Acted in self-defence, says L Rajagopal, the ‘pepper-spray MP’

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February 13, 2014

L Rajagopal, the man who used pepper spray in Parliament, says he acted in self-defence. He is among the richest MPs from Andhra Pradesh, with 300 crores to his name according to his affidavit to the Election Commission in 2009. The 53-year-old parliamentarian from Vijayawada may have shamed Parliament, but supporters at his constituency claim he is their hero.

Mr. Rajagopal walked into the Lok Sabha armed with a spray can, and during a fight between MPs, pulled it out and aimed it indiscriminately across the house. MPs rushed out the house holding handkerchiefs to their eyes and nose. Many MPs, including Mr. Rajagopal, were taken to hospital with complaints of burning eyes and coughing.

“I did it in self-defence. They pounced on whoever opposed the Telangana bill. I would have done the same thing anywhere. It’s not a lethal weapon,” the MP said, claiming that he has carried pepper spray for protection in the past.

Mr. Rajagopal was among the six MPs expelled by the Congress for moving a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the proposal to split Andhra Pradesh and create Telangana.

These MPs belong to Seemandhra, or the non-Telangana region that is vehemently opposed to bifurcation. Mr. Rajagopal said he would do all he can to block the Telangana bill in Parliament.

Mr. Rajagopal has always displayed a flair for drama. In December 2009, he sat on a protest fast for more than a week against Telangana, holding the national flag, and emerged as one of the most prominent faces of the United Andhra Pradesh movement.

BJP, Congress demand removal of AAP minister Somnath Bharti

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Afternoon Voice

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February 13, 2014

Utter chaos prevailed in the Delhi Assembly on Thursday as legislators of the BJP and Congress raised slogans demanding the removal of Law Minister Somnath Bharti over the issue of midnight raid against African women, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the proceedings twice.

The Opposition ceased to let the House function and scenes similar to the Parliament were witnessed when Congress MLA Asif Mohd broke the microphone place

As the House met, the BJP legislators objected to the Speaker’s reference of “special session” to the proceedings in his introductory address. They demanded that he call it the budget session.

The four-day assembly session, which began today, has been called for passage of contentious anti-corruption legislation Jan Lokpal Bill and Swaraj Bills by Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi Government.

The BJP also gave a Calling Attention notice against the Law Minister. The notice was read out by Speaker M S Dhir following which Bharti’s comments were sought.d before Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

It was also reported that RP Singh, BJP MLA from Rajinder Nagar constituency, threw bangles and lipstick towards Somnath Bharti in a bid to force him into resigning.

Amid shouting of slogans by BJP MLAs, the House was adjourned for 20 minutes by the Speaker.

However, when the business resumed in the Assembly, Congress MLAs trooped into the well of the House and shouted slogans against Bharti. They were carrying placards accusing Bharti of fuelling racism in the city.

Following uproarious scenes, the House was again adjourned for 20 minutes. Somnath Bharti has been in the eye of the storm for carrying out controversial midnight raid last month in South Delhi’s Khirki Extension area alleging drug trafficking and sex racket by some of African nationals living there.

Former J&K minister, accused of sexual assault, finally appears in Srinagar

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Afternoon Voice

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February 13, 2014

Former Jammu and Kashmir Health Minister Shabir Khan, who is facing charges of molesting a woman doctor, reached Srinagar today. He was missing for a week.

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court had ordered Mr. Khan to appear before the police. However, Mr. Khan, a powerful Congress leader in the state, is yet to meet the police, and is staying at a government guest house. Despite resigning as a state minister after the woman doctor alleged molestation, Mr. Khan is reportedly enjoying all the official privileges including security and an official car.

Sources say Mr. Khan, who has managed to evade his arrest for over a week, is insisting that the police officials should come to the guest house to question him, rather than him going to the police station despite the high court’s order.

Mr. Khan has been booked under non-bailable sections by the police.

