Varun Gandhi ties knot in Varanasi
Sunday, March 06, 2011 11:41:31 AM by ANI
By Girish Kumar Dubey
Varanasi, Mar.6 (ANI): Amid a buzz of excitement, Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) MP Varun Gandhi got married to graphic designer Yamini Roy
at the Kashi Kaamkoteshwar temple in Varanasi today.
The wedding ceremony was performed as per vedic traditions, and
rituals were performed by Swami Jayendra Saraswati, Shankaracharya of
the holy Kanchi Math (monastery) in south India.
"Though it is a political family, they are Kashmiri Pandits. They
belong to the clan of Brahmins. It is essential for them to take
blessings from God in the proper manner. This is why, a grand ceremony
has been organized," said the Shankaracharya.
Despite the leader's political background, very few guests had been
invited to the wedding.
The haldi rasm was performed on Saturday at a simple function in the
temple complex.
Meanwhile in Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh), Gandhi's constituency, locals
and supporters had staged a highly charged wedding procession to
express joy and convey their wishes to the couple.
Scores of locals joined in the festivities, distributing sweets while
dancing to traditional Indian wedding music.
The wedding reception, which was to be held on March 8 in Delhi, has
been cancelled, following the death of Gandhi's grandmother, Amteshwar
Anand. (ANI)
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
A Mother's Day gift to the Ganges
Updated: Mon, 14 May 2012 15:03 IST
Epaper
Stocks
Today's Paper
Weather
Horoscope
A Mother's Day gift to the Ganges
Posted on Sun , 13 May '12
Residents of Varanasi, found a rather unusual way to celebrate International Mother's Day, as a large number of them thronged the banks of the river Ganges, and volunteered to help clean the river that is revered as a mother in the region. Both devotees and aesthetes assembled at the city's famed Dashashvamedh Ghat, wading into the water to pull out the trash, while schoolchildren picked up brooms to sweep the banks clean. The residents said that their campaign was a support to the penance of the city's ascetics, who were trying to pressure the Central Government to take a serious note of the matter.
Varanasi residents blow whistles to prevent pollution
Eco News
Varanasi residents blow whistles to prevent pollution
By Girish Kumar Dubey
Varansi: A group of residents in Varanasi have found a unique way to prevent pollution of the River Ganga by blowing whistles at people throwing litter in the river. The whistleblower campaign launched under the banner of 'Mukti Mahasangh', a group of social organisations, wherein volunteers will be spending 90 minutes along the banks every day in the morning and evening to clean the holy river.
The residents also empty up garbage bags left near the river banks at a dumping ground and distribute cotton bags and whistles to other people, so that too can could blow it every time they caught someone littering the river.
"This is the first time that in Benaras that whistleblowers are taking action and now people are realizing what the actual job of the whistleblowers is. We are blowing the whistle everyday so that those who throw garbage in the Ganga are not doing it anymore and we are clearing up all the litter that is already there in the river," said Rajeev Srivastava, an activist.
Earlier in April, the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh presided over a meeting along with Minister of Environment and Forests Jayanthi Natarajan and other key officials to discuss the simmering issue of pollution in River Ganges.
Apart from the shrinking river, the accumulation of silt deposit and garbage along the banks has worried the environmentalists despite millions of rupees being spent on the 'Ganga Action Plan'.
ANI
Earlier in April, the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh presided over a meeting along with Minister of Environment and Forests Jayanthi Natarajan and other key officials to discuss the simmering issue of pollution in River Ganges.
Apart from the shrinking river, the accumulation of silt deposit and garbage along the banks has worried the environmentalists despite millions of rupees being spent on the 'Ganga Action Plan'.
ANI
On Mother’s Day, citizens of north Indian temple town pitch in to help clean the Ganges
On Mother's Day, citizens of north Indian temple town pitch in to help clean the Ganges.
Varanasi MAY 12, 2012 ANI
By Girish Kumar Dubey
The residents assembled at the city's famed Dashashvamedh Ghat, wading into the water to pull out refuse, while schoolchildren picked up brooms to sweep the banks clean.
The residents said that their campaign was a support to the penance of the city's ascetics, who were trying to pressure the federal government to take a serious note of the matter.
