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Minister says SHO, cops threatening whistleblowers, sex abuse victims

2010-10-02T14:56:00.002+05:30

Independent Media

Delhi health minister Kiran Walia has alleged that the whistleblowers in the case of sexual abuse of three minors by a cab driver are facing threat from the police. Demanding the suspension of the station house officer (SHO) of the Prasad Nagar police station, she said that she would seek intervention of the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) in the case.

Prof. Walia has also sought protection of the victims, saying that they are under threat. Infuriated by the police threats to whistle blowers Subhash Nagar and one Vijay Kumar, who came to the rescue of the victims and their mother, she urged the police commissioner to take stringent action against the alleged officials and the SHO. Cab driver Lalit Ratawal was arrested on September 17 for allegedly raping a minor girl and sodomising her two brothers for about one-and-a-half years.
In a statement released to the media, Prof. Walia said, “it is not understood that when the matter of sodomy and rape of three schoolchildren has been handed over to the crime branch, why the local police, the SHO and his men are visiting the neighbours and relatives of the victims and harassing them”.

Caste census from June to Sept. 2011: Finally india geared up for Caste devide

2010-10-02T14:55:00.000+05:30

Independent Media

The Centre will carry out the first caste-based census exercise in the country between June and September next year.
Union home minister P. Chidambaram said the government has decided that “caste will be canvassed without affecting the integrity of the head count of Census 2011”.

“Accordingly, it was decided that caste will be canvassed through a separate house-to-house survey between June and September 2011,” he said while speaking at a press conference on Friday.
Conceding the demands raised by several political parties, the Centre had last month decided to carry out a separate caste census next year. Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee had said in Parliament recently that all political parties had supported the idea of including caste in the census and that there was no need for any “apprehension” over the issue.
Mr Mukherjee’s assurance had come after leaders of the BJP, JD(U), BSP and Samajwadi Party wanted to know what had happened to the government’s promise to carry out a caste census. The group of ministers set up to examine the issue had opined that a caste census should be carried out during the house enumeration exercise.

Is India changing, slowly maturing or adjusted for Attrocites

2010-10-02T14:49:00.000+05:30

Independent Media

It is a big relief that the country as a whole has responded maturely and peacefully to the rather complicated verdict delivered on Thursday by the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on the Ayodhya title suits. Under the watchful eyes of armies of securitymen and alert administrations, cities and towns across the land by and large went on with their lives: even in so-called trouble-prone metros like Mumbai and Hyderabad it was mostly just another normal day. In fact, it almost seemed like a pacifist’s dream come true when, compared with the unseemly days of the early ’90s when the Ayodhya controversy spilt much blood on the streets. This sedate reaction did have much to do with the nature of the verdict, which had something for everyone. This ensured that disappointment and elation remained at manageable levels. While some legal brains have poked fun at the verdict as “panchayati” justice (though since when did the word ‘panchayat’ become such a slur in mostly-rural India?), the fact remains that it was clever and nuanced enough to keep extreme reactions at bay.
Praise is also due to the governments at the Centre and in the different states who, for once, coordinated and cooperated in an effective manner to ensure that things did not go out of hand. All governments, including those rules by stakeholders in the Ayodhya dispute, stayed focused on preventing trouble in the streets, and they succeeded. This makes it all the more evident that when governments decide to act effectively, they can ensure that peace is maintained even in the most trying circumstances. The political parties and religious organisations too kept their promise (though some were clearly itching for a session of chest-thumping or breast-beating) and spoke in a reasonable manner about their misgivings and or indeed satisfaction over the verdict. But all this would have come to naught if the country’s much-touted but rarely-understood aam aadmi had not cooperated. It were ordinary citizens, whose main interest always lies in making a living (unless insidiously provoked otherwise), who ensured that the verdict on the decades-old Ayodhya dispute did not trigger violence. The candid photograph of a Hindu and a Muslim in Ayodhya having a quiet laugh is a snapshot of the way India’s citizenry reacted to the verdict. They may have their opinions, and sharp ones at that, but they did not allow these to disrupt the lives of their neighbours. All this is a pointer that India might have changed, perhaps very substantially, from the early ’90s when communities eyed each other with suspicion and were ready to jump at each other’s throats at the slightest provocation. It is not that religious identities don’t have significance any more. They do. But in election after election in recent times, people have shown that what matters to them more are the “sadak-pani-bijli” issues rather than disputes about shrines. Also, a new generation has grown up after the Babri Masjid was demolished in December 1992 that subscribes more to dreams engendered by liberalisation rather than apocalyptic visions of religious fervour.

