Protests in Bihar against Raj Thackeray

Venting their ire: RJD activists protesting against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray’s alleged remarks on Chhath and Biharis and assault on North Indians in Maharashtra , in Patna on Monday.

PATNA: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Monday burnt effigies of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray in several districts of Bihar and Jharkhand, protesting against his utterances against their chief and Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad, and actor Amitabh Bachchan.

The Patna University student wing of the RJD took out a procession demanding the immediate arrest of Mr. Thackeray..

In Patna and Ranchi, the RJD charged the MNS maverick with hurting the sentiments of people by using foul language against their leader and demeaning the pious festival of Chhath. The All-India Youth Federation also took out a procession and burnt the effigy of Mr. Thackeray.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said mere filing of cases against Mr. Thackeray would not serve any purpose. Strict action should be taken against him. The BJP put the blame on the Congress. Party leader Giriraj Singh said it was a conspiracy of the Congress; otherwise it would have arrested him. He said that any insult to Biharis would not be tolerated.

News Source : Samachar

No one is above law: Deshmukh

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Monday said he had instructed the Police Commissioner and the Director-General of Police to take stern action against those responsible for Sunday’s violence in Mumbai, Thane and Nashik.

Home Minister R.R. Patil said no one could take the law into one’s own hands. He urged political leaders, including the Samajwadi Party’s Abu Asim Azmi, to exercise restraint.

Condemns attacks

Talking to reporters here, Mr. Deshmukh condemned the attacks and said the law would take its course.

If there was proof against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray, the State would take action. But there had to be enough evidence and the police were asked to inquire into the matter. No one was above the law, he said.

“North Indians may rest assured that they have the government’s full protection. At a time when the Indian economy is booming, Mumbai’s cosmopolitan culture should not be stained by such incidents.”

“No judicial probe”

Asked whether there was a move to arrest Mr. Raj Thackeray, the Chief Minister said he had asked the police to inquire into the matter and there was no need to read between the lines. He ruled out a judicial inquiry as demanded by Mr. Azmi.

K.L. Prasad, Joint Commissioner (Law and Order), confirmed that there was no attack on actor Amitabh Bachchan’s house but security was stepped up there.

Two companies of State Reserve Police were posted to strengthen security in the city. There had been sporadic incidents including attacks on some taxi drivers at Dadar but the situation was under control, Mr. Prasad said. All over the State 75 persons were arrested.

The MNS members got select television crews to accompany them as they targeted North Indian vendors on trains. Some other incidents of violence were reported from the city but the police said they were minor.

Statements condemned

The statements of Mr. Raj Thackeray and the attacks on North Indians have drawn widespread condemnation from the Shiv Sena, the Congress and its coalition partner in the State, the Nationalist Congress Party, and citizens of Mumbai.

Neelam Gorhe of the Shiv Sena said the MNS had no issue to raise and was resorting to any means to gain power.

“Not part of culture”

The former Congress Minister Kripa Shankar Singh, who was part of a delegation of the Uttar Bharatiya Mahasangh, which met Mr. Deshmukh, said the incidents reported since Sunday were not part of Maharashtra’s culture at all. Action should be taken against the people who spread hate and discord.

Azmi’s demand

Meanwhile, Mr. Azmi created a stir, coming to the Vidhan Bhavan and trying to meet Vice-President Hamid Ansari, who had come there for the 14th All-India Whips Conference. However, all he could do was to unfurl a banner, which said Mr. Raj Thackeray should be arrested and a probe held into Sunday’s clashes.

Vidhan Bhavan security officials evicted Mr. Azmi and took away the banner. Mr. Azmi then shouted slogans outside.

News Source : Samachar

Fresh charges filed against Pataudi in hunting case

A city court in Faridabad on Monday framed additional charges against former Indian cricket team captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and his accomplice Shashi Singh in a Black Buck hunting case.

Pataudi was arrested with seven others in June 2005 for hunting endangered Black Buck deer and was released on bail after three days in prison.

Pataudi was booked under sections 9, 39 and 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Carcasses of a Black Buck and two hares were seized from his Gypsy vehicle at the time of his arrest.

At the last hearing, public prosecutor BL Soni moved an application to add two more charges against Pataudi and Shashi Singh under the Arms Act, 1959.

Judge Rajendra Singh Dhanda, after hearing both sides, decided the prosecutors' arguments were valid and charged both the accused under sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act, 1959.

"If pronounced guilty of these charges (under Arms Act), the accused can face a punishment of three to seven years along with fine," said Saurabh Sharma, counsel for the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).

News Source : Samachar

The days of Raj

Unlike many politicians, Raj Thackeray is not hitting headlines with his comments on issues. But when he does speak, it is stuff controversies are made of. Whether it is his support for the accused in the Juhu molestation case on New Year’s eve or his latest verbal attack on north Indians, the 39-year-old chief of the MNS has always kicked up controversies.

