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Heavy rains disrupt services in Mumbai

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mumbai_rains

Mumbai: Thousands are stranded across Mumbai as heavy rain, which has pounded the city since last night, severely affected train services and unleashed massive traffic jams. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the city’s civic agency, ordered all schools to be shut and issued an alert, advising residents to step out only if necessary.

Several flights in and out of Mumbai are still delayed owing to the incessant rain.

More showers have been forecast over the next 48 hours. The tide is expected to rise to 4.60 metres (nearly 15 feet) today.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who visited the civic agency’s disaster control room today, has promised that updated advisories will be issued every two hours to the city.

He also said, “Some trains are halted… we will have them running soon.”

With tracks completely waterlogged, operations are suspended on the Harbour line. Train services have also been stopped between the busy Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and the Kurla suburb on the Central line. The Western Railways is running staggered services till Andheri.

Around 70-80 lakh people travel everyday by local trains, considered the lifeline of the city.

The city’s BEST buses have also altered their routes in view of flooding and heavy water-logging reported at several areas including Hindmata, Dadar, Parel, Sion, Vikhroli, Andheri, Jogeshwari, Santa Cruz.

Residents took to Twitter to warn others.

Mumbai recorded around 170 mm of rainfall till Friday morning; its suburbs recorded around 155 mm rainfall.

The Met department has warned of heavy rainfall and strong winds in Mumbai and the coastal Konkan region over the next two days.

(Agencies)

Advani cancels meeting with Kejriwal

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Advani-Kejriwal

New Delhi: Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader Lal Krishna Advani cancelled his meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal scheduled for Friday evening.

According to informed sources, the meeting was cancelled following pressure from the BJP.

“To save party from further embarrassment, it was decided that the BJP leader should not meet the Delhi CM,” a BJP source told IANS.

Already in the line of opposition’s fire over the Lalit Modi issue, the ruling BJP was further driven to a corner over remarks of party senior leader L.K. Advani that he did not rule out another “Emergency-like situation” in the country.

Kejriwal was among the first to respond to Advani’s interview published in the Indian Express.

“Advani ji is correct in saying that emergency can’t be ruled out. Is Delhi their first experiment?” he tweeted in an apparent reference to his ugly power tussle with the Centre.

After Advani’s remark, Kejriwal sought a meeting with him. Advani earlier agreed to meet him on Friday evening.

(IANS)

Pothole turns into ‘crocodile pond’ in Bengaluru

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crocodile pond

Bengaluru: What do you do if you find a full-grown ‘crocodile’ in the middle of a busy city road? Most would scream out in terror, naturally. And that’s what happened on Thursday on Sulthanpalya Main Road in north Bengaluru that took the motorists and locals by surprise.

People, spotted a life-size crocodile in one of the water-filled potholes, were about to scream for help on spotting the reptile, but soon realised it was a novel way of protest by a 36-year-old visual artist.

Frustrated by the failure of the BBMP to repair a giant pothole and a broken water pipe in the middle of the main road, Baadal Nanjundaswamy, a former visualiser with a leading advertising agency, planted the 20 kg life-sized crocodile in the 12-feet-long pothole and painted the ‘pond’ in green.

“A drinking water pipe broke about a month ago. The subsequent rain and constant traffic has eroded the road creating a big pot hole. Authorities have showed no response to rectifying it. Locals have complained to the BBMP and the BWSSB to no avail. I am hoping they will take some action now,” Nanjundaswamy said.

The artist created his fiber crocodile over a week’s time at a personal cost of Rs 6000.

This is not the first time that Nanjundaswamy has used his creativity for civic activism. Last year, he had turned an open manhole into the mouth of ‘Yamaraj’ – to suggest that it was a death trap – and authorities fixed it within a day.

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NGOs to rally for gender-neutral laws on June 20

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indian-parliament

New Delhi: Non-Governmental Organisations fighting for “gender-neutral” family laws will hold country-wide rallies on June 20, activists said on Sunday.

They are seeking implementation of the Law Commission’s report on providing joint custody of child/children in cases of matrimonial discord/breakdown.

“On June 20, a day before the Father’s Day, we will hold a nationwide rally to demand shared parenting to be made mandatory in accordance with a draft Law Commission recommendation of May 2015,” Kumar V. Jahgirdar, president of Bengaluru-based Child Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting (CRISP), told IANS on phone.

“The government of India ought to take steps to move a bill – as per Law Commission draft – in the coming session of parliament, with necessary amendments in guardianship and custody laws,” he added.

Swarup Sarkar, founder of Delhi chapter of Save Family Foundation NGO, said suicide by married men owing to matrimonial disputes in India were on the rise.

“We keep getting cases of men not able to get access to their biological kids. During counselling, we find that many such persons harbour suicidal tendencies because nobody is bothered to even listen to their problems. We demand a separate commission for men in line with the panel for women in India,” he said.

