Andhra Pradesh High Court quashes reservation for MUSLIMS

The Andhra Pradesh High Court Monday quashed a legislation providing four percent reservation to Muslims in education and jobs.Delivering the much-awaited judgement, the seven-member constitutional bench headed by Chief Justice A.R. Dave ruled that reservations cannot be provided on the basis of religion.The court order has come as a big blow to the Congress government, which had brought a legislation providing four percent reservation to certain backward groups among Muslims.Some individuals and organisations had challenged the bill, contending that the reservations were unconstitutional. This is the third time since 2004 that the high court has quashed quota for Muslims.In 2004 that the state government had provided five percent reservation to Muslims but the high court had quashed the order.However, on the court’s advice, the government reconstituted the backward classes commission and directed it to conduct a detailed survey of the socio-economic conditions of Muslims.On the recommendations of the commission, the government issued an ordinance in 2005 and subsequently the assembly passed legislation for five percent reservation.However, the high court set aside the legislation on the ground that this would exceed the 50 percent total reservation limit set by the Supreme Court.In an attempt to keep the reservations within the 50 percent limit, the government reduced the quantum to four percent and issued an order in 2007 providing four percent quota in government jobs and educational institutions for 15 socially and educationally backward classes among Muslims.The government brought an ordinance, which was later replaced by a legislation passed by the assembly.The four percent quota was also challenged in the high court. The petitioners argued that the government identified backward classes in the community without gathering scientific data.The high court, in its interim order, permitted admissions made under the quota. This was challenged by the petitioners in the Supreme Court. The apex court stayed implementation of the order but left it to the high court to dispose off the batch of writ petitions.      (thanks way2online) 
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VHP calls for boycott of SRK film, differs with Sena

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Monday appeared to back the Shiv Sena by calling for a nationwide boycott of Shah Rukh Khan’s “My Name is Khan” but took objection to the Sena’s Mumbai-for-Marathis stand and said every inch of India belonged to all Indians.“People of India must boycott ‘My Name is Khan’ as Shah Rukh Khan is a traitor,” VHP general secretary Pravin Togadia told journalists here.“My Name is Khan”, starring Shah Rukh and Kajol, is set to be released Friday.But the star is mired in a blazing row over his recent comments advocating the cause of Pakistani cricket players who were not picked by any team for IPL.Togadia threatened that posters of the film would be torn down.

Interestingly, the radical VHP leader locked horns with the Shiv Sena that had also objected to Shah Rukh’s comments by saying Mumbai could not be only for Marathis.“The VHP’s stand is very clear and we differ on the Shiv Sena’s position. According to us, every inch of India belongs to all Indians and every Indian has the right to stay with dignity in any part of the country… Mumbai, Delhi, and even Kashmir is for all Indians,” the VHP leader said.“If we try to stay that Mumbai is for Marathis and outsiders have to leave Mumbai, then I would say India would not survive.” (thanks to way2online)

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UAE Foreign Minister,meets to minister for Commers & industry,

The Minister for Foreign Trade, UAE, Mrs. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasim meeting the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Anand Sharma, in New Delhi on February 08, 2010. (Photo by PIB No:CNR-30325)

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SGSY grant-in-aid to ANDHRA PRADESH

(PIB NEWS) The Ministry of Rural Development has released grant in aid worth Rs. 59,79,38,000/- (Rupees Fifty nine crore Seventy nine Lakh and Thirty Eight Thousand) crore only as Central share of funds under the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) to the District Rural Development Agencies in the four States, namely Andhra Pradesh, Manipur ,Uttar Pradesh & West Bengal during the year 2009-2010. The District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) of Anantpur, Guntur, Khammam, Krishna, Kurnool, Medak, Nalgonda, Nellore, Prakasam, Warangal and West Godawari in Andhra Pradesh have been granted Rs. 25,99,39,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five crore ninety nine lakh thirty nine thousand only)towards 2nd Instalment under SGSY during the current financial year. In Manipur the Churachandpur and Tamenglong District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) will be getting Rs. 5,33,000/- (Rupees Five lakh thirty three Thousand only) towards 1ST Installment of Central Shares of funds under the yozana during the current financial year. In Uttar Pradesh the Balramour, Bareilly, Basti, Bhadohi, Jaunpur, Kheri, Maunathbhanjan, Mirzapur, Padrauna, Rai Bareli and Sonbhadra District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) have been earmarked for Central Assistance amounting to Rs. 23,14,58,000/-(Rupees Twenty three crore fourteen lakh fifty eight thousand only) as 2nd installment of funds under the Central Share for SGSY during the current financial year. Similarly, the 24 Parganas North, Burdwan and West Midnapore District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) in West Bengal are to receive grant-in-aid worth Rs.10,60,08,000/- towards 2nd installment of Central Shares of funds under the yozana during the current financial year. The funding pattern for the States of Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Wsst Bengal is 75: 25 between the Centre and State whereas in case of Manipur the funding is on the basis of 90:10 between the Centre and State. The objective of the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) is to bring the assisted poor families (Swarozgaries) above the Poverty Line by ensuring appreciable sustained level of income over a period of time. This objective is to be achieved by organizing the rural poor into Self Help Groups(SHGs) through the process of social mobilization, their training and capacity building and provision of income generating assets.
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