PTA June 1-15, 2012

1 Fortnightly 16 Pages RNI No. 72289/99 Registered No. DL (N)/236/2012-14 U(DN)-168/2011-12 LICENSED TO POST WITHOUT PRE-PAYMENT Price Rs. 10/-

Vol. XIV No.5 June 1-15, 2012 Published from Delhi Post Box No : 10708, Delhi-110085

Reviving the anti-corruption campaign:

Newspaper with a Biblical perspective Since 1999

Lokpal no answer to our lawlessness

By MPK Kutty

The Lokpal issue is again on the forefront with a threat of the anti-corruption campaign being renewed in the near future. That Lokpal is no answer to corruption or the lawlessness which is another name for corruption in this nation.

Lawlessness is corruption because it is the ineffective enforcement of laws that lead to the existence of corruption. The law is misused to protect the rich and the powerful. The people in general have no respect for law and they look for loopholes to avoid rules and regulations. Law is never uniformly applied in our feudal system.

What we need is a greater sensitivity so that wherever clever manipulators are seeking to gain at the cost of justice and fairplay, the government must be forced to act.

The anti-corruption campaigners are barking up the

wrong tree. Their theme seems to be that if there is a strong Lokpal corruption will end. And it is also their theme that the current government led by the UPA is corrupt and its replacement will bring about the needed change.

No answer: The Lokpal issue is now with a select committee of parliament.

It is certain to be bogged down by controversial suggestions and conflict of interests and it is now too early to guess the outcome.

But one thing is certain. It is not going to be the answer to the problems of corruption facing this country. We are all barking up the wrong tree.

We can not import a new set of politicians or bureaucrats to rule us ; we the people of India have chosen them and they are made

up of the same blood and flesh as we are. Every people, it is said, get the kind of government it deserves. Corruption has no ideology or colour. If we blame the Congress for the state of affairs, it is only a partial truth. All parties have their share of black

Capt. A. M. Samuel promoted to glory

After serving the Lord Jesus Christ for 40 years in His battle field, Capt. A. M. Samuel was promoted to glory on 15th May 2012 at Thrissur. He was 73. He died while teaching the Bible. He is survived by his wife Ammini, son Finny and daughter Susan.

Capt. A. M. Samuel was on the last phase of his ministry trip in Kerala. He had finished the scheduled programs in 8 places in different parts of Kerala. He reached Thrissur to conduct special bible classes for evangelists in the Pentecostal church at Para-

vattani in Trichur, Kerala.

Capt. Samuel was physically exhausted and tired because of the severe persecutions he suffered 17 times for preaching the gospel.

The last persecution he suffered was at “Jagadgiri” in Haryana in 2011 and those who attacked left him – with the impression that he was dead. But God strengthened him to do the Master’s work for some more time.

Capt. Samuel completed his preaching at Alleppey on 13th May, lying on a bed on the stage.

He preached about the things that

will be taking place before the coming of Christ. Though his team members advised him not to preach, he insisted on preaching, in order to keep his words given to the public on the previous day of the meeting. He preached about 45 minutes and sung his favourite Christian song till the end “Kandidum, kandidum priyane njan kandidum (Yeshuve manalene), prayed and concluded the meeting. He also prayed for the sick.

He was not willing to go to his home in Turn on page 5

sheep and the efforts of the anticorruption campaigners to direct their ire at the government sends a wrong message.

Enough laws exist in this nation to counter corruption.

But they are not implemented honestly. While the petty thieves

and offenders are taken to task, only recently the authorities have become emboldened to act against the mighty and the highly placed who are looting the nation.

The business class, enjoying political clout, strives to maximize profits by bribing

Turn on page 5

Parliament passes bill to protect children from sexual abuse

New Delhi: The Parliament approved a Bill to protect children below 18 years from sexual abuse, set up special courts for speedy trial of cases against them and provide stringent punishment extending up to life term for offenders.

Call it the influence of Aamir Khan’s new show or else a simple awakening by the Government of India to realise that there has to be a strict policy against child sexual abuse and it should be well defined in the legal system of our country.

The legislation to protect children below 18 years from sexual abuse became a reality with Lok Sabha passing the bill. This bill was earlier cleared by Rajya Sabha. However, child rights activist protested the passing of this bill vehemently claiming that it can curb the actual civil rights of a child who is not 18 years old. However, the Parliament gave it a nod despite all these odds.

“The Bill is gender neutral. It seeks to protect children from sexual offences... the burden of proof will be on the accused,” Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath said winding up

the debate in the Lok Sabha on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Bill, 2011.

According to a study conducted by the ministry in 13 states, 53 per cent of children accepted that they have been sexually exploited, she said.

The minister said the bill has provision for the state governments to set up Special Court to try the offences under the Act. It has provision for stringent punishments for perpetrators of crime against children.

As per the Bill, “whoever commits penetrative sexual assault on children shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than Turn on page 10

Be Aware! Be Concern!! Read PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY

2

June 1-15, 2012

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY

Nun appointed member Who conferred the title of Rajasthan Minority of “Father of the nation” on Mahatma Gandhi?

Commission

In a first perhaps in the whole of North India, the Rajasthan Government has nominated a Catholic nun as a member of the State’s Minority Commission.

Sister Mariola Sequeira, of the order of the Mission Sister of Ajmer (MSA), teaches English at Ajmer’s prestigious Sophia College, but she is known in the human rights circles as an ‘activist nun.’

An active member of the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) Rajasthan, the Mangalore-born Sister Sequeira has been the State coordinator of the Prison Ministry India (PMI) since 2004 and an NGO member of the Grievance Committee for Sexual Harassment at the Workplace at Central Jail, Ajmer. Trained in journalism as well, she regularly writes for church publications and the Hong Kong-based news service, UCAN. In March 2010, television news channel CNN-IBN chose her for the ‘Real Heroes Award’ for her work in rehabilitating women prisoners. Her ad-

vocacy and campaign for six long years had resulted in the release of a mentally ill prisoner from the Central Jail on January 25, last year, after 18 years of imprisonment. “The activists friends are very happy about the appointment so are my superiors in the church and the convent.

The first to ring me up and congratulate me were social activists Aruna Roy and Kavita Srivastava,” said Sister Sequeira talking to The Hindu from Ajmer.

Lucknow: The question looked simple at the outset. However to answer Aishwarya Parashar, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Archives of India had to study millions of official documents.

Finally they answered that there were no “specific documents” on the information sought by the 10-year-old girl from Lucknow.

“That was really surprising because I never thought it was such a difficult question since even our history books taught us that Mahatma Gandhi was the Father of the Nation,” Parashar, a fourth grader in Lucknow’s City Montessori School, said.

The first reference to such a title was from Subhash Chandra Bose, leader of the Indian National Army who referred to Gandhi as the Father of the nation in a radio address from Singapore in 1944.

The first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru repeated it when he addressed the nation soon after Gandhi’s assassination in 1948.

“Friends and comrades, the light has gone out of our lives, and there is darkness everywhere, and I do not quite know what to tell you or how to say it. Our beloved leader, Bapu as we called him, the Father of the Nation, is no more.”

Parashar, perhaps the country’s youngest Right to Information (RTI) activist, has so far asked three questions to PMO. She first queried about the person who ordered for printing Mahatma Gandhi’s image on currency notes. The PMO answered saying the Reserve Bank of India took the decision at a meeting in 1993.

As late as April 24 she wanted to know from the PMO who declared India’s three national holidays: Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary on October 2, Republic Day on January 26 and

Independence Day on August 15.

This time the PMO surprised her on May 17 saying such orders were never issued.

Parashar says when questions come to her mind she would not rest until she finds the answers from the right source.

The daughter of a college lecturer and an activist seeks answers through the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Parashar’s inquisitiveness and willingness has helped a public library to come up on the site of a garbage dumb in Lucknow.

Aishwarya now urges those wanting some written information from her to send her an SMS giving their e-mail ID and even forward e-mail and communicates about her work on her own.

Aishwarya wants to become a doctor.

Asked why, she quips: “Whenever I go to a hospital, I see that the poor patients have to first shell out money in order to get treated. I will, on becoming a doctor, go to the slums at least once every week and provide free treatment to such poor people.”

- The Hindu

“Lead exemplory lives to the society”: Rev. Manoj Varghese Bro. Johnykutty

Pastor P.M. John distributing the certificates. Rev.Manoj Varghese, Rev. T.M. Joseph and Bro. Sam Kutty Chacko are seen on the stage.

New Delhi: “We have to teachings of Jesus Christ”, the main message during lead an exemplory life to reminded Rev. Manoj Var- the convocation ceremony the society accoridng to the ghese. He was delivering Turn on page 14

June 1-15, 2012

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY

Well Known Indian Evangelist KA Paul arrested on murder charges

3

By James Varghese Special Correspondent for Praise the Almighty

ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA : Monday, May 22, 2012, Wellknown evangelist KA Paul was arrested on Monday morning from Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh state, India.

According to Times of India, the evangelist got arrested for attempting to murder Koteswar Rao, accused of killing his brother, Daniel.

News Source said, according to the Superintendent of Police (Prakasam) Mr. Raghurami Reddy, Paul was charged under Indian Penal Code law section 120 B (for hatching criminal conspiracy to abduct) and 307 (attempt to murder).

“Paul is also facing a charge under Prevention of Corruption Act” the officer added.

Officer Mr Reddy also said “Paul was arrested for conspiring to eliminate Koteswara. He had tried to lure a police official by offering a bribe to kill Koteswar in (fake) encounter,”

Reddy said. Paul allegedly offered Rupees 1 crore (200,000 $) to a police inspector, and paid Rupees 3 lakh (6000 $) as advance.

Paul’s brother Daniel was found dead on a highway in 2010 under mysterious circumstances.

Evangelist Paul was picked up from Ongole town in Prakasam district in the morning and was remanded to judicial custody after he was produced in a local court. He was in Ongole town to campaign for his outfit ‘Praja Shanti Party’ (Citizen’s Peace party) for the ensuing by-polls.

The evangelist came into news after he alleged that YS Rajasekhara Reddy, the then chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, had demanded Rs 20 crore (4000000 $) from him for election funds.

