BJP MP Satyapal Singh terms Dadri lynching a ‘small incident’, kicks up row

By

-

October 13, 2015

BJP MP Satyapal Singh on Tuesday kicked up a row with his remarks calling Dadri lynching a “small incident”, evoking strong reactions from Opposition parties, which said it was a reflection of the party’s “polarisation” strategy.

“As far as a small incident like Dadri is concerned, our country’s democratic atmosphere is fully competent to handle. Our country is full competent to handle such incidents,” said Singh.

The BJP MP from Baghpat also said Government needs to take a view on the plight of Muslims as well as followers of other religion.

Reacting sharply to Singh’s comments on Dadri, Congress spokesperson Ajoy Kumar said it is a reflection of what the BJP was trying to do.

“I am absolutely dismayed at the remarks of the BJP MP, who was also a former Police Commissioner of Mumbai,” he said, alleging that such remarks reflect the “strategy” of BJP to “usurp” power by “polarising” communities.

SP leader Rajiv Rai demanded an apology from the BJP and alleged that it was aiming at “communal polarisation”, which would be seen more as Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections scheduled in 2017 comes closer.

He wondered if Dadri is a minor incident, what else is a big incident. “They should apologise. I am disgusted that this statement comes from an MP, who was a former police commissioner.”

50-year-old Iqlakh was dragged out of his home by a 200-strong mob and beaten to death after a public announcement from the local temple that the family had slaughtered a calf and eaten its meat in Uttar Pradesh’s Bishada village in Dadri.

Mr Modi, the country needs you!

By

Afternoon Voice

-

October 13, 2015

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised the people of India that he would bring down corruption within 100 days of his coming to power. Modi had also promised the people that he would be bringing back black money from Swiss banks that have been invested by some corrupt politicians. He promised to deposit Rs.15 lakh in the bank account of everyone but not a single penny was deposited. People in villages and towns were feeling cheated by Modi on the issue. After Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of the country, prices of all commodities, including that of food grains, LPG, bus fares, train fares, auto-rickshaw fares and taxi fares have sky- rocketed. As a result of this inflation, the common man has to bear the brunt of the price rise as his/her salary has not increased in tandem with the surging inflation. There has been a rise in the number of farmers committing suicide across the country. Even though the nation is facing severe drought the Modi government has failed to provide financial assistance to farmers. The situation has become so worse that many of them have to migrate to cities in search of livelihood.

The promises made by Narendra Modi at the time of elections seem to be completely forgotten. It’s almost 17 months since the Modi led government has taken charge of the country, winning the general elections on the plank of development and its promise to bring in prosperity for the common man. But our Prime Minister has not kept/fulfilled his promise. A feeling of insecurity has crept into the hearts of minorities, with the Prime Minister’s assurances of action and protection sounding hollow. And oh, where is our dear Prime Minister?

Is he in town or is he on some other planet/continent? One is tempted to ask, do we have an NRI Prime Minister visiting his home town once in a while? Foreign policies are important. But should the country be ignored? The Prime Minister needs to be present here in the country to feel the pulse of the people. After becoming Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has visited several countries. Despite the fact that Modi’s government has brought in a series of measures to appeal to investors, such as establishing special economic zones, free tax zones and free trade areas, some of these efforts have come up against resistance of local governments.

Jubel D’Cruz

Britney Spears buys new mansion worth USD 7.4 million

By

Afternoon Voice

-

October 13, 2015

Pop star Britney Spears has slashed out USD 7.4 million to buy a big estate in Thousand Oaks, California.

The hill top property bought buy, 33-year-old “Toxic” hitmaker stretches upto the area of 13,264 square feet, reports said.

With five bedrooms and 7.5 bathrooms, the mansion has wall-to-wall carpeting, 35-foot high ceiling, and a fireplace flanked by built-in media cabinets.

The property also includes formal living and dining rooms and an oak-paneled library with built-in bookshelves.

The kitchen in the mansion has all the equipment’s and facilities a private chef would require. It leads to an open informal dining area with bay window and another fireplace.

