Telecom secretary 'dropped' over call drops

NEW DELHI, Jan 29, 2016, DHNS:

DoT has been under fire over the contentious issue

Apparently for the Department of Telecom’s (DoT) failure in addressing the contentious call drops issue, Telecom Secretary Rakesh Garg was on Friday shunted out to the Minorities Ministry in a reshuffle.

In the shake-up nine top IAS officers got new assignments. Garg, a 1980-batch Uttar Pradesh cadre officer, was replaced by J S Deepak of the same cadre, who is two years junior to him.

The tasks for the new Telecom Secretary has already been cut out as he will have to steer the e-auctioning of spectrum sale in June this year during which the government expects to collect over Rs five lakh crore.

The first challenge for Deepak, who was the Secretary of Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DiETY), would be dealing with call drops issue besides on net neutrality and differential pricing as the regulator Trai is to submit its report on the issue.

Deepak, who had served as a joint secretary earlier, is credited with successfully conducting the first ever e-auction of spectrum in 2010, which helped the government raise close to Rs 1.06 lakh crore and set the roadmap for future auction of natural resources. Dr Aruna Sharma, Madhya Pradesh cadre officer of 1982 batch, replaces Deepak in DiETY.

The Department of Telecom (DoT) has been under fire on the call drop issue, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi pulling up the ministry in the recent times.

Karntaka cadre officer of 1982 batch S K Pattanayak has been appointed as the new Agriculture Secretary in place of Siraj Hussain of Uttar Pradesh cadre (1979), who retired on Friday.

Avinash K Srivastava, a 1982-batch officer of UP cadre who is currently Special Secretary in the Agriculture Ministry, has been promoted as secretary and given the assignment in Ministry of Food Processing Industries. He replaces Ranglal Jamuda, the Odisha cadre officer of 1981 batch who retired on Friday.

Dr Krishan Kumar Jalan of Haryana cadre of 1982 batch, presently the Central Provident Fund Commissioner, has been appointed as secretary in the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in place of Anup K Pujari, a Karnataka cadre officer of 1980 batch on his superannuation.

Dr Vinod Agrawal of Jharkhand cadre (1980), presently the secretary in National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NSCS), has been appointed as secretary in Departmentof Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in the vacancy of Lov Verma, UP cadre officer of 1978-batch on his retirement.

In another appointment, Dr Shyam S Agarwal of Rajasthan cadre (1980) has been appointed as secretary of the Tribal Affairs Ministry in place of Arun Jha, a Bihar-cadre officer of 1980 batch, on his appointment as Secretary as National Commissionfor Scheduled Castes (NCSC). Agarwal will hold additional charge of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST).

Centre justifies Prez rule in Arunachal

NEW DELHI, Jan 29, 2016, DHNS:

Govt urges court to dismiss petition by Cong leaders

The Union government on Friday underscored before the Supreme Court breakdown of law and order, prevailing war-like situation in Arunachal Pradesh, involvement of outlawed NSCN (K) in pressuring dissidents MLAs and reduction of the Congress government to minority to justify imposition of the President's Rule.

In an affidavit filed by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, the Union Home Ministry submitted that under Article 174 of the Constitution, the time lag between two sitting should not be more than six months which had lapsed on January 21.

Besides, the Centre further said, since the Nabam Tuki government has held December 16 Assembly session, held in a community hall at Itanagar, as invalid, there will be Constitutional breakdown due to six months break and, if it is not so or the session was valid, then the current government is in minority.

“The governor himself has reported that the law and order situation was absolutely unsatisfactory in capital complex and a war like scenario has been observed and the state cabinet itself participated in the agitation,” the Centre said, citing the reports from Raj Bhawan.

“There was complete breakdown of law and order of the constitutional machinery in the state and the governor has recommended for taking special measures including exercising power under Article 356 of the Constitution,” it added.

The government urged the court to dismiss the petition by Congress leader Rajesh Tacho and others as “misconceived” since they had challenged the Centre’s recommendation for the President’s Rule, though subsequent development has taken place on January 26.

Relying upon Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa’s reports, the affifavit stated when 34 MLAs wanted to meet the gGovernor on December 17, they were prevented by Congress members as well as NSUI volunteers, the home minister himself was leading the agitation.

Tabla, flute and violin debut at Beating Retreat

NEW DELHI, Jan 29, 2016, DHNS:

The “Beating the Retreat” ceremony at Vijay Chowk here on Friday turned into a unique musical extravaganza, with sitars, flutes and tablas being heard for the first time along with 15 military and 18 pipe and drum bands.

The four-day long Republic Day celebrations came to its end with the Beating the Retreat ceremony.

President Pranab Mukherjee was joined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President M Hamid Ansari and other dignitaries to witness the traditional military ceremony, which reminded the ancient days when belligerent armies stopped fighting in the evening, only to restart it next morning.

The ceremony this year had for the first time two Indian orchestras – complete with sitars, flutes and tablas – joining with military bands, playing tunes like “Ai Mere Watan Ke Logon”, “Taaqat Watan Ki Humse Hai” and “Vande Mataram”.

