Alka Lamba is a drug addict, says BJP MLA OP Sharma

BJP MLA OP Sharma today kicked up a row terming AAP legislator Alka Lamba a "drug addict", as he questioned her "motive" behind embarking on an anti-drugs drive leading to an attack on her.

Alleging the involvement of Lamba, the Chandni Chowk MLA, and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's "goons" in vandalising shops in Chandi Chowk, Sharma threatened retaliation by "lathi-wielding" BJP workers in future in case of such incidents.

"People have said that Lamba is spotted here in the wee hours of the night and I don't think a person who supports drug eradication would come there at that time, between 1 am to 4 am.

"It apparently shows she is an addict herself. I am not giving any anti-women remark. I respect women but if you try to portray Phoolan Devi as a mascot of women power then it won't work. She is a drug addict who under the effect of drugs had turned violent," Sharma told reporters.

In the wee hours of yesterday, Lamba was attacked during an anti-drugs campaign in north Delhi's Kashmere Gate area where she sustained head injuries. AAP suspected BJP's Vishwas Nagar MLA Sharma's involvement in the incident.

Sharma further claimed that BJP doesn't need any evidence to prove the ruling party's "Gundaraj" and "Jungle Raj" as they were in possession of the CCTV footage of Lamba's wrongdoing.

"I want to ask you if a wild animal attacks you in a jungle, will you hold up the Constitution in that case? If AAP hopes to stop BJP from performing its duty, we won't hesitate in taking up lathis," he said. Lamba was attacked during an anti-drugs campaign in north Delhi's Kashmere Gate area and sustained head injuries.

She started her anti-drugs drive at around 5 am and was standing in front of Shiv Mishthan Bhandar, allegedly owned by a BJP worker, when a man in the shop hurled a stone at her, national spokesman of AAP, Sanjay Singh, said yesterday.

The Chandni Chowk MLA received head injuries and was rushed to Aruna Asaf Ali Hospital, where she was discharged after treatment on Sunday. Despite the attack, Lamba said that she will continue the drive till August 15.

दयानिधि मारन की अंतरिम जमानत याचिका रद्द, तीन दिन में आत्‍मसमर्पण का आदेश

मद्रास हाई कोर्ट ने टेलीफोन एक्सचेंज मामले में पूर्व दूरसंचार मंत्री दयानिधि मारन की अंतरिम अग्रिम जमानत याचिका रद्द कर दी है.

याचिका खारिज होने के बाद मारन को कोर्ट ने तीन दिनों में आत्‍मसमर्पण का आदेश दिया है. मद्रास हाई कोर्ट जज एस वैद्यनाथन ने मारन को तीन दिन के अंदर सीबीआई के समक्ष आत्मसमर्पण करने को कहा है.

सीबीआई ने डीएमके नेता दयानिधि मारन पर आरोप लगाया है कि  बतौर दूरसंचार मंत्री मारन ने अपने पद का दुरुपयोग करते हुए चेन्नई के अपने आवास पर अनधिकृत तौर पर टेलीफोन एक्सचेंज बनाया था.

सीबीआई का आरोप है कि सन टीवी जिसके मालिक मारन के भाई कलानिधि मारन हैं, को लाभ पहुंचाने के लिए सैकड़ों केबल्स का प्रयोग किया गया जिससे  डाटा ट्रांसफर किया जाता है.

2007 में मारन के स्थान पर उनकी ही पार्टी के ए राजा टेलीकॉम मंत्री बनाए गए थे. राजा पर भी 2जी घोटाले में शामिल होने का आरोप लगा. राजा पर घूस लेकर मोबाइल नेटवर्क के लाइसेंस देने के आरोप लगे हैं जिसकी जांच जारी है.

मारन ने बतौर मंत्री एयरसेल कंपनी के लाइसेंस को तब तक मंजूरी नहीं दी जब तक कंपनी ने वहां के लाइसेंस मलेशिया के एक कारोबारी को बेच नहीं दिए. इस मलेशियाई कारोबारी ने मारन के सन ग्रुप में काफी पैसा निवेश किया था.

सीबीआई द्वारा ये कहने के बाद कि मारन जांच में सहयोग नहीं कर रहे हैं, ये याचिका खारिज की गई है. अब मारन अग्रिम जमानत के लिए सुप्रीमकोर्ट में याचिका दाखिल करेंगे.

