Rahul Gandhi meets protesting FTII students, says RSS promoting mediocrity

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July 31, 2015

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Friday extended support to the students of the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), who are protesting against appointment of Gajendra Chauhan.

Lending his support to students, the Congress leader said the RSS is “undermining” the institution’s stature by promoting “mediocrity”.

Interacting with the students, the Congress vice president asked why the “little school” was “disturbing” the government’s peace of mind and flayed the RSS, saying it wants to promote its idea and would brand the protesting students as “anti-national”.

“RSS and its ideologues are systematically promoting mediocre people in the system…They are hell bent on undermining the educational institutions’ stature…It is not going on just in the education system but also in bureaucratic and judicial system.”

“Why is that a little school with around 250 students is disturbing the government’s peace of mind. If students don’t want him (Gajendra Chauhan), then he clearly should not be there. This is an attempt to bully you,” he said during an open session with the protesting students.

He assured the students that he would raise their voice in Parliament.

“RSS wants to promote their idea. They will call you anti-national, anti-Hindu. They are scared of you. That is the nature of a bully,” he said.

As Gandhi visited the prestigious institution, BJP workers raised slogans outside.

FTII students have been on strike for the past 50 days objecting to appointment of TV actor Chauhan as institution’s chairman.

Gandhi also used the platform to draw comparisons between the Congress and the BJP regime saying, “In Congress whenever there is an issue, it is discussed…Some agree some don’t. But in BJP if the Prime Minister has decided, no one can say anything”.

Earlier this month, the students body had written to leaders from various political parties requesting them to intervene and urge the government to revoke the appointments of ‘unfit’ people and to set up a transparent procedure for future appointments. The students have charged that Chauhan and other four appointed members “lack credentials” and have been selected because of their “affiliations” to the RSS or the BJP.

“You have all the right to question the government that why are mediocre people being put to mentor you. I am here because your voice is not being heard.”

“There is fundamental difference in the way you think and the way RSS thinks. For students the college is their flesh and blood, but for them it is just a hall or a structure to impart information,” Gandhi said.

He also assured the students that if there is any move to privatise the institution, he will strongly oppose it.

“We are not in government but if there will be any privatisation of the institute, I will be sitting here with you,” he said.

Gandhi also asked the students to look beyond this “minor fight” and take further challenges.

“Changing this gentleman is not a big deal. This is a minor fight you are facing here. The real fight is fighting for the idea of the country outside here. You should gear up for those challenges,” he said.

Rajnath slams UPA for coining ‘Hindu terrorists’, Congress accuses BJP of playing politics on terror

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Afternoon Voice

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July 31, 2015

The deadlock in both Houses of Parliament continued on Friday after members of Opposition showed placards, shouted anti-government slogans and tried to corner the Narendra Modi government over ‘Lalitgate’ and the Vyapam recruitment scam unearthed in Madhya Pradesh.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who made a statement on Gurdaspur attack in Lok Sabha a day after his speech on the issue was disrupted in Rajya Sabha, attacked the opposition for making it appear that Parliament is divided on terrorism.

After making the statement, he raked up a host of issues, including Sharm-el Sheikh fiasco and statements at Havana NAM Summit besides the 1962 war with China, to underline Congress’ alleged failures, adding fuel to fire in the protests.

Singh’s statement on the Gurdaspur attack was heard in rapt attention with Congress members suspending their protests and returning to their seats from the Well after the Leader of the party Mallikarjun Kharge asked him to do so.

But as soon as he concluded his statement, Congress members again stormed the Well and it was a scene of protests and disruptions in the House as seen from day one of the Monsoon session over the Lalit Modi and Vyapam issues.

This prompted Singh to attack the Congress. “Terrorism is the biggest challenge facing the country. Neither Parliament nor the country should appear divided on this… On the one hand, our jawans making the supreme sacrifice while fighting against terror, on the other we have this noise and disruption. How can the country accept this,” he said.

Expressing readiness to answer any question on the issue if proper notice is given for a discussion, he said, “Our government and the Prime Minister are constantly making efforts to deal with the challenge.”

As the protests intensified, he hit back, “In this House in 2013, the then Home Minister (P Chidambaram) had coined the new terminology ‘Hindu terrorism’ in order to change the direction of probe. It weakened our fight. As a consequence, Hafiz Sayeed (LeT founder) of Pakistan had congratulated the then Home Minister. Our government will never allow such a shameful situation again.”

Livid Congress members wanted to react but were not allowed by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, prompting angry protests by the opposition lawmakers, many of whom were seen waving the rule book to make their point.

“This is very unfortunate. You are losing our respect,” Kharge was heard remarking amid the din. Opposiiton members crowded around her table to draw her attention that she should allow Kharge to speak but in vain.