In many aspects, such as these, Raj is like his uncle. Bal Thackeray, who the commercial arts graduate from JJ School of Arts considers his ‘god’, has been his inspiration to join politics. Son of a musician, Raj grew up watching his uncle give shape to the Shiv Sena. He later spearheaded attacks on “outsiders”.

A cartoonist, just like his uncle, Raj also displayed the wit, body language and aggression his uncle is known for. He was, thus, looked at as the man who would take over the Sena’s reins but he eventually lost the job to his cousin, Uddhav. Unhappy, he quit the Sena in November 2005 and floated the MNS in early 2006.

The party was barely 11 months old when it contested the civic elections but won 7 seats in Mumbai, 12 in Nashik, 8 in Pune and made its presence felt in other civic bodies.

Once known as one of the few politicians to have travelled across the state, Thackeray encouraged his men to discard all things Sena — red tikkas, gold chains and touching his feet. He spoke of dreaming of farmers dressed in jeans and agriculture being modernised.

But, he has gone back to his roots. He has, time and again, reiterated his stand on the sons of the soil issue. “A Marathi manoos is someone who has been living in Maharashtra for generations together, knows the language and follows the law of the land,” he had said last year. “Those who harass the Marathi manoos will be thrashed even if they are autowallahs, taxiwallahs and bhajiwallahs (vegetable vendors).”

Thackeray, obviously, stands by what he said then.

News Source : Samachar

Big B’s houses get security as unrest continues

Police personnel were deployed outside Amitabh Bachchan’s bungalows in Juhu, Jalsa and Prateeksha, on Monday.
There were reports about the actor’s residence being attacked.

According to media reports, MNS activists on Sunday night attacked Bachchan’s Juhu residence, Prateeksha. The attackers on motorbikes threw a glass bottle inside the bungalow and sped away. However, the Juhu police denied it.

“There were no broken pieces of glasses and nor has anyone from the Bachchan family complained,” said Deepak Katkade, senior police inspector of Juhu police station. “We have deployed security for Bachchan’s residences Jalsa and Prateeksha,” he added.

On Monday, there were more incidences of clash between MNS and Samajwadi Party supporters and eight people were arrested. Thirty-one accused from both parties, who were arrested for rioting on Sunday. They were given bail on a bond of Rs 3,000 each on Monday.

There was unrest in areas near Shivaji Park. A group of MNS workers damaged two taxis and a private vehicle in Dadar (West). There were spurts of violence in Kalyan and Thane with more attacks on North Indian hawkers in Thane. MNS activists disrupted the screening of a Bhojpuri film in Kalyan and Thane.

News Source : Samachar

Ambani bros may float IPO war

MUMBAI: If speculation in the market is to be believed, the Ambani brothers will battle it out on the IPO sweepstakes a few weeks from now.

Sources close to the Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance Fresh claimed the company is planning a mega public offering that will mop up in the region of Rs 10,000 crore from the capital market. Ostensibly, this will go into part funding its Rs 25,000 crore mega retail venture.

Sources added that final touches are being added to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) that will be filed with market regulator Sebi over the next couple of days.

On their part, a spokesperson for Reliance said, ‘‘There is no truth whatsoever.'' But the denials haven't stopped the excitement in the gray market. In large part because Reliance Infratel, a subsidiary of the Anil Ambani-controlled Reliance Communications (R-Comm), filed its draft prospectus with Sebi for its initial public offering (IPO) on Monday.

Reliance Infratel, which mainly builds, owns and manages telecom towers of R-Comm, is hoping to mop up Rs 6,000 crore from the market. If all goes to plan, both companies could hit the market around April-May of this year, market sources said.

Not much is known of what the contours of Reliance Fresh's IPO may be like. As for Reliance Infratel, it is proposing to offer roughly 8.9 crore shares in the company. Right now, 95% of Reliance Infratel is owned by RelCom while a host of private equity players own the balance 5% in the company. The issue proceeds would be utilized to finance setting up of passive telecom infrastructure sites and for general corporate purposes, the company said in a release.

Apart from building, owning and managing RelComm's telecom towers and other assets, it also provides these passive telecommunication infrastructure assets on a shared basis to wireless service providers and other communications service providers.

News Source : Samachar

US presidential campaign enters make-or-break phase

US presidential hopefuls from the Democratic camp Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as well as Republican warhorse John McCain on Monday launched their last frenzied day of campaigning to swing voters in their favour ahead of the make-or-break 'Super Tuesday' showdown in 24 state primaries.

Pollsters predicted a tight race between Clinton and Obama, while McCain looked set to take a firm grip over rival Mitt Romney. "Super Tuesday" states account for over half the delegates who go to party conventions to formally choose the nominees to run in November's election.

A national poll for the Washington Post and ABC showed Clinton's lead over Obama had narrowed to 4 per cent, while other polls showed the two neck and neck in the key state of California.

Of the 2,025 delegates needed to secure the nomination as the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, California carries 370.
The same national poll showed McCain well ahead of all his rivals. The Arizona senator had 48 per cent against Romney's 24 per cent, with Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul trailing far behind.

