Month: February 2013

Railways may suffer Rs.24,600 crore loss in 2012-13

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The Indian Railways is likely to suffer a loss of Rs.24,600 crore in fiscal year ending March 31 as compared to Rs.22,500 crore in the previous fiscal, Railways Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said Tuesday.

Presenting the railway budget in parliament, Bansal said losses had increased sharply in the past one decade due to rising input cost and near stagnant revenue due to no revision in passenger fare.

The railways posted a loss of Rs.4,955 crore in 2002-03.

This was Bansal’s maiden rail budget and a first by a Congress minister in 17 years.

—IANS

”I am grateful to PM, Sonia”: Pawan Kumar Bansal

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Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, who began the presentation of Railway Budget 2013-14 in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, thanked Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for giving him this opportunity.

“I am grateful to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for giving me this opportunity,” he told the Lok Sabha.

Bansal also recalled former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi for introducing him to the biggest temple of democracy.

After Chennai Test win, modest Dhoni says he never thought he would play for India

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After securing a one nil lead over Australia in the ongoing four-match Test series at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here on Tuesday, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was his usual modest self in admitting that he never thought he would ever represent his country.

When asked at the end of the match about his double century, Dhoni said he had never expected to achieve such a landmark as he never thought he would play for India.

Will not accept any hike in rail fare: BJP

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Pointing out that Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal had hiked passenger fares across-the- board prior to the presentation of Railway Budget 2013-14, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday said it will not accept any hike in the rail fare in a country, which is already reeling under steep hike of petrol, diesel, kerosene, and cylinders.

BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said it is extremely unfortunate that the prices of tickets have been increased prior to the budget by the new Railway Minister.

Railway budget highlights

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Highlights of the railway budget presented in the Lok Sabha Tuesday by Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal:

Losses mounted from Rs.22,500 crore in 2011-12 to Rs.24,600 crore in 2012-13

Planning Commission pegged 12th Plan at Rs.125.19 lakh crore

Fall in accidents – per million accidents down from .41 to .13

Aim to eliminate 31,846 level crossings

—IANS

COVA organizes training programme for women

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COVA Women Empowerment Section is organizing a monthly training programme entitled ‘Right to Information Act’ for women members.

Programme will be held on February 26, 2 pm at COVA office. Mr.C.J.Karira, RTI activist will provide training to the women.

Mrs. Mumtaz Fatima coordinator Women Empowerment has appealed women social workers to attend in large numbers.

Siasat news

Railway Minister”s wife for safety and security of woman passengers

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Madhu Bansal, the wife of Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, on Tuesday said that a helpline number should be available for the safety and security of woman passengers in trains so that they can use it in times of emergency.

“I have said that a helpline number should be available for the safety and security of woman so that they can use it in times of emergency. There is a need to bring about improvement, cleanliness should be maintained and good quality of food should be provided,” said Madhu.

NIA arrests 334 in terror cases

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA), set up after the Mumbai terror attack, has investigated 52 cases and arrested 334 people since 2009, the Lok Sabha was informed Tuesday.

Minister of State for Home R.P.N. Singh said the NIA has filed chargesheet in 29 cases while 23 are under investigation.

–_IANS

MAKE HOME A PLACE FOR THE FAMILY TO WORSHIP ALLAH!

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Let us start with the basics. Allah clearly tells that He created us to worship Him. That involves following His commands in our daily lives as well as remembering Him through various Ibadaat such as prayers, Quran recitation and so on.

Within a family, we need to ensure following all that is needed to fulfill our minimum responsibilities of worshiping Him along with helping others to perform theirs.

For example;

100,000 Bangladeshis seek death penalty for war crimes

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More than 100,000 people have signed a letter seeking death penalty for Bangladeshi war criminals, a media report said Tuesday.

The mass signature campaign, which began Feb 22, demands death penalty for war criminals. People who collaborated with the Pakistan government during the 1971 freedom movement are called “war criminals” in Bangladesh.

Till Monday night, signatures of more than one lakh people were collected, reported dailystar.net.

The youth have been demonstrating for the last 22 days at Shahbagh intersection, popularly known as Projonmo Chattar.

FMC scam: delay in submission of finance officers’ report hinders probe

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Delay in submission of report by auditors and finance officers has hindered the probe into Minority Finance Corporation. Government has urged them to hand over the final report to the investigative committee, which is supervised by Joint Secretary Minority Welfare department, as early as possible.

Although auditors have submitted provisional report but they have not submitted final report. Several irregularities by the finance corporation officials have been identified in the provisional report in connection with depositing the money in various banks.

NIA set to take over Hyderabad blasts case probe: Report

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National Investigation Agency (NIA) is expected to take over the probe in last week’s serial blasts in Hyderabad in which over a dozen people died and several others were injured.

It was reported on Tuesday that senior NIA officials yesterday briefed the Home Ministry on the leads obtained so far into the Hyderabad blasts and requested it to transfer the case to the apex probe agency.

A senior MHA official was also quoted as saying that the Hyderabad blast case could be transferred through a notification in the next few days to NIA.

Murder accused Patiala Mayor resigns, after pressure from SAD

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Under pressure from the SAD leadership, Patiala Mayor Jaspal Pardhan, who has been booked by police in the murder case of a woman, has resigned.

Pardhan’s son Preetinder Singh said that his father had late last night sent the resignation letter to party secretary and spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema after the ruling SAD asked him to resign on moral grounds.

Earlier, Cheema had said that party president Sukhbir Singh Badal has asked Pardhan to resign on moral grounds.

