Nasheman

India's largest selling Urdu weekly, now also in English

You are here: Home / Archives for 2015

Archives for 2015

Akrama Sakrama scheme begins from March 23 in Karnataka

by

File photo: Sampath Kumar G P, The Hindu

File photo: Sampath Kumar G P, The Hindu

Bengaluru: The state government has begun the long-pending process of ‘one-time regularisation’ of unauthorised layouts and buildings.

Property owners can approach local body offices for applications from March 23. The scheme will be open for a year, till March 23, 2016.

Called Akrama Sakrama, the scheme applies to all layouts and buildings that have come up on private property before October 19, 2013. No building or layout on encroached government or semi-government land is eligible for regularisation.

Collection: The government hopes to mobilise Rs 10,000-15,000 crore through Akrama Sakrama.

Releasing a handbook on Tuesday with the relevant rules, procedures and guidelines, Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake said the fees had been rationalised and the calculations made simple.

Funds mobilised through Akrama Sakrama will be used for the development of infrastructure and creation of parks and open spaces in the state, Sorake said.

The Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act of 1961, Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act of 1976 and Karnataka Municipalities Act of 1964 have been amended to regularise illegal layouts and buildings on private property.

Sorake said that the government would follow a court direction in case a building violated bylaws by 100 per cent.

Owners of such properties can also approach the court for relief, he said. The application has to be filed by the owner, Sorake said, promising to act against developers of unauthorised layouts and apartments.

The regularisation fee will be in addition to the regular charges levied by the competent authorities.

According to the proposal, the regularisation fee for land use violation is five times the fees prescribed.

(Agencies)

J&K: Mufti Sayeed allots portfolios to council of ministers, Sajjad Lone refuses to join cabinet

by

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Tuesday assigned portfolios to his council of ministers, ending the suspense over sharing of portfolios between the ruling alliance partners PDP and BJP.

Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh (BJP) has been assigned the important portfolio of power development, housing and urban development.

Abdul Rehman Veeri (PDP) got horticulture, Hajj and Auqaf while Haseeb Drabu (PDP) got finance, labour and employment.

Chander Prakash (BJP) got industries and commerce.

Javaid Mustafa Mir (PDP) got revenue while Lal Singh (BJP) got health, medical education, ARI and training.

Abdul Haq Khan (PDP) got rural development, Bali Bhagat (BJP) got social welfare, forest, ecology and environment.

Syed Basharat Bukhari (PDP) will hold the portfolio of law, justice and parliamentary affairs and Sukhnandan Kumar (BJP) will manage public health engineering.

Altaf Bukhari (PDP) got public works, floriculture and parks.

Chowdhary Zulfiqar (PDP) got consumer affairs and public distribution and tribal affairs.

Sajjad Gani Lone of the Peoples Conference got animal husbandry, science and technology.

Imran Raza Ali (PDP) got information technology, technical education, youth services and sports. Naeem Akhtar (PDP) got education.

All these ministers hold cabinet rank in the council of ministers.

The portfolio assignment order specifies that all other departments/subjects not assigned to any of the above ministers shall remain with the chief minister.

Sayeed holds the all important portfolios of home and general administration.

Among the junior ministers, Chering Dorjay (BJP) will hold independent charge of the cooperative department while Abdul Ghani Kohli (BJP) will hold independent charge of the transport department.

The two women junior ministers, Priya Sethi and Asiya Naqash, will be in charge of the information and health departments respectively.

Sajjad Lone refuses to join Mufti’s cabinet

Upset over the portfolio allocated to him, Sajjad Gani Lone of the Peoples Conference (PC) on Wednesday refused to join the council of ministers in the PDP-BJP government headed by Mufti Muhammad Sayeed.

Lone was miffed over allocation of the animal husbandry department portfolio to him by Sayeed Tuesday.

He did not attend his office in winter capital Jammu on Wednesday and instead chose to fly back to the Valley.

“Yes, he has refused to join the council of ministers. He has also surrendered all entitlements including security, official vehicle and other perks given to him as a cabinet minister,” said a Peoples Conference source.

