Though the Luke was released on bail after being arrested after the complaint of the lady but the victim, a US citizen, has requested the government to intervene into the issue. She alleged that the player had grabbed her and tried to kiss her in a five star hotel room in New Delhi.

Considering the nature of the complaint and its seriousness BCCI office bearers have washed their hand from the whole issue. BCCI Commissioner Rajiv Shukla has said that it was a matter of personal behaviour of a player and IPL has nothing to do with it.

But the government, who has been putting pressure on BCCI to come under the RTI has put more pressure afresh on the issue. Union Minister of State for Sports Ajay Maken has reteriated to bring IPL and BCCI under the purview of RTI. Several others demanded to scrap the IPL.

To

Dr. Manmohan Singh
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India

Respected Prime Minister,

We heartily welcome your proposed landmark visit to Burma from 10-12 May 2012 which is taking place at a time when the country is going through political reforms and not long after the country witnessed the thumping victory of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy in the April 1 Parliamentary by-elections. You are also aware that these political developments are welcomed by other international communities as is evident from the series of visits made by prominent dignitaries from governments around the world including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, British Prime Minister David Cameron and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
This much-awaited political reform taking place in Burma will increase engagement with other countries where India can also play a significant role by engaging with pro-democracy opposition groups including Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy as well as other ethnic political parties.
As this landmark visit will strengthen bilateral ties between the two neighboring countries, it is crucial for India to develop a fresh thinking in this new political scenario in Burma. Alongside its national interest, India must be sincerely committed to strengthen democracy and facilitate in the process of national reconciliation in that country.

We the Civil Society Groups and citizens of India would like to draw your kind attention before your upcoming landmark visit to Burma on the following crucial issues that urgently need your kind intervention and action.

1. The issue of ethnic nationalities remains a serious concern and must be made a priority while engaging with President Thein Sein’s government in order to secure a durable political settlement. India should also press for an end to atrocities targeting ethnic areas particularly in Kachin state.

2. Another concern is the ongoing developmental projects implemented by the two countries for which a standard Environmental Impact Assessment as well as appropriate assessment needs to be undertaken to find out its negative consequences on the people living in the affected or proposed areas.

Some of the notable examples are the construction of Tamanthi Hydroelectric Power Project (THPP) on the Chindwin River in northwest Burma’s Sagaing Division. The dam will flood an area which is the size of Delhi, displacing over 45,000 people and blocking water flows to millions downstream. Over 2,400 villagers were forcibly relocated in 2007 from the dam site.

Another concern is the Kaladan Multi-Modal Project, developed by India to improve connectivity between the two countries, which will cause human rights abuses and environmental damage as Environmental and Social Impact Assessments are not yet conducted and local people were not informed about this project. Hence, these development projects will cause severe economic consequences.

We strongly urge the Honorable Prime Minister to suspend these proposed developmental projects unless the local people participate in the decision-making process about the use of their local resources and related infrastructure development without fearing persecution.

We are confident that the visit of our Honorable Prime Minister to Burma will bring encouraging results and strengthen ties not only in trade and security but also enhance co-operation at the people-to-people level.

Endorsed by:

1. Burma Centre Delhi
2. Grassroot Development Network
3. Madhu Kishwar, MANUSHI

India and US will work together to nurture young minds to become job creators rather than mere job seekers. The visiting US Secretary Hillary Clinton today discussed the issue with the Indian Government in her visit in New Delhi.

The issue came out during the meeting with Minister of Science and Technology & Earth Sciences Vilasrao Deshmukh when the issue of Stanford-India Biodesign Programme came up. The programme is supported by Department of Biotechnology and Indo-US S& T Forum involving Stanford University, AIIMS and IIT-Delhi.

“…, about 25 high quality minds have been trained to identify major health care needs and develop cost effective solutions. I am convinced that this program will provide deployable health care solutions covering a wide socio-economic spectrum. I believe that we should try to replicate and establish several such innovative programs that will not only provide affordable health care solutions to our people but also nurture young minds to become job creators and not job seekers”, said Vilasrao Deshmukh in his speech on India US: Partnering for Innovative Solutions, in New Delhi

The visiting US Secretary of State also discussed many issues including visa for Indian Students, work permit apart from 26/11, Indo-Pak relations, Nuclear Co-operation, terrorism, investment in W. Bengal during her meeting with various leaders of the country.

It is notable that Hillary Clinton called on UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Minister of External Affairs S M Krishna and W. Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee during her three day visit.

Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of United Nations has exhorted Indian youth to write a new chapter in the history. Ban Ki-moon, who was conferred Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) at Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi on Friday, shared several nostalgic experience with India during his speech at the university.

“For decades, I have been a student of India. Now I finally have a degree to prove it…I arrived in New Delhi exactly 40 years ago, on my first diplomatic posting. It was one of the best things that happened to me,” said the Secretary General.

The UN Secretary General also talked about global changes taking place on the political and economic fronts and said more and more people are beginning to shape their own destiny.

“You are the world’s largest democracy. You are an emerging economic leader. You are a superpower on the information superhighway. You are a beacon for the world – proving that democracy and development are one and the same path” he said adding that India had elected more than one million women to local village councils – a remarkable achievement.

When I was growing up, I did not have to worry about power blackouts – there was no electricity to begin with. I studied by kerosene lamp. That was a long time ago. But today, 1.4 billion around the world are still living in the dark. Here in India, 55 per cent of the rural population lacks electricity, he added talking about energy problem of the country.

“Some of you may know my own story – a child of war … growing up in poverty … going to school under a tree because my school had been destroyed. The UN saved me and my country and helped us rebuild. Now I look out at you, the young people of India.
We hear of Generation X … Generation Y”, he said while talking about himself and India’ Gen-X.

I call today’s youth “Generation UN” — a generation that is global … a generation that understands our common bonds … a generation fluent in networks. I imagine all that you can accomplish with your desires and your dreams. The story of India’s rise is your story. It is time for a new generation of Indians to write a new and dramatic chapter in your nation’s history.

The main thread in that story will be India’s role in a wider world. India as a global power, and yourselves as global citizens…Look beyond your community. Look beyond your country. Be a global citizen.
Bring your energy and your ideas to the United Nations. Be part of our quest for peace, development and human rights everywhere.Remember the words of your own great poet Rabindranath Tagore.
“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and, behold … service was joy”, added UN Secretary General addressing the gathering of the students and teachers of the university.