*Thane:* A 66-year-old retired bank employee from Vashi in Navi Mumbai, was sentenced to life imprisonment by district court in Thane for killing his wife.Thane Additional Sessions Judge V V Bambarde on Thursday awarded the sentence to Jagmohan Thakur who had killed his 62-year-old wife with a hammer in 2013 after she refused to return to his native place in Himachal Pradesh.
The judge refereed to the circumstantial evidence and the deposition of witnesses which corroborated the incident and held the accused, an ex-employee of PNB, guilty of the charges under section 302 (murder) of the IPC. The judge held that the prosecution has proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
The prosecution examined as many as 11 witnesses including the son of the accused.
In his submission before the court, Additional Public Prosecutor Sanjay Londhe said the couple--Jagmohan and his wife Asha 62 (then)-- a retired school teacher lived with their son and daughter-in-law in Vashi.
It was on October 7, 2013, around 7.30 am, the domestic help noticed that the room of Asha and Jagmohan was bolted from outside. When she told son Tushar and his wife Kirti about it, they opened the door to see Asha lying in a pool of blood. She was rushed to a hospital but she was declared brought dead.
After murdering her, the accused had changed his clothes and bolted the door from outside and left. The police recovered the hammer and his blood-stained clothes from the scene of the offence.
It was also submitted that the accused was under tremendous strain as the bank he worked with had initiated a departmental inquiry against him. He wanted to commit suicide around six months ago by jumping in front of a train. His family found the suicide note and managed to stop him from taking the extreme step.
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Mani, 45, who acted in 200 films in Malayalam and other languages, suffered from a liver ailment and was admitted on March 4 to a hospital in Kochi in a serious condition. He died in the hospital on March 6.*Actor and singer Kalabhavan Mani*
Soon after his death, speculation surfaced that it was not a natural death as the hospital authorities reported presence of a chemical in his body.
On Thursday, Mani's brother Ramakrishnan said he suspected foul play behind the death of the actor.
"I suspect all those who had kept Mani company the day before he died," Ramakrishnan is reported in the media to have said.
Mani allegedly consumed liquor in the company of some friends in his outhouse near Chalakkudy in Thrissur district before taking ill and being taken to hospital.
Ramakrishnan suspects that those keeping the actor company tried to destroy evidence by cleaning the place where they consumed liquor before anyone from the family arrived at the spot.
He also dispelled the suggestion that things had been going wrong in Mani's family life.
The police have sealed the actor's outhouse and started a probe into his death.
"I was informed of Mani being admitted to a hospital by his brother only the next day. We want the truth to come out. He was one person who came up in life through hard work and enjoyed everything... he will never ever commit suicide," said the deceased actor's wife Nimmi.
She also denied reports that there was discord in their family life.
*Also Read: Did Malayalam actor Kalabhavan Mani die of poisoning from beer?*
A few days ago the police probe team had taken into custody three of Mani's close aides who were with him when he fell ill at the outhouse.
Popular TV artiste Sabu was questioned and then let off. He was reportedly present at the outhouse, but left the place before Mani fell ill.
"I was in Chalakkudy for a shoot that day and after, along with Jaffer Idukki. Another actor and myself visited the outhouse of Mani. There were quite a few people at that time and I left after some time," Sabu told media persons on Friday.
The police also suspect that all is not well because when they first reached the outhouse, the place had been cleaned up.
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*Mohan Bhagwat*
The youths identified as Shaqir (22) and Wasim (20) were arrested on March 16 for uploading the morphed picture of Bhagwat in a local social networking group of Bhikangaon town, Additional SP, Antar Singh Kanesh said.
As the photo went viral on social media, RSS and BJP workers registered a strong protest on the issue following which a case was registered against the duo in Bhikangaon police station under Sections 67 of the IT Act and 505 (2) of IPC, he added.
The accused claimed that they had received the photo from some other group and they just forwarded it further, the ASP said.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/School-kids-s.jpg*The report also states that Jains have the highest literacy rate of 95.3% in Maharashtra. Pic for representation*
The state’s economic survey report for the year 2015-16 has religion wise information available on this. The report was tabled in the legislature a day before the budget for 2016-17 is presented today.
It says that the Muslims who are 11.5% of Maharashtra’s total population have a literacy rate of 83.6%, whereas Hindus who are 79.8% have 81.8% literates among them. However, Muslims’ national literacy average is much less (68.5%) than what they have in Maharashtra.
