Month: March 2014

Ignoring Rahul, Khurshid stands by his ‘impotent’ remark

by

Notwithstanding Rahul Gandhi’s disapproval, Union minister Salman Khurshid today said he stood by his remark, in which he had dubbed Narendra Modi as “impotent” due to his “inability” to control riots.

Khurshid said what other term could be used for a person like Modi.

“Was it not his duty as the chief minister to check riots… If it was and he failed to do so, what is a person who failed to discharge his duty called,” Khurshid asked reporters here.

Political parties’ funding can be under RTI: Parrikar

by

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar Saturday that information relating to funding for political parties should come under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Participating on a debate on Headlines Today channel, Parrikar said he was in favour of bringing income source of political parties under scrutiny of RTI in a “restrictive way”.

“I support political parties being brought under RTI in a restrictive way. I don’t agree internal party matters must be in public domain, but funding should be. I am a big supporter of RTI,” he said.

Time to end dynastic rule in Kashmir: AAP candidate

by

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from Srinagar constituency Raja Muzaffar Bhat said Saturday that his party would work against the “dynastic rule” in Jammu and Kashmir.

Bhat has been fielded against union minister and National Conference (NC) patron Farooq Abdullah.

“Corruption has destroyed all established institutions in the country including the Jammu and Kashmir and the AAP would continue its struggle to eradicate this national menace,” Bhat said while addressing a party rally here Saturday.

Kejriwal should apologise for not sacking Bharti: Cong

by

Delhi Congress today demanded an “unconditional apology” from AAP leader and former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for backing Somnath Bharti over the latter’s role in the midnight raid episode involving some women from Africa.

“Former law minister Bharti has been found guilty in the judicial inquiry into the midnight raid,” alleged Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) President Arvinder Singh.

“Kejriwal should tender an unconditional apology for shielding Bharti from arrest in the case,” Singh added in a release today.

Son of Egypt’s Morsi arrested for drug possession

by

A son of Egypt’s ousted president Mohamed Morsi was arrested Saturday for possession of hashish in a western suburb of Cairo, media reported.

In a car with tinted windows, Abdullah, Morsi’s youngest son, was arrested along with another person smoking hashish cigarettes, Xinhua reported citing official news agency MENA as quoting an interior ministry source.

Abdullah confessed his possession of the drug and the two persons were referred to the prosecution for further investigations.

Kavuri says he will not quit Cong

by

Union Minister Kavuri Sambashiva Rao today said he will not quit the party and will contest on congress ticket from Eluru parliamentary constituency.

Kavuri said Polavaram project would get national status in the next two days. He visited some areas in his Eluru constituency.

He opined that new capital be established between Vijayawada and Guntur cities. ‘I will fight for special package for seemandhra’, he said.(NSS)

40 more bodies extricated from ‘Shaheedan da Khu’

by

Volunteers today dug out the mortal remains of 40 more Indian soldiers from a well where more than 200 of them were dumped by British troops about 157 years ago.

Volunteers of local NGOs and Gurdwara management committees involved in the digging work had yesterday pulled
out the mortal remains of 22 Indian soldiers.

Today, besides skeletons, currency coins belonging to the 1857 era and army medals were found from the site, police
said.

According to local Gurdwara management committee head Amarjit Singh Sarkaria and NGOs led by historian Surinder

Certification verification of APSET-2013 qualified candidates from March 10

by

APSET Member Secretary Prof B Rajeswara Reddy on Saturday asked all the candidates who have qualified in APSET-2013 examination to attend for the verification of P.G. Degree certificate, P.G. Memo of marks, Caste certificate and PH/VH certificate (wherever applicable) during 10-20th March, 2014 (between 10 am to 5 pm in all working days) at their respective Regional Centers where they had appeared the Examination.

‘Do not intend to fight smear campaign against Sunanda’

by

Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor Saturday said he did not intend to fight the Left opposition’s smear campaign over the death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar.

“I don’t intend to tackle it because I am sure the people know what happened. Moreover, a police investigation is already on. There is no complaint against me. If the Left opposition has information, they should share it with the investigators,” he said.

Tharoor is most likely to get a second chance to contest the general polls from the state capital.

Commercial water tanker tariff enhanced

by

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board on Saturday informed that the commercial tankers rates have been enhanced from Rs. 515 to Rs. 700.

The hike would be with immediate effect due to the increase in operating costs of HMWSSB, according to a press release. (INN)

Lady GaGa not allowed to perform at SXSW

by

Lady GaGa would not be able to perform in a giant Doritos vending machine at the upcoming SXSW.

The 28-year-old ‘Fame’ hitmaker’s performance was cancelled by the city of Austin, Texas due to “public safety
concerns,” reported Aceshowbiz.

Authorities think the location will not be able to accommodate GaGa’s fans.

“Our conclusion was based primarily on public safety concerns,” said Don Pitts, manager of the Austin Music &
Entertainment division.

However, he added that GaGa could still perform at this year’s SXSW if she could find “an established venue with the

Scott Eastwood would have been a fireman if not an actor

by

Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood’s son Scott Eastwood says he would have become a fireman if he was not an actor.

The 27-year-old actor said if he had chosen a different career he would have done a job with challenges on a daily
basis, reported Contactmusic.

If I didn’t do this, I’d be a fireman; something super-active that challenges you and is different every day,”
he said.

