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INDIA SUNDAY TIMES OF New Delhi, January 25, 2004 9

Sanjay Sekhri RSS chief redefines ‘minorities’ By Sandeep Mishra rooted to the country’s her- in a church? Or, why should made by Netaji Subhas TIMES NEWS NETWORK itage and culture should be I be renamed Sudar Khan to Chandra Bose, Sudarshan considered Hindus because be allowed entry into a castigated the Communists Bhubaneshwar: ‘‘Muslims the term Hindu refers to a mosque? Why should I have for laying a claim on Netaji, and Christians in India ‘‘way of life, view of life’’ to cut off ties with my fore- even though he was not one should not be labelled as mi- and not any religion. ‘‘Even fathers to practise any reli- of them. ‘‘Netaji’s image is norities as they have their the Supreme Court has giv- gion?’’ he asked. growing in people’s mind genetic roots here,’’ en this observation,’’ he Coming down heavily on because he had played a Rashtriya Swayamsevak said. proselytisation, Sudarshan great role in ensuring our Sangh chief K S Sudarshan ‘‘Hindustan is one of the said notwithstanding the Independence,’’ he said, said on Friday, at the end of most tolerant places in the claims made from different adding, ‘‘The Congress has his three-day trip to the world. It believes that God is quarters, conversion activi- all along attempted to rele- state. one and there are different ties are rampant in Orissa. gate to the background free- The RSS chief observed ways to reach Him. Once ‘‘Everybody knows that no- dom fighters other than that even though Parsis and Muslims and Christians ac- body would change his/her their own. They have even Jews settled in our country cept this, all disputes would religion without allure- tried to defame persons like have a claim on the minori- come to an end,’’ he said. ments or coercion. The Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Ra- ty tag, they do not use it. According to him, a person claims that no conversion is jguru and Veer Sawarkar.’’ ‘‘Parsis and Jews do not should be allowed to follow taking place are absolutely He attacked the Nehru- have their genetic roots in any path to attain mokshya false,’’ the RSS chief con- vian model and charged this country. Still they do (salvation) without sever- tended, while accusing Ro- Jawaharlal Nehru of hav- not call themselves minori- ing his ancestral bonds. man Catholics of attempt- ing foisted the British mod- ties,’’ he said. ‘‘Why should I change my ing to spread their beliefs el on India without under- The veteran swayamse- name from Sudarshan to across India and Asia. standing the country’s ex- vak argued that Muslims Sanderson if I were to pray Eulogising the efforts isting structure or ethos. and Christians who were Prime minister with the National Bravery Award winners at PM House in New Delhi on Saturday. Discrimination, not AIDS, is the killer No role for Judeo in campaign : Former Union min- fied Judeo will be one of the By Vaishnavi C Sekhar and to an HIV-positive woman. Lawyers’ Collective, who rep- Dubey, who conducts semi- ister Dilip Singh Judeo will campaigners. Two days back Amrita Nair-Ghaswalla The court ruled that denying resented the recent case, says nars to sensitise corporates, not be BJP’s principal party chief minister TIMES NEWS NETWORK people jobs on the grounds of that at least 50 per cent of the says the responses range campaigner in had declared Judeo would be Mumbai: Health activist their HIV status was discrim- HIV cases they handle are from incredulity to concern during the elec- the ‘‘star’’ campaigner even Manoj insists that AIDS is inatory and a violation of employment- and recruit- to fear. ‘‘The discrimination tions, party chief M Venka- during the Lok Sabha polls. not a killer. ‘‘It is not the dis- their fundamental rights. ment-related. ‘‘In Delhi, is across the board — from iah Naidu said on Saturday. Naidu said Judeo would ease which is wiping out peo- The progressive ruling has these are largely to do with blue-collar to white-collar. In Judeo was the star cam- not be kept aside during the ple but the discrimination,’’ exposed the intolerant face of the armed forces, but in fact, as you go upwards, paigner of the party during campaign. But till the inves- he says. ‘‘With the kind of India Inc. While many big In- Mumbai both private and there’s a greater attitude the assembly elections. tigation was over he would medicines available today, dian companies are hurrying public sector companies are problem,’’ she says, adding Naidu was addressing the not be given any respon- people can live in a healthy to sync with international involved,’’ he says. Last year, that the situation is chang- BJP state executive here on sibility as desired by Judeo, way for 20 years. But if you policies on the treatment of an International Labour Or- ing, with more companies Saturday. However, he clari- he said. don’t get a job, how will you HIV-positive employees, the ganisation (ILO) study in In- showing interest in AIDS No BJP for Omar: The NC survive?’’ vast majority has still to dia found that most employ- awareness programmes. has ruled out any alliance with The issue of job discrimi- wake up to the problem. ees hide their HIV status for Activists warn that poli- the BJP in Jammu and Kash- nation against persons with ‘‘Many of our people are los- fear of being sacked. cies should not remain on pa- mir for the forthcoming Lok HIV/AIDS came to the fore ing jobs,’’ says Manoj, presi- ‘‘A lot of people quit be- per. ‘‘Big companies may get Sabha polls. “We will not fight last week when the Bombay dent of the Network of Ma- cause of ill-treatment from away because they have a the elections for Lok Sabha in High Court directed the New harashtra by People Living co-workers and manage- document to show the world, alliance with BJP, as BJP is not India Assurance company to with HIV/AIDS. ment,’’ agrees Nidhi Dubey, but it should also be imple- our like-minded party at all,” give permanent employment Anand Grover of the who works with NGO Avert. mented,’’ says Dubey. Omar Abdullah said. PTI Mufti releases 18 detenus TIMES NEWS NETWORK his coalition government has been doing this ever New Delhi: Jammu & since it came to power in Kashmir chief minister 2002. ‘‘Many detenus have Mufti Mohammad Sayeed been released,’’ he said. added to the atmosphere of But he added that those goodwill, releasing 18 de- charged with heinous of- tenus on Saturday. But he fences would not be re- insisted that the release leased. ‘‘It is our belief that was not related to talks be- we should not keep our tween Deputy Prime Min- people in jails as democra- ister L K Advani and Hur- cy is a battle of ideas...We riyat leaders and that more have been taking this step would be released at the as part of confidence build- time of Eid next month. ing measures.’’ ‘‘We are doing this as On Hurriyat’s demand part of our government’s for checking human rights policy to release prisoners abuses in the state, Sayeed including militants after said his government is se- thorough screening,’’ Say- rious about it and has tak- eed told reporters after he en many steps in this re- and the 15-member Haj del- gard. ‘‘We are making our egation met Prime Minis- forces more accountable ter Vajpayee. for every action and it is He supported the Hur- our sincere endeavour to riyat’s demand for release check all kinds of human of prisoners and said that rights violations,’’ he said.

Highway thrown open: The 300-km long Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, was on Saturday thrown open for light vehicles after remaining closed for the past three days following land- slides and avalanches trig- gered by heavy rains and snow. However heavy vehicles were restricted from plying on the highway on Saturday. PTI

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