BSF-Pak Rangers meet from Sept 9

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September 6, 2015

Ceasefire violations in Jammu and Kashmir, including sniper attacks, infiltration, intrusion in Rann of Kutch and smuggling are among the key issues India is expected to raise with Pakistan during the five-day DG level talks between their border guarding forces from September 9.

A 16-member delegation headed by Pakistan Rangers Director General (Punjab) Maj Gen Umar Farooq Burki is expected to travel to Attari-Wagah border crossing in Punjab on September 8 and later fly down from Amritsar to participate in the talks here with the Border Security Force from September 9-13, officials said.

The Indian delegation with as many members will be led by BSF chief Devendra Kumar Pathak.

The Indian agenda for the talks has put extra stress on the “most important” issue of breach of ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir, which has led to loss of lives of civilians and troops and “unprovoked” firing by the Rangers along the IB, they said.

The Indian side will also take up the issue of “no response” by the other side when BSF waves the ‘white flag’, which is used to indicate stopping of fire and meeting of on-ground commanders of the two sides.

The BSF will also take up the issue of intrusion in the ‘Harami Nallah’ area of the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, smuggling of contraband from across the border and illegal movement of suspects up to the zero line area along the IB in order to facilitate illegal activities.

Issues of infiltration from across the border and use of sniper weapons to target troops manning border posts will also be raised.

Pakistan had last month sent confirmation and agenda for these DG-level talks despite it calling off the meeting of the NSAs of the two countries a fortnight ago after India made it clear that Kashmiri separatist leaders would not be allowed to meet Pakistani NSA Sartaj Aziz during his visit here.

I Would “Seriously Consider” Playing James Bond: Hugh Jackman

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Afternoon Voice

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September 6, 2015

The actor, known for playing Wolverine in the X-Men films, told Australian television series The Program that producers of the James Bond film series asked him years ago about playing the suave spy, but he wasn’t interested back then.

“At the time, I was just about to do X-Men 2, and I was like, ‘Ah, I don’t think it’s the right time,’ ” said Jackman, who soon can be seen in the final Wolverine film, set for a 2017 release.

But Jackman, 46, still remains open to the idea of donning the iconic spy character’s tux.

“I’d seriously consider it,” he said of playing 007.

BRITNEY SPEARS TIGHT WITH EX-FIANCE’S BFF

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Afternoon Voice

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September 6, 2015

Britney Spears had an interesting liaison Friday night … playing grabsees with ex-fiance Jason Trawick’s best buddy.

Britney was at XS nightclub in Vegas when she and Cade Hudson got cozy in the DJ booth and on the dance floor. She bear-hugged him and generally looked pretty intimate.

The “bro code” clearly has a statute of limitations … or at least it should.

Selena Gomez joins ‘Neighbors 2’

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Afternoon Voice

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September 6, 2015

Pop star Selena Gomez will star alongside Seth Rogen, Zac Efron and Chloe Moretz in the upcoming “Neighbors” sequel, along with.

“Neighbors” was a surprise hit with USD 269 million in worldwide grosses. Rose Byrne is set to reprise her role, with Nicholas Stoller returning as director, reported Variety.

The original revolved around a couple whose lives are turned upside-down after declaring war on the fraternity that moved in next door.

The sequel’s plot is unknown, though sources say a sorority could be the couple’s problem this time.

23-year-old Gomez’s involvement in the film broke when fan photos revealed that she was on set.

While details surrounding her role are unknown, her sorority girl-esque costume (a tight pink dress) suggests her character’s involvement with the Greek system.

Rogen, Evan Goldberg and James Weaver will produce under their Point Grey Pictures banner.

Teachers are our role models

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Afternoon Voice

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September 6, 2015

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee addressed and interacted with students on the occasion of Teachers Day which commemorates the birthday of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakhrishnan. He resolved students’ queries and there was exchange of ideas with them. The function began by reciting prayers to Goddess Saraswati. HRD Minister Smriti Irani quoted an anonymous author, “That Human Spirit collapses when it is denied a dream”. Modi later interacted with students outside through the video conferencing mode, which was broadcast live by Doordarshan and All India Radio. Some very studious and innovative students who have done India proud internationally spoke and received complements by the PM and vice versa. Many of them were inspired by his “Swachh Bharat” campaign and are working on dry waste and how to turn wet waste into fertilizer and energy.

