quote:

The Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) was formed in April 1977. The stated mission of SIMI is the ‘liberation of India’ from western materialistic cultural influence and to convert it into an Islamic society. This organization is believed by many, including the Government of India, to be involved in terrorism. It was banned by the Indian Government in 2002, for its involvement in terror activities in India. Fears exist in government circles that it has been penetrated by Al-Qaeda. It is suspected that SIMI is now also operating under the name of Indian Mujahideen, an outfit that has taken responsibility for the 2008 Ahmedabad and Jaipur blasts.

More about SIMI, the terrorist organisation on Wiki..


Now the Indian High today unbanned this organisation, saying they are no terrorists, their is no evidence..

quote:

A tribunal of the Delhi High Court on Tuesday lifted its two-year ban on Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) as opposed to the Supreme Court which had once said that it is an organisation with a "secessionist movement." The High Court was hearing a challenge from SIMI against a February 7, 2008 notification from the Home Ministry, declaring it an “unlawful association indulging in activities prejudicial to the security of the country” and with “potential of disturbing peace and communal harmony and disrupting the secular fabric of the country”. The Centre had first declared SIMI an “unlawful association” on September 27, 2001 and then consecutively in September 2003 and February 2006. The tribunal also referred to three notifications issued by the Centre after the Babri Masjid demolition when three political organisations were banned but the tribunal quashed two of them. "The notification should tell what leads you to declare SIMI a banned organisation," Justice Geeta Mittal said. SIMI’s lawyer Trideep Pais told CNN-IBN that it is a good development and the “notification to ban the organisation was wrong.” “In real terms the notification by the Government was wrong because they had nothing to support it. It is not a terror organisation and the Government has nothing to prove it either. In fact the Government cannot even prove that it is an unlawful association,” Pais added. Meanwhile, speaking exclusively to CNN-IBN former president of SIMI Shahi Badra Filahi said, “We are happy with the development. We are thankful to God for this. We will open our office first and will also ask for compensation from the Government.”

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/delhi-h...mi/70493-3.html

Is there still tension there between various communities or has the divide and conquer effect from colonialism worn off?

___________________
"The Greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge." -Stephen Hawking
"First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me— and there was no one left to speak out for me." -Martin Niemöller

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Originally posted by shaolin_Z Is there still tension there between various communities or has the divide and conquer effect from colonialism worn off?

In India? I think that's a country with a lot of tension in it (different casts, so many different religions, cultures, people, so little space, etc). I think given the circumstances it's incredible how well India actually works anyway.

India has far too many people.

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Originally posted by St_Andrew In India? I think that's a country with a lot of tension in it (different casts, so many different religions, cultures, people, so little space, etc). I think given the circumstances it's incredible how well India actually works anyway.

Historically there have been, but I don't live there and have never been there. I wanted to know what a resident had to say .

___________________
"The Greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge." -Stephen Hawking
"First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me— and there was no one left to speak out for me." -Martin Niemöller

quote:

Originally posted by shaolin_Z Historically there have been, but I don't live there and have never been there. I wanted to know what a resident had to say .

Kinezi is from India?

I'm going there for almost 4 weeks over Christmas break, I want some native advice too!!!

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Originally posted by shaolin_Z Is there still tension there between various communities or has the divide and conquer effect from colonialism worn off?

Yes their is little bit, but nothing serious.. its only political parties that stir up shit sometimes to gain votes.. on ground everyone respect each others relegion and believes and stuff like that..

quote:

Originally posted by St_Andrew Kinezi is from India? I'm going there for almost 4 weeks over Christmas break, I want some native advice too!!!

Yes I am, I live in Delhi, but I am leaving for New York this 24th for my MBA!!

What you want to know?

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Originally posted by Kinezi Yes I am, I live in Delhi, but I am leaving for New York this 24th for my MBA!! What you want to know?

Sorry for hijacking your thread, but, yeah

I'm going there with a friend, our plan is backpack ourselves around (we are buying an "indiarail card" for the period). We fly into Delhi on december 26th, and our very rough plan at the moment is something like staying there for a couple of days, then going up north (going to some hill station maybe), then going down through Rajasthan towards the cost, passing Mumbai and maybe down to Goa, and then maybe fly back to Deli from there.

Is that even a good rough plan? What places would you recommend for someone who have never been in India (but has travelled quite a bit before, although only in Europe, Africa and North America). We want to see some tourist things I guess, but also more of the "real" and more unknown India (I know it sounds so cliché but you hopefully know what I mean ).

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Originally posted by St_Andrew Is that even a good rough plan? What places would you recommend for someone who have never been in India (but has travelled quite a bit before, although only in Europe, Africa and North America). We want to see some tourist things I guess, but also more of the "real" and more unknown India (I know it sounds so cliché but you hopefully know what I mean ).

The Kashmir is pretty nice..

