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Govt allots prime Mumbai plot to Hema Malini at Rs 35 per square metre

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hema-malini

Mumbai: Bollywood dreamgirl Hema Malini’s plans to start a dance academy on a plot of land in Mumbai’s Andheri area hit a roadblock on Thursday, as an RTI activist accused her of land-grabbing.

 

Exactly a month ago, the Maharashtra government had allotted a prime 2,000-square-metre plot to the Bharatiya Janata Party Lok Sabha member in the suburban upmarket Oshiwara area for her proposed dance academy.

According to documents procured under the Right to Information (RTI) by activist Anil Galgali, Hema Malini was allotted the plot worth crores of rupees for a paltry Rs.70,000.

“Not only that, this is the second time Hema Malini has been allotted a prime plot in the Mumbai suburbs. Earlier, in 1997, the (then) Shiv Sena-BJP government had given her a plot of land, but she could not develop it due to CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone) issues,” Galgali said.

He claimed that though Hema Malini has not yet returned the earlier plot, the current government has allotted her another plot.

Interestingly, Congress Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Shukla was allotted a plot in Andheri West, but following a controversy generated by then opposition BJP-Shiv Sena, he was forced to surrender it in February 2014 — just before the Lok Sabha elections.

The details of the allotment to Hema Malini from the Mumbai Suburban District Collectorate showed that she was given the land at only Rs.35 per square metre.

Moreover, she was allotted another plot of 1,741 square metres in the same locality in April 1997 for Rs.10 lakh, but since it fell partly under CRZ, she never developed it, nor did she raise 25 percent of the project cost, but continues to retain that plot, Galgali said.

In the new allotment, the Hema Malini Dance Academy’s cultural complex project is expected to cost around Rs.18.49 crore for which she is yet to submit proof of availability of 25 percent funds and resources to raise the balance 75 percent.

The RTI reply said the academy has only around Rs.3.5 crore; less than the 25 percent minimum requirement, and it was unclear about the balance 75 percent.

Galgali has shot off a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis pointing out the governement’s ‘benevolence’ to Hema Malini, and how it was flouting the state’s policy of taking back reserved land given to various organisations, but allotting a plot reserved for a garden to the BJP MP for her dance academy.

When Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse made the allotment on December 29, 2015, Hema had said how the matter had been buried in bureaucratic red tape for 20 years, but the new government expedited it in record time.

Sania and Martina win Aussie Open for third major trophy

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AP

AP

Melbourne: In a perfect climax to their stupendous run, Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis were today crowned the Australian Open women’s doubles champions after they tamed the spirited Czech duo of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka in straight sets for their 36th win in a row, here.

The top seeds fought past the seventh seeds Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka 7-6 (1) 6-3 in the women’s doubles final that lasted one hour and 45 minutes.

It was their third consecutive Grand Slam title for Sania and Martina, having won the Wimbledon and US Open in the 2015 season.

In an incredible feat, Sania and Martina have now extended their unbeaten run to 36 matches, winning eight titles in a row. They won five straight titles in 2015, starting from the US Open and before the Australian Open now.

It was Sania’s second title at the Australian Open, having won the mixed doubles in 2009 with Mahesh Bhupathi.

The final though was not a stroll in the park for the world number one team with the Czechs putting up a great fight in the opening set. The match was littered with breaks with the two teams struggling to hold serve throughout.

Hlavackova was excellent from the baseline and Hradecka was terrific at the net, playing some breathtaking shots and winners.

The top seeds though had enough resources in their kitty to blunt the challenge of the Czech girls.

“I would like to thank everyone for coming out and supporting us. For me Australian Open is special, it’s like home. I have special memories here. We had an incredible one year. Martina is an amazing champion and an amazing person, so it is a privilege for me to play with her,” Sania said.

“We know how good you are (Czech team). We lost to you at Roland Garros. Hopefully we will have more finals to fight for,” Sania said.

Martina was equally effusive in her praise for the Czechs.

“They pushed us to the limit. It was s tough tournament. We will try to defend our title next year.”

In the opening set, the two pairs could manage to hold serve only twice each as it was full of breaks.

Hradecka ran frantically to her left from the net and smashed one volley past Sania off Martina’s return and then the Swiss served two consecutive double faults to hand the Czechs an early break.

The top seeds had three break chances in the next game — the fourth — on Hlavackova’s serve but the Czech team saved all.

