Who is responsible for 106 deaths in 10 days?

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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.

From ‘Mann ki Baat’ to ‘Maa ki Baat’

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Vaidehi Taman

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September 28, 2015

The opposition Congress called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a showman and demanded an inquiry into the massive community events addressed abroad by him, wondering where the money for such grand shows comes from. Hours after Modi hit out at the Gandhis in his San Jose speech, ‘Congress’ hit back at him, saying he is a self-obsessed person who can’t think about others. Evidently, Modi is a good actor. Wherever he goes, he enacts drama with utmost fantasy. Modi is able to stoop down and surrender self-respect to any level for sympathy. His statement about the development is utter lies. Around 14200 farmers committed suicide since he became PM. His associates, the Corporates and traders are trying their level best to cut the lending rates. If this is done, another half a million people will commit suicide in a year’s time. India’s export is dwindling since last ten months and Forex diminished in last 16 months. Onion is sold for Rs.75/- per Kg, Petrol Rs.67/- per litre. Rogue Corporates and traders are making exorbitant profit and the common people are striving hard for existence. BJP leaders and their sons & sons-in-law are making black money through corruption and hawala transactions. Vasundhara Raje’s son, Sushma Swaraj’s daughter, Pankaj Munde, Venkaiah Naidu’s sons and daughters, Yeddyurappa’s son, Arun Jaitley’s son, etc., are the examples. Modiji utters nothing but fabrications only.

This is not the first time that PM Modi had shed tears and bashed Congress. He is doing this quite many times with intervals. Somewhere, I see a helpless Modi in tears; somewhere his mind knows that people of India will reject him in the next election. What is Modi trying to achieve by making big statements, bromides and rhetoric in front of some motley crowd of about 20,000 Indian Americans. They have shelved their motherland in the name of better pastures, and almost try to look at us as low grade citizens and making fun of us. While, very few are definitely highly qualified and intellectual; the majorities are mere groups who are behind money and pelf. Modi’s talk is nothing but short of absurd expressions. The interactions and speeches of Modi are less than mediocre – and on what basis, he is saying 21st century is India’s, with 900 million poorest people living here?
During his visit to Facebook Modi answered questions from the audience at a Townhall at the Facebook headquarters. There is a lot said about women empowerment in India. What is your view on related schemes and women’s equality? His answer was fabulous and very common. Modi said there is an imagination about God in all societies. Only in India is the woman imagined as God (Durga, Kali, Saraswati, etc.) For our government to achieve economic progress, we have to utilise the potential of the 50 per cent population — the women in India. Women are very involved in education and health sectors today. Women should be empowered to be decision makers and not just participants. We will focus on girl child education through ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padao’ scheme. However, he forgets to mention the plight of woman is same as that ever before. India is tagged as rape capital, rapes continues to occur here. Saudi delegates raped Nepal woman and safely fled from our country, world knows it all. Anyway, what we really need is a person to notice that whatever PM claims or boost about himself is correct or not. He made people literally laugh which he uttered ‘Joke of the Millennium’, he said, “There have been allegations against many Indian politicians. But is there any allegation against me”.

There was an emotional moment where he cried and told how his mother struggled to raise him. It’s possible that his mother went house to house to wash cloths and utensil and even sweep the floors. However, I strongly feel that she would not have really worked as a maid or servant in someone’s houses. Why he is revealing such a personal thing about his mother? If suppose, if his mother has done so much for him, then isn’t it his duty to take care of her till last breath. Why she has to go by auto to cast her vote or live in shack when her son is enjoying all sorts of amenities? Modiji comes from Teli/Banya caste, which comes in OBC category. Teli/Banya is economically well. The other point is that Teli’s are basically oil extractor nuts. The price of Ground nut oil is set only in Gujarat and nowhere else in India. Teli are very strong community, they will not allow others to fix the price of ground nut oil in India. His parents ran a tea stall as he said earlier, did she had to work in other lower caste houses to make a living? Gujarati are very particular about the caste they belong. It is very unlikely that she earn a living by washing clothes and utensil in other houses. Modi’s claim that his mother cleaned dishes to make both ends meet is not true. Prime Minister’s claim that he sold tea in his younger days, should also be probed.

Anyway, I am commenting in the capacity of an ordinary Indian, after watching PM crying live. That has led to many unanswered questions.

Samir Gaikwad sent to judicial custody in Pansare murder case

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Afternoon Voice

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September 28, 2015

Samir Gaikwad, arrested in connection with the Communist leader and rationalist Govind Pansare murder case, was remanded to judicial custody by a court in Kolhapur which rejected police’s plea for further custody.