The adult literacy rate of the state increased to 82.3 per cent in 2011 from 76.9 per cent in 2001. Jains have the highest literacy rate of 95.3%.
As per the 2011 census, the state’s population is 11.24 crore which is 9.3% of the country’s population and it ranks second after Uttar Pradesh in terms of population. The proportion of urban population is 45.2% in 2011 as against 42.4 % in 2001.
*Sex ratio improved*
The state has observed overall improvement in sex ratio from 922 (922 women per 1,000 men) in 2001 to 929 in 2011. Sex ratio in rural areas of the state has decreased from 960 in 2001 to 952 in 2011, whereas, it has increased in urban areas from 873 to 903 during the same period.
The Christian population has the highest sex ratio (1031) in 2011, whereas Sikh population has the lowest (891).
*8% economic growth forecast*
The Maharashtra economy is expected to grow at 8% in the coming financial year, which is higher than the national forecast (7.5%). The state has always been a major contributor to the national economy.
As the agricultural economy is largely governed by monsoon, growth in this sector has plummeted this year. However, Industry and Services sectors have managed to drive the state economy to a fairly decent growth this year, says the economic survey report.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/Yashashree-s.jpg*Yashashree and Samrudhi Patil dig their heels in against rank corruption at Azad Maidan. Pic/Bipin Kokate*
The Patils decided enough was enough after “unearthing a corruption scam” in postings.
Yashashree’s husband and constable in the Sahar traffic police department, Pramod Patil, joined the Mumbai police in 2005 and was posted at the DN Nagar traffic department. He was transferred to the Malabar Hill traffic division last year, a deputation that flouted the rule book, claims the 33-year-old constable.
“We live in the Marol police quarters in Andheri East. Police personnel are posted near their houses or along the same line, like western or eastern or northern. A committee is mandated to review each posting.”
*Corruption scam*
Refusing to take it lying down, Patil filed an RTI application in the department and stumbled upon a “corruption scam” — given the right cost, all dream postings were up for grabs. “I was immediately transferred from the Malabar Hill traffic division to the Sahar traffic division,” he says.
He then allegedly faced relentless harassment within the ranks. “I was taunted by my own staff and seniors. They called me Anna Hazare for taking up a fight against corruption,” says Patil.
One pressure tactic after another allegedly mounted. His salary was cut for five days when he, in fact, took leave for just a day last November, claims Patil. “I was subjected to a lot of harassment from the ACP, DCP and other higher officials. I was also given different duties all the time.”
*Hunger strike*
Yashashree said her hunger strike is a voice against such harassment. The family on Wednesday met Commissioner of Police Dattatray Padsalgikar, who assured them of addressing their concerns. “We believe in him.
But the problem is in the system within the department. When the common man has a problem, he goes to the police. Whom will the police go to when they face problems?” asks Yashashree. The family wants the CM’s intervention.
“I want more people, especially the wives of other police personnel, to come out and support us,” says Yashashree.
The family, whose sit-in goes on from 9 am to 6 pm, is sporting placards of police personnel who died in the 26/11 attacks as well as fighting Naxals. Patil is not allowed to sit in on the strike, but has taken leave to accompany his family.
Support has begun to pour in. Many constables have visited the family to extend their support to the protest, but have refused to come on record for fear of repercussions. “The family has taken a brave step. I don’t have the courage to speak out [against poor treatment of police constables],” says a constable.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/15horsea-attack-s.jpg*A picture of the incident. Pic/PTI*
IG Garhwal range Sanjay Gunjyal said the MLA from Mussoorie was arrested from outside a hotel in Patel Nagar area on the basis of an FIR lodged against him and his associates at Nehru Colony police station in Dehradun in connection with the assault on the police horse on March 14.
The official said Joshi was being interrogated. He, however, refused to disclose where the MLA has been taken. Reacting sharply to the development, BJP lodged a protest with Governor K K Paul and alleged it was 'abduction' of its MLA.
"The manner in which Joshi was picked up from outside a hotel suggests he was abducted. Those who picked him up were in plain clothes and it is not clear whether they were police personnel or goondas," Leader of Opposition in Uttarakhand Assembly Ajay Bhatt said. Bhatt said he had called on Governor K K Paul to register his protest against the manner in which the party legislator was picked up.
