Mallika Sarabhai protests Amitabh Bachcchan’s decision to represent Narendra Modi’s Gujatat, Current affairs, NewAgeIslam.com

Current affairs

Mallika Sarabhai protests Amitabh Bachcchan’s decision to represent Narendra Modi’s Gujatat

A Gujarati’s piece of mind to the Big B

AMITABH Bachchan seems to have stepped on his own foot. The Bollywood legend’s decision to become the brand ambassador of Narendra Modi’s Gujarat has drawn flak from different quarters.

And now danseuse and social activist Mallika Sarabhai has sent a letter (full text on right) to Bachchan, asking him what prompted him to become the brand ambassador of a state which is reeling under poverty and has witnessed the killings of innocent Muslims.

In her letter, Sarabhai has reeled off statistics to show the state Gujarat is in today.

Sarabhai claimed that the state has a huge debt of close to Rs 1 lakh crore.

She also stated that over 75,000 small and medium businesses have shut shop while the state went into an overdrive to dole out subsidies to rich industrial houses.

Sarabhai’s words found an echo in social activist Teesta Setalvad.

“ Bachchan is not the brand ambassador of Gujarat. He is the brand ambassador for Modi who gave his film Paa tax concessions to the tune of Rs 8- 10 crore,” Setalvad said.

She claimed that Modi is trying to go in for an image makeover after the Supreme Court directed investigation agencies to question him for mass murder.

“That needs to be put on the forefront, not wiped under the carpet. It is good that Mallika has brought out these statistics about Gujarat. It is the ground reality,” she said.

http://newageislam.com/mallika-sarabhai-protests-amitabh-bachcchan%E2%80%99s-decision-to-represent-narendra-modi%E2%80%99s-gujatat/current-affairs/d/2485

Gay Ho! Gay Ho! Homosexuality Is Legal!, Islam and Human Rights, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam and Human Rights

Gay Ho! Gay Ho! Homosexuality Is Legal!

By A.M. Jamsheed Basha

July 3, 2009

The reactions to the Delhi High Court judgement was mixed in the country. While Gay community celebrated it in Delhi and elsewhere along with their activists, others were up in arms especially the religious groups. Muslim clerics called homosexuality prohibited in Islam and the main source of the dangerous disease AIDS, hence unacceptable to them. The Christian priests called the act of homosexuality as unnatural to human behaviour that would disturb the society, though they have no comments on the legalisation in European countries, majority of which are Christians. Hindu priests one after another, came out with a statement that the legalisation of homosexuality would bring down the values of normal family life and the traditions. The society would stand to lose the best and well protected Hindu traditions. It’s unnatural and hence unacceptable to Hindu society. While cine celebrities welcomed it, as they will see more of "Dostanas" and "Fires" with actress Cerena Jaitely on the forefront, being an activist herself of the cause of gays in the country.

The political parties are in a bind. While Congress is neutral, BJP plays for time; SP is against it while Communists are the only political grouping to support the move to decriminalise homosexuality in private.

Now question arises, how does the Delhi judgement help the Gay community? Whether the rulings would be applicable nationwide or be confined to Delhi alone? The answer is the main benefit of the judgement for homos would be psychological as it reduces scope for their harassment. It may over a time reduce the social stigma as well.

http://newageislam.com/gay-ho!-gay-ho!-homosexuality-is-legal!--/islam-and-human-rights/d/1517

Why Pakistanis are turning their backs on 'erring' Taliban, Islam,Terrorism and Jihad, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam,Terrorism and Jihad

Why Pakistanis are turning their backs on 'erring' Taliban

6 June 2009

Pakistan's army has regularly publicised the numbers of suspected Taliban fighters killed in its ongoing military operation in Swat, but there has been little news of the Taliban leadership of senior clerics.

Sources close to Mohammad Sufi say that his whereabouts have been unknown for the past three or four days, with his sons also reported to be missing.

Sufi Mohammad was instrumental in brokering a peace deal earlier this year between the Taliban and the government which imposed Sharia law in the district. This later fell apart when Taliban fighters moved into neighbouring districts.

Those living in temporary shelters have no clue when they will be able to return

He is also the founder of a banned militant group, Tehrik Nizam Shariat Mohammadi (TNSM).

The TNSM has in the past distanced itself from the actions of Sufi Mohammad's son-in-law, Maulana Fazlullah, who is the Taliban leader in Swat.

But, our correspondent says, Mr Mohammad and his followers have been at the forefront of elements in Swat criticising the Pakistani government for its slowness in imposing Sharia law while the deal between the government and the Taliban was still in place.

The Swat operation has displaced some two million people in Pakistan's north-west, raising fears of a humanitarian crisis in overstretched camps for those forced to leave their homes.

Rebels have also launched attacks away from the fighting.

On Friday a bomb exploded at a mosque in Upper Dir, in north-western Pakistan, during Friday prayers, killing at least 38 people and wounding dozens more.

http://newageislam.com/why-pakistanis-are-turning-their-backs-on--erring--taliban--/islam,terrorism-and-jihad/d/1447