Original Copy Cats: Inspired India Cenema

2010-10-02T12:43:00.001+05:30

Independent Media

Mani ratnam.... Kamal hasan, Shankar.. thuse great ho!!!!! great Copy... You deserve Ocars for Original Copy in Movie Script, Screen play....

Who is the Culprit: Court’s verdict puts 2 mothers to agony

2010-09-30T13:59:00.000+05:30

Independent Media

Judgement did not console Ayesha'smother... why? is there any other Factors affected the Decision...

she finds fault with the Police investigation.. who are careless in FIR, and find Evidences from the Scene of Affence.. left the real victims to stay out of the investigation...

who are the people behind???

Sept. 29: The judgment in the B. Pharmacy student Ayesha Meera’s murder case left behind profound grief and agony for two mothers, belonging to poor and middle class families.

Pidatala Mariyamma, poor and physically weak woman, fainted within 10 minutes of the verdict delivered in the court on Wednesday. Mariyamma has been insisting that her son Satyambabu was innocent and did not indulge in the murder of Ayesha. But, her voiced went unnoticed either by the police or by the government. The woman has been living with her son Satyambabu and daughter Satyavati in Anasagaram village near Nandigama.

But, her life was transformed into hell with the police picking up her son in mobilephones robbery case in August 2008. Many times she alleged that police falsely implicated him in the murder case.

Finally, the court convicted him, and sentencing him for life. Ayesha Meera’s mother Shamshad Begam had undergone deep agony since December 2007 when her daughter was murdered and not been able to recover from the rude shock. She questioned why the police did not take action against the hostel management for the brutal murder of the girl on the hostel premises. She said, “I joined my daughter in the hostel with a confidence of pursuing B. Pharmacy in the local college, Ibrahimpatnam. Shamshad Begam alleged that influential Congress leader’s family members committed the heinous crime followed by rape.

She began a relentless battle to prove the guilt of the perpetrators and has been meeting the government officials, ministers, media studios and NGOs seeking justice. She, however, was disappointed with the judgment on Wednesday. “I knew the real culprits would go scot-free and innocent would be punished.”

Shamshad Begam, a resident of Tenali, admitted her daughter in the Durga Women’s Hostel in Ibrah-impatnam in 2007. Unfortunately, the girl’s life ended with brutal murder followed by rape.

Satyambabu has had an attack of G B Syndrome in 2008.

Satyam " Vadha" ... Dhramam ." Cheda"

2010-09-30T13:51:00.000+05:30

Independent Media

Ayesha murderer gets life sentence

A rare Incident In the History Indian Judicary..... basing Only 2 Scientific findings... Judgement is deliverd...

finally.. A Dalit is denied for Freedom from Injustice.. of the Elite

Sept. 29: The prime accused in B. Pharm student Ayesha Meera’s murder case, P. Satyambabu, was given life imprisonment. “He is innocent and has been implicated in the case,” said Satyambabu’s mother Mariyamma, who fainted after hearing the verdict.

Several hundred activists of Dalit organisations and representatives of civil society associations also gathered at the court premises and shouted slogans against the judgment terming it flawed. Satyambabu was brought to the court in a wheel chair in the morning amidst tight security.

The 23-year-old is suffering from GB Syndrome, which has paralysed his legs and affected his nervous system. He is being treated in NIMS, Hyderabad, for the last one year. Earlier, the additional public prosecutor, Ms G. Uma, said the convict deserved the capital punishment since he raped the girl after the murder.

The judge, who pronounced the youth guilty, took a three hour break before announcing the sentence. Satyambabu was picked up by the police on August 17, 2008, in Anasagaram village of Nandigama mandal for stealing mobile phones. The police claimed that during the course of interrogation, he confessed to murdering Ayesha Meera.
Sleuths collected fingerprints, DNA samples, papers with the handwriting of Satyambabu and circumstantial evidence and produced it in the court. More than 34 witnesses were examined. Ibrahimpatnam police had earlier arrested one Gurvinder Singh alias Laddu of Vijayawada suspecting his involvement in the murder. However, police later dropped the case against him because of the hue and cry raised by civil society organisations.

“Today’s verdict has pained the mother of Ayesha Meera as well as the mother of Satyambabu,” said the advocate, Ms V.V.N. Rajya Lakshmi. “Such verdicts will damage the credibility of the judiciary.” She added that the forensic report in the case was issued by an official who was caught by the anti-corruption bureau while accepting bribe in Hyderabad very recently.

