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HC notice to Centre, CBFC on anti-smoking warning in films

By
Afternoon Voice
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HC-noticeThe Bombay High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Union government and the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) on a petition by filmmaker Anurag Kashyap challenging the notification that made an anti-smoking disclaimer mandatory during smoking scenes in a movie.

A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice MS Sanklecha issued notice to the ministries of Health and Family Welfare and Information and Broadcasting besides the censor board and asked them to file their affidavits.

The matter has been posted for March 5. Kashyap had approached the high court in December 2013 after the censor board restrained him from releasing his movie “Ugly” after he refused to comply with the rule that requires for ‘Smoking is injurious to health’ warning to pop up every time a character smokes in a movie.

Kashyap said he did not wish to have the anti-smoking message displayed during the film as it is a gross violation of his creative expression and fundamental rights. The filmmaker, who has films like “Dev D”, “Gulal”, “Black Friday” to name a few to his credit, had informed this to the censor board last September when he submitted his movie “Ugly” for certification.

The censor board refused to certify the movie and in its reply said Kashyap cannot release his movie owing to non-compliance of the rule. Under Rule 4(7) and 8 of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, the Union government had written a letter to the censor board asking them to make it mandatory for filmmakers to show the disclaimer during smoking scenes.

Kashyap in his petition has sought for the rule to be set aside and quashed as illegal, arbitrary and unconstitutional. Senior counsel Virag Tulzapurkar, appearing for the filmmaker, argued the movie was not advertising smoking. “The rule is only for advertisements. Let the government ban smoking altogether,” he said.

“Slum Free India” – Rajiv Awas Yojana

By
Vaidehi Taman
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Maharashtra state government has decided to implement the Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY), the affordable housing scheme for slum-dwellers. Anyhow, Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme has succeeded to certain extent but that gave birth to Land mafias and criminal type of builders. Metropolitans like Mumbai can be turned into better place with better implementation of SRA scheme. However, elections are nearby so government is pouring schemes by eyeing on larger section of societies and convert them to vote bank. Repeatedly, government has failed in launching different type of housing schemes. Mumbai is cursed with illegal encroachment but government is not bothered about it. On the other hand, people in Campa-cola society have purchased their flats, paying EMI’s and taxes, but they’re termed illegal, whereas trespassers are rewarded with free flats at the taxpayers expenses. I’m surprised with this vote bank politics.

This is Congress’s biggest strategies that they announce schemes ahead of elections. They are eyeing on the vote of poor people. I met many slum dwellers and talked to them. I was surprised to hear their assumption, one of the slum residents say, if we vote for Congress then we may get a house under this UPA’s Rajiv Awas Yojana. They don’t know where to apply, what is the procedure, how to avail this facility. They just hope that some miracle may happen and they may be blessed with shelter. Congress has never thought better future of poor people. The oldest party wants you to remain poor so that they can fool you. Elections are nearby so they are pleasing you for votes. After the elections they want you to remain in those slums only. Politicians always move towards slums for votes because they know that they cannot fool educated people.

With the Rajiv Awaas Yojana (RAY), the Union government’s flagship scheme for ‘slum-free India’ by 2022, proving to be a non-starter in Mumbai, the state government now plans to ask the Centre to concede to a separate set of norms for the city. This would include reducing the cut-off year for eligibility, demand for increasing the Centre’s contribution, addressing the issue of land paucity and slum density in Mumbai. Minister of state for housing Sachin Ahir said with a court-mandated freeze on extending the cut-off date for free housing to slum dwellers in the city, Mumbai cannot follow RAY’s guideline of granting ‘inheritable lease rights’ to all those who have been residing in slums for over five years. If the State Government is not giving respect for the direction of the High Court rulings what else can be expected from others and is this is called good governance? The Judiciary has to act swiftly in the best interest of the governance and put on hold the move of the State Government, which is doing it for the sake of votes and to divert the attention of the slum dwellers. Is the State Government sleeping all these years and why so much of love at the time of elections? I hope the people of the state will teach a fitting lesson to the ruling alliance of Congress-NCP by completely rejecting them.

Under the scheme, the State has to provide shelter and basic civic and social services for slum-dwellers. The ambitious Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojna (RAY), a Centre-sponsored flagship scheme and aimed at making cities slum free, is moving at a snail’s pace in the Mira Bhayander region which is among the 24 cities in the State that have been selected as beneficiaries for the mass housing project. Aimed at providing housing units to slum dwellers in the twin-city, the scheme was sanctioned by the general body in September, 2010. Subsequently, 33 slum clusters were identified and tenders floated in June 2011 to carry out their socio-economic, biometric and technical survey. Gandhinagar (Gujarat) based Wapcos Limited was awarded a 1.80 crore contract with an initial payment of Rs. 16 lakh. However, even after two years, only 11,000 out of the 47,000 units, housed in the 33 slum clusters, were covered under the survey so far. For houses constructed under RAY, the Central government would provide 50 per cent of the cost, the State Government would bear 25 per cent.

