Cidco has started the registration for the lottery of flats in sector 36 of Kharghar for all income groups including the economically weaker sections (EWS), the lower-income group (LIG), middle-income groups (MIG) and higher income group (HIG). The sale of 1,224 flats will take place through lottery system. People can purchase the form for applying for the flats through Janata Sahakari Bank.
402 flats are allocated for upper class while 802 are allotted for the middle class group. The houses will be allotted to the home seekers on the basis of a draw a procedure which has been adopted in case of last few housing projects at Kharghar and Ulwe. Reservations in the lottery system have been provided for Cidco employees, journalists and defence personnel.
The 2nd edition of Cortokino – International Film Festival, organized by the Department of Mass Media, Thakur College for short-films, ad-films, documentaries, music videos and silent films was held yesterday and will continue till 18th January, at Thakur College, Kandivali (E).
The key objective of the festival is to provide aspiring talent the opportunity to showcase their work on a global platform. Several eminent personalities like Kamya Punjabi, Sambhavna Seth, Disha Wakhani, Amarpali Gupta, etc. are expected to attend the event. Cortokino is supported by celebrities like Vidyut Jamwal, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Piyush Mishra, Makarand Deshpande, Raghu Ram, Ali Asgar, Nigar Khan and Dilip Joshi.
Speaking on Cortokino BMM Head of Department, Deepak Tiwari said, “Cortokino is relatively very young as an international film festival. We had received entries from Australia and Singapore besides other institutions from all over India. On the first day, we had received a great response and we aim to increase the bar of the film-fest by opening up a multitude of event showcasing,”
“Cortokino 2014 hopes to become the launch pad for new talent. Our motto has been to bring to all the lovers of cinema the passionate subject of film-making an experience to count on. The manifestation of this will reflect in our festival,” Deepak Tiwari, further added.
In the recent past, media has been accused and discussed by others for various reasons. Its integrity has always been questioned. However, its authenticity is the duty of thinkers, readers and buyers. We are fortunate that in our country people are extremely interested in political news. The headline craze has brooked the credentials of a newspaper. Everywhere, we are talking about politics as Indian politics got attention since British Raj. Thus, our newspapers are much serious on the quotes and much better compared to other newspapers of the world. Second thing is that newspapers or news does not mean only news; news has variety of segments. News does not mean only the national issues. News by itself is very rich in its nature and anything that gives healthy entertainment and right education and inspires people to do better or asks the Government its accountability to do a better job is news. All these aspects constitute good journalism. My point however is that in the recent decade, the largest selling newspapers actually sell news space at a price tag; the so called supplement is completely paid advertisement in the form of news. We should not follow western culture of journalism; there should be a social control on it.
Generally news channels have a favourite quote, “If this is what people want to see, we are going to show”. Is that correct? Ethical or unethical, no one knows. I think a viewer has choice, if he is not interested in what you are showing he can turn you off. We being politically hungry, there was a time when Indian youth was not at all interested in political development or politics of this country but you look around now and you will find youth discussing politics and also have their own opinion for it, and this is probably the impact of intense political coverage.
Today, it’s more about young media, young audience. Youth know their right to vote and they are keeping eye on the good, bad and ugly side of politics. If today we say media is aggressive, historic or ascertain then it is because of the youth who are in position to say we understand the point which you are trying to put across. Earlier, we could see two people in the corner discussing politics in the pale dim light and with bad picture quality of the national channel and no one was really bothered to look at those interviews or shows. Today, there is large participation in news based talk shows and discussions.
Now if you look at the tabloids, even they are aggressive. They are also into investigative journalism. Somewhere down the line, a tabloid is much better than hydro media nowadays. It’s not only hydro media which talks about serious issues such as poverty, fertilizations, but are also widely published in other publications too. Everyone wants to know about fashion, cooking, films, party, Page three, Derby and race course activities. Nothing is limited to particular segment of news print. Music, arts, cinema gossips all has its relevant space in the news print. What we are talking about is appetite, courage and willingness required for which we will go for money and power in its best ways.