Martina earned a fourth at deuce with a volley and converted that with a forehand passing winner.

A double fault by Sania at 30-40 gave the break back to the Czech players, who were now leading 3-2.

Hradecka sent a forehand long to give the top seeds a breakpoint and netted a backhand to make it 3-3.

There was no end to breaks with Martina dropping her serve next. Hlavackova’s unreachable backhand lob gave the Czechs a breakpoint and the Swiss sent a forehand wide.

Hlavackova’s long forehand at 30-40 meant that Sania and Martina had a break chance but Martina’s return just landed wide and it was deuce.

The top seeds though made it 4-4 with Hlavackova’s consecutive forehand errors from the baseline.

Sania went down 0-40 in the next game but saved all three break chances. A forehand to net by Sania at deuce point and the top seeds were facing another break chance but managed to saved that.

Another break chance and this time the Czechs converted to lead 5-4.

The seventh seeds came out to serve out the set but were broken.

Martina finally held her serve in the 11th game and the top seeds led 6-5, this time not allowing the Czechs to convert break opportunities.

Eventually the Czecks too held and it boiled down to a tiebreak in which the top seeds trampled their opponents, losing just one point, to pocket the opening set.

They broke Hradecka in the very first game of the second set and never looked back after that. Though Martina was broken in the sixth game but the favourites broke back for a 5-2 lead.

There was more drama as Martina was broken in the eight while serving for the match and they squandered three match points in the ninth game on Hradecka’s serve.

Sania and Martina finally closed the championship in their favour on the fourth chance.

(Agencies)

The Nasheman Awards for Journalism 2016

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The Nasheman Urdu Weekly turned 55 on January 26th. On this occasion Nasheman awarded eminent and senior journalists for excellence in journalism representing various Newspaper and Television channels on Wednesday, 27th January 2016 at 11:30 AM in Press club auditorium in Bangalore.

Here are the photos from the event:

Nasheman

Nasheman Editor-in-Chief Rizwan Asad.

Nasheman Editor-in-Chief Rizwan Asad.

CM Ibrahim

Roshan Baig

Greenwood High pledges support for a noble cause through Colorothon

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Greenwood High

Bengaluru: Embracing the spirit of Republic Day celebrations nationwide, Greenwood High International School joined hands with Colorothon to support a noble cause through the event. Greenwood High also bought 500 paintings from Colorothon to support Omashram Trust, a non-profit trust that shelters abandoned senior citizens and children. The event was held at Kittur Rani Chennamma Stadium, Jayanagar and saw tremendous response from the public

The theme of the event was ‘Come, draw your imagination’. Following the event, the best 3 artists were invited to Greenwood High as guest lecturers, to have an interaction with the students who would like to pursue art as their career. The idea was to promote the budding artists and give them a platform to take their talent to next level. The event was open to creative minds of all ages, with an open mind and love for art.

The event also hosted a slew of cultural shows like art bazaars, drum circles, stand-up comedy, magic show, etc. Grafitti walls were mounted and the event also showcased live painting, live cartoonists, caricatures, etc. The students of Greenwood High presented a skit, followed by a Yoga Performance by Chaitra Chaya Seva, a workshop by Faith Foundation on Child Abuse and a Magic Show by Rakesh Regan. The Genesis School of Dance also gave a spectacular performance.

Niru Agarwal, Trustee, Greenwood High International School said, “We are proud to be associated with such a colorful event. The event exhibits art in various forms- painting, music, dance and craft. Colorothon is also supporting Omashram Trust, who are doing an excellent job of reaching out to the elderly and caring for the needy. We hope to continue being a part of such events and nurture budding talent and inspire young minds. ”.

IDP Education to organize Australian Education Fair in Bangalore

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IDP Education

Bengaluru: IDP Education India, the leading student placement service provider will be organizing the Australian education fair in Bangalore at Hotel Vivanta by Taj on Thursday, Trinity Circle, MG Road, 4th February 2016 for students aspiring to pursue higher education in Australia. The fair spread across 14 cities will bring together prominent universities and educational institutes from Australia under one roof.

Mr. Piyush Kumar, Country Director, India – IDP Education said, “IDP seeks to provide a platform to aspiring students to come and have a face-to-face interaction with the university representatives and get answers to all their queries related to studying in Australia.

37 Australian institutions are participating in the fair. It is a FREE platform for all students to gauge their prospects, apply directly to the institution of their choice and get first hand information on courses, scholarships etc.”

