21 killed in Andaman boat tragedy; there were no life jackets or guides, says Union minister Narayanasamy

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January 27, 2014

An overcrowded boat with over 50 passengers, mostly tourists, capsized in the Bay of Bengal near Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar on Sunday afternoon, killing at least 21 people. Union minister V Narayanasamy today said that there were no life jackets and no guides to save people. Officials say 29 people have been rescued and one person is still missing.

The boat, ‘Aqua Marine’, was reportedly carrying mainly tourists, including a large group of around 32 people from Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu. It sank on its way from Ross Island to the North Bay at around 4 pm yesterday. Mohammed Rafique, the duty officer in Port Blair, said that the boat capsized about 300 feet from shore. He said the investigation so far suggests the boat hit a rock.
The passengers exceeded the boat’s capacity, Rafique said.

Many families in Kanchipuram have been left devastated as government sources say that at least 13 of those who have died belonged to this small temple town. KA Thyagarajan, a restaurant owner in Kanchipuram, lost four members.

Families say that they have learnt from the survivors that standard operating procedures were not followed. They say the survivors have told them that there were no life jackets on the boat, a mandatory requirement for such tours.

Suresh, a worker in the local silk industry, too lost a few family members.
Selvaraj, a popular tour operator in the area who owns Pooja Travels, organised the boat trip. His family too suffered casualties.

Two senior bureaucrats from Tamil Nadu have reached Port Blair to help in rescue and relief operations. The state government has said that it will bear the cost of shifting passengers to Chennai and their treatment. Government sources say the bodies of people who died are expected to be taken to Chennai this afternoon.

Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lt Gen (retd) AK Singh, told that the rescued people have been admitted to the GB Pant Hospital in Port Blair. He also denied reports that there was a delay on part of the government in launching rescue operations.

A magisterial probe has been ordered and the Lieutenant Governor has announced Rs. 1 lakh compensation to the families of the dead.

He has also spoken to Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and has briefed him about the rescue operations, according to sources.

Police gets 15-day time to conclude probe against Yasin Bhatkal, aide

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Afternoon Voice

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January 27, 2014

A local court has allowed Delhi Police’s plea seeking more time to conclude its probe into a case lodged against Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal and his aide Asadullah Akhtar for allegedly setting up an illegal arms factory here.

The court order came on the plea filed by the Special Cell seeking 15 more days to complete its probe.

“Keeping in view the application, the investigation period is extended for another 15 days with effect from January 25, 2014,” Additional Sessions Judge Daya Prakash said.

The Special Cell, in its plea, gave details of the probe conducted so far in the case in which it had earlier filed three charge sheets against some arrested accused, suspected to be members of the banned IM.

It also said, “A specific input has been received that some unidentified associates of Ahmad Siddibappa alias Yasin Bhatkal have conspired to commit a sensational kidnapping in Delhi to secure the release of this top terrorist.”

“Teams of special cell are camping in Bihar, West Bengal and other places to identify and apprehend these conspirators and a breakthrough is expected soon. As and when these arrests were made, accused Ahmad Siddibappa and Asadullah Akhtar will be required for confrontation to bring out the entire facts.”

National Investigation Agency (NIA) had arrested Bhatkal, wanted in over 40 terror cases and carrying a reward of Rs 35 lakh, and Akhtar from Indo-Nepal border on the night of August 28 last year.

‘AAP’s entry into politics has not affected Congress’

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Vaidehi Taman

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January 27, 2014

Manikrao Thakre is the president of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee. Thakre is currently the member of Maharashtra Legislative Council and has been a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from the Indian National Congress since 1985 till 2004.

He has strengthened the Congress party after becoming the president of MPCC. According to him the emergence of AAP has not affected the functioning of Congress party. Our correspondent Parvez Khan spoke to Manikrao Thakre who said that he will definitely contest the Lok Sabha election if he receives an instruction from the high command.

Are you keen to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election?

It is not a question about whether I am interested in contesting the election or not. I have been following the instructions issued by the high command and will continue to follow them. I will definitely contest the Lok Sabha election if I will receive an instruction from the high command. I am Congress activist who always follows the instructions of senior leaders.

Will you be inducted in the cabinet as you have done a good job in the state Congress Committee?

It is not necessary that you get inducted into the cabinet on the basis of the good work performed in the state Congress committee. I don’t work for receiving an opportunity to get selected in the cabinet. Whatever work our high command assigns us we perform those tasks. I work for the welfare of the common man.

There is a perception in the political circles that you don’t have good relation with Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan. What is the truth about this news?

