Priyanka Chopra misses her father amid ‘Quantico’ acclamation

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October 6, 2015

Actress Priyanka Chopra wishes her father was alive to witness the warm response she is receiving for her performance in debut American TV series ‘Quantico’.

Ashok Chopra passed away two years ago after a prolonged battle with cancer. The ‘Mary Kom’ star, who inherited the love for music from her late father, has always been vocal about their bond and even has a tattoo ‘Daddy’s lil girl’ inked on her wrist. The 33-year-old actress said she misses him more on days of achievements.

“I miss my dad today. Always so happy for my achievements… The pride I saw in his eyes made me fly fearlessly knowing he’d catch me if I fall,” Priyanka posted on Twitter.

The actress has not only managed to impress her fans here and colleagues from Bollywood but also got thumbs up from international TV critics.

The show premiered in India on October 3. Priyanka is seen as FBI trainee Alex Parrish, suspected of committing a terrorist attack, in the thriller drama.

MNS does it again, Targets ‘Gujjubhai’

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Afternoon Voice

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October 5, 2015

The party is raking up this issue in order to revive itself after faring poorly at the assembly election held last year.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers have protested against the screening of movie Gujjubhai The Great at Sona Gold theatre in Borivali at prime time slot (6 pm to 9pm). According to them only Marathi films should be shown during prime time and no other regional language movies should be screened at that slot. The MNS is raking up this issue in order to revive itself after faring poorly at the assembly election held last year. The party had earlier posed a huge challenge to Shiv Sena, BJP by bringing the Marathi manoos agenda at the forefront. The party has already issued a warning to theatre owners to stop screening regional language movies during prime time or else be prepared to face dire consequences. After north Indians, MNS has been targeting Gujaratis for denying flats to Maharashtrians due to their non-vegetarian lifestyle. Even Shiv Sena and Nitish Rane led Swabhimaan Sanghatana had raked up this issue to garner political mileage.

The MNS activists also said that several theatre owners have been flouting norms even though it is mandatory for them to screen Marathi movies at prime time slot. In April, Maharashtra culture minister Vinod Tawde had issued a directive for multiplexes to screen at least one Marathi film in the prime time slot.

“The protest at Sona theatre is just a start. We will continue to protest against screening of Gujarati films and regional language movies other than Marathi during prime time,” said Siddidha More, secretary of MNS’ women wing.

“The agitation will not be limited to the suburbs or the city. It will cover the entire state. If theatres and multiplexes defy our diktat, we will start a new protest in MNS style” she added.

Earlier the MNS had issued a circular to Bollywood directing them to help the drought affected farmers of the state. The party also had announced that movies of those celebrities who fail to help farmers will be boycotted.

Theatre owners have questioned the logic of the diktat. “If Marathi movies can be showed in prime time, why can’t other regional language films be screened in similar slots?” asked Manoj Desai, executive director of G7 Multiplex and Maratha Mandir said.

MNS vice-president Abhijit Phanse and Ameya Khopkar, president of MNS Cine Workers Wing, claimed that Marathi films were not being given popular show timings. “But Gujarati films are being screened in prime time. Perhaps it is the effect of the Modi-Shah rule,” Phanse said, adding that the MNS would not tolerate undermining of the Marathi pride.

Khopkar said: “In south, the regional language is given the first preference. Marathi should also be given such importance in our state.”

Will Sena-BJP come together for KDMC?

By

Vaidehi Taman

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October 5, 2015

Nowadays, there are rumours in corridors of politics in Maharashtra that state ruling BJP’s ministers are divided into many groups. One group is led by Cooperative and PWD Minister Chandrakant Patil who is in favour of “forget & forgive” policy towards scamster NCP leaders and its ex- ministers. As NCP’s existence ensures encountering Shiv Sena, but other group led by Eknath Khadse is of opinion that in next election it will be NCP who would pose challenge to BJP so this is the time to finish NCP and Pawars. BJP might have got majority of votes in 2014 but the fact is that NCP can emerge again with force as they have grassroot level leaders who can assure the comeback. Moreover, people are not very happy with the BJP government as there is a silent revolt against the government, and NCP should be shown its place at the right time. In future, they can be challenged to the existence of right wingers. Khadse lobby’s opinion is that government must take arduous steps. However, both groups are surprised about the decision CM Devendra Fadnavis stands for. Before elections, it was Fadnavis who opened the irrigation ministry corruption and he came to power. Immediately after the government formed, Modi met Pawar and everything was sorted out. The scam remained in files. He has maintained a mysterious silence meanwhile NCP ex-ministers are hopeful that Sharad Pawar would “manage” PM Modi. And nobody would actually go to jail. Kalyan – Dombivali elections may play a big role in strengthening or breaking the NCP further.

