October 4, 2010
October 3, 2010
President Prathibha Patil declares Delhi CWG open
Singer Hariharan is performing the ‘Swagatam’ song with school children forming the ‘namaste’ on the ground.
Around 7,000 men, women and children will take part in the gala opening, which is divided into 6 sections: Rhythm of India, Swagatam, Tree of Knowledge, Yoga, Great Indian Journey and AR Rahman`s rendition of the CWG anthem "Jiyo Utho Badho Jeeto".
The 619-member strong Indian contingent will be led by Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra who will carry the Indian flag during the ceremony.
Followed by the song, the ‘tree of knowledge’ segment will showcase India`s ‘guru shishya’ tradition with folk dancers and musicians.
A yoga performance will raise the bar, while the great Indian journey will showcase the spirit of India.
The grand finale will be Oscar winner AR Rahman performing live CWG anthem "Jiyo Utho Badho Jeeto".
Australia will lead out the teams, while hosts India will be led out by Beijing Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra.
The aerostat, or helium-balloon, touted to be the star attraction at the opening ceremony of the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games, will give an unprecedented view of the sights being offered for a truly Indian experience.
The 619-member strong Indian contingent will be led by Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra who will carry the Indian flag during the ceremony.
Followed by the song, the ‘tree of knowledge’ segment will showcase India`s ‘guru shishya’ tradition with folk dancers and musicians.
A yoga performance will raise the bar, while the great Indian journey will showcase the spirit of India.
The grand finale will be Oscar winner AR Rahman performing live CWG anthem "Jiyo Utho Badho Jeeto".
Australia will lead out the teams, while hosts India will be led out by Beijing Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra.
The aerostat, or helium-balloon, touted to be the star attraction at the opening ceremony of the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games, will give an unprecedented view of the sights being offered for a truly Indian experience.
Scientists warn of possible peril from 2013 solar flare activity
Earlier this week, scientists attending the Electric Infrastructure Security Council conference in London warned that a massive solar flare may trigger global chaos by causing blackouts and wrecking satellite communications.
Solar flares are large explosions on the surface of the Sun, powered by the sudden release of magnetic energy that has built up in the Sun's atmosphere. They can last just a few seconds or up to an hour, and can occur in smaller intensities as often as several times per day.
The researchers say that this potential disaster could occur within three years, which is when astronomers forecast a peak in the Sun's magnetic energy cycle. They say that the resulting solar storm could potentially cause geomagnetic mayhem on earth, knocking out electricity grids around the world.
'As that magnetic field gets tangled up it gets more and more energetic, and that leads to an eleven year cycle of activity,' explained Chris Davis, a scientist on the Solar Stormwatch project at the British Royal Observatory, in an interview with Deutsche Welle.
'We're on a low level of activity at the moment but sunspots are starting to appear again, and spots are the manifestation of this magnetic field poking through the surface of the Sun.'
Previous large solar ejection occured in 19th century
Astronomers say that the current cycle of solar flare activity started around 2001 and they expect it to reach a peak sometime in 2013. But what's different about this peak is that it could be quite devastating.
The coronal mass ejection could release large amounts of matter, intense magnetic fields and other radiation into space. Typically, some scientists say, ejections of this size only occur approximately every 150 years � the last one was in 1859.
'The world's skies were bathed in a blood red aurora � the Northern and the Southern lights,' said Stuart Clark, a British astronomy journalist and author of 'The Sun Kings', which details the event and its impact on modern astronomy.
'And at the same time as these lights appeared in the sky, the nineteenth century equivalent of global communications and navigation just completely stopped working.'
In other words, Clark explained, compasses spun uselessly and the telegraph � cutting-edge technology at the time � crashed.
Solar flares have disrupted power transmission before
Today, given that the 21st century relies so heavily on other technology like communications and entertainment satellites, the world is more at risk from damage caused by high-energy particles and other disturbances, said Avi Schnurr, who organized the conference. He is a former US Department of Defense analyst, and current executive director of the Israel Missile Defense Association, a lobbying organization.
In addition to affecting spacecraft, such magnetic storms can affect power transmission behavior on the Earth, because they cause 'transformer saturation,' which reduces or distorts voltage. That could mean the disruption of power plants and transmission stations, which happened in the province of Quebec in Canada during a solar flare in 1989.
'The electric grids when they go down, they bring with them our capability to produce water and send water to homes, to produce food, communications, medical care. All the things we depend on.' Schnurr said. 'And if it's down for months or years, it's very painful to think what that would mean.'
Other scientists say threat is 'overstated'
But not all scientists are convinced of this high level of damage that a solar ejection would cause to the Earth in 2013.
In an interview published Friday with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Phil Wilkinson, the assistant director of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's Ionospheric Prediction Service, said that the claims that this solar maximum would be the most violent in 100 years are 'overstated.'
'[It's] going far beyond what's realistic and could be worrying or concerning for people who don't really understand the underlying science behind it all,' he said. 'The real message should be that the coming solar maximum period could be equally as hazardous as any other solar maximum.'
