Air passenger held for trying to smuggle in one kg gold

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January 12, 2014

A Kerala resident, coming from Dubai, has been arrested by Customs Department at the city’s international airport for allegedly trying to smuggle in one kg of gold worth Rs 24.44 lakh, an official said today.

Passenger Mahamood Mohammed Irshad, a resident of Kerala and holding Indian passport, was today intercepted at the international terminal of CSI airport and two gold rods, weighing a kilogram, and concealed in the cavity of handle of trolley bag were recovered, the officer with Air Intelligence Unit of the Customs told PTI.

“The gold rods, which collectively weighed one kg, are valued at Rs 24.44 lakh. The yellow metal was confiscated from the passenger, who arrived here on an Emirates flight from Dubai,” the officer added.

The accused was arrested under relevant sections of the Customs Act, the officer said.

One more accused held in connection with dancer’s gangrape

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Afternoon Voice

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January 12, 2014

One more person wanted in connection with the alleged gangrape of a 26-year-old woman dancer from Mumbai was arrested by the police here today.

Hari Krishna, surrendered before the Bowenpally police, who handed him over to the Central Crime Station (CCS), after which he was arrested, a senior police officer told PTI.

The city police cracked the case yesterday by arresting P Venkat Raju, a trader and ‘Happy’ alias Nitin Yadav, an event manger, who were remanded to 14 days’ judicial custody today, the officer said, adding that two others involved in the case were still at large and a manhunt was on to nab them.

The incident took place on the intervening night of December 31, 2013 and January 1 this year, after which the victim registered a case with the Mumbai police.

The victim, who had been offered Rs 1 lakh by ‘Happy’ to perform at an event here on New Year’s eve, was given a soft drink spiked with a sedative after she arrived here from Mumbai.

Later, she was taken to a house in Nizampet area and allegedly gangraped. They also stole her ATM card and withdrew Rs 57,000, Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma had told reporters earlier.

Will Priyanka help the Congress to grab power?

By

Vaidehi Taman

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January 12, 2014

Aam Aadmi Party member Kumar Vishwas stated about Congress that the party has failed the people of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, and that Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi never raised the problems of his constituency in parliament even once. Vishwas gave very interesting speech and delivered his concern very articulately. Though I am not a supporter of Congress or AAP, I would be happy if Vishwas loses the election. Firstly, Kumar Vishwas is neither a progressive intellectual nor a seasoned politician. He is just an educated version of other comedians. A light comedian-poet, who can entertain people and make them laugh, this skill gathered him votes but when it comes to run the country, I really doubt his credentials. I would love to hear his jokes, but running the country is not a “joke”. Secondly, Rahul is not such a bad politician. He seems to be more honest than most politicians. So, in this particular case, I will side with Rahul. He is born in such a family whose members are ruling this nation for years, and people are voting for their party. I am conclusive about these “celebrity” politicians, because they are bad representatives. Take all the actor politicians; most of them do nothing for the nation or its people. And this one will also be no different. AAP should change the decision to place Dr Kumar Vishwas. I am not a supporter of Congress. Understand that the weight of a large organisation such as Congress is heavy for Rahul Gandhi; He was largely responsible for the recent debacles. When most people complain about the dynastic rule, the defence from Congress is very weak. We don’t want Congress to disappear. We need healthy opposition for a healthy democracy.

Looking at adverse situations and anti-congress waves, Priyanka Vadra is the face behind the successful Congress election campaigns. Her popularity among the masses can be a boon in the upcoming election for Congress party. She resembles Indira, and Indira Gandhi supporters till date are very much loyal, they vote for hand irrespective of who so ever is the candidate. When Priyanka goes for campaigning, she brings those nostalgic moments to the forefront. Priyanka Gandhi has been managing Congress campaigns for a long time now. She is an active member of Congress party .Wherein her support might not be on the full frontal level, it certainly is a major force behind the electoral campaigns. Like Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi belongs a fully Political family; her grandmother, father were in politics and mother also too. She knows well about politics. She has visited Raebareli and Amethi often; she knows to speak in Hindi, she knows how to connect to people.

