabina A N and submitted a memorandum to him seeking action against the PDS dealers and hoarders.
When contacted, Sabina too admitted shortage of food grains in the district saying against the demand of 18,000 quintals for the BPL and APL families in the district, hardly 3,000 quintals to 4,000 quintals of food grains were being made available to the district per month.
He hoped that the problem would soon be resolved.link
Tuesday 8 September 2009
Monday 7 September 2009
Shatrughan Sinha against online pinda daan
After two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ministers, now actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha of the party has also come out against the Bihar government’s proposal for an online facility for Hindus to offer ‘pinda daan’ ritual, terming it a “short cut method” minus any “feeling”.
“It is neither proper nor practical to go for an online facility to offer pinda daan. I am against online pinda daan,” Sinha said of the ritual performed by Hindus for the dead.
Sinha performed the ritual Sunday for his parents and ancestors at the Vishnupad Temple in Gaya.
“The proposed online pinda daan is a shortcut method to perform the rituals without any real touch and feeling. But physical presence to perform the rite gives peace of mind. I favour that people should visit Gaya and in person perform the pinda daan,” Sinha said.
The actor said the ritual for his parents was overdue for a long time because he had been busy despite regularly visiting Patna, his native town, but he was able to perform the pinda daan personally at last. “It was an amazing experience, I fulfilled my duty,” he said.
Sinha’s view has been welcomed by Hindu priests who are against the proposed online facility.
In June, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi had announced the government’s decision to introduce a video-conferencing facility for Indians abroad to perform pinda daan.
However, priests in the holy town of Gaya who have been conducting the ritual described the government’s decision as “interference” and an “attack on an age-old religious service”.
The priests won support from a section of the BJP, with ministers Ashwani Kumar Choubey and Prem Kumar asking the government to reverse its decision.
Last month, the Bihar government decided to postpone its plan for an online facility.
Thousands of Hindus from across India and abroad gather in Gaya to offer pinda daan during the fortnight-long Pitrapaksh period that began last week. Legend has it that Lord Rama and his wife Sita performed this religious rite for his father, King Dasharath in Gaya.
“It is neither proper nor practical to go for an online facility to offer pinda daan. I am against online pinda daan,” Sinha said of the ritual performed by Hindus for the dead.
Sinha performed the ritual Sunday for his parents and ancestors at the Vishnupad Temple in Gaya.
“The proposed online pinda daan is a shortcut method to perform the rituals without any real touch and feeling. But physical presence to perform the rite gives peace of mind. I favour that people should visit Gaya and in person perform the pinda daan,” Sinha said.
The actor said the ritual for his parents was overdue for a long time because he had been busy despite regularly visiting Patna, his native town, but he was able to perform the pinda daan personally at last. “It was an amazing experience, I fulfilled my duty,” he said.
Sinha’s view has been welcomed by Hindu priests who are against the proposed online facility.
In June, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi had announced the government’s decision to introduce a video-conferencing facility for Indians abroad to perform pinda daan.
However, priests in the holy town of Gaya who have been conducting the ritual described the government’s decision as “interference” and an “attack on an age-old religious service”.
The priests won support from a section of the BJP, with ministers Ashwani Kumar Choubey and Prem Kumar asking the government to reverse its decision.
Last month, the Bihar government decided to postpone its plan for an online facility.
Thousands of Hindus from across India and abroad gather in Gaya to offer pinda daan during the fortnight-long Pitrapaksh period that began last week. Legend has it that Lord Rama and his wife Sita performed this religious rite for his father, King Dasharath in Gaya.
Sunday 6 September 2009
Bihar's Uppal gears up for international karate contest
Bihar's Patna Central School student Amrit Lekh Uppal, who has already earned a name and place for himself in karate at the national and world level championship fights, is now headed to participate in the Commonwealth Karate Championship to be held at Johannesberg, South Africa, in October this year.
He, however, would also require monetary support. Bihar Karate Black Belt treasurer Nisha Pal and vice-president Kajal Madhu have appealed to both CM Nitish Kumar and sports minister Renu Devi to provide support to meet the cost of journey to Johannesberg and back.