With an allocation of Rs. 32,230 crore in the 12th Five Year Plan, RAY aims at rebuilding slum settlements, providing them with social and physical infrastructure and easy access to institutional credit. While public land is made available free of cost, RAY requires the beneficiary to bear 25 per cent of the construction cost, with the state and Centre chipping in 25 and 50 per cent. A similar pattern of funding is followed for infrastructure provision with the exception that the beneficiary’s 25-per cent share is borne by the urban local body.

As per estimates, the state government will have to shell out as much as Rs. 10,000 crore if it has to provide its share. Let the state government and central government spend crores of rupees on such aimless schemes but the question remains here is, “how can government give free land to people who illegally occupy public land?

I will continue to bat for India, says Bharat Ratna Tendulkar

By
Afternoon Voice
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bharat_ratnaIconic cricketer Sachin Tendulkar on Tuesday said that he will “continue to bat for India” in all spheres of life in his endeavour to bring smile on the faces of the common people.

“I will continue to bat for India even though my cricket has stopped, but I will continue to bat for India and try my best to give people of India a reason to smile,” Tendulkar told reporters after being conferred Bharat Ratna by the President.

“It’s the biggest honour for me and I am extremely delighted on receiving Bharat Ratna,” he said.

“I am extremely proud to be born in this beautiful nation and I would like to express my gratitude to all the love, affection and support I have received for number of years.”

Tendulkar, 40, and eminent scientist Prof C N R Rao were presented the honours at a brief function at Rashtrapati Bhavan’s Durbar Hall attended by Vice President Hamid Ansari, Union ministers, Sachin`s wife Anjali, daughter Sara and a host of dignitaries.

Master batsman Tendulkar, who retired from international cricket on November 16 last year, is the first sportsman to be bestowed with the honour.

“I would like to reiterate what I said a couple of months ago that this recognition, award I would like to dedicate this to my mother and along with her all the mothers in India who sacrifice their wishes, aspirations for their children so that their dreams come true,” Tendulkar said.

He also congratulated Prof Rao for motivating youngsters to become scientists.

“I would like to congratulate Prof C N R Rao for the Bharat Ratna. He has been instrumental in motivating and inspiring youth of India to become scientists. I wish him all the happiness and good health.”

SC begins final hearing on constitutional validity of Aadhaar

By
Afternoon Voice
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The Supreme Court on Tuesday began the final hearing on the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Aadhaar card with those opposing the mega project saying it was not backed by any statute and compromises with national security.

Further, a three-judge bench headed by Justice BS Chauhan was also told that the project not only violates the right to privacy but the “biometrics”, which is the foundation of the project, is an unreliable and untested technology and public funds are being channeled to private enterprises without sufficient validation.

“The project is arbitrary and illegal as it allows private dominion over biometrics without governmental control thereby compromising personal security and national security,” senior advocate Shyam Divan submitted before the bench, also comprising justices J Chelameswar and M Y Eqbal, which wanted to know the difference between the National Identity Number and Aadhaar.

The final hearing began in the backdrop of the apex court’s interim order which had said Aadhaar card be not made mandatory for people for availing any government services and nobody should be deprived of any such facilities for want of the card.

The Centre, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and three oil PSUs — IOCL, BPCL and HPCL — had later on moved the apex court seeking modification of its earlier order that Aadhaar card is not mandatory and no person should suffer for want of it in getting the benefits of government schemes.

The petitioners, including Justice K Puttaswamy; former high court judge and Major General SG Vombatkere, who retired as Additional Director General, Discipline & Vigilance in Army HQ; also sought to restrain the Centre, Planning Commission and the UIDAI from issuing Aadhaar cards by way of an executive order of January 28, 2009.

PM appeals for ‘peaceful’ AP bifurcation as anti-Telangana MPs stage protest

By
Afternoon Voice
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With the Telangana issue dragging its feet and uncertainty over the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday stressed on the need to have a “peaceful” bifurcation, in a meeting with leaders of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS).

“Nothing should be said or done that can inflame passions. I appeal to all that the bifurcation process should be peaceful,” the PM told the TRS delegation headed by party chief K Chandrasekhar Rao.

Briefing reporters later, Rao said, “He (PM) said the government is seriously committed and we are under any circumstances creating the Telangana state.”

Rao said the Prime Minister has given him assurance on the passage of the legislation for creation of the new state. TRS leaders also submitted with Singh a memorandum on Telangana state containing nine demands, said the PMO.

The meeting came as even MPs from the Seemandhra region held a protest outside North Block to denounce the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. The leaders had to be forcibly removed from there by the police.