पाकिस्तान में 6.7 तीव्रता का भूकंप

पाकिस्तान का कई हिस्सा सोमवार को 6.7 तीव्रता के भूकंप से दहल उठा.

   
‘जीयो टीवी’ के मुताबिक भूकंप का केंद्र अफगानिस्तान और ताजिकिस्तान के सीमाई क्षेत्र में 200 किलोमीटर की गहराई पर था.
   
इस्लामाबाद, फैसलाबाद, मियांवली, पेशावर और सरगोडाह सहित देश के विभिन्न हिस्से में भूकंप महसूस किया गया. पाकिस्तान अधिकृत कश्मीर में भी भूकंप महसूस किया गया.
   
पाकिस्तान के किसी भी इलाके से अब तक जान माल के नुकसान की कोई खबर नहीं मिली है.

दिल्ली-एनसीआर समेत उत्तर भारत में लगे भूकंप के झटके, अफगानिस्तान की हिन्दूकुश पहाड़ियां थीं केंद्र

अफगानिस्तान के हिंदूकुश क्षेत्र में सोमवार को भूकंप का एक तेज झटका आया जिसके असर से दिल्ली और जम्मू-कश्मीर समेत उत्तर भारत के कई क्षेत्रों में भूकंप के झटके महसूस किए गए। भारतीय मौसम विज्ञान विभाग (आईएमडी) के अनुसार, अफगानिस्तान में रिक्टर पैमाने पर 6.2 तीव्रता का भूकंप का झटका दोपहर को करीब तीन बजकर पैतीस मिनट पर महसूस किया गया।

भारत में दिल्ली-एनसीआर समेत उत्तर भारत के श्रीनगर, हरियाणा और पंजाब में भी महसूस किए गए। उत्तर भारत में पांच मिनट के अंदर भूकंप के तीन झटके महसूस किए जाने से दहशत का माहौल बन गया। दोपहर 3:33 बजे से लेकर 3:38 बजे के बीच में यह झटके महसूस किए गए। भूकंप के इन झटकों के बाद लोगों में दहशत फैल गई और लोग अपने अपने कार्यालयों और घरों से बाहर आ गए।

भूकंप से अबतक किसी प्रकार के जानमाल के नुकसान की कोई खबर नहीं है। दिल्ली और एनसीआर में जब भूकंप आया, तो ऑफिसों में लोगों ने हल्के झटके महसूस किए। इसके बाद भूकंप के डर से लोग घर और ऑफिसों से बाहर निकल आए। रिक्टर स्केल पर भूकंप की तीव्रता 6.2 मापी गई है।

पाकिस्तान-अफगानिस्तान के बॉर्डर पास हिन्दूकुश की पहाड़ियों पर भूकंप का केंद्र था। भारत में यह झटके लगातार कई बार महसूस किए गए हैं। इसके पहले एक और उच्च तीव्रता का भूंकप सोमवार की सुबह करीब नौ बजकर बयालीस मिनट पर सोलोमन द्वीप पर आया था जिसकी तीव्रता रिक्टर पैमाने पर 6.7 दर्ज की गई थी। 

नेपाल में भूकंप के हल्के झटके
नेपाल में सोमवार सुबह भूकंप के हल्के झटके महसूस किए गए जिनकी तीव्रता रिक्टर पैमाने पर 4.9 मापी गई। भूकंप के कारण लोग घबराहट में अपने घरों से बाहर निकल आए।

राष्ट्रीय भूकंप केंद्र के अनुसार भूकंप का केंद्र गोरखा में था। भूकंप के केंद्र से 150 किलोमीटर पूर्व में स्थित काठमांडो में भी इसके झटके महसूस किए गए। स्थानीय लोगों के अनुसार भूकंप आने के कारण गोरखा जिले में लोग घबराहट में अपने घरों से बाहर निकल आए।

नेपाल में 25 अप्रैल को आए विनाशकारी भूकंप के बाद से पिछले 100 दिनों में चार या इससे अधिक तीव्रता वाले भूकंप बाद के कुल 375 झटके आए हैं। देश में 25 अप्रैल को आए भूकंप में करीब 9000 लोगों की मौत हो गई थी।

अफगानिस्तान के हिंदूकुश क्षेत्र में भूकंप का झटका
अफगानिस्तान के हिंदूकुश क्षेत्र में भूकंप का एक तेज झटका आया जिसके असर से दिल्ली और जम्मू कश्मीर समेत उत्तर भारत के कई क्षेत्रों में भूकंप के झटके महसूस किये गये। 

