HC stays compulsory voting rule in Gujarat civic polls

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August 21, 2015

The Gujarat High Court on Friday stayed the implementation of a law that makes voting compulsory in the civic body elections in the state.

The ‘right to vote’ itself provides right to refrain from voting and it cannot be turned into ‘duty of voting’, the High Court said while acting on a petition challenging the Gujarat Local Authorities (Amendment) Act 2009, which makes voting mandatory in local body polls in the state.

The High Court division bench of acting Chief Justice Jayant Patel and Justice N V Anjariya stayed implementation of compulsory voting, admitting the plea filed by lawyer K R Koshti against the Act.

A Bill making voting compulsory for all the citizens in civic bodies, mooted by then Chief Minister Narendra Modi, was passed by the state Assembly in 2009 and became a law when present Governor O P Kohli signed it.

Earlier this month, the government had notified the law saying those who fail to vote will have to pay a fine of Rs 100.

Petitioner’s lawyer P S Champaneri submitted before the HC earlier today that right to vote is an expression of a citizen and whether to vote includes the right to not vote.

The right to vote cannot be termed as the duty by the state and therefore, the provision of compulsory voting Act is violative of fundamental rights given to any citizen under the Indian Constitution, Champanderi submitted.

He also argued that the state Legislatures does not have any legislative competence to enact a law regarding voting, as it comes under the purview of the Constitution and any such law can only be amended or enacted by Parliament.

The petitioner demanded in the plea to restrain the Gujarat government and the State Election Commission to implement the provisions of the Gujarat Local Authorities (Amendment) Act, 2009. The Gujarat Local Authorities (Amendment) Bill was first introduced in the state Assembly in December 2009 and passed by a majority vote when Modi was Chief Minister.

Smriti Irani’s letter is mocked on Twitter

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Afternoon Voice

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August 21, 2015

Education Minister Smriti Irani, already mired in a controversy over her fake degree, became a butt of jokes on Twitter after a teacher spotted spelling mistakes in a letter sent on her behalf.

Irani has asked her ministry for an explanation.

The words “minister” and “sansadhan (resources)” are spelt incorrectly in the letter that was dispatched to schoolteachers across the country, congratulating them on the performance of their students.

A teacher from Chhattisgarh responded with a “thanks” – and some advice.

Highlighting the errors in a Facebook post, Richa Kumar of the Delhi Public School wrote: “Thank you for congratulating me on the excellence I exemplify. However, having been a teacher for the last twenty years, your official letter head is an affront to my sensibilities as a Language teacher. The attached photographs are self explanatory. Please ensure that at least the people who work for you, in your ministry, are well educated.”

Rattled by comments on Twitter, Irani said: “I would not misspell my own name in Hindi.”

Robert Vadra may soon be standing in queue next to you at airports

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Afternoon Voice

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August 21, 2015

Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra may lose his ‘no-frisk’ status at airports.

The Home Ministry has informed the Civil Aviation Ministry that it doesn’t think the threat perception on Robert Vadra is grave enough for him to be exempted from frisking at airports in India. The approval from the Home Ministry came during the second week of June.

The current no-frisk list includes the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Union cabinet ministers, opposition leader, Supreme Court judges, high court chief justices, chief ministers and their deputies, governors and ambassadors.

Notably, those who are protected by the Special Protection Group are also not frisked. Vadra’s wife, Priyank Gandhi, is an SPG protectee.

Truck driver who ferried Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Naved Yakub arrested by NIA

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Afternoon Voice

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August 21, 2015

National Investigating Agency (NIA) on Friday arrested a truck driver, who had allegedly helped Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Naved Yakub, who was part of the group that attacked a BSF convoy in Udhampur.

The driver, identified as Khursheed Ahmed alias ‘Surya’, said to be an overground operative of the banned LeT, is a resident of Awantipura.

Khursheed, 35, has already served a prison term of two-and-a-half years for alleged drugs smuggling and cases are registered against him for involvement in stone-pelting incidents in 2010 and 2011, they said.

