The city police has decided to relax curfew in the riot-hit areas during daytime from April 5. But curfew will continue during nights.
The commissioner of police, Mr A.K. Khan, announced that curfew would be relaxed for three hours in the riot hit areas on April 4 (Sunday).
“We have decided to relax curfew during daytime from Monday but haven’t decided on the timing,” he said. “It would be for seven to eight hours,”
Police said the relaxation was meant to ensure smooth conduct of business in the areas and to restore normalcy.
“On Saturday, people thronged the streets when curfew was relaxed and it was peaceful,” said a senior police officer. “There is better availability of commodities thanks to government supervision as well as the efforts of NGOs and philanthropic individuals.”
At least 70 organisations have approached police to help out and they have been deputed to interior areas where poor people live.
All fair price shops and shops which sell essential commodities and medicines would remain open during curfew relaxation.
On April 4, curfew will be relaxed between 7 am and 10 am in Tappachabutra, Asifnagar, Mangalhat, Kulsumpura, Shahina-yathgunj, Habeebnagar, Begumbazar and Afzalgunj police station limits.
From 10 am to 1 pm, curfew would be relaxed in Charminar, Hussainialam, Kamatipura, Bahadhurpura, Kalapathar, Falaknuma, Chatrinaka, Shahalibanda, Moghalpura, Bhavaninagar, Dabeerpura, Mirchowk, Reinbazar, Madannapet, Santhoshnagar, Kanchanbagh and Chandrayangutta police station limits.
Meanwhile, police arrested six persons who pelted stones and injured the DCP (traffic II), Mr C. Ravi Varma, on March 30.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Gujarat stands by Big B as envoy
The Gujarat government on Saturday said that despite political controversies, Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan will continue to be the brand ambassador of Gujarat tourism.
This was disclosed by the Gujarat tourism minister, Mr Jay Narayan Vyas, at a press conference here on Saturday. Mr Vyas who is leading a delegation to Andhra Pradesh to invite Gujaratis settled here to participate in Gujarat’s golden jubilee celebrations in May said except “marketing issues” there is no “politics” involved in Big B being the brand ambassador.
“A celebrity endorses a brand based on its USP and Gujarat commands a vibrant ‘brand image’ in terms of industrial, infrastructure, agriculture and tourism development. Bachchan conveyed his willingness to showcase the development of Gujarat in the last 50 years irrespective of political controversies over him being the ‘brand ambassador’,” Mr Vyas said.
He also came down heavily on the Congress and Left parties for politicising the issue for their selfish ends. “They should realise that Amitabh Bachchan is promoting Gujarat and not a particular government in the state. They should also realise that Gujarat is a part of India,” he said.
“I don’t know whether the political parties are opposing the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, Bachchan or Gujarat. They should realise that he is just endorsing ‘brand Gujarat’,” he said.
He said if the tourism industry develops in Gujarat on account of this, it can fetch jobs for thousands of employed people in the nation. “It will also increase the revenue of the nation by attracting more and more tourists, since Amitabh has the charisma to create a positive impact on them. Some politicians are attacking Big B just to gain cheap publicity,” he added.
He said the delegation will tour Andhra Pradesh till April 5 and meet nearly 2.5 lakh Gujaratis residing in the state and invite them to the golden jubilee celebrations. He will also meet the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah and invite him to participate in the celebrations. Mr Vyas said the Gujarat government has planned various programmes throughout the year involving public as part of golden jubilee celebrations.
This was disclosed by the Gujarat tourism minister, Mr Jay Narayan Vyas, at a press conference here on Saturday. Mr Vyas who is leading a delegation to Andhra Pradesh to invite Gujaratis settled here to participate in Gujarat’s golden jubilee celebrations in May said except “marketing issues” there is no “politics” involved in Big B being the brand ambassador.
“A celebrity endorses a brand based on its USP and Gujarat commands a vibrant ‘brand image’ in terms of industrial, infrastructure, agriculture and tourism development. Bachchan conveyed his willingness to showcase the development of Gujarat in the last 50 years irrespective of political controversies over him being the ‘brand ambassador’,” Mr Vyas said.
He also came down heavily on the Congress and Left parties for politicising the issue for their selfish ends. “They should realise that Amitabh Bachchan is promoting Gujarat and not a particular government in the state. They should also realise that Gujarat is a part of India,” he said.
“I don’t know whether the political parties are opposing the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, Bachchan or Gujarat. They should realise that he is just endorsing ‘brand Gujarat’,” he said.
He said if the tourism industry develops in Gujarat on account of this, it can fetch jobs for thousands of employed people in the nation. “It will also increase the revenue of the nation by attracting more and more tourists, since Amitabh has the charisma to create a positive impact on them. Some politicians are attacking Big B just to gain cheap publicity,” he added.
He said the delegation will tour Andhra Pradesh till April 5 and meet nearly 2.5 lakh Gujaratis residing in the state and invite them to the golden jubilee celebrations. He will also meet the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah and invite him to participate in the celebrations. Mr Vyas said the Gujarat government has planned various programmes throughout the year involving public as part of golden jubilee celebrations.
Delay in justice leads to rise in terrorism: Judge
The Supreme Court judge and chairman of mediation and conciliation project committee, Justice R.V. Raveendran, opined here on Saturday that delay in justice is leading to spurt in terrorism, especially Naxalism.
Addressing a sensitisation programme on mediation and conciliation, he said the process of judicial system was time-consuming and the common man was afraid of approaching the courts.
He said that a rich man can settle his issue by using money or muscle power, but a common citizen could not afford it. Australia and the United States have adopted mediation and conciliation system and settled 90 per cent of cases, he added.
Justice Raveendran said the panchayat system has failed due to interference by zamindars, caste leaders and politicians.
He said that initially a village panchayat system functioned well and yielded good results, but people lost trust in the system when it went into the hands of politicians, caste leaders and landlords..
“Later the circumstances forced us to adopt the judicial system of the Britishers,” he added.
Justice Raveendran felt that there was ambiguity in meaning and definition of Section 89 and 89 (D) of the Civil Procedure Code.
He said that to introduce meditation and conciliation, Parliament passed the Bill in a hurry which led to ambiguity and judicial officers should be cautious while interpreting the Section.
Referring to functions of Lok Adalats, the judge said that they have been conducted by sitting or retired judges.
They have succeeded in road accident and petty cases but not complicated ones where matrimonial and civil disputes are involved.
Addressing a sensitisation programme on mediation and conciliation, he said the process of judicial system was time-consuming and the common man was afraid of approaching the courts.
He said that a rich man can settle his issue by using money or muscle power, but a common citizen could not afford it. Australia and the United States have adopted mediation and conciliation system and settled 90 per cent of cases, he added.
Justice Raveendran said the panchayat system has failed due to interference by zamindars, caste leaders and politicians.
He said that initially a village panchayat system functioned well and yielded good results, but people lost trust in the system when it went into the hands of politicians, caste leaders and landlords..
“Later the circumstances forced us to adopt the judicial system of the Britishers,” he added.
Justice Raveendran felt that there was ambiguity in meaning and definition of Section 89 and 89 (D) of the Civil Procedure Code.
He said that to introduce meditation and conciliation, Parliament passed the Bill in a hurry which led to ambiguity and judicial officers should be cautious while interpreting the Section.
Referring to functions of Lok Adalats, the judge said that they have been conducted by sitting or retired judges.
They have succeeded in road accident and petty cases but not complicated ones where matrimonial and civil disputes are involved.
NRI molested in city hotel, man arrested
The Osmania University police arrested a 24-year-old hotel receptionist on Saturday for outraging the modesty of an NRI woman late on Friday night. He was identified as Ashwin Kumar. He worked as a receptionist in Swagath Grand Hotel at Habsiguda.
Police said that a 26-year-old woman, a resident of Singapore, called the receptionist to find out how to make an ISD call. As ISD facility was not available, Ashwin said she could use his phone and pay the bill.
Ashwin then went to her room and she made a call. After 20 minutes, he called her room and said that she had got a call from the number to which she spoke earlier. Ashwin tried to molest the woman when he took the cellphone to her. A case was registered.
Police said that a 26-year-old woman, a resident of Singapore, called the receptionist to find out how to make an ISD call. As ISD facility was not available, Ashwin said she could use his phone and pay the bill.
Ashwin then went to her room and she made a call. After 20 minutes, he called her room and said that she had got a call from the number to which she spoke earlier. Ashwin tried to molest the woman when he took the cellphone to her. A case was registered.
Congressmen oppose DS bid
The Pradesh Congress Committee president, Mr D. Srinivas, who wanted to enter the AP legislature through the Legislative Council is facing stiff opposition from local Congressmen who want the seats for themselves.
They want Mr Srinivas to contest from his native Nizamabad Urban Assembly seat which is going for bypolls in the next few months. According to Gandhi Bhavan sources there are at least 30 Congress leaders from the city aspiring for a Legislative Council seat. The poll notification for these seats are expected to be announced by the Election Commission anytime after April 10.
There is going to be elections for three Legislative Council seats from Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts and the Congress, MIM and the Telugu Desam are slated to win one each. The elections are likely to be unanimous.
Some Congressmen have already told the party high command that if a PCC chief himself opts out of the race from his native Assembly bypoll to take the Council route it would send a wrong message to other candidates who will be in the fray for bypolls to 12 Assembly seats.
The Congress MLAs from the city are also opposing Mr Srinivas entry as they are afraid that their chances of becoming a minister will get jeopardised in the next Cabinet reshuffle.
Two ministers in the present Cabinet are also afraid that the PCC chief’s entry will be a threat to their continuance in the Rosaiah ministry. A senior Congress MLA, Dr P. Shanker Rao, is already eyeing a Cabinet berth in the reshuffle claiming seniority and being a Dalit. Another strong contender for berth is former minister, Mr Marri Shasidhar Reddy, who is considered to be close to the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah.
