Bhagvad Gita faces legal ban in Russia

Moscow, Dec 17 (IANS) Bhagvad Gita, one of the most sacred Hindu religious texts, is facing a legal ban and the prospect of being branded as 'an extremist' literature across Russia, with a court in Siberia's Tomsk city all set to deliver its final verdict Monday in a case filed by state prosecutors.

The final pronouncement in the case will come just two days after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was here for a bilateral summit meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev from Dec 15 to 17.

The case, which has been going on in Tomsk court since June this year, seeks to get a Russian translation of 'Bhagvad Gita As It Is' written by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), on the Hindu religious text banned in Russia and declaring it as a literature spreading 'social discord', apart from rendering its distribution on Russian soil illegal.

In view of the case, Indians settled in Moscow, numbering about 15,000, and followers of the ISKCON religious movement here have appealed to Manmohan Singh and his government to intervene diplomatically to resolve the issue in favour of the Hindu religious text, an important part of Indian epic 'Mahabharat' written by Sage Ved Vyasa.

The ISKCON followers of Russia have also written a letter to the Indian Prime Minister's Office in New Delhi seeking immediate intervention, lest the religious freedom of Hindus living here be compromised.

'The case is coming up for a final verdict on Monday in Tomsk court. We want all efforts from Indian government to protect the religious right of Hindus in Russia,' Sadhu Priya Das of ISKCON and a devotee of a 40-year-old Krishna temple in central Moscow, told IANS.

The court, which took up the case filed by the state prosecutors, had referred the book to the Tomsk State University for 'an expert' examination Oct 25 this year.

But Hindu groups in Russia, particular followers of the ISKCON, say the university was not qualified, as it lacked Indologists.

The Hindus had pleaded with the court that the case was inspired by religious bias and intolerance`from a majority religious group in Russia, and have sought that

their rights to practice their religious beliefs be upheld.

The prosecutor's case also seeks to ban the preaching of Prabhupada and ISKCON's religious beliefs, claiming these were 'extremist' in nature and preached 'hatred' of other religious beliefs.

'They have not just tried to get the Bhagvad Gita banned, but also brand our religious beliefs and preachings as extremist,' Das said.

In fact, the ISKCON devotees have taken up the matter with the Indian embassy in Moscow too, apart from writing to the Prime Minister's Office in New Delhi, for an early diplomatic intervention, before things get worse and the court passes an adverse verdict banning the 'Bhagvad Gita' and Krishna consciousness teachings.

In the Nov 1 letter, addressed to Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Pulok Chatterji, ISKCON's New Delhi branch Governing Body Commissioner Gopal Krishna Goswami, said the prosecutor's affidavit claims Lord Krishna 'is evil and not conforming to Christian religious view'.

Goswami also urged Singh to accord priority to the matter during his Moscow stay and to take it up with the Russian authorities.

Indian diplomatic corps officials at the embassy here, who were unwilling to be named, told IANS that they have been following up the case since the time it was brought to their notice earlier this year and that they had also taken up the matter at the appropriate levels in the Russian government to get the case either withdrawn or get the defence to fight the case to obtain a favourable verdict.

Officials at the Indian Prime Minister's office, who are part of the Indian delegation accompanying Singh, confirmed the case and the letter they received from ISKCON in this regard to IANS.

'This matter is receiving the highest attention and the Indian embassy officials in Moscow have been instructed to follow up the case with the Russian authorities,' they said.

Source:
http://in.news.yahoo.com/-bhagvad-gita--faces--extremist--branding--legal-ban-in-russia.html

Chidambaram had no role in fixing spectrum pricing: Sibal

New Delhi, Dec 10 (IANS) Communications Minister Kapil Sibal Saturday strongly refuted accusations by Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy that P.Chidambaram as finance minister had a role in fixing the entry fee for new players and hence should be prosecuted in the spectrum scam.