If we were to compare Nehru or his father Motilal with the current crop of politicians, how many of them have disposed off their ancestral property for the national cause? Coming to the present generation of Rahul and Priyanka, how many other current politicians have lost their dear father for the nation? Remember, Rajiv was killed for a decision he took as the PM. How many will sacrifice their fathers even if they were offered all the power or fame Rahul or Priyanka has? And, remember Sonia had kept away from politics after her husband’s assassination. We say we should honour our security personnel and their families, who lose their lives in action. Can’t we at least stop abusing the Nehru family which has suffered such tragedies repeatedly? Every tom and harry stands up and attacks the family with utmost filthy language. Who gave them the authority? Let people of this country take a call and decide whom they want in power. Irony is that today politics has become negative, we all want party to win on negative agenda but not on merits.

Congress has to win the election on the basis of past performance and its plan for future growth.Being a member of an important political family does not entail all the members of the family to rule the country. Who is the important family member should be decided by the people. The induction of Priyanka is a desperate bid of the Congress to somehow win the elections, as Rahul has proved to be a weaker politician, he needs some more time to mature. At one time, it was a popular opinion that induction of Priyanka would have done wonders for Congress if she had taken to active politics like her grandmother. India’s rural population had a mind change over these past 20 years, especially over the golden decade 2000-10 for middle and upper classes, on account of mobile phones, internet and cable TV. They now see how the rest of the world, India’s upper classes and the nation’s privileged politicians live. They see the difference between speech and action. Congress Party unfortunately is long on promise and short on delivery in every area. BJP also failed badly as the Congress Party. Congress Party, which has been ruling India virtually since independence, turned into a family business many decades ago. It is now election time and the outcome may not be smooth sailing, so all family hands are on deck, as one might expect. Voters must decide whether they want the country to remain as it is or will ensure it becomes a democratic republic. It is the apt time for Priyanka to enter the electoral battle field. She is charismatic and much adorned by the rural women and youth. Carrying fully the legacy of Indira, she is the cynosure of all eyes. India being diverse in all respects, presence of a unifying leader is vital to keep the country united and to fight out forces around. Let’s come to the point; there is lot of difference between Kumar Vishvas and Nehru Gandhi family. Power and position are two things which are to be grabbed and cannot be expected to be offered.

The dilemma of child adoption

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Afternoon Voice

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January 12, 2014

Can Sunita Murekar a maid who sold her kid to the employer for twenty thousand rupees really become a good parent in future. As per reports, Sunita is a single parent and was struggling to take care of her child due to financial problems. Sunita’s employer Sonubai Hate asked her to give away her child to one of her daughter who is childless.

According to Sunita, Hate had promised that she could see her child every day during working hours and also can spend quality time with the kid daily. After doing all the paper work done by both the parties Sunita couldn’t just let her child go away as she was craving to see her child everyday but she was unable to do so.

If Sunita is a caring mother what is the guarantee that after getting the possession of her child back she wouldn’t sell him to other family in return for lumpsum money? Moreover, the initiative taken by the child welfare committee is completely one-sided. Why support Sunita just because she is the biological mother. Why aren’t committee willing to think that Sunita herself being a mother has sold her kid to the family.

If Sunita Murekar really wanted a bright future for her kid then where has this money come from? And what is wrong if the child was given to some childless mother? It is obvious that the parents would have taken great care of the child as they have already undergone the trauma of being childless which doesn’t augur well for their family too.

The child welfare committee should support parents who are willing to take children from single parent and also motivate them to give away their children only if they are not financially stable. In the future, Sunita’s child might study in municipality school and will receive substandard education. Later, he would find employment in some factory and will earn paltry salary and will find it difficult to support his family. On the other hand, if the child stays with Hate family then he would atleast get a decent education to atleast find employment in a call centre. Being a single parent it has become a difficult taks to care of the child nowadays. It has become difficult to satisfy an individual’s needs on account of rising inflation. On the other hand, it is all about the emotional attachment between the child and mother.

