Captain Sunil James freed from Togo jail, to reach India today; family relieved

Indian sailor Captain Sunil James, who was arrested in July on charges of aiding pirates off the coast of Togo, was released in the wee hours of Thursday.

Captain James is set to leave for India later today after spending six months in jail in Togo.

Reacting to the development, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said, "I am satisfied & happy, I am grateful to those who worked for his release."

The family of James also thanked the Prime Minister after shortly after getting the news of Captain James' release from Togo jail.

Earlier this month, the family members of Sunil James had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking his intervention in getting the sailor released to conduct the last rites of his 11-month-old son who died of septicaemia in a hospital on December 2.

However, it not yet clear whether the charges levelled against James have been completely dropped. James had filed an application asking to be released on parole to conduct the last rites of his son.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said, "Securing Captain James release was really difficult. President of Togo intervened and ensured justice." Akbaruddin had on Wednesday said that India's High Commissoner in Accra met with President Gnassingbe of Togo seeking early release of James and other Indian sailors.

James had stopped at Togo to report an attack on his ship MT Ocean Centurion by pirates when he was arrested July 31, along with two other crew members, for allegedly aiding the pirates.

LIVE: Case against Devyani Khobragade should be withdrawn, says Salman Khurshid

1:49 pm: Won't tolerate injustice, says Raj Babbar

Congress spokesman Raj Babbar said India's message to the US is clear that we won't tolerate injustice meted out to our citizens.

1:28 pm: Case against Devyani should be withdrawn, says Khurshid

Maintaining a tough stand, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said the case against Devyani should not be pursued and be withdrawn. Commenting on India-US ties, Khurshid noted that the relationship between the countries "has a lot of investment". It is "not an irreversible matter and we have to deal with it sensibly," added Khurshid. He has sought details of what has happened in the case of Khobragade in the US.

1:18 pm: India wants good ties with US, says Tharoor

Commenting on Devyani's issue, Union Minister Shashi Tharoor said though India wants good relations with the US since it is an important country, yet it won't accept this. Reiterating "reciprocity as the cardinal principle" of diplomatic relations, Tharoor said if the US does not have friendly spirit, then it is diffciult to see the same in us.

1:02 pm: IACC seeks unconditional apology from US

The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce has strongly objected to the "humiliating treatment" meted out to Khobragade by the US law enforcement agencies.

"The Chamber considers the action unacceptable and feels that the US government should tender an unconditional apology for the humiliation of the diplomat," said Nanik Rupani, president of Chamber's West India Council, in a statement here.

12:40 pm: India says US didn't respond to any of its requests on Khobragade's domestic help

In a statement that was issued in response to a media query, the Indian embassy in Washington has said that along with the Ministry of External Affairs, it took up the matter of Khobragade's domestic assistant Sangeeta Richard with the US State Department and the US embassy in New Delhi.

The US, however, did not respond.

The statement added that the Indian embassy had asked for US' assistance in tracing Richard, action against her for blackmailing the Indian diplomat, assistance in repatriating her and arresting her for robbing cash, a mobile phone and documents from the Indian diplomat.

11:56 pm: US apology will be satisfying, says Nath

An apology from America, acceptance of their fault is what we will be satisfied with, said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath.

11.15 am: Protest outside US consulate in Hyderabad

Activists belonging to Left parties and All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation (AIPSO) gathered near the US consulate in Hyderabad to protest against the US government's handling of the Devyani issue.

Holding banners that read, "Uncle Sam don't act ugly with India", protesters shouted slogans against the US administration.

11.00 am: Ensure Devyani comes back with dignity, BJP tells govt

The BJP said the government must keep up the pressure against the United States. "Rajya Sabha has expressed their anguish and has condemned what the US has done to Devyani, who was under diplomatic immunity," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.

"Government has said charges will be dropped and will be brought back with full dignity and honour... They must now walk the talk and nothing less will be acceptable by the people."

10.50 am: Salman Khurshid may speak to John Kerry

With India hinting at a deeper conspiracy behind Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade's arrest in the United States, Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to speak to External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Thursday evening to clarify on the issue.

Confirming the development, Khurshid told reporters, "Yes it is possible. I will have word with Kerry on Thursday evening. This matter should be resolved. We will do whatever more is needed to be done."

7:45 am: US prosecutor defends actions against Khobragade

Manhattan's high profile India-born US attorney Preet Bhrara, also known as the "Sherriff of Wall Street", has defended his department's actions against an Indian diplomat sparking a diplomatic row between India and the US, insisting she was not handcuffed and was given due courtesies.

He also said the domestic help, Sangeeta Richard's family was "evacuated" from India to protect the "victim" as there were attempts to silence her and compel her to return to India.