Kashmir passing through ‘very sensitive’ period: Farooq Abdullah

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Afternoon Voice

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July 31, 2015

Jammu and Kashmir is passing through a “very sensitive” period, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on Friday said and blamed the ruling coalition for vitiating peaceful atmosphere of the state.

The former Union minister said the balance which existed between communities seems to be nowhere and slammed PDP-BJP coalition for taking the state on a “dangerous path of communal discord”.

“The state of Jammu and Kashmir is going through a?very sensitive time. The present coalition is hell bent on? vitiating peaceful atmosphere of the state.

“The balance that?existed between different communities seems to be nowhere,” Abdullah said while interacting with party workers at his residence here.

He said the present situation in the state was a?physical manifestation of the policies and plans of the coalition.

“I have been saying this before elections too and I am? saying this now. BJP in connivance with its coalition partner? PDP has set out on a path to bring Kashmir and Jammu at? loggerheads.

“The present situation in our state is a physical? manifestation of their policies and plans,” he said.

Abdullah said NC brought the state out of “despotic and autocratic rule and heralded an era of peace, brotherhood, communal amity between communities.”

Wife of ‘Salman Khan’ held at Jalandhar for travelling without passport, visa

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Afternoon Voice

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July 31, 2015

The Government Railway Police (GRP) on Thursday arrested a Pakistani woman who was travelling in the Samjhauta Express without passport and visa.

As per reports, the woman was held at Jalandhar station from the Attari-Delhi Samjhauta Express late on Thursday night.

Interrogation of the woman revealed that she hails from Karachi and her name is Chanda. Her husband’s name is Salman Khan.

She has now been handed over to Attari Police.

‘New found freedom’ for 51,000 people as India, Bangladesh begin exchange of enclaves

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Afternoon Voice

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July 31, 2015

It’s a historic day for India and Bangladesh.

Following a wait of over four decades, the two neighbours will on Friday midnight begin exchanging 162 adversely-held enclaves. This marks the start of implementation of the landmark Land Boundary Agreement (LBA).

The swapping also ends one of the world’s most difficult border disputes that has kept thousands of people in stateless limbo for almost 70 years.

Some 50,000 residents along the border will light candles and celebrate their “new found freedom” at midnight today following a historic deal sealed between the two countries’ prime ministers.

“The 68 candles mark our 68 years of endless pain since 1947 and the agonies and poverty we faced living in no-man’s land,” said Golam Mostafa, who lives in an Indian enclave in the Bangladesh district of Kurigram.

As part of the agreement, India will transfer 51 enclaves, comprising 7,110 acres, to Bangladesh. Dhaka, in turn, will hand over 111 enclaves, comprising around 17,160 acres, to New Delhi.

The Land Boundary Agreement was inked in 1974 and the enabling Protocol in September, 2011. The transfer of enclaves will be carried out in a phased manner over the next 11 months.

As per estimates, around 37,000 people are living in Indian enclaves in Bangladesh, while 14,000 are staying in Bangladeshi enclaves in India.

India and Bangladesh have already completed an exercise in July to ascertain the views of the residents in the enclaves whether they would like to take Indian or Bangladeshi citizenship.

None living in Bangladeshi enclaves in India wants to shift to that country, as per a joint survey. However, an estimated 600 people want to migrate to India.

The Centre has already sanctioned a Rs 3,048 crore package for rehabilitation of the people affected by the exchange of enclaves under the LBA implementation.

Between July 31, 2015 and June 30, 2016, the entire process, including physical exchange of enclaves and land parcels in adverse possession along with boundary demarcation, is expected to be completed.

Those present at Yakub Memon’s funeral are ‘potential terrorists’: Tripura Guv Roy

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Afternoon Voice

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July 31, 2015

A day after Yakub Memon was hanged to death in Nagpur Central Jail, Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy on Friday created a controversy by dubbing those present at the funeral of 1993 Mumbai serial blasts convict as “potential terrorists”.

Writing on Twitter, Roy said that all those who were present at Yakub’s funeral, except relatives and friends, could be “potential terrorists” and that intelligence agencies should keep a tab on them. Intelligence shd keep a tab on all (expt relatives & close friends) who assembled bfr Yakub Memon’s corpse. Many are potential terrorists.

His second tweet was: Governors ought to be concerned abt security of state. Intelligence keeping tab on Yakub’s mourners is preventing terror. Better than cure.

Yakub Memon was hanged early Thursday in Nagpur Central Prison after a historic pre-dawn Supreme Court hearing that rejected his 11th hour legal appeal. His body was taken to Mumbai, where he was buried next to his father. A large crowd had gathered when Memon’s body arrived at his home in Mahim.

International angle in Gurdaspur attack, ISI trained terrorists at Thailand-Myanmar border

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Afternoon Voice

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July 31, 2015

Pakistan’s intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence, trained the terrorists who attacked Dinanagar town of Gurdaspur district in Punjab on Monday.

Sources said, the ISI had trained six terrorists on the Thailand-Myanmar border for 10 days.

