Police pays tributes to martyred cops on Police Commemoration Day

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October 21, 2015

Rich tributes were paid in Mumbai on Wednesday on the Police Commemoration Day to policemen who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, Director General of Police (DGP) Praveen Dixit, Mumbai Police Commissioner Ahmad Javed, city Mayor Snehal Ambekar were among others who attended the event.

“We would not allow their sacrifice to go without notice. Committed to the cause for which they laid down their lives!” DGP Dixit said.

During the commemoration ceremony, names of over 400 policemen, including 10 from Maharashtra, were read out who sacrificed their lives across the country while on duty.

“The names of police martyrs of state, police and paramilitary forces were read out, to acknowledge with pride the supreme sacrifices made by them,” Mumbai Police spokesman Dhananjay Kulkarni said. He also said that names of those policemen who showed extra-ordinary dedication towards their duty, would be shortlisted and sent for Gallantry medals.

Inspector Manohar Gawale supervised the parade held at Naigaon police headquarters here in which 100 security personnel of Mumbai Police, railway police and SRPF took part.

The history of commemoration day traces back to October 21, 1959, when a patrol party of CRPF, led by Sub-Inspector Karam Singh, was ambushed by the Chinese forces at Hot Springs Laddakh and 10 jawans were killed. It is the commemoration of the bravery and resultant sacrifice of jawans fighting at 16,000 ft altitude in extremely cold conditions and against all odds.

The Annual Conference of Inspectors General of Police of States and Union Territories held in January 1960 decided that October 21 would henceforth be observed as Commemoration Day in all Police Lines throughout the country to mark the memory of those martyred policemen killed in Ladakh and all other police personnel killed on duty during the year.

Government mulls disposing unused land to raise addnl revenue

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Afternoon Voice

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October 21, 2015

The debt-ridden Maharashtra government is mulling to dispose of its unused land of commercial value of around Rs. 5,000 crore, after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis gave a target of raising Rs. 12,000 crore to give a boost to the state exchequer.

Fadnavis recently chaired a meeting to take stock of the state’s financial status and discussed measures to raise additional revenue.

Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Sudhir Kumar Srivastava and other secretaries were present at the meeting.

According to a senior finance department official, the Chief Minister has given a target of increasing revenue by Rs. 12,000 crore for the current financial year.

“The CM has pointed some sectors through which revenue can be generated. He is in favour of bringing policies that will increase the use of land for residential and non-agriculture purposes,” the official said.

“An additional premium for additional Floor Space Index (FSI) if a developer asks for it, additional premium for additional Transferable Development Rights (TDR) and also additional premium for the change of use land of from agriculture to residential or commercial purposes were the few suggestions made by the Chief Minister,” he said.

An additional revenue of at least Rs. 5,000 crore is expected if these measures are implemented, he said.
Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said that a change in the class of lease land will also add revenue of around Rs. 2,000 crore to the state exchequer.

“There are several government-owned lands across the state that are allocated to various trusts or people on a lease basis. If we will change its class from lower class to A class, its rent amount will increase and ultimately, an additional revenue will be generated,” the minister said.

“We are considering to dispose of unused government land having scope of development systematically and in a transparent way. We expect that it will generate at least Rs. 5,000 crore for the state exchequer,” he said.

However, Mungantiwar said there is no need to dispose all government lands.

The state is overburdened with more than Rs. 14,000 crore due to various provisions for drought, LBT and exemption from toll to vehicles, he said.

The CM had in January this year given a special target to road transport, urban development, revenue and housing departments. However, the performance of these four major departments till August end was poor.

Government’s year rule most unsuccessful in history: Munde

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Afternoon Voice

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October 21, 2015

NCP leader Dhananjay Munde took a dig at the BJP-Shiv Sena government saying one year under their rule is the most unsuccessful that any government had till date in the state’s history.

“The state failed on all the fronts and NCP would protest against the government for one week starting October 25,” Munde, who is the Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council, told.

The Devendra Fadnavis-led government completes a year in office on October 31. Shiv Sena later joined the government.
Munde said false assurances were given by the BJP before the elections and not a single promise had been fulfilled.

He said BJP established the ‘Kendirya Krushi Mulya Ayog’ (agriculture evaluation commission) nine months ago but no one knows till date who heads it or are the directors of the commission declared.

“Only one meeting of the commission was held and so fair price to the agricultural produce can not be given and this is a major factor for the suicide of the farmers in Marathwada region and elsewhere in the state,” the LoP alleged.

Munde further said the assurance to make state toll free is also yet to fulfilled.

“The farmers were told that they would be given Rs. 1,500 per hector as compensation for the destructed crops and also 24,000 villages were declared drought affected but no measures to overcome them were initiated by the state government,” he added.

