Ganges full of deadly ‘superbugs’: Study

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February 18, 2014

In May and June when millions of pilgrims throng Rishikesh and Haridwar in Uttarakhand to take holy dip, levels of antibiotic-resistant ‘superbugs’ have been found 60 times greater than other times of the year, shows research.
After studying water samples taken from the upper Ganges river, experts from the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi (IIT-Delhi) and Newcastle University, Britain, revealed that the spread of antibiotic-resistance to one of the most pristine locations in Asia is linked to the annual human pilgrimages to the region.
“This is not a local problem – it is a global one,” said Professor David Graham, an environmental engineer from Newcastle University in Britain.
“We focused on pilgrimage areas because we suspected such locations would provide new information about resistance transmission via the environment,” he added.
The specific resistance gene called ‘blaNDM-1’ causes extreme multi-resistance in many bacteria, therefore, it must be understood how this gene spreads in the environment.

By comparing water quality of the upper Ganges, the team showed that levels of ‘blaNDM-1’ were 20 times higher per capita during the pilgrimage season than at other times.
Monitoring levels of other contaminants in the water, the team showed that overloading of waste treatment facilities was likely to blame and that in many cases, untreated sewage was going straight into the river where the pilgrims bathe.
“The bugs and their genes are carried in people’s guts. If untreated wastes get into the water supply, resistance potential in the wastes can pass to the next person and spiralling increases in resistance can occur,” the researchers warned.
“If we can stem the spread of such antibiotic resistant genes locally – possibly through improved sanitation and waste treatment – we have a better chance of limiting their spread on larger scales,” contended Grahem who has spent over 10 years studying the environmental transmission of antibiotic resistance around the world.
The concern is growing worldwide over the threat from bacteria that are resistant to the so-called ‘last resort’ class of antibiotics known as Carbapenems – especially if resistance is acquired by aggressive pathogens.
The research team are now calling on governments around the world to recognise the importance of clean drinking water in their fight against antibiotic resistance.

Excise dept wants BJP to pay tax for Narendra Modi’s rallies

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Afternoon Voice

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February 18, 2014

In what could turn into a major issue in the political season, the department of central excise has pulled up the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for non-payment of service tax on the money earned by sale of tickets during rallies by Narendra Modi.

The Ludhiana regional unit of Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence (DGCEI) has issued a notice to the Chandigarh unit of the BJP seeking an answer on the matter.

Citing government rules, the DGCI has argued that the BJP has to pay tax on the tickets as political rallies don’t fall under the category of “amusement and entertainment”, which get tax rebates.

“Recently it was in news that Bhartiya Janta Party has collected amount by way of tickets for entry to the rally at different places in India where Mr. Narendra Modi had addressed the public at large,” reads the notice.

“As the entry tickets to the event were not for any admission to any entertainment event or access to amusement facilities (which are in the negative list) the same is taxable in the hands of the person collecting the amount of tickets. It appears that the BJP/Shri Narendra Modi has neither got registered under the Service tax nor paid tax on collection from tickets,” the notice says.

The notice, dated February 12, has sought a response from the BJP within ten days of receiving it. The BJP should intimate the details of amounts collected and service tax paid, if any, the notice reads.

Expectedly, the BJP has slammed the move. Party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “ The government of India is so very worried that it has become mentally bankrupt in its hatred for Narendra Modi,” adding that it is beyond comprehension why the Ludhiana unit of the excise department sent a notice to the Chandigarh office of the BJP when no rally was held there.

No Class 8 school boys debate with Narendra Modi: P Chidambaram

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Afternoon Voice

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February 18, 2014

I don’t want to take the level of this debate to a Class 8 school boys’ debate, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said dismissing criticism of his interim budget by Narendra Modi.

“What does he mean by a decade of decay? The fact is that we are delivering growth above the trend growth rate. I have pointed out that the growth rate in 1999-2004 was below the trend growth rate.”

“In the last 33 years, the last decade (under UPA) has been the best decade for growth. Now these are facts. Now he (Modi) likes fake encounter with facts. I don’t think the media should join and repeat his tweets,” Chidambaram told.
He was asked about Modi’s reaction to his interim budget yesterday calling it “a final act of misery after a decade of decay.”

The BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate had tweeted: “The only solace one gets from the vote-on-account is that this was UPA’s final act of misery after a decade of decay & policy paralysis.”

When asked about the other comment of Modi that it was “upto the people to decide whether the Economist PM & FM have been ‘hard working’ or ‘hardly working’,” Chidambaram shot back, “I don’t want to take the level of this debate to a Class 8 boys’ debate.”

Chidambaram and Modi have been locked in a war of words over economy. The Finance Minister was critical of Modi’s knowledge of economy when he said it can be written on back of postal stamp.

Asked about this comment, the minister said, “What he (Modi) had said on that day betrayed a lack of understanding and therefore I used that phrase about writing on the back of a postage stamp.”

“But if he articulates himself, then we can engage him in a debate. If a person refuses to spell out his views on economics, what else can you say.”

Ram, Lakshman and Sita stayed in Korba caves during exile

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Afternoon Voice

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February 18, 2014

Archaeological Department has confirmed that Ram, Lakshman and Sita stayed in Korba caves during their exile.

One of the caves contains ancient idols of Ram, Sita and Laxman.

A temple built during ‘Satyug’ has two foot prints believed to be those of Sita.

Man dies after cobra bites him, blocks doorway

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Afternoon Voice

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February 18, 2014

A man died after he was attacked by a cobra and couldn’t be taken to the hospital as the snake refused to move from the door entrance for the entire night.

The incident was reported from Indore where a cobra bit a man in the middle of the night while he was sleeping. His wife and family members were unable to take him to the hospital as the cobra sat at the door entrance and refused to move until next morning.

