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CM trying for green nod for Chaityabhoomi

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan asks for second phase beautification proposal to be submitted for environmental clearance.

On Friday, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan asked the BMC to submit a revised proposal for the second stage of the Chaityabhoomi revamp project, for environmental clearances. As per the project scope, Phases II and III will involve constructing a walkway that projects into the sea and runs parallel to the coast. While Phase I is said to be complete, the remaining phases have been delayed owing to permissions not being granted on proposals submitted earlier by the MoEF – the land, and all three Phases, fall under the purview of CRZ laws. However, a proposal for green clearance can now be resubmitted owing to a realigning of CRZ-II laws in 2011.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has set aside Rs 21 crore for the beautification project, while the State Government has granted Rs 25 crore for it. Rs 8.33 crore has been spent on Phase I.

In the remaining phases, it is proposed to expand the existing stupa without touching the original structure, a circular meditation space next to the stupa, water fountains at certain spots, landscaping, and most importantly, the construction of a cantilevered walkway projecting out into the sea. Yesterday, Chavan also asked BMC chief Sitaram Kunte to verify the ownership of the area.

A latter part of the project includes a proposed Vipassana centre, a residential space for visiting monks and pilgrims, and a library of Dr BR Ambedkar’s works. Chaityabhoomi is known for being the last resting place of Dr Ambedkar.

‘Trying to expedite Indu Mill land transfer’ 

Though there is no definite date on it yet, Chavan yesterday said that he was trying to expedite the transfer of Indu Mill land (which is adjacent to Chaityabhoomi) for a world-class memorial dedicated to Dr Ambedkar. “Our Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has given a positive response to the proposal, and we are studying how to make this happen,” Chavan said yesterday.

(Pictures courtesy www.deccanchronicle.com, www.timesofindia.com)

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Kya hua tera waada?

State Government has still not taken action against errant cops who had arrested two Palghar girls for a Facebook post.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

The two-day deadline set by Maharashtra State Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan for declaring the action his government would take in the matter of two Palghar-based girls arrested for a post on Facebook, has ended. And still, there is no word from Chavan or the State Home Minister RR Patil on what action they are contemplating against the alleged high-handed police action in arresting the girls, one of whom had questioned the shutdown of Mumbai following Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray’s death, and the other, who had ‘liked’ the comment.

In fact, the ongoing political tussle between the Congress and the NCP in the State has once again come to the fore with both sides using the Palghar arrests episode to deflect blame on the other. This could explain the NCP’s Nawab Malik exonerating RR Patil from blame with the comment, “RR Patil did not order the arrest of the two girls.” Meanwhile, the CM has declined to comment on the matter as yet.

It is now learnt that the Home Department is seeking legal counsel in the matter; RR Patil says that his department is considering making it mandatory for the police to seek legal opinion before making arrests falling under the purview of ‘hurting of sentiments’, and that he would approach the Centre to seek clarity on the IT Act, so that such arrests would be avoided in the future.

 

 

 

 

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RR Patil defends police on Palghar arrests

Congress ministers corner Home Minister RR Patil over the arrests of two Palghar-based girls over Facebook post; RR defends cops.

It was a big day for State Home Minister RR Patil – 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab had been hanged, there was appreciation all around for the secrecy that the entire operation was kept under, and personally, it was part-closure on a chapter that had previously ousted Patil from the same position he occupied in 2008. However, at a Cabinet meet held yesterday, it wasn’t Kasab but the recent arrests of two girls at Palghar that caused a dispute among Congress ministers and Patil.

For those who came in late, the arrests – of Palghar residents Shaheen Dhada and Reenu Shrinivasan – were made after a 21-year-old girl, Shaheen, protested on Facebook against the lockdown of the city after Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray’s death last Saturday. Her friend Reenu had ‘liked’ Shaheen’s post. After a police complaint against the two girls was filed by Palghar shakha pramukh Bhushan Sankhe, the two girls were questioned, then arrested, before being let off on bail.