All these news pertaining to my strained relation with Prithviraj Chavan is not true. We all Congress leaders work as a team. Chavan is performing a good job by taking all Congress supporters along with him.

Will AAP’s entry in the political arena have any impact on the Congress party?

Congress always functions by taking everyone together hence supporters will not quit the party. Many parties have arrived and vanished in the political arena. The party’s popularity has not dwindled after the emergence of AAP and has only increased. Even today Congress is the premier party in the state hence AAP’s entry into politics won’t make any difference to the party.

In Congress losing its foothold in the state?

Congress is considered as the number one party in state and is very popular in rural India. The party has a strong presence in Zilla Parishad, Panchayat Samiti, Gram Panchayat and Muncipal Corporations.

President conveys a right message

By

Mahendra Singh

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January 27, 2014

Pranab Mukherjee has given a good speech on the occasion of Republic Day sending out a message to political parties in the manner in which they are running the government. The seniors holding constitutional posts do not speak out to educate the masses. Mukherjee had said that fractured Lok Sabha poll verdict will not augur well for the country. He has rightly said that the elections do not give any person the license to flirt with illusions.

The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi must inform Kejriwal, look here friend, you have violated the law, you have attempted to demoralize the police force (whether they are corrupt or not is to be dealt with separately). Therefore, you first face the punishment and thereafter I will listen to all your pontifications. The so called Maoists are also indulging in the same thing. They want to demoralize the police and army so that the public is left defenceless and instability is created. Authorities must inform AAP party workers that they may be the most virtuous persons but they must first respect the law (they can amend it if they disapprove it) and conduct themselves with discipline and decency.

Even if they select a school boy to join the Republic Day parade salute, he will wear a proper cap and not wrap round a muffler with belligerent countenance. Do they think the jawans also must turn turn rebellious like them? The shocking aspect is that they are saying that the Congress is not their enemy (they are already weakened, they say) and that BJP is their rival. They want to weaken the BJP also so that instability is created. All of us must guard against such machinations.

Our country is facing lot of problems which are in different quantum. Even our families and societies too are facing hardships but there is only one way to overcome them by solving them with dedication and perseverance. Disorder and disobedience is not the path to success. Let us be sincere and constructive. Look at the face of Somnath Bharti when he says, madame “Modiji ne kitne paise diye hain”? This statement speaks volumes about his thinking. Public must judge it’s leaders by their actions, spoken words, body language and the policies followed by them. They should cast their votes responsibly. Nation looks up to your wisdom.

Remembering our freedom fighters

By

Afternoon Voice

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January 24, 2014

Today, most of the politicians in India make tall claims before the onset of elections but forget to deliver them after coming to power. This only goes on to show that they are least bothered about the welfare of the common man who takes time from his/her busy schedule to exercise his/her franchisee. Prices of all commodities, including that of food grains, petroleum and LPG have been sky-rocketing in the past few years after the Congress came into power. As a result of this, the common man has to bear the brunt of the price rise, as his salary doesn’t increase in tandem with the surging inflation.

It seems that the Gandhian ideals that inspired India’s independence struggles are no longer followed by citizens today. Every one of us in India respects Mahatma Gandhi, and proudly addresses him as the ‘Father of the Nation’, but no one is prepared to tread the path adopted by him. Although India has achieved Independence, it is one of the most corrupted and polluted nations in the world. Unemployment is at an all-time high.

Majority of the states today are fighting among themselves and people, irrespective of caste, creed and religion are being persecuted for no fault of theirs, while the ministers and the politicians are misusing their power and the common man’s hard-earned money as they contribute to the nation by paying Professional Tax, Income Tax, etc. People have lost faith in their leaders. India has a great potential ahead, but unless and until we rise above our differences and petty squabbles, it will not become a prosperous nation.
Republic Day is a day for us to celebrate with the hoisting of our national flag, recitation of our national anthem, singing patriotic songs and organising social and cultural events. On this day, we should also remember the sacrifices made by our various freedom fighters who bravely fought for the country’s Independence and pay our due respect to them. But it’s a pity that after every Independence Day and
Republic Day celebrations, the country’s national flag is strewn on the streets and people irrespective of caste, creed, colour or religion blithely walk over them.

Even when the national anthem is played on the radio or telecast on television, people don’t respect it by standing to attention and singing it. They are busy talking on their mobile phones or chatting with their friends. As Indians, we should show due respect for our country’s national flag, national song and national anthem. It is only through the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters that we have managed to gain independence and republic; otherwise we would still have been living under the British dominion.