But he confirmed that Khobragade was "fully searched" by a female deputy marshal in private as per "standard practice" for "every defendant, rich or poor, American or not."

Otherwise, she was treated very well and was even given coffee and allowed to make phone calls in a car for two hours to arrange for child care.

2:38 am: 'Kerry was aware of Khobragarde's arrest' US Secretary of State John Kerry was aware of the senior Indian diplomat's arrest.

"He (Kerry) was certainly aware, yes, absolutely. He's been kept up to speed on this case," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf told reporters soon after informing them that Kerry spoke over telephone to the National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon.

12.08 am: John Kerry expresses regret over treatment of Khobragade

US Secretary of State John Kerry called India's National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon to express his "regret".

In a damage control exercise, Kerry also expressed his concern saying this "unfortunate public issue" of the arrest and strip search of Devyani Khobragade should not be allowed to hurt "our close and vital relationship with India".

Kerry "expressed his regret, as well as his concern that we not allow this unfortunate public issue to hurt our close and vital relationship with India," State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said in a readout of the conversation.

More: http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/live-case-against-devyani-khobragade-should-be-withdrawn-says-salman-khurshid_897876.html

E-cigarettes 'may not' cut heart disease risk

A new research has revealed that nicotine, which is the major addictive substance in cigarette smoke, contributes to smokers' higher risk of developing atherosclerosis, the primary cause of heart attacks.

Chi-Ming Hai from Brown University said the findings suggested that e-cigarettes, the battery-powered devices that deliver nicotine in steam without the carcinogenic agents of tobacco smoke, may not significantly reduce smokers' risk for heart disease.

Dr. Hai's research on human and rat vascular smooth muscle cells provides evidence of a link between nicotine and atherosclerosis.

In Dr. Hai's experiments, nicotine appeared to drive the formation of a kind of cellular drill called podosome rosettes, which are members of the invadosome family, consisting of invadopodia, podosomes and podosome rosettes.

These specialized cell surface assemblies degrade and penetrate the tissue during cell invasion.

Dr. Hai subjected rat and primary human vascular smooth muscle cells to prolonged (six hours) nicotine treatment, enabling the cells to form podosome rosettes in response to Protein Kinase C (PKC) activation, which controls protein phosphorylation in signal transduction cascades.

The podosome rosettes set the scene for global extracellular matrix degradation and internalization. PKC activation alone, that is, without nicotine treatment, could induce the formation of podosomes in the rat muscle cells, accompanied by focal extracellular matrix degradation.

Matrigel-coated transwell experiments indicated that nicotine treatment and PKC activation worked synergistically to enhance invasiveness in the primary human vascular smooth muscle cells.

Inclusion of alpha-bungarotoxin, a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, or cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, during nicotine treatment abolished nicotine-induced podosome rosette formation in the rat cells, suggesting that signalling through the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and synthesis of new proteins are required for podosome rosette formation.

The study was presented at the American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

More: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/E-cigarettes-may-not-cut-heart-disease-risk/articleshow/27470033.cms

Five reasons why antidepressants are bad for you

Using antidepressants may help in treating major depressive disorder and other mental illnesses such anxiety disorders, sleep disorders, etc. However, various studies have shown that these medications can also have significant side effects and dangers.

Some side effects may get vanished after the first few weeks of drug treatments, but others continue and may even get worse.

Here are five reasons why antidepressants are not good for your health based on different studies and research:

Weight issues: Weight issues are one factor common among antidepressants. Some patients may report weight gain, others report weight loss depending on the types of drug they take.

Sexual health: One of the common side effects is decreased interest in sex, failure to reach orgasm and erectile dysfunction. Sexual side-effects are common with SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors).

Sperm: According to a 2009 study, more than 40 percent of the 35 healthy participants who took the SSRI paroxetine (Paxil) for four weeks had sperm with fragmented DNA, which could affect fertility. Therefore, men are advised to consult their doctors about antidepressants.

Bones health: While some studies have linked SSRIs with lower bone density and more hip fractures in older people, other studies differ with the findings.

Suicide: The link between antidepressants use and suicide risk is unsure and hence, it remains the target of medical research. Some studies have associated some antidepressants with increased risk of suicide in some patients, especially youth.

More: http://zeenews.india.com/news/health/health-news/five-reasons-why-antidepressants-are-bad-for-you_25589.html

Nasa develops new spacesuit for asteroid mission

Nasa has developed a new gen-next spacesuit, which is much lighter and mobile, for its first ever mission to allow astronauts to spacewalk on an asteroid.

Nasa engineers are testing a modified version of the pumpkin-orange Advanced Crew Escape System (ACES) worn by space shuttle astronauts during launch and re-entry for use by future crew in the Orion spacecraft.

As the agency plans human deep space missions, including a voyage to a relocated asteroid, care is being taken to efficiently use space inside Orion, Nasa said.

