NCP chief to inaugurate the new NMMC headquarters

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February 16, 2014

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar will inaugurate the newly constructed headquarters of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, C.B.D Belapur at 4.30 pm on February, 18. During the event, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Thane district Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik, Urban Development state minister Uday Sawant, CIDCO President Pramod Hindurao, Member of Parliament Sanjeev Naik, Member of Legistative assembly Sandeep Naik and others will be present.

The five storey green building is 45 meter high. The building is completely secured through constant surveillance by CCTV cameras, fire alarm system and public address system. Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde will be the chief guest on the occasion. The inauguration ceremony will be held in the presence of Prithviraj Chavan.

Terry Fox Run 2014 receives an overwhelming response

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Afternoon Voice

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February 16, 2014

The “Terry Fox Run” started at 8.00 a.m. from Air-India Building (Nariman Point) to Marine Drive Flyover and back to Brabourne Stadium. The Terry Fox Run 2014 received an overwhelming response as 7,000 students, from 45-50 schools participated in the run. Judith Fox-Alder, sister of Terry Fox flagged off the event.

Terry Fox India, Convener Mr Gul Kripalani said we are very happy that ‘Terry Fox Run, Mumbai’ is expecting to be No.1 run in raising fund for the cause. Last year we raised Rs 1.5 crore and this year we raised more than Rs 2.20 crore for this cause. We are the largest contributor for the cancer research.

Judith Fox-Alder, sister of Terry Fox says she was glad to see the kids along with their parents participate for the run. And she is happy to see that the Terry Fox Run, Mumbai have contributed so much for the research centers.

The Run is a non-competitive event where people get together as individuals, families and groups to raise money in Terry Fox’s name. It is a day of celebrating Terry’s legacy and helping to keep his dream of a cure for cancer alive. A run that brings individuals together in many parts of the world- Mumbai can be proud about the results of working together, with no barriers or frontiers for the benefit of all. Mumbai’s determination to fight cancer has made it into the top 3 cities of the world for giving generously towards fight cancer research through the Terry Fox Run.

Teenager raped by 60 year old man

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Afternoon Voice

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February 16, 2014

A teenager was allegedly raped by a 60-year-old man following which she became pregnant. The 13-year-old girl from Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district, used to stay with the accused’s family at Joggers’ Park locality in Mira Road. She used to do petty jobs to support her family.

According to Dhanaji Kshirsagar Mira Road Police Station inspector said,
“According to the police, the accused has been identified as Pradhan Kaka, a retired BMC worker. He used to allegedly offer the victim tranquilisers as she went unconscious. The accused used to repeatedly rape the victim for the past eight months”

When the victim’s father inquired her about pregnancy, she revealed that she was sexually assaulted by the caretaker. Initially, the victim’s father hesitated to register a complaint against the accused. Later, the local politician learnt about this incident. He then persuaded the victim’s father to the visit the police station and file a complaint against Pradhan, his wife and another girl staying at their home.

API Jaiprakash Gute, the investigating officer in the case, said offences have been registered against the three under sections 376 (rape) and 328 rw 34 of the IPC, and sections 3, 4, 7 and 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

The girl will be sent for medical examination. Pradhan hailed from Haryana and police squad has been formed and sent to his village in Haryana for searching the accused.

AAP’s first Lok Sabha list out, Ashutosh to contest against Kapil Sibal

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Afternoon Voice

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February 16, 2014

Just two days after resigning from the Delhi government, Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party has turned its attention on the upcoming general elections.

Finalising 20 seats as part of its first list of candidates for Lok Sabha, the party announced that former journalist and AAP spokesperson Ashutosh will contest against Union Minister Kapil Sibal from the Chandi Chowk seat in Delhi.

The party’s Mukul Tripathi will take on Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid from the Farrukhabad seat while senior advocate HS Phoolka will contest from Ludhiana against Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari.

Activist Medha Patkar will make her electoral debut when she contests from Mumbai (North East) while senior AAP leader Yogendra Yadav will contest from Gurgaon.

Announcing the list after a meeting of the party’s Political Affair Committee (PAC), AAP’s Manish Sisodia said Anjali Damania will contest against former BJP president Nitin Gadkari from Nagpur. Kumar Vishwas has been confirmed as the party’s candidate against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Amethi.

“I have got a big responsibility. Earlier I thought I wouldn’t fight Lok Sabha or Assembly polls. We need to fight one-to-one against corruption. Arvind Kejriwal has said the same thing to me. I will fight to my fullest,” said Ms Damania after the announcement.

The Lok Sabha elections, due by May, has for months been seen as a direct contest between BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and Congress Number Two Rahul Gandhi, though the latter has not been officially named as his party’s prime ministerial candidate.