The police has taken action only against Sunita Murekar and not against the Hate family which a right move as their daughter has been childless. Sunita was willing to part with her child as she was being paid money. Maybe both Sunita and Hate family had followed the adoption formalities properly. Till date have the CWC taken any awareness initiative that would educate people about the adoption methods? Even today several adoption centers exist which don’t give away child that easily despite couple’s sound financial background to take care of the child. These organisations demand lumpsum money under the table. Where was the CWC when many adoption scams were busted? Even today many orphaned boys and girls are being exploited and pushed into human trafficking activities. There so many centers who are involved in phidophily activities.

It’s high time the CWC should take serious measures to curb crime against children. This can only happen if the officials pull up their socks and solve the issues faced by thousands of children instead of garnering publicity. Sunita Murekar’s child was not physically exploited and instead two mothers were fighting, one to prove her motherhood and other to provide motherhood.

Narendra Modi’s ‘economics also very weak’, says Jairam Ramesh

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Afternoon Voice

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January 12, 2014

Terming the proposal to abolish income tax “bizarre”, Union Minister Jairam Ramesh on Saturday took a dig at Narendra Modi, saying that the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate’s knowledge of “economics, history and geography were weak”.

“So far, Modi has shown that his knowledge of geography and history is weak. By embracing this completely lunatic idea of abolishing income tax and listening to Baba Ramdev on this, he is showing that his economics is also very weak,” he told reporters.

At an event organised recently by yoga guru Ramdev here, Modi had said, “The present taxation system is a burden on the common man. There is a need to reform it and and introduce a new system.”

Ramdev has demanded abolition of all kinds of taxes and called for a single tax in the form of ‘Banking Transaction Tax’ if Modi were to succeed in becoming prime minister.

Meanwhile, Ramesh also questioned Modi’s commitment to clean governance in the light of BS Yeddyurappa being welcomed back into the BJP. Yeddyurappa, the former Karnataka chief minister, had been indicted by the Lokayukta in a mining scam case.

“Modi is going to take lessons on economics from Baba Ramdev and lessons on integrity and clean governance from Yeddyurappa. What sort of double standards is this?” he asked.

The return of Yeddyurappa to BJP shows the complete hypocrisy of the party vis-a-vis its campaign against corruption, Ramesh alleged.

Asked about his assessment for the 2014 general elections, Ramesh noted that it was almost certain that a coalition government would be formed at the Centre.

“All I can say is that, in 2014, you will see a coalition government… (it is) inevitable,” Ramesh averred.

Sharad Pawar not in the running for PM’s post, says Tariq Anwar

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Afternoon Voice

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January 12, 2014

A day after Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said that he would be happy to see NCP chief Sharad Pawar become the Prime Minister, the NCP on Sunday denied that he was in the race for the PM’s post.

“Pawar is not running for the Prime Minister’s post,” NCP general secretary and Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Tariq Anwar told reporters here in reply to a question.

“At the same time, the NCP chief has all the credentials required for the PM’s post and his experience in public life is second to none among all political leaders in the country,” he said.

Anwar, a close aide of Pawar, said “It is the number game that decides who becomes the Prime Minister and in the NCP chief’s case, he does not have the numbers with him.”

If Pawar had got the numbers in terms of MPs, he would have definitely become the Prime Minister, he said.

On Shinde’s praise for Pawar whom he had described as his “political guru”, Anwar said that the Union Home Minister’s remarks were made in his personal capacity.

Shinde had worked as a state minister during Pawar’s tenure as Maharashtra Chief Minister and so his remarks praising the NCP should be seen as his respect towards the latter and nothing more, Anwar said.

On the NCP’s strategy for the general elections to be held this year, the Union Minister said that his party was seized with the issue and the same would be finalized by March next.