The source said Sajjad is flying back to Srinagar Wednesday.

On whether he had resigned from the council of ministers, the source said: “No, he has not resigned so far, but a decision on whether he should resign from the council of ministers or not would be taken after he meets party rank and file in the Valley.”

Sajjad, according to his party men, was unhappy over allotment of what believes to be, “an insignificant portfolio like animal husbandry”.

Peoples Conference activists argue that the former separatist leader who joined the electoral fray and won state assembly elections from north Kashmir Handwara constituency last year deserved a better deal so that he could convince his voters that joining mainstream politics would usher in better days for the people in Kashmir.

The party has two seats in the 87-member state legislative assembly.

Lone has extended support to the BJP. He was sworn in as a cabinet minister on Sunday as a BJP nominee in the council of ministers headed by Mufti Sayeed.

(IANS)

I&B Ministry issues advisory against broadcasting of Nirbhaya documentary

by

INDIAS DAUGHTER

New Delhi: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting late on Tuesday night issued an advisory to all television channels not to broadcast the Nirbhaya documentary by British filmmaker Leslee Udwin, news agency ANI reported.

It was not immediately clear what the advisory stated, but at least one Indian news channel had said it would air the documentary on 8 March, International Womens Day.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Delhi Police registered an FIR in connection with the controversial interview of a convict in the 16 December gangrape case while also saying that it would move court to seek a restrain order its airing.

Although nobody has been named in the FIR, Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi maintained that the “main actor” is the person who has made these assertions and urged the media not to broadcast any assertion which transgresses the domain of law.

“This was a ghastly crime. One has to take into consideration that reporting of a crime does not transgress the domain of law and if that happens then the law will have to take its own course,” he told reporters in New Delhi.

In the interview conducted by Udwin and BBC, Mukesh Singh, the driver of the bus in which the 23-year-old paramedical student was brutally gangraped by six men on 16 December, 2012, said women who went out at night had only themselves to blame if they attracted the attention of gangs of male molesters.

“A girl is far more responsible for rape than a boy,” he had said. Singh also said that had the girl and her friend not tried to fight back, the gang would not have inflicted the savage beating, which led to her death later.

The FIR was registered under IPC sections 505 (Statements conducing to public mischief), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) 505(1)(b) (With intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public), 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and section 66A of the IT Act (Punishment for sending offensive messages through communication service) at the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police.

Asked against whom the FIR has been registered, Bassi said, “We have registered an FIR on the basis of media reports and we will investigate and whosoever would will be found guilty we will take action against them.”

Any assertion where the late victim is being maligned or where threat is being issued to women in general transgress the domain of law. We are going to move our court concerned for a restraint order, he added.

Udwin had claimed that she took permission from the then Director General of Tihar jail Vimla Mehra to interview Mukesh in prison for BBC.

Asked about this claims, Bassi said, “I am not aware of any permission. Even if it was given, it was given to remain in the domain of law. If any act transgresses the domain of law and particularly IPC, I am duty bound to take action and we have registered a case.”

(Agencies)

Review: 'Coffee Bloom' is a classy and award worthy film

by

Coffee Bloom

Banner: Speaking Tree Productions
Producer: Harish Amin
Director: Manu Warrier
Cast: Arjun Mathur, Sugandha Garg, Mohan Kapoor, Nandini Sen, Ishwari Bose-Bhattacharya & Sharath Parvathavani
Music: Prasad Ruparel

Débutante director Manu Warrier in his debut directorial offering ‘Coffee Bloom’ tackles a couple’s (Read Lover’s) relationship, gone sour, in all its humanistic perspective in tandem with angst, jealousy, confusion, greed in lieu with its suicidal attempts et al, in fact all mixed up emotions but more from a male point of view.

