Wouldn’t have sought Indian citizenship if there was intolerance, says Adnan Sami

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December 13, 2015

Amidst the clamour over the rising intolerance in the country, famous Pakistani singer Adnan Sami, who requested to stay in India on humanitarian grounds earlier this year, says that he wouldn’t have sought Indian citizenship if there was such an issue.

“If there was intolerance in the country, would I have asked for citizenship in the country? I believe actions speak louder than words,” said Sami.

Sami was granted permission to stay in India in August. The singer, who came to India on a visitor’s visa, had been staying in the country since March 2001.

When asked about his role in fostering India-Pakistan relations, Sami said that as a singer, his “job is to create music and harmony”.

“I am a singer; my job is to create music and harmony. Wherever I see harmony, I would go towards there. There is nothing more beautiful for a musician to listen and see harmony. And if such a thing can happen, I like more than a billion people here would love it,” he added.

The singer, who shot to mainstream popularity in India with hit songs like ‘Kabhi to nazar milao’ and ‘Lift karaa de’, says that the love he has received from the citizens here is “everything” for him.
“When my first album came out, it wasn’t Bollywood. The love that I received from people was everything and it still is everything for me. After 16 years, it is not just the land where I work, but also my home and my love,” Sami said.

“Today, I feel proud when a good thing happens in the country. If there is a new airport in Mumbai, I would feel proud about it, and I equally feel angry when I see potholes,” he added.

Vidya Balan reveals her role in ‘Te3n’

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Afternoon Voice

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December 13, 2015

Actress Vidya Balan today revealed that she will be seen in a special appearance as a cop in Sujoy Ghosh-produced upcoming film ‘Te3n’. The film, directed by Ribhu Dasgupta, features megastar Amitabh Bachchan and actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui in pivotal roles.

“I am playing a cop, it’s a special appearance. I was excited because it’s a fabulous script… it’s a chance to shoot again in Kolkata, with Bachchan sahab, Nawazuddin and Sujoy,” Vidya told reporters here this evening. The National Award-winning actress was speaking at the launch of author Piyush Jha’s latest crime-fiction novel ‘Raakshas’.

Te3n’ will mark the reunion of the ‘Dirty Picture’ star with Sujoy and Nawazuddin with whom she earlier worked in the 2012 thriller ‘Kahaani’.

The 37-year-old, however, said even though it is the same team which has come together to make ‘Te3n’, the film will be different.

“It is not ‘Kahaani’. The story is different. I am shooting in Kolkata and most of the people in the team are the same who worked in ‘Kahaani’. I am enjoying it. Working with Sujoy is always fun, even with Bachchan sahab and Nawazuddin.” Just like ‘Kahaani’, ‘Te3n’ is also being shot in the West Bengal capital.

Asked if the city is lucky for her, the ‘No One Killed Jessica’ actress said, “That I don’t know… If the film is good it will become lucky anyway. We are just doing our work and enjoying it.”

Vidya earlier worked with Bachchan in the 2009 drama ‘Paa’, where she played mother to the latter, then 67 years, suffering from Progeria. Dasgupta has previously directed the 2014 TV drama mini -series ‘Yudh’ which starred Big B.

Dreaded dengue deaths

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C K Subramaniam

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December 13, 2015

Residents of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Pune suffered the most due to dengue and the fever spread in epidemic form and it’s after effects are all felt throughout the year. There is no remedy and the doctors fight to bring the dengue rate down. By way of its name, it may be more musical than chikungunya, but in terms of impact it appears to be just bad. It is reliably learnt that almost every hospital in these cities are having victims of this dreaded vector’s bite and the patients are facing high fever, body pain followed by weakness. Many are being turned away for lack of space and the medical facility required to meet the patients to cure the dreaded dengue. One may not be surprised to see some entrepreneur or a group of doctors have already begun planning hospitals exclusively dedicated to the mosquito is victim. After all, given the way it is happening now, they can be assured of patients the year round for treatment between malaria, chikungunya and dengue.

Those who call on them with unspecified complaints are immediately told to undergo the dengue procedure. And since not many patients know how they are to be tested for it, they are made to undergo examinations meant for bubonic plague, telangictasis and glandular botts for good measure as well, not to mention adenoids, mumps and vesicular emphysema of the lungs. The end result is a fat bill on the seeing of which patients show signs of other distress which may require further tests. Our corporations are doing their best to prevent the dreaded dengue deaths and make sure that proper medicines are administered to get the full cure. Ask anyone from the civic body and after first hotly denying its existence, they then say that a few isolated cases have been reported but this is nothing compared to the situation in the Amazon forests or the mortality when the Panama Canal was dug.

In Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Pune the open gutters are the major reason for mosquito breeding and its after effects on people living in these busy places. The time is ripe to eradicate the dengue and other related fevers once for all. Even though Swachh Bharat mission is being followed in the entire country for maintaining cleanliness the existence of mosquitoes could not be controlled and that caused the dreaded dengue deaths in the recent past.

Climate justice has won, no winners or losers: PM Narendra Modi on Paris deal

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Afternoon Voice

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December 13, 2015

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asserted that the outcome of the Paris Agreement, which was adopted by more than 190 countries to join the fight against global warming, had no winners or losers and climate justice was the lone winner.