Education takes you from darkness to brightness and today the population being 65 per cent of youth between 9 and 15 years old we can see a unique India emerging in their hands and the mighty minds of Generation Next. Thanks to teachers who can be great educationists and their determination can make them influential catalysts to the students. As a mark of respect Modi released two commemorative coins of Rs 125 and Rs 10 in the memory of former President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. The coins will be in circulation soon and is made up of silver, zinc, copper and nickel. Taking a leaf from his life and recently from some others like APJ Abdul Kalam would be an inspiration for the receptive minds.

According to our 5000 years old culture mother gives you birth but guru-teacher- is defined as the one who gives life and shows you the right path. That’s why the saying “Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu, Gurur Devo Maheshwara”. One of the relevant questions addressed to Modi was that he had launched the “Digital India’ programme with much fanfare but how will it click when there is shortage of electricity in many regions of India. Modi has promised that he is hoping that within 1000 days 18,000 thousand villages will be provided with full electricity by the time the nation observes 75^th Independence Day this country will be more digitally savvy . If this does not remain a promise but actually happens then this government will prove to be a beacon for millions of students in India. The other thing that stood out was when the PM mentioned that instead of just receiving a character certificate one will now receive an aptitude certificate wherein the skill you are best at should be pursued and excelled at instead of following some parents who ask their children to become something they wanted to achieve but didn’t. Parents, he mentioned which guided their children in the right direction should be saluted. He said that we should not become Robots now that technology is so advanced but still remain sensitive. This is reminiscent of Bill Gates who said that “Technology is just a tool, it is the teachers who nurture the real you.”

Coming back to the creative students, who have achieved milestones at a young age, were given the opportunity to be pro-active with the PM and ask queries. One of them is a mountaineer from class 10^th from Telangana who sponsored it. Malavat Poorna at the age of 13 years is the youngest person to reach the Mt. Everest Summit. A group of five girls have represented our country in Los Angeles and have developed an app for dry waste called ” Sellixo” where in users can log on to which helps them to market and recycle it. There is one 12 year boy who has won the “Amul Chef of the year” award. In the future we will see him as Master Chef in the Australian franchise hosted now here as well. There were so many achievements which is a very encouraging sign for this country.

Allka V Aswani

Really tough to be a ‘star kid’: Sooraj Pancholi

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Afternoon Voice

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September 6, 2015

Actor Aditya Pancholi’s son Sooraj, who is entering showbiz with forthcoming “Hero”, says being a ‘star kid’ is tough as people have several expectations from them and they are under constant scrutiny.

He says he has “struggled” to land a role in “Hero”, in which he stars with Suniel Shetty’s daughter Athiya.

“Struggle has been there… not every star kid gets a platform. It is easier to get it (work), but there has to be some talent and some hardwork in you. Our struggle is very different because star kids come with certain criticism towards them.

“We have to deal with all that and cope with expectation of everyone because they want us to be as good as our parents, who have been a part of the film industry since a long time. It is really tough to be a ‘star kid’,” Sooraj said.

The emerging star was in the Millennium City on Saturday to promote his film with Athiya and superstar Salman Khan, who has produced the film.

Talking of the struggles of being a star kid, Salman said: “It is difficult as their first film is compared to their parents’ last film.”

I have never been surprised by a flop in my career: Imran Khan

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Afternoon Voice

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September 6, 2015

Actor Imran Khan, who will be back on the big screen with ‘Katti Batti’ after a gap of two years, believes his last few films faltered at the box office because something went wrong while they were being made. Imran’s last three films – Vishal Bharadwaj’s ‘Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandoloa’, Milan Luthria’s ‘Once Upon Ay Time In Mumbai Dobaara’ with Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha and Karan Johar’s ‘Gori Tere Pyaar Mein’ opposite Kareena Kapoor Khan – did not do well.

‘I have done enough films to know that anything can happen (hit or flop film). If I have worked with honesty. I am happy about it. I have never been surprised by a flop in my career,’ Imran said in an interview here.

The ‘Delhi Belly’ actor said he has learnt his lessons from the past and would believe on his instincts and listen to what his heart says while doing a film. ‘Two years ago, the media was celebrating my choice of films with Vishal Bharadwaj and Milan Luthria. They said I was making smart decisions… what happened to that?’ the 32-year-old actor said.

‘The choices were intelligent but I think we went wrong in the making of the films, which often happens. You sign on with the best of people but when you end up with the final cut you realise that this was not what we had intended,’ he said.

When asked about his take on contemporaries and if he has lagged due to his absence in the film circuit, the actor said, ‘I am an actor who loves to watch and make films along with living my life. I don’t want to earn money or fame. I want to make movies. I’m not interested in playing this game.’

Meanwhile, Imran is looking forward to the release of ‘Katti Batti’ opposite Kangana Ranuat, which hit screens on September 18.

