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Inside
The Q&A portion of the Prime
Minister's Press Conference at the
Page .......2
National Media ...
Cut power rates in Mumbai like AAP did in
Delhi: Congress MP
Page .......3
Aam Aadmi Party taking right steps,
have long way to go: Anna Hazare
INDIA'S LOCAL NEWSPAPER
Vol. : 3 Issue : 29 Monday, 20 th to 26 th Jan 2014
RNI No. : MAHENG/2011/38665 Price : Rs.2
Page .......8
Page : 8
MUMBAI: BRIDGING
THE HOUSING GAP
Mumbai | MHADA has been fulfilling the essential requirement
of providing shelter through affordable housing. The Maharashtra
Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) was set up with
a mission to carry out the works of housing and area development
across the state by passing an enactment. MHADA has been
synonymous with the
creation of good quality
but affordably priced
housing. The authority’s
work touches many
lives and gives home
seekers the hope of
having their own
residence one day. The
tenements or houses
constructed by MHADA
are always in high
demand,
with
applications
far
outstripping the number
of flats or plots on offer. A transparent lottery system with applicants
present at the venue during the results ensures that MHADA’s
reputation and credibility have only been enhanced further over the
years. The authority has undertaken many such initiatives with
accruing benefits for the common man. There are various advantages
that MHADA offers, including carpet area sale, construction quality,
clear land title and reasonable prices, which have made it a preferred
housing facilitator. Regional boards There are nine regional boards
under the jurisdiction of the authority namely- Mumbai Housing and
Area Development Board, Mumbai Buildings Repair and
Reconstruction Board, Slum Improvement Board, Konkan Board,
besides Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Aurangabad and Amravati are the
regional boards. The jurisdiction of Mumbai Housing and area
Development Board is limited up to Dahisar and Mulund. The regional
board shares the responsibility of works like housing, development of
the land, distribution /allotment of tenements or plots, maintenance,
transfer of tenancy and lease agreement, and sale of deed i.e.
conveyance of societies and other as per the provisions in the
authority’s act of 1976 and as per the provision made in regulation in
1981 by the state government (and the changes made from time to
time herein). Process followed The tenements/houses constructed
by MHADA (Estate Management, Selling, Conveyance, Transfer of
tenements) are sold by giving advertisement in the newspaper by
inviting applications. After the acceptance of application forms,
scrutiny of the forms is done to check the first hand eligibility of the
applicant and after that
a date is declared
through the newspapers
f o r t h e l o t t e r y. T h e
authority has not
appointed any broker or
agents to sell the
tenements constructed
by the Mumbai Housing
and area Development
B o a r d . To s e l l t h e
houses constructed by
the boards, it takes help
of certain banks to sell
and
accept
the
application form from the public at its branches. Changes are made
public through advertisements. Evolution The Maharashtra Housing
Board formerly called “Bombay Housing Board” had a jurisdiction
over the entire state of Maharashtra except Vidharbha region. This
body undertook construction of residential buildings under various
housing schemes for different sections of the society. The allotment
and maintenance of these buildings was being looked after by it. On
the reorganization of the state, the Vidharbha Housing Board was
established in the year 1960 as a successor body to the erstwhile Madhya
Pradesh Housing Board. Its functions were similar to those of the
Maharashtra Housing Board, except that it also advanced loan to cooperative housing societies, institutions and local authorities for the
construction of houses. The Bombay Buildings Repairs and
Reconstruction Board was constituted in 1971. It was created to deal
with the problems faced by tenants residing in dilapidated buildings in
the Island City of Bombay and undertook its structural repairs and
reconstruction, so as to make them structurally sound and safe for
habitation. The Maharashtra Slum Improvement Board was constituted
in 1974, with an intention to provide basic amenities, such as water
taps, drainage, pathways, latrines and streetlights etc. in slums

2. Monday, 20 th to 26 th Jan 2014
Editorial
N-power "dependable,
clean" energy option
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said that nuclear
energy was a "dependable and clean" option for satisfying the
growing energy needs of the country as it looks to achieve rapid
economic development. Addressing a public gathering after laying the foundation stone for the 2,800 megawatt nuclear power
plant in Gorakhpur village in Fatehabad district of Haryana, Dr
Singh said, "A long way has to be covered to meet our growing
power demands. Nuclear power is a dependable and clean option". India is among the very few nations which have developed
technology to install nuclear power plants.
The Rs 23,502 crore project under the Haryana Anu Vidyut
Pariyojna will have four units, each of 700MW. In the first
phase, 1400MW units will be completed at a cost of Rs 21,000
crore by 2020-21.
In his address, Dr Singh stressed on the need for economic
progress to ensure better living standards and emphasised the
importance of creating job opportunities for the youth.
Dr Singh pointed out that the pace of economic development, as had taken place under the UPA regime, could only be
maintained if the government increased energy supplies to industries, farmers and the common households. We will have to
tap all available resources like hydro, thermal, gas, wind, solar
and nuclear energy. At the same time, we will have to ensure
that pollution is kept under check.
Power generation had increased manifold in the last 10 years
and the country now has an installed capacity of 4800 MW of
nuclear power. The aim was to generate more than 27,000MW
of nuclear power in the next 10 years.
About the Gorakhpur plant, half the power produced by it
would be allocated to Haryana to enable it to meet the energy
demands of the rural and industrial sectors.
The people of this region should get the maximum benefit
(from the project)... Compensation has been paid by government. An annual royalty will also be given for the next 33 years,
touching upon the needs of the local people who might have
been affected by the project. As part of the first phase of the
project, 8,000 to 10,000 people are expected to get employment.
Besides, new avenues of employment will also be generated
and priority for these would be given to locals.
A hospital and deer and herbal parks are also to come up in
Gorakhpur, which is also to benefit from better road connectivity
and skill development programmes. A total of 1,503 acres of
land was acquired for the plant, out of which the major share of
1,313 acres belongs to Gorakhpur village.
The entire land was acquired from 847 families with approximately Rs 450 crore having been paid in compensation. The project, in the pipeline since 2009, had faced resistance from locals and some environmental activists. Principal opposition party INLD, too, had raised safety concerns over the project.
Former Army chief Gen (retd) VK Singh, AAP leader
Prashant Bhushan and yoga guru Ramdev were among those
who had visited Fatehabad to lend support to the anti-nuclear
plant campaign. But the landowners eventually accepted
the compensation package offered for the land acquisition.
Maharashtra government can learn a great lesson from
this experience for Navi Mumbai International Airport to
acquire land and compensation paid to the affected people.
