Nasheman

India's largest selling Urdu weekly, now also in English

You are here: Home / Archives for Nasheman

US sex abuse survivor to sue Indian priest, diocese

by

Joseph Jeyapaul

Washington: A 26-year-old American woman will file a lawsuit against a Catholic Indian priest and his church in India for allegedly sexually abusing her during his posting in the US between 2004 and 2005.

The move comes in protest against the recent Vatican decision which announced Diocese of Ootacamund located in Mylapore is reinstating Joseph Jeyapaul to ministry.

Minnesota attorney Jeff Anderson will file suit on behalf of the victim in federal court that claims the Diocese of Ootacamund endangered children by reinstating Jeyapaul.

Jeyapaul who served as a priest in Crookston township of Minnesota in 2004 and 2005 was arrested in India in 2012 and extradited to the US on charges of sexually abusing two girls in a congregation.

He was later deported to India last year, after serving his sentence of one year and one day. In a statement, advocacy group SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) announced that one of the sexual abuse survivors would sue the priest and the diocese.

“It may be the most irresponsible Vatican move we’ve ever seen: Catholic officials in Rome have lifted the suspension of a recently convicted predator priest. We are stunned and saddened by such blatant recklessness and callousness,” Barbara Dorris of St Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, said in a statement today.

A letter sent to Anderson and Roseau County Attorney Lisa Hanson and signed by over 500 Jeyapaul supporters in India will also be released as evidence of the public danger (nuisance) permitted by Indian Bishop and Vatican, it said.

“On January 16, 2016, with the permission of Pope Francis, Bishop Amalraj lifted the suspension of Father Joseph Jeyapaul,” the firm said, adding that in 2015, after his extradition from India, Jeyapaul plead guilty to criminal sexual conduct involving the sexual abuse of a minor girl while he worked in the Diocese of Crookston in 2005.

“Catholic officials refuse to keep this admitted sex offender away from kids, so our only hope of stopping him is to get him charged and convicted again,” Dorris said.

Over the weekend, Barbara and the victim were seen distributing leaflets outside the church in Crookston to find another sex abuse survivor.

“Our goal is to find just one more victim who might be able to file criminal charges and get this proven predator behind bars,” the victim told local ‘Grand Forks Herald’.

The lawsuit would charge Catholic officials with creating “public nuisances” by hiding and helping predator priests.

“It was the first victim’s courage that brought forward a second victim of Fr Jeyapaul. It was the second victim’s courage that prodded Fr Jeyapaul to plead guilty. And we hope the courage of a third victim will get Fr Jeyapaul extradited, convicted and jailed again, so that no more innocent lives are shattered,” SNAP said.

“Until he’s charged and convicted again, Jeyapaul should be put in a remote, secure, independently-run treatment center far from families who have learned to trust him,” it said.

(PTI)

PF withdrawal allowed for housing, medical, education as govt backtracks on curbs

by

PF

New Delhi: The provident fund withdrawal issue, which has been in the spotlight since the Union Budget in February, has found some support from the government. On Monday, the labour ministry curbed the planned restriction and said withdrawal can be allowed for housing, major medical treatment for self and family members, medical, dental and engineering education of children, and for their marriage.

The changed were made after labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya received representations from trade unions.

The relaxation has also been extended to members who have joined an establishment belonging to or under the central or state government, and become a member of contributory provident fund or old age pension. These norms will come into effect from August, a Times of India report said.

A government release said the ministry had decided to pay the full accumulations to the credit of a member, including interest up to the date of payment, if he or she fulfils any of the above-mentioned conditions, the ToI report said.

Earlier this month, retirement fund body EPFO had deferred till 30 April implementation of new norms that restrict 100 percent withdrawal of provident fund by members after unemployment of more than two months, among others.

In February, the EPFO amended the EPF Scheme 1952 to tighten the various norms for withdrawal of provident fund including increasing age limit for filing such claims by retiring employees to 58 years from 54 years.

Besides, the retirement fund body also restricted withdrawal of PF to own contribution of subscribers and interest earned on that, if the claimant has remained unemployed for more than two months. The member would be able to withdraw employers contribution on maturity.

It was stipulated that the requirement of two months unemployment will not apply in cases of women members resigning from the services for the purpose of getting married, on account of pregnancy or child birth.

According to the new norms, subscribers will not be able to claim withdrawal of PF after attaining 54 years of age. They would have to wait till attaining the age 57 years.

(Agencies)

Japan earthquakes: 100,000 forced from homes

by

Authorities struggle to provide services to tens of thousands of people in areas worst hit by two deadly earthquakes.

