Rich need to pay more tax: Obama

Fresh from his re-election, US President Barack Obama said it was time "to get back to work" on the economy and pitched for raising taxes for the rich.

Obama, who has invited the Congressional leaders from both the parties next week to discuss and find a solution to the fiscal cliff, warned that in the absence of unanimity country's middle class would face a tax increase next year.

"Now that those of us on the campaign trail have had a chance to get a little sleep, it's time to get back to work, and there is plenty of work to do. As I said on Tuesday night, the American people voted for action not politics as usual. You elected us to focus on your jobs, not ours," said Obama.

Obama asserted that people have voted for the plans and ideas that his administration has advocated, and it was time to put them into practice.

"I've invited leaders of both parties to the White House next week so we can start to build consensus around the challenges that we can only solve together. And I also intend to bring in business and labor and civic leaders from all across the country here to Washington to get their ideas and input, as well," he said.

Noting that the US economy is still recovering from the great recession, he said top priority has to be jobs and growth and priority should be rewarding small businesses and manufacturers "that create jobs here and not overseas".

Given the impending fiscal cliff, Obama emphasised on the urgency to arrive at solutions as soon as possible.

"Because at the end of this year we face a series of deadlines that require us to make major decisions about how to pay our deficit down, decisions that will have a huge impact on both the economy and the middle class, both now and in the future," he said.

"If we're serious about reducing the deficit, we have to combine spending cuts with revenue. And that means asking the wealthiest Americans to pay a little more in taxes," Obama said amidst a big round of applause from the selected audience invited to the East Room of the White House for his first speech in this building following his re-election.

He said this was the policy adopted by Bill Clinton's administration in the 1990s, and this was the way to reduce the deficit while still making the investments to build a strong middle class, and a strong economy.

"That's the only way we can still afford to train our workers, or help our kids pay for college, or make sure that good jobs and clean energy or high tech manufacturing don't end up in countries like China," Obama said, but quickly added that he is open to compromises and new ideas.

The United Nations has declared 10th November as 'Malala Day' in honour of Pakistani teenage rights activist Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban last month for campaigning for girls' education.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Special Envoy for Global Education, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, has said 10^th November has been declared Malala Day.

"This Saturday (November 10th) will see Malala Day, a global event to show the world that people of all creeds; all sexes, all backgrounds and all countries stand behind Malala," Brown said.

"We are Malala - This is Malala day. The world to walk in the footsteps of this girl of courage. Malala Yousafzai has become a global icon of hope, an international symbol of courage, a schoolgirl who has won the hearts of millions through her bravery.

"Malala's dream is a Pakistan where she, her friends and future generations of girls could attend school, walk freely into a classroom, learn and reach their full potential." The UN chief said citizens from across the globe are speaking out for Yousafzai and on behalf of the 61 million children who do not go to school.

"I am adding my voice to the messages from over one million people across the globe. Education is a fundamental human right. It is a pathway to development, tolerance and global citizenship," Ban said in a brief video message posted on the UN website.

He called the international community to join the UN campaign to put education first "for Malala and girls and boys throughout the world".

Events have been planned in over 100 countries, from the UK and USA to Mexico, India, Australia and Sierra Leone to mark the day.

In the UK where there is a host of local events, the most poignant event will take place in Lozells, Birminghamonly a few miles away from Malala's hospital.

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Britain's Senior Minister of State at the Foreign Office and Minister for faith and communities, hailed Malala Yousufzai's inspirational activism ahead of Malala Day today.

Baroness Warsi said "Through her inspirational activism Malala has bravely highlighted the need for education to be accessible to all children in Pakistan.

"Education is the single most important factor that can transform Pakistan's future." Thousands of people from across the world have signed a global petition calling for her to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Malala is recovering in a British hospital from gunshot wounds and has received messages of support for her cause from global leaders, including US President Barack Obama.

