Farmers’ march: CM says land rights claims will be settled

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November 22, 2018

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday assured that tribal farmers that their forest land rights claims will be settled by December this year.

Fadnavis gave this assurance to representatives of protesting farmers who marched to Azad Maidan here for redressal of their grievances, which include compensation for drought and transfer of forest rights to tribals.

A delegation of theprotesting tribals met Fadnavis at Vidhan Bhawan in south Mumbai, where the winter session of the state legislature in underway.

Tribal Welfare Minister Vishnu Savra said 3.6 lakh claims were received, of which 1.74 lakh have been settled in favour of the tribals.

Similarly, 12,000 claims for community forest activity were also received, of which7,700 have been settled, he said.

Fadnavis assured the delegation that the remaining claims would be settled by December this year.

The march reached Azad Maidan early on Thursday, eight months after a similar protest was held at the venue.

The farmers and tribals who began the two-day march from Thane to Mumbai on Wednesday had halted for the night at the Somaiyya Ground in Mumbai’s Sion area.

The march traversed through Dadar and the JJ flyover before reaching the Maidan, adjacent to the Mumbai municipal corporation headquarters.

Magsaysay award winner Dr Rajendra Singh, also known as Waterman of India, was among the marchers. He blamed the government for the drought, which he termed as “man-made”.

The farmers are demanding implementation of the Swaminathan Committee report, which suggested that farmers must have assured access and control over resources such as land and water. They are also demanding an increase in the minimum support price and a judicial system to ensure its implementation.

The farmers, struggling to cope with the agrarian crisis, are demanding proper implementation of the loan waiver package announced by the BJP-led government in the state last year, land rights for farmers and compensation for farm labourers.

“We have been consistently asking the state government to fulfil our long-standing demands, but the response has been lukewarm. We were forced to launch this agitation,” said Pratibha Shinde, general secretary of Lok Sangharsh Morcha, which is organising the protest.

In March, thousands of farmers, led by the Left-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha, took out a 180-km long march from Nashik to Mumbai in March to press for their demands.

That protest saw a sea of red, formed by farmers in red caps, converge in Mumbai from across Maharashtra.

Sameer, Saina, and Kashyap enter quarters in Lucknow

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Afternoon Voice

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November 22, 2018

Defending champion Sameer Verma and former champions Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap progressed to the quarterfinals of the Syed Modi International World Super Tour 300 with contrasting victories on Thursday.

Second-seeded Saina, who is a three-time winner of the Lucknow tourney, defeated Amolika Singh Sisodiya 21-14 21-9, while 2012 and 2015 champion Kashyap recovered from a game down to see off Indonesia’s Firman Abdul Kholik 9-21 22-20 21-8 in another match.

Third seed Sameer beat China’s Zhao Junpeng 22-20 21-17 and will meet China’s Zhou Zeqi.

Former Olympic bronze medallist, Saina will next face eight-seeded compatriots Rituparna Das, who beat fellow Indian Shruti Mundada 21-11 21-15 in a one-sided clash. Kashyap will meet Thailand’s Sitthikom Thammasin, seeded 8th.

B Sai Praneeth seeded 4th, brushed aside Indonesia’s Shesar Hiren Rhustavito 21-12 21-10 and will take on China’s Lu Guangzu, seeded sixth, ended the run of Saarlorlux champion Subhankar Dey with a 21-13 21-10 win.

In women’s singles, Sai Uttejitha Rao Chukka also notched up a 21-12 21-15 win over compatriot Reshma Karthik 21-12 21-15. She will square off against former Olympic champion Li Xuerui, seeded 7th.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa also entered the last eight by defeating compatriots Shivam Sharma and Poorvisha S Ram 12-21 21-14 21-15 in a mixed doubles match.

American killed in Andamans: NCST seeks report from MHA, islands’ administration

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Afternoon Voice

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November 22, 2018

The National Commission of Scheduled Tribes (NCST) Thursday termed as “unfortunate” the killing of a US national allegedly by members of a protected and reclusive tribe in the North Sentinel Island and sought a report from the Home Ministry and the Andaman and Nicobar administration on it.

“The NCST expresses serious concern on the report regarding one US national feared killed by a protected tribe in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands,” an official statement read.

The commission sought immediate report from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Andaman and Nicobar administration.

John Allen Chau, 27, was killed by members of the Sentinelese Tribes, possibly with arrows, when he tried to enter the North Sentinel Island, on November 17, police had said on Wednesday.

A case of culpable homicide has been registered, and the fishermen who took to the island have been arrested.

The fishermen told police that he had visited the Andaman and Nicobar Islands five times earlier. He had expressed a desire to meet the Sentinelese Tribe, whose name is derived from that of the island they inhabit, Sentinel, which is at a distance of 102 km from Port Blair.

Chau had hired a fishing dinghy from the Chidiyatapu area and reached close to the island on November 16, from where he travelled in his own canoe. He had made a failed attempt to reach the island on November 14 as well, police said.

