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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)

Women have right to pray; hold talks to end temple row: Fadnavis

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Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai: Maintaining that women have right to pray, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday favoured a dialogue between authorities of Shani Shingnapur temple and activists to find a way out over the ban on entry of female devotees into the inner sanctum of the shrine.

He urged the temple authorities to hold a dialogue with the women’s group that is campaigning for entry of female devotees into the inner sanctum of the shrine in Ahmednagar district.

“Indian culture and Hindu religion gives women have the right to pray. A change in yesterday’s traditions is our culture. Discrimination in praying is not in our culture. The temple authorities should resolve the issue through a dialogue,” tweeted Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio.

Minister of State for Home Ram Shinde said the government will facilitate talks between the temple authorities and women activists to arrive at an amicable solution.

“If there is a dispute between activists and temple authorities over allowing women access to the (Shani Shingnapur) temple, the state government will act as facilitator for talks between them so that the issue can be resolved amicably,” Shinde told PTI.

“The activists (members of Bhumata Brigade) were detained as they had violated the law. CrPC Section 144 had been imposed by police (banning Assembly of people) which they did not adhere to.

“As far as their religious views are concerned, it is the government’s duty to ensure that the issue is resolved,” he said.

(Agencies)

Delhi civic workers protest at Arvind Kejriwal residence

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Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi: The municipal workers here on Wednesday staged a protest outside Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s official residence demanding timely payment of their salaries.

“Our arrears are pending for several months… We are not being paid on time,” one of the protestors said.

“We are being cheated by the government as we were assured that our demands will be fulfilled soon,” another added.

Earlier, in October the workers had gone for a strike against the government for the payment of their salaries and regularisation of daily-wagers who had been working for over a decade.

(IANS)

SC to hear plea challenging President’s Rule in Arunachal

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Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear on Wednesday the Congress’ plea challenging the imposition of the President’s Rule in Arunachal Pradesh. An apex court bench headed by Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar said that the matter would be heard at 2 p.m.

President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday approved the cabinet recommendation to impose central rule in Arunachal Pradesh and keep the assembly in suspended animation, a measure described by the Congress, which rules the border state, as a “murder of constitution and democracy” on Republic Day.

“President of India has signed a proclamation under article 356(1) of the constitution, imposing President’s Rule in relation to the state of Arunachal Pradesh and keeping the legislative assembly of the state in suspended animation with effect from January 26,” said a home ministry statement.

“Taking cognisance of the constitutional breakdown that has taken place in the state as reported by the governor of Arunachal Pradesh, the union cabinet in its meeting held on January 24, had recommend to the President to issue such proclamation,” it added.

The Congress slammed the Narendra Modi-led government for rushing to impose President’s rule in the northeastern state, and “disrespecting” the Supreme Court by bypassing it when it was hearing the matter.

(Agencies)

The Nasheman Awards 2016

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Nasheman

Nasheman Weekly, the country’s largest selling Urdu weekly completed 54 years of glorious publication on January 26th, establishing a new benchmark in Urdu journalism.

Founded in 1962 by the late Usman Asad, Nasheman currently has a circulation of over 1.20 lac; a feat hardly matched by any other Urdu publication in India.

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.

Honorable Janab R.Roshan Baig Saheb was be the chief guest. And the guest of honour was, Janab CK Jaffer Shariff Janab C M Ibrahim Saheb, Janab Mohammed Mansoor Khan Saheb, Mr. Umar Shariff, Mr. Masood Faujdar, Mrs. Nagalakshmi Choudary and Dr. Fauzia Choudary.

The complete list of the Awardees is as follows:

Vijayalakshmi (Suvarna TV), Sadashiv Shenoy (BTV), Vikhar Ahmed Sayeed (Frontline), Amutham BT (Sanjevani), B Samiulla (Udaya TV), Sudipto Mondal (Hindustan Times), Vittal Murthy RT (Andolana Kannada), RK Joshi (Prajanudi), Adinarayan Murthy (Eanadu Daily), Saggere Ramaswamy (KPN), KM Shivraj (Mysore Mitra), Iqbal Azhar (Nasheman Weekly), Iftekhar Ahmed Shariff (Daily Salar), Munner Ahmed Adil (Salar Weekly), Rahamatunnisa (ETV Urdu), Ayesha Khanum (DD News), Bhaskar Hegde (Deccan Chronicle) Nayaz Shariff (Nasheman.in).

