| Patil
appeals for cooperation to fight drought, swine flu New
Delhi: In her address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day, President
Pratibha Patil on Friday urged the nation to be prepared to face any situation
arising out of poor monsoon and asked fellow citizens to cooperate with the Government
in handling the swine flu pandemic. "This year the monsoon has been less than
normal impacting agriculture and availability of water. We have to be prepared
to face the situation. The Government is taking all possible steps to deal with
it," Patil said in her address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day Following
reports of 23 deaths in the country due to the deadly H1N1 virus, Patil said that
the Government is taking all necessary measures to tackle the virus, and every
citizen would have to join hands with the Government to eradicate the deadly disease.
"It is also taking necessary measures to handle the H1N1 influenza. Citizens have
to come forward to contribute to Government's efforts in these areas and in other
development initiatives through public-private partnerships, NGOs, community groups
or Self Help Groups," she added. Patil further said that every citizen in the
country must be aware of his civic and social responsibilities, so, he should
be able to decide on what is good for the individual and what might be harmful
to the society. "An enlightened citizenry conscious of its civic duties and social
responsibilities, maintaining discipline, following good habits particularly about
hygiene and cleanliness, respectful towards nature's bounty and sensitive to environmental
concerns is the greatest asset of a nation," Patil said. President
Patil Patil also spoke of the 15th General Elections, which were held earlier
this year. "Spread over five phases, the effort was to reach out to every voter,
even in the remotest parts of the country. That is why even where there was only
one voter, arrangements were made for the casting of that one vote. The voice
of every citizen is important and the principle of inclusiveness integral to democracy,"
Patil said. "In accordance with the mandate, the new Government assumed office.
The electoral exercise re-affirmed the strong faith of the people, across the
country, in democracy. It once again proved that the world's largest democracy
is, indeed, a mature democracy. We can be proud that we have carried forward the
torch of democracy in a manner that today the concept of democracy and India are
inseparable," she added. Patil also said that each citizen is of utmost importance
to the governing body of the country. She said: "If we can work to ensure that
each citizen gets an opportunity to be heard while choosing representatives to
Parliament and the Assemblies, it also becomes our bounden duty to ensure that
they are heard even in the period between elections." Patil also highlighted the
significance of every member of the Parliament, saying that: "Each elected Member
of Parliament represents on an average the voice of over a 1.3 million electorate
- larger than the population of some nations, and this imposes a huge responsibility
to represent the aspirations of those who have elected them. They have a clear
obligation to work for the welfare of the people and the progress of the nation."
Swine
flu death toll in Pune rises to 15, India records 23rd death Top Pune:
Five people died of swine flu in Pune on Friday taking the city's swine flu
death toll to 15. The death toll in India is now at 23. Seventy-year-old Parubhai
Shinde was admitted to a hospital following high fever and other symptoms of swine
flu. Shinde, hailing from Ganesh Nagar in Yerawada, died late last night. According
to sources, Bharati Goyal died of suspected swine flu today. An eight-month-old
boy, Swabhiman Kamble, died late last night at the Sahyadri Hospital. Thirty-seven-year-old
Archana Kolhe died at the Sassoon General Hospital in the afternoon. Forty-four-year-old
HIV positive Prabhakar Wariager died late in the evening at the same hospital.
On Thursday, Bangalore reported its first swine flu death. A 26-year-old woman
succumbed to the virus. According to sources, Rupa was admitted to the St. Philomina
Hospital. Earlier, a 75-year-old woman Bharti Goyal died in Pune's KEM Hospital.
