Nine burnt alive as fire breaks out in Bandra-Dehradun train

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January 8, 2014

Nine persons were charred to death in their sleep when a fire broke out in three coaches of the Bandra-Dehradun Express in neighbouring Thane district in the wee hours today, the second fire mishap on a train within a fortnight.

The fire erupted in one of the three coaches and soon spread to other two coaches when the passengers were sleeping at about 2.50 AM.

Among the nine dead, one is a woman and four are men while the rest were yet to be identified, said Western Railway PRO Sharat Chandra.

Four persons have sustained minor injuries, said police.

The affected coaches were S-2 S-3 and S-4. The maximum numbers of passengers were in S-4 (64) followed by 54 in S-2 and three in S-3.

Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge has expressed grief over the death of passengers and announced an ex-gratia of Rs five lakh each to the next of kin of those killed.

Rs one lakh will be given to those seriously injured and a sum of Rs 50,000 will be given to those who received minor injuries, Chairman, Railway Board, Arunendra Kumar said.

The commissioner of Railway Safety will conduct an inquiry into the fire incident, he said.

“The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. However, the fire has been put out and the train has made its forward journey,” Kumar said.

Railway sources said short circuit cannot be ruled out as burnt cables were found lying under the electric board of S-3 coach.

Mumbai University students, teachers find support in AAP

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Afternoon Voice

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January 8, 2014

Students and teachers unions have found support in Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in their agitation at Mumbai University in support of a suspended professor.

The university has been rocked by protests from students and professors who have condemned Vice Chancellor Rajan Velukar’s decision to suspend Prof Neeraj Hatekar on Saturday.

AAP leader Mayank Gandhi today visited the protestors to show support at the varsity’s Kalina campus in Santa Cruz.

Gandhi said, “This is a case of corruption. Hatekar was suspended for raising various issues pertaining to administration of the university and he was suspended without being issued a show cause notice.”

The suspension order of Prof Hatekar, a fellow of Cambridge University, said the varsity’s management council had taken serious note of Hatekar’s “misinformation” to newspapers and his holding a press conference.

Hatekar is also convenor of the Joint Action Committee for Improvement of Higher Education in Maharashtra, a body that has protested the lack of transparency in the appointment of the vice-chancellor.

Hatekar and others had earlier claimed that Velukar’s academic and publication records did not meet the qualification criteria for the post.

VC Velukar had said that law granted him the power to suspend Hatekar and that he had ordered a departmental inquiry against him.

However, Hatekar said his suspension was arbitrary, illegal and he would legally challenge the decision. He also charged that the university was administered by those who were not academically qualified.

“There are set rules for suspension and management council has to pass a resolution. However, Vice Chancellor Velukar in the suspension order says management council has taken serious view of my press conference and was suspending me. Vice Chancellor has no powers to suspend,” he added.

Since yesterday, students and teachers staged protests against the suspension. A signature campaign was initiated and the department of economics also submitted a resolution to authorities defending Hatekar’s right to free speech.

Students said Hatekar has been struggling for better facilities for student community. On December 12, 2013, Hatekar had held a press conference in which he had spoken about alleged mismanagement by Velukar.

Maharashtra Cabinet meets today to decide on reducing power tarrifs

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Afternoon Voice

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January 8, 2014

Maharashtra cabinet led by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to decide on reducing the existing power tariffs for residential, commercial and industrial consumers across the state.

Today’s cabinet meets comes in the wake of demands made by AICC secretary and MP Sanjay Nirupam that Maharashtra government should also reduce tariff for power consumption of less than 500 units per month in the city.

The Congress MP demanded a cut in power tarrif apparently taking cue from Delhi government’s decision of 50 percent cut in power tariff.

In a letter to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, the Mumbai North Lok Sabha MP said power tariff should be substantially reduced for those whose consumption is less than 500 units per month.

The Congress MP said if the legitimate expectation of the entire middle class and slum population is not met in the immediate future, he will launch an agitation against the government.

Nirupam also demanded that an inquiry be set up to investigate the cost structure and pricing mechanism adopted by power distribution companies.

He said the Delhi government’s decision will benefit the middle class and slum dwellers.

Reacting to Nirupam’s demand, the Chief Minister said, “The state has to think on the extent of relief it can give to consumers.”

However, Chavan indicated that the government is thinking about the quantum of relief and had more or less made up its mind to go ahead with the plan.

A decision might be taken in about a fortnight, some state government officials also said.

