India Blog Watch

Zainub heard this news bite from Geo …….his (Aamer Sohail ) latest rant was regarding Shoaib Akhtar, and how he was not really unfit, but being intentionally not played by the team management to protect him from the strict match refereeing of Chris Board……. And then he bifurcates all behind the door possible theories with paramount ease. Nice theory Aamer, I thought at that time, should serve well to give Geo good prime time ratings, and consequentially keep your producers happy. I don’t have a lot of time for reports (Mumbai Mirror) that credit an anonymous team source (whatever this means anyway), but talk of home side being under pressure!

The cartoon issue broke some violence in Lahore and five people were feared killed. Hasan Khan, a senior police official said to news agencies that the Indian players were their guest and all precautionary actions would be taken in Multan to prevent any unceremonious incident.

Not so favored by the media India Under 19 cricket team stormed to the semifinal without losing a single game. This Wednesday India meets England whereas in the other match Pakistan will take on Australia. Varun Singh writes If Chappell’s grand vision of 2007 world cup doesn’t include grooming young talents at U-19 and other junior levels, one day India will pay dearly for that.

Music has always influenced us Indians and we all will agree that Pakistan too has very rich music tradition like our country and many promising and has given the world many famous singers too. Vedant in his post ‘Paki Music’ has tried to show his inclusive affection and craze for Pakistani music and singers. His outstanding writing knack is clearly showcasing his interminable fondness for the musical tradition of Pakistan.

The only Hindu temple in Lahore, Pakistan, has been knocked down to make way for a commercial building. As expected, this has hurted the sentiments of many people. Ravi’s post ‘Temple Demolitions: Get heard’ is a meticulous and explained account that this is not the first time any Hindu temple has been demolished in country other than India. A quick look at this post will enlighten you with the related facts.

Rivaji has opted the word mission in place of vision for deciding the future of India. He has a vision for a mission to transform India as United republic of India. He, first, talked about the problems India is facing such as problem of infiltration from both Bangladesh and Pakistan. He writes in his post "United Republic of India": Greater India, that Bangladeshis are welcomed in India for their daily breads. But before that they must unconditionally merge their state with India. Like this plan he writes about his other plans too such as redrawing the geographical map when India will annex Bangladesh, Pakistan, Chinese occupied India territories. He follows the Idea of Pan-Indianism (Akhand Bharat) comprising of India {including whole Jammu & Kashmir state}, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and some territories of China. He also writes about the possible military alliance of India-Russia-Ukraine-Belarus-Armenia-Kazakhstan-Serbia & Montenegro-Greece-Israel-France-Germany-Belgium-Ireland-Brazil-Argentina-Mexico-South Africa, etc. to counter terrorism from Britain, NATO, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, China, and Pakistan. He has given the detail of the future States of the proposed ‘United Republic of India’ States and Capitals 1. Kerala – Thiruvananthapuram 2. Tamil Nadu – Chennai 3. Pondicherry – Pondicherry 4. Andhra Pradesh – Hyderabad 5. Karnataka – Bangalore 6. Goa – Panjim (Panaji) 7. Maharashtra – Mumbai 8. Gujarat – Gandhinagar 9. Madhya Pradesh – Bhopal 10. Chhattisgarh – Raipur 11. Orissa – Bhubaneshwar 12. Jharkhand – Ranchi 13. Bihar – Patna 14. Uttar Pradesh – Lucknow 15. Uttaranchal – Dehradun 16. Rajasthan – Jaipur 17. Indraprashta (Delhi) – Delhi 18. Haryana – Kurukshetra 19. Chandigarh – Chandigarh 20. Purva Punjab (East Punjab) – Ludhiana 21. Himachal Pradesh – Shimla 22. Paschim Bengal (West Bengal) – Kolkata 23. Sikkim – Gangtok 24. Assam – Dispur 25. Arunachal Pradesh – Itanagar 26. Meglalaya – Shillong 27. Nagaland – Kohima 28. Manipur – Imphal 29. Mizoram – Aizawl 30. Tripura – Agartala 31. Dogra Pradesh (Jammu) – Jammu 32. Kashmir – Srinagar 33. Ladakh – Leh 34. Rivania – Gilgit 35. Bundelkhand – Jhansi 36. Goorkhaland – Dargiling 37. Durasland (Kamtipur) – Shiliguri 38. Purva Bengal (East Bengal) – Dhaka 39. Mujiburganj (Chittagong) – Chittagong 40. Chakmaland – Rangamati 41. Urdustan – Islamabad 42. Pachim Punjab (West Punjab) – Lahore 43. Seraikistan – Multan 44. Sind – Karachi 45. Pathanistan – Peshwar 46. Baluchistan – Quetta National Capital Territory – 1 1. New Delhi Union Island Territories and Capitals – 2 1. Andaman & Nicobar Islands – Port Blair 2. Lakshadweep – Kavaratti Island

Emerging around 800 AD Sufis were originally pious devotees who sought divine reality or the ultimate truth through constant remembrance of God incorporated with techniques with chanting and music, dancing and swaying. Sufi tradition prevalent in Pakistan since the 13th century is deeply ingrained in the social cultural lifestyle of the country, particularly Sind and Punjab province, where majority population seeks solace in Sufi ideology. This potent brew of mysticism, folklore and a dose of hedonism are far more widespread than the Talibans version of Wahabi regimental puritanical Islam. Given that can Sufism then counter Taliban, as Pakistan faces two extremes?

The statement of Chief Minister Punjab Mr. Shahbaz Sharif has sent the entire nation in shock followed by condemnation. Mr. Sharif’s appeal has three major negative implications for Pakistan. First, by referring to a common cause, the chief minister has openly revealed a shared agenda with Taliban. That a political party can be one with Taliban in cause is a sign of political terror that goes way beyond militancy. Secondly, by requesting Taliban not to attack his province, he has sent out a clear word of provincialism in a time when the entire nation is under attack from militants. Does Mr. Sharif consider only Punjab as Pakistan is the question that already has found an answer in his statement. And finally, begging Taliban for mercy is an act of humiliating our security forces and civilians who are up against the insurgents in this war of terror. It is no wonder that parliament member Nighat Orakzai threw her Dhupatta, a symbol of feminine virtue, to offer to Mr. Sharif for protection against Taliban. An apology has been demanded of Mr. Sharif by parliament members as well as civilians for offending the nation’s sentiments by trying to appease the enemies of the nation.