Brand Australia has suffered following attacks on Indian students in the past nine months and this will cause long-term damage if not attended to, says a visiting Australian minister.
“The attacks (on Indian students) have hurt us in terms of perception about Australia and that’s why our law enforcement agencies have been so committed to pursuing arrests and prosecution and have been successful in some instances for long-term imprisonment. There have been 67 prosecutions in recent times,” Australian Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson told IANS in an interview here.
Mr. Ferguson said that the Australian government was not taking these attacks lightly and will do everything possible to curb the criminal acts.
“Of course if you don’t attend to these difficulties then they will do us long-term damage. Historically one of the attractions of Australia is that it’s a safe welcoming society...it’s very much such a society,” said the minister who has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives since March 1996, representing the Batman, a constituency in Melbourne, which has been the epicentre of recent attacks.
“My constituency is close to central Melbourne and there are people from 150 different countries. It a harmonious local community and there are very few places in the world where you get people from so many different countries living together and working together,” said the 57-year-old Australian Labour Party member.
“My constituency is a prime example of society in Australia. But I also have a significant number of young university students living in my electorate, in universities of Melbourne and Trobe who are very much devoting their energy and applying their minds to educational opportunities,” he said.
The spate of attacks on Indians in Australia has caused an outcry in India. One of the vicious attacks proved fatal.
The minister said steps needed to be taken to ensure quality education to Indian students at affordable cost.
“I think it is fair to say that in terms of vocational education and some English language courses, we have to attend to some issues to make sure that young Indian students get a quality education opportunity and are capable of paying for it without spending too much time working rather than applying their minds to educational requirements,” he said.
According to the minister, one of the major causes of attacks on Indian students is that they live in crime-prone suburbs and work in late shifts to survive in the country.
“There has been a 27 percent increase in the number of students in 2008-09 from the previous year. There has been tension in Victoria (the province of which Melbourne is the capital). More than 50 percent Indian students actually go there. The real problem we had is with respect to some of the students living in some of the suburbs which historically had high instances of criminality,” Mr. Ferguson said.
“They work in service stations, fast food outlets, take shift jobs at all hours of night, which is when criminality occurs. In some ways their lifestyle has put them in the frontline of attacks. We tried some laws in Victoria, we have put more police and we have got them to do random checks on people,” he added.
Showing posts with label today news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label today news. Show all posts
Monday, February 8, 2010
Indian taxi driver attacked in UK
An Indian-origin taxi driver in east Midland’s town of Leicester has suffered injuries and lost his vehicle during an unprovoked attack by two passengers while he was dropping them off at night.
Bharat Upadhay, 48, who has been driving the taxi for the last four months, said he suffered cuts and bruises to his face and neck after a man and a woman attacked him as he dropped them off in Braunstone Frith, Leicester on Saturday.
“The man asked me to stop and I had just told him how much the fare was when suddenly I felt a rope around my neck.
He held the rope so tight I thought I was suffocating. Then the woman pulled out a knife and tried to stab me,” Upadhyay, who feared for his life during the attack, said, adding he was terrified.
“I thought I was going to die. It was really scary but I need this job as it is my bread and butter. I am worried about going out at night again after what happened,” he said.
Reports from Leicester said Upadhay had managed to free himself from the rope but the man then grabbed him, holding his head against the head rest while the woman began punching his head and face.
He eventually slipped free of the man’s grip and got out of the car. But he was again confronted and forced to hand over his wallet before he was able to run off. When he returned to the scene, he said his taxi had disappeared.
Upadhay said “Taxi drivers were attacked too often and something needs to be done. I was lucky this time.”
Bharat Upadhay, 48, who has been driving the taxi for the last four months, said he suffered cuts and bruises to his face and neck after a man and a woman attacked him as he dropped them off in Braunstone Frith, Leicester on Saturday.
“The man asked me to stop and I had just told him how much the fare was when suddenly I felt a rope around my neck.
He held the rope so tight I thought I was suffocating. Then the woman pulled out a knife and tried to stab me,” Upadhyay, who feared for his life during the attack, said, adding he was terrified.
“I thought I was going to die. It was really scary but I need this job as it is my bread and butter. I am worried about going out at night again after what happened,” he said.
Reports from Leicester said Upadhay had managed to free himself from the rope but the man then grabbed him, holding his head against the head rest while the woman began punching his head and face.
He eventually slipped free of the man’s grip and got out of the car. But he was again confronted and forced to hand over his wallet before he was able to run off. When he returned to the scene, he said his taxi had disappeared.
Upadhay said “Taxi drivers were attacked too often and something needs to be done. I was lucky this time.”
Michael Jackson’s doctor charged with ‘involuntary manslaughter’
Michael Jackson’s doctor pleaded not guilty on Monday to involuntary manslaughter in the death of the pop star at a brief hearing that had all the trappings of another sensational celebrity courtroom drama.
Dr. Conrad Murray appeared in court in a gray suit as Jackson’s father Joe, mother Katherine, and siblings LaToya, Jermaine, Tito, Jackie and Randy watched from courtroom seats behind prosecutors.
Neither Dr. Murray nor the Jacksons showed much emotion as Dr. Murray entered his plea through his attorney Ed Chernoff.
“We need justice,” Joe Jackson said outside court.