In Bihar’s case, Anwar said that his party was part of the UPA and it will go with whichever alliance the Congress decides to work out in the state.

Religious fanaticism threatens peace in our region: Sonia Gandhi

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Afternoon Voice

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January 12, 2014

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Sunday invoked the legacy of Swami Vivekananda while asking people to battle against religious fanaticism of all hues that threatens the region, in comments that could be seen as a veiled attack on BJP and Narendra Modi.

In her address at the commemoration function of 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda here, she hailed the relevance of his teachings especially for the youth, and said the nation should not fail them in fulfilling the aspirations of the young to be educated, governed and employed better.

“Swamiji’s words are all the more weighty today as religious fanaticism of all hues threatens the peace of many nations and our region.

“His ideas must be taken into the hearts and minds of our new generation of young Indians who will and must battle against fanaticism,” Gandhi said.

Her comments assume significance as she made a veiled reference to BJP whose politics Congress has denounced as “sectarian” and “communal”.

Without mentioning BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, who has been appealing to the youth in Swami Vivekananda’s name ahead of polls, she said his teachings laid stress on communal peace and hormony and recalled her address at the conference of world religions.

Gandhi’s presence at Vivekananda’s birth anniversary celebrations to woo the younger generation also holds significance as BJP over the past year has claimed the legacy over him.

She said the Swami’s teachings tell us not to fall prey to narrow mindedness and selfish motives and invoked the young profile of India to reach out to the youth for whom, she maintained, the teachings of Vivekananda are relevant.

“All over the world populations are ageing. But the profile of our nation remains young. India of the 21st century is a known society with a young population. A population with high expectations and aspirations.

“They want to be educated better. They want to be governed better. They want to find employment that meets their aspirations. We should not and cannot fail them,” she said.

PM urges young Indians to be inspired by Vivekananda

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Afternoon Voice

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January 12, 2014

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday urged every young Indian, irrespective of faith and religion, to be inspired by Swami Vivekananda.

“I urge every young Indian, irrespective of faith and religion, to be inspired by such a man as they build their own future,” said the Prime Minister Office on his Twitter page on the closing ceremony of Vivekananda’s 150th birth anniversary celebrations here.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Defence Minister AK Antony also paid tributes to Swami Vivekananda – a philosopher and a religious scholar.

“Let us, in all humility, imbibe these lessons from Swami Vivekananda… learn to be tolerant of one another, have respect for all religions,” the tweet added.

“India’s true liberation would come when every Indian feels liberated from the scourge of poverty, ignorance and disease. India, this great motherland of ours, has much to learn from the world around us and, equally, much to teach the world,” the prime minister said.

AAP factor likely to be focus of discussions at Cong, BJP meet

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Afternoon Voice

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January 12, 2014

The Aam Aadmi Party factor is expected to be the focus of Congress and BJP during conclaves of their top leaders here this week to prepare a strategy for Lok Sabha elections.

While the AICC meeting is scheduled on Jan 17, the BJP National Executive and National Council is from Jan 17 to 19 as the rival parties chart out the way ahead at a time when Arvind Kejriwal’s party is gaining popularity.

Even though neither the BJP nor the Congress accept that they have been impacted by AAP, the actions of the major parties tell otherwise. Just two days back, Rahul Gandhi held a meeting of leaders entrusted with the process of selection of candidates.

At the meeting, the Congress Vice President pitched for giving Lok Sabha tickets to ordinary workers and those having a clean image as he unveiled a “new process” that will see early declaration of Congress nominees.

Apparently taking a leaf from the success of AAP, Rahul told the leaders that while deciding candidates views of local people should be given prime importance and ordinary party workers should be given their due in the selection.

The exercise initiated by Rahul comes in the backdrop of the AAP as well as the BJP speeding up the process of selection of candidates for the polls and setting this month as a deadline.

BJP leaders say in private that AAP can affect them in urban areas as the Kejriwal effect is visible in cities but insist that it could be a blessing in disguise as it would help the party rank and file to connect more to the people.

