Archives for 2017
Delhi Mahila Congress chief Barkha Singh hits out at Rahul, Maken; sacked
New Delhi: Delhi Mahila Congress chief Barkha Singh, who stepped down after attacking Rahul Gandhi and Ajay Maken, was removed from the party post within hours of her making the announcement.
“This is to inform that Barkha Shukla Singh has been removed from the post of president of Delhi Pradesh Mahila Congress with immediate effect,” All India Mahila Congress President Shobha Oza said in a statement.
A defiant Singh said she will adopt legal options against her removal and said she would not quit the party, claiming herself to be a “loyal soldier” of the Congress.
However, on Friday she was expelled from the party, said reports.
“I will not quit the Congress and continue to wage my war within the party,” she said, adding that “I will move the court against my illegal removal”.
She earlier charged Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi with not meeting party leaders and said he was “reluctant” to address “issues” within the party organisation.
“Why is he (Rahul) scared of meeting his own party members? Several senior leaders have quit the party because of this very reason – his reluctance over addressing issues that exist within the organisation,” she said.
Singh, who had complained against “neglect” of women workers in ticket distribution for the municipal elections, alleged that the voice of party workers was “snubbed” and their grievances were not addressed.
“Delhi Congress president (Maken) not only misbehaved with me but also with other office bearers of Mahila Congressat his residence. When the matter was brought to the notice of Rahul Gandhi, nothing happened,” said Singh, a former chairperson of Delhi Commission for Women (DCW).
Delhi Congress’ chief spokesperson Sharmishtha Mukherjee later said that Singh was settling her “personal grudges” and “hurting” party interests at a crucial time when MCD polls are round the corner.
“She is not a ‘loyal soldier’ but a back-stabber who is deliberately trying to harm the party at a crucial juncture,” Mukherjee said.
(PTI)
BJP trying to hide corruption in MCD by projecting PM: Kejriwal
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today accused the BJP of trying to cover up its corruption in the three municipal corporations by projecting the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the civic polls, and asserted the strategy would not work.
Citing poor sanitation in the national capital which is leading to a rise in vector-borne diseases such as dengue, he said there is no hope from the BJP and that the only hope for the people of Delhi is his Aam Aadmi Party.
“The hope of the BJP is only Narendra Modi through which the party wants to cover up its corruption and the poor sanitation condition.
“How will Modi-ji improve the situation in MCD. Work in the MCD will not be undertaken by Narendra Modi, but local BJP leaders Vijendra Gupta and others,” Kejriwal told PTI in an interview.
He also accused the BJP of “completely destroying” the MCD during its 10-year rule.
The elections to all the 272 wards of the three civic bodies where the BJP, Congress and the AAP are locked in a triangular battle will be held on Sunday.
(Agencies)
Deepa Jayakumar’s husband launches political party
Chennai: Taking the political plunge almost two months after his wife Deepa Jayakumar, niece of late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa launched her outfit, K Madhavan today floated his own party, ‘MGR Jayalalithaa DMK Kazhagam’.
He launched it after paying his respects to Jayalalithaa and MGR at their memorials at the Marina beach here.
Speaking to reporters after launching the party flag, Madhavan, clad in a traditional white khadi shirt and dhoti, said he has the support of ‘true Amma followers’ and that he would give Deepa a key post if she decided to join his party.
“I have the support of true Amma (Jayalalithaa’s) followers. If Deepa decides to join our outfit, I will give her key post (in the party)”, he said.
Deepa had launched ‘MGR Amma Deepa Forum’ on February 24, coinciding with Jayalalithaa’s anniversary.
Madhavan, who was involved in forming it, had quit the party last month, alleging “there is a lot of dominance of some evil forces”.
Deepa’s forum also faced a controversy after she faced opposition over the appointment of some office bearers.
Hoping to taste success through Jayalalithaa’s legacy, Deepa decided to contest the RK Nagar bypoll, which was later cancelled by Election Commission, citing use of money power to influence voters.
In the affidavit filed by her for the RK Nagar bypoll, Deepa had never mentioned about Madhavan nor any of her family members.