भारतीय मौसम विज्ञान विभाग (आईएमडी) के अनुसार, अफगानिस्तान में रिक्टर पैमाने पर 6.2 तीव्रता का भूकंप कर झटका दोपहर को करीब तीन बजकर पैतीस मिनट पर महसूस किया गया। भूकंप के झटके पाकिस्तान में भी महसूस किए गए। श्रीनगर और जम्मू कश्मीर के आसपास के इलाकों में भी भूकंप के झटके महसूस किए गए।

एक और उच्च तीव्रता का भूंकप आज सुबह करीब नौ बजकर बयालीस मिनट पर सोलोमन द्वीप पर आया जिसकी तीव्रता रिक्टर पैमाने पर 6.7 दर्ज की गयी।

पाकिस्तान में 6.7 तीव्रता का भूकंप
पाकिस्तान का कई हिस्सा 6.7 तीव्रता के भूकंप से दहल उठा। जियो टीवी के मुताबिक भूकंप का केंद्र अफगानिस्तान और ताजिकिस्तान के सीमाई क्षेत्र में 200 किलोमीटर की गहराई पर था। इस्लामाबाद, फैसलाबाद, मियांवली, पेशावर और सरगोडाह सहित देश के विभिन्न हिस्से में भूकंप महसूस किया गया। पाकिस्तान अधिकत कश्मीर में भी भूकंप महसूस किया गया। पाकिस्तान के किसी भी इलाके से अब तक जान माल के नुकसान की कोई खबर नहीं मिली है।

सोलोमन द्वीप के पास 6.9 तीव्रता का भूकंप
सोलोमन द्वीप के पास 6.9 तीव्रता का भूकंप आया लेकिन भूकंप प्रभावित क्षेत्र के लिए सुनामी आने की कोई चेतावनी जारी नहीं की गई है। अमेरिकी भू-वैज्ञानिक सर्वेक्षण ने यह जानकारी दी।

इस भूकंप का केंद्र राजनाधी होनियाना से 214 किलोमीटर और दादाली के दक्षिण पश्चिम में कुल 186 किलोमीटर दूर था। हवाई में स्थित प्रशांत सुनामी चेतावनी केंद्र ने भी भूकंप की तीव्रता 6.9 बताई और कहा कि प्रशांत में विनाशकारी सुनामी आने की कोई आशंका नहीं है।

ऑस्ट्रेलियाई अधिकारियों ने समुद्र के नीचे आए इस भूकंप की तीव्रता 6.8 बताई है लेकिन उन्होंने भी सुनामी की कोई आशंका नहीं जताई। जियोसाइंस के भूकंप वैज्ञानिक हयूग ग्लैनविले ने सोलोमन द्वीप के निवासियों का जिक्र करते हुए कहा कि उन्हें हजारों किलोमीटर के क्षेत्र में भूकंप के झटके महसूस हुए होंगे लेकिन इससे सुनामी आने की आशंका नहीं है। हम उम्मीद करते हैं कि इस भूकंप के कारण अधिक नुकसान नहीं हुआ होगा। 

पाकिस्तान में 6.7 तीव्रता का भूकंप

पाकिस्तान का कई हिस्सा सोमवार को 6.7 तीव्रता के भूकंप से दहल उठा.

   
‘जीयो टीवी’ के मुताबिक भूकंप का केंद्र अफगानिस्तान और ताजिकिस्तान के सीमाई क्षेत्र में 200 किलोमीटर की गहराई पर था.
   
इस्लामाबाद, फैसलाबाद, मियांवली, पेशावर और सरगोडाह सहित देश के विभिन्न हिस्से में भूकंप महसूस किया गया. पाकिस्तान अधिकृत कश्मीर में भी भूकंप महसूस किया गया.
   
पाकिस्तान के किसी भी इलाके से अब तक जान माल के नुकसान की कोई खबर नहीं मिली है.

First visit by premier in 34 years: PM Modi to visit UAE, Indians plan grand reception

Dubai:  The Indian community is planning a grand reception for Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is set to visit the UAE later this month in the first trip by an Indian premier to the country in 34 years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. AFP

According to a statement released here, the Indian Community Welfare Community (ICWC) is organising a public reception at the Dubai Cricket Stadium.

"An organising committee has been formed to make this a grand success. Transport arrangements are being made to make this a grand success," ICWC said in the statement. A website and a Facebook page have also been set up to facilitate people's visit to the site of the reception.

