Wednesday, 20 April 2016

Government may not sign up Big B for Incredible India

April 20, 2016, New Delhi, DHNS

Panama Papers fallout

The Panama papers leak has prompted the government to put on hold signing up Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan as brand ambassador of the Incredible India campaign.

“His name can be considered for the role only after he comes out clean on the Panama papers leak row,” sources privy to the government’s decision said.

Bachchan, however, told media that he was yet to be formally approached by the government.

“I have not been formally approached for being ambassador of incredible India ambassador,” a news channel quoted him as saying.

Bachchan, who is ambassador for Maharashtra’s Save Tiger project, was the “most preferred” choice of the Union Tourism Ministry for assigning the role of its Incredible India campaign’s brand ambassador after Amir Khan’s exit from the global publicity campaign of Indian tourism in January.

The names of popular actors Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra, however, were also doing the rounds.

However, the leak of records with Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca recently tied the ministry’s hands in taking any decision on assigning the role to Bachchan as his name figured among 500 Indian individuals and entities who owned firms and accounts in offshore tax havens.

As a row erupted after the Panama papers leak, the Bollywood superstar maintained that his name might have been misused.

“I do not know any of the companies referred to by Indian Express - Sea Bulk Shipping Company Ltd, Lady Shipping Ltd, Treasure Shipping Ltd, and Tramp Shipping Ltd. I have never been a director of any of the above stated companies. It is possible that my name has been misused,” he then said in a statement.

Bachchan was the brand ambassador for the Gujarat Tourism when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister of the state.

Amitabh Bachchan: I do not know any of the companies referred to by Indian Express - Sea Bulk Shipping Company Ltd, Lady Shipping Ltd, Treasure Shipping Ltd, and Tramp Shipping Ltd. I have never been a director of any of the above stated companies. It is possible that my name has been misused

Government may not sign up Big B for Incredible India

April 20, 2016, New Delhi, DHNS

Panama Papers fallout

Not possible to bring 2-wheelers under odd-even scheme: Kejri

April 20, 2016, New Delhi, DHNS

Centre cancels new PF rules after protest

April 20, 2016, New Delhi, DHNS

The violence in Bengaluru prompted the Labour Ministry to cancel the February 10 notification which put restrictions on 100% withdrawal from the provident fund (PF) account.
The employees can now withdraw 100% amount from their account, if they are continously unemployed for 60 days. The amount will include contributions from the employee and the employer, and the interest accrued on them.

“The notification issued on February 10 is cancelled. Now the old system will continue,” PTI quoted Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya as saying at a press conference in Hyderabad.

The February 10 notification had put restrictions on the withdrawal of PF amount to the contribution of employee along with the interest accrued on his/her contribution. According to the notification, the employer’s account could only be withdrawn after attaining 58 years, the retirement age.

The February 10 notification was under attack from trade unions from the beginning. The notification was published in the gazette on February 26 and created technical problems.

The ministry decided to implement it from May 1 but deferred the it by three months, till July 31.

The trade union activists were already campaigning online against the new rules and the violence in Bengaluru forced a complete withdrawal of the notification.

There are elaborate rules for withdrawal of PF deposits which allows the employees to withdraw both their contribution and the contribution of the employer.

The withdrawal could be made in case of purchase of house, children’s education and severe illness.

Govt does a U-turn on Kohinoor diamond

April 20, 2016, New Delhi, DHNS

In a statement late on Tuesday, the Centre said it has not yet conveyed its views to the Supreme Court – “contrary to what is being misrepresented” in the media – about bringing back the Kohinoor diamond from the UK.

“The factual position is that the matter is sub judice at present. A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court that is yet to be admitted,” it said.

The statement, which was issued by the culture ministry after reactions from the BJP and the RSS, said the Solicitor General has not yet conveyed the government’s view.

