Wednesday, 31 May 2017

Protestors challenge cow rakshaks by openly eating beef in Chennai

Attack on IIT’s PhD scholar by students allegedly affiliated with Right wing bodies led to protest

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The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras on Wednesday witnessed protests against the attack on an institution’s research scholar who participated in the beef fest on the campus on Sunday. A group of protestors challenged cow rakshaks (vigilantes) by openly eating beef during the protest.
Various students of Revolutionary Student Youth Front (RSYF), Student Campus.
While other student bodies raised slogans against Narendra Modi led Union Government’s order and demanded arrest of the students who allegedly attacked Sooraj, activists of the TPDK went a step ahead and openly ate beef during the protest.
A TPDK protestor told ANI that “Students wings affiliated with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have brutally beaten one of the students of this institution. We condemn this dastardly act. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) is indulging in terrorist act and the attackers must be booked under Goonda act.”
He added that ‘beef eating act’ was a way to put forward their demand.
“Eating beef is tradition of Tamil people and nobody can change this.
s Federation of India (SFI), Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle (APSC), and activists of Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) protested near IIT-Madras gate against attack on an IIT Madras research scholar by some Right wing students for participating in beef fest.
Sooraj R- a PhD scholar and a member of Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle (APSC) was allegedly attacked on Tuesday by some students, who are allegedly affiliated with Right wing student bodies.
However, the police detained the protestors before they could enter the
Therefore, we demand the revocation of Centre’s ruling on the sale of cattle ban.”
Other protestor alleged that the police were unleashing violence against the protestors.
“Police have unleashed violence against protesters. They are beating us mercilessly. Is this a democracy? Do we not have right to speak, right to protest?
He also equated drinking cow urine practice with the practice of beef eating in Tamil Nadu.
“With regard to consumption of  beef  as the union government headed by BJP believes in drinking of urine, in the same lines, slaughtering cow and eating its beef is our tradition. We may eat beef or we eat something else, who are these people to stop or question us?” (READ MORE)

India GDP to grow faster in FY18 at 7.5%: Moody's

Moody's said the inflation rate in India has steadily declined to 3 per cent as of April

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The Indian economy will grow at 7.5 per cent in the current fiscal, which rate will accelerate to 8 per cent in about four years, US rating agency Moody's said on Wednesday ahead of the release of GDP figures for 2016-17 later in the day.
"We expect marginally faster growth in India. According to our forecast the economy will grow 7.5 per cent in fiscal year 2017 (2017-18) and 7.7 per cent in fiscal year 2018 (2018-19)," Moody's Investors Service said in its Global Macro Outlook.
"Overall, we continue to believe that economic growth will gradually accelerate to around 8 per cent over the next three to four years," it said,
The American agency also said that the negative impact of the November 8 demonetisation of high-value currency on the economy was limited in size and duration.
"The ruling BJP's victory in the Uttar Pradesh state elections indicates that the government has remained politically popular despite the demonetisation exercise," the report said.
The government has pushed through major reforms like further liberalising foreign direct investment (FDI) rules in a number of key sectors, the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme for food, fertiliser and kerosene subsidies, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and a National Bankruptcy Code.
"Together, these will help reduce inefficiencies and improve trend growth over the long run," Moody's said.
The rating agency, however, cautioned that "persistent banking sector weakness from a high proportion of delinquent loans on bank balance sheets will weigh on growth, if not resolved, by constraining credit for investment-related activity".
"Private sector investment has remained weak despite progress on reforms, suggesting that some hurdles to investment remain binding in many cases."
Moody's said the inflation rate in India has steadily declined to 3 per cent as of April, owing to weaker food price inflation.
"We believe that the inflation rate will rise to around 5 per cent by the end of this year, once the effect of this temporary factor fades," it said. | READMORE...

