Two Sri Lankan held with gold worth Rs. 5 cr at airport

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February 23, 2014

In a major seizure, two Sri Lankans have been arrested at the airport for allegedly trying to smuggle into the country gold bars weighing 20 kg.

Acting on intelligence, the duo were intercepted by customs officials after their arrival here from Mumbai on Friday.

On examination of their hand baggage, gold bars weighing 20 kg were found. They were carrying 10 kg gold each, a customs official said.

The value of the recovered gold is about Rs. 5.25 crore, he said.

The flight was coming from Muscat. The duo had boarded the flight to Delhi from Mumbai. The gold was hidden beneath their seats by their accomplice.

Customs officials were trying to identify the persons who had hidden the gold below their seats, the official said.

Last week, customs officials had seized gold bars valued at over Rs one crore from seven passengers, who were allegedly trying to smuggle it into the country, at the airport here.

These passengers had come from Dubai and Bangkok and were collectively carrying gold bars and jewellery weighing 4. 319 kg, customs officials had said.

The value of seized gold was assessed to be Rs. 1.10 crore.

In another incident, three persons were arrested on February 16 for allegedly trying to smuggle into the country gold bars valued at about Rs. one crore at the airport here.

The accused were intercepted by customs officials after their arrival from Sharjah.

On detailed examination of their baggage, gold bars weighing 3.932 kg was recovered, customs officials said.

BJP slams U-turn by Sharad Pawar on Narendra Modi

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Afternoon Voice

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February 23, 2014

A day after NCP chief Sharad Pawar targeted Narendra Modi on the 2002 Gujarat riots issue, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Prakash Javadekar on Sunday said the former has habit of making “communal” statements ahead of elections.

“For four years and nine months Pawar talks like a secularist. However, when elections draw closer he turns communal,” Javadekar said.

“We have seen Sharad Pawar oscillate between secularism and communalism before, just because he wants Muslim votebank,” he added.

Pawar on Saturday attacked the BJP prime ministerial candidate on the 2002 riots issue, saying the entire country has seen the “mass murders” that took place in Gujarat.

“They speak of changing the face of the country but the entire country has seen how mass murders took place,” Pawar said addressing a meeting to discuss the status of minorities, without naming Modi.

Major fire guts Ceat tyre factory unit, disrupts train services

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Afternoon Voice

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February 23, 2014

A massive fire gutted a tyre manufacturing unit, situated alongside Nahur suburban railway station near Bhandup in north-eastern Mumbai and also disrupted train services, officials said.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) disaster management cell said that as many as 10 fire tenders and an equal number of water tankers have been rushed to the spot, to extinguish the blaze, which is yet to be brought under control.

“Efforts by the fire brigade personnel are on to douse the blaze. There was still no details of any casualties or loss of property,” the BMC official said.

Electricity supply to the Nahur suburban railway station had to be shut down due to the fire in the Ceat tyre factory.

A senior railway official said that suburban local trains running towards Kalyan from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station, on the Central Line, were running late by at least half-an-hour after trains moving on the slow track had to be diverted onto the fast track beyond the Vikhroli suburban railway station.

Sharad Pawar behind Saturday attack on party office: AAP

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Afternoon Voice

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February 23, 2014

Aam Aadmi Party leader Anjali Damania on Sunday alleged that NCP chief and union minister Sharad Pawar and spokesperson Nawab Malik were responsible for the attack on the AAP state party office in Mumbai on Saturday.

Damania told that barely three days ago, the AAP had exposed an alleged scam in the power department headed by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Sharad Pawar’s nephew Ajit Pawar.

“We exposed their power scam. They (Sharad Pawar and Malik) seem to have got angry and instigated the attack on our office,” Damania said.

However, refuting the allegation, Malik said in Mumbai that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has already issued show cause notice to party activists for the attack on the AAP office and necessary action would be initiated against those responsible for it.

“Regarding the AAP’s agitation to sweep the NCP offices in the state, I appeal to them to sweep clean their respective homes instead so that their domestic help can get a day off,” Malik said.

