• Home
  • About Us
  • Events
  • Submissions
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • NewsVoir
  • Newswire
  • Nasheman Urdu ePaper

Nasheman

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

  • News & Politics
    • India
    • Indian Muslims
    • Muslim World
  • Culture & Society
  • Opinion
  • In Focus
  • Human Rights
  • Photo Essays
  • Multimedia
    • Infographics
    • Podcasts
You are here: Home / Archives for News & Politics

India to resume talks with Pakistan after 6-month hiatus

February 13, 2015 by Nasheman

File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif during a meeting in New Delhi. Photo: The Hindu

File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif during a meeting in New Delhi. Photo: The Hindu

by Munir Ahmed & Ashok Sharma, AP

India is sending its top foreign ministry official to Pakistan to resume talks after a six-month hiatus.

Taking advantage of the Cricket World Cup, where their teams play this weekend, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted Friday he spoke to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on the phone and offered to further strengthen ties.

Sharif welcomed the Indian official’s proposed visit to Pakistan “to discuss all issues of common interest,” Sharif’s press secretary said in a statement in Islamabad. No dates have been announced for the visit.

Modi also said he spoke to leaders of some of India’s other neighbors — Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan — all cricket-mad nations participating in the sports competition being jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

“Conveyed my best wishes for the Cricket World Cup,” Modi said.

India’s Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar is also scheduled to visit Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan apart from Pakistan, Modi said.

Last August, India called off talks with Pakistan after its ambassador in New Delhi met with Kashmiri separatist leaders, saying the Pakistani official could either talk with India, or talk with the rebels.

The setback came shortly after India and Pakistan had agreed to resume talks in May when Sharif attended Modi’s inauguration.

As tensions increased, Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged fire regularly in the disputed Kashmir region.

India and Pakistan have used “cricket diplomacy” to break past impasses.

Then-Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani met with then-Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2011 during a World Cup cricket match in the northern city of Chandigarh, using the same cover employed in 2005 by then-President Pervez Musharraf for a meeting with Singh during an India-Pakistan cricket match.

Then-President Ziaul Haq visited Jaipur, India, to watch a cricket match between the two countries in the 1980s.

Since their independence from Britain in 1947, India and Pakistan have fought three wars, two of them over Kashmir. Both countries control parts of the Himalayan region and claim it in its entirety.

Filed Under: India Tagged With: Narendra Modi, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan

Up to 12 dead in Karnataka train accident

February 13, 2015 by Nasheman

Bengaluru: Rescue work in progress after Bangalore -Ernakulam train derailed near Anekal in Bengaluru on Friday. PTI Photo

Bengaluru: Rescue work in progress after Bangalore -Ernakulam train derailed near Anekal in Bengaluru on Friday. PTI Photo

Bengaluru: Up to 12 passengers were killed and 25 injured when nine coaches of the Bengaluru-Eranakulam Inter-City Express derailed in Karnataka early Friday, an official said.

The incident occurred at 7.35 a.m. after the train left Anekal station towards Hosur near the border with Tamil Nadu, a railway official told IANS here.

While one railway official in Bengaluru claimed five deaths, others at the disaster site put it at 10. But Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said after speaking to a Karnataka minister that 12 people had died.

Rescuers frantically retrieved bodies from two of the coaches which telescoped into one another following the crash. The train was chugging at high speed when it went off the rails.

The train departed from the main city station here at 6.15 a.m. and covered 45 km when the disaster took place between Anekal road and Hosur town on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border.

“A disaster relief force team is at the spot for rescue and relief operations. The injured have been rushed to private and government hospitals at Anekal and Hosur,” one official said.

He said 10 of them were reported to be in serious condition.

Chandy, who spoke to Karnataka Home Minister K.J. George, told reporters in Kochi that a team led by Kerala Electricity Minister Aryadan Mohammed had left for the accident site.

Anish, a passenger on the train, told the media in Kochi over telephone that the rescue team had cut open the two coaches to shift the injured to hospitals.

Another passenger, Cyriac Mathew, said he had seen three bodies.

“The worst affected was coach D-8. I could see the bodies of two men and a woman in the coach,” said Mathew, a regular traveller on the train.

“Police and the ambulance arrived an hour after the accident,” he said.

Officials have not explained the cause of derailment. “An expert team is at the mishap spot to inspect what caused the derailment,” the official noted.