Sibal said Chidambaram was being maligned by the opposition, although he as finance minister had not played any role in issuing letter of intents (LoI) to new players or fixing the entry fee at Rs.1,650 crore.

'It is preposterous to suggest that P.Chidamabaram had any role in fixing the entry fee or issuing the LoIs,' Sibal told reporters here adding that Chidambaram had in fact recommended for an increase in entry fee, which was not agreed by A.Raja.

Swamy has sought to make Chidambaram a party in the spectrum case, saying the decision on spectrum pricing was taken in 2008 jointly by him and then communications minister A. Raja, who is lodged in Tihar Jail since Feb 2.

A special CBI court has allowed Swamy to again depose before it as a witness to prove his claim of the home minister's alleged complicity in the spectrum scam.

Department of Telecommunications, under Raja's tenure, had issued LOIs on Jan 10, 2008. This too, Sibal said was done without the knowledge of Chidambaram.

'There was no meeting between the Finance Minister and A.Raja prior to Jan 10, 2008 on this issue,' said Sibal.

He added that the CBI had in fact found nothing wrong with Chidambaram's conduct during his tenure as finance minister.

'Therefore any attempt by the opposition to foist any culpability on P.Chidambaram is not only irresponsible but is yet another desperate attempt to make the institution of parliamentary democracy disfunctional,' Sibal said.

'P.Chidambaram is a valued colleague and has discharged his responsibilities without fear or favour and absolute integrity and devotion,' he said.

Want Poonam Pandey to strip on your mobile?

 

Model Poonam Pandey is best known for her stripping promise to the Indian cricket team during the World Cup. She now takes her stripping fame worldwide by signing up for a strip poker game to be available in many mobile platforms

Poonam has tied up with a US-based mobile gaming company and her game will be available for Android and iOS platforms

Commenting on her decision to strip for a mobile game, she said, “Yes, I have signed a contract with an American company. It is like the famous Teen Patti card game. They will first show my video when the game starts. As the player starts clearing various levels of the game, I will start stripping. I don't mind stripping, but to what stage I will be doing it, I can't say that now.”

While Poonam Pandey fans would like to brush up their poker skills before this game reaches app stores, Poonam is a bit hesitant to go all the way

On whether or not she would completely strip, Poonam says, “However, reaching the level where I will have to strip fully may be really tough."

Poonam chuckles, adding, “I am excited because I will be exposed to such high-profile international gaming for the first time and it will help me reach out to my fans worldwide.” Her technical assistant, Micky added, “It is like gambling, just that there is no money involved here one one gets enticed by Poonam's visuals.”

http://in.movies.yahoo.com/photos/want-poonam-pandey-to-strip-on-you-mobile--1323077499-slideshow/want-poonam-pandey-to-strip-on-you-mobile--photo-1323077375.html

World's first sex school opens in Austria

London, Dec 1 (IANS) While many people may think it's an activity which should be best learned behind closed doors, an enterprising Swedish schoolmistress thinks otherwise.

Ylva-Maria Thompson has opened the world's first international sex school for teaching the art of being better lovers, the Daily Mail reported.

The Austrian International Sex School in Vienna offers 'hands on' lessons in seduction for 1,400 pounds a term. The 'headmistress' says anyone over the age of 16 can enrol at 'the world's first college of applied sexuality'.

Students of the course are expected to stay in a co-ed dormitory block where they're expected to practice their 'homework'. By the end of their course, they are awarded a qualification.

The school head said: 'Our core education is not theoretical, but very practical. The emphasis is on how to be a better lover.

'Sexual positions, caressing techniques, anatomical features. And we teach people hands on.'

School's spokesperson Melodi Kirsch exuded confidence that the school would be a great success.

The school, however, has already turned controversial in Austria with it raunchy advertisments showing a couple making love having already invited ban by Austrian TV.

Source:
http://in.news.yahoo.com/worlds-first-sex-school-opens-austria-035815296.html