Monday, 29 May 2017

Smartron srt.phone: A fine deal if you are a die-hard Sachin Tendulkar fan

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Domestic information technology (IT) start-up Smartron, which counts Indian cricket legend Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar and former Motorola Mobility Chief Executive Sanjay Jha among its investors, recently launched the srt.phone smartphone, “inspired by the dependable traits of Tendulkar”.

At the launch of srt.phone, the company claimed that the smartphone used the best antennas and other security features that made it an all-rounder. Indeed, Smartron has pleased investors with its manoeuvres to deliver solutions ranging from internet of things (IoT) to smartphones built specifically for Indian consumers. But how does the srt.phone fare against the claims of dependability and the inspiration it apparently draws from one of the tallest role models for India in recent times? Read More

Modi govt’s new restrictions on cattle slaughter will hurt farmers the most

The government’s move will lead to an explosion in the number of ‘stray’ cattle

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Gazette No. 396, issued by the Government of India on May 23 and titled the ‘Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017’, promises to be the final death knell of cattle and buffaloes in India, and along with them, the destruction of what little remains of a dignified life and livelihood for farmers.
This completely innocuous sounding amendment, issued under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act – a Central law – imposes in section 22 a set of ‘Restrictions on sale of cattle’. These require the owner of cattle being brought to the market for sale, in other words the farmer, to produce and submit to the Animal Market Committee a written declaration stating that “the cattle has not been brought to the market for sale for slaughter”. In turn, the buyer of the animal has to undertake “that the animal is being bought for agriculture purposes and not slaughter”
The committee will further keep records of the sale of animals to ensure they are not resold within six months of purchase. They will also keep ID records of the buyer, seller and animal.
The rules defines ‘cattle’ to mean “cow, calf, bull, bullock, buffalo, heifer, steer and camel”.
By equating ‘slaughter’ with cruelty and criminalising the trade and transportation of animals for slaughter at animal markets as an act of cruelty, the Central government has effectively enforced a country-wide ban on the slaughter of buffaloes and cattle, and the consumption of beef, despite statements of denial from the environment minister.
Animal markets are crucial nuclei of the production cycle of animals, through which animals pass from farmers to others and vice-versa. These new rules effectively choke the free movement of animals via the market space and, more critically, completely undermine the freedom and rights of farmers, traders and all others whose livelihoods are linked to this production cycle, which ultimately is what sustains cattle and buffaloes of this country.
The right of farmers to life and livelihood is at stake: their dairy livelihoods and bullock-based agricultural livelihoods stand to be completely destroyed with this cruel law – cruel for farmers and cruel for animals.| READ MORE….

Sunday, 28 May 2017

Sachin: A Billion Dreams: A glorified account of an over-glorified celeb

Like his book, Tendulkar's biopic is a nostalgic cruise through his career

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As I walked out of the cinema hall after watching Sachin: A Billion Dreams, I wondered: Would I have thought differently of this biopic had I not known anything about the person it is based on? James Erskine’s documentary on one of the most celebrated cricketers in the world – one who has achieved a near-deific status in India – went along expected lines.
But was that because I, like many Indians and cricket followers around the world, already knew so much about Sachin Tendulkar? How would someone living under a rock for the last quarter of a century, and did not know who Tendulkar was, have liked it?
Sachin: A Billion Dreams starts off rather nicely, showing us a naughty curly-haired boy of seven or eight years living in Mumbai’s Bandra suburb, getting up to the usual seven-or-eight-year-old boy things like annoying his neighbours with pranks. The boy then receives a cricket bat as a gift from his elder sister, and this is where the story that most Indians and cricket followers already know begins.
The same old path