The action against Joshi comes a day after the arrest of another party worker Pramod Bora from Haldwani in Nainital district on Thursday. Dehradun SSP Sadanand Date said Bora along with Joshi was responsible for precipitating the fall of the horse during the protest March on March 14 which caused grievous injuries to one of its hind legs.
Meanwhile, the injured horse whose fractured hind leg had to be amputated late on Thursday night by a team of doctors at the police lines can now stand with the help of an artificial leg. However, doctors attending on Shaktiman said it will have to be seen whether the prop is strong enough to support the horse which weighs four quintals.
The surgery was conducted at a veterinary hospital by a team of doctors led by surgeon Feroze Khambatta, hours after Army doctors from Pune opined that one of the hind legs of the horse that was fractured will have to be amputated as the animal might lose its life by tomorrow due to spread of gangrene from the wound.
Surgeon from Mumbai Feroze Khambatta, who led a team of doctors that operated on the horse, said he had performed eight similar operations in Nepal and Bhutan but on horses which weighed only two quintals.
As Shaktiman weighs four quintals it is not clear for how long he can stand and move with an artificial leg. He is constantly under the watch of doctors and over twodozen police personnel at the police lines.
Shaktiman is a well trained horse and part of Uttarakhand Mounted Police for years. Chief Minister Harish Rawat also expressed concern over the horse's condition.
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The dumpyard has put the health of over 800 school students at risk. The civic body asserts that the facility is over 500 metres away, but a reality check by mid-day punches holes in the claim. The dumpyard is a stone’s throw away from National English School and Adarsh Vidyalaya High School.*Students of National English School and Adarsh Vidyalaya High School in Diva, Thane, are forced to keep their windows shut to prevent the entry of smoke from garbage burning in a dumping ground. Pics/Datta Kumbhar*
National English School has 392 students on its rolls from nursery to class 5 and conducts classes from 7am to 1pm. “The school has been functioning for the past five years. The dumping ground is close by. We are not much affected by the smoke, but if there were a fire outbreak, students will suffer,” says Jyoti Nagore, principal of the school.
Students at the school are forced to study in the dark since the windows are kept shut at all times to keep out the smoke and the stench, barely 10 m away. “The roads that lead to the school are full of smoke,” says a kindergarten teacher at the school. “Most students are from a slum settlement near the school. They have no choice but to inhale the smoke back at their homes. They are used to it (the smoke) by now and we are just doing our jobs.”
By the look of it, Adarsh Vidyalaya is a safe distance away. It is around 50 m from the dumpyard, but its 400 students have to walk down the same road and the smoke inevitably reaches the school premises.
School authorities allege that their repeated complaints to the authorities concerned have been fruitless. “A chemical leak last December led to the closure of the school for two days,” points out Smita Patil, a teacher.
RD Mishra, principal of the school, says the monsoon makes matters worse. “The stench from the wet, rotting garbage becomes unbearable.” Mishra fears that speaking up against the civic body can boomerang and lead to the shutdown of the school.
The school runs on two shifts and offers classes in three languages — Hindi, Marathi and English.
*In the back of beyond*
Bhushan Mhatre, an NCP member who takes the Shil road daily, alleges Diva has been given the short shrift by the authorities concerned. “The Shil road is pockmarked with potholes and the smoke from the dumping ground stings motorists’ eyes, resulting in accidents. The authorities should visit the site and take cognisance of the dangers children are in. I don’t know who granted permission to the school to function from near the dumping ground.” Mhatre says most residents of Diva suffer from breathing problems and eye irritations.
Vijay Bhoir, another resident, says things had come to a head last December during a chemical leak at the dumping yard. “Desperate people were ready to move out of the area without a backup plan. Diva has always been neglected. The civic authorities should use its funds to develop the area. If nothing else, they should put an end to rampant, unplanned construction of new buildings,” he suggests.*The other side*
Sandeep Malvi, public relations officer, TMC, says adequate precautions are taken when garbage is dumped at the site.
“We have also deployed security guards to ensure that waste is dumped in a proper manner. Precautions are taken to ensure that the smoke resulting from burning garbage does cause health problems.”
A TMC official who overlooks the dumping process at Diva says around 550-650 tonnes of waste is dump at the site daily. As per the norms, no school should be closer than 500 m from the dumping ground. Both schools are at that distance and are not affected by smoke.
