NDA may urge President to intervene

New Delhi: The National Democratic Alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party has decided that it would approach President Pratibha Patil for her intervention if a date for a special session of the Lok Sabha is not announced by Thursday to enable the government to seek a trust vote।

A meeting of NDA leaders was convened at the residence of the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, L।K. Advani, here on Wednesday to discuss the political situation after the withdrawal of support to the United Progressive Alliance government by the Left parties. Mr. Advani told The Hindu that the BJP would be active in ensuring the defeat of the government on the floor of the House.

BJP leaders claimed that the entire NDA, comprising the Shiv Sena, the Akali Dal, the Janata Dal (United) and the Biju Janata Dal – all these parties were represented at the meeting — would vote solidly and unitedly against a trust motion by the government।

However, agency reports quoted Akali leader S।S. Dhindsa as saying that his party would take a final view on what it would do during such a vote at a meeting on July 15.

Immediately after the meeting, BJP deputy leader in the Lok Sabha V।K. Malhotra said the NDA had “unanimously demanded that the government should seek a vote of confidence as it has no moral or legal right to continue after withdrawal of support by the Left.” “If a date for a special session of the Lok Sabha is not announced by tomorrow, we would go to the President to ask her to direct the government to seek a confidence vote”.

Ms। Sushma Swaraj said the government had been reduced to a minority and it should demonstrate its majority in Parliament. It had no right to take further steps on the nuclear deal while it is in a minority, she added.

BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi charged the Samajwadi Party was “misusing the name of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for justifying its own U-turn on the nuclear deal.” He said that in Uttar Pradesh the minorities were particularly resentful of the “selfish deal the SP had made with the Congress party.”

The Sinhastha Kumbhamela

By far the most spectacular of all the events, the Kumbh Mela is a religious festival that occurs once every 12 years, and is celebrated in four major pilgrim centres around the country। In Maharastra, the festival is held in Trimbakeshwar, Nashik. The Nashik Kumbh Mela is generally acknowledged to be the most sacred of all the festivals.

Why every 12 years?

Amrut had to be saved from Danavas। So Gods had to hide it at different places - Swargalok, Mrutyulok and Patallok. Gods were on Mrutyulok (earth) for twelve days. Gods twelve days are equal to 12 years for Mrutyulok . Thus Gods were on earth for 12 years with Amrut. Hence every 12 years Kumbha Mela is celebrated at the four places, where a few drops of Amrut had fallen.

Where and when?

Kumbha Mela is a mammoth fair where saints and devotees gather। Kumbha Mela is celebrated at the aforesaid four places depending on the positions of planets and stars।

When Jupiter (Guru) and Sun are in zodiac signLeo(Simha Rashi) it is celebrated in Trimbakeshwar, Nashik।

When Sun is in zodiac sign Aries (Mesha Rashi) it is celebrated at Haradwar When Jupiter is in zodiac sign Taurus (Vrishabha Rashi ) and Sun is in zodiac sign Capricorn (Makar Rashi) Kumbha Mela is celebrated at Prayag When Guru and Sun are in zodiac sign scorpio (Vrishchik Rashi) the Mela is celebrated at Ujjain।

Recognizing the importance of the Sinhastha Kumbha Mela Shri Shankaracharya appealed the disciples of his Vaidik Dharma to assemble at the time of Sinhastha Kumbha Mela। Following his appeal, till now devotees, pilgrims, and people of various sects and religions gather together for Kumbha Mela.

In Kruta Yuga, Durwas Rishi saw Indra - the King of Gods - sitting on elephant Airawat। Durwas was pleased to see Indra and presented him a chain. However Indra did not accept the present . It fell down and was trodden by elephant Airawat. Durwas Rishi got upset due to this and cursed Indra. As an effect of the curse, all Gods lost their powers and had to often lose a battle against Danavas (Demons). So all Gods including Brahmadeva surrendered themselves to God Vishnu to get back their power. Vishnu suggested them to approach Danavas and persuade them to perform Samudra Manthana (churning of the sea). He said Samudra Manthana will bring out Amruta , which will bring back your power and you will not be efeated by Danavas. So Samudra Manthana was carried out.

