Wednesday, January 18, 2012

[ZESTCaste] EC rules out reconsideration of order to cover Mayawati statues

 

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_ec-rules-out-reconsideration-of-order-to-cover-mayawati-statues_1639322

EC rules out reconsideration of order to cover Mayawati statues
Published: Wednesday, Jan 18, 2012, 19:09 IST
Place: New Delhi | Agency: PTI

The Election Commission today ruled out reconsideration of its order
to cover statues of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati and BSP
party symbol 'elephant' and rejected her "aspersions" that the
directive was "anti-Dalit" and "casteist".

The poll authority also said it saw "no reason or justification" to
reconsider its order to cover statues of Mayawati and the elephant
symbol of the BSP built at government cost in poll-bound UP.

The EC, in a statement, said while it took all views about its working
in its stride, it was "disturbed" that the UP chief minister had cast
serious aspersions on the Commission's order by attributing anti-Dalit
and casteist motives to it.

"Commission regrets that such an allegation was made and rejects the
allegation," the EC said in a statement.

The poll authority said it expected a higher sense of responsibility
and Constitutional decorum from major political parties and their
leaders.

"It notes with concern such statements coming from those holding
senior Constitutional positions," the EC said.

"She is a senior leader. What can I say? She should think before
making such comments," Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi told
reporters when asked for comments on the issue.

In a related development, the Commission also rejected a BSP plea to
reconsider its order to cover statues of the party symbol 'elephant'
and that of Mayawati built using public funds in the state.

"...the Commission does not see any reason or justification to
reconsider its order," R K Srivastava, Principal Secretary, Election
Commission, said in a letter to BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra.

Mishra, in a letter to the Commission on January 11, had accused it of
giving a "one-sided" direction to cover the statues of Mayawati and
the elephant symbol.

The EC said it needs to reiterate that it takes its decisions and
enforces them within the provisions of the Constitution and that does
not include considerations of religion, race, caste and community in
the manner alleged.

"Rather it is one of the assigned responsibilities of the Commission
to ensure that these aspects are not allowed to vitiate the election
process," the statement said.

The EC noted that the its order only relates to statues of living
leaders of political parties who were still active in politics.

"That is why statues of several icons including that of late Kanshi
Ram as well as of other parties have not been ordered to be covered,"
the statement said.

The Commission also said the contention that the statues of elephants
as erected are different from the election symbol of BSP was not
acceptable.

"In that case, other political parties would be in a position to seek
allotment of the elephant symbol in different postures," it said.

On references in Mishra's letter to the 'statues being established by
the BSP', the EC pointed out that the party, during the proceedings on
a plea to freeze the 'elephant' symbol in 2010, had taken the stand
that the statues were built by the UP government and the party was not
in anyway concerned.

The EC pointed out that since the BSP had said it was not concerned
with the installation of the statues, it cannot contend that the
Commission should have given notice to the party before issuing
directions to cover the statues.

The Commission said in view of Mishra's present admission that the
statues were established by BSP, it may have to take a relook at its
earlier order dated October 11, 2010.

In October 2010, the EC had rejected petitions by some lawyers to
freeze the elephant symbol of the BSP.

"It also needs to be clarified that in implementation of the Model
Code of Conduct, the Commission does not engage in prior consultations
every time, but looks to take early remedial action in order to keep
the electoral process on the track," the statement said.

It pointed out that the Commission was covering a government property,
hence the need to consult any political party does not arise.

Mishra, in his letter to the poll authority, had complained that the
Commission had not sought the BSP's opinion in the matter and ordered
covering of statues on the basis of communications received from other
political parties.

"The Commission hopes that the aforesaid explanation makes its stand
on the covering of the statues amply clear. It does not intend to
further engage in elaborating the matter in the thick of its election
management work," the EC statement said.

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

.

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] Mayawati sacks minister number 26

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Mayawati-sacks-minister-number-26/articleshow/11547973.cms

Mayawati sacks minister number 26
TNN | Jan 19, 2012, 05.57AM IST

LUCKNOW: Mayawati on Wednesday sacked yet another minister who the
Lokayukta had indicted for corruption. Chandradev Ram Yadav held the
department of small-scale industry.

