Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Friday demanded an all-party meet to discuss complaints about voters’ names missing from the electoral roll in the state.
In a statement, MPCC president Manikrao Thakre said the controversy should be resolved and it should be ensured that such a thing does not happen in the Assembly elections later this year.
“When awareness about voting is on the rise, incidence of deletion of names or errors is not good,” he said.
According to Thakre, he has raised the issue with the Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan through a letter today
Bollywood actor Inder Kumar Saraf was arrested on Friday for allegedly raping and assaulting a 23-year-old model on the pretext of getting her roles in movies, police said. According to police, the victim was called to the actor’s residence in suburban Andheri last evening when he hit her with a beer bottle. The victim also alleged she had been sexually assaulted by Inder Kumar who had promised to give her lead roles in Bollywood films.
Police said Kumar and his wife Pallavi had a heated argument on Thursday at their house in Shantiniketan building in Seven Bungalows in Versova. Pallavi then rushed to Versova police station where she accused her husband of having an affair with another woman.
Inder Kumar reached the police station and sorted out the issue with his wife and both returned home, police said.
“After that, the victim was called to the actor’s residence to clarify things. However, the situation went out of control and the accused thrashed the victim with a beer bottle,” Harishachandra Parmale, senior inspector at the police station, said.
Following a complaint lodged by the victim, the actor was booked under sections 376 (punishment for rape), 324 (causing grievous hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the police said.
The actor had worked in Bollywood movies Wanted, Maa Tujhhe Salaam, Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, Baaghi and Masoom, among others.
Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi defended his remarks that a woman and a man entering into sexual relations outside marriage should be punished, drawing sharp criticism from activists.
“Our religion does not allow women to have sexual relations with anyone, except her husband. If a man and a woman decide to have sexual relations with consent, then both of them should be punished,” he said.
Azmi has made these remarks in his reply submitted to the Maharashtra State Commission for Women (MSCW), which had asked him to explain his earlier statement that women who have sex outside their marriage must be punished too.
Invoking Islam, the MLA, who appeared before the Commission today, said a woman in illicit relation should be punished along with the man involved.
Azmi said at times, law is misused by women. “If a woman voluntarily enters into a relationship with a man and later complains against him, it can have disastrous consequences.”
Reacting to Azmi’s reply, MSCW Chairperson Sushiben Shah said it is not right on part of the SP leader to cite religion and deprive women of their rights.
“The Constitution of India, the Supreme Court and Protection Against Domestic Violence Act have given acceptance to live-in relationships and provided protection to women, including Muslim women,” Shah said.
“The law of the land should be applicable to all women irrespective of their religion, caste or creed,” Shah added.
Shah said since Azmi has raised a religious matter, she would examine and act accordingly. “We would like to see that regressive remarks are not made by people sitting on high positions in society.
Film director Mahesh Bhatt has said that he doesn’t trust BJP prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi and he does not want him to be the prime minister of the country.
“I don’t want to see Narendra Modi as PM, he does not deserve to be the prime minister,” he said.
Appealing to voters to shun communal forces in Lok Sabha polls, Bhatt said Modi should be defeated as he was a ‘communal’ leader.
“My son had talked to Richard Headley accused in Mumbai blasts. Though he was not named by any agency, in Gujarat his film was not allowed to be screened. A person who had such type of thinking should not be allowed to win,” Bhatt said.
“Its our duty to defeat communal forces. Our country is secular and it our duty to maintain this character,” he said, adding that Modi’s Congress free India could not be accepted.
Bhatt said he would not vote for the Gujarat chief minister until his doubts about him were cleared.
Angry voters in Mumbai turned to lawyers and social media on Friday to vent anger at election authorities, a day after thousands were reportedly unable to cast ballots due to irregularities in the voting lists.
Mumbai voters were among the 18 crores who were registered to vote in the sixth phase of the mammoth general election on Thursday, but many were unable to cast ballots when their names were not found on the electoral lists.
H S Brahma, one of the election commissioners, acknowledged that lack of coordination between authorities had led to some lapses and he promised to fix the problem before local elections due later this year. “We’ll rectify them, whatever mistake we have seen. We really regret (it),” said Brahma.
Mr. Brahma said he did not know how many people were affected.
“I went to the booth and they could not find my name … it was disappointing, we’ve all been building up to this,” said Mumbai resident Govindraj Ethiraj, adding that up to 20 people at his polling station had the same problem.