Looking at husband’s deteriorating condition, wife broke the wall of the house but by the time they reached the hospital, husband had succumbed to his injuries.

Ration card discrepancy: Mother just one year elder to her daughter!

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Afternoon Voice

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February 18, 2014

In what can termed as complacency and reprehensible laxity on the part of Dehmi Kalan village administration, Bhagwansahay Kumawat’s family was taken aback after they read extremely inaccurate and misleading information on their new ration cards.
According to the details printed on the ration card, Bhagwansahay’s wife Santosh Devi is just an year elder to her daughter and 2 and 3 years elder to her two sons.
While Bhagwansahay’s age was printed as 33 years, Santosh Devi’s age was shown as 16 years and the daughter’s age in the card read 15 years. The age of Bhagwansahay’s two sons read 14 and 13 years. Moreover, the names of family members were missing and BPL was mis-spelt as APL.
If this was not enough, Hiralal Kumawat, Bhagwansahay’s younger brother, who is married to Santosh Devi’s sister, also witnessed similar errors. While his age read 33 years, his wife’s age read 30 years which was almost 14 years more than that of her sister Santosh Devi.
The village head Om Parkash accepted that the information in the ration cards were extremely misleading and that forms were being filled to issue new ration cards with correct information, he told.

Saif will make a great actor in Hollywood, has immense talent: KareenaKapoor

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Afternoon Voice

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February 18, 2014

Actress KareenaKapoor Khan feels her actor husband Saif Ali Khan should venture into Hollywood as he perfectly fits the bill for being there.

“He is an evolved man and an actor. I think he will make a great actor in Hollywood because he has immense talent. I think he is fit to be there… He has the looks, talent and attitude,” Kareena said.

However, Kareena would not like to try her luck in the west.

“I am happy being here. I have no dreams of going there,” Kareena said. Despite a lot of newcomers coming in, Kareena still seems to be one of the most sought after actresses and she feels privileged about the fact.

“It feels great and is a compliment. I think it is all about talent. Acting is something I have always been passionate about. New people will come and those who are talented will be here for a long time,” she said.

Kareena enjoys the work of actresses like Mahie Gill and HumaQureshi.

“I think there are too many talented actresses around, even newcomers are doing great work. People from small towns are coming in films and leaving a mark like HumaQureshi and Mahie Gill. Everyone is doing fine,” she said.

Kareena has been in the industry since quite sometime and she considers herself as an actor first and not a star. “I don’t know how it feels being a star. I never look at myself as a star, people feel it that way. I think I am an actor. I am a normal girl who likes to spend time with family and close friends and that is what I enjoy the most,” she said.

I think the line between the heroine and item girls is blurred now: JuhiChawla

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Afternoon Voice

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February 18, 2014

In over 25 years that she has dedicated to the Hindi film industry, JuhiChawla has witnessed several trends. But she believes the current generation of actors has too much pressure to handle as far as competition and visiblity are concerned.

“I thank god that I was there (at the peak of my career). I think there’s too much pressure now,” Juhi told.

“There are so many newcomers…Earlier once you made a mark, at least you had a chance of getting ahead. I think today you really have to stand your ground to be able to sustain.”

“There is so much noise around like size zero, public relations, marketing…I hope these girls are also enjoying themselves,” added the 46-year-old as she shared how she is ‘not really happy’ about this aspect of Hindi filmdom today.

During her prime, the entertainer charmed moviegoers with her million- dollar smile, innocence and charm. A former Miss India Universe, she made her cinematic debut with 1986 film ‘Sultanat’.

With a filmography of over 90, the actress believes a lot has changed about the heroine in Bollywood.

“I think the line between the heroine and item girls is blurred now. I liked my heroine to be the way she was…sweet or at least she used to blush sometimes. Now there is nothing! They are so open about everything. I am happy now I have enjoyed myself and now I see all this drama happening around,” she said.

I don’t worry about the box office numbers, says Mahie Gill

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Afternoon Voice

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February 18, 2014

Actress Mahie Gill, known for her bold avatar in films like “Dev D”, “Saheb, Biwiaur Gangster” and “Not A Love Story”, stays unfazed by box office collections of her movies.

The actress says that as the films she does are not big budget projects, she is not worried about numbers.

“I don’t do such big budget films. The films which I do reap benefits at the box office, they become commercially successful and are critically acclaimed as well. So I don’t worry about the box office numbers,” the actress said.

Jimmy Shergill: Horror genre hasn’t caught up well in India

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Afternoon Voice

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February 18, 2014

Actor Jimmy Shergill, who will be seen in the soon-to-release horror film Darr @ The Mall, says there is a dearth of filmmakers who can do justice to the horror genre, which he feels has not caught up really well.

“There are one or two people only in our film industry who do justice to this (horror) genre. Otherwise, it’s not a genre that has caught up really well in our industry,” the actor said.

He believes that the genre has a good scope in the country.

“There is a lot of scope for this genre and it is evident from the Hollywood horror films that release in India and the huge business they do. So why can’t our horror films do that much business,” he asked.

In Darr @ The Mall, Jimmy plays a security agent. The film’s premise is a mall haunted with spirits who have killed many people.

Jimmy said that before coming on board for Darr @ The Mall, he was sceptical about trying his hand at horror, but the film’s set-up and the script caught his interest.

“Personally, I love watching horror films but initially I was sceptical of doing horror films. But this time the script was good, character was good, producers were also very nice. Infact, the entire set-up was very nice,” said the Saheb, BiwiAur Gangster fame actor.

Directed by PawanKirpalani, the film also features NushratBharucha and will hit the theatres on February 21.