He also said that the impact on power grids would be minimal.
'At worst, it's a regional thing, not a global thing as these reports imply,' he added.
Infrastructure could be protected by 'huge surge protectors'
However, Schnurr also said that protecting infrastructure both on the ground and in space is a matter of politics and money.
'We do need to get it together for the governments involved to start protecting the electric grids,' he said. 'But it turns out there are fairly simple measures which are well understood now which can be taken. There are the equivalents of huge surge protectors which need to be put on these different transformers.'
This 'equivalent' is known as a residual current device, or RCD, which is used for domestic wiring systems. These are trip switches installed on electricity transmission lines that break the connection when there's a sudden voltage increase.
There would be a temporary disruption in power, but the transformers themselves would be protected. RCDs, Schnurr explained, are roughly analogous to surge protectors used in ordinary homes to protect electronic devices from overloading.
He also said that the cost of installing such preventive measures is relatively inexpensive to governments � in the United Kingdom, it would cost a few hundred million dollars.
But with so many governments slashing their budgets in the United States, Europe and around the globe, it's still not clear whether governments will actually spend money on an event of which the consequences are not predicted with 100 percent certainty.
After all, similar warnings were made over the Y2K bug, the massive worldwide computer glitch, that seemed to be overblown. Still, Stuart Clark said that governments cannot afford to ignore these warnings.
'The consequences if this does happen are just unbelievable,' he said. 'The loss of the power grid for years, loss of the ability to perform any kind of finance or electronic transfers or anything like that, if we don't do anything to protect ourselves now.
Solar flares are large explosions on the surface of the Sun, powered by the sudden release of magnetic energy that has built up in the Sun's atmosphere. They can last just a few seconds or up to an hour, and can occur in smaller intensities as often as several times per day.
The researchers say that this potential disaster could occur within three years, which is when astronomers forecast a peak in the Sun's magnetic energy cycle. They say that the resulting solar storm could potentially cause geomagnetic mayhem on earth, knocking out electricity grids around the world.
'As that magnetic field gets tangled up it gets more and more energetic, and that leads to an eleven year cycle of activity,' explained Chris Davis, a scientist on the Solar Stormwatch project at the British Royal Observatory, in an interview with Deutsche Welle.
'We're on a low level of activity at the moment but sunspots are starting to appear again, and spots are the manifestation of this magnetic field poking through the surface of the Sun.'
Previous large solar ejection occured in 19th century
Astronomers say that the current cycle of solar flare activity started around 2001 and they expect it to reach a peak sometime in 2013. But what's different about this peak is that it could be quite devastating.
The coronal mass ejection could release large amounts of matter, intense magnetic fields and other radiation into space. Typically, some scientists say, ejections of this size only occur approximately every 150 years � the last one was in 1859.
'The world's skies were bathed in a blood red aurora � the Northern and the Southern lights,' said Stuart Clark, a British astronomy journalist and author of 'The Sun Kings', which details the event and its impact on modern astronomy.
'And at the same time as these lights appeared in the sky, the nineteenth century equivalent of global communications and navigation just completely stopped working.'
In other words, Clark explained, compasses spun uselessly and the telegraph � cutting-edge technology at the time � crashed.
Solar flares have disrupted power transmission before
Today, given that the 21st century relies so heavily on other technology like communications and entertainment satellites, the world is more at risk from damage caused by high-energy particles and other disturbances, said Avi Schnurr, who organized the conference. He is a former US Department of Defense analyst, and current executive director of the Israel Missile Defense Association, a lobbying organization.
In addition to affecting spacecraft, such magnetic storms can affect power transmission behavior on the Earth, because they cause 'transformer saturation,' which reduces or distorts voltage. That could mean the disruption of power plants and transmission stations, which happened in the province of Quebec in Canada during a solar flare in 1989.
'The electric grids when they go down, they bring with them our capability to produce water and send water to homes, to produce food, communications, medical care. All the things we depend on.' Schnurr said. 'And if it's down for months or years, it's very painful to think what that would mean.'
Other scientists say threat is 'overstated'
But not all scientists are convinced of this high level of damage that a solar ejection would cause to the Earth in 2013.
In an interview published Friday with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Phil Wilkinson, the assistant director of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's Ionospheric Prediction Service, said that the claims that this solar maximum would be the most violent in 100 years are 'overstated.'
'[It's] going far beyond what's realistic and could be worrying or concerning for people who don't really understand the underlying science behind it all,' he said. 'The real message should be that the coming solar maximum period could be equally as hazardous as any other solar maximum.'
He also said that the impact on power grids would be minimal.
'At worst, it's a regional thing, not a global thing as these reports imply,' he added.
Infrastructure could be protected by 'huge surge protectors'
However, Schnurr also said that protecting infrastructure both on the ground and in space is a matter of politics and money.
'We do need to get it together for the governments involved to start protecting the electric grids,' he said. 'But it turns out there are fairly simple measures which are well understood now which can be taken. There are the equivalents of huge surge protectors which need to be put on these different transformers.'
