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Sister Nirmala Joshi, successor of Mother Teresa passes away

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Sister Nirmala

Kolkata: Sister Nirmala, who succeeded Mother Teresa as superior general of the Missionaries of Charity, died here on Tuesday. She was 81. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said her life was devoted to “caring for the poor and underprivileged”.

Nirmala became the second head of the Missionaries of Charity after its founder Mother Teresa stepped down from the post in March 1997. The Nobel laureate died on September 5 the same year.

Nirmala held the post till March 24, 2009, when she was succeeded by Sister Mary Prema.

Archbishop of Kolkata Thomas D’Souza told IANS that the funeral mass will be held at the Mother House on Wednesday at 4 p.m. Sister Nirmala will be laid to rest at the St. John’s cemetery.

Born Nirmala Joshi in Ranchi to a Brahmin family from Nepal in 1934, she joined the MoC after converting from Hinduism in het youth.

An MA in political science and a trained lawyer, Sister Nirmala started the MoC’s contemplative branch in 1976 and headed it till 1997 when she was elected to succeed Mother Teresa as the order’s Superior General.

She was elected for a second term in 2003.

Sister Nirmala was re-elected for a third term on March 13, 2009, but the MoC held a second election days later after she wanted to be relieved of the responsibility owing to ill-health and also expressed a desire to return to the contemplative life she led before heading the order.

Sister Nirmala was honoured with India’s second highest civilian order Padma Vibhushan in 2009 for her services to the nation.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condoled Sister Nirmala’s death and tweeted: “Saddened at the passing of Sister Nirmala who headed Missionaries of Charity after Mother Teresa. Kolkata and the world will miss her.”

Banerjee paid her last respects to Sister Nirmala at St John’s Church here.

Describing it as a personal loss, she said the state government will extend all help and cooperation for the last rites.

International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) also extended its condolences.

“Her life of dedication and service especially to the poor is a great inspiration and it is to be pondered upon and to be followed,” ISKCON’s spokesperson Radharaman Das said.

(IANS)

Karnataka government moves SC against Jayalalithaa's acquittal

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Jayalalithaa

New Delhi: The Karnataka government today moved the Supreme Court challenging the state high court verdict acquitting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in the disproportionate assets case.

The state government in its appeal, filed through advocate Joseph Aristotle, has sought setting aside of the Karnataka HC order and also pleaded that the disqualification of the AIADMK chief be restored.

It has also alleged that it did not get ample opportunity to put forth its case before the high court.

The Karnataka High Court had on May 11 acquitted the AIADMK leader in the case, saying that her conviction by the special court suffered from infirmity and was not sustainable in law.

The special court had last year held Jayalalithaa guilty of corruption and sentenced her to four years imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 100 crore.

(PTI)

Dalit brothers who cracked IIT attacked, provided police protection

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dalit-brothers-iit

Allahabad: The family of Brijesh Saroj and Raju Saroj, two Dalit brothers from Rehua Lalganj village of Pratapgarh district who made it to the coveted IITs despite their poverty, has been provided police protection after unknown persons attacked the family with stones on Sunday night.

Apprehending further trouble, district magistrate Amit Tripathi rushed SDM Lalgunj YP Singh and half a dozen policemen on Sunday night to guard the tormented family after he was informed of the attack.

The Saroj family was attacked soon after the brothers returned to Rehua Lalganj from Lucknow, where they were honored by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav for their feat. “We were sitting outside our hut when some unknown people started pelting stones on us. Ramesh Soni, my brother Brijesh and some women of the family were hit,” Rajesh Saroj, elder brother of the duo, told media.

“Things could have taken an ugly turn, but for the police protection,” a worried Rajesh added.

The father, Dharamraj, could not believe that his family had to seek police protection just because his sons made it to the IIT. “For years, my father, my sons and I have tolerated discriminatory acts of some villagers as we wanted the children to focus only on studies and not get distracted. This shows some people are envious of my boys,” he said.

“Now here we are, feeling unsafe in our own village despite the whole village applauding us. It is so uneasy to see police deployed in front of your house surrounded by people with whom my sons grew,” Dharamraj added with a heavy heart.