They want Mr Srinivas to contest from his native Nizamabad Urban Assembly seat which is going for bypolls in the next few months. According to Gandhi Bhavan sources there are at least 30 Congress leaders from the city aspiring for a Legislative Council seat. The poll notification for these seats are expected to be announced by the Election Commission anytime after April 10.
There is going to be elections for three Legislative Council seats from Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts and the Congress, MIM and the Telugu Desam are slated to win one each. The elections are likely to be unanimous.
Some Congressmen have already told the party high command that if a PCC chief himself opts out of the race from his native Assembly bypoll to take the Council route it would send a wrong message to other candidates who will be in the fray for bypolls to 12 Assembly seats.
The Congress MLAs from the city are also opposing Mr Srinivas entry as they are afraid that their chances of becoming a minister will get jeopardised in the next Cabinet reshuffle.
Two ministers in the present Cabinet are also afraid that the PCC chief’s entry will be a threat to their continuance in the Rosaiah ministry. A senior Congress MLA, Dr P. Shanker Rao, is already eyeing a Cabinet berth in the reshuffle claiming seniority and being a Dalit. Another strong contender for berth is former minister, Mr Marri Shasidhar Reddy, who is considered to be close to the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah.
Power cut in cities to be lifted after April 15
With the demand from the agriculture sector coming down due to the completion of Rabi season, the APTransco and four Discoms are all set to relax the power cut duration from next week.
The Transco officials will announce a reduction of at least one hour in power cut from April 7 and two hours from April 10. Power cut in all cities and major towns will be lifted after April 15.
“By April 20, most of the power cut will be relaxed,” Mr Ajay Jain, the CMD of APTransco said.
The demand from the farm sector has seen a steep fall with the Rabi season wrapping up.
The gap between demand and supply, which had touched a record 33 million units a week ago, came down to 23 million units on Friday.
But, the demand from other sectors continue to worry the power companies. The daily power demand continues to hover around 230 mu and the state is drawing almost 48 million units of power from the Central Generating Stations to ensure supply.
Meanwhile, the industrial consumers have requested the APTransco and Discoms to give more relief to industries as they took on most of the power cut burden.
The Transco officials will announce a reduction of at least one hour in power cut from April 7 and two hours from April 10. Power cut in all cities and major towns will be lifted after April 15.
“By April 20, most of the power cut will be relaxed,” Mr Ajay Jain, the CMD of APTransco said.
The demand from the farm sector has seen a steep fall with the Rabi season wrapping up.
The gap between demand and supply, which had touched a record 33 million units a week ago, came down to 23 million units on Friday.
But, the demand from other sectors continue to worry the power companies. The daily power demand continues to hover around 230 mu and the state is drawing almost 48 million units of power from the Central Generating Stations to ensure supply.
Meanwhile, the industrial consumers have requested the APTransco and Discoms to give more relief to industries as they took on most of the power cut burden.
Re-exam open to all twin cities students
The state government on Saturday rescheduled the SSC public exams in twin cities. The exams were earlier postponed due to curfew in the old city since March 30.
As per the fresh schedule issued by the SSC Board, the maths paper-II exam will be held on April 9, general science paper-I will be held on April 10, general science paper-II on April 12 and social studies paper-I on April 13. The exams will be held between 9.30 am and 12 noon.
In a relief to the students in the twin cities, the government has decided to allow any student to appear for the rescheduled exams irrespective of whether he/she is from curfew-bound areas or not. The students who missed the exams on account of curfew need not submit any evidence in support of their claim to appear for the re-exam.
Earlier, the government had insisted on evidence such as residence proof to prove that the student missed the exam due to curfew.
“We will provide all the exam centres with applications. Students who wish to appear for the re-exams, should just fill their details in the application forms and submit them to the chief superintendent officers at the centres concerned. All such students will be allowed for the exams,” said Ms Poonam Malakondaiah, the commissioner and director of school education.
She said students can take the application forms form the respective exam centres on April 6. Though there was no problem in conducting the re-exams for papers that were postponed on March 31, April 1 and April 2 as they were called off throughout out the twin cities, the problem cropped in conducting the maths paper-II exam as it was postponed only in the old city.
As per the fresh schedule issued by the SSC Board, the maths paper-II exam will be held on April 9, general science paper-I will be held on April 10, general science paper-II on April 12 and social studies paper-I on April 13. The exams will be held between 9.30 am and 12 noon.
In a relief to the students in the twin cities, the government has decided to allow any student to appear for the rescheduled exams irrespective of whether he/she is from curfew-bound areas or not. The students who missed the exams on account of curfew need not submit any evidence in support of their claim to appear for the re-exam.
Earlier, the government had insisted on evidence such as residence proof to prove that the student missed the exam due to curfew.
“We will provide all the exam centres with applications. Students who wish to appear for the re-exams, should just fill their details in the application forms and submit them to the chief superintendent officers at the centres concerned. All such students will be allowed for the exams,” said Ms Poonam Malakondaiah, the commissioner and director of school education.
She said students can take the application forms form the respective exam centres on April 6. Though there was no problem in conducting the re-exams for papers that were postponed on March 31, April 1 and April 2 as they were called off throughout out the twin cities, the problem cropped in conducting the maths paper-II exam as it was postponed only in the old city.
Go for it if you love goofy Greek gods
Clash of the titans
Cast: Sam Worthington (Perseus), Gemma Arterton (Io), Mads Mikkelsen (Draco), Alexa Davalos (Andromeda), Jason Flemyng (Calibos/King Acrisius), Ralph Fiennes (Hades), Liam Neeson (Zeus)
Director: Louis Leterrier
Rating: ***
There are too many Greek gods for me to keep straight, since as a child I didn’t have action figures as a learning tool. I was prepared to take notes during Clash of the Titans, but only wrote down a single one: Release the Kraken! — Conan O’Brien. I know I was intended to be terrified by the release of the Kraken, but all I could think of was O’Brien shouting “Release the bear!” and then some guy in a bear suit runs out and sits on the lap of a guest. In this case, the Kraken is the nuclear option for Zeus, who has been persuaded by Hades to put down a revolt by the upstart mortals of Argos.
The mortals are fed up with the whims of the gods. It would be one thing if they stayed on Olympus and killed time leaning on pillars and addressing one another in thundering ultimatums. Now they meddle in the affairs of men. King Acrisius of Argos declares war and enlists the aid of a demigod who has been found at sea. This is Perseus (Sam Worthington), son of Zeus (Liam Neeson) and a human mother. He didn’t ask to be a saviour, but would be happier as a simple fisherman. You know the type.
Zeus, it should be explained, disguised himself as the husband of Perseus’ mother and stole into her bedchamber to father the boy. So he is a rapist. Just sayin’. Perseus so loved his mother and adoptive father that he will never forgive Poseidon for drowning them, and wants nothing to do with gods. Yet such is his destiny.
The outcome is told in Clash of the Titans with impressive technical mastery and somewhat lesser dramatic command. For its intended audience I suspect this will play as a great entertainment. I enjoyed myself, particularly after they released the Kraken. There’s no particular dramatic conflict in the movie: Perseus has to wrestle with his demigod ambiguity; Hades (Ralph Fiennes) nurses a resentment against Zeus; he demands the sacrifice of King Acrisius’ daughter Andromeda (Alexa Davalos) to spare the city, and the citizens seem prepared to get along very nicely without her. That’s about it.
It’s strange how the sacrifice of one person makes us uneasy. Earlier in the film, the entire fleet of Argos is lost at sea, with the exception of the vessel holding Perseus. The king is philosophical: They were patriots. But the sacrifice of his own daughter — now you’re talkin’ real death.
Most of the film involves terrifying battles between mortals and special effects. After Calibos has a hand chopped off, his fingers grow into claws. Later, his blood drops start growing, creating a crowd of huge lobster-monsters that come crawling over rocks and snapping at everyone. Later in the film, inexplicably, these lobsters appear to be tame and walk obediently across the desert, bearing little houses on their backs for the mortals. What, did they forget they were the blood of Calibos?
There’s worse to come. Perseus and his comrades must invade the lair of Medusa, one of the three Gorgon girls, whose hair is a writhing mass of snakes and body is a long, lethal snake’s tail. Look at her, and you’ll turn to stone! Maybe this explains the high quality of Greek sculpture. The struggles with Medusa take place on ledges over a flaming lake of lava far below. She must be beheaded, which Perseus does, thoughtfully keeping the head, which he carries around like the head of Alfredo Garcia. Is that a spoiler? The story has been out since 490 BC.
The climax is classic, with the fair Andromeda hung by her wrists and suspended in a clinging white gown over a flaming pit at the edge of the sea. Meanwhile, Perseus flies to the rescue on the wings of the great flying horse Pegasus. The townspeople clamor for her death, but lose their enthusiasm after the Kraken rears up from the sea.
I like this kind of stuff. I don’t say it’s good cinema, although I recognise the craftsmanship that went into it. I don’t say it’s good acting, when the men have so much facial hair they all look like Liam Neeson. I like the energy, the imagination, the silliness. I even like the one guy who doesn’t have a beard. That’s Perseus. From the first moment we see him as an adult until his last scene in the movie, he has the Standard Regulation Macho-Length Stubble on his chin. And in a city where all the men go to Jerry Garcia’s barber, he has a burr cut on the short clipper setting.
So do I recommend the movie? Yes, if you intuit that this review is affectionate and have the same tolerance for goofy Greek gods as I do. One word of consumer advice, however. Explain to kids that the movie was not filmed in 3-D and is only being shown in 3-D in order to charge you extra. I saw it in 2-D, and let me tell you, it looked terrific.
Cast: Sam Worthington (Perseus), Gemma Arterton (Io), Mads Mikkelsen (Draco), Alexa Davalos (Andromeda), Jason Flemyng (Calibos/King Acrisius), Ralph Fiennes (Hades), Liam Neeson (Zeus)
Director: Louis Leterrier
Rating: ***
There are too many Greek gods for me to keep straight, since as a child I didn’t have action figures as a learning tool. I was prepared to take notes during Clash of the Titans, but only wrote down a single one: Release the Kraken! — Conan O’Brien. I know I was intended to be terrified by the release of the Kraken, but all I could think of was O’Brien shouting “Release the bear!” and then some guy in a bear suit runs out and sits on the lap of a guest. In this case, the Kraken is the nuclear option for Zeus, who has been persuaded by Hades to put down a revolt by the upstart mortals of Argos.