"The Ganges is like our mother. Today, on the occasion of Mother's Day, we decided to launch a campaign, because the ascetics of our city are using penance to urge the government to protect the river. Whether or not they get the government to pay attention is a long struggle. Supporting this struggle whole heartedly, we are using the support of the common people to help clean the river," said Satya Prakash, a volunteer.
The Ganges, apart from the problems of siltation and flooding, has large stretches heavily polluted by industrial and domestic waste.
The Indian government last year approved a $1 billion loan from the World Bank to fund an eight-year project to clean the River Ganges.
The 2,510-kilometre-long river that runs from a glacier in the western Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh supports over 400 million people out of India's population of 1.2 billion.
The river occupies pride of place in the Hindu religious pantheon as a giver of sustenance.
Intro
Residents of the north Indian temple town of Varanasi commemorate Mother's Day by volunteering to clean the river Ganges, revered in the country as a giver of sustenance.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL
Shotlist
VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (MAY 12, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)
1. PEOPLE GATHERED ON A RIVERBANK
2. VOLUNTEERS CARRYING GARBAGE
3. A PILE OF RUBBISH
4. SCHOOLCHILDREN SWEEPING RIVERBANK CLEAN
5. VOLUNTEERS STANDING IN THE WATER, PULLING OUT REFUSE
6. RIVER BEING CLEANED BY VOLUNTEERS
7. A PILE OF RUBBISH
8. PEOPLE GATHERED ON A RIVERBANK
9. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) A VOLUNTEER, SATYA PRAKASH, SAYING:
"The Ganges is like our mother. Today, on the occasion of Mother's Day, we decided to launch a campaign, because the ascetics of our city are using penance to urge the government to protect the river. Whether or not they get the government to pay attention is a long struggle. Supporting this struggle whole heartedly, we are using the support of the common people to help clean the river."
10. VOLUNTEERS CLEANING THE RIVER
11. A PILE OF RUBBISH ON THE RIVERBANK
Locals, children agitate against female foeticide in northern India
Locals, children agitate against female foeticide in northern India
VARANASI MAY 12, 2012 ANI
By Girish Kumar Dubey
Scores of locals and children held a peaceful agitation in the Varanasi city of India's northern Uttar Pradesh state on Saturday (May 12) to spread awareness on the burning issue of female foeticide.
The campaign was held a day ahead of Mothers Day, an occasion that is marked with fervour and gusto across the world.
Indian activists say decades of aborting female babies in a deeply patriarchal culture has led to a decline in the population of women in many parts of India, which in turn has resulted in rising incidents of rape and human trafficking.
Incidentally, and ironically, this blatant and irrational discrimination against girls is not merely confined to rural families, but is also a common occurrence in upmarket, high profile, rich and educated households in urban cities, including New Delhi.
Raising the issue through the highly charged protest, protesting locals and children urged masses to change their mentalities and attitudes that perceive girl child as a 'burden.'
"Tomorrow is Mothers Day, and the whole world is ready to celebrate the occasion with fervour. However, the question is that if there are no girls due to foeticides, how will we celebrate Mothers Day in the future? Tomorrow we would be commemorating Mothers Day, but we have taken out this campaign today to create awareness on the urgent need to protect the girl child," said Ram Prasad, one of the protestors.
Despite laws making pre-natal gender tests illegal, India's 2011 census indicated that efforts to curb female foeticide have been futile.
Sons, in traditionally male-dominated regions, are viewed as assets - breadwinners who will take care of the family, continue the family name, and perform the last rites of the parents, an important ritual in many faiths.
On the other hand, daughters are seen as a liability, for whom families have to pay substantial wedding dowries.
Women's rights activists say breaking down these deep-rooted, age-old beliefs is a major challenge to protect the girl child.