“Police presented fabricated evidence to punish the innocent and save the culprits,” she said. The defence lawyer, Mr P Srinivas, said he would appeal in the High Court against the judgment.

Meanwhile, representatives of Mala Mahanadu, OPDR, Sree Vimukthi, PDSU, PDSO, Mala Sankshema Sangham, Rytu Coolie Sangham and Andhra Pradesh Mahila Samaakhya present at the court premises shouted slogans criticising the verdict. A Dalit activist B. Rama Prasad also climbed the gate of the court main gate and closed it to express his protest. “A poor Dalit has been implicated in the case while the real culprits have escaped,” he said.

Superstar Rajinikanth's younger daughter Soundarya tied the knot with Ashwin

2010-09-04T00:34:00.000+05:30

Independent Media

Superstar Rajinikanth's younger daughter Soundarya tied the knot with Ashwin, a Chennai based entrepreneur at a high profile ceremony at Rani Meyammai Hall in Chennai today.

Sex scandal in telugu film Industry:Actors found in city brothel houses

2010-08-24T09:28:00.001+05:30

Independent Media

Sex scandal in telugu film Industry:Actors found in city brothel

2010-08-24T09:07:00.000+05:30

Independent Media

Hyderabad, Aug. 23: Police “rescued” film actors Saira Banu and L. Jyothi, who were apparently involved in a sex racket, in a sting operation on Sunday night. A film producer and other film personnel were arrested among others.

The duo — termed as “sex workers” in the remand report diary —were produced in court and made witnesses in the case and later released. Both denied that they were involved in the racket.

The police also found cell phone numbers of several film stars and politicians from the call logs of the witnesses and accused.

Saira Banu has acted in films like Bommarillu, a superhit, Aarojay, 100 crores, Tic, Tic, Tic and Inkosari. Jyothi has acted in Pellam Urelithe, Andaru Dongale, Evari Gola Varide. Saira was also a TV anchor for some time.

Task Force police raided Spring Heaven Apartments at Umanagar area of Kundanbagh on Sunday night and arrested six people including a film producer, Juvvala Raju. and an Uzbekistan woman identified as Sabrina Baeriddinova Shodmo-nava, 25. Raju, 35, has produced two Kannada films including L Board that was later remade into Telugu.

The other persons arrested were R. Veeranna, 39, a costume designer from Yellareddyguda, K. Ravi Chandu, 29, artist coordinator from Kukatpally, Neelamani, 48, a maid servant, and Narasimha Murthy, the driver

Andhra Pradesh Ousted Vice-chancellor may face criminal proceedings

2010-08-05T08:09:00.000+05:30

Independent Media

Andhra pradesh: The state government is contemplating to initiate criminal proceedings against sacked vice-chancellor of Sri Krishnadevaraya University (SKU) P. Kusuma Kumari as per the report submitted by retired high court judge A. Hanumanthu.

It may be mentioned here that the state government had ordered a single member judicial inquiry committee chaired by judge A. Hanumanthu to probe into the irregularities allegedly committed by Kusuma Kumari in the recruitment of 23 assistant professors by flouting the AP Universities Act in March.

Apart from illegal appointments, the judge found that Kusuma Kumari had failed to place the report against K. Chiranjeevi Reddy before executive council members.

Chiranjeevi Reddy, correspondent of Suseela College of Education, was found guilty when the SKU dean of UG exams, Prof. S. Shankar Naik, caught him redhanded while writing the B.Ed examination on behalf of Chiranjeevi Reddy at the latter’s college in August 2008.

The three-member probe committee appointed by SKU authorities confirmed that it was a clear case of impersonation. A criminal case was also filed against him in Anantapur rural police station.

Justice Hanumanthu found that Kusuma Kumari had failed to take action against Chiranjeevi Reddy. Government is also considering prosecuting her for committing many financial irregularities in her day-to-day administration. It will also initiate prosecution for committing illegality in appointing three persons in the Centre for social exclusion and inclusive policy which is more than notified under the 11th plan scheme.

Meanwhile, Kusuma Kumari and 23 assistant professors who secured jobs in the recruitment drive, are planning to move court against government’s decision.

Highly placed sources in the higher education department said that the sacking of Kusuma Kumari was a warning to other tainted professors in various universities and Chancellor, Mr E.S.L. Narasimhan, who was determined to free universities from politics and irregularities, would initiate probe committees against the Rayalaseema University and Dravidian University for offering Ph.D courses in the distant mode without the UGC’s consent besides other financial irregularities.