He becomes the 26th minister to get the boot in the CM's term. Yadav
was removed after a Lokayukta probe found him drawing two salaries for
over five years -as minister and as principal of a government-aided
school in Azamgarh. Yadav doesn't get a BSP ticket and senior minister
Indrajeet Saroj has been given charge of his portfolio. Mayawati has
fired 18 ministers in six months and of the total 26 she has got rid
of, 12 have been for corruption.

Last December 28, Lokayukta Justice (rtd) NK Mehrotra recommended that
the CM remove Yadav and order a probe to prosecute him. He is also
accused of having wealth disproportionate to his income, cornering gun
licences and grabbing land at his village in Azamgarh.

Lokayukta began probing Yadav after three Azamgarh residents
complained to the government November last. He tried to duck the probe
claiming Lokayukta had no powers to probe him. The Lokayukta rejected
Yadav's arguments and directed hom to file his defence.

THE SACK LIST

Of 12 ministers Maya has sacked for corruption, six have been after
Lokayukta indictment Kushwaha & Anant Mishra sacked after NRHM scam
broke last April Three ministers after names came up in criminal cases
11 axed for non-performance.

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

.

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] Mayawati leaves another MLA teary eyed; denies BSP ticket

 

http://news.oneindia.in/2012/01/18/mayawati-leaves-another-mla-teary-eyed-denies-bspticket.html

Mayawati leaves another MLA teary eyed; denies BSP ticket
Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 13:16 [IST]

Uttar Pradesh, Jan 18: Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati left
another BSP MLA Jaleel Khan teary eyed after he was denied a BSP
ticket weeks after Avdesh Verma met with the same fate.

The MLA couldn't control his tears despite being consoled by
supporters after Mayawati denied him the party ticket. He was a part
of the party since 21 years.

Reports reveal that he was sacked by the BSP supremo on false charges
and was not even given a chance to clarify his stand.

He will now fight as an independent candidate from the same
constituency, said reports.

Earlier, Avdesh Verma was axed by Mayawati after he was accused of
indulging in corrupt practices. Overcome by emotions, he broke down in
front of cameras pledging his loyalty to the BSP.

He later gave hints of Mayawati's flamboyant lifestyle alleging the
BSP supremo of being unaware of the state's problems and threw light
on her partying habits.

Meanwhile, with the UP elections approaching, Mayawati is making it
sure that her party comes clean. Her move to drop MLAs and ministers
out of the party shows her cleverly grafted plan, which is being
looked down upon as a trick to lure more voters.

OneIndia News

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

.

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] Pakistan: Dalits and the Senate elections

http://tribune.com.pk/story/322952/dalits-and-the-senate-elections/

The Express Tribune
Dalits and the Senate elections
By Letter
Published: January 17, 2012

KARACHI: On March 12 of this year, when Senate elections will be held,
Pakistan will become one of a handful of countries in the world where
the upper house of parliament will also have seats reserved for
members from minority religious groups.

Despite a surge in fundamentalism and extremism in Pakistani society
in recent years, the ruling PPP remains the major representative of
both the majority Muslim and different religious minorities. The
addition of minority seats was brought about by the passage of the
Eighteenth Amendment and for that the PPP must be thanked. The process
of election will be that each provincial assembly will elect one
senator to the upper house on a minority seat. This means that the PPP
will probably get two senators elected, from Sindh and Balochistan,
while the PML-N and the ANP will get one each from Punjab and Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa respectively.

Of course, while a good step, this does not mean that the
discrimination face by the country's minorities will disappear
overnight. A case in particular is of the Dalits, or Scheduled Castes,
who make up around 80 per cent of the country's Hindu population but
the country's Hindu politics tend to be dominated by those from the
upper castes. Even within the Hindu community, the Dalits are
marginalised and end up suffering from discrimination from members of
their own community.

The National Assembly and four provincial assemblies have a total of
30 seats reserved for minorities. Out of these, only one Dalit holds
such a seat, despite the fact that Dalits constitute an overwhelming
majority among Hindus in Pakistan.