The mortals are fed up with the whims of the gods. It would be one thing if they stayed on Olympus and killed time leaning on pillars and addressing one another in thundering ultimatums. Now they meddle in the affairs of men. King Acrisius of Argos declares war and enlists the aid of a demigod who has been found at sea. This is Perseus (Sam Worthington), son of Zeus (Liam Neeson) and a human mother. He didn’t ask to be a saviour, but would be happier as a simple fisherman. You know the type.
Zeus, it should be explained, disguised himself as the husband of Perseus’ mother and stole into her bedchamber to father the boy. So he is a rapist. Just sayin’. Perseus so loved his mother and adoptive father that he will never forgive Poseidon for drowning them, and wants nothing to do with gods. Yet such is his destiny.
The outcome is told in Clash of the Titans with impressive technical mastery and somewhat lesser dramatic command. For its intended audience I suspect this will play as a great entertainment. I enjoyed myself, particularly after they released the Kraken. There’s no particular dramatic conflict in the movie: Perseus has to wrestle with his demigod ambiguity; Hades (Ralph Fiennes) nurses a resentment against Zeus; he demands the sacrifice of King Acrisius’ daughter Andromeda (Alexa Davalos) to spare the city, and the citizens seem prepared to get along very nicely without her. That’s about it.
It’s strange how the sacrifice of one person makes us uneasy. Earlier in the film, the entire fleet of Argos is lost at sea, with the exception of the vessel holding Perseus. The king is philosophical: They were patriots. But the sacrifice of his own daughter — now you’re talkin’ real death.
Most of the film involves terrifying battles between mortals and special effects. After Calibos has a hand chopped off, his fingers grow into claws. Later, his blood drops start growing, creating a crowd of huge lobster-monsters that come crawling over rocks and snapping at everyone. Later in the film, inexplicably, these lobsters appear to be tame and walk obediently across the desert, bearing little houses on their backs for the mortals. What, did they forget they were the blood of Calibos?
There’s worse to come. Perseus and his comrades must invade the lair of Medusa, one of the three Gorgon girls, whose hair is a writhing mass of snakes and body is a long, lethal snake’s tail. Look at her, and you’ll turn to stone! Maybe this explains the high quality of Greek sculpture. The struggles with Medusa take place on ledges over a flaming lake of lava far below. She must be beheaded, which Perseus does, thoughtfully keeping the head, which he carries around like the head of Alfredo Garcia. Is that a spoiler? The story has been out since 490 BC.
The climax is classic, with the fair Andromeda hung by her wrists and suspended in a clinging white gown over a flaming pit at the edge of the sea. Meanwhile, Perseus flies to the rescue on the wings of the great flying horse Pegasus. The townspeople clamor for her death, but lose their enthusiasm after the Kraken rears up from the sea.
I like this kind of stuff. I don’t say it’s good cinema, although I recognise the craftsmanship that went into it. I don’t say it’s good acting, when the men have so much facial hair they all look like Liam Neeson. I like the energy, the imagination, the silliness. I even like the one guy who doesn’t have a beard. That’s Perseus. From the first moment we see him as an adult until his last scene in the movie, he has the Standard Regulation Macho-Length Stubble on his chin. And in a city where all the men go to Jerry Garcia’s barber, he has a burr cut on the short clipper setting.
So do I recommend the movie? Yes, if you intuit that this review is affectionate and have the same tolerance for goofy Greek gods as I do. One word of consumer advice, however. Explain to kids that the movie was not filmed in 3-D and is only being shown in 3-D in order to charge you extra. I saw it in 2-D, and let me tell you, it looked terrific.
Shoaib puts up defence
The Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik early on Sunday issued a statement giving his side of the story in the Ayesha Siddiqui affair.
We present the statement in its entirety. It reads as follows:
I want to clarify a few wrongly reported facts about me in some sections of the media, newspapers and television channels in India and Pakistan.
I want to make my position clear especially because I am to wed Sania Mirza in the near future.
Ayesha first started calling me on the telephone when I was in Sharjah with the Pakistan cricket team in 2001. On the phone, she introduced herself as my fan. She said, she was living in Saudi Arabia.
Gradually, we started speaking every day. Naturally, I wanted to meet her. Every time I brought up the topic of meeting she would send me a bunch of photographs. I was made to believe the girl in the photograph was the one I was speaking to.
The truth is, I haven’t, to this day, met the girl in the photographs Ayesha sent me.
We had become close, thanks to the telephone conversations. In 2002, I came to Hyderabad specifically to meet Ayesha. Just before I left Pakistan, she told me she had to rush to Saudi Arabia on urgent work and her cousins -- Reema and Maha apa (meaning older sister) -- would take me around. I waited in Hyderabad for five days, hoping she would return. I finally asked her family where she was and they said, that in the last year she had put on a lot of weight, because of which she didn’t want to meet me until she could shed some of that. I told them I had photographs of her and that she wasn’t fat, but they told me those were older photographs.
Ayesha wanted us to get married. She had been talking about it for some time, saying we would only meet at our shaadi. In 2002, she told me that people in Hyderabad were talking about our relationship, and it was putting her parents in an embarrassing position. She also told me she was feeling insecure. She wanted us to have a telephone Nikah to stop the talk. I knew that my parents wouldn’t agree to a telephone Nikah. They wanted to celebrate my wedding, and so did I.
I wanted to marry Ayesha, but I was too young, I was only 20 years then. There was a lot of pressure on me from Ayesha. I called her from a friend’s shop in June 2002. I got a nikahnama, signed it, thinking the girl I was marrying was the one in the photographs. I wasn’t happy doing this, because I hadn’t told my parents, and was emotionally forced to do it.
A year or so later, I travelled to Hyderabad in the hope of meeting her, but once again it was the same story. Ayesha told me on the phone that she still hadn’t lost the weight she put on so didn’t want to meet me. I was met by Maha apa and Reema, who took me around again.
In 2004, my brother-in-law travelled to Hyderabad to meet Ayesha and her family, and again the same story was repeated, so he returned without meeting Ayesha. At that point, I was a little flustered, because none of us were able to meet her. It was I who had requested my brother-in-law to travel to India and meet Ayesha and her family as I was keen to take the relationship forward, formally.
Later that year, I was here in Hyderabad with the Pakistan cricket team. Mr M.A. Siddiqui invited the team to his house for dinner. I was hoping to meet Ayesha there, but the girl in the photographs wasn’t at the dinner. The same story was told to me again. I just couldn’t understand what was happening.
In a practice game, the next day, I won the man-of-the-match award. Later, I said that I was happy this was happening in my wife’s city. Even though I hadn’t met her even once, we were constantly talking to each other over the telephone. I always wanted to support her. That was how I felt, despite everything.
We accidentally ran into the truth about who Ayesha was. It was the worst moment of my life. No one enjoys being made a fool of, and that was exactly how I was made to look. It happened in August 2005. My brother-in-law got a photograph of a teacher in Saudi Arabia, who was telling people around her that she was married to me. His nephews were studying in that school. I was aghast when he showed me the photograph of the teacher; the woman in it was the person I called Maha apa. I immediately confronted Maha apa. It was she who had been making a fool of me all these years, pretending to be the person whose pictures she had been sending me. I told her I didn’t ever want to speak to her again. At that point I wondered if I could ever trust anyone again.
I told Ayesha I was going to release the photographs she had been mailing me to the media. She apologised and told me that the other girl was married and that I would ruin her life if I released those pictures. I thought about it, whosoever is in that photograph, probably doesn’t even know about all this, and it wouldn’t be fair to release those pictures.
In 2008 my lawyer sent a legal notice to Mr M.A. Siddiqui, who had been feeding the media with false and fabricated stories about me. After that he stopped making false allegations against me, until of course, news of my marriage to Sania Mirza became public.
Now, they’re asking for a divorce. To begin with there was no nikah because they pressurised me into it, with the intention to cheat. In Islam, there can only be a divorce, if the nikah is valid. I was wrongly made to believe that the pictures Ayesha had sent me were of the girl I was marrying. I feel terrible about the mess, created by a family, that has caused great grief to my own people and the family of my bride to be.
I’m confident, however, that the truth will prevail.
This is the opinion of Mohammed Khader Ali, Sadar Qazi (chief Qazi) of Hyderabad, and president of the Andhra Pradesh Association of Qazis on nikah and the Muslim law.
Q: What is needed in a Nikahnama, to make it valid?
A: Firstly, in Muslim law, it is about the process, the procedure, there can be no tampering with that. Secondly, Meher (dower, or a specified sum of money), two witnesses (one from the bride’s and one from the groom's side), Vakil (guardian of the bride) and finally the bride and groom, all these parties have to sign the nikahnama at the time of the nikah.
Q: Is a telephone nikah valid?
A: Telephone nikah is no longer valid, simply because all parties, that I had earlier mentioned, cannot be at the same place to sign the nikahnama if the nikah is taking place over the telephone, with the bride and groom in different cities or countries.
Q: If either the bride or the groom marry without seeing each other, believing the person they are marrying to be someone else, is the nikah valid?
A: No. The intention has to be right. If a bride or groom is made to believe that the person he or she is marrying is not the same person as he or she believes him to be and the nikah is performed with another person without the knowledge or consent of either parties, the nikah isn’t valid and amounts to fraud.
We present the statement in its entirety. It reads as follows:
I want to clarify a few wrongly reported facts about me in some sections of the media, newspapers and television channels in India and Pakistan.
I want to make my position clear especially because I am to wed Sania Mirza in the near future.
Ayesha first started calling me on the telephone when I was in Sharjah with the Pakistan cricket team in 2001. On the phone, she introduced herself as my fan. She said, she was living in Saudi Arabia.
