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After High Command order, CM Chavan under pressure?

January 7, 2014

The Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi expressed his displeasure over the Maharashtra government’s decision to reject the Adarsh report. He wanted the government to reconsider the decision taken by it on the report. Ever since the Congress has lost assembly polls in four states Rahul has been showing some urgency to undo the damage by taking tough stand on issues like corruption and inflation which has severely affected the party’s performance.

Referring to the Maharashtra government’s decision to reject the report on the Adarsh scam, Rahul said, “I don’t agree with that decision, they should reconsider that”.

“There is no question of protecting anybody”, added Rahul Gandhi.

Earlier Maharasthra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan was reluctant to reverse the state cabinet decision to reject the Adarsh Commission report.

“I stand by the decision unanimously taken by the Cabinet in Nagpur. It was a collective decision and there is no question of reconsidering the matter,” Chavan said.

Chavan said he did not feel it necessary to explain the issue in detail since the state government had tabled an ATR (action taken report) along with the Adarsh Commission report. “It is self-explanatory,” he said.

The first two terms of reference covered by an earlier report said the land belonged to the state government and that the project was not confined to Kargil war heroes. The second report, tabled in the legislature in the winter session that concluded December 20, related to the others terms of reference (3-13) and was rejected by the government. “But we did table the entire report. So why accuse the government of concealing any fact,” Chavan added.

The Nationalist Congress Party had washed its hands of the Adarsh report and held Prithviraj Chavan responsible for rejecting the judicial commission report as he is the head of the cabinet. The Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had said that Chavan had taken this decision after receiving instructions from the Congress high command in Delhi.

“The decision to reject the Adarsh commission report was taken by the Chief Minister. The CM is head of the cabinet,” Ajit Pawar said.

He also added that the Opposition parties had a right to go to court against the Cabinet decision if they wanted to.

The probe report has indicted several top politicians and bureaucrats that include four former Congress chief ministers — late Vilasrao Deshmukh, Ashok Chavan, Sushilkumar Shinde and Shivajirao Patil-Nilangekar.

The state government had delayed submitting the report in the Assembly until the last day of the winter session, when it suddenly announced it was rejecting the report after the report was tabled by the Chief Minister along with an action taken report (ATR).

Sources close to the CM said the government was apprehensive that if it were to accept the report, it would be incumbent upon it to take action based on its findings. “This could have put the state in a piquant situation with sitting ministers named in the report,” said a Congress minister.
The BJP has been vociferous in its demand that the Maharashtra government take action on the Adarsh Housing scam.

“It’s ironical that Prithviraj Chavan, who was brought after the Adarsh scam broke out and who formed the Adarsh commission, has rejected the report. By rejecting the report, Chavan has hurt his own image of being Mr Clean,” state BJP chief Devendra Fadnavis said.

Police gear up to tackle

Afternoon Voice

January 7, 2014

With the New Year just few days away the Mumbai police will remain vigilant for maintaining law and order in the city. Cops will wear plain clothes and will monitor several areas of the metropolis to keep an eye on anti-social elements. The police have alerted their informer’s network and asked them to keep a vigil in their respective areas and report about any untoward incidents.

Pratap Dighavkar, Deputy Commissioner of Traffic Police said, “We had begun a drive to crackdown the drink and driving case and it will continue till 1st January. We have already recorded nearly 15,000 drink-driving cases this year till mid-December.”

Our personnel will keep a vigil on Eastern and Western Express Highways, the Eastern Freeway, Bandra, Juhu, Versova, Borivali, Gorai, Churchgate, Colaba and Marine Drive.

Krishna Prakash, Additional Commissioner of Police (South region), said, “On the eve of new year many youth consume alcohol and they try to molest women and indulge in eve-teasing activities. We want to ensure that women remain safe on the occasion of New Year.”

“Many people arrive in the city and terrorist threat is eminent on the occasion of new year. Hence we have to remain extra vigilant.”, Krishna further added.

A DCP rank level police officer on the condition of anonymity said, “Since the New Year is approaching we have instructed our team to keep an eye on the bars, restaurant and other areas frequented by youth. We are conducting raids on bars and restaurants after receiving a tip-off from our sources. We will also take steps to curb prostitution activities which increase on the eve of new year.”
2,500 traffic cops have been deployed in the city to keep a tab on drive and drinking cases.
Here are the statistics of drink and driving cases which have been reported since last four years.