Paul said he had refused to give the money. Later he floated his being sent to the local prison, ers and YS Jaganmohan Reddy, Andhra Pradesh state had conown party.

Talking to reporters before Paul said Congress party lead- son of late Chief Minister of spired to send him to jail.

4

June 1-15, 2012

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY

Shrinking Minority Rights in India

By Father Anand Muttungal

By the beginning of the 19th century, issues related to minorities began to be one of the major concerns of the leaders and rulers of India. In the beginning it was a problem based on religious diversification but in two decades the issues related to linguistic minorities too became a problem. The reports submitted by the Motilal Nehru Committee on the communal problem, 10 August 1928, suggested creating provinces based on language, special efforts protect local language and culture, and special reservation to minorities in the elected bodies. Probably it could be right to believe that they could not define the term “minority”; even the constituent assembly made no efforts to define the term but left it to the Courts to decide according to its wisdom. It has probably over the years it has let to shrink the rights of the minorities in a judicial way.

The first assault on minority rights began with the Kerala Education Bill 1957 that proposed to centralizing recruitment of teachers in the aided schools through

State Public Service Commission, taking over the collection of fees, taking over of management in the event of specified failings etc. It was later rectified by the six bench judges of the Supreme Court in response to opinion sought by the President of India under article 143(1) of the Constitution. The debate on the issue of minorities again came up in 1993 with the higher education policy of Karnataka Government on admission, fixation of fee and many other aspects of administration of the colleges and in 2005 Maharastra Government followed the suit with a general policy on fee regulation and reservation in higher education institutions.

T.M.A. Pai Foundation and P A Inamdar brought these issues to the Supreme Court and larger constitutional benches delivered clear direction to the Government on various questions related to minority institutions.

The recent judgment by the Supreme Court on RTE that ‘it should be applicable to the aided minority education institutions’ has given a scope to the Govern-

ments to restrict the rights of the minorities. While speaking on the proposed amendment of RET in the Lok Sabha, (May 9, 2012), Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal stated, “minority institutions are out of its purview” while noting that the Supreme Court too had passed an order saying this law would not be applicable to minority institutions. The amendment stated that ‘in Section 21 of the RTE Act, in sub-section (2), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely: “Provided that the School management Committee constituted under sub-section (1) in respect to a school established and administered by minority, whether based

on religion or language, shall perform advisory functions only.”

The present judgment of the Supreme Court that ‘RTE will be applicable to aided minority schools’ and the amendment passed by the Lok Sabha ‘to form school management committee’ too are clearly indicating a challengeable difference of opinion with the Supreme Court Judgment in T M A Pai Foundation Case which said, “A minority institution does not cease to be so; the moment grantin-aid is received by the institution.”

The present RTE Judgment of the Supreme Court and the Amendment made by the Parliament has divided the mi-

nority run educational institutions into aided and un-aided.

Probably people in power are happy that their elite schools are out of its preview but what about those people working in the aided schools which serve the real poor. The present developments are clear sign of restricting the constitutional rights of the minority into a small semi circle. In-spite of this dark shade we have hope that while delivering the judgment one of the judges disagreed with including aided minority institutions under RTE. Therefore we must go for a review of the judgment for a greater cause.

Are you looking for an interdenominational fellowship in Ghaziabad?

Please join with us

And enjoy the beauty and power of the Kingdom of God

Chiranjeev Vihar Fellowship Day and time : Every Saturday 6.30 pm to 8.00 pm

Contact person : Rev. Rakesh O Bacon Mobile : 986-803-3140 B-1-149 A/B Sector-3, Chiranjeev Vihar, Ghaziabad-201002

INDIA BIBLE INSTITUE & IMMANUEL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AIPF Campus, Chandanhola, Fatepurberi Post, New Delhi-110074

Applications are invited from young born again Christians, with a strong desire for Christian ministry, for the various courses.

* Request for applications for the next semester B.Th (4 1/2 Years) for 10th pass may be made to the Registrar at the above address B.Th (3 years) for 12th /PUC pass or by phone 011-26653063 B.D/M. Div for B.A./B.Sc/B.Th pass M.Th. for B.D. pass with 2 years ministry experience Advt.

June 1-15, 2012

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY

Capt. A. M. Samuel promoted ...

from page no. 1

Vadasserikkara in spite of his relatives’ compulsion. He preferred to die on the stage, preaching the gospel. On 14th he was taken to Thrissur and on 15th morning, he participated with his team in an intercessory prayer from 5 am to 5.45.

After that he lay on the bed and continued the teaching.

By 6.25 he breathed his last. His wife Ammini Samuel and daughter Susan and grandson Timothy were around him besides the believers, pastors and team members, while he breathed his last. His son Finny Samuel – a minister of the gospel - was away in Nepal for the gospel meeting with the family, could not come in time, because of the curfew in Nepal.

He had given instructions to his team to bury him at the place where he dies without keeping his body in a mortuary. He led a simple life throughout his life. The leader of his team Pr. Saji & Pr. C. O. David led the funeral service along with other servants of God in Pentecostal church in Paravattani, at Nellikkunnam Maccapela Pentecostal Cemetery. There were neither condolence speeches nor wreathes placed on the body.

God used him mightily to preach the gospel boldly in north India. He also preached the gospel in China, Nepal, Philippines, USA, Canada and gulf countries and about 350 congregations were established as a result of his ministry. From 1972 onwards he was very

5

much involved in the Lord’s ministry even while he was in the army service and in 1975 he resigned his prestigious job and came out to preach full time. Both his children are in the Lord’s ministry. He neither had any property nor any assets left for his children.

Till the end, he too a stand for miracles and faith healing. God used him to raise up hundreds of pastors and evangelists who are toiling for the gospel in mission fields. His wife Ammini Samuel is continuing the ministry with their children. He authored several books in Malayalam & English and his teachings are available on YouTube.

Students call for reform in theological training •Bibles / Study Bibles •Used Bibles / Books •Bible Dictionaries •Commentaries •Sunday School Materials •Picture Charts…

•Hindi Materials

Date:

Attractive Discounts!

July 10 -15, 2012 Tuesday - Sunday

Time : 09:00 a.m. –

07:00 p.m.

Sunday (15th July): After Church Service Venue:

St. James Church, Parish Hall,

Kashmere Gate, Delhi – 110006.

Land Mark: Near ISBT / Old Delhi Station Contact: Rev. Sam, NIBL - 8901406712 Email: niblosdelhi@gmail.com

Theological fraternities, especially the Senate of Serampore, one of the oldest universities in India, were called to move from notions of the markoriented academic programmes to transformative educational methods.

Over 100 students from the 37 Senate of Serampore affiliated colleges and seminaries in India and Sri Lanka earlier this month called for more fitting educational methods to train students as “agencies of God’s image, voice and activity” in this world.

The Senate of Serampore, which confers its own degrees in the field of Theology, was asked to relook its programmatic notions frequently from the emerging needs of the society and its relevance.

The budding theologians demanded the Senate of Serampore to provide participatory rights to students in all its decision making bodies including curriculum revision. They also urged the Senate to facilitate all the affiliated institutions to have a work place policy on gender and sexual harassment.

In addition to that, they implored the need for a National Forum of theological Students for dialogue among themselves on issues pertaining to the church, society and theological education.

The Senate of Serampore College, which was founded by Baptist missionaries William Carey, Joshua Marshman and William Ward in 1818, determines the qualifications for the degrees and diplomas awarded to graduates of more than 45 affiliated colleges.

Some 115 students had gathered at the United Theological College campus in Bangalore from May 5-8 for the national conference organised by the Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College (BTESSC) along with the NCCI and SCMI. The conference, held on the theme ‘God of Life: Lead to Justice and Peace’, saw theological educators and theologically trained social workers speak as resource persons.

The participants vowed to not only to serve the Church as pastors and church workers but also to serve the society at large.

Observing that the communities who live on the edges of the societies need to be made participants in mission, the statement said “mission in specific context as in India is imperatively interfaith and social action oriented” and therefore must move beyond specific faith and confessional and social traditions. - Christian Today.

6

June 1-15, 2012

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY

Haryana makes registration of children homes mandatory

Haryana government directed all tions working for destitute and needy Principal Secretary, Women and deputy commissioners in the state women and children by June 30.

Child Development, Dheera to ensure registration of all organisa- Financial Commissioner and Khandelwal said such registration had been made mandatory for all such institutions and organisations whether government or voluntary under the Orphanages and Other Charitable Homes Act, 1960.

She said all such institutions should get themselves registered in the prescribed format and the registration would be done free of cost.

Khandelwal said that all

the deputy commissioners and regional officers had been issued directions for speedy registration and inspection of such institutes and organisations.

According to Section 24 of the Act, managers or owners could face strict action for illegally running such homes.

Non compliance would result in imprisonment or fine or both against managers or owners of homes being run illegally, she added.

Goa Basilica asks visitors to dress appropriately Advt.

The management of Goa’s Basilica of Bom Jesus — the ancient Church at Old Goa in north Goa which contains the relics of St. Francis Xavier — has decided to install signboards requesting visitors and tourists to wear decent clothes on the church premises.

Father Savio Barretto, Rector of Basilica said they held a meeting with officials of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in this regard. This is a heritage zone.

He stressed that while signboards would request decent clothes as it was a place of worship, it was not an attempt to impose a

Nagas threaten to fight militants

People of Nagaland have warned underground militants that they would take up arms to fight the outlaws if they did not stop their violent activities.

Some 10,000 people on 30th May demonstrated in Zunheboto, a prominent town in the northeastern Indian state, to denounce the militants and declare zero tolerance for militancy.

The rally was to protest the death of a youth, who was caught in the crossfire between two factions of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) at a densely populated area in the town on 29th May. Another student was wounded in the firing.

The protesters, who carried the slain youth’s body, said if the federal government failed to clear civilian areas of militants they would take find their way to end militancy.

The Sumi Hoho, the apex organization of Sumi Naga tribe in Zunheboto district,

organized the protest.