Earlier, several people shouted “murderer” as Dr. Murray walked past a crowd of hundreds of reporters and Jackson fans on his way to a courthouse adjacent to Los Angeles International Airport.
Dr. Murray, 56, a Houston cardiologist who was with Jackson when he died June 25, entered his plea just hours after he was charged.
Superior Court Judge Keith L. Schwartz set bail at $75,000, three times more than the amount most people face after being charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Prosecutors had been seeking $300,000 bail for Dr. Murray, who was taken into custody by deputies but not handcuffed in public. He was expected to be released later in the day.
The judge told Dr. Murray he could travel throughout the United States after posting bail but must surrender his passport and not leave the country.
Lines were formed to gain admission to the courtroom, and the Jackson family was escorted in separately and seated before anyone else arrived.
Despite the precautions, the upcoming proceedings promise to be the focus of widespread attention.
Jackson, 50, hired Dr. Murray in May to be his personal physician as he prepared for a strenuous series of comeback performances.
Officials said the singer died in Los Angeles after Dr. Murray administered the powerful general anesthetic propofol and two other sedatives to get the chronic insomniac to sleep.
Dr. Murray is accused of the single felony count in a five-page complaint that said he “did unlawfully, and without malice, kill Michael Joseph Jackson” by acting “without due caution and circumspection.”
The complaint contains no details on Jackson’s death, but authorities have said the singer died after Dr. Murray administered the anesthetic and other drugs. Dr. Murray has said he did nothing that should have caused Jackson to die.
If convicted, the doctor could face up to four years in prison.
“We’ll make bail, we’ll plead not guilty and we’ll fight like hell,” Mr. Chernoff said before the charge was filed.
Dr. Conrad Murray appeared in court in a gray suit as Jackson’s father Joe, mother Katherine, and siblings LaToya, Jermaine, Tito, Jackie and Randy watched from courtroom seats behind prosecutors.
Neither Dr. Murray nor the Jacksons showed much emotion as Dr. Murray entered his plea through his attorney Ed Chernoff.
“We need justice,” Joe Jackson said outside court.
Earlier, several people shouted “murderer” as Dr. Murray walked past a crowd of hundreds of reporters and Jackson fans on his way to a courthouse adjacent to Los Angeles International Airport.
Dr. Murray, 56, a Houston cardiologist who was with Jackson when he died June 25, entered his plea just hours after he was charged.
Superior Court Judge Keith L. Schwartz set bail at $75,000, three times more than the amount most people face after being charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Prosecutors had been seeking $300,000 bail for Dr. Murray, who was taken into custody by deputies but not handcuffed in public. He was expected to be released later in the day.
The judge told Dr. Murray he could travel throughout the United States after posting bail but must surrender his passport and not leave the country.
Lines were formed to gain admission to the courtroom, and the Jackson family was escorted in separately and seated before anyone else arrived.
Despite the precautions, the upcoming proceedings promise to be the focus of widespread attention.
Jackson, 50, hired Dr. Murray in May to be his personal physician as he prepared for a strenuous series of comeback performances.
Officials said the singer died in Los Angeles after Dr. Murray administered the powerful general anesthetic propofol and two other sedatives to get the chronic insomniac to sleep.
Dr. Murray is accused of the single felony count in a five-page complaint that said he “did unlawfully, and without malice, kill Michael Joseph Jackson” by acting “without due caution and circumspection.”
The complaint contains no details on Jackson’s death, but authorities have said the singer died after Dr. Murray administered the anesthetic and other drugs. Dr. Murray has said he did nothing that should have caused Jackson to die.
If convicted, the doctor could face up to four years in prison.
“We’ll make bail, we’ll plead not guilty and we’ll fight like hell,” Mr. Chernoff said before the charge was filed.
Sachin roped in for new Mile Sur Mera Tumhara
With the new avatar of the popular Mile Sur Mera Tumhara song — which won the hearts of millions of Indians in the ’90s — getting a lukewarm response, its makers are planning a revised version featuring Sachin Tendulkar and other cricket icons.
Phir Mile Sur, the new version which launched on January 26, has received mixed reactions from people and critics alike, with the main grouse being that it is too long and looks too “Bollywood-centric.” The makers are now planning a revised and shorter version of the song.
Interestingly, the video currently on air does not feature any member of the Indian cricket team.
Ad filmmaker Kailash Surendranath, director of the unity-in-diversity song, said he would soon shoot the song with Mr. Tendulkar.
“Very soon we will see Sachin in the edited version of Phir Mile Sur. He is keen to do the song. We tried to get him as well as other cricketers earlier, but they were busy playing back-to-back matches and, moreover, we were under pressure to release the song on the Republic Day,” Mr. Surendranath told PTI.
Phir Mile Sur has been produced by private television channel Zoom TV, unlike the 1988 version of the song which was produced by Suresh Mullick of the now defunct autonomous body Lok Seva Sanchar Parishad.
On criticism that due credit was not given to Mr. Mullick, Mr. Surendranath said, “It is not necessary to give him credit. But there is no harm in giving credit to the great man and may be the edited version could have his name in the credits.”
The song — shot with more than 60 personalities including actors Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, sports stars Saina Nehwal and Vijender Singh and several musicians — was officially released by Mr. Bachchan on January 26.
Mr. Surendranath hinted at the possibility of updating the new version from time to time with the inclusion of more personalities. Many have found Phir Mile Sur lacking in spirit, as it has a good presence of actors.