Bands from the state police and Central Armed Police Force performed at the ‘Beating the Retreat’ ceremony for the first time this year.

 The bands comprising Border Security Force, Indo-Tibet Border Police and the Delhi Police played the tunes ‘Samvidhan’, ‘Abhinandan’ and ‘Carriappa’.

The Tri-Services Military Band, Indian classical instruments Sinfonietta and Jazz Symphonic Orchestra playing the tune ‘Agyat Youvana’. Sinfonietta also played the tune ‘Bharat Humko Jaan Se Pyara Hai’.

Mukherjee arrived in his presidential buggy amid loud cheers by the spectators. The President was received by Prime Minister, Vice President and chiefs of Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and several other senior Union ministers were present at Vijay Chowk during the ceremony. So were former prime minister Manmohan Singh, and Congress president Sonia Gandhi and a host of foreign diplomats and military attaches.

Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite “Abide with Me” was played towards the end of the ceremony, before the military bands marched up Raisina Hill to the tune of “Sare Jahan Se Aachha”.

The retreat was sounded and the national flag was brought down to mark the end of the ceremony. The spectators were spellbound as thousands of light bulbs illuminated the Rashtrapati Bhavan, South Block, North Block and the Parliament House complex.

Our MLAs threatened, says BJP

Ratnadip Choudhury, Guwahati, Jan 29, 2016, DHNS:

The BJP’s Arunachal Pradesh unit on Friday said its legislators have been receiving threats since political crisis erupted after ‘Assembly session’ was convened by them along with rebel Congress leaders in a community hall and at a hotel on December 16  and 17 respectively.

State BJP president Tai Tagak claimed that the crisis was triggered by internal power struggle in Congress and it had engulfed others creating a worrisome situation for the entire state.

“During that time when the crisis was at its peak, law and order was definitely at peril. There were goons on the streets and common people feared violence... Our legislatures had complained that they have received threats from unknown people, may be from underground or political goons to stay away from the crisis.

They were categorically told not to get involved or support any motion moved by the rebel Congress MLAs,” Tagak told Deccan Herald over phone from Itanagar. When asked if BJP MLAs had registered complaints with the police, Tagak said they decided to hold on for sometime since the “situation was volatile”.

Tagak also added that the President’s rule has brought a sense of security, but insisted that the “threat still persists.” 

“The undergrounds groups and some goons are being used at will. Under President’s rule some action needs to be taken,” he said. The BJP has 11 MLAs in the 60 member Assembly. All the BJP MLAs had supported the ‘impeachment motion’ against Speaker Nabam Rebia and ‘trust vote’ against former chief minister Nabam Tuki on December 17.

“In no point of time we have been part of the crisis, because those who rebelled are still with Congress. The Congress high command is to be blamed,” Tagak said.

Rahul Gandhi on day-long fast along with agitating students

Hyderabad, Jan 30, 2016, (PTI)

Stepping up the offensive on Dalit scholar suicide issue, Rahul Gandhi today commenced a day-long fast along with agitating students of Hyderabad Central University here after participating in a candle light vigil in the wee hours.

The Congress Vice President spent about two hours with agitating students past midnight and participated in the candle light vigil along with 2,000 students to mark the birthday of Rohith, who would have turned 27 today.

Rahul returned to the protest site this morning to begin the fast, expressing solidarity with them. "Rahulji is on fast," NSUI President Roji M John said.

Rahul, who is visiting the campus for the second time in as many weeks, tweeted, "I am here today at the request of Rohith's friends and family, to stand with them in their fight for justice.

"A young life full of dreams and aspirations was cut short. We owe it to him, to the memory of (Mahatma) Gandhiji and to every single Indian student who dreams of an India free from prejudice and injustice," he said in another tweet.

Rohith's mother Radhika and brother Raju were also present at the protest site.
Gandhi, who arrived here at 12.10 AM, spoke to the agitating students and lit candles before Rohith's picture.

As students raised slogans against Irani and Dattaretreya, Rahul intervened and politely told them not to shout 'murdabad' (a slogan wishing death to).

"Let us not say 'murdabad' to somebody. That will not do justice," he said. Velpula Sunkanna, one of the research scholars whose suspension was revoked recently, said Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao Podile should be removed from the VC post.

"On January 17, we have filed SC/ST Atrocities case against Appa Rao and (five) others. These six people should be arrested immediately. Thats the only demand," Sunkanna, who is on an indefinite fast along with Vijay Kumar (another scholar whose suspension was revoked), said.

On Rahul Gandhi's second visit to the campus, he said, "I look at it the way others..Arvind Kejriwal, Sitaram Yechury, CPI leaders and many people who came and supported us do. The same way we see Rahul Gandhi".

Hyderabad Central University interim V-C goes on leave

Hyderabad, Jan 29, 2016, (PTI)

In a dramatic turn of events, Dr Vipin Srivastava who took charge as the interim Vice-Chancellor of Hyderabad Central University (HCU) amid protests over the alleged suicide by a Dalit scholar here proceeded on leave from this afternoon.