The NIA sources said Khursheed had taken Naved and his accomplice Mohammed Noman alias Momin to Jammu on July 20 on a reconnaissance mission during which the timings of convoys of BSF and Army were marked.

Yakub was captured alive by a group of villagers after the August 5 deadly terror attack on a Border Security Forces convoy in Jammu and Ksahmir’s Udhampur district.

After the August 5 attack, the security agencies had launched a manhunt to nab the truck driver, who ferried Naved along with his accomplice Mohammed Noman alias Momin to Udhampur, and a businessman who is alleged to have paid Rs five lakh to Naved and his handler.

Noman was killed in retaliatory firing by the BSF during the terror attack

Country’s apex terror investigation agency, which took over the case last week, has booked Naved under various sections of Indian Penal Code, including waging war against the nation as well as Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Arms Act.

Two terrorists ambushed and killed two BSF troopers on the Srinagar-Jammu highway in Udhampur district. After one of the terrorists was killed, the other, identified as Naved, fled to a village and took shelter in a house but was overpowered by three villagers.

The BSF has maintained that their convoy was not the intended target. News reports quoted the captured Pakistani as saying that he and his fellow militant wanted to target the ongoing Amarnath Yatra.

I cry on film’s set: Anne Hathaway

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Afternoon Voice

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August 21, 2015

Oscar-winning actress Anne Hathaway has revealed she often breaks down on the sets of her movies but does not consider it a “big deal.”

The 32-year-old actress spoke about her emotional nature in an interview to a magazine about her upcoming comedy film “The Intern”, which also features Hollywood icon Robert De Niro.

Hathaway’s character is the founder and CEO of a fashion based e-commerce company. She agrees to a community outreach program where a senior, Ben Whittaker (De Niro), will intern at the firm.

“I felt strongly that my character should cry at work. I cry all the time. Granted, I’m an actress, so I kind of get a pass, but what’s the big deal if you cry and then get yourself together and move on?”

Jennifer Aniston’s accidental reunion with ex Vince Vaughn

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Afternoon Voice

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August 21, 2015

Newly-wed actress Jennifer Aniston had an accidental reunion with her ex-fiance Vince Vaughn when they ate dinner at the Sunset Tower here after the “She’s Funny That Way” movie premiere.

The two had a short interaction and they appeared to be happy for the accidental run-in, reported Us Weekly.

“They were both jovial and seemed happy to see each other, both smiling,” a source said.

Though they only had a short interaction, they didn’t look awkward with each other. “It didn’t seem weird at all, it just looked like two old friends who hadn’t seen each other for a while catching up real quick,” the source added.

Aniston and Vince began dating on the set of the film “The Break-Up” in 2005, following her divorce from Brad Pitt.

However, they called it quits in December 2006.

Mumbai must have proper garbage management policy

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Mahendra Singh

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August 21, 2015

Segregation, collection and disposal of garbage is a very important subject but neglected by the public, BMC and the government. The government merely speaks about development but do not give thought to creation of a welfare state. We have failed to take the population growth very seriously and no concrete steps are being taken to address this issue. In a city as big as Mumbai, proper policy must be devised to dispose garbage effectively. The metropolis generates approximately 7,500 metric tonnes of garbage daily and every resident of the city generates about 630 grams of waste everyday.

Even though the quantity of waste generated in Mumbai will only increase the metropolis doesn’t have the necessary infrastructure for managing it. The Brihanmumbai Muncipal Corporation (BMC) had asked residents to segregate wet and dry waste but they are not following these norms. As per the Development Planning Regulations prepared by the civic body, the projected population in 2020 will be approximately 1, 35, 00, 000 and hence the garbage generated will be 9,000 MT per day i.e. 20% more than the present quantity.

Providing a special educator in each secondary school is a good idea. The experienced faculty can interact with school children studying in secondary medium and give them insight into practical things like garbage management, fire prevention, first aid techniques and other things like issues connected with water and electric power etc. If the students wish to learn a particular skill, arrangements for that can be made. For e.g. if a group of students want to learn about refrigerators and air conditioners or simple things like tube lights etc; the school can invite the manufacturers to give demonstration. Thus students can gain more knowledge about these devices and their functioning.