“If you compare both the songs, you will find that the proportion of film personalities is almost the same. Last time there were 26 artistes, of which 12 were from films. This time out of 60 personalities, we have 22 actors, while there are 13 musicians,” Mr. Surendranath said.
He added: “The inclusion of film personalities instils a message of national unity, as the film fraternity of the country has a strong presence in the minds of youth. When we were researching, Bollywood was on the top of our minds.”
Phir Mile Sur was shot in 60 days across 13 cities and included 30 days of post-production work. However, the non-inclusion of the Taj Mahal has also been noticed.
“The Taj Mahal is beautiful, but our concept was more youth oriented. We wanted the new song reflect the youth of the country so we experimented with new locations,” Mr. Surendranath said.
Phir Mile Sur, the new version which launched on January 26, has received mixed reactions from people and critics alike, with the main grouse being that it is too long and looks too “Bollywood-centric.” The makers are now planning a revised and shorter version of the song.
Interestingly, the video currently on air does not feature any member of the Indian cricket team.
Ad filmmaker Kailash Surendranath, director of the unity-in-diversity song, said he would soon shoot the song with Mr. Tendulkar.
“Very soon we will see Sachin in the edited version of Phir Mile Sur. He is keen to do the song. We tried to get him as well as other cricketers earlier, but they were busy playing back-to-back matches and, moreover, we were under pressure to release the song on the Republic Day,” Mr. Surendranath told PTI.
Phir Mile Sur has been produced by private television channel Zoom TV, unlike the 1988 version of the song which was produced by Suresh Mullick of the now defunct autonomous body Lok Seva Sanchar Parishad.
On criticism that due credit was not given to Mr. Mullick, Mr. Surendranath said, “It is not necessary to give him credit. But there is no harm in giving credit to the great man and may be the edited version could have his name in the credits.”
The song — shot with more than 60 personalities including actors Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, sports stars Saina Nehwal and Vijender Singh and several musicians — was officially released by Mr. Bachchan on January 26.
Mr. Surendranath hinted at the possibility of updating the new version from time to time with the inclusion of more personalities. Many have found Phir Mile Sur lacking in spirit, as it has a good presence of actors.
“If you compare both the songs, you will find that the proportion of film personalities is almost the same. Last time there were 26 artistes, of which 12 were from films. This time out of 60 personalities, we have 22 actors, while there are 13 musicians,” Mr. Surendranath said.
He added: “The inclusion of film personalities instils a message of national unity, as the film fraternity of the country has a strong presence in the minds of youth. When we were researching, Bollywood was on the top of our minds.”
Phir Mile Sur was shot in 60 days across 13 cities and included 30 days of post-production work. However, the non-inclusion of the Taj Mahal has also been noticed.
“The Taj Mahal is beautiful, but our concept was more youth oriented. We wanted the new song reflect the youth of the country so we experimented with new locations,” Mr. Surendranath said.
Maoists blow up a portion of rail track in Jharkhand
Maoists blew up a stretch of railway track in Jharkhand’s Giridih district in the wee hours on the third day of their 72-hour shutdown today, affecting train services, the police said here.
The tracks were blown up under Nimiaghat police station in the district, Superintendent of Police Ravi Kant Dhan said.
“Trains on this section have been stopped on both up and down lines,” Parasnath station superintendent Mrutinjaya Kumar said, adding a couple of deafening explosions were heard around 2 a.m.
Maoists had on Sunday called a 72-hour bandh in Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh to protest the proposed all-out offensive against them by the Centre.
They yesterday blew up railway tracks in Orissa and Bihar on the second day of their 72-hour bandh.
The tracks were blown up under Nimiaghat police station in the district, Superintendent of Police Ravi Kant Dhan said.
“Trains on this section have been stopped on both up and down lines,” Parasnath station superintendent Mrutinjaya Kumar said, adding a couple of deafening explosions were heard around 2 a.m.
Maoists had on Sunday called a 72-hour bandh in Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh to protest the proposed all-out offensive against them by the Centre.
They yesterday blew up railway tracks in Orissa and Bihar on the second day of their 72-hour bandh.
Bomb explosion injures two, including Indian
At least two people including an Indian, have been injured during a bomb explosion in southern Nepal’s Parsa district.
The All Terai Liberation Front (Prateek group) has owned up the responsibility for the explosion that occurred at Ghantaghar of Birgunj, the border town of Nepal, at 6.30 pm on Sunday, the police said.
Rajesh Kumar Saha of Motihari of India, and Jamshed Ansari of Birgunj were injured, police said, adding both were undergoing treatment in the local hospital.
Injured Mr. Saha was selling almond and Ansari was returning home when the incident occurred.
The All Terai Liberation Front (Prateek group) has owned up the responsibility for the explosion that occurred at Ghantaghar of Birgunj, the border town of Nepal, at 6.30 pm on Sunday, the police said.
Rajesh Kumar Saha of Motihari of India, and Jamshed Ansari of Birgunj were injured, police said, adding both were undergoing treatment in the local hospital.
Injured Mr. Saha was selling almond and Ansari was returning home when the incident occurred.
AP seeks 16 CRPF companies to curb Maoists
Chief Minister K.Rosaiah has urged the Centre to provide 16 additional companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to strengthen the police station security and providing protection to various developmental projects, in view of intense Maoist activity across the border.
