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

SaifActor 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

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

BJP-chokesMumbaikars 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?

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.

Police seek details of Peter Mukerjea’s bank accounts in UK, Spain

Peter-MukerjeaWith more revelations being made by the prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case every day, the Mumbai Police is now seeking the details of former media tycoon Peter Mukerjea and his wife Indrani, who is the prime suspect in the case.

The Mumbai Police had shot off a letter to the Registrar of the Companies seeking details of the company owned by Peter Mukerjea.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Police is also expected to approach authorities in Britain and Spain where Peter and Indrani have bank accounts.

This comes a day after Indrani, Peter and Sanjeev Khanna, another accused in the case, were grilled by the police till late on Thursday.

Indrani had reportedly admitted to her role in the crime during sustained interrogation.

According to sources, Indrani told the police of the circumstances surrounding Sheena’s murder.

Malegaon blasts: SC judge recuses from hearing plea against SPP

RohiniA Supreme Court judge on Friday recused himself from hearing a plea against removal of Special Public Prosecutor by NIA in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case, saying that he had represented certain accused in the matter.

The prosecutor had recently stirred a controversy by alleging that an officer of NIA had told her to “go soft” on the accused, a charge denied by the anti-terror agency.

“I represented certain accused in the matter,” Justice UU Lalit said while recusing himself from hearing the case.

The bench, headed by Justice FMI Kalifulla, then said that “let the matter be listed before the Chief Justice of India who, in turn, will allocate it to another bench”.

Senior Advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for Harsh Mander who had filed the PIL, said that she had no objection if the present bench decides to hear the matter. The court, however, declined the plea.

The PIL has accused the NDA government of trying to interfere with the functioning of the prosecutor in the case by exerting “pressure” on the prosecutor to “go soft” on the accused. It alleged that the executive was attempting to influence the judicial system.

It alleged that National Investiation Agency (NIA) officials had pressured erstwhile Special Public Prosecutor in case, Rohini Salian, “presumably” under instructions from their “political masters”.

The petition has said that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which is the controlling ministry of NIA, “has been allegedly trying to influence/pressurize an honest Public Prosecutor to go soft on the accused persons”.

The petitioner has sought the apex court’s intervention to ensure a fair trial as there were reasons to “credibly fear” that “executive is attempting to influence the judicial system to cave in to the pressure exerted by it in all matters, including affording protection to right-wing extremists who sympathize with its ideology”.

Salian, who was SPP in the case, had alleged an NIA officer had told her to “go soft” on the accused. She also claimed the same officer had told her that she would be replaced. Salian is no longer on NIA’s panel of lawyers.

HC tells Maharashtra to take a stand on 40-year-old law on casinos

casinosThe Bombay High Court on Friday asked Maharashtra government to file an affidavit within four weeks in reply to a PIL demanding that a four-decade-old law, which makes it legal to run casinos in the state, be brought into force.

A bench headed by Justice VM Kanade asked the state government to take a stand on the issue and inform the court next month whether it intends to implement this law.

According to the petitioner, Jay Satya, a law student, the Maharashtra Casinos (Control and Tax) Act was passed by the Assembly and published in the government gazette in July 1976. However, it has not been notified yet.

Satya found out through the Right to Information (RTI) that the Act had received the Governor’s assent on July 22, 1976. In December last, he wrote a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis requesting him to notify it but there was no response.

The Act provides for licensing of casinos, permitting certain types of casino games, taxation of the money paid or agreed to be paid by the participants by way of stakes or bets, etc.

Goa and Sikkim are the only two states which currently allow casinos, the PIL says, alleging that government of Maharashtra has “arbitrarily and unreasonably” kept in abeyance the Act by not notifying it.

Sheena Bora’s father Siddharth Das quizzed, statement recorded

Sheena Bora’s biological father Siddharth Das has been quizzed by the Mumbai Police and his statement recorded in connection with her murder case, police said on Friday.

Das reached Khar police station at around 8 pm on Thursday to join the investigation into the sensational crime committed three years ago and left at about 3 am on Friday, they said.

Police had claimed that Sheena’s mother Indrani Mukerjea had “confessed” to her role in the crime.

They are also probing financial details obtained from Indrani’s husband and former Star India CEO Peter Mukerjea. Peter had on Thursday arrived at the Khar police station for questioning along with his CA and had brought bank statements, documents pertaining to the registration of companies and the books of his various companies.

Das, who claimed to be Sheena’s biological father, was flown down to Mumbai from Kolkata last evening and is understood to have been brought face-to-face with the accused.

Earlier, a police team had reached Das’ Kolkata home on Wednesday in order to bring him to Mumbai. His statement has been recorded and his sample taken for a DNA test.

Fire at RBI building in BKC, two firemen injured

Two firemen sustained minor injuries while battling a medium blaze which engulfed the top eighth floor of the Reserve Bank of India building in the suburban Bandra-Kurla Complex on Friday morning, officials said.

The fire, the cause of which is not yet known, broke out around 8.40 a.m. when the busy office complex was yet to become fully operational.

Eight fire tenders and six water tankers rushed to the spot and managed to douse the conflagration by 11.15 a.m.

Two fireman sustained minor injuries while breaking the glass facade on the building, but were treated on the spot itself and discharged.

An official said that office furniture and equipment, computers and other fittings were damaged in the fire.

People in power shouldn’t waste their time on me: Sunny Leone

Jism 2 star Sunny Leone says it is a shame when people in power waste their time one her, after CPI leader Atul Anjan demanded ban on a condom advertisement featuring the actress.

The 34-year-old former adult star took to Twitter and said instead of talking about her, people should focus on helping those in need.

“Sad when people of power waste their time and energy on me, instead of focusing on helping those in need!!!!! #SHAME #EPICFAIL” she tweeted.

During an event in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, Anjan contended that the “disgusting and dirty” advertisement featuring the “Ragini MMS 2” actress could lead to increase in rape incidents.

Leone will be next seen in the adult comedy “Mastizaade” which stars Tusshar Kapoor, Vir Das, Shaad Randhawa, Suresh Menon among others.

HC extends ex-DU professor’s temporary bail in Maoist links

The Bombay High Court extended by around three months the temporary bail granted to former Delhi University Professor G N Saibaba, arrested for alleged Maoist links, considering his deteriorating health condition.

Saibaba was arrested by Maharashtra police last year. On June 30, the high court granted him temporary bail for three months to undergo medical treatment for multiple ailments including a degenerative spine disease.

The bail was granted by a division bench headed by Chief Justice Mohit Shah, which had converted into public interest litigation (PIL) a letter written by activist Purnima Upadhyay, which highlighted the deteriorating health condition of Saibaba who is 90 per cent disabled due to post-polio paralysis.

Senior advocate Gayatri Singh, appearing for Upadhyay, today told the court that although Saibaba is discharged from hospital, he would require regular treatment.

“His health has improved. If treatment is not received, he’ll go back into a situation worse than what he was suffering from,” Singh said adding that Saibaba has to return to the Nagpur Central Prison on October 4.

She also informed that five other accused in the same criminal case have been released on regular bail by the Nagpur bench of the high court.

The bench, while extending the temporary bail given to Saibaba till December 31, also directed that the earlier Rs. 50,000 bail bond shall continue. It also gave liberty to Saibaba to move the Nagpur bench of the high court seeking regular bail.