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Archives for June 2015

Greenpeace activist barred from entering India

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Expulsion of Australian activist despite having visa is government’s latest attempt to stifle free speech, group says.

The government has previously frozen bank accounts belonging to the organisation and banned activists from travelling [AFP]

The government has previously frozen bank accounts belonging to the organisation and banned activists from travelling [AFP]

by Al Jazeera

An Australian member of Greenpeace has been prevented from entering India without explanation, according to the environmentalist lobby group’s Indian arm.

Aaron Gray-Block was not allowed to enter the country on Saturday despite having all relevant visas and documents needed to enter, the group said, adding the Australian was not officially deported despite being put on a flight back to Kuala Lumpur.

“There is absolutely no reason why one of its staff members should be treated in such an arbitrary way, and we expect the Ministry of Home Affairs to offer a full explanation,” said Divya Raghunandan, the programme director for Greenpeace India.

If confirmed, the incident will be the latest episode in a dispute between the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Greenpeace.

Activist Priya Pillai was prevented from boarding a flight to London in January and had a travel ban placed on her until it was overturned by a court in March.

In April, the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs banned the group’s domestic branch from accepting donations from abroad after accusing the group of not declaring transactions, and in May, bank accounts belonging to the group were shut down over the same issue.

At the time, Nalin Kohli, a spokesman for the ruling BJP party, told Al Jazeera that Greenpeace was not following the provisions of the law and did not disclose how they obtained their funds.

Greenpeace says it is being targeted by the Indian government over its activism.

“Denying entry to a Greenpeace employee with a valid visa is yet further proof of the extent to which the Indian government is prepared to go in violating Greenpeace’s right to freedom of expression under international law and under India’s Constitution,” a statement by the group said.

A musical interactive session with lyricist & music composer Praveen Bhardwaj

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Praveen Bhardwaj

Praveen Bhardwaj, in his one and a half decade long illustrious musical journey, happens to be a most reputed lyricist turned music composer. And of late with the release of his debut single audio album named “Desires – Mohabbat Mein Tujhe Kya Milega” he has turned a crooner too. Incidentally speaking his debut audio album “Desires – Mohabbat Mein Tujhe Kya Milega” has been acclaimed & ranked as #1 on an international level so much so that he he has been placed as #1 singer and clubbed with international singers like Enrique Iglasias, Justin Bibber et al. Shaheen Raaj recently spoke to the God gifted singer, over hot cups of spicy aromatic tea at his posh flat in Veer Desai Road. Tune in.

To set the musical ball rolling in your court tell us how did your musically crooning journey begin?

Honestly speaking my musical journey in Tinsel Town had kick started as a lyricist almost one and a half decade ago. And the most interesting about my musical career is that there has always been a landmark turning point. For instance as a lyricist my “kem che” song became a runaway chartbuster number and then there was no looking back. This was the 1st turning point. And then the 2nd turning point of my career was me turning a writer with the film ‘Swaha – Life Beyond Superstition’ in which I had penned the story, screenplay & dialogues. And needless to say the movie was hit and I gained instant recognition. And finally my one more, this time a hat trick, landmark turning point is the recent release of my debut single music audio album named “Desires – Mohabbat Mein Tujhe Kya Milega?”. Its a melancholic number written, composed an of course sung by me for the 1st time ever.

Praveen Bhardwaj

And how do you feel with this added responsibility of singing a song written & composed by your own self?

You see the lyrics which I used to pen I used to sing it for the music composers, producers, directors and all concerned. It was the result of these musical sittings that my friends inspired me to come out with my debut single music audio album “Desires – Mohabbat Mein Tujhe Kya Milega”.

And what was the response of your debut music audio album?

Believe me the response has been terrific, tremendous, mindboggling et al. I have no more words left to describe it. Just within 20 days of its release my debut single music audio album “Desires – Mohabbat Mein Tujhe Kya Milega” has been declared as an international hit all over. So much so that I have been clubbed and ranked #1 singer along with international singers like Enrique Iglasies, Justin Biebber et al. And please let not your parting question be “What Next?” As at this stage I don’t have the wish to be in search of the next turning point of my life at least not for the next 5 years of my life. But of course that does not mean that I do not mean to grow in my self chosen field of penning lyrics, writing, music composing and now singing too. That’s it.