“The government has to consider Law Commission findings in view of changes in Indian society. If a woman can multitask, there is no reason why a married man can’t perform domestic chores, including raising children,” Jahgirdar added.

The Law Commission’s draft law submitted to the government on May 22 proposed amendments to existing guardianship and custody laws. The draft provides for consideration of welfare of children as paramount while deciding custody issues.

“There is disparity in importance given to principle of welfare of children by different legislations regulating custody and guardianship,” Law Commission chairman Justice A.P. Shah said.

“As a result, in fiercely fought custody battles, there are no ways to ensure that the interests of the child are actually protected,” he said.

The draft law proposed children should have access to grandparents.

Sudha Rajashekar, who heads the grandparents’ wing of CRISP, said grandparents often were victims of their children’s matrimonial discords.

“There is no law in our country that protects our rights as grandparents in case of matrimonial disputes of our children,” she said.

She advocated a law on the lines of those pertaning to inheritance and succession to ensure old people’s right to have access to their grandchildren in case of marital discords and breakdown of marriages.

(IANS)

Pakistan releases 113 Indian fishermen on Ramadan

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Karachi: Pakistan today released 113 Indian fishermen lodged in a jail here in a goodwill gesture, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif to greet him on the holy month of Ramadan amid a war of words between the two countries.

“We have got orders from Islamabad that the fishermen have been released from Malir jail as a goodwill gesture on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan starting tomorrow,” deputy jail superintendent Muhammad Hussain Sehto told PTI.

The 113 Indian fishermen will travel to Lahore by Karakoram Express and will be handed over to Indian authorities at the Wagah border tomorrow.

On their release, Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) and jail authorities presented the traditional gift of Ajrak (blockprinted shawls) to the fishermen.

The Indian fishermen were released after Modi on June 16 called up Sharif to wish him on the occasion of  Ramadan and stressed the need for having “peaceful” and “friendly” bilateral ties.

In his telephonic conversation, Modi also conveyed to Sharif India’s decision to release detained Pakistani fishermen on the occasion of Ramadan, a move seen as a bid to lower tensions between the two countries.

Pakistan and India have been involved in a war of words recently with leaders from both sides exchanging sharp comments after Modi’s critical remarks about Pakistan during his Dhaka visit and in the wake of India’s military action in Myanmar.

India and Pakistan regularly arrest fishermen who venture into unmarked territorial waters of the two countries.

Last February, around 172 Indian fishermen were released from Malir jail.

(Agencies)

Yoga is for rich and lazy people: Karnataka Minister H Anjaneya

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Karnataka Social Welfare Minister H. Anjaneya

Karnataka Social Welfare Minister H. Anjaneya

Bengaluru: Amid the preparations for the upcoming International Yoga Day celebrations on June 21, a Karnataka minister on Wednesday said Yoga is for ‘lazy’ people who do not have time for exercise.

“Yoga is for lazy people, especially people belonging to well to do families. They do not have time for exercise in the open including taking a walk,” H Anjaneya told reporters here.

On the contrary, people who work in the fields and sweat it out, do not require Yoga, the minister said, even as the Congress government in the state is joining the rest of the country in observing June 21 as International Day of Yoga.

The social welfare minister said that more than anything else people should encourage their children to play outdoor games including running and walking, instead of practising yoga.

Asked whether his department will organize yoga exercises for students from Morarji Desai residential schools, Anjaneya said, “People should ask their children to indulge themselves in playing outdoor sports including running and long walks instead of yoga.”

Launching a tirade against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the minister said he should not indulge in Yoga and spend time in running the country. “The PM should not profess or indulge in Yoga because his time is precious and instead he should spend time on running the country, which is his duty,” he said. The minister said there are Yoga gurus and experts to impart yoga.

(Agencies)

14-year-old minor raped by boyfriend, his friends

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RAPE

Bengaluru: Three have been arrested for raping a 14-year-old girl in the city on Thursday June 18.

The accused are yet to be identified by the police, however it is said that one of the accused is the boyfriend of the girl.

As per the reports, the said boyfriend called the girl to his room on the pretext of meeting her. He then forced himself on her along with two other friends of his.

It is also said that the girl is in a state of shock, she had recently lost her father and lives with her mother and grandmother.

Emergency can happen again, cautions L K Advani

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a. Photo: Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times

a. Photo: Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times

New Delhi: BJP patriarch L K Advani’s statement that “forces that can crush democracy are stronger” now created a buzz in political circles leading to speculation that it was a barb aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi but RSS dismissed it while Congress and other BJP rivals shared his concern.

“At the present point of time, the forces that can crush democracy, notwithstanding the constitutional and legal safeguards, are stronger,” Advani told Indian Express in an interview.

