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Teesta Setalvad, CPM MPs denied entry into Hyderabad varsity

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Teesta Setalvad

Hyderabad: Civil rights activist Teesta Setalvad and two Communist Party of India-Marxist MPs were Thursday not allowed to enter University of Hyderabad, evoking protest from students.

The university security personnel stopped Teesta and MPs from Kerala, T. Rajesh and P.Sampath, at the main gate.

They were invited by the students’ groups to address a public meeting as part of the ongoing agitation against last week’s police crackdown and the demand to remove P. Appa Rao as vice chancellor.

Teesta and the two Lok Sabha members lodged strong protest over the denial of entry. They condemned the curbs imposed by the university on entry of political leaders, activists and media into the campus.

The students, who were waiting from on the campus, also rushed to the main gate and raised slogans against the university authorities.

Joint Action Committee for Social Justice, an umbrella grouping of various students’ groups, has condemned the university’s action and called it an attempt to stifle the movement for justice to Rohith Vemula, a Dalit research scholar who committed suicide in January.

The unrest on the campus began on January 17 after Rohith, one of the five Dalit students suspended for allegedly attacking a leader of ABVP, committed suicide. This triggered a massive protest by students, who demanded action against vice chancellor and central minister Bandaru Dattaetrya who were named in First Information Report.

Appa Rao, who went on leave on January 24, resumed charge last week, triggering huge protest. The students ransacked the vice chancellor’s lodge on March 22 and in the subsequent police crackdown 25 students and two faculty members were arrested and jailed.

They were all released on bail on March 29.

(IANS)

Eight persons killed, several trapped in Kolkata flyover collapse

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kolkata-flyover

Kolkata: At least eight persons were killed when a portion of an under-construction flyover collapsed today in busy north Kolkata, leaving scores of others trapped under the debris.

Police sources said that eight persons were killed in the incident, while several others were injured. The death toll could go up, they said.

Several injured persons were rescued from under the debris and were being sent to different hospitals in the vicinity.

“Two persons were brought dead and two others were in serious condition,” Kolkata Medical College and Hospital superintendent Sikha Banerjee said.

“More injured persons are still being brought in to the hospital,” Banerjee said.

Cutting short her visit to West Midnapore district, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was campaigning there, rushed back to the city and visited the site and directed the authorities to speed up the relief and rescue operations carried out by police, fire brigade and disaster management personnel.

Several passenger vehicles, including a bus, were trapped under the debris, as operations were on to clear the rubble and bring out those trapped under.

Huge cranes and other rescue vehicles were pressed into service to clear the debris and bring out the injured.

A PTI correspondent who was at the accident site, saw a number of severely injured persons lying in a pool of blood.

At least a few persons were seen trapped under vehicles, concrete and heavy steel girders.

The incident took place at around noon at the busy Rabindra Sarani-K K Tagore Street crossing near Burrabazar, the trading hub and one of the most congested areas in the city.

A number of hawkers operate under the flyover which is also used for parking several vehicles.

NDRF personnel were also rushed to the site to to assist in the rescue operations.

(PTI)

II PU Chemistry re-exam on April 12; 40 officials suspended

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CID

Bengaluru: The II Pre-University Chemistry (PUC) re-examination that was scheduled on Thursday, will be conducted on April 12.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry suspended 40 employees of the Department of Pre-University Education of Karnataka.

The Chemistry exam that was first scheduled on March 21 was cancelled and postponed after a II PU science student alerted the authorities about the question paper leak.

Following protests by the students and parents, the state government handed over the investigation to the CID.

Nearly 1.74 lakh PU students across the state were supposed to write the Chemistry re-exam today.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah earlier today said that his government will find out the persons responsible for the repeated leak of the question paper.

“A stringent action will be taken on the offenders in question paper leakage incidents. I assure justice to the students and parents,” he tweeted.

“I have understood the pain of students and parents. I request them to be patient and keep faith on us. I assure justice to them,” he added.