Malik was referring to AAP leader Mayank Gandhi’s statement Saturday that party activists would adopt a Gandhian form of retaliation and “sweep clean” all NCP offices in Maharashtra with brooms, the AAP’s poll symbol.

On Saturday, police stopped AAP activists from proceeding to an NCP office and detained them for several hours.

On Sunday, there was a heated exchange and a minor scuffle between AAP and NCP activists when the former trooped down with brooms to sweep the NCP office in Aurangabad.

Mobile phone found in Tejpal’s cell during prison raid

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Afternoon Voice

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February 23, 2014

Prison authorities on Sunday seized a mobile phone during a surprise inspection of the cell in which Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal is lodged at the Sada sub-jail in Goa’s Vasco city.

The mobile phone was among nine phones seized by Sub-divisional Magistrate Gaurish Shankhwalkar during the surprise raid.

Headphones, MP3 players, cigarettes and tobacco packets were also seized from other cells.

An official said a mobile phone was found from cell no.14 where Tejpal and four other inmates are lodged.

Tejpal, however, told the officers that the phone does not belong to him.
Inspector General Prisons Mihir Vardhan confirmed the raid.

He, however, told news agency he has not got hold of the exact details.
Tejpal has been in judicial custody for nearly two months on charges of raping a junior colleague.

Man arrested for allegedly murdering 19-year-old girl

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Afternoon Voice

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February 23, 2014

With the arrest of a 29-year-old man, the Thane police today claimed to have solved the mystery surrounding the murder of a college-going girl in Kalyan in Thane district.

The body of Rajani Rajkumar Verma, who had left home on Thursday for her classes, was found in the fields behind the Apsara Bar yesterday morning.

She had as many as 13 stab wounds, police said.

Today the police arrested Sarveshkumar Sambudayal Verma, who was employed in the tailoring shop run by her father.

He was related to the victim’s mother.

Additional Commissioner of Police Dr. Ravindra Singhal said that police suspected him after learning that Sarveshkumar had cut his finger recently.

His questioning revealed that he had a relationship with the victim, who had become pregnant. On Thursday, she called him to the spot as she wanted money for an abortion.

This led to a quarrel, during which he strangulated her with her scarf, and stabbed her, police said.

Further investigation is on in the case.

Alert India organises Ghazal concert for Pankaj Udhas

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Afternoon Voice

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February 23, 2014

Aneel Murarka, Managing Director of Mirachem Industries & Active Committee Member of Alert India Campaign teamed up with Veera Rao to organise a lively Pankaj Udhas Ghazal Concert in aid of ‘Alert India’ (Association for Leprosy Education, Rehabilitation and Treatment-India) a voluntary charitable organization at Bhaidas Hall in Mumbai.

The evening was graced by the presence of Bollywood actress Ameesha Patel amongst others. Aneel Murarka felicitated Ameesha Patel amidst the thunderous applause of the packed gathering.

Speaking on the occasion, Aneel Muraraka observed that, “Music is a universal language that touches the heart and we hope that it well and truly spreads the message for organisations like ALERT INDIA.”

Pankaj Udhas gave a soulful renidition of some his all time popular hits that included Ghoongru Toot Gaye…, Chandi Jaisa Rang Hai Tera Sone jaise baal…, Ahishta Kije Baate… followed by the master piece Chiththi Aai Hai…