In a series of tweets, Prime Minister Modi said that deliberations of the COP21 and the Paris Agreement demonstrated the collective wisdom of the world leaders to mitigate climate change.

“Outcome of Paris Agreement has no winners or losers. Climate justice has won & we are all working towards a greener future. Climate Change remains a challenge but Paris Agreement demonstrates how every nation rose to challenge, working towards a solution,” the Prime Minister tweeted.

After two weeks of rigorous negotiations, a legally-binding pact seeking to limit global warming to below 2 degree Celsius – will come into effect from 2020 – reached after nearly 200 countries reached a landmark deal to fight global warming and accepted the final draft of an ambitious ‘climate change agreement’.

On the crucial financing issue, though developed countries agreed to muster at least 100 billion dollars a year from 2020 to help developing nations, it was not included in the legally binding section of the deal following objections by the US.

The deal ended decades-long rows between rich and poor nations over how to carry out a multi-trillion-dollar effort to cap global warming. The pact, which is partly legally binding and partly voluntary, is the first to commit all countries to cut carbon emissions. Key blocs, including G77 group of developing countries, and nations such as India and China supported the proposals.

Welcoming the deal, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said, “Today is a historic day. What we have adopted is not only an agreement, but we have written a chapter of hope in the lives of 7 billion people.”

Environment groups said the Paris agreement is a turning point in history and spelt the demise of the fossil fuel industry, pointing particularly to the significance of the 1.5 degree Celsius goal.

US President Barack Obama called the accord “huge”, and touted US leadership in reaching the agreement.

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde hailed the accord as a critical step forward for addressing global climate change in the 21st century. In a statement, Lagarde said her key message is to price carbon right.

Railways demolition drive killed a child, Kejriwal suspends three officers

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Afternoon Voice

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December 13, 2015

Railways demolition

Under attack for its demolition drive during winter, Railways defended removal of 1,200 slum dwellings in West Delhi, saying the action was taken after giving “several notices to the encroachers”.

However, the demolition in Shakurbasti sparked a row after the death of a child in a slum. The slum dwellers including women and children were seen out in the open trying to collect their belongings.

While some erected makeshift tents to protect themselves from the cold, others made temporary arrangements for cooking. Railways removed yesterday about 1200 slum dwellings and about 15 shops at Shakurbasti station after giving third notice to vacate before December 12, 2015.

“We have followed all procedures before removing those unauthorised constructions at railway land. Three notices were served to them and finally with police help we removed those encroachments near Shakurbasti station,” Delhi Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Arun Arora said here.

Asked whether the child death incident has caused a setback to the railways demolition drive, Arora said, “No, the drive will continue as we want clear the encroachment near the track because it has become a serious problem for train operations.”

He said there is no link between the demolition drive and the death of the child. “The child died before the drive started at 12 PM yesterday. The drive went on smoothly with the help of security personnel,” Arora said, adding “the encroachment could not be removed earlier because of the non-availability of policemen.”

The demolition was carried out in the presence of Delhi police, RPF and CRPF personnel. Asked whether the demolition drive has got the nod from Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, the DRM said,
“It is not required as the concerned authority is competent enough to carry out the task to keep the track areas free from encroachment.”

Railways will apprise Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal about the development at Shakurbasti which has resulted in a confrontation between the Delhi government and the Centre.

“We will be meeting the Delhi Chief Miniter Arvind Kejriwal to apprise him of the actual facts. We will tell him that we have carried out the drive after giving them enough time to vacate,” Arora said.

Currently there are about 47,000 slums on railway land.

“It is causing serious problem for train operations. National Green Tribunal has ordered us to keep the track clean of solid waste. So in order to keep it clean we have to remove the source of the solid waste.

“We have also given Rs 11 cr to Delhi Slum Urban Improvement Board under Delhi government for relocation and rehabiliation of slum dwellers removed from railway land,” he said.

Declassification of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose files to reveal “face mapping” issue: BJP

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Afternoon Voice

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December 13, 2015

Netaji Subhas

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday expressed hope that declassification of Netaji files will reveal the mystery behind the “face mapping” that shows that Netaji might have been present at the Indo-Pak peace talks in Tashkent in 1966, with erstwhile prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.

“In a newspaper today, there is a revelation on Netaji appearing in a photograph with Lal Bahadur Shastri in Tashkent. I hope the declassification of Netaji`s files, which are beginning from January23.

It will also throw light on the photograph,” BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh told the media here.

“I do recall that my father had mentioned that from Tashkent, Shastri ji had spoken to him and said he met one of the nationalist leaders and the country would be happy, I am trying to bring the person to India. This needs demystification. We hope the same will happen with the declassification of Netaji files,” he added.

Netaji researchers have produced a forensic face-mapping report by a British expert that has found strong resemblance between Bose and a man photographed with former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri during the Indo-Pak peace talks in Tashkent in 1966.

The photograph is being held as evidence that Netaji didn`t die in the plane crash in Taihoku in 1945 and validates a recent claim by Shastri`s grandson Siddharth Nath Singh that Shastri had met someone who was considered an icon back home, while in the Soviet Union.

