World famed Islamic scholar passes away

NEW DELHI, Apr 26: World renowned Islamic scholar Maulana Anzar Shah Kashmiri passed away at a private hospital here today following a prolonged illness.

He was 81 and is survived by six daughters and a son.

Maulana Anzar Shah Kashmiri, who served as the Dean of Islamic jurisprudence in the famed Darul Uloom Deoband, had written several books on ‘Hadith,’ ‘fiqh’ and Islamic law.

He was considered as an authority on ‘Hadith’ and ‘Shariah’.

The Maulana was admitted to Max Hospital about a fortnight ago, but showed no signs of improvement and later shifted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here.

Scores of his followers air-dashed to the national capital from the UK, South Africa and other countries after hearing the news of his illness.

The Maulana was tutored by his illustrious father Maulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri, Maulana Hussain Ahmed Madni and Qari Mohammad Taiyyab, who was the longest serving Chancellor of the Darul Uloom Deoband.

After completing his studies, the Maulana joined the 135-year-old Islamic university and rose to the rank of Dean.

He also set up an Islamic institute, Jamia Anwar, in memory of his father.

Muslim scholars from across the country have offered condolences on his death. (UNI)

UP MLA’s son mows down three person, injures nine

LUCKNOW, Apr 26: In yet another case of children of VIPs being involved in fatal accidents, Kasif Abbas, son of Uttar Pradesh MLA Shadab Fatima, allegedly mowed down three persons and injured nine others in a case of drunken driving in the early hours today.

Seventeen-year-old Abbas was driving his mother’s red-beaconed car in an intoxicated state when he lost control over the vehicle and ran over three persons, who died on spot, police said.

He also hit two motorcyclists before his Tata Safari collided with an electric pole and then a pan shop in the Parivartan Chowk area here, they said.

"It seems to be a case of drunken driving. The teenager Kasif Abbas has been detained. Beer bottles have been recovered from the car. The medical examination has confirmed that he had consumed it. Strict legal action will be taken against all accompanying him," UP DGP Vikram Singh told reporters here.

Singh said, Abbas did not have a driving license.

According to the information, three people have died. Abbas was driving the car. He has been arrested and the car is in police custody, SP Akhil Kumar said.

"Safari came speedily and may be to avoid the accident or whatever got on to the pavement. Some people were asleep there and they were seriously injured," he said, adding that the car having a beacon was issued in the name of UP Upbhokta Sahkari Sangh’s President.

Abbas’ mother Shadab Fatima is SP MLA from Gazipur and also the Chairperson of UP Upbhokta Sahkari Sangh.

A sizeable number of youth from high profile families have been involved in similar cases.

Sanjeev Nanda, the grandson of the ex-chief of Naval Staff was accused of running over and killing six people in a drunken state, in January 1999.

In November 2006, Mumbai-based businessman’s son, Alistair Pereira was accused of ramming his car into hutments in Bandra in an inebriated state, killing seven construction workers sleeping on the footpath. (PTI)

Dissidents against Gogoi’s style of functioning

GUWAHATI, Apr 26: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has faced revolt, first time in 12 years, with four dissidents meeting Congress President Sonia Gandhi against him.

Both sitting MPs Silvius Condpan and Kirip Chaliha along with former MPs Dwijendranath Sarma and Bishnu Prasad, met Ms Gandhi at New Delhi yesterday to protest against Mr Gogoi’s ‘style of functioning’.

However, Mr Gogoi played it down and refused to take serious note of the issue when approached by mediapersons.

Though many party leaders were tightlipped on Ms Gandhi’s response, Mr Chaliha has officially confirmed their meeting.

Sources within the party said the MPs placed their grievances and suggestions to strengthen the Congress in Assam, adding that the dissidents sought a total revamp of the organisational setup. "Yes, we have declared war against Mr Gogoi," Mr Chaliha said promising more action in coming months.