One of the many precious things that arose from the depths of the troubled waters was a pot of nectar (Amrit Kumbh)। Lord Vishnu, disguising himself as an enchantress ( Mohini), seized the nectar from the demons. While fleeing from the evil ones, Lord Vishnu passed the nectar on to his winged mount, Garuda. The demons finally caught up with Garuda and in the ensuing struggle, a few drops of the precious nectar fell on Allahabad, Nashik, Hardwar and Ujjain. Since then, the Kumbh Mela has been held in all these places, every 12 years.

Another story is that once all the Teerthas went to Adinath Bhagwan Shankara । Following Bhagwan Shankara’s order they had been to Mrutyuloka (earth) to save sinners on earth. Teerthas absolved the sinners on the earth, but were themselves saturated with others’ sins . They requested Bhagwan Shankara to free themselves from sins. Shankara asked them to go and live in solitude for one year at the bank of river Godavari. Shankara promised the Teerthas that he himself, with all other Gods will also stay with them . After taking bath in the sacred water of Godavari, they will be free from the sins.

Hence during the Kumbha Mela a dip in Godavari river has attained a great importance। In Shiva Purana there is a story explaining the importance of Sinhastha Kumbha Mela. Gautama Rishi got salvation of his cow-killing sin from Lord Shankara after a long penance. Then the river Ganges descended down on the earth. After some time she wanted to go back to her home place. However the Rishis and Gods gathered there and requested her to stay back on the earth for the prosperity of the earth. She agreed to stay back only after taking a promise from Lord Shankara that all the Rishis present there and all Gods will stay with her. Then only she will stay back. Gods and Rishis promised her that during the period, when Jupiter and Sun will be in the zodiac sign Leo (Simha Rashi), they will all stay on the earth.

In later years , it is said , acknowledging importance of Kumbha Mela Lord Rama with his Guru Kashyap stayed and lived for one year in Trimbakeshwar. During this period he performed all the religious rites like yatra, shraddha etc near kushavarta

Akhadas

There are different dwelling places for different sects। They are called “Akhada”. The names of these Akhadas are - Shree Niranjani , Shree Junadatta (Bhairav),Shree Mahanirvani, Shree Atal, Shree Avahana, Shree Anand, Shree Pancha Agni, Shree Nathpanthi Gorakhnath, Shree Vaishnav Bairagi, Shree Udasini Panchayati Bada, Shree Udasini Naya, Shree Nirmal Panchayati etc. They have been established at different times and worship their own deity.

Leaders of the different sects have arrived at a consensus to follow a specific sequence for taking bath। E.g. In Haridwar Mela, Niranjani Gosawi will take bath first and then Nirwani Gosawi will bathe. In Trimbakeshwar, first Niranjani Gosawi will take bath and after they leave Kushawarta Teertha, Nirvani Gosawi will take bath . After them the old Udasee sadhu followed by new Udasee Sadhus will take bath.

The Nashik Kumbh Mela is a mammoth affair with over three and a half million people attending it. Thousands of Sadhus and holy men and millions of pilgrims immerse themselves in the holy Ramkund and Kushavarta reservoirs. The peak festival days are August 14 and 25 and September 8 and 20. During the Kumbha Mela, Nashik City and Trimbakeshwar are in a fantastic festive mood. The festive and religious mood makes people get away from their daily chores and experience the spiritual ecstacy.

Speaker's Office scotches all rumours about his resignation

New Delhi, Jul 10 (DNS) Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee'soffice today clarified that the Speaker had not taken any decision"relevant to the present political context" and asked the media to restrain from dragging the highest legislative office of the countryinto controversies by "speculative reports and undeserved innuendos''।

Reacting to the various media reports regarding his continuationin office after the withdrawal of support by the CPM to the four-year old Manmohan Singh led Government, a release issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat said, ''The Honourable Speaker does not represent any political party in the discharge of his duties andfunctions. It is well known that the present Speaker's election to the high office was not only uncontested but was unanimous as all political parties proposed his name. He was not elected as the nominee of any party.

Mumbai riots: Sena leader Sarpotdar gets 1 yr jail

Mumbai, July 09: A special riots court here on Wednesday sentenced former MP and Shiv Sena leader Madhukar Sarpotdar to one year in prison in connection with the 1992-93 Mumbai riots।

Beside Sarpotdar, two others – Ashok Shinde and Jayant Parab - have also been convicted and sent to one year in jail under Section 153 of Indian Penal Code for inflammatory speech and inciting violence and enmity between two religious groups।

The court also slapped a fine of Rs 5000 on each। The court also acquitted three more accused in the same case.