Gradually, we started speaking every day. Naturally, I wanted to meet her. Every time I brought up the topic of meeting she would send me a bunch of photographs. I was made to believe the girl in the photograph was the one I was speaking to.
The truth is, I haven’t, to this day, met the girl in the photographs Ayesha sent me.
We had become close, thanks to the telephone conversations. In 2002, I came to Hyderabad specifically to meet Ayesha. Just before I left Pakistan, she told me she had to rush to Saudi Arabia on urgent work and her cousins -- Reema and Maha apa (meaning older sister) -- would take me around. I waited in Hyderabad for five days, hoping she would return. I finally asked her family where she was and they said, that in the last year she had put on a lot of weight, because of which she didn’t want to meet me until she could shed some of that. I told them I had photographs of her and that she wasn’t fat, but they told me those were older photographs.
Ayesha wanted us to get married. She had been talking about it for some time, saying we would only meet at our shaadi. In 2002, she told me that people in Hyderabad were talking about our relationship, and it was putting her parents in an embarrassing position. She also told me she was feeling insecure. She wanted us to have a telephone Nikah to stop the talk. I knew that my parents wouldn’t agree to a telephone Nikah. They wanted to celebrate my wedding, and so did I.
I wanted to marry Ayesha, but I was too young, I was only 20 years then. There was a lot of pressure on me from Ayesha. I called her from a friend’s shop in June 2002. I got a nikahnama, signed it, thinking the girl I was marrying was the one in the photographs. I wasn’t happy doing this, because I hadn’t told my parents, and was emotionally forced to do it.
A year or so later, I travelled to Hyderabad in the hope of meeting her, but once again it was the same story. Ayesha told me on the phone that she still hadn’t lost the weight she put on so didn’t want to meet me. I was met by Maha apa and Reema, who took me around again.
In 2004, my brother-in-law travelled to Hyderabad to meet Ayesha and her family, and again the same story was repeated, so he returned without meeting Ayesha. At that point, I was a little flustered, because none of us were able to meet her. It was I who had requested my brother-in-law to travel to India and meet Ayesha and her family as I was keen to take the relationship forward, formally.
Later that year, I was here in Hyderabad with the Pakistan cricket team. Mr M.A. Siddiqui invited the team to his house for dinner. I was hoping to meet Ayesha there, but the girl in the photographs wasn’t at the dinner. The same story was told to me again. I just couldn’t understand what was happening.
In a practice game, the next day, I won the man-of-the-match award. Later, I said that I was happy this was happening in my wife’s city. Even though I hadn’t met her even once, we were constantly talking to each other over the telephone. I always wanted to support her. That was how I felt, despite everything.
We accidentally ran into the truth about who Ayesha was. It was the worst moment of my life. No one enjoys being made a fool of, and that was exactly how I was made to look. It happened in August 2005. My brother-in-law got a photograph of a teacher in Saudi Arabia, who was telling people around her that she was married to me. His nephews were studying in that school. I was aghast when he showed me the photograph of the teacher; the woman in it was the person I called Maha apa. I immediately confronted Maha apa. It was she who had been making a fool of me all these years, pretending to be the person whose pictures she had been sending me. I told her I didn’t ever want to speak to her again. At that point I wondered if I could ever trust anyone again.
I told Ayesha I was going to release the photographs she had been mailing me to the media. She apologised and told me that the other girl was married and that I would ruin her life if I released those pictures. I thought about it, whosoever is in that photograph, probably doesn’t even know about all this, and it wouldn’t be fair to release those pictures.
In 2008 my lawyer sent a legal notice to Mr M.A. Siddiqui, who had been feeding the media with false and fabricated stories about me. After that he stopped making false allegations against me, until of course, news of my marriage to Sania Mirza became public.
Now, they’re asking for a divorce. To begin with there was no nikah because they pressurised me into it, with the intention to cheat. In Islam, there can only be a divorce, if the nikah is valid. I was wrongly made to believe that the pictures Ayesha had sent me were of the girl I was marrying. I feel terrible about the mess, created by a family, that has caused great grief to my own people and the family of my bride to be.
I’m confident, however, that the truth will prevail.
This is the opinion of Mohammed Khader Ali, Sadar Qazi (chief Qazi) of Hyderabad, and president of the Andhra Pradesh Association of Qazis on nikah and the Muslim law.
Q: What is needed in a Nikahnama, to make it valid?
A: Firstly, in Muslim law, it is about the process, the procedure, there can be no tampering with that. Secondly, Meher (dower, or a specified sum of money), two witnesses (one from the bride’s and one from the groom's side), Vakil (guardian of the bride) and finally the bride and groom, all these parties have to sign the nikahnama at the time of the nikah.
Q: Is a telephone nikah valid?
A: Telephone nikah is no longer valid, simply because all parties, that I had earlier mentioned, cannot be at the same place to sign the nikahnama if the nikah is taking place over the telephone, with the bride and groom in different cities or countries.
Q: If either the bride or the groom marry without seeing each other, believing the person they are marrying to be someone else, is the nikah valid?
A: No. The intention has to be right. If a bride or groom is made to believe that the person he or she is marrying is not the same person as he or she believes him to be and the nikah is performed with another person without the knowledge or consent of either parties, the nikah isn’t valid and amounts to fraud.
Act against Reddy brothers: Swami
The Janata Party president, Subramanian Swamy, on Saturday demanded that the Karnataka government take action against the mining magnates, Reddy brothers. In a statement here, he said action was necessary because the two were attempting to silence criticism of their alleged illegal activities.
He would write to the Karnataka Home Minister for an investigation. If no action was taken, he would have no alternative but to approach the courts, he said.
He would write to the Karnataka Home Minister for an investigation. If no action was taken, he would have no alternative but to approach the courts, he said.
Growing demand to lift curfew in Hyderabad
Daytime curfew may be relaxed: Police Commissioner
The Andhra Pradesh capital limped to normality with no untoward incident being reported from any of the 25 curfew-bound areas of the old city on Saturday, but the authorities seem to be in no mood to lift the curfew, a demand that has been gaining strength among people.
The normal situation during the phased curfew relaxation in 25 police station areas on Saturday has only prompted the authorities to announce further extension of curfew relaxation periods. “If situation improves further, we will consider lifting the day curfew,” Commissioner of Police A.K. Khan said.
Saturday, the fifth day of curfew, tested the patience of not only citizens in the 25 police station areas, but also the policemen enforcing it. “If the situation is normal, why continue the curfew?” was an oft-repeated question media personnel had to face. However, Mr. Khan would only say that the decision to lift the curfew would be entirely based on situational assessment by his team and also on the intelligence inputs. While the Special Investigation Team led by Additional CP, Crimes, K. Narasimha Reddy, began investigation into communal violence, allegations of police harassment have begun to surface from both the communities. While the BJP has accused the police of picking up innocent people just to counter-balance the number of arrests made from the minority community, the Majlis has alleged that the police are unleashing a reign of terror by arresting innocent people. MIM president and MP Asaduddin Owaisi staged a protest in front of Charminar police station on Friday night.
Relaxation time
The relaxation time in Afzalgunj, Begum Bazaar, Shahinayatgunj, Tappachabutra, Asifnagar, Mangalhat, Kulsumpura and Habeebnagar will be extended by one more hour from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Sunday, according to police.
The Andhra Pradesh capital limped to normality with no untoward incident being reported from any of the 25 curfew-bound areas of the old city on Saturday, but the authorities seem to be in no mood to lift the curfew, a demand that has been gaining strength among people.
The normal situation during the phased curfew relaxation in 25 police station areas on Saturday has only prompted the authorities to announce further extension of curfew relaxation periods. “If situation improves further, we will consider lifting the day curfew,” Commissioner of Police A.K. Khan said.
Saturday, the fifth day of curfew, tested the patience of not only citizens in the 25 police station areas, but also the policemen enforcing it. “If the situation is normal, why continue the curfew?” was an oft-repeated question media personnel had to face. However, Mr. Khan would only say that the decision to lift the curfew would be entirely based on situational assessment by his team and also on the intelligence inputs. While the Special Investigation Team led by Additional CP, Crimes, K. Narasimha Reddy, began investigation into communal violence, allegations of police harassment have begun to surface from both the communities. While the BJP has accused the police of picking up innocent people just to counter-balance the number of arrests made from the minority community, the Majlis has alleged that the police are unleashing a reign of terror by arresting innocent people. MIM president and MP Asaduddin Owaisi staged a protest in front of Charminar police station on Friday night.
Relaxation time
The relaxation time in Afzalgunj, Begum Bazaar, Shahinayatgunj, Tappachabutra, Asifnagar, Mangalhat, Kulsumpura and Habeebnagar will be extended by one more hour from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Sunday, according to police.
Shoaib visits Sania
Shoaib, who reportedly reached Hyderabad late on Friday night, was spotted standing on the balcony of Sania's house
The former Pakistan cricket captain, Shoaib Malik, was spotted at the house of tennis star Sania Mirza here on Saturday morning.
The former Pakistan cricket captain, Shoaib Malik, was spotted at the house of tennis star Sania Mirza here on Saturday morning.
His marriage to Sania is scheduled on April 15. Sania's family members, however, chose to remain silent on his visit.
The wedding is likely to take place in Hyderabad. There was speculation in the Pakistani media that the venue may be shifted to Dubai.
Shoaib, who reportedly reached Hyderabad late on Friday night, was spotted standing on the balcony of Sania's house. He was speaking on his cell phone while Sania and her mother stood beside him talking to each other.
The controversy surrounding Shoaib's alleged earlier marriage to local girl Ayesha Siddiqui has been raging in the media in the last couple of days.
Sania's announcement to wed Shoaib also drew flak from various quarters, including the Shiv Sena. Tennis and cricket fans have been posting their views liberally on websites. While some voiced their support for Sania and her choice, others expressed their disappointment with her decision and the subsequent developments.
In reaction to this, the tennis star posted a tweet, thanking all the people, including the media, who have supported her and Shoaib.