The South Western Railway has set up help desks at the Bengaluru station and the accident site to assist the injured and the stranded passengers.

The railways arranged special buses to shift the stranded passengers to Anekal and Hosur to either return to Bengaluru or to continue their onward journey to Ernakulam in Kerala via Tamil Nadu.

“We are planning to run a special train later in the day after the track is cleared,” the official added.

(IANS)

Filed Under: India Tagged With: Bangalore-Ernakulam Express, Bengaluru Ernakulam Express, Train Accident

Bengaluru: Sharp increase in sexual crimes against kids in 2014; only two convictions

February 13, 2015 by Nasheman

school-rape-bangalore

Bengaluru: The data relating to crimes against women and children in the state over the last two years has brought to light some shocking figures.

For starters, the number of cases of sexual assault on children rose from 270 in 2013 to a whopping 844 in 2014.

More shockingly, only two such cases saw conviction in 2014, while in 2013, accused in 26 cases have been convicted.

Home minister K J George revealed this data while replying to questions raised by MLC Ivan D’Souza during the Legislative Council session on Friday February 13.

The police have filed final reports in all the 270 cases in 2013, while in 2014, final reports were submitted in 642 of the 844 cases.

Also, there were 1,087 cases of harassment against children in 2013, out of which only 12 saw convictions, and 1,858 such cases in 2014 out of which accused in 26 cases were found guilty. Final police reports were submitted in 991 out of the 1,087 cases in 2013 and 1,408 cases out of 1,858 in 2014.

With regard to crimes against women, the year 2013 saw 9,302 cases of harassment and 1,030 cases of rapes. In 2014, this figure stood at 10,537 cases of harassment and 1,315 rapes. The police filed final reports in all the cases in 2013, while in 2014, final reports were filed in 492 rape cases and 7,653 cases of harassment.

The conviction rate remained low in both years, with accused in only 110 harassment cases and 15 rape cases being held guilty in 2013. During 2014, 113 cases of harassment and 4 rape cases saw conviction.

To a question on steps taken to curb sexual crimes against women and children, K J George replied that 10 fast track courts were established in August 2013 and 30 special courts to deal with crimes against children were set up in April 2014 as per POCSO Act.

(Agencies)

Filed Under: India Tagged With: Children, K.J. George, Rape, Sexual Abuse

Diverse statements and a citzens online petition in defence of Teesta Setalvad & Javed Anand under threat of arrest

February 13, 2015 by Nasheman

teesta-javed

People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) expresses alarm at the Gujarat Police move to arrest Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand

People’s Alliance for Secularism and Democracy (PADS)

Public Statement

Date: 12 February 2014

People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) expresses alarm at the Gujarat Police move to arrest the two activists, Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand in Mumbai. The arrest of Teesta Setalvad, who was denied bail by the Gujarat High court, has been stayed for 24 hours at the intervention of the Supreme Court.

Teesta Setalvad has been relentlessly championing the rights of the victims of the Gujarat pogroms of 2002. Her efforts resulted in the transfer of some of the riot related cases out of Gujarat and conviction of some bigwigs from the Gujarat government. The Government of Gujarat led by Anandiben Patel, the successor of the incumbent Prime Minister, is vindictive and has been after Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand for their bold stand in defence of the riot victims. Its aim seems to be to discourage anyone from taking legal recourse against misdeeds of the Gujarat government during and after the 2002 pogrom. A case of embezzlement of funds collected by their NGOs has been filed against Teesta, Javed and three others. Defendants have submitted documentary evidence in court against prosecution allegations. It must be noted that while the Gujarat government appears hell bent on targeting Teesta and her associates for standing up for riot victims, it has been reinstating the police officials who are facing serious criminal charges in fake encounter cases.

The PADS demands that the Gujarat government stop harassing Ms. Teesta Setalvad and Mr Javed Anand – whose anticipatory bail applications have been rejected by the Gujarat High Court today.

o o o

Text of statement on Gujarat High Court rejecting anticipatory bail of Teesta Setalvad & others by Prashant Centre for Human rights

Prashant A Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace
Post Box No. 4050, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380 009, Gujarat, India
Tel.: +91 (079) 66522333, 27455913 Fax: +91 (079) 27489018
Mobile: 9824034536. e-mail: sjprashant@gmail.com. www.humanrightsindia.in

STATEMENT ON THE GUJARAT HIGH COURT REJECTING
THE ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION OF MS TEESTA SETALVAD & OTHERS

It is extremely unfortunate that the anticipatory bail application filed by Ms. Teesta Setalvad, her husband Javed Anand and three others of Gulberg Society – Mr. Tanvir Jafri (son of slain MP Ehsan Jafri), Mr. Feroz Gulzar, Secretary and Mr. Salim Sandhi, Chairman of the Gulberg Society – has today been rejected by the Gujarat High Court.

