THE HAJ COMMITTEE OF INDIA-COVER NUMBER

The date of Qurrah (draw of lots) for the Pilgrims of Haj-2010 was fixed from 20th May, 2010 to 5th June, 2010. Thereafter, concerned State Haj Committees are being issued selection letter to the head of the Cover of all selected Pilgrims along with regular Haj Application Form and Guidelines. The selection letter is generated on computer, showing Cover Number and 12 digit bank reference number. All selected intending Pilgrims have to fill-up the Application Form from 01-06-2010 to 30-06-2010. Before submission of passport, one photograph should be stapled on the cover page of passport. The initial amount of Rs.30,700/- per head should be deposited to any branch of the State Bank of India, through Core Banking account No.311336268352. The bank slip along with the regular application from and passport to be submitted to the concerned State Haj Committee by or before 30th June, 2010, positively.

Any pilgrim required Bank Reference Number  also get from website i.e. www.hajcommittee.com . The details are as under.

Pilgrim Information - > Cover Enquiry -> Enter your cover No.

Shiv Sena drains lakhs of litres of milk

In a country where millions of poor people crave two square meals a day, and millions of children get no milk, the Shiv Sena has launched an agitation, ugly as it may seem, by spilling lakhs of litres of milk on the streets.

The satara unit of Shiv Sena on Wednesday stopped a milk tanker on the Satara-Pune road and drained lakhs of litres of milk on the streets.

Two days ago, the Sena had stopped five more tankers in Satara and had done the same - spilling over 50,000 litres of milk.

The Sena is protesting the government's decision to import processed milk powder, which it says will adversely affect the local diary businesses.

courtesy ndtv

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/shiv-sena-drains-lakhs-of-litres-of-milk-40499?cp

Veil empowers women, says UK minister

As the debate intensifies across Europe on banning the Islamic full-body veil at public places, a British minister has defended a Muslim woman's right to wear the burqa and says it is empowering.

Environment secretary Caroline Spelman said women were "empowered" by the freedom to wear the face coverings.

Her comments came after her colleague, immigration minister Damian Green, resisted demands from within the Tory party to ban the burqa, according to Daily Mail.

Green said a ban would be "rather un-British" and run contrary to the conventions of a "tolerant and mutually respectful society".

This is despite a YouGov survey which found that 67 percent of voters wanted the wearing of full-face veils to be outlawed in Britain.

France's lower house of parliament has overwhelmingly approved a ban on wearing burqa, while Spain and Belgium have similar laws in the pipeline.

Tory MPs supporting a ban include Philip Hollobone, who has tabled a private member's Bill that would make it illegal for anyone to cover his or her face in public.

Spelman, however, argued that wearing a burqa is important for women's rights.

"I don't, living in this country as a woman, want to be told what I can and can't wear. I've been out to Afghanistan and I think I understand much better as a result of actually visiting why a lot of Muslim women want to wear the burqa," she said.

"It is part of their culture, it is part of understanding that they choose to go out in the burqa and I think those that live in this country, if they choose to wear a burqa, should be free to do so.

"We are a free country, we attach importance to people being free and for a woman it is empowering to be able to choose each morning when you wake up what you wear."

 

courtesy ndtv.com