Obama, buoyed by the South Carolina victory, is looking to close the gap with Clinton in the Tuesday poll in 22 states with more than 1,600 delegates at stake. on sunday Obama and Clinton were courting each other's core constituencies - black voters and women, respectively - as they rallied for an edge.

News Source : Samachar

Bush hails Kalpana Chawla’s courage

US President George W Bush has hailed the courage of India born Kalpana Chawla and six other astronauts who died when space shuttle Columbia exploded while returning home five years ago.

“They assumed great risk so we could understand what lies beyond the heavens. Americans are grateful for their service, and they will always be cherished,” he said in a message to US space agency NASA as it commemorated the fifth anniversary of the tragedy.

“Our nation will forever honour the memory of the fallen crew,” he said as space officials, schoolchildren and families of the seven crewmembers gathered in Cape Canaveral, Florida, Sunday to remember them.

“Space exploration is a dream deeply rooted in human history. The seven brave astronauts of Columbia sacrificed their lives so that the rest of mankind could realise this dream,” said Bush, sending the first couple's best wishes to the families and friends of the Columbia crew.

“Rick D Husband, William C McCool, Michael P Anderson, David M Brown, Kalpana Chawla, Laurel Blair Salton Clark and Ilan Ramon all nobly faced the dangers of space travel with courage and idealism,” he said.

NASA's top space flight officials joined nearly 200 others at the Kennedy Space Centre's outdoor astronaut memorial to remember the seven who died five years ago as the spaceship with its wing gashed by a chunk of fuel tank foam insulation at lift-off 16 days earlier, shattered high above Texas just minutes from home.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman G Madhavan Nair represented India, Chawla's homeland, at the hour-long ceremony. He noted how the loss of Columbia was painful not just for the astronauts' families but also for the entire world.

Each guest received a long-stemmed rose. The flowers were placed in the grating in front of the giant shiny granite marker bearing the names of all NASA's 24 astronauts killed in the line of duty.

News Source : Samachar

Supreme Court dismisses plea against Narayana Murthy

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to interfere with an order of the Karnataka High Court quashing criminal proceedings against Chief Mentor of Infosys N.R. Narayana Murthy for allegedly insulting the National Anthem at a function in which the former President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, participated.

The proceedings against him were initiated under the provisions of the Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act (PINH Act).

A three-Judge Bench comprising Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Justice C.K. Thakker and Justice R.V. Raveendran dismissed a special leave petition filed by the Kannada Rakshna Vakeelara Vedeka challenging the High Court order dated August 14, 2007.

According to the petitioner, Mr. Kalam participated at a function on April 8, 2007 at the office of Infosys in Mysore. At the start and end of the programme singing of the National Anthem was cancelled; instead the musical version of the anthem was played. When mediapersons asked Mr. Murthy why it was so, he had reportedly said, “We had formed a five-member team to sing [the] Indian National Anthem, but as foreign dignitaries were present on the dais, with a view to avoiding any delicacy or causing inconvenience to them we have cancelled the same.”

The petitioner said that the Vedeka was deeply hurt by non-singing of the National Anthem and the statement made by Mr. Murthy and a private complaint was filed alleging that he had committed an offence punishable under Section 3 of the PINH Act. (Section 3 says “whoever intentionally prevents the singing of Indian National Anthem or causes disturbances to any assembly engaged in such singing shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both.)

News Source : Samachar

Sania pulls out of Bangalore Open

Tired of being dragged into one controversy after another in the past few months, Sania Mirza has decided against playing in India for now.

Sania has opted out of next month's Bangalore Open and has cited the petty controversies that have been dogging her for quite some time for the pullout.

"I am not playing in Bangalore Open. I have been advised by my manager not to play (there) because a lot has been happening in the past few months," Sania told reporters on Monday.

"Everytime I have played in India, there has been some kind of problem. So we just thought it was better not to play this time," she added.

Ever since her breakthrough 2005 season, Sania has been battling controversies ranging from her on court attire being dubbed indecent by Islamic fundamentalists to the recent flag controversy during the Hopman Cup in December last year.

In fact, the off court furores had shaken the world number 29 to such an extent that she had contemplated giving up the game altogether a few weeks before last month's Australian Open.

News Source : Samachar

‘India’s pace attack surprised me’

Kasprowicz, who mastered the art of bowling in Indian conditions, opens up to Vijay Tagore

Where have you been?
I had a pretty bad season last year (he bowled only nine balls in the entire domestic season). Things are looking good this year. I’m in good shape.

There seems to be some vacancies in the Australian team. Players are retiring…
It’s pretty hard to come back into the Australian team. It is a new page for the Australian cricket after the retirement of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.

And there is very good exciting young talent too. I’ve been bowling in the domestic cricket; I should say there is a chance. But I know for sure the Australian selectors are looking for young blood. But you never know.

