News watch

• Shooter Tejaswini Sawant clinch historic Gold

  Tejaswini Sawant scripted history today by becoming the first Indian woman shooter to clinch a gold medal at the World Championships with a world-record equaling score in the 50 meter Rifle Prone event in Munich, Germany. Sawant shot a score of 597 equalling the 1998 record set by Marina Bobkova of Russia.

  The 29-year-old, who clinched gold medals in the Commonwealth Games Air Rifle event, was level with Poland’s Ewa Joanna Nowakowska in the final score but managed to clinch the top honours with a better perfect score tally of 41. Kazakhstan’s Olga Dovgun settled for the bronze with a score of 596. 

Courtesy : AIR News

• Prayer, persuasion to mark renewed Mandir drive

  Manjari Mishra, TNN, Apr 28, 2010, 05.56am IST

  LUCKNOW: Ram Mandir issue rears its head once again, albeit with a high dose of drama. Saffron forces set for a relaunch are eager to hit the road after Congressmen, currently on the roll, park their chariots. However, the parivar has opted for a brand new avatar, that of penitent and polite Munnabhai, to force a change of heart in rivals including MPs and MLAs over long-pending `mandir nirman’ in Ayodhya.

  Come August 16, volunteers of Hanumat Shakti Jagran Yatra — a campaign planned by VHP’s Akhil Bharatiya Karyakarta Sammelan at Haridwar early this month, will walk upto MPs and MLAs and request a rethink over the mandir issue. “The combined power of prayer and persuation cannot be undermined and results,” says central secretary of VHP Purushottam Narain Singh, “could be truly dramatic.”

  “We have instances in past where career politicians like Narasimha Rao abandoned party line to fulfil a commitment dictated by conscience. Moreover, if Parliament could pass legislation for taking over the control of Somnath temple, why can’t it clears construction of Ram temple in the Ram Nagri,” he asked.

  Even though saffron satraps rule out any connection, the Yatra’s timing has given it a different colour — judgment in the Ayodhya title suit is round the corner. If the judgment comes out in their favour, the Yatra could turn into a victory march. And if it is against, then it could acquire the character of a show of strength, sources confided claiming it was a calculated and well-planned move to regain the lost ground.

  As always, not sure of public reception, the parivar once again plans to use seers as cover. The three-month movement will be spearheaded by senior sants, among them head of Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad Mahant Gyandas. In fact, the blueprint has been prepared keeping to the guidelines decided by the saints in Haridwar Kumbh. And a `Ram Janamabhoomi Mandir Nirman Sant Ucchadhikar Samiti’ will be leading the way, Singh pointed out.

  If the tactic fails, next plan of action entails invoking divine intervention. The Yatra will organise Hanuman Chalisa recital at every khand and shakha. The number of recitals will vary from 11 to 101 depending upon the intensity of the response, a senior prachark told TOI. The recital, he said, would prove to be a major draw and have high degree of public participation. Ninety percent of Hindu adults can recite Hanuman Chalisa and unlike others the recital will last a few minutes, so it will be a sure hit, he said.

  The all-India campaign, he said, will have UP as the centre. Therefore, all the star pracharaks will be leading the show here.