Sachin: A Billion Dreams goes down the same path as the two other biopics on Indian cricketers that were released in the last year – MS Dhoni: An Untold Story, and Azhar. The only difference is that Sachin is a documentary which features the cricketer himself – he is not played by actors. Obviously backed by Tendulkar, just like the two other biopics were supported by the cricketers they were based on, Sachin: A Billion Dreams is a glorified account of an already over-glorified celebrity.
All in all, this biopic is a celluloid version of Tendulkar’s autobiography, Playing It My Way. What was one of the most awaited sports autobiographies of all time, the book turned out to be a damp squib. It just about managed to tell you a few stories you did not already know about India’s most popular cricketer, it briefly touched upon his personal relationships with his family and friends, but otherwise read like a recital of scorecards of the matches he played, and refrained from going too deep into controversial subjects.
Politically correct
Tendulkar has been so overtly politically correct throughout his public life that is was quite surprising to see him criticise the Indian cricket board in the movie for the way it handled his captaincy. “You can take my captaincy away, but you can’t take cricket away from me,” he says, adding to the many fluffy quotes dished out throughout the movie, not just by him but also some others who have been interviewed. Among the sappiest was commentator Harsha Bhogle saying something along the lines of: Sunil Gavaskar came from a fixed-deposit generation, but Sachin’s generation believed in investing in equity.
The two individuals who have been singled out for some criticism in the movie are former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin, and Greg Chappell, who had a rather forgettable tenure as India coach. But then, Tendulkar had always made his views on Chappell clear much before the movie was released. Azharuddin, on the other hand, was criticised not for his embroilment in the match-fixing scandal, but because Tendulkar felt the Hyderabadi did not take his being appointed captain too well. |READMORE...

Friday, 26 May 2017

IT’s past, present and future: Industry and people will always be important

Layoffs have nothing to do with Trump’s visa stance; its impact will show after rules are framed

There has recently been a lot of angst about the Indian IT industry(IT LAYOFFS). The anxiety has mainly centered around two themes. First: Is the $150-billion industry, which is about 7 per cent of Indian GDP, now heading for a period of stagnation? And second: The impact of the above and other global developments such as visa restrictions on the job market for IT professionals, considering that the industry employs 4 million professionals and indirectly generates many more jobs.
The anxiety tends to breed cynicism, as witnessed by the response to a question in the Economic Times of May 15 “Are laid-off techies paying the price for IT cos’ inability to foresee the future?” A resounding 78 per cent replied “Yes”.
Even more surprising is a mast head quote in the Business Standard of May 19 from Rajat Gupta, the former head of McKinsey: “The Indian infotech industry ‘rightly’ should be in ‘panic’ mode, as it has not kept pace with rapid innovation. Code writing-testing is the most inefficient industry that existed.”
I consider both the question and response to the ET question cynical because the persons who have been let go constitute mostly between 0.5 and 1 per cent of the workforce of the larger companies, and only in the case of Cognizant it is 2-4 per cent. All these numbers are within the range of annual “weeding out” to continuously improve the quality of talent.
Rajat Gupta, for whom I otherwise have the highest regard, in my view should have known that the IT industry moved beyond cost arbitrage at the turn of the century and has progressively embraced solutions around the latest technologies. This is reflected in the fact that Indian IT industry has continued to gain market share. Here we have decline in growth, whereas some of the global leaders have had decline in revenue for multiple quarters. |READMORE…

Thursday, 25 May 2017

Devendra Fadnavis’s chopper crash-lands in Latur; CM tweets ‘I’m safe’

Went to Latur for a statewide campaign to reach out to farmers; chopper developed a technical snag
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Breaking News : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis‘ helicopter crash landed at Nilanga in Latur district on Wednesday after it suffered a snag, but he escaped unhurt.
“Our helicopter did meet with an accident in Latur but me and my team is absolutely safe and ok. Nothing to worry,” Fadnavis tweeted after the mishap.
A senior official of the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) said it was an accident and the chopper suffered substantial damage.
Fadnavis had gone to Latur in Marathwada for the BJP’s ‘Shivar Samwad Sabha’, a statewide campaign to reach out to farmers.
“I am safe. There was a minor accident involving the helicopter. People shouldn’t believe in rumours,” Fadnavis later told media persons.
The chopper developed a technical snag while taking off from the helipad at Nilanga where the chief minister had gone for an event.