He says the TMC is planning to set up a waste-to-energy generation plant at Shil-Daighar.
*Kids, elderly at risk*
Dr Satish Rane, an ayurvedic doctor in Diva, says he treats more than 100 patients each month for breathing problems and skin infections. “Children have come in with asthma and the elderly with other breathing problems. Skin and eye irritations are common, too.”
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It also said that it has a right to give suggestions to the government like any other organisation in a democracy and is proud to have produced two prime ministers-- Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi. "There is no control, but certainly remote is there. Remote is there, signal is there. RSS is not having any remote control on BJP or any other political party.*File Pic/AFP*
"RSS swayamsevaks are working actively and are participants in BJP. BJP also subscribes to certain views and ideology of RSS and the inspiration they take in public life. If family members come to RSS for suggestions, is it remote control or affection. There is no complaint from BJP and there is no wish from RSS," RSS Joint General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said at the India Today Conclave.
Asked if RSS was an 'extra-constitutional authority' in the present government, he said, "Where is the extra- constitutional authority? We are not doing any hide and seek. Presentations at RSS meeting is not wrong. If they make presentations before RSS, they can make presentations before this conclave. It is a democracy. We have every right to make suggestions to any government."
Rejecting criticism that RSS gave diktats to the Modi government, he said RSS swayamsevaks are working actively in BJP and they are like "family members". Hosabale said in a democracy the RSS can make suggestions to any government of the day, be it BJP or Congress, even though Congress will not listen to them.
"We are proud that RSS has produced two prime ministers. Both are listening to the voice of the people," he said, adding both Vajpayee and Modi listened to them. "Vajpayee also listened and Modi also is listening. But, listening does not mean he is heeding (to) it. We are proud. I wish Vajpayee also had the opportunity to become prime minister at Modi's age," the RSS leader said.
He said, "We wanted that a budget of this kind should come. We had also suggested to Congress." Asked if RSS has asked for a temple, Hosabale said, "We have asked for a mandir at Ayodhya. That is our dream. It is the wish of the people. It is for the country and government to take up the issue. We are hopeful. We are also confident that they will also fulfil the aspirations of people. They have included it in their manifesto."
To a question on whether homosexuality is a crime as considered under Article 377 IPC, he said, "I don't think homosexuality should be considered a criminal offence as long as it does not affect the lives of others in society."
He said, "sexual preferences are private and personal. Why should RSS express its views in a public forum? RSS has no view on that. It is for people to have their way. Personal preference of sex is not discussed in RSS and we don't even want to discuss that."
Section 377 of Indian Penal Code terms homosexuality as unnatural and carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in jail. Going by the global trends in this regard, there have been demands within the country to decriminalise homosexuality.
Hosabale said AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi was an "anti-national" as he said he would not chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', a slogan not coined by RSS but during the freedom struggle. Asked if one was a 'traitor' by not chanting 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', he said, "Of course, he is an anti-national... All the political leaders except Owaisi's party opposed what he said."
"If someone says he/she does not want to chant 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' at all, you are not allowing others also to not chant the slogan....If anybody says so, he is anti-national." He said 'Vande Mataram' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' are not RSS slogans, but coined during freedom struggle and it is not required that these should be chanted all the time or every morning "but there is nothing wrong in saying it".
On beef eating, the RSS leader said one should respect the sensibilities of others too. "Can't you live without beef, can't you respect the sensibilities of majority and respect feelings of other people also? Beef eating has not been acceptable in this country.
Mahatma Gandhi was also against beef eating, he did not become communal, but RSS is communal," he said. The RSS leader expressed concern that anti-national activities are being spread in campuses in the country.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/KanhaiyaKumar-s.jpg*Kanhaiya Kumar*
"To inculcate the feeling of patriotism in students, major changes are being made in the curriculum," the Rajasthan Minister of State for Education (primary and secondary) said in the assembly.
"In view of recent JNU incident, government universities have been asked to hoist national flag so as to inculcate patriotism in students," State Higher Education Minister Kali Charan Saraf said.
