India’s main opposition sees no threat from head Muslim cleric in poll bound northern state

India's main opposition sees no threat from head Muslim cleric in poll bound northern state
                                   By Girish Kumar Dubey
JANUARY 28, 2012 ANI
India's main opposition, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called efforts of rival Samajwadi Party (SP) who is seeking support of head Muslim cleric, Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari in upcoming polls in northern Uttar Pradesh state as futile.

While addressing mediapersons on Saturday (January 28) spokesperson of India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shahnawaz Hussain reiterated that his party this time would form government in Uttar Pradesh and nobody can stop them doing so. "In Uttar Pradesh we will definitely form the government be it Bukhari or anybody else nobody can stop BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) from coming to power," said Hussain.

Earlier on Saturday Bukhari extended his support to SP and criticised Congress party by accounting them responsible for miserable condition of Muslims saying they are leading worst life than Dalits (lower castes).

Moreover Hussain accused Congress party of indulging in vote bank politics based on division politics targeting the Muslim community as a beneficiary to it, but this could lead to adverse repercussion on the Indian society.

"Congress wants to play communal card in Uttar Pradesh that is why they are proposing religion based reservation. Congress wants to give reservation to those who already come under reservation category," added Hussain.

Meanwhile problems for the Congress party does not seem to end as the party just before the elections have landed up in another controversy, as they had praised one of its biggest rival, chief minister of western Gujarat state, Narendra Modi in an advertisement. In the advertisement that was published by the Congress party, they hailed Modi and called him a successful leader and a master strategist.

Defending the Congress party's embarrassing move, spokesperson for India's federal ruling Congress party, Abhishek Manu Singhvi said in New Delhi on Saturday that the advertisement was meant to be mocked at Modi and the aim was to showcase that his predecessors had done much better work in Gujarat.

"This was neither the intent nor the affect, everybody who reads it contextually will know that that it was not at all the intent. I don't think there is any stronger opposer in this country of Narendra Modi, his philosophies, his approach, his polices and his action than the Congress party. Only those who don't know the Congress party and don't know what happened in Gujarat can suggest that Congress was supporting Modi," said Singhvi.

The Congress party had criticized Modi in the past for his alleged role in the horrific communal riots, which occurred in the state in 2002, leaving many people dead.In 2011, the Supreme Court had sent the case back to the lower court, wherein Modi was accused of being complacent during the riots.

Though the elections are almost ten months away in Gujarat, both the ruling BJP and the provincial opposition, the Congress party stepped up their preparations for the crucial state polls.

Currently the Congress party is on the backfoot due the emergence of various scams, in which several of its federal leaders were involved and they are struggling hard to re-establish themselves in India as the polls are yet to be held in four more states.Voting in India's most populous Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases starting from February 08 and finishing on March 03.

The polls in Uttar Pradesh are under scanner, as several political bigwigs have jumped on to the bandwagon to grab the coveted seats.The other states where poll would be held are Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Goa, where elections would be held between January 30 and March 03.

The results of the polls would be declared on March 06.

Source

ANI

Restrictions

NO ACCESS BBC

Intro

India's main opposition, Bharatiya Janata Party calls effort of rival Samajwadi Party who is seeking support of head Muslim cleric, Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari in upcoming polls in northern Uttar Pradesh state as futile.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (JANUARY 28, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SPOKESPERSON OF INDIA'S MAIN OPPOSITION BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY (BJP), SHAHNAWAZ HUSSAIN, SAYING:

"In Uttar Pradesh we will definitely form the government be it Bukhari or anybody else nobody can stop BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) from coming to power."

2. HUSSAIN SPEAKING

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SPOKESPERSON OF INDIA'S MAIN OPPOSITION BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY (BJP), SHAHNAWAZ HUSSAIN, SAYING:

"Congress wants to play communal card in Uttar Pradesh that is why they are proposing religion based reservation. Congress wants to give reservation to those who already come under reservation category."

NEW DELHI, INDIA (JANUARY 28, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPOKESPERSON FOR INDIA'S FEDERAL RULING CONGRESS PARTY, ABHISHEK MANU SINGHVI, SAYING:

"This was neither the intent nor the affect, everybody who reads it contextually will know that that it was not at all the intent. I don't think there is any stronger opposer in this country of Narendra Modi, his philosophies, his approach, his polices and his action than the Congress party. Only those who don't know the Congress party and don't know what happened in Gujarat can suggest that Congress was supporting Modi."