The white extra-vehicular mobility unit spacesuits used by crews to conducts spacewalks on the International Space Station are too bulky to carry in the spacecraft, so Nasa is looking at ways to alter the ACES suits for multiple uses both inside and outside the spacecraft.

"The shell of them is very much the same, and to the casual user you may not even notice the difference, but internally we modified them to work with the plumbing inside Orion," said Dustin Gohmert, crew survival systems manager at Johnson.

Through a series of tests, engineers are learning what features need to be included to improve the suit's mobility beyond the needs of the trip from the launch pad to space and its return to Earth, such as enhanced gloves and elbow joints with improved mobility for spacewalks.

"We're stepping back to our heritage to be able to use one suit for multiple tasks," said Gohmert.

Nasa is looking at a broad range of ideas and techniques as the agency further refines its mission design for the agency's asteroid initiative, an effort that combines human exploration, space technology and science work being done across the agency to find and redirect and asteroid to a stable orbit near the Moon for exploration by astronauts.

The tests are helping with the evaluation of options for spacewalking techniques like how best to get out of Orion and traverse the spacecraft towards the captured asteroid.

Nasa is making use of previous experience and proving designs to accelerate development, ensure crew safety and increase reliability.

More: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Nasa-develops-new-spacesuit-for-asteroid-mission/articleshow/27463946.cms

Aamir Khan: 'Dhoom: 3' is also a very emotionally moving film

Aamir Khan is entering the larger than life and over the top genre of Bollywood with hardcore commercial film like 'Dhoom: 3'. Often known for its action sequences, trendy bikes and glam quotient, the Dhoom franchise has been Yash Raj's trump card in action genre and this time it's Aamir Khan who is the new 'joker' of this pack! Aamir Khan gets candid in this interview where he talks about signing up for 'Dhoom: 3', working with his co-stars and all about his character Sahir - the antagonist.

What made you choose 'Dhoom: 3'?

I loved the script. I also believe it is the most challenging role I have done till date, even as a performer, leaving aside the physicality. It's also a very emotionally moving script. It's entertaining and has all the other elements of the Dhoom franchise like the songs, bikes, action etc. and more to it. Up till now, the earlier Dhoom films did not have an emotional heart to the film but this one has it.

Have you seen the other films of the Dhoom franchise?

I haven't seen Dhoom 2. I had seen Dhoom at home with Kiran on television. I found that movie very exciting and lots of fun. I sat till the end. In fact, I loved the music too. I used to dance on my bed whenever I heard the theme soundtrack of the film. Kiran was shocked to see me like this. Unfortunately, I missed the second one.

Buzz is that you are doing a double role in the film. Is it true?

No, absolutely not! It's all rumours. In fact that is just one of it. There are many other interesting ones like time travel and the most hilarious one I came across was 'Katrina is playing my mother in the film'.

Describe Sahir as the villain of 'Dhoom: 3'…

Sahir is not Amrish Puri kind of negative. He is not actually killing people. It's not like my role in Fanaa where I am responsible for many people losing their lives. He is the guy who has a past and has gone through an emotional trauma. The script is such that you as an audience and your emotions are with him. He is a character, we are hoping, will win your sympathy.

You are playing a gymnast in the film. What's your connection with the Joker?

I am a circus artist but our kind of circus is very different. Normally we associate Indian circus with animals like hathi (elephant) and sher (lion) and in case of artists, its trapeze artists or contortionists (women who bend their body). But that is old traditional circus; the modern circus is different. It hasn't come to India as yet. In India, if you choose to be a clown, it's normally a joker jo topi pehen ke kuch utpatan cheezen karega, like slapstick humour. But it's different in modern circus. There, if you choose to be a clown, you paint the character you want to play and you cannot change it in the entire life. If I am doing trapeze or any other stunt, I will do it staying into that character. I don't know if people are going to understand that. But we have gone with the modern day clown. He is a character who may not make you laugh but he is someone who will entertain you.

Working with Katrina, Abhishek, Uday and music director Pritam…

It's my first film with all of them. The experience of working with Katrina is wonderful. She is easy going and has a great sense of humour. She likes chess just like the way I do. Abhishek and Uday too are fun people to work with - always up to some mischief like I am. In fact, I have even given them nicknames - Yajud and Majud. Pritam has done some fantastic work for the film. 'Malang', Katrina's song 'Kamli', my tap dance song and my favourite 'Tu Hi Junoon' is the best song. We have decided to release only 30 seconds of all the songs except 'Tu Hi Junoon'. This romantic number is not going to be released before the film hits the theatre.

What about not promoting Dhoom on television reality shows and serials?