“Nobody got hurt. My media advisor Ketan Pathak has suffered minor injuries. With the blessings of 11 crore people of Maharashtra, I am safe,” he told reporters at Nilanga. ReadMore…

Wednesday, 24 May 2017

Caste politics in Saharanpur: As violence escalates, Yogi suspends DM, SSP

The caste violence has led to a political slugfest with chief Mayawati putting the blame on BJP

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Fresh violence was witnessed in Saharanpur in which three persons were injured on Wednesday, prompting the government to suspend the district magistrate and the senior superintendent of police (SSP). The Divisional Commissioner and the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) were transfered in the wake of the continuing violence in this district of Uttar Pradesh which has been hit by caste-based clashes.
Mobile internet and messaging services were also suspended in the district to prevent rumour mongering. Later on Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said strong action is being taken against all those responsible for the violence and appealed for calm.
He said people should not pay heed to inflammatory speeches and should help in maintaining peace and order. Adityanath also met Governer Ram Naik late on Wednesday evening. They are understood to have discussed developments in Saharanpur.
The caste violence has led to a political slugfest with Bhaujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati putting the blame on the BJP government and a senior state minister accusing the opposition party of "shedding tears". Earlier on Wednesday, one Pradeep Chauhan was shot at in Janakpuri area by some motorcycle-borne men, superintendent of police Prabal Pratap Singh said.
Chauhan was rushed to the district hospital, from where he was referred to a speciality centre. Members of the Thakur community protested against the incident outside the district hospital. In another incident, some persons attacked two men while they were sleeping near a brick kiln in Mirzapur village, the police said.
One Nitin was shot at, while another person Yashpal was severely beaten up by the attackers, the police said. They suffered serious injuries and have been admitted to the district hospital. The police, however, said the incident could not be linked to the ongoing caste violence.
On Tuesday, a few unidentified people had set afire 12 houses of Thakurs in Shabbirpur village ahead of the arrival of BSP chief Mayawati. A mob later attacked a group of people returning from a rally of Mayawati, killing one Ashish (24), who hailed from Sarsawa town, on the spot and injuring four others. | READMORE...

Saharanpur protests herald a new phase in Uttar Pradesh’s dalit politics

BJP is making inroads among Dalits but at the same time, Dalits come together when they are attacked
1495424440-0858[People from the Dalit community hold a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Sunday]
Saharanpur, a district known for its woodcraft products in western UP, is in the news for two caste and communal incidents, involving clashes with Dalits. The ongoing Dalit Protest in the district, which has now reached the capital New Delhi, suggests a new phase in Dalit politics in UP, closely related to the declining fortunes of the BSP, and efforts by the BJP to bring the Dalits into the ambit of its more socially inclusive Hindutva strategy.
Dalit politics has been through a number of phases in UP related to the strategies pursued by the BSP and rapid social change in the state in recent decades. In the 1990s the construction of Dalit identity by BSP leaders Kanshiram and Mayawati, promoted a radical, anti-upper caste politics, demanding self-respect and dignity. The BSP was still a movement-party, a democratizing force moving downwards to mobilize the smaller and marginal Dalit sub-castes in the poorer regions of UP.
By the end of the decade two developments introduced significant change: class divisions within the community with rise in literacy and attainment of non-agricultural employment among a small better off section of the Dalits, which coincided with the weakening of identity politics and the return of a desire for development in the state. For the better-off, upwardly mobile, section of Dalits, the improvement of economic status became as important as identity and self-respect and they tended to move away from the BSP, becoming more open to parties that promised economic betterment. This shift has been more marked among the non-Jatav Dalits rather than the Jatavs who form the core constituency of the party.
The second significant change was the attempt in the 2000s by the leadership of a resurgent BJP to widen its social base and incorporate the OBCs and Dalits. While this strategy had begun in the 1990s, under Amit Shah the party began a second round of more strident experimentation with non-Brahmin Hindutva to create a ‘Maha Hindu’ identity which would enable them to both win elections and create a united Hindu force against the Muslim ‘other’. These changes have contributed to fragmentation within the Dalit community, which are visible in Saharanpur. ReadMore