Intro
Highlighting the need to protect the girl child, scores of locals and children hold a peaceful agitation to spread awareness on the burning issue of female foeticide in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL
Shotlist
VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (MAY 12, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)
1. CHILDREN STANDING WITH PROTEST PLACARDS
2. CHILDREN CHANTING SLOGANS AGAINST FEMALE FOETICIDE
3. A GIRL HOLDING UP A PLACARD
4. CHIDLREN SHOUTING SLOGANS
5. CHILDREN PROTESTING
6. A PROTEST PLACARD
7. CHILDREN PROTESTING
8. LOCALS HOLDING A PROTEST MARCH WITH CHILDREN
9. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) ONE OF THE PROTESTORS, RAM PRASAD, SAYING:
"Tomorrow is Mothers Day, and the whole world is ready to celebrate the occasion with fervour. However, the question is that if there are no girls due to foeticides, how will we celebrate Mothers Day in the future? Tomorrow we would be commemorating Mothers Day, but we have taken out this campaign today to create awareness on the urgent need to protect the girl child."
10. CHILDREN PROTESTING
11. PROTESTING LOCALS HOLDING PLACARDS
12. A CHILD SHOUTING SLOGANS
13. LOCALS PROTESTING
Women activists join hands to ‘save’ River Ganges in northern India
Women activists join hands to 'save' River Ganges in northern India
VARANASI .MAY 09, 2012ANI
BY Girish Kumar Dubey
Hundreds of women held a highly charged protest in the Varanasi town of India's northern Uttar Pradesh state on Wednesday (May 09) to highlight the urgent need to cleanse and conserve the dying River Ganges.
River Ganges is revered and respected in Hindu faith, which is one of the reasons why many of the towns that fall in its route - including Haridwar, Varanasi and Allahabad, among others - have evolved as major Hindu pilgrimage centres over centuries.
However, the deplorable condition and decreasing flow of River Ganges has raised alarm among the masses and the authorities alike, who are concerned with the visibly disastrous impact of increasing pollution on the flora and fauna of the mighty water body.
Irate over the stark government apathy and neglect, scores of women gathered at the banks of the sacred river to individually collect and dispose off the waste from the waters themselves.
Holding up banners and placards, several women activists stressed that if India failed to conserve the River Ganges, it would have a devastating impact on human life.
"Our main objective of gathering here is to extend strong support to the ongoing campaign to cleanse and de-pollute the River Ganges. River Ganges is connected with the lives of Indians. In many ways, it also sustains their lives. If the River is not cleansed and purified, it would have a devastating impact on the lives of Indians," said one of the protesting women activists, Rita Srivastava.
Extending solidarity towards the cause, the women cleared the waste from the waters in their bid to cleanse, conserve and protect the River Ganges, which is threatened by rampant and incessant pollution.
Another activist, Om Prakash Kejriwal, claimed the brigade of women had successfully collected and disposed off nearly 150 quintals of waste within the last 15 days.
"Look at what is happening in the name of cleaning the River Ganges? Many protests, campaigns, agitations, candle marches, and debates on the issue have been taking place routinely. However, we are trying to clean the River Ganges through direct action. It is a very small attempt, but we are entering the river ourselves and taking out the garbage and waste in the water. For the last 15 days since this campaign has been going on, I think we have been able to dispose of 150 quintals of waste from the river. It is a major achievement," said Kejriwal.
The 2,510-kilometre-long river that runs from a glacier in the western Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh supports over 400 million of India's 1.2 billion population.
However, the River Ganges was termed one of the world's most polluted rivers in 2007.
Environmentalists have also, on numerous occasions, expressed concern at the accumulation of silt deposit and garbage along its banks.
In 2011, the federal government got a $1 billion loan from the World Bank, to fund an eight-year project to clean the River Ganges, particularly the large stretches heavily polluted by industrial effluents and domestic waste.
Intro
Hundreds of women hold a highly-charged protest in the Varanasi town of India's northern Uttar Pradesh state to highlight the urgent need to cleanse and conserve the widely-revered yet dying River Ganges.
Shotlist
VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (MAY 09, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)
1. WOMEN ACTIVISTS STANDING AT THE BANKS OF THE RIVER GANGES
2. PROTESTING WOMEN HOLDING PLACARDS AND POSTERS
3. WOMEN MARCHING ON THE RIVER BANK
4. WOMEN PROTESTORS MARCHING
5. VARIOUS OF PROTESTORS WALKING WITH PLACARDS AND POSTERS
6. WOMEN ACTIVISTS WALKING WITH PLACARDS
7. ACTIVISTS ARRIVING AT THE RIVERSIDE
8. CLOSE OF A POSTER
9. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) ONE OF THE WOMEN ACTIVISTS, RITA SRIVASTAVA, SAYING:
"Our main objective of gathering here is to extend strong support to the ongoing campaign to cleanse and de-pollute the River Ganges. River Ganges is connected with the lives of Indians. In many ways, it also sustains their lives. If the River is not cleansed and purified, it would have a devastating impact on the lives of Indians."