The Congress has stressed that passage of the Telangana bill will be one of its main goals during the Parliament session beginning tomorrow.

Speaking separately, the Prime Minister expressed hope that Parliament will be able to pass the bill on Telangana.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet on Tuesday cleared the note on Telangana with some amendments.

AAP says Ugandan women’s allegations prove Law Minister Somnath Bharti was right

By
Afternoon Voice
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Ugandan-women-allegations-proveThree Ugandan women who came to India last month are at a nari niketan or “home for women”, after alleging that they were lured to Delhi with the promise of jobs, but were held “hostage” by people they have reportedly described as the “drug mafia.” They have also alleged that they were forced into prostitution but added that they resisted. The Aam Aadmi Party says this proves that they were right about a thriving “drug and sex racket” in south Delhi.

The Delhi police have today registered a case against unknown people under sections of the immoral trafficking act, abduction, extortion and unlawful confinement.

The women had reportedly approached the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi, which has asked the Ministry of External Affairs to provide protection to them.

A Delhi government official said the women had complained that their passports and other important documents have been taken away by the African people who duped them. They have reportedly requested the government to help arrange their safe return to Uganda.

MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said the Delhi government had been talking to the Centre since yesterday. “The Delhi government has indicated that three Ugandan women were lured to India under false pretenses. We have asked Ugandan High Commission to provide consular services to them,” he said.
The three women reportedly recorded statements before a district magistrate late last night. They will now have to appear before a metropolitan magistrate at the Saket court in Delhi. An official from the Ugandan embassy will be present when they depose before the court.

The women have reportedly said they live in the Khirki Extension area of Malviya Nagar, where Delhi’s Law Minister Somnath Bharti had allegedly led a group of AAP supporters in conducting a controversial raid against some African people who they accused of involvement in a drug and prostitution racket.
Mr. Bharti, who has been accused of racism and harassing other African women during his “raid” last month, said today, “This is hell, girls are brought here with the promise of jobs and then pushed into sex trade. We will not let this torture continue, it is happening under the police’s nose.”

AAP spokesperson Ashutosh said, “These three women have said clearly that there was a drug and sex racket going on. What more proof do you need now? This clearly shows that we were right.” He alleged that there was a nexus between “the drug cartel, police and very strong political parties.”

Nido Taniam died of swelling in brain but autopsy ‘inconclusive’ on death after beating

By
Afternoon Voice
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Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Taniam died of a swelling in his brain and excess fluid in his lungs says the autopsy report of the 20-year-old who died on Thursday allegedly after being beaten by shopkeepers at a south Delhi market locality.

Doctors, however, say the report has not established whether Nido, the son of an Arunachal Pradesh Congress legislator, died of his injuries after being beaten. A detailed viscera report is expected to provide more conclusive proof, they say.

Nido, who was studying in Jalandhar and was vacationing in Delhi, was attacked on Wednesday at a confectionery shop in Lajpat Nagar, where he and his friends had reportedly stopped to ask for directions.

The student was beaten up with rods and sticks allegedly by a group of men who ridiculed his appearance and his dyed hair. Nido had allegedly broken a glass display case in anger, when he was attacked.

The police say they negotiated a settlement and Nido then went to his sister’s home where he was found dead in his bed the next day.

Nido’s family alleges that he died of his injuries. Northeast groups have been protesting since last week, demanding justice for the young man.

According to the Delhi Police, six people have been booked for assaulting Nido. Three of them have been arrested and two of the other three are juveniles.

AAP’s a pathological liar which likes to protest not govern: Arun Jaitley

By
Afternoon Voice
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Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Arun Jaitley launched an all-out attack on the Aam Aadmi Party whose workers held demonstrations outside his house on Tuesday morning. Jaitley called AAP leaders “pathological liars” who are more comfortable in conducting dharnas instead of governing the state.

He said, “The AAP admittedly does not know how to govern. State craft which is essential to governance is literally foreign to them. They seem to be more comfortable in dharnas rather than in the Secretariat to govern the state.”

AAP had on Monday accused the BJP of trying to bribe its MLA in order to topple the Delhi government. Reacting to these allegations, Jaitley said that the AAP was a party which is entirely based on a falsehood. “Neither Modi nor me know who this Madan Lal is,” said Jaitley challenging AAP’s claims.

Madan Lal, AAP MLA from Kasturba Nagar, had said that he had been offered Rs. 20-30 crore to get along nine MLAs and help pull down the Arvind Kejriwal government. He said that he had received those calls from people claiming to be close to Arun Jaitley, Harsh Vardhan and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

The AAP MLA had claimed that he had received the calls on December 7, a day prior to the Delhi Assembly election results. Jaitley questioned the timing saying how Lal could be bribed at a time when he was not even elected an MLA.