A for Adarsh, B for Bofors……but Modi forgets G for gas

By

Vaidehi Taman

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February 23, 2014

All the three Prime ministerial candidates were busy in political campaign on Sunday, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Ludhiana. He was showing same attitude with same agenda that is to attack on Congress. Congress’s Rahul Gandhi seems to be maturing with time; he was very much focused, composed and to the point. AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal continued his campaign trail as the race to 7 RCR is gathering steam. While the Gujarat Chief Minister addressed ‘Fateh’ rally in Ludhiana, the Congress Vice President was in Dehradun. Rahul also reviewed reconstruction efforts in Uttarakhand’s flood-hit areas and met ex- servicemen. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal launched the party’s national campaign for the Lok Sabha elections at a rally in Rohtak in Haryana. This was his first rally after resigning as Delhi’s chief minister. The rise of AAP and their questioning of BJPs policies almost every day has created an impression in the minds of common people that BJP is the party preferred by corrupt corporates like Ambani. Now, some people have started saying that BJP’s rule means another 5 years of Ambani rule. This perception may hit BJP hard in the next elections. Unless BJP does a course correction, it will soon lose the support of common people of this country. BJP’s attempt of blocking the anti-corruption bills in Parliament has further dented the image of the saffron party. Remember, the India Shining campaign (development plank) (completely forgetting Hindutva Plank) which backfired. The same perception that the BJP is hand in gloves with the corporates and works only for them was prevailing at that time also. That’s why, BJP lost the elections. Don’t make the same mistake again because of which BJP had to stay away from power for 10 long years. Kejriwal is a dummy and his party is a total spoiler for others. If he wanted to be an alternative, he should have proved himself when given chance in Delhi. He will end up doing worst due to his impatience rather than doing anything good for the people of this country. Moreover, Modi started his speech A for Adarsh and B for Bofors, but he completely forgot G for gas.

AAP vs Reliance

The gas pricing controversy and Modi’s silence over Ambanis has dragged BJP in bad light. I have read somewhere that the Kejriwal has not questioned Modi, he has asked for his view. The gas was supplied by Ambani at $1 and thereafter it was increased to $4. Now government is planning to increase the gas price to $8 from April 1. Kejriwal questions on the basis of sharp increase, the rate of $1 was on the basis of marginal costing and if we don’t get from Ambani, it has to be imported at $14 from abroad. Thus, he is justified in his stand. Kejriwal’s question was, in an atmosphere of monopoly, why will someone sell on marginal cost, that too Ambani? Is there any connivance? Based on the cost of production, it was priced at $4 last year. How can there be 100 per cent increase in one year? If your logic is based on international rate of $14 then within six months Ambani may peg it at $12. This is an issue where Kejriwal is asking for Modi’s view. And Modi has not given any answer to his question. Constantly, BJP was attacking Kejriwal over various issues and as we know, he is threat to Congress as well as BJP, but they had not converted threat into voting. The mass is with AAP, and somewhere people are fed up with Congress and BJP. BJP has to realise that, it is no longer a walk over. The development plan, media support and paid trolls will never help on the ground. Just hoping that a Modi wave will hide all BJPs shortcomings. BJP has to transform itself as a party of the common man. They should learn from their previous mistakes. If BJP fails to realise then their future is doomed. Anyway, this is high time; BJP needs to change their attack style, as Modi’s monotonous style is not much appealing to common public anymore.

Modi’s ABCD

Hitting out at the Congress over the rising levels of corruption, Modi lambasted the ruling government for saying that the BJP stalled the introduction of anti-graft bills in the Parliament. “Congress leaders are blaming other parties on corruption. I am surprised. ABCD is indicative of Congress’ corruption. A for Adarsh, B for Bofors, C for Coalgate. He also attacked Congress on the issue of the ‘One Rank One Pension’ scheme which has been approved in Parliament in its recently concluded winter session. He said that the Congress has no intentions of implementing the policy and it will be the NDA government which will eventually put the scheme to work. Speaking at his ‘Fateh’ rally, he made a pitch for improving the agriculture industry and proposed to split up the Food Corporation of India to improve efficiencies. He added that farmers, manufacturers and the workers belonging to the service sector are the three pillars to be focused on for the development of the country. Urging the people of the state to vote for the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Modi assured that he will work towards the development of the people when he comes to power.

Morale boosting Rahul

On the other side, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi addressed a rally in Dehradun. He spoke to the point about various issues such as woman empowerment and Uttarakhand. He appealed to people, wherever you hear pain, please go there and help. In politics, there is no place for pride. One must quit pride to help others, to understand the pain of others. He put forward Congress’s vision, which is not short-sighted. He was very much poised while delivering his speech. Anyways, Gandhi family is known for connecting with people. Predicting the future of 2014 elections is bit difficult, but everyone is his best, at this moment.