After Mr. Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party made its spectacular debut in Delhi Assembly elections last December, many now see a triangular battle this year. The AAP has said it will contest at least a whopping 350 seats and is pitching its chief, Mr. Kejriwal as its candidate for the top post.

Dog detained for allegedly biting ex-cop in Uttar Pradesh

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Afternoon Voice

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February 16, 2014

Uttar Pradesh is truly the land of the bizarre. People had barely gotten over the absurdity of a massive search and rescue operation of UP Minister Azam khan’s stolen buffalo’s. And now a canine controversy from Bulandshahr district has become the top priority for the district police.

This allegedly ferocious dog has been detained by the Bulandshahr police for allegedly chasing and biting a former cop.

An FIR filed against the dog says it is a menace and that it bit former inspector Vijay Yadav while he was visiting his native village of Sanota.

It’s seems Mr Yadav had been struggling to get justice for more than three months and has even written to the district Superintendent of Police and the District Magistrate about the reign of terror that the dog had unleashed in his village.

The dog has been booked under section 289 of the Indian penal code which holds the owner of the animal responsible for negligent conduct with respect to animal that can cause harm to humans. The crime can send the owner to six months in prison and a fine.

The dog is not behind bars. Instead, he seems to have been adopted by the Gulawathi police station, and is being well fed and looked after.

AP bifurcation bill introduced undemocratically: Jaganmohan Reddy

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Afternoon Voice

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February 16, 2014

YSR Congress Chief Jaganmohan Reddy, who is against the creation of Telangana, on Sunday said that the way AP bifurcation bill was introduced in Parliament was undemocratic.

Reddy also said that General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) Prakash Karat has extended his help over the Telangana issue.

However, Reddy appeared to have got a shot in the arm as JD(U) promised to firm up a common position of 11 parties of an emerging ‘Front’ on the issue.

“We have made a front. We will try to have one opinion over Andhra Pradesh’s division and Telangana after talking with each other. This is what I have told Jaganmohan,” JD(U) President Sharad Yadav said after his meeting with YSR Congress Chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy here.

“It’s no longer about my party as we have to take everybody along now,” Yadav told reporters.

Asked whether he has invited the YSR Congress into the Third Front, Yadav said, “we have not talked about this.”

Reddy said Yadav has agreed to discuss the issue with leaders of 11 non-Congress non-BJP parties including Left, AIADMK, Samajwadi Party and Janata Dal (Secular). They will chalk out a strategy on how to deal with the situation on the floor of the House if a discussion on the Bill takes place in Lok Sabha.

“He (Yadav) is going to discuss the matter with other parties who have decided to coordinate on floor management,” said the Andhra leader, who was suspended from the Lok Sabha along with 15 other Seemandhra MPs for disrupting House proceedings over Telangana issue.

“We have requested him (Yadav) to positively prevail on the entire 11 parties to ensure that this injustice is stopped. We are just hoping and praying to God that entire opposition would stand together and move against the government to stop this injustice,” Reddy said.

The fresh move comes in the wake of the government trying to pass the bill in Parliament but seven parties including the BJP have questioned the manner in which the controversial Telangana Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha.

“We have come here to request Sharad Yadav to fight against the injustice. Because Parliament is going ahead and breaking an unwilling state… A state which has clearly passed a resolution against the division,” Reddy said.

Kejriwal asks Narendra Modi to break his silence on gas pricing issue

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Afternoon Voice

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February 16, 2014

Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday targeted Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, asking him to break his silence on the gas pricing issue.

Kejriwal tweeted, “Modi shud break his silence on gas pricing. Also, what is his relation and his party’s relation with Mukesh Ambani and Adani? (sic)”

The AAP chief asked Modi to speak on the issue in his rally to be held in Himachal Pradesh today.

Kejriwal also questioned Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi’s support to Reliance Industries chairman on the issue of higher gas price.

Ahead of Rahul’s rally in Karnataka, Kejriwal asked him to explain his decision to support Mukesh Ambani over the issue of pricing of gas.

The tweets by Kejriwal comes after he stepped down as the Delhi chief minister after his government was defeated in the Delhi Assembly over introduction of the Jan Lokpal bill.

Rahul woos women voters in Karnataka, stresses on their empowerment

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Afternoon Voice

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February 16, 2014

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who launched the party’s Lok Sabha poll campaign in South India on a two-day visit to Karnataka, on Sunday addressed his first all-women rally in Tumkur a day after he addressed a rally in Belgaum where he attacked the main opposition BJP for rampant corruption and looting the state.