There’s a huge media/game room on the upper level of the main residence plus an approximately 1,200-square-foot poolside pavilion and 3,500-bottle temperature controlled wine cellar.

Elizabeth Hurley goes to extreme lengths for a selfie and gets escorted out of museum

By

Afternoon Voice

-

October 13, 2015

SELFIES are big business and it takes a lot to stand out from the pack.

In this competitive world of multiple filters, designer clothes and international locations, the smallest detail can make all the difference.

For Liz Hurley, a 16th Century artefact was just the object she needed to take her selfie to the next level.

She was shooting the breeze at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum recently. Taking in the culture with her friend, shoe designer Patrick Cox, Liz happened across the Great Bed of Ware, a giant four-poster from the 16th Century.

Sometimes a moment comes and you just have to take it. You stumble across Cate Blanchett rummaging through the $5 DVD bin at a JB HiFi? You pull out your iPhone and start snapping rapid fire.

For Liz, this was her moment. She peered to the left and to the right, making sure the museum guards were preoccupied. The coast was clear. Imagine her unhooking the red velvet rope surrounding the exhibit and taking a deep breath.

Tip toeing over to the historic bed, perhaps she ran a fingertip over the red antique silk coverlet before elegantly perching herself atop it.

Just as Patrick went to capture the moment, the alarms were sounded.

Turns out some museums have stupid rules about people touching the invaluable old stuff.

Security guards reportedly ran over, promptly shooing Liz off the ancient bed and escorting her out of the building.

Embarrassing? Absolutely. But at least she got a remarkable photo.

Parineeti Chopra feels she needs to lose more

By

Afternoon Voice

-

October 13, 2015

She had a flab, but now she is fab! Parineeti Chopra has attained a dreamy figure, but she claims that she has got a long way to go.

Talking about her all new figure at the Femina Powerlist North 2015 Awards, the 26-year-old actress said that she always wanted time to work on herself. Though, she has got a long way to go, she said she is happy that she now gets to dress and look the way she wants to.

Further, when the Hasee Toh Phasee star was asked about her fitness mantra she said that she has given time to herself and figured out what kind of food and exercise works for her body and that is her mantra.

When asked that what gives her power, Parineeti joked, “Food” and then added that it might sound filmy, but people’s love, attention and warmth is her power source.

Shahid Kapoor: ‘Shaandaar’ a very relevant film in my career

By

Afternoon Voice

-

October 13, 2015

Actor Shahid Kapoor, who will be working with Alia Bhatt in back-to-back films, is “very sad” that afterwards she will be working with other actors in different films.

“‘Shaandaar’ is a relevant film in our career, which Alia and I often discuss about. The kind of films that I’m doing – my last film ‘Haider’ or ‘Shaandaar’ now or our next film together, ‘Udta Punjab’. After that Alia is doing other films and I’m doing other films and I’m very sad that she’s working without me, but it’s okay,” said Shahid at a ‘Bollywood Britain-Shaandaar’ campaign.

After displaying their sizzling chemistry in ‘Shaandaar’, Shahid and Alia will then be seen in Abhishek Chaubey’s ‘Udta Punjab’ which also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan and Diljit Dosanjh.
Shahid will go on to work with Kangana Ranaut in ‘Rangoon’ while Alia is working with Sidharth Malhotra and Fawad Khan in ‘Kapoor And Sons’ and then will work with Varun Dhawan in “Shuddhi” and Shah Rukh Khan in Gauri Shinde’s film.

About ‘Shaandaar’, Shahid said: “The genre of a quirky love story, romantic comedy in a fairytale-ish world. We perhaps might not get the opportunity to do such a genre for the next 1-2 years.

“It is the only film we are doing in this genre, that’s the reason it is very close to our hearts, and we really want the film to be liked and loved by the people because as actors, we’ll do different genres and different kind of films, and different kind of characters. So this is a very important opportunity for us, and I hope it turns out to be the best film that me and her have done in this genre, because after that every person has their own careers.”

Vikas Bahl’s ‘Shaandaar’ is hitting the screens on October 22.

