A sneak peek into Demi Lovato’s Christmas celebration with family!

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December 26, 2018

American singer-songwriter Demi Lovato seemed happier and healthier celebrating Christmas with her family and friends after a few difficult months of her being hospitalised following a drug overdose.

The 26-year-old singer shared a series of photos and videos on her Instagram story documenting her Christmas Eve. The first picture features her wearing a red cap posing for a cute selfie.

The second picture shows a beautifully decorated Christmas tree with gifts all around. She captioned it as, “Merry Christmas guyss!! I love you all.”

The third picture shows some lip-smacking cookies.

The next picture shared by her shows her family in a super festive mood, featuring her sisters Dallas Lovato and Madison De La Garza opening gifts. Her mother Dianna De La Garza and step-dad Eddie De La Garza can also be seen unwrapping presents.

All of their dogs also appeared on Lovato’s Instagram story, including her pup Batman. She posted a selfie snuggling up with her little furball as he rested his head on her chest.

The ‘Confident’ singer has been focusing on herself and her wellbeing ever since she suffered a drug overdose in July. She spent about three months in rehab seeking treatment and has since grown a new mindset about her health and lifestyle, reported E! Online.

On Saturday, Lovato took to Twitter and spoke out about her near-fatal overdose at her L.A. home, her sobriety and the gossip stories that have followed her since then.

“I love my fans, and hate tabloids. Don’t believe what you read. People will literally make up stuff to sell a story. Sickening,” she wrote in a tweet.

Lovato wrote in another tweet that she would tell people herself if the world needs to know something. She continued saying, “Otherwise people stop writing about my recovery, because it’s no one’s business but mine. I am sober and grateful to be alive and taking care of ME.”

In her third tweet, the singer said eventually she will “tell the world what exactly happened, why it happened and what my life is like today.” However, she isn’t ready to talk about all the details yet. “I still need space and time to heal,” she wrote.

“I would love to set the record straight on all the rumors out there but I literally don’t owe anyone anything so I’m not going to, all my fans need to know is I’m working hard on myself, I’m happy and clean and I’m SO grateful for their support.” she added.

Meanwhile, the ‘Sorry Not Sorry’ singer got nominated for her second Grammy award for her song ‘Fall in Line’ with Christina Aguilera. Sharing her excitement about the same, she wrote in a tweet, “Dreams come true y’all.

Air India should disclose lease income from assets abroad: CIC

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Web Team

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December 26, 2018

Cash strapped national carrier Air India should disclose its assets abroad and earnings from them, the Central Information Commission has ruled. It “summarily” rejected the contention of Air India that the information sought by activist Aseem Takyar regarding rent, lease fee fetched by it from April 01, 2008 with regard to its properties abroad; demarcation plan and total area of these properties, arrears attracts exemption of commercial confidence under the RTI Act.

“Commission summarily rejects the application of Section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act in the matter as CPIO has failed to provide any tenable justification for the same,” Information Commissioner Divya Prakash Sinha said.

Section 8(1)(d) exempts from disclosure the information which is of commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party, unless the competent authority is satisfied that larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information.

“Appellant has merely sought to know the amount of rent, lease fee and arrears of rent accruing to Air India from its properties abroad and disclosure of this information can by no stretch of imagination impact aspects of commercial confidence,” Sinha said.

He noted that arguments of Air India Central Public Information Officer in written submission appear rather feeble and moreover during hearing no argument was forthcoming from him.

“CPIO is directed to provide available and specific information…of the RTI Application for the period mentioned therein…,” he said.

Wheelchair come handy

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C K Subramaniam

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December 26, 2018

A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, used when walking is difficult or impossible due to illness, injury, or disability. Wheelchairs come in a wide variety of formats to meet the specific needs of their users. They may include specialised seating adaptions, individualised controls, and may be specific to particular activities, as seen with sports wheelchairs and beach wheelchairs. The most widely recognised distinction is between powered wheelchairs, where propulsion is provided by batteries and electric motors, and manually propelled wheelchairs, where the propulsive force is provided either by the wheelchair user or by an attendant pushing from the rear.