“We have decided to flush out militants from Zunheboto if they repeat the mistake,” Sumi Hoho secretary Vihuto Sumi said. He said the rebels had defied the people’s call for peace, leaving them with no option other than fight the militants themselves. “We are prepared to chase them out,” he added.

The secretary said armed militants now

move freely in civil areas because the government had failed to implement conditions of a ceasefire it had signed with the outlaws. He said the ceasefire has failed to protect the people and urged the federal government to make the ceasefire mechanism more stringent.

The protesters said they would ask the government to force the militants stay confined to their designated camps.

They have also resolved not to pay tax to militants.

Source: The Telegraph

“dress code.”

Fr. Barretto said parishioners had objected to the “inappropriately” dressed tourists, especially when they came for mass.

Some suggestions were received that such tourists and visitors should not be allowed to visit the church as they marred the sanctity of the place of worship.

“We will be very careful to use proper words on the signboards so that nobody is hurt but at the same time the message is taken,” he said.

At present, the church has a few staffers who would check whether tourists are properly dressed. – The Hindu

Government to challenge sub-quota order

The government will challenge in the Supreme Court the Andhra Pradesh high court judgment striking down its decision to reserve 4.5% sub-quota for the Muslim community within the 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

Union law and minority affairs minister Salman Khurshid said the government did not add or delete any community from the OBC list of the Mandal Commission on the Backward Classes.

Addressing a press conference here , the minister said the government had announced the sub-quota after four years of analysis and study of various court judgments, particularly the Indira Sawhney verdict of the Apex Court. He, however, admitted that the government was not able to put forward facts in right perspective before the high court.

Khurshid said those in the minorities sub-quota already enjoy the OBC reservation and all that the government had done was ensure that they are not left out because of other backward classes cornering all the reservations. The reservation was not for all in the minorities, but limited to those declared backward, he added.

He said the backward in the minorities deserve reservation to be at par with others

in the society and this is no appeasement.To a question on vote-bank politics, Khurshid said, “Democracy is all about votes, about reaching out to people and attempt to make people comfortable.” He said the only constraint is that such outreach should not be illegitimate.

The minister said, “I have spoken to the HRD Minister (Kapil Sibal). He says that the selection to IITs is not completed. But if anybody has secured admission in IIT, he can go to the Supreme Court. Anybody can go to the Supreme Court,” he said, adding the government will itself like to take up the matter “as quickly as possible”. The minister also referred to an earlier intervention by the Supreme Court in which the court had ensured that those who have already secured admissions would not be affected by an earlier high court order on the reservation issue.

June 1-15, 2012

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY

Walk by the A word revelation of with you Lord Jesus Christ

Time to Red Flag EDITORIAL Communism in India

Why is it that India and Indians retain many things that are already in the waste basket of history? Even decades after Communism was discarded like used clothes by many Eastern European countries and by the erstwhile USSR, communism is going strong in India, especially in Kerala and West Bengal. The extreme form of Communism - Naxal movement or Maoism - has a vice grip over a large territory that straddles several states of India.

The Maoists’ stated aim is to establish a Communists Dictatorship in India after overturning democracy and democratic institutions. The “milder” versions of Communism took part in democratic processes in India. Their democratic pretensions and masks are slowly giving way and their true nature is now visible after a series of political murders in Kerala. The question that needs to be addressed today by India is this, how sincere is the Communists’ professed allegiance to democracy, human rights and to the Indian Constitution?

At a political gathering in a small town, leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxists) were trying to contain the damage created by the murder of former communist T P Chandrasekharan, known commonly as T P. T P had deserted the communist party. And allegedly at the instigation of the Party, TP was murdered. Several leaders of the Party were arrested recently in connection with the well planned murder. The state leadership denied any role in the murder and went on record stating that murder was not a political weapon at their hands. All these attempts to save the Communist Party’s face were sunk in a moment when M Mani (pronounced “money”), revealed way too much in a fit of rage. Mani, the longest serving district secretary of CPI (M), confessed openly that the CPI (M) has a habit of eliminating “enemies” of the Communist Party. To prove his point, he stated that the district unit of CPI (M) had prepared a hit list of 13 men in the early 1980s. They succeeded in killing the first three on the list. “One was shot, the other was lynched and the third was stoned.” By listing out the Party’s involvement in these three murders, Mani was warning opponents about the dangers of standing in the way of Communists. Little did he realise that his revelation would hit global headlines.

The Kerala government has taken cognizance of these admissions by Mani. A special investigation team has been constituted to re-open all these murder cases. Mani might be charged with murder and subjected to criminal trial. If Mani spills the beans about the state leadership’s involvement in these murders, more heads will roll. Opponents of Communism knew all along that CPI (M) and their youth organisations were given to violence and political retribution. Kerala has lost count of the people killed as a result of “political” fights. When people fail to differentiate between ideological battles and literal battles; when brainwashed party cadres do not know how to argue well and win debates, they resort to murder. These murders serve as warnings to those who think of deserting the Party.

That the Communist Party’s flag is red in color is no silly coincidence. A cursory examination of the history of Communism in Russia, Europe, Korea, South East Asia and China will reveal the brutal nature of this worldview that recommends bloody revolutions to bring about the dictatorship of the proletariat. In India, communism wore a mask of “democracy” even though they did not believe in freedom of opinion or democracy within the party. The stranglehold of this atheistic materialistic Party is like the stranglehold of ancient religions and superstitions. Therefore, those who have given their lives to “the Party” will shed blood to advance it’s cause just as religious extremists resort to terrorism to protect their cause.

India deserves a better deal than this violent foreign ideology. “If the Left has a future in India, there’s no future left for India.” It is high time that voters show the red flag to communism in India.

Annual Subscription India Rs. 240 For subscription: Please send M.O., D.D./Cheque drawn in favour of PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY payable at Delhi and send to: Manager, C-6/141, Sector-5, Rohini, Delhi-110085

7

Pastor M.K.Babu …. for we walk by faith, not by sight -- 2 Cor 5:7 The God of the Bible is God who reveals himself. Many follow their gods not knowing their nature, character, power and will.

Hence the ‘gods’ are portrayed as the devotee wants them to be. The God of the Bible is not a creature or a part of the cosmos. He is the “other” and reveals Himself through His glory and power. Revelation means unveiling something hidden so that it may be seen and known as what it is. In other words, God actively discloses Himself to men in order that men may know and follow Him. Following God is not a blind imitation of a group of people.

While revealing Himself God does not give us mere suggestions; His words are commandments that must be obeyed.

Revelation of God is essentially received by the inner being of a man.

That kind of revelation produces faith to walk with God. Therefore, one doesn’t have to see any object before him to follow God. The knowledge of God is not imparted by looking at an image. The revelation of God manifested in our lives through His power and glory drives us to follow Him. Jacob, a fugitive, was running away from home for his life. He arrived at Bethel. The sun had set. He used a stone for a pillow and slept under the open sky. He had no revelation of God. That night, the God of his forefathers revealed Himself to Jacob.

He gave him promises regarding what He had in store for him. His grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac were worshipers and followers of the same God. The revelation that they received was not sufficient for Jacob’s relationship with God. He required a revelation of God very personally. Everyone has to receive the revelation of God individually in order to walk with Him. Moses and the Hebrews were not very keen to follow God. The glory and power of God manifested among them from time to time turned the hearts of many to follow God obediently. Moses had been walking in the revelation of God for many years but when the time came for entering into the promised land Moses sought a new revelation.

“Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people.’

But you haven’t let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know your name. I know all about you. And I am pleased with you. If you are pleased with me, teach me more about yourself. Then I can know you. And I can continue to please you. Remember that this nation is your people.” (Exo 33:12-13).

All these years Moses was conversing with God but was found inadequate without a new revelation for a new task. God assured him of His presence with them; nevertheless Moses asked God to show His glory.

“The LORD said to Moses, “I will do exactly what you have asked. I am pleased with you. And I know your name. I know all about you.” Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” Exo 33:17-18.

Paul states that his apostleship and the Gospel he preached were not given my men. He received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. (Gal. 1:1, 11-12). Even his visit to Jerusalem to see the apostles was in accordance to a revelation of God (Gal. 2:2). As he strove ahead in his ministry God was gracious to provide him with new revelations of Jesus Christ as and when he required these.

Andrew found the Lord Jesus as the Messiah. For Philip, He was the One about whom Moses and the Prophets wrote about.

Nathaniel found Him as the Son of God who will redeem the nation of Israel.

Simeon who was waiting for the Messiah found Jesus as the salvation of God which God had prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of the people of Israel.

While the Jews were presuming that Jesus was the “Prophet who was to come,” as Elijah or as John the Baptist who was raised from the dead, Peter got a revelation from Heaven. Therefore, at Caesarea Philippi, he said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The Lord Jesus said to him that his new knowledge was not from any human source but from the Father who is heaven.

They all followed Lord Jesus Christ by a revelation of Him. How about you?

Patrons : Rev. Dr. Valson Thambu

: M P K Kutty Chief Editor : Rev. M.K. Babu E-mail :mk@praisethealmighty.com Sub-Editor : Annie M. Babu E-mail :anniembabu@gmail.com Associate Editor : Philip P Eapen E-mail :ppe@praisethealmighty.com Correspondent : Dilan Marandi E-mail :dilanmarandi@gmail.com Mobile :0971 610 7744 Circulation : Madan Mohan Mobile : 991 085 2894 Please send Letters to the Editor and articles to: Info@praisethealmighty.com,

ptawire@gmail.com

Phone: 011 27041259, 971 610 7744

8

June 1-15, 2012

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY

Christ gives us a purpose to live for Paul was a young man full of zeal and fire for what he belived and stood for. Young blood is usually unsteady, full of energy. Paul persecuted the Church in the beginning because he thought the Church is against his God and religion. But when he realised that his religion had been teaching him only to be outwardly religious and not to lead a life as God wanted, he rejected his religion. It was a very difficult thing to do for such a tradition Jew at that time. But when he understood that Jesus Christ is the true God and His Church is the true congregation to have an intimate relationship with God, he began to preach and promote the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We can see many youngsters in modern times, full of zeal and energy for political or social causes.

