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Archives for September 2015

No ‘blanket ban’ on PM Modi’s ‘Mann ki baat’, says EC

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New Delhi: The Election Commission today ruled out a “blanket ban” on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann ki baat’ radio programme amid reports that the Congress is likely to approach the poll body with such a demand alleging it “violates” the Model Code of Conduct in force due to Bihar assembly polls.

A senior EC official said they can take “cognizance” of any such demand only after finding that the programme’s contents violate the model code.

A regular radio broadcast in which Modi shares his thoughts on issues, Mann ki baat’s next episode will be aired on Sunday. “No blanket ban can be enforced on things like Cabinet meeting and Mann ki baat but the EC can take cognizance if the Cabinet decision or the content of programme is in violation of the Model Code of Conduct,” the official said.

He, however, made it clear that he was making a “matter of fact” statement and was not aware of any such demand by the Congress or any other party.

If such a complaint is made, the election watchdog goes through the recording as well as transcript of the episode and takes a decision, he said.

A similar complaint was made by Congress against the programme during the Haryana assembly polls but the EC had not found anything “objectionable”, he noted.

At the Congress briefing, party’s senior spokesman Anand Sharma made a strong pitch for a ban on ‘Mann ki baat’ programme till the Assembly elections in Bihar are over.

“We take strong objection to the misuse of the public broadcaster for political purposes by the Prime Minister, who is the chief campaigner and face of the BJP,” Sharma said.

The Congress leader said the Prime Minister should have “shown grace” and avoided the radio programme in the run up to the crucial elections.

He said the Congress and its alliance partners are approaching the EC as the Prime Minister is “thick skinned” and determined to “misuse” his office and the public broadcaster.

Noting that political parties are allotted time on the AIR and Doordarshan for reaching out to people during elections, he said the ruling party is “no exception”.

(Agencies)

Somnath Bharti surrenders before police

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Somnath Bharti

New Delhi: Former Delhi Law Minister and Malviya Nagar MLA Somnath Bharti on Wednesday surrendered at a police station to join investigation in a case of alleged domestic abuse filed against him.

Mr. Bharti, who had approached the High Court for anticipatory bail on Tuesday, surrendered just hours after being provided reprieve till September 17.

Following a late night brainstorming session on the issue with party members, Mr. Bharti is understood to have been asked to join the investigation.

Three AAP MLAs — another former Law Minister Jitendra Singh Tomar, Manoj Kumar and Surinder Singh — have faced arrest by the Delhi Police. If taken into custody, Mr. Bharti will be the fourth AAP MLA to be arrested in the last four months.

(Agencies)

BBMP issues notice banning meat during Hindu festival; Govt says no ban

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Bengaluru: The Karnataka state government and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) are not on the same page, as far as the meat ban during the Ganesha festival is concerned.

Soon after the BBMP issued a notice banning the sale of meat during the festival, the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Dinesh Gundu Rao tweeted that there is no such ban in Karnataka.

However, BBMP Commissioner G Kumar Naik said the ban is very much in place as he has not got any directive from the State government to revoke it. The Palike as well as the State government had come under severe criticism in the social media, minutes after the BBMP issued a circular banning sale of meat on September 17.

It was an embarrassing situation for the Congress which has been fighting tooth and nail against a series of bans in the BJP-ruled states. More vocal was Dinesh Gundu Rao, who took to the social media where the issue was largely debated.

Rao tweeted: “No meat ban in Karnataka..confusion due to a circular issued by previous BJP govt. Will not be binding in Karnataka.. Will not be enforced. Hope more people will come out against these fundamentalist extreme, radical right-wing view points. Liberals should raise their voice.”

Dinesh Gundu Rao said that the Palike’s notice regarding ban on sale of meat was issued on the basis of a circular issued by the erstwhile BJP government to the Urban Development Department.

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai had announced ban on sale of meet and closure of abattoirs for September 13 and 18, the Maharashtra government had banned it further from September 10 and 17.

The civic body later, through a resolution adopted by an emergency meeting of its elected council, withdrew the ban. The Bombay High Court stayed the ban imposed by the Maharashtra government while observing that such a move was not feasible.

(Agencies)

Hungary declares state of emergency over refugee influx

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Police arrest almost 10,000 people for illegally crossing border with Serbia, as tough new asylum laws come into force.