The woman has said in her complaint that she received repeated calls from Mr. Khan’s staff last month and was told that the minister wanted to know what announcements Union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad made during his visit to the hospital where she works. Despite her requests that Mr. Khan should obtain the information from senior officials, the doctor alleged, she was compelled to report to his office on January 28.

When the minister came to meet her, she said, he acted like a “sexual predator” and made “provocative advances – both verbal and physical”.

Mr. Khan has alleged a political conspiracy, saying he is innocent and judiciary will give him justice.

Supreme Court tells Karnataka to check Devadasis practice

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Afternoon Voice

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February 13, 2014

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed Karnataka’s chief secretary to ensure that no girls are offered on Thursday night or Friday as devotees to temples in a practice known as Devadasis.

The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam, while issuing notice to the Karanataka government directed the chief secretary to take all “preventive measure in the conduct of the programmes to be held in the early hours of February 14, where girls are being dedicated as devotees to the temple”.

“We also direct the chief secretary (to ensure) that no such incident (of dedicating girls as devotees to temples) takes place either on February 13 or February 14.”

As counsel for a PIL petitioner mentioned the matter before the court, the chief justice observed: “Such an important matter and you (petitioner’s counsel) come at such belated stage?”

Asaram pleads not guilty of charges in rape case

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Afternoon Voice

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February 13, 2014

Self-style godman Asaram Bapu and four others, accused in sexual exploitation of a minor girl, pleaded not guilty of the charges after these were read out to them by the Jodhpur District and Sessions Court judge on Thursday.

Asaram and the four co-accused denied the charges against them and opted for trial, upon which judge Manoj Kumar Vyas adjourned the matter till 17 February.

The self-styled godman appeared pale and broken in the court after hearing the charges, but while boarding a bus back to jail he said that “everything will be fine”. Asaram and the four co-accused, including Shiva and Shilpi who had been granted bail, appeared in the court today.

The court framed charges against Asaram for rape, criminal conspiracy and other offences on Friday.

Charges have been framed under sections 342 (for wrongful confinement), 354A (sexual harassment), 370(4) (trafficking), 376(2)f (rape on a woman when she is under twelve years of age), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509/34 and 120 (B) (Criminal conspiracy).

He has also been charged under section 23 and 26 of Juvenile Justice Act and section 5(f)/6, 5(g)/6 and 7/8 of POCSO Act.

Two other accused Shiva and Prakash have been framed under the same sections except section 109/120(B) instead of plain 120(B) and section 7/8 read with section 17 of POCSO Act instead of plain section 7/8 of POCSO Act. They have not been charged under J J Act.

Meanwhile, Asaram’s counsel has moved an application in the court praying to make available the statements of the victim recorded by Delhi Police.

Amarinder making false claims on Operation Bluestar: Badal

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Afternoon Voice

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February 13, 2014

The war of words between Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Congress leader Amarinder Singh intensified as the 86-year-old Akali stalwart on Thursday accused the latter of vitiating the political atmosphere of the state with his “false” claims on Operation Bluestar.

“Amarinder Singh was divested of the office of Chief Minister and the president-ship of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee due to his die-hard habit of vendetta, making false claims and beating about the bush,” Badal told.

“I have not ever seen such a big liar like Captain Amarinder Singh in my life who has not only eroded the credibility of Congress but also vitiated the political atmosphere of the state,” he added.

Yesterday, Amarinder had alleged that Badal had asked the Union Government to go for military action at the Golden Temple at a secret meeting with the then Home Minister P V Narasimha Rao on March 28, 1984.

On being asked to react on Amarinder’s allegations, Badal said the curfew was clamped across the state during Operation Bluestar and he had been arrested two days after he entered Haryana from his village.

“Amarinder Singh was not imprisoned even for a day… while the entire world knows that I was put in jail for several years,” Badal claimed.

He further said that Amarinder over the years had enjoyed important positions including president of the state unit of Congress, a party “which was responsible for Operation Bluestar”.