Seconding the Chief Minister`s statement, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara also condemned the incident and said that strict action will be taken once the CID files a report.

“It`s not just a 24-hour job. The CID is looking in to the matter, a second incident has happened they now will be investigating it more seriously. We will find out that who has done it. The CID is questioning few people. I understand career of so many students are involved,” said Parameshwara.

(Agencies)

PM Modi arrives in US to attend Nuclear Security Summit

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Modi-Britain

Washington: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here early today to attend the two-day Nuclear Security Summit where world leaders from over 50 countries are expected to share their assessment of the threat from nuclear weapons and materials.

During his two-day stay in Washington, Modi is scheduled to interact with a number of world leaders including the host President Barack Obama.

Attending the Nuclear Security Summit for the first time, Modi is expected to lay out his vision of securing nuclear weapons.

This is Modi’s third visit to the US and second to Washington since becoming Prime Minister in 2014.

In September 2014, Modi visited US and had a meeting with Obama at the White House. He made his second trip to the US a year later which took him to New York and Silicon Valley.

While the details of his schedule in Washington have not been released yet, the Prime Minister is expected to hold a series of meetings throughout the day, which range from bilaterals with heads of state to community leaders, to scientists and top executives from the corporate world.

Modi is scheduled to hold a meeting with John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand later today and meet with scientists from Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO).

Even as he has no public engagement with the Indian American community, which has been a trademark of his overseas trips, a large number of Indian Americans from in and around Washington said they would be standing outside his hotel, despite tight security, to get a glimpse of Modi.

The official summit engagement of the Prime Minister would begin in the evening when he would drive down to the White House to attend a dinner hosted by Obama in honour of the world leaders attending the fourth Nuclear Security Summit.

No Modi-Obama bilateral meeting has been announced yet from either side, but the two leaders are expected to get multiple opportunities for interaction and talks over the next two days.

“The summit would deliberate on the crucial issue of threat to nuclear security caused by nuclear terrorism. Leaders would discuss ways and measure through which to strengthen the global nuclear security architecture, especially to ensure that non-state actors do not get access to nuclear material,” Modi had said in a statement before leaving on the current three-nation tour of Belgium, the US and Saudi Arabia.

Joint Secretary (Disarmament & International Security Affairs) Amandeep Singh Gill said during the summit India’s written National Progress Report would be circulated at the summit.

The Prime Minister would intervene in this discussion on national actions to underline some of the important measures we have taken to strengthen nuclear security.

“India expects that the summit would contribute further to raising high level awareness of the threat of nuclear terrorism and the need to strengthen international cooperation against terrorists and nuclear traffickers,” Gill said.

“We also expect that the summit would help bolster legal, institutional and enforcement measures to strengthen the security of nuclear material, radioactive sources, associated facilities and technologies,” he said.

(Agencies)

Syria war: UN urges leaders to accept more refugees

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Ban Ki-moon says governments must “act with solidarity” to alleviate Syria refugee crisis and “counter fear-mongering”.

Many refugees have died while fleeing to European countries on rickety boats [AP]

Many refugees have died while fleeing to European countries on rickety boats [AP]

by Al Jazeera

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on governments around the world to allow in more Syrian refugees and “counter fear-mongering” about them.

At a conference in Geneva on Wednesday, Ban urged countries to “act with solidarity, in the name of our shared humanity, by pledging new and additional pathways for the admission of Syrian refugees”.

He said they can do so through “resettlement or humanitarian admission, family reunions, as well as labour or study opportunities”.

The UN refugee agency UNHCR convened a meeting of more than 90 countries at the Swiss UN seat in Geneva, aiming to win new pledges for resettlement and family reunification programmes, as well as study visas.

“We are here to address the biggest refugee and displacement crisis of our time,” Ban said.

These programmes are separate from usual asylum procedures. They are aimed especially at helping vulnerable groups, including women, children and people with medical needs.

Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt and Iraq have been hosting most of the five million refugees of Syria’s conflict, which has put serious strains on state budgets and public services.

“Communities hosting refugees in neighbouring countries are exhausted,” Ban said.

Furthermore, tens of thousands of Syrian refugees are stranded in European countries without basic rights or the proper documentation to lead a normal life.

Ban also emphasised that countries should not demonise refugees, but should see the opportunities that the people could bring to their new host countries.

“Today, they are refugees. Tomorrow, they can be students and professors, scientists and researchers, workers and care-givers,” he said.

Earlier this year, an international donor conference in London pledged more than $11bn to assist Syrian refugees and internally displaced people in 2016-2020, the bulk of which came from the US and EU member-states.

And wealthy countries have pledged 178,000 of the 480,000 resettlement spots needed for Syrians, according to UN estimates.

Audiences love to listen to foot tapping Punjabi songs and they become an instant hit: Varinder Vaz

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Varinder Vizz

Varinder Vizz, the latest musical sensation in B – Town happens to be a well – known singer, composer and performer too. And now he is all set to add one more illustrious musical feather to his musical cap by donning the grease paint and facing the arc lights for Shubir Mukherjee’s movie namely Club Dancer and that too with Hollywood actress Judi Shekoni of Twilight Saga fame.

Give us an insight into your pre-filmic background?

Basically speaking I am a hard core Punjabi lad, hailing from the capital city, Delhi. Besides right since I was that high I was totally inclined towards music, so to pick up the finer musical nuances I took training under my musical Guru named Pandit Manmohan Sharma for almost one and a half decade.

How did you land up in the musical firmament of Bollywood?

After the journey of the musical training ended I too headed straight for Bollywood and then of course after the initial phase I happened to meet Shubir Mukherjee of Film Magic Productions Pvt Ltd who was producing a film named Club Dancer. And after having a musical sitting with him he was so impressed that he instantly made me an offer to compose two songs, sung by me. And thus I landed my 1st ever Bollywood musical break in Club Dancer.

Which are the two songs that you have composed for Club Dancer?

The two songs that I have not only composed but also sang and performed are Tanatan and Ek ek sip karke pee gaya Patiala peg and both the songs have become an instant chart-bursting hit on the social networking sites and even garnered a million hits on Youtube since its release. It has also become a rage amongst the music lovers.

You have earlier performed in music videos and now you are all set to make your Bollywood debut as an actor. How come?

Actually speaking I love performing on my own songs which I have already done in my two music video albums Desi No 1 and Midnight. When Shubir Mukherjee saw my albums he asked me to perform on the Patiala song too along with Hollywood actress Judi Shekoni of Twilight Saga fame.

Who are your favourite inspirational singers?

My personal choice in this regard is first and foremost Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Hansraj Hans, Lata Mangeshkar and above all Mohammed Rafi. And amongst the music composers Allah Rakha Rahman is my all time favourite.

What do you think about today’s musical scenario?

The musical scenario has a constantly changing phase. The audiences loved the earlier melodious style songs because they were all based on pure classical ragas which were enjoyable, but today’s songs are mostly based on western beats and that too sometimes they appear quite noisy.

But then why are the so-called Punjabi songs, which are mostly used in Hindi films, such a big hit nowadays?

It is so because the audiences love to listen to such foot-tapping songs and they become an instant hit.

What do you love most composing music, singing songs composed by you or performing on your own songs?

Frankly speaking composing music is my first love. And now that I am here in Bollywood I would also love to sing songs composed by other music composers. And if the filmmaker wants me to sing songs composed by me and also perform on them, just as I have done in Club Dancer, then I don’t mind it at all.

Bangalorean on wheels to Scotland to spread awareness about organ donation

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Columbia Asia Hospital

Bengaluru: The route map has been chalked. The journey is about to begin. Meet 48 year old Anil Srivatsa, CEO and Co-Founder Radiowalla Network Pvt. Ltd, who will be the man behind the wheels driving his wife, son and daughter and 3 others Geetu Dhillon, Vivek Singh and Vishwas Avathi for 80 days. This is not an ordinary journey. The Crew will be traveling across two continents- Asia and Europe, crossing 17 countries to reach their final destination- Scotland. This trip has been triggered to support a cause: Organ Donation.