“I and my family know what the truth is, we've known it all along and we have confidence in God's justice,” she wrote.
Later in the night, however, Sania's friend Anil Kumar Yadav said there was no change in the venue of the wedding.
The former Pakistan cricket captain, Shoaib Malik, was spotted at the house of tennis star Sania Mirza here on Saturday morning.
The former Pakistan cricket captain, Shoaib Malik, was spotted at the house of tennis star Sania Mirza here on Saturday morning.
His marriage to Sania is scheduled on April 15. Sania's family members, however, chose to remain silent on his visit.
The wedding is likely to take place in Hyderabad. There was speculation in the Pakistani media that the venue may be shifted to Dubai.
Shoaib, who reportedly reached Hyderabad late on Friday night, was spotted standing on the balcony of Sania's house. He was speaking on his cell phone while Sania and her mother stood beside him talking to each other.
The controversy surrounding Shoaib's alleged earlier marriage to local girl Ayesha Siddiqui has been raging in the media in the last couple of days.
Sania's announcement to wed Shoaib also drew flak from various quarters, including the Shiv Sena. Tennis and cricket fans have been posting their views liberally on websites. While some voiced their support for Sania and her choice, others expressed their disappointment with her decision and the subsequent developments.
In reaction to this, the tennis star posted a tweet, thanking all the people, including the media, who have supported her and Shoaib.
“I and my family know what the truth is, we've known it all along and we have confidence in God's justice,” she wrote.
Later in the night, however, Sania's friend Anil Kumar Yadav said there was no change in the venue of the wedding.
11-digit mobile numbers soon?
There is no consensus yet among the major service providers on the issue of an early migration to an 11-digit sequence
The unprecedented growth of cellular telephony in India has forced a rethink on the national mobile numbering plan much earlier than anticipated.
With a mobile user base of over 550 million connections — and with over 5 to 6 million net additions every month — the question looming before policy planners is whether to continue with the 10-digit mobile number for some more years or to ring in the 11-digit sequence (as some countries like China have already done) as a one-stop, long-term solution that would take care of future needs.
The National Numbering Plan (NNP) 2003 was formulated for a projected forecast of reaching the 50 per cent tele-density level by 2030.
While the fixed line connections showed a decline, the unprecedented growth of the mobile segment meant that the anticipated 450 million mobile connection milestone was achieved in 2009, and the figure is now poised to cross the 1 billion mark by the end of 2014.
Sensing the need to revisit the National Numbering Plan (NNP) 2003, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recently issued a consultation paper seeking views from service providers on a better utilisation scheme of number resources.
The basic question raised by TRAI was whether the 10-digit mobile numbering scheme was sufficient for a few more years or whether the boom in the mobile user segment warranted an early migration to an 11-digit sequence.
However, there is no consensus yet among the major service providers on the issue.
The BSNL's argument is that the 10-digit scheme would hold fine for at least another 10 years. Migration to a 11-digit sequence would entail major changes, costs and inconvenience to users, it said.
Those in the industry supporting continuance of the scheme till 2014 or beyond, call for opening up more fixed line levels which remain grossly under-utilised.
Proponents of a migration to the 11-digit scheme say the transition can be easily implemented through pre-fixing an additional digit for all existing mobile numbers. According to TRAI, the level ‘9' for a 10-digit numbering system generates a maximum of 1,000 million numbers. Another 500 million are freed up against a few sub-levels of level 8.
However, while theoretically an estimated 1,500 million numbers should thus be available across mobile networks, in reality the number is much smaller due to various reasons.
Therefore, the practice is that the Department of Telecom allocates new blocks of numbers once a service provider demonstrates 60 per cent utilisation of the allotted numbers. Significantly, TRAI has observed that in many of the service areas, the utilisation of numbers by service providers is well below 60 per cent.
One of TRAI's suggestions is to introduce an integrated service-area based scheme where STD codes would be merged with the numbers to form a 10-digit number for fixed phones. The other alternative is to switch to 11 digits.
However, this would require modifying all fixed and mobile systems software, changing billing database, causing inconvenience to users in the form of dialling extra digits and updating of phone memory books, TRAI said.
The unprecedented growth of cellular telephony in India has forced a rethink on the national mobile numbering plan much earlier than anticipated.
With a mobile user base of over 550 million connections — and with over 5 to 6 million net additions every month — the question looming before policy planners is whether to continue with the 10-digit mobile number for some more years or to ring in the 11-digit sequence (as some countries like China have already done) as a one-stop, long-term solution that would take care of future needs.
The National Numbering Plan (NNP) 2003 was formulated for a projected forecast of reaching the 50 per cent tele-density level by 2030.
While the fixed line connections showed a decline, the unprecedented growth of the mobile segment meant that the anticipated 450 million mobile connection milestone was achieved in 2009, and the figure is now poised to cross the 1 billion mark by the end of 2014.
Sensing the need to revisit the National Numbering Plan (NNP) 2003, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recently issued a consultation paper seeking views from service providers on a better utilisation scheme of number resources.
The basic question raised by TRAI was whether the 10-digit mobile numbering scheme was sufficient for a few more years or whether the boom in the mobile user segment warranted an early migration to an 11-digit sequence.
However, there is no consensus yet among the major service providers on the issue.
The BSNL's argument is that the 10-digit scheme would hold fine for at least another 10 years. Migration to a 11-digit sequence would entail major changes, costs and inconvenience to users, it said.
Those in the industry supporting continuance of the scheme till 2014 or beyond, call for opening up more fixed line levels which remain grossly under-utilised.
Proponents of a migration to the 11-digit scheme say the transition can be easily implemented through pre-fixing an additional digit for all existing mobile numbers. According to TRAI, the level ‘9' for a 10-digit numbering system generates a maximum of 1,000 million numbers. Another 500 million are freed up against a few sub-levels of level 8.
However, while theoretically an estimated 1,500 million numbers should thus be available across mobile networks, in reality the number is much smaller due to various reasons.
Therefore, the practice is that the Department of Telecom allocates new blocks of numbers once a service provider demonstrates 60 per cent utilisation of the allotted numbers. Significantly, TRAI has observed that in many of the service areas, the utilisation of numbers by service providers is well below 60 per cent.
One of TRAI's suggestions is to introduce an integrated service-area based scheme where STD codes would be merged with the numbers to form a 10-digit number for fixed phones. The other alternative is to switch to 11 digits.
However, this would require modifying all fixed and mobile systems software, changing billing database, causing inconvenience to users in the form of dialling extra digits and updating of phone memory books, TRAI said.
Pakistan to seek Red Corner Notices against Ajmal, Ansari
Pakistan has decided to approach Interpol — which facilitates cross-border police cooperation — to issue Red Corner Notices against Ajmal Kasab and Fahim Ansari, who are undergoing trial in India for their involvement in the Mumbai terror attacks of November 2008.
This information was provided by the Special Prosecutor of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to the anti-terrorism court that is conducting the trial of seven persons accused in the same attack. The seven undertrials here include Lashkar-e-Taiba operations chief Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi.
According to defence lawyer Malik Mohammad Rafiq Khan, the hearing was adjourned till April 17 when the prosecution will apprise the court of the progress and developments with regard to the Red Corner Notices.
During the day's proceedings in the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi — where Judge Malik Mohammad Akram Awan is hearing the case because of security considerations — defence challenged the FIA Special Prosecutor's contention that Interpol was being approached to bring Kasab and Ansari to Pakistan.
The defence argument was that a Red Corner Notice was issued only for fugitives and in this case both Kasab and Ansari were in custody. Further, it would be possible for Pakistan to get Kasab and Ansari only if there was an extradition treaty between the two countries.
The FIA has decided to approach Interpol in view of the defence argument that Kasab's confessional statement could not be used against the seven accused in Pakistan.
The defence lawyers have been arguing that Kasab's confessional statement could be used only if he was being tried in the same court along with the seven others.
This information was provided by the Special Prosecutor of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to the anti-terrorism court that is conducting the trial of seven persons accused in the same attack. The seven undertrials here include Lashkar-e-Taiba operations chief Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi.
According to defence lawyer Malik Mohammad Rafiq Khan, the hearing was adjourned till April 17 when the prosecution will apprise the court of the progress and developments with regard to the Red Corner Notices.
During the day's proceedings in the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi — where Judge Malik Mohammad Akram Awan is hearing the case because of security considerations — defence challenged the FIA Special Prosecutor's contention that Interpol was being approached to bring Kasab and Ansari to Pakistan.
The defence argument was that a Red Corner Notice was issued only for fugitives and in this case both Kasab and Ansari were in custody. Further, it would be possible for Pakistan to get Kasab and Ansari only if there was an extradition treaty between the two countries.
The FIA has decided to approach Interpol in view of the defence argument that Kasab's confessional statement could not be used against the seven accused in Pakistan.
The defence lawyers have been arguing that Kasab's confessional statement could be used only if he was being tried in the same court along with the seven others.
‘Husband bound to provide maintenance regardless of income’
A husband has moral and legal duty to provide a decent maintenance amount to his estranged wife in consonance with her living standards irrespective of his income, a Delhi court has said.
“A married man is under a legal and moral obligation to maintain his estranged wife whether he possesses any property or not or whether or not he has any income. The obligation to maintain her is personal in character and arises from the very existence of the relationship between the parties,” Additional Sessions Judge Nivedita Anil Sharma said.
The court passed the order while declining the plea of a husband, Shalabh Srivastava, seeking alteration in the interim-maintenance amount fixed by a lower court on the ground that his income had substantially went down after he joined a new job.
It declined the husband’s plea saying that he had an earning potential of Rs 35,500 per month and if he has preferred to minimise his income and work at a lesser salary, then he cannot be allowed to take advantage of his own conduct.
“The fact of taking up a job at a lesser salary clearly indicates that the revisionist (husband) is deliberately making a conscious effort to reduce and minimise his income. It is also not believable that any man would work at a lesser income than what he is getting already.”