Bollywood Newswatch

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Lalla Lalla Lori

Salman Khan Gets Special Permission

Salman Khan, who faced a serious charge of culpable homicide in the 2002 hit & run case, was sentenced to 5 year imprisonment on 8th May, 2015. But he soon got a bail and has resumed his shooting schedules too. Amidst the controversy & jam packed work schedule, the actor, recently was asked to perform at an awards night gala in Dubai. Though Salman Khan had received bail, the actor, however required the permission to travel abroad, for which, his legal authorities filed an application requesting the court to grant the permission. In a hearing that was held at the Bombay High Court, Salman Khan, received the permission to travel to the Arab city from 27th to 30th May, 2015. Public Prosecutor Abha Singh too revealed that the High Court has accepted his plea. Salman Khan is currently gearing up for the release of ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ starring Kareena Kapoor Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui on 16th July, 2015.

NGO Seeks Ban On A “Lori” Song Lalla Lalla Lori’ from Welcome 2 Karachi

NGO Seeks Ban On A “Lori” Song “Lalla Lalla Lori” from ‘Welcome 2 Karachi’. The song “Lalla Lalla Lori” from ‘Welcome 2 Karachi’, which has gained a lot of momentum in recent times, is now caught up in a legal controversy,even a week before its release recently. The song has been facing charges for maligning a Hindi nursery rhyme and hence an NGO has sought a ban on the song according to a plea filed by them at a Delhi High Court. The Public Interst Litigation (PIL) has been filed by the NGO against the Central Government, Censor Board, the Delhi Government and producers Pooja Entertainment Pvt Ltd. As per that, the lyrics of the song “Lalla Lalla Lori, Daaru Ki Katori” fall under the objectionable category. They claimed that since this is a nursery rhyme which is very popular amongst children, they will be exposed to the word ‘daaru’ (alcohol) at the tender age and it is also against article 47 of the Indian constitution (duty of the state to improve the standard of living and to improve public health affairs).

‘Phir Se’ Release Delayed By Court

The release of Kunal Kohli’s upcoming film ‘Phir Se’ has recently delayed by court. Earlier this year, filmmaker Kunal Kohli found himself embroiled in a legal battle with writer Jyoti Kapoor, after the latter claimed that Kunal’s forthcoming film ‘Phir Se’ had been plagiarized from her work. In the ensuing battle the verdict kept tilting, but never settling the issue. But of late the court has ruled to delay the release of the film till a final verdict is reached. Tweeting about the same Kunal Kohli posted, “What I have learnt from this experience is that the free exchange of ideas is no longer permissible and I would go a step further to say it expressly prohibited. The debate on copyright & plagiarism is settled, it is neither. The industry has to move towards a more closed & protective environment with regards to work in progress. What is left to be decided is merely one principal aspect, what is the value of an idea which should be in direct proportion to the authorship.” However, Kunal refrained from talking about the matter itself, and resigned himself to saying, “The matter is sub judice, the court has granted an ad interim stay & kept the matter post vacations. We are hopeful justice will prevail.”

Digital Short Film Festival Commences in Film City, Noida

The AAFT Festival of short Digital Films at Marwah Studio has created a record of sorts. Throwing light on the same, Marwah Studio president Sandeep Marwah said, “We have created a world record by touching the 86th edition of our festival. There is no other festival in the World to reach to 86th edition so far.” “This is the only festival, which has given opportunity to more than 2000 directors from all over the world to showcase their debut film in the last 22 years,” added AAFT dean Kalyan Sarkar. The films that were screened during the festival were: ‘Taj Mahal – Crown Of Earth’ directed by Aamir Naqvi, ‘Maa Ki Aankhk by Hitesh Tandon, ‘Bloody Red’ by Anjali, ‘Sunaina’ by Parvesh Saini, ‘Side Effects Of Criticism’ by Alok Chaturvedi & ‘Masoom’ by Nikhil Kapoor.

Vivek Oberoi To Help Develop Robotics Centre

Vivek Oberoi to help develop Robotics Centre at Nagpur University. Vivek Oberoi will be sponsoring & helping the funding of the Advanced Centre of Robotics at the Rashtrasant Tukodoji Maharaj Nagpur University According to the proposed plan, the centre will be named after Oberoi’s family. Oberoi wants the robotics centre to be world class and for that he is in touch with the American based ASEA Brown Boveri (ABB), a robotic tech major, which will be the private partner and provide technical inputs and help set up the research centre. Vice Chancellor S P Kane had met Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai last week to discuss the research centre and introducing diploma courses in the university. Oberoi is expected to visit Nagpur along with ABB officials in the 1st week of June.

