Bharat should be more alert towards defence

Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) in its 11th national conference organised in Thiruvanan-thapuram from December 13 to 15 called upon the Government of India to shed its soft-state approach towards national security and take bold steps which strengthen its face throughout the region. It said the government must stop forthwith allowing the foreign companies particularly from China from bidding for defence related projects. It also sought all necessary steps to strengthen indigenise defence production and end the over dependence on imports. The SJM also demanded full implementation of preferential market access to domestic telecom equipment manufacturing companies to avoid security risks involved.

In a statement the SJM said India is facing multifarious challenges on the security front both internally and externally. Surrounded by hostile neighbours like trouble making Pakistan and unpredictable China, the borders are shrinking even after decades of gaining independence. Our influence on politically unstable Nepal, growingly extremism in Bangladesh, civil war ravaged Sri Lanka and even in Tiny Maldives is progressively weaving.

Dependence for Indian defence requirements on imports almost completely, including over dependence on information & telecommunication equipments manufactured abroad that runs a high risk of implanted malicious codes being used for both spying as well as disruption of security network is another dimension that poses a grave danger to the country particularly in a scenario where a ‘two-front’ along with a simultaneous internal subversion is being seen as an almost certain.

The SJM also questioned the American Internet companies acting on half of the United States of America security agencies to spy on people in this country. The fact that they are also making the “Aadhar” unique identity document, which includes or attempts to include every small detail of every Indian is owned partially by corporate interests close to the American security establishment is a matter of grave concern. However the present Government is in no mood to heed warnings or to be concerned about the security of India being so obsessed in covering up for itself and its various scams.

Declare Anganwadi workers as Govt employees: BMS

All Odisha Anganwadi Ladies Workers Association affiliated to the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh started an indefinite dharna in front of Vidhan Sabha in Bhubaneswar from December 18 demanding declaration of Anganwadi workers as Government employees.

On first day the Association organised a mammoth rally at Lower PMG Chowk where more than 20,000 women Anganwadi workers from 30 districts participated. State BMS president Shri Gokulananda Jena, vice president Shri Basant Kumar Sahoo, All Odisha Anganwadi Ladies Workers president Smt Soudamini Das and general secretary Smt Anjali Patel addressed the rally. After the rally, they submitted a nine point demand memorandum to Governor Shri SC Jamir.

“Anganwadi workers are playing a key role in successfully implementing various welfare projects of Central as well as State Governments. But it is really pity that our demands are not fulfilled even after repeated assurance. Anganwadi workers should be declared as Government employees. Till our demand is not accepted, we should be paid minimum Rs 12,000 per month,” said Smt Anjali Patel said.       —Samanwaya Nanda

Homecoming in Odisha, AP

Eleven members of six converted families came back to Hinduism at a programme organised by the Bajrang Dal in Sambalpur recently. The persons, who came back also took oath to protect their culture. Several eminent saints and office bearers of the Bajrang Dal and the VHP were also present on the occasion. Before the Dharma Rakshya Yajna, a huge Dharma Rakshya Rally was organised in the city. In another homecoming ceremony organised on December 1 at Dudyala Village under Medhak District of West Andhra Pradesh, a total of 78 members from 16 Christian families of 5 villages returned to their Hindu roots.  In another function organised on December 5, a total of 48 members are returned to their original Hindu roots at Miryalaguda of Nalgonda District in Paschim Andhra.

Removal of Naxalite’s statue from Darbhanga Medical College

NMO welcomes Patna High Court decision

National Medicos Organisation (NMO) welcomed the Patna High Court order dated December 19 directing to remove the statue of Naxalite Nirmal Singh from the Darbhanga Medical College. The Court said the statue should  be removed by January by 30, 2014. The Court also fined the intervener doctor with Rs one lakh with severe reprimand, who opposed the NMO activities in the college. Dr Dhankar Thakur, organising secretary of NMO, said the NMO organisation was fighting for removal of the statue for long.

News in Brief

RSS winter camps begins in Kerala

RSS winters camps in Kerala began on December 22. All 32 Sangh districts are conducting the camps. All camps will conclude on December 29 with Deekshant Samaroh. A total of 7,025 swayamsevaks are participating in this year’s camp. 89 per cent of them are students.

Annual function of Purvanchal Kalyan Ashram

The annual function of Purvanchal Kalyan Ashram, Kolkata and Howrah Chapters was organised at Kalamandir Auditorium of Kolkata. The function was presided over by leading Chartered Accountant Shri Ramkrishna Agarwal. Guest of honour was Shri Rajendra Khandelal, a famous social worker. He spoke on the sewa work being done by Kalyan Ashram all over India. The amazing part of the function was the show of Baba Satyanarayan Maurya.

Gita Jayanti celebration by Balagokulam Hyderabad

Hyderabad unit of Balagokulam celebrated Gita Jayanti on December 15 at G Narayanamma Institute of Technology and Science (GNITS). The event was organised in context of Swami Vivekananda’s 150th birth anniversary celebration. Over 1,000 people, including more than 400 children, participated in the event. The 12th Chapter, Bakthi Yoga, from Bhagavad Gita was chanted by more than 300 children in a beautiful formation. This was followed by Aashirvachan from Swami Raghunayakananda of Ramakrishna Math who talked about relevance of Bhagavad Gita and message of Swami Vivekananda in current times.

Grahak Diwas celebrated in Delhi

Delhi unit of Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayt celebrated National Grahak Diwas on December 24 to generate awareness among the consumers. The topic of the event was ‘Consumer Protection: Where we Are’. President of Delhi unit Shri BS Sachdev deliberated on bringing the political parties under the ambit of RTI Act. The CIC recently declared the political parties as public authority.

Noted RTI activist Shri Subhash Agrawal spoke on the Right to Information Act. Shri SN Dhingra and Shri Amarjit Chopra, former president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India also spoke on the occasion.

They swam on the path of Swamiji

Under the auspices of Swami Vivekananda 150th birth anniversary celebrations committee, an All India Swimming Rally was conducted in Kanyakumari. Swimmers hailing from fishermen community residing along the coastal areas of the country participated in the rally and swam the distance from the shore to the Vivekananda Rock. They performed dhyana at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in mid-sea at the southern tip of Bharat. Bula Chowdhry, MLA (CPM) and former national women’s swimming champion was the Chief Guest of the event. In her speech she observed: “Swami Vivekananda is the only answer for the present day problems.” She recalled how Swamiji swam across the turbulent water body and reached the Rock. He drew inspiration from this land and shook the whole world by his powerful speech at Chicago, she added. Kshetra Samparka Pramuk of RSS Shri Mohanan, Kshetra Pracharak Shri Stanumalayan, Pranta Sanghachalak Dr ML Raja and other adhikaris also graced the event. In the beginning, Samudra Pooja was also performed.                          (VSK Chennai)