Villagers to boycott polls after stray dogs maul 6-year-old girl to death

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April 23, 2014

In a tragic incident, street dogs mauled a six-year-old girl in Sihada village to death, when she went to answer nature’s call, prompting enraged villagers to issue a poll boycott call, the police said.

Villagers alleged that Khandwa Municipal Corporation employees caught large number of street dogs from urban areas and released them near their village, which resulted in the tragic incident.

The incident took place in the afternoon, when a little girl went to answer nature’s call behind the bushes, after which she was mauled to death by a group of street dogs.

At the time of the incident, her sister, who was working on the farm rushed back to the village for help, but by the time villagers reached the spot, it was too late and the victim had already succumbed to her injuries, the police said.

Enraged over the incident, villagers issued a poll boycott call until all street dogs are taken away from their village.

Mohgat police station in charge Ravindra Yadav reached the spot along with forest officials and launched a drive to catch street dogs, but so far they were unable to do so since the dogs ran into the forest after killing the little girl.

The police recovered the girl’s mutilated body and sent it for autopsy to Khandwa. Polling for the Khandwa Lok Sabha seat will be held during the third and final phase in Madhya Pradesh on April 24.

Man thrashed, buried by friends, survives after digging himself out of his ‘grave’

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Afternoon Voice

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April 23, 2014

A boy, hailing from Litiyatoli village in Gumla, survived a gruesome attack on him by his friend and another unidentified youth who buried him under the sand thinking he was dead.

25-year-old Surendra Uraanv was critically injured on Saturday after his friend and another boy hit with him stones repeatedly.

They later took him to the banks of a river nearby and buried him there thinking he had died. However, Surendra who was critically injured but was alive, regained consciousness only next morning. He was able to come out of the sand he was buried under.

He somehow managed to reach Kaliga village where other villagers saw his condition and informed the police. He was rushed to sadar hospital from where he was referred to RIMS where his treatment is underway.

According to the police, he was attacked by a friend and another unidentified youth. All three were drunk on Saturday. An argument broke out after which the duo attacked Surendra. They disfigured his face by repeatedly hitting him with stones and later, buried him.

South Korean ferry sinking

By

Mahendra Singh

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April 23, 2014

The visibility in this area is practically zero and to keep only a young Third mate on watch on the Bridge, in such circumstances, is a crime.

Once we were coming down through the Sea of Japan and as we altered towards Mokpo port in South Korea, we found the visibility very poor as being described in this case. Our Captain reduced speed and put additional crew on look out and even asked me to be on Port side main deck to keep relaying him via walkie – talkie if the sound from fog horn of a vessel close by is increasing or reducing to judge the proximity of the vessel. He himself was on bridge and the time was around 1000Hr. After one hour when the sun shown on the horizon and visibility improved, we saw the ship very close to us. A very efficient look out prevented a possible collision. In such situations, if the currents are also strong, there is possibility of ship running aground with great force if the additional mistake is made by not reducing speed, again very criminal and wholly inexcusable.

In this case the vessel appears to have drifted into the shallow and grounded with a thud.
Our negligence and excessive reliance on the navigational aids solely is evident which is magnified many times by leaving a new third officer alone in-charge on bridge in zero visibility. The Master of the vessel is clearly liable for maximum punishment.

These days when I take classes, I give importance to cultivating some good habits which are vital for safe navigation, e.g. re-checking ( cross checking) things. Use of our own senses of sight, smell, hearing and touch is the best instead of remaining enclosed on the bridge and remain totally unmindful of the surroundings.

STCW courses have, besides doing some good, have brought in a lot of indiscipline and casualness because the candidates are assured that they will get a certificate in any case. Have you seen any one failing in these modular courses? That says it all.

Some years back we were in open sea and things running Okay so I told my Oiler ( Mr; Aspin , a phillipino) to take off after lunch . I thought that he will not be in Engine room so I went down at 1400Hr to see things but found him mopping the area where they worked before lunch. He told me that he will go off now because he had to clean the tools and put them in place and mop the area before leaving. That is good habit.

These days “look out” is suffering, increasing our vulnerability.
You don’t need additional lookout every day, it is for some time on certain days in certain adverse situations and if we even do not respond to such a call, we don’t deserve to be called a competent officer, which inter-alia , means a mindful officer, a careful officer and an officer possessing good habits associated with seamanship.

