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Gujarat Electricity Board. As already reported, sen ior state and national heads of the ruling BJP are<br />
alarmed at the turn of events, with the BKS publicly denouncing Modi and his government as unfit to rule.<br />
Laljibhai, now attached to another RSS-supported body, the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, has launched a<br />
'fast-unto-death' in support of farmers. "I have resorted to this as I am very much grieved by the injustice<br />
done to farmers, who are de manding withdrawal of the hike in power rates," he said (Times of India<br />
23.1.04)<br />
RSS chief redefines ‘minorities’ (26)<br />
Bhubaneshwar: "Muslims and Christians in India should not be labelled as mi norities as they have their<br />
genetic roots here," Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief K S Sudarshan said on Friday, at the end of his<br />
three-day trip to the state. The RSS chief observed that even though Parsis and Jews settled in our<br />
country have a claim on the minori ty tag, they do not use it. "Parsis and Jews do not have their genetic<br />
roots in this country. Still they do not call themselves minori ties," he said. The veteran swayamsevak<br />
argued that Muslims and Christians who were<br />
rooted to the coun try's her itage and culture should be consid ered Hin dus be cause the term Hin du refers to<br />
a "way of life, view of life" and not any religion. "Even the Supreme Court has given this observation," he<br />
said. "Hindustan is one of the most tolerant places in the world. It believes that God is one and there are<br />
different ways to reach Him. "Once Muslims and Christians accept this, all disputes would come to an<br />
end," he said. According to him, a person should be al lowed to follow any path to attain mokshya<br />
(salvation) without severing his ances tral bonds. "Why should I change my name from Su darshan to<br />
Sanderson if I were to pray in a church Or, why should I be re named Sudar Khan to be al lowed entry into<br />
a mosque Why should I have to cut off ties with my forefathers to practise any religion" he asked.<br />
(Times of India 25.1.04)<br />
Total ban on cow slaughter in MP (26)<br />
Bhopal: The Uma Bharti government has enforced a total ban on cow slaugh ter in the state. Any person<br />
found guilty of cow slaughter or even selling cows or donating cows for the purpose of slaughter<br />
would be jailed for three years and fined up to Rs 10,000 under the Madhya Pradesh Cow Slaughter<br />
Ban Ordinance. The state government on Friday confirmed that governor Ram Prakash Gupta has given<br />
his assent to the new Ordinance. Government officials claimed the Ordinance has come into force with<br />
im mediate effect. "No person could kill cows, nor get them killed. No person could hand over cows for<br />
slaughter, nor could get it done by others. If found guilty, such per sons will be awarded three years'<br />
imprisonment and will have to pay a fine of up to Rs 10,000 or be award ed both," a government release<br />
said. "There would be a complete ban on slaughter pf cows and bovine animals in the state.<br />
No person could keep beef in his posses sion. Any cow slaughter related crime would be cognizable<br />
and non-bail able."<br />
On Tuesday, the state cabinet had endorsed the Gau Vadh Pratishedh Ad-hyadesh (MP Cow Slaugh ter<br />
Ban Ordinance) to bring a total ban on slaughter of cows, includ ing the diseased and aged ones. In<br />
January last year, cow slaughter became a national issue after com munal tension in Ganjba-soda in<br />
Vidisha district, 80 km from here, over an in cident of alleged cow slaughter. (Times of India 24.1.04)<br />
Bajrang blocks Thane cow trucks (26)<br />
Mumbai, Jan. 27: A skirmish between Bajrang Dal workers and truck drivers carrying cat tle to slaughter<br />
houses left three people, including a Bajrang Dal activist, injured. Seven Bajrang Dal activists have been<br />
arrested on charges of assault and damaging vehicles. According to reports, a truck driver and a cleaner<br />
were injured when the Bajrang Da] workers attempted to stop them on the Thane-Bhiwandi bypass late on<br />
Monday night. The truck from Haryana was transporting nine buffaloes when it was stopped. The Bajrang<br />
Dal activists started throwing stones at the truck so the truck driver and cleaner retaliated. Nine people,<br />
including seven Bajrang Dal activists, were taken to the government hospi tal and later arrested. The truck<br />
driver and cleaner were also arrested for illegal transportation of cattle. (Asian Age 28.1.04)<br />
Uma bans liquor, non-veg food in Maheswar, Amarkantak (26)<br />
MAHESHWAR (MP). JAN 28: IN A major decision aimed at enhancing its Hindutva im age, the Uma<br />
Bharati govern ment in Madhya Pradesh today decided to declare Maheshwar, Amarkantak and notified<br />
areas of Ujjain "holy cities", where the sale of liquor and non-vege tarian food, including eggs, will be<br />
banned. The CM spoke to reporters after chairing the Cabi net meet ing here and said Maheshwar,
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