5. SINGHVI LEAVING

Original Script Date

Jan 28 14:57 (2 days ago)

Modified Script Date

Jan 28 14:57 (2 days ago)

Script Version

1

Headline

India's main opposition sees no threat from head Muslim cleric in poll bound northern state.

Services

Subcon

Locations

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH/ NEW DELHI, INDIA

Dates Shot

JANUARY 28, 2012

Sound

NATURAL WITH HINDI AND ENGLISH SPEECH

Duration

1:04

Congress party slams north India provincial government over defiling river Ganges.

Congress party slams north India provincial government over defiling river Ganges
                                    By Girish Kumar Dubey
JANUARY 28, 2012 ANI
Ahead of the polls in India's Uttar Pradesh state, a candidate of India's federal ruling and provincial opposition Congress party, Daya Shankar Mishra, slammed Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) over defiling river Ganges.

Mishra said even though the federal government allocated sufficient amount of money for the maintenance of the river, the BSP has always shown its indifference in tackling or maintain the river which is one of the holiest rivers of India.

"Had the government been sincere in its efforts to spend the money over the issue, then River Ganges would have been cured of the massive amount of pollutants the water body contains. Since the money meant for tackling the contamination of the river was squandered, the Ganges remains in such a bad state," said Mishra.

He also said if the state government would have acted swiftly upon the guidelines prescribed by the federal government and its agency, Pollution Control Board, the present situation could have been avoided.

"If the sand is not being cleared from the river bank then it is going to be a dreadful indication in the future, as the rampant illegal sand mining from the river in Varanasi has led to reduction of the breadth from 750 meters to 200 meters. The way sand is increasing and the way the waste is collected at the riverbank, the matter is becoming more serious and it is a matter of concern," added Mishra.

Largest of the rivers of India, the Ganges rises at Gangotri, high in the snow-clad Himalayas and after cascading down mighty boulders, it flows into the hot Indian plains on its final destination to the Bay of Bengal.

The state would elect 403-members to the legislative assembly.

The result of the Uttar Pradesh elections would broadly indicate the trends for the national elections due in 2014.

Voting in India's most populous Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases starting from February 08 and finishing on March 03.

Four other states - Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur -- will hold elections between January 28 and March 03.

The results of the polls would be declared on March 06.

Source

ANI

Restrictions

NO ACCESS BBC

Intro

Ahead of the polls in India's Uttar Pradesh state, a candidate of India's federal ruling and provincial opposition Congress party, Daya Shankar Mishra, slams Bahujan Samaj Party over defiling river Ganges.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (JANUARY 28, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4: 3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. EXTERIORS OF A TEMPLE

2. BOATS AT RIVER GANGES

3. WASTE COLLECTED AT RIVER BANK OF GANGES

4. MORE SQUANDER AT RIVER BANK

5. WASTE FLOWING IN RIVER GANGES

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) A CANDIDATE, DAYA SHANKAR MISHRA, SAYING:

"Had the government been sincere in its efforts to spend the money over the issue, then River Ganges would have been cured of the massive amount of pollutants the water body contains. Since the money meant for tackling the contamination of the river was squandered, the Ganges remains in such a bad state."

7. A SIGNBOARD READING 'SHIVALA GHAT'

8. WATER FLOWING

9. WATER FLOWING AMID SQUANDER

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) A CANDIDATE, DAYA SHANKAR MISHRA, SAYING:

"If the sand is not being cleared from the river bank then it is going to be a dreadful indication in the future, as the rampant illegal sand mining from the river in Varanasi has led to reduction of the breadth from 750 meters to 200 meters. The way sand is increasing and the way the waste is collected at the riverbank, the matter is becoming more serious and it is a matter of concern."

11. WATER FLOWING AMID SQUANDER

Original Script Date

Jan 28 23:49 (1 day ago)

Modified Script Date

Jan 28 23:49 (1 day ago)

Script Version

1

Headline

Congress party slams north India provincial government over defiling river Ganges.