“Officers followed the law”

At the weekly Cabinet meeting held at the Mantralaya yesterday, three Congress ministers – Dr Nitin Raut, Minister for EGS and Water Conservation, Naseem Khan, Minister for Textiles, Minorities Development and Waqf, and Varsha Gaikwad, Minister for Women and Child Development, demanded to know why the girls had been arrested for “a general opinion on Facebook”, and that strong action be taken against the police officers involved and they be suspended.

Ever since the arrests, Patil has been seen as trying to defend the police action, and trying to shift blame on to the IT Act itself, under which the girls were charged. Yesterday, however, Patil got into a war of words with Khan, again defending the officers for being trained adequately on the provisions of the IT Act. Khan had earlier said that there was no need for the government to wait for the inquiry report on the matter before taking action against the errant cops, since it was clear that the police had acted in a high-handed manner. “There was a heated argument between RR Patil and Naseem Khan over the authenticity of the police action against the girls for their comments on Facebook,” said a note issued by the Chief Minister’s office on yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister will receive the inquiry report from the Konkan IG today. In the Cabinet meet, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan is said to have noted that the incident had brought infamy to the police department.

(Picture courtesy www.hindubusinessline.com)

 

 

 

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Ajmal Kasab hanged

Lone surviving terrorist of the 10 who struck Mumbai in 2008 hanged five days before fourth 26/11 anniversary, in Pune.

Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist who the brave Tukaram Omble helped nab in 2008, was hanged this morning at 7.30 am at Pune’s Yerawada Jail. He had been shifted out of Mumbai’s Arthur Road jail two days ago – he had been at the Mumbai jail since his capture.

The hanging comes just five days before the city and the country observed the fourth anniversary of the 26/11 terror attacks that took over 150 lives in three days of sustained terror operations. Kasab was shifted out of his cell in Arthur Road jail two days ago following President Pranab Mukherjee’s rejection of his mercy petition on November 8. However, Rashtrapati Bhavan had announced that the date for execution would be decided by the Maharashtra State government. On November 11, the time and date for the execution was decided by the Additional Sessions Judge; Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan gave the orders to shift Kasab on November 13. The move to Yerawada was done in complete secrecy.

Kasab had earlier appealed against his execution even in the Supreme Court of India. He was recently struck by dengue while in Arthur Road jail.

Update: Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil to address a press conference at 8.30 am.

Update #1: RR Patil starts the press conference with details of the 26/11 attacks.

Update #2: “This is a tribute to all innocent people and police officers who lost their lives during the 26/11 attacks on our nation,” says RR Patil.

Update #3: “Ajmal Kasab was hanged by the neck till dead this morning at Yerawada Jail at 7.30 am,” says RR Patil.

Update #4: Yerawada jail sources say Ajmal Kasab did not have a last wish.

Update #5: Yerawada jail sources said Ajmal Kasab did not have a will.

Update #6: Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said that Kasab’s body would be handed over if Kasab’s family demanded it, else it would be buried here.

Update #7: “We managed to keep the issue under wraps for two weeks, especially the shifting of Kasab from Arthur Road jail to Yerawada Jail two days ago,” said Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.

Update #8: “I had appealed to the President Pranab Mukherjee to reject Kasab’s mercy plea. He had written back saying that he would soon take a decision that would make the entire nation happy,” said Eknath Omble, brother of slain cop Tukaram Omble, who helped nab Kasab.

Update #9: “We had to maintain a high level of secrecy because we did not want any untoward incident to take place,” said Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.

Update #10: Kasab will be laid to rest in India itself.

 Update #11: Pakistan refuses to accept the letter from Indian Government informing of the death of Kasab. Pakistan has also not yet reacted to the news.

Update #12: Pakistan refuses to claim Kasab’s body. Kasab is buried at Yerawada.

Update #13: “Since there was no response to the fax we sent, we sent a courier to Kasab’s family,” said Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.

