Thursday, June 9, 2011
Young tusker goes on the rampage in Elephant City
| Straying from herd, the bull tears through Mysore, killing man and two head of cattle |
A live telecast drew curious people in large numbers
Soon after the attack commenced a holiday was declared for educational institutes
On the rampage: A wild elephant, with a tranquilliser dart on its side, runs amok on a street in Mysore on Wednesday. Straying from its herd in the nearby forest, the tusker entered the city along with a tusk-less male, trampled a man to death, injured four others and terrorised people and cattle in a six-hour rampage. It was later captured by forest department officials.
MYSORE: A young wild elephant rampaged through the heart of Mysore early on Wednesday, trampling a man to death and injuring four others. Two head of cattle also died in the elephantine fury.
Straying from its herd, the male elephant, aged between 8 and 10, entered the city along with a 12-year-old tusk-less male (a makhna). But it was the tusker which terrorised people as well as cattle in its six-hour rampage.
The makhna, which was separated from the tusker, fortunately did not attack people. Both elephants — believed to be part of a herd from the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, some 40 km from here — ran in different directions: one towards the Sewage Treatment Plant near R.S. Naidu Nagar (Kesare) where it stayed put, and the other towards the Shivarampet-Saraswatipuram areas.
Renukaswamy (55), a security guard at a bank ATM at Shivarampet, was gored to death. The attack was filmed live by journalists and amateurs on mobile phones. The hapless man ran into one of the bylanes of this crowded locality, only to be outrun by the animal. The attack was filmed by journalists and amateurs on mobile phones.
The injured, attacked in other residential localities, are Balakrishna (42), Siddamma (80), Velvet (52) and Pavan (24). While the first three were being treated in the K.R. Hospital, the fourth person was treated as an outpatient and discharged, said Commissioner of Police Sunil Agarwal.
The tusker trashed some vehicles also during its rampage, which began in the Bamboo Bazaar area around 5.15 a.m.
Fury in full flow:(From left)In its six-hour rampage on Wednesday, the male tusker menacingly marches on a street at Shivarampet in Mysore, terrorising people, and gores a cow on N.S. Road. Even after it was captured, the young elephant would not abandon aggression.
Panic gripped the city, whose most famous festival features resplendently caparisoned elephants, as news of the rampage spread. A live telecast drew curious people who turned up in large numbers to watch something straight from When Animals Attack.
Vehicles not spared
The tusker first attacked a cow tethered to a post on New Sayyaji Rao Road around 6 a.m., and fatally injured another in an adjacent neighbourhood. It then marched towards Mission Hospital Road and attacked octogenarian Siddamma, who was too frail to outpace the agitated jumbo.
“The elephants were first noticed at Bamboo Bazaar around 5.15 a.m. They panicked on seeing the crowds,” Satish Naidu, who tracked the young tusker all along its route, told The Hindu.
Anxious crowds began gathering wherever the tusker went. The police gathered in full strength to contain the surging crowds in and around the Saraswatipuram area, where the animal barged into some scrub near Dhobi Ghat.
Efforts were made to tranquillise the animal on two occasions, the first on the Oval Grounds, which failed. The young bull went on to damage some vehicles, including a KSRTC bus, along the main road and on the JSS Women's College premises.
Another dart was fired near Dhobi Ghat, where hundreds had gathered to see the unfolding drama. Jute ropes and shackles were kept ready before elephants from Mysore Palace took control of the situation. The young animal was finally led away around 11.30 a.m.
The makhna, which stayed put in its refuge, was successfully tranquillised in the afternoon. Four Dasara elephants — Arjuna, Abhimanyu, Gajendra and Srirama — which were brought from the forests, then took over. This was around 5.30 p.m.
Ajay Mishra, Field Director, Project Elephant, told The Hindu that the elephants were corralled now and would be safely released into the forests on Thursday.
As soon as the attack commenced in the area, which has a clutch of schools, the district administration declared a holiday for all educational institutions.
Karnataka Minister for Forests C.H. Vijayashankar, who visited Mr. Renukaswamy's house later, consoled the grieving family and promised a job to one of the members. He handed over a cheque for Rs. 5 lakh as compensation (as a special case) to the family.