When asked about the Congress president’s reaction, he said, "We were upbeat after the meeting.The prime grouse of the Congressmen was Mr Gogoi’s style of functioning and the raw deal being meted out to those who opposed him."

"Anybody who does not exhibit personal loyalty is being sidelined and concerted effort is made to belittle them," he added.

Significantly, the four leaders advocated a political tie up with AUDF.

Mr Gogoi had been resisting pressure within his party for an alliance with AUDF and advocating its merger with the Congress.

Meanwhile, the Chief Ministers supporters were planning a counter attack and a signature campaign against the dissidents while a batch of MPs and MLAs will head for the Centre soon to meet Ms Gandhi.

Sources within the Congress said it would be unlikely that any change of guard would take place before the next Lok Sabha polls. (UNI)

Book on intellectual propert rights released

AHMEDABAD, Apr 26: World Intellectual Property Day was marked here today by the release of a book titled "Intellectual Property Rights-Law and Practice".

The book has been compiled by two eminent IPR practitioners, Mr Jatin Trivedi and Mr G D Dave, and contains judgements and decisions of various courts of India on Intellectual Property law.

Mr Trivedi is an eminent patents and trademarks attorney and an advocate while Mr Dave is an attorney and advocate since last ten years.

Chinubhai Shah, renowned management professional and former member of Direct Taxes Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Finance and member of the SEBI’s Secondary Market Advisory Committee, who released the book, lauded the work as a significant contribution towards IPR awareness.

He said that the celebration of "Intellectual Property Day" every year on April 26 is to raise awareness of the role of intellectual property in our daily lives, and to celebrate the contribution made by innovators and artistes to the development of societies across the globe. (UNI)

MDLR airplane’s trial run ends in disaster

KULLU, Apr 26: The MDLR’s, four-jet engine aircraft BAE Avro RJ-70, trail run ended in a disaster today with the rear wheels of the airplane bursting soon after it touched the ground, though without any loss of life, Kullu’s DSP Amar Chand said.

"As soon as the 70-seater airplane touched the Bhuntar airport ground, its rear wheels burst this morning," he said here and added that the pilot, his co-pilot, DGM and two other engineers escaped unhurt in the incident.

Mr Chand said the airplane was on a trial run with no passengers on board and came to an abrupt halt after the wheels burst. No loss of life has been reported in the accident, he added.

The aircraft with six club-class seats is to start two commercial flights on a daily basis from Chandigarh-Kullu-Delhi and Delhi-Kullu-Chandigarh from Monday.

The flight would take 40 minutes to Delhi and 20 minutes to Chandigarh from Bhuntar and would have 64 economy and six club-fare seats.

The MDLR’s management has also announced an introductory price of Rs 1,800 (inclusive of all taxes) on the Kullu-Delhi and Kullu-Chandigarh sectors.(UNI)

Rahul suggests Bastar tribals to migrate

JAGDALPUR, CHHATTISGARH, Apr 6: Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, currently on a two-day visit to Chhattisgarh as part of his Discover India tour, today expressed his concern over lack of migration tendency among Bastar tribals.

Interacting with the tribals of Jamawada village, 12 km from here, Mr Gandhi asked them, "Why you are not migrating in search of work like the rural people from Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, who migrate to big cities for work."

In reply, the tribals said they feared to venture outside as they lacked knowledge in other languages except their local dialect.

Another fact that struck the Amethi MP was since Independence, only four youths of the village, having 3000 population, had so far passed higher secondary examination. He sought to know "Why are you so backward in studies?"

He expressed surprise that the tribals were not coming forward to raise their problems over all these years and asked "why are you not mustering courage to air your grievances". ‘Hame Dar Lagta Hai’(we are terrified), replied the illiterate tribals.

A few tribals complained about lack of employment under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, drinking water, healthcare and education facilities.