He claimed BJP had promised before election that in the first Cabinet meeting the government would approve reservation to the Dhangars (Shepard’s) in the ST category, but they took no decision.

Haryana government orders CBI probe into killing of Dalit children

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Afternoon Voice

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October 21, 2015

The Haryana government on Wednesday ordered a CBI probe into the killing of two Dalit children.

Meanwhile, Sanped in Haryana’s Faridabad, where a Dalit family was burnt alive leading to the death of two toddlers, today erupted in grief and indignation, with the locals blocking Delhi-Agra highway with their bodies in protest as politicians joined them in mourning the horrific killings.

As the the bodies of two-and-a-half-years-old Vaibhav and 11-month-old Divya, wrapped in white shrouds, arrived, the village, about 35 km from the national capital, plunged into grief.

Wailing soon gave way to anger and scores of villagers, walking hand in hand and shouting slogans, carried the bodies and placed them on the Delhi-Agra highway, blocking traffic.

s tempers ran high, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi visited the village where he accused the Prime Minister, Harayana Chief Minister, the BJP and RSS of practicising “politics of crushing” those who are weak which results in such incidents.

While Vaibhav and his sister Divya had perished in the blaze allegedly set off by some upper caste people of the village who had a running feud with their family, their mother Rekha, 28, suffered serious burns and is battling for life in a Delhi hospital.

Their father Jitender, 31, also received injuries while trying to save them.

The killers were alleged to have poured petrol into their house from an open window and set it alight after locking the doors from outside.

11 persons, including a father-son duo, have been booked on murder, rioting and other charges, a police spokesman said.

The incident happened despite the presence of a police post at the village.

The police contingent was deployed following the murder of three upper caste people by Dalits some time ago.

Do not let intolerance arise between communities: Rajnath to citizens

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Afternoon Voice

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October 21, 2015

Appealing against any “intolerance” arising between communities, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh disapproved of politics in the name of religion and said that nobody should be discriminated against on the basis of their faith, caste or creed.

Singh said he was making the appeal on the eve of Dussehra following recent incidents that have sparked tensions among local communities in Dadri, Faridabad and Punjab.

“The news of intolerance that we are getting from electronic and print media is very worrisome. For us, these are issues of concern,” he said after inaugurating a new think tank on policing subjects.

The Home Minister said that a day before Dusshera, he is appealing to all the citizens to remember that India is the only country that has propounded to the world the message of ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam’, or universal kinship.

“We should not be getting any complaints of intolerance on the basis of caste, creed, religion or sect,” he said.

The Home Minister said there should be no “politics” in the name of religion or sect as he termed the latest incidents of violence in Faridabad (against a Dalit family) and in Punjab (over alleged desecration of a holy book) as “very unfortunate” and “condemnable”.

He said he has talked to the chief ministers of these states to ensure peace and law and order following these incidents.

More girls dying before age 5 than boys in India: UN report

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Afternoon Voice

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October 21, 2015

India is among the countries with the largest surplus of men and a worrying under-five sex ratio with more girls dying before the age of five than boys, according to a UN report.

“The World’s Women 2015” report launched said men outnumber women in eastern Asia, southern Asia, Oceania, and western Asia.

The three regions have the highest surplus of men in absolute numbers: 50.5 million in Eastern Asia (mainly due to China), 49.5 million in Southern Asia (mainly due to India), and 12.1 million in Western Asia (mainly due to Saudi Arabia and the UAE).

In absolute terms, countries with the largest surplus of men are China (52 million), in Eastern Asia, and India (43 million), in Southern Asia. The ratio of men to women and the surplus of men in these two most populous countries largely determine the surplus of men observed at the global level, the report said.

The report said that in India, while sex-selective abortions have been technically illegal since 1996, the law has had “little effect so far on the sex ratio at birth”. India has the lowest sex ratio in under-5 mortality, with a ratio of 93 (93 boys die before age 5 for 100 girls that die by that age).

“This is also the only country with an under-5 mortality sex ratio under 100 (more girls die than boys),” it said. India alone accounted for 21 per cent of all under-5 deaths in 2013 and this low sex ratio in under-5 mortality is pulling down the average for Southern Asia as a whole and the entire world.

“Higher mortality among girls can be closely related to a general preference for sons in India, which is expressed in special treatment for boys in terms of parental investment in nutrition, vaccinations, access to health treatment and parental care in general,” the report said.

Ex-cabinet secretary Alok Rawat appointed as first male member of NCW

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Afternoon Voice

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October 21, 2015

Former Cabinet Secretary Alok Rawat has been appointed as the first male member of the National Commission for Women, filling the fourth seat in the five-member body.

A 1977 batch Sikkim cadre IAS officer, Rawat has served as Director/Joint Secretary in Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways; Secretary (UPSC); Secretary (Coordination and Public Grievances) in the Cabinet Secretariat and Secretary in Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.