But the Australians fell flat in Perth. A less experienced Indian attack did better.
Brett Lee has been fantastic. In the last two Test series, he has been the Man of the Series both times. When Australia lost the leader of their attack (McGrath), there was a thinking that there would be a low period.

But Brett came out brilliantly. He accepted the challenge and is thriving in the role of a strike of bowler. With Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clarke, they will soon come good.

How do you rate the Indian attack?
The Indian attack has really surprised me. It is great to see a line-up with a good mix of pace and swing. There are some very good talented bowlers out there, particularly Ishant Sharma, Irfan Pathan and Sreesanth. The best thing about them is they are looking to learn and improve. They have shown a tremendous improvement since they arrived here.

News Source : Samachar

Serial rape charge on college teachers

A student was allegedly raped by four teachers over six months in her hostel, sparking a rampage today by parents angry at the delay in action.

The 21-year-old victim alleged that she was raped 14 times and had informed the college authorities three days back.

But the students, tired of waiting for action, called up their parents, who descended on the Naimisharanya Teachers’ Training College in Patan, 140km north of Ahmedabad, this morning.

They thrashed teachers and set their motorcycles on fire, forcing police to intervene. The four accused have been detained and district police chief Raghvendra Vats said they would be arrested once an FIR was lodged.

“Such a thing (the rape) has been going on for a couple of months. The girl had informed the authorities but the principal wanted to take action after verifying the facts. In the meantime, students informed their parents,” Vats said.

The physical abuse continued till a few weeks back, when the victim had gone with the four teachers to a village for internship.

When she returned to her hostel in Patan, she was so traumatised that she could barely talk and collapsed at the sight of her tormentors.

To conceal the truth, the teachers tried to spread the word that the victim had psychological problems, said Hardik Chaudhary whose sister is one of the 98 girls at the college, the state’s largest teachers’ training institute. Patan is the constituency of PWD minister Anandiben Patel, who is close to chief minister Narendra Modi.

Other than vice-principal Bharatiben, to whom the victim sent the complaint, all seven teachers of the college are men. Bharatiben had passed on the letter to principal K.D. Purania.

Police chief Vats said he did not doubt the principal’s explanation that he knew about the incidents and was only waiting to verify the facts. But the students felt the college authorities were sitting on the complaint.

“My daughter told me that the girls had informed the authorities three days ago but no action was taken. She asked me to reach here this morning,” said Hemraj Chaudhary, among the parents who stormed the college.

Many parents alleged that this instance of abuse wasn’t an isolated one and most girls faced some sort of harassment.

They accused teachers of making obscene remarks and cracking suggestive jokes and said this had been going on for months.

Many were considering pulling girls out of the hostel. One of them was Hardik, who said he was planning to shift his sister, a final-year student in the two-year course, to another institute in the town.

Others said they had started looking for alternative accommodation.

News Source : Samachar

Stray incidents of violence in Mumbai

MUMBAI: Minor incidents of violence were reported from various parts of the city for the second day on Monday following Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray’s tirade against North Indians, even as Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh filed a First Information Report against Mr. Thackeray and others for “issuing a threat to his life.”

Forty people were arrested in connection with Sunday’s clashes and 20 are in preventive detention, according to State Home Minister R.R. Patil.

Condemnation

There has been widespread condemnation of the MNS stand.

On Sunday night, vandals threw two bottles into Hollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan’s house, according to a television report, but the police have not confirmed it. Angry MNS activists attacked and burnt theatres in Thane and Nashik which were showing Bhojpuri films.

Shishir Shinde, MNS general secretary, said Sunday’s clashes were triggered by a taxi load of Samajwadi Party supporters raising anti-Raj Thackeray slogans on way to attend a United National Progressive Alliance rally at Shivaji Park.

“Our workers retaliated and chased them away but we caught the taxiwallah,” he said. In the ensuing clashes, several people, including taxi drivers and bhel puri stall owners, were injured and many small stalls destroyed in the area.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone One) Brajesh Singh said Mr. Amar Singh, who filed the FIR, alleged that he had watched Mr. Thackeray on television issuing a threat to his life.

A case has been registered under Section 506(2) of the Indian Penal Code for threatening to cause death. The police would have to watch the news clip and verify the complaint first.

Since over a week, Mr. Thackeray has been making statements about the need for north Indians to respect the culture of Maharashtra. He has been saying that people coming from outside Maharashtra should not celebrate chhat puja and only stick to State festivals. Last Friday he targeted Mr. Bachchan for being a brand ambassador of Uttar Pradesh and opening a school for girls there, instead of giving something back to Mumbai which had given him so much fame.

However, Mr. Shinde clarified that the MNS was not against North Indians at all. “But you don’t insult the culture and pride of Maharashtra. We need answers from Amitabh Bachchan on why he chose to set up schools in his home State and why not here.”

Asked how North Indians were insulting the culture and pride of Maharashtra, Mr. Shinde said that under the pretext of chhat puja, the North Indians wanted to display their strength and challenge local people. It is a political stunt,” he said.