The Sentinelese tribe is known to resist all contact with outsiders, often firing arrows at anyone who comes near. Its people survived the tsunami of 2004 without any help from the outside world.

Till recently, the North Sentinel Island was out of bounds for visitors. In a major step earlier this year, the government excluded this island and 28 others in the Union Territory from the Restricted Area Permit (RAP) regime till December 31, 2022.

The lifting of RAP meant that foreigners could be allowed to visit these islands without permission from the government.

The NCST said that based on a complaint, it had earlier sought information from the Home Ministry and Andaman and Nicobar Islands regarding relaxation of RAP for foreign nationals and tourism development in the Andamans.

“The report of the Home Ministry as well as Andaman and Nicobar Islands is yet to be received,” the statement said.

The commission said it had advised the government to be “ultra-sensitive to the vulnerability of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribes Groups (PVTGs) of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands”.

The NCST said it had asked the government to look into and stop forthwith “any attempt for tourism development which can create unwarranted and dramatic cultural changes for PVTGs”.

NCST chairman Nand Kumar Sai had also written a letter to the Home Minister on August 8, requesting him to safeguard the interests of tribals.

SC rejects PIL seeking to stop public from airing views till decision on Ayodhya case

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Afternoon Voice

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November 22, 2018

The Supreme Court on Thursday summarily dismissed a PIL seeking a direction to organisations and public at large to “behave” and not air their views that can spoil the atmosphere till it decides the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case.

The apex court had on October 29 fixed the Ayodhya case for the first week of January before an “appropriate bench”, which will decide the schedule of hearing.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and justices K M Joseph and M R Shah refused to entertain the PIL filed by Bankim K Kulshrestha seeking a direction to the Ministry of Home Affairs that different organisations and persons be restrained from airing their views, which can spoil the atmosphere, till the apex court decides the case.

The moment Kulshrestha opened his submissions, the bench intervened by saying, “With due respect, please look at your prayer, you want people to behave before the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case is decided. Dismissed”.

Earlier, the apex court, on November 12, had declined an early hearing of the petitions in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case and had said that they have already been listed in January next year.

A three-judge bench of the top court had on October 29, by a 2:1 majority, refused to refer to a five-judge constitution bench the issue of reconsideration of the observations in the 1994 judgement of the Allahabad High Court that a mosque was not integral to Islam. The matter had arisen during the hearing of the Ayodhya land dispute.

As many as 14 appeals have been filed against the high court judgement, delivered in four civil suits, that the 2.77 acre land be partitioned equally among three parties — the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.

Manny Pacquiao plans to retire in three years

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Afternoon Voice

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November 22, 2018

Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao has revealed that he is planning to put an end to his career after three years.

The 39-year-old said that the plan is to fight until 2021 and hang up the gloves for good, TMZ Sports reported.

On boxing front, the pugilist is slated to take on American boxer Adrien Broner on January 19. He said losing is not an option for him.

Pacquaio’s last fight had come in July against Lucas Matthysse of Argentina in which he had registered a resounding victory.

In 2015, the boxer had lost a much-anticipated bout against lightweight champion Floyd Mayweather.

Pacquaio is the only eight-division world champion in boxing.

Sidhu welcomes Centre’s move to build Kartarpur corridor

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Afternoon Voice

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November 22, 2018

Punjab Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has been pitching for the opening of a corridor for Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan, Thursday welcomed the Centre’s decision to develop passage from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur to the shrine in the neighbouring country.

I welcome this auspicious step by the Union Cabinet, it will be a cup of joy for 12 crore ‘Nanak Naam Laivas’. It will build bridges, burn animosity and will act like a soothing balm for two neighbouring countries, Sidhu said in a tweet.

I thank the Govt of India from the core of my heart and take a bow! I request the Hon’ble PM of Pakistan @ImranKhanPTI Sahib to take reciprocal steps for opening the Kartarpur Sahib corridor and spread Baba Nanak’s message of universal brotherhood and peace across the Globe, Sidhu said in another tweet.

Sidhu is at present in Madhya Pradesh, campaigning for state assembly polls.

The Union Cabinet Thursday cleared a proposal for building and developing the Kartarpur corridor to provide easy passage to Sikh pilgrims to the historic gurdwara in Pakistan.

The government will build and develop the corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district to the International Border to facilitate Sikh pilgrims from India to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpurwhich is on the banks of Ravi river.

Sidhu had earlier raised this issue with Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in connection with the opening of Kartarpur corridor. He had said it was the responsibility of the Indian government to make a formal request to Pakistan for it.

Kartarpur is located in Shakargarh in Narowal district of Pakistan’s Punjab. Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, had spent over 18 years of his life here.

The Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara is located about three to four km from the Indo-Pak border in Pakistan.

