Month: March 2013

Congress slams Modi for targeting Gandhis, PM

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The Congress Monday lashed out at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for attacking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Gandhi family.

“The people of India will repel his (Modi’s) utterances with contempt. We do not take him seriously as he is one among the six contenders for the top job in the country which he will not get,” Congress spokesperson P.C. Chacko told reporters.

“The prime minister is the most respected head of state. He turned around the economy in the 1990s. Modi’s criticism will boomerang on him and people will not believe him,” said Chacko.

Indian selected for US award for environment awareness

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Dr Shubhalaxmi Vaylure has been selected for the US State Department’s International Exchange Alumni Member of the Month for March for her dedication to build greater environmental awareness in India.

Shubhalaxmi first came to the US in 2003 as part of the Fulbright Indo-American Environmental Leadership Programme which took her to the University of Montana to study educational nature centers.

Upon returning from this programme, she drew inspiration from her Fulbright programme as she implemented innovative educational programs at the MumbaiConservationEducationCenter.

Guard arrested for raping 20-year-old girl in Gurgaon

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A security guard posted at a construction site in Gurgaon was arrested on Monday for raping a woman labourer, police said.

Jitender Kumar, 31, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, sexually assaulted the 20-year-old woman early on Monday, police said.

The victim, also from Uttar Pradesh, lived with her labourer husband near the construction site in sector 43, police said.

Police said Jitender Kumar, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, sexually assaulted the 20-year-old woman early on Monday.

Raj Thackeray softens stand against NCP; slams IPL matches

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Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Monday softened his stand against the NCP and also questioned the rationale of playing IPL cricket matches in the state, when it faces a severe drought.

Raj, who has been engaged in a war of words with NCP leaders, said he did not wish any confrontation and had merely responded to intimidating statements by NCP spokesperson Ankush Kakade, “daring” him to visit Pune. He clarified that he would not be visiting Pune as announced earlier.

No announcement on Modi replacement yet: Wharton

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The Wharton India Economic Forum on Monday said that it has not made any announcement on who would replace Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as one of the key-note speaker at its annual event later this month.

“We have not made any announcements,” Tanmay Mishra, from WIFE, told PTI when asked about the news report that the organisation has invited social activist Arvind Kejriwal to deliver the key note address in place of Modi.

Munnabhai 3 to go on floors early next year

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Filmmaker Subhash Kapoor, who has been roped in to direct the third instalment of Munnabhai franchise, says the film will go on the floors early next year.

“Right now, I am completely tied up with Jolly LLB and after the film’s release, we will start scripting for Munnabhai. So most probably the film will go on the floors early next year,” Kapoor told IANS.

Directing Shah Rukh Khan is on John Abraham’s wish list

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John Abraham turned producer with Vicky Donor. He admits direction is also a part of his plan, and he would especially love to direct superstar Shah Rukh Khan some day.

“Not soon, but yes, definitely I will (direct). How do I put it… I think I will do a fairly decent job directing because I feel I have a vision and I would like to get that across,” the 40-year-old said here in an interview.

Wharton invites Kejriwal to address conference

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AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal has been invited to address the Wharton India Economic Conference in the United States.

He will deliver his address through video-link on March 23, the day on which he will launch his indefinite fast.

An Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson said Kejriwal has got the invitation and will deliver his lecture through video-link.

The conference got into news in India after the organisers of conference decided to cancel Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s key note address.

Pakistan has become a Jurassic park: Katju

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PCI chief Markandey Katju today likened Pakistan to Jurassic Park, saying violence and deaths are being reported everyday due to inherent faults in that country’s formation.

Delivering the second Rajiv Gandhi memorial lecture organised by the Institute of Parliamentary Affairs here, he said the commotion in that country was the natural consequence of setting up a theocratic state.

“You cannot create a state on the basis of religion in the sub-continent which is full of diversities,” he said.

Minor blast outside Pranab’s hotel in Dhaka

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A “minor explosion” took place outside the hotel in which visiting Indian President Pranab Mukherjee is staying in downtown Dhaka, hit by mass upsurge and clashes that have resulted in dozens of deaths, but Indian officials said “none of the delegation members heard any explosion nor knew of any such incident”.

