Hasin to search Jahan with Congress?

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October 17, 2018

The crucial 2019 general elections and state assembly elections are just a year away and Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami’s estranged wife and model Hasin Jahan joining Congress and the party going gaga over it on social media has dispirited a large section of its supporters. While a majority of Congress followers finds the growing public dissatisfaction over the incumbent BJP government in both the state and centre to be a possible opportunity for a comeback, Congress lacking the fire to use the opportune time is acting as a wet blanket for them.

Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam on Tuesday welcomed Hasin Jahan into the party and party’s Twitter handle announced it with much excitement. Jahan grabbed the headlines and took the Cricket fraternity by storm earlier this year after she accused her husband Mohammed Shami of mental and physical assault and having extramarital affairs. Although Shami throughout denied all the allegations against him, his wife made enough hue and cry by posting screenshots of Shami’s alleged chats with other women or a series of snaps with his rumoured girlfriends. Jahan, a model by profession, also filed a case of domestic violence against her husband and his family in the Alipore Court in Kolkata under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. She even accused the India Cricketer of match-fixing; however, the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Anti-Corruption Unit later gave a clean chit to him.

What are the criteria for becoming a politician? What has Hasin Jahan done to be eligible to join Congress party? How will her induction help the main national Opposition party before upcoming Lok Sabha polls? How will her presence make Congress stand stronger to fight against BJP? — all these are some of much criticism that is going around since Tuesday evening after Jahan’s induction to Congress.

When AV countered the state Congress leadership about the significance of Jahan’s induction into party ahead of general and state polls, the President of Maharashtra Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee Adv Charulata Tokas asserted, “Congress welcomes those candidates who abide by principles and ideology of the party. BJP has misled the people; hence, many candidates are keen to join Congress. Congress doesn’t make false promises. Congress has made a vital contribution to the nation’s development. The party has implemented several welfare schemes for poor people and it will continue to do good work in the future.”

Since BJP’s major decisions like GST, demonetisation went against public sentiment; it created a high-yielding battlefield for Congress and its national and regional leaders to draw attention on this and prepare to highlight the anti-Modi wave sentiment for its advantage. However, the party failed to continue its activeness highlighting these issues and also failed to bring all like-minded parties together for a Mahagathbandhan. The very recent fuel price hike and Rafale deal were too possible shots for Congress while the party also failed to liven up to the expectations. While Hasin Jahan has no political experience or position to add value to the party, it seems Congress is falling for the glamour trap rather than focussing on strategically stronger poll preparation.

Congress leader and spokesperson Dr. Raju Waghmare expressed, “Congress party never approaches anyone to join the party. Those who are keen to join the party voluntarily, they do so. Congress party has provided good governance and has delivered the promises made by it. While inducting a person into the party, we don’t think that what benefits the outfit will derive from it. More importance is given to the principles and ideology of the party.”

Political journalist Nilesh Khare observed, “I don’t think that Hasin Jahan’s induction into Congress will change the fortunes of the party. Since she is not a renowned face and very few people know her, it won’t make much difference. When asked about Congress party inducting glamorous faces he replied, “Not only Congress but other parties like BJP too are doing it.”

Man orders mobile phone from online site, gets brick instead

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Afternoon Voice

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October 17, 2018

A man has filed a complaint against a leading online retailer for allegedly sending him a piece of brick instead of a mobile handset that he ordered, police said on Wednesday.

Gajanan Kharat, a resident of HUDCO area, told the police that on October 9, he placed an order for a mobile phone on the shopping site and also paid Rs 9,134 for it, Harsul police station inspector Manish Kalyankar said.

Kharat subsequently received a message from the e-commerce company that the product would be delivered in a week’s time.

The man received a packet from the retailer last Sunday. However, when he opened it, he allegedly found a piece of brick inside it instead of the mobile handset, Kalyankar said.

The man then called up the courier delivery man, who told him that their responsibility was only to deliver the parcel and not to see what was inside it, he said.

Kharat lodged a complaint on Tuesday against the e-commerce company at the Harsul police station here.

The police official said they have registered a case under IPC sections pertaining to cheating and are probing it.

Thane Police bust ATM skimming racket, two held

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Afternoon Voice

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October 17, 2018

With the arrest of two Mumbai-based persons, police in Thane district of Maharashtra on Wednesday claimed to have busted an ATM card skimming racket.

According to police, the accused would steal the ATM passwords of bank account holders residing in Mira Bhayandar township and siphon off money from their accounts.

“The duo was arrested based on a tip-off,” Assistant Superintendent of Police Atul Kulkarni said.

Following several complaints of cash getting deducted from the bank accounts of people through suspected cloned ATM cards, Thane District Rural SP Dr Shivaji Rathod had directed the police personnel to nab the accused, he said.

“As part of the plan, a police team kept a watch near a bar on Ghod Deo Phatak road a couple of days back and arrested Kishore Nayya (33) and Hemant Jain (32),” Kulkarni said.