A day ago, Solitictor General Ranjit Kumar submitted before a bench of Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice U U Lalit that Kohinoor was gifted as compensation
Maharaja Ranjit Singh had given Kohinoor in the 19th century for help rendered by the British in the Anglo-Sikh war. It was neither stolen nor forcibly taken away, he added.

“The Solicitor General of India informed the Supreme Court about the history of the diamond and gave an oral statement on the basis of the existing references made available by the ASI. Thus, it should be reaffirmed that the government has not yet conveyed its views to the court, contrary to what is being misrepresented. The court granted six weeks on the prayer of the solicitor general to take instructions for making his submission in the matter,” the statement said.

The status report on which the preliminary submission was made by the solicitor general have references to the stand taken by governments earlier that Kohinoor was a gift and cannot be categorized as an object stolen.

Kejriwal: Not possible to bring bikes under odd-even plan

April 20, 2016, New Delhi, DHNS

Two-wheelers cannot be brought under the purview of odd-even scheme as it will lead to “chaos and anarchy” on roads, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday.

He added that Metro and DTC buses are not prepared to take the “additional load” of people who stop using their two-wheelers, which can only be exempted after improving public transport.

“When we analysed the data from phase one of odd-even, we saw that the number of commuters in Metro and buses had increased by 0.7% and 5% only because people who left their cars went for carpooling. But around 40 lakh two-wheelers ply on roads daily and if we ask 20 lakh people to leave their vehicles on alternate days, there will be chaos and anarchy on roads. It can only be done after improving transport which will take two years,” he said.

Kejriwal was addressing a crowd at an event organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

Earlier, during the discussion, the CSE had said the two-wheelers pollute more than private cars.

The chief minister also said that while there are different views on the impact of the scheme on pollution levels, “even the worst reviews have said that pollution was down by 15%”.

However, CSE Director General Sunita Narain, contested the claims.
“It would be wrong to say that pollution came down by 15%. But the scheme has brought a positive impact in other ways. The pollution reached a peak in December but in January it did not go that high even when the weather conditions were same. So, this was because of the odd-even scheme and is an achievement,” Narain said.

She, however, cautioned that the scheme cannot be rolled out on a permanent basis and has to be used only as action during emergency.

“It is not a permanent solution. It can only be done when peaks are very high. Whenever you introduce it, you have to do it effectively and bring even two-wheelers under its purview,” she said.

Further, the chief minister said that the government is going to announce an “aggregator policy” for an app-based bus service in the next two days.

The government is seeking participation of private players who will offer bus services.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Gopal Rai said that on Tuesday, the road rationing scheme eased traffic congestion across the city, save five ‘busy’ stretches where traffic is crawling due to ‘local problems'.

However, pollution levels were recorded on the higher side and twice the permitted standards, despite the odd-even formula. The average air quality was recorded as ‘very poor’ at 8 pm in the capital, according to SAFAR website. Experts blamed it on “nil” wind speed.

Meanwhile, a day after the AAP government said that it will take strict action against cab companies that levy peak time charges, 18 cabs were impounded on Tuesday.

Rai also said that Metro ridership during the peak hours on Monday morning saw a minor surge of 3%, compared with last Monday’s figures. The DTC claimed it ferried over 42 lakh passengers, over 2.5 lakh more than the previous Monday.

Hoax bomb threat in Jet flight; one passenger detained

Ahmedabad, Apr 20, 2016, (PTI)

A Jet Airways Mumbai-Ahmedabad -Mumbai flight carrying 125 passengers and six crew members was today delayed after a bomb scare, which later turned out to be a hoax even as one person was detained after a chit with "bomb" written on it was recovered from under his seat.

The flight from Mumbai to Ahmedabad was taken to the isolation bay immediately after it landed here this morning due to the bomb scare.

According to police, one of the cleaning staff while preparing the flight for the next trip found a "chit" with "bomb" scribbled on it under one of the seats after which authorities were informed. The aircraft was then taken to an isolation bay where it was throughly checked by police and bomb disposal squad.