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"We can't have uninterrupted talks with Pakistan as Mani Shankar Aiyar suggests. If the military and ISI unleash Lashkar-e-Taiba in Mumbai and other cities, we should interrupt talks. We can't talk to people who cannot control their nationals," said Tharoor here on Thursday.*Shashi Tharoor*
Tharoor was speaking at a session 'Pakistan is in the eyes of the Beholder', in the ongoing Penguin Spring Fever festival here. "Its surrendering our self respect by saying we will talk to you even if your people are coming and killing us," Tharoor said.
Aiyar had exhorted both the countries last year to engage in an "uninterruptible" composite dialogue saying that disputes between both the countries are easiest to resolve.
Suggesting a solution to the tangle, Tharoor said that both the countries should increase people to people contact. "We should try to change the stakes in Pakistan by dramatically opening up people-to-people contact. Let us be generous with visas with writers, diplomats, and business men," he said.
He also suggested that trade between the two countries should open up - even with military owned companies. "Permanent hostility is a mood, not policy," he said, adding that we should play more cricket with Pakistan.
The former minister also said that whenever India has tried to make peace, that has been reciprocated with an attack. "There is nothing we want from Pakistan but peace," Tharoor said, adding that they seem to want Kashmir and they will continue to do so.
Tharoor noted that the core issue with Pakistan is not Kashmir but the nature of the Pakistan state. Paraphrasing Voltaire, he said that Pakistan army has a state, not otherwise. "You join the army to run the country," he added.
He went on to say that the military is involved in everything in Pakistan - from petrol pumps, exports, real estate, Athink tanks and imports to universities- Pakistani army has the highest portion in the country's GDP in the world. "This is justified by conflicts on borders," said the Congress MP.
Participating in the discussion, former Pakistan High Commissioner TCA Raghavan said that it is important to engage with Pakistan. "Just talking won't solve anything in Pakistan, Pakistan has to reduce the role of army on its own," said Raghavan.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/Burhani-College-s.jpg*Student with NSUI members at the college*
According to Raza’s complaint to the university he has lost crucial time of 45 minutes during a two and half hour examination of advertising subject on March 8 because he was being checked for carrying any chit that they did not find.*The complaint letter*
“During the course of my examination an unknown supervisor checked me and answer-sheet purposely for 45 minutes wasting my precious time. After the said checking was over in which nothing was found, I realized that it was a well-planned strategy by the college authorities to disturb me mentally by wasting crucial time during my examination,” said Muntazir.
He further continued, “Moreover, the person who was present as supervisor was not from college at all. How can an outsider work as a supervisor for examination? When I raised these questions after the examination, I was promised that I would be given another attempt because I have lost on much time for no fault of mine. I believed college and went for another attempt scheduled on Thursday. But to my shock watchman of the college was instructed to restrict my entry to college.” It was after this, Muntazir approached National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) to intervene in the matter.
Heena Kanojia, coordinator at the NSUI told midday, “This is completely against the students right to appear for examination. This college has been indulging in activities against the benefit of students’ at large. Charging exorbitant fees, then intimidating students to revoke complaints, restricting admission to in-house students among all are different issues of this college which have surfaced in the past.”
While student has complained to varsity of the harassment, college authority has rubbished students’ claims. When contacted principal of the college, Haider Karrar, he refuted all allegation made by students. He said, “How can we allow another attempt to a student who has already appeared for the paper? We cannot promise any such thing. This specific student was suspected copying during the examination that day which is why the supervisor had to check him if he possessed any material on him. It might have taken some time but not as much as the student is claiming. When hundreds of students appeared for the examination peacefully, why only this student should have any problem? The student has connection with student union which is why he is creating an issue out of nothing.”
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*Also Read: Chhagan Bhujbal complains of uneasiness, doctors sent to ED office**Bhujbal being taken to the special PMLA court yesterday. Pic/PTI*
ED had sought seven more days of custody for Bhujbal, but judge P R Bhavke of the special PMLA court sent the senior NCP leader in judicial custody till March 31, saying “sufficient ground was not made out for further remand.” Bhujbal, arrested on March 14, will be lodged in the high-security Arthur Road jail now.
ED’s lawyer Hiten Vinegaokar asked for a seven-day custody, telling the court that the crucial part of investigation – which was supposed to be carried out yesterday – could not be completed since Bhujbal kept complaining about his health. As per Bhujbal’s request, doctors from JJ Hospital and St George Hospital were called to check on him. They opined saying he is fit and fine.