This 'equivalent' is known as a residual current device, or RCD, which is used for domestic wiring systems. These are trip switches installed on electricity transmission lines that break the connection when there's a sudden voltage increase.
There would be a temporary disruption in power, but the transformers themselves would be protected. RCDs, Schnurr explained, are roughly analogous to surge protectors used in ordinary homes to protect electronic devices from overloading.He also said that the cost of installing such preventive measures is relatively inexpensive to governments � in the United Kingdom, it would cost a few hundred million dollars.
But with so many governments slashing their budgets in the United States, Europe and around the globe, it's still not clear whether governments will actually spend money on an event of which the consequences are not predicted with 100 percent certainty.
After all, similar warnings were made over the Y2K bug, the massive worldwide computer glitch, that seemed to be overblown. Still, Stuart Clark said that governments cannot afford to ignore these warnings.
'The consequences if this does happen are just unbelievable,' he said. 'The loss of the power grid for years, loss of the ability to perform any kind of finance or electronic transfers or anything like that, if we don't do anything to protect ourselves now.
Delhi all set for CWG opening ceremony
Thousands of armed security personnel were on their toes today securing the capital for the Commonwealth Games
as helicopters patrolled the skies and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles scanned the ground.
A virtual security fortress ahead of the opening of the sporting event, Delhi was full of snipers, commandos on 'Light Armoured Troops Carrier' (LATC) and specially trained men from paramilitary personnel along with Delhi Police personnel.
Round the clock, personnel at the sophisticated C4i control room at the Police Headquarters here rummaged through live feeds from over 3,000 CCTVs installed across the city ensuring that nothing escaped their eyes.
A 'multi-layered, multi-dimensional' security blanket, as City Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal put it, was thrown around the city with police vans surveying the nook and corner of the capital.
The security plan prepared for the mega event, which will see participation of 8,500 athletes from 71 countries competing in 17 events, also envisages expert groups to tackle chemical, biological, radio-active or nuclear attacks.
Armed personnel have also been deployed across 41 Games related infrastructure, including 12 competition venues, while heliborne-snipers of the Air Force provided air cover to thwart any terror attack like the 9/11 strikes in the US.
'This is a security arrangement which has been laid down after considerable thought, re-thought, examination and re-examination looking for loopholes. It is a multi-layered, multi-dimensional arrangement,' Dadwal said.
'We have a higher security matrix for the Games compared to other events held in the city,' he said noting that there were no specific inputs about any terrorist attack on the Games but the police were keeping a strict vigil.
Delhi Police's 28,387 personnel have been deployed at Games venues along with 195 companies (around 20,000 men) of paramilitary personnel while another 15,000 guarded the nearby localities of the venues.
Police has already announced that security restrictions is applied to each and every visitor and no one can expect any relaxation or exception citing the example of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram undergoing security checks.
A four-layered security cordon has been drawn for various venues spread across the city. Only those with accreditation cards and tickets will be allowed inside stadias. PTI
as helicopters patrolled the skies and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles scanned the ground.
A virtual security fortress ahead of the opening of the sporting event, Delhi was full of snipers, commandos on 'Light Armoured Troops Carrier' (LATC) and specially trained men from paramilitary personnel along with Delhi Police personnel.
Round the clock, personnel at the sophisticated C4i control room at the Police Headquarters here rummaged through live feeds from over 3,000 CCTVs installed across the city ensuring that nothing escaped their eyes.
A 'multi-layered, multi-dimensional' security blanket, as City Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal put it, was thrown around the city with police vans surveying the nook and corner of the capital.
The security plan prepared for the mega event, which will see participation of 8,500 athletes from 71 countries competing in 17 events, also envisages expert groups to tackle chemical, biological, radio-active or nuclear attacks.
Armed personnel have also been deployed across 41 Games related infrastructure, including 12 competition venues, while heliborne-snipers of the Air Force provided air cover to thwart any terror attack like the 9/11 strikes in the US.
'This is a security arrangement which has been laid down after considerable thought, re-thought, examination and re-examination looking for loopholes. It is a multi-layered, multi-dimensional arrangement,' Dadwal said.
'We have a higher security matrix for the Games compared to other events held in the city,' he said noting that there were no specific inputs about any terrorist attack on the Games but the police were keeping a strict vigil.
Delhi Police's 28,387 personnel have been deployed at Games venues along with 195 companies (around 20,000 men) of paramilitary personnel while another 15,000 guarded the nearby localities of the venues.
Police has already announced that security restrictions is applied to each and every visitor and no one can expect any relaxation or exception citing the example of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram undergoing security checks.
A four-layered security cordon has been drawn for various venues spread across the city. Only those with accreditation cards and tickets will be allowed inside stadias. PTI
COMMONWEALTH:Delhi goes into lockdown for Games opener
New Delhi will go into a security lockdown Sunday for the opening of the biggest and most trouble-plagued Commonwealth Games ever. With an estimated 100,000 police and military personnel dedicated to keeping the athletes, visitors and games venues safe, and with foreign governments issuing travel advisories highlighting a risk for terror attacks in India during the games, local authorities didn't want to leave softer targets vulnerable.