The Minister later called on the injured in the hospital, where the condition of Siddamma is said to be serious.
Baba Ramdev’s anti Corruption Fast: New Face of Communal Politics
Ram Puniyani
The police crackdown on people assembled to participate on the anti corruption fast by Baba Ramdev on the Sunday night, 5th June 2011, needs to be condemned to no end. As the police methods are, brutal by there nature, in their effort to evacuate the Ramlila ground, they did resort to the firing of tear gas shells and lathi (baton) charge leading to injuries to many, including women and children. The police action was the culmination of the failure of the negotiations between Government and Ramdev. Ramdev is continuing his fast in his Patanjali Yoga Ashram in Haridwar.
A brief run down of the background and few details of the event are in order. After Anna Hazare started his fast for Lokpal bill at Jantar Mantar, Baba did join it. The fast by Anna Hazare got a lot of support from the middle class sections. All over one could see the hand of well organized machinery trying to crystallize the spontaneous upsurge of people in support of Anti Corruption movement led by Hazare. This again, one can see, came in the backdrop of massive scams, 2G etc. the scale of graft shook the people and the middle classes spontaneously supported the fast, and RSS backed up the fast and made the upsurge more organized. During this fast the whole attention was focused on Anna Hazare who was labeled as ‘Second Gandhi’! Baba had his differences with Annaji, as he had his own scheme of things to capitalize on the issue around his following. This following has been built up through his very ‘successful’ business of Yoga teaching. This Yoga is being lapped up in country with new anxieties and to overcome the new tensions of the globalized era.
Baba claims to have a massive following and after Annaji’s fast he declared that he too will go on fast with a focus on the illicit money stashed in foreign countries. He began his mobilizing work and his advisors included the RSS trained Govindacharya. His protest hunger strike was well organized, a sort of five star arrangements were put in place with massive expenditure. The support base of Ramdev is the section of middle class, including the trading community and the one’s with organizations like Khaps, who came in large number. Those who have seen the dharnas and protests of the deprived sections of society must have been gripped with shock that such massive funds can be mobilized with such a huge number participating in a protest, which though genuine, still just looks at the issue in a superficial way.
One concedes that corruption is one of the major scourges of our country, but one also knows that corruption is a superficial manifestation of the deeper rot of the system as a whole. The attempts to weed out corruption without addressing the gross inadequacies of the system and massive injustice prevailing it the society cannot work, as repeatedly demonstrated during the agitations led by Jaya Praksh Narayan and later V. P. Singh.
Still the section of population which participates in these protests is those, who are very different from the large suffering masses of the country. Generally this section is those, based on whom the BJP slogan of ‘Shining India’ depends. In addition, there is another following of Baba, whose own source of wealth may have dubious origin. Coming to Baba himself he is quite a phenomenon, a successful yoga teacher turned businessman and now on the threshold of the political ambition, hiding it all under the cover of saffron garb and religious image.
To pick up the sequence of events, once Baba was close to begin his fast, the Government got panicky for obvious reasons of electoral politics. RSS combine has the parallel support base like that of Baba. Negotiations with RSS were already on, about starting a new political party or to undertake maneuvers which can shift away substantial votes in the kitty of RSS politics, to its progeny BJP; working for a politics aimed at Hindu nation. The Government was keen to prevent his fast and in that direction they kneeled in front of Ramdev. The negotiation began and in the second round of negotiations the agreement was reached that government will expedite measures to ensure all in the direction of getting the illicit money from abroad and tighten the noose around those who have stashed such wealth. Ramdev’s associates signed the agreement and Ramdev declared that 99% of his demands have been met. Obviously it meant that there was no need for him to sit on the hunger strike.
Still once he came to Ramlila maidan (ground), he persisted on the fast. Now his associate claims that they purposely gave a letter of approval, as they feared being arrested. At this point of time the Government felt ditched. Normally these agitations are undertaken so that your demands are fulfilled and 99% is the highest success rate possible. So what was the intention in continuing the agitation? Obviously the fast was a pretext to ensure that the mobilization done for political goals should be consolidated and not be allowed to fritter away. The anti corruption label was just a façade and the goal was to strengthen the politics for Hindu Nation, something which had led to divisive tendencies in the country. Interesting things followed. Manmohan Singh says the crackdown was inevitable; the details are not given so one cannot say as to what was there in Government’s mind. It is at this time that the state authorities decided to take Ramdev away and get the Ramlila maidan cleared of those assembled there. When police approached to take Ramdev away, he jumped from the stage in the midst of his women supporters and disappeared. Few hours later he was spotted wearing the clothes of a women and hiding his beard with a duppata (scarf), from where he was taken away.