INDIA LOCAL
PAGE 2
India completes three
polio-free years
India on Monday declared itself a polio- diseases. Polio or infantile paralysis, is a viral,
free country for the third consecutive year infectious disease which spread from person to
without a single new case of the disease and person, primarily via the fecal-oral route. Polio,
termed it as a "monumental milestone". "It is which usually infects children under the age of
a matter of pride for the nation that not a single five, can be prevented by vaccine and has been
case of polio has been detected in the three eliminated in most countries. The disease still
years. This is one of India's monumental and causes paralysis and death in some parts of the
biggest milestone achieved, through a mas- world including Nigeria, Pakistan and Afganistan.
sive and sustained immunisation programme," India succeeded in its drive against polio through
Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. "India intense pulse polio immunisation under the Gloaccounted for half of all the cases of polio bal Polio Eradication Initiative launched in 1988.
reported globally in 2009.
Under the initiative, over 17
Within four and half years, we
his next focus is going to crore children were vaccinated
have been able to eradicate on
non-communicable in each round of vaccination
the crippling disease," Azad dieses, that is cancer, diabe- with the help of 24 lakh vaccisaid adding that 36 months ago tes and cardio-vascular dis- nators.
the last case was reported on eases. Polio or infantile paRAHUL GIVES POLIO
13th January 2011 when a ralysis, is a viral, infectious DROP
two-year-old girl suffered po- disease which spread from
Congress Vice-president
lio paralysis in Howrah district person to person, primarily Rahul Gandhi on Monday
of West Bengal. 741 cases via the fecal-oral route. joined the polio drop distribuwere reported in 2009, 42 in Polio, which usually infects tion at a Primary Heath Cen2010 and one case in 2011. children under the age of tre at Thuravoor in Alappuzha
An official function to cel- five, can be prevented by district and interacted with docebrate the occasion will be vaccine and has been elimi- tors, paramedics and local
held on 11th February in nated in most countries.
people who thronged to meet
which President Pranab
him. Gandhi, who arrived to
Mukherjee, Prime Minister
participate in the "Yuva Kerala
Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Yatra" campaign, led by State Youth Congress
Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition Sushma President Dean Kuriakose, dropped in at the cenSwaraj and WHO Director General Marga- tre located between Kochi and Alappuzha and
ret Chan along with international NGOs will spent about half-an-hour there. When Gandhi
be present. On the issue of risks of infection reached there, polio distribution was in progress
from neighbouring countries, Azad said "right and he immediately joined the campaign by givfrom the beginning, we have vacing polio drops to a baby.
cinating the children coming from
The Congress leader also lavRAHUL ished praise on the universal pubPakistan when they would cross
TULI
the border. There are some
lic health care system in Kerala,
other neighbouring countries
terming it as "one of the best in
from where people come here by air and we the country."
have already issued advisories a few months
"Your health care system is reputed in India
back that they will not be allowed to come and outside. What is the secret behind it?," he
unless they have been vaccinated in their re- was heard asking hospital authorities.
spective countries. He further said his next
Gandhi also praised the services rendered by
focus is going to on non-communicable dieses, nurses from the state not only in different parts
that is cancer, diabetes and cardio-vascular of India but also in many foreign countries.

3. Monday, 20 th to 26 th Jan 2014
INDIA LOCAL
PAGE 3
His holiness Syedna’s final journey;
lakhs of mourners pay respects
Indian Bohra Muslims take part in the funeral procession of their spiritual
leader His holiness Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin in Mumbai
(AU NN) At 10 am, the
funeral procession of Dr
Syedna
Mohammed
Burhanuddin began from
his Malabar Hill residence
here amid tight security arrangements.
He is to be buried beside his father at Raudat
Ta h e r a M a u s o l e u m i n
B h e n d i B a z a r, s o u t h
Mumbai.
Syedna
Mufaddal Saifuddin led the
Namaz-e-Janaza of the
late Syedna. As scores
kept joining the procession
every minute, to get a last
glimpse of the spiritual
head while it proceeded
through Walkeshwar Road
in South Mumbai, the route
was closed for traffic to
allow easy passage.
Thousands of people
from all walks of life joined
hands to form a human
chain across the road and
bid a tearful adieu to the
d e p a r t e d l e a d e r, w h o
passed away after a cardiac arrest here Friday.
The body of the departed
leader was placed in a
flower-adorned casket
draped with the national
flag atop a open vehicle,
escorted by policemen, immediate family and com-
munity heads.
Dawoodi Bohra is a sect
of Shia Muslims spread all
over the world. One of the
key principles of the sect
is "patriotism as part of the
faith." The 52nd Dai alMutlaq of the worldwide
Dawoodi Bohra community was 102. The Syedna
was to celebrate his 103rd
birthday in a few weeks, a
spokesperson of the Bohra
community said. The end
came at Saifee Mahal, his
residence in Malabar Hill in
south Mumbai, his media
associate Shaikh Qureish
Raghib said on Friday. He
is succeeded by his second
son, Syedna Mufaddal
Saifuddin.
Syedna
Mohammed Burhanuddin
had proclaimed Syedna
Mufaddal Saifuddin as his
successor at a Nass (investiture) in London in
2011. The new Syedna
has worked closely with his
father and received spiritual guidance from him.
Born in Surat, Syedna
Mohammed Burhanuddin
had succeeded his father,
the late Syedna Taher
Saifuddin in 1965 and led
the community for nearly
five decades. He was cred-
ited with transforming
Dawoodi Bohras into a vibrant community. Bohras
thronged to the Syednas
sermons.
He was
honoured with highest civilian titles like the Star of
Jordan and Order of the
Nile by the respective governments of Jordan and
Egypt. Syedna was conferred Honourary Doctorates for his efforts in social
and educational development by renowned institutes like Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Aligarh Muslim
University and University
of Karachi.

4. Monday, 20 th to 26 th Jan 2014
INDIA LOCAL
PAGE 4
'Miss Lovely' review:
Dark, devastating
universe of porn
To aesthetically capture the scummy on screen
in all their naked glory is not
an easy task. Debutant director Ashim Ahluwalia has
achieved a stirring and disturbing synthesis of a
documentary-styled narrative on the not-defunct
world of horror-porn from
the 1980s, and a conventional Hindi film love triangle (two brothers, one
girl, tension, tension!).
The storytelling is not
just unique, it is also extremely disturbing. The
characters do not follow the
redemptive path from sleaze
to atonement. They remain
till the end damned,
doomed and despicable in
their greed to capture female flesh in lascivious
close-ups.