“During their interrogation, the accused told the police that they would collect the ATM card data through the skimmers placed on the ATMs. After knowing the password, they would siphon off funds from the bank accounts,” police said.

Besides eight fake ATM cards, one skimmer and three mobile phones, the police also recovered other accessories that is used in making fake ATM cards, police said.

The duo was booked under IPC sections 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 467 (forgery of valuable security, will, etc) and 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and the IT Act of 2008.

Among other things, the police are in the process of collecting information like the total amount siphoned off by the accused so far, the official said.

Mukhtar Naqvi unfurls India’s highest tricolour in Mumbai

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Afternoon Voice

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October 17, 2018

Union Minister of Minorities Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Wednesday unfurled India’s highest tricolour on the rooftop of Haj House in Mumbai.

The national flag, which was installed on the terrace of Haj house, is believed to be the highest flag to be installed on any building in India. The size of the flag is 20 feet by 30 feet which is erected at a height of 20 meter.

Describing the day as ‘historic’, Naqvi said, “Today, we have unfurled the tallest national flag on any Indian building. This will also enhance the pride of Mumbai and its neighbouring regions.”

The Union Minister also announced the schedule of Haj 2019.

Speaking to the media, he said, “This year, Haj has been announced a month earlier than the previous year. Also, Haj 2019 is going to be 100 per cent subsidy free.”

“Last year, more than one lakh 75 thousand Muslims had completed Haj. The online application process for Haj 2019 will begin from October 18 while the offline application process will start from October 22,” Naqvi said.

The Minister also informed that an app has been launched through which people can apply. The main aim of this is to digitalise the entire process. He further added that approximately 21 embarkation points will be functional and Haj pilgrims will also be able to go from the Calicut International Airport

“We are hopeful that Indian Muslims will go in large number for Haj 2019 in comparison to that of Haj 2018,” he concluded.

Religious trust will face action if banned plastic found on premises: Maha govt

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Afternoon Voice

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October 17, 2018

Managements of temples and prayer places in Maharashtra will face legal action if the banned plastic items are found on their premises, the state government said on Wednesday, as it moved forward to implement the ban in toto.

State Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam also said the onus of not allowing plastic on their premises falls on the temples, mosques, churches and gurudwaras.

“A trust managing a religious place will have to face legal action if the banned plastic (items) are found inside that religious place or on its premises,” Kadam told agencies.

The state government in March this year announced ban on the manufacture, use, sale, distribution and storage of plastic materials, such as one-time-use bags, spoons, plates, PET and PETE bottles and thermocol items.

The government started enforcing the ban on a variety of plastic items from June 23.

Kadam said some people are still using plastic despite the ban. He said the state government wanted to strengthen its deterrent action.

“There have been several instances where the environment ministry found that plastic bags are being used for carrying flowers and food items. Now, the (religious) trusts will face legal action if the banned plastic material is found in their premises,” he said.

The minister said some trusts in the state have allowed vendors to set up stalls selling food and flowers on their land.

“If the banned plastic material is found with these stalls, the trust concerned will also face the action,” the Shiv Sena leader said.

He said the state government has already collected 300 tonnes of banned plastic since the ban came into force and collected Rs 3 crore in fine from violators.

Poor auto-driver reaches out to PM for daughter’s treatment

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Afternoon Voice

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October 17, 2018

Facing acute financial crunch, father of an ailing 18-year-old girl has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking financial assistance.

Ayesha Pinjari, daughter of a Pune-based auto driver, has been diagnosed with an ailment which requires her to undergo a liver transplant surgery, which would approximately cost Rs 25 lakh.

The teenager, who is currently bed ridden, told agencies, “I want to become a doctor. I want the people in power to help me in achieving this goal.”

Dr Jitendra Oswal, Deputy Medical Director of Bharati Hospital said, “This disease is very rare. She needs a liver transplant which is expensive. Her brother also needs to be taken care of as he is suffering from the same disease. If he is not given proper treatment he will also suffer like her.”

Fadnavis asks authorities to expedite police housing projects

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Afternoon Voice

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October 17, 2018

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday directed the authorities in Solapur to expedite the police housing projects.

Fadnavis was in Solapur for a day-long visit, where he chaired number of review meetings.

The chief minister lauded the Solapur police for their measures in improving the conviction rate.

“The conviction cell, monitoring committee, special investigation squads are some of the unique initiatives by the Solapur police,” he said adding that he drew the attention of the authorities concerned to expedite the police housing projects at the earliest.

“In Solapur district, the MIDC police station has the highest conviction rate of 34.21 per cent,” he said.

Fadnavis also chaired a meeting to review law and order issues and police initiatives in the district.

“Conviction rate, crime against women, detected and undetected crimes and police housing were the points of review,” he said.

Fadnavis stressed rehabilitation of slum dwellers at the earliest.

In another meeting, the CM reviewed various projects of Solapur Municipal Corporation, including Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), water supply projects, sewage water treatment, Smart City and roads.