PTI reports:

Police said a group of persons were arrested as they attempted to burn an effigy of Mr. Thackeray in the Chirag Nagar area on Monday. Suspected Samajwadi Party activists tore-off some posters put up by the MNS in Colaba.

Mr. Thackeray distanced himself from the attack on Mr. Bachchan’s home, which Mr. Amar Singh termed an act of cowardice. Mr. Bachchan, who was in Jaipur for a film shoot, declined to comment. Mr. Thackeray, however, said “it is not necessary to use violence always, if provoked we will retaliate.”

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said stern action would be taken against the guilty because the violence should not spread. “There will be full protection for those living in Mumbai.”

The Union Home Ministry was also monitoring the situation even as Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal asked the Maharashtra government to tackle the situation in all seriousness and take proper steps to maintain law and order.

News Source : Samachar

Court clears Narayana Murthy in anthem row

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday gave final burial to the controversy over non-singing of national anthem at the Infosys premises in Mysore in April last year when then President A P J Abdul Kalam had gone to inaugurate the company's corporate centre.

Though the court did not approve of the dropping of the national anthem, reportedly due to presence of foreign dignitaries, it chastised the complainant for "unnecessarily dramatising the case."

The presence of foreign dignitaries on the dais as a reason for cancellation of singing of the national anthem, as allegedly stated by Infy founder N R Narayana Murthy to the media, had led to filing of a complaint on the ground that it was an offence under the National Honour Act, 1971.

The Infy founder was summoned by a court, but the Karnataka HC quashed the criminal proceedings. The complainant appealed against the HC order before the apex court.

A Bench comprising CJI K G Balakrishnan and Justices C K Thakker and R V Raveendran made light of the passionate arguments of complainant's counsel, C M Angadhi, and said when a person reacted to the statement, Narayanmurthy immediately apologised. "There should be an end to these cases," it remarked.

"We do not approve that singing of national anthem should be dropped because of presence of foreign dignitaries and that it could offend them. But there is no offence made out under the National Honour Act," the Bench said.

News Source : Samachar

Hillary woos Indian Americans, pledges stronger Indo-US ties

Front running Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has pledged to take Indo-US relations to greater heights if she becomes the president, and vowed to work more closely with the Indian American community to make this happen.

Clinton has written an op-ed article in India Abroad, a newsweekly headquartered in New York, evidently prompted by her desire to reach out to the Indian American community on the eve of the February 5 mega-primary.

In her article titled "US-Indian Relations: A New Era", Clinton has said that one of the most difficult tasks for the new president would be "taking our foreign policy in a new direction and restoring America's leadership in the world."

"As president," she declared, "I'll reach out to our allies again and work with them to tackle global problems. America's partnership with India will be among the most important."

Clinton said there's no denying that "from globalisation and nuclear proliferation to climate change and terrorism - India matters more than ever."

She argued that it is imperative that the US and India, "two great democracies", must be strategic partners, bound together as they are by shared values and common interests.

"As president, I will work with India to make our strong friendship even stronger - to the benefit of both nations," she reiterated.

Clinton also said that as a Senator from New York, "I have been honoured to represent a thriving Indian American community, among the most successful immigrants in our nation's history."

She mentioned proudly that she had voted in favour of the US-India civilian nuclear agreement in the Senate in December 2006.

Clinton said that during her presidency, Washington and New Delhi, by working together, could not only strengthen the economic partnership between the two countries, but also "combat terrorism, foster a stable and democratic Pakistan, advance democratic values, promote human rights, tackle global warming and address a host of other problems".

She promised that she would "not only meet regularly with India's leaders, but I will call on the Indian American community to help build a bridge of cooperation between our two great countries which will serve the US and India and will help create a brighter future for the citizens of our two great nations."

Clinton recalled that as First Lady she had travelled twice to India. She added that she would always remember her 1995 visit, when in Ahmedabad she met women owning and running their own businesses through micro-credit financing.

She also reminisced fondly about the warm welcome she received when she met Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi and referred to her speech to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

Clinton did not forget to remind the readers of the newspaper about the transformation of the Indo-US relationship during the tenure of her husband, President Bill Clinton. "I am proud that the Clinton administration helped build a strong partnership between India and the US and I was proud that President Clinton made that historic visit to India in 2000," she said.

She also spoke of her role as co-chair of the Friends of India Caucus in the US Senate, which is said to be now in a state of slumber.

In Tuesday's coast-to-coast primaries, Clinton competes for the most number of delegates in major states like California, New York and New Jersey, with arch rival Senator Barack Obama of Illinois. These major primaries could decide who will secure the Democratic Party's nomination for president.

India Abroad is published in five editions in the US.

News Source : Samachar

Maharashtra govt hesitates to take on Raj

MUMBAI: Raj Thackeray's supporters on Monday continued to carry out sporadic attacks on migrants on Mumbai's streets even as the state government sought to dispel concerns that it was not making a serious effort to quell the violence.