10. CLOSE OF A BANNER
11. ACTIVISTS TAKING FISTFULS OF WATER FROM THE RIVER GANGES AS A MARK OF RESPECT
12. WOMEN ACTIVISTS HOLDING OUT THEIR HANDS
13. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) AN ACTIVIST, OM PRAKASH KEJRIWAL, SAYING:
"Look at what is happening in the name of cleaning the River Ganges? Many protests, campaigns, agitations, candle marches, and debates on the issue have been taking place routinely. However, we are trying to clean the River Ganges through direct action. It is a very small attempt, but we are entering the river ourselves and taking out the garbage and waste in the water. For the last 15 days since this campaign has been going on, I think we have been able to dispose of 150 quintals of waste from the river. It is a major achievement."
14. A HEAP OF GARBAGE COLLECTED FROM RIVER GANGES
15. CLOSE OF THE HEAP
16. WOMEN ACTIVISTS STANDING NEAR THE HEAP OF GARBAGE
17. VARIOUS OF WOMEN CLEANING THE RIVER BANK
India’s main opposition leader reiterates moral responsibility of Babri mosque demolition
India's main opposition leader reiterates moral responsibility of Babri mosque demolition
VARANASI, MAY 07, 2012 ANI
VARANASI, MAY 07, 2012 ANI
By Girish Kumar Dubey
Senior leader of India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, Uma Bharti on Monday (May 07) remained unapologetic for her association with the communal campaign that led to Babri mosque demolition, which triggered one of country's worst riots.
Recently, CBI had appealed in the Supreme Court that senior leader Lal Krishna Advani along with other leaders should face trail in the demolition case.
Other prominent leaders charged of conspiring the demolition were Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti, Vinay Katiyar, Sadhvi Ritambhara and many more.
Reiterating her association with the massacre, Bharti said that she was proud to be the part of movement.
"I am never worried that my name is associated with Babri mosque demolition case. In fact, I feel that my association with Ayodhya movement will be a boon for my upcoming seven generations. I am unapologetic for being involved with Ayodhya movement. I have never repented for this and I still do not regret it," said Bharti.
Fanatic Hindu mobs reportedly patronised by BJP and Hindu radicals Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) had demolished mosque at Ayodhya on December 06 in 1992, claiming it was built at the birthplace of Lord Rama.
The demolition of the 16th century mosque in Ayodhya triggered some of India's worst riots that killed about 2,000 people.
A 2009 inquiry report compiled by Justice Liberhan indicted several top BJP figures for triggering the demolition. These include senior leader L K Advani and former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
The BJP rejected the Liberhan Commission report whilst protestors said the Indian government must take action against them.
On the same lines, Allahabad High Court order had earlier dismissed the CBI appeal against Advani, who led Hindus on a pilgrimage to tear down the mosque.
BJP leaders have been accusing federal ruling Congress party for pressurizing CBI to reopen the case against the perpetrators.
Hindus and Muslims have quarrelled for more than a century over the history of the Babri mosque.
In September 2010, the Allahabad High Court ruled that the site should be split, with the Muslim community getting control of a third, Hindus another third and the remainder going to the Nirmohi Akhara, a minority Hindu sect and one of the early litigants in the case.
The Supreme Court however suspended the ruling in May 2011.
A two-justice bench questioned the reasoning behind the decision and banned either of the groups from beginning construction activities.
Hindus say that the demolished mosque was built by a Mughal Emperor on the ruins of a razed temple that marked the birthplace of Ram, the popular Hindu warrior God.
Hindus make up around 80 percent of India's 1.2 billion populations. Muslims account for 13 percent.
