India abstains from Sri Lanka war crimes vote in Geneva

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March 27, 2014

India has abstained from the vote on UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution on Sri Lanka that calls for an international investigation into alleged war crimes in the final stage of the country’s civil war in 2009.

Sources in the Indian government described the resolution as an “intrusive approach which undermines national sovereignty.” Sri Lankan is being accused of failing to implement adequate reconciliation measures and investigate allegations of war crimes after the end of a three-decade civil war.

The resolution, which is the third consecutive one faced by Sri Lanka, is led by the US, which has insisted Sri Lanka’s human rights record has failed to improve since the conflict between the government and the rebel Tamil Tigers.

Sri Lanka’s government has vehemently denied war crimes allegations and has lobbied extensively to obtain support from UNHRC members, including China, to defeat the resolution.

The Sri Lankan government has stressed that it was “grossly unfair” to investigate only the last phase of the war and constantly called for a comprehensive investigation during the whole three decades of war if an international inquiry was to be conducted.

7 persons including a tantrik get death sentence for human sacrifice

By

Afternoon Voice

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March 27, 2014

Seven persons including a tantrik have been awarded death sentence by a local court in Durg for sacrificing human lives in 2010.

The convicts and the witch doctor together killed many people on 23 November, 2010 in the name of sacrificing humans to please god.

A local district and sessions court in Durg read out the verdict in this case, also popularly known as the ‘2010 Narbali kaand’.

Vote for the right candidate

By

Mahendra Singh

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March 27, 2014

Dear electorates, beware of trouble makers and disruptors during the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Have you noticed the colour of Arvind Kejriwal’s boat and his towel while he is trying to take a dip in the Ganga river after arriving at Varanasi? Why should any one waste their vote by voting for Kejriwal which adversely affects the chances of another worthy candidate? Is he an acclaimed scientist or technician? Is he a distinguished academician? Is he an expert garment technologists or an expert artisan? Does he offer Namaz five times a day? ( his love for green and the scull cap), is he the expert “ shahnai wadak”. None of these.

So why should you attend his rallies and even think about voting for him? People of Varanasi are “spasta vadi” and they must ask Kejriwal to sit along the ganga ghats and listen to “ bhajans” and participate in Aarti. AAP should not try to become a “ paigambar” for Muslims because enough wise and religious men are present in their own community.

The district administration must be very alert and keep a hawks eye on the activities of extremist elements so that the amicable atmosphere is not vitiated. Election Commission must keep a strict vigil because unruly elements may create disharmony to get the election countermanded. Our country badly needs stability today.

AAP may try to propagandise that they had written to EC to defer the gas price revision ( projecting in any way that rise was good or bad) and take credit for it to say, “Dekho hamne mehangai badhne se rok diya” . On the other hand, the election watchdog had issued instructions to the government to postpone the gas price hike as the matter is sub-judice.

The EC should have asked the government to defer the decision ( in a discreet manner) through the President so that no party would have come forward to politicize this issue. In any case, the common man must be aware about the facts. For achieving this objective, educated elderly persons must provide proper guidance to the masses. You must look at that leader who will lead the country and provide good governance and vote for him. Thus people should cast their votes for the right candidate who will work for the development of the nation and welfare of the masses.

Street vs star campaigning

By

Afternoon Voice

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March 27, 2014

At a time when BJP and Congress are using modern methodologies like television, social media and mobile applications to connect with the voters the Aam Aadmi Party is following the age-old practice of contacting the voters personally. AAP has been holding rallies and conducting mass contact programmes to interact with voters in Mumbai and other parts of the country. The main objective of the programme was to talk to the masses about their problems and expectations and provide them an opportunity to know the candidate. Even Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi was impressed with AAP’s mode of functioning as he said that his party needs to emulate it. The Congress party and BJP spend crores of rupees for political campaigning.

AAP had proposed the formation of mohalla sabhas to decentralise the power and improve governance at grassroots level. The party had organised a door to door campaign during the Delhi assembly election which enabled it make an impressive debut and defeat Congress. Volunteers had distributed pamphlets to create awareness among people about the agenda of the party.

The practice was quickly aped by both BJP and Congress who are trying to do the same ahead of the general elections. AAP has already trained around 3,000 volunteers at booth level who have in-turn trained others.

Mohan Kotyankar, AAP state executive said, “We do not have lumpsum funds like BJP and Congress. We are contesting 350 seats, and are using traditional methods to connect with people, not only on streets but at gram sabha level. But our volunteers are conducting online promotions holding door to door campaign. We are adopting all those methods which require very nominal funds.”

After a spectacular performance in Delhi Assembly polls AAP had started membership drive across the nation in January. The membership drive was a huge success as large number of people turned up to enrol their names.