(Agencies)
Rolls-Royce opens defence engineering centre at Bengaluru
Bengaluru: British engine major Rolls-Royce on Thursday opened a defence Service Delivery Centre (SDC) to offer localised engineering support to Indian forces, said a company statement.
According to the statement, the SDC will offer localised engineering support to improve frontline capability of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Navy (IN) aircraft, and of the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).
“The aim is to deliver the optimum support possible to over 750 aircraft engines which power the Indian armed forces,” Rolls-Royce said.
The SDC, co-located with the Rolls-Royce Engineering Centre, will also have the capability to support new engine fleets.
The centre was inaugurated by Dominic McAllister, British Deputy High Commissioner, Bengaluru. Rolls-Royce’s President for Indian and South Asia Kishore Jayaraman and Lee Doherty, Senior Vice President – Defence, Asia Pacific, were also present on the occasion.
In his address, Lee Doherty said: “The opening of our first Service Delivery Centre in India demonstrates our commitment to be closer to our customers… With a highly skilled team, fully trained in engineering services, supply chain and operational support, we will continue to provide maximum engine readiness and availability.”
Calling it a “new chapter” in the relationship with India, Jayaraman said: “The opening of this Service Delivery Centre marks the beginning of a new chapter in the strong partnership that has existed for over eight decades between India and Rolls-Royce.”
“It demonstrates our commitment to support India’s growth capabilities by encouraging knowledge transfer, building highly skilled teams and developing the Indian aerospace ecosystem,” he added.
The centre will also support HAL through supply chain management with improved in-country support for manufacturing, assembly and test and repair capabilities.
The SDC will also be the base from which field service representatives can be dispatched to frontline bases, subject to contract coverage, to provide on-ground technical support.
India operates Rolls-Royce’s Adour engine, which powers both Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer and Jaguar combat aircraft; Gnome engine, which powers the Sea King helicopters; and the Dart, which powers the Avro aircraft (HS748).
(Agencies)
SC quashes case against Dhoni for portraying himself as a Hindu deity
New Delhi: The Supreme Court today quashed a criminal complaint lodged against ace cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni in an Andhra Pradesh trial court for allegedly hurting religious sentiments by depicting himself as Lord Vishnu on a magazine cover.
The apex court also quashed the criminal complaint against the Editor of the magazine and said that the offence under section 295A (hurting religious sentiments) of the IPC is not made out against them as they did not maliciously hurt the religious sentiments of the complainant.
A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra, A M Khanwilkar and M M Shantanagoudar said “it would be a travesty of justice” if the cricketer and the co-accused editor are prosecuted in the case.
The instant complaint was lodged against Dhoni and others at a trial court in Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh.
The apex court had on September 5 last year quashed a similar case lodged against Dhoni and others in Karnataka and set aside the High Court order which had refused to stall the proceedings against them.
It had also said the trial court in Karnataka did not follow the due procedure in summoning the cricketer and others in the case.
Dhoni had filed the Special Leave Petition challenging the Karnataka HC order. The complaint had alleged that Dhoni was seen on the cover of the magazine as Lord Vishnu, holding several things, including a shoe in his hands.
Taking cognisance of the complaint, the trial court in Karnataka had directed registration of a case against Dhoni under section 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) along with 34 (common intention) of the IPC.
Later, Dhoni was directed to appear before the court after which he moved the high court against the summons issued against him.
(Agencies)
India will pay dearly if it plays Dalai Lama card, says China
Beijing: India will pay “dearly” if it continues the “petty game” of playing the Dalai Lama card, Chinese media warned today, dismissing as “absurd” New Delhi’s reaction to Beijing renaming six places in Arunachal Pradesh.
Referring to allegations that it was “silly for China” not to have names for various counties and inventing them for six places in Arunachal Pradesh, an op-ed article in the state-run Global Times said “these comments are absurd”.
“It is time for India to do some serious thinking over why China announced the standardised names in South Tibet at this time,” the article titled ‘India playing Dalai card worsens territorial spats with China’ said.
