’ delegation meets PM, requests him to sanction Rs. 80,000 crore special economic package and 06 coal linkage blocks on priority basis to remove regional imbalances
Lucknow : 28 July 2010
On the directives of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati
a delegation of BSP M.P.s met the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh
today and requested him to sanction special economic package of Rs.
80,000 crore and also allocate 06 coal blocks at the earliest.
Ms. Mayawati said that she had discussed state
’s development at a
recently concluded meeting with all the MPs held at her official
residence on July 20, in which she had directed all the MPs to meet PM
and other Union Ministers, so that projects pending at the Centre for
approval could be cleared at the earliest. In this light, the delegation
requested the PM to sanction Rs. 80,000 crore special economic
package demanded by the UP Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati at the
earliest to remove the regional imbalances. The MPs informed the PM
that the Central Government had not taken any constructive initiative so
far in this regard. They said that the Rs. 3506 crore drought relief
package sanctioned for the Bundelkhand region was very little
considering the geographical conditions of the region.
The delegation apprised the PM that the UP Government had
requested the Ministry of Coal, Government of India to sanction coal
linkages for thermal power plants to be set up at Etah, Sonbhadra,
Lalitpur and Yamuna Express Way Authority Area. Besides, they also
requested that 06 coal blocks should be allocated for UP considering the
proposed increase in the power generation capacity of the State.
The delegation apprised the Prime Minister that owing to the
shortage of coal, the existing power plants could not use their full
capacity. They said that the Centre should change its policy and
decrease the linkages allocated for coastal States and it should provide
requisite coal as per the linkage to the States like UP. The MPs said that
the power projects based on imported coal should be set up in coastal
areas and if the cost of the imported coal was higher, then the Centre
should compensate the loss of these States.
The Prime Minister lent a patient hearing to the delegation and
assured that full help would be extended for sanctioning Rs. 80,000
crore economic package and allotment of coal linkage blocks.
******
Delegation of BSP MPs meets PM
Lucknow : 28 July 2010
On the directives of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati,
a delegation of BSP M.P.s, met the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh
at Sansad Bhawan New Delhi today and requested him to take personal
interest for setting up of Taj International Airport (T.I.A.) being
established by UP Government at Jewar in Greater Noida and sanction it
at the earliest. The MPs said the Government of India (GOI) should
promptly approve the TIA near Greater Noida to enable rapid
development of infrastructure facilities and creation of better avenues
for direct and indirect employment in the State.
Ms. Mayawati had discussed state
’s development at a meeting with
all the MPs held at her official residence on July 20, in which she had
directed all the MPs to meet the PM and other Union Ministers, so that
projects pending at the Centre for approval could be cleared at the
earliest. They had done the same thing during the previous session as
well. She said that even though these projects had not been cleared so
far despite that meeting. Yet, the MPs should meet the Prime Minister
and request him to give Centre
’s approval for TIA, allocation of six coal
blocks and sanctioning of Rs. 80,000 crore special economic package for
the rapid development of the State.
The delegation apprised the PM that TIA
’s approval from GOI had
been pending about last 07 years. The technical approval had been
accorded by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, GOI on 09 April 2009 to
establish an International Airport near Jewar at a distance of 72 kms.
from IGI Airport.
The delegation further apprised the PM that only one condition was
imposed while taking approval of Central Government
’s Cabinet that in
case of establishing another International Airport within radius of 150
kms.,
‘Right of First Refusal’ (ROFR) and 10 per cent Price Preference
shall have to be given to Delhi International Airport Ltd. (DIAL), the
promoter of IGI Airport. Same provision was also made by the GOI,
while entering into the State Support Agreement (SSA) with DIAL.
Government of UP has already consented on this condition in May 2007.
While according sanction on TIA by the Central Cabinet, Government of
UP was also asked to participate in the SPV to be made for the
development of TIA. The State Government made it clear that Yamuna
Expressway Authority shall be the nodal agency for TIA project and will
also represent the State Government and participate in the said SPV.
The delegation apprised PM that the Government of UP has
already complied in the year 2007 with the conditions imposed by the
GOI for sanctioning of International Airport. Therefore, sanction for Taj
International Airport be accorded by GOI without any delay. The
delegation pointed out that the Air traffic of Delhi Airport can no longer
be handled by IGI Airport only, so it had become imperative that
another International Airport at Jewar near Greater Noida be sanctioned
immediately for Delhi. Only after sanction of the TIA, the air traffic
congestion of Delhi can be reduced by the 2015-16.
The delegation apprised PM that during the last three years growth
of air traffic has been far more than it was estimated, and any person
using IGI Airport had to face the traffic congestion of Delhi Airport. A
study report of traffic projection was sent to GOI by Government of UP
in the year 2007, according to which air traffic of IGI Airport was
estimated to be more than 100 million by the year 2016. Same is the
traffic projection of Airport Authority of India. Expert study says that on
development of Taj International Airport, the air traffic of NCR shall be
161 million by the year 2021, in which the share of Delhi Airport will be
136 million, which was far more than the designed capacity of 100
million fixed for DIAL. Air traffic of TIA is projected to be 25 million by
the year 2021.
The PM was apprised by the delegation that it was unnecessary to
talk about trigger point or traffic-study for establishing TIA. There was
no such mention of any trigger point or traffic-study while giving initial
technical clearance to the Government of UP in 2003. Attorney General
of GOI has specifically opined that DIAL
’s bid condition/agreement does
not create any legal impediment in sanctioning of International airport
at Greater NOIDA.
‘Post-Bid-Benefit’ should not be passed on to DIAL.
Otherwise also, a big post-bid-benefit has already been given to DIAL,
in terms of
‘Airport Development Tax’. Now, even raising the issue of
‘
Trigger’ is the same as passing on post-bid-benefit to DIAL.
The delegation apprised PM that the delay in sanction of TIA is, on
one hand, unnecessary delaying mitigation of traffic congestion and, on
the other hand, overlooking the interest of UP by impeding the efforts of
the State Government to rapidly develop the infrastructure facilities.
The delegation apprised PM that all the major cities in the world
such as New York, Washington, London, etc. had more than one airport.
These cities had concept of satellite airport to avoid traffic congestion.
TIA would be a second such airport for NCR. This airport would be
important for cargo in view of its location within the proposed Delhi
Mumbai Industrial Investment Corridor and Delhi-Mumbai Freight
Corridor. This would provide multi modal connectivity facility which
would not only contribute to the all-round development of the State but
also of the country.
The delegation apprised PM that upon the repeated request of
GOI, the project consultants appointed by the State Government were
asked to prepare a supplementary TEFR in association with DIAL. Here
it is to be pointed out that DIAL being an interested party, its
association in the activity would involve a conflict of interest. The
Government of UP provided the supplementary TEFR to GOI vide letter
dated 16 June 2010. According to the report, the revised traffic
assessment makes only marginal changes in the immediate future
where the projected traffic would be lower than that presented in the
earlier report submitted in January 2008. The traffic scenario in the long
term perspective does not show any appreciable change.
The delegation apprised PM that to quote the figures, the
passenger traffic at Delhi with TIA in the year 2021 would be 155
million, in which the fraction of DIAL
’s traffic would be 127 million which
would be again much more than the designed maximum capacity of 100
million. In the year 2016 and 2021, the TIA traffic is projected to be 11
million and 28 million respectively. Thus, both airports were expected to
grow on the basis of their own markets. The Taj Airport traffic would
increase essentially due to additional traffic on account of transit traffic,
higher economic development in its vicinity and major activities in the
catchment area. Therefore, there would be enough traffic for Taj
International Airport from 2016 and there would be no adverse effect on
the traffic of IGI International Airport.
The delegation apprised PM that it was worth mentioning that GOI
has accorded approvals within a radius of 150 kms. of existing airports
namely Mopa airport which is 65 kms. away from Goa Airport; Kannur
Airport which is 80 kms. away from Callicut Airport and125 kms. from
Mangalore Airport and a Cargo Airport (Virat Nagar) which is 63 Kms.
away from Jaipur Airport. In addition to this, Navi-Mumbai Airport,
which is 35 kms. away from Mumbai Airport has also been accorded
approval. The case of Mumbai Airport and Navi-Mumbai Airport and
Delhi Airport and International Airport at Jewar is exactly similar
wherein both the existing airports have been given on lease to private
companies.
The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh heard the delegation
seriously and said that the Group of Ministers (GoM) had been studying
the matter and assured the delegation that their points would be
considered seriously. Besides, he also assured that the demand of Rs.
80,000 crore special economic package and allocation of coal linkage
blocks would also be considered seriously.
*******
Kapil Sibal
’s comments regarding implementation of RTE irresponsible
UP Government allocated highest amount for basic education sector all over the country
Lucknow : 26 July 2010
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati has termed Union
Human Resources Development Minister Mr. Kapil Sibal
’s comments
regarding the implementation of Right to Education (RTE) Act in UP as
irresponsible and misleading. She said that the Congress led UPA
Government formulated new laws from time to time just to mislead people,
but when the time of their implementation came it just shied away from its
responsibilities and put entire onus on the State Governments. She said that
this was not happening for the first time. She said that the UPA Government
formulated laws and legislations in the name of development, but it never
did its homework before their implementation. She said that the Centre
shoved its half cooked programmes on the State Governments to take their
political mileage. Owing to it, the State Governments were facing difficulty
and RTE Act was a good example of it.
The Chief Minister said that the task force constituted for the judicial
impact assessment in the light of the Hon
’ble Supreme Court’s directive had
clearly recommended that if the Central Government formulated any Act on
the subject included in the Union list and in the Concurrent list, then the
Central Government should bear the full cost required for the
implementation of the Act. Since, education is included in the concurrent list,
therefore the Union Government should not pass on financial burden of the
implementation of RTE Act on the State Governments.
Ms. Mayawati said that the State Government had been according top
priority to education especially the basic education. She said that the budget
for basic education was being increased continuously if compared to previous
year. She said that Rs. 8613 crore had been allocated for basic education in
the year 2007-08, Rs. 9700 crore were earmarked for the same head during
the year 2008-09 and Rs. 12412 crore had been allocated under the same
head during the year 2009-2010. She said that keeping in view the
implementation of RTE Act, a provision of Rs. 15175 crore had been made
for the year 2010-11 for basic education. It was 10 per cent of the total
budget of the State, she said . These facts indicated that our government,
despite heavy odds and limited resources, had decided to spend 10 per cent
of the total budget on basic education, she added. She said that if the said
central assistance was compared, then it would be clear that the Central
Government had been misleading people regarding the RTE Act and it was
trying to ignore the efforts of the State Government regarding the
implementation of the RTE Act. She said that Mr. Kapil Sibal should have
checked out facts before airing his views on the issue.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government had requested to
the Central Government from time to time regarding all the circumstances,
affecting the proper implementation of the RTE Act. In this regard, she had
written letter to the Prime Minister to sanction an additional amount of Rs.
22868 crore in the first three years for the proper implementation of RTE
Act. But, it was unfortunate that Mr. Sibal, instead of making arrangements
to provide the requisite amount needed for the implementation of RTE Act,
had been making cheap comments. It was clear that the Central
Government did not intend to make education available to one and all
according to the provisions of the RTE Act. It was just taking political
mileage through this Act, she pointed out.
The Chief Minister said that U.P. was not the only state to ask
additional funds for implementing RTE. She said that states like West
Bengal, M.P., Karnataka, Punjab had expressed their inability to bear the
financial burden needed for its implementation. Likewise, Chhatisgarh, Orrisa
and Congress ruled Andhra Pradesh Government had also asked for
additional funds for implementing this Act. She questioned whether Mr. Sibal
had toured these states and given similar statement against these
Governments. She said that it was clear that the Congress-led Central
Government, which is out of power from the State since last 20 years, had
adopted a negligent and partisan attitude against Uttar Pradesh. It is evident
from the fact that during the last three years, since BSP Government came
to power in the State, the Central Government had not released central
share of Rs. 17492 crore, payable to the State Government, thus hampering
the development works. She said that Mr. Sibal should not shift the
responsibility for failure of the Central Government, but should sincerely
think about implementation of RTE Act and should arrange funds for all the
State Governments according to their demand.
Terming the statement of Mr. Sibal regarding construction of
memorials, museums, statutes and parks in honour of the Saints, Gurus and
Great men of SC/ST and backward classes as very unfortunate, she said that
the people were well aware of the reality that the fund spent on the
construction of these monuments in the last three years was less then one
per cent of the budget. She asked why, Mr. Sibal does not remember
hundreds of memorials, museums, statutes and parks constructed in the
name of Gandhi-Nehru family and billons of rupees were being spent every
year on their maintenance. She said that the stupendous amount of public
money spent on the construction of memorials of Gandhi-Nehru family, can
very well be ascertained from this fact. Therefore, Mr. Sibal
’s comments
regarding the memorials constructed in the memory of great-men born in
SC/ST and OBC sections were uncalled for and very cheap.
———–
Centre should make arrangements to remove social and regional imbalances without any discrimination
Central Government should immediately release Rs. 2000 crore earmarked for scholarship of OBC students
Approve 15 lakh Indira Avas annually during 11
th Five Year Plan
Don
’t discriminate against states for establishing Dalhan evam Tilhan Gram Sthapana Yojana
Amount to be provided to villages selected under Pradhan Mantri Adharsh Gram Yojana inadequate
Adopt policy of allocating 75 per cent power to states instead of Gadgil formula
Lucknow : 24 July 2010
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati, during a meeting
of the National Development Council (NDC) presided over by the Prime
Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and held at New Delhi today, said that
the Central Government should come forward to bring the poor and
exploited people back to the mainstream of development and also
remove the regional imbalances. She demanded from the Centre to
sanction various projects pending with it. She further demanded that
the Centre should also release various amounts payable to the State
under different heads. She expressed the hope that the Central
Government would extend all possible cooperation to the Uttar
Pradesh.
The meeting of the NDC had been called to review the situation
arising out of the midterm appraisal of the 11
th Five Year Plan and also
to review various important points. The U.P. Parliamentary Minister Mr.
Lalji Verma represented the Chief Minister at the meeting and
presented her statement. She said that the midterm appraisal pointed
out that the backward states and all the sections of the society were
not getting equal opportunities. To provide equal opportunities to all
the sections of the society and to ensure their progress and prosperity,
action should be taken by putting aside political jealousy.
Expressing gratitude towards the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan
Singh for holding such an important meeting, the Chief Minister said
that all of us should give serious thought to give development a new
direction on the basis of midterm appraisal. She said that during the
11
th Five Year Plan the concept of faster and inclusive growth had been
conceived so that all round development of all the sections and regions
of the state could be ensured.
The Chief Minister said that special mention of global meltdown,
drought etc, had been made in the midterm appraisal. Allocation of
necessary resources needed for the development works of Uttar
Pradesh had been given top priority. Owing to it, the growth rate of
the state stood at 7.9 per cent during 2007-08 and 7.2 per cent during
the year 2008-09, even though the conditions were adverse. But, the
ever rising inflation had made life difficult for the poor people. She said
that keeping economic condition of the poor, the Central Government
should make proper arrangements to provide relief to them.
The C.M. said that the Centre had kept the BPL list of 2002
intact so far and it was adversely affecting the poor families. She said
that the U.P. Government had requested the Centre several times to
include such families in the list. But, any action in this regard was still
awaited. The Uttar Pradesh Government, with an objective to improve
the economic condition of such poor families, had decided to
implement UP Mukhya Mantri Mahamaya Gharib Arthik Madad Yojana
through its own limited resources. As many as 30 lakh families would
be benefited by this scheme during the first phase.
The Chief Minister said that the midterm appraisal pointed that
the share of the Central assistance, being provided to the States, had
been dwindling gradually. She said that the banks should prepare their
schemes to accelerate the disbursal of loans. They should also
cooperate in the implementation of the schemes being conducted by
the State Government.
The C.M. said that the removal of regional imbalances should be
given top priority. She said that the imbalances present between the
states and within the State would have far-reaching ramifications. She
said that Rs. 80,000 crore special economic package had been
demanded from the Centre to remove imbalances, but the Centre had
not taken any step in this regard. She said that a drought relief
package of Rs. 3506 crore had been sanctioned for Bundelkhand
region, which was very little amount considering the geographical
conditions of this area.
The C.M. said that despite high growth rate, the condition of
poor and farmers was precarious. The farmers were not getting
remunerative prices of their produce, she pointed out. The agriculture
growth rate, fixed for the 11
th Five Year Plan for the entire country,
was lagging way behind. There were immense possibilities of
development of agriculture in the country and the Centre should come
forward to translate them into reality.