‘Masaan’ Bags 2 Awards At Cannes

The Cannes Film Festival’s Indian entry ‘Masaan’ has bagged wins 2 awards at Cannes, including Un Certain Regard.
India’s ‘Masaan’ by Neeraj Ghaywan became a big winner in the Un Certain Regard section of the 68th Cannes International Film Festival by bagging 2 awards, even as the top award in this category went to ‘Rams’, a drama set among farmers and their sheep in a remote Icelandic valley. ‘Masaan’ also received the Promising Future Prize, apart from bagging the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) award. Actress Richa Chadha, who features in a key role in the film, said the team feels “blessed.” “#MasaanAtCannes just got the FIPRESCI award. #blessed. Team, take a bow,” Chadha tweeted. The film even won a 5 minute standing ovation post its screening, leaving Chadha and Ghaywan in tears of joy. Ghaywan’s debut feature project, ‘Masaan’ is set in Varanasi and follows the stories of 4 people from a small town and how they fit in to the moralities. It also features Shweta Tripathi, Sanjay Mishra & Vicky Kaushal. The film is an Indian-French co-production with names like Manish Mundra of Drishyam Films, Macassar Productions, Phantom Films, Sikhya Entertainment, Arte France Cinema & Pathe productions.

No Tax Free Rebate For ‘The International Problem’

No tax free rebate for ‘The International Problem’, a movie on AIDS, even after 2 years. A feature film ‘The international Problem’ which focuses on AIDS and guides the youth on sex education and the truth behind Section 377 has not being made tax free by the Government even after more than 2 years of efforts. Made under Shri Education Films banner, the Writer-Producer-Director Dr. Jagdish Waghela has been running pillar to post at Revenue, Health & Health AIDS department. The move has received “U” certificate from the censor board. The makers have written a letter to the President urging the Health Department to review the movie.

‘Inside Out’s Premiere Brings Everyone To Tears At Cannes

The recently held premiere of ‘Inside Out’ at Cannes Film Festival brought tears in everyone’s eyes. Disney Pixar have made a sensational return at the Cannes Film Festival with their new animated film ‘Inside Out’ which has been described as “mind-blowing”.
The reception to the film after its premiere has been mind blowing leaving everyone teary eyed at the end. The film takes place inside the head of 11 year old Riley, where voices like Joy (Amy Poehler), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) Sadness (Phyllis Smith) and Anger (Lewis Black) compete for the girl’s emotions & memories in her psyche “headquarters”. “My daughter was about 9 when she did the voice of Ellie in Up,” said Director Pete Docter, referring to the movie which won him the Oscar for best animated film in 2010. “And then she turned 10 & 11 and at the beginning of this film I saw her looking a lot less energetic and more kind of quiet & reserved and I thought what’s going on in her head? And that’s what really started us working on this film.” Disney Pixar’s ‘Inside Out’ releases on 26th June in India.

‘Dead student’s’ Song Finds Way In Film

Back in 2011, a song entitled “Single Emptiness” was making waves all over the internet and the song continues to be a rage till date. The song was credited to an IIT student named Rohan Rathore, who apparently after being heart-broken in love composed the song for his girlfriend. Rohan was said to have died of cancer 15 days after the song. However, soon it came to light that the song had been composed & sung by Gajendra Verma and that Rohan Rathore was a phony name with an equally bogus story. Now, after releasing the hit in an album, the music composer has decided to lend his song for a film ‘Chor Bazaari’ that stars newbie Ankkit Narrayan. Ironically, the said to be ‘stolen’ song has been used in a film whose hero is a chor as the profession has been passed on to him in his genes.

Aishwarya Was The Queen Of The Red Carpet At Cannes 2015

Of late Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was definitely the queen of the red carpet at Cannes 2015. Wherein she posed with confidence & style. Aishwarya came to Cannes 1st with Devdas with Sanjay leela Bhansali. The film was screened at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival and was featured by Time in their listing of the “10 best films of the millennium”. And now again with ‘Jazbaa’ which happens to be her comeback film, she launched the 1st look with the director Sanjay Gupta. So she started with Sanjay Leela Bhansali
and this year with Sanjay Gupta.