Leader of India’s main opposition extends support to environmental activist in north India
Leader of India's main opposition extends support to environmental activist in north India
VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (MAY 06, 2012) ANI
By Girish Kumar Dubey
Leader of India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Uma Bharti on Sunday (May 06) extended support to environmental activist G D Aggarwal who raised the issue of uninterrupted flow of River Ganges in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state.
Aggarwal has been agitating for months along with scores of supporters demanding to save River Ganga (Ganges).
Earlier Aggarwal had stated that he does not have the patience to wait for government's response till May 20, hence would want to sacrifice his life for the cause.
Meanwhile Uma Bharti on Sunday visited the city of temples, Varanasi to meet Aggarwal and extend her support to his noble campaign.
"I want to say that people should make efforts to keep river Ganges clean and pure. You should reap the benefits but at the same time one should not exploit the Ganges and destroy its existence," said Bharti.
Bharti also said that she would stay for a day or two in the city, hold meetings with several other activists and outline a plan, which would help them to strengthen their campaign.
"I am going to stay in Varanasi for one or two days and will meet the activists and will contribute to their campaign," added Bharti.
Waiting since long time, G D Aggarwal had lost all his hopes of success for the campaign to save the sacred River Ganges but now with the extended support of the BJP a new ray of hope has emerged for him.
"In these three years the Ganga Basin Authority had released the budget but they have not taken any steps to control pollution and keep it clean and pure. We are not opposing construction of dams and electricity generation, our only concern is that the river must remain clean and water levels should be maintained. We have suggested some scientific means to tackle this problem but the central government is not acting sensibly," said Bharti.
The major problem faced by this prime river of India is that over 90 percent of its water is being used by hydro electric projects and barrages besides plethora of unlawful activities.
Apart from shrinking of the river, the accumulation of silt deposit and garbage along the banks has worried the environmentalists despite millions of rupees being spent on the Action River Ganga Plan.
Earlier also environmental activist G D Aggarwal had undertaken fast-unto-death as a mark of protest against the government's apathy towards the worsening condition of the River Ganga.
In 2011, the federal government approved a $1 billion loan from the World Bank, to fund an eight-year project to clean the River Ganga, in particular the large stretches heavily polluted by industrial effluents and domestic waste.
The 2,510-kilometre-long river that runs from a glacier in the western Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh supports over 400 million of India's 1.2 billion populations.
Leader of India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) extends support to environmental activist G D Aggarwal who has raise the issue of uninterrupted flow of River Ganges in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state.
shotlist
VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (MAY 06, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)
1. VEHICLE ARRIVING
2. LEADER OF INDIA'S MAIN OPPOSITION BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY (BJP), UMA BHARTI GETTING OUT OF THE CAR
3. BHARTI WALKING
4. BHARTI MEETING ENVIRONMENT ACTIVIST G D AGGARWAL
5. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) LEADER OF THE BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY, UMA BHARTI, SAYING:
"I want to say that people should make efforts to keep river Ganges clean and pure. You should reap the benefits but at the same time one should not exploit the Ganges and destroy its existence."
6. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) LEADER OF THE BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY, UMA BHARTI, SAYING:
"I am going to stay in Varanasi for one or two days and will meet the activists and will contribute to their campaign."
7. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) LEADER OF THE BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY, UMA BHARTI, SAYING:
"In these three years the Ganga Basin Authority had released the budget but they have not taken any steps to control pollution and keep it clean and pure. We are not opposing construction of dams and electricity generation, our only concern is that the river must remain clean and water levels should be maintained. We have suggested some scientific means to tackle this problem but the central government is not acting sensibly."
Environmental activists, devotees in northern India protest against exploitation of River Ganga.
Environmental activists, devotees in northern India protest against exploitation of River Ganga
VARANASI, INDIA (APRIL 29, 2012) 4:3) (ANI ) By Girish Kumar Dubey
VARANASI, INDIA (APRIL 29, 2012) 4:3) (ANI ) By Girish Kumar Dubey
Environmental activists including villagers on Sunday (April 29) organised a protest in the holy city of Varanasi in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state to raise the issue of the uninterrupted flow of River Ganges and to maintain its sanctity.
In recent years, the deplorable condition and the flow of River Ganga has raised alarm among the people.