There are a wide variety of types of wheelchair, differing by propulsion method, mechanisms of control, and the technology used. Some wheelchairs are designed for general everyday use, others for single activities, or to address specific access needs. Innovation within the wheelchair industry is relatively common, but many innovations ultimately fall by the wayside, either from over-specialisation, or from failing to come to market at an accessible price point.

Though the wheelchair is one of the most commonly used assisting devices for enhancing personal mobility, yet, thousands of Indians remain bed-ridden, rely on family members to carry them around or turn to unsafe and uncomfortable home-made alternatives. We believe that a wheelchair is a basic human right.

Inspired by a love for our country and its people, many foundations like Lion’s Club, Rotary Club and NGOs allows passionate Indians to uplift the lives of less fortunate people in our communities. Their mission is to provide wheelchairs to those who need them most to give them independence and be an invaluable member of their community.

Together with the support of corporates, schools and volunteer, they provide wheelchairs to those in need through the total involvement initiative where plastic bottle tops and bread tags are recycled in exchange for wheelchairs. Generous donations maximise the impact and allow children to receive customised wheelchairs.

For frail or disabled seniors, wheelchair ramps are essential to maintaining their independence and ability to live at home. Seniors who use a wheelchair or electric scooter benefit from the ability to get more of their activities of daily living completed with less assistance. Wheelchair bound seniors with easy access to a handicap ramp is likely to interact more socially, access social services more, and generally age in place more easily. Ramps also serve an important function in emergencies and medical staffs need them to enter and exit the senior’s home. Housing societies in an around the metro cities provide ramp at the entrance of each building to facilitate easy access for the physically handicapped persons in a better way.

Apart from crutches and walkers, wheelchairs provide the handicapped person to move out with freedom and allow some of them to participate in wheelchair sporting events and succeed in life by winning cups and medals. Some of them dare to participate in wheelchair tennis tournaments and win laurels for their country despite being handicapped.

Stephen Hawking, the great scientist, lived a full life despite being subjected to a wheelchair most of the time in his life. Stephen Hawking was a great genius of our times. He was an enigma confounded in a feeble frame worn out by motor neurone disease. Affected early in life, he defied all medical predictions to live up to the age of 76. Despite all odds, he lived a full life with all the potential he was endowed with.

It is quite imperative that the disabled persons need assistance to survive in their life. Even buses and railway compartments come handy for physically handicapped persons during a travel. Even the toilets are user friendly for the handicapped persons to attend the nature’s call with a comfort. Why is there no free assistance be given to the person who needs a wheelchair? What is the purpose of having a wheelchair? If someone is travelling alone, how will they use wheelchair unless you provide them a motorised wheelchair?

If users are able to operate a smartphone, they will be relieved from the continuous use of traditional joystick to steer the wheelchair. With a simple touch on the map displayed on the mobile screen, the wheelchair takes them to the destination. They can have complete control over the wheelchair without anyone’s help. Wheelchairs come handy and bring out the best in the work ethics of the handicapped and physically challenged persons. The wheelchair movement should take its final shape and help out a noble cause in the best way possible.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Letters to the Editor: December 26, 2018

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Web Team

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December 26, 2018

Appreciable step of Noida authorities for not allowing Namaz in public park

Noida administration and the police in UP deserve compliments for not allowing Namaz in public park of sector 58 of Noida (UP). Many Muslim scholars have opined against holding Namaz in public places, roads and other places where objections are against Namaz in public places. These scholars suggest that Namaz may be offered in homes or inside the working complex if sufficient space is not available in mosques.

It may be mentioned that many countries including like France and China have already imposed such a ban. Not only this, even Muslim countries have imposed such a ban when heavy fine of AED1000 is imposed if someone is seen offering Namaz at roadside in Dubai.

India is a country where strong pseudo-secular forces restrict corrective measures if taken in larger public interest, just for vote bank politics. Religious freedom in India is evident from the fact that rate population growth of Muslims is highest after independence while minority Hindus in Pakistan in this period has drastically shrunk from 15 per cent to just 1.5 per cent.