The lure of the leer is
laid out with a brutal directness. The tale is a trap for
the compromised. But it`s
not a morality tale. The
camera space between the
characters and the audience is next to non-existent
in Ahluwalia`s narrative.
And that`s the highest
compliment one can pay the
film`s cinematographer
K.U. Mohanan and co-editors Paresh Kamdar and
Ahluwalia who have done
their jobs so well they seem
non-existent in the scheme
of Ahluwalia`s scathing
sting operation on human
depravity and uncontrollable sexual appetites.
There is an unevenness
about the narration which
perfectly matches the
smoky seedy mood of the
story. Barring Niharika
Singh`s character which
epitomizes beauty in the
sleazy cesspool, all the actors are captured in grotesque flabby close-ups.
Niharika looks aloof and
detached from the sleaze.
She seems to be playing
the title role. But then, deception is the name of the
grime.
There is nothing pretty
or lovely about ‘Miss
Lovely’. Penetrating into
the horrifically immoral
world of horror-porn films
in the 1980s, Ahluwalia ex-
pends no shame in exposing the characters - the lowlife money-spinners desperate to make a fast buck
by shooting a fast f**k in
hazy garish light.
Scene after scene of
cheesy titillation is piled on
with little space for narrative niceties. In one sequence, a desperately ambitious starlet is introduced
by her mother to a room
filled with balding horny
businessmen.
"My daughter is willing to do anything you`d
like," the mother offers helpfully. Elsewhere a flabby
woman, clearly past her
prime, jiggles her bust for a
midget- middleman in the
hope of getting a role as the
middleman orders her to
give him a closer look.
Clearly Ahluwalia
knows this dark desperate
ugly world. He enters it fearlessly and shamelessly.
The narrative pulls the
characters out of their
cheesy lair like cavities
from a mouth filled with infected teeth. Emotionally
and visually the narrative
remains married to the
murky until the bitter shocking end.
The finale leaves us as
sick in the pit of our stomach as the rest of the film .
These are characters who
belong to the armpit of humanity. You can almost
smell their dried sweat. The
actors are so real you wonder if they are really actors!
The four principal parts are
played with disconcerting
scrupulousness by Niharika
Singh, Anil George, Zeena
Bhatia and last but not the
`leashed` Nawazuddin
Siddiqui who continues to
create compelling characters culled from dark desperate corners of the human
condition.
Nawazuddin`s Sonu
Duggal is a curiously untar-
nished soul trapped in a
world of unmitigated debauchery. His romance with
the wannabe starlet Pinky
(Niharika Singh) comes to
an expectantly sticky tragic
end. The bitter rage with
which Nawazuddin confronts the betrayal of his
innocent love for the girl is
more Shakespearean than
you`d expect a film of this
nature to be.
The blend of Ramsay
and Shakespeare, of the
perversely potent and spiritually impotent, is unparalleled. Loath or love it. But
you`ve never seen anything like ‘Miss Lovely’. It
builds a world of vicious
vices with the raw stock of
gritty stark visuals and elemental emotions. The
sound design is deliberately hazy, going as it does
from Asha Bhosle-R.D.
Burman in the opening
credits to incidental distant
sounds of girls giggling in
fake ecstasy and moaning
in ersatz pleasure.
If we close our eyes we
can
"see"
Ashim
Ahluwalia`s world for what
it is: a blind alley infested
with a cornucopia of debasement. Dark, sinister,
sexy, dangerous and
devastatingly lurid, the
sleazy
world
of
Bollywood`s semi-porn
scare-fests in the 1980s is
recreated in a scarily new
cinematic language.
‘Miss Lovely’ takes Indian cinema to another
level. The view may not be
pretty but it is unfailingly
provocative and exhilarating. This film is not for the
squeamish. (AU NN)
Sunny
Leone
credits
husband
for
success
Mumbai: From being an adult film actress
to creating waves in Bollywood, Sunny Leone
has come a long way in the past few years.
The Indo-Canadian talent credits her husband
Daniel Weber for her success.
The duo got married in 2011. "I would have
been nothing if Daniel wasn`t by my side,"
Sunny said during the shooting of ‘Breakfast
to Dinner’.
She said that at first, “I wanted him to reject me, so I went late for my first date with
Daniel." But destiny had other plans for them.
Sunny said that she owes her husband,
who is also her manager, as he stood beside
her through thick and thin. A known name in
the world of pornography, Sunny made inroads into Indian entertainment when she par-
ticipated in reality show ‘Bigg Boss 5’.
Her appearance on the show set the ball
rolling for her as far as getting work in
Bollywood was concerned. Sunny,
whose real name is Karen Malhotra, got
her first break with 2012 film ‘Jism 2’.
Following that, she was seen in a special
song in ‘Shootout at Wadala’ and then a
full-fledged role in ‘Jackpot’. She is looking forward to the release of ‘Ragini
MMS 2’ later this year and hopes that
the Indian film fraternity and the audience accept her in different roles and take
her seriously as a performer. The episode
of ‘Breakfast To Dinner’, featuring
Sunny will air Sunday. (AU NN)
Celebs mourn Bengali cinema's
mahanayika - Suchitra Sen's death
New Delhi: People from the Hindi and
Bengali film fraternities took to twitter
to express their grief on the demise of
veteran actress Suchitra Sen. The queen
of Bengali cinema, who is known for her
power packed performances in films`Deep Jwele Jaai`, `Devdas`- passed
away Friday morning following a massive cardiac arrest.
Many celebs from the showbiz world
and outside remembered Suchitra Sen,
as they mourned her death.
(AU NN)

5. Monday, 20 th to 26 th Jan 2014
INDIA LOCAL
French President Hollande
admits to private life problems
French
President
Francois Hollande said on
Tuesday he is going through
"painful moments" in his personal life after a magazine report that he is
having a secret affair
with an actress.
Hollande's partner,
journalist Valerie
Trierweiler, has been
hospitalised since
Friday, when Closer
published photos it
said
proved
Hollande's liaison
with Julie Gayet. The report
has heaped new pressure on
the already unpopular
Hollande.
He was asked at a major
public appearance whether
Trierweiler remains the first
lady. In his first comments
since the magazine report,
Hollande responded: "Everyone in his or her personal life
can go through ordeals,
that's the case with us."
The latest revelations call
into question whether a
complex personal life can
be private for someone
with round-the-clock
bodyguards, and about
the role of "first lady" in
France. Trierweiler is the
first person to hold the
post who was not married
to the president.