Gaikwad, a member of controversial right-wing group Sanatan Sanstha, was arrested in Sangli on September 16 by the special investigation team of Maharashtra Police.

“We asked for his custody for another two days as the police wanted to confront him with some suspects and interrogate them but the court didn’t accept our contention,” said Public Prosecutor Vishakha Bharte.

Earlier, seeking extension of remand two days ago, the prosecution had told the judge R D Shinde that the police had to sift through the call data record obtained from 31 SIM cards and 23 mobile handsets used by Gaikwad.

Pansare and his wife were shot by unidentified persons in Kolhapur during their morning walk on February 16 this year. While his wife survived, the CPI leader died at a Mumbai hospital four days later.

Fadnavis asks people to join national cleanliness campaign

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Afternoon Voice

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September 28, 2015

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday described the national cleanliness campaign as a people’s movement.

The Chief Minister wielded the broom at Girgaon chowpatty as part of this drive, under the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’.

The Ganesh idol immersion ended at the chowpatty in wee hours today

He also urged citizens to participate in the drive in large numbers.

Fadnavis said a large army of ‘swachhta’ (cleanliness) volunteers would be raised through the campaign.

HC dismisses plea seeking to oppose Radhe Maa’s bail petition

By

Afternoon Voice

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September 28, 2015

The Bombay High Court dismissed a social worker’s plea seeking to intervene and oppose anticipatory bail sought by controversial self-styled ‘godwoman’Radhe Maa in a case of alleged dowry harassment.

The application by Ramesh Joshi, who claims to be office-bearer of several NGOs, was dismissed by Justice Reveti Mohite-Dhere on the ground that his plea was without merits.

In another relief to her, the HC allowed her to appear before the police station concerned in Mumbai (Borivali) as and when required instead of every Wednesday as directed earlier.

On August 13, a sessions court in suburban Dindoshi had rejected her anticipatory bail plea in a case of alleged dowry harassment filed by a woman, whose in-laws are her followers.

Aggrieved, she moved the high court the next day seeking urgent relief. The HC, on August 14, had granted her interim pre-arrest bail.

Mumbai Police had filed the case against Radhe Maa on August 5 for allegedly instigating the in-laws of the 32-year-old woman, a housewife, to harass her for dowry. The case was filed after a Borivali magistrate asked the police to probe the charges levelled by the woman.

Counsel for the self-styled ‘godwoman’, Abad Ponda, argued in the HC that except Radhe Maa, other six accused in the dowry case, including the husband of the complainant (housewife), had been given protection from arrest by the trial court.

In her petition, she denied all the allegations, saying she had never instigated the family members and that she was being dragged into the case only because the complainant’s in-laws were her followers.

She alleged the complainant had levelled allegations against her only to secure a favourable order from the Family Court in a dowry case filed by her against her in-laws. She claimed she was being “framed up” by the complainant.

While the HC has granted her interim anticipatory bail as a temporary relief, her petition seeking protection from arrest has been posted for final hearing on October 5.

36 people fall ill after drinking juice

By

Afternoon Voice

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September 28, 2015

Thirty six people were taken ill after consuming juice distributed during Ganesh idol immersion processions in suburban Jogeshwari area, police said.

The incident took place last evening and all the victims were admitted to a private hospital, they said.

“Of the total 36 victims, 17 were discharged after treatment last night, while 19 others are still getting treated, but all of them are out of danger,” DCP (Detection-I) Mohan Dahikar said.

The juice was distributed by an organisation named Sai Mauli Seva Samiti, he added.

According to police, no complaint has been filed in this connection and an investigation has been launched.

Government declares 2017 as ‘Visit Maharashtra Year’

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Afternoon Voice

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September 28, 2015

The Maharashtra government will observe the year 2017 as ‘Visit Maharashtra Year’ to promote tourism in the state.

“To attract more tourists to Maharashtra, we have declared 2017 as ‘Visit Maharashtra Year’,” the state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said after launching its international tourism promotion project, Maharashtra International Travel Mart 2015 (MITM).

Fadnavis said his government would aggressively market the tourism sector and strive to develop Maharashtra as a tourism brand.

Tourism in the state will be developed through a transparent public-private-partnership (PPP) model along with an integrated tourism development plan for coastal tourism. A ‘single window scheme’ would be created for the hospitality industry, he said.

The first ever MITM is set to take Maharashtra’s robust tourism growth story on a global level, he added.