Whether the state government would respond to their call as morale boosting exercise is a moot point, it is wished for since the government has been promoting sports activities and also rewarding sportspersons of repute who have excelled even nationally.
At present, all attention of junior Uppal is focused on the Commonwealth Championship at Johannesberg, which would be held from October 15 and 17. The state's karate coach Guatam Kumar has been giving him training to further hone his skill in preparation for the new karate international contest in his career.
Earlier, in July this year, he performed well in Greece, and also won gold and silver medals at the national championship held in Kolkata. All India Karate Do Federation president R Tyagarajan has selected junior Uppal for the Commonwealth Championship. For this, the national karate coach Premjit Sen congratulated him on telephone from Kolkata. Congratulation also flowed from All India Seishinkai Shito-Ryu Karate Do Federation general secretary Malika Sen. Well wishers, however, have been hoping that he is on right track to also excel at Johannesberg.link
He, however, would also require monetary support. Bihar Karate Black Belt treasurer Nisha Pal and vice-president Kajal Madhu have appealed to both CM Nitish Kumar and sports minister Renu Devi to provide support to meet the cost of journey to Johannesberg and back.
Whether the state government would respond to their call as morale boosting exercise is a moot point, it is wished for since the government has been promoting sports activities and also rewarding sportspersons of repute who have excelled even nationally.
At present, all attention of junior Uppal is focused on the Commonwealth Championship at Johannesberg, which would be held from October 15 and 17. The state's karate coach Guatam Kumar has been giving him training to further hone his skill in preparation for the new karate international contest in his career.
Earlier, in July this year, he performed well in Greece, and also won gold and silver medals at the national championship held in Kolkata. All India Karate Do Federation president R Tyagarajan has selected junior Uppal for the Commonwealth Championship. For this, the national karate coach Premjit Sen congratulated him on telephone from Kolkata. Congratulation also flowed from All India Seishinkai Shito-Ryu Karate Do Federation general secretary Malika Sen. Well wishers, however, have been hoping that he is on right track to also excel at Johannesberg.link
Friday 4 September 2009
Praying for ancestors' salvation, Hindus head for Gaya
The Hindu holy town of Gaya in Bihar is set to attract up to 400,000 devotees who are coming here to perform the pinda daan, a religious service for dead ancestors, during the fortnight-long pitrupaksh beginning Friday.
"Pitrupaksh has begun amid tight security in view of threats of terrorists and other trouble makers," Gaya District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Singh told.
Magadh Commissioner Sanjeev Sinha said: "This time we expect more than four lakh people will come to Gaya to offer pind daan for the salvation of the souls of their ancestors during the pitrupaksha period."
Hindus believe offering pinda daan during the pitru paksh period ensures salvation for the wandering souls of their ancestors.
"The soul keeps wandering till this ritual is performed by male descendants of the dead," priest Murari Lal said.
Gaya, about 100 km from state capital Patna, is considered the holiest place for the purpose. Legend has it that Lord Rama and his wife Sita performed this religious rite for his father, King Dasharath, here.
The town drawing a large number of people from all parts of India and abroad every year during pitrupaksh, the 15 days of the waning moon during the Hindu month of Ashwin.
Pinda daan is traditionally offered on the banks of the Falgu river here.
According to a priest, the rituals are conducted at nearly 50 vedis, or altars, the more important ones being Vishnupad, Ramshila, Pretshila, Baiterni, Akshay Vat and Mahabodhi temple.
Gayawal pandas, claiming to be superior priests, perform the rituals.
It is mandatory for the devotees offering pinda daan to shave their heads and take a holy dip and head for the Baitarni pond. However, some rituals are conducted in the Falgu river nearby.
The prayers are performed at the famous Vishnupad temple named after Lord Vishnu.
"Pitrupaksh has begun amid tight security in view of threats of terrorists and other trouble makers," Gaya District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Singh told.
Magadh Commissioner Sanjeev Sinha said: "This time we expect more than four lakh people will come to Gaya to offer pind daan for the salvation of the souls of their ancestors during the pitrupaksha period."
Hindus believe offering pinda daan during the pitru paksh period ensures salvation for the wandering souls of their ancestors.
"The soul keeps wandering till this ritual is performed by male descendants of the dead," priest Murari Lal said.