When AAP came up with sudden win in Delhi, media went overhaul about the party and its simplicity. None of the channels dared to show Salman Khan’s bare body or Shahrukh Khan’s hyped coverage and Modi bashing and even Modi’s rally had disappeared. The subject had its own relevance and steadiness. Sometimes during dry days, when there is nothing much to show, no news or scandals to expose, then the TV channels has to focus on Poonam Pandey or Sunny Leone to entertain their viewers. The news has to be relevant and worth grabbing the attention of readers or viewers. We know there are dry spell also and at that time we have to show some alternative to news. News is all about analysis and paralysis; at times we see TV shows discussing all irrelevant things which don’t create an impact on anyone.
When it comes to paid news, even today the regional newspapers have no courage to speak against the government. There is a silent understanding between the management of the newspaper and authorities not to go against each other. If gone against government then the solution is its closure. Many such bold newspapers had to shut down their shop for writing against the government. Many prospered by supporting and promoting and being the mouth piece of state governments or Chief Ministers. In north India, this kind of news culture is quite aggressively witnessed. There is a large section of media especially if we go in the rural areas, or to be specific local media, whose journalists acts like blackmailers. Obviously, the ethics and morality has taken a backseat there. Let us not stigmatise small media but there are blackmailers in the small media as well as in the national media. It won’t be wrong to say that blackmailers are everywhere.
There are many regional papers that can be tagged as the best examples for honest journalism but unfortunately, they did not survive. Why? They would not have died if they would have grown at a sub regional level. You take the example of one of the leading Hindi newspapers; it is publishing sixty three editions for this country. It has tried to reach almost every district and state. Many times media has crossed its ethical boundaries. These are hypnosis views about ethical and unethical journalism. Media is intruding too much into people’s private life. The biggest example is Tehelka. They used prostitutes to pose as arm dealers and got into defence boundaries, but it was in the public interest. It was liked by many but condemned by large. Sometimes, media feels it’s OK to go beyond the normal parameters of ethics. What happened to Tehelka and its owner; the organisation collapsed and Tarun Tejpal is in jail over rape charges. If there is appetite in media, I would say all is fair if it’s done in the public interest. Anyways, today we have more stringent rules and regulations even on media.
Journalists have to raise their voice on unethical practices. Even if they want to say no to their own bosses, managements and pay masters and challenge them. Sometimes, there is too much interference and journalists cannot really execute their freedom and work within an ethical frame. Media in India is sometimes constantly under accusations. They are related with one or other political parties, if you say well about Congress then you are against BJP and if you stand by BJP then you are accused of being against Congress. And if you stand in between, then you are accused of being paid by some third party or both the parties will attack you. The general assumption is that media and party are sold out in the country.
In other ways, finance is one of the biggest aspects of media. Weather it is small town or state level, media is actually controlled by political parties directly while at national levels they are holding indirect control. It is very difficult for working journalists to understand how they are directly and indirectly being controlled by political parties. Actually, journalists must assert themselves, and today common people are scrutinising media much more. The mouth full is mouth shut. There is no doubt, media has become powerful and that’s why everyone wants to control them. The debate over ethics is rudimentary. Nowadays, ethics deal with the silences of authorities. It’s time to revolt from within us, but that is not in the hands of journalists actually.
The Mumbai police have finally cracked the Preeti Rathi acid attack case by arresting the accused Ankur Paliwal a hotel management graduate from Delhi. The accused Ankur had thrown acid on Preeti as he was jealous that she had managed to get employment while he is still jobless. The accused and the victim used to reside in the same society.
According to Himanshu Roy, Joint Commissioner of police, crime, “Ankur and Preeti Rathi were known to each other. Both of them used to reside in the same society in Delhi. Even as Preeti landed up a lucrative job but Ankur remained jobless. Ankur’s father used to taunt him that Preeti is so talented and being a girl she has become employed while he is yet to find one. Later, Ankur became jealous about Preeti’s success and he started having ill-feelings against her.”
Ankur then hatched a plan to harm Preeti. Preeti arrived in the city on May 2, 2013 accompanied by her father and relatives to join the Colaba Naval Hospital `INS Ashwini’ as a staff nurse. As she got off Garib Rath Express at Bandra terminus, an unidentified man threw acid at her and ran away.
Rathi’s father, uncle and aunt rushed her to Masina Hospital. After a valiant month-long battle, she succumbed to multiple organ failure at the Bombay Hospital. Later on Preeti was cremated at her home town Narela in Haryana on June 4, 2013.