Japan's Self-Defence Force search for missing persons at the site of a landslide in Minamiaso, Kumamoto [Takuya Inaba/Kyodo News via AP]

Japan’s Self-Defence Force search for missing persons at the site of a landslide in Minamiaso, Kumamoto [Takuya Inaba/Kyodo News via AP]

by Al Jazeera

Authorities were struggling to get aid to parts of southern Japan after at least 110,000 people were forced from their homes in the wake of two powerful earthquakes.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday he wanted to officially designate the southern region a disaster area in a move that would allow the government to spend more on reconstruction.

About 30,000 rescue workers were scouring the rubble for survivors and handing out food to those unable to return to their homes after the quakes that struck Kyushu island from Thursday.

Some 42 people have been killed and 10 are missing. At least 110,000 people have been displaced, according to the Reuters news agency.

About 80,000 homes in Kumamoto prefecture – the worst hit area – still did not have electricity on Sunday, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said.

The US military prepared to join relief efforts as many areas were cut off by landslides and damage to roads and bridges. Forecasts for heavy rains, which would make collapsed buildings more unstable, added to the urgency of the searches.

Some evacuees said that food distribution was just two rice balls for dinner.

“We are doing our best,” Abe told MPs when challenged by the opposition over his handling of the relief effort. “We are striving to improve living conditions for the people who have sought refuge.”

“Today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, we will be working toward a full recovery,” Abe said.

Gradually, some roads were being reopened, and men in security guard uniforms were helping to direct traffic in drizzly weather.

Economy rattled

Many whose homes were not seriously damaged looked for shelter as the area was rocked by more than 500 aftershocks.

Local media said most of those missing were from Minamiaso, a mountain village southwest of 1,592-metre Mount Aso, the largest active volcano in the country.

Earthquakes on successive nights struck Kumamoto city and the surrounding region late last week. Nine people died in the first earthquake, and 33 in the second.

The parts of Kyushu affected by the quake include technology hubs and other industrial areas, and the disruptions to transport and logistics were expected to ripple through the economy.

Toyota Motor Corporation said it would shut down most of its vehicle production in Japan over the course of this week because of parts shortages stemming from the earthquakes. Nissan Motor Corporation also halted production at some facilities.

Other companies, including Sony, have announced stoppages at some of their factories in Kyushu.

Syria rebels declare new offensive on government

by

Ceasefire in doubt as groups announce new “battle” in response to what they say are violations from the Assad side.

The opposition said it was willing to create a transitional body with government members, but not Assad himself [Fabrice Coffrini/Reuters]

The opposition said it was willing to create a transitional body with government members, but not Assad himself [Fabrice Coffrini/Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

Several Syrian rebel groups have announced a new offensive against the government in a move they said was a response to ceasefire violations from the forces of President Bashar al-Assad.

The groups, which included factions fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army and Ahrar al-Sham, said in a joint statement on Monday that they would respond with force to any army units that fired on civilians in what they called a fresh “battle”.

The statement was sent to the Reuters news agency by Mohamed Rasheed, a spokesman for the Jaish al-Nasr rebel group.

It said the groups would set up a joint operations room and gave no further details about where any fighting might take place.

A ceasefire deal in place since February has been strained to breaking point, particularly around the divided city of Aleppo, with each side blaming the other for an escalation that has underlined the huge challenge facing peace talks that are currently being held in Geneva.

Heavy air strikes were also reported north of Homs on Monday, killing at least four people, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The main opposition bloc in Geneva, the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), accused the government of sending a message that it did not want a political solution, but a military solution that the opposition said would destroy the country.

Mohammed Alloush, the chief negotiator for HNC, said on Monday that accepting Assad as part of any transitional government, a longtime sticking point at the talks, was out of the question.

Asaad Zoubi, also from the HNC, said opposition forces should respond to any government attack.

Zoubi reiterated calls for the release of people from government prisons, particularly children and women.

“We will not accept or negotiate unless we get what we want and our demands are met,” Zoubi said.

The HNC said last week that it was willing to share membership of a transitional governing body with current members of the government, but not with Assad himself.

UN mediator Staffan De Mistura has said a political transition will be the main focus of the current round of talks, which aim to end a five-year war that has killed more than 250,000 people and forced millions to flee the country.

De Kock heroics help Daredevils thrash Royal Challengers

by

Cricket

Bengaluru: Riding on opener Quinton De Kock’s heroics, Delhi Daredevils (DD) on Sunday defeated the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the group stage match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Chinnaswami Stadium here.