Refugees waited on the Serbian side of the border between Serbia and Hungary after authorities closed the crossing [EPA]

Refugees waited on the Serbian side of the border between Serbia and Hungary after authorities closed the crossing [EPA]

by Al Jazeera

The Hungarian government has declared a state of emergency to cope with the influx of refugees, as almost 10,000 people were arrested on Monday for illegally crossing the border from Serbia, police said.

On Tuesday, police also detained at least 60 people claiming to be Syrian and Afghan refugees after they illegally crossed the border with Serbia, police spokeswoman Viktoria Csiszer-Kovacs said.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has indicated that asylum requests from refugees trying to enter Hungary from Serbia will be rejected because Serbia is a safe country where refugees do not risk war or persecution.

Meanwhile, Serbia was talking to the Hungarian government about the buildup of refugees on their frontier, a Serbian government minister said, adding Budapest would “have to open the border”.

Aleksandar Vulin, Serbia’s minister in charge of tackling the refugee crisis, did not elaborate.

UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said on Tuesday that it is likely that thousands of refugees will simply divert their route now that Hungary has closed its border with Serbia.

“We’re definitely in touch with different countries on contingencies and UNHCR is ready to move and assist different countries as best we can,” Fleming said.

“It’s going to be just as much a struggle as it has been for Macedonia and Greece.”

Over 200,000 refugees have reached Hungary so far in 2015, nearly all by walking across the southern border with Serbia.

Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Jamjoom, reporting from Roszke on the Hungary-Serbia border, said there were more soldiers and policemen than there were refugees at the crossing.

“We had heard that in the last 20 minutes there were a couple of dozens that crossed this way. They were probably going to the official border crossing which is about 2km from here.

“Although we understand from local officials that at that crossing, they are not letting refugees come into Hungary.

“There are at least a few hundred refugees begging authorities at that crossing point to let them to cross over into Hungary,” Jamjoom said.

On Tuesday, fewer refugees crossed into Austria from Hungary on Tuesday after Budapest started to clamp down on the flow through the Balkan peninsula to the richer countries of northern and western Europe, Austrian police said.

On Monday, the last day before Hungary sealed off its Serbian border with a razor wire fence, a record 15,700 people arrived in eastern Austria via the border town of Nickelsdorf.

“Yesterday 15,700 people crossed the border here at Nickelsdorf making it a day of record numbers. The night was a bit quieter,” Helmut Marban, from the regional Burgenland police, told Reuters news agency.

“We have had around 1,800 people from midnight until now,” adding that he did not expect the flow to ease despite Hungary now having closed its border with neighbouring Serbia,” he said.

Some 2,500 people spent the night in tents at the Austrian border, which had been set up by the country’s army.

Hungarian police said on Tuesday that two crossings on the border with Serbia have been closed to all traffic as stricter rules about the entry of migrants are applied.

“Since 12:30 the Hungarian border to Serbia has been closed. This means that no new migrants will be crossing the border there,” Marban said.

“But it is the case that we think that many thousand people were still on the go in Hungary before the border closed and they will surely make their way to Nickelsdorf here in Austria and try to continue their journey to Germany”.

Global News Round Up

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Majid Majidi A R Rahman

Majid Majidi & A R Rahman Face Ire For Working On Prophet Mohammed Film

Seeking a ban on renowned Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi’s film ‘Mohammed: Messenger of God’, which opened the Montreal World Film Festival this month, an Indian Muslim group has also issued a fatwa against Majidi and the film’s music composer A R Rahman. The Mumbai based Raza Academy, a Sunni Muslim group, demanded that Muslims reject the film, which is the 1st of the trilogy on the life of Prophet Mohammad. Last week, the group had written to Home Minister Rajnath Singh & Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, seeking a ban on Majidi’s film. They have also sought a meeting with the Home Minister & External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. “We are against the title. People may use it in a bad manner if they don’t like the film, which will mean an insult to the Prophet. The actors have charged money to act in the film and they may have dubious character in real life. How can we Muslims allow such things to happen?” asked Raza Academy chief Saeed Noorie. The fatwa was issued by Muhammad Akhtar – The chief mufti of Mumbai.