It is learnt that a similar probe would be started against Kakatiya University authorities for allegedly appointing Warangal MP Siricilla Rajaiah’s wife Madhavi as an assistant professor, flouting norms. Tainted university officials are lobbying through ruling party leaders to obstruct probe committees against them.

Vidya to star with Ajay and Anil

2010-08-05T08:06:00.000+05:30

Independent Media

Priyadarshan is so impressed with Vidya Balan that he plans to cast her in yet another adventure flick. Our source said, “Vidya shot for an ad recently with Priyadarshan. The two met after a long time and had lot of catching up to do. That is when he broached the topic of this film where he wanted to cast her in the lead. Ratan Jain is the producer of the film.”

If all goes well, Anil Kapoor and Ajay Devgn will play the male leads in this film that is yet to be titled. “But Vidya’s role will be special, the details of which are being worked out. Ever since they did Bhool Bhulaiyya, Priyan has been wanting to work with Vidya again. He is hoping to start the film soon.”

Priyadarshan is currently looking forward to the release of his Ajay Devgn, Akshaye Khanna and Bipasha Basu starrer Aakrosh

Sajid khan to work with SRK, Akki

2010-08-05T08:05:00.000+05:30

Independent Media

Secure in the knowledge that his sophomore effort, Housefull (Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Riteish Deshmukh, Lara Dutta) opened to full houses, Sajid Khan has re-entered the television arena. But he underlines the fact that his passion for films is alive and kicking.

“After my film Housefull, I am working on two scripts. The first of the two films will go on the floors by March or April 2011,” reveals Sajid.

The motormouth director also reveals, “One of the two films will be an action-packed film — something one does not expect from Sajid (interestingly, he speaks about himself in the third person). The film is going to be very entertaining. The other film will have the Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh jodi and will be produced by Sajid Nadiadwala.”

But Sajid has even grander plans up his sleeve. He had made Shah Rukh perform a special dance item in his film, Heyy Babyy. He says, “My dream is to bring Akshay Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan together in a film. If SRK agrees, I would love to direct both of them in my film.

Shah Rukh Khan and Bhansali patch up again

2010-08-05T08:04:00.000+05:30

Independent Media

All is finally well between Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Shah Rukh Khan. After the much talked about war between SRK and Bhansali when their films On Shanti Om and Saawariya clashed at the box office, they shared cold vibes. Both of them tried to put the other down and the once-close director and actor were no longer friends. Although SRK won the war with Om Shanti Om proving to be a huge hit while Saawariya turned out to be a box office dud, they have moved on since. Now Bhansali’s promos of Guzaarish will be released in the theatres along with We Are Family.

Our sources said, “It all started with SRK and Bhansali breaking the ice when they came face to face at a suburban studio. Bhansali was shooting for Guzaarish while SRK was at the studio for an ad film. After that Farah Khan met up with Bhansali and they had a long chat. Farah even sent biryani to Bhansali as it is one of his favourite foods. Now SRK’s closest friend Karan Johar will include the promos of Bhansali’s Hrithik-Aishwarya Rai starrer in We Are Family which releases on September 3. It means that finally relations are back to being cordial between the Khan camp and Bhansali.”

Let’s hope that all remains well and Bhansali and SRK come together for another magnum opus like Devdas.

Centre prepares Bill to protect whistleblowers: RTI affect

2010-08-05T08:02:00.000+05:30

Independent Media

The government is ready with a draft Bill, which aims to protect whistleblowers who raise the alarm over corruption in Central government ministries and offices, and agencies or institutions under them. The draft legislation, which is called ‘The Public Interest Disclosure (Protection of Informers) Bill 2010’, is high on the agenda of the Union Cabinet at its meeting here on Thursday.

Sources said the Cabinet, which will meet on Thursday, is likely to consider the proposal of the department of public grievances to enact a law to protect whistleblowers. A source said: “The draft law — The Public Interest Disclosure (Protection of Informers) Bill 2010 — is high on the agenda of the Cabinet meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.”

The agenda note says provision will be made in the Bill to make the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) the designated authority to which complaints against any Central government employee or Central government-backed institution can be made by whistleblowers, and adequate protection will be provided.

The Bill, if cleared by the Cabinet and thereafter passed by Parliament, will go a long way in helping those who who make public interest disclosures, sources said.