It is a project which already has brands like Yash Raj, Katrina, Abhishek, Uday and me. We do not want to promote the film on TV shows. We want to achieve more but we want to keep the promotions less. I don't want to promote Dhoom on TV. Though, I feel TV shows are popular and I have been on these shows, for me it's only for small films. When you are doing a film like Peepli Live that do not have a big budget, A-list stars and the resources are less, that's when appearing on TV shows gives you a huge platform which can help you tell the audience about the upcoming film. For a film like 'Dhoom: 3', we buy promos. For films like this, promos are the solo way of promoting where people can view the content of the film and then decide, whether they still want to watch the film or not.

According to me, big films being promoted on television is not going to make a difference. While people are already aware of the film, their decision of watching or giving it a miss depends on their choice and the actors going for every show will not make a difference. In case of Dhoom though, we aren't promoting it on TV shows, we are going very heavily on the Internet. We also think this film is universal - from rural to urban, for grandparents and kids.

Do you think the international appeal of 'Dhoom: 3' may make the ones in rural areas feel disconnected?

I don't think being in urban or rural areas affects your choice of films. I love watching Lagaan though I am not a villager. The reason why I say that the film is universal is because it is entertaining. The huge mass audience is going in for entertainment. It promises the same and hope we deliver that.

Any expectations attached to 'Dhoom: 3' entering the 100 crore club?

I am the first Khan to create a 100 crore record but to be honest, I don't believe in numbers. Most people will not believe me when I say that. But I want my film to win hearts. What excited me about 3 idiots is that people have loved the film not the numbers. It has touched everyone from parents to children. That's what I want for 'Dhoom: 3'. When I got Talaash, I knew it did not have a potential for being a 100 crore film but I still wanted to do it. Numbers don't excite me!

More: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/aamir-khan-dhoom-3-is-also-a-very-emotionally-moving-film/1208235/0

SRK set to play fan in 'FAN'

Now almost at the top of the pyramid in Bollywood, superstarShah Rukh Khan has decided to try something different. The actor will be seen playing a fan in his next film "FAN".

Attributing his success to the love of his fans, Shah Rukh took to Twitter to talk about his future plans.

"Most of the characters I do, are the ones I create...for the first time I am going to play what has created me...I will be in my next a 'fan'," Shah Rukh posted on the microblogging site Monday.

The film will be directed by Maneesh Sharma and is being produced by Aditya Chopra. It has been written by Habib Faisal and the shooting will start from May next year, said a statement.

Talking about the film, Shah Rukh said that it is a film dedicated to his fan following and the love which they have bestowed on him.

"'FAN' is a 'family film'. It's the family all of you have become for me...the one I didn't have. I want to be as beautiful as you all. Thanks," he said.

The actor's last film, "Chennai Express" which also featured Deepika Padukone, turned out to be one of the biggest hits on box- office this year.

More: http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/srk-set-to-play-fan-in-fan-113121600434_1.html

'Phablet space growing significantly' in Asia, says Nokia exec

Nokia's decision to sell the Lumia 1520 here in Asia at the same time as the U.S. is interesting. If you recall, it took about a five to six weeks after the U.S. debut for Nokia to launch the Lumia 1020 here in Singapore.

The delay for the Lumia 1020 may have cost the company some critical lead time, as other smartphones such as the iPhone 5S and 5C, as well as Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 hit markets in the region earlier despite being announced later.

Chris Weber, executive vice president of sales and marketing at Nokia, is aware of this. In an interview with CNET Asia, Weber said that the company wants to compress the time it takes for a phone to reach the first market to the last.

"We shouldn't have big lapses, it should be much shorter," he said.

And the recently announced Lumia 1520 is a handset that is executing this strategy, thanks in part to what Weber acknowledges as hot market that the company hopes to tap.

"When you look at the growth of phablets across Asia and you take Hong Kong and Singapore as microcosms of that [market space], that space is growing quite rapidly, and that's why we launched there first," he said.

But it's not just high-end smartphones that Nokia is known for -- the Lumia 520, a low-end budget handset, was the most popular Windows device, beating PCs as well as tablets. The device sold well in Thailand and Vietnam, countries where Weber says Nokia's products "resonate well".

Nokia also hopes that its followup handset, the Lumia 525, with double the RAM, will become a bestseller. The company is following in the footsteps of Samsung with its wide range of Android products, but while Nokia is offering the same variety, the company has a different strategy in mind.

"If you look at Samsung, a lot of what they do is about tech and specs. We'll be competitive on tech and specs but if you look at any of our launch events, that's not what we talk about. We talk about differentiated experience to consumers, and we'll continue that, because that's our story."

Weber also noted that while customers tend to compare specs, Nokia intends to differentiate its products with a focus on the design of its handset, custom apps and imaging prowess of its handsets.

