Meditation in the time of Maoism

October 11th, 2009 MUMBAI - Asking Maoists to shed weapons, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday asserted that the country would see "positive development" in the coming months in the war against Maoist violence. I always maintain that Naxalism (Maoism) is the greatest internal threat to our security.

October 9th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Congress party Friday suggested a twin approach to curb the Maoist terror: deal strongly with perpetrators of violence and also address the socio-economic issues behind the growth of Maoism. The twin approach of dealing sternly with the perpetrators of violence and simultaneously addressing the socio-economic issues behind Naxalism should be adopted to deal with it, Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmad told reporters.

August 21st, 2009 RAIPUR - Maoist violence was continuing in certain parts of the country because development was not reaching the troubled areas, particularly in states like Chhattisgarh, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi said here Friday. Accusing Chhattisgarh's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of failing to reach the fruits of development to vast Maoist-hit areas, Gandhi said: "If the government fails to reach people, then problem begins, and this is the case in Chhattisgarh." "See how Andhra Pradesh tackled the Maoist problem, it actually took the central government welfare schemes to problem-hit areas, but in Chhattisgarh the government is not reaching trouble-hit areas," the Congress leader told a press conference here.

August 18th, 2009 RAIPUR - The time has come for a "direct fight on three fronts" to counter the Maoist menace in the country, according to Raman Singh, chief minister of India's worst Maoist-hit state of Chhattisgarh. Singh, who was speaking at a meet in New Delhi Monday, also said that leftwing extremism should be considered a national calamity.

August 1st, 2009 Vietnam Zen master's creed promotes peace, harmonyIN THE MOMENT: Thich Nhat Hanh's brand of "Engaged Buddhism" teaches people to live in the "present moment," to listen carefully to others and to understand their points of view. Followers practice meditation and breathing techniques intended to keep them relaxed and in the here and now, not dwelling in the past or on negative emotions.

July 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Home Minister P. Chidambaram Thursday said the report of the Liberhan Commission on the demolition of the Babri masjid in Ayodhya would not be buried but would be tabled in parliament.

July 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India should not aspire to be a dominant and powerful country, but should try to be a less discontented country, eminent author-historian-social analyst and teacher Ramachandra Guha said Monday, listing 10 reasons why India cannot and must not become a superpower". "The 10 political and social challenges that face the country are Left wing extremism, religious extremism, a corrupt centre, decline of public institutions, growing gap between the rich and the poor, environment degradation, apathy of the media, political fragmentation of the Indian electoral system, unreconciled borders and unstable neighbourhoods, Guha told an elite gathering of bureacucrats, diplomats, policy makers, voluntary workers, think-tanks, foreign delegates and journalists.

July 4th, 2009 RANCHI - Around 65 prisoners of Birsa Munda Central Jail here have been doing meditation and keeping silent for the past five days to get enlightenment, jail authorities said Saturday. The prisoners, including 35 women, began doing Vipasana Aasan June 30 and will continue to do so till July 10.

June 22nd, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - The centre is helping Maoist-affected states in every possible way, union Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily said here Monday, adding that the UPA government did not "dabble in politics" on such a serious issue.

April 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Congress party general secretary Rahul Gandhi is an institution builder like his father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, claims his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Revealing this aspect of Rahul's personality to NDTV during an interview, Priyanka also said that her brother was right in consistently saying that he is not ready to be Prime Minister, even if that post were to be offered to him in the near future.

April 15th, 2009 RAIPUR - Over 1,000 lives have been lost in Maoist violence in Chhattisgarh since 2005 but Maoism hardly finds a mention during the poll season with both the main parties - the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress - completely ignoring the issue during campaigning. Eleven Lok Sabha seats in the state go to the polls in the first phase Thursday.

March 22nd, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Saturday promised reservation to Dalit Christians and upper caste poor as she launched her poll campaign from here. Mayawati flew to the Kerala capital to kick off her nationwide 52-day poll campaign, vowing to clamp down on terrorism and Maoist violence in the country.

February 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government has 'zero tolerance' policy towards terrorism, whether from jihadi elements or Hindu militants, and would spare no efforts to wipe it out, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Sunday.

January 5th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday cautioned against conceptualising terrorism purely in military terms, saying it should be tackled through 'better investigation and superior intelligence'. 'Terrorism should not be conceptualized solely in military terms,' Manmohan Singh said while addressing the conference of chief ministers here on internal security.

December 25th, 2008 RAIPUR - Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said here Friday that a long-term action plan was needed on 'security and development' to address the Maoist insurgency. 'Chhattisgarh is viewed as a model state in the country in handling Maoist insurgency which is a national problem.