All are aware that the charges are extremely flimsy and fabricated and are surely politically motivated.

In their response, Ms. Setalvad and the others provided the High Court with extensive, comprehensive and irrefutable evidence as to why they should be given anticipatory bail and the charges be dropped.

o o o

Statement by All India Secular Forum on the move to arrest Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand

All India Secular Forum stands with Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand as they have struggled for justice for the victims of riots in Gujarat. Gujarat Police made several attempts and slapped several false cases on Teesta Setalvad to deter her from fighting for justice for the victims of Gujarat riots and have acted vindictively. The cases against them would not stand and justice will ultimately prevail. We demand that all false cases against Teesta Setalvad be immediately withdrawn and Gujarat police desist from taking coercive and vindictive action against them.

Adv. Irfan Engineer

Director,
Centre for Study of Society and Secularism
603, New Silver Star, Near Railway Bridge, Prabhat Colony Road,, Santacruz (E), Mumbai, India. PIN: 400055.
Call: +91-22-26149668 | M: +91-9869462833, +919820553173 | Fax: +91-22-6100712
e-mail: forirf@gmail.com; irfanengi@gmail.com; csss@mtnl.net.in
skype: irfanen

o o o

Press Statement by CPI(M) – condemns the Gujarat Police move to arrest Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand

via marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)

February 12, 2015

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) condemns the Gujarat Police move to arrest Teesta Setalvad and her husband, Javed Anand in Mumbai. The arrest of Teesta Setalvad has been stayed for 24 hours at the intervention of the Supreme Court.

The Gujarat Police have targeted Teesta Setalvad because of her relentless championing of the rights of the victims of the Gujarat pogroms of 2002. While the Gujarat government is pursuing the harassment of Teesta Setalvad, it has been reinstating police officials who are facing serious criminal charges.

The CPI(M) demands that the Gujarat government withdraw the concocted case against Teesta Setalvad and stop harassing her.

o o o

[Sign Petition] Citizens in Solidarity with Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand

We are shocked to learn of the rejection of the Anticipatory bail applications of Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand by the Gujarat High Court. Media stories suggest that the bail applications have been turned down because Setalavad and Anand were “not cooperating with the investigations” and that prima facie “funds were used for private purpose”. It is a matter of record that they have submitted their original bank statements, balance sheets and audited accounts that completely disprove the allegations. Does this amount to non-cooperation or prima facie evidence of wrong-doing?

We stand with Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand, and their quest for justice for the victims of 2002 violence, which has turned them into a target of Gujarat government’s ire. We condemn this witchhunt and the false and malicious propaganda being circulated against them.

Add your signatures at: http://www.indiaresists.com/sign-petition-citizens-in-solidarity-with-teesta-setalvad-and-javed-anand/

Filed Under: India Tagged With: 2002, Best Bakery Case, Genocide, Gujarat, Gulbarg Society Massacre, Narendra Modi, Teesta Setalvad, Zaheera Sheikh, Zakia Jafri

Mysore: Yaduveer Gopal Raj Urs is named Wodeyar heir

February 13, 2015 by Nasheman

A photograph of Yaduveer Gopal Raj Urs with Pramoda Devi Wadiyar.

A photograph of Yaduveer Gopal Raj Urs with Pramoda Devi Wadiyar.

Mysore: The Mysore royal family has a new heir in Yaduveer Gopal Raj Urs to continue the Dasara traditions of the Wadiyar dynasty and also taking up the legal disputes of palace property with the state government.

He is the grandson of Princess Gayatri Devi (the eldest daughter of the last Maharaja Jayachamarendra Wadiyar and the eldest sister of late Srikantadutta Narasimharaja Wadiyar) and son of Tripurasundari Devi and Swarup Gopal Raj Urs. His adoption as the heir was announced by Ms. Pramoda Devi Wadiyar at a press conference at Amba Vilas Palace on Thursday.