Jubel D’Cruz

DMK chief Karunanidhi cracks the whip, suspends Alagiri from party

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Afternoon Voice

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January 24, 2014

Tamil Nadu politics is set for a major shake up after DMK chief M Karunanidhi, Friday, suspended his son MK Alagiri from the party for his continued opposition to efforts to stitch an alliance with Vijaykanth’s DMDK.

Karunanidhi’s strong action against his own son also indicates that the DMK patriarch has finally decided to end the bitter leadership tussle in the family. By suspending Alagiri, the DMK chief has made it clear that he favours his younger son MK Stalin to take over the reins of the party.

Alagiri had recently asserted that, for him, Karunandhi was the only leader of the DMK and he will not accept anyone else.

Alagiri always had an uncomfortable relationship with Stalin. Over the years, both brothers had divided territories – Stalin controlled party affairs in northern parts of the state including Chennai while Alagiri was the party’s undisputed boss in southern region, especially Madurai.

Karunanidhi had also been particular to keep the scales balanced – Stalin was the Deputy CM in last DMK government while Alagiri was sent to Delhi as a union minister.

But Karunanidhi had time and again expressed his fondness for Stalin, to which Alagiri once said that DMK is not a “mutt” that the throne can be handed down.

However, with DMK facing the prospect of a washout in the Lok Sabha polls and also in view of the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls, Karunanidhi seems to have decided to get the house in order.

The tie up with ‘Captain’ Vijaykanth was part of the plan as DMK could not have taken on J Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK on its own. After the washout in the last assembly elections, DMK was replaced by Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) as the principle opposition party in the assembly and Vijaykanth became the Leader of the Opposition.

Karunanidhi, Wednesday, reiterated there have been no talks with the DMDK on forging an alliance for the general elections but an invite has been sent to the party.

While majority in the party leadership were keen to go with the DMDK, Alagiri had opposed the plan and said that he did not consider Vijaykanth – a movie superstar – a politician hence the party should not tie-up with him.

But the real reason behind Alagiri’s aversion to Vijayakant was because both hailed from Madurai and he feared that ‘Captain’ will encroach on his fiefdom.

Shinde asks Maha HM to take action in techie murder case

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Afternoon Voice

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January 24, 2014

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Friday asked the Maharashtra government to take “swift action” and nab those involved in the murder of a woman software engineer in Mumbai after her father met him seeking justice.

In a letter to Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil, Shinde said father of 23-year-old Esther Anuhya, whose burnt body was found on the outskirts of Mumbai, met him and requested for a thorough enquiry into the matter and stringent action against the guilty.

“I shall be grateful if swift action is taken in the matter and persons involved in this heinous crime are brought to book at the earliest,” Shinde said in his letter to Patil.

After meeting the Home Minister, Anuhya’s father Jonathan Surendra Prasad said no parent should have to face the trauma he faced while searching for his daughter.

“I have apprised the Home Minister about the unfortunate incident. Police did not help us at all. We ourselves looked for my daughter after she went missing. And finally, after ten days, her body was recovered. No parent should face the kind of trauma that I have faced,” he told reporters here.

The software engineer, who was working for a reputed IT firm in Mumbai, went missing after her arrival at Lokmanya Tilak terminus in the city from her native home of Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh on January 5.

Her mutilated, burnt and decomposed body was found off the Mumbai-Thane highway on January 16.

“The Home Minister gave us a patient hearing. He told us that he will help us. He will talk to the Maharashtra government,” Prasad said.

Anuhya had boarded the Vishakapatnam-LTT Express train from Vijayawada on January 4 for Mumbai. She was returning to Mumbai after her Christmas holidays but she did not reach her hostel in suburban Andheri.

Mahavitaran says viability at stake if tariffs not hiked

By

Afternoon Voice

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January 24, 2014

Close on the heels of Maharashtra government announcing a 20 per cent cut in power tariffs across the state but Mumbai, state utility Mahavitaran has said it will push its applications seeking hike in charges, which are pending with the regulator, citing its worsening financials.

Mahavitaran warned that it will not be able to meet its expenses from next fiscal if MREC does not clear its pending 10 per cent tariff hike proposal.

“We need a tariff hike to meet our capital and operational expenses. If the tariff revision proposals are not cleared, it will adversely impact our operations,” a Mahavitran official said.

The utility, which is yet to hear from the MERC on its tariff proposals submitted seeking 10 per cent hike each in FY14 and FY15, today warned it may have to resubmit proposals. Mahavitaran has over 21 lakh consumers.

The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (Merc) had allowed the utility a 20 per cent increase in tariff for six months, from September 1 last, with a view to recover Rs. 5,500 crore from consumers in monthly tranches so that it could pay the generation and transmission companies.