So far the experience of agitations is that the leader takes the first blow. The leader is there to protect the followers from the wrath of the police action. But this is politics of different hue. Here cowardice is paraded as bravery and honesty is replaced by tricks! After giving the letter to the Government, Ramdev backed out from that and like a ‘brave’ leader when the police wanted to take him away he hid behind the women and ran away wearing women’s clothes, leaving his followers to face the consequences of his mobilization! While giving the letter to withdraw the fast and after this disguise to escape, Ramdev justifies it by saying that these are the tactics followed by Shivaji. This argument lacks all the understanding of a democratic society. Shivaji was a king, battling with other kings for power. In democracy the agitations and discussions are undertaken to lead the path for pressure on Government. Leaders’ court arrest in a democracy to make their point and tricks are a cheap escape route for some. So here cowardice is being paraded as emulating a King’s methods.
The political aspects of the whole phenomenon are very curious. The RSS combine has underwritten the whole movement. It seems, after two defeats at the general elections, this political outfit is on the lookout for another issue which can give them the electoral rewards the way communal violence gives or the way Babri masjid demolition gave them. The present mobilization is the same which is for the Hindu nation, by and large, which is opposed to the rights of the Adivasis, Dalits and other marginalized sections of society. This was the pattern of the mobilization of Babri masjid demolition as well. The things are not so unclear by now. All the actors of demolition politics are very much around. Govindacharya, Sadhvi Ritambhara, Uma Bharti, in overt or covert manner. The other actors of demolition assault, Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi have joined in post dispersal protests. RSS functionaries have been the one’s who are the major backers of Ramdev. They have so far kept quiet after the atrocities against marginalized sections, against the violence against farmers or against minorities. Now the Babri demolition gang is leading the procession to Rashtrapati Bhavan and having a ‘celebratory dharna’, dancing and singing, to call for the joint session of parliament.
While the issue of corruption measures against corrupt is to be supported to the hilt, one has to distinguish the genuine and deeper efforts to root out the phenomenon of corruption from the sensational efforts and still bigger sensational presentation of the same by the large section of media. The glorification of Ramdev and the efforts around that are aimed to create a mass hysteria of the pre-Babri Masjid demolition days. The efforts for rooting out corruption had been on at various levels even earlier. What adds to the suspicion about the motives of the breast beating against corruption now is the very timing and the well organized nature of the protest.
The current protests also should bring our attention to another part of our democracy. In a democracy whether the Government is to be seen as less responsible than the civic action groups? While the civic actions groups play a most valuable part in the democracy, by putting pressures on the government in a multiple ways, we need to see that it is still through the elected government that the programs can be implemented. So where do we draw the line. If Government accepts 99% of your demands, is there a need for continuing your agitation. If there are differences in the joint committee formed by civic action groups and the government, what should be the weight-age of each group? After all government is an elected body. The trend of Babas and Swamis coming to the political arena gives a very dangerous message. Is it that we want to emulate Pakistan where Mullahs ruled the roost for long time and even now have a big weight in the political affairs, and that is one of the major reasons for the problems through which Pakistan is going through currently. Baba Ramdev, Sadhvi Ritambhara, Sri Sri Ravishanker have full right as a citizen, but to dabble in politics with the claims of spiritual following is to abuse of religious spirituality.
Many a theories will be tumbling out of the whole Ramdev episode, one of the role it has played is that it has diverted the attention away form the Sangh terror trails which have ravaged the country from Malegaon to Ajmer. The deeper links of those involved in the acts of terrorism with functionaries of affiliated organizations is out in the open now, one hopes that the authorities don’t loose sight to ensure that guilty of acts of terror are given the punishment due to them.