“We do not go by press headlines. We have the pulse of the people. We will not take undue cognisance”, BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said, dismissing the contention that AAP’s rise would dominate the party meet. Striking a similar note, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said, “Focus will be on Congress” at the AICC meet.

Another Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said the focus will be on what the party can do to win the elections by defeating both the BJP and AAP and the regional parties.

Contending that the rise of AAP is a reason to worry for BJP and not Congress, Aiyar said it is a “mathematical fact” that if 0.1 per cent of the national vote goes to AAP, it will lead to BJP losing one seat, which it might otherwise have got.

“Similarly, one per cent of the national vote to AAP could lead to BJP losing 10 seats. Naturally, BJP in its conclave will have to focus more on AAP,” he said.

However, BJP has made it clear that it is not unduly worried over the AAP rise.

Javadekar said, “We have a clear winner. We have the programme and the confidence besides a well planned campaign”.

The BJP spokesman suggested that the AAP was the ‘B’ team of Congress as it has come to power in Delhi in alliance with Congress and was, therefore, a “comeback of the Congress through the backdoor”.

Congress General Secretary Shakeel Ahmed, however, dismissed the BJP claim. “BJP is a frustrated party as all their sweet dreams of coming to power got dashed because of Cong support to AAP”.

Taking a dig at the way the Kejriwal government is being run, Ahmed, who is in charge of Congress affairs in Delhi, said it reminded him of the “early days of Lalu raj”.

I wonder if I’ll ever reunite with my family, says Devyani Khobragade

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Afternoon Voice

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January 12, 2014

An Indian diplomat at the centre of a bitter row with the United States told Sunday of her “immense stress” at leaving behind her young family in New York, and vowed to clear her name.

Khobragade was granted full diplomatic immunity and allowed to fly back to India — just hours after charges were filed in court alleging she lodged false documents to obtain a visa for her servant and then underpaid her.

Khobragade, 39, told an Indian newspaper of her anguish at leaving behind her daughters, aged seven and four, in New York along with her husband, a US citizen, who works as an academic.

“I wonder if I will be able to ever reunite with my family, my husband, my little kids. I miss them,” Khobragade said.

“What if my children choose to study and work in the US? What if I can never return to the US, which I cannot now. Does it mean we will never be able to live together as a family again?” she said.

“I know I am honest, and I will come out clean. But we do not know how much time it will take and for how long my family will have to suffer due to this,” she added.

Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade gives a traditional greeting after her return from the US in New …

Her arrest on December 12 outside her children’s school and treatment in custody, where she said she was subjected to a cavity search, outraged India which claimed she benefited from full diplomatic immunity.

US prosecutors disputed this, and filed charges in New York accusing Khobragade of sometimes forcing the Indian maid to work 100-hour weeks, even when sick and often without a day off, for pay as little as $1.22 an hour.

Khobragade did obtain diplomatic immunity when last week New Delhi asked Washington to grant her a G1 visa given to diplomats at India’s UN mission, which is also in New York.

The row between the two countries, which had embraced each other as strategic partners, saw weeks of feisty exchanges that strained bilateral ties and left resentment on both sides.

India has removed extra security barriers at the US embassy in New Delhi, demanded contract details for domestic staff employed by American diplomats and even stopped the mission importing duty-free food and alcohol.

On Wednesday, it ordered an embassy leisure centre popular with American expatriates in the capital to stop admitting non-diplomatic members, while scheduled visits by US officials to India have been cancelled.

In a fresh retaliatory measure late Friday, India asked the United States to withdraw an embassy official in New Delhi.

The expelled American diplomat was a “similar rank” to Khobragade and is thought to have helped the family of her maid travel to America where they were granted protection by prosecutors.

US prosecutors say the family of the maid were evacuated to the United States because of attempts to intimidate them.

In her newspaper interview, Khobragade said she would continue a legal fight to clear her name, including attempting to have her case in New York officially dismissed in a federal court.