2010: 16,290
2011: 16,324
2012: 14,133
2013 (till mid-Dec): 14,436

The police have already raided two places in the city and taken action against persons indulging in prostitution activities. Acting on a tip off about Christmas party, a raid was conducted at Lakshadeep bar and restaurant on Gajdarbhandh road in Santacruz at around 11.40 pm on Tuesday by Social Service Branch of city police.

As many as 45 persons, including eight bar girls, were arrested and three girls rescued during separate raids on bars for alleged involvement in obscene activities. Forty-three people, including the bar owner, staff, 21 customers and eight bar girls were arrested from there.

Assistant Commissioner of Police from Santacruz division said, “The bar girls and customers were found to be allegedly involved in obscene acts when the raid was conducted. All the accused were arrested under IPC Sections 294 (indulging in obscene acts and songs) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).”

In another case, police carried out raid in one-storey premises at Ganesh Nagar in Chembur last evening and arrested two persons for allegedly pushing girls into prostitution. The two were arrested under relevant sections of Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act.

CPI leader D Raja discharged after bypass surgery

Afternoon Voice

January 7, 2014

Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja has undergone a bypass surgery at a city hospital here.

“D Raja (64) was discharged last night after undergoing a complex cardiac procedure at the Asian Heart Institute here,” a hospital spokesperson said.

“The CPI leader underwent the surgery at the hands of Dr Ramakanta Panda, reputed cardiac surgeon,” the spokesperson said.

2014 polls: Maharashtra AAP undecided on number of Muslim candidates

Afternoon Voice

January 7, 2014

The Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Maharashtra unit has chosen to remain non-committal on the number of Muslim candidates it will nominate for the ensuing 2014 Lok Sabha elections from the state.

“Muslims would definitely be given representation in decision-making bodies … but for (Lok Sabha) candidature, it would be solely merit – it may be more or may be less,” said AAP national executive member and social activist Mayank Gandhi Monday.

Gandhi was responding to a demand for adequate representation made by a group of Muslim organisations under the banner of National Movement for Social Justice, Good Governance and Empowerment of Minorities, which Monday met and formally extended support to AAP.

They included Maulana Salman Husani Nadwi, Chairman of Ekta Manch which is a federation of 26 political parties from Uttar Pradesh and announcing support to AAP which is gearing up for a massive campaign prior to the 2014 General Elections.

AAP plans to make a big entry in Maharashtra by contesting a majority of the 48 Lok Sabha seats, including targeting stalwarts like Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Nitin Gadkari and Gopinath Munde, Nationalist Congress Party’s Praful Patel and Congress’ Suhilkumar Shinde, among others.

In the 2009 elections, for the first time in many years, not a single Muslim leader from any political party was elected to the Lok Sabha from the state, which has a huge Muslim population – around 15 million as per the 2011 Census.

Subsequently, the Congress sought to make amends by nominating Hussain Dalwai to the Rajya Sabha – the sole representative of the community in parliament.

“After the British rule, we felt there would be a change, but both the Congress and the BJP have let us down. Now that the AAP has emerged as a new force, we hope they will carry forward the good work,” Nadwi said.

Some major organisations which have thrown their weight behind AAP include the Jamat-E-Islami Hind, AMU Alumni Association of Maharashtra, Husaini Sunni Foundation, United Muslims of Maharashtra, Nadva Foundation of Mumbai and Imaan Foundation.

Salman case: State wants to appeal but actor seeks early trial

Afternoon Voice

January 7, 2014

A sessions court today deferred the 2002 hit-and-run case involving actor Salman Khan to January 21 after prosecution sought time to file an appeal in the Bombay High Court against its order for a fresh trial.

Prosecutor J V Kendralkar informed the court that the prosecution had written a letter to Law and Judiciary Ministry of the state government seeking permission to file an appeal.

As the Ministry’s response was still awaited, the state sought time. However, Salman’s lawyer Srikant Shivade urged for commencement of a fresh trial and pleaded the court to give a short date to the state for adjournment of the case.

Judge D W Deshpande then adjourned the case to January 21 and asked the prosecution to seek instructions from the state on filing the appeal in the High Court.

The court, on December 5, had ordered a fresh trial on the ground that witnesses had not been examined in the context of aggravated charge of culpable homicide which was invoked against the actor midway through the proceedings.