The Chief Minister said that her Government had accorded top
priority to the development of agriculture. The farmers were being
provided 90 per cent subsidy on gypsum and zinc sulphate for land
reclamation to encourage organic farming and bio fertilizer. She said
that there was a need to increase the limit of subsidy payable on
hybrid paddy varieties from Rs. 40 to Rs. 100 or 50 per cent of the
cost. She said that any differentiation between the development of
agriculture of various states cannot be accepted. She said that under
the Dalhan evam Tilhan Gram Sthapana Yojana, only 5400 villages
had been selected in Uttar Pradesh, while 10200 villages had been
selected in Maharashtra for this scheme. She demanded from the
Centre to take at least 5 projects as national irrigation projects to
meet the challenges of a large state like Uttar Pradesh.
Expressing her views on MNREGA, the C.M. said that this scheme
should not be confined to merely providing employment of 100 days
only. She said that the problem of unemployment cannot be solved
without providing permanent source of employment to the people. She
said that it was being emphasised to arm panchayats with all the
power, so that they could be made self-reliant. She said that an
amount of Rs. 10 lakh per village, being provided under the Pradhan
Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana, was inadequate. Emphasising the need to
accelerate the pace of development in the naxal affected areas, she
demanded from the Government of India that Sonbhadra, Mirzapur
and Chandauli should also be included in the list of 33 districts affected
by naxalism.
Underlining the important role of power, roads and transport for
the development of infrastructure facilities of the state, the Chief
Minister said that the Central Government should extend its
cooperation in this regard. She said that efforts were being made to
set up about 5000 MW new projects during the 11
th Five Year Plan and
25000 MW new projects between 12
th Five Year Plan. She requested
the Ministry of Coal to sanction coal linkages for thermal power plants
to be set up in Etah, Sonbhadra, Lalitpur and Yamuna Expressway
Authority Area. She emphasised that the policy of allocating 75 per
cent power to the States should be adopted instead of the Gadgil
Formula.
The C.M. said that all the villages/majras having a population of
1000 or above had been linked under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak
Yojna. She said that the scheme to link villages/majras having a
population of 500 or above was not being sanctioned on the pretext
that the scheme to link villages/majras having a population of 1000
and above was not still fully implemented in other states. On the other
hand, electrification of majras was not being sanctioned under the
Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojna, while the electrification of all
the majras of other states had been completed. She said that the
Centre should bear 90 per cent cost under the Right to Education Act.
She demanded that Rs. 22868 crore should be provided to UP for the
development of education infrastructure in the short span of three
years. Welcoming Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, she said that
UP was being discriminated under this scheme. She said that there
was a need to amend this scheme.
The C.M. requested that all the beneficiaries of the widow
pension and disabled pension scheme should also be covered under
National Social Assistance Scheme like the beneficiaries of old age
pension. Besides, she also emphasised that Central assistance should
be provided, so that the students of the pre-10
th could also be
provided scholarship like the post-10
th students. She said that central
assistance for the ICDS program should be made 100 per cent as
earlier. She said that the SC should also be given right to get forest
land like the STs under the Forest Rights Act.
The Chief Minister also demanded 90 per cent subsidy on the
projects of those areas which were often hit by drought, besides the
DPAP declared development blocks. Terming the amount of Rs. 57
crore allocated for 27 districts of eastern U.P. for the green revolution
project as inadequate, she said that at least Rs. 10 crore should be
provided for each district. She emphasised that the limit of refinancing
for NABARD set for providing loan facility to the farmers under the
cooperative sector, should be raised from the existing 40 per cent to
75 per cent. She also requested the Centre to sanction 15 lakh houses
per year annually under the Indira Avas Scheme for the 11
th Five Year
Plan.
The C.M. requested that Rs. 9700 crore should be sanctioned for
projects for the electrification of 1.37 lakh majras and Rs. 5962 crore
should be sanctioned for projects proposed under PMGSY.
The Chief Minister demanded that the International Airport and
Aviation Hub Project proposed to be set up at Jewar should be given
agreement in principle. Besides, the airport, being set up at
Kushinagar on PPP basis, should be given NOC at the earliest. Besides,
she also demanded that Rs. 2000 crore amount for the scholarship of
the OBC students should be released immediately. Besides, one-time
additional central assistance of Rs. 83.31 crore should be released for
Aganbari centres. She also demanded 50 per cent increase in the basic
structure of the courts and to provide 50 per cent of the estimated
expenditure of Rs. 772 crore for the new building of Lucknow Bench.
The C.M. also demanded special encouragement for the states to
upgrade the arms and ammunition of the police force and to provide
them latest equipment. The Chief Secretary Mr. Atul Kumar Gupta,
Infrastructure Development Commissioner and Principal Secretary
Finance Mr. Anoop Mishra and Principal Secretary Planning Mr. Manjeet
Singh participated in the meeting on behalf of the State Government.
———–
C.M. enquires about the health of journalist and gunner injured in Allahabad incident and wishes for their speedy recovery
Lucknow : July 20, 2010
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati enquired
about the health and well-being of Indian Express Correspondent
of Allahabad Mr. Vijay Pratap Singh and Mr. Sanjay Singh,
gunner of Institutional Finance, Stamp and Court Fee Minister of
U.P. and wished for their speedy recovery. It may be recalled
that they became injured in the bomb blast incident of Allahabad
on July 12 last.
The Chief Minister was informed that according to her
directives, Mr. Vijay Pratap Singh was admitted to Jeevan Jyoti
Hospital and all the necessary arrangements were ensured for his
proper treatment. After the improvement in the condition of Mr.
Singh, he was shifted to a Delhi hospital for his further
treatment, where his condition was improving.
The Chief Minister has directed the Resident Commissioner,
Delhi to enquire about the health of Mr. Singh personally in
regular manner.
The treatment of the gunner, Mr. Sanjay Singh is going on
in SGPGI, who became seriously injured in this incident. The
Chief Minister has also wished for his speedy recovery. Ms.
Mayawati said that she is with the family of Mr. Singh during this
hour of crisis.
******
C.M. announces Rs. 5 lakh financial assistance to dependents of Vijay Pratap Singh
Lucknow: 21 July 2010
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati has
announced Rs. 5 lakh as financial assistance to the
dependents of Mr. Vijay Pratap Singh who became
seriously injured in bomb blast incident of Allahabad on
July 12 last and died yesterday night.
It may be recalled that the treatment of Mr. Singh
was going on in Army Hospital at New Delhi, where he
died yesterday night.
*******
Recruitment process for 1413 vacant posts of jail guards in jail department should be started immediately
C.M. reviews the works of jail department
Lucknow: 22 July 2010
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati has directed the
officers to take necessary steps immediately for strengthening the
security system of jails. She has also directed that vacant posts of
1413 jail guards should be filled by completing the process of
recruitment soon with full transparency and impartiality. Besides, she
also directed that the jail department should remain free from the
Government’s transfer policy.
The Chief Minister was reviewing the works of jail
administration department in a high-level meeting at her official
residence here today. She directed that the height of old jails’ main
boundary wall and circle wall should be extended up to 22 feet and
18 feet respectively as an immediate step to strengthen the security
system. She directed the officers to complete the works of 10 jails
under construction soon.
The Chief Minister has also directed the officers for 10 per cent
increase in the account of food expenditure. She said that effective
action should be taken in the cases of releasing the convicts before
the scheduled time period. She has also sanctioned the posts of 848
personnel as per needs of present jails and recruitment of 3000 home
guards in jails.
The C.M. has directed the officers to set-up the separate jail for
each district as a long term step, besides establishing five additional
central jails. She directed that the facilities of camera, CCTV,
electronic surveillance with control room should be provided for
improving the security system of jails. She also directed that sewer
and sewer treatment plant facility should be developed at every jail.
She directed the officers to issue necessary orders to ensure the
strict implementation of directives issued during the review meeting.
The Greatest Breakthrough in Religious thought:The Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta Esala Full Moon Poya Day falls tomorrow
July 23, 2010, 12:00 pm
By Prof. K. N. O. Dharmadasa
Those who have listened to night long Pirith chantings would have noticed that some suttas are chanted in a rhythm different from the rest. Prominent among those chanted differently and thus marked out is the Dhammacakkappavattna Sutta, whose chanting occurs normally by about midnight. There is something unique with regard to the chanting of this Sutta. During the last part of the chanting there are pauses and each pause is marked by a vigorous sabda puja by the beating of drums., and devotees would utter loudly the devotional words “Sadhu!Sadhu1″ . There are 22 such pauses and each pause is signified by drum beats and the uttering of “Sadhu!Sadhu! ” Obviously the Dhammacakkappavatta na Sutta is unique as no other sermon chanted in the night long ceremony receives this kind of special attention. Why is that?
Obviously the ancients who devised the Pirith chanting ceremony were aware of the great significance of the Dhammacakkappavatta na Sutta and thus used these devices to draw the unflinching attention of the devotees when listening to the night long ceremony. Dhammacakkappavatta na means “the setting rolling the wheel of Truth”. It was the very first sermon delivered by the Buddha after attaining enlightenment. The date was the Full Moon day of the month of Aesala, i.e. the second month after the attaining of Enlightenment. Prince Siddhartha, the Buddha - to - be, had gone forth from the luxuries of lay life searching for a solution to the unsatisfactory nature of human existence. The first teacher he met was Alara Kalama and following the instructions given by him Siddhartha was able to attain the spiritual plane of Akincayatana ( formlessness) which was the highest attainment the teacher himself had achieved. Alara Kalama was so much impressed by the commitment of the young man that he invited him to stay and be a co-teacher to other seekers after spiritual attainments. But Siddhartha was not satisfied as he had not found with this teacher the truth he was looking for. Searching further, he met Uddaka Ramaputta another teacher staying with whom he attained the plane of Nevasannanasannayat ana (neither consciousness nor unconsciousness) . Again the highly impressed teacher invited Siddhartha to stay and be a co-teacher which he refused again and went on his search for the supreme bliss of sublime peace.
It needs be mentioned here that these biographical details of the Buddha- to- be are given by the Buddha himself after the attainment of Enlightenment Several discourses addressed by him sometimes to his disciples, sometimes to others, contain these details in a realistic narration, starkly naturalistic, very much in keeping with the spirit of his teaching characterized by a non-esoteric and open-book quality. After leaving Uddaka Ramaputta Siddhartha arrived in Uruvela, by the river Neranajana, which appeared to him as a fit place to practice his spiritual strivings by himself. There he was met by a group of five young men who were similar spiritually minded seekers after truth. They were Kondanna,Bhaddiya, Vappa, Mahanama and Assaji. These ascetics waited upon Siddhartha, whose spiritual attainments prompted them to feel that he would one day attain the higher bliss they were searching for and help them to attain the same.Recalling the austerities he practiced during the next six years the Buddha had this to say to Ven. Sariputta, one of his chief disciples (the following passage is an abridged version of that found in The Life of the Buddha by the Venerables Kassapa and Siridhamma):
Practising Austerities
“Rigorous have I been, Sariputta, in my ascetic discipline, rigorous beyond all others. Horrible have been my ascetic practices, horrible beyond measure. Scrupulous have been my ascetic practice, to the height of scrupulousness….I have partaken of nourishment but once daily, abstaining sometimes from food for as long as fourteen days… I have fed my body on mosses, grasses, cow-dung…I have worn garments of hemp and hair, foul clothes from charnel houses…I have wrapped myself from animal hides…I was also a plucker out of hair and beard…I have taken the vow always to stand, never to sit or lie down…After this fashion have I lived in the in the strict observance of manifold bodily penances, bodily pains and torments…I have lived on a single cola fruit a day, upon a single bean a a day, upon a single grain of rice a day…Because of this daily rigor in daily nourishment my body became lean beyond measure…and as in a dilapidated house the roof-tree rafters show all aslope, so sloping showed the ribs of my body…and when I would feel my backbone, my hand encountered the skin of my belly.So cleaved the skin of my belly to the backbone.And when I would go to attend to the necessities of nature, there I would topple over for very weakness….” Practising those austerities Siddhartha tried to attain perfect enlightnment which was his goal :” With teeth clemched and tongue pressed to palate, I deliberately and of set purpose crush and force and master my mind into subjection.And as I did so the perspiration streamed from my arm-pits….When at last I had fallen and collapsed as a result of my extreme fasting…then I thought ‘Of all the sharp piercing , painful sensations endured by ascetics and recluses , these must be the crown, none can have surpassed these, and yet, with all these bitter austerities, I do not reach aught beyond the human, do not attain to any sufficing pre-eminence of exalted knowledge and insight. Might there be some other way to Full Enlightenment? “
At this juncture he recalled how once during his childhood, when his father and retinue were engaged in a ploughing ceremony, how he, seated in the cool shade of a rose apple tree, secluded from sensual pleasures and from unwholesome states, entered and dwelled in the state of First Jhana. “Could this be the path to follow for attaining enlightenment” he thought . He realized however, that engaging in such a practice was not possible with a body so excessively weak and frail. Realizing this he started partaking food in order to build up enough strength for the practicing of meditation in order to reach the goal he was looking for. When the five fellow ascetics observed that Siddhartha had changed his ascetic practices, they misunderstood his intentions and left the place in disgust complaining “The ascetic Siddhartha has reverted to a life of luxury and given up his strivings”
Attaining Buddhahood
Having regained his strength the Bodhisatva went one evening to the foot of a majestic tree and sat down facing the east with a firm determination to achieve his goal. He reached the four Jhanas, one by one. With thoughts thus steadied and purified, he applied his mind to the recollection of previous births (Pubbenivasanussati Nana) and then the Dibbacakku and Catupapata Nana (the Divine Eye and disappearing and reappearing of beings) Recalling his experience of the attainment of enlightenment the Buddhha states
“When my mind was thus concentrated, purified, bright,
unblemished, rid of imperfection, malleable, wieldy, steady, and attained to imperturbability, I directed it to the knowledge of the destruction of the taints (Asavakkhaya Nana) I directly knew as it actually is :’This is suffering. This is the origin of suffering. This is the cessation of suffering. This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering.’” Thus realizing what the taints are and their origin, their cessation, and the way leading to the cessation of taints, his mind was liberated from the taints of sensual desire, from the taint of existence, and from the taint of ignorance. The Buddha recalled, “This was the true knowledge attained by me in the last watch of the night, ignorance was banished and true knowledge arose, darkness was banished and light arose as happens in one who dwells diligent, ardent and resolute”
The Decision to Teach
That was the morning of the full-moon day of the month of Vaisakha. Seated under the majestic tree which gave him shelter on the day he attained Buddhahood he pondered: “This Dhamma which I have won is profound, only to be understood by the wise. But mankind seeks only for pleasure and they will find it difficult to comprehend this profound doctrine.” Reading his thoughts, the divine being Brahma Sahampathi was greatly perturbed “The world will perish if the Accomplished One, the Exalted One were not to teach the Dhamma” and he, descending from his heavenly abode, appeared before the Buddha and appealed that since there are persons with the potential to realize the Dhamma that it is best that the Blessed one were to teach the Dhamma. The Buddha surveyed the world and found the veracity of Brahma’s observation and decided to teach the Dhamma accordingly. This incident, we notice, takes a different form from the realistic mode so far followed in the of narration. Bhikkhu Bodhi describing these events has an explanation as to how a naturalistic narration is suddenly taking a supra-mundane mode at this juncture. “Should this scene be interpreted literally or as a symbolic enactment of an internal drama taking place in the Buddha’s mind? It is hard to give a definitive answer… Perhaps the scene could be understood as occurring at both levels at once.”(In the Buddha’s Words, p.47)
The Buddha knew seven persons who were in a position to understand the Dhamma he was to preach. When he surveyed the world with his Divine Eye he found that the two teachers with developed minds he had met earlier, Alara Kalama and Uddaka Ramaputta had passed away. But the five ascetic friends who had been with him at Uruvela were there, now staying in Baranasi in the Deer Park at Isipatana. This is how the Buddha narrates in the Ariyaparivesana Sutta the meeting of these five ascetics:
At the Deer Park in Isipatana
“Then monks, wandering by stages I eventually came to Baranasi, to the Deer Park at Isipatana, and I approached the monks of the group of five. The monks saw me coming in the distance and they agreed among themselves, ‘friends here comes the Ascetic Gotama who lives luxuriously, who gave up his striving and reverted to luxury. We should not pay homage to himor rise up for him or receive his bowl and outer robe. But a seat may be prepared for him. If he likes he may sit down’ However, as I approached, those monks found themselves unable to keep their pact. One came to meet me and took my bowl and outer robe, another prepared a seat, and another set out water for my feet, however they addressed me by name and as friend”(In The Buddha’s Words, p.74)
The fact that the five ascetics could not help themselves paying due respects to the Buddha. His supreme spiritual attainment would have compelled them to do so. But as they were unaware of that they continued to address him by name and as “Friend”. Then the Buddha spoke to them : “Monks, do not address the Tathagata by name and as ‘friend’. The Tathagata is an Arahant, a Perfectly Enlightened One. Listen monks, the Deathless has been attained.I shall instruct you, I shall teach you the Dhamma. Practicing as you are instructed, by realizing it for yourselves, here and now, through direct knowledge, you will soon enter and dwell in that supreme goal…”
Yet the group of five were not prepared to believe what the Buddha said. “Friend Gotama, by the conduct , the practice and the performance of austerities that you undertook, you did not achieve any superhuman distinction. Since you now live in luxury, how could you have achieved any superhuman distinction? ” they asked. Then the Buddha told them that the Tathagata does not live luxuriously, nor has he given up his strivings and reverted to luxury. But the Tathagata has achieved Deathlessness and is an Arahant”. The group of five repeated their doubts for the second time too. Then the Buddha asked them “Monks, have you ever known me to speak like this before? They replied in the negative and again the Buddha said “The Tathagata is an Arahant, a Perfectly Enlightened One.Listen monks, the Deathless has been reached. I shall instruct you…” Having convinced them by these means, the Buddha proceeded to preach the Dhamma he had realized by his own effort, to set rolling the wheel of Truth.
