ChatDD Blog

Mallika Sarabhai, a danseuse and social activist, wrote the following letter to Amitabh Bachchan to question his support for Narendra Modi’s Gujarat.

“My dear Bachchanji, Greetings from a Gujarati You are indeed a fine actor. You are an intelligent man and a shrewd businessman.

But should I believe in your endorsements? Let’s take a brief look at what you proclaim you believe in (albeit for huge sums of money). BPL, ICICI, Parker and Luxor pens, Maruti Versa, Cadbury’s chocolates, Nerolac paints, Dabur, Emami, Eveready, Sahara City Homes, D’damas, Binani Cement and Reliance. And now Gujarat.

I wonder how you decide what to endorse. Is your house built with Binani Cement? Do you really like Cadbury’s chocolates or do you have to resort to Dabur’s hajmola (whose efficacy you have earlier checked) after eating them? And having endorsed two pens, one very upmarket and one rather down, which one do you use?

Have you, except perhaps for the shooting of the ad, ever driven or been driven in a Versa? Do you know whether the Nerolac paint in your home (you do use it don’t you?) has lead in it that can poison you slowly as it does so many people? Or are the decisions entirely monetary?

It has been reported that no direct fee will be paid to you for being my Brand Ambassador.

So, with no monetary decision to guide you, how did you decide to say yes? Did you check on the state of the State? I doubt it, for the decision and the announcement came from one single meeting. And I somehow doubt that you have been following the news on Gujarat closely.

So, as a Gujarati, permit me to introduce my State to you.

Everyone knows of our vibrancy, of the billions and trillions pouring into our State through the two yearly jamborees called Vibrant Gujarat. But did you know that by the government’s own admission no more than 23 per cent of these have actually moved beyond the MOU stage?

That while huge subsidies are being granted to our richest business houses, over 75,000 small and medium businesses have shut down rendering one million more people jobless.

You know of Gujarat’s fastpaced growth and the FDI pouring in, you have no doubt seen pictures of the czars of the business world lining up to pour money to develop us. To develop whom?

Did you know that our poor are getting poorer? That while the all-India reduction in poverty between 1993 and 2005 is 8.5 per cent, in Gujarat it is a mere 2.8 per cent?

That we have entire farmer families committing suicide, not just the male head of the household?

You have heard of how some mealy mouthed NGO types have been blocking the progress of the Narmada project, how the government has prevailed, and water is pouring down every thirsty mouth and every bit of thirsty land.

But did you know that in the 49 years since it was started, and in spite of the Rs29,000 crore spent on it, only 29 per cent of the work is complete?

That the construction is so poor (lots of sand added to the you know which cement) that over the last nine years there have been 308 breaches, ruining lakhs of farmers whose fields were flooded, ruining the poorest salt farmers whose salt was washed away?

That whereas in 1999, 4,743 of Gujarat’s villages were without drinking water, within two years that figure had gone up to 11,390 villages? (I cannot even begin to project those figures for today — but do know that the figure has gone up dramatically rather than down).

With our CM, hailed as the CEO of Gujarat, we have once again achieved number one status — in indebtedness.

In 2001, the state debt was Rs14,000 crore. This was before the State became a multinational company.

Today it stands at Rs1,05,000 crore. And to service this debt we pay a whopping Rs7,000 crore a year, 25 per cent of our annual budget.

Meanwhile, our spending on education is down, no new public hospitals for the poor are being built, fishermen are going a begging as the seas turn turgid with effluents, more mothers die at birth per thousand than in the rest of India, and our general performance on the Human Development Index is nearly the first — from the bottom.

One rape a day, 17 cases of violence against women, and, over the last 10 years, 8,802 suicides and 18,152 “ accidental” deaths of women have been officially reported. You can imagine the real figures. You have said that you are our ambassador because we have Somnath and Gandhi.

Somnath was built for the people. Gandhiji was a man of the people. Do the people of this State matter to you? If they do, perhaps your decision will be different. I hope you will read this letter and decide. In warmth and friendship, Mallika”

Big B has recently become brand ambassador of Modi’s state — Gujarat. “There are lots of good things in Gujarat which should be promoted. I am ready to give my voice and face for the promotion of Gujarat tourism.” Bachchan had said to media during special screening of ‘Paa’ with Chief minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi.

While Shahrukh Khan, Bollywood’s other superstar never went quite so far, he did say in an interview that he had nothing against Narendra Modi because Modi had never harmed him personally.

Vote count started following the completion of polling for by-election in NA-55 constituency here amid cries of foul play by Chief of Awami Muslim League, Sheikh Rashid, Geo News reported Wednesday.

Unofficial results that have started pouring in show Pakistan Muslim League-N candidate Shakil Awan in clear lead over Sheikh Rashid in a neck-and-neck competition between the two.

During the day a couple of incidents of fight were reported. However, the overall law and order situation remained satisfactory.

Pakistan Muslim League-N in reaction to Sheikh Rashid’s allegations of rigging said the latter is raising hue and cry as a way of face saving in view of his defeat in sight.

