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The front-page item in the latest Organiser is devoted to the Kendriya Vidyalaya logo that recently underwent a change.

The front-page item in the latest Organiser is devoted to the Kendriya Vidyalaya logo that recently underwent a change. Writes R. Balashankar: 8220;In a move that touches the pit8217;s bottom, the UPA government has changed the emblem of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan from Lotus and shining Sun to Cross and Crescent. And this has been done in the name of 8216;broader reflection of national ethos8217;8230; The crescent an Islamic symbol and two crosses and stars Christian symbols are obvious8230;8221; 8220;A few months ago, the UPA government had released coins of Rs 2 denomination with cross on them. There was reportedly even a surreptitious move to change our national motto 8216;Satyameva Jayate8217; which was buried because the government felt that it would earn mud on the face over the issue. From a reading of the minutes of the KVS Board of Governors meeting, it is not clear where the idea of change in emblem originated and what was the inadequacies of the previous emblems. The new emblem is not explained either in the minutes.8221; He then quotes BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi as having said: 8220;The previous emblem reflected the Indian ethos. Lotus is a symbol of 1857 War of Independence and we always associate the sun with progress, innovation, spiritual, endeavour and it is unfortunate that the government of India is trying to create a sense of alienation in young minds by trying to promote imported concepts.8221;

Outrage in Orissa

Another front-page piece titled 8220;Christian outrage in Orissa8221; says: 8220;The news of Swamiji8217;s assassination has stunned the entire state and people spontaneously took to the streets protesting this gruesome violence committed by the Christian goons on the eve of holy Janmashtami celebrations. Swamiji, who spread awareness about the menace of proselytisation and created panic among the Christian missionaries through his number of socio-cultural, religious, and humanistic programmes, got a painful, gruesome and inhuman death as evangelical terrorists pumped five bullets into his body. 8221;. It adds: 8220;Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati was well known as a crusader against the missionary activities in Orissa for decades. Therefore, he was attacked by Christian goons 10 times in the past. Recently he was attacked and injured by missionaries on December 24, 2007 and one of his disciples was also injured by the Christian attackers on July 8, 2008. But the state government did precious little to save the life of this 84-year-old Swami. He was not provided with adequate security even after his repeated request to the government for the same.8221;

CPM8217;s sticky spot

The editorial is titled 8220;CPM gets a taste of its jam8221;. It notes: 8220;The West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee makes an interesting specimen of the predicament confronting the CPM. It is natural that there are not many in the country who sympathise with the Marxist leader in his new-found enthusiasm for the Tata car factory in Singur8230;When Ratan Tata gave an ultimatum last week to shut down the dream car project in West Bengal even incurring a loss of Rs 1500 crore, there were many state governments offering him land and single window clearance to set up the Nano factory elsewhere8221;. It adds: 8220;Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee tried to garner and capitalise on the craving of the state for progress and change. That is what gave him his unprecedented mandate in the last poll. But Buddhadeb underestimated the forces of negativism his party had unleashed in the society over the last three decades. Everywhere the CPM is identified with the melancholic demons of darkness, negation, destruction, unemployment and agitation. It is the romanticisation of poverty, blood-letting and mayhem that the CPM has shown. So his own comrades could not digest his new ways.8221; The editorial concludes: 8220;The CM says in the company of industrialists that he hopes to convince his people in Delhi. But are they open for discussion? It8217;s a party in a time-warp promoting the most antediluvian values in politics. The comrades not only in West Bengal, but in Kerala and Tripura are unimpressed8230;8221;