One Chance to Modi

By

Afternoon Voice

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April 23, 2014

Two odd Muslimsboth belonging to the town which suffered serial bomb blast twice are touring Maharashtra to ensure that his community vote for BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP).

There is nothing unusual to see crowd gathering to see NarendraModi in his rallies but it is not a normal sight to see Muslims campaigning for him to garner support for a leader of saffron outfit.

Two odd Muslims, Haji Bilal Shaikh and poet AneesAnjum both belonging to Malegaon areas in Nashik district are touring Maharashtra to ensure that their community vote for BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP), so that its Prime Ministerial candidate NarendraModi should reach the power of corridor. AneesAnjum, anurduadeeb poet start his talk with:

Mitti se kabhi apni bagawat nahi karte,

Shoharat keliye gandi siyasat nahi karte,

Sarkari mohafiz ki zarurat nahi kyuki,

Kutte kabhi shero ki hifazat nahi karte.

On Modi, as a PM prospected he says, “Kadamkadampeujaleutarkaraayenge, Terenasib me tare utarkaraayenge, Sahara bankarniklahaitubesaharonka, Teri madadkofarishteutarkaraayenge.

Haji Bilal Shaikh, who is also from Malegaon and supporting Modi said, ““There is no harm in trying BJP once. We should deliberate on a development agenda for the community while bargaining for support. No personal interest should be there, which is a practice. He has developed Gujarat and he has capacity to develop the nation. We trusted Congress for 60 years, we should also see him. Congress has betrayed our community.”

When asked about Gujarat riots and Modi’s role, he said “Gujarat riots is ‘beshak’ a blot on nation’s secularism and democracy, but he has now developed Gujarat and has erased that blot .”

Both Bilal Shaikh and AneesAnjum are ensuring that they visit and campaign from every constituency of Maharashtra from where BJP candidates are contesting. They even want to go to Varanasi to campaign for Modi. “If we will get the chance, we definitely go to Varanasi to campaign for him,” both cited simultaneously.

Shaikh further said, “He is asking for 60 months and we should provide him that. If he also betrays us then after five years, we have a powerful ‘hathyar’ of voting him out in the next general elections.

There have always been attempts to create Muslim parties in India but they have all failed as Indian Muslims continue to vote and affirm their faith in secular parties.

“After Modi comes to power, he should sit with Muslim representatives and talk to them on the issue,” Shaikh added.

In spite of having a sizeable number of Muslim population in large number of districts in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam, where a pan India Muslim party can easily win at least 40 to 50 seats, Muslims have reiterated their support for secular Indian parties.

They are not only Muslims supporting BJP. A Deoband-based cleric MaulanaSuhaibQasmi has announced his support for BJP prime ministerial NarendraModi in the LokSabha elections. The decision has created a stir in the area with some sporadic protests by local clerics.

Qasmi ruled out the stigma of Gujarat riots on Modi, claiming the court has given him a clean chit. “Then why do we support Congress, which is also responsible for several riots? Supporting Mulayam Singh and Mayawati is indirectly supporting Congress. So better go with the BJP with your set of conditions,” he stated.
“I have studied at DarulUloomDeoband and have connections. People are coming out in my support. Muslims also want change and are craving for development,” he said.

Mumbai has 17 lakh voters, the distribution ranging between 2 lakh and 4.5 lakh per seat. Munaff Hakim, state Minorities Welfare Board chairman, says, “I believe Muslims will consolidate and more than 90 per cent will come out and vote. The population of Muslims in Mumbai in these six constituencies vary between 10 and 15 per cent. The highest Muslim concentration is in Mumbai North Central and Mumbai South Central, the lowest in Mumbai North.”

BJP’s Hate Vs Modi’s Development: A New challenge

By

Vaidehi Taman

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April 22, 2014

Nowadays, BJP leaders are issuing irrational statements which is damaging Narendra Modi’s image to a great extent. Finally, Modi condemned contagious anti-Muslim remarks by one-time associate Pravin Togadia, but his party finds itself entangled in a new episode of hate remarks. Modi urged his people not to issue any irresponsible statements. He did not condemn anyone or state that he disagrees with the statements of Pravin and others. Again, one can misinterpret his statement as “Don’t say anything that can ruin the election for us”. Modi is hand in glove with such people, only difference is that he does not talk or agree to his acts of extremism. If Modi has changed, or is changing, it is good for the country. But people still have doubts whether he would sacrifice his vote bank for good.