(Picture courtesy www.dayandnightnews.com)

 

 

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CM gives two days for Palghar arrests inquiry

Preliminary report from DGP indicates that Palghar police acted high-handededly in arresting the girls. Both girls are out on bail.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

A day after two girls in Palghar – Shaheen Dhada and her friend Rini Srinivasan, both 21 years old – were arrested by Palghar police for alleged defamatory and hurtful status message on Facebook, pressure is mounting on the Maharashtra state government to act against the errant cops as soon as possible. With the Press Council of India’s Chairman dashing off two letters to CM Prithviraj Chavan yesterday, and a storm of criticism across the Internet in India and abroad, Chavan has given his people two days to complete a high-level probe and furnish him with the facts of the case.

Chavan has directed the Konkan IG to investigate the matter in two days – the deadline for this ends tomorrow. DGP Sanjeev Dayal yesterday submitted a preliminary report to Additional Chief Secretary (Home department) Amitabh Rajan, in which he mentioned that there appeared to be “high-handedness on the part of the field officials” and the arrest of two girls appeared to be unwarranted and uncalled-for. Dayal has also asked the Palghar cops if they had “applied their minds” while charging the girl’s FB post under Section 295(A) (outraging religious feelings). Prior to this, the Palghar Sessions Court had remanded the two girls to 15 days’ judicial custody, but the girls were later let off on bail for a surety of Rs 15,000 each.

The case

Shaheen had posted a Facebook status message that criticised the complete shutdown of Mumbai in the wake of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray’s death on Saturday, November 17. Her friend Rini had ‘liked’ the message. Angered by the comment, a group of men, purportedly from the Shiv Sena, vandalised Dhada Hospital, which belongs to Shaheen’s uncle, Dr Abdul Dhada. The girl’s family has also alleged that a huge mob of Sainiks locked the girl and her family in their home, before forcefully taking Shaheen to the police station. A police complaint against the two girls had been filed by the Shiv Sena shakha pramukh of the area, Bhushan Sankhe.

The girls were initially questioned by the police and slapped with IPC Section 295A (outraging religious feelings) and Section 66A, IT Act (offensive message through a communication device). Later, Section 295A was changed to 505(2) (creating enmity). Interestingly, the girls were summoned to the police station after sunset – by law, an Indian woman may not be brought to the police station or arrested after sunset. The girls were arrested at about 7 am on Monday.

Shaheen apologised and took down the offending comment; however Sankhe said that the Sainiks were “angered” after the girl was asked to apologise and she refused to do so.

Update: Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has replied to Justice Katju’s letter. Chavan has assured Katju of the gravity of the investigations, and appraised him of the arrest of nine persons who attacked Dr Dhada’s clinic. Read the reply here.

(Picture courtesy www.arabnews.com)

 

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Step out, Mumbai

Mumbai steps out
Shiv Sena announces there is no bandh in the city or Maharashtra today. However, major business establishments will remain closed.

There were a few hours of confusion on Sunday evening, even as Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray was laid to rest at Shivaji Park. There were rumours of a possible bandh today, but these were quashed by the Shiv Sena late Sunday evening. Hence, services such as milk supplies, chemist stores, newspaper deliveries and general stores have resumed as of this morning.

However, wholesale traders in the city called for a one-day shutdown of work as a mark of respect for Bal Thackeray. Said Arun Doshi, General Secretary, Federation of Associations of Maharashtra, “Wholesale trading centres, markets and business establishments will remain closed today.” Accordingly, wholesale drug dealers, chemical traders, jewellers, iron and steel merchants are likely to remain closed today. For a third straight day, hotels and restaurants in some parts of the city may also decide to remain closed today.

Apart from these, others will slowly resume work today, starting with autos and taxis, which have stayed off the roads since Saturday afternoon. Others to begin work today are retail outlets, malls, petrol pumps, schools and colleges. University exams will go ahead as planned today.

(Pictures courtesy www.maheshmahajan.net, www.bubblesbollywood.blogspot.com)

 

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