One reiterates that any violation of the peaceful protest for social issues is condemnable, at the same time the betrayal of compromises and five star dharnas may be having more to it than meets the eye is more than clear by now.
(A modified version of this article appeared in Financial World, Tehelka on 8th June 2011,http://www.tehelka.com/story_
Trial of 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana hears final arguments
By Andrew Stern
(Reuters) - In final arguments to the jury on Tuesday, U.S.
Rana, a 50-year-old Canadian citizen, faces charges of criminal conspiracy in the attack and of supporting the militant group blamed for the attack, Lashkar-e-Taiba. He could be sentenced to life in prison if found guilty by the jury in federal court in Chicago
Prosecutor Victoria Peters dismissed Rana's contention that he was duped by his friend, David Headley, and said he knew that he was advancing a militant attack.
"When it's all said and done, this is a simple case," Peters told jurors. "The defendant Rana is charged with supporting these plots."
But in closing arguments for the defense, Rana's lawyer, Patrick Blegen, said Headley weaved a web of lies that duped Rana, and even fooled the FBI. "He thinks he can fool everybody," Blegen said of Headley.
The trial, on the heels of the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden by U.S. special forces in Pakistan U.S. demands that Pakistan do more to root out militant groups near its border with Afghanistan
The star witness against Rana was his life-long friend, Headley, an American and a former U.S.
RECORDED CONVERSATIONS
Headley testified for five days of the eight-day trial. He told of guidance he received from his contact with Pakistan 's Directorate for Inter-Services, or ISI, named Major Iqbal, from Pakistan
Peters said Rana passed on a message to Headley. But Rana's lawyer said Rana believed Headley was spying on India
Headley said he did not believe ISI "higher-ups" were aware of the Mumbai plot nor of a separate plan, never carried out, to attack the Jyllands-Posten newspaper in Copenhagen
"(Rana) is no dupe (as the defense contends). He knows exactly who Headley is and what he is about. And he approves," Peters told the jury in U.S.
Blegen said Headley was motivated by money, receiving $28,000 by his Pakistani handlers and also payment for office expenses from Rana. As proof of Rana's ignorance of the plot, Blegen said Rana planned a visit to Mumbai with his wife only six days before the attacks to boost the immigration business Headley was supposed to be operating legitimately.
Rana and Headley were recorded by the FBI shortly after the Mumbai attack discussing the raid and additional targets under consideration in India and Denmark, Peters said.
In a transcript of the translated conversation, Rana laughs about his foreknowledge of the timing of the Mumbai attack, thanks to a warning delivered by Pasha.
"He doesn't say, "Oh my God, those poor people over there.' He laughs about it," Peters said. "Rana said, 'India
Rana, whose U.S.-based immigration business was used as a cover story by Headley, also praised the attackers and their Lashkar handler as deserving of Pakistan
Blegen argued much of the content of the conversation is ambiguous and jurors should not rely on Headley's interpretation of what was said.
(Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
NRI couple holds big stake in Baba Ramdev's empire
NEW DELHI
: The NRI couple from Scotland who gifted an island to Baba Ramdev hold significant stake in one of the biggest companies in the yoga guru's multi-crore empire.
Sarwan 'Sam' Poddar and his wife Sunita, residents ofScotland
According to filings by Patanjali Ayurved Ltd with the Registrar of Companies, the Poddars hold 12.46 lakh shares each in the company. The company has allotted total 3.47 crore shares. Thus, the Poddar couple hold 7.2% stake in the company which is behind most products of the Ramdev empire.
The Poddar couple is the second biggest stakeholders in Patanjali Ayurved, after Acharya Balkrishna, Ramdev's close aide whose Indian citizenship has been the subject of controversy. Balkrishna's stranglehold over the companies run by Ramdev group is stark. He holds 3.10 crore of the 3.47 crore shares of Patanjali Ayurved, that is over 92% shares in the company. He also has similar holdings in Vedic Broadcasting Ltd, which controls Aastha channel.
The Poddar couple has told media in the past that they bought the island on the insistence of Sunita, who lost significant weight after taking to Ramdev's yoga. Sarwan Poddar was among those who were at the Ramlila Maidan where Baba launched his fast.