Organ donation does not deplete the quality of life of both the donor and the recipient. One of the most prominent examples of this is Anil and his brother Dr Arjun Sritvatsa, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Columbia Asia Hospital. Almost Two years ago, when Dr. Arjun was diagnosed with kidney failure, Anil donated a kidney to his brother and saved his life. Today, both the brothers are leading healthy and normal lives.

Addressing the media on the eve of the flag off to his road trip, Anil said, “Our aim is to reach John O Groats, the northern tip of Scotland. We chose this destination basically because we wanted to drive as far as we can and it’s the farthest we can travel by road without having to ship the car across stretches of ocean or sea.” “Why not drive in India I have been asked often and my simple answer has been that it’s too easy and not as challenging. After all India is home and home is always more comfortable” he added

The entire trip is going to take close to three months. During their journey Anil and his family will be spending nights in hotel rooms, hostels or the welcoming homes of people they know and don’t know along the way and where possible or have to, in tents and sleeping bags.

“We’re looking forward to doing some camping as well so we’ve got our tents and sleeping bags ready,” said an excited and practical Anil.

The main purpose of this trip is to generate awareness about organ donation across geographies. But how does the team of seven aim to do this? “The idea is to get people to notice us doing something extra ordinary, ask what we’re doing and why and in this way get people talking about organ donation. The main reason many people don’t opt in for becoming an organ donor is misinformation. Through our social media posts from the trip and interactions with people along the way, we want to be able to continue getting attention and then introducing the messages about organ donation and myth busting information to get rid of the common misconceptions associated with organ donation,” added Anil.

“We get umpteen queries from patients seeking Kidney Transplantation. The number of recipients undergoing Hemo-dialysis in the waiting list for Transplant is huge and swelling! Also, in most instances family members are not willing to become Donors as they believe it would adversely affect their day-to-day life. It therefore, becomes essential for all of us to increase awareness & education on the Transplantation processes and post-transplant life to prospective donors, remove the stigmas associated with it and motivate family members to Donate,” said Dr. Prashanth, General Manager, Columbia Asia Hospital, Hebbal.

Generating awareness about organ donation is the need of the hour. “In a country like India, pledging your organs for donation is not enough because the family is given the ultimate decision making power. This makes it important for all family members to understand and accept a person’s request to be an organ donor. Family support is critical. Also, the strict nature of donation laws makes it far easier for people to donate their organs to a family member than to donate it to anyone else in the case of live organ donors,” said Dr Kanchan Sanyal, CMS- Columbia Asia Referral Hospital, Yeshwanthpur.

Thanking his brother for gifting him a second innings of life, Dr Arjun said, “Patients in need of organ donation need to register themselves and wait long for cadaver organs. Many lose their life while waiting for an organ donor. The best option in such a case is to get the organ from a family member,” said Dr Arjun

“Karnataka is one of the leading states for kidney transplants and Bangalore in particular is important. The major challenge for kidney transplant is shortage of donors. Despite increase in deceased donor transplants in the state only a miniscule percentage of transplants are from deceased donors. The live donor program is very important for kidney transplant program and anil Srivatsa s efforts to promote the gift of life program for organ donation more so kidney donation is laudable. God has given us 2 kidneys and 1 in 1000 is born with 1 kidney telling us that we should donate 1 of our kidneys to our near and dear ones and save lives. Kidney donors are heros and should be honored and recognized. Hospitals media and society should spread this message. The government needs to simplify rules of organ donation and save lives,” said Dr. Sundar Sankaran, Chief Nephrologist, Columbia Asia Hospitals

Apart from his family members, Anil will be accompanied by Vishwas Avathi, film maker and photographer, Geetu Dhillon, working with Infosys, and Vivek Singh, supply chain manager at a pharmaceutical company.