Leading the run chase for the visitors, De Kock hit a superbly-crafted century (108 of 51 balls), first century in IPL 9, with 15 fours and three sixes to guide his team to win the match by seven wickets in 19.1 overs.

The South African southpaw was a beauty to watch and a virtuoso in action with his boundaries zooming all over the ground, especially his masterclass off-side shots.

From an asking rate of 87 runs in 48 balls after 12 overs, the going got so easy that DD only needed 21 runs in 26 balls by the 17th over and just one run off the final six balls.

Karun Nair, unbeaten at 54 off 42 balls with six fours and one six, stood by De Kock to see the victory in the 20th over.

Though DD started off their chase of 192 runs shakily, losing Shreyas Iyer (0) and Sanju Samson (9) early, the win was comprehensive and facile.

David Wiese took a spectacular catch to get rid of Iyer in the first over off S. Aravind, but from then on there was no looking back for DD, with De Kock and Nair in action.

Nair reached his half century in the 17th over off 37 balls with six fours and a sixer.

Shane Watson emerged the most successful bowler for RCB, claiming two wickets for 25 runs in his quota of four overs while Sreenath Aravind was the only other bowler 1/32 to claim a wicket.

Earlier, after winning the toss, DD captain Zaheer Khan chose to filed first and put the home team to bat.

Captain Virat Kohli, with a fighting 79 off 48 balls, was the chief architect of RCB’s 191/5 in 20 overs.

Steadying the ship after losing swashbuckling Chris Gayle for a duck, Kohli was joined by mercurial A.B. De Villiers to build the innings.

Gayle, who opened the innings, virtually threw his wicket, offering a simple catch to J. P. Duminy off Zaheer Khan in the first over.

Succeeding him, De Villiers smashed two back-to-back fours to complete the first over, and proved his credentials to be a vital cog in the team by hitting 55, off 33 balls, garnished with nine fours and a six.

Like an one day international match, Kohli and De Villiers stole quick singles during the match to build a partnership of 107 runs, before the latter was caught by Mohammed Shami off Carlos Brathwaite.

Shane Watson, who came in next, scored a fast-paced 33 (off 18 balls) before he was caught by Chris Morris off Shami in the 17th over while attempting a huge shot.

Sarfraz Khan (1) however failed to recreate the scoop and back shots magic of RCB’s first match against Sunrisers Hyderabad as he was run out by Shami with a superb piece of fielding off his bowling.

Shami took two wickets for an economical 34 runs while Zaheer Khan and Brathwaite claimed a wicket each.

DD points tally rose to four with the latest victory, two wins in three matches, while Royal Challengers continue with points with a win and a loss after two matches.

Brief Scores: Delhi Daredevils 192/2 (Quinton De Cock 108, Karun Nair 54; Shane Watson 2/25, Sreenath Aravind 1/32) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 191/5 (Virat Kohli 79, A.B. De Villiers 55; Mohammed Shami 2/34, Carlos Brathwaite 1/18).

(IANS)

Court issues non-bailable warrant against Vijay Mallya

by

Vijay Mallya

Mumbai: The special PMLA court issued non-bailable warrant against liqour baron Vijay Mallya on Monday in connection with money-laundering case, according to reports.

Special Judge P R Bhavke passed the order in connection with the ED application seeking non-bailable warrant against Mallya in connection with a money laundering probe in the over Rs 900- crore IDBI loan fraud case.

Kingfisher Airlines today morning moved an application in the special PMLA court here terming as “false and incorrect” Enforcement Directorate’s charges against its owner Vijay Mallya that he had siphoned off Rs 430 crore of the IDBI loan and used this money to acquire property abroad.

“This fact may have a bearing in the mind of the court so we wanted to correct it and place it before the court. ED’s charges are false and incorrect,” said advocate Pranav Badeka of the now defunct Kingfisher Airlines (KFA).

The court had on Saturday reserved its order till today. It is likely to hear the arguments of KFA and may pass an order on ED’s NBW request later in the day.

ED on Saturday, during arguments, had told the court that out of the Rs 950 crore which Mallya’s company had borrowed from IDBI for using it in the Kingfisher Airlines, Rs 430 crore was diverted and spent on purchase of property abroad.

Thus, the bank’s money was used for some purpose other than the one for which the loan had been given, ED counsel Hiten Venegaonkar told the court.

The 60-year-old industrialist, who is in UK, has skipped three summons issued by the agency. He had also sought time till May to depose before the officials.