“He says he received a call from unknown person whose name he does not remember. He does not remember the number. He said he received the call on December 7, before results, when no one in his wildest dreams thought that he could become an MLA,” he said.

Jaitley took a jibe at AAP saying that the AAP government should have conducted a sting on the person whom Lal claimed to have approached him. “Then some unknown gentlemen whose name they don’t know came10 days ago, so according to their government policy, why did not they sting him and bug him.”

He further said that the AAP was a party which could not deliver governance. “To just make an unsubstantial allegation because you cannot govern, you cannot deliver and then start protest demonstration in order to add conviction to the falsehood started by them. They first create a falsehood and then they convince themselves of its truth and then pursue it,” he said.

Failure of the system Part- I

By
Afternoon Voice
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I completed my work in a hurry and looked at my watch as I was getting late. After lifting the heavy bag on my shoulder, I walked quickly towards the bus stand lest I miss the express bus. I had to reach my destination before night. On reaching the bus station I noticed that the bus was yet to arrive. I sighed a relief and looked around. The bus stand was crowded with passengers who were waiting for their buses. Luckily, my bus arrived after few minutes and it was parked at the platform. No sooner, I walked towards the door of the bus a queue of five to six persons was formed as commuters were waiting for passengers to alight from the vehicle. I also stood next to them.

Meanwhile, a group of young men arrived and threw their bags on the seats through windows and reserved seats for themselves. Few of them tampered in between the passengers who were alighting from the bus and reserved some more seats for their friends. Passengers standing in the queue shouted at them to form queues and follow the system. They never paid attention and went ahead! By the time we entered inside the bus no seats remained vacant! All of us complained to the conductor about this matter. He turned a deaf ear towards our demand!

I swiftly inquired with the co-passengers and learnt that no bus service was immediately available if I failed to board the bus which was scheduled to depart. Thus the only option left for me was to commute in the same bus. A fury ran through my nerves. I felt as if I was let down by the system. Nobody respected those passengers who were following the rules by standing in queue. On the contrary they mocked at us for our inability to grab the seats! I had to control my anger in silence!

It was not the difficulty to stand for three hours in bus which worried me but I was more bothered about the collapse of the system. Why are we not capable of getting things done as per rules? Why do we allow people to break the rules and enjoy unfair advantages? Why in democracy, might is allowed to be honoured? No answer except the ‘public mindset’ which accepts misrule as the procedure of the day. It has become a very casual aspect for us. In the present situation the personal agenda is to break the rule but be intelligent and get the things done! Because everyone is aware that nothing goes according to the rule!

(The remaining part of this article will continue tomorrow)

Akshara Damle

Stop discrimination against people from North-East

By
Mahendra Singh
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It has been reported that the buffalos belonging to Azam Khan’s farm house were being chased by the police. Good quality “ murra” buffaloes are expensive because of their high milk yielding capacity. In winter, they can go anywhere for grazing but in summer, they will surely enter the pond. Their staple food is green fodder and “khali”. If a person has low intelligence they will joke, “kya bhains ka doodh pita hai”. If a person is physically weak they will say, “Itna kamzor hai, bhains ka doodh piya kar”. In villages they use buffaloes to harness the cart having rubber tyres. You must have heard the expression, “Akal badi hai ya bhains”.

Teasing and passing jokes, at times may prove counterproductive. Taniam, the son of an Arunachal Pradesh Congress MLA Nido Pavitrawas, was reportedly beaten up by a group of 5-6 men in Delhi. Some people were terming it as racism but it is not true. Many of us have racist tendencies and opt for white skin against the darker skin, foreigners against national citizens but that is another matter. We do not possess enough knowledge about the people hailing from North East. Our government has not popularized the life and culture of people belonging to this region. Same is the case with people from belonging to Andaman and Nicobar islands. I have sailed with the crew from Andamans and residents of this region are very hard working and polite.

We should encourage young men from Andaman and North Eastern states to join our marine training colleges which will enable them to find employment on board ships and get integrated into the society. Films are good medium for achieving this objective. We must select some young boys and girls for suitable roles in films and not confine such roles to a few persons only because that promotes elitist culture. Bullying and goondaism should be minimized by alertness of college wardens, principals and teachers. Strict action must be taken against the accused responsible for indulging in such activities.

It is more of a psychological aspect. Few years back, people who smoked cigarettes were considered smart while non-smokers were considered as fools. After creating awareness about the perils of smoking, this activity has reduced considerably. The universities should organize joint cultural programmes to promote friendship and co-operation. A caution for our friends hailing from north east. If they are looking for guidance, approach a bright faced girl with a smile. Approach police personnel and avoid rough and tough looking guys. If they follow these precautions then they will remain safe. Bad people will pick up a fight for no reason, “Meri bhains ko danda kyun mara”.

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