Congress sends stern warning to dissidents AP ; Surekha faces music

2010-08-05T08:00:00.002+05:30

Independent Media

In a loud and clear message to the Kadapa MP, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Congress high command on Wednesday decided to initiate disciplinary action against his diehard loyalist and MLA, Ms Konda Surekha, for her outburst against the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah.

The AICC has asked the PCC disciplinary committee chairman, Mr Kantei Suryanarayana Raju, to issue a show-cause notice to Ms Surekha, MLA from Parakala and former minister, asking why action should not be taken against her for her critical remarks on the party and its leaders.

Ms Konda Surekha, who resigned last year addressed a media conference on Tuesday at which she described the functioning of the state government as awful.

“We will give her a week to reply and we will decide the next course of action after going through her reply,’’ said Mr Raju.

Earlier, the AICC had suspended the former MLA, Mr Ambati Rambabu, from the party and had removed Mr Gattu Ramachandra Rao from the post of general secretary of the AP Congress Kisan Cell.

Meanwhile, Jagan said in Kakinada on the concluding day of his Odarpu tour that he was pained at the action being taken on loyalists of his father YSR for no fault of theirs. He added that he was “fast losing patience”

Divorce to be made easier in India

2010-08-05T07:58:00.002+05:30

Independent Media

A Bill seeking to make divorce easier in case of “irretrievable breakdown of marriage” was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

The Marriage Laws (Amendment) Bill, moved by the Union law minister, Mr M. Veerappa Moily, aims at mitigating hardships by allowing divorce in cases of complete failure of marriages.

At present, the petition for a divorce on the ground of mutual consent could be presented by the spouses together before the court under the Hindu Marriage Act 1955, and the Special Marriage Act 1954.

While both parties have to move a motion jointly before the court between six and 18 months of the original petition, it has been observed in several cases that one of them does not turn up.

This leads parties desirous of obtaining decree of divorce hapless and remediless.

In order to mitigate such hardships and to allow divorce in cases of complete failure of such marriages, the Bill seeks to amend the Hindu Marriage Act and the Special Marriage Act.

The condition of moving the motion before the court subsequent to the first petition would be done away with, it said.

However, in case the wife happens to be the respondent to the petition, she is entitled to oppose it on the ground that the dissolution of marriage would result in grave financial hardship to her.

Coach Kaushik told me it's good to have sex: Ranjitha

2010-07-24T07:36:00.000+05:30

Independent Media

Times Now spoke with T S Ranjitha, who was allegedly sexually harassed by coach M K Kaushik. Excerpts from her statement to the TV channel.

“One day during the camp in Bhopal, Kaushik sir called me to his room and asked me whether I have had sex. I was quiet for a while, then he said it's good to have sex. Then I told my senior that Kaushik sir spoke to me in a disgusting manner. Still I remained quiet. Kaushik sir used to have one-on-one meetings with everybody for 10-15 minutes, but with me he used to always take an hour. He used to repeatedly say that I am beautiful. Can I talk to you whenever I feel like? And this kind of a conversation used to take place very often. One day it just went out of limit. During our tour to China one night, he called me to his room and started talking about my game. Soon he started talking about all sorts of things. He said you are pretty, you stay in Mumbai alone, you must be having a lot of fun. He even said that he was available 24 hours for me. He did not say it once or twice, he repeated it at least 5 times and that too pointing at the bed. I always thought he would stop on his own. I kept forgiving him. He was about to go to Germany, and he asked me tell me if you want something from there. He even offered me something another team member had asked for, saying that if I wanted it I should meet him the next day....”

Maharashtra tricks TD men to board aircraft: Marta politics

2010-07-21T16:57:00.000+05:30

Independent Media

On Tuesday morning, the Maharashtra police scuffled with the TD MLAs and forcibly shifted them to a van which sped to Aurangabad. It was believed that they were being taken to a jail but in the end, it turned out to be a tactic of the Maharashtra government to pack them off to Hyderabad.

When the entourage was near Aurangabad, the Nanded superintendent of police filed a petition before the magistrate who sentenced them to judicial remand stating all cases booked against were withdrawn.

The Maharashtra government also kept an aircraft ready and deployed a huge contingent of police around the airport before the convoy carrying the TD leaders reached the airport at 7.30 pm after a gruelling seven-hour journey.

However, Mr Naidu and his MLAs created a scene at the Aurangabad airport for over an hour, staging a dharna on tarmac and refusing to board the flight No IC 021. They raised slogans against Maharashtra government and police.

