Month: September 2013

I am innocent, Asaram tells cops

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Spiritual guru Asaram Bapu Sunday claimed innocence before investigators in Rajasthan and denied the allegation of sexual assault levelled against him by a minor girl, Jodhpur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph said.

“Asaram denied the charges and said he is innocent,” Joseph told reporters in Jodhpur city, over 350 km from here.

Police officials said a Rajasthan court had given them Asaram’s one-day remand for questioning.

The police chief said Asaram had undergone a medical examination and the doctors had declared he was fine.

Food security scheme: Distribution of grains starts in Delhi

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Distribution of food grains under the ambitious Food Security Programme formally began in the national capital on Sunday with Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit offering the entitlement to identified beneficiaries in several areas.

The scheme was launched in Delhi on August 20 by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

At the launch of the scheme, Dikshit had said food grains under the programme would be distributed from September 1.

The Chief Minister distributed the food grains to the beneficiaries at Lakshmibai Nagar, South Kidwai Nagar, Krishna Menon Marg and Copernicus Marg in central Delhi.

Quake jolts Doda, Kishtwar, sparks panic

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An earthquake of moderate intensity on Sunday shook Kishtwar and Doda districts in Jammu and Kashmir, triggering panic among people.

The quake, measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale, jolted the region at around 8.04 AM, Met office said.

There were no reports of any loss of life or damage to property, officials said.

Panic-stricken people rushed out of their homes as the quake struck.

Yesterday, a tremor, measuring 2.9 on the Richter scale, had hit the area.

–PTI

Pakistani judicial panel to visit Mumbai in September

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An eight-member Pakistani judicial commission will visit India from September 7 to cross-examine witnesses of the Mumbai terror attacks in order to take forward the prosecution of seven suspects.

Prosecutors yesterday informed an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad conducting the trial of the seven suspects that an Indian government letter dated August 23 had stated that the Pakistani judicial commission could visit Mumbai during September 5-6.

Dowry deaths: One woman dies every hour in India

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One woman dies every hour due to dowry related reasons on an average in the country, which has seen a steady rise in such cases between 2007 and 2011, according to official data. National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) figures state that 8,233 dowry deaths were reported in 2012 from various states. The statistics work out to one death per hour.

Yasin Bhatkal statement: Farooqui fit to be in Pakistan, says Togadia

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VHP on Sunday said SP leader Kamaal Farooqui was “fit to be in Pakistan” after his comments over the arrest of Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal.

“Those who are supporting anti-nationals and terrorists should be branded as anti-nationals and should be in Pakistan,” VHP International Working President Praveen Togadia told reporters here.

Togadia made the comment against the backdrop of Farooqui asking whether Bhatkal’s arrest was “based on crime or religion”.

Unfair to blame Narendra Modi for 2002 riots: Rajnath Singh

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Describing the 2002 Gujarat riots as “unfortunate”, BJP President Rajnath Singh on Sunday said it was unfair to blame Narendra Modi for the incidents even as he reached out to the Muslims, assuring that his party was ready to sort out any “confusion” over its approach towards them.

“One of our states is Gujarat. I agree an unfortunate incident has taken place. Who does not agree that it was unfortunate. Attempts were made to blame Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as if the riots were planned by the Chief Minister,” he said.

Guj riots unfortunate; unfair to blame Modi for it: Rajnath

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Terming the 2002 Gujarat riots as “unfortunate”, BJP President Rajnath Singh today said it was unfair to blame state Chief Minister Narendra Modi for the incident and accused Congress and some other parties of dividing the country on religious lines.

“One of our states is Gujarat. I agree an unfortunate incident took place. Who does not agree that it was unfortunate. Attempts were made to blame Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as if the riots were planned by the Chief Minister,” here said here.

Eight-year-old girl raped by neighbour in Delhi

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An eight-year-old girl was raped by her neighbour here, police said Sunday. The attacker has been arrested.

The victim was playing outside her house when she was lured by Mohsid, 21, to his room, a rented accommodation next to their house, Saturday afternoon.

“On hearing the girl’s screams, the mother rushed to Mohsid’s house and found her daughter crying. She took her to a nearby hospital where she was discharged after the treatment,” said a police officer.

Mohsid, a labourer, was later arrested from his house, said the officer.

-_IANS

Gold supply crunch likely to hit festive, marriage season

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A supply crunch following the Indian government’s policy to curb gold imports and concern over a possible Western attack on Syria could lead to a further rise in the yellow metal’s prices and mar the coming festive and marriage season.

Gold touched Rs.34,600 per 10 grams for 24 carat Wednesday in the bullion market. The price settled at Rs.33,000 per 10 grams for 24 carat Saturday-Sunday.

Naseeruddin’s character in ‘John Day’ inspired by film’s director

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Filmmaker Ahishor Solomon, who is debuting with “John Day” as a director, says Naseeruddin Shah’s character in the film is inspired by his own life.

“Naseer saab’s character is of a simple guy, who is very loyal and fears god. He believes in his own rules, but the tough time he is going through in life has shattered his beliefs. And I think his character is an inspiration from my own self,” Solomon said in a statement.

Digvijaya Singh slams BJP on Asaram Bapu issue

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Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh Sunday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of adopting double standards on crimes against women and maintaining silence on the case involving Asaram Bapu.

“The attitude of the BJP is illustrative of double standards (practiced) by them. They cry hoarse on the issue where someone else is involved. But when one of them is involved, they keep quiet,” Digvijaya Singh said.