Speaking at the Chief Ministers conference on internal security in New Delhi on Sunday, Mr. Rosaiah said extremist violence had been contained to a large extent in the State last year.
He said the security forces did not suffer any casualty last year while more than 300 security personnel laid down their lives in other parts of the country fighting the extremists.
Weak links
But, he pointed out that there were still certain pockets in the agency areas bordering Chhattisgarh and Orissa, where the Maoists exerted influence on tribals. He noted that there were certain weak links in the chain of security of police stations located on the borders of the two States.
Mr. Rosaiah said the main strength of the naxals was the inaccessible terrain.
He urged the Centre to improve the inter-State road network and provide better communication facilities in these areas.
Welfare schemes
He referred to several welfare and developmental initiatives launched by the Congress government in the State to wean away the youth from the naxal problem.
Referring to the ISI-sponsored terrorism, he said it was under check. He pointed out that the government responded in an unprecedented manner by sanctioning an additional strength of 37,500 police personnel. The government responded by creating an anti-terrorist commando organisation - OCTOPUS (Organisation for Counter Terrorist Operations) - on the lines of National Security Guards.
Coastal security
On coastal security, the Chief Minister said six marine police stations have been set up in the first phase and proposals have been sent to the Centre to sanction additional 15 similar stations.
Speaking at the Chief Ministers conference on internal security in New Delhi on Sunday, Mr. Rosaiah said extremist violence had been contained to a large extent in the State last year.
He said the security forces did not suffer any casualty last year while more than 300 security personnel laid down their lives in other parts of the country fighting the extremists.
Weak links
But, he pointed out that there were still certain pockets in the agency areas bordering Chhattisgarh and Orissa, where the Maoists exerted influence on tribals. He noted that there were certain weak links in the chain of security of police stations located on the borders of the two States.
Mr. Rosaiah said the main strength of the naxals was the inaccessible terrain.
He urged the Centre to improve the inter-State road network and provide better communication facilities in these areas.
Welfare schemes
He referred to several welfare and developmental initiatives launched by the Congress government in the State to wean away the youth from the naxal problem.
Referring to the ISI-sponsored terrorism, he said it was under check. He pointed out that the government responded in an unprecedented manner by sanctioning an additional strength of 37,500 police personnel. The government responded by creating an anti-terrorist commando organisation - OCTOPUS (Organisation for Counter Terrorist Operations) - on the lines of National Security Guards.
Coastal security
On coastal security, the Chief Minister said six marine police stations have been set up in the first phase and proposals have been sent to the Centre to sanction additional 15 similar stations.
Key accused in Vaishnavi murder case arrested
P.Venkata Rao Goud, who is believed to be the mastermind behind the kidnap and murder of 10-year-old Palagani Naga Vaishnavi on January 30, was arrested and produced before the magistrate here on Monday.
The city police had already arrested Morla Srinivasa Rao and Vemparala Jagadeesh, who allegedly executed the plan at the behest of Goud. The duo is serving judicial remand.
Goud was produced before the First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate at the latter's residence amidst tight police security before the beginning of court hours. His face was covered and the police tried their best to keep at bay the posse of lensmen and media persons, who got wind of the arrest and descended on the place.
The magistrate remanded Goud to 15-day custody till February 22. He was immediately shifted to the district jail.
Notwithstanding rumours that Goud was in the police custody from the day Vaishnavi was killed, Police Commissioner K.V. Rajendranath Reddy had said at the time of arrest of Srinivasa Rao and Jagadeesh that he was still "at large" and they had no idea of his whereabouts. The police are now said to be showing him as arrested on Sunday evening.
The city police had already arrested Morla Srinivasa Rao and Vemparala Jagadeesh, who allegedly executed the plan at the behest of Goud. The duo is serving judicial remand.
Goud was produced before the First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate at the latter's residence amidst tight police security before the beginning of court hours. His face was covered and the police tried their best to keep at bay the posse of lensmen and media persons, who got wind of the arrest and descended on the place.
The magistrate remanded Goud to 15-day custody till February 22. He was immediately shifted to the district jail.
Notwithstanding rumours that Goud was in the police custody from the day Vaishnavi was killed, Police Commissioner K.V. Rajendranath Reddy had said at the time of arrest of Srinivasa Rao and Jagadeesh that he was still "at large" and they had no idea of his whereabouts. The police are now said to be showing him as arrested on Sunday evening.
Court strikes down reservation for Muslims in Govt jobs
Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday struck down as unconstitutional, a State Government's order providing four per cent reservation for Muslim community in Government jobs and educational institutions.
This is for the second time that the Government has faced embarrassment as its two earlier attempts too met the same fate.
The Congress Government first tried to implement its election promise made in 2004 by granting five percent reservation but it was dismissed by the Court saying it exceeded the 50 per cent limit set by Supreme Court for reservations.
After much debate and study by State BC Commission, the quota was reduced to four per cent but this too has been rejected by the Court.
PTI adds:
The order was passed by the seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Anil Ramesh Dave on a petition filed by an advocate K. Kondala Rao.
The State government had moved a bill in the Assembly on the basis of a report submitted to it by the Andhra Pradesh Commission for Backward Classes. The bill was later passed by the Assembly.