More: http://asia.cnet.com/phablet-space-growing-significantly-in-asia-says-nokia-exec-62223202.htm

Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal rift widens to breaking point

The rift between Anna Hazare and his former protege and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal has widened further.

While the Hazare camp believes the “Anna magic” was behind Kejriwal’s recent success, Team Kejriwal believes Hazare is being misled.

Hazare’s close associate Vishwambhar Choudhari on Sunday alleged that the party wanted to stall Hazare’s attempt to get the Lokpal bill approved as otherwise they would be deprived of a poll plank during the Lok Sabha elections.

Hazare himself rubbished Kejriwal’s contention that the Lokpal bill was weak. He said: “If anyone feels there are shortcomings in the bill after it is passed, they should fast for it.” Hazare is on a fast for the past six days at his Ralegan Siddhi village in Ahmednagar to press for the Lokpal bill.

“The government’s control over CBI has been removed in this bill. I saw 13 such points and told the government that I welcome this,” Hazare said. “I welcome the government’s bill. This bill is in favour of the public. I am grateful that the government brought this bill... I feel this is a good bill. It will do good to the society and the public. That is why I have welcomed it.”

Hazare said: “I am going on the path of agitations and he [Kejriwal] has formed a political party.
This country has gained freedom and many other things through public unrest and agitation and not through political parties. The country has witnessed this on many occasions. In democracy, they are free to do what they want and I have many other things including right to recall, right to reject for which I would be needed to launch yet another fast... since the present form of bill is satisfactory, I have agreed to it.” Hazare was speaking at a press conference in Ralegan Siddhi.

Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Kejriwal on Sunday said: “I am a little saddened by Anna’s support to the government Lokpal Bill. But may be Anna is not completely informed about the bill. He is being misled by people around him. When we meet him we will try to explain the loopholes to him.” Also, he said, Anna’s health was important for the movement and the country. “He should immediately end his fast.”

Kejriwal said the Lokpal bill in its present form “won’t send a mouse to jail”.

But Kiran Bedi who was present with Hazare at Ralegan Siddhi said: “In the first place, they [Team Kejriwal] are kids and they have formed a political party, which is why they want to keep the issue alive. Anna is a veteran who resorts to fasts and wants laws. They want issues and Anna wants laws. As far as the present form of bill is concerned, it is capable of sending behind the bars even a lion forget a mouse.”

Speaking to dna, Choudhari alleged that the AAP benefitted from its association with Hazare, which was reflected in the Delhi state assembly poll results. They are “using his image for narrow political ends”, he said.

“This latest version of the (Lokpal) bill contains around 75% of what was there in Anna’s Jan Lokpal bill. There is no reason for Anna to be at odds with the content,” Choudhari said. “The AAP wants the issue to be kept alive till the Lok Sabha polls. Otherwise, they will have no (campaign) issue.” Choudhari added that Hazare “shall not and will not” get into a stalemate with the government.

“They were against talking with the government even during the agitation on the Ram Lila ground in Delhi. This shows that they do not want the law to be passed. They pretend to be one with the movement but are deviating from its credo,” Choudhari said.

“The AAP seems to be in a state of euphoria over its success in the Delhi polls. But, to bring about a revolution, you need cultured activists, not uncultured ones. A party without an ideology or committed cadre may get sporadic success but will soon go into a downslide.”

After the emergence of the AAP in Delhi’s political space, “they [Team Kejriwal] realised that Anna was the magic behind their success”, said Choudhari. So, they tried to warm up to their former mentor after a chill in the ties. “It [success in the Delhi state assembly polls] is not the victory of the AAP. It was the defeat of the Congress and the BJP. It was a negative vote and not a positive vote.”
But Choudhari admitted that the AAP had succeeded in exploiting the political vacuum.

“The AAP tried to hijack the movement and take credit,” he said. According to him one of the reasons behind the spectacular debut of the AAP in the Delhi state assembly polls was the ready availability of the India Against Corruption (IAC) cadre. “They also benefited from their association with Anna’s name.”

Choudhari expressed dissatisfaction at the attempt by AAP leaders like Kumar Vishwas to “grab whatever space that they could get” for their propaganda when they came to Ralegan Siddhi to visit Hazare during his fast. He also pointed out how the Gandhian expressed his displeasure at Vishwas and Gopal Rai’s behavior at the site.

He said Kejriwal and his associates formed the AAP despite Hazare objecting to the move.

Lokpal bill: Kejriwal slammed the Congress and its general secretary for misleading India over the Lokpal issue. “The Lokpal bill in its current form won’t send a mouse to jail, forget a politician.
The net result of passing this Lokpal is that Rahul Gandhi will get some credit,” he said. He vowed to continue the fight for getting a Jan Lokpal, which the country dreamed of during the Ram Lila agitation.