Recent research by the Pakistan Institute for Labour Education and
Research showed that 74 per cent of the Dalit population of over two
million is illiterate and that 68 per cent has no access to health,
drinking water and other amenities. In addition to this, age-old
discriminatory practices such as being served in separate utensils and
crockery continue. Also, many Dalits are refused by barbers so that
poses a problem of its own.

When Partition happened many Dalits had the option to cross the border
and live in India, a Hindu-majority state. However, those who chose to
stay did so because they thought that India's caste system would hold
them back and that they would have a better chance for social
advancement in this country.

We hope that the political parties, especially the PPP, will consider
this when they decide on awarding tickets for minority seats in the
Senate elections that are now less than two months away. This would be
one step towards making them feel as if they are part of mainstream
Pakistani society.

Scheduled Castes Federation of Pakistan

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18th, 2012.


------------------------------------

----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[ZESTCaste] Rahul Baba woes Dalits and Muslims

http://www.siasat.com/english/news/rahul-baba-woes-dalits-and-muslims

Rahul Baba woes Dalits and Muslims
Tuesday, 17 January 2012

Lucknow,January 17 :Run up for UP elections where Muslims account for
22% of population and Dalits account for 22% of population which are
making all political parties severe headache,Not only congress has
announced 4% reservation for muslims they are also pursuing dalits
aggresively as Maya Jal is wrapped around dalits votes .The party
manifesto being prepared is expected to offer sops to Dalits, EBCs,
Jats and Muslims.

AFTER offering quota in jobs and education to the Muslim community,
AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi is turning his attention to other
segments especially the Dalits, the Jats and the extremely backward
classes ( EBCs).

This is part of his social engineering to win the maximum number of
seats in the Uttar Pradesh assembly.

Rahul held a review meeting of the party strategy with senior leaders
on Saturday and the focus was on the 89 constituencies where the party
has fielded Dalit candidates. This includes the 85 reserved seats and
four general constituencies where Dalit nominees are in the fray.

The Election Commission order to cover all the statues of UP chief
minister Mayawati and her party symbol " elephant" and whether the
move would benefit Mayawati were also discussed at the meeting.

The state has 22 per cent Dalits of which the majority are Jatavs —
the community BSP chief Mayawati belongs to. The Congress appears to
be adopting a two- pronged strategy of making every effort to wean
non- Jatavs away from the BSP and trying to split the Jatavs so that
the BSP strike rate is reduced.

Known Dalit faces such as P. L. Puniya, bureaucrat- turned- Lok Sabha
MP from Barabanki and chairperson of the National Commission for SC,
once Mayawati's close advisor, and Ashok Tanwar, former president of
the Youth Congress and the NSUI, who was elected to the Lok Sabha from
Sirsa constituency in Haryana, have been assigned the 89
Dalitdominated constituencies.

The Congress has decided to appoint observers — either MLA, ex-
minister or ex- MLA — with election experience in all these 89
constituencies.

Sources said a senior Dalit Congress leader from Uttar Pradesh has
requested Rahul to hold a rally of non- Jatav Dalits in Lucknow.

They alleged that non- Jatav Dalits have been ignored by Mayawati who
has been promoting her community alone.

Run up for UP elections where Muslims account for 22% of population
and Dalits account for 22% of population which are making all
political parties severe headache,Not only congress has announced 4%
reservation for muslims they are also pursuing dalits aggresively as
Maya Jal is wrapped around dalits votes .The party manifesto being
prepared is expected to offer sops to Dalits, EBCs, Jats and Muslims.

It also plans to promise sub- categorisation of SCs in the state, a
move primarily aimed at containing the Jatavs who have benefited most
from reservation.
It would seek to end the monopoly of the Jatavs much to the glee of
other oppressed Dalits.

UNDESIRED EFFECT

THE CONGRESS on Sunday betrayed its anxiety that the BSP may end up
benefiting from the Election Commission ( EC) order to cover the
statues of Mayawati and her party symbol ' elephant' for an entirely
different reason.

" People in UP are so upset with this government that seeing these
statues in public could make them vote against her government," AICC
spokesperson Rashid Alvi said.

" Covering them could actually dilute that simmering anger and she may
be saved from the people's strong disapproval," he added.