Sikh Organizations Invited Home By Akshay Kumar

It seems no Bollywood film showing the hero in a turban can get away without frowns & disapproval from Sikh organizations. When Akshay Kumar had donned the turban to play a Sardarji in ‘Singh Is Kinng’ in 2008 he had to appease organizations which objected to the length of his beard and the way his turban was tied. Now on the basis of just the trailer & songs, Sikh organizations have raised objections to Akshay’s turbaned act in Prabhu Dheva’s ‘Singh Is Bliing’. In a bid to pacify the premature protests Akshay Kumar called leaders & prominent members of various Sikh organizations from Punjab & Delhi to Mumbai for a private screening of ‘Singh Is Bliing’. Rather than face protests a week before release Akshay wisely decided to take Sikh organizations into confidence now itself. He flew down the members at his own cost and showed them the film.

‘Island City’ Bags Fedeora Awards

Tannishtha Chatterjee who was in Venice recently to attend the 72nd Venice International Film Festival looked stunning in an Anita Dongre gown. The actress had gone to the festival with Ruchika Oberoi’s debut film ‘Island City’ which won the 1st time “Best Director” award called the Fedeora award. In the film she plays the protagonist, a simple girl, whose life changes one day when she receives an anonymous letter.
Tannishtha’s films were also part of the special screening at the Torronto International Film Festival.

Arnold To Receive Golden Icon Award

Veteran Hollywood action star Arnold Schwarzenegger will be receiving the Golden Icon Award at the Zurich Film Festival. The 11th edition of the Festival will be held from 24th Sept, 2015 to 4 Oct, 2015. The actor will receive the award on 30th Sept, 2015 after which he will present his new zombie thriller ‘Maggie’ at the festival. Schwarzenegger, who is famous for the “Terminator” franchise, has twice been Governor of California. His latest in the “Terminator” series is ‘Terminator: Genisys’. On the other hand, ‘Maggie’ is directed by Henry Hobson. Schwarzenegger plays a Midwestern father who stays by his daughter’s side even after she is infected by a virus that will turn her into a zombie. Schwarzenegger will also discuss his life & body of work in a Q & A session.

PVR Pictures’ 9 movies At Toronto International Film Festival

PVR Pictures’ 9 films will be among other critically acclaimed international films at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this year. The movies includes: ‘Sicario’, ‘Legend’, ‘The Program’, ‘Equals’, ‘Demolition’, ‘The Idol’, ‘About Ray’ (Three Generations), ‘Youth’ & ‘Trumbo’. These movies will be released in India over the next few months. The 40th edition of the festival will be held from 10th Sept, 2015 to 20th Sept, 2015.

Viacom 18’s “Cine Shorts” Returns

With an aim to provide a platform to budding film makers with an opportunity to showcase their talent through a 5 minute short film, Viacom 18 had launched the 2nd season of “Cine Shorts” on 7th Sept, 2015.

Viacom 18 has also brought on board Inox as a partner on the “Cine Shorts” initiative. The jury comprising director – producer David Dhawan, director Sriram Raghavan, Viacom18 Motion Pictures COO Ajit Andhare & cinematographer Ayananka Bose amongst others, will be evaluating the entries.

India’s Only Traveling Film Festival Returns To Mumbai

Touted to be India’s only travelling film festival, the 6th Jagran Film Festival will celebrate its last leg in Mumbai from 28th Sept, 2015 to 4th Oct, 2015. With Fun Cinemas as its screening partner, the festival’s theme this year is ‘Happiness.’ The gala opening of the 7 day festival in Mumbai will bring together films under competitive categories such as ’Indian Showcase,’ ‘Jagran Shorts’ (an international competition for short films), ‘Cinema of the Sellers’ & ‘Debut Directors.’ The festival will also pay tribute to the films of the golden era in the ‘Retrospective’ section. In its quest to showcase the best of international cinema, this edition will present a collection of 10 Best International Short films under a special section ‘Top Shorts.’

Shoojit Sircar’s 3 Movies Screened

The Indian Film Festival in Russia (IFFR) screen 3 of director Shoojit Sircar’s movies namely ‘Vicky Donor’, ‘Piku’ & ‘Madras Café’. The film festival of Indian Films in Moscow was held from 3rd Sept, 2015 to 6th Sept, 2015.

Actor & singer Ayushmann Khurrana accompanied Sircar for the screening of their much appreciated movie ‘Vicky Donor’ on the 2nd day of the festival. IFFR is aimed at bridging the gap between the 2 entertainment industries in the world namely Russia & India. The festival also included top Bollywood blockbusters & celebrities from the Indian film fraternity. The choice of movies was intended to showcase the very wide range of cinema that emerges from Mumbai, the heart of the Indian film industry.