Vinegaokar also told court that they have confronted Bhujbal with other witnesses, namely Sunil Naik and Amit Balraj and the other accused, his nephew Sameer Bhujbal. “In his statement, Amit has said he was threatened by Bhujbal to sign on certain papers. We couldn’t get sufficient time to investigate, so we sought a seven-day custody.”
ED argued it needed Bhujbal’s further remand because he was to be confronted with statements of witnesses and he had refused to cooperate. When he was informed that there was to be a face-to-face confrontation (meeting) with the witnesses, he complained of restlessness.
*Bhujbal’s complaints*
When the judge asked Bhujbal if he has any complaints, he narrated how the ED had not recorded his statements, even after he woke up at 7.30 am to do so. He said the ED started interrogating him only after 9.30 am.
At 11.30, Bhujbal said he asked them to confront him with whomever they wished to, but they didn’t. “Everyone was just sitting and ED was busy with their own work. I told them we have to go to court today so why are you delaying?” Bhujbal said.
He added, “These are all lies and concocted stories. I have not pressurized anyone, neither have I instructed anyone to do anything.”
*Read Story: BJP and NCP caught in the storm after Chhagan Bhujbal's arrest*
Countering allegations against Bhujbal, his lawyer Prasad Dhakephalkar argued that Bhujbal is 69-years-old and suffers from chronic asthma and is not a 25-year-old man who will not have any health problem. Dhakephalkar said Bhujbal has given certificates about his illness.
“Why has ED not mentioned this Rs 200 crore earlier even after having so much time to investigate? According to the investigators, the 69-year-old accused complaining about his health is a waste of time.” Dhakephalkar said, adding that the court should grant judicial custody, as there is nothing in the remand copy.
ED in its remand application said that statements of certain individuals closely connected with MET and business activities of the Bhujbals were recorded on Wednesday and they confirmed that huge cash was paid to market operators at MET office by Sameer Bhujbal, Chhagan Bhujbal’s nephew.
The firms controlled by Sameer conducted no genuine businesses so as to generate such huge revenues and only he and Bhujbal can explain the source of these funds, ED said. The witnesses also told the agency that Bhujbal visited the MET office in Mumbai once or twice a month and he was aware of all the business activities Sameer looked after.
Whenever cash was brought to the MET office, Sameer told Bhujbal about it if he was present. Bhujbal was also aware of all the real estate purchases by the firms controlled by him, it said.
It is yet to investigate why contractors involved in Maharashtra Sadan, RTO office and Kalina library projects made huge donations to Chhagan Bhujbal foundation and, if needed, it would hold face-to-face confrontation, the ED said. ED also said it had found evidence of cash generation of almost R200 crore and it was necessary to interrogate him to find its source/mode of cash generation.
*Separate barracks*
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Arthur Road jail, BM Bhosale said Bhujbal was brought to the ArthurRoad jail at 6.30 pm and he has been kept in a secured barrack. “Bhujbal and Sameer will not be in the same barrack.” Sameer, as per sources is lodged in the first floor cell in the high security yard where Abu Jundal is also lodged.
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Step into Mumbai’s busiest civic medical facility, and it’s hard to miss the LED-lit artwork with white walking sticks, each bearing a name. We hear it is a gift from an NGO that works for the welfare and research of ophthalmology, with a message to spread the word about eye donation.
Dr Quresh Maskati, veteran ophthalmologist and KEM alumnus, who is a part of the NGO, explained the idea behind the installation. “This artwork symbolises the gift of sight to 100 blind persons who no longer need the blind man cane.
Each cane has the name of the blind person who was given sight, along with his age and city of residence,” he said. Illuminated with LED bulbs, to represent the gift of sight, the installation conveys the powerful message of promoting eye donation, the doctor added.
The installation, created by an artist named Anagha Nidvekar from JW Thompson, cost roughly R1.5 lakh. While the first one is a gift from the NGO to the hospital for its commendable efforts in the field of healthcare, Maskati said they have plans to set up similar installations at every BMC hospital.
“We hope that people and organisations engaged in CSR will come forward to help us build such installations at public and private hospitals. Every cane is a gift of sight, and if people are inspired, there won't be a single blind person.”
*For Art Deco cinema’s sake*
Kolkata and Mumbai are two cities with grand buildings, many of them standing as grand legacies of their colonial past. These symbols are fast disappearing to make space for real estate.
