Northeast students protest in Delhi, laticharged by cops

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February 14, 2014

Northeast students protesting at Raisina Hill here against the attacks on people from the northeartern states and demanding justice for the Nido Taniam, a student from Arunachal Pradesh who died in the national capital after allegedly beaten up, were laticharged by the Delhi Police on Friday.

According to reports, at least 50 protesting students have been detained by the police from the protest venue. The students who were protesting at the Jantar Mantar broke through the security cordon and reached Raisina Hill shouting slogans.

Supreme Court issued guidelines to the Centre and state governments for providing protection to people from northeast in various parts of the country.

Bhullar’s death penalty should be commuted: Delhi government to SC

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Afternoon Voice

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February 14, 2014

The Delhi government on Friday filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court, saying that 1993 Delhi bomb blast convict Devender Pal Singh Bhullar’s death penalty should be commuted.

In its affidavit submitted to the apex court, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party government has said that Bhullar is suffering form mental illness and his death sentence should be commuted.

The Delhi government’s reaction comes after the SC last month stayed the execution of the death sentence of Bhullar and issued notice to the Centre and Delhi government on his petition seeking commuting of his death sentence to life imprisonment.

The apex court bench of Chief Justice P Sathasivam, Justice RM Lodha, Justice HL Dattu and Justice Sudhansu Jyoti Mukhopadhaya is hearing the case.

The court asked Delhi-based Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences to examine Bhullar and submit a report on his state of mental health within a week.

Earlier, the bench of Chief Justice P Sathasivam, Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Shiva Kirti Singh Jan 21, had ruled that delay in deciding the mercy petition by the president and mental illness of death row convict are grounds for commuting death sentence to life imprisonment.

The three-judge bench had also said that while commuting the death sentence to life imprisonment on grounds of inordinate delay in deciding the mercy petition by the president, the court’s decision would not be coloured by the consideration whether the person on death row was convicted under the provision of Indian Penal Code or the terror law TADA.

Bhullar was given capital punishment for the 1993 blast at the Youth Congress office, a stone’s throw from Parliament House in Delhi, which left nine people dead.

TV serial motivates students to kill schoolmate, demand ransom

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Afternoon Voice

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February 14, 2014

Five students allegedly kidnapped a junior schoolmate in Malda district, murdered him and then demanded ransom from the victim’s father — all after watching a TV serial, the police said on Friday.

The five studying in classes XI and XII kidnapped a student of class VII of their own school at Bamangola on Tuesday, took him to an abandoned house where they murdered him and then called up his wealthy father to demand a ransom of Rs. 10 lakh.

They asked the victim’s father to bring the ransom money to a spot at Kendpukur in Bamangola the next day. The father, after informing the police, went to the directed place.

The police arrested two of the boys from there and found the victim’s body. After questioning the two, three more students were arrested, the sources said.

The arrested students revealed during interrogation that they had planned it after watching a television serial, the sources said.

When produced before a local court during the day, the five were remanded to 10 days police custody.

MLA’s sons booked for withdrawing government funds via fake invoice

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Afternoon Voice

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February 14, 2014

Three persons, including two sons of a Congress MLA, have been booked for allegedly withdrawing government funds through fake invoices in Korba district of Chhattisgarh, police said on Friday.

The case was registered on Wednesday against Rohit Agrawal and Rishu Agrawal – sons of Korba MLA Jaisingh Agrawal – and Naresh Verma (the trio are partners in BB Verma Construction company) for withdrawing Rs. 20-25 lakh from the government exchequer through fake bills, Katghora SHO Arun Joshi said.

However, no arrests have been made so far.

According to the officer, the accused have been charged with committing forgery during construction of Katghora-Ambikapur road, the contract of which their firm had won.

They allegedly received payments through counterfeit bills while work was on, he said.

Following court’s directives, an FIR was lodged against the trio under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 477 and other sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the SHO said.