Hollande said he will
clarify who the first lady
is before he takes a presidential trip to the United
Top prosecutors probing Turkey graft charges removed
In Turkey, the Government has removed several top
prosecutors from their posts, including the chief Istanbul
prosecutor probing the graft charges involving top politicians and business tycoons. The Supreme Board of
Judges and Prosecutors , HSYK headed by Turkey's justice minister, said that 20 prosecutors were being reassigned. Besides, the Justice Ministry has approved a probe
into several top prosecutors involved in the corruption
inquiry. The move follows a probe into graft charges which
has led to a mass purge of police and prosecutors .Turkish premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused supporters of a rival Islamic cleric of plotting to destabilize his
Government.
States on February 11, but
he wouldn't comment further. The pictures published in Closer included
one of a man the
magazine said was
Hollande being ferried by motorcycle to
an apartment where
Gayet waited. The issue even reached the
floor of parliament today. A leading legislator from the opposition conservative
UMP party accused
the president of taking unreasonable risks with his
security. Prime Minister
Jean-Marc Ayrault tried to
defend his boss, insisting
that Hollande "has only
one concern ... The future
of France, the return to
growth, the fight for jobs"
and that the debate about
his private life "isn't worthy of a great democracy."
Blast derails train
in Pak, 3 killed
A bomb blast has derailed a train in central Pakistan killing at least three
people and injuring 15. Officials say the Khushhal
Khan Khattack Express was
travelling from the northern
city of Peshawar to the southern port of Karachi. The explosion hit the train in the Rajanpur
district of Punjab province. It
is unclear if the blast occurred
on the train or the tracks. It derailed seven carriages.
PAGE 5
Chinese obstetrician gets
suspended death sentence for
selling babies to traffickers
A Chinese obstetrician has been given a suspended
death sentence for stealing newborn babies and selling
them to child traffickers. Zhang Shuxia was found guilty
of abducting and selling seven babies in Fuping, Shaanxi
province, the sentencing court said. Zhang sold seven
babies to child traffickers between November 2011 and
July 2013, including a pair of twins. Six of the babies were
rescued, but one baby girl died.
Pope Francis condemns abortion
as sign of 'throwaway culture'
Pope Francis has issued his strongest condemnation
yet of abortion, calling it a horrific symptom of a throwaway culture that placed too little value on human life.He
said it was frightful to think about
early pregnancy terminations.
Since his election in March, the
pope has not spoken out against
abortion as sternly as his predecessors. He made the comments in his
yearly State of the World address
to diplomats accredited to the Vatican. Pope Francis has
issued his strongest condemnation yet of abortion, calling it a horrific symptom of a throwaway culture that placed
too little value on human life. He said it was frightful to
think about early pregnancy terminations. Since his election in March, the pope has not spoken out.
AROUND
THE WORLD
By Pallavi
Jagtap
Residents of Beijing
warned to take
precautions after air
pollution readings
soared
Residents of China's
capital, Beijing, have been
warned to take precautions
after air pollution readings
soared. Today's readings
registered more than 20 times
the recommended exposure
levels by the World Health
Organisation. Thick smog
reduced visibility to a few
hundred metres, shrouding
skyscrapers and leaving an
acrid smell in the air. Officials
advised people going to
work to wear protective
masks, and children and the
elderly to stay indoors. Four
highways linking Beijing to
other cities were temporarily
closed this morning due to
poor visibility.
US to continue to work with Sheikh
Hasina govt in Bangladesh
The United States
would continue to work
with the newly elected
Sheikh Hasina Government
in Bangladesh despite its
reservations on the credibility of the recently concluded general elections in
the country. State Department Deputy Spokesperson, Marie Harf, told reporters in Washington that the
US will of course continue
to work with the new government in Dhaka, but at the
same time its concerns with
the election remain. She
said Washington is of the
view that elections did not
reflect peoples mandate as
most of the seats of the new
parliament weren't contested or had only token
opposition.
US,China, Vietnam, Combodia congratu- International Force in Afghanistan Iran's reformers, moderate conservatives
late B'desh PM Hasina on assuming office condemns Taliban attack in Kabul welcome Nuke deal with 6 world powers
China, Vietnam and Cambodia have congratulated
Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh on assuming
office after last Sunday's elections. A statement from
Bangladesh Foreign Office said that Chinese Premier Li
KeQiang in a message to Prime minister Hasina, said
Beijing would like to join hands with the new government
to strengthen China-Bangladesh relations. Meanwhile,
the US cleared its stance on the new government of
Bangladesh, saying that US would continue to work with
Sheikh Hasina's new government, despite its disappointment with last Sunday's elections. Deputy Spokesperson
of the US Department of State Mary Harf said in Washington that the US will of course continue to work with
the new government in Dhaka, but at the same time its
concerns with the elections there remain.
The International Force in Afghanistan has strongly
condemned the brutal Taliban attack on a Kabul restaurant last night which resulted in the deaths of more than
20 Afghan and foreign civilians. In a statement issued in
Kabul the International Force Commander General Joseph
Dunford has said that once again the Taliban have demonstrated their complete disregard for human life and
shown their intent for the future of Afghanistan. Expressing deepest sympathies to the victims and families of
those wounded and killed in last night's brutal and senseless attack General Dunford said, the Taliban must stop
premeditated and indiscriminate slaughter of civilians,
especially on those who are working to bring stability
and prosperity to the Afghan people.
121 Indian fishermen Obama orders curbs on collection of
of
Freed by Sri Lankan court intelligence data about leaders willUS allies
The US has assured its allies that it
not eavesThe 121 Indian fishermen, who have been freed by
the Sri Lankan courts in the last two days, will be repatriated within couple of days. Talking to reporters after returning
home from India, Sri Lankan Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senarathna
said, rest of the Indian fishermen
and all their fishing boats under
Sri Lankan custody will also be
released next week.
drop on their private communication unless there is a
compelling security case for doing so. Talking to reporters in Washington, President Barak Obama said
such data had prevented terror attacks at home and
abroad, but said that in tackling threats, the government risked over-reaching itself. He ordered curbs
on the collection of bulk data from hundred of millions of phone users by American intelligence agencies at home and abroad. The announcement follows
widespread anger after leaks revealed the full extent
of US surveillance operations.
Iran's reformers and moderate conservatives have
welcomed the agreement between Iran and six world powers on ways to implement a nuclear deal struck in November. Head of Iranian parliament's National Security and
Foreign Policy Committee Alaeddin Boroujerdi said in
Tehran that it will shore up Iran's sanctions-hit economy.