AAP calls Hooda property broker, says Ambanis rule the country

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Afternoon Voice

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February 23, 2014

Aam Aadmi Party launched its LokSabha election campaign in Haryana on Sunday where it tore into Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and accused him of being involved in corrupt land deals with Reliance.

Addressing a rally in Rohtak, which is the home turf of Hooda, Kejriwal called him a property broker. “Hooda is not the CM but a property dealer,” he said.

Kejriwal, who had earlier taken up issues of land acquisition and Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra’s dealings in the state, accused Hooda of giving out land at cheaper rates to Reliance. “Hooda has given 8000 acres of land to Reliance for just a few lakhs,” he alleged.

Recalling that he is yet to receive a reply from BJP’s PM nominee NarendraModi on gas price hike, Kejriwal attacked BJP of being hands in glove with the Ambani brothers.

Hitting out at both Rahul Gandhi and Modi, Kejriwal quipped, “whether there is Modi or Gandhi, in reality it is the Ambanis who rule the nation.”

He questioned BJP’s silence on its attack on Reliance over gas pricing. For this he cited that the BJP was receiving monetary gains from Reliance for all their political rallies. He said, “I wrote to Modi thrice about gas pricing, about his party’s relation with Reliance and who is funding his mega rallies, he is yet to reply.”

Rahul Gandhi woos women voters, slams BJP for lack of vision in Dehradun rally

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Afternoon Voice

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February 23, 2014

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday addressed a rally here with once again advocating for the need to empower the women in order to become a superpower and taking potshots at Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate NarendraModi. Rahul said that the Congress party understood the pain of the women and provided them with 12 cylinders. “Unless we strengthen the women and provide them with employment opportunities, India will not become a superpower,” Rahul exclaimed and reiterated that the Congress try to pass the Women’s Reservsation .

In a bid to woo the women voters, Rahul, who was recently made co-chairman Congress campaign panel, said that there should be a day when women of the country constitute half of LokSabha or state assemblies. He said, “In politics there is no place for ego, anger. Because if we have ego, we can never understand pain of other.”

Speaking the flash floods that struck Uttarakhand last year causing major damage, Rahul said that people witnessed how everyone got together to help each other, but there few who want to divide nation. Centre sent Rs 7000 crore for the redevelopment of Uttarakhand and it was Army jawans who also helped rebuild the state.

Continuing taking potshots at NarendraModi, Rahul in his speech accused the Gujarat CM for taking credit for the development work done in the state. Rahul again making an attempt to woo the women present in the rally, took example of Amul and said that it the women which helped it become a big name.

Attacking the BJP, the Gandhi scion said that the main Opposition party lacks the vision of what should be done in the country. Pointing that it was former prime minister and his late father Rajiv Gandhi who brought computers to the nation, Rahul said, “Rajiv Gandhi talked about 21st century, about computers, but the senior BJP leaders said we don’t need computers, it will create unemployment in the country. And now, they are claiming that the IT industry developed because of them.”

On the health issues in the country, Rahul promised that the Congress party will provide free healthcare for all for next five years if it comes to power again after the General Elections which are set to be held in May this year. “We (Congress) provided you with right to education, right to food and now we will provide you with the right to health,” Rahul said.

Further trying to woo the poor people of the country, he highlighted that 14 crore people were lifted out of poverty during Congress rule and added that the benefits that the rich get, will be ensured that the poor also receive the same. “We want to raise the standard of living of the poor and bring them to the middle class. We aim to bring 70 lakh people to the middle class.”

Rahul slammed the BJP on the issue of corruption and said that the Congress party brought the RTI act, which is the biggest step against corruption. He said, “Congress brought RTI act and Lokpal Bill to uproot corruption.” Rahul also accused the Opposition for not letting the anti-graft bills be passed in Parliament.