AAP MLA Somnath Bharti sent to two-day police custody in Domestic violence case

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September 29, 2015

AAP MLA Somnath Bharti was sent to two day police custody by a court on Tuesday.

Bharti is facing charges of attempt to murder and domestic violence case filed by his wife

Former Delhi Law Minister was arrested yesterday after he surrendered at the Dwarka police station.

41-year-old Bharti was produced before Metropolitan Magistrate Manika who remanded the AAP MLA to police custody till October 1 after the investigating agency said some recoveries were to be made from him.

The police, which sought five days custody of Bharti, said he was required for custodial interrogation as he has been evading arrest. He was also needed for recovery of a knife, some jewellery and other articles related to the case.

The special public prosecutor, appearing for the police, said that Bharti’s custody was also required in connection with the investigation relating to his pet dog ‘Don’, for which an expert has already been consulted.

He also alleged that Bharti had unleashed his dog on his wife when she was pregnant and was bitten by it.

The police custody plea was opposed by advocate Vijay Aggarwal, who appeared for Bharti, saying the agency had enough time to go to different places and recover the articles as the FIR in the case was registered around three months ago after his wife lodged the complaint.

Aggarwal contended that the dog was also available whenever the agency needed it for investigation and claimed that Bharti does not know anything about the missing articles which police wants to recover.

Health Ministry issues notification for bigger pictorial warnings on tobacco packs

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Afternoon Voice

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September 29, 2015

Starting April 1 next year, pictorial health warning on packages of tobacco products will become bigger as per a notification issued by the Health Ministry.

According to the notification, all tobacco products would carry warnings covering 85 per cent of the package area from April 1 next year, up from 40 per cent at present.

The development came a day before a hearing on this matter is scheduled to take place in the Rajasthan High Court.

“The Health Ministry has issued the notification. As per the notification, 85 per cent pictorial warning has to be there and it will come into effect from April 1, 2016,” a senior Union Health Ministry official said.

On September 9, the Rajasthan High Court had ordered the Centre to ensure that larger pictorial warnings are carried on all tobacco products by September 29.

It further added that the Ministry will seek six months as the producers of the products need to make adjustments to their products.

Slippers and Black flags shown at Nitish Kumar during Nawada rally

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Afternoon Voice

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September 29, 2015

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was shown black flags and slippers during a rally in Nawada on Tuesday, ahead of state elections.

Kumar was campaigning for JD(U) MLA Pradeep Kumar when the incident took place. Reacting to the incident, Nitish said, “I know who you people are. You are also very less in numbers. The better course for you to leave this place.”

According to official sources, the accused signalled the chief minister to sit down while he was addressing the public. When he continued, they waved slippers at him, the sources said.

Taken aback, the CM asked the gathering whether they wanted to hear him or not, to which a loud noise of “yes” came out.

After the rally, the JD(U) candidate accused the opposition parties of instigating miscreants to disrupt the CM’s address.

The incident came a day after Nitish was shown black flags in the constituency demanding a change of candidate.

The five-phase Bihar elections begin October 12. Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) will be contesting the elections in alliance with Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD.

BSF bursts hole in Pakistan’s claim of India building wall along IB in J&K

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Afternoon Voice

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September 29, 2015

India is not constructing a wall along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir as charged by Pakistan, BSF IG Rakesh Sharma said, dismissing the claims as a baseless “story”. He said it was not possible to construct a wall along the IB keeping in view the topography of the area where the IB is situated. “This is a story created by Pakistan. There is no wall being constructed on the IB in Jammu and Kashmir”, Sharma said. The IG said it was a confusion being created by Pakistani side. “It is a confusion that is being created by the Pakistani side as there is no such wall being constructed on the IB in Jammu and Kashmir”, Sharma said.

“How can it be constructed and the wall as you know the topographic conditions of the border, it is just not possible to construct a wall”, he said.