The daily said “playing the Dalai Lama card” was never a wise choice for New Delhi. “If India wants to continue this petty game, it will only end up in playing dearly for it,” the daily said.
“South Tibet (Arunachal Pradesh) is historically part of China and name of the places there is part of the local ethnic culture. It is legitimate for the Chinese government to standardise the names of the places,” it said. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as ‘South Tibet’.
China on April 19 announced that it has “standardised” official names for six places in the northeastern state and termed the provocative move as a “legitimate action”. The Chinese move came days after Beijing lodged strong protests with India over the Dalai Lama’s visit to the frontier state.
India yesterday hit out at China for giving Chinese names to six areas of Arunachal Pradesh, saying assigning invented names to towns of the neighbour does not make illegal territorial claims legal.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay also asserted that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India.
Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Lu Kang said earlier that Chinese government is conducting the second nationwide survey on geographical names, “an important task to standardise the geographical names in the languages of ethnic minority groups.” He also said more standardised names will be announced later.
“In the next step, we will also step up our study of those names in Tibetan ethnic languages and in the next step we will announce more standardisation of these names,” he said.
Highlighting China’s stand on the border dispute, the Global Times said, “China has been making efforts to solve the territorial disputes with India, but over the past decades, India has not only increased migration to the disputed area and boosted its military construction there, but it also named Arunachal Pradesh, China’s South Tibet, as a formal state of India in 1987.”
“Putting the Dalai Lama into its toolbox against China is another trick played by New Delhi lately. New Delhi would be too ingenuous to believe that the region belongs to India simply because the Dalai Lama says so,” it said.
“India seems to have become trapped in its stubbornness to measure its strength with China. But territorial disputes cannot be settled by comparing which side is stronger or which country has more leverage. Otherwise, there is no need for Beijing to sit down with New Delhi at the negotiating table,” it said in an apparent reference to 19 rounds of India-China boundary talks.
The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488 km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC). While China claims Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet, India asserts that the dispute covers Aksai Chin area which was occupied by China during the 1962 war.
(Agencies)
Banners asking Kashmiris to leave UP come up in Meerut
Meerut: Banners calling for boycott of Kashmiris and asking people from the Valley to leave Uttar Pradesh have come up in the district in the wake of incidents of stonepelting on security forces in Kashmir.
The banners have been put up by a little-known outfit, Uttar Pradesh Nav Nirman Sena. Its chief Amit Jani said that they have put up these banners and hoardings along the Partapur bypass outside the colleges where Kashmiri students study.
Police said that action will be taken against those putting up such hoardings.
But the outfit said it is only the first step and it will launch a “halla bol” campaign from April 30 to “banish” the Kashmiris who do not leave the state on their own.
A video clip of some youths assaulting soldiers on their way to poll duty in Kralpora area in central Kashmir’s Budgam district had gone viral on social media recently, drawing nationwide outrage.
(PTI)
Tamil actor Sathyaraj expresses wholehearted regret for comments on Cauvery dispute
Chennai: “Baahubali” actor Sathyaraj today expressed “wholehearted regret” over his Cauvery dispute remarks, while appealing for the smooth release of the second part of the SS Rajamouli-directed film in Karnataka next week.
The actor, who plays the role of Kattappa in the movie, clarified that he was not against Kannada people.
This statement comes following the demands of an apology from Sathyaraj by pro-Kannada outfits, who had threatened to stall the release of the film in the state.
In a video released to the media, Sathyaraj read out a statement, saying he had made the remarks nine years ago at a protest held by the Tamil film industry against the “attack” on Tamils in Karnataka over the Cauvery dispute.
“I had spoken something nine years ago at the meeting which has been viewed on Youtube. And since they feel hurt over some of the words spoken by me, I express my wholehearted regret to them (Kannada people) for those words,” he said.
Sathyaraj said he did not want the hardwork of the film’s team go to waste and appealed for allowing its release in Karnataka. “I am a small actor in a mega film called ‘Baahubali’. I don’t want the efforts of many people to go to waste. Not just that, I have the added responsibility of ensuring exhibitors in Karnataka, who have bought (screening rights of) ‘Baahubali 2’, are not affected,” he said in what he termed as an “explanation” to Tamil people and activists.