A three-day event, MITM is a flagship global tourism promotion platform conceived by the state’s Department of Tourism to attract buyers and sellers of tourism industry from all across the globe to explore common growth opportunities in the robust tourism prospects in the state.

Maharashtra has attracted increasing footfalls from global as well as domestic tourists, crossing the 4.5 million and 8.4 million mark in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

“We are exploring avenues to consolidate our positions.

With vast tourism assets at disposal, it is an opportune time for the state to win a prominent position in a global tourism league. We are looking at building and expand a strong tourism buyer and seller network within the state,” Valsa Singh Nair, state’s Tourism and Culture Principal Secretary, said.

We are sure to see a number of partnerships, tie-ups happening among tour operators, hoteliers, travel agents. It will also pave the way to attract foreign investments in the sector, Nair said.

The state is also looking at developing helipad facility to start helicopter services to the famous Elephanta caves to promote tourism. It will be developed as a PPP project, where the state government will provide infrastructure and private players will run chopper services, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director Paraag Jaiin Nainuttia said.

FTII students, I&B officials to hold talks today

By

Afternoon Voice

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September 28, 2015

The FTII students who called off their relay hunger strike yesterday after the government agreed to come to the negotiating table, will hold talks with Information and Broadcasting ministry officials here tomorrow.

The meeting will take place at the office of the Films Division in Mumbai at 11 AM on Tuesday, Vikas Urs, spokesman of the FTII Students’Association (FSA), said.

Asked if FTII students had a specific agenda for the meeting, Urs said, “There is no agenda. We want the issue to be resolved and all our concerns addressed.”

When asked if students are firm on removal of FTII Chairperson Gajendra Chauhan, Urs said, “Our demands are not limited to removal of a person”.

Among many other issues, the students have two main demands, namely to dissolve the present FTII society and simultaneously set up a new search committee, through a transparent process in place to look into appointments of chairperson, members and other staff.

They also want FTII to be given the status of a premier national institute like the IIT and the IIM, so that no bureaucrat is appointed as FTII’s director.

“We don’t have any personal animosity against Gajendra Chauhan and other members. We want someone, who truly has a body of work of national and international standards,” a former FTII student said.

Death toll of Indians in Haj stampede rises to 45

By

Afternoon Voice

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September 28, 2015

The number of Indians killed in a stampede at the Haj rose to 45 on Monday as authorities identified 10 more bodies among the victims of the worst tragedy in 25 years to hit the annual pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Haj Consulate in Jeddah said the deceased included three pilgrims from West Bengal and two each from Kerala and Jharkhand and one each from Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

Earlier, 13 more bodies were identified among the dead on Sunday raising the death toll to 35. Saudi authorities have put the total death toll from the stampede during Haj to 769. The number of injured stands at 934. At least 13 Indians were among those injured.

King Salman has ordered the formation of a committee to probe the deadly incident during the five-day pilgrimage in which around two million people from over 180 countries took part. From India, 1.5 lakh pilgrims performed Haj. Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam that should be performed at least once in a lifetime by every Muslim who is financially and physically capable.

The stampede broke out after two massive lines of pilgrims converged on each other from different directions at an intersection close to the five-storey Jamarat Bridge in Mina for symbolic stoning of the devil.

It was the second major accident this year for pilgrims, after a construction crane collapsed on September 11 at Mecca’s Grand Mosque, killing over 100 people, including 11 Indians.

Modi’s barbs damaging country’s image: Anant Gadgil

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Afternoon Voice

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September 28, 2015

Maharashtra Congress on Monday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for targeting it on foreign soil, saying his barbs were doing harm to the country’s image rather than the party.

Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Anant Gadgil said instead of speaking about the country’s views on foreign policy, the Prime Minister was targeting his country’s opposition.

“It does harm to the country’s image rather than the Congress party. More than a year has passed…But looks like Modi is not yet out of the Lok Sabha election campaign mode,” Gadgil, also a AICC media panel committee member, said.

He recalled that when late Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister, he requested the then opposition leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee to lead the Indian delegation overseas on quite a few occasions.

“The maturity shown by Rajivji (Rajiv Gandhi) and Vajpayeeji (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) is not seen in Modi,” he added.

Criticising Modi, the Congress leader said ,”Modi’s previous foreign trips have not resulted in anything concrete. Only positive outcome is that it is adding to his frequent flier miles.”

Taking a swipe at the Congress President’s son-in-law Robert Vadra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said in the US that there were allegations of politicians and their families making crores of rupees while his government has no graft charge.