*New Empire cinema shut down in 2014*
The latest to come under the threat of the hammer in the City of Joy is Roxy theatre. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has downgraded this Art Deco building from its heritage status to allow easy demolition. Prominent Kolkatans, including writer Amit Chaudhuri, have expressed shock and anger.
He pointed out that once saved, it can be used for many a creative pursuit. He along with many citizens have started a campaign to save the theatre. Mumbai’s Capitol and New Empire cinemas have met with the same fate. We hope the existing single-screen Art Deco cinemas survive, and if they meet with Roxy’s end, we hope Mumbaikars will rise.
*Safe in the city*
A lot has been written about and debated over when it comes to women’s safety, especially on Mumbai’s roads. While this city’s women have it better than their counterparts in other Indian metros, things are not as they used to be.
So, a recent observation came as a pleasant surprise to the diarist. At 10.30 pm on a weekday, after dropping a colleague at Dadar railway station, our cab was stopped by a woman police officer at a small check post located near Swaminarayan temple.
Register in tow, she asked the driver for his full name, address and noted his taxi number. When the visibly worried driver asked why, she said, “There’s a girl travelling alone in your cab. This is routine info.” Post this she requested for our details too.
When we asked the woman cop if this had become protocol, she replied in the affirmative, adding that the practice was enforced, especially post 9 pm because a lot of women travel solo post office hours. We are glad that some things are changing for the better.
*Sachin in the driver’s seat**Pic/Atul Kamble*
The master blaster dropped by for the inauguration of a skykarting track in Lower Parel last evening.
*Write a poem, get a free coffee*
It’s a novel way to encourage poetry, and get a caffeine-induced reward for the attempt. Julius Meinl, a coffee-roasting company started in 1862, is giving a whole new meaning to UNESCO’s World Poetry Day that falls on March 21.
The poetry-inspired folk at Meinl’s have announced a promotion across outlets in the UK, US and Australia (sorry, none in India). On the day, the cafés will offer free coffee to customers who hand over their poems.
This unique idea is expected to take place across 30 countries and in 1,000 locations that serve the coffee. If you’d like to read these poetry posts, check out #PoetryForChange and #PayWithAPoem
*Look who’s a Saina fan!*
India’s golden girl of badminton, Saina Nehwal celebrated her birthday yesterday, and wishes poured in from all sides, including from Amitabh Bachchan who posted this message on Twitter: ‘....may you ever bring greater glory for the nation.’ A smash hit!
*Dishy in the Maldives*
This diarist believes he’s the closest we can get to a desi version of Aussie hot-bod Hugh Jackman.
http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/Rohtak-s.jpg*Calm before the storm? Members of Jat community during a peaceful daylong protest in Rohtak on Monday. Pic/PTI*
Various Jat organisations on Monday had threatened to resume their quota agitation, which rocked the state last month and claimed 30 lives, if the Manohar Lal Khattar government failed to meet their demand.
Amidst simmering tension over threat of Jats resuming their agitation for quota, the Centre yesterday despatched 3,000 paramilitary personnel to Haryana to ensure peace and deployed another 300 personnel to guard Munak canal, which supplies water to Delhi.
Around 80 companies (about 800 personnel) of paramilitary forces were deployed in sensitive areas like Rohtak and Jhajjar districts, which were the worst affected during the first phase of the agitation last month.
“All arrangements have been made for Haryana and forces have been sent,” a senior Home Ministry official said yesterday.
Additional paramilitary forces were deployed in all sensitive places, some spots on highways and for Munak canal, the official added.Quota by March 31: Govt to JatsAmid looming threat of a renewed stir by Jats, the Haryana government yesterday said a bill to give reservation to the community will be passed during the ongoing Budget session which ends on March 31. Haryana Finance Minister Abhimanya said it is taking time to draft the bill as the government wants to make it sure that the new law does not get entangled in a legal quagmire.
*Ex-CM Hooda's close aide held*
Virender Singh, a close aide of former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who was booked for sedition and criminal conspiracy on charges of inciting violence during the Jat stir, was arrested yesterday. Singh was Hooda political advisor during his 10-year tenure as the CM. "He will be produced before court and we'll be seeking his custodial interrogation," Rohtak SP Shashank Anand said. Reported by Mid-Day 2 hours ago.