The report had recommended that the socially and educationally backward should be adequately represented in the State. The government order (GO) was issued on July 7, 2007 providing the 4 per cent reservation to the 15 groups.
This is for the second time that the Government has faced embarrassment as its two earlier attempts too met the same fate.
The Congress Government first tried to implement its election promise made in 2004 by granting five percent reservation but it was dismissed by the Court saying it exceeded the 50 per cent limit set by Supreme Court for reservations.
After much debate and study by State BC Commission, the quota was reduced to four per cent but this too has been rejected by the Court.
PTI adds:
The order was passed by the seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Anil Ramesh Dave on a petition filed by an advocate K. Kondala Rao.
The State government had moved a bill in the Assembly on the basis of a report submitted to it by the Andhra Pradesh Commission for Backward Classes. The bill was later passed by the Assembly.
The report had recommended that the socially and educationally backward should be adequately represented in the State. The government order (GO) was issued on July 7, 2007 providing the 4 per cent reservation to the 15 groups.
Former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore attacked with a knife
Former Haryana police chief S.P.S. Rathore was injured in the face when he was stabbed outside the district court complex here Monday.
He was coming out of court after appearing in the molestation case, for which he has been convicted.
He was coming out of court after appearing in the molestation case, for which he has been convicted.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Steyn and Morkel put India in trouble
India vs South Africa 1st Test Match Day 3
Indian's are 83/3 in 22.1 overs wit Run Rate of 3.74.
Trail by 470 runs.
Virender Sehwag not out 49 69 8 0
S Badrinath not out 9 27 1 0
Indian's are 83/3 in 22.1 overs wit Run Rate of 3.74.
Trail by 470 runs.
Virender Sehwag not out 49 69 8 0
S Badrinath not out 9 27 1 0
Maoists trigger explosion in Howrah-Mumbai train route
Suspected Maoists blew away a portion of railway tracks in the wee hours on Monday near here causing derailment of a goods train and disruption of train services on the Howrah-Mumbai route.
A portion of the railway track at a place between Bhalulata and Jareikela, about 30 km from here, was blown up by suspected Maoists at 1 am leading to derailment of two wagons of a goods train, Rourkela railway station manager S.K. Panda told PTI.
However, there have been no reports of injury or casualty in the incident.
Following the blast, all trains on the Howrah-Mumbai route have been held up at different stations, Panda said, adding that explosives might also have been planted on the up-line of the route.
Maoists had called a 72-hour bandh on Sunday in Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh to protest against a proposed all-out offensive “Operation Green Hunt” against them by the Centre.
A portion of the railway track at a place between Bhalulata and Jareikela, about 30 km from here, was blown up by suspected Maoists at 1 am leading to derailment of two wagons of a goods train, Rourkela railway station manager S.K. Panda told PTI.
However, there have been no reports of injury or casualty in the incident.
Following the blast, all trains on the Howrah-Mumbai route have been held up at different stations, Panda said, adding that explosives might also have been planted on the up-line of the route.
Maoists had called a 72-hour bandh on Sunday in Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh to protest against a proposed all-out offensive “Operation Green Hunt” against them by the Centre.
TRS chief promises quota for Muslims
Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) president K. Chandrasekhar Rao has promised political reservation and a quota in education and employment based on population for Muslims in separate Telangana.
Addressing a public meeting organised by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind on the Nizam College grounds here with permission granted by the Andhra Pradesh High Court, Mr. Rao felt Muslims would not be assured of social justice unless they got political reservation.
However, their experience in 53 years of unified State was bitter.
Mr. Rao assured that a special provision in Constitution would be invoked, as was done by Tamil Nadu government, to extend reservation to Muslims in education and employment.
They would get the reservations proportionate to their population which was 13 per cent to 15 per cent in Telangana.
The TRS chief also promised a budget for welfare of Muslims based on their population.
He appealed to the Muslims to shed self-defeatism and assert themselves in separate Telangana.
Earlier, Telugu Desam Party leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy faced an angry crowd demanding that party president N. Chandrababu Naidu spell out his stand on separate Telangana.
Mr. Reddy informed the crowd that it misunderstood Mr. Naidu and said it was with the latter’s permission that 39 MLAs of the party in Telangana joined the movement for Statehood.
The TDP leader also assured that his party would extend political reservations and reservations in education and employment to Muslims in separate Telangana.
Former Home Minister T. Devender Goud wondered if there was a government in the State as organisations wanting to hold meetings did so with court permission every time.
Veteran Congress leader G. Venkatswamy deplored that the contribution of local population for the development of Hyderabad was sought to be snatched by outsiders.
The meeting adopted several resolutions, one of which sought professional, people friendly and law abiding police force in Telangana State. Congress MP Madhu Yaskhi Goud, Telangana Joint Action Committee convener C. Kodandaram and former Minister Basheeruddin Babu Khan also spoke.
Addressing a public meeting organised by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind on the Nizam College grounds here with permission granted by the Andhra Pradesh High Court, Mr. Rao felt Muslims would not be assured of social justice unless they got political reservation.
However, their experience in 53 years of unified State was bitter.
Mr. Rao assured that a special provision in Constitution would be invoked, as was done by Tamil Nadu government, to extend reservation to Muslims in education and employment.
They would get the reservations proportionate to their population which was 13 per cent to 15 per cent in Telangana.