In today’s meting, the cabinet is expected to discus sops for electricity consumers in the state and possible ways to reduce tariffs in Mumbai and other areas.

Media reports said that the Maharashtra government would need Rs 1,600 crore to reduce power bills by 50% for those consuming less than 400 units a month in Mumbai (the model that the AAP government in Delhi has decided to implement).

State cabinet sources said the Narayan Rane committee had already given positive recommendations in this regard and suggested a range of subsidies that could vary between Rs 2,000 crore and Rs 8,000 crore.

Though Mumbai was not in the scope of the Rane committee’s report, the city’s scenario too was discussed at length and it was decided to come out with some sops for Mumbai consumers too.

No decision yet on quantum of seat sharing between Congress, NCP: Thakre

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Afternoon Voice

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January 8, 2014

No final decision has been taken yet on the quantum of seats to be shared by Congress and NCP in Maharashtra for the ensuing elections, state unit president Manikrao Thakre said here on Tuesday.

“The central leadership will take the final decision on the seat sharing issue,” Thakre said, after a meeting of MPCC office-bearers attended by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.

In 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Congress had fielded candidates from 26 of the total 48 seats in the state, leaving 22 for NCP.

However, a final decision is yet to be taken on this 26:22 formula for this year’s polls, he said.

NSEL crisis: Arrest Jignesh Shah, investors to Mumbai Police

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Afternoon Voice

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January 8, 2014

Over 200 aggrieved investors of the beleaguered National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL) demanded here today that the Mumbai Police arrest Jignesh Shah and other key accused, besides speeding up recovery from borrowers and defaulters within a stipulated time period.

Members of the NSEL Investors’ Forum, a representative body of around 13,000 aggrieved investors of the scam-hit spot exchange, met Mumbai police Crime Branch chief Himanshu Roy at the police headquarters in South Mumbai, who assured them of speedy progress in the case and liquidation of assets, so that the investors could get their money back.

“Many investors are satisfied with the probe so far. You people could see more action in the next few days,” Roy said.

The IPS officer appealed to investors to ignore any rumours and said that 80 per cent of the money in the Rs 5,600 crore scam had been recovered after attaching properties of the accused and they are in the safe custody of the concerned court.

Jignesh Shah and other promoters will be soon called for questioning in connection with the case, another police officer said.

Yesterday, the Mumbai police filed a 9,100-page chargesheet against the five arrested accused, including the spot exchange’s former CEO Anjani Sinha.

Four others named in the chargesheet are Amit Mukherjee, former NSEL Vice-President (Business Development); Jay Bahukhundi, another ex-assistant vice-president; Nilesh Patel, managing director of NK Proteins Ltd; as well as Arun Sharma, Lotus Refineries’ CMD, who is also a film financier.

The FIR was lodged on September 30 by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) against NSEL directors Shah, Massey and others, charging them with cheating, forgery, breach of trust and criminal conspiracy, among other offences.

The spot commodity bourse, promoted by the Shah-led Financial Technologies (India) (FTIL), has been facing problems in settling Rs 5,600 crore dues of over 200 member brokers, representing 13,000 investor clients.

HC asks BMC to register street vendors, hawkers in 4 months

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Afternoon Voice

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January 8, 2014

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the BMC to initiate and complete the process of registration of street vendors and hawkers within four-month time stipulated by Supreme Court last year.

A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice M S Sanklecha was hearing a petition filed by Mumbai Hawkers Union challenging a December 31, 2013 order issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) constituting the Town Vending Committee (TVC).

According to the petitioner, having over a lakh hawker members, the committee has a total of 30 members out of which 12 members would representative one union each.

“Our union has 1,60,000 members and some unions have as low as 200 members. The civic body has included these unions also in the committee. Our union having the largest number of members should get more than one representative in the committee,” the petition said.

BMC counsel S U Kamdar opposed the petition and said, “The petitioner wants a monopoly which is not possible. Every union should get to represent itself in the committee. As on date there are 60 registered unions of hawkers. The corporation has chosen 12 unions out of this to represent themselves in the committee.”

The bench agreed to this and said the corporation cannot go by proportionate method, otherwise the union would have 11 representatives in the committee.

“We are not inclined to grant any relief at this stage. The first important step now is the registration process. Let the civic body initiate and complete that process. Other issues contended in the petition can be heard and decided later,” the court said.