The judge had held that the trial would be held de novo (fresh) as the actor had not been given an opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses vis-a-vis the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder which attracts a 10-year sentence. The court had also fast-tracked the case.

The actor had earlier been tried by a magistrate for a lesser offence of causing death by negligence which entailed imprisonment of two years.

As the trial would be held afresh, the evidence adduced before a magistrate earlier would be discarded and all the witnesses who had appeared before would be examined and cross-examined afresh.

The case, dragging on for over a decade, had taken a twist earlier this year when the magistrate, after examining 17 witnesses, held that the charge of culpable homicide was made out against Salman and referred the matter to a sessions court, as cases under this offence are triable by a higher court.

Raise Number of Subsidised Gas Cylinders in Maharastra to 12: Nirupam

Afternoon Voice

January 7, 2014

After demanding reduction in power tariff in Mumbai on the lines of Delhi state government, Congress MP and spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam today asked the central government to increase the number of subsidised gas cylinders from nine to twelve.

“We first increased the number from six to nine. The middle class and poor will benefit if the number is now taken to 12,” he said, speaking at a function to unveil the bust of Babasaheb Ambedkar in suburban Kandivli here tonight.

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who unveiled the bust, said that he will convey the message to the Cabinet but cannot comment as the final decision is yet not taken.

Nirupam also demanded that the government should regularise pre-2005 slums in the city.

Bank official, 2 others held for theft from dead NRI’s account

Afternoon Voice

January 7, 2014

A debt-ridden executive of a reputed private bank and his two accomplices have been arrested for allegedly stealing Rs 49 lakh from the account of a dead NRI since November last year, police said today.

The bank employee carried out the theft by transferring the amount to a fake account opened by his accomplice in another bank.

Accused Mahendra Gurav (32), a customer service manager with ICICI Bank’s Dadar branch, his friends Rajesh Jamkar(39) and Ballu Gate alias Sandeep Kale (32) were apprehended after the ICICI Bank notified the Matunga police following an internal probe during which the fraud came to light, police said.

Police have recovered Rs 15.5 lakh while a fake account having Rs 11 lakh has been frozen.

According to Matunga police, Gurav, who had been facing financial crisis, was searching for a dormant account when he stumbled upon an NRI account of Gobind Kaur, a senior citizen who had settled in the UK. She had the account with the bank’s Chandigarh’s branch.

Gurav procured cheque leaflets for the account and the specimen signature. He then contacted Jamkar, who asked Kale to open an account with a co-operative bank in Matunga. Gurav then issued four cheques with Kaur’s fake signatures between November 11 and December 27.

With the help of the cheques, about Rs 49.28 lakh was transferred to Kale’s account that had been fraudulently opened. Cash had also been withdrawn from the fake account as and when required by the accused, police said.

Kaur’s family in the UK was unaware of the fraud till the Chandigarh branch of ICICI Bank contacted her family, which said Kaur had passed away on December 3.

A mail was sent on January 1 this year to Dadar branch Deputy Manager Rekha Lad about the fraud from the bank’s Chandigarh branch. An internal probe was subsequently carried out, following which the bank complained to police on January 4.

It gave details of the co-operative bank in Matunga where the four cheques were cleared.

Based on the inputs from both banks, DCP (zone IV) Dattatray Karale formed a special team and nabbed Kale when he came to withdraw money on January 4. Kale then led the police to Gurav and Jamkar the same day.

Probe reports against Sunil Tatkare submitted to HC

Afternoon Voice

January 7, 2014

The state Anti Corruption Bureau, city police’s Economic Offences Wing and the Collector of Raigad district today submitted their final probe reports against the Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Sunil Tatkare in the alleged money laundering and land grabbing.

The high court had in October last year directed the agencies to complete their investigations within three months.

Following this, the ACB, EOW and Collector Raigad submitted their final reports in sealed envelopes to a division bench of Justices S J Vazifdar and G S Patel.

The agencies were directed to conduct probe after a public interest litigation was filed by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya.

Somaiya had sought CBI probe into alleged money laundering and land grabbing by various companies floated by Tatkare and his relatives.

The investigating agencies had time and again faced the ire of the high court for failing to conduct a fair probe against the minister and his family.

The high court had in the last hearing, while asking the agencies to submit their final reports, said if it was not satisfied with the manner in which the probe was conducted then it would be compelled to consider handing over the investigation to an independent agency like the CBI.