The Delhi government used a law enacted in 1954 as authority to enforce the closure of shops and markets on the day of the opening ceremony and the Oct. 14 closing ceremony, announcing it to businesses two days ahead of time.
The Mail Today newspaper splashed the headline 'Delhi To Shut Down On CWG Opening Day' across its front page on Saturday, a national holiday in India to commemorate the birth of spiritual and independence leader Mohandas K Gandhi.
Local organizers proudly declared that the athletes' village, which attracted international condemnation last week for the state of its hygiene, is now almost full of athletes and officials - more than any previous edition of the event.
While Jamaican sprinters Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell and many of the biggest stars from the 71 countries and territories of the Commonwealth aren't in India, Delhi officials said more than 6,700 athletes and officials had confirmed their entries. Organizers said that number topped the 5,766 total in Melbourne four years ago.
'More than 5,800 athletes and officials have already arrived in Delhi. With more arrivals scheduled in the coming days, Delhi 2010 is well on the way to becoming the biggest in history,' organizing committee secretary-general Lalit Bhanot said.
'We are now looking forward to the successful and smooth delivery of the games.'
International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge was arriving Saturday.
Prince Charles was also due to fly in on the eve of Sunday's opening ceremony, where he will represent the British royal family when he declares the games open.
Bhanot said the problems within the village had been fixed and the games were ready to go.
But work continued frantically at venues, which missed several construction deadlines and haven't had large-scale pre-games events to test transport, security, ticket and communications.
Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell agreed that most of the most necessary work is done, but stressed the need to maintain standards in the village for the next two weeks and to quickly finalize preparations elsewhere.
In an interview with games broadcaster the BBC, Fennell was critical of the delays and problems that have caused negative global attention.
'People are working hard and want to do well but sometimes the coordination and intention to follow through is not always good,' Fennell said.
'You have to applaud their efforts but the management and systematic follow through was just not there.'
He rejected the argument that the CGF should have done more to keep local organizers on schedule.
'You can only do so much, you have to rely on them to follow your advice,' Fennell said.
'You entrust the organization to an organizing committee and that organizing committee has to get on with the job.'
Fennell said taking the games to India for the first time had been an important and necessary learning experience.
'My big hope is the athletes will enjoy it and leave with good memories.'
Competition is scheduled to start Monday in a variety of sports, including swimming. The athletics competition opens Wednesday.
There are 17 sports in total at this year's Commonwealth Games, and 272 gold medals to be won through Oct 14 - 143 for the men, 123 for the women and six in mixed or open competitions.AFP
The Delhi government used a law enacted in 1954 as authority to enforce the closure of shops and markets on the day of the opening ceremony and the Oct. 14 closing ceremony, announcing it to businesses two days ahead of time.
The Mail Today newspaper splashed the headline 'Delhi To Shut Down On CWG Opening Day' across its front page on Saturday, a national holiday in India to commemorate the birth of spiritual and independence leader Mohandas K Gandhi.
Local organizers proudly declared that the athletes' village, which attracted international condemnation last week for the state of its hygiene, is now almost full of athletes and officials - more than any previous edition of the event.
While Jamaican sprinters Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell and many of the biggest stars from the 71 countries and territories of the Commonwealth aren't in India, Delhi officials said more than 6,700 athletes and officials had confirmed their entries. Organizers said that number topped the 5,766 total in Melbourne four years ago.
'More than 5,800 athletes and officials have already arrived in Delhi. With more arrivals scheduled in the coming days, Delhi 2010 is well on the way to becoming the biggest in history,' organizing committee secretary-general Lalit Bhanot said.
'We are now looking forward to the successful and smooth delivery of the games.'
International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge was arriving Saturday.
Prince Charles was also due to fly in on the eve of Sunday's opening ceremony, where he will represent the British royal family when he declares the games open.
Bhanot said the problems within the village had been fixed and the games were ready to go.
But work continued frantically at venues, which missed several construction deadlines and haven't had large-scale pre-games events to test transport, security, ticket and communications.
Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell agreed that most of the most necessary work is done, but stressed the need to maintain standards in the village for the next two weeks and to quickly finalize preparations elsewhere.
In an interview with games broadcaster the BBC, Fennell was critical of the delays and problems that have caused negative global attention.
'People are working hard and want to do well but sometimes the coordination and intention to follow through is not always good,' Fennell said.
'You have to applaud their efforts but the management and systematic follow through was just not there.'
He rejected the argument that the CGF should have done more to keep local organizers on schedule.
'You can only do so much, you have to rely on them to follow your advice,' Fennell said.
'You entrust the organization to an organizing committee and that organizing committee has to get on with the job.'
Fennell said taking the games to India for the first time had been an important and necessary learning experience.
'My big hope is the athletes will enjoy it and leave with good memories.'
Competition is scheduled to start Monday in a variety of sports, including swimming. The athletics competition opens Wednesday.