Before her death, Preeti informed the police that Ankur might be one of the suspects responsible for committing the crime after watching the sketches. When the police were unable to make any headway into this case they restarted the investigation. They sought the records of all the passengers who travelled in the train. As they were whittling down the list of suspects from the records, one of the name was identified by Rathi’s family as being similar to a person she knew that’s led cops up to Ankur.
When Mumbai Crime Branch detained and questioned him strictly than he revealed that he had thrown acid on Preeti as he was jealous about her success. The accused has been remanded into police custody till January, 24.
Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil said, “This case has been delayed for many months. The police have nabbed the accused from Delhi. The victim’s parents had approached me and demanded a CBI probe into this matter.”
Media is regarded as the fourth pillar of democracy and it has the responsibility to create responsible citizens through unbiased reporting. Opposition parties like BJP, Congress and many others alleged that the media was giving more coverage to Aam Aadmi Party which has immensely helped the party. According to them AAP has come into limelight only due to the immense coverage given by the media.
Media was covering news about AAP party to garner TRPs. The allegations made political parties against media is unjustified media had lauded AAP for the work done by it but also criticized the party when it has failed to meet people’s expectations. This only goes to show that media is not biased towards any party and gives equal importance to other news.
AAP has become successful only due to media and the party should give credit to it.
Media acts as a link between the common man and the government. Media had widely reported about each and every incident right from the inception of AAP and its victory and Kejriwal’s swearing in ceremony.
Media has always reported about the facts. It had reported about AAP party as people were keen to know about the party and its mode of functioning. If anyone commented against AAP then it was broadcasted on television. What is wrong with it? Media was not promoting AAP.
Since last few days media has been criticising the mode of functioning of AAP. Later AAP leaders of the party criticized media by saying that it is all set to tarnish the party’s image. A question which arises here is if media was supporting AAP then why it has been criticising AAP and its working style?
Media is merely reporting about news pertaining to AAP and is not giving any unfair publicity to political party. Media is only covering about the positive and negative aspects of the story. This only goes to show that media is only following Journalism ethics. Today media firms are competing with each other to break latest stories related to AAP. Thus nobody has any right to criticise media at it is only performing its duty. Media is playing their role to create awakened citizens. I hope media continues to keep parallel journalism alive by following ethics.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Friday exhorted party workers and leaders to get ready for the Lok Sabha elections and not rest till the battle was won against a rival which is good in marketing but very poor in delivering.
Cheered on by a rapturous crowd of Congress leaders and workers, Rahul began by lauding Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and appreciating leaders like Mani Shankar Aiyar and Sam Pitroda for their work. While he attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party, he seemed to be following the path of the Aam Aadmi Party in embracing democracy within the party.
“In the past 10 years, we have had the privilege of Manmohan Singh’s leadership. It has seen stability and massive change. The Congress party has made democratic upsurge possible,” Rahul said.
Like Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi too highlighted NREGA and RTI Act as Congress’s achievements. “Congress gave Right to Information to the public. No one forced the Congress to bring RTI. The country needed RTI so the Congress gave RTI. The Congress has also created the right to identity, the Aadhar,” Rahul said.
Taking a swipe at BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Rahul said that the country cannot be run by one man. “Democracy cannot be ruled by dictatorship, it cannot be ruled by one man. It has to be run by elected representatives,” Rahul said. “We don’t respond by turning against one another, nor by lighting communal fire,” he added.
Making a pitch to the common people, Rahul said, “I want that common people should be able to walk into the political system. We need to ensure they can come into politics at ease. Packaging in politics is replacing passion.”
Rahul also accused the Opposition of stalling Parliament as he gave the credit for the passage of the Lokpal Bill to his party. “We have got the Lokpal Act passed even as the Opposition stalled Parliament. We want to pass six important bills. We got Lokpal. Everyone made a tamasha, but who passed it? Congress,” Rahul said.
Rahul congratulated party workers and appreciated them for their work. “The first right of contesting elections on party ticket is of the party workers. When I visit our party offices, workers tell me that despite our government in power, no one listens to us. We want to give priority to our own workers to contest, but it does not mean we will close doors for others. We want new ideas and thinking too,” he said.
What reflected in Rahul Gandhi’s speech was an influence of the Aam Aadmi Party as he said that the party manifesto now will be made after interacting with people. “The party manifesto was earlier prepared behind the closed door, now we will make it after asking people. We want to open up the political system for the aam aadmi,” he said.