"Dr Vipin Srivastava who took charge as the interim Vice-Chancellor of Hyderabad Central University has proceeded for leave from the afternoon of January 29 and the next senior most professor Dr M Pariasamy will perform the duties of the V-C till further orders," a university official said.

The reasons behind his leave are not immediately clear, the official said. Srivastava could not be contacted for comments.

He was appointed as the interim VC on January 24 after V-C Appa Rao Podile went on leave amid protest from the student community over the death of Rohith Vemula.
Meanwhile, AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi will visit the campus tomorrow. He is expected to offer his solidarity to the agitating students by participating in a mass hunger strike.

It will be the Congress leader's second visit to the city since the death of the research scholar. Gandhi had last visited the campus on January 19.

About 2,000 students organised a candle light march tonight on the campus ahead of Vemula's birthday tomorrow. They shouted slogans against Podile and Union HRD 
Minister Smriti Irani and demanded their resignations.

Vemula was found hanging inside a hostel room in the university on January 17.

Senior journalist T N GopaKumar passes away

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 30, 2016, (PTI)

Senior journalist and Editor-in-chief of Asianet News T N GopaKumar passed away at a private hospital here early today.

He was 58 and leaves behind his wife and two daughters. Gopakumar was undergoing treatment for cancer for some time. Family sources said the end came at around 3.50 AM. The cremation will be held at Shanti Kavadam at Thycaud here this evening with full state honours.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, film personalities and media personnel were among those who offered their respects.

Gopakumar, fondly known as TNG, started his journalistic career with Indian Express and went on to work with Mathrubhumi, News Time, Statesman, Independent and India Today.

He also contributed to BBC Radio before joining Asianet. He also made a mark with his weekly TV programme 'Kannadi', focusing on touching social issues which made him very popular.

'Kannadi' (mirror) recently celebrated 1,000 episodes and ran for 22 years. Despite a hectic career, Gopakumar found time to pen books on various subjects, directed a film 'Jeevan Mashai' in 2001 and a serial for Doordarshan 'Verukkal' (Roots).

He won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award for 'Suchindrum Rakhakal' besides many other awards during his three decades of journalistic career.

Classic politics of vulturisation: BJP on Rahul's visit to HCU

Hyderabad, Jan 30, 2016, (PTI)

BJP today slammed Rahul Gandhi's second visit to the Hyderabad Central University (HCU) campus in as many weeks over the suicide of a Dalit scholar, charging him and the Congress with politicising the issue and dubbing the visit as "classic politics of vulturisation".
"Rahul Gandhi and Congress are so politically bankrupt and unemployed that he has to politicise tragic death of a student repeatedly," Telangana BJP spokesperson Krishna Saagar Rao said.

"Why is Rahul Gandhi not in Chennai, where three girls' committed suicide almost a week ago," he asked. "His desperate attempt to earn some petty political expediency, has brought him back to HCU campus. This is classic politics of vulturisation," Rao said.

Rahul arrived on the campus after midnight last night and took part in a candle march organised by the agitation students and spent about two hours with them. Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula, who committed suicide, would have turned 27 today.

Congress has been demanding the sacking of HRD Minister Smriti Irani and Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and also removal of Vice Chancellor Appa Rao in the wake of the suicide by the Dalit scholar. This is Rahul's second visit to Hyderabad since Vemula was found hanging in the varsity's hostel room.

The Congress Vice-President had visited the University on January 19 following the suicide by the Dalit scholar and met the agitating students and the family members of Vemula.

Nation remembers Mahatma Gandhi on his 68th death anniversary

New Delhi, Jan 30 , 2016, (PTI)

The nation today remembered Mahatma Gandhi on his 68th death anniversary with President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the country in paying homage to the Father of the Nation.

Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Modi paid floral tributes at Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat here. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Urban Development minister M Venkaiah Naidu were among those who paid homage to the Father of the Nation at Rajghat, where an inter-religion prayer was held.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi along with Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and former Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit paid homage to Mahatma.

While Gandhi along with Dikshit left soon after paying tributes, Azad stayed back as several other eminent persons came to pay their respects. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also visited the memorial.

Remembering Mahatma on his death anniversary, Modi tweeted, "Salutations to beloved Bapu on his Punya Tithi". The Father of the Nation was assassinated on this day in 1948 here.

The Prime Minister also paid tributes to all those who have laid down their lives for the country. "Remembering the valour of all martyrs who gave their lives for the Nation. Their sacrifices remain etched in our memory," he said in a tweet.

Others who paid tribute to the Father of the Nation included veteran BJP leader L K Advani, Union Ministers Mahesh Sharma, Bahul Supriyo and Rao Inderjit Singh. The three service chiefs - General Dalbir Singh, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and Admiral Robin Dhowan were also present.