The Congress leader also took a dig at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Asaram supporters raise slogans at Delhi airport

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Hundreds of supporters of Asaram Bapu Sunday raised slogans outside the Indira Gandhi International Airport here, as the spiritual leader was taken to Jodhpur after being arrested in Indore.

The 72-year-old guru was arrested in Indore after charges of sexual assault were levelled against him by a 16-year-old girl.

The girl lodged a complaint at a police station in Delhi Aug 20, accusing Asaram of sexually assaulting her at his ashram in Jodhpur. Asaram has denied the charge, and his son has claimed the girl was “mentally unstable”.

UN inspectors take Syria samples for tests

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UN inspectors have conducted “a wide range of fact-finding activities” at the site of an alleged chemical attack outside the Syrian capital city of Damascus, a UN official said.

The UN inspectors have taken the samples to The Hague and these will be moved to two laboratories in Europe, Xinhua cited UN spokesman Martin Nesirky as saying Saturday.

UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Angela Kane was sent to Syria to negotiate a UN probe into the alleged Aug 21 chemical attack and she met UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon thereafter.

Abducted Afghan official freed in Pakistan

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An Afghan consulate official who was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen from Pakistan’s Balochistan province in July has been freed, Afghan officials said Saturday.

Hashim Ebrat, a staffer of the Afghan consulate, had been kidnapped from Quetta, Xinhua reported.

Afghan embassy spokesman Zardasht Shams confirmed that Ebrat had rejoined his family. He avoided more comments when asked as to who were behind the kidnapping and on what conditions he was released.

Italian city names waterfront after Dubai crown prince

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In recognition of his contribution to powerboat racing, an Italian city has named its waterfront after Fazza, the poetic name of Dubai crown prince Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

He is also the chairman of Dubai Sports Council.

The local government of Stresa city has named the waterfront of the city after the prince.

—–IANS

UAE’s new land transport law turns effective

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A new Land Transport Act has come into effect in the United Arab Emirates'(UAE) in coordination with federal and local authorities.

Under the new law, which sets the rules of carrying passengers and goods between the UAE and other countries, no land transport business maybe practiced without getting a license from the National Transport Authority (NTA).

The license applicant must be a UAE citizen and the transport vehicle should be equipped with safety gear and should satisfy all technical conditions stipulated by the authority.

Obama’s surprise turnaround on Syria strike

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After hinting at an imminent unilateral military strike at Syria, President Barack Obama in a surprise turnaround decided to seek the approval of US Congress for use of force against the Assad regime.

The United States “should take military action against Syrian targets” for its suspected use of chemical weapons in an Aug 21 attack on rebel controlled areas, he declared in a hurriedly arranged Rose Garden address Saturday with Vice President Biden standing by his side.

Yemeni PM escapes assassination

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Yemeni Prime Minister Mohamed Basindwa survived an assassination bid near his home in the capital city Saturday, his media adviser said.

“Unidentified gunman went out from a car and opened fire at the prime minister’s convoy on a street close to the Political Security Agency in Sana’a,” reported Xinhua citing Rajih Badi.

“The bodyguards of Basindwa fired back, but the assailants run away,” he added.

Iran warns of possible Syrian war’s spillover

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Iran has warned that any war on Syria would have repercussions on the entire region.

Alaeddin Boroujerdi, chairman of the Iranian Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said here Saturday that his visit aimed to emphasise Tehran’s support for Syria and rejection of any war or aggression against the turmoil ridden country, Xinhua reported.

Heading a delegation of Iranian parliamentarians during this Syrian visit, Boroujerdi said any possible war on Syria would not stay restricted to inside Syria but spread out of the Syrian borders.

Trust honoured for educating the girl child

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The Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat Education has bagged the Mother Teresa Excellence Award for exceptional work in the field of educating the girl child.

Instituted by the non-profit Economic Growth Society of India, the award honours both individuals and organizations for their contributions to India’s economic and social growth.

False terror cases destroying families, say Muslims

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False terror cases against young Muslim boys was the main concern expressed by the minority community members who gathered here to take stock of the promises made by the UPA government.

“Muslim youth are charged with terrorism and are later acquitted. This destroys them and their families,” said Mohd Shahid of Aligarh Muslim University.

He was speaking at a seminar on “UPA II and Muslim Expectations” organized by the Aligarh Movement magazine at the India Islamic Cultural Centre here Friday evening.

South Korea’s trade surplus doubles

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South Korea’s trade surplus on solid exports doubled in August from the previous month as a result of strong export growth, a government report said Sunday.

Trade surplus increased to $4.92 billion in August from $2.54 billion in July, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, reports Xinhua.

Exports account for around half of the South Korean economy, increased 7.7 percent from last year to $46.37 billion in August after rising 2.6 percent in July.

——IANS

China’s manufacturing sees hefty rebound

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China’s manufacturing sector posted a strong recovery in August, offering further signs that the world’s second largest economy is walking out of the shadows of protracted slowdown, reports Xinhua.

The purchasing managers index for the manufacturing sector rose to 51.0 percent in August from 50.3 percent in July, marking the second monthly expansion in a row, and the highest reading this year, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said Sunday.

17 killed in Iraq attacks

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At least 17 people, among them five policemen , have been killed and 25 others wounded in separate attacks in Iraq, police said.

Five policemen were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a police checkpoint in Ramadi, capital of Anbar province, around 100 km west of Baghdad, reported Xinhua.

Four policemen and three civilians were also injured in the attack.

One policeman and a civilian were killed when unidentified gunmen attacked their car in Falluja, 50 km west of Baghdad.