US welcomes Syrian Opposition decision to attend Rome Summit

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The US has welcomed the Syrian Opposition leader’s decision to attend the Rome Summit, as it insisted that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must go.

Syrian National Coalition chief Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib has said that the opposition groups will attend the Friends of Syria conference in Rome on February 28.

US Vice President Joe Biden called al-Khatib to discuss the Friends of the Syrian People meeting in Rome, the White House said today.

He welcomed Khatib’s confirmation that Coalition members would attend the gathering and meet Secretary of State John Kerry.

Want to take the passion of dancing to everyone: Madhuri

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Madhuri Dixit has her hands full with two films, a reality show, endorsements and now an all new online dance academy, which she wants to use as a platform to reach out to those who want to learn to shake a leg.

Post her marriage, Madhuri had relocated to the US for almost a decade. It was in October 2011 that she shifted her base back to Mumbai along with her family. And since then, the veteran actress has been a busy bee.

Two `hitgirls’ arrested in Guatemala

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Two “hitgirls” were arrested in Guatemala who confessed to murdering a man last week, a National Civilian Police, or PNC, spokesman said.

The unidentified girls, aged 13 and 15, were arrested Saturday in northwest Guatemala City and told investigators they murdered a 20-year-old man a day earlier.

Cesar Villanueva was killed while riding his bicycle Friday in the poor La Florida district, the police spokesman said.

The gun used to kill Villanueva, ammunition and other evidence were found by PNC detectives in the girls’ bedroom, the police spokesman said.

Entertainment should reflect society: Irrfan

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Entertainment is not just time pass; it should “reflect the society that we live in”, says seasoned actor Irrfan who is working with the motto of challenging the definition of entertainment.

A name to reckon with in the international arena thanks to his powerful performances in “The Namesake” and Oscar winning films “Slumdog Millionaire” and “Life of Pi”, Irrfan is equally respected on home turf for his extraordinary work in “Maqbool” and “Paan Singh Tomar”.

Delhi voted most unsafe metro city in survey

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Delhi has been voted as the most unsafe metro city in the country by women travelling alone for leisure, business or both, a recent survey has found.

Mumbai was rated as the safest metropolitan city by a majority of respondents (34 per cent), while Ahmedabad and Bangalore were voted second with 12 per cent votes each.

“Due to the recent spate of crime against women, the national capital has gained notoriety with 84 per cent women claiming it to be the most unsafe metro,” the solo women traveller survey 2013 conducted by travel portal TripAdvisor, said.

Minorities can’t be cajoled by giving chocolates: M A Hakeem

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Comparing the minority budget of Congress government with chocolate, Organising Secretary Telugu Desam Mr. M A Hakeem put a question mark on the silence of Minority Welfare Committee of the assembly. He urged to show reasons for not seeking action taken report.

Mr. M A Hakeem asserted that Minorities particularly Muslims are fully awake and cognizant. Gone are the days when they could be cajoled by giving chocolates. Minorities are also demanding a fair share in the budget.

Railway Budget 2013-14 to be presented in Lok Sabha today

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Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal will present the Railway Budget 2013-14 in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Bansal, who will present his maiden Railway Budget, earlier held several round of discussions with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and the Planning Commission in this regard.

Bansal is likely to announce a number of passenger friendly measures, such as improvement in catering services, development of stations and launching of several new trains.

Israel tests upgraded Arrow missile interceptor

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Israel successfully carried out Monday the first flight test of its Arrow III ballistic missile interceptor, the Israeli Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry”s Missile Defense Organization and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency jointly conducted the trial from an Israeli range on the Mediterranean coast.

The interceptor flew an exo-atmospheric trajectory in line with the test plan, the statement added.

Syria opposition to attend Rome talks after UK, US’ ‘foreign aid’ promise

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Syria’s opposition leaders have said that they will now attend an international conference in Rome this week, after the US and UK ‘promised specific aid’ to the Syrian people.

The group had previously announced it would boycott the talks because of “the world”s silence” over the ongoing civil war in the country.

The move comes as US Secretary of State John Kerry and British Foreign Minister William Hague confirmed there would be more support for Syria”s opposition, the BBC reports.

NATO finds ‘no evidence’ of Afghan claim of ‘torture, murder’ by US forces

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NATO has said that it has found no evidence to support the allegations that U.S. special forces committed acts of ‘torture’ and ‘murder’ in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has ordered US special forces to leave Wardak province last week after it was claimed that the elite units had been involved in the torture and disappearance of Afghan civilians.

NATO said in a statement that it became clear that armed individuals named as U.S. special force stationed in Wardak province engage in harassing, annoying, torturing and even murdering innocent people,”

Iran state news agency photoshops Michelle Obama’s ‘too revealing’ Oscar dress

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An Iranian news agency has digitally altered an image of US First Lady Michelle Obama announcing the Oscar in a bid to make her look more modest.

Michelle wore a sleeveless and low cut dress by Naeem Khan, as she announced the Oscar for Best Picture last night.

But Iran’s Fars manipulated the photo to cover her chest and shoulders, Politico reports.

The photo manipulation was first reported by the blog Persian Letters.

”Will not accept any hike in rail fare”: BJP

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Pointing out that Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal had hiked passenger fares across-the- board prior to the presentation of Railway Budget 2013-14, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday said it will not accept any hike in the rail fare in a country, which is already reeling under steep hike of petrol, diesel, kerosene, and cylinders.

BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said it is extremely unfortunate that the prices of tickets have been increased prior to the budget by the new Railway Minister.