Narration by Ven. Ananada
We now have before us the narration by the Venerable Ananada, who was personal attendant of the Buddha for many long years and who knew by memory most of the discourses of the Buddha and was able to recite them to be preserved for posterity when the First Council of the Buddha’s disciples met at Rajagaha immediately after His demise. “Thus have I heard,” states Venerable Ananada, beginning the Dhammacakkappavatta na Sutta,
“…the Blessed One addressed the monks of the group of five thus: ‘Monks, these two extremes should not be followed by one who has gone forth into homelessness. What two? The pursuit of sensual happiness, which is low,vulgar, the way of worldlings, ignoble,unbeneficia l; and the pursuit of self-mortification which is painful, ignoble, unbeneficial. Without veering toward either of these extremes, the Tathagata has awakened to the middle way, which gives rise to vision, which gives rise to knowledge,and leads to peace, to direct knowledge, to awaken-ness, to Nibbana.” ( ITBW p.75)
We should notice here that the Buddha comes direct to the point which has been bothering the minds of the five ascetics. The five ascetics had initially refused to acknowledge the Buddha’s claim to enlightenment, and spurned him as one who had betrayed the higher calling to revert to a life of luxury.Thus He had to first assure them that far from reverting to a life of self-indulgence, He had discovered a new approach to the timeless quest for awaken-ness ((ITBW,p.48) . It is this new approach which while remaining faithful to the spirit of renunciation of sensual pleasures, eschews also the unprofitable practices of self-mortification, that presents a practical guide which would lead to the light of wisdom, culminating in the eradication of all bondages, the attainment of Nibbana.
“And what , monks, is that middle way awakened by the Tathagata? It is this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration. This monks, is that Middle Way, awakened to by the Tathagata, which gives rise to vision, which gives rise to knowledge, and leads to peace, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbana.”
By that clear statement the Buddha was able to clear the minds of the five ascetics of their misgivings. Now it was opportune to teach them of the Four Noble Truths he had discovered on the full moon day of Vaisakha.. Not only that. The Middle Way was part and parcel of the Truths he had discovered.
The Four Noble Truths
“Now this O Bhikkhus!,” continued the Buddha, ” is the Noble Truth concerning suffering. Birth is painful, decay is painful, disease is painful, death is painful, union with the unpleasant is painful, painful is separation from the pleasant and any craving that is unsatisfied, that too is painful. In brief, the five groups which spring from attachment are painful.”
“And this, O Bhikkhus! is the Noble Truth concerning the Origin of Suffering. - verily it is that thirst, causing the renewal of existence, accompanied by sensual delight, seeking satisfaction, now here and now there, - that is the craving for gratification of the passions, the craving for continued life, and the craving for pleasure here and now.”
” And this , O Bhikkhus! is the Noble Truth concerning the Destruction of Suffering - verily it is the destruction, in which no passion remains, of this very Thirst; the laying aside of, the getting rid of, the being free from, the harbouring no longer of this Thirst”
“And this, O Bhikkhus!, is the Noble Truth concerning the Way which leads to the destruction of Sorrow. Verily, it is the Noble Eightfold Path of Right Views,Right Aspiration, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration. “
“As soon as O Bhikkhus, my knowledge and insight were quite clear concerning each of these Four Noble Truths - then did I become certain that I had attained to the full insight of that Wisdom which is unsurpassed in the heavens or on earth, among the whole race of Samanas and Brahamins or of gods or men.” ( Abridged from the original Sutta -The Life of the Buddha by Venerables.Kassapa and Siridhamma,pp. 34-35)
Cosmic Significance
The discourse whish was so far in the naturalistic- realistic mode now changes dramatically. There is a long passage illuminating the cosmic significance of this event. As the Buddha stated, with the realization of the Four Noble Truths “the vision, knowledge wisdom, penetration and light arose in him of a Dhamma unknown and unheard of before in this whole cosmic system of Devas, Mara, Brahma, in this population with ascetics and Brahamins and all other beings”. It was the greatest breakthrough in the history of humankind. Signifying that the whole universe was to rejoice. The Dhammacakkappavatta na Sutta proceeds to state that when the Buddha ended his discourse the earth-dwelling Devas raised the cry “At Baranasi in the Deer Park at Isipatana, the unsurpassed Wheel of Dhammahas been set in motion by the Blessed One, which cannot be stopped by any ascetic or Brahamin or Deva or Mara or Brahma or anyone else”.Hearing that cry the next level of celestial beings, the Devas of the realm Four Great Kings, and after them the Tavatimsa Devas, the Yama Devas,the Tusita Devas, the Devas of each upper realm in succession and finally the Devas of the Brahma world raised the cry “In Baranasi…the unsurpassed Wheel of the Dhamma had been set in motion…which cannot be stopped by…anyone else” The ten thousand -fold world system shook, quaked, and trembled and an immeasurable great radiance encompassed the whole universe.Finally, the narration reverts again to the realistic mode. For, it was noticed by the Buddha that Venerable Kondanna, seated before him, understood the Dhamma as promulgated by him at that moment.and uttered in admiration “Kodanna has indeed understood, Kondanna has indeed understood.” And the narration ends with the words, “thereafter Venerable Kondanna came to be referred to as Anna Kondanna ‘Kondanna who has come to know’.
9:00 AM Worship the Sacred Mahaa Bodhi Tree and the Mahaabodhi Maitri Stupa
Buddha Pujaa at Loka Shanti Buddha Vihara
Chanting of
DHAMMACAKKA PAVATTANA SUTTA
Undertaking of Tisarana and 8 and 5 precepts
Discourse by Venerable Acharya
Buddharakkhita, Founder President,
Maha Bodhi Siociety, Bangalore
Release of Publications
11:15 Sanghadaana by devotees - alms offering
to the monks
12:00 NOONMeals for devotees
1:00PM Kannada Dhamma Pravachana program Inauguration
Every Sunday 12:30 to 1:45 Dhamma Pravachana
3:00 to 6:00 Chanting of Paali Tiptaka, Sacred
Buddhist Scripture by monks and devotees
6:00 PM Buddha Puja and Deepa Puja
DHAMMACAKKA PAVATTANA SUTTA
Dhammacakka Pavattana Sutta is the first discourse which lord Buddha delivered at the historic Sage’s Landing Retreat (Isipatana), in modern Saaranath, near Varanasi. This Sutta is the quintessence of the Dhamma. Therefore it has been specially venerated down the ages throughout the world. Ancient kingsof India got this sutta inscribed on gold, silver and copper plates and distributed them widely so that people may design their lives on the Truths enunciated by the Master.
The teaching of the Buddha represents His Awaken-ness experience. He reveals and transmitsthe light of HisAwaken-ness through His teachings, so that the others too might become awakened. Since His teachings are “Skillful Means” Upaya Kolalla, for spreading the message of awaken-ness, the Buddha set the motion of the Wheel of Truth (Dhammacakka). Therefore the Buddha is symbolically represented by two terms Wisdom (panna) and Compassion (Karuna).
This sutta enunciate the essence of the Buddh’s fundantamental teachings,comprising:
1. Two Extream Path-Anta
2. The Middle Path - Majjhimaa Patipadaa
3. The Four Noble Truths - Cattaari Ariya Saccaani
4. The Twelve facets of the four-fold Truth - Dvadasakaranam.
The teachings of Dhammacakka Pavattana Sutta do not constitute theoretical religious doctorines. They are profound practical instructions for the solution of all problems and for spiritual Liberation.
Please come, learn the sutta, chant it with devotion and gain wisdom and merit.
Dhammachakka Pavattana - Guru Purnima-25th july
DHAMMACHAKKAPAVATTA NA-THE WHEEL OF DHAMMA SET IN MOTION.
The Full Moon, which falls in this month of July, is of great importance as it commemorates the significant event that took place in India. On this very Full moon day Buddha set in motion the wheel of Truth (Dhamma) at Isipatana, Sarnath. This discourse came to be known as Dhammachakkapavatta na Sutta. It was the occasion when Buddha preached his first sermon to his five ascetic friends Kondanya, Vappa, Bhaddiya, Mahanama, and Assaji, precisely two months after his enlightenment. This sermon known as Dhammachakkapavatta na sutta comprises the four Noble Truths centered on the universal malady called suffering.
On this memorable day the Buddha’s Saasana (dispensation) came into existence and then spread not only in India but also through out the world. Thus Buddhism now is not considered as an Indian religion but as a world religion, which was recognized by the United Nation too on Vesak-2000.
Buddhism is the only Indian religion to become world religion and Buddha the only Indian Guru to become Jagat Guru. Thus this Purnima is also known as Guru Purnima.
The importance of the four Noble Truths could be gauged by the fact that Buddha himself had said: “It was through not understanding, not penetrating the four Noble Truths, that I, as well as you have wandered so long through the countless rounds of birth”.(DN-16)
The Noble truth of suffering is the fact of every day life in every one’s life. It may be direct or indirect and coarse or subtle. This fact of existence of suffering in every one’s life forms the base for Buddha’s teachings. Having experienced this truth of suffering Buddha taught the four Noble truths of suffering namely
1) There is Suffering i.e. Birth is suffering, old age is suffering, illness is suffering, death is suffering, association with the unpleasant is suffering, dissociation from the pleasant is suffering, one does not get what is desired that too is suffering, in short the five aggregates affected by clinging is suffering.
2) There is cause for Suffering i.e. Whatever there is greed which causes becoming in the next world, consisting of passionate delight, finding pleasure in this or that, to wit: greed for sensual pleasures, greed for becoming, greed for non-becoming.
3)There is cessation of Suffering i.e. Of that very greed itself, that extinction, which comes through complete detachment, giving up, complete abandonment, release, non-attachment.
4) There is path leading to the cessation of suffering i.e. The noble eight-fold path to wit: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration.
In Majjima Nikaya Buddha categorically states that he teaches one thing only, namely Suffering and the path to cessation of Suffering and is not interested in any philosophical or intellectual quest.
Though Suffering is pain, it is used as a wet stone to sharpen one’s wisdom and to face the reality accordingly. It is a wise man’s saying that:-
It is easy enough to be pleasant,
when life flows like a sweet song.
But the man worthwhile,
Is the one who can smile;
when things go dead wrong.
Hence in order to over come suffering one has to work patiently and persistently on the Eight-fold path, which forms the fourth Noble truth, and through gradual progress one would ultimately make end of suffering as taught by the Buddha. This Noble eight-fold path is divided into three sections as Sila, Samadhi and Panya. The malady of suffering is not confined to any one particular caste, color, region, religion and nation. It is a universal malady and hence the remedy too must be universal. Thus the path of Sila, Samadhi and Panya, which has no trace of any sectarianism, is the universal remedy for the ills of the world called suffering.
In order to get established in Sila(morality) , it is necessary to have complete control over one’s own mind. The mind should be fully restrained and disciplined. For this it is necessary to practice Samadhi(concentrati on).
Practicing only Sila without Samadhi is like standing on only one leg and straining one’s self. On the other hand Samadhi without Sila is like one leg hanging in air with out support.
Again it is not enough to just concentrate one’s mind. It is also necessary to develop Panya(wisdom) . By this Panya it is possible to eradicate the ingrained habit pattern of the mind that generates, multiplies and accumulates Sankharas(reactions ) of Raga (greed)and Dosa(hatred) out of Moha(ignorance) . So if Sila and Samadhi are two legs on which one stands, balances and walks then Panya is like the eye which enables us to see things as they are, thereby avoiding the dangers and leading us through the safe Noble Eight-fold path, which forms the fourth Noble truth of Suffering.
The teaching based on Suffering seems to be pessimistic and definitely people would like to have an optimistic teaching. But, the question is not of pessimism or optimism; it is the question of realism on which the Buddha stresses. His teachings are not CUSTOMER ORIENTED to please individuals or masses but just TRUTH ORIENTED.
In Alagaddupama sutta(MN-22 BPS) Buddha says: “Both formerly & now what I teach is suffering & the Cessation of suffering. If others abuse, revile, scold, and harass the Tathagata for that, the Tathagata on that account feels no annoyance, bitterness, or dejection of the heart. And if others honor, respect, revere, and venerate the Tathagata on that account feels no delight, joy, or elation of the heart. If others honour, respect, revere, and venerate the Tathagata for that, the Tathagata on that account thinks thus: They perform such services as these for the sake of what had earlier come to be fully understood”. Thus this Noble Truth of suffering may seem to be pessimistic or bitter because of our wrong perception and conditioning but if one compares it with the verifiable facts of day to day life one will find the profound Truth of it. In the same sutta Buddha further says: “The Dhamma well proclaimed by me thus, which is clear… free of patchwork, those who are Dhamma followers are all headed for Enlightenment & those who have sufficient faith in me, sufficient love and regards for me, are all headed for heaven”.
Thus July full moon is festival of Truth
On this day Buddha taught the Noble Truth
He preached the Dhamma as Noble Truth
And came to be known as embodiment of Truth.
Noble truth of Suffering is no secret,
It is a truth we refuse to acknowledge.
Truth undermines the Selfness of I, My, Mine
to which we cling so desperately
and shows the impermanence of all phenomena.
Truth is not hidden from us
We are hiding from it.
To develop Buddhist cultural identity every Buddhist must visit nearest Buddha Vihara on Sundays and Full Moon of every month and not just once in a Blue Moon.
WISH YOU ALL A PIOUS, PEACEFUL & PROSPEROUS GURU PURNIMA.
PATNA - The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) would contest the Bihar assembly polls from all seats without any alliance, party chief Mayawati said Tuesday.
“The BSP will contest from all seats (243) without any alliance in the Bihar assembly polls,” Mayawati said at a rally to kickstart the party’s campaign for the polls later this year.
She asked her party leaders and workers to work hard to expand the party’s base in Bihar and other states.
Mayawati attacked the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for their wrong policies. She said the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was responsible for price rise in the country.
The rally was attended by party workers from Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal and Jharkhand.
BSP to raise issue of hike in petroleum prices in Parliament
The Bahujan Samaj Party will raise the issue of hiking prices of petroleum products during the coming monsoon session of Parliament.
A meeting of party MPs was held at Lucknow on Tuesday to discuss the party strategy during the session.
Addressing the meeting party supremo Mayawati alleged that the UPA government has indulged in an anti-people act. She said MPs should strongly oppose wrong economic policies of the UPA government, which is resulting in price rise.
She said after being third political force in the parliament responsibilities of party MPs have increased and they try their level best to prove themselves in the eyes of common men.
Ms. Mayawati reiterated her allegation for UPA government’s attitude towards BSP government in UP is step-motherly and unjust and it is hampering the development of the state.
The fulfilment of the 2600th year of the dispensation of the Thathagatha falls on the full moon day of Vesak in 2012 A.D. (588+2012 = 2600). This is not only a historic occasion for celebration all over the Buddhist world. It also marks the beginning of a great renaissance, or a spiritual revival.
The birth of the Bodhisatva, the true Victor’s awaken-ness, and the attainment of Supreme Bliss of the Thathagatha, are the three great events in the history of the Buddhist world. It is difficult to comprehend with our finite knowledge, the true nature of the great spiritual illumination, that took place on the full-moon-day of Vesak 2598 years ago, when the wandering prince became freed from the shackles of birth and death, and attained the realm of absolute wisdom, under the sacred ‘Esathu Bo’ tree. During the lifetime of the Thathagatha, the followers reckoned the Buddhist Era, from the attainment of Bodhi, with due preference to the year of inception of the dispensation from Migadhaya, in its true splendour. Subsequently, sometime after the attainment of the Supreme Bliss by the Master, the followers reckoned the Buddhist era from the year of Parinibbana of the Master.
Those who follow the Sanskrit tradition of the Northern sector-Nepal, Tibet, China and Japan etc. believe that the Master attained Supreme Bliss in 386 B.C., while the followers of the Pali tradition of the Southern sector - Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand etc. believe it to be in 544 B.C., in keeping with the data given in ‘Deepavamsa’ and ‘Mahavamsa’ the two great chronicles of Sri Lanka. Scholars like Max Muller, William Geiger, V.A. Smith and many others who computed according to sources from many lands determine that, the year in question should be somewhere in 477,483 and 486 B.C. respectively.