Services

Subcon Extra

Locations

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Dates Shot

JANUARY 28, 2012

Sound

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

Duration

1:36

Incessant rains submerge Banaras Ghats in Varanasi

 ANI varanasi,Fri,27 Jan 2008  By Girish Kumar Dubey

Varanasi, Fri, 27 Jun 2008

Varanasi, June 27 (ANI): The last three days' incessant rains have left the River Ganga swollen in Varanasi and has led to the submergence of the famous bathing Ghats and several temples situated along the banks here.The water level has risen so much that the steps where daily rituals are performed and the temples located on the riverbanks have been submerged.  
The condition is so bad that it has led to suspension of the Ganga Aarati at Dasaswamedh, one of the prime attractions of Varanasi that draws tourists from across the country.  Local shopkeepers selling articles used in the worship at the riverbank by devotees have also been badly affected. 
 "The situation here has upset our lives as we had to shift our shops that we run by the river banks. We sell things required for performing daily rituals here. Some of them have been submerged in the water. We are performing all activities at the top. There is very limited space. Shopkeepers are compelled to move away and half of their things get damaged," said Vinod Kumar, a local.  Tourists, who had arrived here from far off places to have a feel of Varanasi and experience the Hindu rituals being performed at the Ghats, are disappointed to find half of the city affected due to rainwater and the main attraction,
the Ghats, submerged in water. "We came here to see Varanasi's Ghats but because of the monsoon rains and water level rising, we have missed watching them here," said Sichowiki, a Korean tourist.  Many tourist guides say the swollen river has affected their business. "When the water level was low, it felt nice as I could show the Ganga Ghats to tourists. Now as it has increased, it has created a lot of obstacles to tourists who want to visit the ghat and enjoy its beauty. Boating this time is also not so safe as the current is really strong," said Sunil Sharma, one tourist guide.
 Ganga Aarti is the prime attraction of all religious rituals performed here every day. Boating is also one of the prime attractions of the place. But as the current is very strong boating too has been suspended for sometime until the current is back to normal. y Girish Kumar Dubey (ANI) 

Independent eunuch candidate takes on political bigwigs in India’s poll-bound northern state

Independent eunuch candidate takes on political bigwigs in India's poll-bound northern state
JANUARY 21, 2012  Varanasi India      By Girish Kumar Dubey

An independent eunuch candidate would be contesting in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state assembly elections from the southern seat of holy city, Varanasi.

The Uttar Pradesh, polls will be held in seven phases between February and March. In the fray are India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), federal ruling Congress party, provincial ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and state's main opposition Samajwadi Party (SP).

With parties leaving no stone unturned in their preparation for the polls, the political mercury has soared across the state, as rival leaders engage in a war of words on a range of issues.

But Kamla, the independent eunuch candidate was intimidated. Following the path of seasoned players, Kamla too played the corruption card while campaigning door-to-door and performing at every corner.

Speaking to mediapersons before leaving, Kamla said on Saturday (January 21) that we 'give blessings and ask for your votes in return'.

Kamla attacked all leading political parties and blamed them for making false promises every five years and added that after being elected they hardly returned to their constituencies to address the woes of the people.

"I am contesting this election to fight corruption. The poor people in the country are suffering and they need to be uplifted. The Muslims have not received any aid, they don't have any health facilities for them. The gap between the rich and the poor is increasing," said Kamla.

For the locals in the southern part of Varanasi city, electing a eunuch candidate could bring a wave of fresh change. Disappointed by all previous winners, a eunuch with fewer economic needs has emerged as the best bet.

"The public is frustrated and angry with every political leader at the moment and if we look at eunuchs, although they are treated as outcastes, but they only entertain and bless people. Hence people in this southern assembly seat are of the opinion to vote for a eunuch," said Vikram Bharadwaj, a local.

Uttar Pradesh is India's most populous state and provides the biggest single bloc of seats in the Indian parliament. Ironically, it is also one of the country's worst performers in several socio-economic indices.

Source

ANI

Restrictions

NO ACCESS BBC

Intro

An independent eunuch candidate will be contesting in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state assembly elections from the southern seat of holy city of Varanasi.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (JANUARY 21, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. EUNUCH AND INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE IN INDIA'S NORTHERN UTTAR PRADESH STATE ELECTIONS, KAMLA LEADING A GROUP OF EUNUCHS FOR HER ELECTION CAMPAIGNING

2. KAMLA WITH OTHER EUNUCHS WALKING

3. A EUNUCH HOLDING ELECTION PAMPHLETS

4. EUNUCHS CAMPAIGNING FOR KAMLA

5. KAMLA WALKING AND CAMPAIGNING FOR THE UPCOMING STATE ELECTIONS

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) EUNUCH AND INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE IN INDIA'S NORTHERN UTTAR PRADESH STATE ELECTIONS, KAMLA, SAYING:

"I am contesting this election to fight corruption. The poor people in the country are suffering and they need to be uplifted. The Muslims have not received any aid, they don't have any health facilities for them. The gap between the rich and the poor is increasing."