‘Mohenjo Daro’ Release Date Announced

The release date of ‘Mohenjo Daro’ was announced recently. Hrithik Roshan’s upcoming film ‘Mohenjo Daro’s release date has been announced recently.

Disney & Ashutosh Gowariker Production Pvt Ltd (AGPPL) announced the release of ‘Mohenjo Daro’ on 12th Aug, 2016. Directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar, ‘Mohenjo Daro’ is an epic love story, set during the Indus Valley Civilization. The film marks the debut of Pooja Hegde in Bollywood, who stars opposite Hrithik.

Om Puri & Prashantt Guptha Honored At Rajasthan International Film Festival

The 1st Rajasthan International Film Festival at Jaipur saw veteran actor Om Puri & young talent Prashantt Guptha being felicitated with top honors. With the central theme of the festival being ‘The Common Man of Indian Cinema,” the festival highlighted the achievements of Om Puri for his contribution to Indian cinema with its equivalent of The Lifetime Achievement Award. Prashantt Guptha, being a Jaipur native who made his foray into Hindi cinema and showed immense progress over the last couple of years as the handsome villain in Pen India/Shailesh Singh’s ‘Issaq’, followed by 2 releases in 2014, ‘Identity Card’ & ‘6-5=2’ was bestowed upon the “Pride Of Rajasthan” Award. This award follows Prashantt Guptha’s awards at the San Francisco Festival and the National Awards for Excellence among others this year. Amongst several international, Hindi & regional films, the young actor’s critically acclaimed film ‘Identity Card’ was given “Best Feature Film” award at the hands of Padmini Kolhapure.

MPA APSA Academy Film Fund To Help Aspiring Filmmakers

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) & the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) gives an opportunity to aspiring filmmakers with the MPA APSA Academy Film Fund. MPA APSA Academy Film Funds is a unique initiative which has aided aspiring film makers in a lot of development in new film projects. A panel discussion was hosted at the 13th Pune International film festival on 10th Jan, 2015, to create awarness about the Asia Pacific Screen Awards & MPA APSA Academy Film Funds . The panelist for the discussion comprised of celebrated actor, Atul Kulkarni & Lohita Sujith, Director, Corporate Communications, Motion Picture Dist. Association (India) Pvt Ltd. Panelists also discussed how upcoming filmmakers/professionals can benefit from the MPA APSA Academy Film Fund worth USD 100,000. MPA APSA Academy Film Fund has been a hugely successful initiative taking the number of successful projects funded to a total of 20 feature films over the last 6 years. The projects now count amongst them winners of an Academy Award®, APSAs and an International Emmy Award. Grants have been awarded to projects from. India, Bangaldesh, Republic of Korea, People’s Republic of China, Iraq, Kazakhastan, Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran. In 2014, over 100 submissions were received for the film fund. 4 grants were awarded to 2 documentary film projects from Israel & Denmark and 2 film projects from Bangladesh and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Telangana: Case registered against KCR for illegal phone-tapping

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KCR

Visakhapatnam: A case has been registered here against Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for alleged illegal tapping of phones of his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Chandrababu Naidu in the backdrop of the cash-for-votes scam, police said Monday.

According to Inspector of III-Town Police Station, B Tirumala Rao, a Vizag-based advocate NVV Prasad lodged a complaint against KCR for violating the basic rights of Naidu and “tarnishing” his image by tapping his telephone lines.

In his complaint, the assistant Public Prosecutor accused TRS of deliberately trying to snoop on TDP members.

Based on the complaint, a case has been registered against KCR under Sections 464, 647, 471, 166, 167 and 120/B of IPC.

Meanwhile, a purported conversation in an audio tape between Chandrababu Naidu and nominated MLA Elvys Stephenson, aired in a section of local TV channels has given a new twist to the cash-for-votes controversy.

Sunday, Parakala Prabhakar Advisor (Communications) to the Andhra government strongly denied reports saying that the tapes were fabricated and the AP government will take up the issue seriously.

The reported conversation suggested that the Andhra CM was giving “assurance of all sorts” to the MLA if he votes for TDP nominee in the Telangana Legislative Council election.

Prabhakar further alleged that the Telangana government is trying to malign the image of the AP chief minister by resorting to cheap tactics.