District authorities, the police and ward officers must check illegal Bangladeshi population staying along railway tracks. Why do the state government and the Railway authorities permit construction of shanties next to the tracks? Most of them possess documents like PAN card, ration card, aadhar card. Public health and education are the issues that characterize a welfare state but the nexus between self seeking politicians and bureaucrats negates all efforts.

The whistle blowers connected with the Vyapan scam deserve to be congratulated because they are bringing to light the obnoxious side of our governance, despite risking their own lives. The collapse of moral values in our officialdom (who prefer to align with the corrupt politicians) is matter of grave concern. All of us must take steps to control the rising population.

The perfect age for marriage is 32: Alia Bhatt

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Afternoon Voice

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August 21, 2015

All of us have our own “perfect age” for marriage in our minds. And for Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt, who was recently finalised to star opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Gauri Shinde’s next film, that age is 32!

Speaking at the trailer launch of her childhood friend Anushka Ranjan’s debut film Wedding Pulav, Alia Bhatt said, “I am just 22 and I think 32 will be right age to taste the wedding pulav. I have not tasted ‘shaadi ka ladoo’, so I hopefully will not regret.”

Opening up about the qualities she would look for in her groom, Alia said she wants him to have a good sense of humour. “He must make me laugh, then obviously comes good looks, good looks and good looks. I will not tell how to impress me, the person who loves me should know how to impress me,” she added.

Asked about her emotional outburst after watching Karan Malhotra directorial Brothers, she said: “I did not cry but I am a very sensitive girl and, yes, sometimes I get emotional. When there is high emotion, I get shaken and get emotional about films as well.”

Becoming a dancer

By

Afternoon Voice

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August 21, 2015

Most of us love to dance or have a secret desire to dance like Hrithik Roshan or Madhuri Dixit, but have you ever given a thought that ‘Who is a dancer?’ In its simplest form, dancer is someone who moves their body to the rhythm of music, sounds or just a pulse inside them. This obviously is a simplistic definition, but in dance, the body is an instrument that allows someone to “show” rhythm, “show” music, “show” style and “show” spirit. It is an all-encompassing art form that requires an intelligence of the body, mind and spirit.

What does it take to become a professional dancer? A question I’m asked quite often by wide-eyed dancers, in love with the feel of dance, the art of dance, and hoping to move into the profession of dance. This is a different question. Dance, just like any other profession you get paid for, requires a certain amount of expertise, personality, drive and luck to succeed. This question implies that one wants to become successful at what they do. Success in the “Dance Business” has many colours depending on the goals of the individual dancer. Do you want to be a Broadway dancer, Bollywood dancer, Ballet dancer, TV/Video dancer, Modern contemporary dancer, classical dancer or even a GoGo dancer? All require a certain expertise. Some of the techniques will intersect and some will be entirely specific to the form.

To start with, the “Dance Business” is a business. This means that it requires other skills beside just technique, style or look. In this business, one must be the CEO or director of their own life in dance, even though one is often taught to “be quiet and follow orders.” Whether ones decision is to be a classical dancer or latin ballroom dancer, one must be his/her own PR, Marketing and Sales Director, Technical Director, Accountant and Agent/Manager. All of these skills, if learned well, will be transferable into civilian life. All of these skills can also allow one to become a “professional.” When you can ask a simple question, “What is the budget for individual dancers in this project?” Any head of a production company or dance company will know that they must come up with a fee for the job, or give you a good reason why there is no fee involved. It takes courage and experience to ask questions in a professional and non-threatening way.