Tributes were also paid to those who sacrificed their lives for the country on the occasion of Martyr's Day. At Rajghat, a gun salute was given and a group of singers sang devotional songs as school students and people from different walks of life gathered there to pay respect to the Mahatma.

On the occasion, Naidu inaugurated Kasturba Souvenir centre and Security Control Rooms at Rajghat.

Riot victim gang-raped by three in Muzaffarnagar

Muzaffarnagar, Jan 30, 2016, (PTI)

A 14-year-old girl, who was rehabilitated along with her family after the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, was allegedly gang-raped by three youths at Ambeta village in the district.

Circle officer N P Singh today said that police has registered a case under various sections of IPC including 376 (d) (rape by one or more persons constituting a group) against one Zulfam, son of former Gram Pradhan Zaheer, and two unidentified youths who are absconding.

According to a complaint lodged by the victim's brother, the girl had gone to the fields yesterday and when she was returning home, three youths picked her up and allegedly gang-raped her.

The girl was later found in an unconscious state. The victim's family members were allegedly beaten up by the accused when they protested over the incident.

The girl has been sent for medical examination. Her family was rehabilated to Ambeta village from Baghpat district after the Muzaffarnagar riots in 2013.

Triple suicide: Jaya transfers students to govt college

Chennai, Jan 30, 2016 (PTI)

 Days after three girl students of a private college killed themselves over alleged exorbitant fee demands, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today ordered transfer of the yoga and naturopathy students from that institution to a state-run college.
She also said that the case of the triple suicide was transferred to the CB-CID by the Director General of Police based on her orders.

"Considering the welfare of students of SVS Yoga and Naturopathy Medical College (in Villupuram District), I have ordered transfer of students of yoga and naturopathy to the state-run Yoga and Naturopathy Medical College," she said in an official release here.

As regards homoeopathy college of the same SVS group, she said she has ordered steps to get the students admitted in the government homoeopathy medical college after getting the requisite Central approval.

On January 23, three girl students of SVS Medical College of Yoga and Naturopathy at Villupuram had allegedly committed suicide by jumping into a farm well after harassment by the management demanding 'exorbitant' fees.

The college head Vasuki Subramaniam surrendered in a court in Chennai on January 25 and was remanded to judicial custody, while two others, including its principal, were arrested in connection with the case.

On January 27, the Madras High Court allowed a fresh autopsy of one of the three college girls who allegedly committed suicide, on request by her father.

Tamilarasan had moved a petition on January 25 in the High Court, seeking a CB-CID inquiry and a fresh post-mortem in a state-run hospital in Chennai.

He had also requested that a doctor of his choice be present during the autopsy.

After the suicide of three students, several issues related to their college including alleged collection of exorbitant fee, absence of requisite infrastructure and its non-affiliation for the current academic year to TN Dr MGR Medical University cropped up.

Students demanded that they be transferred to a state-run college and had also requested reimbusement of fee component over and above fixed by the government and taken by the private college management.

Yesterday, the College head, Vasuki Subramanian was sent to police custody by a Kallakurichi court till February 4. Against this background, Jayalalithaa explained how the college now in the thick of controversy came into existence.

She said an entity, "SVS Education, Social Seva Trust" got permission in 2008 from the then DMK regime to establish SVS Yoga and Naturopathy College and Research Institute with an annual intake of 50 students.

Since then (2008-09), the TN Dr MGR Medical University has given continuous provisional affiliation till 2014-15, she said.

"The application of this college (in Kallakurichi near Chinna Salem in Villupuram District) seeking affiliation for 2015-16 is under the consideration of the varsity," she said indicating clearly that so far approval has not been given for it for the current year.

On February 28, 2011, the then DMK regime gave no-objection certificate for the SVS trust to set up a Homeopathy Medical College with an annual intake of 50 students.
"However, the application of this college was rejected by the Central government (for homeopathy college)," she said.

The SVS Trust went to the Madras High Court over this issue. "Based on the High Court's orders, the TN Dr MGR Medical University gave permission for admitting students for 2014-15 and 2015-16," she said.

The Central government also gave permission for the homeopathy college on September 28, 2015, she said.

She said transfer of students in SVS Yoga and Naturopathy College to a state-run institution was ordered by her to ensure that their education was not disturbed.

As regards homeopathy students, approval of the Central Government and the Central Council of Homeopathy was needed for their transfer to other institutions, she said.

"I have ordered the authorities to take steps for getting Central nod immediately and get the students of the SVS homeopathy college transferred to the Government Homeopathy Medical College," she said.

Cong shedding crocodile tears over suicide of Dalit: BJP

New Delhi, Jan 30, 2016, (PTI)

BJP today accused Congress of shedding "crocodile tears" over suicide of a Dalit scholar and attacked its Vice President Rahul Gandhi for using students as a "political tool" after he joined them at the Hyderabad Central University for a day-long fast over the issue.
Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said nine cases of Dalit student suicides had taken place in the campus during the UPA rule but Rahul never bothered to go there as he asked opposition parties to wait for the report of the judicial commission probe ordered by the Centre into the suicide.