According to reports, researchers will now urge Prime Minister Modi to take up the issue of Netaji`s death with Russian President Vladimir Putin when the former visits Lucknow later this month.

12097 students appeared for B.Ed exam in Ambedkar University, 20000 passed

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Afternoon Voice

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December 13, 2015

Strange things keep happening in Indian educational system. In a blooper of Bheem Rao Ambedkar University, results of B.Ed exams showed 20,000 students had passed the exam, but in reality only 12,097 students of regular course were enrolled.

On the orders of the vice-chancellor, investigation in the matter is underway.

“The vice-chancellor Mohd Muzammil has instituted a committee to probe the irregularities in the matter and more than 20,000 students were passed when only 12,097 students were enrolled in all the affiliated colleges. The letters has been issued to all private colleges,” the varsity spokesperson said.

The error was detected when the private agency preparing the results found the difference in the data provided by the college and the university.

Meanwhile, the private colleges claimed that they had taken more students against seats and these extra students also appeared for the exam.

Terrorists planning attack in 8 states including Delhi; targeting religious sites?

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Afternoon Voice

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December 13, 2015

In a major development, Intelligence Bureau (IB) has sounded an alert over a possible terror attack in 8 Indian states including Delhi, Rajasthan and Punjab.

The terrorists are targeting religious and tourists sites. The hit list includes Jaipur, Ajmer, Jodhpur and Sikar of Rajasthan too.

The IB sleuths have directed to beef up security at malls, religious sites and tourist places of the 8 states in the wake of the alert.

Also, special safety measures have been taken at the railway stations and bus stands of the targeted states. Security agencies have stepped up the vigil after the IB’s alert.

Earlier, on Thursday, a senior official of state-run Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) was arrested from Rajasthan for alleged links with terror organisation ISIS. The Special Operation Group (SOG) and ATS of Rajasthan Police had arrested Mohd Sirazudin from Jaipur.

CBI rapped for leaking content of chargesheet in Jiah Khan Case

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Afternoon Voice

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December 11, 2015

A special court rapped the CBI for leaking to the media parts of its charge sheet in the model-actress Jiah Khan Suicide case, saying this was “very serious” and asked the probe agency to be careful in future.

Two days after the CBI filed its charge sheet in the case, accused Sooraj Pancholi appeared before a Special Women’s court which adjourned the matter till January 18.

As Sooraj collected the copy of the charge sheet and left, Special Judge A S Shende adjourned the case observing, “How come the contents of the charge sheet is known to media even before I got to know about it.”

“CBI is the only source from where it got leaked. This is a very serious thing. Be careful about it in future,” she warned.

Meanwhile, outside the court, Jiah’s mother Rabiya Khan told reporters that she was not satisfied with the charge sheet.

“I am not happy with the charge sheet, there is much more to be revealed,” she said.

Sooraj (25), who made his debut in Hindi film industry recently, has been charged by CBI with allegedly abetting suicide of Jiah who he had met through Facebook in September 2012 and the friendship blossomed into “intimate relationship” over a period of time, the charge sheet says.

As per the charge sheet filed in a court, it is alleged that on June 3, 2013, when Jiah was found hanging by her mother at her residence, she had left the house of Sooraj in the morning. Sooraj and Jiah had been staying together for two days.

According to CBI, Sooraj had hidden facts and fabricated information during questioning, the forensic analysis of his statements have indicated.

The analysis, which is part of charge sheet filed by the agency in the suicide case of 26-year old Nafeesa Rizvi alias Jiah, has “established that Sooraj was concealing relevant information about actual reason behind the incident and the statement given by him is incomplete and fabricated,” CBI sources claimed while giving details of the charge sheet filed before a special court here.

Sooraj was also not willing to explain his last argument with Jiah, the sources said.

Indrani Mukerjea threatened suicide by jumping from fourth floor, claims Peter Mukerjea

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Afternoon Voice

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December 11, 2015

In another revelation in Sheena Bora murder case, Indrani Mukerjea had threatened her husband Peter Mukerjea that she would commit suicide to get joint ownership of a flat in south Mumbai’s Marlow Apartments.

In a statement to Mumbai Police in September, Peter Mukerjea had revealed that Indrani had blackmailed him by threatening to jump from the fourth floor if the flat’s ownership status wasn’t changed.

“When I was CEO of Star TV, Indrani was running M/s.INX Services. During the period in 2004, Indrani…insisted that flat number 18 may be registered in the joint name of Indrani and me. ..Indrani threatened that she will jump from the fourth floor. To avoid any untoward incident, I transferred 50 per cent shares of flat number 18 in the name of Indrani and got the flat registered in our joint name,” Peter’s statement said.

In his statement, Peter has claimed that the couple stayed on rent in flat number 18 in Marlow Apartments on Indrani’s insistence. However, not a single penny was paid by Indrani.

He further added that Flat No.19 on 5th Floor, which was purchased by the couple in the same building in 2005 for Rs 75 lakh, was also in the joint name of him and Indrani.

“There were frequent fights between me and Indrani,” Peter stated.