Scores of people came forward to show solidarity to the cause of River Ganga.
People were seen pouring water which they had brought from their homes.
Vinay Katiyar, a protester and devotee highlighted the significance of the protest.
"Today, we have organised a unique protest in which all the villagers including women and children are pouring the water brought from their homes in the River Ganga. It was a protest against the government, which has stopped the continuity of the river by constructing 55 dams over it. So, in order to revive the flow of River Ganga, all the villagers have come forward to show a retaliatory protest against the government," said Katiyar.
He also mentioned that over the past several decades, the locals have been witnessing a constant fall in the quantum as well as level of the river and these trends have caused much concern, particularly among those who devotedly revere River Ganga.
Highlighting this aspect, activists including Hindu Monks all across the country have demanded nearly 5,000 cusecs of water from the federal and provincial government so as to raise the level of the river at Allahabad for the Kumbh Mela in 2013.
Incidentally, River Ganga is joined by River Yamuna and the mythical River Saraswati at Allahabad.
Hindus regard the point of confluence, named Sangam to be sacred. Periodically, a huge fair known as Kumbh Mela is organised in which tens of thousands of pilgrims from across the country take part and this event also happens to be a major attraction for tourists from abroad.
Apart from the shrinking river, the accumulation of silt deposit and garbage along the banks has worried the environmentalists despite millions of rupees being spent on the Action River Ganga Plan.
"I have come along with my team members of Association for Social and Health Advancement (ASHA) group. We have brought water from our homes. We have taken a pledge that we will make our mother Ganga pure," said a member of Association for Social and Health Advancement (ASHA), Sushma Devi.
In 2011, the federal government approved a $1 billion loan from the World Bank, to fund an eight-year project to clean the River Ganga, in particular the large stretches heavily polluted by industrial effluents and domestic waste.
The 2,510-kilometre-long river that runs from a glacier in the western Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh supports over 400 million of India's 1.2 billion populations.
Environmental activist G D Aggarwal had undertaken fast-unto-death in the month of February as a mark of protest against the government's apathy towards the worsening condition of the River Ganga.
Recently, a meeting of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) was presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on April 17.
Federal Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Minister of Environment and Forests Jayanthi Natarajan were also present at the meet.
State Chief Ministers Akhilesh Yadav of Uttar Pradesh, Vijay Bahuguna of Uttarakhand, Nitish Kumar of Bihar and Arjun Munda of Jharkhand besides environmental activists and Hindu monks were among others who took part in the NGRBA deliberations.
Intro
Environmental activists including villagers organise a protest in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state to raise the issue of the uninterrupted flow of River Ganges and to maintain its sanctity.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL
Shotlist
VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (APRIL 29, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)
1. WOMEN HOLDING POTS IN THEIR HANDS
2. A POT SEEN IN THE HAND OF A WOMAN
3. A PLACARD READING 'COME OUT OF THE HOUSE, FILL GANGA- SHAHEED BHAGAT SINGH YOUTH BRIGADE'
4. PROTESTERS HOLDING PLACARDS
5. A PLACARD READING 'DO NOT LET THE ATTEMPTS OF BHAGIRATH GO WASTE-ABHAAS' IN HINDI
6. PROTESTERS MARCHING ON ROAD
7. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) A PROTESTER AND A DEVOTEE, VINAY KATIYAR, SAYING:
"Today, we have organised a unique protest in which all the villagers including women and children are pouring the water brought from their homes in the River Ganga. It was a protest against the government, which has stopped the continuity of the river by constructing 55 dams over it. So, in order to revive the flow of River Ganga, all the villagers have come forward to show a protest against the government."
8. PROTESTERS POURING WATER INTO GANGA RIVER
9. PROTESTERS RAISING SLOGANS
10. PROTESTERS POURING WATER INTO GANGA RIVER
11. ROSE PETALS FLOATING ON THE SURFACE OF RIVER GANGA
12. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) A MEMBER OF ASSOCIATION FOR SOCIAL AND HEALTH ADVANCEMENT (ASHA), SUSHMA DEVI, SAYING:
"I have come along with my team members of Association for Social and Health Advancement (ASHA) group. We have brought water from our homes. We have taken a pledge that we will make our mother Ganga pure."
