Let good sense prevail

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January 21, 2014

Changes and improvements in societies and national affairs can be made by maintaining law and order and discipline. We follow these principles in Merchant Shipping and Defence forces which is a norm in almost all good organizations. Time and again I have laid emphasis that Indian citizen must be subjected to atleast two year national service. If this happens, you will not witness chaotic and anarchist scenes on the streets of Delhi when a guest from an important country arrives here for Republic Day celebrations.

It is better to have Delhi Police under the purview of state government. This step can be taken by passing a resolution in the Delhi Assembly and later following it up in an amicable manner. A limited national service can be prescribed for Central and State Civil service officers and for MLAs and MPs to begin with. If a young leader like Lalit Makan would have led the Congress campaign in the assembly elections, things would have been far better for the party. If the candidature of Dr Harshwardhan would have been announced ab-initio, the BJP could have secured 6-8 seats more. However, there is no point in crying over spilt milk.

It was the decision of the local Congress to support AAP party in government formation. This is inexcusable, considering that Delhi is the national capital and stability must prevail there. Tomorrow they will say that war with a country was started by local unit and the central leadership had no role in it. It is true that corruption is rampant in all arms of governance. Corruption and negligence is visible in our Marine field and authorities seldom pay heed towards it. Whatever incidents are occurring in Delhi is on account of such insensitivity. What will you do when authorities are unwilling to listen to you; you will seek an opportunity to vent your frustrations by hitting the streets.

I am expecting that good sense prevails and, cutting across party lines, saner leaders must come forward to restore order in public life. Total silence from communist parties is note worthy. We must preserve our resources and use them for constructive work.

Our country needs democracy under the guidance of TV anchors, newspaper Editors, retired senior officers and academicians. It is our duty to stand up and speak and not remain a passive spectator in the comforts of our drawing room. The attitude hitherto was that any one advocating a change was branded a trouble maker, which has to change now.

Mumbai receive Thenga!

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Afternoon Voice

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January 21, 2014

Inspite of Mumbai MP’s protesting for reduction of electricity tariffs but CM has only provided relief to other parts of the state and ignored the city.

With an eye on the forthcoming general election the Maharashtra government has reduced electricity tariff by 20 per cent across the state but Mumbai was ignored. Even though Congress MPs Sanjay Nirupam and Priya Dutt had held demonstrations in Mumbai for reducing the electricity charges but the government failed to provide any relief for Mumbaikars as they will continue to pay the current tariffs. Why was the city given a step-motherly treatment by the government? Mumbaikars are disappointed with the government’s decision and are asking if electricity charges has been reduced in Delhi why can’t it be replicated in Mumbai too?

Mumbai consumers receive power supply from Tata Power, Reliance Infrastructure and BrihanMumbai Electric Supply & Transport MahaVitaran has estimated that a 20% cut in the average billing rate (ABR) would cut industrial tariff by 87 paise to Rs 7.45 a unit from the present ABR of Rs 8.32 a unit.
When asked whether this decision was taken on account of the AAP effect, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan denied and said, “The decision to decrease power tariffs was taken by Congress party. AAP doesn’t have anything do with this decision.”

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik had said that this decision was taken due to the AAP effect, “I welcome the decision taken by Maharashtra Government to reduce power tariffs. However, the NCP had put forward a proposal to decrease electricity charges three months back.”

On the other hand, BJP leader of opposition from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Vinod Tawde said, “The Congress party has taken this decision keeping in mind the forthcoming election. The government had taken a decision to waive of electricity charges for farmers but later they failed to implement it. Once the government returns to power it will withdraw this decision.”

Ram Kelavan, a panipuri vendor said, “After Sanjay Nirupam’s protest I was expecting that the electricity charges will come down. However, we are unhappy with the state government’s decision.”
Ram Kumar Mishra, a Kandivali resident said, “If the power tariffs can be reduced in Delhi then why can’t it be replicated in Mumbai. Did we commit any crime or do we belong from backward caste that we can’t enjoy reduced power rates?”

Mukesh Bhanushali, a Malad resident said, “This kind of decision only shows that the government is not bothered about Mumbaikars. It’s really shameful that even though Mumbai MPs protested for the reduction of electricity tariffs but Mumbaikars didn’t derive any benefit out of it.”

Pravin Yadav, Andheri resident said, “I thought that Congress will provide us some relief by reducing electricity rates. However, I am really unhappy with the government’s decision to sideline Mumbai.”
At present, the annual subsidy of Rs 10,500 crore is provided to agricultural consumers and Rs 1,100 crore to power looms. Of this, MahaVitaran cross-subsidises industry and commercial consumers worth Rs 6,500 crore; the balance is contributed by the state government.

Would contest Raigad LS seat if NCP wants: Tatkare

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Afternoon Voice

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January 20, 2014

Maharashtra water resources minister Sunil Tatkare has said he would contest the Lok Sabha election from Raigad constituency if the NCP wants.