Early morning rain in the city affected the polling arrangements but later voters starting coming out as clouds started to clear the sky. The turnout grew with time and picked momentum towards the end of polling hours.

The overall situation remained peaceful throughout the polling except for a few separate incidents of fights reported during the day.

Blaming the state machinery for alleged rigging, Sheikh Rashid said PML-N may go ahead and do whatever it wants, he will prove himself a tough competition.

Meanwhile, Jamat-e-Islam candidate Dr. Kamal expressed satisfaction on the election process and advised Sheikh Rashid to come forward with evidence of the alleged rigging.

WASHINGTON: Police in northwest Pakistan arrested Mulvi Kabir, one of the top 10 most wanted Taliban leaders and a former Taliban governor of Afghanistan’s Nangahar Province, Fox News reported on its website Sunday.

The network, citing two unnamed senior US officials, said that police captured Kabir in the Nowshera district.

The capture is a “significant detention,” a senior US military official in Afghanistan told Fox.

Information leading to Kabir’s capture was obtained from Mullah Baradar, the Taliban’s second in command, whose arrest was announced on February 18 following a joint US-Pakistani operation, according to Fox.

Baradar’s capture has resulted in the arrests of several Taliban leaders, US officials told Fox.—AFP

While her beau Salman Khan goes on dodging marriage queries, Katrina Kaif has set the date for her marriage.

The stunner who has been always been in news for her hot and cold relationship with the eternal lover boy Salman has decided to put all speculations to an end.

Snubbing aside rumours about her alleged break up with the actor, Katrina has gone on record to state that she will tie the knot in 2012. Two years from now, Kat will enter into matrimony. And even though the sizzler has set the date, the groom is still a point of speculation. Neverthless for the nest two years, Katrina has decided to give her cent percent to movies.

As for her home after marriage, Katrina sure believes in traditional values as she has stated that she will go to her husband’s adobe post wedding. “I’ll get married and go to my husband’s home. Why put in so much money into a new home when I have a perfectly comfortable one at the moment?,” says the actress.

Talking of her choice of films Kat said, Farah Khan’s Tees Maar Khan, Imtiaz Ali’s Rockstar and Tarun Mansukhani’s Dostana 2, should take care of this year”. Well, looks like Salman has two years to make up his mind!

Abdul Razzaq single-handedly changed the course of the match with a brilliant innings as Pakistan beat England by four wickets to level their two-match Twenty20 series 1-1 here on Saturday.

At the Dubai Sports City stadium, England scored 148-6 from their 20 overs after being put in by Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik, who was second time lucky with the toss.

In reply, Pakistan looked down and out after being reduced to 78-5 in 13 overs, mainly due to a superb bowling effort from Graeme Swann.

The spinner took 3-14 in his four overs, a haul which included the wickets of Umar Akmal (36), Shoaib Malik (13) and Shahid Afridi (8).

However, Razzaq smashed five sixes in his 46 not out in 18 balls, as Pakistan reached the target with one over to spare.

He first added 48 important runs for the sixth wicket with Fawad Alam, and then hit two sixes in the penultimate over of the match from debutant Ajmal Shahzad to seal the issue in favour of his team.

Malik was full of praise for Razzaq.

“He was just awesome. England set us a very good total. We didn’t start off well, but Razzaq batted really well to get us this game. The way he has come back, I am just speechless and very happy about it,” he said. “We really needed this win after the series we had in Australia. This is a great start as we prepare to defend our title at this year’s ICC World T20 Cup.”

Collingwood was upbeat despite the loss, and said things looked good for the World T20 Cup, which will be played in April-May in the Caribbean Islands.

“We are improving every moment, I congratulate my boys for what they have been doing on the field for quite sometime. Our batting is looking especially stronger. There are some areas we need to work on, but we are definitely becoming a better T20 team,” he said.

After being hit for a boundary off the very first ball in his international career, Shahzad picked up both the openers in his first over.

Imran Nazir was the first to go, trying to heave him over mid-wicket, but the top-edge flew to Tim Bresnan at third-man. Two balls later, Imran Farhat tried to pull a fullish length delivery, but only succeeded in giving a catch to Stuart Broad at mid on. Pakistan were 4-2 at that stage.

Earlier, in England’s innings, Joe Denly failed once again and was the first batsman to be dismissed when he was clean bowled by Yasir Arafat in the fourth over after making just five. But Denley’s fall brought Kevin Pietersen to the wicket. Along with Jonathan Trott, Pietersen added 98 runs for the second wicket, before Trott was unfortunately run out in the 16th over for 39.

Pietersen batted well on a pitch that was playing slow. He smashed three huge sixes and four boundaries in his 40-ball stay at the crease. He also got a life when Shahid Afridi put down a tough chance off Umar Gul in the 13th over. Pietersen was on 45 then.