13. BOATS SEEN AT THE BANK OF RIVER GANGA
14. PROTESTERS POURING WATER INTO GANGA RIVER
Massive fire engulfs residential building in Varanasi
Massive fire engulfs residential building in Varanasi
Varanasi , Sun, 29 Apr 2012ANI By Girish Kumar Dubey
Varanasi, April 29 (ANI): A massive fire broke out in a residential building in the wee hours of Sunday in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. No casualties reported.
Four fire engines were immediately rushed to the spot to douse the blaze.
An eyewitness said though the reason was not ascertained yet they assumed that it might have occurred due to the short circuit.
"It's very difficult to say how did the fire break out. We could only see the smoke emanating from the building. We think that it happened due to short circuit. This incident took place around 3 in the morning. Efforts are still on to douse the fire," said Prem Yadav, a local.
The fire fighters have been making constant efforts to stop the fire from spreading it further.
"We got the orders to reach mass border near a picture hall and received the information that a fire broke out. The fire broke out around 4:45. It's a huge fire not an ordinary one," said Paramjeet Bahadur Singh, a fire brigade officer.
The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. (ANI)
Uma in Varanasi, reaches out to save Ganga
Uma in Varanasi, reaches out to save Ganga
Varanasi , Sun, 06 May 2012ANI By Girish Kumar Dubey
Varanasi, May 6(ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Uma Bharti on Sunday extended her support to environmental activist G D Aggarwal who has been agitating to save the Ganga.
Aggarwal had, earlier said that he does not have the patience to wait for government's response till May 20, and hence would want to sacrifice his life for the cause.
Bharti, in town to extend her support to the campaign, urged people to keep the river clean.
"People should make efforts to keep river Ganges clean and pure. You should reap the benefits but at the same time one should not exploit the Ganges and destroy its existence," said Bharti.
Bharti will hold meetings with activists and outline a plan to strengthen their campaign.
"I am going to stay in Varanasi for one or two days and will meet the activists and will contribute to their campaign," she said.
The firebrand BJP leader said that their cause is not against technology, but concerns the cleanliness of the river.
"In these three years the Ganga Basin Authority had released the budget but they have not taken any steps to control pollution. We are not opposing construction of dams and electricity generation; our only concern is that the river must remain clean. We have suggested some scientific means to tackle this problem but the Centre is not acting sensibly," said Bharti. (ANI)
'I am unapologetic for being involved with Ayodhya movement', says Uma Bharti
'I am unapologetic for being involved with Ayodhya movement', says Uma Bharti
Varanasi, Tue, 08 May 2012ANI By Girish Kumar Dubey
Varanasi, May 8 (ANI): Refusing to comment on the Ayodhya issue, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Uma Bharti has said she remained unapologetic about her association with the campaign that led to the demolition of the Babri mosque.
"I am never worried that my name is associated with Babri mosque demolition case. In fact, I feel that my association with Ayodhya movement will be a boon for my upcoming seven generations. I am unapologetic for being involved with Ayodhya movement. I have never repented for this and I still do not regret it," Bharti told media here.
The CBI has appealed in the Supreme Court that senior leader Lal Krishna Advani along with other leaders should face trial in the demolition case.
The agency opposed the separation of trial of eight accused leaders-Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti, Vinay Katiyar, Ashok Singhal, Giriraj Kishore, Vishnu Hari Dalmiya and Sadhvi Rithambara-from 41 others, mainly kar sevaks, allegedly involved in the demolition of the disputed structure on December 6, 1992.
It said separation of the trial, which has found favour with the trial court and the Allahabad High Court, is totally erroneous.
CBI has challenged the May 20, 2010, order of the High Court dismissing its plea against dropping of the conspiracy charge against Advani and also upholding separation of his trial from those charged with actual demolition and assault on mediapersons.
Two separate FIR were registered on the December 6, 1992 incident with the first pointing towards the alleged involvement of kar sevaks in the demolition of the structure while another was against eight leaders of BJP, VHP and RSS for giving allegedly provocative speeches and slogans from a stage 175 meters away from the disputed site. (ANI)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)