[SASIALIT] RE: Narendra Modi invites Taslima to Gujarat

---

I think this whole thing of crucifying an author because he/she wrote
something is absurd, and lacks any merit.

I think if a certain section of people feel that some book has offended them
let them issue a warning to their own members not to read the book. This
could hurt the author because then the book will not sell.

However, to beat up an author because he/she wrote something is to go to
extremes. The people who do the beating or vandalizing may not have read the
book themselves. Do they follow literature as to know what boundaries the
author transgressed?

Freedom of expression is guaranteed by the constitution of India and authors
should be assured of the freedom of writing freely to encourage debate and
discussion. If a certain section finds it objectionable it would be better
to ask them not to buy the book. End of the matter.

I have read Taslima's "Shame" and find nothing objectionable in the book.
Taken in isolation, the book has nothing that is offensive compared to some
other books that are in circulation. What Taslima is against is a few people
who do not have the courtesy to read her books taking up on behalf of their
faith to attack and hurt her. Her answer to them should be "If you have read
my books, tell me what part of it (chapter and verse) you do not like." Then
come and discuss the issue with me.

My tuppence worth!

John Matthew






>
> Srini, her approach to humanism, to secularism, to church-state separation
> -- has caught on wildly.  Among people who wield pens, not swords.
>
> And while we're mixing metaphors, if you're going to kill the chef because
> you didn't like his pudding, maybe you should only eat at home.
>
> - AjitD
>
>
> > Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2007 19:14:35 -0800
> > From: srini_nagul at yahoo.com
> > To: sasialit at mailman.rice.edu
> > Subject: [SASIALIT] RE: Narendra Modi invites Taslima to Gujarat
> >
> >
> >
> > Ajit Sanzgiri  wrote:> Taslima's views are dated and old hat and do not
> deserve glorification. But the
> >> Koran, Vedas and the Bible are .... not dated or old hat ?
> >
> > Difference lies in the pudding. If her approach or gospel is really so
> good, why has it not already caught on ?!
> >
> > Regards
> > -Srinivas
> >
> >
> > ---------------------------------
> > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

Narendra Modi talks about good governance, welfare state

Narendra Modi talks about good governance, welfare state

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is preparing himself to start battle against political opponents within the party and against the other parties to prove his dominance in state politics again. This was the effect of election time that Modi has started talking about the need of right kind of governance by terming it necessary in present situation in the country.

He criticized, while speaking in a summit in New Delhi, the show-case policy practiced by most governments today. He blamed that governments highlighted just one aspect, one side of development.

Modi said that this is need of the time for us people to understand that India is a federation of states and the political leaders will have to recognize the potential of different states. The leaders will have to ensure the development of the environment of healthy competition among the states.

Modi said:

This is necessary to create parameters for development and create passion among people to see development as a mission. We should remember how the people had taken the independence as mission sixty years ago.

The political leadership has to learn from Gandhi how he was able to make the struggle for freedom a countrywide movement. Modi said that Ram Rajya to him is nothing but the concept of a welfare state.

He also talked about the developmental work started and completed during his rule in Gujarat. He said that people had demanded a few hours of electric supply from him when he had come for the first time in Gujarat. Gujarat was a power-starved state.

Modi claimed that within 1000 days the state got 23 lakh electric poles, 56000 new transformers installed across the cities. He claimed to ensure 24-hour electric supply with the same infrastructure and the same staff.

Modi also said that the drop out rate in education sector in the state has come down drastically from 49% to 3% during his governance. He said that the people of Gujarat will decide his fate and he is accountable to none but the people of Gujarat.

On the question of his desire of becoming PM of the country one day, Modi said that he was never a man of elections and had never contested any election before becoming the CM. The party told him to take the responsibility in Gujarat and he is leading his party in the forthcoming Gujarat elections to gain voters votes and confidence for next term.

Gujarat CM Narendra Modi to cooperate with SIT

Gujarat CM Narendra Modi to cooperate with SIT

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who has been summoned by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with Ehsaan Jaffrey murder case, will cooperate with the investigators, the Gujarat government said Friday.

GUJARAT CHIEF minister Narendra Modi, who has been summoned by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with Ehsaan Jaffrey murder case, will cooperate with the investigators, the Gujarat government said Friday.

State government spokesperson, Jay Narayan Vyas said that the government and chief minister Narendra Modi will cooperate in the investigation. It was not however said whether the CM himself will appear before the SIT, investigating the murder case in the Gujarat 2002 riots.

The Special Investigation Team was constituted by the Supreme Court after a complaint was lodged by Ehsaan Jaffrey's widow, Zakia Jaffrey. She has accused Modi and 62 others of being complicit in anti-minority riots, which broke out in the state after the burning of the Sabarmati Express near Godhra railway station in 2002

Zakiya Jaffrey has alleged that the chief minister and his colleagues had asked the police and administration to refrain from helping the muslims during the Gujarat riots.

BJP meanwhile has defended Modi saying that some NGOs had a vested interest in defaming the Gujarat chief minister. The party also said that Modi's case was part of a legal process and will give due respect to the rule of law.