Amitabh Bachchan's bungalow 'Prateeksha' in Juhu was targeted (visuals of attack on Big B's house) by two motorcycle-borne Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) supporters, who hurled bottles at his house.

At Worli, taxis owned by Uttar Bharatiyas were stoned and their drivers attacked. In Dadar, hawkers were roughed up and warned against doing business in the area. The conflict even spread to other parts of the state as MNS workers burnt effigies of Raj Thackeray's detractors in Nashik, Beed and Nagpur.

The government, under pressure to arrest Raj Thackeray and use tough measures to prevent the conflict from snowballing, sought to defuse the situation by booking him in a case of criminal intimidation.

About 40 persons, mostly belonging to the MNS, were also arrested in Mumbai and Thane for rioting and 22 others were taken into preventive custody.

Union minister of state for home Sriprakash Jaiswal said the Centre asked the Maharashtra government to tackle the situation in all "seriousness" and take proper steps to maintain law and order. "The guilty must be severely punished," he said.

But the state fears fresh retaliatory violence if Raj is arrested. On the other hand, failure to act against him in a firm manner may risk alienating the North Indians. The police have been asked to be ready with a contingency plan to counter violence if eventually Raj is arrested.

Bachchan's associate and Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh (catch Amar Singh's reaction) filed a complaint following which the FIR against Raj was registered by the Azad Nagar police station. Singh later issued a statement saying the law and order situation in Mumbai had collapsed.

"If Amitabh Bachchan is not safe in his own house, the plight of ordinary people can be well imagined. The police is brazenly conniving with rioters," he said. He also demanded derecognition of the MNS by the election commission.

Singh received support from an unexpected quarter as bitter rival and UP chief minister Mayawati (see Mayawati's reaction) accused the Maharashtra government of having failed to check attacks on north Indians. She demanded central intervention to protect lives and properties of north Indians in the state.

Meanwhile, a furious Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said such attacks would prove disastrous. " Mumbai ujad jayega (Mumbai will be ruined)," he said.

While reacting to the attacks on taxi drivers and vendors, he added: "What will happen in Mumbai if taxis go off the roads? Mumbai will come to a standstill."

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh (see CM’s reaction) sought to walk a thin political line by condemning Thackeray’s actions and promising support to migrants from UP and Bihar and at the same time warning the Samajwadi Party from hijacking the situation for political mileage.

Deshmukh rejected the SP’s city unit chief Abu Azmi's demand for a judicial inquiry into the violence unleashed against hawkers, taxi drivers as well as SP workers after a rally on Sunday.

"I have spoken to the commissioner and director general of police and they are looking into the matter. There is no need whatsoever for a judicial enquiry. Azmi is simply trying to divert the matter by making so big a demand that the state will be forced to say no," Deshmukh told reporters.

Four taxis, a Scorpio and two other private vehicles were damaged in the violence on Monday. Two persons were also injured. The police said the situation was brought under control swiftly. "We controlled the situation tactfully and lathicharged the mob," said zonal DCP D M Phadtare.

In Allahabad, SP workers tried to obstruct movement of trains protesting MNS's attack on north Indians. NCP activists burnt an effigy of Raj Thackeray in Lucknow.

RJD's youth wing staged a demonstration against Raj Thackeray and MNS in Patna and his effigies were burnt in different areas of Jamshedpur in Jharkhand.

In Delhi, political and social organisations took to the streets and burnt Raj's effigy and members of BJP's Poorvanchal cell held a demonstration demanding that the Maharashtra government be dismissed.

News Source : Samachar

Inside kidney kingpin’s mansion

The wife and two young sons of Dr Amit Kumar, the kingpin of the illegal kidney transplant racket operating out of Gurgaon, are holed up in their sprawling house in Brampton, a predominantly Indian neighbourhood on the outskirts of Toronto.

No one answered the door at the snow-laden home located on Pali Drive in Brampton but children could be seen peeking through the window coverings. The glass security door at the entrance was found locked and a bundle of newspapers and advertising fliers outside indicated that no one has stepped in or out of the house in the last couple of days.

Dr Kumar and his wife Poonam Ameet Kumar bought the 5,600-sq-feet home in Brampton city on February 2, 2007. The property was priced at CDN $610,000 (about Rs 2.5 crores). Dr Kumar took a loan of $457,500 from the Royal Bank of Canada to purchase the property and the remaining amount was paid in cash. Documents obtained by HT reveal that a person named Vijay Kumar Sharma exercised the power of attorney on Dr Kumar’s behalf to purchase the property.

The centrally air-conditioned house overlooks a duck pond and boasts of over $100,000 in upgrades — including granite kitchen counter tops, stainless appliances and a ravine view with an in-ground saltwater pool, a hot tub, a Cabana and a wet bar.

Kumar’s two sons, aged 5 and 4, attended a local private school and he owned a Lexus 350 SUV priced at CDN $65,000.

To the unsuspecting neighbours, Dr Kumar introduced himself as a very well known heart surgeon based in India with a worldwide clientele. He would often travel to India for work and would bring back gifts and souvenirs for the neighbours.