Meanwhile, state BJP leaders talk about Rahul Gandhi’s frequent tours abroad and criticise him for remaining absent at crucial political developments, but never focus on Uddhav Thackeray, who also does the same. There are many issues brewing in the state. There is Kalyan Dombivali Municipal corpo-ration (KDMC) election; Mumbai Mayor’s controversial statements; first anniversary of the Devendra Fadnavis government and bhoomi pujan of Dr. Ambedkar Memorial. However, we have not seen Uddhav’s involvement anywhere in these issues. Nowadays, we see that Uddhav only gets aggressive while attacking Modi and BJP. However, whenever Rahul Gandhi is in India, he remains active.

RSS cadre demands candidature quota in KDMC election but BJP’s problem is that majority of KDMC voters are known for their “weaknesses of succumbing to caste and money temptations”. RSS aspirants are typically Brahmins; men of character; financially middle class so – in today’s politics – no elective merit – sure are to be defeated by multimillionaire Congress; NCP; MNS; Shiv Sena candidates. In such crises, if BJP wants KDMC; it has to offer tickets to those candidates; who have money and muscle power equivalent to other party candidates. Even if RSS blue eyed boy CM Fadnavis wishes to favour RSS aspirants; then also he cannot do so as winning KDMC is prestige issue for BJP. He wanted to win this fort without an alliance with Shiv Sena. Interestingly, NCP and Sena both have stronghold on KDMC even MNS has its sharing. Right now, the scenario in KDMC election is all other parties versus BJP. So, this would be very challenging while dealing and distributing tickets.

To impress Kalyan-Dombivali residents, Fadnavis said Kalyan-Dombivali would be developed into a smart and safe city. The Centre’s funds for developing smart cities would be used to build state-of-the-art infrastructure complete with facilities resolving the problems of drinking water and other basic amenities in 27 villages in the periphery. However, people are not fools they are witnessing the condition of Mumbai. BJP has completely failed to fulfill the promises made by it. Fadnavis said that they have taken up the development of Kalyan-Dombivali on priority basis and it has also been approved under the smart cities project undertaken by the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. There would be no paucity of funds for development, which is BJP’s highest priority.

The Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corpo-ration (KDMC) polls for 122 seats will determine the political might of the BJP which was voted to power in Maharashtra on October 31, 2014. At present, the KDMC is controlled by the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance. However, the BJP and the Shiv Sena are still non-committal on an alliance for the corporation elections. Whereas, the Congress-NCP is making renewed attempts to strike an alliance to take on the divided BJP and Sena in the local bodies’ elections. If the BJP fails to strike an alliance with the Sena, it would be a bitter fight within the saffron allies. The saffron party has elicited support from smaller non-Congress-NCP and non-Sena groups to consolidate its position in the region.

Indrani Mukerjea’s judicial custody extended, CBI seeks court’s nod to grill accused

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Afternoon Voice

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October 5, 2015

A Mumbai court on Monday extended till October 19 the judicial custody of accused Indrani Mukerjea, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and driver Shyam Rai in the Sheena Bora murder case even as CBI sought permission to interrogate them in jail.

According to JJ Hospital, where 43-year-old Indrani was rushed on Friday after collapsing in Byculla prison, she is conscious and is responding to the treatment.

“Indrani continues to be in a state of consciousness from yesterday. Most probably we may start giving her oral sips for further round of treatment,” Dr. TP Lahane, Dean of state run JJ Hospital, said.

The judicial custody of Indrani, prime accused in the murder of her daughter Sheena, and co-accused Khanna and Rai was extended by Magistrate MR Natu till October 19.

While Khanna and Rai were produced before the magistrate at the Esplanade court via video-conferencing, jail officials sent Indrani’s warrant to the court.

Seeking extension of the judicial custody of all the three accused, CBI told the court that it would need further remand for investigation as the case was transferred to the agency recently.

Shortly after extension of their judicial custody, the agency moved a plea for permission to interrogate all the three in the jail.