7. A POLITICAL BANNER OF KAMLA AND HER SUPPORTERS

8. IMAGE OF KAMLA ON THE POLITICAL BANNER

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) VIKRAM BHARADWAJ, A LOCAL SAYING:

"The public is frustrated and angry with every political leader at the moment and if we look at eunuchs, although they are treated as outcastes, but they only entertain and bless people. Hence people in this southern assembly seat are of the opinion to vote for a eunuch."

10. EUNUCH PERFORMING

11. A MAN SITTING

12. A EUNUCH PERFORMING

13. CHILDREN STANDING

14. PEOPLE WATCH EUNUCHS PERFORM

Original Script Date

Jan 21 07:08 (6 hours ago)

Modified Script Date

Jan 21 07:08 (6 hours ago)

Script Version

1

Headline

Independent eunuch candidate takes on political bigwigs in India's poll-bound northern state.

Services

Subcon Extra

Locations

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Dates Shot

JANUARY 21, 2012

Sound

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

Duration

2:34

Artistes spread message of importance of voting through sand art in poll-bound Indian state

Artistes spread message of importance of voting through sand art in poll-bound Indian state

JANUARY 19, 2012  Varanasi India             By Girish Kumar Dubey
A group of fine arts students depicted major political and social themes with sand in poll-bound India's northern Uttar Pradesh state and used sand as a medium to highlight the importance of casting vote in a democracy.

The sculptures were created on the bank of river Ganga in Varanasi city on Thursday (January 19).

An artist, Manish Gaur, said that in wake of the upcoming elections, it is important to make the people understand that their vote holds a lot of importance.

"The theme of this art is to make people aware of the importance of vote, to help India to develop in a better way and to save people from corruption. This is to make people aware that every single vote is important and to choose the right candidate. In wake of the ongoing election fervour, we took it as an opportunity to spread this message and choose the right candidate," said Gaur.

More than 60 sand sculptures were created on various themes.

Apart from election-related issues, the students used sand to showcase other problems that affect our society like corruption, child education, female foeticide, polio awareness, traffic, pollution, natural calamity and deteriorating condition of the planet.

"The objective behind making these sand sculptures was to showcase how the common man was reeling under corruption and they are helpless and we have tried to depict the plight of the common man," said Seema Aggarwal, another artist.

A large number of people lauded the artistes for aptly depicting the ills that have pervaded our society.

"Every student has chosen their subject but the best part is every student has good knowledge about the current affairs. Some has made art on Jan Lokpal, on election process and the work has been done with a positive frame of mind. So, it's good that the youth is aware and it is being projected in the form of art, which is the best part," said Rajat Pathak, a visitor.

Elections in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven-phase polling in the months of February and March this year. The polls are being viewed as an opportunity for India's major parties to re-establish or strengthen their footholds in the country's fifth largest and most populous state.

Source

ANI

Restrictions

NO ACCESS BBC

Intro

A group of fine arts students artistically convey the message of the importance of casting vote as they make sand art and create try to create awareness on various political and social issues in poll-bound India's northern Uttar Pradesh state

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (JANUARY 19, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. STUDENTS MAKING SAND ART

2. A GIRL MAKING SAND ART

3. FINE ART STUDENTS MAKING SAND ART

4. SAND ART BEING MADE

5. A STUDENT COLOURING THE SAND ART

6. STUDENTS COLOURING THE SAND ART

7. STUDENTS MAKING SAND ART

8. PEOPLE GATHERED AROUND THE SAND ART

9. A SAND ART DEPICTING A SNAKE

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) MANISH GAUR, AN ARTIST, SAYING:

"The theme of this art is to make people aware of the importance of vote, to help India to develop in a better way and to save people from corruption. This is to make people aware that every single vote is important and to choose the right candidate. In wake of the ongoing election fervour, we took it as an opportunity to spread this message and choose the right candidate."

11. A STUDENT GIVING FINISHING TOUCHES TO THE SAND ART

12. A GIRL GIVING FINISHING TOUCH TO THE SAND ART

13. A SAND ART ON THE BANK OF GANGA RIVER

14. ANOTHER SAND ART ON THE BANK OF GANGA RIVER

15. A SAND ART MADE ON ELECTION AWARENESS

16. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SEEMA AGGARWAL, ANOTHER ARTIST, SAYING:

"The objective behind making these sand sculptures was to showcase how the common man was reeling under corruption and they are helpless and we have tried to depict the plight of the common man."