Unfortunately, in this country development alone will not turn into votes. This we have seen in the case of Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2004 general election. Other factors also required for winning. Modi speaks about development whereas Amit Shah tries for other amalgamations. If development is the prime concerned then Amit Shah might be not there in UP. Similar non-developmental aspects for consolidation of votes is done by others like SP, BSP, Akalis, Shiv Sena, DMK/AIADMK etc., and they have succeeded in their efforts. Were you influenced by the speech of Shiv Sena’s Ramdas Kadam who spoke out against Muslims in a rally at which both Modi and Uddhav Thackeray were present, but did not intervene to stop Kadam? Shiv Sena is known for its anti-Muslim stand. However, in a Modi rally at BKC, Uddhav and Modi spoke in favour of Muslims but that was just a lip service. At a rally in Mumbai, just a few minutes before Modi arrived, a leader from the Shiv Sena said to the large crowd, “Narendra Modi will destroy Pakistan within six months if he comes to power.” The remarks by Ramdas Kadam are the latest in a series of comments by hardliners that are threatening to over-shadow the election. Kadam’s party, the Shiv Sena, is the oldest ally of the BJP, which has declared Modi as its prime ministerial candidate. After Modi arrived at the venue with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, Kadam continued in Marathi, “If five lakh Muslims can gather at the Azad Maidan, desecrate memorials, attack policemen and molest policewomen… Narendra Modi will surely teach them a lesson. The question here is that, what lesson Modi will going to teach? Are they indicating that they will repeat Gujarat? If Modi is seeking power to teach lesson to Muslims by burning them or eliminating them, then this would be too dangerous for democracy. Kadam, seemed to be searching for an exit route from the controversy. He said, “I said Modi would teach a lesson to Pakistan, not destroy Pakistan.” Now, again someone would like to know, how will Modi teach a lesson to Pakistan?

Modi tweeted, “Petty statements by those claiming to be BJP’s well-wishers are deviating the campaign from the issues of development and good governance (sic).” His reprimand is being seen as a reaction to PravinTogadia, a leader of the right-wing Vishwa Hindu Parishad, who faces a police investigation after a video, appeared to show him urging Hindus to evict Muslims from their neighborhoods in Gujarat. Modi disapproved of “petty statements by those claiming to be BJP’s well-wishers,” without naming Pravin Togadia and Giriraj Singh, whose controversial remarks have embarrassed the BJP in the middle of the national election. The BJP’s prime ministerial candidate has not mention names but this was his first response to a massive controversy over alleged hate remarks by Pravin Togadia.

In Gujarat’s Bhavnagar, Togadia was seen on camera telling a gathering how to prevent Muslims from buying property in areas where Hindus are in majority. “We should have it in us to take the law in our own hands in an area where we are a majority and scare them. Modi, who has ruled Gujarat since 2001, is seen to share a fractious relationship with Mr Togadia, his one-time comrade in arms. The two leaders, who rode together to meetings in the 1980s, reportedly fell out after Modi’s second term as chief minister, when he started distancing himself from a radical Hindu agenda.

On the other hand, Modi deserves to be the PM of India by taking his stand on development. Such a calibre leader is the need of the hour. A sincere leader can only stop the factionalism and threat from within country by both majority and minority communal elements and vested interests. One find it difficult to understand but it is the reality. His campaign has so far talked about taking India in a new economic direction with “minimum government, maximum governance”. He has talked about making India a rich and prosperous country by creating jobs for the youth and investing in education and healthcare. Making a direct appeal to young voters, Modi appealed youngsters to not only vote but also come out to campaign for a strong government in Delhi. I hope Modi’s hardcore efforts would be respected by other BJP leaders and some justice will be delivered at the end.

Sena-BJP led combine will win 35 seats in Maharashtra: Munde

By

Afternoon Voice

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April 22, 2014

The Shiv Sena-BJP led opposition alliance in Maharashtra will win 35 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats, senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde claimed on Tuesday.

“In 2004, we got 25 seats and in 2009 we got 20. This time around, we have a Modi wave going in our favour and are confident of winning at least 35 seats,” Munde said.

The state government has misused its machinery during the elections, Munde said. “In the entire election, wrong information was given in the guise of police sources,” Munde said.

“BJP Mumbai unit chief Ashish Shelar should lodge a complaint with the Election Commission in this regard…If the poll panel does not take cognisance, we will approach the court,” he added.

