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Shatrughan Sinha supports, praises Kanhaiya Kumar

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shatrughan-sinha

Patna: Actor-turned Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shatrughan Sinha on Saturday supported Jawaharlal Nehru Students Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar, praising his speech that he delivered after being released from jail on six-month bail.

Sinha dubbed Kanhaiya, who is facing sedition charges for participating in a JNU event held to commemorate the death anniversary of terrorist Afzal Guru, as “son of Bihar”, who delivered a good and thought-provoking speech in the JNU campus after being released from Tihar jail.

He said Kanhaiya belongs to a poor family in a village in Bihar but proved that he has potential.

Earlier, Sinha had expressed happiness when Kanhaiya was granted bail by the Delhi High Court. “Hope, wish and pray that he will prove himself worthy of the support that he received from everyone who felt he was wronged.”

Unlike most of the BJP leaders, Sinha said there was nothing wrong if Kanhaiya demanded azadi (freedom) from poverty, casteism, hunger besides his stand on freedom of expression under the rights provided by the constitution.

Sinha said he heard that several top leaders of the country, including Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, have lauded Kanhaiya and his speech.

In the last few months, Sinha has openly expressed views that differ from the party line on issues such as “return of jungle raj” in Bihar to praising Nitish Kumar around the state assembly elections in which the BJP suffered an embarrassing defeat.

Sinha’s latest move is being viewed here as yet another action causing embarrassment to the BJP.

(IANS)

BJP leader expelled for offering prize money for cutting Kanhaiya’s tongue

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Kanhaiya Kumar

Badaun: The BJP Yuva Morcha leader, who had announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for cutting off JNU Students union leader Kanhaiya Kumar’s tongue, was Saturday expelled from primary membership of the party for six years.

The president of district unit of BJP, Harish Shakya, said that the party has expelled district president of BJP Yuva Morcha, Kuldeep Varshnay for six years.

Shakya told reporters that party has nothing to do with Varshnay’s controversial statement.

“Varshnay’s statement is his personal one and the party has nothing to do with it…he has been expelled from the primary membership of the party for giving such a statement without the consent of party office bearers,” he said.

Shakya stated that a notice to remove Varshnay from the post had been issued six months ago, and Ankit Maurya was made working president in his place.

Varshnay had yesterday announced Rs 5 lakh prize money for cutting off the tongue of Kanhaiya Kumar who he had alleged was speaking against the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi ever since he was released on bail.

Kumar who was arrested on February 12 on sedition charges was released from the Tihar jail on March 3 after the Delhi High Court granted him interim bail for six months.

(Agencies)

Manoj Kumar to receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award

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Manoj-Kumar

New Delhi: Veteran actor Manoj Kumar, best known for his patriotic films Purab Aur Paschim, Upkar and Kranti, will be conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke award for his contribution to the film industry.

The actor became the 47th recipient of the award, the highest recognition in Indian cinema, which consists of a golden lotus, a cash prize of Rs 10 lakhs and a shawl.

Kumar was born as Harikrishna Giri Goswami in Abbottabad, which was then a part of pre-independent India.

He initially started as a romantic hero following his debut in 1960 with Kaanch Ki Gudia but later shifted focus to acting and directing films with patriotic themes so much so that fans started calling him ‘Bharat Kumar’.

Kumar won National Award for Upkaar and was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1992.

(PTI)

4 Indian nurses among 16 dead in gun attack on Yemen care home

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Yemen

Aden: Four Indian nurses were among at least 16 people killed today when gunmen opened fire at an elderly care home in Yemen’s main southern city of Aden, security officials said.

Four gunmen stormed the care home in Aden’s Sheikh Othman district, killing a guard and shooting randomly at residents, the officials told AFP. Dozens of stricken family members arrived at the site following the attack, witnesses said.

One official said the attackers were “extremists” and blamed the Islamic State group, which has been gaining ground in Aden in recent months.

But no group claimed responsibility for the attack, the first of its kind in Yemen, where the internationally- recognised government is grappling with an Iran-backed rebellion on one side and a growing jihadist presence on the other.