Manish Pandey replaces injured Yuvraj in WT20 squad

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yuvraj

New Delhi: Right-hand batsman Manish Pandey will replace injured Yuvraj Singh in India’s squad for the remainder of the World T20 cricket tournament, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Tuesday.

It said its Event Technical Committee had approved the replacement, a statement said.

Yuvraj twisted his ankle while batting in India’s group match against Australia in Mohali and cannot take further part in the tournament. Yuvraj scored 21 runs off 18 balls to help India win by six wickets.

The 26-year-old Pandey played two T20 Internationals against Zimbabwe in Harare last year. He has also played four One-Days.

India will take on the West Indies in the second semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.

(IANS)

Mallya offers to pay up Rs.4,000 crore, SC told

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Vijay Mallya. Photo: Reuters

Vijay Mallya. Photo: Reuters

New Delhi: The Supreme Court was told that beleaguered liquor baron Vijay Mallya has on Wednesday morning offered to pay Rs.4,000 crore for settling outstanding dues against the grounded Kingfisher Airlines on account of loans extended to it by a consortium of 13 banks headed by the State Bank of India.

The apex court bench of Justice Kurien Joseph and Rohington F. Nariman was also told that Mallya has offered another Rs.2,000 crore that he expects to get, if he succeeds in his suit against multinational General Electric.

Mallya’s counsel said that the proposal for the payment of Rs.4,000 crore by September was made to the chief general manager of the State Bank of India (SBI).

The SBI told the court that it needed a week’s time to consider the proposal made by Vijay Mallya, and submitted that way back in 2013 the bank had filed a suit claiming Rs.6,903 crore plus interest thereon.

In a query from the bank about Mallya’s location, his counsel told the court that he was still abroad but had two video conferencing sessions with the bank officials after his departure from India to London.

(Agencies)

Hrithik sent notice for ‘hurting Christian sentments’ with his ‘Pope’ tweet

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Pope Hrithik Roshan

Mumbai: Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan has been sent a legal notice by former Vice-Chairman of Maharashtra Minority Commission Abraham Mathai accusing him of “hurting sentiments” of Christian community by making a reference to “Pope” in a tweet directed at actress Kangana Ranaut.

Mathai’s lawyer Rizwan Siddiquee said the notice has been sent to the 42-year-old actor under the provision of Section 295-A of the Indian Penal Code asking the actor to apologise in seven days failing which a criminal complaint will be filed.

The “hurtful” remarks were made on Twitter after the ‘Bang Bang’ star’s alleged ex-lover Kangana apparently referred to him as her silly ‘ex’.

“Hrithik Roshan has hurt the religious sentiments, feelings and beliefs of Christians (Roman Catholics) all over the world which includes my client as well. My client wants a written public apology from Hrithik Roshan within 7 days,” Siddiquee said.

Hrithik, on January 28, had tweeted, “There r more chances of me having had an affair with d Pope dan any of d (I m sure wonderful) women d media hs ben naming. Thanks but no thanks (sic).”

The notice also said that by making such a statement on a public platform Hrithik has not only willfully challenged the chastity of the respected Pope but has also shown him in poor light.

“Thus malafidely, mischievously and intentionally outraged the religious feelings and insulted the religious beliefs of Romans Catholics all over the world who consider the Pope to be absolutely chaste as their spiritual and religious leader,” the notice read.

The notice also reads that by indulging in such a criminal act Roshan has rendered himself guilty and liable to be tried under the provision of Section 295-A of the Indian Penal Code (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs).

Siddiquee in the notice has asked the actor to apologise in seven days failing which he will proceed ahead with the matter and obtain the required government sanction, under of Section 196 of Criminal Procedure Code and accordingly file a criminal complaint against Roshan.

Neither the actor nor his representative was available for comment.

(PTI)

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