He told the neighbours that he was winding up his “business” — that included hospitals, clinics and a hotel — in India. He said he wanted to buy a hotel in Canada and shift permanently.

While the Delhi and Gurgaon police have indicated that Dr Kumar may have fled to Nepal, en route to Canada, there is no word from the Canadian authorities on the matter. The local police said that the case was being handled by the Royal Mounted Canadian Police (the country’s central police force), which is yet to make a statement.

“We are completely shocked,” a neighbour was quoted by The Toronto Star as saying. “I was shocked, blown away,” said a neighbour. “We used to joke at parties that he must be loaded to get such a beautiful wife, but nothing prepared us for this.” Another neighbour said: “It’s very unusual for someone to come here from India and buy a big house like this and a Lexus. Doctors in India just don't make that kind of money.”

Meanwhile, Canadian authorities were working closely with Indian counterparts to track the doctor who is believed to be using at least six forged identities and passports. Canadian authorities will also have to look into that how could Dr Kumar got through the stringent immigration process with a forged identity.

News Source : Samachar

Muzaffar Ali condemns MNS stand against North Indians

Condemning the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's stand against North Indians and actor Amitabh Bachchan, noted Bollywood director Muzaffar Ali on Monday said India can only progress if the people of the country remain united.

"We will move forward only if we will remain united. We belong to the whole India," Ali said while releasing a book on 13th century Persian scholar and great Sufi poet Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi in Hindi in New Delhi.

He said the manner in which North Indians were manhandled by Raj Thackeray's party activists yesterday was regrettable.

"What happened in Mumbai is regrettable," he said.

Reminding of the teachings of Persian poet, Ali said Rumi was a poet who taught humans to love each other and live in a manner which brings them closer to God.

The book, written by Trinath Mishra, contains information about Rumi's lifestyle and teachings.

News Source : Samachar

Maya's annual income jumps to Rs 60 crore

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati is growing richer by the year. Last year, her income was estimated at an impressive Rs 52 crore, while she has already grossed Rs 60 crore and is expected to close the fiscal with an even bigger kitty.

Till the December quarter, the Dalit leader had paid Rs 15 crore advance tax. At 33% income tax slab, this works out to an income of around Rs 45 crore. If the trend continues between December 15, when the last instalment of advance tax was paid, and March 31, 2008, she could end the year with an income of Rs 60 crore.

Indeed, if the turnout at her January 15 birthday bash is any indication, she could close the year with a much higher income. BSP chief has attributed her remarkable financial rise to 'gifts' from her generous supporters.

Based on her Rs 9.7 crore payout on December 15, Mayawati was already ranked 18th in the all-India individual taxpayers category, a remarkable rise for the former government schoolteacher. And based on her payments till December, which amounted to Rs 15 crore, she was placed 19th.

She is ranked a few notches below Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in the advance tax list. Not only is Mayawati's income more than that of any politician, she ranks higher than the Ambani brothers, Birlas, Bachchans, Ratan Tata and Infosys' Nandan Nilekani.
Kumaramangalam Birla trails the Dalit leader, at 57th place, while the richest cricketer, 'Master Blaster' Tendulkar is a distant 85th. Aamir Khan is placed even farther, at a not-so-impressive 123rd.

Mayawati's explanation about the turnaround in her fortunes may appear a fairy tale to many, but was accepted last year by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal which legitimized her claim. The script is likely to remain the same this year as well. More so, she is in power now.

Though the finance ministry usually does not get into proving the source of income of individuals, it has in Mayawati's case, as in many other instances earlier, shown its readiness to examine the veracity of her claim.

Mayawati in her statements before the taxmen and to the CBI, which is investigating her in a disproportionate assets case, had claimed that her supporters had given her large amounts of cash and pledged their personal properties out of "love and affection" and for the welfare of the downtrodden and the Dalits.

News Source : Samachar

Maruti plans challenge to Nano

NEW DELHI: The battle for the small car is getting hotter. Soon after the Tatas stunned the world with a Rs 1 lakh car, Nano, Bajaj announced a small car with Renault's support and then Hyundai stated its intention to come out with a car that could cost less than Rs 2 lakh and hit the road by 2011.

And now, TOI learns auto biggie Maruti-Suzuki too is ready with a hot recipe for a dish of a small car.

Maruti-Suzuki is tight-lipped, even in the denial mode, but a number of vendors who have been entrusted with the challenge of developing components for Suzuki's small car say the company's reticence is only evidence of the seriousness of its intent.

The little car could hit the road, they say, as early as the end of this year or early 2009.

From what TOI learns, the Suzuki car will come closest to rival Nano. It will sport a Suzuki 660cc engine - as against Nano's 623cc - and wear a tag of around Rs 1.5 lakh on road (that is, excluding insurance) - a little higher than Nano, which is expected to be Rs 1.25 lakh on road.