Another nine-month-old boy Rutwik Kamle also died at the Sahyadri Munot Hospital.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has said that panic should not be
created over the spread of swine flu. Dr. Singh expressed concern over the situation
and asked Azad to work towards a proper solution to the whole issue and to ensure
that panic is not created. Swine
flu scare forces closure of vegetable markets in Pune Top Pune:
The swine flu scare has triggered panic button across Pune. Civic authorities
have ordered the closure of vegetable markets for three days since Thursday. This
move was initiated as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of swine flu
after the death of a 70-year-old woman due to H1N1 virus. Reportedly, the markets
will reopen on Sunday. As per recent statistics, the total toll of swine flu deaths
in country is 23 and in Pune alone, 15 patients succumbed. Although the vegetable
markets have been ordered to close, vendors are not unhappy as they realize that
the proposal is aimed at averting the spread of swine flu. "I am not worried about
the losses. I am more concerned about my health. It is not only that vegetable
market that is closed but whole of Pune is closed," said Suresh Waigankar, a vegetable
vendor, Mahatma Phule Market. Meanwhile, several housewives have expressed their
displeasure over the instant hike in the prices of vegetables. Reportedly, with
the closure of the wholesale market, the retail vendors of vegetables have raised
the prices. "Due to swine flu, vegetable market is closed for three days. Those
vegetable sellers who already have a stock of vegetables are selling at higher
prices. In the morning itself when I went to buy vegetables, I found out that
vegetables, which were available at the price of 15 rupees per kilogram, are now
being sold at 18 to 20 rupees per kilogram," said Sunita Ranjane, a housewife.
India recorded its first H1N1 case in Hyderabad in May and since then the virus
has spread across the country with dozens of cases reported from Pune itself.
2005
design of 500, 1000 rupee currency notes compromised: CBI Top New
Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday said it will form a team
to investigate how and at what level the 2005 design of currency notes, especially
of 500 and 1,000 denominations, had been "compromised." "With the technological
advancement, the counterfeiters know about the kind of paper and ink that is being
used in making currency notes and not the security template," a CBI spokesperson
told reporters. The template is the top-secret plate, which is used for printing
the currency. The CBI has admitted that the counterfeiters have deep knowledge
and access to the special kind of ink, paper and other ingredients, which are
used to make currency note. The CBI has formed a team to investigate the leak
of the design, the official said. "A special team has been formed which consist
of officers from CBI, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, RBI and Central Forensic
Science Laboratory," he said. College
principal, four students arrested for ragging in Andhra Top Eluru
(AP): The principal and four students of a district college in Andhra Pradesh
have been detained in connection with a ragging incident, police said on Friday.
The four students allegedly harassed a junior student in the college at Nallajarla
in the Godavari district, they said. The four students have been arrested, following
a complaint by the victim. The principal was also arrested as he let off the accused
with a warning and did not inform the police. Relevant section under the Andhra
Pradesh Prevention of Ragging Act have been slapped on the arrested persons, they
added. Save
Sarabjit movement intensifies Top
Wagah/Amritsar: To give
a fillip to the "Save Sarabjit" movement, eminent film maker Mahesh Bhatt on Friday
said that there is a tremendous need to build a pressure group to save Sarabjit
from the death sentence that has been handed down to him by Pakistan's Supreme
Court. He was addressing a press conference at Amritsar along with Awais Sheikh,
Pakistani advocate of Sarabjit Singh. Bhatt said: "when Dalbir Kaur, sister of
Sarbjit tied Rakhis on his wrist, I promised her to help her in this case up to
end". He further said: "I have met many human right activists regarding this issue
and would assist Advocate Sheikh Sahib wherever required." Answering a query whether
he would make a movie on Sarabjit, Bhatt said: "Let Sarabjit be released from
the jail, you will see a renowned director would come and make a film on him".