It was earlier learnt that Modi is likely to visit the UAE on 16-17 August, making him the first Indian prime minister to visit the country in 34 years. The last visit by then prime minister Indira Gandhi was in 1981.

According to sources here, an official announcement confirming the visit's details is expected within days from New Delhi. Modi will kick off his visit in Abu Dhabi and address the Indian community the next day in Dubai.

MoU signed: Manufacturer of iPhone to invest $5b in India

Apple is to unveil a ramped up music service in a challenge to Spotify, Pandora and other established players. PHOTO: REUTERS/ FILE

MUMBAI: Apple iPhone manufacturer Foxconn has agreed to invest $5 billion on a new plant in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, a government official said Saturday, in a major boost for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Taiwanese firm’s chairman Terry Gou signed a memorandum of understanding with Maharashtra’s chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in India’s financial capital of Mumbai.

“Extremely elated to witness the signing of $5 billion MoU between GoM (government of Maharashtra) & Foxconn with employment generation of 50,000”, Fadnavis wrote on Twitter.

The investment on the new manufacturing facility will take place over five years.

The Apple supplier, also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry, is the world’s largest computer components manufacturer and also assembles products for Sony and Nokia.

Setting up a facility in India could help cut Foxconn’s labour costs and boost sales of iPhones in a country that boasts 952 million mobile connections.

In June, Maharashtra’s industry minister Subhash Desai told AFP that Foxconn was in talks with the Indian government to build a plant in the state as the business-friendly Modi seeks to boost foreign investment in Asia’s third-largest economy.

Desai had said local officials had pitched several possible sites to the Taiwanese technology giant.

Modi swept to power at elections in May 2014 pledging to attract overseas businesses to the country as he promised to inject life into a stuttering economy.

He later launched his “Make in India” campaign which aimed to send a message to the world that India was open for business.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2015.

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Rahul Dravid refused Greg Chappell’s request to drop Sourav Ganguly in Zimbabwe in 2005: Amitabh Choudhary

Rahul Dravid, during India’s tour of Zimbabwe in 2005, had refused the request of the then coachGreg Chappell of dropping captain Sourav Ganguly from the team, the India team manager for the tour Amitabh Choudhary has recollected. The differences between Ganguly and Chappell in their time together as captain and coach, was among the most volatile moments in Indian cricket in the last decade; it ended with Ganguly’s omission and subsequent comeback to the team, and Chappell’s resignation from his role following an underwhelming tenure that ended with India’s debacle in the World Cup in 2007. READ: Sourav Ganguly’s controversy-filled cricket career captured in book

The controversy that blew to embarrassing levels started in Zimbabwe in 2005. “It happened at a training session two days before the first Test (in Bulawayo). The skipper left training midway and returned to the empty dressing room. He came back and threw himself on to a chair, visibly disgusted. I asked him what happened. Pointing at Chappell, who was on the ground overseeing the net session, Ganguly said, ‘That guy’s crazy.’ Then he told what Chappell had just said,” Choudhary, who is now Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) joint secretary, said in his speech at Xavier Institute of Social Service in Ranchi, as reported by The Times of India.

“I instantly understood what had just happened was explosive. So after pacifying Ganguly, I had a chat with his deputy Rahul Dravid. Then we walked up to the coach to tell him that dropping the skipper was beyond his jurisdiction.” READ: Sourav Ganguly: Rahul Dravid admitted that he couldn’t control Greg Chappell

Ganguly was axed from the team following that tour, and he made a return on India’s tour of South Africa in 2006-07. His solid performances with the bat in the Test series against South Africa got him a permanent spot in the Indian middle order till his retirement, when he scored 85 and 0 against Australia in 2008.

Pondicherry University will continue their protest demanding the removal of the university's Vice Chancellor Chandra Krishnamurthy

Puducherry: Hundreds of students, teachers and non-teaching staff from Pondicherry University will continue their protest demanding the removal of the university's Vice Chancellor Chandra Krishnamurthy. The students allege that the Vice Chancellor submitted a fake CV and has been poorly administering the institution.

Offices and classes have been suspended at the University since the July 27 when the protests began. Protesters have also alleged that the Ministry of Human Resource Development is turning a blind eye to the allegations against the Vice chancellor Remember, just last week 15 students were injured after police lathicharged the protesters in an attempt to disperse them.