The star said his father did not encourage him to have a career on screen.

If anything, my dad was harder on me. My father never pressured any of [his children] to go into the movie business.

US woman with `hot` mugshot sues website for invasion of privacy

by

A woman from UK – dubbed hot convict after her image surfaced on internet – has filed a lawsuit against a background check website, saying that the company used her arrest booking photo for commercial and advertising purposes, without compensating or even getting her permission.

Meagan Simmons, of Zephyrhills, Florida, filed the lawsuit in Hillsborough County Court against InstantCheckmate.com, CBS reported.

In her lawsuit, she said that all the exposure has disturbed her peace of mind, and invaded her privacy, causing her mental anguish.

Docs waiting for `eye movements` from `comatose` Schumacher in 3rd week of `waking up` process

by

Doctors working to bring out Formula One legend Michael Schumacher from his induced coma are reportedly hoping to see eye movements from the German as they enter the third week of their ”waking up” process.

The seven-time world champion has been in the coma since smashing his head against a hidden rock during a low-speed ski-run in the French Alps just after Christmas.

Former BJP president Bangaru Laxman dies

by

Former BJP President Bangaru Laxman died after a prolonged illness in Yashoda Hospital, Secunderabad on Saturday.

He was 74 and is survived by his wife, one son and three daughters.

Born in 1939, Bangaru Laxman served as the Minister of State for Railways from 1999 to 2000. He was then elevated to the post of national president of Bharatiya Janata Party (2000-2001), but he was forced to resign following Tehelka’s sting operation on corruption in defense deals.

GHMC appeals Property Tax payers to make payment by March 15th

by

GHMC Commissioner Somesh Kumar said that the Government has released a GO No. 90, dated 01.03.2014 with regard to waiver of interest on arrears and current year dues of Property Tax up to 31.03.2014 and adjustment of interest already paid by the tax payers against the future property tax.

The Commissioner appealed to all the tax payers who were waiting for this Government order are now can pay their taxes immediately not waiting up till 31st March 2014. He also informed that those who pay the property tax before 15th March and avail the opportunity of getting the gifts.

LJP’s lone MLA joins JD(U)

by

Zakir Hussain Khan, the lone MLA of Ramvilas Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party in Bihar who opposed alliance with BJP, today joined ruling Janata Dal(U).

Khan, who is an MLA from minority-dominated Araria, had resigned from LJP on Thursday after it announced its tie-up
with BJP for Lok Sabha poll, and joined JD(U) in the presence of its state president Basistha Narayan Singh.

LJP had won three seats in Bihar Assembly polls in 2010 and its two other legislators had quit earlier to join JD(U).

Two arms smugglers arrested at Jaipur railway station

by

Two arms smugglers have been arrested with 4 pistols and 62 live cartridges at Jaipur railway station by Special Operations Group of Rajasthan police.

Following a tip-off, police laid a trap at Jaipur Junction and caught Gopal Poonia (28) and Avinash (21), both
hailing from Sikar, with the arms which they had smuggled from Bihar in a train today, ADG SOG Alok Tripathi said.

Two pistols of 9 mm and as many of 7.65 mm caliber pistols, 8 magazines and 62 live cartridges were recovered
from their possession.

Centre seeks recall of SC verdict on commuting death sentence

by

The central government Saturday moved the Supreme Court seeking recall of its verdict holding that inordinate, unexplained and unreasonable delay in deciding a mercy petition by the president was a ground for commuting a death sentence to life imprisonment.

The court had held that in deciding the mercy petition, there could no distinction whether the death row convict was sentenced under normal penal offences or under the provision of anti-terror laws.

Attestation services have been outsourced in the Eastern and Central Provinces of Saudi Arabia

by

The Embassy of India hereby informs all concerned that M/s VFS LLC GCC, the service provider to whom passport, visa and attestation services have been outsourced in the Eastern and Central Provinces of Saudi Arabia have relocated their Centre at Batha to a new location.

The complete address and contact details of the new location are:

2nd Floor, Shamshia Building,

Near SABB bank, Opp G Mart,

Abdul Aziz Road, Shara Washam,

Batha Centre, Riyadh.

Call Centers:

0114124727

0114080366

Ambassador H.E.Mr.Hamid Ali Rao inaugurated India Pavilion

by

The 11th International Trade. Exhibition for Printing and packaging Technologies opens today at Riyadh International. Convention Center. In the Saudi Print and Pack and Saudi Plastics and Petrochem 512 Companies and 27 Countries participated. 15-17 February 2014, timing from 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM.

An Indian business delegation consisting of 33 Indian exporters under ‘The Plastics Export Promotion Council (PLEXCONCIL)’, and Indian Printing, Packaging and Allied Machinery Manufacturers’ Association (IPAMA)’ are participating in the Saudi PPPP-2014.

Don’t see talented offies in domestic circuit: Harbhajan

by

Senior off-spinner and Punjab captain Harbhajan Singh today lamented serious dearth of quality tweakers in the domestic circuit.

“Well, I played a lot of domestic matches this season but frankly speaking I haven’t seen any great talent emerging. There are not too many young bowlers who are ready to give it a tweak and could spin the ball on any surface,” Harbhajan told reporters at the end of the Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Delhi at the Kotla today.

Harbhajan is fine with spinners using variations but he would like every bowler to have a stock delivery.