Yaduveer comes from the Bettada Kote family whose association with the Wadiyars of Mysuru goes back to more than 200 years. Yaduveer studied in Vidya Niketan School, Bengaluru up to standard ten and at Canadian International School, Bengaluru to complete his standard twelve, after which he left for the U.S. He is currently doing his BA, majoring in Economics and English at Boston.

(Agencies)

Filed Under: India Tagged With: Mysore, Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, Srikantadutta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, Yaduveer Gopal Raj Urs

AAP to appoint AIIMS whistleblower Sanjiv Chaturvedi as Delhi anti-corruption chief

February 13, 2015 by Nasheman

Sanjiv Chaturvedi to head Delhi's anti corruption bureau

Sanjiv Chaturvedi to head Delhi’s anti corruption bureau

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) plans to appoint as Delhi’s top anti-corruption officer a man who was recently shunted out by the central government. Sanjiv Chaturvedi, who was removed as vigilance chief of AIIMS hospital, will head the Delhi anti-corruption bureau.

Chaturvedi, an Indian Forest Service officer who had uncovered several scams while posted in Haryana, was removed from the post of Chief Vigilance Officer at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in August last year. His sacking led to a huge protest by AAP which accused the Modi government of removing him at the behest of some BJP leaders.

Chaturvedi’s removal had also drawn parallels with the repeated transfers of IAS officer Ashok Khemka, who had exposed a series of corruption cases in Haryana.

The AAP Cabinet, which will be sworn-in on Saturday at the Ramlila Maidan, is expected to make the decision next week.

(Agencies)

Filed Under: India Tagged With: Aam Aadmi Party, AIIMS, Arvind Kejriwal, BJP, Corruption, Delhi, Sanjiv Chaturvedi

Christian school in Vasant Vihar vandalised, Kejriwal vows tough action

February 13, 2015 by Nasheman

Policemen stand guard outside the Holy Child Auxilium School in New Delhi on Friday. Photo: Sandeep Saxena, The Hindu

Policemen stand guard outside the Holy Child Auxilium School in New Delhi on Friday. Photo: Sandeep Saxena, The Hindu

New Delhi: In yet another incident which raises concerns over safety of institutions linked to the minorities, a Christian school located in south Delhi’s Vasant Vihar was vandalised by some unknown persons late on Thursday.

According to reports, the window of the Holy Child Auxilium School principal’s room was broken and the CCTV cameras installed there were also damaged by some unidentified persons.

The police, which is now probing the matter, has claimed that it may be a case of theft.

Delhi CM-designate and AAP leader Arvind Kjeriwal has strongly condemned the incident and said that such acts won’t be tolerated.

Meanwhile, Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani, who studied in this school, is also expected to visit the school shortly.

In view of the incident, all classes were cancelled today and the security has been tightened.

“Certain people came at night, broke the CCTV camera, went into the principal’s room and vandalised it,” Father Dominic Emmanuel, spokesperson of the Delhi Archdiocese, was quoted as saying.

He further alleged that the incident is in line with a series of attacks on churches in Delhi.

After massive protests by Christian groups, Home Minister Rajnath Singh tightened security around churches and other religious institutions.

(Agencies)

Filed Under: India Tagged With: Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi, Holy Child Auxilium School

Bengaluru-Ernakulam Express derails, 8 killed, several injured

February 13, 2015 by Nasheman

Derailed bogies of the Bangalore-Ernakulam Expresss near Hosur on Friday.

Derailed bogies of the Bangalore-Ernakulam Expresss near Hosur on Friday.

Bengaluru: In a tragic mishap, at least 8 passengers have been killed and around 60 injured when a Bengaluru-Ernakulam bound Inter-City Express derailed near Hosur in Tamil Nadu during wees hours today.

The mishap took place near Anekal at 7:35 am today. According to Railway officials, nine coaches have been derailed.

Around six ambulances from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have rushed to the accident spot. Even local villagers are assisting the rescue team to help the injured.

The mishap occurred after the engine of the train caught fire and all the bogies got derailed.
Railway authorities have rushed rescue teams to the spot and rescue operation is on.

According to sources, many passengers are still trapped in the derailed coaches.

The injured are being rushed to nearby hospitals.