There are 17 sports in total at this year's Commonwealth Games, and 272 gold medals to be won through Oct 14 - 143 for the men, 123 for the women and six in mixed or open competitions.AFP
September 30, 2010
Ayodhya land to be divided in three
Lucknow: In a judgement much awaited by India, the Allahabad High Court Thursday ruled that the spot in Ayodhya where a makeshift temple was built hastily after razing the Babri mosque in 1992 would be divided into three parts-- one going to Hindus, another to Muslims and the third to Nirmohi Akhara, a Hindu sect and a litigant in the case. Two of the three judges ruled in favour of dividing the site.
'All the three judges, including S.U. Khan, are unanimous in accepting that the idol of Ram cannot be removed from the place where it is installed right now,' Ravi Shankar Prasad representing the Hindu litigant said. Dismissing the 60-year-old title suit filed by the Sunni Waqf Board, the judges said that none of the litigants would take any action on the land for the next three months.
'We are party disappointed. We will approach the Supreme Court,' Sunni Waqf Board lawyer Zafaryab Jillani told reporters.
Minutes after the ruling, Ravi Shankar Prasad, who is also a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), urged Muslims to help in the construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya, an Uttar Pradesh town about 700 km from New Delhi.
'After this ruling, I make a humble appeal to the Muslims of this country, please accept this verdict, please help in the construction of a temple... It will lead to a new brotherhood in the country,' he said. He added that he was making the appeal not as a BJP leader but as a citizen of India.
'It is definitely in favour of the Hindus,' said H.S. Jain, counsel for the Hindu Mahasabha. He said he too would approach the Supreme Court to campaign against the land given to the Sunni Waqf Board.
Leading theatre personality Aamir Reza Hussain said it was time for Muslims to give up the land for a Ram temple. 'It absolutely the time to heal the wounds, and to let it go,' he said
'All the three judges, including S.U. Khan, are unanimous in accepting that the idol of Ram cannot be removed from the place where it is installed right now,' Ravi Shankar Prasad representing the Hindu litigant said. Dismissing the 60-year-old title suit filed by the Sunni Waqf Board, the judges said that none of the litigants would take any action on the land for the next three months.
'We are party disappointed. We will approach the Supreme Court,' Sunni Waqf Board lawyer Zafaryab Jillani told reporters.
Minutes after the ruling, Ravi Shankar Prasad, who is also a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), urged Muslims to help in the construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya, an Uttar Pradesh town about 700 km from New Delhi.
'After this ruling, I make a humble appeal to the Muslims of this country, please accept this verdict, please help in the construction of a temple... It will lead to a new brotherhood in the country,' he said. He added that he was making the appeal not as a BJP leader but as a citizen of India.
'It is definitely in favour of the Hindus,' said H.S. Jain, counsel for the Hindu Mahasabha. He said he too would approach the Supreme Court to campaign against the land given to the Sunni Waqf Board.
Leading theatre personality Aamir Reza Hussain said it was time for Muslims to give up the land for a Ram temple. 'It absolutely the time to heal the wounds, and to let it go,' he said
India High Court starts delivering Ayodhya verdict
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has started reading out its verdict on a six-decade-old title suit regarding who owns a disputed holy site in Ayodhya. The judgment by the three-judge bench has been put up at the court's website --http://www.allahabadhighcourt.in/ayodhyabench.html --
and it will take legal experts some time before they understand it. The media has been given three seprate copies of the operative part of the judgment--those by each of the three judges.
In view of the verdict, the nation has been put on high alert. The Central government's Cabinet Committee on Security will meet at 5 pm in New Delhi to review the situation in the country after the court verdict.
The Bharatiya Janta Party will hold a meeting of its senior leaders in Delhi at 6 pm, but most political parties are expected to give their reactions after studying the court judgment.
Uttar Pradesh has turned into a fortress with thousands of paramilitary personnel patrolling the streets.
The intelligence network is on high alert throughout the state to monitor movement and activities of anti-social elements.
Aerial surveys of "sensitive places", including the Ram Janmbhoomi complex in Ayodhya has been done, police sources said.
All the security personnel deployed in Ayodhya and Faizabad have been equipped with tear gas shells and rubber bullets and the gazetted officers of various government departments have been asked to assist in policing. They have also been provided with rubber bullets and tear gas shells.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court paved the way for the Ayodhya verdict to be delivered by the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court.
and it will take legal experts some time before they understand it. The media has been given three seprate copies of the operative part of the judgment--those by each of the three judges.
In view of the verdict, the nation has been put on high alert. The Central government's Cabinet Committee on Security will meet at 5 pm in New Delhi to review the situation in the country after the court verdict.
The Bharatiya Janta Party will hold a meeting of its senior leaders in Delhi at 6 pm, but most political parties are expected to give their reactions after studying the court judgment.
Uttar Pradesh has turned into a fortress with thousands of paramilitary personnel patrolling the streets.
The intelligence network is on high alert throughout the state to monitor movement and activities of anti-social elements.