“It is wrong to make public a classified report and it is also wrong to give false information,” Shelar said, referring to reportage in a section of media that the crowd at the Rahul Gandhi rally here was bigger than the one at Modi’s rally on the same ground the next day.
Munde said he did not notice any ‘AAP wave’ in the state, though the party had contested all the 48 seats.

“It was only Sharad Pawar who handled the Congress NCP campaign in the state,” Munde said. “Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan was not visible in the campaign,” he added.

Sharad Pawar’s statement that he would not like to be a part of a UPA-3 government is an indication that he has conceded defeat, Munde said.

Pawar was absent for Rahul Gandhi’s Mumbai rally as he does not like his leadership, Munde said.

There was almost an eight per cent increase in polling percentage in the ongoing polls compared to previous ones, Munde said. The rise was due to youngsters, he added.

On reports of names of several people missing from the electoral rolls, Munde said the entire bureaucracy conspired with Congress-NCP to delete the names of Sena-BJP supporters from electoral rolls, and demanded a CBI probe into the matter.

Shiv Sena sideline it with Kadam’s Anti-Muslim remarks, says it’s his personal view

By

Afternoon Voice

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April 22, 2014

Under fire over the “anti-Muslim” remarks by its leader Ramdas Kadam at the NDA rally ahead of BJP’s PM nominee Narendra Modi’s address, the Shiv Sena on Tuesday said those were personal views of Kadam and did not reflect the party position.

“The statements made by Shri Ramdas Kadam do not echo the sentiments of Shri Balasaheb Thackeray, Uddhav-ji Thackeray and the Shiv Sena party. It is his personal view. The party’s stand on Hindutva is clear and voiced by Uddhav-ji time and again,” a Sena spokesperson said.

Senior BJP leader Gopinath munde also sought to downplay the remarks, saying, “What Kadam meant was that action would be taken against Pakistanis and Bangladeshis illegally staying here and who are enrolled as voters.”

Kadam, who was speaking when Modi reached the stage at the rally held on Monday, said, “These Muslims riot against the police and burnt their vehicles. They vandalised the statues of our martyrs. These Muslims molest our women policemen…I am sure that Narendra Modi will ensure that such acts do not go unpunished.”

Kadam’s comments were in reference to the Azad Maidan riots in Mumbai in 2012.

Kadam then went on to target Pakistan, saying, “Remember the days of 1993 blasts in Mumbai. Life of many Hindus was saved because of late Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray and Shiv Sena. Now, if Modi comes to power, he will destroy the Pakistan in six months.”

Campaign for last phase of LS polls in Maharashtra ends

By

Afternoon Voice

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April 22, 2014

Campaign for the third and final phase of Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra ended, with around 3.18 crore voters expected to decide the fate of 338 candidates in the fray in 19 seats, including six constituencies in Mumbai, on April 24.

Polling will be held in following 19 constituencies: Nandurbar, Dhule, Jalgaon, Raver, Dindori, Nashik in North Maharashtra, Jalna, Aurangabad in Marathwada, Palghar, Bhiwandi, Kalyan, Thane in Thane district and Raigad, besides all the six constituencies of Mumbai North, Mumbai North Central, Mumbai South Central, Mumbai South, Mumbai North East and Mumbai North West.

Prominent candidates in the the poll arena, include PWD Minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal (Nashik), Union minister Milind Deora (Mumbai South) of Congress and Water Resources Minister and NCP leader Sunil Tatkare (Raigad).

Of the 338 candidates in the electoral fray, 149 are independents and 26 women.

Out of the total 3,17,39,442 voters, 1,70,20,383 are men and 1,46,22,713 are women. There are 12 constituencies with over 16 candidates. Aurangabad has the highest number of 27 candidates while Nandurbar has the lowest number of nine contestants.

Thane (20,72,476 voters) is the largest parliamentary seat while Mumbai South central (14,46,979 voters) is the smallest.

There are 121 candidates from registered political parties other than recognised national and state parties.

BJP is contesting 11, Shiv Sena eight, Congress ten, NCP eight, MNS seven, CPI 2 and CPM 3 seats. BSP is contesting all the 19 seats.

There will be 34,343 polling stations for this phase.

In the three-phase elections, ten seats in Vidarbha region went to polls on April 10 while voting for 19 seats in Marathwada and Western Maharashtra regions was held on April 17.
Observing that the government can impose stringent technical requirements to provide best possible medical devices for the purpose of public health programmes, the Bombay High Court refused to quash and set aside bids issued by the state to procure coronary stents.