President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi has declared Aden Yemen’s temporary capital as Sanaa remains in the hands of the Huthi rebels and their allies since they seized it in September 2014.

Al-Qaeda and IS have stepped up attacks in Aden despite the efforts of the government and its backers in a Saudi-led coalition battling the Huthis and their allies to secure it.

However, most of the jihadists’ attacks have targeted coalition forces and pro-government Yemeni troops.

On Monday, a suicide car bombing, also in Sheikh Othman, hit a gathering of loyalist forces killing four people and wounding five others, according to a security official said.

On February 17, a suicide bombing claimed by IS killed 14 soldiers. The rebels controlled Aden for months before government loyalists pushed them out in July.

Because of the unrest gripping Aden, Hadi himself and many senior officials in his government spend most of their time in Riyadh.

(AFP)

Former Lok Sabha speaker P A Sangma passes away

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P A Sangma

New Delhi: Former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno Agitok Sangma died of a heart attack here on Friday. He was 68.

Parliament sources said the end came this morning after he suffered a heart attack.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan announced the news of his death in the House, which was adjourned for the day.

While expressing deep grief over Sangma’s passing away, Ms. Mahajan said he knew how to run the House with a smile and “I learnt this from him.”

“A man of masses, Sangma strove relentlessly for the amelioration of the marginalised sections,” the Speaker said.

Condoling the death of Sangma, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “a self-made leader whose contribution towards the development of the North East is monumental.

Saddened by his demise.Sangma’s tenure as Lok Sabha Speaker “is unforgettable”. His down-to-earth personality and affable nature endeared him to many,” he said, adding “Sangmaji was deeply influenced by Netaji Bose.”

Sangma was a nine-time member of Lok Sabha and the Speaker in the 11th Lok Sabha. He had also held important portfolios in the central government.

He was also the Chief Minister of Meghalaya from 1988 to 1990 and Leader of Opposition in the assembly from 1990 to 1991.

Born on September 1, 1947 in village Chapahati in the picturesque West Garo Hills District of Meghalaya, Sangma grew up in the small tribal village and struggled hard to rise in life.

After completing his graduation from St Anthony’s College, he went to Dibrugarh University in Assam for his Masters degree in International Relations. Subsequently, he also obtained a degree in Law.

A Congressman who was one of the founding members of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was expelled from it in July 2012 when he refused to accept his party’s decision to quit the race for India’s President. In January 2013, he had formed the National People’s Party.

(Agencies)

Assembly polls in 5 states from April 4 to 16, counting on May 19

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Nasim Zaidi- Chief Election Commisioner. File photo: PTI

Nasim Zaidi- Chief Election Commisioner. File photo: PTI

New Delhi: The elections to five state assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry will be held between April 4 and May 16 and counting of votes on May 19, the Election Commission announced today.

Assam will go to polls in two phases on April 4 and 11 while election in West Bengal will be held in six phases on April 4 and 11 (under Phase one), 17, 21, 25, 30 and May 5.

The single-phase elections for Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry assemblies will be held on May 16, Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi told a press conference here.

Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry assemblies have 126, 140, 234, 294 and 30 constituencies respectively.

The elections will also see for the first time a symbol, which has been created by the National School of Design, allotted to NOTA (None of the above) that will be placed at the bottom of the list of candidates.

Noting that voters are in the focus of the Commission, Zaidi said all booths will have seven basic facilities and there will also be all-women polling booths.

Mobile squads will have GPS-fitted vehicles and be accompanied by central forces to ensure that they quickly attend to complaints.

(Agencies)

Farmers block roads in protest in Bengaluru

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freedom_park

Bengaluru: Traffic movement on the busy Kempegowda International Airport Road had come to stand still when thousands of farmers driving tractors marched into the city to lay siege to the Vidhana Soudha, demanding permanent water solution for Kolar and Chickballapur districts.

Although the situation is under control now, earlier, farmers got agitated when the police tried to barricade their entry into the city. The police also lathi-charged to disperse the agitating farmers after the latter tried to break the barricades.

The police agreed to their demands and allowed them to park their tractors at Palace Grounds. The protestors, then, marched to Freedom Park.