“The averments of the appellant clearly show that a deliberate attempt has been made by him to lessen his income and he cannot be permitted to take advantage of this fact,” the court observed.
The court rejected the contention of husband that the earning potential of his estranged wife was far more than the amount she was getting as maintenance.
“There is nothing brought on the record prima facie by the husband to show that the earning potential of the respondent (wife) is more than Rs. 7,000 as observed by the trial court,” the court said.
It also turned down the plea that the wife was living separately due to her own conduct, saying that the fact was immaterial for the purpose of award of interim-maintenance.
“The dispute regarding conduct of the parties are immaterial... only the earnings, properties, assets as well as the earning potential of both the sides is to be taken into consideration,” it said.
Mr. Shalabh had appealed against the order of a trial court fixing Rs. 7,000 per month as the maintenance for his estranged wife Ritu.
While awarding the maintenance, the trial court had concluded that Mr. Shalabh’s income was around Rs. 35,500.
“A married man is under a legal and moral obligation to maintain his estranged wife whether he possesses any property or not or whether or not he has any income. The obligation to maintain her is personal in character and arises from the very existence of the relationship between the parties,” Additional Sessions Judge Nivedita Anil Sharma said.
The court passed the order while declining the plea of a husband, Shalabh Srivastava, seeking alteration in the interim-maintenance amount fixed by a lower court on the ground that his income had substantially went down after he joined a new job.
It declined the husband’s plea saying that he had an earning potential of Rs 35,500 per month and if he has preferred to minimise his income and work at a lesser salary, then he cannot be allowed to take advantage of his own conduct.
“The fact of taking up a job at a lesser salary clearly indicates that the revisionist (husband) is deliberately making a conscious effort to reduce and minimise his income. It is also not believable that any man would work at a lesser income than what he is getting already.”
“The averments of the appellant clearly show that a deliberate attempt has been made by him to lessen his income and he cannot be permitted to take advantage of this fact,” the court observed.
The court rejected the contention of husband that the earning potential of his estranged wife was far more than the amount she was getting as maintenance.
“There is nothing brought on the record prima facie by the husband to show that the earning potential of the respondent (wife) is more than Rs. 7,000 as observed by the trial court,” the court said.
It also turned down the plea that the wife was living separately due to her own conduct, saying that the fact was immaterial for the purpose of award of interim-maintenance.
“The dispute regarding conduct of the parties are immaterial... only the earnings, properties, assets as well as the earning potential of both the sides is to be taken into consideration,” it said.
Mr. Shalabh had appealed against the order of a trial court fixing Rs. 7,000 per month as the maintenance for his estranged wife Ritu.
While awarding the maintenance, the trial court had concluded that Mr. Shalabh’s income was around Rs. 35,500.
Terror infrastructure in Pak remains intact: Centre
The government has said the terror infrastructure in Pakistan continues to remain intact and infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir remains unabated with a substantial increase in 2009.
“There are reports to indicate that the infrastructure for training terrorist elements across the border continues to remain intact,” the 2009-10 annual report of the Home Ministry said.
It said the government was firmly committed to thwarting the challenge posed by terrorists and violence sponsored from across the border.
“The available information reveals that the infiltration that consistently decreased since 2005 has reversed in 2009 and increased substantially when compared to 2008,” the report said.
There were 485 attempts of infiltration last year in comparison to 342 in 2008.
Giving an overview of the internal security scenario, the Home Ministry report said, the situation in the country remains largely under control, though violence has increased in terms of number of incidents and casualties of civilians and security personnel, as compared to the corresponding period of 2008.
“In the recent years, the concentration of Left Wing Extremist (LWE) violence has been mainly in the states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Bihar, West Bengal and Maharashtra,” the report said.
Left wing extremists operate in the vacuum created by functional inadequacies of field level governance structures, espouse local demands and take advantage of prevalent dissatisfaction and feelings of perceived neglect and injustice among the under-privileged segments of population.
“CPI (Maoist) philosophy of armed struggle to overthrow the Indian state is not acceptable in our Parliamentary democracy and will have to be curbed at any cost. Government has given a call to the Maoist to abjure violence and come for talks. This has not been accepted by them so far,” it said.
While the overall counter action by the affected states in terms of LWEs killed, arrested and surrendered has shown much better results in 2009, there is an urgent need to strengthen police response particularly by Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh by improving actionable intelligence collection and sharing mechanisms and strengthening their police force, the report said.
There were some instances of major agitations during the year, which led to disturbance of public order and disruption of normal life in the affected areas such as the agitation in Andhra Pradesh for and against separate Telangana State and in West Bengal in the context of the demand for a separate Gorkhaland State, it said.
“There are reports to indicate that the infrastructure for training terrorist elements across the border continues to remain intact,” the 2009-10 annual report of the Home Ministry said.
It said the government was firmly committed to thwarting the challenge posed by terrorists and violence sponsored from across the border.
“The available information reveals that the infiltration that consistently decreased since 2005 has reversed in 2009 and increased substantially when compared to 2008,” the report said.
There were 485 attempts of infiltration last year in comparison to 342 in 2008.
Giving an overview of the internal security scenario, the Home Ministry report said, the situation in the country remains largely under control, though violence has increased in terms of number of incidents and casualties of civilians and security personnel, as compared to the corresponding period of 2008.
“In the recent years, the concentration of Left Wing Extremist (LWE) violence has been mainly in the states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Bihar, West Bengal and Maharashtra,” the report said.
Left wing extremists operate in the vacuum created by functional inadequacies of field level governance structures, espouse local demands and take advantage of prevalent dissatisfaction and feelings of perceived neglect and injustice among the under-privileged segments of population.
“CPI (Maoist) philosophy of armed struggle to overthrow the Indian state is not acceptable in our Parliamentary democracy and will have to be curbed at any cost. Government has given a call to the Maoist to abjure violence and come for talks. This has not been accepted by them so far,” it said.
While the overall counter action by the affected states in terms of LWEs killed, arrested and surrendered has shown much better results in 2009, there is an urgent need to strengthen police response particularly by Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh by improving actionable intelligence collection and sharing mechanisms and strengthening their police force, the report said.
There were some instances of major agitations during the year, which led to disturbance of public order and disruption of normal life in the affected areas such as the agitation in Andhra Pradesh for and against separate Telangana State and in West Bengal in the context of the demand for a separate Gorkhaland State, it said.
"Too much representation, too little democracy"
“What happens, now that democracy and the free market have fused into a single predatory organism with a thin constricted imagination that revolves almost entirely around the idea of maximising profit?” asked Arundhati Roy, Indian author at a discussion at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with Noam Chomsky, professor of Linguistics and Philosophy.
In the discussion, which focused on the threats to democracy in the United States, India, and worldwide, Ms. Roy said that asking such questions about “life after democracy” does not mean we should lapse into earlier discredited models of authoritarian or totalitarian forms of governance. “It is meant to say that in the system of representative democracy too much representation with too little democracy needs some structural adjustment,” she argued.
As an example of some of the inherent risks within democratic systems Ms. Roy touched upon environmental concerns. She asked the audience, “Could it be that democracy is such a hit with modern humans precisely because it mirrors our greatest folly, our near-sightedness, our inability to live entirely in the present, like most animals do, combined with our inability to see very far into the future, making us strange in-between creatures, neither beast nor prophet?”
Ms. Roy also touched upon the institutionalised nature of repressive tendencies in India, saying “Something about the cunning, Brahmanical, intricate, bureaucratic, file-bound, applied-through-proper-channels nature of governance and subjugation in India seems to have made a clerk out of me.” She said that her only excuse was to say that it takes “odd twos to uncover the maze of subterfuge and hypocrisy that cloaks the callousness and the cold calculated violence of the world’s favourite new superpower.”
Ms. Roy also described her recent visit into areas controlled by groups portrayed in the mainstream media as “violent Maoist rebels” that need to be “wiped out.” She argued that in exchange for giving such groups the right to vote, democracy “has snatched away their right to livelihoods, to forest produce and to traditional ways of life.”
She pointed out that the states of Chattishgarh, Jharkhand, Orrissa and West Bengal, had signed hundreds of Memoranda of Understanding worth billions of dollars with large trans-national companies and this inevitably led to moving tribal people from their lands. “We refer to such areas not as the Maoist corridor but the MoU-ist corridor,” she quipped.
Corroborating some of Ms. Roy’s comments with points regarding risks in global financial markets Mr. Chomsky said that even senior officers at the Bank of England and the International Monetary Fund had recently alluded to the high likelihood of future crisis in the global financial system.
Arguing that the problem of market externality posed systemic risks, Mr. Chomsky said “If Goldman Sachs sells complex financial instruments which it knows are no good, it will insure itself against loss by betting that they will fail, but it will not take into account systemic risk – the effect on the whole system – if it is transactions go bad.”
He said that in addition, perverse incentives resulted from the “enormous” power of the financial institutions over the state, with the U.S. now changed from a manufacturing economy to a financial economy. This power over the state has led to “all kinds of guarantees that if something goes wrong they will have no problem. The most famous of them is the government insurance policy called “too big to fail” – if you are too big the taxpayer will bail you out,” Mr. Chomsky said.
He argued that as the senior financial regulators had admitted, “the combination of market inefficiencies and perverse incentives virtually guarantees a doomsday cycle.”
In the discussion, which focused on the threats to democracy in the United States, India, and worldwide, Ms. Roy said that asking such questions about “life after democracy” does not mean we should lapse into earlier discredited models of authoritarian or totalitarian forms of governance. “It is meant to say that in the system of representative democracy too much representation with too little democracy needs some structural adjustment,” she argued.
As an example of some of the inherent risks within democratic systems Ms. Roy touched upon environmental concerns. She asked the audience, “Could it be that democracy is such a hit with modern humans precisely because it mirrors our greatest folly, our near-sightedness, our inability to live entirely in the present, like most animals do, combined with our inability to see very far into the future, making us strange in-between creatures, neither beast nor prophet?”