“Why didn’t he issue such statement when he was holding the chair of the Chief Minister?” Badal asked.

Amarinder was Punjab’s Chief Minister between 2002-07.

Lok Sabha incidents a fallout of Centre’s inept handling of AP division: Kiran

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Afternoon Voice

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February 13, 2014

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Thursday said the ugly incidents in the Lok Sabha is the fallout of the Centre’s “bungling” in handling the sensitive state bifurcation issue.

“The Centre bungled up the state bifurcation issue from the start and at every stage. The current situation is a result of that (bungling). It should understand that,” Kiran said while terming the incidents as “very unfortunate”.

“The Prime Minister says his heart bleeds over such incidents. But he should understand that hearts of crores of Telugu people are bleeding because of the undemocratic acts of the Centre,” the Chief Minister told reporters this afternoon.

Kiran is on a collision course with the Centre over division of Andhra Pradesh to create Telangana.

The chief minister termed as the “most undemocratic act” the tabling of the AP Reorganisation Bill in Lok Sabha today.

“It is not the way to introduce a Bill. There are rules, procedures, constitution and years of experience. It’s not enough to say we are a largest democracy…We should uphold democratic values,” Kiran said.

He also found fault with the suspension of 17 MPs belonging to Seemaandhra region from Parliament for the rest of the session.

Taking a dig at the Congress high command, Kiran said how his party could sup with BJP.

“My party calls BJP ‘communal’ but why is it having lunch with such a party?..You are spreading poison,” Kiran remarked, referring to the Prime Minister’s lunch hosted for BJP leaders yesterday to ensure smooth passage of the AP Reorganisation Bill.

“They are ready to dine with a communal party but not willing to talk to their own people,” he lashed out.

The revival of print media

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Prakash Jha

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February 13, 2014

People might be saying that print media might be dying a slow death after the advent of television and internet. However, print media has transformed itself with changing times after the raise in FDI ceiling and also is witnessing good growth. After the liberalisation of the Indian economy there has been a tremendous change in people’s lifestyle and spending habits. Today everyone wants to look good and be in sync with the modern lifestyle. Youths are relying on print media to groom themselves and undergo a makeover.

Teenagers don’t have time to watch television hence they carry magazine along with them and read it for getting updated about the latest information. Nowadays many special theme based magazines are available in the market which only focuses on one subject. Youth mostly prefer health magazines for obtaining information about health and live a happy life. These magazines also offer vital tips to youth about how to look good, what to eat and how much to quantity of food to be consumed. Thus youth magazine has become very popular among youngsters.

Women are very conscious about every aspect right from their looks to the clothes they choose. They often subscribe to women’s magazine for getting tips about beauty, health, attire, cooking, parenting, grooming etc. Most of the shows are aired on television when women are working in the office hence they are unable to watch them. Hence they are reading women and lifestyle magazines for getting the latest knowledge. They can carry magazines along with them while commuting in buses and trains. Some of them subscribe to wedding magazines for getting information about the attire and jewellery to be worn during marriage.

Like magazine even newspapers provide in-depth analysis about various incidents happening across the country. A woman was reading a magazine while commuting in the train. I asked her from where do she get the news? She replied that she relied on print media like magazines, newspapers for getting the news. According to her, electronic media only provides the latest updates but print media provides comprehensive report of the news. Moreover, news gets repeated again and again on electronic media which can be big turn off for viewers. According to me, print media is not dying and has revived itself with changing times.

Modi has an eye for detail

By

Mahendra Singh

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February 13, 2014

Narendra Modi has done a good job by asking questions to the public and laying emphasis about the need to introduce fast trains and improve rail connectivity with ports. It is exactly what needs to be done. If you travel from Chennai to Ennore port by road you will notice that the condition of roads is in poor condition.