Suzuki, say several vendors, is confident of overcoming the price difference by virtue of its high brand equity in the auto mart.

When contacted, a Maruti spokesman in Delhi first said the company had no comments to offer. When asked for a written response, the spokesman wrote back saying the company has "no plans" for such a car.

The small car project, said vendors, is being mothered by Suzuki at its headquarters at Hamamatsu in Japan, although it will be eventually manufactured in India. A vendor said that Suzuki has codenamed the project "Under A" as the proposed car would be positioned below the A segment, which is driven by Maruti 800 at present.

News Source : Samachar

Film fraternity indignant at Raj Thackeray's outbursts

The film fraternity on Monday reacted with shock and indignation to Raj Thackeray's offensive against Amitabh Bachchan and North Indians warning that "dangerous sentiments" were being whipped up to serve "personal agendas."

Eminent directors and producers hoped that good sense would soon prevail among Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and that they refrain from wanton attacks.

Shyam Benegal said he was shocked and disgusted at the latest turn of events in Mumbai and wondered what was the rationale or logic behind raking up a non-issue.

"Indians are Indians everywhere in India, Maharashtra is no exception, and it is not a country on its own. Mumbai is not a city on its own," Benegal said.

The Director said it was rather silly to say that Amitabh Bachchan makes his money in Maharashstra and decides to do things elsewhere in India. The remark came in the light of Raj Thackeray questioning Amitabh's loyalties to Maharashtra.

"That's up to him where he wishes to use his money," Benegal said.

In a veiled attack on Raj Thackeray, Mahesh Bhatt said the manner in which political goals were sought to be achieved showed that some leaders are short-sighted and do not have a long-term vision.

"The issue is far bigger than an individual or a particular icon. The issue is Bollywood is part of Mumbai and Mumbai is a part of India.

"What is happening in Mumbai is something dangerous and we need to caution ourselves against," he said.

Two theatres in Thane and Nashik screening Bhojpuri films were on Sunday attacked by MNS activists who also targetted some vendors and taxi drivers belonging to north India in Central Mumbai.

News Source : Samachar

Call centre employee commits suicide

A 25-year-old woman working for a call centre allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself in a rented accommodation in south Delhi, the police said on Monday.

The woman, identified as Ekta, was found hanging on Sunday from the ceiling of her Jia Sarai room, which she had hired five months ago. No suicide note was recovered yet, the police said.

A girl living in the next room found her hanging and informed the police and owner of the apartment, Harichand.

Harichand said: "We talked to each other on Thursday. She said she wanted to leave the room. I didn't see her after that.

"We contacted her father, who stays in east Delhi, to inform him about her, but he was unaware that Ekta was living alone. I suspect family disputes had forced her to take extreme step," he told reporters.

Her parents refused to talk to the media.

The police said the woman's parents were living separately and her younger sister too had committed suicide about a year ago.

"We have registered a case and investigations are underway," a senior police official said.

News Source : Samachar

Runaway Delhi student found dead, parents blame teacher

A Class 8 student, who ran away from his Delhi home on Saturday, was found dead in mysterious circumstances at Faridabad on Monday. The student's parents blamed corporal punishment by a teacher for the boy's death.

Pushkar, 14, a student of the Central School in Pitampura of northwest Delhi, ran away from his home on Saturday along with his friend Vikram Bhatt after a teacher reportedly scolded and beat him up.

His father Jagdish Singh filed a missing person complaint at the Pitampura police station. His body was recovered from near railway tracks in Faridabad on the outskirts of the capital Monday morning. Vikram was caught by the railway police and handed over to his parents.

Pushkar's family blamed the school authorities for the death.

"The teacher had humiliated Pushkar and beaten him up after he was caught cheating in an examination. He ran away from home after that and committed suicide," said Vijay Kumar, a relative of the boy.

School principal AK Sharma refuted the claim.

"The boy died in an accident and the school has nothing to do with it. In fact, once he had complained to one of our teachers that he was often roughed up by his father and was suffering from depression," Sharma told reporters.

The school was closed soon after the news of the accident spread.

Vikram said the two of them were not good in studies and had decided to go to Mumbai after repeated scolding at the school.

"Pushkar and I boarded a train, but we were in different compartments. I didn't know he had met with an accident before police officials told me," he said.

Senior police officials said the reason behind the death had not been ascertained and investigations were underway.

News Source : Samachar

Bachhan flies back to Mumbai

Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachhan left for Mumbai following reports of attack on his house by a few unidentified miscreants early on Monday, police said.

The superstar travelled to Chandigarh from Shimla by road and boarded a plane to Mumbai from there after reports said two people on a motorcycle threw glass bottles at this residence early on Monday.

Bachhan, who was shooting here for Sujit Sircar's latest film Shoe Bite for over a week, was scheduled to stay on for another week, but following today's incident left for Mumbai in a huff.

Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) criticised the Bollywood icon in a public meeting recently for setting up a school in Ashwiraya Rai's name in Uttar Pradesh instead of Mumbai.

News Source : Samachar