Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 20: Bhaderwah Hospital Bachao Front (BHBF) has decided to mobilize people opinion to make its demand for a Mini-Medical College for Bhaderwah, a people’s demand.
This was stated by Ranbir Manhas, convener of the Front while interacting with media persons in Old Hospital Complex Bhadarwah where the Front’s dharna continued for 490th day today.
“The Front has approached the Court for its intervention as for as restoration of medical facilities in the Old Hospital Complex is concerned, our aim now would be to aware people about the possibilities of a Mini-Medical College in new Hospital building, which has become almost useless with people demanding restoration of medical facilities in the Old Hospital Complex”, he added.
Iqbal Chowdhary, leader of the Front said that if people of Bhaderwah raise this demand with full force, it would not be difficult for the Union Government to sanction one Mini-Medical College for Bhaderwah.
Among others present were Raj Singh Kotwal, Saleem Butt, Kalyan Singh, Rishi Kumar, Neeraj Singh and Vireshwar Singh.
BHBF to mobilize people opinion for Mini-Medical College
Biometric Face Recognition System installed in Secretariat for attendance
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 20: The ‘Biometric Face Recognition System’ based attendance system has been installed in the Civil Secretariat premises.
Enrollment of the Civil Secretariat employees under the new attendance system is in progress.
In this connection, the Government has directed all the Administrative Secretaries to direct the employees of the Civil Secretariat under their administrative control to get enrolled under the new attendance system and mark their attendance electronically through the ‘Biometric Face Recognition System’ installed at the entry points of main and mini block of the Civil Secretariat.
AAP face-off with Centre, Kejriwal starts dharna
NEW DELHI, Jan 20:
In an unprecedented face-off with the Centre, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today began a dharna in front of Rail Bhavan calling himself an “anarchist” and asking “honest” police officials to take leave and join his protest demanding action against some of their colleagues.
Defying prohibitory orders in force in the high-security area near the seat of power, Kejriwal accompanied by six of his ministers, came down hard on the Centre for the current situation arising from their demand for action against officials who refused to raid an alleged drug and prostitution racket in an area in South Delhi.
“Some people are saying that I am an anarchist. I am spreading disorder. I agree I am an anarchist. Today, I will create anarchy for Shinde,” he said in an impromptu address to his party MLAs and supporters at the dharna site from where police asked him to shift to nearby Jantar Mantar.
He asked honest officials among the police force to take leave and join him in the agitation demanding Delhi police be brought under his Government, a demand rejected by Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.
45-year-old Kejriwal said he has come prepared to stage dharna for at least 10 days and would continue the agitation further if need be.
Earlier in the morning, Kejriwal along with his supporters attempted to go to North Block housing the Home Ministry to lodge their protest. However, they were stopped near the Rail Bhavan as the nearby Vijay Chowk and the entire Rajpath were sealed for the Republic Day rehearsal that was going on.
In his address to his MLAs and supporters, Kejriwal put the blame squarely on the Prime Minister, Home Minister and the Centre for the situation that has led to his dharna and appealed to people to join him.
He said any crisis arising out of the situation including disturbance in holding Republic Day celebrations will be the responsibility of the Centre.
Kejriwal claimed that a woman official of the Ugandan High Commission met Law Minister Somnath Bharti and gave him a letter written by an official of the Mission to the Government in Uganda on a woman from his country brought to Delhi and allegedly forced into prostitution racket.
He claimed the Ugandan official welcomed their campaign on the issue.
The Chief Minister attacked functioning of police saying the streets of Delhi are not safe for women. He also alleged that some police officials take money share which go to their superiors also.
Rejecting Shinde’s statement that action can be taken only after an inquiry, the Chief Minister demanded immediate suspension of the “corrupt” officials who refused to act in the interest of the public whose cause Bharti had taken up.
The Minister had sparked a controversy last week when he went to a locality in his constituency of Malviya Nagar, claiming a drug and prostitution ring was being run from a residence and demanded police raid the place.
However, the police refused saying they have no warrant to do so. The AAP workers allegedly forced a couple of women from Uganda to give urine samples. Their action came under alround attack but the AAP Government insists that action should be taken against the police officials.
This is perhaps for the first time that a Chief Minister and his entire cabinet is holding a dharna against the Central Government to press for their demands.
Kejriwal also said his protest will not affect governance as he will clear files from the protest site.
Delhi Police asked Kejriwal to shift his protest to Jantar Mantar, citing prohibitory orders in the high-security area. Police made it clear that the protest will not be allowed to continue in the area.
Defending his action to hold dharna, Kejriwal asked those gathered whether it was wrong to demand suspension of policemen in connection with the rape of Danish woman and those who failed to act on his cabinet colleagues’ letter demanding protection for a woman who was later allegedly burnt alive by her parents-in-law.
Kejriwal said he was demanding action against policemen who failed to check drug and sex racket being run from south Delhi. He said under such circumstances, ministers should be seen among people instead of sitting in the cosy comforts of their big bungalows.
Kejriwal also criticised a section of the media, Congress and BJP for describing actions of AAP leaders as “vigilantism”.