An atheist, known for his pro-Tamil views, Sathyaraj insisted that he will continue to voice support for matters concerning Tamils including the Cauvery dispute and the ‘Eelam’ issue in Sri Lanka.
The actor, sporting a black T-shirt synonymous with the the state’s Progressive movement led by rationalist leader, late E V Ramasamy Periyar, said he was not against Kannada people.
In a message to producers and filmmakers, he said those who fear “problems” in the future by casting him in their films may not do so and avoid “facing losses.”
“Because I take more pride in living and dying as a Tamil without any superstition than living and dying as an actor,” he added.
He also extended his thanks to director Rajamouli, the film’s producers, various professional bodies of Tamil cinema including an artiste’s association and his well-wishers “for tolerating the difficulties caused by me.”
‘Kannada Okoota’, an umbrella organisation of Kannada bodies, has announced ‘Bengaluru Bandh’ on April 28, the date of release of the film, to protest his remarks.
“The remarks made by Sathyaraj against Kannadigas during the Cauvery row (a few years ago) had crossed limits of decency. We will not allow the film to be released under any circumstances,” Vatal Nagaraj, who heads Kannada Okoota, had said.
(PTI)
Hyderabad beat Delhi in IPL tie
Hyderabad: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) dominated with both bat and ball to beat Delhi Daredevils by 15 runs in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here on Wednesday.
Electing to bat first on winning the toss, SRH posted a challenging total of 191/4 in their allotted 20 overs with quickfire half-centuries from Kane Williamson and Shikhar Dhawan.
Williamson scored 89 runs off 51 balls with six boundaries and five sixes while Dhawan posted 50 runs, studding his 50-ball stint with seven boundaries and a six.
In reply, Delhi could only manage 176/5. Shreyas Iyer was their highest scorer, remaining unbeaten on 50 runs which came off 31 balls with five hits to the fence and two sixes.
Mohammed Siraj was the most successful among the SRH bowlers with figures of 2/39.
Delhi suffered an early blow when opener Sam Bilings flicked a Siraj ball straight into the hands of Deepak Hooda at midwicket.
Sanju Samson and Karun Nair then joined hands to post a 71-run stand in 45 balls.
The visitors seemed to be coasting along nicely at that point, but the loss of two wickets in the space of just three balls completely changed the situation.
Nair was run out while attempting a run off Yuvraj Singh thanks to an accurate throw by substitute fielder V. Shankar.
Rishabh Pant, the next man in, registered a first ball duck when he tried to hit the ball outside the park but could only manage to find David Warner at long on.
Samson was the next to go, holing out in the deep while attempting to smash a slowish delivery from Siraj which was pitched at a full length just outside the off stump.
Samson was in good form, scoring 42 runs off 33 deliveries with three boundaries and a six.
Iyer and Angelo Matthews added 70 runs off 40 deliveries between them, but it was never going to be enough.
Earlier, brilliant batting from Dhawan and Williamson helped Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) post a challenging 191/4.
After losing skipper David Warner in the second over, Dhawan and Williamson thrashed Delhi bowlers all around the park as they together slammed 11 boundaries and five sixes to put Hyderabad in a comfortable position.
Hyderabad started of on a steady note but in the second over, Warner was dismissed by pacer Chris Morris.
Morris’s back of a length delivery outside the off-stump took the leading edge and Amit Mishra ran from fine leg to take a superb catch.
With the scoreboard reading 12/1, Williamson joined Dhawan and both forged a 136-run partnership for the second wicket in 14.2 overs before the former was sent packing in the 17th over by Morris.
The Kiwi skipper, who blasted six boundaries and five sixes in his 51-ball knock, tried to flick a full length delivery but got a top-edge to the deep mid-wicket and Iyer then completed a diving catch to dismiss Williamson.