Some get into athiesm or communism and even fascism. But there are examples who realised the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and have become followers of Christ. Most youngsters don’t want anything to do with Christ or His Church because of their wrong ideas about Christianity. They think that Christianity is just another religion where people observe a certain lifestyle. It is sad that they were given the wrong impression about the Church by the lives of certain Christians.

In fact, the gospel of Jesus Christ is highly positive and dynamic. It is truly revolutionary. The gospel has changed men and women through-

out history. It has changed societies and nations. It is the duty of every follower of Christ to present the gospel to others in its true form with its lifechanging power. The gospel gives purpose to our lives.

Men in general and youngsters in particular need a worthy purpose to live for. Many celebrities have committed suicide in spite of having all the beauty, wealth and fame.

Lack of a worthy purpose leads one to depression and hopelessness. But Christ and His gospel gives us a worthy purpose to live for.

Other important factors youngsters desire in life are something important or useful to do. Certain wealthy people have everything in life. But are sad and dejected because they have nothing important or useful to do.

But Christ gives all his followers a great and worthy task to do, which is to preach the gospel to others. St. Francis of Assissi said, “Preach the gospel always, use words if necessary..”. The call of Christ is to live a life full of energy, enthusiasm and zeal for God, reflecting the nature of Jesus Christ, so that other will know how wonderful and purposeful is the life of a Christian.

Men also need peace of mind and joy, without which one can go restless and mad. Paul understood that real joy and peace of mind couldnot

be earned by observing the tenets of Law or practicing a religion. True joy and peace comes from our relationship with God. God is the source of true joy and peace, and if we are close to Him and have fellowship with Him, then His joy and peace will fill our hearts.

People also yearns of love, and they do a lot of things to get some love.

But true love comes from God. The Bible says, that “God is love”. So, when we are close to God who is love, His love overflows into our hearts. When we are full of that love, it will overflow to others around us.

Sharing the love of God to others will bring with it joy and peace and an urge to do something for others. There we get a worthy purpose

to live for. Christ gives us a worthy purpose to live for, and when we are in fellowship with Him His love overflows in us with joy and peace and an urge for good works. More than anything else this will satisfy a young man or woman with his/ her zeal and energy.

When you don’t find meaning or purpose in life, remember Jesus who has promised you to give that meaning and purpose, and also a call for the tremendous action of being lights and salt to a decaying society in the dark seeking for a little light for life. Mother Theresa was a good example of sharing God’s love to a needy world. It is the privilage of every young man or woman to heed to the call of Christ and come forth

Come and join with us in a vibrant and Spirit-filled worship service. Enjoy the mighty presence of God and His power

Full Life Assemblies of God Church 11747, 3rd Floor, Sat Nagar, Karol Bagh, New Delhi-110005, Landmark : Sindhi Ghodiwala Gali

Sunday Worship time : First Service : 6.00 am to 8.00 am (Hindi) * Second Service : 8.15 am to 10:15 am (Hindi) Third Service : 10.30 am to 12.30 pm (Tamil) * Evening Service : 6.00 pm to 7.30 pm (English) Contact Person : Pastor Solomon Kings Mobile : 999-930-5139, 971-168-9837, 981-127-3880 Website : www.delhiag.in

June 1-15, 2012

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY

9

Our safety is their concern!

Usually we all go on to see places during vacations. School vacation is the right time to visit important historical places or other places which will be useful for you. When we were children studying in school our parents used to take us to see places during vacations.

We used to visit important places like factories, dams, museums, etc.

On some occasions we visited the zoo and also animal reserve forests.

Going on a tour is always very thrilling. But we should always be careful and aware about the dangers involved.

For example, when we visit the zoo, there is always a fence in front of the cage in which a wild animal like a lion or a tiger is kept. Children and even grown up people are not supposed to cross the fence or lean forward very close to the cage. You can usually see the boards which warn us to be very careful not to go close to the cages. The boards and the ;fences are kept for our safety only, because if we go close to the cage the wild animal may thrust out its paw and attack us. There has been one instance in which a woman lost her arm in Thiruvananthapuram Zoo in Kerala. She went close to the cage in which a ferocious bear was kept. She was trying to tease the bear with her umbrella, and suddenly the bear caught her arm and tried to pull her inside. After many efforts by the staff and others, she was pulled away, but by that time her arm was wounded so badly, which had to be amputated.

When we grow up we came across a lot of rules and instructions In life. Actually the rules and instructions warn us of the dangers involved in a situation, and they are for our own safety. In the Bible God has given us a lot of instructions in life. Usually we don’t like instructions. But we have to realize that God has given us such instructions for our own safety in life. All those instructions and rules are from a loving Father who doesn’t want her children to be in danger and in pain. Moreover, God has given us a well marked path for our life through His instructions. If we read the Bible and study the instructions, we will know how to act in a particular situation.

This saves us a lot of unnecessary trials and errors in our attempt to find a suitable path in our life.

Similarly, when we visit a dam or a lake for that matter, we have to carefully obey the instructions of the guide. Parents usually don’t allow their little children to go near the edge of a dam because if they lean over the parapet to see the water down there is always a possibility of falling down. But if the children go near such dangerous places, the parents always scold them and forcefully bring them back to safe ground. The children may feel very offended in the So when you hear any instruction from your parents or teachers, beginning, because they only want to see and enjoy. But they are please understand that it is for your own safety, and it comes from a very loving heart as he/ she doesn’t want to be in unnecessary trounot aware or conscious of the dangers involved. ble and pain. Also the instructions of God in the Bible are from the We also did not like such strict instructions from our parents, teach- most loving Father in Heaven who doesn’t want us in trouble. So ers or elders. But later we realized that such instructions are for our please obey what God says just to avoid a lot of trouble and pain in own safety. Such instructions and strict rules were the result of the your lives. God bless you! great love our parent or teachers had for us. They did not want us to be in danger and pain or even fatal accidents.

Sing to the Lord a new song. Worship the glorious name of Lord Jesus Join with us to worship Him

Amazing Grace Pentecostal Church E-112, Vishwakarma Colony, M.B. Road, New Delhi-110044 Sunday Worship service : 9.00 am to 11.30 am Contact person : Pastor Mathew Varghese Mobile : 981-848-2781, 931-110-2021

10

June 1-15, 2012

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY

Benumbing success

By MPK Kutty Life has acquired an endless variety and dimension making comparisons difficult in our times.

How do you define success in this modern age?

Success has lost its old glory. Though we live in a materialistic culture, it is still considered a little vulgar to talk of success if it only means possession of power and wealth to an extraordinary degree. Today, even men in the lowest estate are able to command the comforts of life that had remained in the domain of kings and emperors in times of old. Advances in technology are behind this democratisation of comfort and happiness.

Success is supposed to bring satisfaction and happiness. But, no longer so. Muggerdige , the king of satire and a widely travelled journalist of the twentieth century points out that the rate of suicide is the maximum in the very countries where the means of making oneself happy or successful are in abundance.

Corrupt men do get rich and powerful; hypocrites do pass for saints; politicians ascend the ladder of power through manipulation and even murder; honours and awards are obtained through fraud; entertainers have their own short cuts to fame and money. In such a confusing scenario how do we measure the worth of an individual?

Happiness here and now; instant success –this is what seems to be swaying our young men of today. So they settle for low, selfish ambitions and in fact attain them to their great dismay.

When the few attain what they set out for they find it worthless.

The Christian is one who recognises that “the Cross has puts its due value upon everything which we see; upon all fortunes , all advantages, all ranks, all dignities all pleasures,; upon the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes , and the pride of life,.

It has set a price on the excitements, the rivalries, the hopes, the fears , the desires, the efforts , the triumphs of mortal man.’ (Cardinal Newman) Yet even well meaning people get enslaved to earthly glories like the drunkard who is addicted to his drinks. It is no use warning them of the possibilities of failure and ruin. They would still plunge headlong into their chosen arena, hoping for success. It may be better to point out to them that success in their particular course would not be worthwhile.

It wouldn’t be far off the mark if we say that success blinds some people , harden their hearts while their heads swollen with pride. The stunted from page no. 1

nature of a man wallowing in his success is also a lesson of history. Narrowness of mind and selfishness often crown the man of ‘earthly success ‘ and as some one has said a man is a success to the extent a man is able to overcome his selfishness.

Pleasure seeking as we learn from experience is a barren business; happiness is never found till we have the grace to stop looking for it and to give our attention to persons and matters external to ourselves.

Oscar Wilde wrote for our benefit :’ “I used to live entirely for pleasure. I shunned suffering and sorrow of every kind. I hated both. I resolved to ignore them as far as possible: to treat them, that is to say, as modes of imperfection. They had no

chiatrist who studied ‘death and dying’ had some remarkable observations about life: “The most beautiful people are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss and have found their way out of their depths.

These persons have an appreciation ,a sensitivity and understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness and a deep loving concern.”

It is such people who discover the chief end of life: to learn unconditional love. The person who has made the most spectacular success but who reaches life’s end without learning love has totally failed.

place in my philosophy.

Yet the same man confessed: “I have, after terrible difficulties and struggles, been able to comprehend some of the lessons hidden in the heart of pain. Clergymen and people who use phrases without wisdom sometimes talk of suffering as a mystery. It is really a revelation.”

Such disillusionment caused him also to understand the Cross and looking through the cross he understood reality. “If the world has indeed been built of sorrow, it has been built by the hands of love, because in no other way could the soul of man, for whom the world was made, reach the full stature of its perfection. Pleasure for the beautiful body, but pain for the beautiful soul.

Dr Elisabeth Kubler-Ross , a renowned psy-

Now to come back to the question: how do we measure the worth of an individual. Here is how a genius has answered the question: “A successful man is he who receives a great deal from his fellowmen, usually incomparably more than correspond to his service to them. The value of a man however, should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive.”

So a person who has taken a decision to follow Christ should not stoop to low ambitions and lower rewards here and now but should live beside the ‘glittering success’ of this world in the spirit of the Master’s contention: “ He that saveth his life shall lose it and he that loseth his life for my sake shall save it.” (Matthew 17:

Parliament passes bill to protect children

seven years but which may extend to imprisonment for life and shall also be liable.”