When you begin to have some modicum of success with smaller projects, often you begin to look for an Agent to do one part of your job. But notice, I said “part.” The Agent’s job is to book as many dancers per day, week, month, as they can. The reason? They are in their business to make a commission. If you do not “stand out” in any particular way, they may not even consider you as part of their “stable.” Or if you do not keep up your technique, your “look,” or give them the materials they need to sell you, then you will be sidelined which means you will not be called for the next audition or be considered for the jobs that come up. This does not mean you are a failure! It may mean that you don’t have enough experience, you need more technical training, you may not be the kind of client this agent knows how to book. It does mean that you need to search for a good fit for you.

In sales the life-blood is to be able to handle the rejection that is inherent in the field itself. If one must be a dancer, it is necessary to know that inherent in the business is rejection, perfectionism, beauty, spirit. It is a hologram of creativity, possibilities and tests that make you stronger, more brilliant, more able and even at times more bitter than most any other field of endeavour. It is a field that challenges every fiber of you.

We will continue to examine the “game” of the business. Remember in this game of dancing business one has to have it all to succeed right from looks to body to technique to style to the works. So get it all, be your boss and Happy dancing.

Artscape By Sandip Soparrkar

MU students lend support to FTII

By

Afternoon Voice

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August 20, 2015

They protest against the arrest of five FTII students and saffronisation of education.

Students and Alumni of Mumbai University staged a protest demonstration to oppose police repression on the Students of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Pune at Kalina University Campus. They also targeted the Modi Government and RSS. The FTII students have been protesting against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the chairperson of the prestigious institute. According to them Chauhan lacks skills and expertise to manage the FTII and he has been appointed due to his political connections with the BJP. Gajendra Chauhan is known for his role of Yudhishtira in the TV epic Mahabharata. The government has been trying to suppress the students protest by arresting senior students. Even Congress vice-President Rahul Gandhi had supported the protests. Students also have criticised the government for trying to influence its agenda over educational institutions.

According to Narayan Karade member of University Committee for Democracy and Equality (UCDE), “The BJP and RSS are throwing their weight around unnecessarily on art and film- making the way fascists’ hegemonies take place. We are demanding the resignation of five people including Gajendra Chauhan. The other four being Narendra Pathak who derailed the working of the institution and now has been appointed as a member of the Committee. The other two namely Shailesh Gupta and Anagha Ghaisas whose only qualifications are that they have both made a film on Narendra Modi and Rahul Solpurkur who is an RSS and BJP member.”

“Besides this they stirred an agitation because the new syllabus which was renewed in 2008 and meant for 3 yrs is so long that the students say it’s actually lengthy enough for four and a half years. So many students have stayed back in the campus to complete it. There is also only one studio in the whole institution. The director Prashant Prathbe said that he would only assess the complete projects and the rest of them were stranded. They were caught at midnight illegally for creating this stir and even the court now has dismissed it. The teachers are also supporting the students” he added.

Virat Chowdhary another member of UCDE said, “The arena of art and culture has always remained one of the prime targets of the Barbarians. Attacks on art take myriad forms; one of them is to destroy works of art, statues, films, books, etc. The other and more effective way to attack art is to put people like Gajendra Chauhan at the top of premiere institutions of art and culture.”

“The Fascist forces in power want to hand over the leadership of such an institute to a C grade “actor”. However, the struggle of our young friends of FTII has instilled young artists of entire country with inspiration and enthusiasm. We, the students of Mumbai University also have fought and are fighting against the Fascist forces at every step and we have learnt a lot from your struggle” he added.

The FTII has given the nation numerous progressive and democratic film-makers. Their work of art has introduced a number of generations to human essence.

Pushkar Sarad another member of UCDE said, “First they changed the NCERT curriculum, then destroyed Indian Council of Historical Research and other research institutions and now they have fixed their eyes on FTII! The reason for this is the fact that history is their enemy as it exposes their entire geneology, and true art also is their nemesis as it represents human essence, that is, every refined and beautiful thing that humanity has produced. That is the reason why Fascists all over the world attack artists, try to hegemonize institutions of art and culture, murder musicians and imprison film-makers.”

“You too understand that our fight cannot be limited to one institution or research council. Today, FTII is their prime target, tomorrow it will be the art academies and the day after it will be every museum, art gallery, university and music institutes!” he added.