Raju, Dharamraj’s younger son who scored AIR-167 in JEE Mains, is confused. “We only raised the issue of village welfare with the chief minister. Why would someone throw stones on us… and we are being forced to take police refuge and our fault perhaps: clearing IIT?” Raju said.

“In fact, when we spoke to the CM about problems in our village, he announced that it would be developed as an Adarsh Lohia Gram,” said Raju. “We were pelted with stones just because we have achieved what we wanted for every bright child of the village,” Raju lamented.

Cops protected the Saroj family through the night on Sunday and on Monday. “It is shocking. Although a handful of people could be involved in the incident, which we are probing, it puts us all in bad light,” said Tripathi.

(Agencies)

"Yoga was never secular, it is more Vedic and Sanatan": Pravin Togadia

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Praveen Togadia

Jaipur: Amidst opposition in some quarters to observing International Yoga Day, VHP International Executive President Praveen Togadia on Monday said that the discipline was never secular and was more of “Vedic and Sanatan”.

He also said that Surya Namaskar was an essential part of the exercise form and no performance of yoga was complete without it.

“Om and Surya Namaskar, two exercises of yoga, are very necessary and without them, yoga is incomplete,” Togadia told reporters at a VHP event here.

The Hindu right-wing leader leader further said that “yoga was never secular, it is more ‘Vedic and sanatan’ (ancient)”.

“Namaj and yoga are two different things. Those who do not want Om and Surya Namaskar, they should practise only gym activity for better health,” he said.

“Those who want to live healthy life should opt for yoga, and those who want to commit suicide (not better life) could avoid it,” he warned.

He also said that VHP would not allow any changes to be introduced in yoga exercises.

On the sidelines of a state-level training event, Togadia added that five lakh health ambassadors would be trained under a VHP programme over the next three years. He also said that similar training programmes would be launched in 300 cities.

After several Muslim groups expressed reservations against offering ‘surya namaskar’ and reciting Sanskrit ‘slokas’ during the yoga ‘asanas’ to be performed during the June 21 International Yoga day event on Rajpath in New Delhi, the government had decided not to include ‘surya namaskar’ and ‘om’ chanting in the set of ‘asanas’ to be performed during the official celebrations.

(PTI)

MP journalist burnt to death allegedly by mining mafia

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journalist-death

Balaghat: A 40-year-old local journalist was burnt to death allegedly by three persons, suspected to be closely linked to sand mafia, who set him ablaze apparently over his refusal to withdraw a court case, police said on Sunday.

The burnt body of Sandeep Kothari, who was abducted from Katangi tehsil in Balaghat district two days back, was found lying near railway tracks at Sindi town in Wardha district of east Maharashtra last night, police said.

Additional Superintendent of Police Neeraj Soni said that Kothari was out of bail for the last two months in a rape case. “His (Kothari’s) body was identified by his brother,” it said.

BSP demanded a CBI probe into the murder, saying the scribe’s family was being “tormented” by the sand mafia in the past as he had “exposed” their activities.

Former MLA from Balaghat, Kishore Samrite said Kothari was falsely implicated in more than 12 criminal cases.

“He was externed as he wrote against and also lodged complaints against manganese and sand mafias and other high and mighty people involved in organised crimes. His family too was tormented by mafias,” said Samrite.

Police have already arrested three persons, identified as Rakesh Nasvani, Vishal Dandi and Brijesh Duharwal–all from Katangi–in connection with Kothari’s murder.

The Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) J S Markam said police suspected the trio were engaged in illegal mining and also running chit fund companies. He said they had allegedly kidnapped Kothari and set him ablaze.

They were pressurising Kothari, who was working as a tehsil correspondent for some Jabalpur-based Hindi dailies, to withdraw a case of illegal mining he had filed against some persons in a local court.

Police suspect Kothari was kidnapped and murdered because he refused to withdraw the matter.

“We are investigating the case from all angles and a police team is camping in Nagpur. It will be premature to conclude the exact reason behind the kidnapping and killing,” Markam said.

Kothari was abducted on June 19 night when he was headed towards Umri village with his friend on his bike.