‘NO SHERIFF’ in Mumbai

By

Afternoon Voice

-

October 12, 2015

Ex-Sheriff Indu Shahani has been holding on to the post as no other person has been nominated for this position. BJP Mumbai President Ashish Shelar has demanded that the state government should appoint a Sheriff within three months in March. On the other hand, legislators questioned the need of having a Sheriff for the city which only means incurring additional expenditure. The Sheriff of Mumbai is an apolitical titular position of authority bestowed for one year on a prominent citizen of Mumbai.

Ashish Shelar, BJP Mumbai President “I am unaware if the government is facing any difficulty to appoint the Sheriff of Mumbai. If any hurdles exist then the government should overcome it. I will once again put forward my demand for the appointment of a new Sheriff for the city.”

“The government is facing financial crunch hence it should scrap the post of Sheriff. Moreover the Sheriff does not have any executive powers,” said Jagannathrao Hegde, Former Sheriff of Mumbai.

“This is an emotional issue to me, as my father Nana (Chudasama), a former Mumbai Sheriff, was probably one of the most respected Sheriff Mumbai had. He actually showed that a person appointed for this post can do more work. The state government should decide on when and how to fill the vacant post. I am sure that when there is a suitable candidate the government will appoint him. There has to be a candidate who can meet the benchmark set by former sheriffs Mumbai had,” said Shaina NC, BJP spokesperson.

Earlier the state government issued a GR (government resolution) during former chief minister Ashok Chavan’s tenure, enabling the Sheriff to continue in the post even after a year if a new appointment is not made before the person’s tenure comes to an end. Mumbai is the only Indian city after Kolkata to continue with the British-era position. The sheriff is an officer of the high court and ranks just below the mayor, but does not have independent executive powers.

The rules and duties of a Sheriff have been mentioned in chapter 28 of the Bombay High Court which also provides for the post of Deputy Sheriff in case of the Sheriff not being able to discharge the duties for some reasons. As per the High Court rules the Sheriff is a nominal head of the High Court department that carries out orders of the High Court summoning people, attaching or sealing properties and if need be order for their auction. Besides this the Sheriff is also expected to receive foreign dignitaries and call for condolence meetings in the event of the demise of any prominent personality. The Sheriff has an office and staff but does not have executive powers of his own. The Sheriff office is in the High Court Building on the Ground Floor.

The first Sheriff of Mumbai was educationist Bhau Daji, in 1869. After Independence, Mahadeo L. Dahanukar was appointed as the Sheriff of Mumbai in 1948. Since then some of the prominent personalities appointed include – Dilip Kumar (1980), Dr B K Goyal (1981), Sunil Dutt (1982), Homi Sethna (1991), Sunil Gavaskar (1995) and Vijaypat Singhania (2006).

Court found them ‘guilty’, film portrays innocence

By

Vaidehi Taman

-

October 12, 2015

After the release of Meghna Gulzar’s movie ‘Talvar’, suddenly Talwar couple came again into national debate. The movie has beautifully explained the failure of investigating agencies and judicial lacunas. Talwars are in jail for no fault of theirs. More than seven years after Aarushi Talwar was found murdered in her Noida home, her grandfather BG Chitnis has broken his silence for the first time. The 80-year-old decorated war veteran of the Indian Air Force has written an open letter which was posted on the Facebook page Free The Talwars. The trial in the case led to a life sentence for Aarushi’s dentist parents – Rajesh Talwar and Nupur Talwar.

In his letter, Nupur Talwar’s father calls for his daughter and son-in-law’s right for a free and fair trial. A Grandfather’s Plea in an Open Letter, in that he described his pain and what he is feeling at this moment, he expressed his feeling for his granddaughter Aarushi. He wants his daughter to be freed and actual culprits to go behind the bars.