“Australian education has always attracted Indian students and the availability of post study work opportunities make it even more attractive. Also 20 out of 39 Australian universities feature in world’s Top 400 Times Higher Education Rankings.” added Mr. Kumar

In addition to meeting the institutions, the qualified students can also get application fee waivers & scholarships. Students are advised to bring along their educational certificates in original along with photocopies. One can also visit the IDP office to pre-register for priority processing and detailed counseling with trained & experienced Australia counselors.

Man hurls shoe at Nitish, arrested

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nitish-kumar

Patna: A man hurled a shoe at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at a function at his native Bhakhtiyarpur in Patna district today, after which he was arrested.

The man, identified as P K Rai, was arrested for hurling a show towards the chief minister while a function was on at Bhaktiyarpur, Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj said.

The shoe fell short of the dais and the man was caught immediately by police.
He hails from Samastipur district and initial questioning revealed that he was angry for non-redressal of his complaint.

The arrested man was kept at Bhakhtiyarpur police station for detailed questioning.

The chief minister continued with the programme despite the incident. Bhakhtiyarpur is the chief minister’s native place.

(PTI)

Opening Ayodhya temple doors error of judgement by Rajiv: President

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pranab-mukherjee

New Delhi: The opening of Ram Janmabhoomi temple site in Ayodhya was an “error of judgement” by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the demolition of Babri Masjid an act of “absolute perfidy” that destroyed India’s image, President Pranab Mukherjee has said in his memoir released today.

“The opening of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple site on 1 February 1986 was perhaps another error of judgement. people felt these actions could have been avoided,” the President has written in the book titled “The Turbulent Years: 1980-96”, released by Vice President Hamir Ansari.

“The demolition of Babri Masjid was an act of absolute perfidy…It was the senseless, wanton destruction of a religious structure, purely to serve political ends. It deeply wounded the sentiments of the Muslim community in India and abroad. It destroyed India’s image as a tolerant, pluralistic nation,” he says.

Mukherjee says implementation of the Mandal Commission’s recommendations “contributed to reducing social injustice in society though it also divided and polarised different sections of our population”.

The period of 1989-91, Mukherjee says, was a phase dominated by violence and bitter divisions within Indian society.

“Insurgency and cross border terrorism broke out in Jammu and Kashmir; the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir-Babri Masjid issue rocked the nation. Finally, a suicide bomber brought Rajiv’s life to an abrupt and tragic end on 21 May 1991,” he says.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s campaign by mobilising activists to collect bricks from all over the country and take them in a procession to Ayodhya caused communal tension, he said.

Recalling the Shah Bano case, the President says Rajiv Gandhi’s action eroded his image of a modern man.

“Rajiv’s actions on the Shah Bano judgement and the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Bill drew criticism and eroded his modern image,” the President said.

Shah Bano, a Muslim mother of five children, was divorced by her husband in 1978. She filed a criminal suit in which the Supreme Court ruled in her favour and she won the right to alimony from her husband.

However, the then Congress government, enacted the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986. The most controversial provision of the Act was that it gave a Muslim woman the right to maintenance for the period of iddat (about three months) after the divorce, and shifted the onus of maintaining her to her relatives or the Wakf Board. The Act was seen as discriminatory as it denied divorced Muslim women the right to basic maintenance which women of other faiths had recourse to under secular law.

Mukherjee says Rajiv Gandhi has been criticised for his excessive reliance on some close friends and advisers who installed the so-called ‘babalog’ government. “Some of them turned out to be fortune seekers.”

(PTI)

Arunachal Governor cites ‘cow slaughter’ protest to justify president rule

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ArunachalCrisis

New Delhi: Former Arunachal Chief Minister Nabam Tuki on Thursday filed a fresh petition in the Supreme Court challenging imposition of president’s rule in the state.

 

Earlier, the apex court issued notices to the Centre and the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh (J.P. Rajkhowa), seeking their responses to a Congress Party challenge of the Centre’s decision to impose president’s rule in the state.

Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa had cited a “cow slaughter” protest as a sign of the complete collapse of law and order to justify the imposition of President’s rule in the state.

The Governor also attached photographs of a “cow” — a Mithun — being slaughtered outside Raj Bhavan as a material justifying the proclamation of emergency, reports The Indian Express.