Once I was joining a ship ( not signing off, when you may have some items with you) at Mundra and had to wait for two hours because customs officials were present on the ship. The condition of ports is in dire straits. Cranes are not functioning properly in most of the ports (Kandla is much better) and port trust crew are inefficient and not healthy.

On the other hand, ports in China are big and they have clean jetties, massive and efficient cranes and possess skilled man power. If you notice a gang of crew handling a ship’s line while berthing in the Mumbai port you can immediately find how inefficiently they function and compare it with foreign ports. Look at their health and also see what kind of personal protective gear they wear.

Infiltration of illegal Bangladeshi migrants is another major concern which will affect the security of our country as pointed out by General Bikram Singh. I am hoping that Modi will look into this matter in the interest of national security. Large number of Bangladeshi citizens is employed on ships whose manning agents have offices in India. Disciplined citizens, controlling rising population and reduction in the number of motor vehicles on roads should also be a part of the agenda of new government. Inspite of all the turmoil that we witnessed our MPs have refused to improve their behaviour.

Political parties must refrain from issuing tickets to such unruly elements. The Election Commission must ban the distribution of free laptops, television sets and other freebies by the political parties during the election. Such kind of activities will only divert the attention of voters as they might even vote for the wrong candidate which is not good for the democracy. The warning issued by General Bikram Singh must be taken seriously. Political parties must not use illegal immigrants as vote banks by fraudulently getting them registered as bonafide voters. BJP must keep a watch on such kind of malpractices which occur during election.

It’s just a publicity stunt

By

Prakash Jha

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February 12, 2014

Even though CM Prithviraj Chavan had assured Raj Thackeray of resolving the toll tax issue but he decided to go ahead with the stir for garnering political mileage.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena might be claiming that the agitation against toll tax levy was held peacefully in the state but there were incidents of violence in some parts of the state. Even though the Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had invited Raj Thackeray for discussing about the toll tax issue but he refused to meet him and instead tried to derive political mileage by asking his party workers to go ahead with the stir against toll plazas. The MNS was only trying to gain its lost foothold in the state in an attempt to prepare for the forthcoming Lok Sabha election.

MNS supporters since gathered at toll plazas across the state to protest against the toll tax levy. The agitation turned violent as party activists burned tyres of vehicles in Thane and deflated tyres of vehicles in Pune. They also had blocked the highways and forcefully asked shopkeepers to down shutters in suburbs like Kandivali, Borivali, Goregaon, Malad etc.

Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said that the tension could have been avoided if Raj had met the chief minister, “Chief Minister had invited Raj for a meeting to discuss about the toll issue but he refused to meet him. He instead opted for a rasta rokho abhyiaan across the state. There was no need to go ahead with the agitation as we had already invited him for a dialogue.”

MNS MLA Bala Nandgaonkar said, “The MNS had decided to protest against the toll issue as Chavan failed to give a time frame for eliminating toll.”

Raj himself participated in the ‘Rasta Roko Andolan’. He was arrested by the RCP police at around 11.00 am and was released within two hours. He said, “The CM called me some time back while I had been detained and told me that we could meet for a discussion tomorrow morning. Accordingly, I will meet him tomorrow at Sahyadri (the state guest house at Malabar Hill) at 9 am tomorrow.”

After his release, Raj asked him supporters to halt the protest however they carried on with the stir. Several vehicles were held up at Chembur even as police tried to round up protesting party workers. Party workers protested at Monorail stations thereby causing inconvenience to commuters.
Mumbai police arrested and detained more than thousand party supporters including MNS leaders like Pravin Darekar, Shirish Shinde, Shalini Thackeray, Bala Nandgoakar, Nitin Sardesai and many others. Later on they were released on bail.

MNS leader Bala Nandgoakar threatened to intensify the agitation if the state government fails to address the toll tax issue. He said, “The further course of the agitation will be decided after the meeting. If this issue remains unresolved after tomorrow’s meeting then we will organise a morcha to Mantralaya on February, 21. Don’t blame us if the agitation turns violent in the future.”