------------------------------------

----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[ZESTCaste] Politics Journal: Mayawati Banks on Dalits and Muslims

http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2012/01/18/politics-journal-mayawati-in-attack-mode-as-polls-approach/?mod=google_news_blog

January 18, 2012, 9:00 AM IST

Politics Journal: Mayawati Banks on Dalits and Muslims

By Jyoti Malhotra

Click on the website of the Bahujan Samaj Party, headed by the chief
minister of Uttar Pradesh and Dalit leader Kumari Mayawati, and the
moving scroll on the masthead gives you a fair idea of the party's
sense of self.

"Capture this 'Temple of Power' For Your Emancipation," says one
slogan, emblazoned on a picture of Parliament House in Delhi.
"Political power is the master key using which you can open all the
doors of your progress and self-respect," says another, imprinted on a
group of women, presumably all voters that the BSP has already scooped
into its tent.

Below the slogans is the ubiquitous strap line: Sarvajan Hitay,
Sarvajan Sukhay (For the rights and prosperity of all the people.)

This last is a reference to Ms. Mayawati's rainbow coalition of castes
that she pulled together before the state elections were held in 2007,
with such stunning success, capturing 206 seats out of 403 in the
state assembly.

As UP prepares to go to the polls again over seven phases through
February and early March, Ms. Mayawati is gearing up for the most
important political battle of her life. At stake is a state often
considered the wind vane of Indian politics, with 80 seats in the
federal parliament. How the ballot boxes come in when counting is held
on March 6 will heavily influence the remaining life of the
Congress-led government until general elections are held in 2014.

All eyes are on UP, not only because of its huge population of 170
million people. All the key players are expected to make or break
their larger political reputations in this state, whether Rahul Gandhi
of the Congress, Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party or Ms. Mayawati
of the BSP.

Even Priyanka Gandhi, Rahul's sister and Sonia Gandhi's daughter but
otherwise a determined stay-at-home mother, has descended upon the
poll map, although she has decided to limit herself to the territory
covered by her mother and brother's federal constituencies in Rae
Bareli and Amethi, respectively.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is such a distant fourth in UP that its
irrelevance is compounded by the fact that it is unlikely to stitch up
alliances with any of the state's more powerful parties.

In UP these days, much is being made of the so-called "Muslim vote,"
with every party scheming on how to get the state's 20% Muslim
population on board. But in the permutation and combination that
drives the political math, the other big voting chunk falls under the
label of "Dalit" or "Most Backward Caste" votes.

As India's main Dalit leader, it is obvious Ms. Mayawati has more than
an edge in this department. But in a repeat of 2007, Ms. Mayawati is
once again planning a rainbow coalition of candidates for 2012, with
the Dalits again at its nerve center.

That is why Dalits top her list of candidates with 88 seats, with
Muslims a close second with 85 seats. The upper castes have together
got 117 seats, of which Brahmins have got 74 seats (down from 86 in
2007), while the backward and most backward castes have got 113 seats
between them (in 2007, they had 120 seats).

Interestingly, the Congress is taking a leaf out of Ms. Mayawati's
copy-book, even though it could probably teach the rest of India a
thing or two about caste stratagem, considering it was the first to
target (as long ago as the 1960s) both Muslims and "Harijans" – as
Dalits were known for decades, or "people of God," a term employed by
Mahatma Gandhi.

That is why in this UP election, old caste formulae are being revived
– albeit with a difference. The Congress seems to have come to the
painful conclusion that Rahul Gandhi's charm is not about to win it
more than 40-50 seats. Moreover, party officials admit they may have
left it a little too late to plunge deeply into the bewildering ocean
of backward, most backward and other backward castes.

Still, you could give the Congress a few marks for trying. For over a
year, young Rahul has veered off the beaten track in UP and stayed
overnight in Dalit homes and shared their food, often to the
accompaniment of Ms. Mayawati's taunts.

Rahul and the rest of the Congress have ignored the opposition jibes
about his rediscovery of India. But having failed to unleash an army
of local leaders on the ground, they are hoping that the targeting of
the state's Muslims and its Dalits will make for at least a
last-minute partial miracle.