It will be difficult to make film on my father, says Saif Ali Khan

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Afternoon Voice

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September 6, 2015

Actor Saif Ali Khan says he would love to make a film on father Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi but also feels it will be an uphill task for him to get the nuances of the legendary cricketer right.

With the latest trend of biopics made on sportspersons in Bollywood, when asked if he is approached for a biopic on Pataudi, Saif said he is open to the idea given that the story has to be interesting.

“Depends on the script. I feel most actors can’t (do it)… It’s difficult to play sports on screen convincingly. He (father) was a stylish batsman.. How you imitate that. It would be embarrassment if I don’t do justice to it (film) as a son,” he said.

Titular Nawab of Pataudi from 1952, until 1971, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, fondly called as Tiger, was former captain of the Indian cricket team. The right-handed batsman damaged his right eye in an accident but continued to play the game.

Saif, 45, had earlier expressed his desire to make a documentary film on his father but the actor seems to be still toying with the idea.

On being asked about his plan on the documentary, he said, “There is not much footage to make a documentary, what I have found is so rare and little. If we could get some more details about it then it would be amazing.”

“There is no sports story like it.. (of a sportsperson), who lost one eye and played international cricket. He did not talk about it when he was alive. When he died some people remember it. But to be famous after six generation is a great thing but they still remember… It is hell of a story,” he said.

The “Phantom” actor thinks one can make an English or bilingual film on his father but not a typical Bollywood film.

“May be someone can make film on him but you can’t make a Bollywood (movie), he can’t sing songs.. You can make a bilingual or English. May be one can make English film for India depends on how the story is,” he said.

BJP chokes the voice of people

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Afternoon Voice

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September 4, 2015

Opposition parties condemn the diktat issued by Home department and said that the state is heading towards emergency.

Mumbaikars are unhappy with the Government resolution (GR) issued by the Home department which mentions that charges can be filed against anybody making hatred, unfair statements against elected representatives. The person can be treated as a traitor. Thus a heated discussion is likely to happen in the state assembly over this issue. Already opposition parties have expressed their displeasure over the diktat issued by the Home department. According to them the state government is curbing the citizens right to freedom of speech and expression through this resolution which is unjustified and want it to be reviewed.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Chief, Raj Thackeray said, “By bringing this resolution the government is only issuing a fatwa to citizens. Nowadays the Fadnavis government is busy in passing resolution and visiting drought prone areas of Marathwada. Instead they must try to offer compensation to the drought affected farmers. The government has failed to deliver the promises made by it. People are already facing huge hardships due to deficit rains in various regions of the state.”

Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council, Dhananjay Munde, said, “This is not a right decision. Few days back, a BJP leader had said that whether we are heading towards the emergency era. The Home department’s latest diktat seems to be heading towards that direction.”

Leader of opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said, “The Home department’s diktat is a violation of freedom of speech. The guidelines issued by the Bombay High Court pertaining to this issue must be studied.”

Congress state unit president, Ashok Chavan said, “I condemn this decision and it is anti-democratic. The government needs to review this decision.”

Veteran cartoonist, Mangesh Tendulkar said, “The government is imposing restrictions on freedom of speech. If making statements against the elected representatives is a crime then I will commit this crime on a regular basis.”

Senior Advocate, Abha Singh said, “It’s an unfair move by the government. MP or MLAs are incompetent and by restricting people’s voices their showing their incompetence. Even if somebody criticizes a MLA on a positive note, he will be booked for sedition, you cannot stop people from talking. If they have a problem with a speech or person they surely can file a defamation case.”

NCP leader, Majid Memon said, “The government has chosen to take an extreme course, by imposing such law or rule, which may not survive judicial test, which will be obviously shut down by the very first court with its constitutional validity. Although section 191A of the Indian constitution which assures freedom of speech and expression is not an absolute right, but in number of cases the court has already explained the parameters and the extent to which the expression can be applied, therefore this law seems to be contrary.”

RTI activist, Anil Galgali said, “When people have elected you for their betterment, how can you expect them to shut their mouths when their elected person is not functioning, we are not living in Afghanistan or Taliban. The opposition or even the members within their party cannot speak against their MLA. I believe this is shameful act.”

Earlier Cartoonist Aseem Trivedi was arrested on charges of sedition for displaying cartoons during the Anna Hazare protest in the Bandra-Kurla complex (BKC) in November 2011. The arrest was carried out on the basis of a complaint filed by Amit Katarnayea, a legal advisor for a Mumbai-based NGO.