Rather than state governments taking such steps for particular states only, the Central government should approach the Supreme Court to seek such an order which may be applicable throughout the country for strictly enforcing the system to check religious gathering in public places or roadsides. Such a rule must be applicable to all religions. Even the police may not be allowed to permit such religious gatherings on regular basis like daily or weekly.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal

New Rs 20 notes now issued

Reserve Bank of India has announced the issuing of new-designed Rs 20 currency notes, last under new series of smaller-sized currency-notes in different denominations issued in phases but completed in more than two years when first notes in denominations of Rs 2000 and Rs 500 were issued soon after demonetisation on November 8, 2016.

It is true that notes in denominations of Rs 2000 and Rs 500 were issued in emergency conditions to meet the big challenge of demonetisation, but the issue of notes in rest other denominations of Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 50, Rs 100 and Rs 200 must have been simultaneous to avoid repeated changes in ATMs costing heavily to banks. Otherwise also, new series of coins or currency must be issued simultaneously in all denominations rather than in phases.

Since currency notes in denominations of Rs 500, Rs 200, Rs 100, Rs 50, Rs 20 and Rs 10 are now plenty in circulation, RBI should stop printing currency notes in Rs 2000 denominations which were issued as interim emergency situation following demonetisation of the earlier currency-notes in denominations of Rs 1000 and Rs 500. It is a known fact that, with the currency circulation now much higher than before demonetisation on November 8, 2016, currency notes of Rs 2000 are mainly misused for unaccounted transactions and not usually seen in normal circulation.

Huge wastage of funds on printing Re 1 notes suddenly re-issued after a gap of two decades, just for the bureaucratic craze of getting their signatures on notes should be avoided by immediately stopping their further printing. Existing stock of Re 1 notes should be sold by RBI as premium collector-item in attractive plastic-packing like commemorative coin-sets. Enquiry should be made and guilty ones punished for wrong decision to re-issue of one-rupee notes.

Madhu Agrawal

Every citizen has the right to freedom of expression

It seems that the freedom of expression is being totally destroyed in our country. If a citizen expresses his concern towards the sensitive matters of the country, he falls in the whirlpool of critics from so-called country’s patriots. As the same case occurred with bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah over his remarks on the Bulandshahr violence. The actor found himself at the centre of a major controversy over his remarks in reference to the killing of a policeman in Bulandshahr earlier this month, in which he stated that the death of a cow was given more importance than the death of a policeman. Now, it is government’s responsibility to satisfy him by ensuring the strength of law and order, but on the contrary to it the actor is being trailed by the government.

Mohd Usmani

BJP bowed down to Nitish Kumar

Finally, after several rounds of closed door meetings with allies over seat-sharing arrangements in Bihar for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, BJP President Amit Shah on Sunday announced that his party and Nitish Kumar’s Janta Dal( United) will contest from 17 seats each, while the Ram Vilas Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party will fight from the remaining 6 seats. What is the most surprising in this bargaining is that the JDU, which has only two MPs, will contest from 17 seats while the BJP, in spite of having 17 MPs, will also contest from 17 seats. It clearly shows that BJP is losing its reputation and power everywhere. What else can be the compulsion that the BJP has now bowed down to JDU by agreeing to contest an equal number of seats in Bihar?

MFU Tandvi

When tall promises fall flat!

Leaders make tall promises during elections, hoping that they can get away with some excuse or the other after they have got elected or the matter would end there if they lose. It was precisely such promises that have landed the BJP in trouble at the Centre. After just a few months, the upcoming election is about to be held, and the BJP has again started to make tall promises in different ways to the people and make pretence to get votes from the public just like the last election. The people, however, have become fully aware of its false promises and deceivableness. As citizens of India, we all are also responsible now that the ball in our court and everything is in our hands. So, we should think about this matter accordingly and select our leaders who will be perfect to provide leadership and governance.

Finally, it is my hearty request to the people that they never waste their valuable votes by voting the wrong party, and avoid selecting the deceiving leaders who just make tall promises and don’t fulfill it, and doesn’t care about the new generation and their education and then only will our society be at peace. Otherwise, we will lose everything in our short lives.