17. A SAND ART READING 'STOP CORRUPTION'

18. STUDENTS GIVING FINISHING TOUCHES TO THE SAND ART

19. A SAND ART MADE ON ELECTION AWARENESS

20. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) RAJAT PATHAK, A VISITOR, SAYING:

"Every student has chosen their subject but the best part is every student has good knowledge about the current affairs. Some has made art on Jan Lokpal, on election process and the work has been done with a positive frame of mind. So, it's good that the youth is aware and it is being projected in the form of art, which is the best part."

21. A SAND ART MADE ON ELECTION AWARENESS

22. PEOPLE LOOKING AT THE SAND ART

23. A SAND ART DEPICTING THE FACE OF AN ELEPHANT

Original Script Date

Jan 20 06:42 (1 day ago)

Modified Script Date

Jan 20 08:01 (1 day ago)

Script Version

2

Headline

Artistes spread message of importance of voting through sand art in poll-bound Indian state.

Services

Subcon Extra

Locations

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Dates Shot

JANUARY 19, 2012

Sound

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

Duration

3:04

Political leaders open poll doors for under trial accused in India’s northern state.

Political leaders open poll doors for under trial accused in India's northern state
JANUARY 18, 2012 Varanasi india       By Girish Kumar Dubey
Political battle has intensified in Varanasi city in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state as the regional leaders welcome the under trial accused to campaign ahead of polls.

Elections in Uttar Pradesh will be held through a seven-phase polling in the months of February and March this year.

Many under trial are also jumping into the political bandwagon, hoping for a victory in what is expected to be a closely contested fight, with the election date just around the corner.

A leader of India's regional Apna Dal Party, Anu Patel said that the party has given the tickets to candidates with pending criminal cases and the Court has still not given its verdict for them.

"All the people with clean image are being given tickets in Apna Dal (India's regional party) and let the Supreme Court decide who is mafia or non- mafia. The candidate (Munna Bajrangi) is under trial and let the people decide about it," said a leader of India's regional Apna Dal Party, Anu Patel.

In 2009, the accused Munna Bajrangi was arrested and since then he is facing a series of charges, including those under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

The National President of India's regional Pragatisheel Manav Samaj Party, Prem Chand Vindh said that if the under trail accused want to work towards the welfare of the society, then a chance may be provided to them.

"The people who were found guilty and are still under trial, their image would be similar to a criminal's image. Despite of the tarnished image, if they want to serve the society and work for the welfare of the society then we are ready to give them a chance," said National President of India's regional Pragatisheel Manav Samaj Party, Prem Chand Vindh.

The polls are being viewed as an opportunity for India's major parties to re-establish or strengthen their footholds in the country's fifth largest and most populous state.

Uttar Pradesh is India's most populous state and provides the biggest single bloc of seats in the Indian parliament. Ironically, it is also one of the country's worst performers in several socio-economic indices.

Source

ANI

Restrictions

NO ACCESS BBC

Intro

Political battle intensifies in India's northern state as the regional leaders welcome the under trial accused to campaign ahead of polls.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (JANUARY 18, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. MUNNA BAJRANGI, AN UNDER TRIAL ACCUSED, ACCOMPANIED BY THE POLICE OFFICIALS

2. BAJRANGI WALKING WITH OFFICIALS

3. BRIJESH SINGH, AN UNDER TRIAL ACCUSED, STANDING WITH THE PARTY MEMBERS

4. SINGH WALKING WITH THE MEMBERS

5. POLICE OFFICIALS STANDING

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) A LEADER OF INDIA'S REGIONAL APNA DAL PARTY, ANU PATEL, SAYING:

"All the people with clean image are being given tickets in Apna Dal (India's regional party) and let the Supreme Court decide who is mafia or non- mafia. The candidate (Munna Bajrangi) is under trial and let the people decide about it."

7. A BANNER WITH PHOTOGRAPH OF CANDIDATES

8. A FLAG OF INDIA'S REGIONAL PRAGATISHEEL MANAV SAMAJ PARTY

9. PARTY MEMBERS SITTING

10. NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF INDIA'S REGIONAL PRAGATISHEEL MANAV SAMAJ PARTY, PREM CHAND VINDH, SITTING WITH THE MEMBERS

11. MEMBERS WRITING ON A PAPER

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF INDIA'S REGIONAL PRAGATISHEEL MANAV SAMAJ PARTY, PREM CHAND VINDH, SAYING:

"The people who were found guilty and are still under trial, their image would be similar to a criminal's image. Despite of the tarnished image, if they want to serve the society and work for the welfare of the society then we are ready to give them a chance."