“We have filed an application seeking permission to interrogate all the three accused in jail as we can’t seek their further police custody,” said a CBI official. The central probe agency’s application is likely to be heard by court on Tuesday.

The agency sought permission for at least three weeks to interrogate them.

‘No evidence of black magic by ‘godwoman’ Radhe Maa’

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Afternoon Voice

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October 5, 2015

The Mumbai police on Monday informed the Bombay High Court that no evidence has been found disclosing violation of the Black Magic Act by self-styled godwoman Radhe Maa.

“After recording of statements of the complainants, witnesses and the suspect and searches conducted at the house of Sukhwinder Kaur alias Radhe Maa, it does not disclose evidence of violation of provisions of the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act,” the police said.

The police had filed an affidavit before a division bench of justices V M Kanade and Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi in reply to a PIL by advocate Falguni Brahmbhatt seeking FIR against Radhe Maa alleging obscenity, and police inaction on her complaint.

The police in its affidavit said that pursuant to the complaint received by Brahmbhatt, her statement was recorded and also that of Radhe Maa, who claimed she was implicated.

“FIR has been lodged on a complaint received from Dolly Bindra. Brahmbhatt will be a witness in the case. Searches were also conducted at Nandanvan Bhawan (where Radhe Maa lives) but nothing incriminating was found,” it said.

“To ascertain the status of the trust run by Radhe Maa and if there were any financial irregularities in its functioning, a letter dated August 26 was issued to the office of the Charity Commissioner. A letter has also been sent to the Income Tax department requesting it to look into the financial irregularities as the police does not have jurisdiction,” the affidavit said.

The High Court, after perusing the affidavit, adjourned the matter for hearing after two weeks.

Government not to stall staging of ‘Agnes of God’

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Afternoon Voice

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October 5, 2015

Maharashtra government today declined to stall staging of the play “Agnes of God”, which tells the story of a nun who delivers a still-born child, as demanded by the Catholic church on the ground that it hurts the sentiments of the Christian community.

State Minority Minister Eknath Khadse, who met the play’s director and the church forum representative, ruled out banning the play since it has a certification, but agreed to viedograph it to see if there is anything that hurts religious sentiments.

Joseph Dias, Secretary General of Catholic Secular Forum (CSF) and play director Kaizad Kotwal met Khadse this morning.

Dias had earlier written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking ban on the play but had made it clear that the outfit would not resort to any open demonstration before the theatre to stall the staging.

Ruling out the government intervention, Khadse said the play will be videographed to see if it has anything that wounds religious sentiments.

“If any portion is objectionable, appropriate decision will be taken after consultation with both sides,” he said.

Khadse also said the CSF is free to move the High Court seeking a ban on the play, an adaptation of American playwright John Pielmeier’s drama.

According to Khadse, both sides were satisfied after the talks.

Catholic Secular Forum (CSF) has lodged a protest against ‘Agnes of God’ but said it would not obstruct its performance.

“There is no question of halting that performance as it is an invitation only event at NCPA,” Dias had said.

Also, the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), a body of Catholic bishops in the country, has written to Union Home Ministry seeking a ban on the play holding that it was “misrepresentation of the religious belief of the Christian community”.

“The reason why the Catholic Church is against such a play is that it is the wrongful portrayal of the character of lakhs of our clergy, who are committed to a life of celibacy,” the CBCI letter said.

Metro work won’t completely affect cricket at Oval, Azad Maidan

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Afternoon Voice

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October 5, 2015

The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) clarified that cricket at both Oval and Azad Maidan in South Mumbai will not be completely affected during construction of the proposed underground Colaba-Seepz Metro corridor.

The metro plan was criticised by locals who alleged that cricket will be completely disturbed and both the grounds will be usurped by the impending construction of the corridor.

“Cricket pitches or matches at the Oval maidan will not be disturbed during the construction of the Metro-3 corridor,” Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) Managing Director Ashwini Bhide said in a statement.

MMRC is the implementing agency for the Metro projects under the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

However, Bhide said a few cricket pitches at Azad Maidan will be required to be relocated and the MMRC is working closely with the sports department to ensure that majority of the cricketing activity continues at Azad Maidan.

“The entire Oval Maidan is spread over 90,000 sq mt of and the metro corridor will temporarily require 3,900 sq mt, which is nearly four per cent of the entire ground, towards its north only during the project implementation period of 3-4 years and will be restored and returned post construction,” she said.