The problem also affected some well-known Mumbai residents including Deepak Parekh, chairman of HDFC, one of India’s biggest mortgage lenders.
A Mumbai-based law firm planning to file a public interest litigation in court next week said it had received about 5,000 queries and 250 people had signed up to the litigation.
“A citizen has been deprived of his right to vote and consequently has the right for redressal,” said Mohan Jayakar, a senior partner at the law firm, Jayakar and Partners.
Having an identification card issued by the poll panel is not enough to vote in India and it is mandatory for voters to have their names on the electoral list of their constituency.
As General Elections are reaching to its final stage, the media is active or I can say hyperactive giving their own perceptions. Members of political parties active on social media have gone wild in supporting their political lords by accusing media of showing biased news and being against them. Some journalists are randomly abused and ill addressed by worshipers of leaders. There are three main groups on social network, Congress- BJP/Modi and Aam Aadmi party. Though, Congress supporters are comparatively less aggressive and much decent, whereas Modi and Kejriwal supporters are going to any extend to demoralise a journalist by making all sorts of attacks on them. The phenomenon of “paid news” goes beyond the corruption of individual journalists and media companies. It has become pervasive, structured and highly organised and in the process, is undermining democracy in India. Large sections of society, including political personalities, those working in the media and others, have already expressed their unhappiness and concern about the pernicious influence of such malpractices.
Most of them are busy teaching journalists about their duties and how journalists should be. Most of the journalists have their own say, not necessarily do they support someone or somebody. They have their own findings and opinions. Unbiased journalism does not mean that the journalists should abstain from expressing their personal views. However, this principle should not limit the journalist in choosing their style of writing.
Why should a journalist be a spokesperson of an egoistic private or public group? They should contribute to mass media’s objective coverage of the multiplicity of opinions. It is not allowed to hide publicly important information or distort the facts. Biasness in commentary is a violation of the principles of journalistic ethics. However, you should respect the unbiased journalists even if they are not writing in favour of your party or leaders. It’s you, who is political by nature, why are you forcing a journalist to follow or write what you like? Let them have their freedom of expression which they need. Agreement and disagreement is a part of a debate, talk decently and put your point forward swiftly, express your disagreements, but do not take liberty to choke the throat of that journalist who is doing their duty. Following someone or not following someone is totally in your hand. On social network, freedom is in your hand. We are educated people and have access to most modern technologies to get connected, but most of the time we land in spreading hate of rejections. The basic arguments or debate takes backseat.
Preparation and writing of analytical materials and commenting on certain events should be done by journalists whose competence and experience correspond to the task in hand. People featured in the news should be characterised by race, religion, nationality and status only in cases when it is important for the correct understanding of the material. Unconfirmed information, rumours and conjecture should be marked as such. Symbolic illustrations should be clearly recognisable or have corresponding tags. When stating facts, commenting on them or entering a discussion on a certain issue, journalists should stick to the ethics and principles of a dialogue and express respect for the discussion. And even readers should have patience to accept or reject, with utmost dignity.
The journalist should differentiate between publicly important information and information that evokes public interest. Information on the private life of a person may be published only if the behaviour of this person in the private sphere affects the public interest. In such cases, it is necessary to make sure that journalists are not going against the interests of the people. Social media is known for personal attacks, by morphed pictures, fake blogs, and much more. Rumour mongers will not solve any purpose for your leader or party.
Journalists have no permission to circulate photographs of citizen’s private environment without their consent. People on Social network use all sort of pictures for personal attack on leaders and celebrities. There is vast difference between one being on social media and one being in mainstream media. Mass media should not stimulate unhealthy interest. Investigation and trial should be covered objectively. At all stages of an investigation and trial, the journalist should seek comprehensive coverage of all points of view of all sides. Nowadays, social media has become hub of ‘so called’ expose or sting, the sanity of journalism is at stake. One should be able to prove the claims; just tarnishing someone’s image is not ethically correct. People criticised in the mass media should have the right to immediate response. In their daily work, it’s advised to keep a balance between fair competition and professional solidarity. We should we defend our professional dignity and prestige and express solidarity with people we interact on social network.
There is always tug of war between mainstream media and social media, but that does not means one should cross all the boundaries of indecency to accuse or attack another. I hope with time, people will understand this.
Congress is confident that it will hold all seats in Mumbai and deny any wave will become a hurdle in their win.