However, sentences have been suspended till August 16 to enable the accused to appeal before the Sessions court। Sarpotdar and others got bail soon after the court pronounced the sentences.

On December 27, 1992, Sarpotdar had led a mob of 5,000 people from Ganesh Utsav Samiti Mandal in sub-urban Kherwadi area।

Earlier, Magistrate R C Bapat Sarkar completed hearing the defence and prosecution's arguments and had set today’s date for announcing the sentences।

According to the prosecution, the mob had chanted anti-Muslim slogans and held placards that read "terror of Shiv Sena is the only saviour for mankind," leading to stone pelting in the area।

The prosecution further argued that the procession was to gain political mileage under the garb of religion and it violated the order of the Police Commissioner, restricting the Assembly of more than five persons for security reasons।

The defence advocate, however, argued that it was only a religious procession, which did not require permission from the Police Commissioner।

"The incident occurred in the afternoon of December 27 and the FIR was registered on the night of December 29," advocate Bagoria appearing for Sarpotdar argued yesterday.

Amar Singh gives President list of SP MPs

The Samajwadi Party on Wednesday handed over its letter of support for the United Progressive Alliance government to President Pratibha Patil [Images], shortly after the Left met the latter to formally communicate that they were no more with the ruling alliance।

"The list of MPs given to the President contains the names of all those who had contested on the party symbol," SP general secretary Amar Singh told reporters after meeting the President along with another party general secretray Ram Gopal Yadav।

All the names given in the list will follow the party whip in Parliament, Amar Singh said।

He, however, evaded giving the exact number of MPs। He also said he had spoken to the suspended SP MP Beni Prasad Verma on Wednesday morning and he had assured him of his and of another suspended MP Atiq Ahmad's support to the Congress.

Replying to a question, the SP leader said the letter had been given just to reiterate the party's support to the UPA government given at the time of its formation।

Amar Singh said he just wanted to remove any confusion from public's mind, as his party had once decided to withdraw support to the UPA government after certain political developments in Uttar Pradesh, but anyhow it had not sent the letter of support withdrawal to the President at that time।

The SP, which has 39 MPs in the Lok Sabha, though some of them are reported to have rebelled, will play a crucial role in a vote of trust in Parliament.

Digital piracy robs Bollywood

On a trip to Helsinki in Finland, Rajjat Barjatya stumbled upon 15,000 Indian families who had regular access to Bollywood movies even when no production house was distributing them there।

"The families were paying monthly rent to a website that delivered the latest pirated Bollywood content," says Barjatya, who figured that the Indian entertainment sector was being plagiarised and producers who were spending millions on marketing and publicity were being robbed, virtually।

"There was a huge gap in demand and supply of Bollywood content to NRIs settled all over the globe," adds Barjatya, the managing director of Rajshri Media, the digital arm of Rajshri Productions।

Today, Barjatya is doing a roaring business among the NRI population settled in the US, UK and Canada. Success speaks for Barjatya. Rajshri's blockbuster film Hum Aapke Hain Kaun has been viewed over 500,000 times till date and can be downloaded for $4.99.

Sarpotdar granted bail

Shiv Sena leader and former MP Madhukar Sartpotdar has now been granted bail।

He was sentenced to a year's rigourous imprisonment in context to the 1992-93 communal riots, today।

A special magistrate's court passed the judgement against the Sena leader today।

On December 27, 1992, Sarpotdar led 5,000 people from the Ganesh Utsav Samiti Mandal, in Bandra।

He also delivered an offensive anti-Muslim speech, which turned the mob violent.

Shootout in East Delhi

BOLLYWOOD STYLE gang war woke up residents of Seelampur area as gangsters went on a shooting spree killing three men from two different gangs late last night barely 50 metres away from the police station।

Shamim Chaudhary, a 'bad character' of the area with over a dozen cases against him, was shot dead by two unidentified motor-cycle borne assailants who were also gunned down by members of Chaudhary's group while fleeing।

According to the police, at the time of the incident Chaudhary, who worked as a property dealer, was standing near the Central bank outside his house.