In the years since the Emergency in 1975-77, he said, “I don’t think anything has been done that gives the assurance that civil liberties will not be suspended or destroyed again. Not at all.”

“Of course, one can do it easily…But that it cannot happen again–I will not say that. It could be that fundamental liberties are curtailed again,” the former Deputy Prime Minister, who is now a member of the BJP’s Margadarshak Mandal, and was incarcerated during the Emergency along with a number of opposition stalwarts then. Advani also said that he did not see any sign in the polity that assures him any outstanding aspect of leadership with a commitment to democracy and to all other aspects related to democracy is lacking.

“Today, I do not say that the political leadership is not mature. I don’t have faith because of its weaknesses. I don’t have the confidence that it (Emergency) cannot happen again.”

Commenting on Advani’s remarks, RSS ideologue M G Vaidya said Advani is a member of the BJP’s Magadarshak Mandal and he did not think he was sending a message to Modi.

“I don’t feel anything like that. He (Advani) is quite senior in age and experience. So he can talk to Modi. He is in the ‘Margdarshak Mandal’ of BJP. I don’t think he has an intention of sending a message to Modi through this interview.” BJP spokesperson M J Akbar also felt it was not aimed at individuals but at institutions.

“I think Advanji was referring to institutions rather than to individuals. I respect his views, but I personally don’t see emergency, any chance of any emergency being reimposed in the country. I think that age is over, Indian democracy is too strong, much stronger now,” he said.

However, Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan latched on to Advani’s remarks saying the “jury is out” from the ruling party itself and he was indeed hinting at “emergency-like” situation under Modi’s rule.

“Today the jury is out. Advaniji is vocal. What he had to say, he has said,” he told reporters. “It is obvious whom he is talking about, whose government is there, who is the Prime Minister. He knows it. But he is a statesman-like leader of the BJP. He did not want to name the Prime Minister. But whoever reads the interview, he/she would understand he is talking about Modi,” Vadakkan said.

Quoting from Advani’s remarks, he said the veteran leader is “right” when he says the present situation in the country signals towards emergency.

(PTI)

Lalitgate: Cong questions PM's silence, says he too is liable

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New Delhi: Congress today attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his “silence” on the Lalitgate, saying he should come out of his ‘meditation’ and answer the nation as he too is “liable”.

“It is ordinance raj. All mantris have become tantris. One minister, what he or she eats, drinks, where they go. The Prime Minister knows everything. But he is unaware when External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was talking to UK authorities on Lalit Modi’s travel documents.

“That means, there was consent of the Prime Minister (for granting travel documents to Lalit Modi)…he is liable. Prime Minister Modi should come out of political Vipassana, and keep truth before the nation,” Congress spokesman Tom Vadakkan told reporters.

Asked about reports of scam-tainted former IPL chief Lalit Modi hosting Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Rajiv Shukla too, Vadakkan said they did not hold any official post unlike Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and hence, there was no quid pro quo.

According to media reports, ex-IPL chief had hosted Tharoor, Shukla and Raje at a Mumbai hotel in 2010. Raje was Opposition Leader in Rajasthan Assembly then.

“Now it has come to fore that the then Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan, who is the Chief Minister now, her bills were paid by IPL. Those who are against us will say Tharoor was there, Shukla was there, (NCP chief Sharad) Pawar was there, but they were not Leader of Opposition. In Raje’s case, it is proved there was quid pro quo,” he claimed.

On reports claiming that Raje’s son Dushyant had business links with the former IPL chief, Vadakkan said the matter needs to be investigated.

“It is very difficult to say which Modi has what relations with whom. If the relations are with Chhota (Lalit) Modi, then in whose protection Chhota Modi is, who is giving him transit passport, these are all matters of investigation. These linkages involving Bada Modi, Chhota Modi can be established only then,” he said.

(PTI)

Lalit Modi row: Congress asks Vasundhra Raje to quit along with Sushma Swaraj

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Vasundhra Raje

New Delhi: With the latest revelations in Modigate drawing Vasundhra Raje into the controversy, Congress today demanded that Rajasthan Chief Minister also resign along with External Affair Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Swaraj should step down and Raje should also resign for “helping Lalit Modi, an economic offender and fugitive,” spokesperson Shobha Ojha told reporters.

Ojha also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying his silence in the matter so far showed that “there is a mute support by the PM to these leaders”.

Besides, she said the party wanted a Supreme Court monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) to go into the Modigate.

She dismissed as laughable BJP’s charge that Congress was targeting women leaders of BJP.

“Since they want to hide their crimes, they are raising the gender issue which is condemnable and laughable,” she said.

Taking a dig at Modi government, she said that Modigate showed “achche din” for economic offenders like Latit Modi with the entire government coming to his rescue.

Raje and Swaraj stand “exposed for helping Lalit Modi”, she alleged.

(PTI)

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