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-anna-hazare-arvind-kejriwal-rift-widens-to-breaking-point-1935762

Did Indira Jaising just force Justice AK Ganguly to resign?

Accused of sexual harassment, former Supreme Court judge AK Ganguly has so far denied all the allegations against him, and ruled out resigning as the head of the West Bengal Human Rights Commission. However, while the Supreme Court panel that probed the incident had only gone so far as to admit there was merit in the woman's allegations, Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaising has revealed the entire statement of the victim to establish why Ganguly should face action. Jaising had written to the Prime Minister seeking the dismissal of Ganguly from his post over the allegations on 13 November. 

But in an exclusive article in the Indian Express today, the lawyer has said that his complete brazenness had compelled her to reveal the statement of the victim made before the three-judge panel which probed the incident following the defence of the former judge by members of the legal and political fraternity. In her statement made in a sworn affidavit, the victim has told the panel that when she went to meet with the judge at a hotel room in New Delhi on 24 December 2012, there were two other persons present, who left after she began working. Despite her protests, Ganguly allegedly kept trying to book a room for her in the hotel and also kept trying to get her to drink wine while he was consuming alcohol. Ganguly has rejected all calls for his resignation so far. 

PTI The judge allegedly after trying to get her to stay in the same room as him to complete the report also allegedly made unwanted physical contact with the intern. "I immediately rose from my seat, but before I had a chance to respond to the statement, he caught hold of my arm, saying, 'You know that I'm attracted to you, don't you? You must be thinking, what, this old man is getting drunk and saying such things. But I really like you, I love you'. When I tried to move away, he kissed my arm and repeated that he loved me." the intern has said in her statement. The intern then described how she left the hotel room and was followed to the lobby by the judge, who also allegedly called her the next day multiple times. (Read the complete statement in the Indian Express here) The Supreme Court panel while indicting the former judge had said that the victim had disclosed a case of an unwelcome sexual advance when she had visited the judge's hotel room. However, the apex court had not taken any action since Justice Ganguly was not a judge of the court at the time and the woman wasn't attached to the Supreme Court

However, following his indictment, there have been calls from across political parties for the dismissal of the former judge in the event that he did not resign. BJP's Sushma Swaraj had called for the resignation or dismissal of Justice Ganguly in the Lok Sabha and has been backed by the Trinamool Congress. While the former judge has studiously avoided making any comment on the issue, today's revelations will only make his position more difficult to hold on to.

Read more at: http://www.firstpost.com/india/did-indira-jaising-just-force-justice-ak-ganguly-to-resign-1288701.html?utm_source=ref_article

Indore: Run for unity for Sardar Patel sees good response

There was an enthusiastic support in Indore for the “Run for Unity”, organized by Iron Collection Cooperation Committee (ICCC) to observe the 63rd death anniversary of Sardar Vallabh Patel on Sunday.

The run for unity was organised at more than 500 locations across the country. BJP national general secretary Thawar Chand Gehlot along with Mayor Krishna Murari Moghe, and Shankar Lalwani flagged off the run from the statue of Patel.

Gehlot said that Sardar Patel had moved throughout the country to unite over 500 principalities as he wanted entire country to be united. To pay tribute to such a great leader, a statue of unity is being erected in Gujarat, the BJP leader said.

The purpose of the run is to pay tribute of Sardar Patel and participation of maximum number of people in the construction of tallest statue in the world the “Statue of Unity”. The ICCC is collecting iron scrap from people all across the country for the statue. The statue of unity will not only be a symbol of national unity but also a tribute to the towering personality of Sardar Patel, said Gehlot.

Sudarshan Gupta, Anju Makhija, Dr Umashashi Sharma, Kamal Vaghela, Kamlesh Sharma, Kailash Yadav, Ramdas Garg, Satish Sharma, Sandhya Yadav and many others were present on the occasion.

Although BJP leaders have called this a non-political event, it is believed that the party has started its run for the Lok Sabha elections.

The opposition parties have called the event politically inspired. “BJP is using name of Sardar Patel to garner support of people for the Lok Sabha election. It is not a run for unity but Narendra Modi’s run for Delhi,” said senior Congress leader Rajesh Chouksey.

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-indore-run-for-unity-for-sardar-patel-sees-good-response-1936078

Lalu walks out of Ranchi jail, says will take on Narendra Modi

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad on Monday walked out of the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi after he was granted bail by the Supreme Court on Friday. The RJD chief was behind bars since September 30 after receiving a five-year sentence in the fodder scam.

“The CBI case against me is false… I can’t even begin to describe the injustice the investigating agency has done to me,” Prasad said as he came out of the jail.

Talking about the current political scenario in the country and his plans, the former Bihar chief minister said, “Now we have political parties in Delhi who want to fight elections but don't want to form government... Narendra Modi or any other Modi, I am now ready (to take them on). I am willing to make any sacrifice to ensure that communal forces don't come to power (in 2014).”