Aarushi Talwar was a 14-year-old student at the Delhi Public School. She was the daughter of a dentist couple, Dr. Rajesh Talwar and Dr. Nupur Talwar. The family lived in an apartment at Noida. Rajesh and Nupur practiced together at their clinics there. Yam Prasad Banjade, better known as Hemraj, was the Talwar family’s live-in domestic help and cook. His family lived in his native village in the Arghakhanchi district of Nepal. The days passed, with a boorish local police trying to investigate the murder in a disinterested manner culminating into the arrest of Rajesh, and subsequently infamous press briefing by IG Meerut causing unprecedented uproar in the media. The media became ferocious with speculative character assassination of Aarushi and her parents. The onslaught was severe. This bizarre circus continued throughout the trial culminating into an astounding judgement declaring Nupur and Rajesh guilty, and sentencing them to life imprisonment.

When Aarushi’s body was discovered on 16 May, the missing servant Hemraj was considered as the main suspect. However, the next day, his partially decomposed body was discovered on the terrace. The police were heavily criticized for failing to secure the crime scene immediately. After ruling out the family’s ex-servants, the police considered Aarushi’s parents—Dr. Rajesh Talwar and Nupur Talwar—as the prime suspects. The police suspected that Rajesh had murdered the two after finding them in an “objectionable” position or because Rajesh’s alleged extra-marital affair had led to his blackmail by Hemraj and a confrontation with Aarushi. The accusations enraged the Talwars’ family and friends, who accused the police of framing the Talwars in order to cover up the botched-up investigation. The case was then transferred to the CBI, which exonerated the parents and suspected the Talwars’ assistant Krishna along with two domestic servants—Rajkumar and Vijay. Based on the narco tests conducted on the three men, the CBI suspected that they had killed Aarushi after an attempted sexual assault and Hemraj for being a witness. The CBI was accused of using dubious methods to extract a confession, and all the three men were released after it could not find any solid evidence against them.

In 2009, the CBI handed over the investigation to a new team, which recommended closing the case due to critical gaps in the evidence. Based on circumstantial evidence, it named Rajesh Talwar as the sole suspect, but refused to charge him due to lack of any hard evidence. The parents opposed the closure, calling CBI’s suspicion on Rajesh as baseless. Subsequently, a court rejected the CBI’s claim that there was not enough evidence, and ordered proceedings against the Talwars.

Even though, the Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI wanted to file a closure report in the case, no one from the premier investigating agency has ever spoken about the fact that the CBI team which first handled the case had said that it wasn’t the Talwars but their servants who killed Aarushi. The second CBI team which took over went back to the theory presented by the Noida Police that the parents had committed the crime – Rajesh Talwar, on finding his daughter and their domestic help Hemraj together, flew into a rage and murdered them. Arun Kumar, the CBI officer who first handled the case, who is now with the Central Reserve Police Force, opened his mouth to media after watching Talvar movie. He agrees that the Film ‘Talvar’ is 80% accurate depiction of Aarushi murder case. It is very close to reality. The crux of the issue is portrayed very accurately in the movie.

The film portrays what is considered the loopholes in police investigation – the police “failed” to collect some critical evidence from the crime scene. Forensic samples were never collected and if they had been, then the case could have been solved very easily. Kumar believes that Talwars are innocent. Let see whether movie gives them justice or not, as they could reach to the 80 per cent of the fact which proves Talwars as innocent.

Unfazed by Shiv Sena threat, ex-Pak Minister Kasuri’s book launched

By

Afternoon Voice

-

October 12, 2015

Unfazed by paint attack, former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri’s book was launched in Mumbai on Monday hours after columnist Sudheendra Kulkarni, who organized the event, was attacked with black paint by Shiv Sena activists protesting the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Kulkarni said, “It is our duty to undo the mistakes of the past. We should not let any organisation mar the values of Mumbai.”

Calling for the need to normalise the bilateral ties, the former BJP ideologue said, “Mumbai stands for India-Pak dialogue for peace, this function in the face of threats is vouching for that.”

“Things are changing in Pakistan, people there too want peace,” he said.

Commenting on Mumbai’s never-say-die spirit, Kulkarni said, “We shall defend and safeguard the values that Mumbai has stood for; we will not let any organisation trample those values.”