“No doubt that at present the seat is with the Congress. But in the seat adjustments, if it comes to the NCP and if the party directs me to contest the seat, I will be interested in doing so,” said Tatkare.
Replying to a question on the performance of Aam Aadmi Party, he said within a short span one cannot evaluate AAP and added that equations in Maharashtra were different from that in Delhi.

He said the Congress and NCP will contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections together and that his party was firm on contesting 22 seats in Maharashtra.

To a question, he said that a proposed abattoir will not be allowed to come up in Raigad in view of stiff resistance from a particular community.

Court dismisses plea to drop Chavan’s name owing to judicial discipline

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Afternoon Voice

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January 20, 2014

A special CBI court, which has dismissed CBI’s application seeking to drop former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan’s name from the list of accused in the Adarsh Housing Society scam case, has said it cannot pass any order as the matter was also pending before the Bombay High Court.

“Chavan has challenged the competency of CBI to investigate the (Adarsh) matter and it is pending before the HC. As a judicial discipline, the court cannot pass any order in respect of deletion of Chavan’s name”, said special CBI judge S G Dige in a three-page order given to CBI today.

After Governor K Sankaranarayanan had last month refused to sanction Chavan’s prosecution on CBI’s application, the premier investigative agency moved the court on January 15 for allowing it to drop the name of Chavan who has been chargesheeted, along with 12 others, in the case.

Judge Dige also said there was no provision under section 169 (release of accused when evidence is deficient) of CrPc for deletion of name of accused for want of sanction for Prevention of Corruption Act as it is a separate offence.

CBI had charge-sheeted Chavan and others in the case in July 2012 but the court is yet to take cognisance as a PIL, seeking a probe into benami flats in Adarsh Housing Society and use of laundered money, is pending before the high court.

A judicial commission of inquiry, set up by the state government, had indicted Chavan, former CMs Vilasrao Deshmukh and Sushilkumar Shinde over “blatant violations” of statutory provisions in granting various clearances to the scam-tainted housing society.

The judicial panel’s report had said “there was certainly a nexus between the acts of Chavan and benefits derived by his close relatives. The membership process clearly indicates that grant of requisite permission by Chavan was by way of quid pro quo.”

NCP dares Uddhav Thackeray to contest LS polls against Supriya Sule

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Afternoon Voice

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January 20, 2014

NCP on Monday dared Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray to contest the Lok Sabha election against Supriya Sule from the Baramati parliamentary seat.

NCP’s state chief Bhaskar Jadhav launched a blistering attack on Uddhav for targeting Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar at a rally at Shirur in Pune district on Sunday.

Uddhav had said that Pawar would lose his deposit if he contests from the Shirur parliamentary constituency. “It was uncivilised behaviour on part of Uddhav to target a senior leader like Pawar, who has already said he is not in the fray for Lok Sabha elections,” Jadhav said.

“Instead, Uddhav should contest against Supriya Sule from Baramati. If he does not dare to do so…he can choose to contest Assembly elections by contesting against either of us,” Jadhav said, with NCP state working president Jitendra Awhad by his side. Jadhav and Awhad are NCP legislators from Chiplun and Mumbra constituencies, respectively.

Entering the electoral fray will make Uddhav understand and realise the blood and sweat of the party cadre, Jadhav, a former Shiv sainik himself, said, adding that Uddhav is “incapable” of providing the aggressive leadership, which the Shiv sainiks are used to.

Continuing the ire against Shiv Sena president, Jadhav said civilised behaviour is not expected from Uddhav and Shiv Sena which does not respect senior leaders and women workers. He highlighted humiliation of former state Chief Minister and Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi at the Dussera rally last year and complaint of former mayor Shubha Raul and corporator Sheetal Mhatre about women being ill treated in the Shiv Sena.

“In fact, when Thackeray’s estranged son Jaidev wanted to join the NCP, it was Sharad Pawar who decided not to get him in the party as the move would hurt Bal Thackeray in his old age,” Jadhav said.

Jadhav charged that Uddhav was losing his grip over the organisation. “Six sitting Shiv Sena MPs were in touch with the NCP, but wanted our party to go alone in the Lok Sabha elections.

Their constituencies were in Congress quota, so they wanted us to fight elections separately so that they could be fielded. However, we decided that our alliance with Congress would continue,” he said.

1993 Bombay blasts convict Zaibunisa Kazi gets 30-day parole

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Afternoon Voice

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January 20, 2014

Seventy-year-old Zaibunisa Kazi, who is a co-accused in the 1993 Bombay blasts case, is granted 30 days parole.

Her daughter will collect the order of the parole from the state secretariat in the afternoon. Last year, her plea for parole was rejected by the Divisional Commissioner.

Zaibunisa Kazi, who was convicted for the same charges as Sanjay Dutt, had appealed to the Maharashtra Governor seeking pardon.

Both Kazi and Dutt were charged under TADA Act for aiding and abetting a terrorist act and the Arms Act. But Dutt was held guilty only under the Arms Act while Kazi was convicted under TADA too.

Jains granted minority status

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Afternoon Voice

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January 20, 2014

Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Jain community was on Monday accorded minority status by the central government which will enable them to avail of benefits in government schemes and programmes.