“Our demands are genuine and our stand is correct,” Mr Naidu said. “Police harassed us and also beat up my MLAs. Why did you bring us to the airport? You were supposed to take us to jail.”

He accused the police of playing with the lives of the TD MLAs who had taken ill because of the stay at the ITI centre.

Police pleaded with Mr Naidu to get into the aircraft since the situation outside was tense. Pro-Babli irrigation project groups and Shiv Sainiks had reportedly gathered at the Aurangabad jail, where Mr Naidu and his team were supposed to be brought.

When all attempts to persuade Mr Naidu and his team failed, police swooped on them and forcibly pushed them into the plane.

“We won’t leave Maharashtra before seeing the
Babli project,” Mr Naidu told this correspondent. “We have a clear right over the waters. Maharashtra is stealing the state’s waters. We will continue our agitation till the Centre and State governments protect Andhra Pradesh’s interests,” Mr Naidu said.

Rama Raju got bail as records were safe: Satyam saga continious

2010-07-21T16:54:00.000+05:30

Independent Media

Justice Raja Elango took into consideration the arguments on behalf of Rama Raju, Vadlamani Srinivas, G. Ramakrishna, Ch. Srisailam and D. Venkatpathy Raju in the Satyam fraud case that they would not be able to tamper with the records as most of the documents were with the court. Justice Elango ruled that the accused should submit two sureties of Rs 20 lakh each and they present themselves before the investigating officer every day. Ramalinga Raju’s bail plea was rejected by the SC and the HC.

However, the HC granted bail to Pricewaterhouse auditor S. Gopalakrishnan and former internal auditor Prabhakar Gupta a week ago. A lower court in March 2009 granted anticipatory bail to B. Suryanarayana Raju, another brother of Ramalinga Raju.

Sex scandal rocks Indian hockey; coach resigns

2010-07-21T16:51:00.000+05:30

Independent Media

Rattled by allegations of sexual harassment, Indian women's hockey coach M.K. Kaushik on Wednesday withdrew from the team's upcoming tours even as Hockey India sacked the videographer Basavraj whose photographs with a prostitute plunged the game into a moral crisis.

Kaushik has withdrawn himself from the Asian Champions Trophy in Korea from July 27 pending an inquiry into the sex scandal by a four-member panel comprising Rajiv Mehta (chairman), former players Zafar Iqbal and Ajit Pal Singh and Sudharsan Pathak.
"I must talk to the coach and the girl who has made the allegations of sexual harassment separately. Kaushik has withdrawn his name because he wants his name to be cleared," HI president Vidya Stokes said.
"In the meanwhile, the assistant coach will travel with the team. Hopefully, everything would be sorted out by today," she said.
"We will have to look for a new coach and that would be done after consulting the Sports Authority of India," added HI's Secretary General Narinder Batra.
HI will also form a five-member committee as per Supreme Court guidelines on sexual harassment cases.
"As per the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court, we will have a panel in which at least half or more than half the members would be women. This would be done by tomorrow and hopefully it would give its recommendations before next month's World Cup in Argentina so that we can either have a new coach or reinstate Kaushik if he is found innocent," Batra said.
Batra said he received an anonymous mail on last Friday, in which allegations had been levelled against Basavraj for having been involved with prostitutes during the tours of Canada and China.
He said five photographs of the videographer with the prostitutes had also been mailed to him. Batra said the Sport Ministry has been apprised of the complaints.
"The inquiry committee was constituted soon after I got a mail from the hockey team. After a meeting on July 19, it was decided that the videographer should be suspended and the rest of staff against whom the allegations have been made should be issued notices," he said.
"The videographer is basically a SAI employee and it is upto them now, how they want to act against him. On our part we have sacked him," Batra said.
Asked what punishment HI would hand out to the coaching staff if found guilty, Batra said, "The best we can do is impose life bans but if we can take up the matter with the police and take it to the logical conclusion, we can do that as well."
Kaushik will attend the probe panel's meeting this afternoon.
Meanwhile, the defunct Indian Hockey Federation chief K.P.S. Gill said HI was trying to hush up the matter.
"There should be a proper police inquiry into it. The Supreme Court has stated that whenever a lady makes a sexual harassment allegations, her complaint should be taken on face value," he said.
"This inquiry is an eyewash. It should be handed over to the police. I know these people, at the end of the inquiry they will come out and say, nothing happened," he alleged

Gay Activists Arrested in Reid Protest on Vegas Strip

2010-07-21T16:42:00.000+05:30

Independent Media

AS VEGAS (July 20) -- In a rare incidence of civil disobedience in this destination's tourism corridor, eight activists protesting Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's inaction on gay rights legislation were arrested for blocking traffic at one of the Strip's busiest intersections today.