On Wednesday the Supreme Court issued notice to the central government and Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa on a plea challenging the imposition of President’s Rule in the north-eastern state on January 26.

An apex court constitution bench of Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, Justice Dipak Misra, Justice Madan B. Lokur, Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh and Justice N.V. Ramana had also ordered the centre to file its response, if any, by January 29 and directed further hearing in the matter on Monday (February 1).

The court recorded that senior counsel Satya Pal Jain, appearing for Governor Rajkhowa, “undertakes to furnish a copy of the governor’s report and other material recommending issuance of a proclamation under Article 356 of the Constitution of India, to the court in a sealed cover”.

The court had directed that the “original record be kept available by the attorney general during the hearing”.

The court gave liberty to the petitioner, Congress chief whip in Arunachal Pradesh Rajesh Tacho, to amend the plea to “assail the report of the governor, and the consequential (presidential) proclamation”.

The court directed that Tacho be provided, during the course of the day, the date on which Rajkhowa sent a report recommending the imposition of President’s Rule.

(Agencies)

Teachers on hunger strike over Rohith’s suicide

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rohith-vemula

Hyderabad: Three teachers of Hyderabad Central University today sat on a one-day hunger strike demanding that Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao Podile be removed and in-charge VC Vipin Srivastava step down, in order to resume academic and administrative activities.

The protest by teachers comes a day after a second batch of students on an indefinite fast demanding justice for Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula, who allegedly committed suicide on January 17, were shifted to hospital following concerns over their health condition.

A teacher from the Osmania University also joined the protesting teachers in the fast on HCU campus under the banner of SC/ST Teachers’ Forum and other concerned teachers.

Earlier, a group of seven students had also been taken to hospital following their deteriorating health condition.

The agitating students yesterday refused to hold talks with Srivastava, who came to the protest site.

They alleged that Srivastava was equally responsible for the “wrong affairs” and demanded that he step-down from the responsibility of interim VC.

Meanwhile, the Joint Action Committee for Social Justice, spearheading the agitation over Rohith’s suicide, said that students would intensify the “struggle” till all their demands are met.

Their demands include Podile’s resignation, and also Srivastava’s from the post of in-charge VC, “sacking” from Union Cabinet of HRD Minister Smriti Irani, employment to a family member of Rohith and Rs 50 lakh compensation to his family.

The selection of Srivastava as interim VC was earlier opposed by the students and SC/ST staff forums as they claimed he headed the Executive Council sub-committee whose decisions were “responsible for the death of Rohith” and that he was one of the accused in the death of another Dalit student in 2008.

Students of most universities in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana yesterday boycotted classes in solidarity with the agitators as they sought “justice” for Rohith.

(Agencies)

Paid Rs 1 Cr in cash for Kerala CM, testifies woman in ‘solar scam’

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Oommen Chandy

Thiruvananthapuram: A bribe of Rs. 1.1 crore was paid to the personal staff of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy for the politician, testified a woman accused, along with her partner, of engineering Kerala’s “solar scam.”

Saritha Nair, who was arrested for the swindle in 2013 and then granted bail, made her disclosure today before a retired high court judge appointed to investigate the solar scam, which has pummelled the government ahead of state elections this year.

Nair said today that the Chief Minister’s staff sought a bribe of Rs. seven crore for him, of which she paid Rs. 1.1 crore in cash, a claim Chandy has denounced as baseless.

Nair’s allegations come after Chandy, who belongs to the Congress, spent nearly 11 hours being questioned on Monday about his alleged links to the con job, which was centred on industrialists being promised solar panels at cheap rates by Nair and Biju Radhakrishnan, who she was romantically involved with. Radhakrishnan is still in jail for the alleged murder of his wife.

“Saritha Nair could have said all these things several times before the (judicial commission). But she never did that. Suddenly what happened?” asked the Chief Minister, reiterating that he has not committed any wrongdoing. Chandy has revealed that he refused to take a lie detector test on Monday, as requested by a lawyer for Radhakrishnan.

The couple has earlier said that they used Chandy’s name and his aides’ political connections to land valuable contracts, and that the Chief Minister had promised them a large plot of government land in exchange for 40 per cent of the profits from a clean energy plant they had proposed. Chandy was forced to suspend three aides whose close links to Nair and Radhakrishnan were established.

With assembly elections due in Kerala this year, Chandy is seen as making a strong political statement by deposing; he had requested an early hearing.

(Agencies)

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