Anagarika Dharmapala, one of the most erudite and authoritative personalities of his day on the sublime teaching of the Thathagatha, and history of the Buddhist civilization, commemorated the 2500th year of the dispensation of the Master, on the full-moon day of Vesak in 1912 AD (588 + 1912 = 2500), by placing of a memorial pillar at Saranath; translation of Pali Tripitaka into ‘Nagari’ language, for easy propagation of the Sublime teaching in its land of birth; and making formal steps for the formation of a Buddhist temple in London, to spread the sublime teaching of the Master in the West.
Traditions
The followers of the Northern and Southern traditions joined hands together, and ‘The World Fellowship of Buddhists, at its third world conference of 1954 held in Rangoon, agreed to accept the year 1956 AD as the 2500th year (544+1956) of the Parinibbana of the Thathagatha, irrespective of the differences in their chronicles. This great event of the Buddhist Era was celebrated on the Full-moon-day of Vesak, and throughout the whole year, all over the Buddhist world.
This great occasion was commemorated in Burma with the inauguration of a New International Buddhist University, and the fourth Buddhist Council too was conducted with the participation of other Buddhist countries. On successful completion of it, the new Pali canon was printed by them in several international languages. A Higher Educational Institution was established in Laos for the monks to learn the sublime teaching, and the Pali language. Cambodia too, set up a university for the monks. Thailand planted 2500 Esathu Bo trees, wherein a ‘National Centre for the Buddhists’ was erected. Sri Lanka translated the Pali canon into Sinhala language for easy reference of the practitioners. Korea, China and Japan also celebrated the occasion in a grand manner with others.
In the ‘Devatha Samyuktha’ of the ‘Samyuktha Nikaya’, the two ‘Suththas’ namely ‘Chando’ and ‘Suriyo describe two eclipses of the moon and the sun, occurred while the Thathagatha dwelt at Jethavanaramaya in Saranath; a monumental astronomical guide published in Vienna by Oppelzer in 1887, ‘Cander Finis Fernisse’ guide the astronomer to identify and trace these past heavenly phenomena todate, most accurately. A lunar eclipse occurred on 29/12/560 B.C., and a solar eclipse occurred on 14/01/559 B.C. Both were partially visible over ‘Savaththi’. This confirms the description given in the ‘Samyuktha Nihaya’. The results obtained from the astronomical guide confirm that, the two eclipses in question, had taken place 15 years prior to the widely accepted year of Parinibbana i.e. 543 B.C., when the Master was 66. If we take one of the dates given by the scholars i.e. 483 B.C. as the year of Parinibbana, with the astrological guide, these eclipses had taken place 76 years prior to that year. Prince Siddhartha was 9 years old at the time of the manifestation of the eclipses over ‘Savaththi’. This testifies that the year 543 B.C. was the accurate year of the Parinibbana of the Thathagatha. Dr. Abaya Ariyasinghe enlightened the public over the media about this finding few decades ago.
Buddhist traditions
The late Ven. Ananda Maithreeya Maha Thera well versed in both Northern and Southern Buddhist traditions, enlightened the public on this aspect through the media few decades ago. According to the Maha Thera the birth of prince Siddhartha falls on a full moon day i.e. Sunday of Vesak, in 623 B.C. (the 2478th year of Kaliyuga, kataka Lagna, Sinha Navamsaka, Veesa Nekatha at 11.04 a.m. in Kapilavasthupura, with the formation of planets Jupiter -1, Rahu -3, Moon -4, Mars -7, Saturn -8, Venus and Kethu -9, Mercury -10, Sun -11, with Nawamsaka - Jupiter -1, Kethu and Mercury -2, Saturn -3, Venus -6, Sun -7, Rahu -8, Mars -9 and Moon -10) According to the Maha Thera he confirmed these data, on consultation with eminent persons well versed in the subject, in India. These are in accord with the ‘Ka-Kayur’ and ‘Kumara Nadi’ consulted by him, thereafter Dr. Saddamangala Karunarathne, after inspecting the inscription of King Upathissa the first, confirmed that the said inscription carried the most ancient record of the Buddhist Era, and it attested that the Parinibbana of the Thathagatha occurred in 543 B.C.
Dr. Annie Besant and C.W. Leadbeater, both eminent occultists as well as psychics of repute, confirmed that prince Siddhartha was born in 623 B.C. attained spiritual illumination in 588 B.C; at the age of 36; and attained Supreme Bliss in 543 B.C. at the age of 81, on fulfilment of 45 years of strenuous service to all beings, who were ready for the sublime truth revealed. While searching through “Akasic’ records by psychic means, many previous existences of some of their colleagues, who were associates of the Thathagatha, during the period, they found these data.
Historic occasion
The fulfilment of the 2600th year of the dispensation of the Thathagatha falls on the full moon day of Vesak in 2012 A.D. (588+2012 = 2600). This is not only a historic occasion for celebration all over the Buddhist world. It also marks the beginning of a great renaissance, or a spiritual revival. The teaching of the Thathagatha is not the privilege of a limited sector of followers. The intrinsic message of the Master, belongs to all beings in the entire cosmos. It is the one and only way for the cessation of all suffering. It transcends Northern, Southern and all other traditions formed later. The true spirit of the sublime teaching of the Master, and its contribution since then, to the civilizations of past and present, can be ascertained, by a proper study of its growth from all points of view. The profound teaching of the Master, has been obscured and distorted by the later formations of over-zealous followers. Although, the principles differ in various schools, the dominating splendour of the personal example of the Thathagatha, stands above them all.
This is indeed a rare opportunity and privilege, bestowed upon those leading personalities to participate in the celebration of the 2600th anniversary of the dispensation of this great teacher of the first order, who shed enlightenment on the three realms of being. The Thathagatha left for us a universally esteemed teaching, which has so well contributed to the establishment of world peace, for the advancement of humanity.
Mayawati tells MPs to raise price rise issue in house
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Tuesday urged party MPs to raise issues related to price rise and ill-treatment of Bhopal gas tragedy victims in the coming monsoon session of parliament.
Addressing a specially convened meeting of party MPs here, she said: “Faulty policies of the Congress-led UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government are responsible for the unprecedented rise in inflation, which has led to acute economic oppression of the common man.”
According to a party release, she told the MPs to highlight how the Congress-led union government stood exposed after the recent decontrol of petrol prices followed by a steep rise in the price of petrol, diesel, cooking gas and kerosene.
She told the MPs to observe strict discipline. “While ensuring fulfilment of the aspirations of common people, you must not do anything which could malign the image of the party.”
She also pointed towards the need to highlight the “discriminatory” and “step-motherly” treatment being allegedly meted out to Uttar Pradesh by the central government .
Mayawati also urged the MPs to focus themselves on the Congress regime’s “apathy and injustice” towards the Bhopal gas tragedy victims.
Referring to Maoism, Mayawati said: “Unfortunately, the union government seemed to regard naxalism (Maoism) as a law and order problem, while there were major socio-economic factors at the root of the problem.”
Press Information Bureau
(C.M. Information Campus)
Information & Public Relations Department, U.P.
BSP Government has taken solid action against mafias and criminals
Property worth Rs. 233 crore belonging to mafias and criminal elements seized
Criminals like Vijay Mishra get patronage from SP
Several criminal incidents took place during regime of Governments of opposition parties
Annoyed by success of Nand Gopal Gupta “Nandi” criminals committed this crime
Lucknow: 17 July 2010
Terming the statements being issued by the opposition parties
regarding the Allahabad incident as unfortunate, the Uttar Pradesh
Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati said that those who were indulging in
cheap politics over the Allahabad incident, which was, in fact, an act
of crime committed by criminal elements, should peep into their
own past. She said that her Government had taken solid action
against criminals and mafias. Illegal property worth Rs. 233 crore
amassed by the criminals and mafias had been seized, so far. This
had caused panic among the mafias and criminals and in this
frustration they had committed Allahabad incident, she pointed out.
The Chief Minister was addressing media persons at her official
residence here today. She said that mafias of Allahabad Mr. Ateeq
Ahmad, Mr. Vijay Mishra and other criminal elements had amassed
huge wealth through their criminal activities and the State
Government had seized it through legal proceedings. The Allahabad
administration had attached properties of Mr. Dileep Mishra (worth
Rs. 4.16 crore) and Mr. Vijay Mishra (worth Rs. 6.20 crore).
Ms. Mayawati said that the police had arrested Kripa Shankar
Pandey alias Kripa Nand Pandey and Rajesh Yadav for this criminal
act within two days. She appreciated the efforts made by all the
police officers in this regard. She said that both of them had
accepted that they were the accomplices of Dileep Mishra and on his
behest they had committed this crime. They have also informed
that the brother-in-law of Dileep Mishra, Shri Manoj Kumar Pandey
and Jitendendra Pandey, Mahesh Kumar Mishra, Purushottam
Dubey and Rajesh Pilot had assisted them in this crime. Both of
them further revealed that Dileep Mishra had told them that he had
discussed this matter with legislator Mr. Vijay Mishra.
Giving information regarding the incident, the C.M. said that
as soon as she was informed about the incident on July 12 she took
serious view of the incident and called meeting of the senior officers
of the State immediately to inquire about it and directed Principal
Secretary Home and DGP and to go to Allahabad and investigate the
matter. She directed both the officers to investigate the incident
thoroughly and ensure severe punishment for the guilty.
Ms. Mayawati said that during the 2007 Vidhan Sabha
elections Mr. Nand Gopal Gupta alias Nandi was fielded from
Allahabad South on BSP ticket. She said that just a few days before
the elections, the block pramukh Chaka, Allahabad Mr Dileep Mishra
had beaten up Mr. Nandi to demoralise him, so that he did not
contest elections. She said that it is a matter of great regret that
the previous SP Government did not take any action in this regard
nor Mr. Nandi was allowed to lodge an FIR. This stand was taken by
those concerned as Mr. Dileep Mishra was a relative of SP’s Bhadohi
legislator Mr. Vijay Mishra, she pointed out.
The C.M., while giving information about the criminal cases
registered against Dileep Mishra and Vijay Mishra, said that about
30 cases had been registered against Dileep Mishra while 58 cases
were registered against Vijay Mishra. As many as 13 criminal cases
were registered against Dileep Mishra during 1991 and 2003 and
during 2004-07 no case was registered. Again from May 2007 and
2010, as many as 17 cases were registered. Likewise, 45 cases had
been registered against Mr. Vijay Mishra during 1977-2003 and only
one case was registered against him during 2004-07 and from May
2007 to 2010, as many as 14 criminal cases had been registered
against him. She said that the only case registered against Mr. Vijay
Mishra, filed between 2004 and 2007, was registered on the order
of the Hon’ble Court. The SP Government withdrew six cases
registered against Mr. Vijay Mishra, she added.
Ms. Mayawati said that Mr. Vijay Mishra had about Rs. 50
crore worth illegal property in the Jasola area of Delhi. It had also
been suspected that a senior SP leader also had property in the
same complex. She said that it was evident the SP had been
extending protection to a criminal like Vijay Mishra.
The C.M. said that during the previous SP regime, this party
had unleashed
goonda raj and jungle raj all over the State and the
criminals were ruling the roost. The senior SP leaders instead of
taking action against the criminals were protecting them, she said.
The law and order of the State had been given a severe beating
during the SP regime and the poor people were being harassed all
over the State and their FIRs were not being lodged, she stated.
Ms. Mayawati said that after coming to power in 2007, her top
priority was to streamline the law and order of the State. Her
Government had launched a drive against criminals, mafias and anti
social elements, she pointed out adding that she had directed the
senior officers to lodge the cases of those people whose cases were
refused during the SP regime. Owing to her efforts as many as
10,000 cases had been lodged by launching a special drive all over
the State, she pointed out.
The Chief Minister said that after the formation of BSP
Government in this State, she had directed the police administration
that improvement in law and order situation would be estimated on
the basis of action being taken on total lodged FIRs, instead of FIR
numbers. While, during the regimes of earlier all other parties’
Governments it was not taken into consideration. Therefore, these
opposition parties were putting allegations regarding increasing
crimes on the basis of FIR numbers lodged during the regime of her
Government. This attitude of opposition parties was not only
shameful but it also had made it clear that these parties could go up
to what extent, which were making shameful efforts for maligning
the image of BSP Government on the basis of false facts.
Ms. Mayawati said that a large number of criminal incidents
occurred during the regimes of all opposition parties. If these
incidents during the regimes of these opposition parties were not
the symbol of jungle raj, then how the incident which took place in
Allahabad could be termed as a jungle raj in this State.
The Chief Minister said before giving such type of irresponsible
statement these opposition parties should have remembered the
terrorists’ attack on Parliament and the terrorist incidents occurred
in Mumbai, besides the human and property loss in these incidents.
Was the jungle raj prevailed in the country in the period, when the
death of the then Railway Minister, Lalit Narayan Mishra took place
in a bomb explosion in Bihar or when Mrs. Indira Gandhi was
assassinated at her residence during the rule of Congress, the
country was plunged in complete chaos, she asked. Similarly, the
innocent Sikhs were openly murdered in the riots of 1984 and the
capital of the country had faced complete chaos despite the
Congress Government. At that time, no Congress leader looked at
these incidents. Besides, these opposition parties’ leaders had kept
the complete silence over the killing of hundreds of security
personnel in naxal violence occurred in several States during last
one year.
Ms. Mayawati said that the leaders of Congress party should
also remember the murder of the then Chief Minister Mr.
Vishwanath Pratap Singh’s elder brother, who was justice in the
High Court before speaking anything. More than that, the cases of
Mr. Singh and Mr. Lalit Narayan Mishra had not been solved, so far
and the Congress Party Government had completely failed in giving
the punishments to the persons involved in these crimes. The other
opposition parties also had adopted the same approach in these
cases. She said that BSP MLA Mr. Raju Pal was killed openly during
day time in Government protection in Allahabad during the regime
of Samajwadi Party and the entire government ruling at that time
remained engaged in saving the criminals responsible for this
murder. Similarly, during SP regime, BJP MLA Mr. Krishna Nand Rai,
MLC Mr. Ajeet Singh, BJP former MP Mr. Laxmi Narayan Mani
Tripathi and former MLA Chaudhri Malkhan Singh were brutally
murdered. Besides, SP MLA Mr. Manzoor Ahmad was killed in front
of Raj Bhawan on March 06, 2002 during demonstration in
President’s rule.
The Chief Minister said that between the period of 1991 and
2005 one MP, 18 MLAs and 38 office bearers of political parties were
killed and 42 attempts to murder took place. During the tenure of
SP between 2003 and 2007 one former MP, three MLAs, one former
MLA and 13 office bearers of political parties were killed. While,
during the regime of BSP Government any person, however
powerful he might be had faced the consequences of his doings, if
he had taken the law into his hands, which is amply clear in the
case of former MLA Mr. Kapil Dev Yadav’s murder.
Ms. Mayawati said that Mr. Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi, Minister
in BSP Government is an effective and dynamic leader of Vaishya
Samaj, who won the hearts of the people in a short period after
defeating the Congress State President Rita Bahuguna Joshi and
former Assembly Speaker Mr. Keshrinath Tripathi in election. SP
candidate was defeated in this election by a huge margin. It seems
that these criminal elements disturbed by this success of Mr. Nandi
had done this heinous crime, for which they would have to suffer
the consequences definitely.
The Chief Minister said that she had full faith and confidence
over her police administration and the other persons involved in this
incident would be arrested soon.
******
C.M. criticises attack on offices of news channels
Lucknow: 17 July 2010
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati while
criticising the incidents of attack on the Delhi office of
“Headlines Today” an allied channel of News Channel “Aaj Tak”
by RSS workers and the office of Marathi News Channel “G-24
Tass” of Kolhapur, Maharashtra by Shiv Sainiks has termed it
as an attack on democracy. She has demanded stringent
action against the attackers.
The Chief Minister was replying to a question in a press
conference organised at her official residence here today. She
said that attack on media, the fourth pillar of democracy was
unfortunate. She said that after such shameful incidents the
concerning State Governments should not sit with idle hands.
Stern action should be taken against such elements, she
Protest against fuel price rise complete success :BSP
The ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh today claimed its nation-wide agitation, barring the state, against the price hike of petroleum products evoked a complete response.
The Mayawati-led BSP had already carried out demonstrations in UP against the rise in prices of petrol and diesel on July 6.
According to a BSP release here, the protest was a complete success across the nation, where party activists participated in a large scale at party offices.
The agitators castigated the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre for its weak policies, leading to rise in prices of petroleum products.
The prices of petrol and diesel have been raised for the third time since 2008.