With three overs remaining and new batsman Yuvraj Singh (3) at the crease, Dhawan, who was playing as support for Williamson, shifted gears and started attacking Delhi bowlers.
After slamming a couple of boundaries, Dhawan was also dismissed by Morris in the 19th over.
Yuvraj, who was dismissed on a golden duck in the last match, once again disappointed as he was bowled by Morris in the next delivery.
Moises Henriques (12) and Hooda (9) then completed the proceedings for Hyderabad with both players adding 21 runs in 1.4 overs to set a challenging target.
(IANS)
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New Delhi: A special court today awarded seven-year jail term to two ISIS men after they pleaded guilty, saying there was a need to show leniency as they should get an opportunity to reform themselves and become good citizens.
District Judge Amar Nath convicted Azhar-ul-Islam (24) from Jammu and Kashmir and Mohammed Farhan Shaikh (25) from Maharashtra, after both pleaded guilty of criminally conspiring to raise funds and recruiting people for the terror outfit ISIS, saying “it seems they have realised their mistakes and are willing to repent for their acts and deeds”.
“No doubt, they were members of a terrorist organisation and got themselves associated with their activities. That may be their folly either on account of misguidance or lack of maturity of mind and circumstances,” the judge said.
He said the court “needs to take into account positive aspects from their act of pleading guilty. It seems the convicts have realised their mistakes and are willing to repent for their acts and deeds.
“In that case, the convicts should get an opportunity to reform themselves and be a good citizen of this country.
Keeping in view the aforesaid facts and circumstances, I am of the considered opinion that there is necessity of showing some leniency while imposing punishment upon the convicts but at the same time, it should not be a wrong message to the society,” the judge said.
The accused had moved the court following their U-turn more than a month after the court framed charges against them.
The accused had moved an application through advocate M S Khan saying they “are remorseful of the acts alleged against them. There is no prior criminal record against them and they want to join the mainstream and want to be productive for the society and want to rehabilitate themselves”.
“The applicants are pleading guilty without any pressure, threat, coercion or undue influence,” the plea had said.
The court had last month framed charges against both the accused and 36-year-old Adnan Hassan for allegedly hatching a criminal conspiracy to raise funds for the ISIS and recruiting people for the terror outfit. The trial against Hassan is continuing separately before the same court.
The court had framed the charges for alleged offences of criminal conspiracy under the IPC) and under provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had registered a case against the three accused on January 28 last year. They were arrested the next day on arrival here from Abu Dhabi.
According to the probe agency, Hassan and Shaikh had been frequently visiting the UAE in connection with jobs since 2008 and 2012 respectively, while Islam had gone to join them in the UAE in July, 2015.
Hassan was earlier allegedly affiliated to the Indian Mujahideen and later got inclined towards ISIS, it alleged.
The charge sheet filed by NIA had claimed that the accused persons, in connivance with other known and unknown associates, had hatched a criminal conspiracy to propagate the ideology, recruit persons, raise funds and facilitate the travel of those recruited to Syria to join the ISIS and further its activities.
The final report said that in furtherance of the conspiracy, the accused had created multiple email IDs, used multiple mobile numbers obtained from their associates from different countries, formed various online forums and groups on Facebook, WhatsApp, Kik, VKontakte, Viber and Skype, using the internet and invited and associated like-minded persons, residents of different countries.
“The accused had formed a terrorist gang and acted as a frontal group of the ISIS and incited, motivated, invited and facilitated people of different nationalities to leave their respective countries and travel to Syria to join, support and further activities of the ISIS,” it had alleged.
The agency said the accused persons were actively involved in perpetuating, promoting and propagating ideologies and terrorist activities of the ISIS.
“They had voluntarily advocated and professed to be the supporters and members of the ISIS and actively supported, invited support from others, propagated and promoted unlawful activities and terrorist activities of the ISIS by exhorting, inciting, luring and influencing others to become members of this organisation,” the NIA had claimed.
“They had also raised, collected and received funds in the UAE and transferred it to their associates in India, the Philippines and Tunisia to facilitate their travel to Syria to join ISIS,” it had alleged.
(PTI)