He admitted that the Congress had to improve upon its marketing skills. Taking a dig at the Opposition’s marketing, he said, “The Opposition is fooling the common man, it used to sell comb to the bald and now it has also started giving the bald a haircut.”
Making a pitch to the women of India, Rahul said, “We need to give more representation to women in politics. I want the Women Reservation Bill to be passed in Parliament. I want half the Congress members to be women.”
Mani Shankar Aiyar, habitual Agent Provacateur, refused to apologise today for stating that Narendra Modi will never be Prime Minister, but is welcome to sell tea at today’s Congress conclave in Delhi which is fine-tuning strategy for the national election.
“The strength of Indian democracy will be proved when a former tea vendor defeats a Dynasty representative. Let this be the battle of 2014,” was the acerbic response of the BJP’s Arun Jaitley.
Mr Aiyar was unmoved by the cross-party reproach for his remarks.
“I am in politics, mate,” a belligerent Mr. Aiyar said, “This is not a drawing room. This is a boxing room. If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
The 72-year-old Rajya Sabha MP unpacked the controversy when he said: “There is no way he can be Prime Minister in the 21st century… but if he wants to come and distribute tea here we can make some room for him.” He later said that he was simply reiterating what the BJP highlights about Mr. Modi “as his main qualification.”
Mr. Aiyar refuted charges that his comment reflects arrogance or that it mocks the simple origins of Mr Modi, who in campaign speeches has emphasized that his family was not rich and that he sold tea on trains. Mr. Modi has contrasted his background with that of the Congress’ Rahul Gandhi, whose famous last name has placed him in the centre of power in his party.
“Who has made this personal?” Mr. Aiyar asked. “Doesn’t the BJP call my leader (Rahul) a prince (shahzaada)? Is that not personal?”
Congress ally Omar Abdullah was among those who said Mr. Aiyar had gone too far, “Modi has a lot of negatives but his humble origins are a positive some of us can’t claim. We aren’t helping our campaign by mocking him,” the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister tweeted.
A special NIA court on Friday allowed the plea by Karnataka Police and remanded Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Yasin Bhatkal in its custody till January 28 in connection with the blasts at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore in April, 2010.
District Judge IS Mehta allowed the application in which Karnataka Police had sought Bhatkal’s custody for his alleged role in the blasts at Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 17, 2010, hours before an IPL cricket match between Royal Challengers and Mumbai Indians.
Police had informed the court about a magisterial court in Bangalore having issued a production warrant against the 30-year-old Bhatkal in connection with the case in which other suspects of the banned IM, including one of its co-founders, Riyaz Bhatkal, and Fasih Mehmood, are accused. Mehmood has been arrested.
Fifteen people, including some security personnel, were injured in the low-intensity blasts at Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Meanwhile, during the proceedings, Tihar Jail authorities submitted their report on the plea filed by Bhatkal and his aide Asadullah Akhtar in which they have claimed there was a threat to their lives inside the high-security prison.
Both accused were kept in judicial custody in Tihar Jail in connection with various terror attack cases.
In the report, the superintendent of Tihar Jail No. 4, where Bhatkal and Akhtar were lodged, said, “A detailed inquiry was conducted and it is revealed that the accused had never brought the matter before jail authorities regarding any threats that they would be killed in the jail.”
The jail superintendent added that, “Both the accused are lodged in the high-risk ward with special security deployed there round the clock.”
Bhatkal and Akhtar, in their plea, had claimed that the Tihar Jail superintendent had “threatened” that they would be killed and alleged that the “attitude and behaviour” of prison authorities towards them had been abusive.
The accused (Bhatkal and Akhtar) claimed that, “The superintendent has threatened that they would be killed in jail. The attitude and behaviour of jail authorities… Is abusive and they are being treated even worse than animals.”
The NIA’s Hyderabad unit had earlier taken Bhatkal and Akhtar to Hyderabad in connection with the Dilsukhnagar blasts after their arrest last year on September 21 and September 17, respectively. The blasts in Hyderabad had claimed 16 lives.
The YSR Congress MLAs staged a walk out from the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Friday after their demand for voting on the draft Telangana Bill was rejected.
The YSRC action drew immediate flak from all parties which alleged that the former was running away from a debate on the draft raft AP Reorganisation Bill, 2013.
The day began with the YSRC members trooping into the Well of the House seeking a vote on the draft Bill ahead of the debate.
This led to adjournment of the proceedings for half an hour.