Helpline numbers

  • Bengaluru: 080-22371166, 080-22156553 and 080-22154554

  • Palakkad: 0491-2556198 and 0491-2555231

  • Thiruvananthapuram: 0471-23221205, 0471-2321237 and 09746769960

  • Ernakulam Junction: 0484-2100317, 0813699773 and 09539336040

  • Ernakulam Town: 0484-2398200

  • Thrissur:0487-2424148, 0487-2430060

  • Aluva:0484-2624143

  • Mobile Nos: 9731666751

  • At accident site: 9448090599

  • Kerala Department of Non-resident Keralites’ Affairs have opened help lines in Bangalore – 080-25305090, Ernakulam – 0484-2371830/2371810 and Thiruvananthapuram -1800-425-3939 (Toll Free), 0471-2770522

The Ernakulam-bound train, a daily train, left Bengaluru city railway station at 6.15 a.m.

About seven ambulances from Tamil Nadu and 10 from Karnataka have been dispatched to tackle the emergency situation.

The derailed coaches are D-8, D-9, D-10, D-11, two AC Chair Cars and two unreserved coaches, railway sources said. Unconfirmed reports say the locomotive of the train also caught fire and that the pantry car rammed into the adjacent D-8 coach.

Filed Under: India Tagged With: Bengaluru Ernakulam Express, Train Accident

US police officer who brutally assaulted Indian in Alabama arrested, will be fired; FBI to probe matter

February 13, 2015 by Nasheman

57-year-old Sureshbhai Patel was partially paralysed in the US when a police officer forced him on ground. Photo: Al.com

57-year-old Sureshbhai Patel was partially paralysed in the US when a police officer forced him on ground. Photo: Al.com

Washington: One of the two police officers who allegedly assaulted the 57-year-old Indian man in Alabama has been arrested and FBI will be conducting a probe into the matter to find out if there were any federal violations in the incident.

Larry Muncey, the Madison City Chief of Police while apologising to the victim Sureshbhai Patel, who was wrongfully assaulted by two police officers, without any provocation just because he did not know English and was unable to answer to their questions, informed that Federal Bureau of Investigation will also be conducting a probe into the matter.

“I sincerely apologise to Mr Patel, Mr Patel’s family and our community. We strive to exceed expectations,” Muncey told reporters at a news conference.

“Additionally FBI would be conducting a parallel inquiry to ascertain if there were any federal violations,” Muncey said after he released audio and videos related to the incident.

“As a result of the investigations, I found that Mr Parkers’s actions did not meet the high standard and expectations of the Madison City Police Department,” he said, adding, that he (Muncey) has proposed termination of officer Parker, who has now been arrested for third-degree assault.

The incident occurred on the morning of February 6 while walking down the sidewalk in the neighbourhood, Patel, a permanent US resident, “was violently assaulted by a police official without provocation, and left partially paralysed,” according to the 11-page lawsuit filed.

A day before, Patel had arrived in the United States to assist his son and daughter-in-law in caring for their 17-month-old child, who was developmentally delayed after a premature birth.

In the video, Patel is seen walking quietly in a sidewalk. He is not seen peeping at any of the houses or garage as was the police told in an non-emergency call it received from a neighbour, after which a police car was rushed to the neighbourhood.

In the video, two police officers are see approaching Patel and asking him questions – like name, address and identity card.

Patel is heard saying “No English” and pointing figure towards his son’s home. Soon one of the police officer, later identified as Parker, is seen violently throwing Patel on the ground and threatening him not to leave. It is at this time it appears Patel was paralysed, apparently by shock.

Moments later when two police officers try to walk him, Patel is not able to stand on his own. Patel was severely injured in the incident, said his attorney Henry F Sherrod.

Patel has been partly paralysed and is currently under treatment at a city hospital.

The incident was condemned by Indian community members across the globe.

In the Meanwhile, an online fundraising campaign has started to help the Patel family with their mounting medical bills.

By yesterday evening nearly USD 12,000 was raised out of the target of USD 12,000. The amount was raised by 278 people in one single day.

The funds raised will be provided directly to the family to help cover medical bills and other fees related to this incident.

Angered by the incident, SAALT (South Asian Americans Living Together) in a statement demanded immediate disciplinary action and termination of the officials concerned.

It asked Madison Police to investigate with expediency and thoroughness the reasons that led to the police encounter with Patel, what occurred during the incident, and the subsequent steps taken by the police department, including a timeline to publicly release the investigation’s findings.