Ms. Roy also touched upon the institutionalised nature of repressive tendencies in India, saying “Something about the cunning, Brahmanical, intricate, bureaucratic, file-bound, applied-through-proper-channels nature of governance and subjugation in India seems to have made a clerk out of me.” She said that her only excuse was to say that it takes “odd twos to uncover the maze of subterfuge and hypocrisy that cloaks the callousness and the cold calculated violence of the world’s favourite new superpower.”
Ms. Roy also described her recent visit into areas controlled by groups portrayed in the mainstream media as “violent Maoist rebels” that need to be “wiped out.” She argued that in exchange for giving such groups the right to vote, democracy “has snatched away their right to livelihoods, to forest produce and to traditional ways of life.”
She pointed out that the states of Chattishgarh, Jharkhand, Orrissa and West Bengal, had signed hundreds of Memoranda of Understanding worth billions of dollars with large trans-national companies and this inevitably led to moving tribal people from their lands. “We refer to such areas not as the Maoist corridor but the MoU-ist corridor,” she quipped.
Corroborating some of Ms. Roy’s comments with points regarding risks in global financial markets Mr. Chomsky said that even senior officers at the Bank of England and the International Monetary Fund had recently alluded to the high likelihood of future crisis in the global financial system.
Arguing that the problem of market externality posed systemic risks, Mr. Chomsky said “If Goldman Sachs sells complex financial instruments which it knows are no good, it will insure itself against loss by betting that they will fail, but it will not take into account systemic risk – the effect on the whole system – if it is transactions go bad.”
He said that in addition, perverse incentives resulted from the “enormous” power of the financial institutions over the state, with the U.S. now changed from a manufacturing economy to a financial economy. This power over the state has led to “all kinds of guarantees that if something goes wrong they will have no problem. The most famous of them is the government insurance policy called “too big to fail” – if you are too big the taxpayer will bail you out,” Mr. Chomsky said.
He argued that as the senior financial regulators had admitted, “the combination of market inefficiencies and perverse incentives virtually guarantees a doomsday cycle.”
Saturday, April 3, 2010
TD: Divide in Congress led to riots
The Telugu Desam president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, alleged on Friday that that internal squabbles in the Congress led to communal riots in the old city of Hyderabad.
The Central and the state intelligence agencies failed to nip the trouble in the bud and this had sullied the image of the city, scaring away investors, said the TD president.
“The Congress leaders have alleged the hand of outsiders in the riots,” he said. “Is it not intelligence failure? The poor are paying a heavy price for the internal squabbles in the Congress. People are now suspicious of each other.”
Mr Naidu said this while welcoming a group of BJP leaders and activists from Dharmavaram in Anantapur district who joined the Telugu Desam in his presence.
He said the government had also failed provide succour to the people in the riot-affected areas.
“The government failed to provide essential commodities and medical care,” he said. “Milk is being sold at 100 times its cost.”
He recalled that the former Chief Minister, Dr M. Channa Reddy, had once alleged that party men had triggered riots to bring down his government. “That is Congress history,” he said.
“But when Telugu Desam was in power, there were no communal riots,” he added
Ayesha releases Shoaib marriage proof
The Shoaib Malik-Ayesha Siddiqui controversy took another turn on Friday when the Siddiqui family released, what they claimed, the marriage certificate of the Pakistani cricketer's 2002 'wedding' with the Hyderabad girl.
The marriage certificate (Nikahnama) was shown by several Pakistani television channels and apparently contained the signatures of Shoaib Malik on the column for the groom and the name of Maha Siddiqui on the column for the bride.
"I have released this marriage certificate because Shoaib and his family have constantly been denying this marriage," Ayesha told the 'Duniya' channel from Hyderabad.
While the Siddiqui family claims Shoaib is married to their daughter Ayesha and Indian tennis star Sania Mirza would be his second wife if they go ahead with the marriage, the Pakistani cricketer and his family have constantly denied that he ever entered into any wedlock with Ayesha.
Muhammad Siddiqui, the girl's father, has threatened to sue Malik and also seek a fatwa against him from Ulemas.
Ayesha said that she had released the Nikahnama because it proved that the marriage did take place.
"They are signatures of witnesses on the certificate and Shoaib sent me a copy for signature and a Haq Mahar amount of Pakistani 500 rupees," she said.
She said that Shoaib had always been unhappy with her weight problems and for his sake, she had even gone and had an operation in New Delhi.
"But I am devastated the way he is constantly denying everything. I have nothing against Sania but the truth must come out," Ayesha said.
Imran Zafar Malik, Shoaib's brother-in-law, however, dismissed the marriage certificate as a fake and said when no Nikah ceremony ever took place the document had no value at all.
"I don't want to say anything more except that Ayesha is a very talented girl and she is being misguided by some people," he said.
Zafar also said that the Siddiqui family had left them no choice but to purse legal action against them in India.
SSC exam postponed again
The state government on Friday decided to postpone the SSC exam scheduled for April 3 in the twin cities.
The exam for the social studies paper-I has been postponed due to curfew in the old city. The exam will be held as per schedule in Ranga Reddy district.
This is the third SSC exam to be postponed since March 30 when curfew was imposed in the old city following communal riots.
The maths paper-II was postponed on March 30 only in the curfew-bound areas of the old city, but the general science paper-I and paper-II scheduled for March 31 and April 1 were called off at all centres in the twin cities.
The decision to postpone the exam throughout the twin cities followed protests by students and parents over the earlier decision to call off the exam only in curfew-bound areas. Students in the old city who were allotted centres in non-curfew areas missed the exam as they could not come out of their homes.
“We have decided to postpone the exam on Saturday after consulting officials of the police department. They told us that the curfew in the old city will continue and it will not be possible to conduct exams there in the present circumstances,” said Ms Poonam Malakondaiah, the commissioner and director of school education.
Ms Malakondaiah said fresh dates for conducting the postponed exams in the twin cities will be finalised in a couple of days.
The government is planning to conduct postponed exams on April 9, 10 and 11 in the twin cities.
The director of the SSC Board, Ms Pronoti Suhasini Kavoori, said that exclusive control rooms have been set up at the SSC Board and Hyderabad DEO office where students and parents can get information and clarifications about the exams round the clock.
They can contact control rooms on phone numbers 040-65812189, 99495-11645, 91774-30496, 040-23237343, 040-23237344.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Curfew continues in riot hit Hyderabad
Curfew continued in riot-hit parts of Hyderabad for the fourth day on Friday. Even though the situation remained peaceful, police were on high alert because of Friday prayers.
Police decided not to relax the curfew in all 25 police station areas since they anticipated trouble during Friday prayers. They have requested Muslims to pray in their homes.
Police Commissioner A.K. Khan told reporters that curfew, which was relaxed for two hours in 17 police station areas on Thursday, would continue without any relaxation Friday.
An eminent Islamic scholar has also ruled that Friday prayers were not a must in curfew-bound areas and appealed to Muslims to pray in their homes. Mufti Khaleel Ahmed, head of the Islamic university Jamia Nizamia, said Friday prayers in mosques are a must only when they can be offered without any disturbance and without endangering lives.
Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy had earlier hinted that curfew could be relaxed for prayers but after a review meeting with Chief Minister K. Rosaiah and police top brass last night, she ruled out the relaxation.
Security has been tightened at all places of worship in Hyderabad and in districts like Adilabad, Mahabubnagar and Nizamabad. The chief minister has directed police to deploy additional forces to ensure peace during Friday prayers.
Meanwhile, no untoward incident has been reported from any part of the city since Tuesday night. However, the home minister made it clear that the curfew would continue till normalcy was restored.
The communal violence, which broke out following a dispute over putting up of religious flags, has so far claimed two lives and left over 150 injured.
Police have increased their probe into various incidents of violence. As many as 200 people have so far been arrested in connection with 67 cases of rioting. The arrests were made for attacks on places of worship, arson and looting and damage to public and private property.
Police decided not to relax the curfew in all 25 police station areas since they anticipated trouble during Friday prayers. They have requested Muslims to pray in their homes.
Police Commissioner A.K. Khan told reporters that curfew, which was relaxed for two hours in 17 police station areas on Thursday, would continue without any relaxation Friday.
An eminent Islamic scholar has also ruled that Friday prayers were not a must in curfew-bound areas and appealed to Muslims to pray in their homes. Mufti Khaleel Ahmed, head of the Islamic university Jamia Nizamia, said Friday prayers in mosques are a must only when they can be offered without any disturbance and without endangering lives.
Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy had earlier hinted that curfew could be relaxed for prayers but after a review meeting with Chief Minister K. Rosaiah and police top brass last night, she ruled out the relaxation.
Security has been tightened at all places of worship in Hyderabad and in districts like Adilabad, Mahabubnagar and Nizamabad. The chief minister has directed police to deploy additional forces to ensure peace during Friday prayers.
Meanwhile, no untoward incident has been reported from any part of the city since Tuesday night. However, the home minister made it clear that the curfew would continue till normalcy was restored.
The communal violence, which broke out following a dispute over putting up of religious flags, has so far claimed two lives and left over 150 injured.
Police have increased their probe into various incidents of violence. As many as 200 people have so far been arrested in connection with 67 cases of rioting. The arrests were made for attacks on places of worship, arson and looting and damage to public and private property.
Peru’s ancient Machu Picchu open again for visitors
The ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu reopened Thursday to visitors after being closed since late January due to heavy rainfall and mudslides.
At the re-opening was US actress Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking), who was named in a special ceremony “daughter of Machu Picchu” -- a sort of honorary citizen.
She called the ancient site “beautiful” and “impressive” and urged other Hollywood stars to visit the UNESCO world cultural site.
Located at 2,430 metres, Machu Picchu can only be reached via train or on foot. At the end of January, the rail track as well as foot paths were heavily damaged in the rainfall. Four thousand visitors — most of them from outside Peru -- were evacuated to security.
Machu Picchu itself however was not damaged. In the meantimes, the rail line is partially repaired. Visitors must now travel by car or bus to Piscacucho, where they can board the train.
In the high season, the 550-year-old site draws up to 2,500 visitors a day.