Out of the six, three terrorists attacked Punjab and were killed.

Two others were killed in Pakistan and the last one has been nabbed.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday held Pakistan responsible for the July 27 Dinanagar terror attack, saying any strike by enemies will meet an effective and forceful response from Indian security forces.

Making a formal statement in the Rajya Sabha, the Home Minister said the central government was committed to rooting out terrorism from the country.

The minister gave details on how the terrorists crossed the international border and entered India.

“A preliminary analysis of the Global Positioning System (GPS) data indicates that the terrorists infiltrated from Pakistan through the area near Tash in Gurdaspur district, where the Ravi river enters Pakistan,” Rajnath Singh said.

“It is also suspected that the same terrorists placed five Improvised Explosive Devices on the railway track near village Talwandi between Dinanagar and Jhakoladi which were subsequently defused,” he added.

Leonardo DiCaprio shoots The Revenant in Tierra del Fuego

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Afternoon Voice

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July 31, 2015

Leonardo DiCaprio has been spotted in Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego to film scenes of The Revenant, a new film by Oscar-winning director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.

Leonardo jetted into Ushuaia, the capital of the province of Tierra del Fuego, a spokeswoman for the local tourism office confirmed.

TN television showed the actor, in jeans, sneakers and a ballcap, surrounded by security personnel after his arrival in a private jet.

“With the actor’s arrival, everything is ready for filming,” said Ana Montiel, the spokeswoman for the tourism office.

The Revenant tells the real-life story of a 19th century frontiersman Hugh Glass, who is attacked by a bear and sets out to gain revenge for having been left for dead by his companions.

Filming began in Canada, but more snow scenes were needed so the production shifted to Argentina to take advantage of winter in the southern hemisphere.

Mariah Carey making directorial debut with festive film

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Afternoon Voice

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July 31, 2015

Pop diva Mariah Carey is stepping behind the camera to direct her upcoming Christmas TV movie.

The “Hero” hitmaker inked a deal with studio executives at New Line in April (15) to star in her own festive film, and now it’s been revealed she will make the scripted project her directorial debut, reported People magazine.

Production on Mariah Carey’s “Christmas Project” will begin this autumn and it will air on America’s Hallmark Channel in December.

The 45-year-old singer is no stranger to the film industry – she flexed her acting muscles in the critically-panned 2001 movie “Glitter”, while she received more positive reviews for her roles in

Lee Daniels’ films “Precious and The Butler”, in 2009 and 2013, respectively.

Testing times for Indian Hockey

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Afternoon Voice

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July 31, 2015

Last week both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha had witnessed disruptions as opposition had demanded Vasundhara Raje and Sushma Swaraj’s resignations. Only one thing of importance that stood out is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had praised Shashi Tharoor’s oratorical skills when he was invited to London for delivering a speech on “Should England give reparations” along with seven other countries. It’s a speech that went viral and rightly so which is definitely recommended. Watch it on “You Tube”. The other short film that went viral on You tube was a 14 minute film “Ahalya” which is a must watch. The short film is directed by Sujoy Ghosh who had made the critically acclaimed film “Kahaani”. It’s Sujoy’s new take on the old story Of Ahalya which has brilliant performances by all actors.

With India winning laurels at the Wimbledon and making us proud there were many aspirations that we now have in the next upcoming Olympic games till no sooner an ugly head appears. The Sports Authority of India sacked its fourth coach Paul Van Ass on the behest of Hockey India which has been established in the year 2009. In six years four coaches have come and gone. Jose Brasa, ex-coach came out scathingly and gave facts which should give the Centre something to think about. When he asked them to provide more facilities to players for the betterment of the game and to increase the number of games to be played with competitors in the national and international circuit he was shunted out and not paid his salary either. Moreover, he cited that Charles Worth who is supposed to be the best hockey coach in the world was also shown the door.

Paul has vehemently denounced the Hockey India association by saying that it’s the worst association he has worked with ever and coaches are treated as puppets and with disrespect. This is bad news for India and something ought to be done because the players have lost their rhythm and will have to start afresh with a new coach, his tactics and approach to the game. Much time is lost. And deep down we all know why India does not do well and have few representatives for other games including football due the lack of facilities. India has won Hockey games in Olympics before and it is a sad plight to notice that the nation was declared runner-up in the game recently played in an international fixture.

During the Commonwealth games Suresh Kalmadi drew a lot of flak for underutilisation of funds and disproportionate usurping of funds. He is no more in command. Such high-handedness by senior members in the game only makes the games suffer and because of this behaviour Paul Van Ass refused to pick up any calls. Now Roelant Oltmans has been appointed as chief coach. The first thing he is doing is to take them to tour France and Spain immediately which are seen as preparatory matches for the Hockey world cup to be held at the end of this year. Let’s hope he stays or it will be time for the centre to intervene.

Allka V Aswani