As they were being handcuffed and taken to police cars, the eight continued to chant that the Nevada Democrat had broken several vows to bring theEmployment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) to a vote. The act would bar workplace discrimination against people based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

"We're being arrested because gay and transgender people in America are being denied their equal rights," shouted Lt. Dan Choi to passers-by as he was led in handcuffs to a spot near the front driveway of the New York-New York Hotel-Casino. "I want you to remember that as you hang out in Las Vegas today."

The protesters were booked on one count each of blocking the roadway and obstructing a police officer, both misdemeanors punishable with a fine. They expected to post $400 bail a piece and be released by dinnertime, a GetEQUAL spokeswoman told AOL News.

The protest began about 1 p.m. in a grueling 106-degree heat when members of the gay rights group GetEQUAL unfurled a banner reading "REID: PASS ENDA NOW" on a pedestrian walkway that crosses over the Strip and connects the New York-New York to the MGM Grand casinos. Minutes later, other protesters walked into the street and held up a banner that read "REID NO ONE CAN DO MORE" and that spanned four lanes of traffic.

Several motorists became irate, including a limousine driver who got out to scream at protesters, but there was no violence.

"This does not happen very much at all," Las Vegas Metro Police spokeswoman Barbara Morgan said. "The last one I can remember was 15 years ago and, honestly, I can't remember what it was for."

In all, about 20 GetEQUAL activists participated, primarily people from out of state who are in Las Vegas for Netroots Nation, a convention this of liberal bloggers and activists. In addition to those standing on the pedestrian crosswalk and in the street, other protesters chanted and carried signs at the base of the scale model of the Statue of Liberty that stands sentry outside the New York-New York resort.

Reid, Nevada's senior senator, is facing a tough re-election battle against tea party idol Sharron Angle, a Republican who opposes any laws promoting gay civil rights. Reid is scheduled to speak Saturday at Netroots Nation, where GetEQUAL organizer Paul Yandura vowed he will be asked to explain why ENDA has not been brought for a vote.

"This not is about anyone else but Harry Reid and him standing up to the promises that he's already made for the community," Yandura said. "Later today, we're putting up a timeline and showing that for the last year, every month we've been told it was coming up for a vote and then it didn't. It's really not about him and his Republican opponent, it's about him standing up."

Reid spokesman Thomas Brede did not address why the bill has not come up for a vote but provided AOL News with this statement: "Sen. Reid supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and believes that employment decisions should be based only on relevant matters such as performance, ability and conduct in the workplace."

The fact that such events are unusual for Las Vegas may help explain why police took 20 minutes to arrive and remove protesters. Morgan said her records show the call came in at 1:08 p.m. and bike patrol cops arrived at 1:14 p.m., but eyewitnesses' time-stamped Twitter dispatches and photosshow police did not enter the roadway to deal with the situation until at least 1:25 p.m.

The lag amused protesters but alarmed local gay activist Chris Miller.

"My concern is that as a citizen of Las Vegas, what if that was a terrorist in the middle of the street?" Miller said. "Would it have taken them as long to get out here?"

Several of those arrested are veterans of civil disobedience actions. Choi was arrested in March for chaining himself to the White House fence to protest President Barack Obama's failure at the time to end the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Another activist, Jimmy Gruender, was arrested in a sit-in at Sen. John McCain's office to highlight the military policy.

Today's action focused attention on Nevada, which has a mixed record on gay rights. The state barred same-sex marriage in 2002 but in 2009 created a same-sex domestic partnership registry that bestows all the same state benefits of marriage to gay couples.

In 1999, Nevada became the 11th state to pass a statewide ENDA law, and most Las Vegas casino companies have had such policies for years. In fact, MGM Resorts International, owner of both the MGM Grand and New York-New York, was the first on the Strip to provide health benefits to the same-sex partners of employees. The company heavily markets the New York-New York hotel as a gay-friendly destination.

Still, the Vegas backdrop was good for publicity, said Michelle Wright, GetEQUAL's liaison between the police and protesters.

"I feel like it was successful because people stopped on the pedestrian crosswalk," she said. "Even if it starts them questioning what is ENDA and gets them to look it up online to find out what the heck happened, then that's a victory."

