Month: February 2013

Real estate business booms in Assam

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Guwahati, Feb 24 (ANI): The countrywide boom in the real estate sector is now visible in the northeast, especially in Assam, which has fast emerged as an investment hotspot.

Recently, a two-day property fair was organized by Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) with an aim to bring real estate leaders and customers under one roof here.

More than 30 real estate developers participated in the event, not only from the Northeast, but also from Kolkata and Jaipur.

After Jodhpur, Sufi music fest heads to Nagaur

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After some spectacular performances and soulful musical experience here, the sixth edition of World Sufi Spirit Festival (WSSF) now heads to Nagaur.

The festival that kickstarted here Friday at the Mehrangarh Fort culminates Wednesday at the Ahichhatragarh Fort in Nagaur.

“The Sufi music festival was started in Nagaur, but just for making it more reachable and for better exposure, it was brought to Mehrangarh. I can say that it has picked up very well here,” Karni Jasol, director of Mehrangarh Fort, told IANS.

Congress lacks political insight to deal with terrorism

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BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu slammed Congress led UPA government and claimed that it lacks political insight to deal with terrorism. After inspecting the blast site at Dilsukhnagar here, he told press persons that central government is unaware of the terrorists’ strategies which are planned to destabilize the country.

Akbaruddin Owaisi to appear before Bangalore court on March 1

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A city court on Saturday directed Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi to appear before it on March one in connection with a criminal case filed against him for alleged hate speech.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Rajashekhar V Patil directed Owaisi to appear before the court on March 1, after he kept aside the application filed by him seeking exemption from appearing before the court on health grounds.

TDP to hold peace rally today

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Greater Hyderabad Telugu Desam party has strongly condemned the twin blast occurred two days ago at Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad and termed the incident as the cowardly act of the terrorists.

In the backdrop of the bombing incidents, TDP has planned to stage peace rallies on February 24 to 26 at various places of the city to convey the message of peace to the public and to persuade them to show patience.

PM arrives in Hyderabad, to visit blast sites

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reached Hyderabad today, where twin bomb blasts on Thursday evening left 16 people dead and more than a hundred injured.

Dr Singh expected to visit the blast site and visit the hospital where the injured are being treated. The Prime Minister will also be briefed by Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy about the developments in the case.

Two bombs exploded within a span of minutes at Dilsukhnagar in Hyderabad on Thursday. The Manmohan Singh government on Friday came under attack in Parliament, with the Opposition saying it was being causal about terror.

Delhi CM highlights need to rectify loopholes in police functioning

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Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Saturday said that there is a need to rectify the loopholes in the police functioning in the national capital.

Delhi CM was referring to the Justice Usha Mehra Committee observations, which was constituted to conduct an overall probe into the Delhi gangrape case that aroused spate of protests across the country in December last year.

The panel headed by Justice Usha Mehra, submitted its report to Law Ministry on Friday.

The report has pointed out numerous loopholes in the functioning of Delhi Police and also the transport department.

Osmania hospital lacks facilities

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The hospital which comes to patients’ at the time of emergency, itself needs treatment. The X-ray and CT scan machines of the hospital have become dysfunctional. The hospital staff shrugged off the burden by suggesting the injured to go for corporate hospitals.

There was a time when Osmania hospital was well-known for good treatment. People prefer to go to the hospital for treatment but today due to lack of facilities the hospital has lost its identity.

59-hour countdown for launch of ISRO’s Polar Satellite begins

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The 59-hour countdown for the February 25 launch of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle commenced at 6.56 a.m. on Saturday at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in the spaceport of Sriharikota, about 90 kms from here.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) sources said PSLV-C20, the 23rd PSLV Mission of ISRO, would put the 400 kg Indo-French satellite and six others into orbit.

Sources further revealed that the rehearsal launch of PSLV – C20 with the primary satellite SARAL and six other foreign satellites have been completed satisfactorily.

Tendulkar, Kohli salvage India on day two of Chennai Test against Oz

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Half centuries from Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli rescued India on day two of the Chennai Test after they were reduced to 105/3 in reply to Australia’s first innings total of 380. Returning pace ace James Pattinson has stormed back with a triple strike to give Australia a match-winning spearhead in a compelling first Test against India, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Decision on Telangana unlikely during Budget Session

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Notwithstanding pressure from pro-Telangana groups, the Centre may not take any decision on the demand for the separate state during the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament, which will continue till May 10.

A government functionary said internal consultations within the government and the Congress party have been going on and so a decision during the Budget Session is not likely.

As the government would try to push through crucial financial business during the current session of the House, it does not want any disruption, he said.

G N Azad condemns linking blasts with any religion

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Union Health Minister and incharge Andhra Pradesh affairs Ghulam Nabi Azad condemned linking Dilsukhnagar blasts with any religion and told that Hyderabad is famous for Hindu-Muslim unity around the country. During his interview to various Television channels G N Azad told that terror has no religion and it is not proper to link terrorist attacks to any religion.