The matter has been posted for hearing on February 13. The committee was formed following a direction from the Supreme Court in September last year restricting all states and Union Territories from taking action against street vendors and hawkers and directing them to implement the 2009 national policy for their regulation.

The apex court had ordered for committees to be formed for registration and creation of vending/hawking zones.

Arvind Kejriwal the ‘Nayak’

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Prakash Jha

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January 8, 2014

After Arvind Kejriwal became the Chief Minister of Delhi, I started recollecting the movie ‘Nayak’ where Anil Kapoor changed the entire system in a single day after becoming the Maharashtra CM. In the movie a television reporter played by Anil Kapoor sets out to change the system and root out corruption from the society. After the movie ended, I forgot about its plot as I couldn’t relate with it. I started thinking that it was just a fiction movie revolving around imaginery characters and nothing to do with reality. Everyone is aware that whatever incidents has been shown in the movie is merely man made which can never become reality in day to day lives. On the other hand, Arvind Kejriwal has turned reel life into real life after his party defeated Congress in the Delhi assembly election.

Just like Anil Kapoor’s character in the film Nayak, Arvind Kejriwal too made significant changes in Delhi within a short span of time. In the film, Anil Kapoor receives an opportunity to become the Chief Minister for a one day and he makes significant changes. He surprises the villain Amrish Puri who was having a stronghold in the state politics. The actor nonetheless tarnished his credibility within one day. Even Arvind Kejriwal’s story has a resemblance with the movie Nayak.

A revolution was witnessed in politics as the common man all of sudden came into limelight, floated his party and decided to contest the election. Within just four months he won the trust of common man and defeated one of the strongest politician who was in power from last 15 years. Even though all this sound like a dream but one has to accept the reality as AAP party has come to power in Delhi.

The another aspect which surprised everyone is the mode of functioning of Arvind Kejriwal after becoming the Chief Minister. Kejriwal’s style of functioning looks exactly similar to the job of Anil Kapoor in Nayak. The moment Anil became the Chief Minister he started taking steps to eliminate corruption and rusticated the officials. In the same manner, Kejriwal too rusticated the corrupt officials and provided some relief to the common man by reducing water and electricity tariffs. He should continue to do the good work done by him which will enable him to make an impact in the Lok Sabha election which is just round the corner. I hope that Kejriwal will provide good governance and set examples for other parties to follow.

NGOs will govern us now

By

Mahendra Singh

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January 8, 2014

“Hum layen hain toofan se kashti nikaal ke. Is desh ko rakhna mere bachon sambhal ke”. “Spare the rod and spoil the child”. In today’s scenario this message does not apply to our kids, it definitely is applicable to Prashant Bhushan. Bhushan’s statement pertaining to having a referendum for deploying army in Jammu and Kashmir has triggered a controversy. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal distanced himself from the remarks of Bhushan by saying that it is his personal comment and the party doesn’t support it. The BJP also criticized AAP for taking a stand which is detrimental for India’s sovergnity. Later, Bhushan clarified that Kashmir is an integral part of India. Such type of people are making lumpsum money in Delhi and making statements which, persons like me will never even think of and yet they are being allowed to thrive.

Congress and the BJP must now introspect and bring about changes very quickly that will align them more closely with the common man. They must give up extensive display of power by pruning security and surrendering vast and expensive bungalows. They should use more fuel efficient vehicles.

The major reason behind Congress party’s debacle in the assembly election is lack of communication between Manmohan Singh and people. The same aspect is applicable to Sheila Dixit. If the Congress would have fielded a young leader in Delhi then things would have been different. It is the unwillingness of old leaders to shed political ambition that has frustrated people and they will just vote for anyone but not the Congress. The party must realize this and start mending their corrupt ways. They must induct young men and women who are well educated and have performed good work in their profession or in their locality. Sons and daughters of the politicians must not be inducted into politics.

AAP has selected the name “Aam Aadmi” which is all so encompassing that even Salman Khan will be stumped in finding himself supporting a party in his forthcoming film. Many people will come forward to contest Lok Sabha election with AAP money (opportunity of a life time) but the party must be very watchful and reject them. The same aspect is applicable to other parties. Why should the BJP issue ticket to V K Malhotra’s son who enjoyed a luxurious life in Delhi or Priya Dutt of Congress? The party which was served by leaders like Subhash Chandra Bose, Annie Besant, Abul Kalam Azad, Pandit Nehru is frightened of Kumar Biswas.