The BSP chided the UPA favouring the capitalists and ignoring the rights of the common men
Bangalore: The BSP workers on Thursday held a protest against the rise in fuel prices and demanded their rollback in front of Town Hall.
Ashok Siddharth, an MLC from Uttar Pradesh in-charge of Karnataka BSP who participated along with State Preesident Marasandra Muniappa, Vice-President N Mahesh, GenSec Gopinath, Treasurer Koramangala Muniappa, Off Sec R Muniappa and large number of BSP workers, said the increase has pushed up prices of essential commodities.
“The Congress Government has reneged on its electoral promises,” he said.
Provide immediate possession to real SC/ST patta holders after removal of illegal possessors:Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati
Posted by MKB on July 15th, 2010
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati has directed that possession should be given to real patta holders of SC/ST people after removing illegal possession on agriculture and residential land. She has directed all the District Magistrates of the State to ensure effective action in this connection and said that all Divisional Commissioners should also look into the cases related to possession. Any slackness in this regard would be severely dealt with and strict stringent action would be taken against the concerning officers fixing the responsibility, she warned.
The Chief Minister has also directed to take legal action according to the rules against the illegal possessors on the land of SC/ST patta holders. It may be recalled that after coming to power in May, 2007 the Chief Minister had given the directives for the removal of illegal possession through launching drive and making allotment of agriculture and residential land to the eligible SC/ST persons. Following the directives of the Chief Minister during the review meetings, the senior Government officers visited and made inspections. As a result 1054.879 hectare agriculture land was allotted to 5596 SC/ST persons in this financial year and all these allottees were given possession. Similarly, 88.426 hectare residential land was allotted to 8369 beneficiaries till May, 2010. Besides, drive has been launched for removal of illegal possessors on agriculture land, under which 3561 illegal possessors were removed and possession was given to real allottees. FIR was lodged against 74 illegal possessors and 88 persons were arrested and sent to jail.
Similarly, 1370 real patta holders got possession on residential land after the removal of illegal possessors. FIR was lodged in four cases and 11 illegal possessors were sent to jail. Action was taken against the illegal possessors on agriculture land of patta holders of Gram Sabha. An amount of Rs. 19,30,135 was realised from them. Besides, 3798 cases were lodged and imprisonment was given in 561 cases and penalty in 685 cases. The Chief Minister has directed that the SC/ST people and weaker sections of the society should be benefited by the welfare schemes on priority basis. She has also directed the officers to ensure the social and economic. Reference: http://information.up.nic.in/
Press Information Bureau
(C.M. Information Campus)
Information & Public Relations Department, U.P.
Punitive action will be taken against
guilty if construction works lacked quality
Select beneficiaries of U.P. Mukhyamantri Mahamaya
Garib Arthik Madad Yojna before stipulated time
Press 1000 new ambulances into service for the people
Farmers should get fertilisers, seeds
and pesticides easily during
Kharif season
Lucknow: 16 July 2010
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati, while directing the
officers to accelerate the pace of development, said that punitive action
would be taken against guilty if construction works lacked quality. She
directed the officers to complete the ongoing development works on
priority basis, so that the people could get their benefit. She said that
selection of the beneficiaries of the U.P. Mukhyamantri Mahamaya Garib
Arthik Madad Yojna should be completed before stipulated time.
The Chief Minister gave these directions when the Cabinet Secretary
Mr. Shashank Shekhar Singh, Chief Secretary Mr. Atul Kumar Gupta,
Additional Cabinet Secretary Mr. Netram and Principal Secretary
Information Mr. Vijay Shankar Pandey, apprised her of the outcome of
the review meeting held at Yojna Bhawan here today to review the
progress of the departmental Principal Secretaries/Secretaries.
Ms. Mayawati said that the benefits of the various development and
welfare programmes run by the Government should be made available to
the poor people of the State on priority basis. She said that those
developmental schemes, for which the funds had been released, should
be completed in a qualitative and time bound manner. She asked the
senior officers to go to field to ensure that the developmental
schemes/programmes were being implemented effectively. They should
also conduct spot verification, she added.
To encourage pisciculture in the State, the Chief Minister directed
the officers to distribute
pattas among the eligible beneficiaries, besides
ensuring marketing of their produce, so that the beneficiaries got
adequate price of it. She directed the officers to ensure that the farmers
did not face any difficulty in getting fertilisers, seeds and pesticides.
Directing the officers to ensure easy availability of crop loans to the
farmers, she said that efforts should be made to double the income of the
farmers. She directed the officers to ensure effective implementation of
crop insurance scheme, so that the farmers were benefited by it. She
said that the soil test of the fields of all the farmers should be carried out.
Emphasising the need to improve the marketing of the fruits and
vegetables, the Chief Minister said that decisions for setting up of food
processing units should be taken immediately. She directed the officers
to focus on the increase of milk production. She said that the functioning
of PCDF should be improved immediately to strengthen its marketing.
Directing the officers to encourage sports in the rural areas, she said that
sports competitions should be organised there especially in the areas
affected by naxalism. Besides, she also directed the officers to ensure
better upkeep of the stadia. The sports persons should also be provided
better sports equipment and nutritious diet, she added.
Directing for the proper use of information technology for making
Government functioning much better, the Chief Minister said that all
departments and Government organisations should ensure that their
respective websites should be updated in regular manner.
The Chief Minister directed that the Irrigation Department
should find out the reasons for not increasing the required irrigation
capacity and making improvement in water distribution system. She also
directed that non-functional units of irrigation department should be
engaged for water distribution system. She said that canals should be run
according to roster, besides increasing irrigation capacity. She directed
that flood control action plan should be implemented effectively and
sensitive embankments should be identified to ensure their special
monitoring. She also directed that relief and rescue works should be
taken with full preparations in flood affected areas.
The Chief Minister while directing to make the health services
much better, said that people should get medical services in an easy and
convenient manner. She directed that one thousand new ambulances
should be engaged in the service of the people soon. She directed that all
necessary medicines should remain available in Government Hospitals
and special attention should be paid on cleanliness. She said that during
the laying of sewer lines attention should be paid over the fact that
people could not face any difficulty in their movement.
The Chief Minister said that there should not be lack of funds
in special component plan and to ensure it, all necessary action should be
taken. She warned that any irregularity or slackness in distribution of
scholarships would not be tolerated. Stringent action should be taken
after lodging FIR against the persons responsible for irregularities. She
also directed that recruitment of teachers for new primary and junior high
schools should be made immediately. She directed that tree plantation
programme should be run as a campaign and special attention should be
given on the protection of planted saplings.
********
CM announces Rs. two lakh for Arjun Bajpai,
youngest mountaineer of State
Lucknow: July 15, 2010
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati has
announced Rs. two lakh as encouragement for Mr. Arjun
Bajpai, the youngest mountaineer, who brought laurels
for the State.
It may be recalled that Mr. Arjun Bajpai resident of
Noida, district Ghaziabad conquered Mount Everest
successfully on May 22, 2010. Mr. Bajpai brought laurels
for Uttar Pradesh, the youngest mountaineer to scale
Mount Everest.
According to the directives of the Chief Minister, an
amount of Rs. two lakh has been sanctioned by the
Government for Mr. Arjun Bajpai.
*********
C.M. directs officers to make all necessary arrangements immediately to deal with floods Make all necessary arrangements to carry out relief works on war footing during floods
—
Ms. Mayawati
Provide food grains and kerosene at cheaper rates to flood affected families Directives issued to set up flood control room and flood pickets
Lucknow: 14 July 2010
Keeping an eye on the impending floods, the Uttar Pradesh Chief
Minister Ms. Mayawati directed the officers to make all necessary
arrangements to deal with the situation. She warned that any laxity in it
would draw severe punishment. She said that in case of floods, rescue and
relief works should be carried out on war footing and those enveloped by
floods should be taken to safer places and provided necessary food articles
and medical facilities. She directed the officers to make flood control rooms
more effective and identify most sensitive embankments. She said that all
the officers should perform their duties and responsibilities well during
floods, so that the affected people did not face any difficulty.
The C.M. was reviewing the preparations to deal with impending floods
at a high level meeting held at her official residence here today. She directed
senior officers to make all necessary arrangements to check the destruction
caused by floods. She said that regular meetings of district level steering
group should be organised to run flood control works smoothly. Preparations
of all the departments should be reviewed here. She directed the officers to
make timely arrangement of adequate number of boats in the flood affected
districts.
Ms. Mayawati said that during the floods the water sources got
contaminated and danger of the outbreak of water related diseases
increased. She said that to counter this situation presence of the doctors at
the hospitals should be maintained and availability of medicines in the
hospitals should also be ensured. She also directed them to maintain
availability of fodder and vaccines for the cattle. She said that the Food and
Civil Supplies Department should make necessary arrangements beforehand
to ensure availability of food articles in the flood affected areas. She said
that adequate quantity of wheat, rice and kerosene should be maintained in
the flood affected areas through special allocation.
To ensure proper monitoring of the flood control, the C.M. directed the
officers to set up a Central flood control room, besides establishing district
level flood control rooms and flood pickets. She said that proper
communication arrangements should be made in these control rooms, so
that people could be informed about flood situation in a timely manner.
Keeping in view possible problems caused by floods, she directed the officers
to alert the concerning officers/employees of the Irrigation Department, so
that they can take quick action. She said that any laxity in flood control
works would not be tolerated. Directing the officers to identify most sensitive
embankments, she said that regional officers should be posted there to keep
constant vigil on them and also to protect them.
Ms. Mayawati said that most of the rivers flowing in the State originate
from Nepal and Uttarakhand. Massive human and property loss occurred
owing to sudden release of water from Nepal and Uttarakhand during rainy
season. She directed that continuous coordination with Nepal and
Uttarakhand should be established for it. She also directed that Nodal
officers should be nominated in connection of inter-state flood problems. She
said that the water of rivers situated at the borders of the States and
crossing from Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh also
enters in the State. Owing to which, flood situation became worsened and
massive human and property loss occurred. She directed that necessary
arrangements should be ensured by the irrigation department to solve the
problems of floods due to the water coming from these states.
In the meeting, the C.M. was informed that keeping in view the
apprehensions of floods, flood control rooms have been established in 32
districts of the State. Necessary preventive arrangements have also been
made. The presence of doctors and availability of medicines in hospitals is
being ensured by health department. Under the arrangement, all necessary
medicines are being made available at health centres, especially in the
districts of Purvanchal, so that flood affected people could go for their
treatment at the nearest health centre. Arrangements have also been made
for getting the cooperation of I.M.A. doctors and voluntary organisations.
It was also told in the meeting that arrangements have been made to
provide food grains, kerosene and essential commodities to flood affected
families in the districts in case of floods. Special allotment of 2.66 lakh mt.
ton. additional rice has been made for flood affected areas, which would be
available to the people at the rate of Rs. 12.35 per Kg. If any di strict needed
more rice, then same would be supplied after making revision in the
allotment. Besides, 1.77 lakh mt.ton. special wheat allotment has been
made for flood affected districts at the rate of Rs. 8.95 per Kg. as consumer
price. Special allotment of 744 Kilo litre has been made for flood affected
districts.
In this meeting, Additional Cabinet Secretary Mr. Netram, Principal
Secretary to C.M. Mr. Durga Shankar Mishra, Principal Secretary Revenue
Mr. K.K. Sinha, Principal Secretary Irrigation Mr. K.S. Atoriya, Medical &
Health Secretary Mr. P.K. Sarangi, Home Secretary Mr. Deepak Kumar and
senior officers of concerning departments were present.
********
C.M. directs officers to tighten up loose wires to check electric shock incidents Launch drive to remove shortcomings of power supply
Make people aware to check power related incidents
Lucknow: 13 July 2010
Taking serious view of the incidents of electric shock/electrocution
being caused by loose wires hanging over the roads and drains etc., the
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati directed the officers to ensure
that the low tension (LT) and high tension (HT) wires were tightened up and
their netting was also done as per the parameters. She warned that if her
directives were not adhered to then action would be taken against the erring
officers. She directed the officers to provide immediate compensation to the
family members of the persons died of electric shock/electrocution.
Taking cognisance of the electrocution incidents in certain districts of
the State, the Chief Minister held a high level meeting to review the progress
of Power Department here today. She directed the officers to replace old LT
and HT wire lines and also tighten up the loose wires. She further directed
them to ensure that the height of the lines was also maintained on priority
basis, so that the loss of people
’s life could be checked. She asked them to
inspect the HT, MT and LT lines passing through the power sub stations,
main highways and also over the roads of urban/rural areas from time to
time and remove all the faults.
The C.M. directed the officers of the UPPCL and distribution companies
to launch a drive to remove all these faults. She directed that all the old
wires crossing over the roads should be replaced, loose wires should be
tightened up and their height should be further elevated, faulty/twisted polls
should be replaced and the concerning executive engineer should submit a
certificate in this regard within next 15 days. Besides, the C.M. directed to
ensure that the power supply remained smooth during the rainy season and
the local level faults were repaired immediately. Whenever the consumer
arrived at the power sub centres for complaint, the same should be
registered/solved immediately, she added.
The Chief Minister has also asked all the officers to stay at their place
of posting and Chief Engineer should monitor the situation. She said that the
PWD had been constructing roads and since the height of the roads
increased with every construction, the gap between overhead wires and
roads narrowed down sometimes causing serious accidents. She said that
keeping this in view, the old road should be scrapped and new road should
be constructed. Besides, the executive engineer of the Power Department
should be informed about the construction of the road compulsorily.
The Chief Minister directed the officers of the Directorate of Electricity
Safety to launch a drive to inspect the high tension lines and remove all the
faults at the earliest. She said that strict action should be taken against the
guilty officers/employees who had not replaced faulty wires/pillars despite
complaints as it had been causing accidents.
The C.M. said that extensive awareness drive should be launched to
make people aware about the power related mishaps. She said that the
wires crossing over the road should be guarded at all places. She cautioned
to ensure that the houses should not be constructed under HT lines, vehicles
should not be parked under the wire lines and hand-pumps should not be
installed under the same. Besides, no work should be carried out near high
tension lines and other power lines. All development authorities, Housing
Board and Nagar Nigams should be directed about it, she said.
The Chief Minister also directed the officers to immediately remove
7000 faults, which came to light during the drive launched to check old lines,
bended pillars and loose hanging wire lines. She also took serious view of
the electric shock/electrocution accidents that took place in Saharanpur and
Mirzapur and asked the senior officers to take strict action against the guilty.
She further directed them to provide immediate compensation to the family
members of the electrocution victims. She said that all the orders given at
the meeting should be complied within next 15 days and if any laxity in their
implementation was discovered then severe action should be taken against
the guilty officers.
********
CM takes serious view of Allahabad incident
CM directs Principal Secretary Home and DGP to visit Allahabad and investigate the case thoroughly
CM directs to provide medical facilities to all injured persons
Lucknow: 12 July 2010
Taking serious view of the manhandling of institutional
finance, stamp and court fee minister Mr. Nand Gopal Gupta
‘
Nandi’ and injury to some other persons, the Uttar Pradesh Chief
Minister Ms. Mayawati called meeting of the senior officers of the
State immediately to inquire about the incident and directed
Principal Secretary Home and DGP and to go to Allahabad and
investigate the same. She directed both the officers to
investigate the incident thoroughly and ensure severe
punishment for the guilty. She has wished speedy recovery for
the injured persons.
Criticising the incident severely, Ms. Mayawati said that the
guilty would be punished at all costs. She also directed senior
leaders of her party Mr. Naseemuddin Siddiqui and Mr. Swami
Prasad Maurya to go to Allahabad and ensure that all the injured
persons got all possible medical facilities.
*******
Declare all villages under naxal affected areas as Ambedkar Villages and ensure their rapid development
SDM will be held directly responsible for illegal possession on land belonging to SC/ST
Ensure distribution of agricultural/residential land among eligible SC/ST people immediately
DMs should keep an eye on the sale of land belonging to SC/ST
Launch extensive drive against food adulterators
Sale of spurious drugs intolerable, send culprits to jail
Ensure timely availability of fertilisers and seeds for farmers
Lucknow: 12 July 2010
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati directed the officers to
provide facilities like health, education, roads, power, drinking water,
distribution of pattas, ration etc. on priority basis in the areas affected by
naxalism. She said that the demands of the people residing in these areas
should be considered and action should be taken in this regard at the earliest.
Directing the officers to allocate houses ready under the Manyawar Shri
Kanshiramji Shahri Garib Awas Yojna on priority basis, she further asked them
to start work on the construction of 91,487 houses this year at the earliest.
The Chief Minister gave these directions after getting the feedback of the
meeting between senior officers of the Government and Divisional
Commissioners held at Yojna Bhawan today. The Cabinet Secretary Mr.
Shashank Shekhar Singh, Chief Secretary Mr. Atul Kumar Gupta, Additional
Cabinet Secretary Mr. Netram, Principal Secretary Information Mr. Vijay
Shankar Pandey and Principal Secretary Home Kunwar Fateh Bahadur, other
senior officers reviewed the progress of works set under priority by the C.M.
