Shiv Sena welcomes Bhagwat’s call for quota review, takes potshots at BJP

By

-

September 23, 2015

Shiv Sena has welcomed RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s call for a review of reservation policy while taking potshots at BJP for rushing to disown the views of the head of its ideological mentor, saying the party appears to be wary of an “electoral jolt” in Bihar polls.

“Political parties who call themselves as saviours of the victimised class have vehemently opposed Bhagwat’s comments. While attacking Bhagwat, they have their eye set on Bihar polls. Even the BJP called a hurried press meet and distanced itself away from his comments. It seems that the politics of Bihar must have been behind BJP’s response to Bhagwat,” Sena said in an editorial in its mouthpiece ‘Saamana’.

It also noted the Land Acquisition Bill has portrayed the BJP an “anti-farmer party” which might also have repercussions in the Bihar polls.

“At such a time, has the fear of an electoral jolt in the midst of Dalit-Maha Dalit politics forced the BJP to distance itself from RSS chief’s statements? Questions have now been raised over BJP’s attitude towards the RSS,” it said.

The Sena said Babasaheb Ambedkar too had called for a review of the reservation guaranteed by the Constitution after 10 years depending upon the prevailing circumstances. Bhagwat had only supported Ambedkar’s views.

“BJP has distanced from Bhagwat’s views for political reasons. But we (Sena) have nothing to do with it. Bhagwat has only said what people feel and we welcome his stand,” the Sena said.

Bhagwat had recently, in an interview to Sangh journals ‘Organiser’ and ‘Panchjanya’, held that the issue of reservation has been used for political ends and suggested setting up of an apolitical committee to examine as to which categories require it and for how long.

He said though “interest groups” do get formed in democracy, aspirations of one section should not be met at the cost of others.

Marathi film ‘Court’ chosen as India’s official entry for Oscars

By

Afternoon Voice

-

September 23, 2015

First time director Chaitanya Tamhanhe’s Marathi film “Court”, a National Award winner, was on Monday chosen as India’s official entry for the 88th Academy Awards.

The news was confirmed by Supran Sen, secretary general of the Film Federation of India, which selects the country’s official entry in the Best Foreign Film category of the prestigious Oscars.

Veteran actor-filmmaker Amol Palekar was heading the jury for choosing the entry this year.

“Court” is about a trial which unfolds in a lower court, where the hopes and dreams of the city’s ordinary people play out. It was named the National Film Award winner in the Best Feature Film category for 2014.

Nitish Kumar hits out at BJP, says RSS is like its Supreme Court

By

Afternoon Voice

-

September 23, 2015

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday launched a blistering attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party, alleging it was “anti-reservation” and toes the line of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) which is “like its Supreme Court”.

The Bihar CM also announced the list of 242 candidates of his alliance for Assembly Elections, with a major chunk from SC/ST and backward communities.

Addressing a press conference here, Kumar claimed the grand alliance stood united as there were no differences unlike in the NDA and said the people of Bihar will give a befitting reply to the BJP as they were watching its “divisive” politics.

He released the joint list of Janata Dal-United, Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress candidates of the coalition and said it represents all sections of society with 16 per cent from general category, 55 per cent backwards, 15 per cent SCs/STs and 14 per cent from the minority community.

Hitting out at BJP and RSS, he accused them of being against reservations and said the RSS, which was the ideological mentor of BJP, was seeking to install an “extra-constitutional” body to review reservations.

“It is clear that he (Bhagwat) feels the current policy of reservation is not right and wants some other system,” he said, while reading out excerpts of the RSS chief’s interview to RSS mouthpiece ‘Organiser’ and ‘Panchjanya’.

AAP MLA Somnath Bharti moves Supreme Court for bail in Domestic violence case

By

Afternoon Voice

-

September 23, 2015

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Somnath Bharti, who continues to evade arrest, Wednesday, moved Supreme Court seeking protection from arrest in domestic violence case, filed by his wife Lipika Mitra.

The controversial MLA has sought a direction that the Delhi Police be restrained from arresting him till his petition challenging the High Court order is decided, his counsel said.

“We have filed the application in the Supreme Court. Now that we have approached the Supreme Court, I hope that Delhi Police will hold their horses and not trouble the staff and relatives of Somnath Bharti till the outcome of the application in the apex court,” said Bharti’s lawyer Vijay Aggarwal.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Delhi’s former law minister Somnath Bharti in a domestic violence case.