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam had granted Lalu bail after noting that 37 of 44 similarly placed convicts in the case had already been given relief by the Jharkhand high court. But it left it to the CBI court to decide on bail bonds, sureties and other conditions.

There was no opposition by the CBI, which had stated in its affidavit on Thursday that the released accused had served more than half their sentences.

Lalu’s bail spells bad news for Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) and its one-time ally BJP. They had both bargained on the RJD falling apart after Lalu’s incarceration.

To the contrary, the jail term not only enhanced sympathy for Lalu but the RJD managed to ride the storm, putting in place a system of governance for the party helmed by its stalwarts.

Now, with general elections months away, the former NDA partners would probably find it hard to tap into the RJD’s traditional Muslim-Yadav (MY) vote bank.

The CBI court had on September 30 found Lalu, former Bihar CM Jagannath Mishra and 43 others guilty of criminal conspiracy to cause a Rs. 37.7-crore loss to the Chaibasa treasury. Lalu, who lost his Lok Sabha membership after the guilty verdict, moved the top court after the HC dismissed his bail plea.

More: http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/theriseandriseandfalloflaluprasad/lalu-walks-out-of-ranchi-jail-says-will-take-on-narendra-modi/article1-1163069.aspx

Kamal Nath appeals to Samajwadi Party to support Lokpal bill

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath Monday appealed to the Samajwadi Party to support the Lokpal bill in the Rajya Sabha as a senior SP member said the party is opposed to the anti-corruption legislation.

Kamal Nath, speaking to reporters outside parliament, said the upper house must pass the Lokpal bill on Tuesday so that it could be brought to the Lok Sabha.

"I am very confident it will be passed in the Rajya Sabha, and after that we will strive to bring it to the Lok Sabha. We appeal to the Samajwadi Party to support the bill. Everyone wants it passed, and they should abide by the wishes of the people," Kamal Nath said.

The amended version of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011, was scheduled to be brought to the Rajya Sabha on Monday, but both houses were adjourned as a mark of respect to union Labour Minister Sis Ram Ola, who died a day ago.

Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav said the party was against the provisions of the Lokpal bill.

Ram Gopal Yadav said his party wants a discussion in parliament on price rise but it was not being accepted.

"My demand from very first day of the house is that there must be discussion on price rise, but they did not accept it. But we should not correlate these two things (opposition to Lokpal and demand for discussion on price rise)."

"We are opposed to the Lokpal bill and are of the opinion that if such a bill comes into force, no officer, no minister will sign on decisions on files and the entire country and decision-making process of the country will come to a standstill," he said.

On Saturday, the ruling Congress made an appeal to all parties to support the legislation with party vice president Rahul Gandhi addressing a brief press conference to say that there was broad consensus over the measure and they needed to get it past the finish line.

Gandhi said the process to set up the ombudsman, or Lokpal, was 99 percent complete and only needed the remaining one percent support from parties to get it passed in parliament.

The legislation has also won support from Gandhian crusader Anna Hazare, who is on fast in his Ralegan Siddhi village of Maharashtra for a strong Lokpal bill. Hazare began the campaign for a strong Lokpal bill two years ago to fight corruption which was seen as widespread in the country.

The Lokpal bill was passed in the Lok Sabha in December 2011.

The current winter session, scheduled to end Dec 20, unless it is extended, is likely to be the penultimate session of parliament before next year's general elections.

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-kamal-nath-appeals-to-samajwadi-party-to-support-lokpal-bill-1936053

Telangana bill tabled in Andhra Assembly amid din

The draft Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill-2013, that provides for creation of a new state of Telangana, was finally tabled before the legislative Assembly on Monday amid uproar by legislators favouring and opposing it.

On the instructions of Speaker Nadendla Manohar, legislature secretary S Raja Sadaram laid copies of the draft Bill on the table of the House and read out the reference of President Pranab Mukherjee sent to the state on December 12.

While legislators from Telangana cheered the tabling of the Bill, those from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions tore the copies in protest and anger.

The President had referred the Bill to the state Legislature for expressing its views by January 23.

The Bill was tabled under Article 3 of the Constitution.

The Speaker then announced that the draft Bill was tabled as per Chapter 16 of the Assembly Rules.

After a liberal translation, copies of the draft Bill in Telugu and Urdu have been made available to the members, the Speaker said before adjourning the House for half an hour.

The draft Bill is also being made available on Legislature's web site http://www.aplegislature.org

The Telangana issue rocked the Lower House for the second day pushing it into a stalemate as members from either side of the regional divide stalled proceedings, leading to its adjournment for an hour.