MD Sayeed Nadwi F Y

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Bank employees at it again: Nationwide strike today over wages, mergers

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Web Team

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December 26, 2018

Bank strike, Vijaya bank, Dena Bank, Bank of Baroda, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank, Vijaya Bank Dena Bank Merger, BOB, Mobile Banking, Bank Employees, Banking strike — Photo/REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Banking operations will be affected on Wednesday as close to 10 lakh employees of various public sector and some of the private and foreign banks are on a day-long strike to protest against the proposed merger of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda.

The nation-wide strike would impact banking services like deposits and withdrawal at branches, cheque clearances and issuance of demand drafts, among others.

In September, the government had announced the merger of state-owned Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with the larger peer Bank of Baroda.

The merged entity will have a combined business of Rs 14.82 trillion, making it the third largest bank after State Bank of India (SBI) and HDFC Bank.

The unions are claiming that the merger is not in the interest of banks or their customers and will, in fact, be detrimental to both.

The government wants banks to grow in size through this amalgamation but even if all public sector banks are bundled into one, the merged entity cannot find a place among the top 10 globally, said United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), which has called for the one-day strike.

“This merger will see a large number of branches getting closed and customers will have to face hardships as already banks are burdened with the implementation of various government schemes such as Jan Dhan Yojana, Mudra, social security insurance, and Prime Minister’s housing scheme, among others,” the union said.

UFBU is an umbrella organisation of nine unions, including the All-India Bank Officers Confederation, the All- India Bank Employees Association and the National Organisation of Bank Workers, among others.

Last week, public sector lender Bank of Baroda said the ‘alternative mechanism’ of the finance ministry had accorded in-principle approval for its merger with Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank.

The ‘alternative mechanism’ headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had decided to merge the three banks with a view to create a lender with considerable size, which will be stronger and sustainable.

The merger comes after the largest lender SBI merging its five subsidiary banks and taking over the Bharatiya Mahila Bank last year, which catapulted it to be among top 50 global lenders.

Last week, around 3.20 lakh bank officers from various state-run banks were on a one-day strike opposing the proposed merger and also seeking immediate wage revision.

Bank management has mandated the industry lobby Indian Bank Association (IBA) to negotiate the wages for employees in the scales 1-3 but the unions want this to be raised up to scale 7.

The wage talks are on for the past 13 months between the unions and IBA, the latter has offered a wage revision of 8 per cent.

In the past wage settlement, which was for the period from November 1, 2012, to October 31, 2017, the employees got a 15 per cent hike.

Nigerians – A dangerous liability on our country’s economy

By

Vaidehi Taman

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December 25, 2018

We, Mumbai people are very tolerant to migrants; be it Bangladeshi or Africans. From fraud mail, fishing, drugs, flesh trading and terror, which is the hub right next door of Mumbai residents. They have localities and huge places allotted in their name. They have restaurants and trades in Mumbai. They are the representatives of fortune in faraway lands, but the fount of those beckoning fraud emails that promise a lottery win, all these scammers live in Mumbai’s very own backyard — Mira Road, Pila house, Nagpada and Byculla.

‘Nigerianwadi’ at a 20-minute walk from the Mira Road railway station, is the evidence, they say, the IP addresses of almost all the computers from where these fraud emails originated are traced. Mira Road provides the fraudsters with a perfect camouflage. A fast-growing suburb, it affords them the anonymity they desperately need and the inexpensive one-room rented flats that go for as little as Rs 3,000 a month. The word Nigerianwadi was coined by policemen who on several occasions were roughed up while trying to pick up a suspect in a scam or a drug case. Many of these Nigerians migrated to other areas, including to Nalasopara. But some of them stayed back. The two internet parlours near Nigerianwadi, as a result, are still doing reasonable business. Because the owners gets least Rs 100 from each of these guys compared to the paltry Rs 10 the others pay. They sit here from morning to night. These Nigerians not only are drug addicts but violent much of the time that is the reason some policemen openly admit that they were scared to detain Nigerian suspects from the locality. There were times when we lured them as recipients of Nigerian scam mails and arrested them when they came out of the area. They are physically strong and go to any length to resist cops.