The randomly plotted scenario opens when Dev (Arjun Mathur) sells off his family coffee estate as a statement underlining his renunciation of the world. Dev, though a self proclaimed wise man finds more comfort in being a loser, having given up on life as a result of a love gone wrong. A life changing event takes him on a journey to a coffee plantation in Coorg. There he meets Anika (Sugandha Garg), once the love of his life, now his boss and her husband Srinivas (Mohan Kapur). Love between Dev & Anika is on the verge of being rekindled and is about to bloom in an idyllic setting, bringing Dev out of his self imposed funk and Dev finds a new reason to live. But alas a terrible misunderstanding pushes him into taking drastic measures. Much is at stake as the yearly coffee bloom is just round the corner. And Dev is confronted with his past, present &  future, all rolled into one.

Full marks to débutante director Manu Warrier for his deft directorial skills in lieu with cinematographer Yogesh Jaani who has attractively captured the scenic beauty of Coorg. But director Manu Warrier has been a little let down not only by his own script, co-written by Sharath Parvathani who also enacts a brief role, but also by editor Farooq Hundekar who could have enlivened the proceedings by a little more crisp editing. A special mention must be made of producer Harish Amin of Speaking Tree Productions & Shiladitya Bora of Long Live Cinema Pvt Ltd (A distribution concern) for backing such a classy film like ‘Coffee Bloom’.

Performance wise it is the lead pair Arjun Mathur & Sugandha Garg who have literally lived the role of Dev & Anika with their first rate act. Mohan Kapur, as Srinivas, is at times irritating especially punctuated by his obscene gestures & hysterical laughter. The rest of the cast comprising of Nandini Sen, Ishwari Bose-Bhattacharya & Sharath Parvathavani lend an adequate enough support to the lead pair and do not disturb the fluidity of the entire scenario.

Tailpiece: ‘Coffee Bloom’ will be appreciated more by the film festival circuit cinegoers & the multiplex audiences rather than the single screen viewers.

For special treatment, go to Pakistan: Shiv Sena tells Muslims

by

asaduddin-owaisi

Mumbai: “If the Muslim community in India want any special treatment as Muslims, they should go to Pakistan,” the Shiv Sena warned here Tuesday.

“If they (Muslims) want anything from this country, they must first accept India as their motherland and proclaim ‘Vande Mataram’. They cannot demand freedom and yet continue to cling to their religion,” the party said in a sharp edit in ‘Saamana’ on Tuesday.

The edit was said to be in reaction to All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi’s speech in Nagpur March 1, where among other things, he demanded reservations for the Muslim community on the lines of Marathas in Maharashtra.

Taking umbrage at Owaisi’s tone and tenor, the Shiv Sena reiterated its stance that reservations policy must be based on social criteria and not religious lines.

“The poorest of poor Muslim should be given reservation, not because he is a Muslim, but because he is a citizen of India,” the party declared.

It urged all people – especially Muslims and Hindus – to accept this philosophy, which could eradicate politics of vote-banks and reservations, and help the country’s progress.

“Now, Owaisi is insisting that since reservations have been given to Marathas, even Muslims must be granted the same. It was exactly such a stubborn attitude of anti-Hindu hardliner Muslims which resulted in the partition of India and they had created Pakistan,” the Sena said.

But, not anymore, the Sena warned.

Listing the requirements, ‘Saamana’ said Muslims must accept the uniform civil code, embrace family planning and give up the demand for Article 370 pertaining to the special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Blasting Owaisi, it said the day when such leaders stop brainwashing the Muslims with their hate politics, it would spell a new era for the country.

“Owaisi claims that Muslims have suffered a lot in India. Has he bothered to calculate how much Hindus have suffered with the Muslim fundamentalism, terror activities, bomb blasts and communal riots,” it pointed out.

Demanding that such a speech by Owaisi should be treated as ‘anti-national’, the Sena demanded an investigation to ascertain whether he has taken a ‘contract’ to create communal disturbances in Maharashtra, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis must take action in the matter.

Palestine to lodge ICC case against Israel in April

by

A Palestinian boy climbs through the rubble of a house after it was hit in an Israeli air strike in Gaza City, Aug. 25, 2014. (Photo: Wissam Nassar / The New York Times)

A Palestinian boy climbs through the rubble of a house after it was hit in an Israeli air strike in Gaza City, Aug. 25, 2014. (Photo: Wissam Nassar / The New York Times)

by RT

Palestine’s first complaint against Israel’s alleged war crimes will be filed at the International Criminal Court in April, according to a senior Palestinian official. The issue will reportedly be related to the 2014 war in Gaza.