Hard-liners, however, inside the Islamic Republic remain opposed to the deal. The six-nation group and Iran
have agreed to startimplementing the terms of the historic
interim deal from January 20. That will start a six-month
clock for a final deal to be struck over Tehran's contested
nuclear program.
People give nod for new constitution in Egypt referendum
State media in Egypt say the ballot count in the
constitutional referendum so far shows more
than 90 per cent of
those who vote to approve the new constitution. Turn out remains unclear but officials are saying was
more than 50 per cent.
The Muslim Brotherhood boycotted the
referendum in protest
of the overthrow of the Islamist President Mohammed
Morsi.

6. Monday, 20 th to 26 th Jan 2014
Pervez Musharraf suffers severe heart attack
Pakistan's former president Pervez Musharraf has
suffered a "severe heart attack" and is placed in the
Critical Care Unit in
Rawalpindi hospital, All Pakistan Muslim League's
(APML) spokesperson told
reporters.
Musharraf was taken to
Rawalpindi's Armed Forces
Institute of Cardiology, after
he complained of chest pain
on way to the special court
for treason trial. According
to local media reports, he may
be shifted abroad for further
treatment. The decision of
shifting him abroad for treatment will taken only after the
release of his medical report,
sources said.
Musharraf left his farmhouse Thursday morning to
appear at the special court
where his treason trial hearing is taking place, but missed
the trial for the third time as
he was taken to the hospital.
Earlier, Dr Raza
Bokhari, international
spokesperson
of
Musharraf had confirmed
that Musharraf is "conscious". "He is conscious, oriented in time
and space and is being
examined by Pakistani
military doctors..We pray
to Allah for his speedy
and full recovery," he
said in a statement. The
court had yesterday
warned the legal team of
Musharraf that an arrest
warrant would be issued
against him if the former
General failed to appear at
the court before 11:30 am,
said a Pakistani newspaper. Musharraf faces treason charges for having
abrogated the Constitution on Nov 3, 2007 by
imposing an Emergency
and is liable to face life
imprisonment or death
penalty if found guilty.
No scrapping of polls in
Bangladesh: Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina
Accusing opposition leader Khaleda Zia of taking
the country hostage, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina on Thursday ruled out cancellation of January
5 polls and asked the people to actively participate in
elections to uphold democracy. "We had taken oath
as an elected government to uphold democracy. That's
why the elections will take place on January 5 in accordance with constitutional norms," Hasina said in a nationally televised address, accusing her arch-rival Zia
of shunning dialogue and rejecting an offer to share
power in an interim administration. The BNP led by
former premier and its 18-party alliance are boycotting
the polls and political violence during their nationwide
strikes and blockades have left over 120 people dead
and crippled the economy since November. The opposition has been demanding a non-party caretaker government to oversee the polls.
China loans Pakistan $6.5
billion for nuclear plants
China has agreed to grant cash- strapped Pakistan
USD 6.5 billion for two nuclear power plants being constructed in Karachi as part of efforts to deepen bilateral
civil nuclear cooperation.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, during a special cabinet
meeting held yesterday, said China was providing a concessionary loan for K2 and K3 nuclear power plants having combined generation capacity of 2,117 megawatts.
The repayment period of the soft loan will be 10 to 20
years. Talks with China for more loans for power projects
are also underway. Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Sun
Weidong had recently said that a number of Chinese companies have a keen interest in energy cooperation with
Pakistan and they are willing to participate in water, thermal, solar, wind, civil nuclear power generation projects.
China's nuclear trade and cooperation with Pakistan
have caused significant concern in India and the West,
which believe the new plants will free Pakistan's older
reactors to produce uranium for weapons. However, China
has said the cooperation helps to ease Pakistan's electricity shortage and is in the interest of local people.
INDIA LOCAL
PAGE 6
Philippines allows
phone use on planes
The Philippines' civil
aviation authority said it
would allow passengers to
use mobile phones and
laptops to make calls and
access the Internet during
flights.
Civil aviation director
general William Hotchkiss
said the order covered
"transmitting portable electronic devices". With immediate effect, the move will
allow "people on board the
aircraft conditional use of
laptops, cellular phones,
Internet or short-basedmessaging service, voice
communications and other
broadband services during
flights", he said in a directive.
However, devices
should still be turned off
pre-flight, when the aircraft
is refuelling, and be
switched to silent mode.
"The use of MP3s should
always be with earphones
and not with additional or
separate speaker or amplifiers," Hotchkiss added.
The United States and
the European Union have
also said they will relax restrictions on the use of
mobile devices on planes.
However there have been
concerns that allowing
voice calls would cause disturbance to other passengers.
Russia :Second deadly suicide bombing
At least 14 people were killed on Monday when a suicide bomber blew himself
up on a packed trolleybus in Volgograd,
raising new concerns about security at
the Sochi Olympics a day after a deadly
attack on the southern Russian city's train
station. President Vladimir Putin, under
pressure to show that Russia can assure
the security of tens of thousands of
guests when the Winter Games open on
February 7, ordered stepped up security
across the country. The twin suicide attacks on Volgograd, which until this year
had no record of recent unrest, have
stunned Russia and troubled the authorities as people prepare for mass New Year
celebrations.
At least 17 people died in Sunday's
attack blamed on a suspected female suicide bomber. The force of the blast destroyed the number 15A trolleybus, which
was packed with early morning commuters and was turned into a tangle of wreckage with only its roof and front remain-
ing.
Health ministry spokesman Oleg Salagai
told Russian state television that 14 people
were killed in the trolleybus bombing and
28 wounded. Russian investigators have
opened a criminal probe into a suspected
act of terror as well as the illegal carrying of
weapons, the Investigative Committee said.
"The explosives were detonated by a male
suicide bomber, fragments of whose body
have been found and taken for genetic
analysis to establish his identity," said
spokesman Vladimir Markin. He said that
some four kilogrammes of TNT equivalent
had been used in the blast and noted the
explosives were identical to those used in
yesterday's train station bombing.
"This confirms the theory that the two
attacks are linked. It is possible that they
were prepared in the same place," he added.
The new attack will further heighten fears
about security at the Winter Olympic Games
in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi, which
lies 690 kilometres southwest of Volgograd.
AROUND
THE WORLD
By Pallavi
Jagtap
New Year's Eve fireworks: Dubai shatters
previous world record
Guinness
World
Records says that Dubai has
shattered the previous
world record for biggest ever
New Year's Eve fireworks
display. Confirming that a
new record had been set, the
Guinness website said, ten
months in planning, over
500,000 fireworks were used
during the display which
lasted around six minutes.