The TRS chief also promised a budget for welfare of Muslims based on their population.
He appealed to the Muslims to shed self-defeatism and assert themselves in separate Telangana.
Earlier, Telugu Desam Party leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy faced an angry crowd demanding that party president N. Chandrababu Naidu spell out his stand on separate Telangana.
Mr. Reddy informed the crowd that it misunderstood Mr. Naidu and said it was with the latter’s permission that 39 MLAs of the party in Telangana joined the movement for Statehood.
The TDP leader also assured that his party would extend political reservations and reservations in education and employment to Muslims in separate Telangana.
Former Home Minister T. Devender Goud wondered if there was a government in the State as organisations wanting to hold meetings did so with court permission every time.
Veteran Congress leader G. Venkatswamy deplored that the contribution of local population for the development of Hyderabad was sought to be snatched by outsiders.
The meeting adopted several resolutions, one of which sought professional, people friendly and law abiding police force in Telangana State. Congress MP Madhu Yaskhi Goud, Telangana Joint Action Committee convener C. Kodandaram and former Minister Basheeruddin Babu Khan also spoke.
Overhaul in Australian immigration rules
In a bid to curb ‘back door’ permanent residency through its skilled migration scheme, Australian government has decided to overhaul the immigration rules which is likely to affect over 20,000 visa applicants, including Indians.
The changes would focus on overhauling of the queuing system that identifies occupations in demand and creates a points system.
The Immigration Minister would have the new legal authority to set a maximum number of visas for a single occupation. The state governments would be asked to develop new migration plans.
The Australian immigration department would tighten the rules from today, The Age reported.
Foreign students, who have a qualification for an occupation which is no longer in demand, could apply for a temporary 18-month visa.
This would allow them to gain work experience and give a foreign graduate time to find an employer willing to sponsor their application as a skilled migrant, and if they failed in their attempt they will have to return to their country of origin.
The cancelled applications apply to all offshore general skilled migration claims lodged before September 2007.
For onshore overseas students, government would introduce transitional arrangements to apply until 2012.
The new system would set a new list of occupations in demand and expected to favour skilled workers including nurses, general medical practitioners, mechanical engineers and teachers instead of groups such as cooks and hairdressers.
Meanwhile, Immigration Minister Chris Evans was likely to argue that the skilled migration program had not worked in Australia’s economic or demographic interests.
“The program has been delivering self-nominated migrants from a narrow range of occupations with poor to moderate English language skills who struggle to find employment in their nominated occupation,” Senator Evans said.
He was also likely to acknowledge the impact of changes on the foreign students, but said “they can still gain residency if they gain qualifications in professions that are in demand”, The Age reported.
He said the current tensions and misunderstandings have been made worse by unscrupulous migration agents.
“[These agents] have been misleading many international students into believing that a course in Australia gave them an automatic entitlement to permanent residence,” Senator Evans said. “It does not, and it will not”
Mr. Evans would also argue that the government supports skilled migration and continues to want migrants, “be they from India, the United Kingdom or China — our three largest source countries or elsewhere”.
The changes would focus on overhauling of the queuing system that identifies occupations in demand and creates a points system.
The Immigration Minister would have the new legal authority to set a maximum number of visas for a single occupation. The state governments would be asked to develop new migration plans.
The Australian immigration department would tighten the rules from today, The Age reported.
Foreign students, who have a qualification for an occupation which is no longer in demand, could apply for a temporary 18-month visa.
This would allow them to gain work experience and give a foreign graduate time to find an employer willing to sponsor their application as a skilled migrant, and if they failed in their attempt they will have to return to their country of origin.
The cancelled applications apply to all offshore general skilled migration claims lodged before September 2007.
For onshore overseas students, government would introduce transitional arrangements to apply until 2012.
The new system would set a new list of occupations in demand and expected to favour skilled workers including nurses, general medical practitioners, mechanical engineers and teachers instead of groups such as cooks and hairdressers.
Meanwhile, Immigration Minister Chris Evans was likely to argue that the skilled migration program had not worked in Australia’s economic or demographic interests.
“The program has been delivering self-nominated migrants from a narrow range of occupations with poor to moderate English language skills who struggle to find employment in their nominated occupation,” Senator Evans said.
He was also likely to acknowledge the impact of changes on the foreign students, but said “they can still gain residency if they gain qualifications in professions that are in demand”, The Age reported.
He said the current tensions and misunderstandings have been made worse by unscrupulous migration agents.
“[These agents] have been misleading many international students into believing that a course in Australia gave them an automatic entitlement to permanent residence,” Senator Evans said. “It does not, and it will not”
Mr. Evans would also argue that the government supports skilled migration and continues to want migrants, “be they from India, the United Kingdom or China — our three largest source countries or elsewhere”.
U.K. tightens student visa rules
Less than a week after student visa applications from north India, Bangladesh and Nepal were suspended, Britain on Sunday announced a series of new restrictions on foreign students from outside the European Union.
The surprise announcement was widely seen as Labour’s attempt to sound tough on immigration which is likely to dominate the political debate in the run-up to the general elections in May.
The government, however, insisted that the move was aimed at checking widespread “abuse” of current visa rules.