Pakistan jets fly near Siachen, no violation of India's air space, says IAF

Mirage jets of PAF are part of exercises since the forward base was made operational

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Pakistani fighter jets flew near the Siachen Glacier on Wednesday, according to a media report in Islamabad, but Indian Air Force sources said there was no violation of India's air space.
Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter jets made flights near Siachen Glacier this morning, Samaa TV reported.
Quoting sources, the report said all of PAF's forward operating bases have been made fully operational.
Mirage jets of PAF are part of exercises since the forward base was made operational.
In New Delhi, IAF sources said there was no violation of India's air space.
The report came a day after the Indian Army announced that it launched "punitive fire assaults" on Pakistani positions across the Line of Control earlier this month, inflicting some damage.
Pakistan's Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman visited the forward airbase in Skardu today and flew a Mirage jet, the report said.
According to PAF, Aman met the pilots and technical staff of the fighting force. A fighter squadron carried out higher and lower altitude flights.
The Siachen glacier is the highest battleground on the earth. It is located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayan mountains where the Line of Control between India and Pakistan ends. |READMORE...

Tuesday, 23 May 2017

UK attack: 19 dead after explosion at Ariana Grande concert in Manchester

The blasts reportedly went off at the end of the concert near the box office area of the venue
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At least 19 people have been killed and 50 injured in an explosion which is treated as a “terrorist incident”, at a pop concert by US star Ariana Grande in the Manchester city in the UK Attack , police said today.
“Police were called to reports of an explosion at Manchester Arena. So far 19 people have been confirmed dead with around 50 others injured,” Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.
“This is currently being treated as a terrorist incident until police know otherwise,” the statement said.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud “bang” from inside the venue, which was playing host to a concert by American pop star Ariana Grande. Video footage from the scene showed bloodied victims being helped by emergency services.
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Grande is safe, her spokesperson said.
“It was one bang and essentially everyone from the other side of the arena where the bang was heard from suddenly came running towards us,” an eyewitness said.
The blasts reportedly went off at the end of the concert near the box office area of the venue. readmore……..
At least 19 people have been killed and 50 injured in an explosion at a pop concert by US star Ariana Grande in the Manchester city in the UK, police said on Tuesday. The explosion is being treated as a “terrorist incident”.
“Police were called to reports of an explosion at Manchester Arena. So far, 19 people have been confirmed dead with around 50 others injured,” Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.
“This is currently being treated as a terrorist incident until police know otherwise,” the statement added. Click Here

Windows smashed! Tejas Express vandalised one day before launch

According to reports, ahead of its launch on Monday, a window on the express was broken

Luxury train Tejas Express_ window damaged just before debut journey
A broken and damaged window on the new Tejas Express. Photo: Twitter (@ANI_news)
The Railways swanky Tejas Express was on Monday flagged off by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu from Chatrapati Shivaji Station in Mumbai. However, even before the country’s first high-speed and feature rich train was launched, reports emerged that it had been damaged while it was traveling from Delhi to Mumbai on Saturday.
This is just one more incident that raises the same old question: do we Indians really deserve world-class public facilities, given that we can’t seem to help ourselves when it comes to somehow blemishing them (spitting, breaking, vandalising etc.)?
According to the Financial Express, a window of the Tejas express was found to be smashed on Saturday.The incident, according to India Today, took place after the new train left the Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala on Thursday.
Speaking to India Times on Sunday, DK Sharma, general manager, Central Railways, said, “We came to know that a few glasses were damaged, but it is not a serious issue. We will correct it.”
 