The demonstrators also condemned the frequent unleashing of police action against the University students who were agitating in support of their charter of demands.

Volunteers of Puducherry units Activists of Student Federation of India (SFI) and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) held a joint demonstration on Sunday at the foot of Kamaraj statue urging the Centre to intervene and replace the Vice Chancellor of Pondicherry University. The demonstrators also condemned the frequent unleashing of police action against the University students who were agitating in support of their charter of demands.

They also stressed that a quota of 25 per cent should be available in each of the disciplines in the University for students belonging to the Union Territory. Saravanan of DYFI and Anand of the SFI were among those who addressed the participants.

Convenor of the Puducherry (South Wing) unit of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam R Siva has called upon Puducherry government to hold talks with the student representatives and take immediate steps to bring to an end the current agitation in the university. He said that the delay on the part of the government to hold talks with student representatives was aggravating the situation in the University.

Students, teachers of Pondicherry University protest seeking VC's removal

Puducherry: Hundreds of students, teachers and non-teaching staff from Pondicherry University will continue their protest demanding the removal of the university's Vice Chancellor Chandra Krishnamurthy. The students allege that the Vice Chancellor submitted a fake CV and has been poorly administering the institution.

Offices and classes have been suspended at the University since the July 27 when the protests began. Protesters have also alleged that the Ministry of Human Resource Development is turning a blind eye to the allegations against the Vice chancellor Remember, just last week 15 students were injured after police lathicharged the protesters in an attempt to disperse them.

The demonstrators also condemned the frequent unleashing of police action against the University students who were agitating in support of their charter of demands.

Volunteers of Puducherry units Activists of Student Federation of India (SFI) and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) held a joint demonstration on Sunday at the foot of Kamaraj statue urging the Centre to intervene and replace the Vice Chancellor of Pondicherry University. The demonstrators also condemned the frequent unleashing of police action against the University students who were agitating in support of their charter of demands.

They also stressed that a quota of 25 per cent should be available in each of the disciplines in the University for students belonging to the Union Territory. Saravanan of DYFI and Anand of the SFI were among those who addressed the participants.

Convenor of the Puducherry (South Wing) unit of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam R Siva has called upon Puducherry government to hold talks with the student representatives and take immediate steps to bring to an end the current agitation in the university. He said that the delay on the part of the government to hold talks with student representatives was aggravating the situation in the University.

Political parties support protesting Puducherry varsity students

Leader of Opposition V. Vaithilingam, PCC president A. Namassivayam and former minister Shahjahan sitting along with students of the Pondicherry University.. 

Strike enters eighth day at Pondicherry University

The indefinite strike by students of Pondicherry University demanding the removal of Vice-Chancellor Chandra Krishnamurthy entered the eighth day on Monday with political parties, including the Congress and BJP, extending support to the striking students.

Leader of Opposition V. Vaithilingam, Pradesh Congress Committee president A. Namassivayam, former Minister M.O.H.F. Shahjahan, and National Students Union of India (NSUI) secretary Sarath participated in the strike and condemned the police lathi-charge on students.

Genuine demands

PCC president A. Namassivayam said that the demands of the students were genuine and urged the Centre to settle the issue soon.

All the cases against the striking students must be withdrawn and the Government should take stringent action against police personnel who were responsible for the lathi charge.

Mr. Namassivayam said the high command had been apprised of the recent developments in the University. The VC has been embroiled in several controversies and should be immediately removed, he said.

Intervention of Centre

The Centre should intervene and take action failing which the Congress would launch a stir, he said.

Meanwhile, the general body meeting of the Pondicherry University Teachers Association, at its specially convened general body meeting, condemned the lathi charge and demanded a judicial probe into the incident.

Though the VC was embroiled in several controversies no action had been taken against her so far and she was protected by powerful forces, PUTA said.

A spokesman of PUTA said that a few staff members who are supporting the VC assaulted the students including girls who were on a peaceful protest.

While a section of them attacked from behind, the police lathi charged the students from the main gate without any provocation that too well within the campus. The general secretary of PUTA was also picked up by the police and forcibly taken to the police station.

The University administration should condemn the atrocity and explain how the administration permitted the police to enter the campus. The complaints of students and faculty members are not registered by the police.

'PUTA condemns violence

PUTA also condemned the violence unleashed against some students in the hostel by hired goons.

A section of faculty members and non-teaching staff are also trying to suppress the students movement.