करुणानिधि बनने का दुश्साहस न करें राम द्रोही : विहिप

नई दिल्ली नवम्बर 9, २०१२. भगवान श्री राम, भैया लक्ष्मण व माता सीता के विषय में कुछ राजनेताओं द्वारा की गई टिप्पणियों के विरोध में आज हिन्दू युवकों ने अधिवक्ता श्री राम जेठमलानी के घर के बाहर प्रदर्शन किया। विश्व हिन्दू परिषद ने कडी आपत्ति दर्ज करते हुए कहा है कि अभिव्यक्ति की स्वतंत्रता की आड में किसी भी व्यक्ति को इस बात की छूट नहीं है कि वे लोगों की धार्मिक भावनाओं से खिलवाड करें चाहे वह किसी भी स्तर के कितने ही बडे व्यक्ति क्यों न हों। विहिप दिल्ली के महा मंत्री श्री सत्येन्द्र मोहन ने आज ऐसे नेताओं को चेताया कि भगवान राम व उनके बनाए श्री राम सेतु के अपमान का हश्र दक्षिण भारत के करुणा निधि पहले से ही भुगत रहे हैं अब यदि और लोग इस श्रेणी में सामिल होते हैं तो हिन्दू समाज उन्हें कभी माफ़ नहीं करेगा। प्रदर्शनकारी हिन्दू युवकों ने कहा है कि आज का प्रदर्शन सांकेतिक है किन्तु यदि ये लोग नहीं सुधरे तो हिन्दू समाज को इन्हें ठीक करना आता है।

  विहिप दिल्ली की एक बैठक के बाद संगठन के मीडिया प्रमुख श्री विनोद बंसल ने बताया कि कल अधिवक्ता राम जेठमलानी ने अपनी कुबुद्धि का परिचय देते हुए जिस प्रकार की बातें भगवान श्री राम व भईया लक्ष्मण के बारे में कहीं है उनसे एक बात साफ़ हो गई है कि या तो वे जान बूझ कर हिन्दू जन मानस को आन्दोलित करना चाहते हैं और या फ़िर शास्त्रीय ज्ञान में वे पूरी तरह से बुद्धू हैं। विहिप का मानना है कि सिर्फ़ किताबी ज्ञान या कानून की महा रथ हासिल कर लेने से किसी को शास्त्रीय ज्ञान नहीं हो सकता है। उसके सही ज्ञान के लिए सच्ची भक्ति, संतों का सानिध्य व सत्संग में समर्पण चाहिए। अपने झण्डेवालान स्थित प्रदेश मुख्यालय में पारित एक प्रस्ताव में विहिप ने यह भी कहा है कि हिन्दू मान विन्दुओं व देवी देवताओं का अपमान करना आज दुष्टों का फ़ैशन सा बन चला है। विहिप ने चेताया है कि यदि इस मानसिकता में बदलाव नहीं आया तो हिन्दू समाज भी चुप नहीं बैठेगा तथा लोकतांत्रिक तरीके से उसका प्रत्युत्तर अवश्य देगा।  

भवदीय

(विनोद बंसल)

मीडिया प्रमुख,

इंद्र्प्रस्थ विश्व हिंदू परिषद, दिल्ली

Massive Protests against Reliance and HSBC 

9 November 2012: Following the exposé by India against Corruption (IaC) led by Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan and others, massive protests against the Reliance Group of companies and HSBC have erupted across the country in front of the said offices’ premises.

News of demonstrations are pouring in even from remote corners of the country. In the capital, agitators gathered at the PVR Priya Cinema complex and Jawaharlal Nehru University campus.
There are reports of demonstrations and processions coming in from Agra (Sanjay Place—Reliance Web World), Allahabad (Subhash Chowk), Lucknow (HSBC branch at Hazratganj), Unnao, Ferozabad (MG Road branch of Web World), Aligarh (Web World) — all in Uttar Pradesh; Ajmer (Reliance Fresh shop) and Jodhpur (in front of HSBC and Reliance offices) — in Rajasthan; Roorkee (near Reliance shops), Hardwar (near Har ki Pauri) and several places in Dehradun — Uttarakhand; and Jabalpur, Gwalior, Sagar — Madhya Pradesh.
Protests are planned tomorrow at 12 pm in front of the Ambanis’ residence in Mumbai, Sea Wind at Cuffe Parade. Raipur in Chhattisgarh is going to observe protests tomorrow, too. People in Indore are going to pour into the streets in protest of the nexus between the government and big corporations.
In Unnao, ordinary citizens assembled in front of a beleaguered Anu Tandon, the widow of Sandeep Tandon, the couple that was allegedly on the payrolls of Mukesh Ambani after the man defected from Indian Revenue Service. It has been alleged that Rs 125 crore each was deposited in their foreign accounts in return of their defection.