‘Pyaasa’ A Timeless Masterpiece By Guru Dutt Restored

‘Pyaasa’ a timeless masterpiece by Guru Dutt becomes the only Indian film to be restored by an Indian company for a world premiere in the competition section at the 72nd Venice Film Festival. In a significant moment for the Indian film industry, Ultra Media & Entertainment Presentation ‘Pyaasa’, a timeless Indian cult classic of 1957 starring Guru Dutt, Waheeda Rehman & Mala Sinha has become the only Indian film restored by an Indian company to be officially selected in the prestigious “Venice Classics” section at the forthcoming Venice Film Festival in Sept, 2015. Ultra Media & Entertainment, who are the negative rights owners of ‘Pyaasa’, have restored this film completely for the grand occasion with an objective of preserving & presenting it in its original quality to the global audience. ‘Pyaasa’ will be screened on 11th Sept, 2015 at 2 pm & on 12th Sept, 2015 at 9 am in “Sala Volpi” auditorium at Venice Film Festival.

Now Unauthorized Downloading Of Songs & Contents Without Requisite License Is No More

On a complaint filed by Super Cassettes Industries Pvt Ltd (T -Series) Delhi Police have conducted the raid at Maa Sharda Communication, Kapashera, Delhi (P. S. KAPASHERA) for illegal downloading of T – Series contents & recovered CPU, Pen Drive et al. The accused person Shashi Nath has been arrested & a Case under Section 63 & 65 of the Copyright Act, 1957 has been registered against him by the Police. M/s Super Cassettes Industries Pvt Ltd is conducting the raid(s) nationwide against the person(s) involved in unauthorized and illegal downloading the digital contents of T – Series through Memory Cards, SD Cards, Pen Drive, Hard Drive, et al without the downloading license.

‘Tara’ Makes Waves Internationally

Producer & Director Kumar Raj’s Tara makes waves internationally. It has been line produced by Vinod Harisingani & stars Rekha Rana. In
Fog film festival at San Francisco in USA 2015 Awards. ‘Tara’s heroine Rekha bagged “Best Actress Award”. That apart Tara became the 1st film to be screened at New York film academy at Los Angles in USA recently. Besides ‘Tara’ was officially selected & screened at the fog film festival at San Francisco in USA.

Israeli police storm Al-Aqsa Mosque for a third day

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Clashes erupt after Israeli police raid mosque’s courtyards to support tours for Jewish activists.

Israeli police storm Al-Aqsa Mosque

by Al Jazeera

Palestinians and Israeli forces have clashed at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque for a third straight day, as Israeli forces were seen on the roof of the holy site.

Suleiman Ahmad, the president of Jerusalem’s Affairs Department, who was at the scene, told Al Jazeera that at least 36 Palestinians were injured in the clashes early on Tuesday.

“They have placed snipers on the rooftops and are using rubber bullets,” Ahmad said.

The site of the mosque is revered as holy by Jews and Muslims and is a frequent flashpoint of violence.

Palestinians inside Al-Aqsa threw stones and fireworks at the Israeli forces and set up barricades to prevent them from closing the entrance to the mosque.

The police forces eventually closed the doors to the mosque with the Palestinians still inside.

Al-Aqsa courtyard tours

Israeli police were trying to allow Jewish activists to tour the courtyards of the mosque, which in the past has stirred angry reactions from Palestinians who fear Israel may change the rules for visiting the Al-Aqsa compound.

Yousef Mukhaimar, the head of the Al-Aqsa worshiper movement, Murabitoun, told Al Jazeera that Muslim Palestinians were “prohibited from entering the mosque to pray, while Israeli settlers are allowed to enter the mosque and roam around freely under police protection”.

“Wide areas of the mosque carpeting have been burnt as a result of the Israeli police firing bombs, bullets and tear gas canisters inside the mosque compound,” Mukhaimar said.

“Netanyahu’s strategy is fulfilling his promises to his right-wing and extremist supporters to eventually demolish Al-Aqsa and build their alleged temple in its place.”

Azzam Khatib, director of endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque affairs, told Al Jazeera that the violence at the site was worse than in previous days.