It said “whoever uses a child for pornographic purposes shall be liable for rigorous imprisonment which may extend to five years

and shall also be liable to fine and in the event of second or subsequent conviction with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years and also with fine”.

As for relief and rehabilitation

of the child, as soon as the complaint is made arrangements must be made to give the child care and protection by admitting the child into a shelter home or to the nearest hospital within twenty-four hours of the report.

The Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU) or local police are also required to report the matter to the Child Welfare Committee within 24 hours of recording the complaint.

The National Commission for

the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and State Commissions for the Protection of Child Rights (SCPCRs) have been made the designated authority to monitor the implementation of the Act.

June 1-15, 2012

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY

PTA-ML/2012/01

Match for born-again believer girl, oct 1979, 5”4”good looking, M.Com, B. Lib, Working in pvt. School Teacher. Contact: 0783780500, 01726536671 PTA-ML/2012/02 PROPOSALS invited from the parents of girls M.A. Pub. Adm. and MBA

in HR, Punjabi govt. job in NCC unit, looking or well educated well sttled partner. E-mail: shalu_5842@ yahoo.co.in, Contact: 998835028, 7837137077

PTA-ML/2012/03 Proposals are invited for Believer girl from U.P. 23 yrs 5’5’’ Graduate, fair, good looking, from lower middle class family, seek marriage alliance from employed/ ministry.

Contact: Pr. Jomon- 9818860559 PTA-ML/2012/04 Pentecostal parents invite proposals for their daughter, born-again, 27 yrs, 5;3”, M.Sc. in Bio-technology, pursuing B.Ed. Pentecostal north Indian born-again, God fearing spiritual boy preferred.

Contact : 9812221389, 9541512909 PTA-ML/2012/05 Marriage proposals invited for an evangelist/part time businessman, 40 years, 170 cms, settled in Madurai from parents of born-again, spiritfilled girl, educated and ministry minded. Contact No. 09840447276.E-mail: biblesforsoutheastasia@india.com PTA-ML/2012/06 Wanted groom born again baptized, Spirit filled pentecostal girl born and brought up in Delhi. Age 26, tgt (English) Teacher. M.A. (English) B.ed.

Contact:8447726264

PTA-ML/2012/17 Invited Marriage proposal for 27 old Keralite girl 27 yrs, 156 cm tall ,fair, slim, working in AIIMS as staff nurse.

PTA-ML/2012/10 Delhi working Kerala boy preferred.

Matrimonial advertisement details givContact:betcyliz74@gmail.com en Below Marriage proposal invited for a Borna- PTA-ML/2012/18 gain North Indian girl settled in Gha- Born Again South Indian Delhi settled ziabad, 31 years, 5’4”, working in media invites proposal for the missionary boy (33/174, Handsome, company ( Both parents no more).

M.A.; M.Sc.; B.D.; M.Th; PhD*), from Contact # 9818675048 . the parents of South Indian educated Email: singh.suman1999@gmail.com girl, desiring to work in themission PTA-ML/2012/11 along with profession. Send the details Marraige proposal invited for a Punjato E-Mail:administrator@elcsociety.org bi pentecostal girl, 29 yrs, 154 cm, Fair Mobile: 09717435775 complexion, Bsc, Bsc Nurse. Seeking suitable alliance from born again, God PTA-ML/2012/19 fearing, educated and settled in aboard. Haryanvi Pentecostal parents invite proposals fo their son, 24 yrs, 5’8’’ pasContact: 09872647263 toring a fast growing church in Panipat Email:saji4christ@rediffmail.com Haryana. Girl to be committed for the PTA-ML/2012/12 ministy. Contact:09467519320 Marriage proposals invited for Suitable match for North Indian Protestant PTA-ML/2012/20 Christian girl, 28 yrs. B.A. ; B.Ed working Proposals are invited by the Penteas Teacher in a school at Delhi. Convent costal Christian Missionary family educated, Fair, 5ft 2 inches. Looking for in Panchkula , for their daughter, a well settled, God fearing Christian boy 26 years, M.A., B.Ed., working with E-mail - glad_george001@yahoo.co.in DPS Panchkula. Defence personTel - 0120-3994055 / 08057905002 / nel in officer rank is only preferred.

09311447557 Only Delhiites preferred.

Contact : Mr.Ivan Ismail ( father ) 91-9350875556

PTA-ML/2012/13 Marriage Proposals invited for a north Indian Methodist Girt, Fair good looking 30 years, 5’5” Nursery Trained Teacher, Working, Settelled in Delhi prefered north Indian boys.

Contact:9899000788 E-mail: m.mayadas@gmail.com PTA-ML/2012/14

North Indian Pentecostal Mother Invite Proposals fo her son 33 yrs, 5”6’ inch, Evangelists (also involved in Real-Estate Business) Settled in PTA-ML/2012/07 North Indian Pentecostal parents invite Faridabad (NCR) Prefer a Girl who proposals for their son, 24 yrs, pastor- love’s Jesus and have burden for Mining a church in Delhi. Girl involved istry. Contact:08595465225 ministry and have great commitment is preferred.

PTA-ML/2012/15 Contact : 9818916878 Seeking Alliance for God fearing CSl Girl, 27 years, 5.3”, MSW (HR), PTA-ML/2012/08 Matrimonial advertisement details giv- working for leading IT company, en Below Chennai. Preference for malayalee Marriage proposal invited for a Borna- Boy, Settele in South India gain North Indian girl settled in Gha- Contact:Phone: 9840999915 ziabad, 31 years, 5’4”, working in media E-mail: alexdaisy83@gmail.com company ( Both parents no more).

PTA-ML/2012/16 Contact-9818675048 Proposals are invited for our Daughter, Email: singh.suman1999@gmail.com Syrian Christian Pentecostal, (27, 5ft 2 PTA-ML/2012/09 inches) fair, B.Com HONS, MBA from Protestant Christian pa-rents invite IIM Indore. Presently working as Fiproposals for their daughter, 30 yrs, nance Director of an Engineering Col5’5”, fair, pursuing BA studies. Also lege and a group of Schools from well working in pharma company as an Of- educated young men preferably from fice Administrator in Delhi drawing Delhi, or willing to relocate to Delhi.

Rs. 15000/- p.m. Staying in government Contact: 011-29552952, 09810184281 acco-mmodation in west Delhi.

Contact : +91 981-473-3514

PTA-ML/2012/21

Proposals are invited for the Pentecostal Christian Missionary Boy (Christian Nadar) Settled in Delhi, (33, 5ft 8 inches, Handsome, M.Th; PhD from AAHE Bangalore). Currently working as the Managing Director of ECS Ministries & Theological Professor from missionary oriented, suitable educated young beautiful spinsters, intense to involve in the ministry along with profession, preferably from Delhi or willing to relocate Delhi. Email: eccf@elcsociety.org our ministry website: www.elcsociety.org or call 09717435775, 09868494897 PTA-ML/2012/22 Marriage proposals invited for suitable match for North Indian Protestant girl 46,years,High school armed force,not working,Height 5”0” (152 cm) very fair Looking for a well settled,God fearing Christian man.

Email Id: pinkyrikhey@gmail.com mobile no. 09910449180 PTA-ML/2012/23 Marriage proposals invited for a north Indian Delhi settled Pentecostal girl from Christian background 26 years,5.5,good looking B.A, B.Th.working in mission school as a teacher. Looking for a spritual & working life partner.Contact: E-mail: ashishparkers@rediffmail.

11

com or call : 08130946000 PTA-ML/2012/24 Keralite parents invite Proposals for their daughter. Born and brought up in New Delhi, Born again. DOB 11/07/1984 (28 yrs), Ornaments wearing. Height 5.1 MBA, working in Multi National Company, Preferred professionally qualified match from North India.

Contact no.07508680342 / 09990282335 PTA-ML/2012/25 Christian Pentecost working girl, BA, 24 years, 152cm, working invites proposals from Christian pentecost/protestant working boys of UP parents settled in Delhi. Please contact: 9210489214 E-mail: arti6560@gmail.com PTA-ML/2012/26

Father Seeking alliance for 33 years old punjabi Arora born again Christian Girl Msc. BEd working as a govt. teacher in Punjab. contacts: 9417812811,9988550684 PTA-ML/2012/27

Keralite parents invite Proposals for their daughter. Born and brought up in New Delhi, Baptized. DOB 11/07/1984, Ornaments wearing.

Height 5.1 P.G.D.B.M. working in MNC. Contact no.-7508680342 9990282335 PTA-ML/2012/28

Malayalee Pentecostal parents invite proposals for their daughter, 31 years, 165 cm, GNM/Staff Nurse at Batra Hospital, New Delhi.

Contact Mother: Susammma Delhi 9911496411 PTA-ML/2012/29

Punjabi Handa family invites proposal for their doughter, 26 years, 5”1’Graduate, working in All India Radio, looking for a boy working and settled in Delhi or NCR. Preferred for PUnjabi Christian.Contact:9718789173 E-mail: me.meenuhanda@gmail.com PTA-ML/2012/30

Christian Parents invite proposal for their doughter 32 Years, 5”4’ good looking, M.com, B.lib, Born Again, Baptised, Teaching in Pvt. School.looking for a God fearing Christian man.

Contact:783180500, 01726536671

` 100 /- Only per matrimonial Contact: 971-610-7744 E-mail:

www.info@praisethealmighty.com

www.ptawire@gmail.com

12

June 1-15, 2012

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY

Sis. Thankamma Mathai Honoured

Vizag: Christian churches and believers in Visakhapatanam honoured Mrs. Thankamma Mathai, widow of Pastor P M Mathai, who served God in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha for the past four decades.

Br. M. Johnnykutty, the General treasurer of IPC Northern Region, said

during the felicitation that Mrs. Mathai has set an example for all Christian women through her hard work and endurance as a minister’s wife. Pastors M. Satyanandan, T. Nehemiah Victor, and Mathew Joseph spoke during the occasion. Pastor G. Joykutty chaired the meeting.

End strike before we hear your case: Delhi High Court tells Air India pilots

New Delhi/Mumbai: Striking Air India pilots suffered another blow on Wednesday with the Delhi High Court holding that the protesters’ view on the issue of training on Boeing 777 to be used in international flights will be heard only after they call off their over three-week agitation.