The bench today said it would peruse the reports and posted the matter for hearing on January 24.

Somaiya has listed 51 companies formed by Tatkare, which have his family members and friends as directors, and alleged that they purchased benami lands in Maharashtra and indulged in money-laundering, causing loss to the public exchequer.

Tatkare, who holds water resources portfolio in Maharashtra cabinet, has termed the petition as “false, malicious and politically motivated” in his reply affidavit.

Who cared about Kashmir?

Vaidehi Taman

January 7, 2014

Prashant Bhushan came under attack over his comments on Kashmir with both the BJP and Congress strongly opposing his annotations on what they called a sensitive national subject. While Bhushan blamed the media for twisting his comments, Arvind Kejriwal distanced himself from his remarks. Later,Bhushan said that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India and there was no question of challenging its accession to the country.I, As an Indian personally feel, instead of fighting over Kashmir, Kashmiri people should be given a chance to decide their own future. It’s their democratic right.. You and I should not decide which constitution is best for them…Both India and Pakistan wants the land of Kashmir, they don’t want the people of Kashmir. They just don’t care about people. People are being killed both by army and militants and they are blaming each other.

Kashmir problem began with the world since 1947, the year of the partition of India. Indian part of the Kashmir is about 45 percent of the original Kingdom of the Jammu and Kashmir, about 35 percent is now in Pakistan, and China has occupied the other 20 percent in 1962. The UN and the U.S want both sides to keep on the discussions, but the important question is on what basis the discussion can take place. The unresolved status of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute has pushed India and Pakistan to three wars in addition to three minor ones. Problems started in 1947 when British were leaving India after the partition and the Muslims had demanded a separate homeland for themselves, to be called as Pakistan. When Pakistan became independent, they attacked the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir in the guise of tribal Pathans on 20th October 1947. Since the Maharaja by that time had not decided to join the Indian Republic, the Indian Army did not intervene. In one of its greatest mistake in the history, the Indian Government under Jawaharlal Nehru did not think of protecting the Kashmir borders, till The Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir asked India for help and finally joined India on 26th October, 1947.

However, by that time Pakistan had already occupied almost half of the Kashmir. The UN Security Council resolution of April 1948 had suggested a plebiscite for the people of Kashmir, but only after it would be vacated by Pakistan; India would be allowed to maintain some forces to maintain the law and order. Pakistan never vacated the area and as a result, the referendum never went through. During the last 56 years, a lot of demographic changes took place. The most notable one is the expulsions of the non-Muslim communities both from the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and also from the Srinagar valley of the Indian held Kashmir. Non-Muslims were driven out from the Pakistan occupied areas of Baltistan, Skardhu, Hunza and Gilgit, the four semi-independent kingdoms associated with the state of the Jammu and Kashmir; there are large-scale infiltrations of Muslims into traditional Buddhist area Ladakh and the Hindu area of Jammu.

Now, under attack for reportedly advocating a referendum on Army deployment in Jammu and Kashmir, Bhushan said the deployment of armed forces in large numbers in the state must be done with people’s wishes. He said he had told two television channels that there was considerable alienation “among the people of Kashmir which is primarily because of the human rights excesses by the security forces”.

Bhushan said it was his view that the deployment of armed forces “in huge numbers within Kashmirnot for external defence or to prevent infiltration but for the security of the people … should not be done without the consent of the people of Kashmir.