Police later said it was a firecracker and that the incident had been blown up by the media.

Adani group chairman quits Wharton event after Modi snub

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Following the cancellation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s keynote address at the Wharton India Economic Forum, it transpires that main sponsor Gautam Adani, chairman of Gujarat-headquartered Adani group, opted out of the event some time ago.

“Mr Adani had conveyed his inability to join Wharton India Economic Forum long back as he has other pressing commitments,” a group spokesperson said here on Monday.

“Our participation at the event is just by way of sponsorship,” he said.

Take quick and tough action against female foeticide: SC

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“Steps should be taken by the state government and the authorities under the PNDT Act for mapping of all registered and unregistered ultra-sonography clinics, in three months time,” the top court said.

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre and state governments to take quick and tough action against people indulging in female foeticide and passed a slew of directions for effective implementation of PNDT Act that prohibits pre-natal sex determination.

Standing Committees Will Save Parliamentary Democracy: Shivraj Patil

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Bemoaning that the days of conducting the Legislative Houses were getting reduced day by day due to various reasons, former Lok Sabha Speaker and Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil has said the Standing Committees would save Parliamentary democracy system in the country. He said the Standing Committees will allow the members to discuss all issues relating to every Ministry.

Jaya Prada Contest As YSRCP Candidate From Rajahmundry?

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Film actress and MP Jaya Prada announced her decision to contest from Rajahmundry. She said she would contest to Lok Sabha from there.

Though she ha no said from which party she would contest, it is being presumed that she would be the YSR Congress party’s candidate as she was all praise for the late Chief Minister Dr. Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.
Stating that she was not against Telangana, she said she was however an integrationist.

Degree Student Commits Suicide

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A girl student studying degree committed suicide in Velivennu under Undrajavaram mandal of west godavari district on Monday.

According to police, Naga Lakshmi student of first year degree of the Sasi College, jumped from the college building and ended her life. It is not known why she has taken the extreme step.
Naga Lakshmi is an orphan. Her relatives are educating her. She is living in the college hostel and studying first year BSC. Police registered a case and are investigating.(NSS)

Babu Is A Mean Fellow, Alleges Vijayamma

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YSR Congress launched protest programs all over the State against the hike in the power charges. As part of it, party’s honorary president Vijayamma took part in the dharna at Sattenapalli in Guntur district, where her daughter Sharmila was continuing her ‘Maro Praja Prasthanam’ padayatra.

Sankar Rao Gets Anticipatory Bail

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Former minister Sankar Rao got anticipatory bail.

Sankar Rao who is facing charges for his alleged involvement in the Green Fields land scam, is also facing a charge that he had obstructed the duties of the police.

On hearing the plea of the former minister’s lawyer that he was unwell, the Nampalli court issued him anticipatory bail.

Meet At Kaikaluru On March 7

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The Telugu Desam Legislature Party meeting will be held in Kaikaluru in Krishna district on March 7. Pary president N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is currently on “Vasthunna Mee Kosam” padayatra in the district, will be reaching Kaikaluru by March 7 to preside over the meeting.

In view of the State Budget presentation is scheduled to be held on March 18, the TDPLP is likely to discuss the strategy to be adopted in the Assembly on that date. The party leaders also decided to hold the Party politburo meeting on March 9 under the chairmanship of Chandrababu Naidu.

Corporates Increase Safety Budgets By 65%: ASSOCHAM

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A large number of corporates have responded positively to government advice to increase their overall budget by 65% for safety and security, especially of women, as per the quick findings of the random survey undertaken by ASSOCHAM Social Development Foundation (ASDF).

Elections For 10 MLC Seats On March 21

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Notification has been issued on Monday for the conduct of elections to 10 MLC seats from the Assembly quota, which fall vacant this month end.

As per the notification, the nominations would be received till March 11 and the last date for withdrawal is March 14. Polling, if necessary, will take place on March 21 and the results declared the same evening. (NSS)