"When the cleaning staffers were making the flight ready for the next trip, one of them found a chit beneath a passenger seat," said Assistant Commissioner of Police, 'G' division, J N Parmar, who along with other policemen, Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) and dog squad rushed to the spot.

"The word 'bomb' was written on the chit. As passengers had already alighted, it was difficult for us to trace as to who left it. Hence, we have detained one passenger for questioning under whose seat the chit was found," he said.

"Bomb squad as well as dog squad inspected the entire aircraft. Nothing suspicious was found," the officer added. Meanwhile, police have started questioning of the passenger, who has been detained. "We have zeroed in on one passenger and started his questioning," DCP, Zone 4, S K Gadhvi said.

The flight had to carry 125 passengers and six crew members from Ahmedabad to Mumbai for the next trip which was delayed by two hours after a bomb scare here.

Earlier, a Jet Airways spokesperson said the search yielded nothing and the aircraft has been cleared for further journey. "Jet Airways flight S2 4738 Ahmedabad to Mumbai had received a security alert. The aircraft was thoroughly inspected by the security agencies and the flight with 125 guests and six crew on-board has now been cleared for its onward operations," the spokesperson said.

Three sailors injured in explosion on board Indian naval ship

Apr 20, 2016, PTI:

A sailor lost his leg while two others were injured in an oxygen cylinder explosion on board an Indian naval ship.
Incident occurred on April 16 on board INS Nireekshak and the Navy, which had remained tight lipped till now, has ordered an inquiry.

The explosion took place while a diving bailout bottle, a small 12-inch oxygen bottle which is carried by divers in their diving helmet, was being charged, a Navy official said.

He said that such an incident has never happened in history of the Indian Navy.
"The explosion happened while the crew was working on the deck of the ship," he said.

Three sailors were injured, including one who sustained serious injuries and his right leg has been amputated from just above the knee.

Two other sailors received splinter injuries in the stomach region and legs.
They were admitted in Military Hospital, Trivandrum as ship was on it way to Mumbai from Visakhapatnam.

The sailors were stated to be in a stable condition and have now been shifted to Mumbai.

50 wagon water train carrying 25 lakh litres reaches Latur

Mumbai, Apr 20, 2016, (PTI):

After nine trips by a 10-wagon water train, a 50-wagon water train carrying 25 lakh litre water reached parched Latur today.

The train, christened 'Jaldoot', left Miraj in western Maharashtra at around 11 PM last night, for drought-hit Latur city, a distance of around 342 kilometres.
So far, 70 lakh litre water has been delivered by train to Latur, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.

The train had previously made nine trips, each time carrying 5 lakh litres of water, to the parched city.

The 50-wagon train received a grand welcome at the Latur Railway Station on its arrival. Latur city mayor Akhtar Mistry, welcomed the 'Jaldoot Express', which was specially commissioned from Kota in Rajasthan to transport water to the 5 lakh people of Latur.

The train is a big relief for Latur citizens who have been struggling to get drinking water, the mayor said.

The 'Jaldoot' first made its trial run on April 11. The train initially faced several clearance issues due to the single line section from Miraj to Latur.

As a result the first train had reached Latur in 17 hours.

However, the railways then pulled all stops to ensure that the train was given all the clearances during the journey. Subsequently, the train took just 8-9 hours to reach Latur.Once it arrived in six and a half hours.

The Solapur division of Central Railway ensured that 'Jaldoot' Express navigated the tracks without any hitch, and the Pune division of the Central Railway took care of the loading of water at the Miraj Railway station.

At Miraj, the water is first pumped through a 4 km closed pipeline from the railway jackwell located on the banks of Krishna river to the water treatment plant at Miraj railway station.

From the plant it goes to Haider Khan well, which is at a distance of 2.5 km and from the well to yard, the water travels through a closed pipeline into the waiting wagons.

Latur District Collector Pandurang Pole said they were re-filtering the water before supplying to the citizens through tankers.