An investigation is on and appropriate action would be taken in this connection, he said.

Notably, these three were earlier also booked in another such case of cheating for allegedly borrowing government funds through fake bills for coal tar purchase during construction of a road in the region.

Narendra Modi woos India Inc, says IT industry can transform country

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Afternoon Voice

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February 14, 2014

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, in a bid to woo the India Inc, stressed that social media can be effectively used in involving people for policy and decision making.

Addressing the corporates at NASSCOM through video conference on Friday, Modi sought support of India Inc in digitising the country and talked about how he is inspired by the social media.

“I am inspired by the social media, it is a source of inspiration for me. I am able to connect with so many people through social media,” Modi said in his address.

In his 30-minute speech, Modi called himself a great advocate of technology. He said that Information Technology (IT) can transform the country and our lives. Saying that technology is an inevitable force in modern world, Modi pointed that sooner it is deployed and mastered, the better it is.

Urging NASSCOM for its active engagement, he spoke about the need to bring an IT revolution in the country and said that it can empower and also bring the isolated parts of India closer, adding that IT can bridge the gap between demand and supply. E-governance is easy and effective, Modi said and added that it brings empowerment, equity and efficiency of the economy.

In his address, Modi also emphasised on the need to empower the youth with necessary skills and the vast potential of the IT industry to convert the challenges into opportunities.

Modi also stated that IT in today’s time is significant in the domain of the e-governance. The BJP PM candidate said that IT can the growth engine of India and that when we celebrate 75 years of celebration, we must become a different nation.

Parkash Singh Badal’s prison years now being questioned

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Afternoon Voice

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February 14, 2014

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has always claimed that he has been the longest serving political prisoner in the country. That is being questioned now by Badal’s political bete noire and Congress leader Amarinder Singh.

Badal’s claim has been that after South Africa’s anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, who remained in confinement for 27 years, he has been the second longest serving political prisoner in the world with a total of 17 years in prison.

Amarinder Singh, a former Punjab chief minister, has however claimed that Badal, 86, has spent just around five years in confinement during his entire political career of 67 years.

“Badal did not spend more than five years in jail. Actually, he spent just 18 months in jail and that was during emergency (1975-77), and rest of the time was spent comfortably in state guest houses and the entire time period does not add up to even five years,” Amarinder Singh, who comes from the erstwhile royal family of Patiala and is a bitter critic of Badal, said.

Amarinder said that Badal’s claim of being the longest serving political prisoner in the country is an “absolute lie” and there is no record to prove it.

Over the years, no one openly disputed Badal’s claims on this front.
Amarinder minces no words when it comes to Badal.

“He is a completely selfish man. He has ruined Punjab in the last few decades due to his politics of self interest. He is not bothered about Punjab. He played a dubious role during terrorism years (1981-92). Nearly 35,000 people lost their lives during this period. His role in the run up to the 1984 Operation Bluestar is also questionable. He went into hiding at his farmhouse in June 1984 after earlier meeting with central ministers,” Amarinder asserted.

MPs make mockery of democracy

By

Mahendra Singh

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February 14, 2014

It’s a matter of great shame. Expelled MP from Vijaywada L Rajagopal who had sprayed pepper spray in the parliament against the introduction of Telangana Bill in Lok Sabha must be dismissed and debarred for life to contest any election. What kind of people is being issued tickets by the political parties? Three days back the MNS had held demonstrations in Mumbai against the toll levy issue and now MPs have shamed the nation by disrupting the parliament.

Since few months is still remaining for the general election the Election Commission must scrutinize the applications filed by MPs to contest election. Political parties must lay down strict guidelines for the selection of candidates. Only honest and qualified candidates possessing good experience must be issued a ticket.

Our country is witnessing a lot of indiscipline and the police must not hesitate in using the cane. Strict action must be taken against miscreants responsible for such acts. I overturned an auto, I can be recognized in photo and yet no action is taken against me. So now I will enter the assembly and do more harm.