“It is not the chief minister’s conversation. How come they are available outside. Telangana Government has to give answer to this. Telangana CM and Home minister should give answers,” Parakala had said.

He said that the Telangana CM is trying to mislead the people of Andhra Pradesh by resorting to “cheap tricks”.

The anti-corruption bureau of Telangana is in the process of questioning TDP MLA Revanth Reddy and two others who have been arrested in cash-for-vote case.

On May 31, the ACB arrested Reddy for allegedly trying to bribe the nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson to vote for TDP nominee in the Telangana Legislative Council election.

Based on a complaint by Stephenson, ACB officials held Revanth, Sebastian Harry and Uday Simha after they were caught while allegedly handing over Rs 50 lakh to Stephenson.

(IANS)

Cash-for-vote scam: Andhra CM's audio tape made public

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ChandrababuNaidu

Hyderabad: The cash-for-vote scam in Telangana took a dramatic turn on Sunday with the release of an audio tape of a purported telephonic conversation between Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and nominated Telangana legislator Elvis Stephenson.The Andhra government denied that it’s Naidu’s voice.

This is perhaps for the first time in India that a chief minister of a state has been tapped while allegedly trying to lure a legislator. Denying that it is Naidu’s voice, the Andhra Pradesh government has taken the release of audio tape seriously and vowed to fight it legally, constitutionally and politically.

The new twist may create a constitutional crisis as Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Telangana is planning to summon Naidu for questioning in the case. Hyderabad is the common capital of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Both Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) governments have taken up the issue with E.S.L. Narasimhan, who is the governor for both the Telugu states.

The audio tape was released three days after Telangana Home Minister N. Narasimha Reddy said the government has proof that Naidu spoke to Stephenson and some other MLAs of TRS to lure them to vote for TDP-BJP candidate in Telangana legislative council elections.

The audio tape was first played T News, a Telugu news channel owned by ruling TRS and was later picked up by others.

During the conversation, Naidu purportedly assured the nominated member that he is with him. “Our people briefed me. I am with you don’t bother. For everything I am with you. What all they spoke we will honour,” Naidu was heard as telling the legislator.

In swift developments on Sunday night, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao met Governor Narasimhan at Raj Bhavan while Naidu called a meeting with Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police J.V. Ramudu and other officials to take stock of the latest situation.

Rao’s meeting with the governor, the second in three days, came minutes after the release of the audio tape.

Telangana TDP legislator A. Revanth Reddy was arrested by the ACB on May 31 when he was offering Rs.50 lakh to Stephenson to make him vote for TDP-BJP candidate in the elections to Telangana legislative council.

ACB, which had laid a trap on a complaint by Stephenson, also arrested Revanth Reddy’s aides Sebastian Harry and Uday Simha.

TRS leaders have been alleging that Naidu is the mastermind in the scam and he should be booked.

The audio tape came to light a few hours after ACB questioned Revanth Reddy and two others for a second day. A city court had sent them to four-day custody of ACB.

Earlier in the day, Naidu met Narasimhan, who is governor for both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The TDP chief reportedly complained to the governor about TRS government tapping his phone.

Meanwhile, Naidu’s media advisor Prakala Prabhakar told reporters on Sunday night that the voice in the audio tape is not the voice of Naidu.

He said the government was taking the release of the audio tape seriously and will not keep quiet. “We will fight it legally, constitutionally and politically,” he said.

He wanted to know from the TRS government as to how it got the audio tape. “If you have done telephone tapping, it is a crime and if you have recorded Mr. Chandrababu Naidu’s voice on different occasions, tampered it and presented to mislead people that it is his conversation, it is also a crime,” he said.

Naidu’s aide wondered how the audio tape could be released as evidence when the same should be produced in the court, where the case is being heard. Prakala condemned the attitude of Telangana government towards Andhra Pradesh chief minister in the common capital. He said both the governments and both the chief ministers had equal rights in the common capital.

He pointed out that under section 8 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, the governor is responsible for law and order, protection of lives and property of people and vital installations in Hyderabad.

He alleged that the release of audio tape was a conspiracy to tarnish Naidu’s image and disrupt the public meeting scheduled to be held in Guntur on Monday to mark TDP government’s first year.

The media advisor said the government would go ahead with the meeting and fight the conspiracy.

Andhra Pradesh’s Finance Minister and senior TDP leader Y. Ramakrishnudu said the audio tape was a proof that the TRS government was violating law by tapping phones.