“One of the first important steps will be filing a complaint against Israel at the ICC on April 1 over the [2014] Gaza war and settlement activity,” Mohammed Shtayyeh, a member of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) told AP on Monday.

The Palestinians will be able to take legal action at the court based in The Hague, Netherlands, after the nation moved to join the international authority formally in January. According to the court’s procedures, “the statute will enter into force for the State of Palestine on April 1.”

Israel’s foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nachshon expressed his country’s refusal to react to the declaration, describing it as“speculative and hypothetical,” as quoted by AP. The Israeli administration has for decades consistently opposed Palestine’s legal power to sue Israel for war crimes.

After Palestine’s move to join the ICC was confirmed by the UN in January, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country “will not let Israel Defence Forces (IDF) soldiers and officers be dragged” to The Hague. Following the announcement in January, Israel froze the transfer of half a billion shekels ($125 million) in tax revenue to the Palestinian Authority.

The ICC, with jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, announced a preliminary examination into Israel’s 2014 actions in Gaza. Around 2,200 Palestinians were killed in that conflict,with over 60 percent of the victims being civilians. Israel’s losses included 66 soldiers and 6 civilians, according to an investigation, carried out by AP earlier this month.

After Palestine officially joins the Court in April, it also plans to sue Israel over its policy of settlement building on land occupied by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War. Under international law, all Israeli construction on land seized during the war is considered illegal.

Salman Khan hit-and-run case: Court rejects prosecution plea for driver's licence

by

Salman Khan

Mumbai: A Mumbai trial court on Tuesday rejected the prosecution’s plea for actor Salman Khan to produce his driving licence in connection with the 2002 hit-and-run case.

Earlier, a Regional Transport officer had deposed in court, saying that Khan did not possess a driving licence when his car met with an accident in 2002.

Khan is accused of culpable homicide not amounting to murder in the hit-and-run case, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison.

He has been booked under Section 304 A of the Indian Penal Code (rash and negligent driving), 279 (rash driving), 337 (causing minor injuries), 338 (causing major injuries) and 427 (negligence) in regard to the 2002 case.

His trial began in Bandra Magistrate Court in Maharashtra in 2006. The actor was earlier being tried on the charge of death by negligence which carries a maximum prison term of two years.

(ANI)

Cricket World Cup 2015: South Africa beat Ireland by 201 runs

by

© AFP

© AFP

by Justin Goulding, BBC Sport

South Africa condemned Ireland to their first defeat of the World Cup as they cruised to a 201-run win in Canberra.

Hashim Amla hit 159, Faf du Plessis 109 and Rilee Rossouw a rapid unbeaten 61 in South Africa’s 411-4, the second time in two Pool B games they have passed 400.

Ireland collapsed to 48-5 as they were bowled out for 210 in 45 overs despite Andrew Balbirnie’s 58.

Kyle Abbott finished with 4-21 and fellow pace bowler Morne Morkel 3-34.

South Africa need to win only one of their remaining two group games, against Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, to reach the quarter-finals.

Ireland remain well placed to qualify, although the margin of defeat at the Manuka Oval will have a negative impact on their net run rate before Saturday’s clash with Zimbabwe in Hobart.

This game served as another illustration of South Africa’s immense power with the bat, albeit on a placid surface and against an attack lacking penetration.

Perhaps more alarming for their rivals, captain AB de Villiers – the star of their 257-run win over West Indies with 162 not out off 66 balls – played a negligible role with 24 off nine deliveries.

Amla and Du Plessis shared 247, a South Africa record for the second wicket, before Rossouw and David Miller plundered an unbroken 110 off the last 8.3 overs.

Five South Africa batsmen have now scored centuries in this competition.

Ireland were left to rue two costly misses, Amla put down on 10 by Ed Joyce, and Du Plessis edging between wicketkeeper Gary Wilson and Kevin O’Brien at slip when on 19.