“Let them call off the strike, we will then hear the matter,” a bench of Acting Chief Justice AK Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said on an appeal by Air India against a stay order on the training of more pilots on Boeing 777.

A single judge of the Delhi High Court had on May 11 stayed training of more pilots till the implementation of the Justice Dharmadhikari panel recommendations on the issue.

The high court, however, refused to disturb the ongoing training of the Air India pilots.

The Indian Pilots Guild (IPG), which is

spearheading the strike by over 200 pilots over issues relating to career progression, said: “As per today’s order of the High Court, the management of Air India has been restrained from training pilots of erstwhile Indian Airlines on the B-777.”

With no signs of a resolution, the strike by the pilots spilled over to the 24th day with the airline operating a truncated international flight schedule.

Today’s High Court order came after Air India’s counsel Lalit Bhasin submitted that the single judge was wrong in staying the training being imparted to the pilots for B-777.

He also submitted that staying the training will cause huge financial loss.

Air India, in a separate statement, said that the High Court has directed IPG pilots to resume duties and restore normalcy before any matter pertaining to the IPG can be taken up.

UNIQUE PICTORIAL GRADED SUNDAY SCHOOL TEXT BOOKS IN HINDI FOR THE ENTIRE HINDI BELT

“Teach a child to choose the right path, when he is older he will remain up on it.” –

“A church without Sunday school is like a house without children”

Proverbs – 22:6

Respected Church leaders and teachers, We are providing a system to cater the spiritual needs of 40% of India’s population who are below 20 years of age in the form of Graded Sunday School lessons.

Great Christian leaders and missionaries had risen from the systematic teaching and training in the past globally. Hence these comprehensive lessons with Beginner for the age of 4-6, Primary for 7-9, Junior for 10-12 years, Intermediate for 13-15 years and Senior for 16-18 year old, highlighting the Old Testament and New Testament, Basic Teachings of the Bible, Second Coming of Christ, Missionary challenges etc.

This system is on the move since January 2012.

Other features: 1. 40 lessons in each text for a year – Total of 15 books – Covers vast syllabus.

2. Model Question Papers included for Quarterly, Half-Yearly and Annual Exams.

3. Yearly Program, Students program, V.B.S, Talent Competitions.

4. Child grows with Christian values experiencing salvation, infilling of Holy Spirit, Baptism, Christian Fellowship evangelism, etc. in the course of time.

FOR MORE DETAILS 1. Evangelist L. Justus - M.A, B.Ed., B.R.E , Ex-Kendriya Vidyala Teacher 04662246537 ; 09446229271 ; Justus.lazar@gmail.com 2. Pr. Laurance Jason - M.Sc. , M.Ed. , M.Phil. , Hebron Public School, Navada, Hapur, Distt. Panchsheel Nagar,U.P 07500276231 ; 09410441769 ; laurance2008@gmail.com 3. Pr.Vincent Bhaskaran - Abundant Life Church, Preet Vihar, New Delhi 09968413153 ; 08860148440 ; vincentbhaskaran@gmail.com

June 1-15, 2012

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY

Church and choosing the new President of India

13

By John Dayal

At least two major church organisations in the country have backed Sangma as their choice of the first Christian and the first tribal head of State of the 62 year old Republic.

New Delhi: Political pundits and the street soothsayers are sure that Purno Sangma, former Speaker of the Lok Sabha, former Union Minister, former Chief Minister of Meghalaya and currently a member of the Nationalist Congress Party, is not going to be elected the next President of the Republic of India.

And yet, at least two major church organisations in the country have backed Sangma as their choice of the first Christian and the first tribal head of state of the 62-year-old Republic. And many others are taken up by the babyfaced devout Catholic famously remembered as much for the drinks he serves at his residence as for carrying the statue of the infant Jesus on his head in his parish procession.

Purno has sought high office all along after he found himself as the Congress Party’s choice of speaker of the Lok Sabha. In that office, he earned brownie points for presenting a jovial face in a house where rustic humour and not urbane wit was the norm, and confrontations, then as now, often ended up in vicious mayhem in what is called the “well” of the House. But he remained a political lightweight despite his family’s rule in the tiny northeast state he calls home. And therefore he was given no credence when he thought he could become prime minister or president.

In fact he found himself in the political boondocks when he targeted Sonia Gandhi for her Italian birth at the dawn of United Pro-

gress Alliance –I [UPA-I], exiting the Congress saying it would be a national shame if Gandhi were ever to be made prime minister.

He joined Sharad Pawar in forming the Nationalist Congress Party, but has not been a major figure till he suddenly hit the headlines as the presidential nominee of Orissa’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha.

Not surprisingly, Sharad Pawar has disowned him and said he will back whoever Sonia Gandhi chooses. The Opposition National Democratic Alliance of the BJP of course will not have anything to do with him either.

So why did a section of the Christian community back him so vociferously? The roots lie in the community’s political naivet?.

Barring a discussion in the Andhra organisation of all local churches, there has not been a debate even at the diocesan level on this important issue. Are we saying we have no trust in Rashtrapati Bhawan hopefuls Pranab Mukherkee, Manmohan Singh, former Bengal Governor Gopal Gandhi and current Vice President Ansari? Do we think only a person of our community can safeguard our interests?

Perhaps it would have been better for churches, educators, social scientists and activists from the clergy and laity to have come together and discussed the issue and then made a statement giving not names of individuals but the qualities the community looked for in presidential and vice presidential candidates, irrespective of their

religious identity.

The community could have listed qualities and commitments they sought: a distinguished academic and career record; a sensitivity towards issues of the poor, the Tribals, the backward and the marginalised, towards Dalits in general and Dalit Christians in particular; and no whisper of any sectarian or communal bigotry.

This would rule out the Facebook and Twitter candidates – celebrities such as Shah Rukh Khan, Amir Khan, Sachin Tendulkar, the two women, including the one who is a Christian, who sent those missiles and rockets up – a la President Kalam – and uban middle class icons Hazare, Kiran Bedi and Agnivesh, Navin Chawla who wrote a book on Mother Teresa, and officials from the civil and defence services.

The community would have to apply the same criteria of excellence even for a Christian candidate. One former minister said in many public meetings that they had won not on the Christian vote in their constituencies but because of the vote of the Hindus, and therefore, could not be asked to focus on the Christian community.

This argument explains why the Christian representatives in Parliament have not succeeded in winning battles for the political issues pertaining to the community – so apparent in the Right to Education Act, the Article 341 (iii) issue relating to the Scheduled Caste rights of Dalit Christians, and scores of other issues that emerge from Orissa, Chhattis-

garh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal, Rajasthan, Karnataka and so on.

The two Anglo Indian MPs in the Lok Sabha are not there as representatives of the microscopic Anglo Indian community.

There are, of course, many Christian names to consider, possibly for the vice president’s post.

Foremost among them, I would say, is Rajasthan Governor Margaret Alva who has kept her political record clean, has practiced her faith openly and has a strong political lineage. She could perhaps also reach out to the vote banks of women party heads such as Mamta, Mayawati and Jayalalitha with whom she has personal rapport.

Former Orissa governor and Indian Administrative Service retired officer MM Rajendran’s name has been also suggested, though he has been politically inactive for a long time and has therefore slipped off the political radar. Governor Jamir from Nagaland has also been shortlisted by some Christian organisations.

There are several others too. All political lightweights.

If the community really wants a Christian president, it must be prepared for heartbreak, now and possibly for many years to come. Even if a Christian were to be elected in some miracle, once in office he or she would not be able to address our issues openly, tied as he or she would be in protocol and the structure of the government. Even if he or she were to reject a bill, for instance if a future government were to bring about a national

bill against conversions in India [several states have this law], at best she may send it back for reconsideration by the government, but if it came back a second time, the president would have no role in it becoming the law of the land.

But one fears it is much too late this time. The community nationally is absolutely not really relevant politically, not enough to even have a Christian name in the serious political discourse preceding the presidential elections.

The RSS in the current issue of its mouthpiece Organiser and Panchjanya charges Christians, especially Catholics, of being the caucus around Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and her sword arm in governance, so to say. They even identify Jews with Christian or Biblical names to be part of this lobby.

What we actually need is larger Christian participation in the grassroots political systems of India, from the Panchayat upwards, and a larger participation in the civil services. Our voice must be heard at all levels, instead of expecting a Christian minister or MP or MLA waving the magic wand. The president of India does not have this magic wand as he or she remains a figurehead, the central figure in set-piece national functions doing the bidding of the Council of Ministers, which of course is chosen by the political party or parties in power.

Good Samaritan asked to quit, activists protest Bhopal: Tribals and civil society activists from Madhya Pradesh have condemned the externment notice to Gandhian tribal rights activist Madhuri Krishnaswamy.

Krishnaswamy, who is part of a people’s organization known as Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan (JADS), was served the exterrnment notice by the Barwani district administration.

She faces action for “obstructing the development work of the administration” and for creating “an atmosphere of fear among the government functionaries” through her organization.

The externment notice is based on a note prepared by Barwani police detailing old criminal cases against Krishnaswamy.

She has also been provided with some other details that she had asked for along with a “15-day window to reply to the notice,” Barwani collector Shirman Shukla said.

Krishnaswamy, popular as “Madhuri Ben” among the tribals of Barwani, has been instrumental in developing a grassroots movement-demanding rural maternal and child health, labour rights and forest rights-in the remotest and most backward regions of the district.

Last year, she brought to light the story of Vyapari Bai, a tribal woman who died during labour after 27 hours of pain and absolute lack of medical attention, which sparked national outrage.

The notice has also been condemned

by People’s Union for Civil Liberties and several other state and national human rights organizations.

Tribals affiliated to JADS called a press conference and condemned the district administration’s move calling it part of a conspiracy hatched by political leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (people’s party) and Congress in view of next year’s assembly elections.

“It is our constitutional right to organize and agitate and it cannot be taken away by the collector,” said Valsingh, a tribal leader of the JADS. “If Madhuri Ben is an anti-social element and criminal, then we are all criminals and externment notices should be served to all of us,” he said.