Pakistan has last week complained to UN Security Council, alleging that India was building a wall along the International Border in violation of the world body’s resolutions. Pakistan’s Ambassador to UN Maleeha Lodhi, has in a letter to President of the Security Council, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, alleged that India was planning to construct a 10-meter high and 135-feet wide embankment (wall) along the 197-km Working Boundary between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan. The planned wall, according to Pakistan, was to convert the IB “into a quasi international border”.

Asked whether a wall would help check cross border infiltration, Sharma said, “No, I really cannot say what would be the solution– whatever measures (to check infiltration) are being required to be taken on ground, we are doing that”. Asked as to why Pakistan was making up the story of a wall being constructed along IB, Sharma said, “I am also surprised about the wall theory– there is nothing on the ground and it seems to be a story only”.

The BSF IG said the fortification of the already existing fence on the IB was an ongoing process because the fence is subjected to the vagaries of nature. “See the repair and upgradation of the border fence is an ongoing process. At several places the fence gets washed away when there is a flood so we have to repair it”, he said. When asked to comment on the recently held Director General (DG) level talks with Pakistan, Sharma said, “It (situation along IB) appears to be peaceful as of now and both the sides are maintaining peace on the border and let us see how things move ahead”.

On the issue of number of militants waiting across the border to cross into Indian side, he said, “I really cannot say at this point of time, but I am very sure that Pakistan must respond to the promises made during the meeting and they will not allow any infiltration to happen through the IB and we are also watchful and guardful”. On the issues that were taken during the DG level talks, IG BSF said, “As I told earlier also the meeting was in an absolutely cordial atmosphere and both the sides took all the issues that were to be discussed in the meeting and our DG also took up all the issues that were on hand”.

‘Nehru restricted Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose from entering India’

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Afternoon Voice

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September 29, 2015

Ever since the West Bengal government declassified 64 files related to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, numerous reports surrounding his death mystery have been surfacing.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) mouthpiece ‘Organiser’ has termed Netaji’s disappearance as the “mother of all conspiracies” and said Nehru-Gandhi family has lot many questions to answer on the great freedom fighter and other leaders with different ideological positions.

The RSS has asked the Modi government to take the ‘bold’ step of unravelling the mystery over Netaji’s death.

The cover article in the RSS organ entitled “The mother of all conspiracies” said, “Many such conspiracy theories are associated with the Nehru-Gandhi family, but this is turning out to be the mother of all conspiracies. It is clear now that the Congress Party and especially Nehru-Gandhi family has lot many questions to answer on Netaji and other leaders with different ideological positions. The irony is the same Nehru and his heirs claim to be the founders of democracy and tolerance in Bharat…

“If this bold step towards resolving Netaji’s death mystery is not taken by Narender Modi Government, I don’t think anyone else will be able in future to do that. And the mystery of Netaji will remain as a mystery forever,””If this bold step towards resolving Netaji’s death mystery is not taken by Narender Modi Government, I don’t think anyone else will be able in future to do that. And the mystery of Netaji will remain as a mystery forever.”

The article further raises questions on what happened to the money and jewellery donated by thousands of Indians living in South East Asia to Netaji?”

The article said, “On one hand Nehru restricted Netaji to enter India, but at the same time one more question raised where has the money of Netaji and INA gone? Netaji went to Singapore because of Lord Mountbatten’s request and met many bank officers. But why that is still a mystery?”

The mystery surrounding Netaji’s death continues to haunt countrymen and the debate over the veteran freedom fighter’s mysterious death has intensified further.

Researcher and writer of ‘India’s Biggest Cover-up’, Anuj Dhar has come forward with a new theory that Bose might have stayed in China around 1949.

Government must develop smart villages

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Afternoon Voice

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September 29, 2015

Our country needs to develop so that youth can find gainful employment in Government services and private enterprises. The government must work as facilitators. They can contractually employ foreign technicians to impart training to boys and girls. The government can also send meritorious persons to foreign companies to receive on the job training. This is very important because a candidate must be aware about a task for performing it efficiently and maintain quality.