The Chief Minister directed the officers to improve the law and order of
the Chandauli, Sonbhadra and Mirzapur districts and also accelerate the pace of
development. She directed them to declare the remaining villages of the naxal
affected areas as Ambedkar villages and saturate them with all development
works. She said that work on all the sanctioned schemes of these areas should
be started at the earliest. She said that efforts should be made to get NOC
within a week for the schemes pending for clearance (NOC) from Forest
Department or Government of India.
The C.M. said that if the lands of SC/ST were grabbed illegally, then the
SDMs would be held responsible for it. Besides, she also directed the officers to
distribute housing and agricultural land among the eligible persons belonging to
SC/ST and beneficiaries of other categories. She asked the officers to remove
the illegal possession on the agricultural/housing land allotted to the
beneficiaries immediately and register cases under appropriate sections if
somebody tries to encroach it again. She directed the officers to send team to
some districts separately to check that the FIRs were being lodged against the
land grabbers. She asked the DMs to keep an eye on the sale of land belonging
to SC/ST. She further directed to set up a committee to improve the
consolidation process.
The C.M. directed the officers to launch extensive drive against the food
adulterators and punish them as well. She said that the sale of spurious and
prohibited drugs would not be tolerated at any cost and those indulging in these
activities will be send to jail.
The Chief Minister directed the officers to ensure that the list prepared
under the U.P. Mukhyamantri Mahamaya Garib Arthik Madad Yojna was
published at the earliest. She said that explanation of the DMs should be called
from the districts where the list was not prepared. She said that under this
scheme poor people would be provided Rs. 300 assistance every month. About
30 lakh poor people would be benefited under this scheme and any laxity in its
implementation would not be tolerated. Directing the officers to ensure
effective redress of the grievances of the people received during Tehsil diwas,
she said that if any complaint was received in this regard, then strict action
would be initiated against the guilty.
The Chief Minister asked the officers to ensure effective implementation
of the development schemes of the backward classes, minority welfare,
handicapped welfare, women and child development. She directed the officers
to ensure timely distribution of pre-10
th scholarships. She said that the
applications received under the Rashtriya Pariwarik Labh Yojna should be
disposed of at the earliest and the eligible beneficiary should be provided
benefit of all types of pension schemes after the verification work is completed.
She directed the officers to ensure that the ration shops functioned in a large
number, so that the people faced no difficulty.
The C.M. directed that the construction of bridges and link roads being
constructed at prominent places should be completed within the stipulated time
frame, so that the people could be provided better transport facility. Besides,
she also asked the officers to ensure that reservation facility was strictly
implemented in the Government contracts. She directed the officers to ensure
expansion of the facilities of the Health Department all over the State and
launch special drive from August 01 to ensure various types of immunisation.
Besides, the facility of X-ray, pathology etc. should be available at the
Government hospitals round the clock.
Keeping an eye on the
kharif sowing, the C.M. asked the officers to
ensure that the availability of fertilisers and seeds was maintained in a timely
manner and the farmers faced no difficulty. She asked the officers to provide
timely information of the movement of the fertiliser racks to the DMs and
Divisional Commissioners. She said that district wise plantation target should be
ensured by launching a drive as the rainy season was on. Besides, special drive
should be launched for plantation in the districts belonging to Bundelkhand and
Vindhyanchal regions.
********
C.M. grieved
Lucknow: 11 July 2010
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati has
expressed profound grief over the death of Mr. Priyabrat
Narayan Singh, father of Mr. Rajesh Kumar Singh, who
works as a journalist with the
“Hindustan Times”, news
paper (Lucknow edition).
In a condolence message, the Chief Minister has
conveyed deep sympathies and heartfelt condolences to
the family members of the deceased and prayed for
peace to the departed soul.
It may be recalled that Mr. Priyabrat Narayan
Singh, a retired professor of English from Magadh
University, Bihar passed away yesterday at S.G.P.G.I.
after prolonged illness. He was 72.
******
Participation of banks in schemes implemented for all round development of State very important
—
Chief Minister
Owing to indifference of banks credit-deposit ratio of State considerably lower than national average
Lucknow: 06 July 2010
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati requested
the Union Finance Minister to direct the banks to increase the
credit-deposit ratio (CDR) of the State. She said that the banks,
functioning in the State, had been investing the savings of the
State in the development of other states, while as per the
parameters set by the Reserve Bank of India the same should
be utilised for the development of the State. She said that the
banks should prepare an ambitious plan to accelerate the
disbursal of advances, so that the CDR comes at par with the
national average.
The Medical and Health Minister Mr. Anant Kumar Mishra
read out the written statement of the Chief Minister Ms.
Mayawati at a meeting of Chief Ministers and C.E.O.s of banks
and financial institutions of the North Zone at Chandigarh
today. The meeting was headed by the Union Finance Minister.
It may be recalled that owing to her pre scheduled
appointments, the C.M. could not participate in the meeting.
The C.M. said that owing to the indifference of the banks,
the CDR of the State was much below the national average for
past several decades, while the same for other states like
Chandigarh stood at 141 per cent, Tamil Nadu 112 per cent,
Andhra Pradesh 105 per cent and Maharashtra 83 per cent. For
the neighbouring state of M.P., the CDR stood at 59 per cent,
Rajasthan 85 per cent, Punjab 65 per cent and Haryana 63 per
cent. She said that even though the agriculture and industry
sector of Uttar Pradesh offered wide possibilities of consumption
of loan, yet low CDR by banks was a cause of concern. She
requested that this problem should be solved on priority basis.
Ms. Mayawati said that the participation of banks in the
ongoing developmental schemes of the State had become very
important at present. She said that the poor people of the rural
areas should be provided loans liberally to ensure their rapid
uplift and also their all round development.
The Chief Minister said that the NABARD prepared loan
schemes for all the districts of the State on the basis of
Potential Link Plan every year. A loan target of Rs. 45,250 crore
had been set up for the top priority areas of the State under the
annual loan scheme for the last financial year. The RBI had
allocated a loan distribution target of 18 per cent for the
agriculture sector in the areas of priority. In the light of the
directives of the RBI, loans worth Rs. 29,055 crore were
distributed against a loan target of Rs. 29,548 crore for the
agriculture sector. She said that the State Government had
made more budgetary arrangements for providing fertilisers,
hybrid seeds and irrigation facilities to the farmers to ensure
their economic development.
Ms. Mayawati said that the State Government had taken
the initiative to double the income of the farmers. Under the
crop loan programme, mega camps were organised at
development block/Tehsil level for distributing Kisan Credit
Card/crop loan. She said that 27.58 lakh kisan credit card were
distributed against the target of 29.65 lakh in the last financial
year. This data had made it clear that banks were not taking
effective action in this direction. She requested that Finance
Ministry should issue the directives to banks for distributing
kisan credit cards according to the fixed target.
Referring to micro/small and medium enterprises, the
Chief Minister said that under the scheme of SMI, banks had
increased the credit flow in this sector in last five years, but
more efforts were needed in this direction. Drawing the
attention of Finance Ministry towards the rehabilitation of sick
units, she said that banks should also take initiative for the
rehabilitation of service sector enterprises, besides small
industries. She said that the institutions of providing financial
help had an important role in the rehabilitation of sick units.
Unfortunately, the financial institutions instead of taking
interest in the rehabilitation of sick units, pay more attention in
realising their dues.
Ms. Mayawati said that the State Government was doing
its best efforts for the weaker sections of the society. She said
that the State Government had made 20 per cent advance
available against the 10 per cent advance criterion of financial
help fixed by RBI for these weaker sections. Giving the
information regarding financial help for the uplift of minority
community, she said that effective arrangement should be
made for providing the availability of advance to minority
community. She said that the State Government had taken the
action of providing advance of Rs. 7270 crore to the 7.87 lakh
beneficiaries of minorities in 21 minority dominated districts.
She said that the Union Finance Ministry should put pressure on
banks for making more advance available to the beneficiaries of
minorities, so that the required change could come in the living
of minority community.
The Chief Minister while making request for providing
banking facilities available in 14625 villages of the State having
the population of more than 2000 by March 2011, said that
opening of banking outlets were most necessary in these
villages for financial inclusive in all the regions of the State. She
said that subsidy and payment facility smart card based on EBT
technique was being considered in centrally sponsored
schemes. The compensation for the expenditure of banks in this
process would also be considered, she said adding that the
State Government was running several schemes for the uplift
and welfare of poor and weaker sections of the society through
the limited resources of the State, besides the Central
Government. The role of banks was very important in running
these schemes, she added.
The Chief Minister said that banks should cooperate in the
implementation of Uttar Pradesh Mukhyamantri Mahamaya
Garib Arthik Madad Yojna, Savitri Bai Phule Balika Siksha Madad
Yojna and Mahamaya Garib Balika Ashirwad Yojna being run by
the State Government. She said that the development of the
country is not possible without the development of the Uttar
Pradesh. She appealed to banks for providing their cooperation
in the development of the State in view of their important role.
Develop Maoist-affected areas as Ambedkar villages: Mayawati
TNN, Jul 13, 2010, 04.38am IST
LUCKNOW: In a new roadmap for the development of Maoist-infested areas, chief minister Mayawati on Monday directed officials to declare all villages in such areas as ‘Ambedkar villages’ for accelerated development, and asked the forest department to issue necessary no objection certificate (NOC) at the earliest for road construction and other development work.
This was directed by the CM after a review meeting held in the city. The meeting was conducted by Cabinet secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh and chief secretary Atul Kumar Gupta.
In this scheme of things, the CM said, top priority should be accorded to electrification and improvement in health care and drinking water facilities, besides upgradation of the public distribution system. She also said landless people should also be allotted Panchayat land on pattas on a priority basis.
This way, she said, the scheme should be prepared for five districts, namely Sonebhadra, Chandauli, Mirzapur, Chitrakoot and parts of Karvi and Banda. The CM said development programme should be formulated on the basis of demands of local people and added 61,487 cheap houses should be constructed in the area under the Kashi Ram Shehari Garib Awas Yojna on a priority basis. Expressing concern over delay in the execution of scheme already prepared for the region, she said work should be expedited and officers concerned should be held accountable for lapses. As for the irregularities in the allotment of land on patta to those of Scheduled Castes, the CM said deterrent action should be taken against the officials found guilty on that count and any such patta should be cancelled immediately. In such a matter, she said, SDMs would be held directly responsible for any lapses.
She said the sale of land owned by SC/ST should be screened thoroughly and nobody should be allowed to exploit them. Land useful for agriculture and housing purposes should be allotted on a priority to landless people of to SC/ST. Taking strong exception to the rising incidents of adulteration in consumable items, she said action should be taken to discourage such a practice through a sustained drive. She said divisional commissioners and district magistrates concerned should constantly monitor such drives in their respective areas and also inform the Secretariate about the outcome of the drives.
Likewise, the sale of spurious and banned drugs should be monitored and deterrent action should be taken against those found guilty. As for the availability of fertiliser and seeds to farmers, she said special efforts should be made to ensure their supply at block and village level. There was no dearth of such items and, therefore, any complaints would be deemed as a lapse on part of the officials concerned, she added.
She also said identification of beneficiaries under the UP Mukhyamantri Garib Arthik Madad Yojna should be completed without any delay. Under the scheme, Rs 300 per month is earmarked to be given to each beneficiary. This is expected to benefit nearly 30 lakh beneficiaries in the state.
Prabuddha Bharath Matha Maha Mayawati distributes the State’s wealth equally among all sections of the society. She not only distributed land to the tillers, but also healthy seeds to the farmers. BSP government distributes loans to all the needy upcoming bussiness men. This self-employment will help the unemployment problem. Her administration is excellent and the government employees are doing their work efficiently. She is firm in punishing the corrupt govt.employees.
Maya begins overhaul of party set-up
Lucknow : Upper castes, OBCs to be given key posts; MLAs, MLCs to be included in local decisions
To ensure the presence of upper caste and OBC leaders in key posts at the district-level the Bahujan Samaj Party has made several changes in its organisational structure.
Recently, Chief Minister Mayawati had dissolved all party committees and asked senior functionaries like zonal coordinators to select office bearers who can ensure a good show for the party in the coming assembly elections.
The party is now overhauling its district units — and one of the key changes is to revive the post of the vice-president there.
“The post existed about a year ago. Now, the party leadership has decided to restore it,” said a BSP leader. The district units will have four key posts — president, vice-president, treasurer and office secretary.
According to the new system, the posts of vice-president or treasurer can be given to upper castes, Muslims or the OBCs.
“It all depends on the caste profile of the district,” a leader said. “If the district has a good number of Muslim population, the party’s vice president can become from the Muslim community.”
If an upper caste member gets the post of vice-president, the treasurer can be selected from the OBC community. “In case the treasurer is from the Brahmin community, the post of vice-president can be given to the OBC community.”
The party, however, will continue its practice of selecting the its district unit presidents from the SC community. “Members from Pasi, Dhobi and Dhanuk communities will also become the party president at the district level,” the leader said.
A decision has also been made to accommodate MLAs and MLCs at the district level as member of the executive committee. The CM has given clear instructions to zonal coordinators to constitute district units with their consent.
“The step is meant to empower MLAs in party affairs at the district level,” said a legislator. “Earlier, the legislators were not directly associated with the district units. They were supposed to be communicated about the party’s decision by the zonal coordinators.”
The party has also started appointing its members as “Zila Prabhari”.
“A Zila Prabhari is virtually a replacement of the Lok Sabha Prabhari,” the legislator said. He is supposed to assist the district president.
Party insiders say Mayawati’s chief focus now is organisation. “She wants to gear up the party’s district-level organisation before September. Thereafter, she will unfold her next plan for the assembly elections,” a leader said.
Plea against Mayawati: poll panel asked to decide on maintainability
Photo: Mayawati
The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Election Commission (EC) to first decide on the maintainability of the complaint filed by advocate Ravi Kant, alleging misuse of public funds for installation of statues by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati for self-glorification and to promote the symbol of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
A Bench of Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia, Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan and Justice Swatanter Kumar passed this order on an application filed by the Commission for a direction to the State government to furnish details of the number of statues of elephants and Ms. Mayawati to decide the issue before it.
The Bench said: “We are informed that the matter has been argued [in the Commission] threadbare on the aspect of maintainability on April 7. If, on the question of maintainability, the Election Commission wants further hearing, notice may be given. However, the decision shall be given by the Election Commission within a period of three months. Place the writ petition on receipt of the decision of the Election Commission.”
U.P.’s plea
Earlier, senior counsel K.K. Venugopal, appearing for U.P., said maintainability should be decided first before the Commission took up the other issues.
Senior counsel Ashok Desai, appearing for the Commission, said the February 22 order of the Supreme Court made it clear that there was no need to go into maintainability.
Justice Kapadia, however, said that if the Commission held that the complaint was maintainable then it could call for material from the State government. “We want to see the decision of the EC whether the complaint is maintainable or not. Suppose the EC comes to the conclusion that the complaint is not maintainable, then there will be no need to ask for any material.”
The Supreme Court earlier asked the Election Commission to pass appropriate orders on Ravi Kant’s petition.
Govt prints touts’ posters to check corruption
LucknowIn a bid to check corruption in welfare schemes, the Uttar Pradesh government has directed the rural development department to prepare posters of touts and paste them in villages and blocks.
“Chief Development Officers should launch a drive against corruption and get FIRs lodged against middlemen involved in schemes like Indira Awas and Mahamaya Awas Yojna,” Rural Development Minister Daddu Prasad said during a review meeting here yesterday.
“Posters of these middlemen should be printed and pasted on the walls in the villages and blocks so that corruption could be checked,” he added.
He said that awareness camps should be organised in all blocks across the state to make people aware.
Prasad said that stern action should be taken against officers having poor performance in Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
NEW DELHI - The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Election Commission to decide within three months a complaint-seeking freezing of the ‘elephant’ symbol of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for allegedly violating poll panel’s instructions on use of party symbols.
A bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia said it was keeping the petition relating to the issue alive before it and any further proceedings will take place after it goes through the decision on the maintainability of the complaint by the Election Commission.
The apex court further said that the question of seeking material from the Uttar Pradesh Government would arise only after it decides on the validity of the order passed by the Election Commission.
The Supreme Court had on February 22 directed the Election Commission to deliver judgement whether installation of statues of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati and elephants, which is BSP’s election symbol, at various parks in the state, at the cost of public money was violative of election law. (ANI)
BSP now third largest party in Rajya Sabha
At a time when the Congress party is struggling to find legislative support in Parliament, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)—its rival in the politically crucial Uttar Pradesh—has become the third largest group in the Upper House, replacing the Communist Party of India-Marxist, or CPM. The Congress leads the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre.