Dalit scholar issue: 6 students on fast moved to health centre

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Rohith Vemula

Hyderabad: Six of the seven students of the Hyderabad Central University (HCU), on hunger strike to protest the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula, have been shifted to a health centre even as the agitators today took out a march to the residence of the interim head of the institution.

The students, who had given a nationwide university strike call, marched to the residence of the interim head of the institution and then went outside the campus and burnt the effigy of the Vice-chancellor, whose ouster they have been seeking.

“Six (students) were shifted (to the health centre) yesterday”, Ravindra Kumar, chief medical officer said.

One student is continuing with the hunger strike, which resumed three days back after the first batch of his colleagues who went on fast were moved to the health centre.

The students first marched to the residence of the officiating Vice-Chancellor Vipin Srivastava in the staff quarters.

Srivastava was given the charge of the institution after VC Aappa Rao went on leave amid escalation of protests last week.

But selection of Srivastava as interim head of the institution was stiffly objected to by the students and SC/ST staff forums alleging he headed the Executive Council sub-committee whose decisions were “responsible for the death of Rohith” and was one of the accused in the death of another dalit student in 2008.

Srivastava had yesterday made a fresh appeal to students to help restore normalcy on the campus.

Rohith was found hanging in a hostel room on the HCU campus on January 17, sparking strong reactions on the campus and across the country.

Rohith and four other students, all from the dalit community, were suspended last year by the varsity for allegedly attacking an ABVP leader.

The suspension of the four students were revoked last week after the issue snowballed into a major political row with the agitation drawing support from parties other than the BJP.

(PTI)

Protesting against Constitution Hindu Mahasabha observes black day on R-Day

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Akhil Bharatiya hindusabha

Meerut: At a time when the country is engrossed in Republic Day celebrations, at least 50 persons under the banner of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha waved black flags to observe ‘Black Day’ and ‘mourn’ the Constitution of India.

 

The leaders of the Hindutva outfit claimed to have been celebrating the day for the past five decades to put forward their demand of declaring India a ‘Hindu Rasthra’ and protest against the Constitution which claims that India is a ‘secular country.’

“The Partition of India took place on the basis of religion and eventually India was declared a secular country. Had India been secular, it would have had a Uniform Civil Code, which is not the case. We have been observing this day for over five decades now and will continue until India is declared a Hindu Rashtra”, said Ashok Kumar Sharma, national vice president, Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha.

To mark ‘Black Day’ or ‘Kaala Divas’ – as the party members call it, member of the organization waved black flags at the office of Hindu Mahasabha on Sharda road on the eve of R-Day.

Bharat Rajput, district president, Hindu Mahasabha, Meerut, said, “We do not believe in the Constitution of India and have been protesting against it for the past 50 years. Secularism doesn’t exist in India and that is why we mourn the Constitution. When India was divided, Pakistan was given the title of Islamic state then why was India not given the title of a Hindu Rashtra? It is this Constitution, which has failed to recognize India as a Hindu state that all of us are against.”

Earlier, arrests used to take place whenever black flags were waved outside the office but the court refused arrests after 1987. Every year, party members hand over a memorandum to the station officer of Bhrampuri police station, who further gives it to the district magistrate.

(Agencies)

 

The Nasheman Urdu Weekly turns 55

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Nasheman

Nasheman Weekly, the country’s largest selling Urdu weekly today completes 54 years of glorious publication, establishing a new benchmark in Urdu journalism.

Founded in 1962 by the late Usman Asad, Nasheman currently has a circulation of over 1.20 lac; a feat hardly matched by any other Urdu publication in India.

Nasheman, an Urdu word for ‘nest’, garnered a legendary status among our readers from the very onset. With popular weekly columns like ‘Thapdakhen’ (slaps or smacks), the paper depicts the prevalent social and political conditions of the times in the most starkest terms. Such is Nasheman’s popularity, that it is bought by one, sold to another for double the price, and then sold again to triple the price.