We need to develop smart and self-sustaining villages (at least one hundred) so that mad rush to big metropolitan cities is halted or reduced. For achieving this objective, the central government must urge the rich film stars and cricketers to adopt villages. Those who do accomplish this task should be recognized and rewarded. The government must provide financial assistance to farmers, artisans and weavers so that they can earn their livelihood and don’t have to migrate to cities in search of employment. Often farmers migrate to cities when villages witness drought. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pitched for a permanent seat for India in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Modi expressed his dissatisfaction over nations which play vital role in the peacekeeping don’t have a say in the decision making process.

Few days back a 25-year-old employee of an IT firm riding pillion with her husband was killed after their scooter skid on a pothole on an east Bengaluru flyover. In another incident, the Thane police have booked a woman for rash driving and causing death by negligence after her mother, who was riding pillion with her on a scooter, fell when she failed to manoeuvre around potholes and died during treatment. Thus steps must be taken by the civic body to fill the potholes and maintain the roads to avert accidents.

Government must buy land overseas, wherever available and ask our entrepreneurs to move out and set up industries, services and agriculture there. Ethiopia, Fiji, African countries, Surinam, Reunion island etc; are the places we need to go. Recently, I met a company who are developing port at Reunion Island to operate four fishing vessels. Silent and sincere effort brings fruit instead of unwanted publicity.

Primary health care and population control measures should be intensified. Often, I have mentioned in my previous articles that the government should set up outlets in major ports of India so that Ayurvedic and Unani medicines are available to seafarers. Former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s eldest son Anil Shastri has sought the de-classification of files relating to the death of his father in Tashkent in 1965. Netizens are angry with Anil and questioned the timing of his demand. Why are people discussing about Shastri’s death and not his consensus building abilities, honesty and sincerity?

Khloé Kardashian’s sweet 16 ruined by Kris Jenner

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Afternoon Voice

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September 29, 2015

Kris Jenner ruined Khloé Kardashian’s sixteenth birthday.

The ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians’ star recalled how a new car appeared on their driveway on her birthday – only for the 31-year-old television personality to find out it was a gift for her 59-year-old mother.

She shared: “I was like, ‘Oh my God!’ I see this car get flat-bedded into my mother’s driveway and I’m calling my mom screaming, like, ‘Oh my God, you got me a car for my Sweet 16!’ – and it wasn’t for me.

“It was actually her car that she bought herself and they delivered it early. Ironically it was on my 16th birthday, so I was a little pissed about that.”

And the ‘Kourtney and Khloé Take The Hamptons’ star admits her birthday dinner didn’t go as well as she’d hoped either.

Speaking in a video on her website, Khloé said: “I remember my mom celebrated my birthday early because she had to do something in Hawaii.

“And she celebrated my birthday at Spago, which is this really fancy, great, expensive restaurant – great, but when you’re 15 you don’t know anything about Spago and you don’t want to eat fancy food! I want, like, pizza or fried chicken. And so me having some fancy tuna tartar … I’m like, ‘Raw fish? I’m 15, who the f**k wants raw fish?'”

Mugdha Godse: Enjoyed playing negative role in ‘Ishq Ne Krazy Kiya Re’

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Afternoon Voice

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September 29, 2015

Model-turned-actress Mugdha Godse claims that it is enjoyable to essay a negative character without typical “rona-dhona”, which she portrayed effortlessly in her upcoming film, “Ishq Ne Krazy Kiya Re”.

“My character is crazy for power and of a dominating nature. It’s of a grey shade and it’s the first time I’m playing greyish, negative and powerful woman. Actually it is enjoyable to portray a grey shade or negative character. There’s a different attitude without ‘rona-dhona’ and with a dominating nature, hence I enjoyed it a lot,” said Mugdha about her character at the music and trailer launch of the emotional drama here on Monday.

About the film, she said: “The film is a love story, a musical and basically a singer’s story in the music industry. In any industry where power and talent dominates, people play games, but love always wins. Lot of ‘mirch-masala’ is there in the film. Everybody is crazy about something that’s why it is titled, ‘Ishq Ne Krazy Kiya Re’.”