Aerial surveys of "sensitive places", including the Ram Janmbhoomi complex in Ayodhya has been done, police sources said.
All the security personnel deployed in Ayodhya and Faizabad have been equipped with tear gas shells and rubber bullets and the gazetted officers of various government departments have been asked to assist in policing. They have also been provided with rubber bullets and tear gas shells.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court paved the way for the Ayodhya verdict to be delivered by the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court.
On Judgment Day, Ayodhya normal and relaxed
Ayodhya: On a day when the Allahabad High Court will pronounce its long-awaited judgment on the Ayodhya land dispute, this heavily-guarded temple town Thursday morning appeared normal and relaxed. Commercial establishments near the disputed site and other places were open like any other day, ahead of the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute verdict that is to be pronounced by the court's Lucknow bench at 3.30 p.m.
Children were seen going to schools on rickshaws and tempos.
Devotees too converged at the banks of the Saryu river for bathing and conducting other rituals as per the Vedic tradition.
With no restrictions imposed on visiting Ram Lala - the makeshift temple at the disputed site - devotees continued to line up for 'darshan'.
"Everything is normal here. We opened the shop at the routine time. You can see that the customers, particularly devotees, are lining up at the shops here like any other day," Dinesh Tiwari, who owns a sweet shop near Hanuman Garhi area, said.
"We are quite relaxed that the judgment in a way would mark the end of a phase of the long legal battle that has been on for the last several decades," he added
Children were seen going to schools on rickshaws and tempos.
Devotees too converged at the banks of the Saryu river for bathing and conducting other rituals as per the Vedic tradition.
With no restrictions imposed on visiting Ram Lala - the makeshift temple at the disputed site - devotees continued to line up for 'darshan'.
"Everything is normal here. We opened the shop at the routine time. You can see that the customers, particularly devotees, are lining up at the shops here like any other day," Dinesh Tiwari, who owns a sweet shop near Hanuman Garhi area, said.
"We are quite relaxed that the judgment in a way would mark the end of a phase of the long legal battle that has been on for the last several decades," he added
Girja Prasad, another shopkeeper who sells 'puja' items, said: "People of this holy city are quite confident that no untoward incident would take place in the wake of the judgment. That's why they are coming out for shopping and other activities."
Asif Hussain, 42, who runs a coaching centre in the Vashistganj area blamed the media for blowing the Ayodhya issue out of proportion, creating a sense of fear among visitors.
"I have seen several recent reports in newspapers and on TV channels that indicated that life in Ayodhya has come to a standstill in the wake of the judgment. But let me tell you that it never happened, at least in Ayodhya," he said.
"Such reports of the media only affected the outsiders who normally do not prefer to come here nowadays," he added.
Asif Hussain, 42, who runs a coaching centre in the Vashistganj area blamed the media for blowing the Ayodhya issue out of proportion, creating a sense of fear among visitors.
"I have seen several recent reports in newspapers and on TV channels that indicated that life in Ayodhya has come to a standstill in the wake of the judgment. But let me tell you that it never happened, at least in Ayodhya," he said.
"Such reports of the media only affected the outsiders who normally do not prefer to come here nowadays," he added.
Residents of Ayodhya feel that after the high court judgment the matter would either be taken to the Supreme Court or the dispute settled amicably, which in turn would reduce the deployment of security personnel in the city.
"We now feel relaxed as chances are that after the verdict the deployment of paramilitary forces, police and security personnel of other agencies would reduce to a considerable extent," said Ashraf Jamal who owns a mobile repairing shop in the Paanji Tola area.
The demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992 by Hindu radicals had triggered nationwide riots in which at least 2,000 people were killed.
"We now feel relaxed as chances are that after the verdict the deployment of paramilitary forces, police and security personnel of other agencies would reduce to a considerable extent," said Ashraf Jamal who owns a mobile repairing shop in the Paanji Tola area.
The demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992 by Hindu radicals had triggered nationwide riots in which at least 2,000 people were killed.
September 24, 2010
O.N.V KURUP GET NJANA PEEDAM AWARD
ഒറ്റപ്ലാവില് നീലകണ്ഠന് വേലു കുറുപ്പ് എന്നാണ് കവിയുടെ മുഴുവന് പേര്. കൊല്ലം ജില്ലയിലെ ചവറയില് ഒറ്റപ്ലാവില് കുടുംബത്തില് ഒ.എന്.കൃഷ്ണകുറുപ്പിന്റെയും ലക്ഷ്മിക്കുട്ടി അമ്മയുടേയും പുത്രനായി 1931 മേയ് 27നാണ് ഒ.എന്.വി ജനിച്ചത്. സാമ്പത്തികശാസ്ത്രത്തില് ബിരുദവും മലയാളത്തില് ബിരുദാനന്തര ബിരുദവും നേടിയ ഒ.എന്.വി 1957 മുതല് എറണാകുളം മഹാരാജാസ് കോളേജില് അധ്യാപകനായി. 1958 മുതല് 25 വര്ഷം തിരുവനന്തപുരം യൂണിവേഴ്സിറ്റി കോളേജിലും കോഴിക്കോട് ആര്ട്സ് ആന്റ് സയന്സ് കോളേജിലും തലശ്ശേരി ഗവ. ബ്രണ്ണന് കോളേജിലും തിരുവനന്തപുരം ഗവ. വിമന്സ് കോളേജിലും മലയാളവിഭാഗം തലവനായി സേവനം അനുഷ്ഠിച്ചു. 1986 മേയ് 31ന് ഔദ്യോഗിക ജീവിതത്തില് നിന്നും വിരമിച്ചെങ്കിലും പിന്നീട് ഒരു വര്ഷക്കാലം കോഴിക്കോട് സര്വകലാശാലയില് വിസിറ്റിങ് പ്രൊഫസര് ആയിരുന്നു.