Under the new rules, expected to come into force before the elections, applicants will be judged to a higher standard of spoken English than is currently required; the number of hours that foreign students are allowed to work in a week will be halved from 20 to 10; students on short courses, lasting up to six months will not be allowed to bring dependants; and dependants of those on longer degree courses will not be allowed to work during their stay in Britain.
The proposed restrictions come less than a year after the introduction of a points-based immigration system which subjected non-EU foreign students to a range of stringent requirements.
A review was ordered last winter following allegations that many applicants, especially from the Indian subcontinent, were using student visas as a pretext to enter Britain for jobs by signing up for short courses in “bogus” colleges run by immigrants.
It is also alleged that loopholes in the current rules have been used by potential terrorists to enter Britain.
Home Secretary Alan Johnson said Britain remained open to those who wished to come to Britain for legitimate study and insisted that it remained the second most popular destination for foreign students.
“We have to be careful that we are not damaging a major part of the U.K. economy, between £5 billion and £8 billion,” he told the BBC referring to the amount of money contributed by foreign students to the British economy every year.
Dismissing opposition criticism that the government has been lax in preventing abuse of visa rules, he said: “We closed down 200 bogus colleges…By 2011, we will have the most sophisticated system in the world to check people not just coming into the country but to check they have left as well.”
For Britain’s cash-strapped universities, fee-paying foreign students are a major source of income and they fear that the government’s tough approach would deter them from coming to Britain.
The surprise announcement was widely seen as Labour’s attempt to sound tough on immigration which is likely to dominate the political debate in the run-up to the general elections in May.
The government, however, insisted that the move was aimed at checking widespread “abuse” of current visa rules.
Under the new rules, expected to come into force before the elections, applicants will be judged to a higher standard of spoken English than is currently required; the number of hours that foreign students are allowed to work in a week will be halved from 20 to 10; students on short courses, lasting up to six months will not be allowed to bring dependants; and dependants of those on longer degree courses will not be allowed to work during their stay in Britain.
The proposed restrictions come less than a year after the introduction of a points-based immigration system which subjected non-EU foreign students to a range of stringent requirements.
A review was ordered last winter following allegations that many applicants, especially from the Indian subcontinent, were using student visas as a pretext to enter Britain for jobs by signing up for short courses in “bogus” colleges run by immigrants.
It is also alleged that loopholes in the current rules have been used by potential terrorists to enter Britain.
Home Secretary Alan Johnson said Britain remained open to those who wished to come to Britain for legitimate study and insisted that it remained the second most popular destination for foreign students.
“We have to be careful that we are not damaging a major part of the U.K. economy, between £5 billion and £8 billion,” he told the BBC referring to the amount of money contributed by foreign students to the British economy every year.
Dismissing opposition criticism that the government has been lax in preventing abuse of visa rules, he said: “We closed down 200 bogus colleges…By 2011, we will have the most sophisticated system in the world to check people not just coming into the country but to check they have left as well.”
For Britain’s cash-strapped universities, fee-paying foreign students are a major source of income and they fear that the government’s tough approach would deter them from coming to Britain.
‘Walk for Life’ raises cancer awareness
A “Walk for Life” initiative was flagged off by Gursharan Kaur, wife of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, here on Sunday to raise awareness of cancer, show solidarity with people afflicted by the disease, and raise funds for their palliative and supportive care services.
The walk — a CanSupport initiative which was supported by the American Center and Max India Foundation — saw the participation of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and United States Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer.
Apart from cancer survivors, who led the walk at the venue, eminent sports personalities also participated along with ‘Shera,’ the mascot of the Commonwealth Games. Shera’ proved a big hit with the crowds while spreading the message of togetherness, joy and belonging in the spirit of the Commonwealth Games, due to be held in the Capital later this year.
The two pronged message carried through the initiative was that cancer was curable when detected early and that there was life after the disease. The others who participated in the walk were actors Sharmila Tagore and Rahul Bose. The participants covered a 4.5 km stretch starting from Vinay Marg.
The walk — a CanSupport initiative which was supported by the American Center and Max India Foundation — saw the participation of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and United States Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer.
Apart from cancer survivors, who led the walk at the venue, eminent sports personalities also participated along with ‘Shera,’ the mascot of the Commonwealth Games. Shera’ proved a big hit with the crowds while spreading the message of togetherness, joy and belonging in the spirit of the Commonwealth Games, due to be held in the Capital later this year.
The two pronged message carried through the initiative was that cancer was curable when detected early and that there was life after the disease. The others who participated in the walk were actors Sharmila Tagore and Rahul Bose. The participants covered a 4.5 km stretch starting from Vinay Marg.
JAC meet ends in utter chaos
The public meeting organised by the Kakatiya University students JAC came to an abrupt and chaotic end here with slogan-shouting students and Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) activists almost coming to blows.
An hour after the meeting began, popular folk singer Desapati Srinivas enthused the students by his renditions and eloquent speech. However, due to paucity of time, he had to cut short his speech to make way for MRPS leader Manda Krishna Madiga. But the large crowd comprising students insisted on Mr. Srinivas continuing his speech.
As soon as Mr. Krishna began his speech, scores of students below the dais hurled water sachets and empty water bottles in an attempt to stop him from speaking. Enraged by this, MRPS members tried to manhandle the other students. Mr. Srinivas too was beaten up.
The policemen who remained silent onlookers were forced to enter the scene. They surrounded the dais and some went up and vacated the place.