"Congress is shedding crocodile tears simply to gain political mileage. Congress and communist parties are trying to make this a political issue and making a beeline to the university, forgetting that 9 such incidents happened during the UPA rule. This is part of their anti-Modi campaign across the country," he told reporters.

BJP said the Congress vice president's protests reflected the opposition party's "frustration" as its leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi and most chief ministers were facing serious corruption charges.

"At a place where students go for study, Rahul Gandhi is trying to vitiate its atmosphere. It shows how much frustrated Congress is that it is doing politics over a student's death. Such a divisive politics is poisonous and BJP condemns it," BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said.

He charged that  both Rahul Gandhi and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi were doing politics over the death of Rohith Vemula, a Dalit scholar who had ended his life on the campus.
Congress MP Hanumantha Rao had also written to the HRD Ministry over suicides by many university students coming from deprived background and the ministry had sent six reminders to the authorities in this regard but Congress had conveniently forgotten it, Sharma said.

"His protests are nothing but part of Congress conspiracy to defame the Modi government on one pretext or another. UPA was a failure while the BJP government has been successful on all fronts. Congress is unable to stomach it. Now it has made the university a political theatre for its selfish motives," he said. 

Lashing out at Rahul Gandhi, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said his fast was a classic case of trying to score "political brownie points" and charged that his characteristic way of functioning was to shun responsibility and gatecrash into others' protests.

"Rahul and responsibility, these two Rs never go together. Today he has proved the same. We are all very sad and disturbed about Rohith Vemula's suicide. But the way Rahul Gandhi has shown insensitivity is the reason why I say he and responsibility cannot travel together," he told a press conference.

The Congress leader should not act as a judge as the HRD ministry had already ordered a judicial inquiry and the matter was also before a court, he said.

"Rather than politicising it, he should have shown restraint and sensitivity," he said, adding that it was not a Dalit vs non-Dalit issue and "passion should not be stoked".

"It is a classic case of trying to buy some political brownie points out of a tragedy. It is itself a tragedy... He has always shunned his responsibilities and gatecrashed into protests of others. He has never taken any issue to a logical conclusion," Patra said.

Accusing the Congress leader of being "selective", he said Gandhi has chosen not to speak about Malda violence and about the Warangal Congress leader accused of killing his daughter-in-law.

Diplomat attack: Action against cops, hunt on to nab accused

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 3, 2016, PTI:

Amidst widespread protest over the manhandling of former diplomat T P Sreenivasan by SFI activists, disciplinary action has been initiated against five policemen who were on duty at the venue of Global Education Meet and a manhunt has been launched to trace the accused.

The "erring" policemen would be sent for intensive refresher training as part of the departmental action. "Two sub-inspectors and three constables will be sent for intensive refresher training at Kerala Police Academy in Thrissur. An oral enquiry has also been ordered into the incident," a top police official told PTI.

There were allegations that police had remained a mute spectator while Sreenivasan, who is also the Vice Chairman and Executive Head of Kerala State Higher Education Council, was attacked by the agitators in Kovalam yesterday.

Police sources said a massive manhunt has been launched to trace the key accused who slapped the diplomat. Meanwhile, CPI(M) veteran and opposition leader V S Achuthanandan today demanded strict action against the SFI activists who attacked the former diplomat.

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan also said that the agitators had crossed the limit and the party cannot approve these kind of personal attacks. The party's district secretary Kadakampally Surendran had apologised yesterday itself for the misbehaviour of agitators belonging to SFI, the student wing of CPI(M).

SFI activists had attacked Sreenivasan during their protest against the "commercialisation of higher education" near the venue of Global Education meet at Leela Convention Centre in Kovalam.

Sreenivasan was the former Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, Vienna, and Ambassador to Austria and Slovenia.

Smog shuts down 74 Mumbai schools

Mumbai, Jan 30, 2016 (PTI)

 A fire at Deonar dumping ground two days ago has led Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to shut down 74 schools run by it for two days, as the smoke from the ground veiled the area causing breathing difficulties.

The schools are located in M-ward where people are complaining about foul smell due to the burning garbage at the dumping ground, a BMC official said.

Schools in M-ward including those in Chembur, Deonar, Tilak Nagar, Pestom Sagar, Shivaji Nagar, Mankhurd, Baiganwadi, have been closed for two days (Friday and Saturday), a corporator said.

Deonar is one of the biggest dumping grounds in Mumbai and the amount of garbage is increasing from years leaving people fuming and complaining.

BMC schools have a six-day week and are closed only on Sundays, the official said.
Since Thursday, a thick blanket of smog has engulfed parts of Mumbai due to various factors including drop in minimum temperature to 14 degree Celsius, the fire incident at Deonar dumping ground and high levels of particulate pollutants in the city.

According to weather sources, the air quality in Mumbai will continue to remain between 'poor' and 'very poor' in the coming days. 