16 legislators suspended from Bihar assembly

2010-07-21T16:34:00.002+05:30

Independent Media

Patna, July 21 (IANS) Sixteen opposition legislators in Bihar were suspended for unruly behaviour in the assembly Wednesday, prompting a member to hurl a shoe at the speaker.

Speaker Uday Narain Choudhary suspended the 16, mostly from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), while they demanded Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's resignation over alleged financial irregularities.

The assembly opened to fresh protests at 11 a.m. after being adjourned Tuesday afternoon following clashes between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and opposition members.

The opposition members trooped towards the speaker, shouted slogans against their suspension and demanded the resignation of Nitish Kumar. A member even hurled a sandal at the speaker.

The suspension will remain effective during the ongoing monsoon session till July 24.

Protests continued outside the house also. A woman legislator created ruckus by breaking flower pots in the premises.

On Tuesday, 14 opposition members of the Bihar Legislative Council were suspended for their unruly behaviour in the house during their protest against alleged financial irregularities.

RJD-LJP workers Wednesday morning burnt an effigy of Nitish Kumar in front of the main gate of the state assembly and continued their protest.

Seventy-six legislators continued their overnight sit-in inside the state assembly and three protested outside the main gate.

RJD state president and legislator Abdul Bari Siddiqui told IANS over the phone that opposition members spent the night in the assembly while protesting the attack on them by ruling members.

LJP legislator Maheshwar Singh, who spent the night outside the assembly premises, said Nitish Kumar behaved like a dictator by trying to suppress the voices of opposition members who raised the issue of his involvement in looting of crores of rupees.

Nitish Kumar is among the 47 people named in a complaint alleging irregularities of Rs.11,412 crore. Petitioner Arvind Kumar pointed to financial irregularities in the use of development funds during 2002-2008 in Bihar.

The Patna High Court has ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged financial irregularities, a decision the state government has appealed against.

Congress woman flings flower pots:Bihar Assembly in chaos

2010-07-21T16:33:00.000+05:30

Independent Media

Patna, July 21 (ANI): Amid chaotic secenes in the Bihar Assembly, Jyoti Singh, a woman MLC belonging to the Congress, threw several flower pots around, as the Opposition continued with their protests demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after a CAG report alleged financial irregularities in the State.

Bihar Assembly Speaker Udai Narain Choudhry suspended 67 Opposition MLAs on Wednesday for the rest of the session for their unruly behaviour in the House.

The MLAs were marshalled out of the house by the watch and ward staff after a slipper was thrown at the podium of the Speaker.

Those suspended included ten RJD MLAs, two from LJP, one each from the CPIM and CPI-ML and two independents.

The proposal to seek the suspension of the MLAs was brought in the House by state parliamentary affairs in-charge Brijendra Prasad Yadav, which was passed by voice vote amid protests by opposition members.

On Tuesday, the Opposition attacked - physically and verbally - members of the government, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and his deputy, Sushil Kumar Modi over the Patna High Court order for CBI probe into an alleged financial irregularities in development schemes.

"We will not lift the agitation till this corrupt government resigns," said RJD deputy leader in the Assembly Shakeel Ahmad Khan.

He said that the agitation in both the Houses would continue till the demand was met.

On Monday, the state government sought a stay on the Patna High Court order for a CBI probe into alleged financial irregularities in development schemes from 2002 to 2008, pleading that CAG report on the issue was pending for "consideration" before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the state assembly.

The CAG report was presented in the state assembly on July 14, 2009 after the approval of the state governor and subsequently, referred to Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the house for consideration. (ANI)

Saif to marry Kareena in a year

2010-07-20T21:44:00.000+05:30

Independent Media

Saif Ali Khan hates the casanova’s tag and longs for a steady healthy relationship with his partner. When Saif’s career started rocketing, he left wife Amrita Singh and fell for Italian model Roza. When Roza parted ways, Saif was seen a lot with Bipasha. There were rumours that something was on between Saif and Yana Gupta.

And now Kareena’s in his the latest entrant in his life.

According to a close buddy of Saif, “He has found his true mate in Kareena and the two of them plan to marry each other in a year. Saif does not want to stay this way.”

TD president N. Chandrababu Naidu, right, interacts with a policeman as other party members sit around, during a protest against the Babli project

2010-07-20T20:06:00.000+05:30

Independent Media

TD president N. Chandrababu Naidu, right, interacts with a policeman as other party members sit around, during a protest against the Babli project in Dharmabad, Maharashtra on Monday evening.— AP