Leaders are giving various reasons behind Congress doing well in Mumbai and one of them being policies announced by the Maharashtra government for betterment of slum-dwellers and thus minorities had come out in large numbers to vote in the maximum city.
Mumbai, which has a poor voter turnout track record, saw an 11 per cent jump this time. The city has seen a huge turnout between 4 PM and 6 PM; it is speculated that NGOs urged people to come out and vote. Though the 53 per cent figure is well much below than the national average, but it has crossed the 50 per cent figure for the first time in last 15 years.
The Shiv Sena candidate Arvind Sawant may just be profiting from the Modi wave. In the absence of any BJP candidate, many of those interviewed by him said they planned to vote for Sawant, despite the fact that they weren’t traditional Shiv Sena supporters.
South Mumbai isn’t averse to voting for BJP or Shiv Sena candidates in the past as previous assembly elections have shown. But Milind Deora who may have been expecting a cakewalk may not get one.
In Muslim-dominated areas such as Mohammad Ali road and Pydhonie in South Mumbai Lok Sabha constituency, very few people were seen in the queues for polling in morning but in the evening, people come out from their houses in large numbers which boosted the turnout. This turnout may change the equation in Mumbai South constituency.
“I firmly believe that I am fighting to protect the social and economic diversity of South Mumbai,” Milind Deora said. He said the elections were always challenging and he said none of his opponents found it a cakewalk either. And expectedly he’s not predicting any Modi wave in this election.
In Mumbai North Central constituency, parties were finding it difficult to find a powerful candidates against Congress candidate Priya Dutt. However, she is finding it difficult to win in this election after BJP fielded Poonam Mahajan, Samajwadi Party fielded Farhan Azmi and AAP, Phiroze Palkhiwala. A Congress source said, “After the huge turnout in the evening, she is confident and even workers are sure that she will retain her seat here. She urged people to come out and vote. “We all have a lot of activism in Mumbai but when it comes to voting, people always stay away…I appealed to them to come out, especially to the youngsters and they voted this time,” Congress candidate Priya Dutt said. When asked about the result, she said, “Definitely, I will win because they love me and I have worked for them.”
She is also banking on votes in the areas of Khar Road, Kurla and Bandra.
“Minority turnout has been exceptionally high and for the first time voters in large numbers have this time decided to vote. No one factor will swing the outcome in one particular direction. I am quite hopeful that our party will do very well in Mumbai,” confident MPCC President Manikrao Thakre said.
Chances of Sanjay Nirupam and Eknath Gaikwad are very less. Last time, Sanjay Nirupam won by mere 5000 vote margin. “We think AAP is biggest factor in Mumbai North constituency and Gujarati community’s presence in large numbers makes Gopal Shetty’s chances high. Let us not forget that 55 per cent people of Mumbai live in slums, they form a huge voting percentage. The voting percentage is much higher than the elements which are supporting NDA. However, we are not losing hope on this seat also.”
The Gujaratis of Ghatkopar East were certainly out casting their vote in the Mumbai North-East constituency. Three separate polling stations in Ghatkopar East wore a busy look, families in cars and temple-goers stopped to first cast their vote. Ghatkopar East was one of the Assembly segments in the 2009 election that saw the BJP’s Kirit Somaiya gain a big lead. Somaiya went on to lose the election. “We are BJP supporters. And this time we are more committed than in 2009 to ensure a BJP win,” said Veljibhai Shah, emerging from the polling station in a Marathi school opposite a Jain shrine in Ghatkopar East. Fight is tough in this constituency, so chances of Kirit Somaiya seems high.
The diversification of votes in Mumbai North West makes fight cakewalk for Congress Candidate Gurudas Kamat. The vote split between Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s (MNS) candidate Mahesh Manjrekar, who is also a Bollywood Star and Gajanan Kirtikar of Shiv Sena will help Kamat a smooth win here.
While opinion polls are indicative of BJP-led NDA government coming in power at the Centre, Congress leaders are confident that Modi-led BJP won’t be able to garner more than 170-180 seats and that there is no possibility of a third front forming a government without the support of Congress.