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Originally posted by St_Andrew Sorry for hijacking your thread, but, yeah I'm going there with a friend, our plan is backpack ourselves around (we are buying an "indiarail card" for the period). We fly into Delhi on december 26th, and our very rough plan at the moment is something like staying there for a couple of days, then going up north (going to some hill station maybe), then going down through Rajasthan towards the cost, passing Mumbai and maybe down to Goa, and then maybe fly back to Deli from there. Is that even a good rough plan? What places would you recommend for someone who have never been in India (but has travelled quite a bit before, although only in Europe, Africa and North America). We want to see some tourist things I guess, but also more of the "real" and more unknown India (I know it sounds so cliché but you hopefully know what I mean ).

Thats sounds good plan.. nothing much to see in Delhi other that Old Delhi Area.. so you can stay here for two days max that would be enough.. north you can visit 'Nainital'.. four hours/train ride drive from Delhi.. their is a golf club their in 'Ranikhet' too.. 3 days max.. I would have said to go visit Leh and Ladakh area if you can but its winters so I dont know if roads will be closed cos of snow or something..

Dont miss Rajasthan.. nice huge palaces and forts.. reserve 10 days for Rajasthan atleast.. weather will be good and you will enjoy.. Jaipur, Pushkar, Ajmer (dont forget to make a wish in Ajmer Mosque, it 100% comes true.. Clinton been dere to make wish before I think), Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur.. are all nice towns to visit in Rajasthan.. all of them worth it..

Mumbai is ok.. nothing much to see there too, just a big city.. but you can stay there for 2 days.. and be in Goa on 31st Dec nite if you can.. its one big party.. all drugs, sex, booze.. everything is allowed.. but if you come here after all the 20 day trip than it will be nice quite place for relaxing with lot less tourists.. which is also nice..

Oh wow, thanks, you have no idea how valuable this information is

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Originally posted by Kinezi Thats sounds good plan.. nothing much to see in Delhi other that Old Delhi Area.. so you can stay here for two days max that would be enough.. north you can visit 'Nainital'.. four hours/train ride drive from Delhi.. their is a golf club their in 'Ranikhet' too.. 3 days max..

That does look really nice!

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I would have said to go visit Leh and Ladakh area if you can but its winters so I dont know if roads will be closed cos of snow or something..

That does look even more beutiful! But yeah, assuming you can get there anyway, is it actually safe for a westerner to be there? It might be an incredibly stupid and ignorant question, but I don't exactly get the positive feeling when I hear Kashmir

quote:

Dont miss Rajasthan.. nice huge palaces and forts.. reserve 10 days for Rajasthan atleast.. weather will be good and you will enjoy.. Jaipur, Pushkar, Ajmer (dont forget to make a wish in Ajmer Mosque, it 100% comes true.. Clinton been dere to make wish before I think), Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur.. are all nice towns to visit in Rajasthan.. all of them worth it..

Thanks, I will try to find out more information on them all

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Mumbai is ok.. nothing much to see there too, just a big city.. but you can stay there for 2 days..

Well, it's a crazy big city, of course there must be a lot to see But yeah, after 2 days you will probably enjoy the beach part of the holiday even more

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and be in Goa on 31st Dec nite if you can.. its one big party.. all drugs, sex, booze.. everything is allowed.. but if you come here after all the 20 day trip than it will be nice quite place for relaxing with lot less tourists.. which is also nice..

Yeah, I don't think we will make it to Goa there for the 31st, if we don't do the reverse plan, which is of course possible. But I guess it's a point in having the "relaxing part" last.

But, Goa, is that not extremely "touristy"? Or is it still the best place if you are looking for some nice, beautiful, relaxing beaches?

What part of India are you from anyway?

quote:

Originally posted by St_Andrew That does look even more beutiful! But yeah, assuming you can get there anyway, is it actually safe for a westerner to be there? It might be an incredibly stupid and ignorant question, but I don't exactly get the positive feeling when I hear Kashmir

Its absolutly safe, places where their is terrorism and fighting, you cant even get there even if you want to be.. army and all will stop you way before you manage to reach any hostile areas.. Kashmir is big tourist attraction and lot of people both Indians and Foreigners go there all the time.. And Leh and Ladakh area is absolutly safe.. their is no terrorism at all there.. its one big cold mountaneous isolated desert with incredible views.. its only wind that you can hear.. complete silence and still.. but its very cold there at this time too..

quote:

Originally posted by St_Andrew Yeah, I don't think we will make it to Goa there for the 31st, if we don't do the reverse plan, which is of course possible. But I guess it's a point in having the "relaxing part" last. But, Goa, is that not extremely "touristy"? Or is it still the best place if you are looking for some nice, beautiful, relaxing beaches? What part of India are you from anyway?

Goa is a big touristy area.. but right after 31st everyone will leave and it will all be very quite and tranquile.. you will have all the place to yourself..

I am from New Delhi, I would have come to meet you and show you around in Delhi if I had been here at that time..

Last edited by Kinezi on Aug-05-2008 at 21:33