After the biennial polls held on 14 and 17 June to elect 55 members to the Rajya Sabha, the BSP, led by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati, now has 17 members in the Upper House, after Congress (71) and the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP (49).
The CPM, which has been facing a series of electoral defeats since it withdrew support to the UPA government in July 2008, has 15 legislators in the Rajya Sabha. The Samajwadi Party, the main opposition party in Uttar Pradesh, has just five members.
CPM politburo member and Rajya Sabha legislator Sitaram Yechury said the BSP will now be politically more crucial. “…The dominant party in Uttar Pradesh is always strong in Rajya Sabha because of the sheer size of the state,” he said.
Uttar Pradesh sends 80 legislators to the Lok Sabha, the most by any state. The BSP has 226 members in the state’s 403-member assembly. This is the first time the BSP, largely a UP-focused party, has gained a significant presence in the Rajya Sabha. According to data from the Election Commission of India, the party had won 23.19% votes in the 2002 assembly polls and 24.67% of the Lok Sabha seats in UP in the 2004 general election. Its fortunes improved in 2007 when it won 206 seats in the assembly elections, winning 30.43% of the votes in the most populous state, which had long been a bastion of the Congress, the BJP and the socialists.
A section of Congress leaders admitted a stronger BSP would be bad news for the ruling party, but Satyavrat Chaturvedi, a senior Congress leader, said the development would not affect the Union government adversely.
“The BSP supports the UPA government so the party becoming stronger in Parliament… This should not have any impact on the government,” he said. “Each political party has its own agenda and it’s natural that it (the BSP) bargains for what it wants. It is part and parcel of coalition politics.” Mayawati has backed the Congress on occasions in Parliament but has also been severely critical of the party on several issues.
The Congress and its allies in the UPA now hold fewer than 100 seats in the 245-member Rajya Sabha. One-third of the Upper House retires every two years. Rajya Sabha members are elected by members of state legislative assemblies in a system of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote.
Maya’s cultural Prabuddha Brarath Matha Maha Mayajaal
It has now become evident that in the cultural realm she is simply Schedul Caste and Bahujanising the whole state. Not only are districts being renamed after SC/ST-bahujan icons, but the very ethos of Uttar Pradesh is undergoing a revolutionary change now.
Ms Mayawati has built many monuments on the Navayana Buddhist theme (navayana is Pali for new vehicle). Navayana Buddhist refers to the idea that a Buddhist movement may represent a new yana. Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar: “I will accept and follow the teachings of Buddha. I will keep my people away from the different opinions of Hinyan and Mahayan, two religious orders. Our Bouddha Dhamma is a new Bouddha Dhamma, Navayan”.
The Buddhist and Ambedkar parks that Ms Mayawati is building will inevitably reduce the spiritual significance of Ayodhya, Kashi-Benares, Mathura and so on.
By renaming districts after Ambedkar, Phule, Sahuji Maharaj, Rama Bai (the illiterate first wife of Ambedkar), the SC/ST-bahujan icons of Maharashtra and the birthplace of Navayana Buddhism, she has changed Uttar Pradesh’s cultural atmosphere itself.
Of course, Kanshi Ram and Ms Mayawati herself have been elevated as icons in the process. In Uttar Pradesh, they are not only names of districts but their statues are being worshipped in Ambedkar parks.
Ms Mayawati’s decision to transform the cultural realm of Uttar Pradesh would certainly have all-India implications. Brahmins of Uttar Pradesh are not in a position to resist this transformation. She has put it on an irreversible course.
The Congress cannot stall this course either. Wherever the Congress is in power, they have named institutions after Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. But they do not have any culturally transformative implications. Buddha, Ambedkar, Phule, Sahuji Maharaj, Periyar, Kanshi Ram and so on are not like that. They have serious anti-Hindu cultural implications. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) knows this but is not in a position to do anything because it burnt its hands in Ayodhya and Gujarat. Further, the BJP cannot say that these are anti-national icons.
Likewise, the Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mulayam Singh Yadav cannot reverse or stop the trend because he has no alternative of his own to offer. His party is now competing for power for the sake of power, without constructing any socio-cultural agenda of its own. Its icons, Ram Manohar Lohia and Charan Singh, do not have much impact in the cultural realm, unlike Ambedkar.
The fact is that unless icons are associated with alternative spiritual culture they do not create a following that lasts long. In the modern period only Ambedkar did that and Kanshi Ram brought that icon into unbelievable achievability. And Ms
Mayawati’s SC/ST Bahujan Samaj common sense captured that imagination very well.
Now Congress, the SP or the BJP cannot come to power and they will not be able to dismantle the Ambedkar parks or rename the districts. Earlier, Ms Mayawati was in power only for six months each time — that too with the BJP’s support. But now she will be there for full 20 years and the chances of her getting re-elected are very high. If she is in power just for 10 years, Uttar Pradesh’s cultural history will change beyond recognition.
Not many know that Kanshi Ram had a vision of constructing the biggest Ambedkarite Buddha Vihara in Uttar Pradesh along with a massive international airport in Lucknow. His plan was that Uttar Pradesh should become a big Ambedkarite Buddhist international tourist centre so that it could generate a competitive tourist capital.
Ms Mayawati seems to think that she has to fulfil her mentor’s dream. She seems to understand that cultural capital will be more long-lasting than political and economic capital.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) group leaders are confident enough to let know that if Maya is given the position of PM, she can only take effective steps to curb the rising prices at each of the 71 district headquarters across the state. The BSP showed their protest against the rising prices a day after Monday’s Bharat Bhandh called separately by the Left parties and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
State multi-portfolio minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui also claimed Mayawati is the only solution for sorting out all the ills faced by the nation. He said “While we urge the central government to roll back the prices of petrol and petroleum products, we must also resolve here today to herald Behen Mayawati as the country’s next Prime Minister, because she is the only leader who has the mettle to check and curb price rise. I am confident that with Mayawati at the helm of affairs, the nation would not find it difficult to tide over many crises facing us”.
bharat band or any other state band is not the solution to solve the problem.how can we think for strikes or the country band.the country’s already people already facing poverty and on top these political parties which do promises on the time of the votes that they’ll work for the aam aadmi.are they doing the favour to the aam aadmi by band.don’t know how they pass their time in this critical time.my friends find the better solution of the problem.i think behanji mayawati is the best solution .she got the capability to sort out the country’s problem.
Prokerala.Com
Make Mayawati PM to bring down prices, says BSP
Lucknow, July 6
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leaders Tuesday called on the people to help make party chief and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati the prime minister, asserting that only she could bring down prices and tackle the other crises facing the country.
BSP staged protests against rising prices at each of the 71 district headquarters across the state.
Addressing a rally here to mark the BSP’s protest against the United Progressive Alliance government’s failure to contain rising prices, state multi-portfolio minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui claimed that Mayawati alone was the answer to all ills faced by the country.
“While we urge the central government to roll back the prices of petrol and petroleum products, we must also resolve here today to herald Behen Mayawati as the country’s next prime minister, because she is the only leader who has the mettle to check and curb price rise,” he said.
“I am confident that with Mayawati at the helm of affairs, the nation would not find it difficult to tide over many a crises facing us,” he claimed.
While Siddiqui led the demonstration in Lucknow, other BSP ministers and prominent party leaders were detailed to lead similar demonstrations in their respective areas of influence.
No violence was reported from any part of the state during the protest.
Allahabad, July 6 (ANI): Activists and supporters of the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) staged a rally in Allahabad on Tuesday to blame Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government for the steep price of essential commodities.
The demonstrators held public meetings on the roadside and raised slogans against the Congress-led government at the Centre and criticised the economic policies of the government.
Protestors also criticised the Centre’s failure to curb inflationary trends which are affecting the general public.
The protest, however, remained peaceful. It didn’t cause any disruption to normal life. Some of the protestors acted like beggars to draw Centre’s attention to common’s man actual condition.
‘By begging, we wanted to show that most of the people in India are very poor. If the Central government suddenly raises price of petroleum products especially kerosene, the BPL (below poverty line) card holders or the people who are just above poverty line, will have no choice left other than begging,’ said Harsh Vardhan Vajypayee, a local leader of BSP, Allahabad.
Reportedly, elsewhere in the state, senior party leaders and ministers attended the protest rallies in their respective constituencies.
It may be recalled that recently, the government raised the price of petrol by rupees 3.73 and diesel by rupees 2 per litre. (ANI)
BSP holds Dharna and protest against price rise In Uttar Pradesh one day Dharna and protest is being organised today at all district headquarters against decontrol of petroleum products and price rise by the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party.
AIR Lucknow correspondent reports that party workers taken out processions raising slogans against price rise and UPA government reached at Dharna venues. In the state capital Lucknow party leaders and Ministers of state government are sitting on Dharna at Jyotibaphule Park. In Ambedkar Nagar district three ministers of state government including Lalji Verma, Ramachal Rajbhar and Dharmraj Nishad addressed public meeting. In Basti district food and civil supply minister Ram Prasad Chaudhary lead the demonstration.
Party supremo Mayawati has directed its all party organisational units to organise effective demonstrations to aware common men against alleged bad policies of UPA government. She has said that party would organise demonstrations at all state capitals across the country on 15th of this month on this issue.
BSP stages protest in U.P. against fuel price hike
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Tuesday staged a protest at all the district headquarters in Uttar Pradesh and accused the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre of making the life of the common man more miserable.
The BSP’s agitation was described as a “resounding success” by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and party president Mayawati.
Centre responsible
In a press release, Ms. Mayawati blamed the Centre for the soaring inflation and said the increase in the prices of diesel, petrol, kerosene and LPG cylinders had been made to benefit oil companies. The misery and plight of the common man did not figure in the UPA government’s scheme of things, she said.
Instead of decontrolling the petrol prices and reducing the subsidy on LPG cylinders, taxes on petro products should have been reduced. According to her, the Centre was responsible for the unprecedented increase in the prices of food grains and essential commodities.
“The Central government lacked the political will to control inflation,” Ms. Mayawati said.
“Adding to woes”
Senior BSP functionaries, office-bearers, ministers, MPs and MLAs participated in the agitation. In Lucknow, the main function was held at the Jyotiba Phule Stadium. Addressing the gathering, PWD and Excise Minister Naseemudin Siddiqui lashed out at the Centre for the fuel price hike and said the decision had compounded the woes of the poor
Probe-into-Rajgir-Vulture Peak-Ashokan-Stupa-destruction A high-level probe has been ordered into the administrative lapses that led to the destruction of the Ashokan stupa located near the Ratnagiri hills at Rajgir in Nalanda districtand also a separate police probe into the destruction.
Official sources said a committee of state human resources department (HRD) principal secretary Anjani K Singh, ADG (police HQ) P K Thakur and additional principal chief conservator (forest) Bashir Ahmad Khan has been assigned the probe into the administrative lapses.
This move follows a report in a newspaper on Friday on the mysterious destruction of the Ashokan stupa, to have been built by emperor Ashoka. After going through the report, an aerial survey of the site has been made along with state chief secretary Anup Mukherjee, HRD principal secretary Singh and ADG (HQ) Thakur.
The Nalanda DM and SP have been directed to launch a combing operation to catch the culprit(s). Both the district officials also made an on-the-spot inspection of the site on Friday. Security measures have been beefed up near the destruction site.
Incidentally, officials had a tough time climbing the hill on foot. The aerial ropeway, operated by the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation, has been constantly non-functional.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has already lodged an FIR at the Rajgir police station against unknown persons in this regard.
A fully-fledged excavation in and around the Ashokan stupa has to be undertaken along with the aerial ropeway. The area is a `protected site’ under the ASI.
Meanwhile, ASI’s Patna circle superintending archaeologist S K Manjul told a proposal for excavation at the site would soon be sent to the ASI DG. Buddhism Pilgrimage Photo Galary
Bodhgaya
Mahabodhi Temple
Small Stupa near Temple
Fresco on temple base
Golden Buddha in Temple
Base of Temple at Bodhgaya
The Sacred Bodhi Tree at Bodhgaya
Side view of Temple
Field of small stupas near Temple
Buddha statue near Temple
Ashokan pillar at Bodhgaya
Buddha statue in pond near Temple
Another view of the Temple
Nalanda
Ruins of University at Nalanda
University ruins in well manicured surroundings
Ruins of University at Nalanda
University ruins in well manicured surroundings
Pilgrims under instruction under tree at Nalanda
Taiwanese nuns at Nalanda
Sarnath
The Dhamek Stupa dominates the Sarnath site
Ruins in nicely manicured grounds at Sarnath
Many pilgrims visit the Sarnath site each year
Base of Ashokan pillar at Sarnath
The Dhamek Stupa dominates the Sarnath site
Pilgrim puts gold leaf at a site in Sarnath
Mulagandhakuti Vihara monastery
Kushinagar
Mahaparinibbana Stupa at Kushinagar
Bell at Kushinagar site
Mahaparinibbana Stupa front view
Statue at spot where the Buddha attained Nibbana
Pilgrims walk around statue at Nibbana site
Makutabandhana stupa at the site of cremation
Lumbni
Inside of Mayadevi temple on spot of the Buddha’s birth
Fresco at spot of Buddha’s birth
Sacred Bodhi Tree and pond at Lumbini
Ashokan pillar at Lumbini
Pond and sacred Bodhi Tree at Lumbini site
Meditating monks under Bodhi tree at Lumbini
Western Pilgrim at Lumbini
Savati
Manicured grounds at Savati
Bodhi Tree at Savati site
Manicured grounds at Savati thanks to ASI
Bodhi Tree at Savati site
Ruins of stupa at Savati
Monks at Jetavana Monastery, main pilgrimage site
Monks at Jetavana Monastery
Stupa at site of Twin Miracle
Remains of another ancient varsity found
PATNA: Already known globally for its Buddhist study centres like the famous Nalanda University, Udantpuri (Biharsharif, HQs of Nalanda) and Vikramshila University in Bhagalpur, Bihar can now boasts of another university at Telhara in Nalanda district. Telhara is a small village in Hilsa subdivision, barely 29 km west of Nalanda district headquarters.
Preliminary excavation at the site has led to the discovery of pottery and images belonging to Gupta period (5CE) to the later Pala period (9-10 CE).
“Digging has also revealed that a 34-metre-long floor lined by a number of cells. The vast floor is dotted with a number of platforms with images of Buddha installed on them,” says Atul K Verma, head of the ASI excavation team at Telhara.
Verma, an excavation and exploration officer in the Bihar state directorate of archaeology, told that the excavation work at nearly 350-feet-high Bulandi mound at Telhara has revealed evidence of three-storyed concrete structure as mentioned by a Chinese travellor Xuan Zang in his travel account.
“A four-feet high blue basalt image of Buddha in ‘abhay mudra’ and another in ‘dhamma chakka mudra’ have also been found in horizontal position on the floor. It appears to have been a prayer hall, mentioned by the Chinese travellor,” Verma said.
Evidence of prayer halls and residential cells for monks in the monastery have now been found in course of the recent diggings. Excavation work has been launched at Telhara on December 26 last year.
Telhara, monastic site of Theravada tradition, was first discovered in 1872 by the then Nalanda DM A M Broadley which was commented on with some details later during 1875-78 by Alexander Cunnigham.
A small image of Buddha in red sandstone reveals that this monastery was in existence during the Gupta period. A stone plaque with eight lines inscription and a black colour terracotta seal have also been found on the floor. The plaque and the terracotta seal may reveal the time and other details of this structure, say experts.
Telhara village came under Turkish rule in the 13th century. Subsequently, it became an important Muslim settlement. The place is also mentioned in the Ain-i-Akbari as ‘Tiladah’ and is shown as one of the largest parganas in the region.
State culture secretary Vivek K Singh said fresh excavation work would start from October to find out more insights about this site. “In view of the importance of this site, we will declare it as state protected site soon. We are also in the process of fencing the entire site,” he said.
Terming the site as ‘phenomenal’, Singh Said: “We will take it to its logical end. Cunnigham’s desire to excavate the site would now be fulfilled by us,” Singh said.
Buddhist complex unearthed in Prabuddha Bharath
Tripura relics spark rethink on history
Ruins at the Boxanagar site.
Agartala, May 30: Archaeological excavations at Boxanagar in Sonamura subdivision of West Tripura have unearthed a large Buddhist complex, including relics of a stupa, teaching centre, a bronze image of Buddha and seals in Brahmi script, triggering a controversy over the history of the state.
The excavation commenced in 2003 under the supervision of Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) Guwahati circle.
In the second phase under archaeologists Bimal Sinha and B.K. Pande, remains of walls and burnt bricks were recovered.
Indigenous historians believe that the state’s history had commenced with the arrival of Tibeto-Burman groups from the Bodoland areas of Assam, leading to the rule of the Manikya dynasty, which had ruled Tripura till October 15, 1949, for more than 500 years.
But rival schools differently interpret the excavations at Boxanagar in West Tripura and Pilak in South Tripura, which have yielded telltale evidence of the peaceful co-existence of the Hindu-Buddhist culture.