The need for infrastructure facilities is felt in a Metro City like Mumbai for a very long time. But the recent Eastern Express Freeway, Monorail and SCLR all make travelling comfortable for office
goers and business people. As I do not have a two wheeler or a car,I chose a BEST bus to cover this route and go to my aunt’s place in Kalina. While travelling through Santa Cruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR), you can enjoy theride on this speedy flyover, considered to be an engineering marvel, on a BEST bus. It is a cheap mode of travel as well. The Eastern Freeway is a controlled-access freeway, in Mumbai, that connects P D’Mello Road in South Mumbai to the Eastern Express Highway at Ghatkopar. It is 16.8 km long and its estimated cost is 1,436 crores. It is a pleasure to travel to Khandivalithrough this route without having to face much traffic. Mono rail failed to get a good response and does not cover areas having business places and offices and so the very purpose of going for incurring in the huge project is defeated.
The Mumbai Monorail, an intra-city rail network covering 135 km of it’stotal planned length, opened to the public on 2 February, 2014. The master plan for the monorail, designed to improve the transportation system of Mumbai, has been implemented by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), with a consortium of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and a Malaysian firm, Scomi Engineering but for an initial rush for a joyride, the scheme did not provide much relief to ease out commutation problem in this route.
Perhaps, the scheme to come in operation in a couple of months’ time may cover focal points and help out more commuters to make use of monorail. The experience through monorail is not so encouraging as you have to touch the crowded Fine Arts Auditorium Area and land in a remote Vadala corner. It is time to have proper planning and involvement of Public – Private participation may bring more comfort to travelling public.
Former Telecom Minister A Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and 17 others were Friday chargesheeted in a special court by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case relating to the 2G spectrum allocation scam.
ED in its charge sheet also named DMK Supremo M Karunanidhi’s wife Dayalu Ammal, Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd (STPL) promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka as accused in the case in which it alleged that Rs 200 crore was paid by STPL promoters to DMK-run Kalaignar TV.
The final report names 10 individuals and nine companies as accused in the case and the ED has chargesheeted them for the offence of money laundering under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd, Asif Balwa and Rajiv Aggarwal, Bollywood producer Karim Morani and Kalaignar TV Managing Director Sharad Kumar have also been named as accused in the case.
Raja, Kanimozhi, Shahid Balwa, Vinod Goenka, Asif Balwa, Rajiv Aggarwal, Karim Morani and Sharad Kumar are also facing trial in the 2G scam case in which CBI had earlier filed charge sheets.
The ED’s charge sheet was filed before Special CBI Judge O P Saini by Special Public Prosecutor Naveen Kumar Matta who said that the agency has investigated the “flow of funds” and they have found that money was laundered by these accused persons.
The judge fixed the charge sheet for consideration on cognizance for April 30.
ED claimed to have found evidence with regard to the channelling of Rs 200 crore to Kalaignar TV through a circuitous route.
Dayalu Ammal was holding 60 percent stake in Kalaignar TV while Kanimozhi and Sharad Kumar each were holding 20 percent stake.
Raja and Kanimozhi were earlier questioned by the agency in the case.
The ED had earlier also scrutinised documents related to both the DMK MPs incomes, properties and personal investments.
It had also initiated attachment proceedings under PMLA against other individuals and certain telecom firms involved in the case.
Seeking stay on the appointment of a new Army chief, senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Friday wrote a letter to President Pranab Mukherjee.
Swamy said the timing of the appointment of new Army Chief will demoralise forces.
In a letter to the President, he said, “The timing of this proposed announcement will, inter alia, ensure that the COAS office is politicised and the armed forces demoralised.”
Swamy said, “The present government’s endeavour to announce the next COAS is in direct contravention to the established convention, both in terms of timeframe and also with regards to certain ongoing investigations that are currently before the judicial system.”
The opposition BJP has said the outgoing government should not appoint the new Army Chief and should leave it to the next government that is expected to take over towards the end of next month. The party has even petitioned the Election Commission to halt the process.
Notwithstanding objections by the BJP, the Defence Ministry is going ahead with the process of appointing the new Army Chief and has recommended the name of Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag to the Prime Minister’s Office.
The recommendation of the Defence Ministry will have to be approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, official sources said.
As per tradition, the government announces the name of services chiefs-designate two months before the retirement of the incumbent.
Sticking to that, it is expected to announce the name of the new Army chief by May 01, three months prior to the date of retirement of Gen Bikram Singh.
The appointment of incumbent Chief Gen Singh was also done three months prior to the retirement of his predecessor Gen VK Singh, who had a turbulent relationship with the Defence Ministry and even dragged the government to the Supreme Court over his age controversy.
Congress is confident that it will hold all seats in Mumbai and deny any wave will become a hurdle in their win.