Gaya, about 100 km from state capital Patna, is considered the holiest place for the purpose. Legend has it that Lord Rama and his wife Sita performed this religious rite for his father, King Dasharath, here.
The town drawing a large number of people from all parts of India and abroad every year during pitrupaksh, the 15 days of the waning moon during the Hindu month of Ashwin.
Pinda daan is traditionally offered on the banks of the Falgu river here.
According to a priest, the rituals are conducted at nearly 50 vedis, or altars, the more important ones being Vishnupad, Ramshila, Pretshila, Baiterni, Akshay Vat and Mahabodhi temple.
Gayawal pandas, claiming to be superior priests, perform the rituals.
It is mandatory for the devotees offering pinda daan to shave their heads and take a holy dip and head for the Baitarni pond. However, some rituals are conducted in the Falgu river nearby.
The prayers are performed at the famous Vishnupad temple named after Lord Vishnu.
Wednesday 2 September 2009
Summons to Bihar chief minister in 1991 case
A Bihar court has issued summons to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in a case relating to firing at an election booth during the 1991 Lok Sabha elections.
The Barh sub divisional judicial magistrate’s court issued the summons to Nitish Kumar Wednesday, as he was an “accused” along with three others in the case, official sources said.
Nitish Kumar was a candidate from Barh Lok Sabha seat in the 1991 parliamentary elections.
One man was killed in the firing at an election booth.
The Barh sub divisional judicial magistrate’s court issued the summons to Nitish Kumar Wednesday, as he was an “accused” along with three others in the case, official sources said.
Nitish Kumar was a candidate from Barh Lok Sabha seat in the 1991 parliamentary elections.
One man was killed in the firing at an election booth.
Three women killed in temple stampede
Three women were killed and at least 50 people injured in a stampede at a hilltop temple in Bihar's Jehanabad district on Thursday morning, police said.
The stampede occurred when hundreds of Hindu devotees were offering prayers at the hilltop Siddhnath temple in Jehanabad district.
"A rumour spread like wildfire that a railing had broken and it created panic among the devotees causing the stampede," a police officer said.
The injured were taken to a nearby hospital. Jehanabad District Magistrate Palka Sahni said that a medical team had been rushed to the site. link
The stampede occurred when hundreds of Hindu devotees were offering prayers at the hilltop Siddhnath temple in Jehanabad district.
"A rumour spread like wildfire that a railing had broken and it created panic among the devotees causing the stampede," a police officer said.
The injured were taken to a nearby hospital. Jehanabad District Magistrate Palka Sahni said that a medical team had been rushed to the site. link
Government Initiates Study on Rapid Metro Rail for Patna
Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, at a press conference at Bihar Chamber of Commerce in Patna on Wednesday, said that the state government was mulling the idea of having a rapid transit rail system on the line of Delhi Metro Rail to deal with the traffic quandary that plagues the capital city due to rise in automobile ownership.
Modi said that the state has entrusted the Infrastructure Development Authority, Bihar, to prepare a feasibility report to develop metro trains in Patna after the Central government appealed to all the cities with a population of 10 lakh or above to find out possibilities of having alternate transit system to lessen over-crowding on the streets and minimize pollution in the urban areas.
"The goal is to develop a transit system that is capable of handling the growing population of Patna by the time it reaches 20 lakh," the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said.
The state Urban Development department has asked the Infrastructure Development Authority to study the current traffic pattern, available public transportation system, its pluses and minuses, and the geographical availability in the state capital to prepare its report that would also form the basis of the administration's traffic policy, Modi said.link
Modi said that the state has entrusted the Infrastructure Development Authority, Bihar, to prepare a feasibility report to develop metro trains in Patna after the Central government appealed to all the cities with a population of 10 lakh or above to find out possibilities of having alternate transit system to lessen over-crowding on the streets and minimize pollution in the urban areas.
"The goal is to develop a transit system that is capable of handling the growing population of Patna by the time it reaches 20 lakh," the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said.
The state Urban Development department has asked the Infrastructure Development Authority to study the current traffic pattern, available public transportation system, its pluses and minuses, and the geographical availability in the state capital to prepare its report that would also form the basis of the administration's traffic policy, Modi said.link
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