The official said that Monday’s cabinet decision has lowered the tariff to the rate which was prevalent prior to September last year.

Following the move, the government will have to pay a subsidy of Rs. 606 crore a month and another Rs. 100 crore will have to be contributed by Mahatransco and Mahagenco.

Currently, Mahavitaran’s average power purchase cost is Rs. 3.62 per unit against the supply cost of Rs. 6.21 per unit.

According to the Merc’s order, from March 1 this year, the tariffs will come to the levels of pre-September rate.

Therefore, in case the tariff petition is not cleared, the state utility will not require the subsidy as the purpose of providing the subsidy was to lower the burden on Mahavitaran to pay its dues, the official explained.

If MERC allows the 20 per cent reduction, the tariffs for residential consumers using up to 100 units and 300 units will come down to Rs. 3.36 per unit from the existing Rs. 4.16 per unit and to Rs. 6.05 from Rs. 7.42, respectively.

According to the government’s decision, the 20 per cent tariff cut relief would not be applicable to residential consumers using energy above 300 units.

For the high tension industrial consumers (express feeders) the tariff has been lowered to Rs. 7.01 per unit from Rs. 8.61 per unit and for high tension (non-express feeders) it will come down to Rs. 6.33 from Rs. 7.83 per unit.

Two get life imprisonment for raping minor girl, making MMS

By

Afternoon Voice

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January 24, 2014

A sessions court on Thursday convicted two youths for raping a 16-year-old girl in 2011 and making video clip of the incident, and sentenced them to life imprisonment.

Out of the five accused in the case, three are minors who are facing the separate trial before a juvenile court.

The accused Rajesh Jaiswal and Suraj Nepali- both 21–were convicted under section 376 of IPC for rape.

According to prosecution, the incident happened on May 10, 2011 when the girl was returning home from the famous Siddhivinayak temple along with her five friends (the accused).

Police said the group decided to spend some time in the hillocks of Kurar village in Mumbai before returning home.

The prosecution said the accused drugged the girl after reaching the spot and took turns to sexually assault her.

The accused filmed the act and made an MMS clip to threaten the girl against disclosing the matter. However, the incident came to light in July 2011 after the clipping was leaked.

The prosecution examined seven witnesses in the case, however, what nailed the accused was the testimony given by the survivor.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Majid Memon, Rajkumar Dhoot files RS poll papers

By

Afternoon Voice

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January 24, 2014

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who has ruled himself out of electoral politics, has filed his nomination for the biennial Rajya Sabha election from Madha constituency on Friday.

The Election Commission has recently announced the election schedule for the Upper House of Parliament. There are seven seats of Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra whose term expires on April 2.

NCP has two retiring members YP Trivedi and Janardhan Waghmare.

NCP sources said the two members may be replaced by new faces, which includes Sharad Pawar himself.

Early this month, Pawar declared that he will not seek re-election to the Lok Sabha from Maadha constituency and instead would be in the Rajya Sabha as biennial elections are scheduled soon.

The notification for the polls were issued on January 21. Last date of filing of nomination is January 28. The scrutiny of papers will be done on January 29 and the last date of withdrawal of papers is January 31. The date of poll and counting is scheduled for February 7.

Congress has yet to decide on whether it would renominate sitting MPs Hussain Dalwai and Murli Deora. The other retiring members include BJP spokesman Prakash Javdekar and Shiv Sena’s Bharat Kumar Raut and Rajkumar Dhoot.

RPI’s Ramdas Athavale, who is an ally of the Sena-BJP, has claimed that he has been assured a Rajya Sabha seat from the saffron quota. Shiv Sena is yet to take a decision on the issue.
Meanwhile, Pawar has declared assets worth Rs. 32.13 crore. The 73-year old NCP chief has Rs. 5.06 crore movable assets while his wife Pratibha has Rs. 13.37 crore in her name.
Similarly, they have Rs. 2.03 crore as part of the Hindu Undivided Family (HUF). Pawar has a 958 sq.ft flat at Sansad Vihar in New Delhi. He does not own a vehicle. He purchased the Delhi flat in April 2004.
The cost at the time of purchase was Rs. 16.29 lakh and the current market value is approximately Rs. 1.34 crore. His self accquired immovable assets are valued at Rs. 4.22 crore. Pratibha Pawar’s inherited assets are valued at Rs. 92 lakh. While immovable assets under HUF are Rs. 4.77 crore.
The second NCP candidate Memon has declared assets worth Rs. 13.98 crore. While Shiv Sena candidate Rajkumar Shoot has assets worth Rs. 18.27 crore.