Somnath continues to evade arrest for the second day today as even Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said former law minister Somnath Bharti should surrender to police and that by “running away” from arrest “he is becoming embarrassment for the party and his family”.

The AAP leader MLA, whose wife accused him of domestic violence and attempt to murder, was not traceable after the court rejected his plea for anticipatory bail, observing that the allegations against him were backed by “documentary proof”.

After the court ruling, police had raided several places yesterday including Bharti’s residence and office but could not nab him. Raids have been conducted across the National Capital Region today also.

Bharti was named in a first information report (FIR) registered in Dwarka in west Delhi on charges of domestic violence and attempt to murder, and attempt to cause miscarriage without the woman’s consent.

Goa CM says no ban on Sanatan Sanstha, rejects Congress’ demand

By

Afternoon Voice

-

September 23, 2015

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Wednesday ruled out banning right-wing outfit Sanatan Sanstha – a demand made by the Congress leaders of the state.

The Goa unit of the Congress had demanded a ban on Sanatan Sanstha, whose members are accused of killing Leftist leader Govind Pansare in Kolhapur in Maharashtra in February.

The right-wing Hindu organisation was allegedly involved in spreading hatred and dividing the country on religious lines and should be banned, Goa Congress spokesperson Durgadas Kamat said.

“Institutions like Sanatan Sanstha, spreading hatred and dividing the country on religious lines, should be banned not only in Goa, but also in the country. It is a testing time for the BJP that talks of secularism only during elections,” Kamat said.

Kamat’s statement comes in the wake of a similar demand by a BJP legislator considered close to the Goa chief minister. On Tuesday, Bharatiya Janata Party legislator from St. Andre constituency, Vishnu Wagh, demanded a ban on the Sanstha, headquartered in Ramnathi village, 35 km from Panaji.

“In a democracy, there is no scope for violence. All those who try to use bullets to threaten the voice of opposition are terrorists, because they try to frighten the opposition. It is evident from the killing of Govind Pansare and M.M. Kalburgi. The Sanatan Sanstha’s hand is evident in these cases,” alleged Wagh.

Wagh said if the Goa government could ban Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik from entering the state, a ban on Sanatan Sanstha was also warranted.

Tamil mag tags leggings as ‘vulgar’, gets slammed on Twitter!

By

Afternoon Voice

-

September 23, 2015

The moral custodians of society have done it again! This time a Tamil magazine named ‘Kumudam’ carried their cover story on how womens wear leggings is both vulgar to wear and also calls for male attention.

This bizarre connection got the magazine in serious trouble, as the virtual world trolled them on Twitter. The story published in the magazine, held women folk responsible for male gaze. The cover story blamed women for wearing tight clothes such as ‘leggings’, which attracts men’s attention towards them.

However, this opinion doesn’t seem to have clicked with the readers, as internet users slammed the magazine for such a regressive thought and also demanded an ‘apology’.

‘5.5 Crores for bus, CM?’ says farmer in letter before suicide, Naidu reply can’t compromise with security

By

Afternoon Voice

-

September 23, 2015

Another farmer has committed suicide in drought-hit Andhra Pradesh. However, before taking his life, the tobacco farmer wrote a scathing letter to Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, questioning his priorities.

In his letter, the farmer questioned Naidu’s decision to spend Rs 5.5 crore on a luxury bus instead of protecting farmers. The farmer warned the CM that farmers were under extreme pressure and were being forced to end their lives.

The tobacco farmer, Venkateshwara Rao, belonged to West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.

He was struggling to pay off loans of Rs 22 lakh and took his life on Monday. He had written to Naidu a week before, and he allegedly committed suicide after he didn’t get a response from the chief minister.

The police say Rao may have been depressed also because of huge hospital bills after an accident last year and his separation from his wife.
He left no suicide note but his last letter, to the Chief Minister, was a neon sign.

“The Chief Minister, for his own safety, has spent Rs. 5.5 crore on modifying a (state transport) bus. If his life is so valuable, a tobacco farmer’s suicide brings his family on the road,” Rao wrote.

“Isn’t it the Chief Minister’s responsibility to ensure that even one farmer doesn’t commit suicide?”

The bus that the farmer referred to was commissioned by Mr Naidu last year when he decided to tour the state to monitor the impact of Cyclone Hudhud. The vehicle worked as a makeshift office with a sofa, television and tele-conferencing screen, besides a small bedroom.