When enquired about the much hyped food security scheme under which BPL families were provided rice at Rs 3 per Kg, the tribals told Mr Rahul that a few villagers were getting subsidised rice, but majority were deprived of it as they did not possess ration cards.

Mr Gandhi, who arrived here by road, was accorded a traditional welcome with the tribals applying ‘tilak’ on his forehead. A few aged people and children also joined in a traditional tribal dance marking the arrival of the VIP guest.

The Amethi MP, who reportedly visited interiors to acquaint himself with the rural life, came in for a rude shock as Youth Congress workers had put up a number of banners, posters and buntings at the village and district town of Jagdalpur. He reportedly reprimanded Youth Congress chief Ashok Tanwar about the pomp and show.

The Congress MP also visited the home of three tribals and enquired about their welfare. (UNI)

Criminal case registered against SP
MLA’s son in state capital

LUCKNOW, Apr 26: A case has been registered against 20-year-old Kashif Abbas, son of a Samajwadi Party MLA, who while driving in an inebriated state, crushed three people to death and seriously wounded seven others in Hazratganj locality of the state capital late last night.

Inspector General of Police (IG), Lucknow Zone A K Jain said a case under IPC sections 419, 420 and 304 has been registered against the accused. The sections 419 and 420 have been slapped for using a red beacon light on the SUV, he said.

Contrary to preliminary report, the police found the SUV vehicle, registered in the name of PWD junior engineer Kazi Imtiyaz Ahmad, had a red beacon light.

A probe was being done to ascertain how a vehicle belonging to a junior engineer had a red beacon light, Mr Jain said. He also ordered a drive in the state capital against illegal use of beacon light on vehicles.

Kashif Abbas, son of SP MLA from Gazipur Sadab Fatima, is a student of BBA from IIPM in Delhi. Three people, including one yet to be identified, have been killed in the incident while seven others have been admitted to the Trauma Centre with serious injuries. The deceased include Hassan and Rukman, he said.

The vehicle, coming at a high speed, first crashed into two motorcycles and then after hitting a roadside betel shop, ran over seven people sleeping on the pavement near Clarkes Awadh Hotel, he said.

While the officials put the death toll at three, locals said five people were crushed to death in the incident.

Police sources said the accused did not have a driving licence and medical examination of the accused confirmed he was drunk. A few beer cans were also recovered from the SUV after the incident, they said.

Meanwhile, the father of the accused, Sayeed Hasim Haider, an engineer with the State Government, is arriving at the state capital this morning. (UNI)

BJP announces stir from May 2

VARANASI, Apr 26: Accusing Uttar Pradesh Government of misusing the state funds and not focusing on measures to check rise in prices of essential commodities in the state, BJP today said it will launch a state-wide stir from May 2.

"We will hold demonstrations at District Headquarters throughout the state," BJP state unit President Ramapati Ram Tripathi said, adding they will also launch a ‘jail bharo andolan’.

Lashing out the BSP Government for misuse of state funds, Tripathi said, "the State Government is engaged only in building parks and installing statues in the name of Bheem Rao Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram and a major part of state’s budget is spent on these projects."

Alleging that the cost of one statue to be set up at these parks is Rs 60 lakh, the leader demanded a white paper from the Government on the project.

He said that the implementation of VAT by the State Government has further added to the woes of the people. (PTI)

3 policemen, one naxalite
and villager killed in encounter

DUMKA/RANCHI, Apr 26: At least three police personnel, including Officer-in-Charge Samsad Ansari, besides a naxalite and a villager were today killed in an encounter in this district.

The encounter took place in a jungle located between Makropahari and Pokhria under Sikaripara police station.

Ansari was a receipient of the President’s Award for his outstanding service and posted specially at the naxal-dominated area. DIG R K Mulklick and police spokespersons told UNI in Ranchi that the OC of Sikaripara police station and two constables were killed in the encounter that began at about 0300 hrs.