(Agencies)

Iba Halal Care: India’s first halal cosmetics brand launched in Bengaluru

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Iba Halal Care

Bengaluru: After scoring success in Gujarat and Aurangabad, Iba Halal Care now opens its franchisee store in Bengaluru near Safina Plaza, Commercial Street area; this marks the brand’s entry into Southern India market. Iba Halal Care – India’s first halal cosmetics brand was launched in Ahmedabad with two company-owned stores in Sept 2014. This was followed by stores in Surat, Vadodara and Aurangabad.

Halal cosmetics are a new range of beauty and personal care products that are free of non-halal ingredients such as alcohol, pig fat and other animal derived ingredients, and harmful chemicals like sulfates and parabens.

Iba Halal Care

Iba Halal Care

“India is home to world’s second largest Muslim population, yet there is no cosmetics brand in the market that caters adequately to the ethical needs of this large consumer segment. Iba Halal Care aims to fill this gap by making available a range of Halal certified products that are also vegan and cruelty-free to offer peace of mind to Muslims as well as vegetarians”, says Mauli Teli, CEO and Managing Partner at Ecotrail Personal Care, the company which has launched Iba Halal Care in the market.

Halal is an Arabic word for ‘that which is lawful or permitted’. The concept of Halal is rooted in science and ensures that all products are free from impurities, are ethical, safe and effective.

Iba offers over 80 products for head to toe halal care – face creams, lotions, hair oil, shampoos and conditioners, lipsticks, kajal, foundations, hair colors, soaps, attars, men’s deos, exotic fragrances and more. Unlike ordinary personal care and cosmetic products each Iba product is certified halal as a proof of its quality standard and purity. Iba is unique since it is not only a halal certified range but is vegan and cruelty-free as well.

“Careful research and high quality standards have been maintained throughout development and manufacturing to ensure that our products have Halal integrity, are of world class quality and are safe and effective for daily use”, highlights Grishma Teli, VP of R&D and Managing Partner at Ecotrail Personal Care. “Source of every ingredient going into our products is thoroughly researched and confirmed to ensure that our products are 100% free of non-halal ingredients such as pig fat, other animal derived ingredients, alcohol as well as harsh chemicals”.

“What has found great acceptance across consumers in Ahmedabad and other cities where there are Iba stores and among online buyers across the country is the high quality standards and affordable prices at which Iba products are available – Rs. 40 – Rs. 350. This is indeed an advantage to a large segment of customers”, says Ali Hussain Momin, founder of Ummat Infomedia and a regular Iba customer.

Iba Halal Care products are also becoming available through shop-in-shop counters in local supermarkets. Mr. Nadeem Jafri, founder of Hearty Mart Supermarkets in Gujarat says “We have launched Iba products in our supermarket chain across Central & North Gujarat; given its high quality and affordable price range, Iba is finding acceptance in consumers and its own space amongst other cosmetics brands that are sold in our shops”.

Mr. Dilip Vadgama, Chief Operating Officer, Ecotrail Personal Care says “the halal trigger in cosmetics has led to consumers switching to Iba products. Majority of customers coming to our store appreciate the quality and value that the brand offers and hence are not only loyal customers but they also buy a variety of products from us such as fairness cream, face wash, hair oil, fragrances. Lipsticks are their favorite as they didn’t have a halal option available and can now use them with ease. We have also made Iba products available in many leading cosmetics and medical stores across Aurangabad which has substantially added to their sales”.

In order to meet demand and increase accessibility to Iba products across cities and in smaller towns, the company also offers a ‘shop-in-shop’ model. Currently the brand is available in 100+ cosmetics shops, medical stores and supermarkets in Western India.

Company plans are underway to further expand into South India with franchisee stores planned in Mysore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kozhikode and Mallapuram among other cities. Till then the consumers can meet their need for halal cosmetics through online purchases from Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, Purplle & Nykaa.

Two-wheeler taxi services uberMOTO, Ola Bike launched

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ubermoto

Bengaluru: Leading app-based cab aggregator rivals Uber and Ola on Thursday launched pilot on-demand two-wheeler taxi services uberMOTO and Ola Bike, respectively.