The paper is circulated not only in India but also abroad, copies of it are shipped to UAE, Saudi Arabia and many other countries.

Under the founder’s son, Rizwan Asad’s current editorship, we have remained true to our essence. We still are the staunchest critique of socio-political inequities, we still are the largest selling Urdu weekly in the country.

The year 2014, also saw Nasheman venture into the world of online journalism, with the daily online English edition, which explores news and analysis from an independent, alternative perspective. We would be also starting a print edition in English in the coming months.

Nasheman Awards

On this occasion Nasheman would be awarding the eminent and senior journalist 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.

Honorable Chief minister Shri. Siddaramaiah Ji would be presiding the ceremony, Honorable Janab R.Roshan Baig Saheb would be the chief guest. And the guest of honour would be Janab C M Ibrahim Saheb, Janab Mohammed Mansoor Khan Saheb, Janab K. Rehman Khan Saheb, Janab C .K Jaffer Shariff Saheb and Dr. Fauzia choudry will be gracing the occasion. Honorable chief minister Shri. Siddaramiaih Ji and Janab R. Roshan Baig Saheb would be felicitating awardees with “The Nasheman Awards” sponsored by IMA (I Monetary Advisory ).

On our editor’s behalf, we would like to thank all our readers, staff members and everyone of those, who have been part of this soulful journey.

Vote for us if you want to eat beef, says Asaduddin Owaisi

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Asaduddin Owaisi

Hyderabad: A ban on consumption and sale of beef may be imposed in the city if AIMIM was not voted to power in the upcoming elections to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), party chief Asaduddin Owaisi claimed on Monday.

“I am not trying to scare you. But, the fact is if we don’t come to power, there may be a scope for ban on beef (in Hyderabad) on pretext of faith,” the All-India Majlis-e- Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader said in Hyderabad.

Addressing a public meeting ahead of the February 2 election to the 150-member civic body, the Lok Sabha lawmaker from Hyderabad said such a ban will hit the poor and also beef traders hard as it happened in Maharashtra.

“There is a ban on cow slaughter all over. In Maharashtra, the BJP-led Government brought a law to extend the ban on bulls and bullocks. Even if it (these animals) is ill you cannot slaughter it,” Owaisi said.

Due to this many people, who are earlier dependent on beef trade have lost their livelihood, he said. “If someone else comes to power (in GHMC), it (beef ban) may become a reality.”

It is the poor who cannot afford to eat mutton and they have to depend on beef, the MP added.

AIMIM, a Hyderabad-based party, and Congress shared power in the municipal corporation in the last term.

(Agencies)

I was born here and I will die here: Aamir Khan

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Aamir Khan

Mumbai/Jaipur: Actor Aamir Khan came under fresh attack on Monday for his “leaving India” comments in the “intolerance” debate with actor Akshay Kumar saying “ups and downs” happen in every country and one should not start giving “bold” statements.

Aamir, 50, whose comments while wading into the “intolerance” debate last November had kicked up a huge controversy, hit back, asserting he never meant that he wanted to leave the country or that India was intolerant.

“Any kind of ups and downs happen in every nation and you can’t get into so much straight away that you start giving such bold statements. These kind of things happen. There are so many good things also which we don’t speak about.

Unfortunately, we have the habit of only pointing out the wrong things but nevertheless everybody has the right to talk,” Akshay told India Today TV.

Veteran actor and BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha said that it was “nadaan” (childish) for some in Bollywood to talk about intolerance and he does not agree with them.

“A lot of people from the film industry brought up the issues of intolerance in haste, and it is childish to do so. I don’t stand by them in this regard,” Sinha said at the Jaipur Literature Festival(JLF). Asserting that no other country is as diverse as India, Aamir said, “I was born here and I will die here.”

“I never said India was intolerant or I wanted to leave the country. I also understand the emotions of those who were hurt. I would like to say that my statement was misunderstood and to some extent media is responsible for it,” the “PK” star said.

(PTI)

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