ALSO READShatrughan Sinha supports Arvind Kejriwal, Lalu Prasad; Twitter war erupts“The train is expected to reach Mumbai on Saturday. Once it arrives, we will inspect it and make the necessary repairs,” Sharma added.
Here are the luxuries Tejas offers.
As reported earlier, the 20-coach modern train has one executive air conditioned (AC) chair car with 56 seats and 12 AC chair cars with 78 seats in each coach.
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tejas A look at the swanky interiors of the Tejas Express. Photo: Twitter (@sureshpprabhu)
The coaches will have tea and coffee vending machines, magazines and snacks tables. The Tejas Express is also equipped with close circuit television cameras and fire and smoke detection facilities for the security of passengers.| Read More…

Monday, 22 May 2017

Shatrughan Sinha supports Arvind Kejriwal, Lalu Prasad; Twitter war erupts

Individually I hold Arvind Kejriwal, in high esteem for his credibility, struggle: Shatrughan Sinha

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A Twitter war erupted between actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha and his BJP party colleague Sushil Kumar Modi on Monday when the former tweeted in favour of RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal saying "enough of negative politics and mudslinging".
Modi, responding to Sinha's tweet, demanded that the "enemies of the party" (Sinha) must be "removed" at the earliest.
Sinha also said he hoped and wished that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party President Amit Shah take "notice of such unparliamentary utterances of some of our party people - that too against a senior party colleague & a staunch party loyalist".
In reaction, Sinha accused Sushil Modi for the party's loss in the 2015 Bihar assembly polls saying that "those responsible for party's debacle are crying hoarse".
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"Some people who are wholly and solely responsible for our party's debacle in Bihar are today crying hoarse, hoping to regain their lost image at the cost of some senior and popular colleagues who have an impeccable image," Sinha said taking a jibe at the former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister.
He also said that positive criticism shouldn't be taken as a rebellion.
"Positive and constructive criticism should not be taken as rebellion. Instead, it should ignite a debate within the party," he said in another tweet.
"Wouldn't like to comment on utterances out of frustration and desperation made against me by some vested interests and spoilers of inner party democracy," Sinha, BJP MP from Patna Sahib, said.
He also said that sycophants criticise for the sake of criticism and get low and personal. "I pray that God should spare them for they know not what they speak," he said.
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He has backed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Kejriwal on several occasions. |READMORE...

Will Thalaiva take the plunge? Rajinikanth politics in Movie-mad Tamil Nadu

Rajinikanth’s comments to his fans were as cryptic as Kamalahaasan’s comments on state politics
Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Sharath Kumar, Vijayakanth…take your pick. In movie-mad Tamil Nadu, the transition from a film actor/director to politics is effortless. And, the latest chatter is about Rajinikanth joining politics. This is not the first time. Before the 2009 general election, a gathering of diehard Rajini fans converged at a small temple in Rajapalayam to pray that their icon get a divine message and join politics.
With the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in a shambles after Jayalalithaa’s death and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam seemingly powerless in wresting power, the state is sensing a leadership vacuum. Rajinikanth, once a bus conductor in Karnataka, who then made good in Tamil Nadu’s film industry, was supposed to meet fans from April 12 to 16. This meeting, for fans to get themselves photographed with the legendary actor, would have been the first time in 10 years that the star met his admirers personally.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called on Rajini at the latter’s residence a few days before the 2014 Lok Sabha poll. Last week, Bharatiya Janata Party national secretary H Raja said Rajini was a “popular” personality and welcome to join their party. Rajini on board the BJP will be an electoral trump card for the latter, yet to make inroads in the state.
Sensing that his fans would ask questions about political options, the April 12 meeting never happened and was postponed indefinitely, to be then held in Chennai last week, in truncated form. “Please don’t ask political questions,” he told reporters when they quizzed him about joining politics. To his fans, the actor said: “My life is in the hands of God. I’m not sure what he has in store for me. But, I will always perform the duty that he bestows on me. So, don’t feel disappointed if I don’t enter politics.” ReadMore