On the Muslim front, reports from UP continue to be mixed. Many are
talking about the Peace Party, led by a former doctor called Mohammed
Ayub, which is also hoping to target the state's Muslims.

As for the Dalits, a Congress leader told IRT that two of the party's
best-known, north Indian Dalit faces – P.L. Punia, member of
parliament from Barabanki in UP and a former chairman of the National
Scheduled Castes commission, and Ashok Tanwar, member of parliament
from Sirsa in Haryana and a former student leader with enormous
grass-roots political experience – had been asked to identify and
mentor a hundred Dalit leaders in UP.

"The Congress knows that the Most Backward Castes will stay with
Mayawati, but we hope to wean away some of the Backwards from the
edges," the Congress leader said.

Meanwhile, Ms. Mayawati's 2007 magic seems to have considerably faded.
And despite her dismissal of both Rahul Gandhi as well as her more
serious opponent, the Samajwadi party, the truth is that somehow both
have got under her skin.

The BSP's website, in the Hindi news section, liberally displays
stories from the UP Hindi language press. But note the selection: Out
of 15 top posts, the Congress party was being targeted in 10,
including Rahul being directly named in three of them, while in
another post, Samajwadi party leader Akhilesh Yadav's drinking habits
were being discussed.

Clearly, the gloves are off as the campaign in UP gets well and truly underway.

Jyoti Malhotra is a freelance journalist based in New Delhi. She
writes for India's Business Standard daily and for Pakistan's Express
Tribune.

Follow India Real Time on Twitter @indiarealtime


------------------------------------

----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[ZESTCaste] SC claim: Cop in trouble

 

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sc-claim-cop-in-trouble/221923-60-121.html

Hyderabad | Posted on Jan 18, 2012 at 12:00pm IST
SC claim: Cop in trouble
indianexpress Express News Service , The New Indian Express

HYDERABAD: Dismissing a writ petition filed by a police constable for
interim relief, the High Court has recently directed the state
government to initiate prosecution forthwith against the petitioner, G
Durga Prasad who was appointed as a police constable on a fake caste
certificate that he belongs to the Madiga (SC) community. The court
directed the authorities concerned to commplete the criminal case
proceedings expeditiously besides immediately withdrawal of benefits
secured by the petitioner and recovery of such benefits availed by him
during employment.

Complaints were received by the Anantapur district scrutiny committee
that Durga Prasad did not belong to the Madiga (SC) community but to
the Yadava (Golla) community, a BC.

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

.

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] USA: Prominent Opponent of Affirmative Action Faces Allegations of Fiscal Misdoing

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/18/us/ward-connerly-faces-allegations-of-fiscal-misdoing.html?_r=1

January 17, 2012
Affirmative-Action Foe Is Facing Allegations of Financial Misdeeds
By CHARLIE SAVAGE

WASHINGTON — Ward Connerly, the black businessman who has been the
face of the movement to end affirmative action for nearly two decades,
is facing accusations from a prominent former ally that he has
mismanaged — and exploited for his own benefit — donations to that
cause made by fellow conservatives.

Moreover, a group Mr. Connerly founded to advance government policies
that are race and gender neutral, the Sacramento-based American Civil
Rights Institute, is under investigation by the Internal Revenue
Service and by the attorney general of California, according to
documents and interviews.

Mr. Connerly has faced accusations of profiteering before, as
supporters of affirmative action highlighted his salary in an effort
to discredit his cause. But this time, the allegations are more
detailed and come from another significant movement figure: Jennifer
Gratz, the named plaintiff in a landmark 2003 Supreme Court case that
struck down a race-based admissions policy at the University of
Michigan.

After she won that case, Mr. Connerly hired Ms. Gratz to conduct
research and run campaigns supporting anti-affirmative action ballot
initiatives. She resigned last September and, through her lawyer, sent
the group's board a five-page letter, a copy of which was obtained by
The New York Times.

"For years, Ms. Gratz was aware of the allegations that Mr. Connerly
received excessive compensation," it said. "She presumed that the
issue was politically motivated and raised solely by opponents of the
organization's mission. It has come to her attention, however, that
there may be some merit to the allegations of financial impropriety."