Krishnat Patil, operational manager, Pune division, said they plan to run the train every day till the onset of monsoon.

"Every day, civic body has pressed into service 450 trips by tankers. Each 'Jaldoot' trip will take care of the daily drinking water needs of the city," Pole said.

Latur Municipal Commissioner Sudhakar Telang said the civic body supplied drinking water to a particular area only after 8-10 days, but that is set to change once the water is transported regularly to Latur.

"After getting 25 lakh litre water, the tanker trips will go up and we will be in a position to provide water after at least every four days," he said.

Latur city used to get water directly from Manjara dam through a closed pipeline. Water was provided once every 8-10 days since the last monsoon.

However, after the Manjara dam ran dry, civic body officials then started lifting water from three other smaller dams whose water-levels are also fast depleting.

At the Latur railway station, the water is decanted from the wagons into an 850 metre long RCC pipeline. It is then released into the a nearby well and from the well, it is lifted through a high density plastic pipeline and loaded into waiting tankers. From there it is sent to water filtration plant.

BJP activist Makrand Deshpande, a member of the Railway Committee, from Sangli, said, "When I first mooted the idea to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at our party meeting in Nashik, the CM asked me to remind him later.

"When I reminded him, the CM immediately sent Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse to Sangli to announce the project on April 5," he said.

Fadnavis spoke to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu who immediately gave green signal to the plan, Deshpande said.

HC allows BCCI to hold May 1 IPL match in Pune

Mumbai, Apr 20, 2016, (PTI):

The Bombay High Court today permitted BCCI to hold the May 1 IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiants in Pune, days after it ordered shifting to other venues all post-April 30 matches planned in drought-hit Maharashtra.

A division bench of justices V M Kanade and M S Karnik granted the permission while hearing an application filed by BCCI's general manager (games development) Ratnakar Shetty urging the court to let the cricket body hold the May 1 IPL match as scheduled in Pune.

The application had been filed following an order passed by the high court on April 12 directing for all IPL matches from April 30 onwards to be shifted out of Maharashtra due to the severe drought situation in the state.

By the High Court order, a total of 13 matches were to be shifted to other states. Shetty, in his application, sought the court to grant permission to allow the cricket board to hold the May 1 match in Pune between Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiants as they would not be able to make arrangements to shift the match in a single day.

According to the application, the Pune team is scheduled to play a match against Gujrat Lions on April 29 in Pune, and hence, it is "practically impossible" for BCCI and the Pune franchise to shift the May 1 match to an another venue outside Maharashtra and "make all arrangements for the same in just a single day".

The High Court after hearing the arguments of BCCI allowed the application and said this was as an "exception". Shetty's application stated that its request is "bonafide and is being made in the interest of justice" and if the court does not grant relief then severe prejudice, grave hardship and irreparable damage and injury will be caused to BCCI and the Pune franchise.

The application further stated that if the May 1 match is shifted to any venue outside the state then the team members and its crew can travel only in the afternoon of April 30 as the match on April 29 will get over only late in the night.

Caretaker burns children's hands with hot spoon

Apr 20, 2016, Agencies:

A video of a caretaker burning hands of children with hot spoon at 'Shishu Greh' in Karimnagar district in Telangana, is doing rounds in social media.
The hidden camera installed in the kitchen has captured the mischievous act of the two women caretakers.

The 'Shishu Greh' is run by the Telangana Government.

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Prez decision is subject to judicial review: U'khand HC

Nainital, Apr 20, 2016, (PTI):

Legitimacy of the President's decision to suspend Uttarakhand assembly is subject to judicial review as even he can go wrong, the Uttarakhand High Court observed today.
Referring to the NDA government's argument that the President took the decision to impose Article 356 of the Constitution in his "political wisdom", a bench of Chief Justice K M Joseph and Justice V K Bist said, "People can go wrong, be it the President or the judges."