IPL final 2017: Mumbai Indians beat Rising Pune Supergiant; Dhoni defeated

For Mahendra Singh Dhoni, it was yet another final that ended in a defeat

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LATEST| Magnificent death bowling saw Mumbai Indians snatch an incredible one-run victory from the jaws of defeat against Rising Pune Supergiant in a thrilling grand finale of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Monday.
This was Mumbai Indians third IPL trophy in 10 editions and more special for their skipper Rohit Sharma, who is the only captain to win a hat-trick of titles. Rohit has in fact ow won four IPL titles (one for Deccan Chargers in 2009).
For Mahendra Singh Dhoni, it was yet another final that ended in a defeat — fifth in seven summit clashes.
In one of the closest finals during the 10 editions, the trio of Jasprit Bumrah (2/26 in 4 overs), Mitchell Johnson (3/26 in 4 overs) and Lasith Malinga (0/21 in 4 overs) were brilliant at the death defending a lowly total of 129/8 as Supergiant were restricted to 128 for 6 at the end.
It was Johnson, who kept his nerve during the final over where 11 runs were needed. Manoj Tiwary smacked the first one to mid-wicket boundary bringing the eqaution down to 7 from 5 balls.
However the next two deliveries turned out to be disaster with both Tiwary and skipper Steve Smith (51, 50 balls) were caught in the deep.
With four required off final ball and 3 for a Super Over, Dan Christian went for an impossible 3rd run only to be run out as Mumbai players celebrated like never before.
Credit should also be given to Bumrah and Malinga for giving away only 10 runs between them in the 17th and 18th over which suddenly increased the pressure.
While the target was an easy one, it turned out to be tricky with 47 needed off the last five overs.
With Mahendra Singh Dhoni (10) at the crease in company of Smith, the Krunal Pandya over yielded 14 runs. Dhoni square cut Krunal and then Smith played a reverse pull for a six to get 14 runs off the over.
But death overs specialist Jasprit Bumrah bowled a fuller delivery inducing a thickish edge from Dhoni to bring some cheer back in the MI camp.| READ MORE….

Sunday, 21 May 2017

Real 'Airlift' hero Matthunny Mathews dies in Kuwait

During the 1990 Gulf war Mathews had helped thousands of Indians to flee the gulf nation

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Prominent Indian businessman in Kuwait, Matthunny Mathews, who was instrumental in the safe evacuation of stranded Indians during the Iraqi invasion in 1990, passed away in Kuwait.
81-year-old Mathews, who hailed from Kumbanad in Pathnamthitta district, was ailing for some time and passed away yesterday, media reports here said.
Expressing his condolence, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Sunday that during the 1990 Gulf war Mathews had helped thousands of Indians to flee the gulf nation and his services would always be remembered.
By not taking efforts to save his own life and property, Mathews had done yeoman service to bring his countrymen, who had lost everything in the war, safely back, Vijayan said.
"He provided food and drinking water to the stranded Indians and we remember it with gratitude," Vijayan said.
The V P Singh government had in 1990 carried out the biggest evacuationduring the gulf war when over 1.50 lakh standard Indians had been safely brought back by flight. At that time Mathews had functioned as the Central Government's "unofficial representative" in Kuwait to coordinate the evacuation process, the Chief Minister said. Popularly known as 'Toyota Sunny', Mathunny Mathews was said to be the inspiration of Akshay Kumar's character in Bollywood film 'Airlift'.
"Extremely sad news, was an honour to portray him on screen. Thoughts and prayers with his family", Akshay Kumar said in a tweet.
Mathews, left for Kuwait 1956 at the age of 20 in search of job. He joined as a typist in the Toyota company and rose to become its Managing Director when he retired in 1989. (readmore...)

Impeachment motion against CJI Dipak Misra moved by Opposition: Top updates

Opposition parties, led by Congress, are meeting Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu today to submit the motion for impeachment of CJI Dipak M...