BJP workers join strike by sanitation workers

New Delhi, Jan 30 , 2016, (PTI):

Hundreds of BJP workers today joined the strike by sanitation workers of municipal corporations even as the Delhi Government formed a Task Force to lift garbage across the national capital.
PWD Minister Satyendar Jain, who has formed task force in every district, has directed his department to clear out garbage as the strike entered the fourth day.

A senior government official said Cabinet ministers and AAP MLAs will also join the cleanliness drive from tomorrow in their respective constituencies.

In the morning, scores of sanitation workers dumped garbage outside the residence of Delhi Assembly Speaker Ramniwas Goel.

Yesterday, a group of workers and municipal corporation employees had staged a protest outside Transport Minister Gopal Rai's office in Babarpur in east Delhi.

Sanjay Gehlot, president of Swatantra Mazdoor Vikas Sanyukt Morcha, demanded that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal pay salaries first and "later settle scores with the municipal corporations."

He threatened that the protests will be stepped up if their demand is not met immediately.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has accused BJP leaders of the three municipal corporations of "instigating" the workers to throw garbage outside the ministers' residences and offices.

Demanding regular salaries, payment of long pending arrears, regularisation of contract-based workers, health cards and unification of three municipal corporations, the workers launched the strike on January 27.

Padsalgikar to succeed Javed as Mumbai Police Commissioner

Mumbai, Jan 30, 2016 (PTI)

 Senior IPS officer Datta Padsalgikar was today named as the new Police Commissioner of Mumbai.
Padsalgikar will take over tomorrow and succeeds Ahmed Javed, who has been appointed as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

"Government is pleased to appoint D D Padsalgikar, IPS (1982) as the next Commissioner of Police, Mumbai with effect from January 31 on superannuation of Ahmad Javed, IPS (1980), the present Commissioner of Police, Mumbai.

"The post of Commissioner of Police, Mumbai stands downgraded to the rank of Additional Director General of Police till further orders," a senior official said.

Earlier in the day, Javed got an official send off from his fellow police officers at Naigaon Police parade ground in Central Mumbai.

During his short speech, Javed thanked the state police force for supporting him and congratulated the 13 President Medal's recipients from Mumbai police.
Javed said he is proud to take over his next assignment.

3 Kamduni convicts get death, 3 others life term

Kolkata, Jan 30, 2016 (PTI)

 Three convicts of the sensational Kamduni gangrape and murder of a 21-year-old college student over two years back were today sentenced to death by a city court while three others got life imprisonment.

Additional Sessions Judge Sanchita Sarkar handed out capital sentence to Aminul Ali, Saiful Ali and Ansar Ali, while Imanul Islam, Aminul Islam and Bhola Naskar were sentenced to life imprisonment for the gangrape and brutal murder of the woman on June 7, 2013.

Rejecting arguments for not giving death sentence to the three, who were found guilty of gangrape and murder, by their lawyers claiming it could not be termed as the rarest of rare crime, the judge pronounced the sentences at 3.40 pm.

The judge called out the names of each of the convicts, who were produced in the packed court room, before pronouncing the sentences.

Saiful Ali, Ansar Ali and Aminul Ali were found guilty under sections 376(d) (gangrape), 302 (murder), 376A (inflicting injury which causes death of a woman) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC.

The judge found the other three guilty under sections 376(d) (gangrape), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) of IPC.

Two accused -- Rafiqul Islam and Nur Ali were acquitted on Thursday owing to lack of evidence against them. Another accused Gopal Naskar died during trial in August last year.

The gangrape and murder of the girl took place when she was returning home at Kamduni, about 50 km from Kolkata, in North 24-Parganas district after appearing for an examination at her college on June 7, 2013.

The second year BA student was pulled into a farm when she was walking back home along a deserted road after alighting from a bus. She was subsequently gangraped and murdered.

Her mutilated body was found the next morning in a corner of the farm.
The incident had sparked widespread outrage in the state amidst serious concerns over women's safety.

Judge Sarkar pronounced the verdict after hearing the arguments of defence counsel Firoze Edulji and T Ghosh against handing out of death sentence to the three convicts.

Claiming that there had been more heinous crimes in which convicts had been spared the death sentence by different courts, including the Supreme Court, Edulji submitted that they be given long jail terms.

Appearing for the prosecution, counsel Dipak Ghosh said the circumstances in which the victim died and the nature of injuries to her private parts that led to tearing up of her legs be considered while handing out the sentence.

He stated that the convicts had shown no repentance for the crime, while pleading for the death penalty.

"Annihilation is what they deserve," Ghosh submitted.
The judge talked to all the six convicts, each of whom claimed that they were innocent and had been framed.

Trial in the case had been transferred to City Sessions Court here from Barasat Sessions Court after the counsel for one of the accused moved Calcutta High Court claiming that protesters were preventing him from representing his client.
The hearing in the case was concluded on December 18.