The court also went on to say that "Legitimacy of inference drawn by President from the material placed before him is open to judicial review."

This observation was made after the Centre contended that the President's understanding of the material before him would be different from that of the court.

The Government's contention came after the bench said that from the reports sent by the Governor to the President, regarding the situation in the state, "what we have understood is that everything was processing towards a floor test on March 28."

The high court, during the hearing, also noted that the Governor in his reports to the President never mentioned that 35 MLAs sought division of votes.

"Governor has to be personally satisfied. He has not recorded his personal satisfaction that 35 MLAs had sought division on the floor of the house," the court said and added that his reports do not say that the nine rebel Congress MLAs had also sought a division.
It also said that there was "absolute absence of material that would create an apprehension in the mind of the Governor" that President's rule needs to be imposed.

"So how did Government of India arrive at the satisfaction that 35 stood up? From Governor's reports?" the court asked.

"Governor's letter of March 19 to the President does not mention that 35 MLAs had sought division of votes. That is conspicuous by its absence. It is absolutely crucial," the bench said.

To this the Centre said that on March 19 the Governor did not have all the details.

The bench was hearing arguments on the petition filed by the ousted Chief Minister Harish Rawat and related pleas challenging imposition of President's rule in Uttarakhand.
The high court also questioned whether the allegation that former Chief Minister Harish Rawat was "hitting out" at the nine Congress rebel MLAs would constitute material for imposing Article 356.

The court said the "concern" regarding the rebel MLAs was "absolutely irrelevant and unacceptable".

It also asked "why the secrecy" regarding the Cabinet notes on imposing President's rule in the state and why it was not to be discussed in the court or even be given to the petitioner (Rawat).

Yesterday also during the hearing, the division bench repeatedly maintained that irrespective of allegations of horse-trading and corruption, the only Constitutional way to test majority was to hold a floor test, which "you still have to go for".

The Centre had also faced searching questions from the court which observed that if the reasons for imposition of Article 356 in the instant case, where ruling parties are different at the Centre and in the state, are accepted then it may lead to the central government "watching with a magnifying glass where there is an opportunity for President's rule".

VCK fields educationist Vasanthy Devi against Jayalalithaa

Chennai, Apr 20, 2016, (PTI)

People's Welfare Front constituent VCK today fielded well-known educationist and intellectual Vasanthy Devi from RK Nagar constituency against Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for the May 16 Assembly polls.
Jayalalithaa is seeking a successive term from the RK Nagar constituency. Party founder Thol.Thirumavalavan will contest from Kattumannarkoil in Cuddalore district.

Announcing Devi's candidature at a press conference here, Thirumavalavan said the former Vice-Chancellor of Manonamaniam Sundaranar University was a "common candidate" of the People's Welfare Front (PWF), whose other constituents are Vaiko-led MDMK, CPI (M) and CPI.

The combine had tied up with DMDK and Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) to contest the polls.

"She is a well-known educationist who has fought for women issues among other things. Highly respected, she has been working in various fora for people's issues," Thirumavalavan said.

Thirumavalavan, who was speculated to fight from the city-based constituency after it was allocated to his party, said "our intention is not to defeat anyone, but take the politics of change," to people.

Devi will fight on a VCK ticket on the party's Ring symbol, he said.

Making a comeback in the assembly elections after a gap of 15 years, Thirumavalavan said he will contest from Kattumannarkoil as it had been a favourable constituency, with him polling more votes even when he lost the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

He had contested from Chidambaram then under which Kattumannarkoil came. He had earlier won from the same Parliamentary constituency in 2009.

RK Nagar was allotted to the party only because he wanted eight general seats of the 25 seats allotted to VCK, the party founder said.

Both DMK and VCK have fielded women candidates to take on Jayalalithaa in the RK Nagar constituency.

DMK had nominated political greenhorn Shimla Muthuchozhan even as BJP has fielded MN Raja, son-in-law of a former AIADMK Minister from the Assembly segment.