Interviewed by phone and e-mail, Mr. Connerly, 72, acknowledged that
his group had had financial difficulties, but said its board had not
responded to the letter because "90 percent" of it was false. He
portrayed Ms. Gratz as a "disgruntled former employee" trying to
"besmirch me personally" because she wanted to replace him.

The letter was written by Ms. Gratz's lawyer, Robert N. Driscoll, a
former deputy assistant attorney general for civil rights in the
administration of George W. Bush. In a statement, through him, she
said: "I thought it was important to make sure all board members were
aware of what was going on even if doing so was unfortunate, sad and
uncomfortable and even though it meant that I had to resign from a
position within a cause that I will always hold near and dear."

The dispute is alarming allies.

"I'm sorry to hear this because I'm a great admirer of both of them,"
said Roger Clegg, the president of the Center for Equal Opportunity,
which also opposes affirmative action. "She is a courageous, smart
person — and Ward is also a courageous, smart person."

A businessman and a former University of California regent, Mr.
Connerly rose to fame in 1996 as the backer of a successful ballot
initiative barring public institutions in California from taking race
or gender into account. He later founded the institute and a related
advocacy group and continued to call for "colorblind government" in
matters like contracting and college admissions.

Ms. Gratz's letter alleges a series of financial irregularities,
starting with Mr. Connerly's pay.

Late last summer, the institute belatedly filed disclosure forms for
tax years ending in June 2008, 2009, and 2010. (The I.R.S. that summer
had revoked the tax-exempt status of its related advocacy group for
failing to file such forms.) They showed that his annual pay was
between $1.2 million and $1.5 million each year — more than half its
revenue.

Because charitable donations are tax deductible, according to I.R.S.
rules no employee may get excessive compensation. Two other nonprofit
groups opposing affirmative action, the Center for Equal Opportunity
and the Center for Individual Rights, pay their leaders about $144,000
and $250,000, respectively.

Mr. Connerly said that "every penny which I receive is directly
related to our mission," and that he used some of his salary to pay
others for research and legal work. He also said the group had reduced
his pay to $850,000.

One reason Mr. Connerly has been a particularly effective advocate is
that he is black. Mr. Clegg said there were "few people who can do or
would do what he does," adding that it is hard to set a salary on a
job that requires enduring racially charged name-calling from fellow
blacks.

A major financial supporter is the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation.
Its president, Michael W. Grebe, said he was "very comfortable" that
its donations to Mr. Connerly's group were "being spent for public
education programs."

"He's very effective," Mr. Grebe said.

Ms. Gratz's letter contends that the group has been "in financial
crisis since March 2010" in part because of Mr. Connerly's salary and
legal fees related to the tax investigations, and has "ceased almost
entirely" doing projects furthering its mission since June 2011.

Her letter also says the group has had trouble making payroll and
"knowingly" under-reported what it paid employees on payroll tax forms
— "irregularities" that "partly result from disruptions in revenue"
but that "also appear to be designed to facilitate Mr. Connerly's high
salary."

Mr. Connerly denied such allegations as "speculation and conjecture,"
saying Ms. Gratz was not privy to administrative details. He also said
educational activities by him and his group were "instrumental" in
passing an anti-affirmative action initiative in Arizona in November
2010, and in laying the groundwork for a vote on a similar measure in
Oklahoma set for fall 2012.

Ms. Gratz's letter said five of the group's eight employees "are
family members" or have "personal or nonprofessional relationships
with Mr. Connerly," and raised questions about its "contracts for
services and leases."

For example, the letter said, the group contracted with a former
longtime employee of Mr. Connerly's profit-making firm to create a
report on Oklahoma, for up to 120 hours at $60 an hour; it "consisted
mainly of printouts from Wikipedia."

While the letter did not explain its reference to "leases," the
group's recent tax filings show that its rent tripled, to just under
$70,000, after it moved to a different building about four years ago.
Records show a group employee purchased the building in February 2008
for about $444,000.

Mr. Connerly said hiring people he knew was appropriate, given his
group's "controversial" mission. He also said he had instructed the
employee to find new offices because they needed more room, and he
approved the arrangement she had made.