SC dismisses petition seeking polls on ballot paper

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Afternoon Voice

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November 22, 2018

The Supreme Court on Thursday turned down a petition which sought the Election Commission of India (ECI) to be directed to hold 2019 Lok Sabha elections as well as State Assembly polls using the ballot system instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

The three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, and Justice M R Shah rejected the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by an NGO Nyaya Bhoomi.

The Apex Court said it did not find any merit in the petition, henceforth dismissed it. The petition stated, “Every system and machine is capable to be used and misused. Doubts will be everywhere.”

In the past, representatives of several opposition parties including the Indian National Congress, Janata Dal-Secular, Bahujan Samaj Party, Samajwadi Party, and several others, even National Democratic Alliance ally Shiv Sena also stressed on EVMs vulnerability.

In August, the demand for replacing the EVMs by paper ballots dominated the meeting of all national and state recognised political parties with the Election Commission. The poll panel invited seven national and 51 regional parties, of which 41 representatives came to the meet.

Directing ‘The Girl in the Spider’s Web’ was a double-edged sword: Fede Alvarez

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Afternoon Voice

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November 22, 2018

Director Fede Alvarez, best known for “Evil Dead” and “Don’t Breathe”, is not new to reboots but “The Girl in the Spider’s Web” presented a different challenge with its well established legacy in literature as well as in cinema.

Starring “The Crown” star Claire Foy as the Swedish vigilante hacker Lisbeth Salander, the film is based on Steig Larsson’s famous heroine but not on the original three books he wrote. His film is based on the fourth book in the Millennium series, which was written by David Lagercrantz.

The first three books have been adapted in Swedish cinema. In 2011, David Fincher tackled its Hollywood counterpart for Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is also behind this new take.

But Alvarez, 40, says his interpretation of Salander is different and a kind of an introduction to a new generation.

“It is like a double-edged sword. There is a great part that makes it easier which is that you are going to bring a character to the screen that has been tested and I knew if I am faithful to the book, it will resonate with the world.

“But we forget how fast time goes by. A woman in her 20s will come out and watch the film because she was just 12 when the Fincher’s movie came out. I make films for new audiences. This is a completely different film,” he told PTI in an interview over phone ahead of the film’s release in India this Friday.

The film also features Sverrir Gudnason, LaKeith Stanfield, Sylvia Hoeks and Claes Bang in pivotal roles.

“Good characters inspire people and they make you think that if she can do this, then I also can do it because she is not big or super powerful or strong, she just has endless will and a really good moral compass. Big characters like that in fiction are really inspiring.”

“I needed an actor who has the ability to communicate to the audience. That’s more important than looking the part, which can be easily changed,” he added.

Acting as child actors is off limits for Drew Barrymore’s daughters

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Afternoon Voice

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November 22, 2018

Actor Drew Barrymore, who was catapulted to the world of stardom and fame at a tender age of seven, says she does not want her daughters to face a similar life.

Talking to the People magazine, the 43-year-old actor said she will not let her daughters — four-year-old Frankie and six-year-old Olive — follow into her footsteps and become child actors.

“I’m not going to let them be kid actors. That’s so not their journey. If they want to be actors later in life, I would be so supportive of it,” Barrymore said.

“Can you imagine me being a mom who is pushing her kids out there? That’s not going to happen,” she added.

The actor shares her two daughters with ex-husband Will Kopelman.

Ariana Grande hits out at Piers Morgan for criticising her mother, band Little Mix

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Afternoon Voice

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November 22, 2018

Singer Ariana Grande has slammed journalist Piers Morgan after he criticised UK girl band Little Mix and her mother, Joan.

The journalist went on to Twitter to blast the pop band for their nude promotional photo for their album ‘LM5’.

“Hey @LittleMix when are you going to admit you stole this idea from @dixiechicks?” he taunted.

Soon after, Ariana’s mother Joan came out in support of the band.

“Honestly what is wrong with you @piersmorgan? Didn’t your mother teach you if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say it, she wrote.

“You came for @TheEllenShow yesterday, which was disgraceful, she is an angel. @LittleMix today, did you ever hear of paying homage. And… Well never mind,” she added.

Morgan hit back at the singer’s mum by saying: “Hi Joan, my mother taught me to speak my mind & never be afraid to express honestly held opinion. Ellen’s a hypocrite and as for Little Mix, I’d just prefer they use their talent to sell records rather than their nudity. As your own daughter does…!”

His comments attracted a swift response from Ariana.

“Ellen is an incredible & kind human being,” she wrote.

“I use my talent and my sexuality all the time because I choose to. Women can be sexual and talented. Naked and Dignified. It’s our choice and we will keep fighting till people understand. I say this with all due respect but thank you, next,” she added.

In another tweet, the singer asked the journalist to stop criticising “criticize young, beautiful, successful women for everything they do” to feel relevant.

“I think that’ll be a beautiful thing for you and your career or what’s left of it,” she wrote.