1982 മുതല് 1987 വരെ കേന്ദ്ര സാഹിത്യ അക്കാദമി അംഗമായി സേവനമനുഷ്ഠിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്. കേരള കലാമണ്ഡലത്തിന്റെ ചെയര്മാന് സ്ഥാനവും ഒ.എന്.വി വഹിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്.
വിദ്യാര്ത്ഥിയായിരിക്കുമ്പോള് തന്നെ കവിതാരചന തുടങ്ങിയ ഒ.എന്.വി യുടെ ആദ്യത്തെ കവിതാ സമാഹാരം 1949ല് പുറത്തിറങ്ങിയ പൊരുതുന്ന സൗന്ദര്യം ആണ്.
ഞാന് നിന്നെ സ്നേഹിക്കുന്നു, മാറ്റുവിന് ചട്ടങ്ങളെ, ദാഹിക്കുന്ന പാനപാത്രം, നീലക്കണ്ണുകള്, മയില്പീലി, അക്ഷരം, ഒരു തുള്ളി വെളിച്ചം, കറുത്ത പക്ഷിയുടെ പാട്ട്, അഗ്നിശലഭങ്ങള്, ഭൂമിക്കൊരു ചരമഗീതം, മൃഗയ, വെറുതെ, ഉപ്പ്, അപരാഹ്നം, ഭൈരവന്റെ തുടി, ശാര്ങ്ഗക പക്ഷികള്, ഉജ്ജയിനി, മരുഭൂമി, തോന്ന്യാക്ഷരങ്ങള് തുടങ്ങിയ കവിതാസമാഹാരങ്ങളും, കവിതയിലെ പ്രതിസന്ധികള്, കവിതയിലെ സമാന്തര രേഖകള്, എഴുത്തച്ഛന് എന്നീ പഠനങ്ങളും ഒ.എന്.വി മലയാളത്തിന് സമ്മാനിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്.
നാടക ഗാനങ്ങള്, ചലച്ചിത്ര ഗാനങ്ങള് എന്നിവയ്ക്കും തന്റേതായ സംഭാവന അദ്ദേഹം നല്കിയിട്ടുണ്ട്.
സരോജിനിയാണ് ഒ.എന്.വിയുടെ ഭാര്യ. രാജീവന്, മായാദേവി എന്നിവര് മക്കളാണ്.
എം.ടി വാസുദേവന് നായര് (1995), തകഴി ശിവശങ്കരപ്പിള്ള (1984), എസ്.കെ പൊറ്റേക്കാട്(1980), ജി. ശങ്കരക്കുറുപ്പ് (1965) എന്നിവരാണ് ജ്ഞാനപീഠം പുരസ്ക്കാരം നേടിയ മറ്റ് മലയാളം എഴുത്തുകാര്.
ഒ.എന്.വിയ്ക്ക് ലഭിച്ച് മറ്റ് പുരസ്കാരങ്ങള്
എഴുത്തച്ഛന് പുരസ്കാരം
കേരള സാഹിത്യ അക്കാദമി പുരസ്കാരം
കേന്ദ്ര സാഹിത്യ അക്കാദമി പുരസ്കാരം
സോവിയറ്റ്ലാന്ഡ് നെഹ്രു പുരസ്കാരം
വയലാര് പുരസ്കാരം
പന്തളം കേരളവര്മ്മ ജന്മശതാബ്ദി പുരസ്കാരം
വിശ്വദീപ പുരസ്കാരം
മഹാകവി ഉള്ളൂര് പുരസ്കാരം
ആശാന് പുരസ്കാരം
ഓടക്കുഴല് പുരസ്കാരം
ONV VIDEOS
September 23, 2010
AY0DYA :SUPREME COURT STAY THE CASE
കേസില് അനുരജ്ഞനത്തിന് ഇനി സാധ്യതകളില്ലെന്ന അഭിപ്രായക്കാരനായിരുന്നു ഹര്ജി പരിഗണിച്ച ബഞ്ചിലുണ്ടായിരുന്ന ജസ്റ്റിസ് ആര്. വി രവീന്ദ്രന്. എന്നാല് അനുരജ്ഞനത്തിനുള്ള ഒരു ശതമാനം സാധ്യതയെങ്കിലും അവശേഷിക്കുന്നുണ്ടെങ്കില് അക്കാര്യം പരിഗണിക്കണമെന്നു ജസ്റ്റിസ് ഖോകലെ അഭിപ്രായപ്പെട്ടതോടെയാണ് സമവായത്തിലെത്താന് കഴിയാതെപോയത്.