Thereafter, they were barely troubled, rotating the strike almost at will while rarely wasting a chance to punish Ireland’s increasingly wayward attack.

Having seen Quinton de Kock fall in the third over, Amla – typically strong through point and mid-wicket – batted with his usual fluency as he became the quickest player to reach 20 ODI centuries.

Du Plessis, whose hundred was equally measured, was finally bowled making room to Kevin O’Brien, and the departure of Amla and De Villiers in the space of three balls merely gave Rossouw and Miller the freedom to mount a late-innings assault.

An improbable Ireland chase became nigh on impossible as Dale Steyn and Abbott shared five wickets in the first 11 overs.

Balbirnie and O’Brien’s sixth-wicket stand of 81 helped Ireland avert the heaviest defeat in ODI history, but the remainder of the innings was no more than an exercise in limiting the damage to their net run rate.

Although South Africa employed eight bowlers – including part-timer De Villiers, who removed John Mooney – Morkel mopped up the tail with two wickets in successive overs.

Womanathon: ‘Run with her’ for women's empowerment

by

womanathon

Bengaluru: In an initiative to empower women, SEEK Foundation will be holding ‘Womanathon,’ a marathon for women on March 8, across Bengaluru, Chennai & Hyderabad cities, which is International Women’s Day.

‘Run with her’ is the theme of the event. It will be held across three cities — Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad — on March 8. “The people who can do most to improve the situation of so many women and girls are men,” said Nithyshree, founder member of SEEK Foundation, an NGO that works for social welfare. “It’s in their hands to stop violence against women. This run is mainly a run for Respect.”

Actress Sanjjanaa Archana Galrani who is running for her mother says, “My mom is my wonder woman. The woman I respect and love the most”.

Womanathon is contributing to Seek Foundation which is a not-for-profit organisation working towards bringing consciousness in education and empowerment & knowledge to every citizen.

Seek Foundation has adopted villages like Poondandalam in Kancheepuram District and help to create awareness for women and girls.

Manila shanty fire leaves thousands of people homeless

by

Victims call for help as overnight blaze destroys homes, sweeping through poor area of Philippines capital for 12 hours.

At least 80 homes are destroyed every day due to fires in Manila's poorest areas [Reuters]

At least 80 homes are destroyed every day due to fires in Manila’s poorest areas [Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

At least 3,000 people have been left homeless after a large fire, which lasted for more than 12 hours, hit a shanty town in the centre of the Philippines capital, local government sources have said.

The government was unable to determine the cause of the fire late on Monday, with some of the victims accused the fire services in Manila of being slow in tackling the blaze. No casualties were reported.

“The fire was not as big when it started but they [the firefighters] did not extinguish it right away, the fire was at one of the entrance gates but the firefighters did not do anything, they just let the fire get bigger,” Nelia Dalin Papas, a victim, told the AP news agency.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Joel Casas said: “I can’t express my grief when I look around me I can’t even explain what happened. There is nothing to save.

“We accept that this is a tragedy. We just have to start over, find a job again and rebuild everything.”

At least 80 homes are destroyed every day due to fire in Manila’s poor areas where electrical wirings are often faulty and houses are made of lightweight, flammable materials.

Johnny Yu, the director of Manila’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, accused the government of failing to protect the poor population of the city.

“What’s lacking is political will for government to implement housing programmes that can provide better homes for people, to move them in places that are safe, where they can find decent jobs,” Yu said.

Meanwhile, Cecilia Castillo, a victim of Monday’s fire, called for urgent help.

“We will be grateful for anything we can get, not just for my family but for all of us here,” she said. “We hope that those who can, can help us.”

Social workers at one of the evacuation centres in the capital were seen handing out bowls of porridge to men, women and children sheltering in what is normally a covered gymnasium.

“We will provide them with food, blankets, mats and everything they may need, and we are also coordinating with other NGOs, other government agencies, for the sake of the fire victims,” said Nilda Del Rosario from Manila’s Social Welfare Department.

KNOW US

GET INVOLVED

PROMOTE

Archives