Not deterred to voice his opinions in a female-dominated body, he said, “I feel that the presence of a male would provide a better understanding to the women issues.”

Rawat said that working with the Commission will be a new experience and his first focus will be to learn the job.

“I will learn the job first as issues pertaining to women are a bit different from development agenda. So I will observe and learn first,” he said.

Two other members — Sushma Sahu and Rekha Sharma — were appointed to the Commission in August.

What do you mean Photo-Op, people are dying: Rahul Gandhi

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Afternoon Voice

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October 21, 2015

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday lost his cool when questioned if his Ballabgarh visit was a photo opportunity.

Rahul was addressing the media when some reporters asked for his reaction on the allegations that his Ballabgarh visit to meet the Dalit family which lost two children on Tuesday in an attack by upper caste men here was a photo operation.

“What do you mean it is a photo opportunity? It is insulting when they say that. People are dying. I will come again,” said Rahul angrily.

Rahul today accused the Prime Minister, Harayana Chief Minister, the BJP and RSS of practicising “politics of crushing” those who are weak which results in such incidents.

“This is an attitude shared by the Prime Minister, Chief Minister of the state and the entire BJP and RSS. The attidute is if somebody is weak, he can be crushed. What you have seen is the result of this attitude,” Gandhi said.

Situation remains tense in Punjab; road blockades continue

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Afternoon Voice

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October 21, 2015

Punjab on Wednesday continued to simmer over incidents of sacrilege with Sikh activists blocking key roads at many places and paramilitary forces taking out flag marches in sensitive areas.

Police detained two MLA brothers from Ludhiana Simrajit Bains and Balwinder Singh in Ludhiana when they were proceeding to Chandigarh to gherao the residence of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, police said.

While Simarjit was detained at Katanikalan, his brother Balwinder was detained at Vardhman chowk. Along with them, 21 of their supporters were also detained.

In the wake of the sensitive situation prevailing in the state after a spate of sacrilege incidents, paramilitary forces have been deployed in four districts -Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Tarn Taran.

A report from Phagwara said several Sikh activists blocked Phagwara-Banga-Nawanshahar road near Mehlimudhali village, causing inconvenience to commuters.

In Amritsar, protesters blocked a road at Amritsar-Jalandhar bypass and Harike in Tarn Taran, demanding action against those who indulged in the sacrilege.

Some persons also blackened the poster of SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar at Lahorigate, police said.

Yesterday, Punjab Police had arrested two brothers in connection with an incident of sacrilege.

The two identified as Rupinder Singh and Jaswinder Singh, of Panjgrain village of Faridkot were arrested in connection with the first incident of sacrilege in the state in Bargari village in Faridkot, where a violent clash between police and Sikh protesters left two persons killed.

Dussehra: Victory of good over evil

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Afternoon Voice

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October 21, 2015

Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashmi, is a major Indian festival celebrated on the tenth day of the Ashvin month according to the Hindu calendar. The day culminates a 9 day fasting period of Navratri in the Hindu culture. It also coincides with the immersion of the idol of Goddess Durga into the sea or a river. The day is celebrated to commemorate the killing of Ravana by Lord Rama. People celebrate the killing of the demon king Mahishasur, by Goddess Durga. Dussehra celebration spreads the message of victory of good over evil.

It is believed that the celebration of Dussehra started in the 17th century when the king of Mysore ordered the celebration of the day on a grand scale. Ever since, the day is celebrated with great fervour and energy. There are a lot of mythological tales associated with the day. According to the Ramayana, Ravana was killed by Lord Rama on this day as a revenge against the cruel act of kidnapping Goddess Sita by the former. Mythology also has it that Goddess Durga killed the demon Mahishasura after a long spell of cruelty and oppression by the latter. Another story associated with the origins of this day is the raining of gold coins. After Kautsa asked King Raghu for 140 million coins to give an offering to his guru in return for his knowledge, Raghuraja went to Indra for help who then asked Lord Kuber to rain coins on the city of Ayodhya. After giving 140 million coins to his guru, Kautsa distributed the rest to the people of Ayodhya.

Dussehra is actually the festival of the Kshattriyas. But all Hindus observe this festival with great joy. Traditionally, in Indian culture, Dussehra was always full of dances, where the whole community mixed, met and mingled. But because of external influences and invasions over the past two hundred years, we have lost that today. Otherwise Dussehra was always very vibrant. The Vijayadashami or Dussehra festival is of a tremendous cultural significance for all of us who live in this land – irrespective of caste, creed, colour or religion – and should be celebrated with gaiety and love. It is my wish and my blessings that all of you should celebrate Dussehra this year and always with total involvement, joy and love.

Jubel D’Cruz