Guinness says the display
spanned 94 kilometres of the
Dubai coast, which boasts
an archipelago of man-made
islands and Burj Khalifa, the
world's tallest tower. Enough
fireworks were launched in
the first minute of the display to break the previous
record, set by Kuwait in 2011
with an hour-long show of
77,282 fireworks. The main
displays took place at Burj
Khalifa and the luxurious
Atlantis hotel located in
Palm Jumeirah, one of
three palm-shaped islands.
US firm Fireworks by
Grucci designed the display, using 100 computers
and 200 technicians to
synchronise the pyrotechnics at a reported cost of
around 6.7 million dollar.
Pope stresses strength, courage, hope in new year
Pope Francis on
Wednesday urged people
to accept each other's differences and for enemies to
recognise that they are
brothers a New Year's Day
service dedicated to world
peace. "We are all children
of one heavenly father, we
belong to the same human
family and we share a common destiny," Francis said,
speaking from his studio
window overlooking St
Peter's Square, jammed with
tens of thousands of faithful, tourists and Romans.
"This brings a responsibility for each to work so that
the world becomes a community of brothers who respect each other, accept
each other in one's diversity, and takes care of one
another," the pope said.
Setting aside his prepared text for a moment, he
expressed impatience with
violence in the world.
"What is happening in the
heart of man? What is happening in the heart of humanity" to cause such violence? Francis asked. "It's
time to stop." In his speech
to the often-applauding
crowd, he also expressed
hope that "the gospel of
brotherhood speak to every conscience and knock
down the walls that impede
enemies from recognising
that they are brothers." The
Catholic church dedicates
January 1 to the promotion
of word peace. Earlier, during his homily at Mass in
St Peter's Basilica, Francis
spoke of humanity's journey in the year unfolding
and invoked what he said
where "words of blessing,"
explaining that they are
"strength, courage and
hope." "Not an illusory
hope," he added, "based
on frail human promises, or
a naive hope which presumes that the future will
be better simply because it
is the future."
In his first year as pope,
Francis has charted a path
for what he calls a "poor"
church attentive to the
needy. While offering new
year's wishes to the crowd
in the square, Francis
pressed his campaign on
behalf of the downtrodden.
2200 FLIGHTS IN UNITED
STATES CANCELLED
Temperatures in New York were expected to drop to
minus 13 degrees Celsius, according to forecasts. Tracking system Flight Aware said that some 2,200 flights within,
into or out of the United States had been cancelled.
The National Weather Service issued winter storm
warnings and advisories for a huge area spanning states
from Chicago trough New York, New England and even
the US capital, Washington.
Severe weather was also hitting the country's Midwest, dropping a blanket of snow and cancelling flights at
Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. The northeastern
winter warning was in effect in New York from Thursday
evening through midday, with forecasters predicting four
to eight inches of snow and winds that could reach up to
35 miles (56 kilometres) per hour.

7. Monday, 20 th to 26 th Jan 2014
INDIA LOCAL
PAGE 7
Sonia attacks BJP, says its divisive ideology biggest threat
"The biggest danger to the country's social
fabric is from the communal forces and their
ideologies. Congress has always worked to
unite people and has never compromised with
communalism. Secularism means equal faith
in all religions (sarva dharma sambhava). It is
not an electoral compulsion for us. This is
something which we deeply believe in," she
said in New Delhi on Friday.
Making a scathing attack on the BJP,
Congress President Sonia Gandhi has
warned that the country faced the
biggest threat from communal forces
and their ideology even as the AICC
resolution called upon "like-minded
political and social forces to come
together at this critical juncture".
Apparently referring to the recent
drubbing in the Assembly polls, she
said there might be some
shortcomings in meeting the hopes
and expectations of the common
people and requested all to be a little
soft towards her party in view of the
slew of programmes and policies
implemented by the UPA
government.
The resolution's phraseology was
almost similar to the one adopted by
the Congress at the Shimla Conclave
in 2003 when the party shed its
reservation to coalition politics.
Congress had then called for unity of
secular forces.
Asking the party workers not to lose
heart after the recent drubbing in
assembly elections, Gandhi said that
victory and defeat are inescapable in
politics and Congress always has the
resilience to bounce back by fighting
the challenges strongly.
"Congress has faced many difficult
times in the past, much tougher than
today, but we have never lost heart,"
she said signalling that the party was
battle ready for the 2014 Lok Sabha
elections.
Describing secularism as the biggest
identity of the country, Gandhi hit
out at the BJP, without taking its
name, saying the policy of the main
opposition party is of dividing
society on communal lines, imposing
uniformity in the name of unity.
"The biggest danger to the country's
social fabric is from the communal
forces and their ideologies. Congress
has always worked to unite people
and has never compromised with
communalism. Secularism means
equal faith in all religions (sarva
dharma sambhava). It is not an
electoral compulsion for us. This is
something which we deeply believe
in," she said in New Delhi on Friday.
Striking a similar note, the omnibus
resolution moved by senior leader
Ghulam Nabi Azad and seconded by
P Chidambaram for consideration at
the AICC meet said, "the recent
political setbacks are an important
wake up call" underlining the need to
enhance the connect with people and
work harder. "The next elections will
see a sharpening contrast between
competing ideologies from the past
and clashing vision of the future. It
will be a battle between forces of age
old secularism and others. It will be a
battle for India as we cherish," she
said. Seeking to contrast it with the
politics of BJP, she said their way of
functioning is to divide society on
communal lines and provoke
violence. "As Congressmen, we
have always fought this ideology."
"The 2014 Lok Sabha elections is a
contest between opposing
ideologies-one that seeks to divide
and other than seeks to unite India.
One a polarising ideology that
militates against the core values
which define Indian nationhood and
its constitutional democracy and the
other a liberal secular democratic
ideology represented by Indian
National Congress," the resolution
said. Maintaining that Congress will
continue to champion this "liberal
secular democratic vision of India,"
the resolution said the party "seeks
the support of all like-minded
political and social forces to come
together in this pursuit at this critical
juncture". A highlight of the
proceedings was the clamour for
declaring Rahul Gandhi as the Prime
Ministerial candidate of the part
responding to which Sonia Gandhi
said that the decision taken by the
Congress Working Committee on
Thursday was final. The CWC on
Thursday decided that Rahul
Gandhi will lead the campaign in the
Lok Sabha polls, refraining from
specifically naming him the PM
candidate. "This meeting of the
AICC declares that the Congress
Partys 2014 Lok Sabha election
campaign will be led by Rahul
Gandhi," the resolution, which was
approved by an extended meeting
of the Congress Working Committee
on Thursday, said. As the clamour
continued, party general secretary
Janardan Dwivedi intervened
seeking to pacify the agitated party
workers dropping broad indications
that it is Rahul Gandhi who will be
Prime Minister if the Congress came
to power.