New York-based Indian American attorney Ravi Batra said the local Madison cop dishonored his badge, and violated Sureshbhai Patel’s federal civil rights and state rights.

“The governor of Alabama needs to speak out and mayor of Madison need to retrain their cops while holding Police Chief Larry Muncey responsible,” he said.

“Our federal government, led by President Obama, can move Sureshbhai to Walter Reade hospital – where US presidents go for care, and give him the best medical care to repair his spinal injuries,” Batra said in a statement.

(PTI)

Filed Under: India Tagged With: Alabama, Police, Sureshbhai Patel, United States, USA

Cricket World Cup launched with quirky opening ceremony

February 12, 2015 by Nasheman

Fans of Indian cricket team show their support during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 opening event at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne on Thursday. REUTERS

Fans of Indian cricket team show their support during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 opening event at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne on Thursday. REUTERS

Christchurch: Children mingled with cricketing greats in “backyard” matches and Maori warriors shared the stage with morris dancers as the Cricket World Cup opened today with a vibrant and quirky ceremony in Christchurch.

Thousands of fans crammed leafy Hagley Park to see the launch of the first World Cup in New Zealand and Australia in 23 years, the formal part of which began with a lone bagpiper and ended with a booming fireworks display –he biggest in the city’s history.

The World Cup is the largest event Christchurch has hosted since an earthquake in February 2011 devastated the city’s centre — only a few hundred yards from where Thursday’s festivities took place, claiming the lives of 185 people.

The physical scars of that disaster still remain in the many vacant lots where buildings once stood but the people of Christchurch showed Thursday the city’s spirit remains undimmed.

Mayor Leanne Dalziell said Christchurch was preparing to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup when the earthquake struck, toppling hotels and wrecking venues, forcing matches to be allocated to other centres.

She told fans Thursday “we’re back!”

New Zealand prime minister John Key said the earthquake robbed Christchurch of the chance of hosting the Rugby World Cup and it was “only fitting” that it should be chosen to host the opening of the Cricket World Cup. He said the opening ceremony was a way of telling the world that Christchurch is “back in business.”

International Cricket Council chief executive David Richardson unveiled the Cricket World Cup trophy, saying it was a symbol of the ICC’s values of excellence, integrity and inclusion.

Hagley Oval, which will host Saturday’s opening match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, has hosted first class cricket matches since 1867 but was extensively redeveloped since to become the city’s international cricket venue after the earthquake wrecked Lancaster Park.

Thursday’s ceremony, which set the stage for the Cricket World Cup, celebrating the love of cricket and the cultures of the competing nations, equally celebrated Christchurch’s resilience as it literally lifted itself from ruins to host the opening and opening match of cricket’s four-yearly festival.

As many as 80 children were joined by famous players in games of backyard cricket played on four giant ovals, divided into 14 individual grounds representing the 14 nations taking part in the world tournament. Each of the four areas was overlooked by a stage on which cultural performers from Sri Lanka and India, West Indian steel bands, Scottish and Irish dancers and indigenous Maori haka groups — in total more than 1,000 participants, performed for enthralled crowds.

The captains of the teams currently in New Zealand were presented to the crowd.

South Africa captain A.B. de Villiers told fans that while the Proteas had never won the World Cup “we’re as well prepared as we can be and we look forward to taking the trophy home.”

Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza, whose team plays South Africa in its opening match on Sunday, said while the odds were against his team “the good thing about this tournament is the team that plays the best cricket on the day will win the match.”

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews said his team’s opening match against New Zealand on Saturday is “going to be a tough contest, it’s going to be an even contest and whoever plays the best cricket will win.”

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, who lives in Christchurch said “having the first game of the World Cup here in Christchurch after all it’s been through is fantastic.”

“I think it’s a wide open World Cup,” he said. “The nature of wickets we’ll see in Australia and New Zealand are pure wickets and that brings in the match-winners. Every team has match-winners and they can turn the game in 10 or 15 overs.”