The justice delivery system is slow-paced hence criminals have no fear of law. Let us hope that the Lok Sabha election dates are announced early and Narendra Modi becomes Prime Minister so that order can be restored speedily. You cannot be allowed to remain a mute spectator while anti-social activities flourishes around you and you enjoy luxurious life at the cost of public money.

Why MPs are not frisked while entering the parliament? This is the reason politicians get offended when they are subjected to checks at international airports. MPs must mend their ways so that there is no need of any frisking. Political parties will behave irresponsibly they only need money and muscle power to win elections. Citizens and the Election Commission have to come forward to impose pressure on political parties to deny tickets to bad elements.

The question always rolls back to citizen development and nothing is being done in this regard. The Indian citizen too acts irresponsibly and lacks accountability and they will vote for those candidates who promise to provide freebies to them. Good nations are not built in this manner. Let Narendra Modi assume office at the earliest to bring about radical changes in the political arena. Finally, MPs have brought disrepute to the nation.

Valentine’s for vote

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Afternoon Voice

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February 14, 2014

The Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena which were once known for opposing the Valentine’s Day has softened its stand against the festival keeping in mind the upcoming Lok Sabha election. Both the parties are eyeing youth votes hence they don’t want to play spoilsport by protesting against Valentine’s Day. Ever since Aditya Thackeray has been appointed as the head of Sena’s youth wing Yuva Sena the party has chosen to lie low on this issue. Since last few years, youth has been staying away from Valentine’s Day celebrations as they were worried about protests from the moral brigade. This year both the parties would busy concentrating on the preparation for the elections. They also don’t want to lose the youth votes by disrupting the Valentine’s Day celebrations.

When AV contacted Shiv Sena leaders to inquire whether they are planning to protest against the Valentine’s Day they refused to comment about it and many of them asked us to speak to the senior leaders of the party.

Ramdas Kadam, Shiv Sena leader was reluctant to reply about whether Shiv Sena will oppose the Valentine’s Day celebrations. He said, “I am unaware about the party’s stand about Valentine’s Day. Its better you ask Subash Desai or other leaders of the party about this issue. I don’t want to comment more about this matter.”

Diwakar Raote, Shiv Sena MLA said, “I don’t know whether Shiv Sena is planning to Valentine’s Day as I am yet to receive any instruction from the party. I am out of Mumbai hence I can’t comment on this issue.”

When we asked Shiv Sena spokesperson Neelam Gore whether the party will hold demonstrations against Valentine’s Day then she disconnected the phone. When we tried to contact her later she remained unavailable for comment.

Even the Shiv Sena’s youth wing Yuva Sena is not mood to spoil the Valentine’s Day celebrations. Yuva Sena spokesperson Rahul Narvekar said, “I don’t whether Yuva Sena will oppose the Valentine’s Day celebrations. I don’t want to comment about this matter.”

Yuva Sena member, Abhijeet Adsul said, “We are not opposing Valentine’s Day celebrations. Let youth have fun on this day.”

Even the MNS won’t be holding agitation against Valentine’s Day this year. When we contacted MNS leader Mangesh Sangle he said, “We won’t be disrupting the Valentine’s Day celebrations. We will follow the instructions of our leader Raj Thackeray in this regard.”

Talking to AV youth said that they are free to celebrate the Valentine’s Day as not political party would interfere.

Ashok Ashiyani, a FY Bsc student from Bandra said, “I was worried that political parties might spoil my Valentine’s Day celebrations. But now I can freely look forward to have a good time.”

Payal Vyas, a SY Bcom student from Marine Lines said, “Political parties had earlier attacked youth while celebrating Valentine’s Day. This year they are more concerned about youth votes hence they are not disrupting the event.”