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A crazy person assassinated Gandhi: Bharti

New Delhi, Jan 30, 2016(PTI)

 Union minister Uma Bharti today described Nathuram Godse, who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, as a "sarfira" (crazy person) and said the ideology of the father of the nation is immortal.
On Gandhi's death anniversary, she urged heads of village panchayats located along the Ganga to participate in cleaning the river and said she would hold a 'padayatra' in reaching out to the villagers for this task.

"Today it is the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. A crazy person had ended his life on this day. Gandhi ji is not alive, but his ideology is immortal.

"Gandhiji would say India's soul was in its rural parts. Today is a good day to hold consultations with heads of the villages on cleaning Ganga," she said without naming Godse.

Addressing 'Swachh Ganga - Gramin Sahbhagita', a national-level consultation programme, Bharti claimed herself a "devotee" of Gandhi and said the Ganga Rejuvenation ministry under her is working on the path shown by the late leader.

Bharti noted the Rs 4,000 crore fund spent on cleaning the river over 29 years did not bear desired fruits, but exuded confidence that Ganga will be among top 10 cleanest rivers in the world when the Rs 20,000 crore alloted by NDA government for Namami Gange programme will be utilised.

"In the last 60-70 years, urbanisation along the river took place in an anti-Ganga way. Infrastructure was developed without keeping Ganga in mind," she rued and added the government will not hesitate from seeking money for the mission in case the already alloted funds prove insufficient.

Bharti said the water resources department was working with other ministries like HRD, Rural Development, Tourism, Sports, in rejuvenating the river and ensuring disposal of solid waste and sewage water.

She said the government was planning to initiate organic farming along Ganga's stretch.
"We will sign a MoU with Agriculture Minister in this regard. We are also working out list of ponds situated along the river. Water from the ponds will be released in Ganga during lean period," she said.

Seeking to take out a 'padayatra' (foot march) in all hamlets situated along Ganga to reach out to the villagers, she said, "I want to hold the foot march to urge people for a Clean Ganga, which will be a gift to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

Bharti said and also lauded the Prime Minister for his commitment towards execution of the Ganga action plan. Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Smriti Irani, Birender Singh, Sarbananda Sonowal, Mahesh Sharma and Sanwar Lal Jat also attended the event, considered as a first attempt to rope in villagers in the mission.

Kerala Excise Minister withdraws resignation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Jan 30, 2016, DHNS

Senior Congress leader and bar bribery scam accused K Babu on Saturday withdrew his resignation after a meeting of the Congress-led ruling coalition decided against accepting his offer to step down as excise minister in the wake of a “favourable” court ruling. 

The United Democratic Front (UDF) also decided in favour of reinstating Kerala Congress (M) veteran K M Mani who had stepped down as the finance minister over bar bribery allegations. Mani said he would take a decision later.

Babu had handed over his resignation to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on January 23 after a vigilance court in Thrissur ordered the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to register a case against him. Chandy, however, did not resign.

The UDF’s backing for Babu comes in the wake of a high court order which stayed, for two months, the lower court’s order. “I did not want a comeback but I’m obliged to go with the decision of the party leadership and the UDF. Under the circumstances, I’ve been forced to withdraw my resignation,” Babu told reporters in Kochi.

Mani thanked the UDF leadership but said he was in no “hurry” to return to the Cabinet. “This is an important political decision to make. I’ll discuss the issue within the party and take a suitable decision,” he said.

Chandy himself, under fire after serious allegations of bribery made by solar fraud accused Saritha S Nair, is staying in office by citing a high court ruling which stayed the vigilance court’s order for a probe against him. With barely three months left for the government’s term to end, Mani will be caught between two choices – come back or keep off power citing “moral grounds”. His reported plan for a meeting with BJP national president Amit Shah has also triggered conspiracy theories on pressure tactics.

Mani stepped down as finance minister in November last year. The VACB has since given a clean chit to him amid suspicions on authenticity of the probe. Babu is facing the charge of accepting Rs 50 lakh as bribe from bar owner Biju Ramesh in return for favourable decisions in renewal of bar licences. 

Nitish attacks Centre for 'ignoring' Bihar in Smart City list

Patna, Jan 30, 2016(PTI)

 Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today hit out at the Centre for not selecting any city from Bihar in the the list of 20 smart cities and said the BJP-led Union government has no consideration to maintain regional balance.

The Centre had sought proposal from the state for smart city, which was provided to them as per the requirement specified, but still no city of Bihar finds place in the list announced for converting them into smart city, Kumar said.

"There is no rule or law before them...something other is going in the country these days," he said.

"There is no 'maryada' (decency), 'niyam' (rules), neither they have any consideration to maintain regional balance," Kumar, who is senior leader of JD(U) said.

"This is example of 'andher nagri' (misrule)," the Bihar CM said.
In reply to a question over the BJP mocking him for foundation-laying of six-lane bridge over Ganga tomorrow, Kumar clarified that it is an inauguration for starting the work and not a foundation laying ceremony which had already been done before poll.

Work would start on the bridge project intended to lower load over Gandhi Setu on Ganga at present after making arrangements for funding and other aspects.