Awais Sheikh, who has been fighting the case of Sarabjit in Pakistan, told ANI
that he has already filed a mercy petition in the Lahore bench of the Pakistan
Supreme Court. He also said that another mercy petition would be forwarded to
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari. Sarabjit who has been languishing in Pakistani
jails for 19 years has been fighting through his lawyers for his release. His
family in India too has been vigorously campaigning for his release. Sheikh said
that Article 45 of the Pakistan Constitution empowers the president to grant pardon,
reprieve and respite, and to remit, suspend or commute any sentence passed by
any court, tribunal or other authority. Sital Kaler, case coordinator, said that
through the help of the South Asian Human Rights Group of Canada, they would provide
financial assistance to fight this case in Pakistan. Last week, Bhatt went to
Pakistan to meet some prominent social activists, who are fighting against Sarabjit
Singh's death sentence. Mahesh said, "I was in Karachi for two days. I met a lot
of people related to this cause. Sarabjit has already served over 19 years in
jail. I think the death sentence should be waived." "I hope my presence in Pakistan
helps Sarabjit and his family. Now, I am in Amritsar to meet Sarabjit's lawyer
Sheikh from Pakistan. Dalbir, Sheikh and I will think about what has to be done
regarding this issue," said Bhatt. Sarabjit was arrested near the Kasur border
in Pakistan in August 1990. He is now in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail. Kerala
on high alert following serial bomb blast e-mail threat Top Kannur:
The cyber cell of the Kerala Police has traced down an e-mail threat from the
United Arab Emirates (UAE) warning of serial bomb blasts in the state, if a separate
Muslim state, comprising districts of north Kerala, is not created. Inspector
General of Police Tomin Thachenkery said on Friday that a few media offices in
the state had received the e-mail threat on Thursday. The mail is from Etisalat
in the UAE and the domain is that of Yahoo. A case has been registered with the
Kannur Town Police Station. Thachenkery informed that the e-mail was written by
Zakhir Hussain who claims to be the head of the newly formed Malabar Mujahid which
has its headquarters in Karachi, Pakistan, and has the support of the Inter-Services
- Intelligence (ISI) and the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). If their demand for a separate
Muslim state is not met, then bombs will be deployed across the state and for
that they have already shipped seven kilograms of RDX, the e-mail reads. It said
the first of a series of bomb blasts would take place on Friday being the Independence
Day of Pakistan. The State Government has put the police on high alert and instructed
all district headquarters to remain vigilant. Two
Austrian players pull out of badminton championship Top Hyderabad:
Two Austrian players pulled out of the ongoing World Badminton Championships
being held in Hyderabad over security concerns and swine flu. The players, Juergen
Koch and Peter Zauner, left Hyderabad without informing the organisers. Thomas
Lund, Chief Operating Officer, World Badminton Federation (WBF), confirmed that
the two players indeed left the tournament. "We do not know what was the exact
factor and there is no official statement as far as we know saying that any threat
level indicate that they had to go home out of security reasons. So it's probably
a mixed of different things. We respect that but of course being sorry having
not those players participating in this tournament," Lund told reporters in here
on Thursday. Regretting the players' exit, Lund said that the players should have
consulted the federation before taking a decision. "We would have hoped that they
would have come to us but again at the end of the day it's their decision," Lund
added. The English team had also withdrawn from the tournament on Sunday citing
security reasons. AR
Rahman to open studio in Los Angeles Top Nevada
(US): India's Oscar winner AR Rahman is developing studios in Los Angeles
(USA) and London (UK), according to reports. He already has studios in Chennai
and Mumbai, and With him going international, this will facilitate him to work
with his music teams in Los Angeles and London. He reportedly said recently that
he was in the middle of getting loans sanctioned for the project. Welcoming Rahman's
move, Indian-American leader Rajan Zed said this would create more avenues to
spread Indian music in the world and more opportunities for musicians of the West
to indulge in the richness of musical traditions of India. Rahman launched his
first studio for mixing/recording music in Chennai in 1992. Starting piano training
at age four, he began working at 11 as a keyboardist with a music troupe. His
about 3,000 square-foot recording studio in Chennai named A. M. Studios and described
as a "tranquil oasis", is developed by "Studio 440" of Hollywood (USA) and took
about three years to finish, whose skillful design blends traditional materials
with modern technology. Rahman, who has reportedly recorded sales of over 300
million, was called the "Mozart of Madras'' by Time magazine. Rahman sees music
"as a way to connect to spirituality and embrace it" and for "creating harmony
in troubled times". |
