Month: March 2013

Babli project: AP to seek legal opinion before filing SC plea

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Andhra Pradesh government will take legal opinion before filing a review petition in Supreme Court on its verdict in the controversial Babli irrigation project constructed by Maharashtra on river Godavari. In its verdict on February 28, the Supreme Court permitted Maharashtra to complete construction of the project and also utilise 2.74 tmc ft of water out of its total share of 60 tmc ft of Godavari water. The AP government convened an all-party meeting here this afternoon to discuss the fallout of the verdict and the course of action it should now take.

TRS chief holds meetings; appoints new Hyderabad unit head

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TRS President K Chandrasekhar Rao held meetings with leaders from Hyderabad and also the youth leaders to strengthen the party organisation. He appointed K Srinivas Yadav as the new President of the party unit in Hyderabad, TRS said in a release today. TRS does not have any representation in the Assembly at present in Hyderabad though there are several Assembly constituencies in the city. The TRS chief also had meetings with youth and student leaders yesterday and reportedly told them to play a bigger role in fighting for separate Telangana. PTI

Cong downplays US Cong delegation’s meeting with Modi

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Congress today sought to downplay US Congressional delegation’s meeting with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and their open appreciation of his achievements in the field of good governance. “Well, the US Ambassador came to see me yesterday. I would like to know as to how BJP looks at it,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said when asked about the meeting. Modi was invited by the US Congressional delegation to visit America notwithstanding the US administration’s denial of visa to him over the 2002 riots. PTI

Man gets life imprisonment for raping mentally challenged girl

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An auto-rickshaw driver was sentenced to life imprisonment by a local court for raping a mentally challenged girl. According to sub-urban Malvani police, Nandlal Yadav (28), the accused, knew that the victim was mentally challenged. In March 2008, he found her alone and induced her to go to a nearby lodge. After raping her there, he left the girl on the road. While he was fleeing, she pointed to his rickshaw when some rickshaw drivers saw her and asked her what was the matter. One of them noted registration number of Yadav’s rickshaw and informed the police.

Fake currency seized, three arrested in Hyderabad

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Three persons including a woman were today arrested from Secunderabad railway station here after they were found in possession of fake Indian currency notes with face value of Rs 2 lakh, police said. After getting a tip-off, Commissioner’s Task Force (Central Zone) Team nabbed M Subhashini, Bhaskar and Bandaru Venkanna. Police seized fake notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denomination from them, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police P Rameshaiah said.

Eve-teasers forcibly enter house, beat girl, kin

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In a shocking incident, a group of eleven youths forcibly gained entry in the house of a 21-year-old girl whom they were following and severely beat her and her family members here today. Police Commissioner Ram Singh said the incident took place in the evening when the boys began passing vulgar comments on seeing the girl, who was returning home after attending tuition classes. The situation turned ugly turn when the boys followed her home where her parents rebuked them.

India worried over new Saudi labour policy: Vayalar Ravi

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A new Saudi labour policy reserving 10 percent of jobs for locals is a major issue for India as it could lead to reduced employment there for Indians, a senior minister said Thursday.

“It’s a serious issue that will affect not only India but also other countries. Yesterday I spoke to the Indian ambassador in Saudi Arabia and has asked him to keep me informed on all the developments,” Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi told TV channels in Kerala.

TDP seeks disqualification of nine of its MLAs

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Opposition Telugu Desam Party on Thursday night submitted petitions to Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar seeking disqualification of nine of its MLAs for defying the party line.

It sought disqualification of MLAs Amarnath Reddy, Praveen Kumar Reddy, Y Balanagi Reddy, Kodali Srivenkateswara Rao, Chinnam Ramakotaiah, Taneti Vanitha, Sairaj, K Harishwar Reddy and S Venugopalachari for violating the party whip and voting in support of the no-confidence motion, moved by TRS, against the Kiran Kumar Reddy government on March 15.

North Korea puts rocket units on standby to attack US military bases

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North Korea has put its rocket units on standby on Friday to attack US military bases in South Korea and the Pacific, after the United States flew two nuclear-capable stealth bombers over the Korean peninsula in a rare show of force.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed off on the order at a midnight meeting of top generals and “judged the time has come to settle accounts with the US imperialists in view of the prevailing situation”, official KCNA news agency said.

Malala seals $3 mn deal to publish memoir

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Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl shot in the head by the Taliban for advocating girls’ education, has signed a deal for a whopping $3 million to pen down her memoir.

The 15-year-old, who staged a dramatic recovery after being shot at point-blank range, calls the book titled I am Malala her own story and that of millions of others denied the chance to go to school.

The book, due to be out in autumn this year, will be published by Weidenfeld & Nicholson in the UK and Commonwealth and by Little, Brown in the rest of the world.

Sachin Tendulkar reveals his superstitious side ahead of IPL matches

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Mumbai Indians’ iconic player, Sachin Tendulkar does not want to set any targets for himself in the Indian Premier League season-6 as the senior Indian batsman is focused on winning the maiden IPL crown for the home team’s loyal fans. “I don’t like to set targets for myself, even if I set targets, I like to keep it to myself. I am little superstitious that way,” said Tendulkar.

Gautam Gambhir diminishes M S Dhoni’s Team India triumph over Oz?