When the House reassembled, YSRC floor leader YS Vijaya announced they were walking out protesting the refusal to take up voting on the draft Bill.
She alleged that the ruling Congress and the principal opposition Telugu Desam Party were colluding to divide the state.
This led to sharp rebuttal from Finance Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy and TDP MLA Payyavula Kesav, who accused the YSRC of running away from the debate.
“Instead of taking part in the debate and expressing their views on the bifurcation issue, the YSRC was running away from the House. It only shows the party lacks sincerity,” Anam alleged.
Kesav too castigated the YSRC saying the party spoke one thing in public domain but shied away from speaking the same in the Assembly.
Refuting Vijaya’s allegation that the TDP was hand-in-glove with the Congress on bifurcation issue, Kesav recalled that it was late YS Rajasekhara Reddy who sowed the seeds for the separate statehood movement.
“It was YSR who announced on the floor of the House that the Congress was not against the formation of Telangana state,” he pointed out. Telangana Rashtra Samiti MLA KT Rama Rao endorsed Kesav’s statement and claimed it was YSR who stated there was no objection for creation of Telangana.
Chaos prevailed at the press conference organised by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government after its leaders’ met Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Friday.
During the presser, AAP leader Manish Sisodia told media not to act like a spokesperson of the Delhi police, with which his party is mired in a row over the suspension of four cops. Notably, the Delhi Police, earlier in the day, submitted a report to Jung, complaining about the “interfering” behaviour of two Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ministers – Women and Child Welfare Minister Rakhi Birla, Law Minister Somnath Bharti – in police investigation.
The comment made by the Urban Development Minister and Education Minister infuriated the reporters, who had questioned him about the AAP’s demand for suspension of three SHOs and one ACP against whom the party complained.
The LG is conducting a high-level inquiry into the matter, said Sisodia, after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Police Commissioner BS Bassi met at Jung’s official residence, where Birla and Bharti were also present. A retired judge, BL Garg, will enquire into the matter. He has been asked to submit the report within 30 days, a report said.
Sisodia also ruled out any action against Law Minister Somanth Bharti, who revealed the Danish rape victim’s identity.
Sisodia said the government wanted the four officials suspended until an inquiry ordered on Friday by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung into the policemen’s conduct got over.
“Their suspension is necessary, otherwise there will be a problem in the inquiry,” Sisodia told the media.
“Our government won’t keep quiet. This is not Sheila Dikshit’s government. The government has changed. We will take action whether or not Delhi Police is under us,” he said.
Sisodia, the de facto number two in the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, said a government delegation led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called on the Lt Governor and pressed for the suspension.
According to the minister, while Jung said he won’t suspend anyone, Police Commissioner BS Bassi said suspending the men “now will be difficult”.
Cidco has started the registration for the lottery of flats in sector 36 of Kharghar for all income groups including the economically weaker sections (EWS), the lower-income group (LIG), middle-income groups (MIG) and higher income group (HIG). The sale of 1,224 flats will take place through lottery system. People can purchase the form for applying for the flats through Janata Sahakari Bank.
The 2nd edition of Cortokino – International Film Festival, organized by the Department of Mass Media, Thakur College for short-films, ad-films, documentaries, music videos and silent films was held yesterday and will continue till 18th January, at Thakur College, Kandivali (E).
The Mumbai police have finally cracked the Preeti Rathi acid attack case by arresting the accused Ankur Paliwal a hotel management graduate from Delhi. The accused Ankur had thrown acid on Preeti as he was jealous that she had managed to get employment while he is still jobless. The accused and the victim used to reside in the same society.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Friday exhorted party workers and leaders to get ready for the Lok Sabha elections and not rest till the battle was won against a rival which is good in marketing but very poor in delivering.
Mani Shankar Aiyar, habitual Agent Provacateur, refused to apologise today for stating that Narendra Modi will never be Prime Minister, but is welcome to sell tea at today’s Congress conclave in Delhi which is fine-tuning strategy for the national election.
A special NIA court on Friday allowed the plea by Karnataka Police and remanded Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Yasin Bhatkal in its custody till January 28 in connection with the blasts at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore in April, 2010. 
The YSR Congress MLAs staged a walk out from the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Friday after their demand for voting on the draft Telangana Bill was rejected. 
Chaos prevailed at the press conference organised by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government after its leaders’ met Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Friday.