“Because of the Palestinians who were present inside the mosque, Israeli police faced trouble storming it around 7:30am this morning. Police used tear gas, rubber bullets, and stun grenades,” Khatib said.

“There was a small fire caused by the stun grenades; all who are present here have extinguished the fire, which took place at the entrance of the mosque.”

Abdel Aziz al-Abasi, another Mourabitoun member, said Israeli police have sealed off the compound.

“The bigger problem here is that the Israelis are trying to establish a precedent by dividing Al-Aqsa Mosque compound into sections and time segments, so they can give Israeli settlers access to our mosque,” Abasi told Al Jazeera.

“We will never agree to such plan because it is obvious that the Israelis are trying to take it over piecemeal.”

Seven sentenced to death over Kuwait mosque bombing

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Court sentences seven suspects over suicide attack that killed at least 26 people during Ramadan, state media reports.

Kuwaiti police cordon off the mosque after the suicide bombing. (AFP/File)

Kuwaiti police cordon off the mosque after the suicide bombing. (AFP/File)

by Al Jazeera

A Kuwaiti court has sentenced seven suspects to death over the Imam al-Sadiq Mosque bombing, which killed at least 26 people and injured more than 200 others, the country’s state news agency reported.

Kuwait’s criminal court on Tuesday sentenced eight others to two and 15 years behind bars and acquitted 14 others, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) said.

The court heard statements from the defence lawyers and later charged the defendants with using explosives with the intention of “killing, spreading terror, committing murders, joining an internationally banned group that promotes toppling the ruling system with illegitimate means and threatening the country’s unity”, KUNA reported.

The Imam al-Sadiq Mosque in Kuwait City was attacked by a Saudi suicide bomber on June 26 during Friday prayers in the holy month of Ramadan.

Kuwait launched a security crackdown on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) after the attack was claimed by the group.

Will hang my son if sand mining charges proved, says Siddaramaiah

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Mysuru: In a bold statement that was filled with emotions, Siddaramaiah said, ““If anybody proves that my son is involved in sand mining, then I will hang my son”, as he was he addressing a gathering at a function in Hosakote in Mysuru on Monday September 14.

“Eshwarappa has been repeatedly saying that my son and minister Mahadevappa’s son are involved in sand mining. Let him prove that first” Siddaramaiah added.

Siddaramaiah also criticized the BJP leaders who attacked him during the recent Raitha Chaithanya Yathre, a pro farmer rally.

“Yeddyurappa made two farmers to get killed by bullets. The person who went to jail has come now to teach us lessons. Eshwarappa says that my and Mahadevappa’s children should be cursed. He has forgotten that he is the leader of the opposition. The person who counts money in counting machine can only talk like this.” Siddaramaiah said.

“In spite of securing more than 100 seats, BJP has failed to win the mayoral election. They are jealous now that Congress has a mayor now. We will not let them win Zilla and Gram Panchayat elections. The defeated BJP is acting funnily now.” Siddaramaiah taunted.

(Agencies)

Yettinahole row: Citizens block highway to block project

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Uppinangady: Activists of several associations along with environmental activists blocked the Mangaluru-Bengaluru National Highway 75 at Uppinangady on Tuesday September 15 demanding the State government to put a stop to the ongoing Yettinahole diversion project at Sakaleshpur taluk, in Hassan.

Several college and school students along with farmers participated in the protest that began at 10 am. A procession was also held from Government First Grade College to the highway junction.

However, traffic between Mani and Periyashanthi was comparatively lesser than usual due to the warning of a blockade issued in advance by the Netravathi Nadi Tiruvu Yoganeya Virodhi Horata Samithi.

Several dignitaries also took part in the protest.

Earlier, an MLA tried to convince the gathered to withdraw the protest but they did not pay heed. Members of the youth Congress also took part in the protest.

(Agencies)

Key witness turns hostile in Bengaluru blast case

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Bengaluru: A key witness in the Bengaluru blast case turned hostile in the NIA trial court on Tuesday.

Rafeeq, a native of Kudagu in Karnataka, reportedly said that he gave the statement against Ma’dani in the case due to pressure from the police.

Jose Varghese, another witness, had earlier turned hostile, saying that his testimony was forged by the police.

Ma’dani was arrested on Aug 17, 2010, in connection with the conspiracy in serial bomb blast case.

(Agencies)

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