“We are very excited to pilot uberMOTO in Bangalore — pairing our on-demand technology platform with motorbikes… uberMOTO will offer another affordable mobility option that will help people save time and money while helping cut congestion in our cities over time,” said Uber India president Amit Jain in a statement.

uberMOTO’s minimum fare is pegged at Rs.15 followed by Rs.3 per km and Re.1 per minute of travel time.

About Ola’s motorcycle taxi offering Ola Bike, COO Pranay Jivrajka said: “We are excited to launch the pilot of Ola Bike in Bangalore today.”

“This will help users get to where they want to be within minutes, especially in traffic-prone cities like ours,” Jivrajka said.

Ola Bike comes with a minimum fare of Rs.30, Rs.2 per km and Re.1 per minute of trip time.

Both uberMOTO and Ola Bike motorcycle taxis have made arrangement to provide helmets to pillion riders and put safety measures like driver details displayed upfront, SOS, GPS tracking, two-way feedback and the ability to share trip details with family and friends in place.

Uber also highlighted that two-wheeler owners can become drivers on its platform and recoup expenses for their trips.

Currently, uberMOTO is available at Jakkur, Banaswadi, Whitefield, Sarjapura, Begur, Kothnur, Hosakerehalli, Vijaya Nagar and Yeshwantpur areas in Bengaluru.

(IANS)

SBI seeks Vijay Mallya’s arrest, seizure of passport: Report

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Vijay Mallya. Photo: Reuters

Vijay Mallya. Photo: Reuters

Mumbai: Top state-run lender State Bank of India (SBI) has sought arrest of Vijay Mallya, and also impounding of his passport, as the bank approached Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) seeking action against the UB Group promoter for defaulting on loans.

State Bank of India, which heads the consortium of 17 lenders to the grounded Kingfisher Airlines, moved the Debt Recovery Tribunal in Bengaluru against the airline’s chairman Mallya in its bid to recover over Rs. 7,000-crore dud loans from him.

According to sources, SBI has moved four applications at the DRT in Bangalore, seeking impounding Mallya’s passport, getting him arrested, securing the lenders’ first right on the payout from Diageo and getting full disclosure of his assets in the country and abroad.

The immediate objective of the lenders moving the DRT is to secure a first right on the $75 million severance package that Mallya will be getting for quitting Diageo-owned United Spirits (USL) as its chairman last week.

An SBI official confirmed to Press Trust of India that they have moved the DRT seeking right on $75 million severance package, as the borrower Mallya who has already been declared by the bank a wilful defaulter, has decided to leave the country and settle down in London.

Mallya and Kingfisher Airlines owed Rs. 7,800 crore to a consortium of 17 lenders led by State Bank which had an exposure of over Rs. 1,600 crore to the now defunct airline.

Since January 2012, the loan was not serviced. Other lenders include Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Federal Bank, Uco Bank and Dena Bank among others. Last year, SBI declared Mallya as wilful defaulter. Last month, Punjab National Bank had also declared him, his group holding company United Breweries Holdings and the long-defunct Kingfisher Airlines as wilful defaulters.

As part of a deal, Diageo said it would pay $40 million immediately to Mallya with the balance being payable in equal installments over the next five years. It will also absolve Mallya of all liabilities over alleged financial lapses at the company founded by his family.

Last year Diageo auditors had found that Mallya had diverted Rs. 7,200 crore of United Spirits Limited (USL) funds to the airline, which was again diverted elsewhere.

The England-based Diageo is the majority shareholder of USL with a 54.78 per cent holding, excluding the 2.38 per cent owned by the USL Benefit Trust.

Mallya personally held a small stake of 0.01 per cent in USL at the end of December 2015, while his group firms owned further 3.99 per cent stake. However, more than half of these shares are pledged with banks.

The 17-member lenders consortium led by SBI has also decided to auction Kingfisher House in Mumbai on March 17 this year in a bid to recover a part of Rs. 6,963 crore debt due from Kingfisher, as lenders since January 2012 has recovered around Rs. 1,200 crore by selling pledged shares of group companies and other physical assets.

Banks are charging 15.5 per cent compounded interest on this principal amount, which has not been serviced since January, 2012.

(PTI)

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