Prashant Bhushan tried to correct his intended statement by saying that the referendum should be done to give a choice to Kashmiris if they want to join with India or Pakistan! Somewhere down the line, he has realised that it will be severely objected and tried to correct himself by saying that the referendum is to be done for the army’s presence. Kashmir is destined to be with India and let Bhushannot make hasty points like this and waste everyone’s time and also spoil AAP’s prospects. This is the second time he is confusing the situation. First was prior to AAP forming government about joining hands with BJP. It is notable that Prashant Bhushan, extraordinary defender of the Human rights, has raised this issue on a referendum on the deployment of the army in Kashmir. It all depends on the collective experience of and opinion of the People of Kashmir on the previously deployed Special Forces and their attitude, approach, and activities in the region. Even before the AamAadmi was floated, it has been the suggestion of Bhushan to go for referendum. Better, we stop politicising it and look into the rationale behind the suggestion. Meanwhile,Kejriwal should concentrate on issues which he is liable to. Whole of India stands behind Kashmir and if anyone tinkers with it, then we would show him his real place. Any rational person with limited knowledge of history should refrain from such kind of statements. Even people of J &K are happy and don’t want the same situation to be crated in valley .Also, countries like USA is finding it very hard to deal with terrorist attacks though it is very far away from bordering area of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The AFSPA is an imperialist law that was used by the Empire to hold people in subjugation. That law was totally adopted by independent India. Technically it is used by the Armed Forces exactly in the manner that was used by the Armed Forces during the British regime. At times there are excesses which are beyond this draconian law and then it is terrible. But if I am an infantry man, I would not like to be deployed in the disturbed areas without the AFSPA. The insurgent is well armed and you can be taken on from any direction anytime. As a neutral I would propose a less draconian law that does not hurt the law-abiding citizens while protecting the soldier on duty.

The need of hour is to resolve the issue and find solution for painful state of Kashmir than politicising the issues.

Think about it!

Vaidehi Taman

January 7, 2014

There was a time, when every now and then Mumbai, the economic capital of this country witnessed serial bomb blasts. With these blasts, many families got affected. Some parents lost their son, some her husband, some lost their father, brother, sister. People got scared, numb and sometimes rebellious, when water reached above the head. However, there is something which makes this maximum city unique and that is its spirit.

When we talk about history of Mumbai, then we start it from 1992, when communal riots rocked the peaceful city post Babri Masjid demolition. We talk about the rise and fall of gangs after the riots and gang wars. The city which is considered as a dream fulfilling city, the city which has changed the fate of many, the city of superstars, the city which has survived the massive attacks on internal harmony and even external disruptions. The very city wants to know for how long, we have to tolerate this.

People are coming in this city from all over the nation and because of that, large number of manpower is available here. That makes me to feel proud of myself as a Mumbaikar. With more people as manpower, more corporates show interest, with more corporates coming in, we have more employment competition, thereby increasing the quality of the companies and the employment available here. But, there is always the other side too. As a city of dreams, it does not guarantee the best but also shows what could otherwise be a nightmare. With many stories left untold, there are innumerable scams which exist in the city. One of which is ‘property scams’. We may never know the entire surface or even get to see the tip of this iceberg but, there are many buildings which are illegally constructed, which comes out as a fraud in later years. When you go to buy a property, you are always asked for the ‘percentage’; with one policy, no one shall be spared! Even people working in government sectors like income tax department are aware of this and are happily paying it. The shame of this act of gathering and paying ‘black money’ (to be blunt) is no more a shame. We join the ‘forces’ against the country’s administration asking for justice for so much of black money but when it comes to buying a house for our own, we need to sort that ‘cash’ out. This fact is so outspoken that even an estate agent / broker will ‘arrange’ percentage negotiation for it. 60 – 40 per cent is the standard ratio which is prevalent in Mumbai. It means, if your house costs Rs. 1 lakh, you end up paying 60 per cent as white and 40 per cent as black or cash. It is a known fact for every government official but still it is not considered as ‘black money’.This is a bias attitude towards builders.

Collapse of Mumbra housing society has exposed the scam of ‘illegal construction’. Well, you might want to know, where this will lead to. When the house was illegally built, it was not the responsibility of the builder or the people governing that area but the person who are selling that area. So, when is that person coming up? What will be the final judgement after following the protocols robotically? All are scott-free. At the maximum, the builders will be charged for culpable homicide because they were not ‘intending’ to kill the people whose bodies lie under the unfortunate debris. The construction where people actually lived is tagged as illegal, thus the sufferers are ‘abandoned’. Follow up on this will not be covered in news, and current affairs all that these people are waiting for is, ‘thanda honey do’. We are Indians, we like spice with everything we eat! But, too much spice which we enjoy might end up in bleeding. Such eye-opening is required.

We have one habit to be blind towards reality. People were affected, families cried and their dreams were shattered. After few days, one more incident, then another news from reporters and another edit from my table. The need for change is what everyone asks for whereas the only thing they need to realise is, they have changed themselves.The lazy attitude and slow paced investigation from municipality levels are resulting in such incidence. If illegal buildings have electricity, drainage system and even water supply then how can these ‘illegal’ structures be left unnoticed? Who is responsible for this?

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