The couple has donated the island to Ramdev for setting up a pilgrimage centre, where yoga and ayurveda would be managed by qualified doctors, according to media reports.
Patanjali Ayurved, in which the Poddar couple hold shares, recorded a total turnover of Rs 60.96 crore in 2008-09, the latest year for which financial filings are available on record. It made a profit of Rs 4.5 crore before taxation.
Patanjali Ayurved has significant transactions with Divya Yog Mandir Trust (DYMT), of the Ramdev empire, and Vedic Broadcasting Ltd, another group company that runs Aastha channel. In 2007-08, purchase and trading of Patanjali with DYMT and the broadcasting company was to the tune of Rs 48.48 crore.
The company had also bought fixed assets including steel structures on a land owned by the trust, worth Rs 2.7 crore. The company had hired DYMT's land too, on rent. The company has taken unsecured loans from among others Balkrishna and Vedic Broadcasting.
Patanjali Ayurved also raised money through other business transactions. By March 2008, the company had taken a deposit of Rs 95 lakh from retailers selling their products. Each of the retailers paid Rs 1 lakh.
The annual report of the company for 2008-09 financial year shows that just two products, Amla and Aloe Vera juices, mopped up sales of around Rs 25 crore in the year. Besides, Lauki (bottle gourd) juice, which has often run into controversies over Ramdev's claims about its capabilities, too adds significantly to the bottomline of Patanjali Ayurved.
"The threesome promise an era of 'Arogya Vardhan' spearheaded by our chief patron, the world renowned Yog Guru Swami Ramdev ji. To convert this world into a 'disease free' place to live in, is a goal" that the company has "set for itself in the times to come. The acceptability of our flagship products by people is a proof of the fact that we are heading in the right direction," the directors of the company said in their report of 2009. The company also makes shampoos, body massage oil, eye drops and several medicines. These products are sold through about 100 shops, which have deposited Rs 1 lakh each with Patanjali Ayurved.
Sarwan 'Sam' Poddar and his wife Sunita, residents of
According to filings by Patanjali Ayurved Ltd with the Registrar of Companies, the Poddars hold 12.46 lakh shares each in the company. The company has allotted total 3.47 crore shares. Thus, the Poddar couple hold 7.2% stake in the company which is behind most products of the Ramdev empire.
The Poddar couple is the second biggest stakeholders in Patanjali Ayurved, after Acharya Balkrishna, Ramdev's close aide whose Indian citizenship has been the subject of controversy. Balkrishna's stranglehold over the companies run by Ramdev group is stark. He holds 3.10 crore of the 3.47 crore shares of Patanjali Ayurved, that is over 92% shares in the company. He also has similar holdings in Vedic Broadcasting Ltd, which controls Aastha channel.
The Poddar couple has told media in the past that they bought the island on the insistence of Sunita, who lost significant weight after taking to Ramdev's yoga. Sarwan Poddar was among those who were at the Ramlila Maidan where Baba launched his fast.
The couple has donated the island to Ramdev for setting up a pilgrimage centre, where yoga and ayurveda would be managed by qualified doctors, according to media reports.
Patanjali Ayurved, in which the Poddar couple hold shares, recorded a total turnover of Rs 60.96 crore in 2008-09, the latest year for which financial filings are available on record. It made a profit of Rs 4.5 crore before taxation.
Patanjali Ayurved has significant transactions with Divya Yog Mandir Trust (DYMT), of the Ramdev empire, and Vedic Broadcasting Ltd, another group company that runs Aastha channel. In 2007-08, purchase and trading of Patanjali with DYMT and the broadcasting company was to the tune of Rs 48.48 crore.
The company had also bought fixed assets including steel structures on a land owned by the trust, worth Rs 2.7 crore. The company had hired DYMT's land too, on rent. The company has taken unsecured loans from among others Balkrishna and Vedic Broadcasting.
Patanjali Ayurved also raised money through other business transactions. By March 2008, the company had taken a deposit of Rs 95 lakh from retailers selling their products. Each of the retailers paid Rs 1 lakh.
The annual report of the company for 2008-09 financial year shows that just two products, Amla and Aloe Vera juices, mopped up sales of around Rs 25 crore in the year. Besides, Lauki (bottle gourd) juice, which has often run into controversies over Ramdev's claims about its capabilities, too adds significantly to the bottomline of Patanjali Ayurved.