13. MUKHTAR ANSARI, AN UNDER TRIAL ACCUSED, TALKING ON PHONE

14. ANSARI CAMPAIGNING WITH SUPPORTERS

15. SUPPORTERS SHOUTING

Original Script Date

Jan 18 09:16 (3 days ago)

Modified Script Date

Jan 18 09:16 (3 days ago)

Script Version

1

Headline

Political leaders open poll doors for under trial accused in India's northern state.

Services

Subcon Extra

Locations

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Dates Shot

JANUARY 18, 2012

Sound

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

Duration

2:39

Tourists from across the globe visit India’s city of temples to welcome New Year 2012.

Tourists from across the globe visit India's city of temples to welcome New Year 2012.
                                         
                                     By Girish Kumar Dubey

People from across the nation and abroad headed to India's city of temples, Varanasi in northern Uttar Pradesh state to celebrate the New Year in 2012.

Usually people love to party under loud music on New Year's eve but several tourists that were in India chose to visit the 'Ghats' (banks) of Ganga in Varanasi as they wish to watch the lighted ripples in water as people carry out rituals and sing holy hymns.

Speaking to mediapersons a tourist from Holland with a spark on face as he watched people taking out religious processions and singing religious songs said that this year he decided to take a walk along with his friends on the banks of holy river, Ganga.

"This new year I will also go to the Vishva Nath temple and walk along the Ganges, here to see just what happens on the ghats and learn more about the culture," said Yose, a tourist from Holland.

This influx of people in the state has provided the locals an opportunity to register brisk business as they charge according to their whims and fancies.

The star attraction among the tourists is the ferry on the waters of Ganga as the sailors have redecorated the boats especially for the occasion and has provided a groovy ambience to party until midnight.

"All those people from across the nation and abroad who come here to celebrate new year by ferrying on the waters of Ganga, give us a lot of money and there is prior booking of different boats like, small boats, big boats, steamers, house boats. We prepare for this a day or two before, we decorate our boats with balloons, ribbons and flowers. These people travel in these boats and celebrate on it and party," said Vinod Majhi, boat owner.

Moreover the hotels in the city are all overcrowded as tourists have occupied them and have very few options left.

Tourists coming to Varanasi for spiritual enlightenment, perform rituals on the riverbanks known as ghats.

There are 84 ghats in Varanasi, which are visited by a large number of tourists, both domestic and foreign.

Apart from being a huge tourist destination, Varanasi is visited by several international students and scholars to study Indian culture and religion

Source

ANI

Restrictions

NO ACCESS BBC

Intro

People from across the nation and abroad visit India's city of temples, Varanasi in northern Uttar Pradesh state to celebrate New Year 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Shotlist

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (DECEMBER 31, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. PEOPLE PERFORMING RITUALS ON THE BANKS OF HOLY RIVER GANGA

2. TOURISTS STANDING

3. PEOPLE TAKING A DIP IN WATERS

4. PEOPLE AT THE BANK

5. BOATS AT THE BANK

6. TOURISTS TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS

7. PEOPLE FERRYING ON BOATS

8. PEOPLE STANDING AT THE BANKS

9. PEOPLE STANDING

10. BOATS NEAR THE BANK

11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) YOSE, A TOURIST FROM HOLLAND, SAYING:

"This new year I will also go to the Vishva Nath temple and walk along the Ganges, here to see just what happens on the ghats and learn more about the culture."

12. TOURISTS WALKING

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) VINOD MAJHI, BOAT OWNER, SAYING:

"All those people from across the nation and abroad who come here to celebrate new year by ferrying on the waters of Ganga, give us a lot of money and there is prior booking of different boats like, small boats, big boats, steamers, house boats. We prepare for this a day or two before, we decorate our boats with balloons, ribbons and flowers. These people travel in these boats and celebrate on it and party."

14. TOURISTS WALKING

15. TOURISTS STANDING

Original Script Date

Dec 31 10:47 (12 days ago)

Modified Script Date

Dec 31 10:47 (12 days ago)

Script Version

1

Headline

Tourists from across the globe visit India's city of temples to welcome New Year 2012.

Services

Subcon

Locations

VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Dates Shot

DECEMBER 31, 2011

Sound

NATURAL WITH ENGLISH AND HINDI SPEECH

Duration

2:07