The site gets up to 55,000 visitors per year. The citadel is Peru’s main tourist destination and as such a major source of income.
The so-called “Lost City of the Incas” features over 200 structures including temples, palaces and other buildings.
Built in the 15th century, Machu Picchu remained largely hidden from the outside world until US archaeologist Hiram Bingham came across it in 1911.
At the re-opening was US actress Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking), who was named in a special ceremony “daughter of Machu Picchu” -- a sort of honorary citizen.
She called the ancient site “beautiful” and “impressive” and urged other Hollywood stars to visit the UNESCO world cultural site.
Located at 2,430 metres, Machu Picchu can only be reached via train or on foot. At the end of January, the rail track as well as foot paths were heavily damaged in the rainfall. Four thousand visitors — most of them from outside Peru -- were evacuated to security.
Machu Picchu itself however was not damaged. In the meantimes, the rail line is partially repaired. Visitors must now travel by car or bus to Piscacucho, where they can board the train.
In the high season, the 550-year-old site draws up to 2,500 visitors a day.
The site gets up to 55,000 visitors per year. The citadel is Peru’s main tourist destination and as such a major source of income.
The so-called “Lost City of the Incas” features over 200 structures including temples, palaces and other buildings.
Built in the 15th century, Machu Picchu remained largely hidden from the outside world until US archaeologist Hiram Bingham came across it in 1911.
ISRO set to launch GSLV-D3
ISRO is preparing to launch a geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV-D3), powered for the first time by a home-made cryogenic engine, from Sriharikota spaceport this month, its chief K Radhakrishnan said on Friday.
“Preparations are going on. The final reviews are also taking place. It could be any day from April 15 (at around 16.30 hours), which is the first available opportunity”, he told PTI.
GSLV-D3 would carry on board GSAT-4 experimental satellite in which ISRO is also testing some new things.
He said the indigenous development of complex cryogenic rocket technology after years of effort is a reply to technology denial regimes and termed the endeavour “marvellous“.
“Significance in terms of (cryogenic) technology development has been a marvellous thing”, he said.
“In 1992, we wanted to get this technology from Russia, and the Americans put a sanction on Russia not to transfer this technology and India took a bold decision to develop it. So, we have done it”, he said.
“This is a flight-testing of that (indigenous cryogenic) stage,” Mr. Radhakrishnan said.
Indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) being used for the first time in GSLV-D3 is fully qualified having undergone the full flight duration test of 800 seconds successfully. The indigenous CUS would be used in place of Russian cryogenic stage employed so far in GSLV.
“The development of cryogenic engines involves mastering several complex disciplines such as materials technology, operating rotary pumps and turbines that run at 42,000 rpm at cryogenic temperatures. The development of cryogenic technology in the country has given the coveted status of total self-reliance in launch vehicle technology”, he said.
ISRO conducted previous GSLV flights with the help of readymade cryogenic engines procured from Russia earlier.
“GSAT-4 is the only payload (to be carried by GSLV-D3). But GSAT-4 contains several payloads. We are getting into Ka-band transponder system there, and we are also having a small payload for the satellite navigation for augmenting the GPS system that is GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation),” Mr. Radhakrishnan said.
ISRO is also trying electric propulsion system for the first time. “Instead of using liquid fuel for station-keeping, here you are using electric propulsions”, he said, noting the move would enable the agency to extend the life of satellites by a couple of years.
“This is a new technology. First time, we are trying it,” he said.
“Preparations are going on. The final reviews are also taking place. It could be any day from April 15 (at around 16.30 hours), which is the first available opportunity”, he told PTI.
GSLV-D3 would carry on board GSAT-4 experimental satellite in which ISRO is also testing some new things.
He said the indigenous development of complex cryogenic rocket technology after years of effort is a reply to technology denial regimes and termed the endeavour “marvellous“.
“Significance in terms of (cryogenic) technology development has been a marvellous thing”, he said.
“In 1992, we wanted to get this technology from Russia, and the Americans put a sanction on Russia not to transfer this technology and India took a bold decision to develop it. So, we have done it”, he said.
“This is a flight-testing of that (indigenous cryogenic) stage,” Mr. Radhakrishnan said.
Indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) being used for the first time in GSLV-D3 is fully qualified having undergone the full flight duration test of 800 seconds successfully. The indigenous CUS would be used in place of Russian cryogenic stage employed so far in GSLV.
“The development of cryogenic engines involves mastering several complex disciplines such as materials technology, operating rotary pumps and turbines that run at 42,000 rpm at cryogenic temperatures. The development of cryogenic technology in the country has given the coveted status of total self-reliance in launch vehicle technology”, he said.
ISRO conducted previous GSLV flights with the help of readymade cryogenic engines procured from Russia earlier.
“GSAT-4 is the only payload (to be carried by GSLV-D3). But GSAT-4 contains several payloads. We are getting into Ka-band transponder system there, and we are also having a small payload for the satellite navigation for augmenting the GPS system that is GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation),” Mr. Radhakrishnan said.
ISRO is also trying electric propulsion system for the first time. “Instead of using liquid fuel for station-keeping, here you are using electric propulsions”, he said, noting the move would enable the agency to extend the life of satellites by a couple of years.
“This is a new technology. First time, we are trying it,” he said.
Jr NTR, Pranati get engaged
In a low-key family affair, actor Junior NTR got engaged to Ms Narne Lakshmi Pranati on Thursday. The ceremony was held at Ms Pranati’s family residence in Filmnagar.
While the bride’s father, Mr Narne Srinivasa Rao, is the chairman of StudioN, a television news channel, her mother, Ms Mallika, is the niece of the TD chief, Mr Chandrababu Naidu.
Junior NTR reached the bride’s residence at 4 am for the engagement and the event concluded by 12 noon.
Though there were rumours that the couple will tie the knot on May 9, close associates of the actor said the wedding date is yet to be finalised. They said the wedding is likely to take place in November.
Interestingly, Mr Chandrababu Naidu’s brother, Mr Ramamurthy Naidu, who attended the ceremony, had first given the May 9 date to the media. He later denied giving out the date.
“There is no proper muhurtham on May 9. On Thursday there was only ‘nischaya thambulam.’ We did not have ‘lagna patrika.’ The wedding is not likely to be held next month,” said Mr Shiva, Junior NTR’s public relation manager.
The engagement was not without a bit of drama. The late N.T. Rama Rao’s wife, Ms Lakshmi Parvati, accused the actor of not inviting her to the engagement. “When Junior NTR and his mother were expelled from the family, I took care of them. But today they didn’t invite me to the ceremony. Nevertheless, I wish the couple good luck,” Ms Parvati said.
While the bride’s father, Mr Narne Srinivasa Rao, is the chairman of StudioN, a television news channel, her mother, Ms Mallika, is the niece of the TD chief, Mr Chandrababu Naidu.
Junior NTR reached the bride’s residence at 4 am for the engagement and the event concluded by 12 noon.
Though there were rumours that the couple will tie the knot on May 9, close associates of the actor said the wedding date is yet to be finalised. They said the wedding is likely to take place in November.
Interestingly, Mr Chandrababu Naidu’s brother, Mr Ramamurthy Naidu, who attended the ceremony, had first given the May 9 date to the media. He later denied giving out the date.
“There is no proper muhurtham on May 9. On Thursday there was only ‘nischaya thambulam.’ We did not have ‘lagna patrika.’ The wedding is not likely to be held next month,” said Mr Shiva, Junior NTR’s public relation manager.
The engagement was not without a bit of drama. The late N.T. Rama Rao’s wife, Ms Lakshmi Parvati, accused the actor of not inviting her to the engagement. “When Junior NTR and his mother were expelled from the family, I took care of them. But today they didn’t invite me to the ceremony. Nevertheless, I wish the couple good luck,” Ms Parvati said.
Clashes: police rely on video footage
Police are relying on video footage to identify the accused in the cases of communal clashes reported in the city in the past three days.
An extensive analysis of the visuals of the violent incidents - majority of them recorded by police - was undertaken to identity the accused, the Hyderabad Police Commissioner, A.K. Khan, told reporters on Wednesday. Nearly 200 video cameras were used by the police to record the clashes reported on Sunday and Monday.
“Police have crucial evidence in the form of video footage of the Bajrang Dal rally that turned violent on Tuesday. Some 75 video cameras were used for this purpose,” Mr. Khan said.
Different timings were adopted for curfew relaxation to optimally use forces available focussing on trouble prone areas.
“People better buy essential commodities for at least two days as there will not be any curfew relaxation on Friday in South Zone,” the Commissioner said. No decision was taken yet on relaxing curfew in eight police stations of West zone and one each in Central and East zones.
The relaxation period is meant to purchase essential commodities, milk, groceries and medicines.
Arrangements were being made in coordination with marketing department to sell vegetables and other goods, he said.
Meanwhile, the circulation of hate messages through short message service of mobile phones during communal clashes was being investigated by the Cyber Crime Cell.
An extensive analysis of the visuals of the violent incidents - majority of them recorded by police - was undertaken to identity the accused, the Hyderabad Police Commissioner, A.K. Khan, told reporters on Wednesday. Nearly 200 video cameras were used by the police to record the clashes reported on Sunday and Monday.
“Police have crucial evidence in the form of video footage of the Bajrang Dal rally that turned violent on Tuesday. Some 75 video cameras were used for this purpose,” Mr. Khan said.
Different timings were adopted for curfew relaxation to optimally use forces available focussing on trouble prone areas.
“People better buy essential commodities for at least two days as there will not be any curfew relaxation on Friday in South Zone,” the Commissioner said. No decision was taken yet on relaxing curfew in eight police stations of West zone and one each in Central and East zones.
The relaxation period is meant to purchase essential commodities, milk, groceries and medicines.
Arrangements were being made in coordination with marketing department to sell vegetables and other goods, he said.
Meanwhile, the circulation of hate messages through short message service of mobile phones during communal clashes was being investigated by the Cyber Crime Cell.