Despite his salary, Mr. Connerly acknowledged that he had had
financial difficulties; public records show that in 2010 and 2011,
several hundred thousand dollars in liens for unpaid taxes were
leveled against him. He said he was working on paying what he owed. In
addition, a disclosure form filed with the IRS says the institute
discovered last year that Mr. Connerly had submitted "unsubstantiated"
business expenses from his credit card and cellphone bills. He had
paid back $10,000 as of September, but still owed about $24,000.

Ms. Gratz was once Mr. Connerly's defender. In 2008, when
anti-affirmative action initiatives were on the ballot in Colorado and
Nebraska, a liberal group ran ads portraying him as supporting such
measures so he could pocket "nonprofit slush funds."

Ms. Gratz made a video denouncing the ads as character assassination.
But, her letter said, she subsequently realized that Mr. Connerly's
group had "not been adequate stewards of the resources the donors
entrusted to the organization," adding that she "will cooperate with
any government investigation."

Kitty Bennett contributed research.


------------------------------------

----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[ZESTCaste] Another Arrest Made in Pipili Gangrape Case

 

http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=747991

Another Arrest Made in Pipili Gangrape Case
PTI | Bhubaneswar | Jan 17, 2012

Another accused in the Pipili gangrape case in Odisha was arrested
today even as the state government failed to convince the family of
the dalit rape victim to shift her to AIIMS in Delhi for better
treatment.

Crime Branch sleuths nabbed Premananda Nayak named in the FIR
registered at Pipili police station on January 9. "Nayak was arrested
from the house of one of his relations at Olakana village under Pipili
police station area," police said.

With this, the total number of accused persons arrested in the
incident rose to three. Efforts are on to trace another accused, Abua
Pradhan of Paparanga village.

An official team met the victim's brother Amulya Behera at SCB Medical
College Hospital in Cuttack, where the girl was under treatment, but
their efforts to convince the brother to shift her to AIIMS failed,
official sources said.

"The brother rejected government's offer in writing and suggested
bringing super specialists from outside if required," an official said
adding the family was afraid of going outside the state.

"They (alleged rapists) might kill us in Delhi. We do not feel secure
to visit AIIMS," the brother told reporters.

Another official team led by Puri Tehsildar Abani Patnaik visited the
victim's Arjungada village but found none at her house. "As her
parents were not there, we returned after hanging an information sheet
on the door to intimate them that state government representatives had
visited their village," an official told

Meanwhile, the state government informed the Orissa High Court about
the views of the girl's family doctor on shifting her to the AIIMS,
Delhi for better treatment.

The High Court had yesterday had made it clear that the victim could
not be shifted to AIIMS without prior permission of her parents.

Prasanta Pradhan, the prime accused in the dalit girl rape case, was
arrested on Sunday and sent to judicial custody for 14 days. The
police had yesterday nabbed Purna Chandra Swain another accused from
Pipili area.

Swain was produced before Judicial Magistrate, Pipili, Meenakshi
Priyadarshini, who sent him to two days' remand of the Crime Branch
(CB) for further interrogation.

The youth and student wings of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee
(OPCC) staged separate agitations here demanding CBI probe into the
alleged rape case and sacking of Odisha minister Pradeep Maharathy
accusing him of "shielding" the accused.

Ruling BJD activists and supporters of the minister, on the other
hand, blocked the Bhubaneshwar-Puri National Highway alleging that the
third accused, Nayak, was taking shelter in the house of a Congress
supporter.

They withdrew the road blockade after the minister asked them not to
put people in trouble by blocking the NH.

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

.