(IANS)

Food regulator orders testing of GSK, ITC fast food brands

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fssai-orders-testing-of-gsk-itc-fast-food-brands

New Delhi: Central food safety regulator FSSAI today ordered testing of various noodles, pasta and macaroni brands, including Top Ramen, Foodles and Wai Wai, manufactured by seven companies to check compliance of norms in the wake of Maggi controversy.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has also asked for testing of four variants of “Maggi Nutilicious Pazzta with tastemakers”. “Various test results on Maggi and some other similar products have raised serious health concerns. In view of the same, it would be advisable to draw regulatory samples for similar products for which product approvals have been granted by the FSSAI…These samples should be sent to the authorised labs for testing,” FSSAI CEO YS Malik said in letter to Commissioners of Food Safety in all states and UTs.

As per FSSAI order, the companies whose products have been listed for testing are Nestle India, ITC, Indo Nissin Food Ltd, GSK Consumer Helathcare, CG Foods India, Ruchi International and AA Nutrition Ltd. The regulator has ordered the testing of products registered with it.

The products include Wai Wai noodles and bhujiya chicken snacks by CG Foods; Koka instant noodles from Ruchi International, Foodles by GSK Consumer Helathcare and Nestle’s Maggi instant noodles with nine variants.

Others in the list are Indo Nissin’s Top Ramen Aata Masala, ITC’s three variants of instant noodles and Yummy chicken and vegetarian noodles of AA Nutrition. When contacted CG Foods CEO GP Sah said: “Our brands meets all regulatory standards as listed by Food Safety and Standard Authority of India. We are not closed to any tests and will cooperate with authorities if required.”

Comments from other companies could not be obtained immediately. The development comes after the Indian unit of the Swiss multinational recalled Maggi from the markets after several states banned the famous ‘2-minute’ instant food brand as tests showed them containing taste enhancer MSG (Mono Sodium Glutamate) and lead in excess of the permissible limits. Meanwhile, FSSAI on Friday banned all variants of Maggi noodles terming them as “unsafe and hazardous” for human consumption.

(PTI)

Hate speech: SC bench recuses from hearing Subramanian Swamy's plea

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Subramanian Swamy (Photo credit: Jagran)

Subramanian Swamy (Photo credit: Jagran)

New Delhi: A Supreme Court bench headed by Justice R K Agrawal today recused itself from hearing the plea of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy against the order of an Assam trial court issuing a non-bailable warrant against him for failing to appear before it in a case of alleged hate speech.

The bench, also comprising Justice Amitava Roy, referred the matter to another bench saying, “If it has to come before another bench, why apply mind. List it before another bench on June 22.”

Senior advocate Ram Jethmalani, who was appearing for Swamy, then asked the bench “In the meantime, what should the man do if there is an order that he be arrested and produced before the judge.” To this, the bench said that till June 22 nothing will happen but refused to pass an interim order. “We cannot pass any interim order,” it said.However, it allowed Swamy to mention it before Chief Justice H L Dattu after Jethmalani sought permission.

“You have the liberty to mention it before the Chief Justice,” the bench said.Earlier, on May 21, a judge of the apex court had recused from hearing his plea challenging the validity of some penal provisions relating to “hate speech”.

The apex court was hearing Swamy’s plea against the order of an Assam trial court issuing an NBW against him for failing to appear before it on March 19 in a case of alleged hate speech.

The NBW was issued on June 1 by a court in Karimganj on a complaint accusing him of allegedly delivering an inflammatory address on March 15 at Kaziranga University.The Karimganj court had ordered that the arrest warrant be complied with on or before June 30.

(PTI)

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat gets ‘Z+’ security cover

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Mohan_Bhagwat

New Delhi: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat has been extended top category ‘Z+’ security cover with the commandos of CISF having been tasked with the job.

Officials said Bhagwat will now be guarded by an armed squad of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) during his stay at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur and when he travels to any place in Maharashtra and across the country.

“The Special Security Group of CISF has been entrusted with the task of securing the VVIP after a threat analysis made in this regard necessitated that Bhagwat be guarded by a trained team.

“He was till now being guarded by units of Maharashtra police and its armed reserve units under the same cover,” a senior official said.

As part of the security cover, the RSS ‘Sarsanghchalak’ will have about 60 commandos round-the-clock to protect him.