Since the plot required is very small and is towards the northern side of the ground, there is no likelihood of causing any disturbance to the cricketing activity at the Oval, Bhide added.

As far as the 2 lakh sqmt Azad Maidan is concerned, the corridor temporarily requires 32,687 sq mt, 16 per cent of the entire ground, behind the Mumbai Press Club which will also be restored.

“The corridor will require only 1,000 sqmt of Azad Maidan permanently,” she added.

Indrani Mukerjea conscious, may return to jail in couple of days

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Afternoon Voice

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October 5, 2015

Indrani Mukerjea, prime accused in the murder of her daughter Sheena Bora, is conscious and may be shifted back to jail in couple of days.

Mukerjea regained consciousness on Sunday and was “out of danger” as she responded to the treatment.

“Indrani continues to be in a state of consciousness from Sunday. Most probably we may start giving her oral strips for further round of treatment,” said Dr. T P Lahane, Dean of state run J J Hospital.

48-year-old Mukerjea was on Friday rushed to JJ hospital from Byculla jail in an unconscious condition after she allegedly took an overdose of anti-depressant pills.

To a query whether police may quiz Indrani, Lahane said till now doctors treating her have not permitted her questioning.

Hospital sources, however, said that if Indrani is in a state to speak, police may be allowed to question her later in the day.

She may also be shifted back to jail by Tuesday or Wednesday evening, sources added.

Lahane on Saturday had said a report on Indrani’s urine samples from Hinduja Hospital laboratory confirmed that level of benzodiazepine — an anti depressant — was found raised.

Indrani’s lawyer had moved a local court on Saturday seeking permission to meet her in the hospital and the court sought a report on her health condition.

Wife of media baron Peter Mukerjea, Indrani was arrested by Khar Police on August 25 for her alleged role in the murder of Sheena, 24, her daughter from an earlier marriage, in 2012.

Sheena was allegedly kidnapped from outside National College in Bandra and strangled to death in a car by Indrani, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and driver Shyamvar Rai.

FTII students not averse to I&B Secy becoming chairman?

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Afternoon Voice

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October 5, 2015

The agitating students of the FTII are not averse to the Ministry Secretary assuming the post of chairman till a transparent mechanism to select the institute’s governing body is evolved, sources on the campus have said.

A suggestion to this effect came up during the first round of talks between representatives of FTII Students’ Association and the I&B Ministry officials held in Mumbai last week to break the deadlock over the appointment of actor Gajendra Chauhan, a BJP member, as the institute chairman.

A random query on part of the ministry officials as to what would happen if the current governing council (headed by Chauhan who is yet to take charge) was dissolved as demanded by the students is said to have led to this suggestion by the students’ delegation.

The delegation pointed out that the FTII did not have any governing council even during the one and a half year since expiry of the previous chairman Saieed Mirza’s term and the institute has been in charge of the director,the sources said.

Given the prevailing situation, it would be better for the institute’s interests if the I&B ministry Secretary assumes the post of chairman as a stop-gap arrangement until a consensus on the reconstitution of the FTII governing body was arrived through a mutually agreed transparent mechanism ensuring appointments of deserving persons of eminence from the field, the students felt.

The FSA has hinted that the suggestion had not in effect diluted its core demand for removal of Chauhan and four other governing council members of the FTII and evolving a transparent system for future appointments to man the institute with persons of vision for Indian cinema.

The students, who have been boycotting classes since June 12, have alleged that Chauhan did not have “credentials or vision” to head the FTII. They are scheduled to have the second round of talks with the ministry officials, expected to be attended by the I&B secretary Sunil Arora in Mumbai on October 7.

Fire breaks out in commercial building in Mumbai; none hurt

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Afternoon Voice

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October 5, 2015

A minor fire today broke on the second floor of a three-storied commercial building in South Mumbai, a civic official said.

“However, no one was hurt in the incident. The fire broke out at around 7 PM at Khatau building located at Kala Ghoda area near Colaba,” an official from Disaster Control unit of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) said.

“There were no occupants in the building when the fire broke out. Prima facie a short circuit could be the reason for the blaze. The building is old and needs repairs,” he said.

“Rains, which started at the time of the incident, also helped us in dousing flames quickly. The blaze has been completely put out and nobody has been injured,” he added.