He also referred to the allegation made by former Union Home Secretary R K Singh against Shinde that he was involved in the transfer of SHOs in Delhi Police.
“It creates doubt that money has changed hands (for the purpose),” said Kejriwal.
He said most policemen are not corrupt and asked the honest ones to join AAP’s movement against corruption. He recalled that the Delhi Government has given Rs 1 crore compensation to the next of the kin of the policeman who was killed by liquor mafia recently. (PTI)
Antony seeks report from Navy on submarine incident
NEW DELHI, Jan 20:
Six months after its submarine sunk in the Mumbai harbour, another Navy underwater vessel had a close shave near the same place last week, prompting Defence Minister AK Antony to seek a detailed report from the service on the incident.
“I have sought a report from the Navy. They have sent initial report and they will send a detailed report later. There was some unexpected tidal change,” he said.
The minister indicated that the submarine has not suffered any major damage.
The Minister was asked to comment on the alleged incident where Navy’s INS Sindhughosh submarine was allegedly grounded due to lack of water in the harbour area in Mumbai.
Navy officials denied reports that the vessel had to be salvaged, saying the submarine was not grounded and “no Board of inquiry has been ordered” into the incident by the force.
Last week on Friday, the submarine had encountered a situation where there was very less water in the harbour but held to its position using ropes and other means but was not grounded, they said.
In August last year, Navy lost its latest submarine INS Sindhurakshak after an explosion in its torpedo section killing all the 18 personnel on board.
Meanwhile, Antony was all praise for the NCC cadets including those from the Jammu and Kashmir directorate who presented a dance item on the Lata Mangeshkar’s heart-warming and emotional song ‘Aey mere watan ke logon’ depicting the sacrifices of Indian soldiers in the war with China. (PTI)
Ton-up Ali helps Pakistan to series-levelling win
Sharjah, Jan 20:
Azhar Ali hit a brilliant hundred as Pakistan pulled off a thrilling win in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka in Sharjah today, levelling the series 1-1.
Set a daunting 302 to win in a possible 59 overs, Pakistan owed their successful chase to Ali’s fifth Test century (103) as he and Misbah-ul-Haq shared a 109-run stand for the fifth wicket.
Misbah, who finished with 68 not out, hit the winning single with nine balls to spare in fading light.
Ali, ironically dropped for the first two Tests, hit paceman Suranga Lakmal for a boundary, then twice took two to reach his hundred off 133 balls.
He hit six boundaries before falling caught behind with just seven still needed to win.
Pakistan’s chances seemed to have faded away at 107-3 at tea, as they needed 195 in the last 35 overs. But Ali upped the tempo during a rapid 89-run partnership in 14.5 overs with Sarfraz Ahmed (48) which left Sri Lanka on the defensive.
Even when Sarfraz was out, caught behind off paceman Shaminda Eranga, Pakistan needed 116. Sarfraz hit four boundaries and a six off 46 balls.
But Misbah supported Ali as Pakistan achieved their second best chase in all Test cricket, behind the 314 they chased against Australia in Karachi in 1994.
Sri Lanka had won the second Test in Dubai by nine wickets while the first Test ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi.
Pakistan had lost Ahmed Shehzad (21), Khurram Manzoor (21) and Younis Khan (29) as they were derailed in their chase.
Needing to score at a rate of more than five an over to win, Pakistan were given a rapid 35-run start by the sixth over but paceman Suranga Lakmal (3-79) halted that progress by dismissing openers Shehzad and Manzoor within 13 runs.
Younis Khan tried to increase the pace before being caught off Angelo Mathews two overs before tea, but the scenario changed in the last session. (AGENCIES)
Sharapova out as Nadal, Federer into last eight
Melbourne, Jan 20:
Maria Sharapova crashed out of the Australian Open in another seismic shock today as Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Victoria Azarenka saw off challenges to keep their title bids intact.
A day after Serena Williams’ exit, Dominika Cibulkova kept the upsets rolling as she ousted injury-compromised Sharapova 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, blowing the women’s draw even further open.
The main expected beneficiary, two-time defending champion Azarenka, is in position to take full advantage after she flattened old foe Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals.
The Belarusian world number two will face Polish fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarter-finals, with Cibulkova heading into a clash with Romania’s Simona Halep.
Men’s top seed Nadal weathered a sustained assault from Japan’s Kei Nishikori 7-6 (7/3), 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) to face Grigor Dimitrov in the Bulgarian’s first Grand Slam quarter-final.
The 13-time Grand Slam-winner chided the umpire after he was called for a time violation, for taking longer than the allowed 20 seconds between points, at a critical moment in the third set.
“The negative thing in my opinion is not the warning, but the timing of it. You can choose another moment to do it, not that one,” Nadal said.
Wimbledon champion Andy Murray needed five match points and four sets — and angrily demolished a racquet along the way — before beating ‘lucky loser’ Stephane Robert.
Murray cruised through the first two sets but he missed match points, and then dropped his first set of the tournament, before finishing it off 6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (6/8), 6-2.
“He’s a fun player to watch but not fun to play against,” said Murray, as Robert milked applause from the crowd. “He made it very tricky for me, he plays all the shots very unorthodox.”