NIT agrees to many demands, mum on tricolour hoisting by PM

New Delhi, Apr 20, 2016 (PTI)

NIT-Srinagar management will consider formation of students' council and all national festivals will be celebrated in the institute, it has said a day after outstation students put forth their demands at a meeting here in the wake clashes with local students.

The minutes of the meeting, attended by NIT Sringar Director Rajat Gupta, officials of HRD ministry and students representatives, and decisions by the Board of Governors were put on the institute's website but it did not refer to another major demand of students that HRD minister Smriti Irani or the Prime Minister should hoist the tricolour at the campus.

It has been decided to allow optional external evaluation for recent exams. Also, a committee constituted for students grievance redressal having two external members will go for further fact finding into incidents that led to tension at NIT Srinagar and is expected to submit its report around May 15, according to NIT-Srinagar website.

An official said that earlier an interim report had been given by a panel and this committee would further take up the matter.

As per the the Institute's website, among the main decisions taken is that "a new Committee for students Grievance Redressal which has been constituted with two external members will do the fact finding now and its Report is likely to be submitted by 15th May, 2016."

It has been decided that the Board of Governors will consider the report and formation of students council and its modalities. Optional external evaluation "for the minor one exam, on written request and irrevocable basis," has also been approved.

Enhancement of medical facilities within 3-4 months, prefab two hostels having 80 rooms and prefab 15 class rooms likely to be completed within six months, reimbursement of medical bill claims and food and fruit corner in the campus are the other demands of students that NIT administration has agreed to.

The issue of encroachment of NIT land has already been taken up and it will be vigorously pursued with state government by the administration and all national festivals will be celebrated, it has been decided.

Demands relating to improved facilities in the hostels will be expeditiously looked into.

NIT Srinagar has been at the centre of a controversy since April 1 when clashes broke out between outstation and local students following India's defeat to West Indies in the World Cup T20 semi-final.

The situation worsened on April 5 when outstation students tried to take out a march but were stopped by the police, leading to incidents of violence including vandalism by students and lathicharge by police in the campus.

Many of the outstation students then left the campus for their homes. At the meeting yesterday, students had handed over a letter for Irani to the officials.

"We request either the Hon'ble minister of HRD or the Prime Minister of India to come with students to NIT Srinagar and hoist full size Tiranga in the campus at its highest mast. This will end the leave taken by students and also give them a sense of security.

"This will reiterate the message that Kashmir is an integral part of India and students will have a psychological win over the anti-national elements in the campus as well as outside," the students wrote in the letter.

Video of Vijayakant gesturing at scribes goes viral

Chennai, Apr 20, 2016 (PTI)

DMDK founder and chief ministerial candidate of the People's Welfare Front-DMDK combine, Vijayakant today landed in controversy when a video footage of him purportedly making gestures at journalists and nudging a man went viral.

The incident reportedly took place at Salem during the actor-politician's visit to participate in a consultative meeting there for the May 16 Tamil Nadu assembly polls.

In the video that was shown in some TV channels, 'Captain' (as he is addressed by supporters), is seen making some gestures when TV cameramen and reporters besides some party functionaries surround him while he is on his way.

The leader, who has earlier courted controversy for allegedly manhandling and spitting at journalists in different instances, is seen raising his hand as if to assault somebody, while partymen and two security persons are seen making way for him.

Later while taking the stairs accompanied by two men walking alongside him like security personnel, the DMDK founder is seen nudging a man walking on his right, which was repeatedly aired on TV channels.

Earlier, Vijayakant was involved in an argument with Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in the state Assembly, and had then too made some gestures, only to be rebuked by the AIADMK supremo who regretted having aligned with him for the 2011 Assembly polls which the combine won.

The PWF, comprising Vaiko-led MDMK, the left parties and VCK, has tied up with the DMDK to fight the assembly polls. G K Vasan's TMC joined the combine recently.