"The threesome promise an era of 'Arogya Vardhan' spearheaded by our chief patron, the world renowned Yog Guru Swami Ramdev ji. To convert this world into a 'disease free' place to live in, is a goal" that the company has "set for itself in the times to come. The acceptability of our flagship products by people is a proof of the fact that we are heading in the right direction," the directors of the company said in their report of 2009. The company also makes shampoos, body massage oil, eye drops and several medicines. These products are sold through about 100 shops, which have deposited Rs 1 lakh each with Patanjali Ayurved.
Baba Ramdev wants to raise 11,000-strong army
MALINI NAIR, TNN | Jun 9, 2011, 12.47am IST
HARIDWAR: Dropping the yogic metaphor in his war on corruption, Baba Ramdev on Wednesday declared that he was cobbling together a militia of volunteers, and exhorted youth across the country—20 from each district—to reach his ashram by mid-June for training in both shastra (arms) and shaastra (scriptures).
"Peetenge nahin par pittenge bhi nahin (we will not beat anyone, but we won't be beaten either)," declared the yoga guru at his morning satsang at the Patanjali Ashram. The army of 11,000 volunteers he wants to collect will train in martial arts, traditional as well as karate, and learn to wield the lathi. He also dropped dark hints about this struggle being taken up by the young whether he is around to see it or not.
Reacting angrily, home minister P Chidambaram warned that Ramdev would run foul of the law. "Let him do that, the law will deal with that," Chidambaram said. He said by exhorting youths to take arms training, he had showed his "true colours and true intention". But Ramdev's call to retaliate with violence in case of another Ravan-lila at a potential Ramlila was greeted with eager cries of "vande mataram" and "Bharat Mata ki jai" by the usual crowd of yoga disciples, students, volunteers, and supporters at his satsang.
Four days after he was bundled out from Delhi Krishna as well into his allusions. "Though I haven't achieved even half of what they have," he hastened to add.
Ramdev has been at pains to defend his secular credentials, claiming that he has followers among every religion. His trump card is the presence of a motley group calling itself the Bharat Muslim Manch whose banner demands the ouster of non-Indians from the country.
Incidentally, other spiritual organizations which are warily watching Ramdev's agitation to decide on whether, and how, to support him may not react well to his call for arms. The Art of Living is one such group theoretically supportive of his right to protest, rallying around his protest gatherings occasionally, but has yet to decide on the nature of its support.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Now-Baba-Ramdev-wants-to-raise-11000-strong-army/articleshow/8776608.cms
Kanimozhi, Sharad Kumar’s bail plea rejected
Wed Jun 08 2011 11:43:02 GMT+0530 (India
New Delhi, June 8 (IANS) Citing prima facie evidence, the Delhi High Court Wednesday rejected the bail pleas of DMK MP Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV managing director Sharad Kumar, who are in jail in connection with the 2G spectrum scam.The single judge bench of Justice Ajit Bharihoke said: “The petitioners are involved in corruption and gratification of Rs.200 crore to their Kalaignar TV. Therefore their bail is dismissed.”
The court added: “There is sufficient prima facie evidence on record, therefore they can’t be granted bail.”
Kanimozhi’s mother Rajathi Ammal and DMK MP T.R. Baalu were present in court. When the judge pronounced the order, Rajathi Ammal’s eyes turned teary.
Kanimozhi, daughter of DMK chief M. Karunanidhi, and Kumar have been in the Tihar Jail since May 20 when a special Central Bureau of Investigation court dismissed their bail pleas.
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/kanimozhi-sharad-kumars-bail-plea-rejected-lead_100541586.html#ixzz1OjoJvJ6K
Baba’s men hid airguns, bats at Ramlila grounds: Police
Posted: Wed Jun 08 2011, 01:26 hrsNew Delhi
The supporters of Baba Ramdev who gathered at Ramlila Maidan had stacked airguns, baseball bats and bricks behind the dais, police said on Tuesday.
Ramdev was to hold a 20-day yoga camp at Ramlila Maidan, Central Delhi , but was evicted after a day’s event on Sunday.