This year, 40 policemen in three teams formed by the Anti-Narcotics Cell hunted drug peddlers. They took the help of local cabbies to catch nine Nigerian drug peddlers in Byculla and other areas. This is the first time the police have nabbed so many Nigerian drug peddlers at one go. Cocaine worth Rs 5 lakh and MD worth Rs 18,000 was recovered from them. After three years of chasing African drug peddlers, it was supposed to be a great victory for the police when they arrested nine of them this year few months back. But now, it looks like the criminals may be the real winners after all. The Africans have either destroyed or hidden their passports and refuse to disclose their country of origin, leaving the cops no way to know where to deport them. The African drug network has been notoriously difficult to tackle, and more often than not, the dealers manage to give cops the slip. But running from the police is not the only way the criminals have managed to hold on to the drug trade in Mumbai for so long. Following the example of illegal immigrants across the world, the African drug pushers tear up their passport as soon as they arrive in India to avoid deportation. The interrogation of the recently arrested nine dealers indicates that they too might have done something similar. The peddlers at a time refused to disclose their nationality, and despite searching their homes, mobile phones and other belongings, the cops hardly find any clues. The peddlers have even figured out that getting arrested can help them stay on longer in the country. Many of them try to get arrested on purpose, since they cannot be deported until the investigation and the court case ends. This could take several months or even years.

One such example is Kofi Jems Romalik, 30, who was among the nine arrested on the intervening night of July 27 and 28. He had already been arrested earlier for a 2012 narcotics case, but would never attend court proceedings. In 2017, a non-bailable warrant was issued against him. He has now spent six years in Mumbai since his last arrest. African peddlers tell the police that there is so much poverty in their countries that they keep getting arrested so they can stay in India. So far only two peddlers have been deported to Nigeria since 2017, this, even though the police arrested 45 African dealers in the same period (29 in 2017 and 16 in 2018). Apart from charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Maharashtra Police Act, the police have now also added offences under the Passport Act, for illegal entry and concealing their citizenship. These Nigerians are dangerous liability on our country’s economy, all those are arrested so far, refuse to eat anything but chicken and rice. As a result, the police are spending Rs 2,000 per day on meals for these accused.

Most of the Nigerians even prefer to stay in brothel, the sex workers find it safe keeping them around, and they are physically strong and can protect these women against any nonsense. Loosing at these men and their violent approach the customers try to be grounded. The cost of keeping them is just a space in the corner and two-time meals. These Nigerians pay better amount then the local customers, the sex workers in Mumbai play crucial role in sheltering these drug peddlers.

Nigerians in India form one of the largest African communities in the country. As of now, there are about 70,000 Nigerians living and working in India. These Nigerians have a negative public image in the Indian society as some Nigerians are involved in illegal activities in India such as drug trafficking, drug abuse, prostitution trafficking, fraud and forgery of travel documents, such as passports and visas, trafficking in stolen documents. There are also more than 500 known Nigerians in various jails across India. Nigeria itself treats its own people very poorly. They do not care for their people then, why should other people care for them?

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Nigerians drown Mumbai under Drug racket!

By

Twinkle Mehta

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December 25, 2018

Nigerian nationals are making their presence felt in Mumbai’s crime scene, with their activities ranging from drug peddling, internet phishing and “black money” duping. Many of these Nigerians come on tourist visas for two months, but stay on illegally while others come on student visas. Mumbai’s Anti-Narcotics Cell has been capturing Nigerian drug peddlers every month. However, after a recent report of an increase in the number of Nigerians involved in the drug peddling racket, two months ago in a raid, it appears that the government and the immigration department is clueless about how many Nigerians live in the city illegally. It raises the concern among commoners that is the government taking measures to curtail the dilemma they are facing due to illegal Nigerian immigrants.

A joint raid to nab Nigerian drug peddlers was conducted on the nights of October 8 to 10 from 11 pm to 3 am under the leadership of Byculla RPF inspector Rakesh Kumar along with RPF, GRP and the Mumbai Police at Sandhurst Road, Masjid and Wadi Bandar area in Byculla.