Abhay Jog, a BPO employee from Kandivali said, “When I heard that Arvind Kejriwal has launched his party to contest elections, I could not resist my temptation to support him. He is intelligent, dedicated and selfless and I have complete trust in his leadership,” said Mishra.

Imtiyaz Ansari, AAP volunteer said, “The street play was chosen as our motive for campaigning because it connects with the aam aadmi (common man). Even uneducated can understand the motive behind it. Our aim was to reach the masses so street play serves the purpose. It creates awareness of what is happening in the society we are living in.”

“It is a way of bringing together masses for a better cause. It is not a boring speech delivered by some high profile politician and people losing interest over it. Slogans and quotes are extensively used while campaigning which creates an impact on people and encourage them to stand for what is right.”

Arun Pathak a businessman from Borivali said, “Kejriwal had set an example by refusing security. He was against the usage of red beacons on vehicles. When he arrived in Mumbai he travelled in autorickshaw and suburban trains. He had created a distinct identity of his party by holding dharna and fighting for the cause of the common man. I am impressed by his ability to connect with voters.”

AAP has given opportunity to many people who have quit their professional careers to join politics. Thus AAP has remained accessible to the common man who was frustrated with the policies of mainstream parties like Congress and BJP. The party has given an alternative to people who want good governance sans corruption.

Shakti Mills gang-rape convicts challenge framing of death sentence charge

By

Afternoon Voice

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March 26, 2014

Three convicts in the Shakti Mills photojournalist gang-rape case have approached the Bombay High Court challenging the framing of charge against them under section 376 (e) of the IPC which provides for death sentence.

The three convicts – Vijay Jadhav, Kasim Bengali and Mohammed Salim Ansari – have challenged the order passed by the sessions court on March 21 allowing an application filed by the prosecution adding fresh charge under section 376 (e) of IPC against the trio.

The section provides for death punishment to those accused, who have been convicted earlier under section 376 of IPC for rape. The stringent section was added after the December 2012 Delhi gangrape case as part of the Centre’s move to make anti-rape laws tough.

The prosecution filed the application soon after the trio was held guilty in two different cases of rape – one filed by a telephone operator and another by a photojournalist.

The three convicts in their petition in the high court have also challenged the constitutional validity of section 376 (e).

“The section is unconstitutional and illegal. The sessions court passed the order allowing framing of additional charges without hearing the defence,” advocate Moin Khan, appearing for one of the convicts, said.

The petition was mentioned before a division bench of Justices N H Patil and A M Thipsay which has posted it for hearing during the day.

After the sessions court allowed the prosecution application, the prosecution examined two witnesses. The defence refused to cross examine the witnesses and sought time to approach the high court yesterday.

The 22-year-old magazine photojournalist was gangraped by Jadhav, Bengali, Ansari, Siraj Rehman and a minor boy when she had gone to the Mills compound in the central Mumbai with a male colleague on an assignment on August 22, 2013.

The trio has already been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in the case related to gangrape of an 18-year-old telephone operator which had taken about a month before the photojournalist’s gangrape last year.

According to prosecution, this qualifies them for punishment under the amended section.

Farhan Azmi on SP ticket will take on Priya and Mahajan in Mumbai North Central constituency

By

Afternoon Voice

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March 26, 2014

Maharashtra unit Samajwadi Party president Abu Asim Azmi’s son Farhan will take on Congress MP Priya Dutt from Mumbai North Central seat while Bollywood actor Kamal Khan will lock horns with Congress veteran Gurudas Kamat in Mumbai North West in upcoming polls.

SP announced a list of 22 candidates from Maharashtra, which sends 48 MPs to Lok Sabha. The party will contest four out of six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai.

Contrary to reports that he would enter the fray from Mumbai South constituency against Congress’ sitting MP Milind Deora, Farhan will take on Priya Dutt from Mumbai North Central.

BJP leader late Pramod Mahajan’s daughter Poonam Mahajan and AAP’s Phiroze Palkhivala, lawyer and nephew of late Nani Palkhivala, are also in the ring from this seat.

SP has fielded Bollywood actor Kamal Khan, who had created a controversy with his role in film ‘Deshdrohi’ when MNS’ anti-north Indian agitation was at its peak, from Mumbai North West seat against Kamat.

Other candidates in the fray from this constituency are Bollywood director Mahesh Manjarekar who is MNS nominee, Gajanan Kirtikar of Shiv Sena and Mayank Gandhi of AAP.

SP has fielded Kashinath Pasi, who is facing criminal cases, from Mumbai South Central seat against Congress veteran and sitting MP Eknath Gaekwad, Aditya Shirodkar of MNS and Rahul Shewale of Shiv Sena.

When asked for the need to field a “tainted” nominee, Azmi senior said, “Pasi is being fielded to win elections.”