14

June 1-15, 2012

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY

Cindrella Prakash appears on Aamir’s TV show

Cindrella Prakash, a committed Christian young lady, had the privilege of appearing on the second episode of Aamir Khan’s TV show “Satyamev Jayate.” The show highlighted the issue of child sexual abuse.

Cindrella Prakash appeared on the show to share her experiences as a victim of child sexual abuse and as someone who received inner healing through faith in Jesus Christ.

In an interview to Christian Today, Ms. Prakash said that the only motivation behind coming on the popular show was to bring glory to God and to encourage younger women and girls who might have

been subjected to abuse.

Ms Prakash related the shocking incident to CT. “While I was growing up, I was subject to child sexual abuse by a man my grandfather’s age. He used to take Bible Study at our place. He has known me since I was in my mother’s womb. He was a close confidante of our family and in a much planned manner, he came over when I was alone at home and molested me. That evening, I could not even move a muscle.

It took me time to even cry after he left. Purely so because I did not understand what just happened.

I sat confused. After a while did I understand that someone com-

pletely violated our love and trust.

I was shattered.

“For a long time I thought time would heal me. But guess what, time doesn’t heal, Jesus does. It took me a while to get into God’s presence again. A while because I was angry with God. I questioned Him a lot. Having grown up learning that God does everything in our lives with a purpose, I was too naive to understand God’s purpose behind this terrible violation in my life. Looking back now, I’m convinced that God allowed it in my life just so He would use my brokenness as a blessing to many others.”

Child sexual abuse goes un-

der-reported in India. Ms Prakash’s experience and bold testimony should serve as an eye-opener to many parents who fail to realise the danger posed by close relatives and family friends who have ready

access to little children in a family. Even those who appear in the garb of religion cannot be trusted. Even when young girls complain against an uncle or a cousin, parent tend to down play such instances of abuse. Worse still, they tend to disbelieve what a child says.

Cindrella received a good response from viewers who sent text messages and emails to her. She even was trending on Twitter for a while. “Apart from this, on a lighter note, my announcement of being ‘single’ has attracted about 100 proposals! That’s just sweet,” says Cindrella.

Lahore: Christian lawyers and activists have criticized the Supreme Court for its failure to protect religious minority women from forced conversion and urged the government to adopt specific legal protections.

Peter Jacob, executive director of the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace, said during a consultative meeting with Christian lawyers that minority women live under constant threat of abduction and conversion.

“The religious minorities are

under threat and hesitant to allow their women to join any profession due to fear of losing a family member,” he said.

He added that the Supreme Court had failed to protect minorities by refusing a petition by the Pakistan Hindu Council calling for a law against forced conversion of minority women.

The meeting in Lahore included Christian lawyers, members of the Salvation Army and human rights activists.

Jacob further noted the court’s

failure to act on the abduction and conversion of three Hindu women, who subsequently decided not to return to their families.

The court ruled last month that the three women allegedly kidnapped and married to Muslim men were old enough to decide for themselves whether to stay with their husbands.

“We want to build a bridge between the Christian lawyers and the Church-based organizations to stand and struggle together for the rights and protection of the Chris-

tian community,” Jacob said.

According to data compiled by the Episcopal Commission, 1,415 people were forcibly converted to Islam since 2000, including 554 Christians, 220 Ahmadi Muslims, 622 Hindus and 4 Sikhs. An additional 15 people whose religious affiliation was not known were also forcibly converted.

Haroon Suleman Khokhar, a lawyer who attended the consultative meeting, said the country’s blasphemy law is a frequently used tool for forced conversion.

“There is a list of such cases where the victim was pressured to convert to Islam if he or she wants to be released from the allegation [of blasphemy],” he said.

Recommendations by the meeting included the establishment of a three-member committee comprising two Christians and one Muslim to evaluate each case of conversion to determine if it was voluntary.

Participants also supported the adoption of a three- to six-month waiting period for anyone who converts in order to be married.

Law sought to bar forced conversions

Nepal assembly fails to draft constitution

Kathmandu: Four years of debate over a new constitution ended here in stalemate.

The three major political parties, Maoists, Communists, and Congressionals, failed to reach an agreement on dividing the country into federal states, triggering the dismissal of the Constituent Assembly that had been

tasked with drafting a new charter.

Maoist Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai called an impromptu press conference at his residence just before midnight, apologizing for the failure and also blaming “other” old-minded parties.

“It is clear in the interim constitution that we are continuing to follow that the ministerial cabinet with me as head is still in charge,” he said. The ministerial cabinet has decided to hold fresh elections for a

new Constituent Assembly in November.

The 601-member Assembly was elected in April 2008 for a two-year term. The deadline for a new constitution was extended several times before the Supreme Court ruled against extending the deadline beyond May 27.

Around the assembly building in central Kathmandu, groups protesting for or against a federal system continued their rallies, carrying flags and banners, while speaking to local media on the need to “kill and cook” the assembly members for having failed to do anything for years, while enjoying state funds and privileges.

The country has been plagued by protests over the constitution for the past month UCAN

NHRC asks Meghalaya to stop child labor Shillong: The National Human Rights Commission has asked Meghalaya government to act on the reports that the the northeastern state has more than 70,000 children who work in mines and other place.

“Children as bonded labor are being purportedly employed in all mines and business establishments in the state and we have emphatically told the government to put a stop to it,” Commission chairperson K G Balakrishnan told reporters here.

He said the Commission suggested the government to undertake a detailed survey of all mines in the state to check child laborers and bonded laborers.

The commission asked the government to provide compensation to child laborers and rehabilitate them, besides taking action against the employers.

The government has appointed the

Tata Institute of Social Sciences to conduct a survey of child labor in the mining areas.

Media earlier reported that more than 70,000 child laborers work in the coal belts of Jaintia Hills district.

The Commission has also noted that unregulated mining in Meghalaya is causing environmental degradation and health hazards besides exploitation of the mine workers.

From Page no. 2

“Lead exemplory lives to the society”: Rev. Manoj Varghese

of Bethel Bible Institute of the Indian Pentecostal Church Northern Region, which was held at the IPC Church, Sector-19, Faridabad.

Pastor P.M. John distributed the certificates during the function which was chaired by

Rev. Samuel Thomas. Eminent servants of God like Dr. Laji Paul, Pastor Philipos Mathai, Rev. Thomas Samuel, Rev. T.M. Joseph, Mrs. Marykutty Thomas, Bros. M. Johnikutty, Sam Kutty Chacko (Hallellujah) were prsent during the occasion.

June 1-15, 2012

PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY

15

Confessions of the Republic of India

By Augustine Veliath

The writer sheds light on country’s health care system.

New Delhi: Public Health has been modern India’s biggest failure. The prime minister has recently said that the 12th Plan will be a “health plan.”

If the Republic of India actually knelt at a confessional, what would she say to the people India? Here we go.

Forgive me, my people, for I have sinned. My biggest failure has been in the area of protecting you, my people, from ill health and malnutrition.

The policies and practices I have adopted have resulted in us having the highest number of underweight children in the world. Why are children malnourished? Because as they grow they fall ill and their parents cannot afford the treatment offered in the country.

Forgive me, my people, I have consistently and over the years allocated very little money for public health. So little is given that it is a miracle we have a public health system at all. At 200 rupees per capita per year, what miracle do we expect?

Forgive me for I have trained far less doctors and nurses than needed. The ones I have trained have moved on so that Europeans and Americans do not sneeze. The rest

have concentrated themselves in the cities, so much so there are less than two doctors for a population of 10,000 people in our villages. In the cities there are 11 doctors for 10,000 people.

Forgive me, my people, for you spend more money from your pocket to meet your health needs than any other comparable country. I have not had the vision of a Ghana or the courage of a Thailand or the imagination of Brazil or Indonesia in putting together a health system that works for my people.

For each episode of ill health, you, my people, especially the poor among you, are pushed further into poverty.

My dear people, since you have to spend from your pocket, about 23 percent of you do not access care at all because you cannot afford it.

About 40 percent of you slide below the poverty line after a single hospitalization.

Most of your health expenditure, I know, is made out of your savings, and a large part of the amount is borrowed.

Nearly 80 percent of outpatient and 60 percent of hospital care is through private providers. (NSS 60th Round).

Because I have not given you a government health system

that works for you.

I know that the cost of private health care especially for outpatient care is striking: It is nearly 22 times the amount of public health facilities in the rural areas and over 40 times in the urban areas. The personal and family expenditure in seeking health care is rising incredibly and I still do not know how to stop it.

In Rajasthan, for instance, an alarming average of 89.4 percent of household health expenditure is on drugs. At least 30 to 40 percent of people are unable to afford these drugs.

One reason why you, and especially the poor among you, spend more money is because I have allowed 92,000 drug formulations to be produced and marketed without a conscience, while only 350 are required. No other country in the world manufactures these many brands. This has led to irrational use of drugs and irrational manufacturing, prescription and dispensing.

I seek forgiveness from you for the Indian pharmaceutical industry, which makes high profits from ignorant and hapless consumers and for my failure to rationalize them.

I seek forgiveness for our doctors, who as prescribers

willingly abet this by prescribing certain brands of medicine instead of giving the option of cheaper nonbranded drugs.

I once again seek forgiveness from you, the poor who suffer the most, because you have neither the purchasing power to obtain the drugs nor are you aware of your choices.

Very little I have done either to add to your knowledge or resources.

I specially seek the forgiveness of the 13 percent of India’s population who actually incurs “catastrophic spending.”

When households have to spend 10 percent of their total income on healthcare it is considered catastrophic spending.

I have now gone ahead and closed down several of our vaccine manufacturing units in the public sector, another crime that will escalate our immunization costs. Let me seek your pardon for that, too.

I collect a lot of health data. I do not analyze them, I do not make them available where it is required because health and caste are related; health and poverty are related things which I do not want actually show to the public. I am

guilty of not employing the collected data to correct the system; not employing the data to target specific vulnerable groups.

My guilt increases when I hear how other countries have tackled the issue. Ghana, a country in southern Africa, has a system of universal access to medicine, i.e. free or cashless medicine to everyone in Ghana. The country does not have a production capacity and imports most of its drugs from India. It still has such a scheme of free medicine accessibility. I am ashamed.