Republican Sena chief Anandraj, 7 activists held in 2011 rioting case

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Afternoon Voice

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February 13, 2014

Republican Sena chief Anandraj Ambedkar was on Thursday arrested in connection with a rioting case wherein he and his activists had stormed into a local mill premises, demanding its allotment for construction of a memorial for his late grandfather and Dalit leader B R Ambedkar.

Anandraj and his seven associates were arrested in the 2011 rioting case, Deputy Police Commissioner Dhananjay Kulkarni said. They were later granted bail.

Police also filed a 103-page charge sheet against the eight arrested accused and 14 wanted accused in the Bhoiwada court today.

On December 6, 2011, activists of the Republican Sena, led by its leader Anandraj, barged into the Indu mill premises in the city and installed busts of Ambekar and Gautam Buddha, demanding its allotment for construction of a memorial for Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution.

Chief Minister meets Raj Thackeray, assures him of exemption for state buses

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Afternoon Voice

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February 13, 2014

Apparently resorting to a pacifier after the MNS agitation on toll collection, the Maharashtra government on Thursday assured party chief Raj Thackeray that it would draft a new policy on the issue before the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections comes into force.

The decision was taken during a meeting which was chaired by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal, Minister for Public roads Jaidutt Kshirsagar and attended by Raj along with his party MLAs, senior state government officials and a group of select journalists.

“Chavan at the start of the meeting informed Raj Thackeray that the government is trying to bring in a new policy before the model code of conduct comes into force for the Lok Sabha elections. The new policy would be brought by making corrections in the earlier ones if there are any follies,” a journalist who attended the meet, said.

Besides, Chavan also said that the state transport buses would be exempted from toll, so that the common man does not bear the brunt of the cost.

“Ambulances will also be pressed into service on highways with the help from Centre,” he said adding that the government was contemplating a modern technology based on Radio-frequency identification (RFID) basis so that there will be a direct and transparent transaction in collection of toll, exempting vehicles from mandatory stoppage at toll plazas. Chavan during the meeting, which went on for two and a half hours, also noted that Maharashtra has maximum number of roads.

“According to the new policy we are trying to eliminate toll on smaller roads. We are contemplating buy back of smaller roads constructed on toll basis. We will make budgetary provisions for that,” the journalist said quoting Chavan.

The CM also said that the state government has started electronic monitoring at some places and the government will soon start this at every toll booth.

Besides, the issue of toilets on highways was also raised to which the Chief Minister said that it was a serious matter and the government would think on it.

“We will build toilets as per the Centre’s norms. Wherever there is a land acquisition problem, we will even buy land,” the journalist said quoting Chavan.

Later talking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme here, Chavan said that the government had a healthy discussion with the MNS chief on the toll issue.

“We have incorporated some of the points which were raised by Raj Thackeray. In September last year we started working out the (toll) policy and it is before the cabinet and the first round of meeting has been conducted,” Chavan said.

Commenting on the protest rally which would be carried out by the MNS on February 21 from Girgaum Chowpatty to the Mantralaya (state secretariat), Chavan said that he has requested Raj not to indulge in such kind of agitations.

“I have requested them not to indulge in such kind of agitations. There is a need to have healthy discussion. We will try to bring in more transparency in the policy,” he added.

Chavan informed that two years back the government had a discussion with veteran social activist Anna Hazare and we had taken few decisions which have been implemented.

Raj Thackeray during the meet opined that toll plazas which costs below Rs 10 crores should not be built on Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.

“Raj said tolls built with lesser amounts need not be charging toll levy. There is no account of the money as the entire transaction is in cash,” the journalist said, quoting the MNS chief.

Comparing toll collection and quality of highways in Maharashtra to that of neighbouring Karnataka, Raj said, “Growth in number of vehicles was not considered (in Maha). The system of collecting toll levy and the quality of roads are better in Karnataka.”

The MNS chief also threw a light on increasing number of accidents which are recorded on the Mumbai-Pune Express way, while pressing for stopping illegal collection of toll.

Besides, the government should conduct audits of toll booths functional in the state, Raj demanded.