Federer, meanwhile, was a convincing winner against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, racing through 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 to set up a quarter-final against Murray. (AGENCIES)
Release of Aamir Khan’s ‘PK’ delayed by 6 months
MUMBAI, Jan 20:
The release of Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan’s much-awaited film ‘PK’ has been delayed and it will now hit cinema houses in December.
“PK release shall be in Christmas 2014,” producers Vinod Chopra Films and Rajkumar Hirani Films announced here today, without citing any reason.
The film, a political satire directed by Rajkumar Hirani, was earlier schedule to release in June.
Earlier this month, Aamir, who is riding on the success of ‘Dhoom 3’, had indicated that the film’s release will not be rushed through. The actor is also involved in distribution of the movie.
“I have not yet seen the first cut of ‘PK’ Till I see it, I can’t comment much. We are releasing the film on June 6. But if after seeing it, I feel there is more work needed in it then we will not come out on June 6,” Aamir had said.
“If more time is needed to get something done in the best possible manner, it would be foolish to unnecessarily rush things,” he had said.
Besides Aamir, the film also stars Anushka Sharma and Sushant Singh Rajput, among others. Aamir’s son Junaid assisted Hirani in directing the film. (PTI)
Actor Sanjay Dutt gets another 30-day extension in parole
PUNE, Jan 20:
Maharashtra Government today extended Bollywood actor and 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case convict Sanjay Dutt’s parole by another 30 days on the ground of his wife Manyata’s illness.
Dutt was granted a month-long parole on December 6 last year, for a second time in a little over a month, which triggered protests outside Pune’s Yerawada Jail forcing the Government to order an inquiry.
Earlier, he had availed of a month-long leave of furlough on medical grounds and was back in jail on October 30.
The 53-year-old actor was supposed to return to the jail tomorrow as his current month-long parole expires on Tuesday.
Pune Divisional Commissioner Prabhakar Deshmukh today sanctioned Dutt’s plea for further extension of his leave by 30 more days on the ground of ill-health by his wife Manyata.
Dutt had been convicted by the Supreme Court last year and sentenced to five years in prison for illegally possession of arms in a case related to the 1993 bomb blasts.
Dutt had already served 18 months of his term and is currently undergoing the remaining 42 months of his sentence.
Earlier this month, Manyata was admitted to a private hospital in suburban Mumbai after being diagnosed with a tumour in liver and a suspected heart ailment. (PTI)
Saina seeks much-needed win, Kashyap looks to defend title
Lucknow, Jan 20:
Desperate for a much-needed win, two-time winner Saina Nehwal will be back in action at the Syed Modi international tournament, while defending champion Parupalli Kashyap will eye another victory when the Grand Prix Gold event begins with the qualifiers here tomorrow.
After a lacklustre season last year, in which she was plagued by injuries and failed to win a single title and her world ranking also took a beating, Saina now starts as a top seed in a field that has 16 other Indians.
Among foreign shuttlers, world number 18 Lindaweni Fanetri of Indonesia and world number 39 Xuan Deng of China will be the top challengers.
“I didn’t have a good season last year. So I’m really looking for a win now. I’m desperate to win this tournament. It will boost my confidence for the upcoming events,” Saina told PTI.
In the last edition, the 23-year-old had conceded her first round match, citing injury and fatigue. The girl from Hyderabad has not played in the Senior Nationals since 2007 and last month, she had to skip the Nationals once again as she was down with cold and cough.
The London Olympics bronze medallist, who is currently ranked No.8 in the world, will open her campaign against Matilda Petersen of Sweden on Wednesday. Even though she has not been in the best of form, the road ahead should be an easy one for Saina.
Seeded Second in the draw is P V Sindhu and the lanky 18-year-old shuttler is likely to pose the biggest threat to Saina’s hopes of winning the title, which she had clinched in 2009 and 2010.
Last edition’s runners-up, Sindhu will start her campaign against Malaysian Li Lian Yang, who is ranked 108 in the world. Given the form, the world championship bronze medallist is right now, Sindhu is likely to reach the finals without much ado. (PTI)
Jet to fly daily on Mumbai- Paris sector from May 14
MUMBAI, Jan 20:
Jet Airways today announced a daily direct service from the city to Paris from May 14, making the French capital its 21st international destination.
The Paris-bound flight will depart from here at 1200 hrs and arrive at the Charles de Gaulle airport at 1750 hrs local time. The return flight will depart at 2110 hrs (local time) and arrive in Mumbai at 0945 hrs the following day, the private carrier said in a release here.
The Paris-Mumbai service will be the only evening departure from continental Europe to the megapolis, the airline said.
Jet is offering a special return economy fare of Rs 45,291 (including taxes) and return premiere introductory fare of Rs 1,53,315 (including taxes) on the route. The regular fare will be Rs 62,040 (economy) and Rs 2,02,114 (premiere) (inclusive of taxes).
These fares, available since January 14, have a travel validity commencing May 14. However, to avail of the discounted fares, booking has to be made before February 10, the release said.
Jet Airways Group operates a fleet of 113 aircraft, connecting 75 destinations in the country and abroad through 573 flights. (PTI)