അലഹബാദ് കോടതിയില് കേസ് പരിഗണിച്ചിരുന്നവരില് ഒരു ജഡ്ജി സപ്തംബര് 30ന് വിരമിക്കാനിരിക്കുകയാണ്. പുതിയ ജഡ്ജി കേസ് പരിഗണിക്കണമെങ്കില് വിശദാംശങ്ങല് ആദ്യംമുതലെ പഠിക്കേണ്ടിവരുമെന്നതിനാലാണ് 28ന് ഹര്ജി വീണ്ടും പരിഗണിക്കാന് കോടതി തീരുമാനിച്ചത്. കോമണ്വെല്ത്ത് ഗെയിംസ് കഴിയുന്നവരെയെങ്കിലും വിധിപ്രഖ്യാപനം മാറ്റിവെയ്ക്കണമെന്നായിരുന്നു ഹര്ജിക്കാരന്റെ ആവശ്യം.
രാമജന്മഭൂമി-ബാബറി മസ്ജിദ് തര്ക്കം ചര്ച്ചയിലൂടെ പരിഹരിക്കുന്നതിന് വഴിയൊരുക്കി, അലഹബാദ് ഹൈക്കോടതി സപ്തംബര് 24നു പുറപ്പെടുവിക്കാനിരിക്കുന്ന വിധി മാറ്റി വെക്കണമെന്ന അപേക്ഷ ഹൈക്കോടതി തള്ളിയതിനെതിരെയാണ് മുന് ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥനായ രമേശ് ചന്ദ് ത്രിപാഠി സുപ്രീം കോടതിയെ സമീപിച്ചത്.
അര ലക്ഷം രൂപ പിഴ ചുമത്തിയാണ് അലഹബാദ് ഹൈക്കോടതിയുടെ ലഖ്നൗ ബെഞ്ച് ഈ ഹര്ജി തള്ളിയത്. വിധി പറയുന്നത് രാജ്യത്തെ മതസൗഹാര്ദം തകര്ക്കുമെന്നും വര്ഗീയ സംഘട്ടനങ്ങള്ക്കു വഴിവെക്കുമെന്നും ഹര്ജിയില് പറഞ്ഞിരുന്നു.
Madhani’s wife gets to meet him in jail
She submitted a petition to the special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court here Monday.
The counsel for NIA strongly opposed her plea on the grounds that Madhani is an accused in a terror case and hence her plea should be rejected. The court, however, granted her request though asking her to see that she informs the NIA of her tour programme.
The special NIA court, on two occasions in the past, relaxed her bail plea for going out of Ernakulam district to meet her husband who was then holed up at the PDP headquarters in Kollam.
She got bail from the Ernakulam sessions judge Dec 23 last year on the condition that she surrender her passport and not go out of Ernakulam district.
Maudany, an accused in the 2008 serial explosions in Bangalore, was arrested by a Karnataka police team from his party office complex in Kollam district in Kerala Aug 17, and is now lodged in Bangalore's Parappana Agrahara jail.
The arson attack on the bus took place Sep 9, 2005, when alleged PDP activists burnt a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus at Kalamassery to protest the authorities' refusal to release Maudany from prison.
23/09/2010 Thu 06:30pm:
AYODHYA KES: VIDHI PRAKYAAPANATHINU SUPREME KOADATHI STAY. NAALATHE VIDHI PRAKYAAPANAM MAATIVECHU. TRISUR SUPPLYCO GODOWN'KALIL RAID. TAANKER LORY JEEVANAKKAARUDE MINNAL PANIMUDAKK PINVALICHU. YAMUNA NADI'YILE JALA NIRAPP RECORD'IL. MLP: NAADAN THOKKUMAAYI CHUNGATHARA SWADESHI'YUM NILAMBUR MARRY MATHA SCHOOL ADHYAAPAKANUMAAYA JACOB POLICE AREST'IL. KNR: MARAD KALAAPAVUMAAYI BANDHAPETT THEKKETHODI KUNHUMON VADHAKES'LE 16 PRATHI'KALEYUM VERUTHE VITTU. SWARNA VILA RECORD'IL, PAVENU Rs.80 KOODI Rs.14,400 AAYI. CHAMPIONS LEAGUE T20'IL WARRIERS'NE 10 RUNS'NU THOLPICH CHENNAI SUPERKINGS SEMI FINAL'IL KADANNU. NAALE AADYA SEMI FINAL: CHENNAI SUPERKINGS, ROYAL CHALLENGERS. MATANNAAL 2nd SEMI FINAL: WARRIERS, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. AYODHYA KES: VIDHI NAALE. SAMYAMANAM PAALIKKANAMENNU PANAKKAD SAYED HYDERALI SHIHAB THANGAL.
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