Katarnayea had approached the BKC police in December 2011 with his complaint against Trivedi’s allegedly derogatory sketches, depicting the National Emblem and the Parliament in a bad light. The complainant said that the offending cartoons were uploaded on social networking sites too, thereby hurting the sentiments of the nation. There was a huge outrage over Trivedi’s arrest on social networking sites prompting the government to reconsider its decision.

Modi Sarkar has no time for Labour reform?

By

Vaidehi Taman

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September 4, 2015

BJP government’s labour reforms will be based on the principle of destroying trade unions and help or save trade corporate. So, it is very obvious that government will not hear the voice of trade unions. The trade union strike has been called on because of the PM Narendra Modi government’s proposed changes in Labour laws. A day-long strike by millions of workers brought public transport to a grinding halt and shut down factories and banking services across several parts of India in protest against the government’s proposed labour reforms in a fear that this will put their jobs at risk. Ours is a socialist country by its culture and history. It’s time to change from the idea of job protection to the idea of progressive job employment. When jobs will be in larger number then everyone will get employment. It will be easier for people to go up and increase their salary. In the worst case, one will find an equivalent job in another company. Job protection is farcical illusion. It is very dangerous for the employee itself that he/she is giving nothing in return. At the end, no one not even Government can guarantee job protection if it is not based on reality and money gathering.

Union busting is a pejorative term used by media, labour organisations, and others to describe a wide range of activities undertaken to disrupt or prevent the formation of trade unions. Union busting tactics can refer to both legal and illegal activities, and can range anywhere from subtle to violence. Labour laws differ greatly from country to country in both level and type of regulations in respect to their protection of unions, their organizing activities, as well as other aspects. These laws can affect topics such as posting notices, organizing on or off employer property, solicitations, card signing, union dues, picketing, work stoppages, striking and strikebreaking, lockouts, termination of employment, permanent replacements, automatic recognition, derecognition, ballot elections and employer-controlled trade unions.

Dynamic jobs are the one where there are enough jobs for everyone and allows people to go up the ladder improves people’s earning and make their lives better. The faster we come to the correct logic the better it will be. Ten central trade unions called for the “Bharat bandh” in support of a 12-point charter demanding higher wages, social security, withdrawal of labour law amendments and an end to privatisation of public sector companies among other things. A loss of Rs. 25,000 crores to the nation in a day. If these people are allowed to go in their way, then we don’t need Pakistan to send terrorists to destabilize us. Our own people are capable enough to do that.

The new laws by the government have been made against the employees so the union members have decided to show their strength to the government. Reforms noise is fine but no commenter or Union wants to say that this shall be the reform. If an employer undertakes to recruit somebody because he can pay, he shall be entitled to remove him if he believes that he cannot pay. The fact that the contract/ casual workers outnumber regular workers just because their wages are low is also unfair. A law which restricts their proportion and type of work should be changed. How long an apprentice can remain an apprentice is the question which law shall take care. Overtime hours, their rates, etc are the leverages which managements use to contain costs. Replacement of labour by higher capacity and more efficient machines is natural and accepted as a principle. We shall not restrict retrenchment because of it. However, with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) assuming power in mid-2014, some State governments dared the trade unions by successfully introducing core labour law reforms such as amending Chapter V-B of the ID Act and the Contract Labour Act. The Modi government has sought to send strong signals to global and domestic investors that it would introduce these very core reforms at the national level, and has hence floated codes on wages, industrial relations and other issues. The trade unions have criticised these reform initiatives. The presence of BMS till the penultimate moment bolstered their morale and embarrassed the Centre. The demands largely cover issues concerning labour flexibility, enhanced labour rights including better minimum wages, opposition to unilateral reform measures and to foreign direct investment. The inter-ministerial committee headed by the finance minister has held talks with the trade unions. The NDA government has reportedly given an assurance on meeting seven of the 12 demands, such as raising minimum wages and bonus eligibility limits, creating a social security net for contract workers and holding a social dialogue before effecting reforms. Appeased by these statements, BMS withdrew from the strike. They are prepared to give six months to the government for execution of promises, before reviewing their position.

The unions could have maintained their unity and deferred the strike. This would have probably shifted the onus of “proof of constructive social dialogue” on the government. In the event of the government not delivering on its promises, the trade unions’ legitimacy would have risen. Such legitimacy is important in strikes that affect social welfare. The other view applies to trade unions which are not convinced by the assurances. Modi government is forced to hold back Land Ordinance bill. In a same manner, government would be forced to withdraw labour law amendments and an end to privatization of public sector companies among other things.