We face gender discrimination at work: women councillors

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Municipal corporations in the city may have reserved 50 per cent of their seats for women but that has not made life easier for the elected representatives from the fairer sex who continue to battle gender stereotypes and discrimination at work.
Women councillors, cutting across party lines, said their male counterparts and officials believe they are “incompetent”.

CJI Altamas Kabir expresses concern over ‘media trial’

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Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir on Saturday expressed grave concern over growing practise of “media trial” and said it could prejudice against the accused.

“(Media trial) it is a matter of grave concern. This should not happen,” Kabir told reporters on the sidelines of East Zone Regional Judicial Conference on ‘Administration of Criminal Justice: Issues and Challenges’ here.

“It (media trial) can prejudice against an accused in a case,” he said.

“The issue should be left to the courts to decide,” the CJI added.

21-year-old aspiring model found murdered at friend’s place

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A 21-year-old youth, aspiring to become a model and a TV actor, was found murdered at his friend’s house here Saturday evening, police said. He was abducted two days ago.

The body of Sumit Tiwari was stuffed in a large plastic bag and was found at his friend and a scriptwriter Shanti Verma’s rented house in Mandawli in east Delhi, police said. The body bore injury marks.

Police were trying to locate and question Verma. “Tiwari was missing from his house in Karawal Nagar in east Delhi since February 21,” said a police officer.

Blasts handiwork of Satans: Swami Lakshmi Shankaracharya

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Swami Lakshmi Shankaracharya emphasized that the twin blasts in Hyderabad was executed not by humans but by Satans. 60 year old Swami Lakshmi Shankaracharya who was well known for his venom spitting against Islam and Muslims changed his outlook regarding Islam after reading Holy Quran and Seerat-e-Nabi (pbuh) and since then he made promotion of national integrity his mission. Talking to Siasat correspondent on phone Swami Lakshmi Shankaracharya said no religion teaches violence and surely violence is Satan’s act. He told that Hyderabadi Muslims are compassionate.

Two jailed for gangraping minor in moving car

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Two youths have been sentenced to varying jail terms by a court for kidnapping and gang-raping a minor girl in a moving car, to take revenge on her sister.

Additional Sessions Judge Kamini Lau awarded life term to 24-year-old Manoj and 10 years of jail to 24-year-old Amit for gangraping and threatening the 12-year-old victim after they failed to find her elder sister whom they wanted to teach a lesson.

Nasheed leaves Indian mission

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Former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed left the Indian High Commission in Male Saturday, 11 days after he sought refuge following an arrest warrant against him in a court case.

Nasheed, who left the Indian High Commission at 4.15 p.m. Indian time, thanked the staff of the Indian High Commission, including High Commissioner DM Mulay, for “the kindness and hospitality afforded to me during my stay”.

He thanked the international community for supporting the cause of democracy in the Maldives and that the presidential elections must be free, fair and inclusive of all candidates.

Ishrat encounter case: Two cops, part of hit squads, held

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The CBI has arrested two police officers who were part of as many squads that took part in the alleged fake encounter of teenage girl Ishrat Jahan and three others in 2004 in Gujarat.

The duo were already under judicial custody in another alleged fake encounter case of Sadik Jamal.

The arrests came close on the heels of the investigating agency picking up SP (Crime Records Bureau) Girish Singhal on Thursday in this connection.

TDP demands resignation of AP CM

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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Saturday drew flak from his party men and the opposition, which demanded that he immediately step down from his post owning responsibility for twin bomb blasts that claimed 16 lives on Thursday .

Telugu Desam Party MP T Devender Goud and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Dadi Veerabhadra Rao came down heavily on the government stating that it ignored the Centre?s warning on terror strikes.

PM, Sonia to visit city today

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will visit Hyderabad on Sunday to take stock of the situation in the aftermath of twin bomb blasts there.

The duo will visit the hospital where the injured are being treated besides taking a briefing from Chief Minister Kiran Reddy, sources said. Two bombs exploded within a span of minutes in Hyderabad on Thursday evening, killing 16 people and injuring 117.

‘Vital clues’

US Antares rocket completes ground test

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A new medium-sized American rocket intended for missions to the International Space Station has successfully completed the final ground test, its developer said.

Preliminary analysis of data from the 29-second hotfire test of the Antares launch vehicle indicate that its engines and fuelling systems are fully operational, Orbital Sciences Corporation said.

The result paves the way for the inaugural flight of the rocket, expected to take place in May, the Virginia-based company said on its website.

Wasey not under scanner: commissioner

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Abdul Wasey Mirza heaved a sigh of relief when commissioner police refuted his involvement in blasts. In a press conference the police commissioner said Wasey is not under the scanner. “As part of the investigations we only recorded his statement as a witness along with others,” Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma said.

Pak activist Asma Jahangir has ‘no desire’ to become caretaker PM

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Pakistani rights activist and former president of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Asma Jahangir has said she had no desire to become the caretaker prime minister.

Jahangir said certain people come into power in the name of the people and then refuse to party with it.

According to the Dawn, the activist also expressed apprehensions that certain forces were trying to create chaos in the country, but added that elections would happen on time.

Jahangir also said the country’s current situation was a result of the actions taken by regimes of the past.