Later, on October 17, Mumbai police managed to crack a Nigerian drug peddling racket where one Nigerian national had been arrested while other seven to eight fellow companions were reported to flee from Byculla. In the raid, a RPF constable and a Mumbai police sub-inspector were injured. In another update of the investigation, Byculla police station shared details of the drug peddler raid to AV which was carried around 4:45- 5:00 hrs where they apprehended two Nigerian drug peddlers from Byculla with a few grams of High-Quality Cocaine. Both the Nigerian nationals were arrested and the banned substances were seized. During the investigation, the officers found about a group of Nigerian nationals who were present at Byculla during the first raid conducted and in coordination with Sr. P.I Dinesh Kadam, his junior officers travelled to Mira Road and they found five more Nigerians drug peddlers of whom they got the information from the previous accused. All the seven peddlers are booked under NDPS Act and sent to Byculla police station and from their possession, standard amount of Cocaine was seized. As per the reports, the investigation is still going on and this being a sensitive matter, no other details can be revealed at this stage.

In an exclusive conversation with AV, Sr.P.I Dinesh Kadam shared, “The drug peddlers operate from a number of regions in Mumbai. Once we raid one place, we get a lead to the other. Most of these peddlers are Nigerian citizens.The local people don’t support them, but their business itself is deep-rooted here. The local people should report to the local police station as soon as they notice such activities and their visas should be kept under strict watch. Nigerians are aggressive, armed people ready to shoot the moment you try to catch them. They have injured many of our policemen as well.”

The entire operation was taken place under the supervision of DCP Zone 3 Abhinash Kumar (IPS). When AV spoke to Abhinash Kumar, he stated, “We are doing as many cases possible. We are generating more and more information and accordingly we are conducting the raids.” On asking about how is the police trying to control the Nigerian drug Mafias, he further added, “We are developing our intelligence network to get hold of the peddlers, deporting the person to their own country. These are the way we are trying to control this. However, the only difficulty we face is their deportation which takes a lot of time.”

Mumbai is becoming the hub of Nigerians for their business of drug peddling. In recent years, it has been observed that the Nigerian population is rapidly increasing in the Mira-Bhayander city, as it is a newly developed locality hence, easily accessible for the illegal immigrants. In a chat with AV regarding the increase of Nigerian community, BJP MLA of Mira Road, Narendra Mehta exclaimed, “Mira-Bhayander is the fastest growing city and many people who have bought flats here have come to do investment. So, many of them let the Nigerian peddlers stay there for rent out of greed. These are the places where they come and stay. Whenever, we get this kind of information, we inform the police and they take the legal action immediately. Also, now that the city is developing, these things are on the decrease.”

According to the Anti-Narcotics Cell, many of these men, and some women, deal in adulterated drugs that are sold in public places or at rave parties. Hence, an NGO named Rehmani Group has been initiating since a few years for the well-being of the drug-addicts. Zamir Khan, North Mumbai president, Rehmani Group expressed that their NGO, has been propagating an-anti drugs campaign, organising programs throughout Mumbai and because of that their President, Chairman and Zamir Khan himself had to face death threats.

“Of course, most of the peddlers are from foreign countries. They mainly come as students and nobody checks their passports once it has expired. Only if they could have been deported as soon as their passports have expired, such big scale mafia rackets wouldn’t have cropped up. They are also receiving local help. The most affected places are the Muslim-populated areas such as Gowandi, Nagpara, Dongri, etc. We are running a rehab where we treat the drug-abused youths. Now, the problem is, after rehabilitating, these youths return to the same environment and these days we are finding them returning to the rehab again,” Khan further added.

The Mumbai Police with the help of railway police has been carrying several sudden raids to stop the menace.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Cong-NCP ally seeks clarification on agenda of anti-BJP front

By

Web Team

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December 25, 2018

Maharashtra MLC Kapil Patil on Tuesday wrote to state Congress chief Ashok Chavan and NCP leader Ajit Pawar, saying that the alliance of anti-BJP parties was declared without any discussion on common issues to be raised against the government.

Patil, a prominent leader of the Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD), said he was “surprised” that the Congress and NCP announced the alliance after leaving three Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra for their partners and asked the two leaders to come clear on the agenda.

Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats.

The legislator, however, said there was no doubt that the “progressive” parties should come together against “fascist” forces when the Constitution and democratic set up of the country was allegedly in crisis.

The two major opposition parties are currently giving final shape to the seat-sharing among their partners in the anti-BJP alliance, including Patil’s party.

“(I am) surprised that the Congress and the NCP declared the alliance after leaving three seats for alliance partners without discussing issues and agenda…It has not been cleared on which issues the campaign is to be carried out,” the MLC said in the letter to Chavan and Pawar.

Patil said that the grand alliance of the opposition parties will not be complete till Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh leader Prakash Ambedkar is part of it.

The BBM has already announced its alliance with the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM. But the Congress is reportedly trying to bring the BBM to the opposition’s fold.

Patil suggested leaving a seat each for Ambedkar and Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana leader Raju Shetti, who has also joined the opposition parties against the BJP, and said assuring to cede some Assembly seats for other partners would not suffice.

He demanded Chavan and Pawar come clear on the issues Ambedkar, a prominent Dalit leader in the state, and Shetti have raised with regard to backward classes and farmers, respectively.

Patil said that the discussions on issues such as Koregaon- Bhima violence, demands of Muslim and Dhangar reservations, unemployment and others have remained incomplete.

“The children of farmers are depressed for they are finding education costly and are deprived of job opportunities. Hence, the alliance needs to come clear on this,” the MLC added.

Mumbai University spends Rs 7.44 lacs on senate Election

By

Web Team

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December 25, 2018

Mumbai University has spent Rs 7.44 lacs on election of 10 registered graduate candidates for Senate body election as per information provided to RTI activist Anil Galgali. Of this Rs 5.65 lacs has been shown as expenses towards travel and advertisement.

Anil Galgali said, “He had filed an RTI application dated March 27, 2018, where he had asked Mumbai University to provide details of all expenses incurred towards election of 10 registered graduates for its Senate committee. It has taken almost nine months to get a reply to his query.”

Rajendra Ambawade Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Finance and Accounts department of Mumbai University has informed Galgali that election of 10 registered graduates to Senate Committee has cost Rs 7, 44, 499. Out if this maximum amount of Rs 3, 22, 089 has been spent on travel. Rs 2,43, 232 has been spent on advertising. Rs 68, 810 for software, refilling of toner cost Rs 16, 638, decorations cost Rs 20, 500, training and vote counting costed Rs 3, 330 and Rs 69, 990 hospitality respectively.

Anil Galgali has demanded that expenses incurred on Senate committee elections should be made public on the University website and he has written a letter demanding the same to Chancellor of the University Shri Vidyasagar Rao and Vice Chancellor Dr. Suhas Pednekar.

Kolhapur: Police-ATS join hands to crack Sunday mass prayer meet attack

By

Web Team

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December 25, 2018

Kolhapur Police and Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) are working together to crack the Sunday mass prayer meet attack at Kowad village here. Five teams have been formed to nab those involved in the attack.

It is suspected that as many as 10-12 unidentified people were involved in the attack and they fled towards Belgaum in Karnataka. The police are focusing its search in the border areas of Belgaum and Kolhapur.

At least 12 people were injured when they were attacked by a group of people during the prayer meet at the residence of Bhimsen Chavan on the Karnataka border. About 40 people had joined the mass congregation for prayer.

According to the police, Chavan regularly conducts the Sunday prayer at his residence. This Sunday noon, a group of 10 to 15 masked men armed with swords, iron rods and glass bottles reached his residence on motorcycles and attacked the congregation and threw stones on those attending the prayer.

The masked men also tried to barge into the house. But some women, who were part of the prayer meeting forced the attackers to back off by throwing chilli powder on them.

The crime branch of the Kolhapur Police are working in close coordination and are in constant touch with Belgaum Police commissioner’s office and Belgaum rural police to know the whereabouts of the accused.

“All accused had covered their faces with cloth, so they could not be identified. But locals have seen them fleeing towards Belgaum. So the police are focusing their search in the border areas of Belgaum and Kolhapur,” said Kolhapur Superintendent of Police Abhinav Deshmukh.