"Is there any name other than Rahul
Gandhi? Is there any alternative to
Rahul Gandhi? If it is not so why
dont you understand?" Detailing the
work done by the Congress-led
coalition at the Centre, Sonia asked
whether any other government had
done so much in the past.
Hailing Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh, she said he has led the coalition
for the past ten years with dignity
despite all difficulties and
obstructions as well as irresponsible
attitude of the opposition and
remained firm on his objectives. At
the outset, Gandhi said, "We meet
today to send a clear signal that the
Congress is ready and prepared for
the battle ahead". Noting that the
AICC is meeting at a time when the
party is celebrating the 125th birth
anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru,
Gandhi said it was he who had said
soon after independence that
confronting danger and facing
adversity is the Congress way. "That
message should resonate more loudly
now than ever before". Turning to the
issue of corruption, Gandhi said crucial
bills, which are powerful instruments
in the country's fight against
corruption, are pending in Parliament.
"We will do our utmost to get them
through when Parliament reconvenes
next month," she said, appealing to all
parties to rise above political
considerations and pass these bills.
Noting that the RTI Act was the single
most important reason why citizens
feel empowered to fight corruption,
she said that Congress is responsible
for the historic Act.
On the issue of disparities, she said
that while growth is essential and must
be sustained, it alone cannot address
the problems arising out of continuing
disparities.
"Tackling these is not just a matter of
social justice but more importantly
an existential necessity and a moral
imperative," she said.
"If the basic needs of large sections
of society are not met in tangible
measure, the fabric of society will be
stretched and torn," she warned. The
party's focus on bringing communal
secular discourse in the elections was
evident with the AICC resolution
dwelling in detail on the issue. "There
is a serious challenge faced by the
country today from communal and
divisive forces. This threatens to
rupture the very basic fabric of our
nation's unity and social cohesion.
"Painstaking efforts of several
generations of Indians have ensured
that our civilisational country retains
its diverse and pluralistic character,"
the resolution said affirming the
Congress' role as a "flag bearer for
safeguarding and nurturing the secular
ethos of India".
It said Congress will continue to
fearlessly play this role. The party
said that it stands fully prepared to
face the political challenges ahead. "It
will go to the people in the 2014 Lok
Sabha elections on the basis of its
core values of secularism, social
justice and inclusive growth, the
performance of Congress-led UPA
government on various fronts and a
commitment to deliver transparent,
participative and accountable
governance for all Indians for the next
five year," the party said in the
resolution on Friday.
RAHUL TARGETS MODI
Anointed the campaign chief, a combative Rahul Gandhi
sought to enthuse the demoralised Congress cadre for
the Lok Sabha polls and attacked Narendra Modi over
his 'Congress-free India' pitch and "divisive" politics. At
the day-long AICC session in New Delhi, Rahul Gandhi
in his 45-minute spirited address, which was repeatedly
cheered by delegates from across the country, he sought
to widen the party's reach as he asserted that he would
fight for the cause of the youth, women, downtrodden
sections and a new constituency of people who have
risen above the poverty line and are aspiring to be part of
the middle class. He gave indications of changing the
style of functioning in the party, which he had promised
after the drubbing in Assembly polls, by ensuring larger
participation of people, including women in decisionmaking like candidate selection. He said tickets will not
be given to party hoppers but to those who have
"Congress in their blood" and candidates for 15 Lok
Sabha seats will be chosen on the basis of feedback from
local units, an experiment which will be expanded if it
works. Acknowledging that Congress has a "tough
battle" ahead, Rahul said, "This is not just another turn
in the history of India, another election to be fought,
won or lost. This is a turning point in our nation's
journey. Giving a battle cry for the upcoming Lok Sabha
elections, Rahul said the Congress is ready for the tough
challenge ahead and "we will not stop till the battle is
won". In a bid to lift the morale of the cadre, he said
howsoever dark the night may be and tough the battle
may be, the Congress will go in as "warrior" with "head
high" and "not lose courage." Tearing into BJP and its
PM candidate Modi for his 'Congress-free India'
campaign, he said Congress is a "thought" which
cannot be erased. "Whoever has tried to do it, has
himself got destroyed". Sonia Gandhi asked the party
workers not to lose heart after the recent drubbing in
assembly elections, saying victory and defeat are
inescapable in politics and Congress always has the
resilience to bounce back by fighting the challenges
strongly. "Congress has faced many difficult times in the
past, much tougher than today, but we have never lost
heart," he said. Rahul and Sonia Gandhi also put an end to
the debate over projecting him as the Prime Ministerial
candidate, saying the party has the tradition of PM being
elected by the MPs. Rahul articulated worries over the
issues of corruption and price rise and said the Congress
and the Manmohan Singh government is determined to
address these. In a virtual directive, Rahul asked the
government to raise the annual cap of subsidised LPG
cylinders from 9 to 12, a point that was lustily cheered by
the audience. Oil and Petroleum Minister M Veerappa Moily
immediately announced that the issue will go to the Cabinet
and a decision will be taken to implement it.

8. Monday, 20 th to 26 th Jan 2014
INDIA LOCAL
100,000 people to sing
patriotic song in Mumbai
Mumbai(AU NEWS NETWORK) A staggering
100,000 people are expected to sing the patriotic
song "Ae Mere Vatan Ke Logon" here to mark the
end of its golden jubilee celebrations on January
27.
The function, to be held at Mumbai's Mahalaxmi
Race Course, has been organised by Shahid
Gaurav Samiti (SGS) in which Bharat Ratna Lata
Mangeshkar -- who first rendered it on January 27,
1963 to remember the heroes of the 1962 IndiaChina war -- will be present.
"Over a lakh people will sing the song in
presence of Lata Mangeshkar and she may also
join them. She will be felicitated by Gujarat Chief
Minister Narendra Modi along with other war
heroes and their families," SGS spokesperson
Vaibhav Lodha said here. He added that over 100
Param Vir Chakra, Mahaveer Chakra and other
gallantry awardees, families of martyrs and other
dignitaries shall be present and felicitated. "The
golden jubilee of this patriotic song was celebrated
(for) the ethos of nationalism and patriotism among
Indians and to inspire future generations," said SGS
convenor and Bharatiya Janata Party legislator from
Mumbai, Mangal Prabhat Lodha.
