------------------------------------------------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * ANNUAL GOANETTERS MEET * * * * * * * * * ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goanetters in Goa and visiting meet Jan 6, 2009 at 3.30 pm at Hotel Mandovi (prior to the Goa Sudharop event, which you're also welcome to). Join in for a Dutch dinner -- if we can agree on a venue after the meet. RSVP (confirmations only) 9822122436 or 2409490 or f...@goa-india.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sandeep Heble: However, John Dayal's credibility in wide Hindu circles is a bit poor where he is seen as a religious/political campaigner having his own vested agenda and I felt that the acceptability of his column would have been wider had FN relied on facts from neutral sources. Response: I do not know which Hindu circles, Sandeep is referring to. From the links he provided earlier, I would presume he means hindutva circles. However, the RSS does not represent the hindus much though they would like to believe so. In fact I find the above post of Sandeep contradictory as in an earlier post he recognised the difference between hinduism and hindutva. Dr John Dayal is no Praveen Togadia or Ashok Singhal or Francois Gauntier. He is no ideologue nor belongs to any ideological driven organisation.He is a human rights activist. John Dayal has been nominated for the coveted Human Dignity Award 2008 in recognition of his services in the field of human rights. http://www.india-server.com/news/human-dignity-award-for-john-dayal-5160.html He is a former editor of Delhi Mid-day and a journalist. He is an office bearer of some christian bodies and has been acting as spokesperson for the christian community.If you call that vested interests and consider it a crime, yes then he is guilty.( As has been George Menezes also a former President of the AICU). Till date I have not read nor come across any hate literature / articles under his signature. If you have come across any, I would be obliged if you could draw my attention to the same. Anyone who represents or fights for the underdog is always disliked /hated by vested interests. Even Seby Rodrigues has been called a naxalite by Manohar Parrikar. It is an example of our myopic vision that John Dayal carries credibility before the National Human Rights Commission, The National Commission for Minorities, the Supreme Court of India, the National Integration Council and sundry other institutions but not to some like Sandeep.If Sandeep wishes to give greater credence to information and news from RSS sources than to John Dayal, so be it. We are all free to believe what we want to. But the truth cannot be kept hidden forever. It will emerge one day. If you will read today's newspapers about what the Supreme Court has to say on the Orissa violence, it will give you an indication. Regards Marshall