I was watching a young woman activist of AAP wearing spectacles talking to Barkha Dutt addressing her “Barkha” with such an ease as if she knew her for ages. There is no harm, let them enjoy themselves because leaders like ND Tewari, L K Advani, Uma Bharti, Ram Jethmalani, Vinay Katiar etc; have enjoyed visibility on television for a long period of time. The woman looked ferociously mature had no girlish smile, lack of softness in expressions.

India intensifies vigil along border with Bangladesh

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Afternoon Voice

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January 8, 2014

India has further intensified vigil along its border with Bangladesh in view of the ongoing political turmoil and attacks on religious minorities in the neighbouring country, an official said here Wednesday.

“We have asked our troopers to tighten their vigil along the India-Bangladesh border. Additional forces have been deployed in the sensitive border locations adjoining Indian states,” an official of the Border Security Force (BSF) said.

“Though we do not have any kind of specific intelligence inputs of troubles opposite to Tripura, Assam, Mizoram and Meghalaya frontiers, there are troubles and incidents of attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh territories opposite to West Bengal borders,” said the official, who refused to be named.

India’s five states – West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram – share a 4,096-km border with Bangladesh. A large portion of the International Border remains unfenced and porous.

There are a large number of thickly populated Bangladeshi villages and towns on the other side of the International Border, making patrolling a delicate task for the Indian border guards and other security forces.

According to media reports in Bangladesh, over 200 houses and shops belonging to the minority Hindu community have been vandalised and looted by the Jamaat-e-Islami activists in different parts of Bangladesh’s Jessore and Dinajpur districts.

“Several hundred minority people, including women and children, have taken shelter in the Hindu temples and safer places. Bangladesh security forces have arrested many attackers,” the reports said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has asked the Bangladesh government to take appropriate actions to protect the minorities in that country.

“If the Bangladesh government does not take urgent adequate security measures, the situation might go out of control,” BJP’s Tripura unit president Sudhindra Dasgupta said.

“The government has asked the BSF to keep maximum alert along the border. We have asked the superintendents of police of bordering districts to take necessary measures to deal with the situation,” Tripura Director General of Police C Balasubramanian told reporters.

“Mobile Task Force officials and troopers were also engaged in round-the-clock patrol along the bordering areas to prevent any untoward elements from (coming) across the border,” he said.

BSF Director General Subhash Joshi earlier last month inspected the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura and other northeastern states to review the security.

Congress banking on AAP to tackle Narendra Modi led-BJP?

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Afternoon Voice

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January 8, 2014

The emergence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)appears to have come as a boon for the Congress, which has been witnessing a down trend in its popularity across the country.

The Congress leadership, including vice president Rahul Gandhi, has failed to put the brakes on the rising popularity of Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. But with Arvind Kejriwal led-AAP announcing to contest “maximum number of seats” in the 2014 General Elections, the grand old party seems to have seen a ray of hope.

It was quite unusual on Congress’ part to extend support to the AAP to form government in Delhi, the same party which during its election campaign had heavily criticised the grand old party over corruption. Also, three times Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was defeated by Kejriwal by a huge margin.

The question which arises is, what led the Congress to extend support to the new political outfit. One reason may be that the Congress thought that AAP under the leadership of Kejriwal wouldn’t be able to fulfil the poll promises and ultimately the popularity of the new entrant fades away, another may be that the Congress is banking on AAP to eat into BJP’s vote share in the urban areas in the Lok Sabha elections.

The Congress, which suffered a huge defeat in the recently held Assembly elections in Delhi, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh might have sensed the mood of the nation which appears to have tilted towards Modi – all thanks to the weak and indecisive leadership of the UPA government.

Overall, Congress was seen to lose ground over corruption scandals.

The BJP, has waged a fierce campaign fronted by its PM candidate, Modi, who has charmed businesses and is credited with turning Gujarat into an industrial haven.

The flamboyant Gujarat Chief Minister with his fiery oratory skills has almost diminished the Congress leadership and the ruling party has nothing left in its armoury to tackle the NaMo wave.

The Congress seems to be eyeing AAP’s support to take on Modi and this was evident when Mani Shankar Aiyar in an oblique comment suggested that Congress could seek the help of AAP in the run-up to General Elections 2014 to thwart the BJP’s influence.

“We will work shoulder to shoulder.. Having two secular parties at power is good for the country,” said Aiyar according to the reports.

Buoyed by spectacular performance in Delhi Assembly elections, the AAP has decided to contest maximum number of seats in the parliamentary election scheduled in April-May.