(PTI)

Filed Under: India, Sports Tagged With: ICC World Cup 2015, World Cup, World Cup opening ceremony

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 1834
  • 1835
  • 1836
  • 1837
  • 1838
  • …
  • 1904
  • Next Page »

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

KNOW US

  • About Us
  • Corporate News
  • FAQs
  • NewsVoir
  • Newswire
  • Realtor arrested for NRI businessman’s murder in Andhra Pradesh

GET INVOLVED

  • Corporate News
  • Letters to Editor
  • NewsVoir
  • Newswire
  • Realtor arrested for NRI businessman’s murder in Andhra Pradesh
  • Submissions

PROMOTE

  • Advertise
  • Corporate News
  • Events
  • NewsVoir
  • Newswire
  • Realtor arrested for NRI businessman’s murder in Andhra Pradesh

Archives

  • February 2026 (6)
  • January 2026 (12)
  • December 2025 (6)
  • November 2025 (8)
  • October 2025 (12)
  • September 2025 (25)
  • August 2025 (46)
  • July 2025 (110)
  • June 2025 (28)
  • May 2025 (14)
  • April 2025 (50)
  • March 2025 (35)
  • February 2025 (34)
  • January 2025 (43)
  • December 2024 (83)
  • November 2024 (82)
  • October 2024 (156)
  • September 2024 (202)
  • August 2024 (165)
  • July 2024 (169)
  • June 2024 (161)
  • May 2024 (107)
  • April 2024 (104)
  • March 2024 (222)
  • February 2024 (229)
  • January 2024 (102)
  • December 2023 (142)
  • November 2023 (69)
  • October 2023 (74)
  • September 2023 (93)
  • August 2023 (118)
  • July 2023 (139)
  • June 2023 (52)
  • May 2023 (38)
  • April 2023 (48)
  • March 2023 (166)
  • February 2023 (207)
  • January 2023 (183)
  • December 2022 (165)
  • November 2022 (229)
  • October 2022 (224)
  • September 2022 (177)
  • August 2022 (155)
  • July 2022 (123)
  • June 2022 (190)
  • May 2022 (204)
  • April 2022 (310)
  • March 2022 (273)
  • February 2022 (311)
  • January 2022 (329)
  • December 2021 (296)
  • November 2021 (277)
  • October 2021 (237)
  • September 2021 (234)
  • August 2021 (221)
  • July 2021 (237)
  • June 2021 (364)
  • May 2021 (282)
  • April 2021 (278)
  • March 2021 (293)
  • February 2021 (192)
  • January 2021 (222)
  • December 2020 (170)
  • November 2020 (172)
  • October 2020 (187)
  • September 2020 (194)
  • August 2020 (61)
  • July 2020 (58)
  • June 2020 (56)
  • May 2020 (36)
  • March 2020 (48)
  • February 2020 (109)
  • January 2020 (162)
  • December 2019 (174)
  • November 2019 (120)
  • October 2019 (104)
  • September 2019 (88)
  • August 2019 (159)
  • July 2019 (122)
  • June 2019 (66)
  • May 2019 (276)
  • April 2019 (393)
  • March 2019 (477)
  • February 2019 (448)
  • January 2019 (693)
  • December 2018 (736)
  • November 2018 (570)
  • October 2018 (611)
  • September 2018 (692)
  • August 2018 (666)
  • July 2018 (468)
  • June 2018 (440)
  • May 2018 (616)
  • April 2018 (772)
  • March 2018 (338)
  • February 2018 (157)
  • January 2018 (188)
  • December 2017 (142)
  • November 2017 (122)
  • October 2017 (146)
  • September 2017 (176)
  • August 2017 (201)
  • July 2017 (222)
  • June 2017 (155)
  • May 2017 (205)
  • April 2017 (156)
  • March 2017 (178)
  • February 2017 (195)
  • January 2017 (149)
  • December 2016 (143)
  • November 2016 (169)
  • October 2016 (165)
  • September 2016 (137)
  • August 2016 (115)
  • July 2016 (116)
  • June 2016 (124)
  • May 2016 (170)
  • April 2016 (150)
  • March 2016 (199)
  • February 2016 (201)
  • January 2016 (216)
  • December 2015 (210)
  • November 2015 (174)
  • October 2015 (281)
  • September 2015 (241)
  • August 2015 (250)
  • July 2015 (188)
  • June 2015 (216)
  • May 2015 (281)
  • April 2015 (306)
  • March 2015 (296)
  • February 2015 (280)
  • January 2015 (245)
  • December 2014 (286)
  • November 2014 (254)
  • October 2014 (185)
  • September 2014 (98)
  • August 2014 (7)

Copyright © 2026 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in