More: http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/telanganathetroubledstate/telangana-bill-tabled-in-andhra-assembly-amid-din/article1-1163043.aspx

Arjun Rampal denies involvement in Hrithik-Sussanne split

Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan shocked fans when he publicly announced that he and wife Sussanne have decided to end their 17-year-relationship.

Though the couple have officially announced their separation, rumours of their marriage being on the rocks have been doing the rounds for a few months now.

Some even suggested that the cause of the split may have been Sussanne's increased closeness to actor Arjun Rampal. Hrithik and Sussanne Roshan have been known to be close friends with Arjun and his wife Mehr.

However, Arjun Rampal issued a statement denying any involvement in the separation.

"It is very sad when friends close to you take a decision to separate. These are the hardest times for them and we must be sensitive towards this decision, rather than creating speculation and rumours. I read in the news, about the same time as you all, about my involvement in this marriage. It saddens me deeply that rumours become inevitable during celebrities going through such times. Mehr and I wish them only peace and love through these times, and support them as friends should, and we wish them and their families well, always."

Sussanne Roshan also issued a statement a few days earlier, saying that their main concern was to protect and take care of their two children, Hrehaan and Hridhaan.

More: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/arjun-rampal-denies-involvement-in-hrithiksussanne-split/1208237/

India prayers for Delhi gang rape victim

Women's groups and citizens are holding vigils across Delhi in the memory of a female Indian student who died a year ago after she was gangraped on a bus.

Her family, which is planning a small memorial service, told the BBC that they wanted to keep her memory alive as long as possible.

A small vigil would also be held at the bus stand where she boarded the vehicle on which she was attacked.

The assault triggered intense protests across the country.

It also led to the setting up of stringent anti-rape laws and special fast-track courts.

The 23-year-old medical student was attacked on a moving bus by six men while she was returning home after watching a film with a male friend who was also beaten up.

Four of the six attackers were given the death penalty in September. One of the attackers was found dead in his prison cell earlier this year.

The sixth rapist, a juvenile at the time of the crime, is serving a three-year sentence in a reformation home.

On Monday, exactly a year after the attack, Mumbai-based theatre and protest music group Swaang and Delhi-based cultural group Majma have organised "a show of strength by the citizens of Delhi - women and men - to claim back the streets of Delhi".

Well-known musicians would perform on a moving trailer, retracing the fatal journey of the victim, through the streets of Delhi, the organisers said.

The journey will begin at the mall where the woman had watched the film and conclude at the road crossing in Mahipalpur area where the victim and her friend were thrown out of the bus.

Dozens of people have also gathered at Delhi monument Jantar Mantar to remember the victim.

Although India has introduced tougher anti-rape laws and the society is more openly discussing cases of violence against women, correspondents say women across India still live with the daily fear of sexual assault and the victims still often have to deal with police apathy.

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-25397849

Ganguly faces heat after intern's affidavit made public

Former Supreme Court judge A.K. Ganguly faces intense pressure to step down as West Bengal Human Rights Commission chief, as Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaisingwent public with an intern's affidavit describing the act of sexual harassment.

The affidavit was submitted by a young woman, a law intern, before the three-judge committee of the Supreme Court that was formed to examine allegations of sexual misconduct by the retired judge.

"I would like to ask Justice Ganguly if this is indeed how he would like his child to be treated?" asked Jaising in an open letter to Ganguly published in a national daily. Jaising also published excerpts from the intern's affidavit.

Jaising, who has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singhseeking Ganguly's removal as West Bengal human rights panel chief, justified her decision to publicise the affidavit, saying the issue concerned the integrity and functioning of the rights panel.

"The issue doesn't concern just her (the young woman who submitted the affidavit). Rather, it concerns the integrity of the institution and the functioning of the West Bengal Human Rights Commission. That is why I have chosen to release it in the public domain," Jaising said.

Jaising, in her letter, offered a detailed account of the sequence of events leading to the allegations of sexual misconduct.

Following Jaising's move, the chorus for Ganguly's removal has gained further ground. Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal too demanded Ganguly's resignation.

The ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal has been at the forefront of protests, seeking Ganguly's resignation, and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has twice written to President Pranab Mukherjee urging action in the case.

Meanwhile. protestors Monday gathered outside the office of the Human Rights Commission in Kolkata to press for Ganguly's resignation.

"We will continue to protest until he resigns from the post. How can a person who has been accused as well as indicted of such a heinous act hold on to a such an important post?" one of the protestors said.

Ganguly has so far remained defiant, and refused to comment on the matter. He said Monday, however, that the publication of the affidavit was not proper.

"I don't want to comment on the issue, but I think it (affidavit) should not have been made public," Ganguly told IANS.

More: http://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/ganguly-faces-heat-after-intern-s-affidavit-made-public-113121600387_1.html