This school attributes the derivation of the name Tripura to a Kokborok (indigenous language) compound of twi (water) and pra (near), justifying the name with reference to Tripura’s proximity to the vast water resources of the then East Bengal (now Bangladesh).
The Manikya dynasty’s court chronicle Raj Mala says Tripura’s authentic history had actually commenced from the year 1432 when Maha Manikya had ascended the throne.
In the subsequent centuries, the Manikya dynasty’s domain had extended well into Bangladesh, encompassing the entire Comilla district and parts of Noakhali and Sylhet districts.
“The Hindu-Buddhist culture at Pilak had flourished from the 8th to the 12th century. The findings there are very significant — a stone image of the sun god, Tathagata Buddha in meditation, Lord Vishnu and the mother goddess; remains of a Buddhist stupa and a temple,” said Jawahar Acharjee, Tripura’s leading numismatist and historian.
Acharjee now infers that Tripura’s plains had been under the Kharg and Harikel dynasties of Eastern Bengal at the time, not under the Manikya dynasty.
He also asserted that the ancient name of Pilak was Pirok and that coins in Brahmi script had been discovered from the area.
“My interpretation is that Pilak was a temple town and religious centre for both Hindus and Buddhists at a place, which could lead a tourist or pilgrim to interiors of Bangladesh, Budddhist Arakan through Chittagong Hill Tracts and parts of Tripura,” said Acharjee.
“Both Pilak (Pirok) and Boxanagar (Birak) stand very close to the border with Bangladesh and bear a close resemblance to the Buddhist culture that flourished in Maynamati and Paharpur areas in Comilla district of Bangladesh,” said Acharjee.
The former archaeologist and director of the state museum at Agartala said Buddhism had flourished in Tripura under the patronage of the Kharg dynasty rulers of East Bengal that had ruled the Bikrampur-Dhaka and neighbouring areas from the year 664, between the 5th and 12th centuries.
The dynasty had later overthrown the Raat dynasty of Maynamati and Comilla before facilitating the growth and expansion of Buddhist culture across the border.
“Chinese traveller and pilgrim Hieun Tsang had visited Assam at the invitation of king Bhaskar Barman in 643 AD and had passed through Sylhet but his account known as Si-U-Ki never refers to a kingdom called Tripura. Naturally, we cannot take the claims of the Manikya dynasty, as recorded in Raj Mala, regarding the antiquity of their lineage extending back to the epic age of the Mahabharat, very seriously,” said Acharjee.
He added that he had 150 coins of Eastern Bengal and Harikel kingdoms as evidence and claimed that Tripura’s indigenous people had arrived in batches not earlier than the 12th or 13th century and the Manikya dynasty had commenced its rule from the 15th century.
Historian Sukhendu Debbarma of Tripura University challenges Acharjee’s inferences. “Archaeological findings unsupported by literary, numismatic and other evidences should not lead to any conclusion. Moreover, the findings at Pilak and Boxanagar do not necessarily mean that Manikya dynasty rulers did not have any control in the area. Maybe the Buddhist culture there had flourished under the patronage of Tripura’s kings,” said Debbarma.
Buddhist-era rock engravings found in Udupi dist
UDUPI: Newly discovered rock engravings at Buddhana Jeddu in Udupi district have evinced keen interest among research scholars engaged in archaeology.
It is a significant and unique rock art site near Neralakatte, on the right side of the Kundapur-Kollur main road, in Kundapur taluk of Udupi district, said Prof T Murugeshi of Ancient History and Archaeology of MSRS College, Shriva. He said that during exploration in Buddhana Jeddu, apparently a significant name in the vicinity of Karkunje panchayat, his team had noticed Buddhist remains and a few engravings in the Bhimana Paare.
The team comprised Sridhar Bhat, a noted field explorer working in Kamala Bai High School, Kadiyali, Prof Prashanth Shetty, lecturer in history, Milagres College, Kalyanpur, Prof. Jayaram Shettigar, research scholar, Govinda Pai Research Centre, Udupi. Raghavendra Amin and Sri Naveen, artists from Kalamandir in Udupi.
Murugeshi said the Bhimana Paare, a grazing area of Buddhana Jeddu, is located in the reserve forest. The engravings were partially exposed due to erosion of the overlying deposit. “We have conducted three expeditions during three different seasons in the past couple of months, and exposed more then 10 engravings so far,” he said.
The pictures comprise three animals (cattle), three human figures, one embryo, abstract geometrical designs, cup marks and a number of footprints. Murugeshi said he had brought them to the notice of Dr Rajan of Pondicherry University and Dr A Sundara, retired professor and famous pre-historian of Karnataka. Rajan has identified them as petroglyphics, after seeing the first set of pictures. Sundara observed them to be important and comparatively significant.
The geometrical design, comprising spirals of a particular pattern, grabs attention and is perhaps unique. It is comparable to a similar design of the Mesolithic age from Russia, he added.
The Buddhana Jeddu rock art site is the first of its kind in Karnataka, where the engravings are found on surface-level stone. Murugeshi said he was grateful to Nagesh Poojary and his family, and Manjunath Poojary, Karkunje panchayat member Shekar Poojary and forest gaurds of the local area for the successful archaeological expedition.
5th century artefacts discovered in West Bengal
Among the articles recovered are earthen lamps, iron nails and slugs, beads and bangles
The site has three layers, which indicates that it has undergone three phases of construction
KOLKATA: The arrival of Buddhism in Bengal was till now traced back to the 7th century post-Gupta period. But recent archaeological excavations by the State’s Directorate of Archaeology and Museums at a non-descript village named Dheka in Murshidabad district have thrown up seals and artefacts dating back to the 5th century AD – indicating the presence of the religion in the region much earlier than was previously thought.
The site is just 20 kilometres off Karnasubarno, which was considered the earliest Buddhist site in the State and houses the ruins of the ancient Buddhist university of Raktamrittika that finds mention in the travelogues of the famous Chinese pilgrim, Hiuen Tsang.
“The presence of several mounds in the region adjoining Karnasubarno always made me curious,” Amal Roy, superintendent of archaeology at the State’s Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, told here on Friday. “So we started excavating at one such site named Deuliapar in February this year and stumbled upon the artefacts.”
Among the articles recovered are fragmented stucco figurines, terracotta plaques, earthen lamps, iron nails and slugs, beads, bangles and hopscotch made of terracotta and, most interestingly, terracotta seals inscribed with scripts used way back in 5th century AD.
Mr. Roy said that two names – Vijayachandrasya and Vainya – have been deciphered from the seals, though their identities are yet to be established.
“We still do not have any concrete evidence as to whether it was a Buddhist site or not. But its close proximity to Karnasubarno and the nature of the artefacts excavated so far are strong indications of its Buddhist affiliation,” Mr. Roy said.
The site has three layers, which indicates that it has undergone three phases of construction in the past, starting from the post-Gupta period.
Mr. Roy said that the earliest used bricks were large and highly decorated with geometrical patterns. Some were even adorned with stuccos. The later ones were much smaller.
Interestingly, archaeologists have lately discovered another site named Ugura, which is not very far from Deulipar, where excavations have revealed Buddhist sculptures inscribed with the image of Lord Buddha.
“There is a high possibility that the region housed a flourishing Buddhist centre in early times. The entire picture will become clear once the excavation is completed,” Mr. Roy said.
“What we have found till now is just the beginning.”
Mayawati strikes again: Robs Gandhis of brand Amethi
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh (UP) chief minister Mayawati has taken her political battle against AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi to a new level by renaming his Lok Sabha constituency.
The new name is quite a mouthful, which Congress leaders here are finding difficult to digest.
Amethi, the VIP borough of the Nehru-Gandhi family for several decades, is now a new district and would be known as Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Nagar.
The district includes Amethi and areas from Sultanpur and Rae Bareli districts. A government spokesman said the cabinet decided to “restore” district status to Chhattrapati Shahuji Maharaj Nagar.
Amethi was accorded district status and renamed after Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj by then BSP government in 2002.
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi was representing Amethi in Lok Sabha.
The decision was scrapped next year, soon after the Samajwadi Party came to power. The decision was challenged in court and the case had been pending ever since.
Shahuji Maharaj, a 19th century ruler of Kolhapur is an icon for BSP. He is the pioneer in granting job reservations.
Mayawati got the chance to rechristen Amethi after the Allahabad high court recently left it to the government to reconsider its earlier decision of carving out new district.
Mishra back in action
Lucknow : The BSP’s national general secretary, Satish Chandra Mishra, is all set to return to the party’s political platform. Earlier, Mishra, the BSP’s Brahmin face, was asked by Chief Minister Mayawati to concentrate on legal matters. At a recent meeting with her party functionaries, the Chief Minister communicated her decision to re-assign the task of roping in Brahmins to Mishra. He has already discussed his strategies for the constitution of “Brahmin bhaichara committees” across the state with party leaders. Sources in the BSP said Mishra would undertake a tour of the state in September. Besides, Mishra has also started holding regular meetings of the State Advisory Council, which currently handles development projects in places which are considered to be of religious importance, including Mathura, Vrindavan and Varanasi. Congress rides goons to realise UP dream
NEW DELHI: Congress appears to be treading the beaten track in its efforts to counter its opponents in the 2012 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and has begun to induct leaders with criminal records in its state unit in an attempt to shore up its prospects.
The induction of criminal elements has sent out mixed signals and the decision to fall back on leaders with questionable background appears to be undermining this endeavour.
This dual approach has led to some disagreement within the party, with a group of senior leaders arguing that without taking musclemen into the party fold, it’d be difficult for them to take on BSP in the state.
There have been a spate of inductions of criminal elements in the party over the last few months. In April, Tulsi Singh Rajput of Chandoli was taken into the party. Rajput has about a dozen criminal cases pending against him. Charges have also been framed against him under the MCOCA.
Similarly, Congress has taken into its fold the independent MLA from Basti, Rana Kinkar Krishna Singh. He has as many as two dozen criminal cases against him.
Such is Mr Singh’s notoriety that party workers protested during his induction in Lucknow. Another independent MLA, Ajay Rai of Varanasi has become an associate member of the party, while in Unnao, Ramlakhan Pasi, who has some 20-odd criminal cases against him has joined Congress.
For the time being the induction has been limited to locally known musclemen, though sources indicated that the party has been trying to reach out to some well-known leaders with criminal records.
Amarmani Tripathi, who’s currently in jail after being convicted in the murder of the Hindi poet Madhumita Shukla, and eastern UP’s mafia don Hari Shankar Tiwari are said to be among those waiting in the wings for a berth in Congress.
The Buddha always uttered the serene words, and that was meant for the whole endless universe. Many incidents in his life teach the modern society the apt way of communication. Abhayarajakumara Sutta, found in Majjhima Nikaya, is one such discourse with a valuable communication lesson.
One of the Buddha’s contemporaries was Nigantha Nataputta, who claimed himself a popular teacher of non-violence. And certainly he had the support of a large crowd.
Nataputta’s non-violence was too extreme, to the extent that he swept the ground by a sheaf of peacock feathers before he walked on. This was to save the lives of innocent creatures such as ants from being trampled. He and his followers never consumed water without boiling it first, to make sure no microscopic creature is killed. Interestingly he did not brush his teeth and stayed naked all the time.
One day Nataputta had a visitor, Prince Abhayaraja, one of his disciples. Nigantha wanted to brief him about the way the prince should approach and verbally beat the Buddha gradually. Teacher’s keen interest nevertheless puzzled the student.
“How could I do that?” He asked.
Nataputta then disclosed what he had in his mind. Abhayaraja was to question the Buddha whether the latter uttered disagreeable and distasteful words.
“If the answer is yes,” Nataputta offered, “then you should ask the Buddha the difference between you and the run-of-the-mill. Well, if the answer is negative, then you should raise the issue of Devadattha. The Buddha’s words were distasteful for Devadatta because he said the monk would stay in Samsara till the end of this world cycle.”
Nataputta fancied that the Buddha would neither be able to swallow nor spit the words. Ironic is the way Nataputta had his thoughts, especially when he claimed himself a non-violent person. Nataputta could convince the prince, who ultimately agreed on visiting the Buddha for a debate.
Abhayaraja worshipped the Buddha and noticed that the sun was about to set. So he had the Buddha, along with three more monks, in for alms giving. Following the alms, Abhayaraja was ready for his mission.
“Blessed Sir, do you talk disagreeable and distasteful words to the people”.
Notice the Buddha’s response: “I could not say, directly. It depends on the situation.”
What was Abhayraja’s response right off the bat? “Nigantha is finished!”
The Buddha posed him a question as if he didn’t have inkling about anything: “Why do you say so?”
Then prince Abhayaraja related the whole story to the Buddha. That’s when the Buddha spotted the infant on the prince’s lap.
“Suppose your baby get something stuck in its throat. What will you be doing the first thing?”
“First I will try my best to fish it out. Failing, I will hold his head steady with my left hand and give it a try once more. And perhaps even pull it out even if his throat will bleed. All because of my love for my child, exclaimed Abhayaraja.” Abharaya replied in length.
That was enough for the Buddha.
“It’s just the same with my words, prince.”
1. If any word is false, useless or distasteful and disagreeable I will not utter it.
2. Should any word be true, but useless, or distasteful and disagreeable I will not utter it.
3. If any word is true and useful, but disagreeable and distasteful I will utter it.
4. If any word is false and useless but agreeable and tasteful, to others still, I will not utter it.
5. If any word is true, useful, agreeable and tasteful, I will say that word. All because of my mercy and loving kindness for beings.
Abhayaraja was convinced, better yet he had another question for the Blessed One.
“There are numerous kinds of people who come to you with various types of questions. These people may be wise, warriors, Brahmins, businessmen, householders.
Are you prepared in advance in your answers or do you answer according to the situation?”
The Buddha knew the answer fully well, and yet he shot the prince with another question.
“Prince, you have a good knowledge of vehicles, I suppose?”
“That’s true, Blessed Sir.”
“Well in that case, say someone approaches and questions you about vehicles. Will you be able to handle it properly?”
“Sure I can, Blessed Sir.”
“Is it simply because you have been prepared in advance or do you answer accordingly? “
“I don’t need preparation. I answer accordingly. “
“In the same way, prince I do answer accordingly. I do not need preparation in advance.”
The chain of events in the discourse is a good example for management of communication among individuals. Though the technology is far more advanced, communication tends to be confusing at times. The Buddha’s message is not to utter useless words.
Communication is the most developed subject of the world. The world now has many a communication equipment, thanks to man-made communication systems and networks. Similarly there are number of communicators. Messengers and receivers are always ready to catch up with very new stories. This is certainly a complex process.
The same complex process will generate wrong and disorganized messages, which is the root cause of a confused society. This is very much true when it comes to media world in particular. Disorganized messages confuse the receiver who in turn responds in the same confusing manner.
The wrong communication will at times sabotage the serenity and peace of a family too. Unpleasant words are not for the development of soul, after all. This causes the direct deterioration of modern society.
It’s about time we had taken the initiative to utilize communication to rehabilitate the society as a whole. Let’s roll our sleeves up on this Poson day itself!
Mayawati calls for capturing power in Delhi Lucknow, June 25 Delhi appears to be the next target of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati, who Friday called for capturing power in the national capital. Addressing a meeting of her party activists from Delhi and Uttarakhand at her official residence here, Mayawati said that millions of people from Uttar Pradesh have moved to Delhi in search of employment, but alleged they continue to receive step-motherly treatment at the hands of successive governments. “That is the reason we need to strengthen our party base in the national capital so that we can form a BSP government there and ensure that the Uttar Pradesh’s population gets its due,” she said. The BSP supremo also chalked out a strategy to broaden the BSP base in Delhi and urged her party men to follow her guidelines. She gave similar instructions to her party leaders from Uttarakhand where her party has minimal presence, largely on account of a very low SC/ST population in the hill state. On the other hand, there was much more scope for BSP to spread its wings in Delhi among the large SC/ST population and where Mayawati herself grew up. Mayawati calls for capturing power in Delhi
Great News …..
Mayawati’Ji carved a new district called Chattrapati Shahuji Maharaj Nagar out of Sultanpur and Rae Bareli districts on Thursday. Congress strongholds Amethi and Rae Bareli will be parts of the new district.
“The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to restore the district status to Chattrapati Sahuji Maharaj Nagar,” an official spokesman told reporters.
The new district includes three Sultanpur Assembly seats and two seats of Rae Bareli.
Back in 2003, the Congress wanted to name the new district Rajiv Gandhi Nagar after the late prime minister. But the BSP-led government wanted the district to be named after the SC/ST OBC icon from Maharashtra.
The Bahujan Samaj Party will raise the issue of hiking prices of petroleum products during the coming monsoon session of Parliament.
In Uttar Pradesh one day Dharna and protest is being organised today at all district headquarters against decontrol of petroleum products and price rise by the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party.