The FIR lodged by police said after the yoga camp took the shape of a rally, they decided to cancel the permission.
The FIR said: “After provocative speeches by Sadhvi Rithambhara, Maulana Kalbe Jabbar and Akali Dal’s Onkar Singh Randhawa that they decided to cancel the permission as they were asking more people to join the agitation and not leave the premises at any cost.”
It also said after Ramdev was given a notice that the permission for the camp has been cancelled, he continued to give provocative speeches and tried to dodge the police by asking his supporters to form a cordon around him.
Ramdev's Rs.1,100 crore empire under scanner
New Delhi, June 7: The mammoth business empire of Baba Ramdev, its worth estimated at Rs.1,100 crore, is now under official scanner, informed sources said Tuesday. An aide to the yoga guru called it hogwash.
Sources in the corporate affairs ministry said that companies and trusts linked to Ramdev deal in ayurveda medicine, food, cosmetics, construction, real estate, transport and packaging.
An official told IANS that while there was no specific charge against these businesses, their income tax computation would be done.
In the last five years, Ramdev is said to have built a huge business empire of over 30 companies. His key aide, Acharya Balakrishna, is said to hold the key to most of them.
Besides the income tax department, the Enforcement Directorate will also examine these companies, the sources said.
The companies are affiliated to Ramdev's Patanjali Yogpeeth and Divya Yog Mandir trusts.
These trusts in Hardwar
The broadcasting company that owns Aastha TV -- a religious channel -- is also affiliated to the trusts.
Jaideep Arya, national co-coordinator of the Patanjali Yogapeeth, said the government was simply attempting to divert attention from the issues related to corruption that Ramdev had highlighted.
"It is hogwash. The government is doing such things to divert people's attention. Now they can lay any blame (on him)," he said.
But official sources say they are serious.
Ramdev also reportedly owns an island off the coast of Scotland, which can become taxable if the proposed direct tax code comes into effect in India
The latest development comes shortly after Ramdev's showdown with the government, leading to the police evicting him and his supporters from the heart of Delhi
Ramdev has demanded death penalty for corrupt politicians and officials and the seizure of black money stashed away abroad by rich Indians.
--IANS
http://www.siasat.com/english/news/ramdevs-rs1100-crore-empire-under-scanner
Hazare's assets: A plate, a bed
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
New Delhi, June 08: Gandhian activist Anna Hazare said Wednesday he lived in a temple in Maharashtra, and his only possessions were a plate to eat food and a bed to sleep on.
Speaking briefly about himself after launching a day's fast at Rajghat, Hazare said: "I have nothing except a plate to have food and a bed to sleep. I have no bank balance."
He said he had not visited his home in his village in Ahmednagar district for 35 years.
"I have three brothers. I don't know the names of their children."
Despite his austere lifestyle, he said he was "a very happy and contented man".
Hazare also told the cheering crowds that he had "claimed the wickets of six cabinet ministers" in Maharashtra over corruption. His efforts had led to the sacking of more than 400 corrupt officers.
"I am fighting big goondas... One of the ministers (who lost his job) gave out a 'supari' (underworld contract) to kill me."
He said his life changed when, at age 26, he came across a book by Swami Vivekananda. "I decided then and there to live only for the welfare of the country and the society."
The values important in life, he said, were noble thought and honesty.
http://www.siasat.com/english/news/hazares-assets-plate-bedMuslim Boy among EAMCET toppers, makes Hyderabadproud
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Hyderabad, June 08: Mohammed Salman is the only candidate from the Minority Community who managed to get into the top ten spots in the Engineering, Agriculture and Medicine Common Entrance Test 2011, the results which were released on Wednesday.
Besides Salman with 154 marks, N Snehilatha with 157 marks and G Siva Jeswanth with 154 marks were among the toppers in the medicine stream.
Hyderabadi students A Surya Kiran, Raghavendra Kiran and Tarun Kumar Reddy with 153 marks each topped the engineering stream.
As many as 12,177 of the 14,011 students from Hyderabad who appeared for the EAMCET-2011 qualified in the exam in the medicine stream (86.91 per cent) while 49,132 of the 58,568 aspirants cleared the engineering stream (83.89 per cent).