Forgive me, my people, for I have sinned.

Augustine Veliath is the founder director of Listeners’ Institute, New Delhi. He recently retired from UNICEF. The data presented here are from a national convention organized by Human Right Law Net Work and All India Drug Action Network.

Veliath is available at augustinevj@gmail.com)

HOME REMEDIES GAS AND INDIGESTION # Calm ‘n’ Cool Stress can trigger gas. Mint can calm your nerves as its active ingredient flows through the gastrointestinal tract. Have a cup of mint tea in the morning and one at night. Sip slowlu and inhale the aroma as you relax. # Acid Attack A pinch of ajwain with another pinch of rock salt and a dash of lime makes a good meal go down better. So does dried amla on aniseed (saunf) # Curry flavor Methi and Turmeric stop acid buildup, and stimulate the flow of digestive juices. So add some more to your meals. # The old standby Mix 1 tbsp ginger in a cup of hot water.

Steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain. Drink after meals.

DIARRHOEA # Add some fluid To prevent dehydration make a mixture of 1 liter boiled and cooled water with 4 teaspoon sugar

and 1/2 teaspoon salt and drink as much as you can, specially after a watery stool. # Stem the runs with cinnamon Mix 1 tablespoon powdered cinnamon bark with one cup of hot water. Steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Cinnamon, a natural astringent, dries up your bowel. # Bulk out with banana Strangely enough, banana is good therapy for constipation as well as the runs. Boil a raw banana, mash, add a pinch of salt and butter, eat. # Blind with spice Blend 1 teaspoon cumin-seeds, 1/4 tsp methi seeds, 1/4 tsp mustard seeds, 1/4 tsp dil (suwa) seeds, 1/2 tsp ajwain seeds. Roast on a low flame Add a pinch of heeng and salt and stir for a minute. Make a course powder when cool and store in an air tight jar. Mix 1/2 tsp of powder with 1 tsp of curd. Eat twice a day for quick relief. ** This mixture is also good for chronic flatulence and dyspepsia. The fenugreek (methi) alone stimulates the

digestive process as well as the metabolism in general.

The other spices have properties that have still not been scientifically evaluated. # Yahoo yoghurt The friendly bacteria in yoghurt (dahi) helps vanquish the baddies and keep your gastrointestinal tract working properly. Eat a cup daily, not just when you have diarrhoea.

URINARY TRACT INFECTION # Parsley makes you pour Parsley is an excellent diuretic which contains myristicin and apiol, compounds that are thought to help increase the output of urine by increasing the flow of blood to the kidneys. To make an infusion, pour boiling water over a few sprigs of crushed fresh parsley or 1 tsp. of dried parsley. Let the herb steep for ten minutes, then strain and drink

16

Fortnightly 16 Pages RNI No. 72289/99 Registered No. DL (N)/236/2012-14 U(DN)-168/2011-12 LICENSED TO POST WITHOUT PRE-PAYMENT Price Rs. 10/-

Vol. XIV No.5 June 1-15, 2012 Published from Delhi Post Box No : 10708, Delhi-110085

From Page no. 1

Newspaper with a Biblical perspective Since 1999

Lokpal no answer to our lawlessness

politicians and seeking favours from those in power. The political class has made sure that politics is profitable business. Those who are in power have been acquiring for themselves , fat pay packets besides numerous perks and privileges. Instead of being the servants of the people , they lord over them…But for the perks, privileges , power and prestige one wonders whether there would have been such a rush of men to the profession. It is high time these privileges and powers are taken away from them so that only genuine ones enter politics.

Bribe givers:.

Bribe takers exist because there are bribe givers willing to get their work done by paying extra money. And the philosophy of relativism which is close to the Hindutva ideology will find nothing wrong with the payment or acceptance of such money because in a relativistic situation anything can be justified. In this country, the people really believe

in bribing even the gods! That is how the temples and religious institutions come to possess their great wealth.

Corruption has a wide canvass here. Massive ignorance corrupts the democratic system..

Muscle power and money power ensure that criminal elements are catapulted into our legislatures. Business houses and corporates compete with one another and their dazzling success stories might be hiding corrupt deals and practices. The caste system has its own ways of reward and punishments. All these vitiates issues of justice and fair play providing scope for corruption.

After the British left our country a surge of national pride created a series of narrow loyalties based on race, language, religion, region and creed dividing us and fatally corroding national unity and oneness. All these divisions created inequalities and inequities.

Simply going on fast or slogan shouting from Jantar Mantar will

not cleanse the social , economic and political systems which are all stained by corruption. The ‘India against Corruption’ lobby will do well to draw a map of the territory of the corruption demon. It includes all of life, the whole culture and all the territory of India.

Replacing: If one coalition of parties turns out to be corrupt, are we to replace it by another coalition of entirely different parties ? The absurdity of such a solution is self evident because the desire for unjust gain is ingrained in human nature and just awaits an opportunity for fulfillment. Perhaps we can add more checks and balances to prevent this trait in human nature going out of control.

Going on fast, slogan shouting or whipping up emotions through other means will not remedy the situation. While the awakening against the evil as created in the initial stages by the Anna Hazare team is a good beginning the

future of the movement should be widened to embrace all and should not be part of any political agenda. It stands discredited now because of the impression it is selective in its approach.

The effort should be to sensitize the whole population on the need for ethics in the public sphere. Recent efforts to ensure transparency and accountability at all levels of governance and especially in the matter of delivery of services to the common man are3 steps in the right direction.

The Right to Information Act, the Right to Education Act and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme are pointers to the government yielding to popular will.

This is a time for men of goodwill to come together and think of ways of formulating similar measures to advance the cause of a corruption-free government and a corruptionfree society. This would call for radical changes in the outlook of the people . Right from the stage of schooling, girls and boys should b taught

those values which build their character ; the media should cease promoting a consumerist society ; the entertainment industry , the large corporations and the business community as a whole should be restrained from exploiting the people .If there is no concerted action to achieve such ends, the country would drift towards chaos and lawlessness. , We have become a people tossed into conflicts by our narrow loyalties to caste, religion, creed and language; we have acquired a wrong pride which blinds us to our shortcomings and failures ; our materialistic ambitions had rendered our religiosity a cover for our hypocrisy. We , as some have said, need a new freedom struggle to liberate us from our greed and insensitivity. A spirit of repentance should take hold of us and not an aggressive spirit against some imaginary enemies. The truth is that the enemy is within.

UN reviews India’s human rights performance

India’s National Report on human rights came up for review at the UN Human Rights Council, with member countries raising questions on AFSPA, honour crimes, tribal land acquisition, discrimination of minorities, bill against communal violence among others.

The thirteenth session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group is being held in Geneva from 21 May to 4 June.

India is one of the 14 countries whose human rights records will be examined by the 47-member Human Rights Council (HRC).

The country is being represented by a delegation headed by attorney general GE Vahanvati.

While noting that the Universal Periodic Review was a useful vehicle for promotion and protection of human rights in member countries, Vahanvati declared that India will accept all “positive suggestions and constructive criticism in the right spirit”.

“The challenges we face are by no means small. There are threats to the fabric of our country. Our country has been the target of terrorist activities over the last three decades. Terrorism and insurgency posed existential threats to us. Left-wing extremism and violence is an internal challenge which is being met with resolve coupled with compassion and

peopleoriented development,” Vahanvati said in his speech.

“While there is considerable ground which needs to be covered, the progress in the last few years on some of the important indicators has been appreciable, given the enormity of the task which we were faced with,” he said.

According to reports, the most common query from the working group of the HRC was on torture and the threat faced by human rights defenders in India.

Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland and Slovenia have raised queries on either both or one of these issues.

“Denmark has queries on death penalty and manual scavenging while Germany has additional questions on discrimination of minorities and access to education and healthcare for ‘underprivileged minorities’,” the First Post reported.

England has raised questions on racial violence and the laws and bills on religious conversion. The Vatican City and Italy quizzed on anti-conversion laws that are in force in some states. Several UN member countries reportedly also inquired on the status of the proposed law to prevent communal violence.

The National Report submitted

by India meanwhile is reported

to have been prepared after consultations held with stakeholders consisting of several nongovernmental organisations and experts involved in human rights related activities.

“India has broadened the traditional narrow approach towards equality and proceeded on the basis of a positive mandate to eradicate backwardness in any form, social, economic and educational,” the report states.

Boasting of the initiatives taken in recent years, the report goes on to enumerate the enactment of various bills such as The National Green Tribunal Act, The Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill, Right to Education Act, Protection of Women from

Domestic Violence Act, the Right to Information Act, among others.

The 22-page report concludes with the statement that in spite of a number of serious challenges, India remains “deeply committed to human rights and has taken significant strides towards these goals”.

The wide-ranging engagement between India and a large number of UN member states, especially on freedom of religion issues was welcomed by the Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW).

“India indicated its readiness to engage with the full gamut of recommendations made during this UPR process, and we look forward to seeing the fruits of this across numerous human rights areas,” said CSW’s South Asia

leader David Griffiths.

In terms of freedom of religion or belief, he said the agenda of Indian civil society groups working on this issue was reflected in numerous statements.

“There were clear calls to deal effectively with communal violence, abolish poorly-framed anticonversion laws, and end the specific religious discrimination that exists against Christian and Muslim Dalits,” he pointed.

While terming it as unfortunate that India offered no substantive response to criticism of anticonversion laws, Griffiths said he hoped hope the UPR process will encourage progress towards safeguarding religious freedom and access to justice for all.

Please note: We may not agree with ideas, doctrines or statements in the news / articles which is published in this newspaper. It is there to provide diverse opinions / views, for study, awareness or in the interest of freedom of expression. We are not liable for any claims made in the advertisements / matrimonial etc., readers are advised to exercise their own discretion.

Published, Printed and owned by M.K. Babu, printed at New Life Printers Pvt. Ltd; B-3, 4/B-4 Ansal Building Comml.

Complex, Dr. Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi-110009. Published at C-6/141 Sector-5, Rohini, Delhi-110085. Editor: M.K. Babu