Rao said there were 14,000 tobacco farmers like him who were all in debt and “had started committing suicide.”

Reacting to the incident, the Chief Minister said that though his government had done a lot for the farmers, he could not compromise on his security.

Naidu said, “I have done a lot for famers. They have been given money, it is not that government has not done anything for them, but my security is important. This suicide issue is different from safety and security.”

ED attaches former UP minister’s properties worth Rs. 200 crore in NRHM scam

By

Afternoon Voice

-

September 23, 2015

The Enforcement Directorate has attached properties worth Rs. 200 crore in connection with the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam case.

The agency attached the properties in Lucknow and Delhi. The properties were reportedly linked to former Uttar Pradesh minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Babu Singh Kushwaha.

One of the properties that were attached by the Enforcement Directorate is in Karol Bagh area of the national capital. This comes after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said that it would soon be examining former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati in connection with the alleged swindling of funds in the implementation of centrally funded NRHM.

CBI sources said BSP supremo Mayawati who was at the helm of affairs in UP during 2007-12 during which NRHM misappropriation is alleged, will be called for questioning in connection with the case.

World Maritime Day

By

Mahendra Singh

-

September 23, 2015

India will soon be celebrating World Maritime Day and we can legitimately feel happy and proud by achieving a lot in Maritime trade and technology. We have mastered construction and safe operation of huge oil tankers, specialized ships like chemical tankers and Gas carriers and have been able to promulgate rules, regulations, guide lines and best practices in all aspects of these and other types of vessels. We have been able to write out Polar code and have successfully operated vessels with specialized ice cutting provisions to navigate through the northern ice route, at least in some months of the year. Besides economy, it has given our seafarers and marine technologists enormous confidence, that we can do it, we have done it.

India has made tremendous progress in the field of off shore activities by designing and operating specialized vessels, oil platforms, laying up and testing the pipe lines facing rough seas and hazardous situations with immense capability. It has been a spectacle of human endeavor and success thereof. International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has been doing great job in laying out model courses and updating regulations. Indian Shipping companies, the DG Shipping institution and our marine colleges have progressed but, alas, not qualitatively. Where is a decent big passenger ship under the Indian flag? We need to understand one thing very clearly that maritime technology and safe operation requires acquisition of various skills like various welding techniques, carpentry, plumbing , use of drilling and lathe machine for ability to carry out certain basic day to day jobs on board.

The automation has increased a lot and so we need young persons possessing capability of meeting the challenge through relevant skill acquisition. We have trainers in India, good trainers, but we must supplement by unhesitatingly seeking foreign assistance say from the Japanese or the Norwegians. On a ship, a Ph.D holder or MSc is not required, but ability to read an electrical drawing and finding and rectifying a fault is certainly required. The classification societies are doing a very good job. Their surveyors have tremendous knowledge. I am always looking to learn something from them. However, neither the IMO, nor the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has recognized their potential as legitimate teachers.

There are marine equipment manufacturers; we will meet them at the Expo shortly. What tremendous capabilities have they developed? Some of them at least the willing ones, could be invited to teach or impart training to our youth. The health of Indian seafarers, in general, is a matter of concern needing our attention. All of us know that whatever we learn is mostly while working on board. Infact, we should be paying attention to greater onboard training, specially for post – sea learning.

Kylie Jenner accused of stalking teen in relationship with Jaden Smith

By

Afternoon Voice

-

September 23, 2015

Kylie Jenner has been accused of stalking a teenage girl.

Chelsea Clark reportedly attempted to secure a temporary restraining order against the 18-year-old reality TV star last week, claiming the ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ beauty has been harassing her for three years, during which she allegedly arranged to have her followed and sent her threatening messages because of her relationship with Kylie’s ex-boyfriend Jaden Smith.

She also alleges that the starlet, who insists she has no idea who the girl is, called her personally and said, “Leave my boyfriend alone cause you will never be like me,” and later told her, “This is war.”

Law enforcement sources told that Clark, who also claims her back was injured during a car accident that she believes was masterminded by Kylie, was denied the protection order and was asked to bring evidence of the threatening messages to court on Monday, but she failed to show up.

Another hearing has been scheduled for October 9, 2015.

Kylie and 17-year-old actor Jaden, son of Will Smith and JadaPinkett Smith, split in 2014 after three years of dating and she started dating current boyfriend, Tyga, a few months later.