His bike was hit by a four-wheeler and its occupants bundled him inside the vehicle and fled before beating up Kothari’s friend Rahandle who was riding pillion, the SDOP said.

Police have seized the car used for kidnapping Kothari, he added.

(Agencies)

Does Modi do yoga, asks Vladimir Putin

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Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on December 11, 2014. (AFP Photo/Findlay Kember)

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on December 11, 2014. (AFP Photo/Findlay Kember)

Saint Petersburg: “Does Narendra Modi do yoga?” asked Russian President Vladimir Putin when he was informed that the Indian Prime Minister started a Ministry of Yoga.

He was incredulous that a ministry of yoga could be set up, and then smilingly asked why anyone would do that. He wondered if Narendra Modi practised yoga himself. He was told that it was likely, though he had not publicly said so.

“He is a good man, and a personal friend,” Mr. Putin said in reply to questions from visiting wire service reporters from around the world, including IANS.

In response to a question raised by IANS, whether he and Mr. Modi were both being seen as “tough leaders”, Mr. Putin said it was not true. “I am not tough. I am always willing to compromise,” adding that often the other side took a tough stand.

“They say they have two opinions. One that they are right. And the second that I am wrong,” Mr. Putin said at his official residence here.

(IANS)

I am opposed to 'one-man shows' in political parties: L K Advani

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a. Photo: Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times

Photo: Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times

New Delhi: Veteran BJP leader L K Advani, who created a flutter yesterday with his apprehensions of Emergency again in India, today clarified that it was not aimed at any individual but said he was against “one-man shows” in political parties and asked leaders to be modest like Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Clarifying his controversial remarks on Emergency, Advani said, “I did not mean any individual when I made that statement. I am opposed to all kinds of dictatorships.”

“Arrogance breeds authoritarianism.It is very sad. Today’s leaders should be modest like Vajpayee,” Advani told Aaj Tak, according to a statement by the channel.

Asked if he feels that a dictatorial trend in political leadership has emerged, Advani said, “I have always been against this one man shows in political parties.”

He said, “Vajpayee was a tall leader with successful record but I never heard someone at that time saying Vajpayee is India and India is Vajpayee.”

In another interview to India Today, Advani also said, “anyone who comes to power doesn’t want to lose it” and warned that the voter will teach a lesson to anyone who “abuses power”.

He also said that the best safeguard against mischief is the voter.
“Right,” he said when asked whether the Indian voter will teach a lesson to any politician who may have delusions of power or a desire to abuse his power.

The BJP patriarch said Emergency cannot be imposed in India for a second time easily but added a word of caution that “those who have power or those who are likely to be in power, their susceptibility would always be greater”.

“Anyone who comes to power doesn’t want to lose it, just as anyone who gets money does not want to lose it,” he said.

Referring to his remarks to the Indian Express where he said that, “at present, the forces that can crush democracy are stronger” was made against the backdrop of the present context, the BJP patriarch sought to dismiss any speculation.

“I do not know whether I used stronger. I simply said strong….what surprises me and what distresses me is that those who have imposed such a drastic Emergency in the country do not have any sense of guilt for that. It is this that distresses me,” he said.

(PTI)

AP Police issues notice to TV channel over Naidu tapes

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ChandrababuNaidu

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh Police has issued notice to city-based news channel T News for airing an audio tape containing purported conversation between Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and nominated Telangana MLA Elvys Stephenson, saying it “will hurt the sentiments of Telugu- speaking people” in both the states.

The notices that were served late last night evoked criticism from both the channel management and the media fraternity of Telangana.
The channel has also called for a protest in front of AP DGP’s office, Secretariat and all district headquarters today.

“Since the programme telecast on June 7 at around 8.30 pm contained material disturbing the public tranquillity, affecting the maintenance of law and order as it in violation of Section 5 and Rule 6 of cable TV news network Act, as the programme is defamatory deliberate, false with suggestive innuendos and half-truths,” the notice read.

Reacting to the notice, T News Channel CEO Narayan Reddy said AP police has no right to issue notices even before verifying authenticity of the footage scientifically.