A city-based company Vascular Concepts Ltd, dealing in manufacture and import of medical devices, including coronary stents, which are used for relieving cardiac ailments, approached the High Court challenging the government’s decision making it mandatory for the medical devices to be approved by not only the Drugs Controller General of India, but also by the US Food and Drug Administration.

The company sought quashing and setting aside of the government’s order allotting bid to US-based companies – India Medtronics Ltd and Abbot Healthcare. According to the company, approval from the DCGI was sufficient.

The government, however, claimed that approval from both DCGI and USFDA was insisted upon in larger public interest and that it does not wish to take any chance in the matter of health of the patients who were likely to receive the stents.

A division bench of Justices V M Kanade and A K Menon accepted this contention and said the petitioner company has failed to establish that the government has acted in an arbitrary or malafide or in a manner that can be said to be against public interest.

“To provide the best possible devices and equipment for the purpose of its public health programme, the state opted for stringent technical requirements. No fault can be found for imposing these specifications,” the Court said.

The Court further held that the stents being imported pursuant to the tender issued are to be used in hospitals under the Rajiv Gandhi Arogya Yojana.

“The state government in its endeavour to ensure that best possible equipment is obtained for discharge of its social responsibility has, therefore, taken a decision in public interest,” the bench said while dismissing the petition.

HC refuses to quash government order for procuring coronary stents

By

Afternoon Voice

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April 22, 2014

Observing that the government can impose stringent technical requirements to provide best possible medical devices for the purpose of public health programmes, the Bombay High Court refused to quash and set aside bids issued by the state to procure coronary stents.

A city-based company Vascular Concepts Ltd, dealing in manufacture and import of medical devices, including coronary stents, which are used for relieving cardiac ailments, approached the High Court challenging the government’s decision making it mandatory for the medical devices to be approved by not only the Drugs Controller General of India, but also by the US Food and Drug Administration.

The company sought quashing and setting aside of the government’s order allotting bid to US-based companies – India Medtronics Ltd and Abbot Healthcare. According to the company, approval from the DCGI was sufficient.

The government, however, claimed that approval from both DCGI and USFDA was insisted upon in larger public interest and that it does not wish to take any chance in the matter of health of the patients who were likely to receive the stents.

A division bench of Justices V M Kanade and A K Menon accepted this contention and said the petitioner company has failed to establish that the government has acted in an arbitrary or malafide or in a manner that can be said to be against public interest.

“To provide the best possible devices and equipment for the purpose of its public health programme, the state opted for stringent technical requirements. No fault can be found for imposing these specifications,” the Court said.

The Court further held that the stents being imported pursuant to the tender issued are to be used in hospitals under the Rajiv Gandhi Arogya Yojana.

“The state government in its endeavour to ensure that best possible equipment is obtained for discharge of its social responsibility has, therefore, taken a decision in public interest,” the bench said while dismissing the petition.

HC upholds framing of charges against gangster under MCOCA

By

Afternoon Voice

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April 22, 2014

Framing of charges against a member of Ayub Chikna gang under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for firing at a person and robbing his gold ornaments in 2009 has been upheld by the Bombay High Court.

A bench headed by Justice V M Kanade held that Anwar Elahi Fazal Elahi Khan had been rightly booked under MCOCA for being a member of an organised crime syndicate. It opined that the trial court was justified in framing charges against him.

Anwar had filed an appeal against the trial court’s order, framing charges against him under MCOCA, on January 16 this year, for committing robbery and firing at a person, in order to create terror in the locality.

“We have scrutinised evidence available against the appellant and are of the firm opinion that the evidence is more than sufficient to frame charges under Section 228 of the Criminal Procedure Code and to proceed against him in the matter,” judges said.

The court observed that before framing charges in this case, the appellant did not seek discharge under Section 227 of the CPC and the charge has now been framed. Therefore, judges said that they were of a firm opinion that the court was right in framing charges under various provisions of law.

“Accordingly, we do not find any legal infirmity in the court’s order and dismiss the appeal,” the judges said.

On April 24, 2009, Suresh, a resident of Dahisar in North Mumbai was robbed by unidentifed men who opened fire and took away gold bangles he was carrying in a bag.

According to the police, Anwar was among a group of people who had fired at Suresh. He was arrested on July 21, 2012, and booked under MCOCA. The complainant also pointed at Anwar during the identification parade, saying he was the person who had opened fire and robbed him of valuables.