Kumar said, "When they were with me, they used to insist that their name should be there on the foundation stone even in the condition of failing to turn up for the programme."

"Ramvilas Paswan had got foundation laying of the rail-cum road brige from Digha to Sonepur by the then Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda without arranging fund for it. When I was Railway minister, I got the work started on the said project by the then PM A B Vajpayee after allocation of fund for it," he said. 

Rahul to PM, RSS: 'Don't impose one idea from top on students'

Hyderabad, Jan 30, 2016 (PTI)

 Rahul Gandhi today went on a day- long fast at Hyderabad Central University backing protesting students on the Dalit scholar suicide issue and accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and RSS of trying to crush the spirit of students by imposing "one idea from the top".
"My main opposition to  Mr.Narendra Modi and RSS is that they are trying to crush the spirit of Indian students and youngsters by imposing one idea from the top," the Congress Vice President said.

Drawing parallel between Rohith's suicide and Mahatma Gandhi's assasination, he said "what has happened here is exactly what was done to Gandhiji".

"Gandhiji was killed by the same forces which did not allow him to speak the truth he wanted to say. It is exactly the same thing that has happened to Rohith...they did not want him to speak the truth that he saw in this institution," he said.

Insisting that the incident is not related to one individual or any one particular community, Rahul told the students,"You will find one day that the same people who crushed Rohith will be blocking your path to freedom and progress".

"My message to every single student of this country is- when you let what happened to Rohith happen, it will happen to you one day," he said..

Rahul first joined agitating students in a candle light vigil past midnight to mark the birthday of Rohith, who would have turned 27 today, and later went on a nearly nine-hour fast with them.

"Do not force your idea on these students. Give them their dignity and respect. I want to say without any animosity & with respect- Modiji, if you want India to progress,you have to unleash the power of these students. If they are feeling discriminated in their universities and their colleges, you will not be able to unleash the power of these students," he said.

Rahul also advocated that a law be enacted to end massive discrimination in our universities.

"It is time for India to have a law that targets such discrimination in all universities and institutions," he said asking the PM to look into the possibility of passing such a law.

Rahul, who is visiting the campus for the second time in as many weeks, tweeted, "I am here today at the request of Rohith's friends and family, to stand with them in their fight for justice.

"A young life full of dreams and aspirations was cut short. We owe it to him, to the memory of (Mahatma) Gandhiji and to every single Indian student who dreams of an India free from prejudice and injustice," he said in another tweet.

Rohith's mother Radhika and brother Raju were also present at the protest site.
In Delhi, three Union Ministers accused Congress of shedding "crocodile tears" over the suicide issue and attacked Rahul for using students as a "political tool".

Rahul, who arrived here at 12.10 AM, spoke to the agitating students and lit candles before Rohith's picture.

"We owe it to him (Rohith), to the memory of Gandhiji and to every single Indian student who dreams of an India free from prejudice and injustice," he said.

"If you are in India where discrimination is taking place, where people are being crushed because of where they come from, who they are, what religion they belong to, you will never be able to build a modern economy. It is a fantasy," he said.

He said that the idea of 'Make in India' has to be interlinked to issues like discrimination. "These are not separate ideas," he said.

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said nine cases of Dalit student suicides had taken place in the campus during the UPA rule but Rahul never bothered to go there.

"Congress is shedding crocodile tears simply to gain political mileage... This is part of their anti-Modi campaign across the country," he told reporters.

Also attacking Rahul, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said,"Exams are nearing in Hyderabad (university). All the students are busy with studies. The government has (already) announced judicial probe into the matter. Peace has been restored there. (In such times), Rahul Gandhi ji is politicising the issue."

Rural Development Minister Birender Singh also took a pot-shot at Rahul, saying the "the party which has been reduced to 44 MPs from 206 MPs in Lok Sabha is politicising every issue".

As students raised slogans against Irani and Dattatreya, Rahul intervened and politely told them not to shout 'murdabad'. "Let us not say 'murdabad' to somebody," he said.

Hitting back at the BJP, Congress accused it of failing to initiate action against its leaders including Union ministers for the suicide of the Dalit scholar.

"Who has resorted to politics in the matter? It is the BJP. Union Minister Dattatreya wrote to HRD Minister Irani against the dalit students following complaint from the ABVP President. The HRD Minister wrote as many as five letters to the University," senior party spokesman Ajay Maken said.

Activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) protested against Rahul's visit even as it called for a "bandh" in Telangana colleges.

Velpula Sunkanna, one of the research scholars whose suspension was revoked recently, said Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao Podile should be removed from the VC post.

"On January 17, we have filed SC/ST Atrocities case against Appa Rao and (five) others. These six people should be arrested immediately. Thats the only demand," Sunkanna, who is on an indefinite fast along with Vijay Kumar (another scholar whose suspension was revoked), said.

Vemula was found hanging in the varsity's hostel room on January 17.
The Congress Vice President had earlier visited the University on January 19 following the suicide by the Dalit scholar and met the agitating students and the family members of Vemula.