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] Minister denies link with alleged rapist of dalit teenager

 

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/minister-denies-link-with-alleged-rapist-of-dalit-teenager/951942.html

Minister denies link with alleged rapist of dalit teenager
PTI | 08:01 PM,Jan 17,2012

Bhubaneswar, Jan 17 (PTI) Amidst a statewide outcry demanding his
resignation from the council of ministers over the alleged rape of a
dalit girl at Pipili in Puri district, Odisha's Agriculture minister
Pradeep Maharathy today denied charges against him. "I have no link
with the accused persons though the incident took place in my assembly
segment of Pipili," Maharathy said rejecting the allegations of
harbouring the criminals at his farm house. Terming allegations
against him as "false" and "baseless", the Agriculture minister said
that he came to know about the alleged rape incident only from the
media. "As I came to know about the incident from media, how can I
provide them (criminals) shelter," the minister said. Claiming that he
was busy in election campaigning for the ruling BJD candidate at
Umarkote in Nabarangpur district on the date of the alleged rape
incident, the minister said "I have not put any pressure on the police
in this matter." "Not in this case, I have never put pressure on the
police in any matter," he claimed adding that he had absolute faith on
the judiciary. "I hope the Judicial Commission will unearth the truth
behind the incident. I also hope that the state's criminal
investigation department, crime branch will catch the culprits
involved in the alleged rape incident," he added. Prasanta Pradhan the
prime accused and two other accused Purna Chandra Swain and Premananda
Nayak had so far been arrested while one Abu Pradhan, was still at
large.

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

.

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] 'There's space for every party that works for dalit emancipation'

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Theres-space-for-every-party-that-works-for-dalit-emancipation/articleshow/11527337.cms

Q&A
'There's space for every party that works for dalit emancipation'
Avijit Ghosh, TNN | Jan 18, 2012, 12.00AM IST

Academic and political analyst Badri Narayan is professor of social
and cultural anthro-pology at the G B Pant Social Science Institute,
Allahabad. His latest book explores the making of `the dalit public`
in northern India, travelling through Uttar Pradesh of the 1950s to
the present. Speaking with Avijit Ghosh , Narayan discussed his
current research, UP chief minister Mayawati`s past performance - and
the state`s forthcoming elections:

What does your latest study discuss?

My new book is about the process of the politicisation of dalits in UP
post-Independence. It reveals that members of the dalit public which
emerged had no fixed political choice in electoral democratic
politics, but they linked with policies, slogans and symbols created
by various political parties for their emancipation. Thus, this
political public developed with multiple choices - it depends on
political parties how they link with the desires of the dalits. There
is space for every party that can work for their betterment and
political emancipation.

Does dalit politics imitate methods used by upper castes or does it
break away from these?

Although dalit politics in UP developed its own methods of
mobi-lisation and creating pressure in the democratic system for
deve-lopment, dalits also co-opted methods adopted by upper castes.
This is not pure politics that developed in isolation. It is
interactive and hybrid, imitating several methods of those they are
struggling against. Kanshi Ram, who was often branded as an
opportunist, defended himself by saying there`s nothing wrong if
dalits use the opportunism used by Brahmins for their own progress.

Speaking of progress, what do you think the BSP`s chances in the
forthcoming UP assembly elections are?

The BSP will decline because social alliances formed in the last
elections have been diluted. The distance between Mayawati and people
has increased - this was earlier the lifeline of BSP politics. Also,
there`s inefficient governance, allegations of corruption and
anti-incumbency here.

But will Mayawati gain from her announcement of dividing UP into four
smaller states?

Mayawati used this as a masterstroke hurriedly for this election - but
the demand for separate states was never a mass demand, rather that of
elites in those regions. This will not be beneficial in these
elections.

Momentary decisions aside, what were the highs and lows of Mayawati`s
stint as chief minister?

During Mayawati`s reign, the mafias of the state were under control
but corruption increased several fold. Several scams like NRHM and
NREGA, in which many ministers were involved, took place. Alongside,
there were incidents of bloodshed during land acquisitions but no
industrialisation or deve-lopment took place in the state.

Against this backdrop, how would you evaluate Mayawati`s moves against
corrupt ministers?

The throwing out of ministers by Mayawati will have a negative effect
- it confirms notions that corruption was prevalent during her tenure.
The corrupt MLAs were associated with departments directly responsible
for delivering public services. Their expulsion manifests corruption
was prevalent in these areas.

However, Mayawati`s stra-tegy of not giving tickets to corrupt MLAs
may have a positive impact too on the minds of people in those
constituencies. People disappointed with the performance of corrupt
MLAs will now have fresh hopes that new faces will come up who will
work for their betterment.

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

.

__,_._,___