A villager also fell victim, he said, adding that another naxalite was arrested on the spot.

Official sources at Dumka said a police team carried out long-range patrolling and on reaching the spot where the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) ultras were hiding, the OC asked them to surrender. The naxalites immediately opened fire and the bullets hit the OC’s face.

Superintendent of Police Sido Hembram rushed to the spot with reinforcement and the encounter concluded at about 1000 hours. Police recovered two rifles from the spot, the sources added. (UNI)

Dalai Lama for resolution of Tibet issue through dialogue

DHARAMSHALA, Apr 26: The Tibetan Government-in-exile today expressed its willingness to peacefully resolve the Tibetan issue and said it was willing to talk to the Chinese authorities.

"The Dalai Lama has always wanted to resolve the issue of Tibet through face-to-face discussions with the Chinese authorities," Government-in-exile’s prime minister Samdhong Rinpoche said in a release here.

However, referring to the recent report by Xinhua that the Chinese Government was willing to meet the Dalai Lama, he said "for any meeting to be productive it was important for the Chinese leadership to understand the reality and acknowledge his positive role".

He said throughout the present crisis in Tibet, their Government has maintained contact with the Chinese authorities, not only to share its deepest concerns at their repressive measures to deal with the development in different parts of Tibet, but also to provide suggestions to resolve the crisis.

"His Holiness even sent a personal communication to Chinese President Hu Jintao as early as March 19, wherein he had even offered to send representatives to help calm the situation," Mr Rinpoche said stressing that the Dalai Lama for a long time, especially since March 10 this year, wanted to reach out to the Chinese people and the leadership.

Even now the immediate greatest concern for the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan leadership was the fate of the Tibetans, he said.

"The Dalai Lama’s envoys are in regular touch with their counterparts, including exploring the possibilities of early meetings, to address this issue. We feel it will require normalcy in the situation in the Tibetan areas for the formal resumption of the talks and we are committed to take all steps, including informal meetings, to continue in bringing about this," the Prime Minister added. (UNI)

Woman kills husband, surrenders to police

DIBRUGARH, Apr 16: A woman killed her husband with a sharp weapon and surrendered before the police today in upper Assam’s Dibrugarh district, police sources said.

The woman, Sunamoni Rai (25), claimed before the police that she killed her husband Mon Rai (33) in self-defence as he beat her severely last night threatening to kill her.

Sunamoni, who ran six-km to the police station early in the morning after hacking her husband to death around 1 am, asserted that her husband would pysically assault her regularly threatening to kill her and marry another woman with whom he was having an illicit relationship.

Mon Rai was a farmer, the sources said adding that the couple had been married for five years and had two minor children aged two years and four years. (PTI)

Delhi gets certified yoga centre

NEW DELHI, Apr 26: Fitness freaks in Delhi have a reason to smile as the national capital has now got the first of its kind certified yoga centre.

The state-of-the-art ‘Yogakshema’ centre was inaugurated by former Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat here last evening.

"Yoga today is not only about providing relief from physical and mental stress, but it has in fact moved beyond into playing a significant role in curing complex diseases of people," Shekhawat said at the inaugural ceremony, which was attended by scores of political personalities.

The centre has been set up by Nivedita Joshi, a student of eminent yogacharya Dr B K S Iyengar.

"I am happy that the centre has come in the capital of my own country. Till today, I had yoga centre in almost all capital cities in the world except delhi," iyengar, writer of `light on yoga’ and `light on pranayama’, said.

The yoga guru was conferred with with Padma Shri in 1991 and Padma Bhushan in 2002.

"Body is a temple of soul, and health is not only keeping yourself good, but also improve public awareness," he said.

"Its all about art, which is collective of science as well as philosophy," the 90-year-old, yet stout yogacharya said.

Senior BJP leader L K Advani, Delhi Mayor Arti Mehra, and former Union Minister Murli Manohar Joshi were also present at the function. (PTI)