It’s on record that Jinnah after creation of Pakistan said that he was so attached with Bombay that he wanted to come back, Kulkarni added while speaking at the function attended by Kasuri.

New history can only be created via dialogue, two governments must continue dialogue. Our function is in that direction, Kulkarni said.

The former aide of BJP veteran LK Advani also praised Kasuri, saying he is a Pakistani yet 10 years ago he told him that his entire family is a family of Indian patriots.

His father was arrested in the Quit India Movement, they were all Congress supporters, Kulkarni said.

Replying to Shiv Sena’s protest to the event, Kulkarni said, “We went to meet Uddhav Thackeray yesterday to make him understand why we are having this event.”

“The purpose of writing this book is to correct some misconceptions,” Kausri said while speaking on his turn.

“PM Modi made a promise of development, but we have to have peace. I hope the PM realises that (former PM) AB Vajpayee’s route was the right one,” said Kasuri.

Hours before the launch of Kasuri’s book, main organiser Sudheendra Kulkarni was attacked and his face blackened by Shiv Sena activists. The incident was widely condemned but the party said it would continue its protests against the visiting Pakistani leader.

The incident happened when Kulkarni was leaving his home in Sion in south-central Mumbai, when a group of around a dozen Sena activists accosted him.

They shouted slogans and asked him to cancel the event scheduled later Monday and then smeared him with black ink.

An ally in the state’s ruling coalition and at the Centre, the Shiv Sena has strongly opposed the function to launch Kasuri’s book “Neither a Hawk Nor a Dove: An Insider Account of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy”.

The party warned that it would not allow the event, while Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured full support and security to the function organised by the Observer Research Foundation think tank.

A determined Kularni said: “The Shiv Sena has no authority to impose such a ban… We have taken a principled stand and will not cancel the event.”

Kasuri said he was “saddened and unhappy by this attack on Kulkarni whom I have known for many years” and condemned it. “…the right to protest must be peaceful and these people must change their tactics of protest,” he said at a hurriedly convened press conference here following the incident.

“I have come with a message of peace… An overwhelming majority of people in both countries want peace between the two countries… But, there are some who don’t want India-Pakistan peace,” he said.

Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Shaina NC said the incident would be probed and those responsible for it would be booked.

Gajendra Chauhan yet to attend FTII office: RTI revelation

By

Afternoon Voice

-

October 12, 2015

Several months since his controversial appointment as the FTII chairman, BJP member and television personality Gajendra Chauhan is yet to visit his office, a RTI query revealed on Monday.

There is a lack of clarity even on the actual date of appointment of Chauhan as the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) chief, said Mumbai-based RTI activist Anil Galgali.

While the FTII list of appointments to the august post shows the date as March 4, 2014 to March 3, 2017, another date provided is June 9, 2015 on which he was actually appointed, Galgali said.

“Whichever may be the date of appointment, he has not yet visited the Pune FTII office to take charge or meet with the institute officials and students. Though the appointment has been made, the institution remains virtually headless and mired in avoidable controversies,” Galgali told IANS.

The situation was similar with other past chairpersons with former BJP union minister and actor Vinod Khanna, who held the position twice, attending it only two times, once in each term.

BJP MP Pawan Chopra, who had the shortest term of of three months, attended the FTII office only once and that too on the final day of his brief tenure.

However, Saeed Mirza, who was the chairman for three years, made it to the office 20 times. Girish Karnad in his one year term attended six times,

U.R. Ananthamurthy, who was appointed thrice, attended office 26 times in a period of eight years.

In the past 15 years, FTII has had nine persons holding the exalted position of one of the premier institutes of its kind in Asia, including eminent personalities like Shyam Benegal, Mrinal Sen and R.K. Laxman.

Galgali had also sought information about the educational qualifications and other eligibility details for the chairman’s position.

The students of the premier institute have been on strike for over 100 days, with four meeetings between them and officials of the information and broadcasting ministry being inconclusive.

The students are tentatively scheduled to meet Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore in New Delhi on Tuesday.