"Ae Mere Vatan Ke Logon", penned by the late
Kavi Pradeep, was first sung by Lata Mangeshkar
Jan 27, 1963 after the 1962 war, at a function in
Delhi where India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal
Nehru and other dignitaries were present. SGS also
has declared January 27 as 'Shreshtha Bharat Divas'
in memory of the martyrs who lost their lives
defending the country's borders during various wars,
the spokesperson said.
Missing female IT professional's burnt body found
Mumbai(AU
NEWS
NETWORK) Eleven days after a
23-year-old female software
engineer, who hailed from
Andhra Pradesh, went missing
from the city, her burnt body was
found on Thursday, police said.
The body of Esther Anuhya,
bearing burn injuries, was found
in suburban Kanjurmarg.
"The highly decomposed
body of Esther Anuhya, who had
gone missing from Mumbai, was
found at suburban Kanjurmarg,"
Mahesh Ghuriye, Deputy Police
Commissioner told.
The body was identified by
her father S Prasad, a retired
Professor of Andhra Pradesh
University, police said, adding a
murder case has been
registered. According to police,
Anuhya, employed with Tata
Consultancy Services (TCS), had
boarded the VishakapatnamLTT Express train from
Vijayawada on January 4 for
Mumbai. She was returning to
Mumbai
after
Christmas
holidays.
Anuhya's father spoke to her
the same day at about 10 PM
when she told him the train had
reached Solapur. She promised
to call him again after reaching
her hostel in suburban Andheri.
However, there was no phone
call from the woman and her
father, too, could not contact her
subsequently. Prasad later
contacted her colleagues but
there was no trace of his IT
professional-daughter. Her
father then lodged a missing
person complaint at Vijayawada
railway police station on January
5. Later, Prasad came to Mumbai
and lodged a similar complaint
at the Kurla railway police
station
on
January
8.
Preliminary investigations
established the techie went
missing after reaching Mumbai,
police said.
Tata Power claims to charge
lowest power tariff in Mumbai
Mumbai(AU NEWS
NETWORK) As the
demand to reduce power
tariff gaining momentum in
Maharashtra, private utility
Tata Power on Thursday
claimed that its tariff is the
lowest in the metropolis.
The company, which has a
residential consumer base
of 4.5 lakh in the city,
charges a tariff of Rs 2.13
per unit from customers
consuming power up to 100
units with a fixed charge of
Rs 40 and Rs 3.62 per unit
If you want to make it BIG
in LIFE start reading
and fixed charge of Rs 75 for
up to 300 units, the Tata
Power Company (TPC) said
in a statement. It said that
while Reliance Infrastructure
(RInfra) charges an average
Rs 5.68 per unit within 250
units, BEST charges Rs
4.52. RInfra has the largest
number
of
low-end
customers followed by
BEST and TPC. While
RInfra supplies power to
over 18.8 lakh low-end
households, TPC has 2.94
lakh customers and BEST
6.53 lakh The
demand
to
reduce power
tariff
in
Maharashtra
g a i n e d
momentum
after the Aam
Aadmi Party
( A A P )
announced a
50 per cent cut
in electricity
tariffs in Delhi
soon
after
forming the
government in
December.
PAGE 8
Power tariff reduction soon; toll tax
review in a week: Prithiviraj Chavan
Nagpur: (AU NEWS NETWORK)Maharashtra Chief Minister
Prithiviraj Chavan on Thursday said the state government will soon
make an announcement in connection with reduction of power tariff
while toll tax will be reviewed within a week's time.
The government had
appointed a sub-committee
headed by Industries
Minister Narayan Rane on
November
19
which
submitted its report recently.
Accordingly,
an
announcement on giving
further subsidy will be made
on January 20, Chavan told
reporters here. Chavan, who
was in the city to distribute
the awards in the cooperative sector said the government was seriously reviewing the
toll tax in the state and the minister concerned has been asked to
prepare a detailed report on it. Accordingly, the MSRTC buses plying
outside city limit will be exempted from the burden of toll tax. The
entire issue is being re-examined in the wake of protests in certain
parts of the state, he said. To a question on recovery of Rs 154 crore
with penalty from Saoner Congress MLA Sunil Kedar, main accused
in the security scam of Nagpur District Central Co-Operative Bank
(NDCCB), Chavan said the issue is under process in the co-operative
department. The MLA had been directed to pay the sum within a
month by the department of co-operatives. He also said the state
government has decided to rejuvenate Central Co-Operative Banks
of Nagpur, Buldana and Akola districts.
The state government has already provided financial assistance
to other co-op banks elsewhere in Maharashtra. The demand to
reduce power tariff in Maharashtra gained momentum after the Aam
Aadmi Party (AAP) announced a 50 per cent cut in electricity tariffs in
Delhi soon after forming the government in December. Elections to
the Maharashtra Assembly are scheduled to held in September and
October.
Acid attack:'Jealous' neighbour
held for Preeti Rathi's death
Mumbai Nine months after the acid attack on a Delhi
resident here that claimed her life, her neighbour was arrested
for allegedly carrying out the crime as he was jealous of her
career growth, police said on Friday.
Accused Ankur Panwar (23), a hotel management graduate,
was a neighbour of victim Preeti Rathi and resided in Bhakra
Beas Management Board Colony, was arrested from Delhi.
He confessed to the crime saying that he hated for her career
growth, Joint Police Commissioner (Crime) Himanshu Roy
said. "The reason for this extreme step the accused cited
was that his parents often mocked him for not getting a job
despite having completed his course and praised his neighbour
Rathi saying she had got hold of a good job in Indian Navy.
Because of this, Ankur was very jealous of her and had been
looking for an opportunity to severely harm her in a bid to
deface her so that her career gets destroyed," Roy explained.
On May 2, 2013, acid was flung on Rathi when she got
down from Garib Rath Express at the Bandra Railway Terminus
here. She was supposed to join Colaba Naval hospital INS
Ashwini as a staff nurse. Having suffered severe damage to
her lungs, she succumbed to the injuries on June 1 at the
Bombay Hospital.
Government Railway Police had probed the case and
arrested a man called Pawan Gehlot on suspicion, but could
not prove his links in the case, after which he was discharged
from the case.
Hearing a plea on alleged sluggish pace of probe in the
case by Railway Police, Bombay High Court transferred the
case to Mumbai Police Crime branch, which took over the
investigation in December last year. A special team had been
formed to probe the case.
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