Salman, a resident of Chandrayangutta is a student of the Sri Chaitanya college of Narayanguda
His father, Mohammed Subhan is the owner of a weighbridge and says that Salman used to leave for college at 6 AM and come back at 9 PM each day.
“He put in so much effort towards his students and by Allah’s Grace, he is now among the top ten rankers,” Mr Subhan says, his voice quivering with emotion.
“Even the Cricket World Cup did not divert his attention and he only concentrated on his daily prayers and studies. He has a younger brother, Mohammed Shadan. Shadan too is very studious and we expect him to do well too,” Mr Subhan says.
He added that Salman aims to do his MS in internal medicine and then serve the people.
The businessman added that dedication pays off in the longer run and deviation like sports may bring short-term pleasure, but one must never lose sight of the final goal.
When asked if there was any pressure by him on his son to study harder, Mr Subhan said that there was no need for him to do so. “He is inbred with a keen sense of responsibility and we never had to push him.
Salman is presently in Mumbai to participate in a medical Olympiad being conducted by the Bhabha Atomic and Research Centre.
The toppers in medicine stream are:- Mandalapu Himaja with 158 marks, Nunum Umamaheswari with 157, Nalluri Snehita with 157, Nittala Roda Faith with 155, Snigdha Gamini with 155, Gaddam Siva Jaswant, Rokkam Sunny Joel, Mohammed Salman, AGB Naresh and Matlapudi Lakshmi Pravallika with 154 marks each.
To top spots in the engineering stream were bagged by Nalla Pratyush, Nagam Prasant, Chilamkurti Sasank with 155 marks each while Potnuru Avinash and Chikati Yaswant bagged 154 marks each. Kode Harshavardhan, Aaduri Surya Kiran, Addanki Raghavendra Kiran, Medini Tarun Kumar Reddy, Potti Sayi Chaitanya and Bhogaraju Sri Kalyani managed to obtain 153 marks each.
--INN
Hazare to fast again on Aug 16 in '2nd freedom struggle'
Wednesday, June 8, 2011, 13:24 [IST]
New Delhi
With the group committed to wipe out corruption from the system, Anna Hazare raised some real uncomfortable issues plaguing the system and proclaimed that he will undertake a fast unto death once again on Aug 16 if the Lokpal Bill is not passed till that time. The venue will be Jantar Mantar.
With Rajghat resounding war cries, the spirited speech made by panellist's Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal let loose the tirade against various ills in the system. When Anna Hazare stood for his much-anticipated speech, he said that this was not for a discourse but said, "the second fight for Independence
Speaking on the proposed fast on Aug 16 which is intended to force the government for implementing the Bill in a time-bound way he said, "if the government does not listen I shall fast till I breathe my last." On the need for peaceful protests, Anna warned anti-graft campaigners, "The government is very powerful, If we indulge in violence, it will give the government an excuse to quash the movement."
Hazare also spoke strongly on the governments attitude and chided, "The government has forgotten that people are the masters and not the government. They need to understand that we are one, not different."
Thousands of people across various cities in India
OneIndia News
http://news.oneindia.in/2011/06/08/hazare-to-fast-again-on-aug-16-at-jantar-mantar-aid0113.html
Corruption Hacked: Anonymous attacks Govt sites
Wednesday, June 8, 2011, 14:24 [IST]
The hacker group Anonymous, which was famous for their alleged hacking on Sony PlayStation Network, announced war against corruption in
According to a report in The Hacker News, Anonymous hacked the website of National Informatics Centre (NIC
"There is no use securing. There is no use of spending on forensic. Get this message clear Mr Prime Minister and other. We do not like to talk much and Yes IT is our world. Expect us," the post said.
The message reads, "When corruption, destruction and mayhem strikes from governments or corporations it is the goal of anonymous to awaken that entity and the public that a change must occur. As price pritchet once said, "change always comes bearing gifts."Anonymous is the gift we have been waiting for. Honest and trustworthy persons working hard on our behalf for the betterment of mankind."
Anonymous have also started the anti-corruption movement on the micro-blogging website Twitter. In their Twitter account, Anonymous started a new mission named OperationIndia. Furthermore, Anonymous have started a group on Facebook also named as Operation India.
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