Rahul’s rally, whose idea was oriented from his views on need for women empowerment, focused on women and the aim to bring more women forward in the election process. Rahul, who was recently named the co-chairman Congress Campaign Committee for the Lok Sabha polls, said that unless the women of India are empowered, the country can never become a super-power. “We want to use your (women’s) strength in the progress of this country,” Rahul said.

Advocating the need to empower women, he pointed out that the states where women are being empowered are progressing at a faster pace than other states. The Congress VP said that 20 lakh women in Karnataka have been associated with banks, this changed their life.

Rahul, in his speech, also spoke about his pet topic of getting the Women’s Reservation Bill passed in Parliament. Highlighting the work done by the Congress for women, he said that the party’s programs like RTI, MNREGA and others have been formulated to help the women.

On the issue of crime against women, Rahul said the Congress passed a stringent law against rape. Saying that there is no progress without women, the newly appointed co-chairman Congress Campaign Committee said that we (Congress) want to open the doors of schools, hospitals, Parliament for women.

Taking on the Opposition, Rahul said that they don’t respect women and their ‘ideological sangatan’ doesn’t have place for women.

Sonia and Rao had strained relations: KV Thomas

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Afternoon Voice

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February 16, 2014

Sonia Gandhi and late Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao had strained relations when he was the Prime Minister as she was unhappy over the slow pace of progress in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination probe, says a book written by a Union minister.

And when Gandhi chose to go public with her unhappiness over the probe in August 1995, it was a build up to what she would choose two years later to enter active politics, says Union Food Minister KV Thomas in his book ‘Sonia–The Beloved Of The Masses’.

The fact that Gandhi and Rao did not share an easy relationship was also confirmed by former minister Natwar Singh, who recollects how Rao called him one night in May, 1995 to say how he was been “insulted” by her.

Referring to a speech made by Sonia Gandhi on August 20, 1995 on the birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi, Thomas says in his book that her words had pained the entire nation.

“That was why Sonia, who was not close to Rao, pointed an accusing finger at the government. Aggrieved about the inordinate delay in the Rajiv’s assassination probe, she asked if the investigation related to the killing of a former prime minister was to take so much time, what would be the fate of ordinary citizens who fights for justice?”

Thomas says it could not be construed in a simplistic way as a statement against the slow pace of the process of meting out justice. “When Congress was in power, a broadside from Sonia was indeed a censure of Narasimha Rao,” he writes.

Sonia believed so long as Rao remained in power, the probe into Rajiv’s death will reach nowhere, says Thomas in the book.

“Her conviction was some other agency might have masterminded the murder and engineered it through LTTE. It was circumstances which pushed Sonia into politics. How could she remain witness when the edifices of the party was crumbling,” he says.

Writing in a Delhi daily last week, Natwar Singh recalls from his dairy notings of May 13, 1995 when Rao called him to his Race Course Residence in the night.

“Around 9 P.M. P.V. Walked in, he did not sit down. The normally imperturbable P.V. Appeared flummoxed and agitated: ‘I have just received her letter to me?’ I said I have not seen it. The two were apparently having an epistolary war regarding the trial of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassins.” Singh says what Rao said next was so unexpected that he was dumbfounded. “I cannot take her on. I could. I don’t want to. What does she expect me to do?”, the prime minister had said.

PM presided over most corrupt government in independent India: Advani

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Afternoon Voice

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February 16, 2014

BJP leader LK Advani on Sunday accused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of presiding over the “most corrupt government in independent India”.
In a blog post, the Bharatiya Janata Party doyen wrote that as his second term draws to an end Manmohan Singh leaves behind a trail of scams and tainted governance.

Advani wrote, “Starting with the scandals that surfaced during the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, then proceeding to the 2 G Spectrum scams, most of the scams that came to light under Congress governments were exposures made by the C.A.G. or the judiciary and related to bribes allegedly received by ministers/officials in government for illegal favours extended to the bribe givers (sic).”

Spelling the worst of scams during the UPA tenure, Advani said he felt that the “most disgraceful scam” that came to light during UPA-I was the cash-for-votes scam. “It was an episode following the Left Front’s withdrawal of support to the UPA. Government in protest against the UPA striking a deal with Washington on the nuclear issue.”

“With this development, Dr. Manmohan Singh’s Government came face to face with a grave crisis and had to face a confidence vote in which it could have well been ousted, (sic),” said Advani.

The senior BJP leader had come down heavily on the pepper-spraying incident in the Lok Sabha over Telangana bifurcation and continuing his tirade against such unruly behaviour of MPs had said the last 10 years have seen the worst in Parliament’s history.

He wrote, “The limits of unsavory behavior were crossed the next day when……a Congress Party MP pulled out a black pepper spray and started spraying it all around so that several MPs including Smt. Sushma Swaraj had tears in her eyes, and many others were seen coughing in acute discomfort (sic).”