Senior officials of the departments concerned joined this meeting via video conferencing from Mumbai.

He also reviewed works under Annabhau Sathe Nagri Vasti Sudhar Yojana, Pradhanmantri Mantri Krishi Sinchan Yojana (PMKSY), Mukhyamantri Gram Sadak Yojana, among others.

In Solapur, the Mukhyamantri Gramin Peyjal Yojana has 28 schemes with total cost of Rs 26 crore. Out of these, 16 schemes are work in progress.

Fadnavis said 72 per cent houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) were complete in the district.

“Total 933 villages (in the district) were selected under Jal Yukt Shivar and 1,74,559 hectares of land was brought under irrigation. As many as 5,752 of the total 8,000 farm ponds have been completed,” he said.

Indian Navy’s submarine rescue capability gets a boost

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Afternoon Voice

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October 17, 2018

The Indian Navy’s submarine rescue capabilities have got a boost with the successful maiden trials of its newly inducted deep submergence rescue vehicle (DSRV), the Navy has said.

The Western Naval Command conducted the trials of the DSRV, which also set a record for “deepest submergence by a manned vessel” in the Indian waters, the Navy said in an official release issued on Tuesday late night.

The DSRV, operated by a crew of three, can rescue 14 personnel from a disabled submarine at one time, it said. “On October 15, the DSRV carried out underwater mating with a bottomed submarine at a depth of over 300 feet and transferred personnel from the submarine to the rescue vehicle,” the release said.

These trials have proven the DSRV’s ability to undertake rescue operations from disabled submarines at sea and have provided the Indian Navy with a “critical capability”, it said.

“During the trials, the DSRV also dived successfully up to 666 metres. This is a record for deepest submergence by a ‘manned vessel’ in the Indian waters,” the release said.

The DSRV crew also carried out ROV (remotely operated vehicle) operations at a depth of over 750 metres and side scan sonar operations at over 650 metres, which are all “firsts” for the Indian Navy, it said.

Once the trials are completed, it will put the Indian Navy into a small league of world navies that have an integral submarine rescue capability, the release added.

Boy kills himself as pistol goes off accidentally, uncle held

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Afternoon Voice

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October 17, 2018

A 12-year-boy accidentally shot himself while handling a country-made pistol in Ahmednagar district, police said on Wednesday.

While the boy died on the spot, police arrested his uncle to whom the illegally-made weapon allegedly belonged.

The incident took place at Rahuri in the district on Tuesday evening.

Aditya Bhairavnath More, the boy, was holding the pistol in his hand when it went off and the bullet hit him in the chest, police said.

A case under IPC section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and under the Arms Act was registered against his uncle Navnath More.

Police were investigating from where Navnath obtained the pistol and for what purpose, said an official.

“We are also investigating whether the accused has any criminal record,” he said.

A case was registered under sections 302 (Punishment for murder), 201 (Causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC.

Police are also investigating if Jadhav’s family members played any role in the killing, he said.

HC seeks report on Maha officials’ visits to malnutrition-hit areas

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Afternoon Voice

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October 17, 2018

The Bombay High Court directed the Maharashtra government on Wednesday to submit a report on visits conducted by its public health and district level officers to the state’s tribal areas that are battling malnutrition.

A bench of justices A S Oka and M S Sonak directed the state’s counsel Neha Bhide to submit the report by next week.

The direction came after Bhide told the bench that the state had been organising health camps in the tribal-dominated Melghat area of Vidarbha region, Nandurbar district and others areas, to help the residents.

She said several officers from the public health department, the district collectors concerned and other local- level officers regularly visit these areas to take stock of the health facilities and other issues.

The court-appointed core committee then takes cognisance of their observations and extends necessary aid to these areas, Bhide said.

Her submissions, however, were opposed by the petitioners – some NGOs and activists working in the tribal areas.

They informed the bench that despite the state’s claims of extending timely aid to tribal areas, the residents there “continued to face poverty and government apathy”. They lacked access to proper food and basic health care facilities.

They also informed the bench that between October 1 and October 14 this year, 12 children in these tribal areas had died of malnutrition.

At this, the bench asked if the core committee followed a set mechanism to help it take decisions and extend aid to such areas.

“On what basis does the committee take action? Do your officers visiting the tribal areas submit any reports to the committee? We would like to see these reports,” it said.

The bench was hearing a bunch of Public Interest Litigations highlighting a rise in malnutrition-related deaths and illnesses among those living in Melghat region of Vidarbha and other tribal areas in Maharashtra.

Different benches of the Bombay High Court have passed several orders on the issue over the last two years, directing the state government to ensure that those living in tribal areas get adequate nutrition, health care, sanitation and education facilities.

During a hearing last week, the petitioners had told the bench that between January and September this year, 72 tribal children had died of malnutrition in the state.

The bench had at that time asked the state if it could come up with a system to ensure that doctors and health workers posted in the tribal areas conduct door-to-door visits to check whether any child in such homes was suffering from malnutrition or other ailments.