On April 9, in reply to the last summons, Mallya had informed the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case here that he will be unable to depose personally as scheduled citing the ongoing legal proceedings going in the Supreme Court over settlement of loans.

The agency had issued fresh summons in the first week of April to Mallya asking him to appear on April 9 after he sought two extensions from the earlier dates of March 18 and April 2 citing official reasons.

The officials said that while seeking extension Mallya had informed the ED that cases related to bank loans were currently sub-judice in the Supreme Court and he was trying to settle these loans with the help of his legal and corporate team and, hence, would require some more time.

Mallya was first summoned by the agency to “appear in person” at its office in Mumbai on March 18 but he sought more time citing his prior engagements, following which the agency asked him to depose on April 2.

He was also directed by the Supreme Court to disclose all assets owned by him and his family in India and abroad by April 21.

The liquor baron, who is facing legal proceedings for alleged default of loans worth over Rs 9,000 crore from various banks, is reported to be in the UK after he left India on March 2. Government on Friday suspended Mallaya’s passport.

ED has registered a money laundering case against Mallya and others based on an FIR registered last year by the CBI.

The agency is also investigating financial structure of the now defunct Kingfisher Airlines and looking into any payment of kickbacks to secure loans.

(Agencies)

Maha minister Pankaja Munde draws flak over ‘drought selfie’

by

pankaja-selfie

Mumbai: Maharashtra Rural Development Minister Pankaja Munde has come under fire from ruling ally Shiv Sena as well as the opposition for clicking selfies while on a visit to drought-hit Marathwada.

Munde took the selfies with the dried-up Manjara river as the backdrop while on a visit to the parched region to review desilting work on the river bed.

“Maharashtra is facing severe drought. Women and even kids are going far away from their home for getting water. Shiv Sena is doing lot of work in those drought-hit areas. And in such a serious situation, the ministers are clicking selfies,” Shiv Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande said.

“This could have been avoided. It lessens the impact of such tours. Entire Maharashtra is reeling under serious drought. There was no need of selfie. It is mainly women who are suffering carrying water and a woman takes selfies. It is strange,” she added.

The BJP leader was also trolled on Twitter after her ‘selfies’ went viral on social media.
According to an official present at the site, Munde started clicking selfies with work going on in the background and then posted them on a social networking site.

“Selfie with trench of said barrage (in) Manjara (river).. relief to Latur,” she had tweeted.
Congress spokesperson Al-Nasser Zakaria termed the ‘selfie moment’ as a “shameful act” by a cabinet minister.

“It is shameful that she has to post such selfies on social networking sites in a bid to show people that she is indeed concerned about the welfare of people. We need the present ministers to be less media savvy and do more work at the ground level which will definitely show in future,” he said.

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said taking selfies instead of conducting review meetings is like making a mockery of farmers’ woes.

“This government is not serious about drought. There was no planning to tackle drought even where there was sufficient data available months ahead. She is the Guardian minister of Beed and Latur and yet never held a review meeting in the last one year. Now making this tour looks like a junket, she is mocking the farmers,” he said.

Last week, revenue minister Eknath Khadse faced flak for deciding to take a chopper to a village in drought-hit Latur district, leading to wastage of nearly 10,000 litre water for a special helipad.

(PTI)

Bandh call by Patels for quota gets little response in Gujarat

by

patels

Ahmedabad: The state-wide bandh call given by the Patel community in Gujarat over the quota issue had little impact today except in for some pockets dominated by the community members in different cities of the state.

The curfew imposed yesterday in Mehasana town was lifted this morning, where as the bandh call given by Sardar Patel Group after yesterday’s violence in Mehasana town largely remained incident free today, police said.

Police has made elaborate security arrangements in view of the bandh call but schools and colleges, public transport and trains have remained unaffected.

Also, mobile and Internet services have been banned in top towns of the state like Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot and Mehasana. The restriction will continue till midnight today.

The bandh call given by the Patel agitators had little impact in major cities like Ahmedabad, Surat and Rajkot.

Even in Mehsana, where community members had yesterday clashed with police by giving a call of Jail Bharo stir, the bandh call evoked partial response as only areas dominated by Patel population remained closed.

“We lifted the curfew at 6 AM as the situation was under control. No reports of untoward incident have come so far during the bandh call. Mobile Internet services will remain closed in the city till midnight today,” Mehsana District Collector Lochan Sehra told PTI.

After violence at Modhera cross roads yesterday, Mehsana police lodged an FIR against Sardar Patel Group (SPG) President Lalji Patel and 36 others under various sections of IPC, including loot and rioting.