The VVIP commando unit of CISF is armed with sophisticated weapons like AK-series rifles and is equipped with latest gadgets for communication and anti-sabotage tasks.

This unit is also identified as the ‘centre of excellence” for VVIP security in the country.

Sources said the elite squad will take over the security duties at Bhagwat’s residence and the vehicles in his convoy will also be changed as per norms set for a ‘Z+’ central security VVIP.

“The decision to hand over his security to central forces from state police has been hanging for over an year now.

“The Union Home Ministry recently gave the sanction in this regard and tasked CISF with the job,” they said.

A number of other prominent figures like BJP President Amit Shah and government functionaries and politicians have been accorded such security cover in the recent past by the Union government.

(PTI)

AIMPLB to campaign against making Yoga, Surya Namaskar compulsory in schools

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surya-namaskar

Lucknow: Even as the Narendra Modi government plans to make the International Yoga Day on June 21 a grand success, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Sunday decided to launch a nationwide campaign against making ‘Surya Namaskar’ and Yoga compulsory in schools.

We have decided to constitute a committee of our members headed by Maulana Wali Rahmani and launch a country-wide campaign against the move of making ‘Surya Namaskar’ and Yoga compulsory in schools, AIMPLB member Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali said.

“The committee will also find ways to make Muslim community aware of their constitutional rights. During the campaign, we will put forth our view on Surya Namaskar and Yoga and explain as to why it was against our religious beliefs and should not be forced on our children,” he said.

Taking the campaign beyond the ambit of Hindu-Muslim tension, the AIMPLB member said that attempts would be made to include people of other religions as well in the campaign.

Speaking at AIMPLB’s executive committee meeting held at Nadwat-ul-Ulma here, Mahali also expressed the organisation’s willingness to fight legal battles regarding the “interference of courts in Sharia laws”.

“Recently some court decisions have come against Sharia laws. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has decided to file an appeal in such cases in court and fight the legal battle as a party in such cases,” Mahali said.

Maulana Wali Rahmani was appointed as the acting General Secretary of the Board at the meeting. Maulana Nizamuddin will also continue in the post, he said.

The Board also informed that they will discuss issues like attack on freedom to propagate one’s religion, in a separate session and have plans to launch a campaign in this regard.

(Agencies)

Former Iraqi deputy PM Tariq Aziz dies in prison

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Aziz, who was Saddam’s deputy PM and foreign minister, surrendered to US forces in 2003 and had been a prisoner since.

Tariq-Aziz

by Al Jazeera

Tariq Aziz, Iraq’s former deputy prime minister and foreign minister, has died in prison aged 79 years old.

Iraqi officials said Aziz, who was one of the former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein’s top deputies, died on Friday afternoon after suffering a heart attack on Thursday.

Al Jazeera has learned that Aziz’s son, Ziad, expressed outrage that Iraqi officials had not informed him of his father’s death, and he had instead found out through local media reports.

Aziz was Iraq’s foreign minister between 1983 and 1991 and deputy prime minister between 1979 and 2003.

Born Mikhail Yuhanna in 1936, Aziz was the highest ranking Christian official under Saddam’s presidency and a member of the former ruling Baath Party’s inner circle.

He was sentenced to death by the Iraqi High Tribunal in 2010 for his role in human rights abuses committed under the former government, which was overthrown in 2003 when Iraq was invaded by a US-led alliance.

Iraq’s public face

Aziz surrendered to US forces shortly after the invasion and had been a prisoner since.

Al Jazeera’s Imran Khan, reporting from Baghdad, said Aziz was one of the most hated figures from the old regime and Iraqi TV stations had largely ignored his death.

“There will be no eulogies for him, no day of mourning for him. He was hated as a member of the former regime,” he said.

One of the best known faces of Saddam’s Iraq, Aziz travelled globally where he defended his leader against the many accusations of alleged human rights abuses.

When the US prepared for its campaign to end the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait prior to the first Gulf War, Aziz hit out at Arab states, calling them “subservient Arab weaklings”.

Aziz remained loyal to his boss in the aftermath of defeat during that war, and through the 12 years of sanctions that followed.

In the run-up to the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, Aziz was the “eight of spades” on the famous deck of cards of Iraq’s most wanted released by US authorities.

“He was always seen as someone who could try and prevent the impending US invasion. He was always seen as a diplomat,” Al Jazeera’s Khan said.

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