Kamlesh Yadav and Rais Shaikh are SP candidates from Mumbai North and Mumbai North East seats, respectively. All Mumbai seats are going to polls on April 24.

Prominent among other seats in the state, SP has fielded Dr Rameshwar Thackeray from Bhandara-Gondia seat being represented by NCP stalwart and Union Minister Praful Patel and Manikrao Bawane from Beed against BJP leader Gopinath Munde.

CBI moves HC seeking removal of Chavan’s name from Adarsh FIR

By

Afternoon Voice

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March 26, 2014

The CBI has approached the Bombay High Court against the lower court’s refusal to end the criminal prosecution of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan in the Adarsh Housing Society scam. The special CBI court, in January this year, had turned CBI’s plea to drop Chavan’s name from the First Information Report (FIR).

CBI had filed the application after Maharashtra Governor refused sanction to prosecute Chavan, on the ground that there was not much evidence against the Congress leader.
CBI’s revision petition is likely to be heard by the High Court on Thursday. Chavan had stepped down as the Chief Minister after the scam came to light in 2010. CBI, in the FIR, had accused Chavan of approving additional floor space index for Adarsh in return for two flats for his relatives.

He was also charged with illegally approving, as the revenue minister, allotment of 40 per cent of the flats to civilians when the society was allegedly meant only for Kargil war widows and defence personnel.

No law bars Ashok Chavan from contesting: Sonia Gandhi

By

Afternoon Voice

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March 26, 2014

Congress president Sonia Gandhi defended her party’s decision to field former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan in the Lok Sabha polls despite corruption charges against him.

“As far as we know, Chavan is not barred from contesting the election by any law,” Mrs. Gandhi told in New Delhi at an event where her party’s manifesto was released.

Mr. Chavan, who was indicted by an inquiry panel that investigated the Adarsh scam in Mumbai in December last year, is the Congress candidate from Nanded. He had to resign as chief minister in 2010 after allegations against him surfaced.

Attacking the party over the decision, the main opposition party the BJP challenged Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi to explain how his party has nominated Mr. Chavan. “We have answered questions on corruption. Now let Shri Rahul Gandhi, who had promised zero tolerance on corruption, answer why this is being accommodated,” BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said.

Speaking in his defence, Mr. Chavan told that all allegations against him in the Adarsh housing society scam are irrelevant. “My conscience is clear, I have done no wrong. I have not been convicted or barred from contesting elections,” he said.

The Congress included Mr. Chavan in its sixth list of candidates released last evening.

In December last year, a report of a two-member commission headed by retired high court judge JA Patil indicted several politicians including three former Chief Ministers – Mr. Chavan, Vilasrao Deshmukh and Sushil Kumar Shinde – for “blatant violations” of statutory provisions. It said Mr. Chavan and other bureaucrats gave permissions and clearances and it was a quid pro quo.

Home minister owns a tractor, his wife a tempo

By

Afternoon Voice

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March 26, 2014

A tractor and a tempo are among the movable assets owned by Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and his wife Ujwala who have agriculture and social work as their profession.

Apart from these vehicles, Mr. Shinde also has a generator worth Rs. 4.7 lakh and a Toyota Fortuner purchased this year for Rs. 10 lakh, as per the affidavit filed by the Union Minister along with his nomination papers for the Lok Sabha polls in Solapur in Maharashtra.

The Minister has declared a total of Rs. 6.18 crore worth as movable assets while her wife’s assets are valued at Rs. 2.4 crore. This includes jewellery worth nearly Rs. 30 lakh between the couple.

Mr. Shinde’s Kubota tractor of 2011 model is worth Rs. 5.72 lakh while the tempo in his wife’s name is worth Rs. 7.3 lakh.
Among immovable assets, Mr. Shinde has agricultural land, farm houses, flats and residential plots.

He has declared total self-acquired assets of Rs. 5.8 crore in his name and further Rs. 9.08 crore in his wife’s name. As liabilities, Mr. Shinde has disclosed a loan of Rs. 1.5 lakh.

Interestingly, the Minister has listed agriculture and social work as his profession and LLB as his highest educational qualification.

Woman allegedly attempts suicide in police station

By

Afternoon Voice

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March 26, 2014

A woman who was being interrogated at a police station in connection with the murder of a jewellery shop worker, allegedly attempted to end her life by consuming phenyle, police sources said.

The incident took place late last night, they said.

According to police, a worker in the Jewellery shop in the main bazar Anil Kumar Sukhwal, 29, was found dead in his room on Monday morning. Police had registered offences under sections 452 and 302 of the IPC against unknown persons.

Thane Nagar police had called the woman to the police station and started interrogating her last evening.

However, during the questioning, the woman requested the police to let her visit the toilet and later consumed phenyle.

She was immediately rushed to Thane civil hospital and after the treatment she was discharged as she was out of danger, they said.