ISSUES AND CONCERNS ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಕ್ಷಕಿರಣ

Muslims using cyber platforms are sinners: Fatwa Cairo: Terming the use of networking sites such as ‘Facebook’ as anti-Islamic, a top Egyptian cleric has issued a fatwa against it saying Muslims using such cyber platforms must be considered "sinners". And the cleric went to the extent of blaming such sites for growing incidents of marital discords in the country. Noted Sunni scholar Sheikh Abdel Hamid al-Atrash, former head of the fatwa commission at prestigious al-Azhar University here, issued the fatwa saying such sites have resulted in the rise of the marital infidelity. "It’s an instrument that destroys the family because it encourages spouses to have relations with other people which break Islamic sharia law," he said in the fatwa. "While one or other of the spouses is at work, the other is chatting online with someone else, wasting their time and flouting the sharia. This endangers the Muslim family," said al-Atrash. The fatwa came after a study clai...

China: The new imperialist power Dr. M. V. Kamath It may not be immediately apparent, but currently China is behaving almost exactly like how the imperialist powers, especially Britain and France, were behaving in the late 19th and 20th centuries, except that it is not perceptibly out to capture political power and seems to be content with gathering an economic stranglehold on weaker nations. With almost over two trillion dollars of foreign exchange reserves in its capacious pockets, it has become a menace. Through September 2009, the ten ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) members representing 600 million people have run a collective $74 billion trade deficit with China, in sharp reversal of the surplus those nations enjoyed in most recent years. Exploiting what is practically slave labour, China has been manufacturing goods at a price that no country can compete with. Thai manufacturers are now complaining openly about their inability to match Chinese prices and India it...

Friends We are truly into 2010, just 10 years away from the ‘Super Power’ status. The dream of our former President APJ Abdul Kalam has the potential of remaining just a dream, with UNICEF formally reporting that India has the highest number of mal nourished children in absolute numbers. Certainly a sad and bad reflection on a country having vision of being a super power. Yes, its good to dream, but dream should not be so facile that it ends up mocking at us. The month of January began with the police arrogance in full display. The long arm of the law, which this apparent arrogance managed to stall for all these years, appeared catching up with the former senior policeman from Haryana S P Rathore. Nineteen long years ago, this man Rathore, misusing his position as a police officer, allegedly molested the young 14 years old Ruchika Girhotra. And for all those 19 years, his uniform and therefore the clout, ensured that the entire system, police, prosecution, judiciary, executive, and the...

Governance Failure & Need for Smaller States What is government? It is a system of administration of the national resources, whether it is aristocracy, democracy or any other form of public administration, including monarchy. Objective of this public administration, or government, is the establishment of a welfare state. But what is welfare state? Word welfa re has wide connotations. It begins with the rule of law or as our scripture says, Dharma. Social equity or equitable distribution of national resources or wealth, produced as well as naturally available, is another foundation stone of government. Spread of education, looking after health and hygiene, fulfillment of minimum need of clothing and shelter for a dignified human living condition to all its people, besides freedom from poverty and injustice are some of the other obligations of government. Of course, the above description may sound as near-uthopian. But the fact is these are eminent possibilities of a human government...

A Book by : Sudhir Venkatesh SERIAL : 17 I met J.T. at seven-thirty the next morning at Kevin’s Hamburger Heaven in Bridgeport, a predominantly Irish-American neighborhood across the expressway from the projects. This was his regular morning spot. "None of these white folks here know me," he said, "so I don’t get any funny looks." His steak and eggs arrived just as I sat down. He always ate alone, he said. Soon enough he’d be joined by two of his officers, Price and T-Bone. Even though J.T’s gang was nearly twice as large as most others on the South Side, he kept his officer class small, because he trusted very few people. All of his officers were friends he’d known since high school. "All right," he began, "let’s talk a little about-" "Listen," I blurred out, "I can’t kill anybody, I can’t sell shit to any body." I had been awake much of the night worrying, "Or even plan any of that stuff! Not me!" "Okay, nigge...

Use RTI To Get Tax Refund Cashing on RTI The Ministry of Finance has instructed the Income Tax Department to issue refunds within four months from the date of receipt of return and dispatch within 30 days from the date of singing the refund order. If you still have not received refunds for one or more earlier years despite reminders, personal visits and grievance-cell applications, use the Right To Information (RTI), says taxguru.in. The RTI application can be filed with any designated post office at a fee of Rs. 10. So far, the success of RTI applications in the IT department is cent per cent. After an RTI application, one gets refund within 30 days and, in case the return is not available, the applicant should submit duplicate copies with indemnity on stamp paper. The application should be for information and not for opinion of the Public Information Officer (PIO) Cutting through the redtape Medicine That Leads to Irreversible Side-effects Worse than effects Metoclopramide, a drug us...