“Ten years is a long period and the perpetrators of the most heinous crimes are still roaming around freely while the victims continue to suffer from psychological and physical trauma caused by the loss of loved ones, rapes, personal physical scars, financial loss, deprivation of livelihood, homelessness and family members implicated in baseless cases languishing in jails.” Zeena added.

Praising human rights activists and NGOs working to get justice to Gujarat massacre victims Zeena said, “We salute these brave souls who are making personal sacrifices to bring the perpetrators to justice and set an example for others who might be tempted to copy the fascists of Gujarat in future anywhere in India.

“Our thoughts go to those who lost their lives and those who suffered physical, emotional and financial losses during those dark days in Gujarat. May the Almighty rest the souls in peace of the innocent people mercilessly slaughtered by Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s bloodthirsty gangs and bless the survivors with courage, peace and hope.”

Jamia held a ‘Special Convocation’ on April 27, 2012 to confer the degree of ‘Doctor of Letters’ (Honoris Causa) on Mr. Ban Ki-moon, the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations. In 2011, Mr. Ban Ki-moon ran unopposed for a second term as Secretary-General and was unanimously re-elected to the post of Secretary General by the General Assembly. He will continue to serve in his current position until 31 December 2016.

The newly appointed Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia Lieutenant General M.A. Zaki (Retired) presided over the special convocation and conferred the degree on Mr. Ban Ki-moon. Mr. Najeeb Jung, Vice Chancellor, presented him the citation wherein he said: “In honouring him, Jamia Millia Islamia celebrates one of the most acclaimed figures of our times, who – in his person and action – combines the strong foundations of morality and ethics with equally important principles of human rights and dignity. In recognition of his immense contribution to development and world peace, Jamia Millia Islamia confers upon him the degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) on this 27th day of April, 2012.”

In his acceptance speech, Mr Ban Ki-moon said “Thank you for this distinguished recognition. For decades, I have been a student of India. Now I finally have a degree to prove it! Today you do me and the United Nations a special honour. In that spirit, I accept this honorary doctorate on behalf of the women and men who serve the United Nations around the world.”

In his speech full of phrases charming the local audience, Ban Ki-noon said: “For decades, I have been a student of India. Now I finally have a degree to prove it!”

“Because you have been so kind to recognize me – let me begin by sharing a bit of personal history. My journey in foreign service started right here. 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. Ever since, I have drawn lessons from the proud history of India. I have learned deeply from your traditions. I have been inspired by your example.”

The newly appointed Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia Lieutenant General M.A. Zaki (Retired) presided over the special convocation and conferred the degree on Mr. Ban Ki-moon. Mr. Najeeb Jung, Vice Chancellor, presented him the citation wherein he said: “In honouring him, Jamia Millia Islamia celebrates one of the most acclaimed figures of our times, who – in his person and action – combines the strong foundations of morality and ethics with equally important principles of human rights and dignity. In recognition of his immense contribution to development and world peace, Jamia Millia Islamia confers upon him the degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) on this 27th day of April, 2012.”

In his acceptance speech, Mr Ban Ki-moon said “Thank you for this distinguished recognition. For decades, I have been a student of India. Now I finally have a degree to prove it! Today you do me and the United Nations a special honour. In that spirit, I accept this honorary doctorate on behalf of the women and men who serve the United Nations around the world.”

In his speech full of phrases charming the local audience, Ban Ki-noon said: “For decades, I have been a student of India. Now I finally have a degree to prove it!”

“Because you have been so kind to recognize me – let me begin by sharing a bitof personal history. My journey in foreign service started right here. 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. Ever since, I have drawn lessons from the proud history of India. I have learned deeply from your traditions. I have been inspired by your example.”

While appreciating women empowerment in India, he also talked about the challenges being faced by the half of the Indian population.“On the one hand, we see India as the rising global power. On the other hand, India faces many of the challenges of a developing nation. India has a rich tradition of outstanding women leaders. They include not only political figures but, also, vibrant voices of civil society speaking out for women’s rights. You have elected more than one million women to local village councils – a remarkable achievement…”

“There has been progress and innovation and I look forward to seeing that for myself tomorrow in Mumbai. But there is much we must do. Every week, more than 1,000 Indian mothers die from pregnancy or childbirth. Every 20 seconds, an Indian child under five dies from a largely preventable cause. This is one of the most difficult development challenges we face anywhere around the world. But if we can make progress on women’s and children’s health, we can unleash progress across the Millennium Development Goals.”

At the end he asked the young generation to have a big dream and look beyond their own community.

“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.”

After Swami Aseemanand spilled the beans on senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar’s role in several blasts at Muslim religious places, the task of Rajasthan anti-terrorist squad (ATS), probing the Ajmer blast, became easier.

A notice will soon be sent to Indresh Kumar for his questioning in connection with the Ajmer dargah blast case that killed two persons and injured 15 others in October 2007, said a source.

“We are definitely going to question Indresh Kumar now. After the statement recorded before a magistrate, Aseemanand will be of great help for the ATS. We will independently interrogate him and then send a notice to Indresh Kumar for interrogation,” said a senior officer.

According to him, Rajasthan ATS was the first to mention Indresh Kumar in the chargesheet of Ajmer dargah blast case. “He was not named an accused as the ATS wanted to probe his role further and collect evidence against him. With Aseemanand’s confession, the investigation against some suspected Hindu leaders including Indresh has got a shot in the arm,” said the officer.

In the chargesheet filed in the court of additional chief judicial magistrate Jagendra Kumar Jain in October last year, the ATS had claimed that a secret meeting was held in room no. 26 of Gujarati Samaj guest house on October 31, 2005. Indresh Kumar, Pragya Singh Thakur, Sunil Joshi, Ramji Kalsangra, Devendra Gupta, Lokesh Sharma and Sandeep Dange attended the meeting.

The ATS had been tipped off about his role in Ajmer blast by Bharat Bhai Rateshwar, a witness in the case. A resident of Gujarat’s Valsad, he was one of the 11 witnesses who recorded their statement under Section 164 CrPC in an Ajmer court in October last year.

Aseemanand had apparently told Bharat about Indresh’s role in Ajmer blast. Bharat also told investigators that Sunil Joshi had called up Bharat soon after the explosion. Joshi, shot dead near Devas Bypass in Madhya Pradesh two months after Ajmer blast, was allegedly a key conspirator.

Aseemanand’s candid admission that Indresh was in the loop while blasts were planned will further boost the confidence of ATS. Till now, Rajasthan ATS was reluctant to question Indresh Kumar fearing political backlash.

In a statement recorded before a magistrate under Section 164 CrPC, Aseemanand reportedly said Indresh was part of the plan hatched to avenge attacks of Islamic terrorists on Hindu temples. Indresh helped enlist members for the terror plot by Hindutva outfits, Aseemanand claimed. Among them were Sunil Joshi and Ramchandra Kalsangra, aka Ramji. Indresh also discouraged Aseemanand from taking to violence himself.

CBI, probing the Hyderabad Mecca Masjid blast, had questioned Indresh Kumar after interrogating Aseemanand in Hyderabad. The NIA has also interrogated Aseemanand in connection with Samjhauta Express blast.

Source : The times of  India