Mugdha plays a glamorous character on the lines of her role in Madhur Bhandarkar’s “Fashion” but yet it is different. “Our image keeps on changing with every role. When we do glamorous roles, we are known as glamour girls and when we do non-glamorous ones, we are known as girls-next-door. I’m hoping that it’s a good change and people like my character.”

About the relatively fresh starcast, Mughda said: “I have been working with new star cast. You can see that in every film nowadays there is a new starcast. It’s a new change that lot of people are experimenting and I’m very happy to be part of this change.”

‘Tamasha’ is My Dream Team: Deepika Padukone

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Afternoon Voice

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September 29, 2015

Actress Deepika Padukone hopes that the team of ‘Tamasha’ is able to live up to the expectations that the trailer of the Imtiaz Ali directorial has generated.

“There are a lot of expectations from the film. I hope we live up to all those expectations,” Deepika said on the sidelines of an event.

The actress was last seen in the role of a Bengali architect who cares for her hypochondriac father in Shoojit Sircar’s comedy-drama ‘Piku’.

Talking more about ‘Tamasha’, in which she stars with Ranbir Kapoor, the 29-year-old actress said: “‘Tamasha’ is a very different film from ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’. For me, this is a dream team.

“I always wanted to work together with Imtiaz and to have Ranbir as a co-star… As the trailer has earned positive feedback, I hope the audience would enjoy the movie as much as they enjoyed ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’.”

‘Tamasha’ will release on November 27. Meanwhile, she’s also filming Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s historical romance ‘Bajirao Mastani’, in which she plays Mastani.

Who is responsible for 106 deaths in 10 days?

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Afternoon Voice

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September 28, 2015

The number of casualities rises during the Ganesh festival due to overcrowding in suburban trains.

The fast paced lifestyle of Mumbai is taking a heavy toll on its residents. Mumbai’s local trains which are known as the city’s lifeline is turning into a death trap for commuters. On an average seven to eight persons die while commuting or crossing the railway tracks and equal number of them sustains injuries. Since last ten days 106 persons have lost their lives due to railway accidents and 100 persons have succumbed to injuries. Out of the 106 lives lost 14 are women. Thus often transport experts have raised concern over rising number of accidents in the railways. Moreover, it has been observed that the casualties rise during the Ganesh festival.

Even though the railways have taken several steps like constructing fences near hutments close to railway tracks but accidents continue to occur. To deter commuters from crossing railway tracks the railways have also constructed new foot overbridges and subways in several stations but accidents are rising. Thus on an average around 3,500 to 4000 people die due to railway accidents every year and equal number of them sustain injuries. This means every day ten lives are lost. 106 persons have lost their lives and 100 persons have sustained injuries from 16^th to 25 September on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. Thus 200 persons have met with accidents since last 10 days. The rising accidents have become a major cause of concern for the railways. On 20th September, about 14 people died on Mumbai suburban rail network due to Ganpati festival.

Every day, the Mumbai suburban railway runs 2,905 services (or train trips), ferrying 7.5 million commuters. The Western Railway ferries 3.5 million passengers on its 1,305 services and the Central Railway’s 1,600 services carry 4 million commuters; making the Mumbai suburban railway the world’s busiest.

“The basic reason why people are dying like animals is that railway officers have entirely failed to comprehend the hardships of the commuters…and the basic reason behind this (inability to comprehend the problems) is that officers never travel in local trains” said activist Anis Khan.

“The railways should increase the number of train services plying between Churchgate and Borivali and Churchgate and Virar especially during peak hours. Often people stand on the footboard of overcrowded trains as they lose their balance and fall on the railway tracks. Many times the injured persons lies unattended on the tracks for a long period of time which results into his death due to lack of first aid” said Harsh Sethi a Kandivali resident.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a railway officer said quite a few of the victims are youngsters who get killed while performing stunts.

The traffic on Mumbai Western line was disrupted two weeks back as the Mumbai suburban train derailed between Andheri station and Vile Parle.