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Out-of-favour opener Gautam Gambhir has lauded M S Dhoni’s Team India for its 4-0 triumph over Australia in the recently concluded Test series today, but stressed on the need to win abroad in order to be recognised as a force in world cricket. The controversy is already raging, where many have pointed out that India is unbeatable at home and Gambhir’s hint at India not being a global force just adds fuel to the fire.

Aishwarya Rai to perform with Abhishek first time post baby’s birth

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Call them as Bollywood’s ‘it’ couple or the power packed couple, one has to give it to them for being the most sought after couple! We are indeed talking about Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who will now be seen performing at an award function in Vancouver.

The event will be hosted by Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma alongwith Boman Irani.

Rape laws being misused, can’t tell fake from genuine, says High Court

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Four family members have been acquitted of gangrape charge by a Delhi court which termed it as a classic illustration of misuse of rape laws in which the husband of alleged victim used her as a “pawn” to settle personal scores.

The court acquitted Delhi residents Sikander, his brother Shailender and their parents Harender Mehto and Sushila of the charges and stressed the need to remain “vigilant” in “differentiating” between false and genuine rape cases so that no innocent person is convicted.

Dalits stopped from performing Holi puja, assaulted by upper caste villagers

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Dalit (Scheduled Caste) families were stopped from performing Holi puja and assaulted allegedly by the members of upper caste at Jahangirpur village of Jhajjar district of Haryana.

Police have started investigation into the matter but no case was registered in this regard even after two days of the incident.

The SC families have threatened to leave the village if the accused are not arrested by the police after registering a criminal case against them.

Digvijay rejects Mulayam’s criticism of Congress

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Congress leader Digvijay Singh today took objection to Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav’s criticism of his party.

Addressing SP workers at his native place Saifai in Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh yesterday, Yadav had accused the Congress of being “cheat, clever and opportunist”.

Talking to reporters here, Digvijay said in a democracy everyone has the right to express their views but Congress is not “opportunist” as claimed by the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.

Daredevils’ Ryder critical after deadly assault in NZ

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The night before he was to leave New Zealand to join the Delhi Daredevils, batsman Jesse Ryder became the victim of an apparently unprovoked assault outside a bar in Christchurch, which has left him battling for life in an induced coma.

Karnataka BJP law-maker in sex CD row, to stay away from May 5 assembly polls

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A CD allegedly showing Karnataka BJP law maker Raghupathi Bhat in sexual acts has surfaced, prompting him to announce that he would not contest the May 5 assembly polls in the state.

Bhat, a second-time law-maker from Udupi, about 400km west of Bangalore, however, denied he is the man shown in the CD and sought a probe to establish the truth.

State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Pralhad Joshi told reporters here that the party would take action only after it is proved that the man in the CD is Bhat.

Court denies advance bail to Ram Kadam in assault case

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The sessions court here today rejected anticipatory bail application of MNS legislator Ram Kadam in connection with an assault on a ration officer.

The court has rejected his bail plea. But he has been given a week’s time to approach the High Court,” said a police
official.

The incident, where Kadam, an MLA, allegedly assaulted a ration officer, took place last year.

Kadam was recently arrested after he and some other legislators allegedly beat up police sub-inspector Sachin
Suryavanshi in the premises of Maharashtra Legislative Complex. He later got bail.

No intention of retiring, says Misbah

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Pakistan’s Test and One-day captain, Misbah-ul-Haq today insisted that he has no plans to retire from the limited-overs format in the near future.

I have no intentions to quit playing one-dayers as I feel I still have a lot of cricket left in me. But yes, I have
now changed my entire approach to batting to prolong my career,” Misbah told reporters at the Gaddafi stadium.

Misbah has been criticised for his slow batting and captaincy and there have been renewed calls for his retirement
after Pakistan was swamped 0-3 in the Test series in South Africa and lost the one-day rubber 2-3.

Doing well in overseas Test series is most important: Gambhir

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Lauding the team for their 4-0 triumph over Australia in the recently concluded Test series, out-of-favour opener Gautam Gambhir today stressed on the need to win Test series abroad in order to be recognized as a force in world cricket.

“Unless a team wins overseas, they are not recognized as a force. I have always believed that winning in overseas conditions matters a lot. I am happy that we have done well at home. There is nothing wrong in using home advantage as every country does that”, Gambhir told reporters at a promotional event here.

BJP lauds Modi”s development model in Gujarat

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Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday said the entire world is now praising Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his good governance model in the state.

Prasad, who was reacting to the meeting between a high-profile American delegation, comprising parliamentarians and businessmen, and Modi, said it is only a confirmation in a series of developments from the European Union and the Government of Britain who have acknowledged the extraordinary development and all-round progress of the state of Gujarat under the latter”s dynamic leadership.

Police inspect Eden’s security for IPL

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Kolkata police Thursday inspected security measures at the Eden Gardens for the upcoming Indian Premier League and expressed satisfaction at the arrangements.

“We inspected the security arrangements here and also met the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) officials. The security arrangements are at place and we will take a final call after the final inspection March 30,” said Joint Commissioner of Police Jawed Shamim.

India had won Kargil war with Pak both militarily and diplomatically: Manish Tewari

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Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari on Thursday said that India had won the Kargil war with Pakistan both militarily and diplomatically.

To a poser on former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf”s remark that he was ”proud of the Kargil operation” during which the Pakistani troops had crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and occupied positions on the Indian side in 1999, Tewari said it was a defeat of Pakistan.

Cutting across party lines, leaders of various political outfits also lashed out at Musharraf over his remark.