“We are going to lodge a complaint with the President, Prime Minister, Governor and Press Council of India. Issuing the notice itself is wrong. AP Police has not right to issue such notice. They cannot curtail the freedom of press,” Reddy told PTI.

The notice also asked the channel management to reply within three days that why an appropriate legal action should not be initiated against them.

Condemning the police’s move, Telangana Union of Working Journalists in statement requested scribes to “raise the voice against this undemocratic, unconstitutional and disrespectful approach of AP CM”.

(PTI)

FIRs against BSY, HDK in illegal land denotification case

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This Nov. 2007 photo shows Kumaraswamy and Yeddyurappa coming out of Raj Bhavan after meeting the then Governor Rameshwar Thakur. File Photo: Bhagya Prakash K, The Hindu

This Nov. 2007 photo shows Kumaraswamy and Yeddyurappa coming out of Raj Bhavan after meeting the then Governor Rameshwar Thakur. File Photo: Bhagya Prakash K, The Hindu

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Lokayukta on Saturday filed FIRs against former chief ministers and BJP and JDS leaders BS Yeddyurappa and HD Kumaraswamy in an alleged illegal land denotification case.

According to RTI documents, Kumaraswamy and Yeddyurappa have been made, respectively, the number one and number two accused in the case.

Both former chief ministers are accused of denotifying a prime plot to benefit Kumaraswamy’s relative.

The CID had held a preliminary inquiry on the findings of a Comptroller and Auditor General of India report of 2012 on land denotification carried out by the successive governments from 2007-12 and had recently submitted its report to the Lokayukta.

The report said the accused have prima facie played a stellar role in denotifying huge tracts of land, causing a financial loss to the exchequer, Lokayukta said.

The CAG had made scathing remarks against the incumbent chief ministers between 2007 to 2012 who disregarded the well- defined law that once the land is in possession it could not be denotified.

The denotification of 610 acres and 16.5 acres of land referred to in the CAG report were ordered when Kumaraswamy and Yeddyurappa were the chief ministers and in between during a period of Governor’s rule.

(Agencies)

Mumbai hooch tragedy: Death toll climbs to 81, eight officials suspended

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Mumbai hooch tragedy

Mumbai: The death toll in the illicit liquor tragedy in a country liquor bar in suburban Mumbai shot up to 81 on Saturday morning with the death of more people due to the poisonous brew, officials in Mumbai said.

Several victims are undergoing treatment in various hospitals, and the condition of at least a dozen is said to be critical.

The toll was 20 on Friday noon, and suddenly shot up to 66 on Friday night with more people dying at short intervals and more being admitted with symptoms of poisoning during the day.

Police have cracked down on the law enforcers by suspending eight officials, including senior Police Inspector of Malwani police station Prakash S. Patil, three officers and four constables, Deputy Commissioner of Police Kulkarni said.

Three people, identified as Raju Hanumant alias Langada, Gautam Avde and Donald Robert, were arrested for the tragedy as they allegedly transported illicit pouches of liquor from the Vasai-Virar region in adjoining Thane.

They were presented before a Mumbai magistrate who sent them to police custody till 26 July.

Police are on lookout for three other accused, including a woman bootlegger, involved in supplying the poisonous concoction leading to the tragedy.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered an inquiry into the incident and sought a report within two days, an official spokesperson said.

The victims, mostly living in Laxmi Nagar slums and employed as low-paying drivers, daily labourers etc., had consumed the cheap country liquor at a bar in Rathodi village here on Wednesday night.

Since Thursday they started developing symptoms of poisoning, including vomiting, abdominal pain and burning sensation in eyes and sudden collapse.

Their alarmed family members rushed them to local hospitals, but some of them died on way. Many of the victims hail from Gulbarga region of Karnataka.

Minister of State for Home Ranjit Patil said Mumbai Police Crime Branch has taken over the probe into the incident.

Teams have been formed to trace the origin of the spurious liquor, those involved in brewing, selling and transporting it and other aspects, officials said.

This is the first major illicit liquor tragedy in Mumbai since December 23, 2004, when hooch claimed 87 lives.

(Agencies)

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