“We have lodged an FIR against Patel and 36 other agitators for rioting, loot, arson, damaging public property and defying orders of police. No arrests are made yet,” said Police Sub Inspector of Mehsana ‘B’ division police S B Jadeja.

In Ahmedabad, life remained normal expect of some Patel dominated localities of eastern side of the city where shops have not opened till afternoon. School, colleges, public transport, shops and establishment remained open in the city.

In Surat also bandh had no impact as almost all the areas remained open, while in Rajkot, some Patel dominated areas remained closed but other parts of the city were unaffected by the bandh call.

Curfew was yesterday clamped in Mehsana and mobile Internet services were banned as a massive rally of the Patel community demanding reservation and immediate release of their jailed leaders turned violent with two buildings being set ablaze and some police vehicles damaged.

(Agencies)

Siddaramaiah’s son quits firm over nepotism charge

by

Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: As political pressure mounted on Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over nepotism charge, his son has resigned from a firm that was given a contract to set up lab and diagnostic facility at a government-run hospital here.

Amid Opposition attack and advice from the Congress High Command, the Chief Minister’s doctor son Yathindra Siddaramaiah tendered his resignation as director of Matrix Imaging Solutions India Private Limited.

Yathindra said in a message to the media, “By the way, I am quitting Matrix (Imaging Solutions India).”

The resignation comes amid reports that the Congress high command was unhappy with the development, which was snowballing into a major controversy with the Opposition questioning the contract to the company owned by Yathindra’s friend, a pathologist, in which he is a partner.

Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh, in charge of party affairs in Karnataka, had openly said yesterday that he had suggested to Siddaramaiah that his son quit the company.

Singh had, however, maintained that the entire process was “totally transparent” with the contract given to the lowest bidder.

He had denied reports that he had asked the Chief Minister to order an enquiry into the matter.

“I have only advised that he withdraws. It is not an order, but an advice. Legally, the son does not have to quit.

As a (matter of) propriety, he may,” Singh had said.

Unfazed by the controversy, both Siddaramaiah and Yathindra had been maintaining that there was no wrongdoing on their part.

Yathindra had alleged that a group of doctors at government-run Victoria Hospital, where the facility was to come up, were raking up the controversy as it would cause a loss to those who were sending the patients for outside reference to get commission in cash.

He had also maintained that his company did not put any pressure on hospital authorities to follow procedures that suited them in order to win the contract.

Siddaramaiah had said that his son was a doctor who was a director in a company owned by his friend.

“They had participated in the tender. They are the lowest bidder. It is for service to the people, there is no money involved from the government,” he had said.

(Agencies)

IPL: KKR restrict Sunrisers Hyderabad to 142/7

by

KKR

Hyderabad: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) once again put up a disciplined bowling show as they restricted Sunrisers Hyderabad to 142/7 in an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium here on Saturday.

Eoin Morgan top-scored for Sunrisers with a 43-ball 51 and was well supported by Naman Ojha who smashed 37 off 28 balls. Pacer Umesh Yadav bagged figures of 3/28 for the visitors.

The hosts were jolted upfront as KKR picked up two early wickets. First to head back was the out-of-form Shikhar Dhawan (6) who managed to slash one through to the wicket-keeper Robin Uthappa of a Morne Morkel delivery in the third over.

Next, Umesh foxed captain David Warner (13) with a cutter and the powerful left-hander only managed to scoop it till short-cover.

In the last over of the powerplay, Umesh struck again as he trapped Moses Henriques (6) in front of the stumps with the score reading 36/3.

Morgan and Deepak Hooda (6) tried to resurrect the wobbly innings with a 14-run partnership but the latter threw his wicket away.

Sunrisers finally got some momentum in the 13th over as Morgan hit spinner Sunil Narine for two consecutive boundaries, much to the delight of the crowd. The next over from leg-spinner Piyush Chawla also helped the hosts as it yielded 13 runs.

The hundred came up in the 16th over for Hyderabad as Ojha, who was providing strong support to Morgan, smashed a six off Morkel.

It took a brilliant catch to break the 67-run partnership as Ojha was holed out. Andre Russell held onto the ball first but seeing that he would cross the boundary line he threw it back to Chawla who grabbed it on the second attempt.

Thereafter Morgan also fell trying to heave one to the leg side and with it went Sunrisers’ hope of getting to the par 160 mark.

(IANS)

KNOW US

GET INVOLVED

PROMOTE

Archives