The decision to grant minority status to the community of about 50 lakh was taken at a meeting of Union Cabinet, a day after Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi took up this issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

A group of Jains had met Rahul yesterday to press for their long-standing demand for minority status and Rahul then spoke to Singh in their support. The Jains became the sixth community to have minority status after Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis.

Minority Affairs Minister K Rahman Khan told that his ministry would soon issue a notification on the issue.

Once recognised as a minority, Jains would get a share in central funds earmarked for welfare programmes and scholarships for the minorities. They can also manage and administer their own educational institutions.

The community is already enjoying minority status in some states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan but the new decision extends that status across the country.

Numerically, the Jain community is small, with a population of about 50 lakh but they are prosperous, mostly engaged in business.

Khan said there had been a lot of representations from the community that they be treated as a minority. The ministry moved a cabinet note to this effect after Attorney General GE Vahanvati gave his go-ahead to their inclusion among notified minorities.

Jet to fly daily on Mumbai-Paris sector from 14 May

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Afternoon Voice

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January 20, 2014

Jet Airways on Monday announced a daily direct service from the city to Paris from May 14, making the French capital its 21st international destination.

The Paris-bound flight will depart from Mumbai at 1200 hrs and arrive at the Charles de Gaulle airport at 1750 hrs local time. The return flight will depart at 2110 hrs (local time) and arrive in Mumbai at 0945 hrs the following day, the private carrier said in a release in Mumbai. The Paris-Mumbai service will be the only evening departure from continental Europe to the megapolis, the airline said. Jet is offering a special return economy fare of Rs. 45,291 (including taxes) and return premiere introductory fare of Rs 1,53,315 (including taxes) on the route.

The regular fare will be Rs.62,040 (economy) and Rs. 2,02,114 (premiere) (inclusive of taxes). These fares, available since January 14, have a travel validity commencing 14 May. However, to avail of the discounted fares, booking has to be made before 10 February, the release said. Jet Airways Group operates a fleet of 113 aircraft, connecting 75 destinations in the country and abroad through 573 flights.

Architecture experts from Scotland to visit Mumbai to study urban landscape

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Afternoon Voice

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January 20, 2014

Architecture experts and students from Scotland’s biggest university are visiting India’s largest city Mumbai to study how its urban landscape and infrastructure operates.

The group from the University of Edinburgh will attempt to better understand how the city’s approach to urban planning and design differs from that of the West.

The team of 30 international students from 11 countries and academics are also keen to explore what the future holds for the vibrant city.

Collaborating with academic partners from India, the Edinburgh group will present an exhibition of their work examining how Mumbai’s residents interact with the city.

Dorian Wiszniewski, of the University’s School of Architecture and Design, the organiser of the visit, said: “As India’s fastest growing city, Mumbai’s presence is being felt across the world.

“I find Mumbai a fascinating place. It has grown rapidly in spite of a very challenging location and is now home to over 20 million people.”

A symposium involving some of India’s most influential urban designers, planners and architects will also take place to encourage discussion and analysis, focusing on Mumbai’s successes and the challenges it faces.

Symposium delegates include Sheela Patel of the Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centers (SPARC), Darryl D Monte, Chair of the Forum of Environmental Journalists of India, and architect Brinda Somaya.

Indian students from Sir JJ College of Architecture and the Department of History at the University of Mumbai will participate in the symposium, which will provide an opportunity to exchange ideas and hear fresh perspectives.

The University of Edinburgh currently has almost 250 Indian students and it will welcome more next year to its architectural postgraduate courses.

AI to raise Rs. 1,415-cr short-term loan to buy 2 Dreamliners

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Afternoon Voice

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January 20, 2014

State-run Air India is looking at mopping up a bridge loan of over Rs. 1,400 crore to finance the delivery of two more Dreamliners.

The aircraft, for which it has sought the bridge financing, are to be delivered in the next two months, according to the bid document posted on the national carrier’s website.

A bridge-loan is typically used to meet payment commitments until a long-term financing is arranged.

The need for loan came as the government has refused to infuse a part of the Rs. 30,000-crore bailout package it had promised to the airline by FY 2019-20, this fiscal.

The cash-strapped Air India, which is already sitting on a debt pile of over Rs. 35,000 crore, and accumulated loss of over Rs. 27,000 crore, is raising the money for the 6-12 months period and plans to repay the same after a sale and lease back of these planes.

The airline is likely to report a loss of around Rs. 3,900 crore this fiscal, which is better than Rs. 5,400 crore it had incurred last fiscal, and is offering the aircraft as the security but has not offered government guarantee for these loans.

The bridge financing for the 12 Dreamliners, inducted between September 2012 and January 2014, is already in place, the bid document said.

Air India has already sold and leased back seven Dreamliners and it hopes to conclude the sale and lease back process of seven more (including the two on arrival) by March.

The state-run airline had placed ordered with US aircraft maker Boeing for 68 planes in January 2006, which includes 27 Dreamliners.

Apart from this, the national carrier had also booked 43 planes from Airbus, which have already been inducted.