After both Trott and Pietersen were dismissed in successive overs, England promoted Friday’s hero Euan Morgan and the hard-hitting Luke Wright, but a flurry of wickets saw them fall two runs short of 150.

Arafat was the most successful bowler for Pakistan, taking 3-32.

Afridi made his comeback to the Pakistan team after serving a two-match ban for ball tampering. The all-rounder, who is Pakistan’s regular skipper in Twenty20, came in for Khalid Latif.

Shahzad made his international debut for England after seamer Ryan Sidebottom was ruled out with a thigh injury.

LAHORE: The Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, has said that subordinate judiciary is the backbone of the judicial system and it should provide speedy justice, but on merit.

Addressing a meeting of judicial officers at the Punjab Judicial Academy on Saturday, he said judges should avoid delays in deciding cases.

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Khawaja Mohammad Sharif and senior most judge Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry attended the meeting.

Justice Iftikhar said: “If we fail in providing speedy justice to people, we have no right to sit in courts.”

He directed judges to strictly implement the National Judicial Policy which envisaged speedy disposal of cases.

Referring to difficulties faced by litigants in lower courts, he asked the LHC chief justice to be more vigilant and strict in curbing corruption.

He appreciated the role of media in highlighting problems of the people and said it was a big source of information for him.

“We should welcome healthy criticism; it helps us remove our faults.”

The CJP said he would like to remind judicial officers of their constitutional and moral obligations. He said the subordinate judiciary had no option but to improve its performance because its failure would disappoint people and bring a bad name to judiciary.

He warned them that if they did not improve their performance the recent substantial increase in their salary would be withdrawn. He praised efforts made by Justice Sharif to eliminate bribery from subordinate judiciary in Punjab, but said: “I am still receiving many complaints against judicial officers.”

Justice Iftikhar expressed concern over non-implementation of the National Judicial Policy and said it appeared that most judges of the lower judiciary had not taken it seriously.

He said all judges, including himself, would have to make great efforts to provide justice to sustain people’s respect and hopes.

He said the judges should hold themselves accountable and see if they were dispensing justice. Justice Sharif said that 98 per cent of corruption in the lower judiciary had been eliminated. He said judicial officers were performing well despite working in an adverse environment.

He appealed to lawyers to cooperate in speedy disposal of cases.

He assured the CJP that judicial officers would work hard to bring down the number of pending cases and improve their performance.

Lauding efforts of CJP, Justice Sharif said: “I can say with pride that he is the only credible person in the country.”

Atif Aslam – the singing sensation & superstar of Pakistan – is now ready to make his debut on Big Screen. Yes, Atif Aslam has decided to work in Pakistani Movies and he has been signed by Shoaib Mansoor for his upcoming movie “Bol” . Atif Aslam will be playing the role of A Low Profile Doctor in the movie. As per our information, the shooting of the movie will start in March 2010 this year.So keep your fingers crossed and wait for the time till we see Atif Aslam on our Big Screen. I am sharing Atif Aslam’s exact words below :

Admitting that we don’t have much hits on our credits on the big screen would not be a shame but certainly we can improve it . To explore ma talent and the ability to act is the primary reason for me to convince my friends family n myself but not to be in the news certainly. Working with the best and the most senior director of the film industry MR . SHOAIB MANSOOR gives me the opportunity to give you guys ma debut film . I started ma singing career from PAKISTAN and Atif Aslam was made by PAKISTAN . I had alot ov offers to work with the BHATT’S , the RAJ’S starring the premium class but certainly wanted to begin from the house and didn’t want to become a choclate hero. Therefore undisputedly ATIF ASLAM was meant to start his filming career frOm PAKISTAN . Here I am “ATIF ASLAM” casted in a FILM named “BOL” as a middle class low profile doctor

Naseem Hamid became South Asia’s fastest woman by winning the 100-metre in the South Asian Federation Games (SAF) in Dhaka. – APP

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday appointed gold-winning Pakistan women athletes Naseem Hamid and Sara Nasir sports ambassadors to honour their extraordinary success.

The 22-year-old Hamid became South Asia’s fastest woman by winning the 100-metre in the South Asian Federation Games (SAF) in Dhaka, while Nasir returned with a gold medal in Karate.

“President Zardari has appointed Naseem and Sara as ‘ambassadors of sports’ in recognition of their successes at the SAF Games and gave them one million rupees (11,777 dollars) each,” Sports Minister Ijaz Jakhrani told reporters.

Zardari received the athletes in Islamabad and praised their hard work which brought laurels to the country, said the minister.

Zardari advised the government to devise a policy framework whereby distinguished sportswomen above a certain threshold were sent abroad for training and coaching to further improve their skills for competing in international sports events.

Hamid told reporters: “I am overwhelmed by the president’s encouragement and it’s a matter of great happiness for me that he promised to send us for training abroad for future competitions.”

On Sunday, Hamid clocked 11.81 seconds to clinch gold in the 100-metre sprint in the SAF Games, becoming Pakistan’s first female athlete to win the race in the competition’s 26-year history.