Accusations
Meanwhile, the tiff continued between the MRPS and other students accusing each other of trying to gain an upper hand. The police were compelled to use mild force to disperse the crowds from the venue thus bringing the meeting to an end. Social activist Swami Agnivesh, balladeer Vimala and women rights activist Sandhya and others had to leave.
The meeting itself began with lots of problems due to increased restrictions from the police in the wake of High Court’s order.
Earlier, the speakers, including TRS ideologue K Jayashankar, academics T Papi Reddy, K. Venkatanarayana, A. Sitaram Naik and some student leaders wanted the students to continue their struggle till separate Telangana was achieved. They listed the injustices done to the Telangana region for long.
They wanted the students not to allow political leaders into their movement. The students were asked not to lose heart and commit suicide in a fit of emotion. Instead, the students should patiently carry on their agitation.
An hour after the meeting began, popular folk singer Desapati Srinivas enthused the students by his renditions and eloquent speech. However, due to paucity of time, he had to cut short his speech to make way for MRPS leader Manda Krishna Madiga. But the large crowd comprising students insisted on Mr. Srinivas continuing his speech.
As soon as Mr. Krishna began his speech, scores of students below the dais hurled water sachets and empty water bottles in an attempt to stop him from speaking. Enraged by this, MRPS members tried to manhandle the other students. Mr. Srinivas too was beaten up.
The policemen who remained silent onlookers were forced to enter the scene. They surrounded the dais and some went up and vacated the place.
Accusations
Meanwhile, the tiff continued between the MRPS and other students accusing each other of trying to gain an upper hand. The police were compelled to use mild force to disperse the crowds from the venue thus bringing the meeting to an end. Social activist Swami Agnivesh, balladeer Vimala and women rights activist Sandhya and others had to leave.
The meeting itself began with lots of problems due to increased restrictions from the police in the wake of High Court’s order.
Earlier, the speakers, including TRS ideologue K Jayashankar, academics T Papi Reddy, K. Venkatanarayana, A. Sitaram Naik and some student leaders wanted the students to continue their struggle till separate Telangana was achieved. They listed the injustices done to the Telangana region for long.
They wanted the students not to allow political leaders into their movement. The students were asked not to lose heart and commit suicide in a fit of emotion. Instead, the students should patiently carry on their agitation.
LKG girl student living in agony
Pemmaraju Sree Manaswini, a four-year-old LKG student of Akshara Public School, who had her eye badly damaged allegedly due to caning by her teacher in December last, is still stalked by fear and trauma.
The Tanuku police registered a case against Y. Sridevi, a teacher in Akshara Public School, under Section 329 (causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons) following a complaint by her mother, Jayalakshmi, who is also the Palangi Village Revenue Officer. Although the shocking case of corporal punishment was reported two months ago, it came to light now with the belated complaint being lodged by the victim’s mother. Ms. Jayalakshmi wanted the school Correspondent also to be punished “as he is also responsible for the incident”. “I will not rest until the Correspondent is also brought to book,” a fuming Ms. Jayalaskhmi told The Hindu.
“I was beaten up by my teacher with a stick, saying my handwriting was poor,” recollects Sree Manaswini. She had her damaged eye operated upon in L.V. Prasad Eye Hospital after which an artificial lens was implanted in her left eye, replacing the damaged natural lens.
In a medical report, the authorities of the hospital stated, “The examination of left eye showed edema of lids, conjunctiva showed sub-conjunctival haemorrhage and cornea showed diffuse (corneal) stromal edema.” The family incurred a whopping Rs. 50,000 towards the cost of treatment for Manaswini till now.
Sobbing in a corner
“When I reached the school after receiving a phone call from the school authorities, my child with her eye swollen was found sobbing in a corner of the classroom with no school authorities near her,” recalls the student’s father Saikiran. Mr. Saikiran appealed to the government to cancel the school’s recognition.
The Tanuku police registered a case against Y. Sridevi, a teacher in Akshara Public School, under Section 329 (causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons) following a complaint by her mother, Jayalakshmi, who is also the Palangi Village Revenue Officer. Although the shocking case of corporal punishment was reported two months ago, it came to light now with the belated complaint being lodged by the victim’s mother. Ms. Jayalakshmi wanted the school Correspondent also to be punished “as he is also responsible for the incident”. “I will not rest until the Correspondent is also brought to book,” a fuming Ms. Jayalaskhmi told The Hindu.
“I was beaten up by my teacher with a stick, saying my handwriting was poor,” recollects Sree Manaswini. She had her damaged eye operated upon in L.V. Prasad Eye Hospital after which an artificial lens was implanted in her left eye, replacing the damaged natural lens.
In a medical report, the authorities of the hospital stated, “The examination of left eye showed edema of lids, conjunctiva showed sub-conjunctival haemorrhage and cornea showed diffuse (corneal) stromal edema.” The family incurred a whopping Rs. 50,000 towards the cost of treatment for Manaswini till now.
Sobbing in a corner
“When I reached the school after receiving a phone call from the school authorities, my child with her eye swollen was found sobbing in a corner of the classroom with no school authorities near her,” recalls the student’s father Saikiran. Mr. Saikiran appealed to the government to cancel the school’s recognition.
Suspected Maoists kidnap Congress leader
Maoists kidnapped a Congress leader and a former TDP panchayat ward member in Koyyuru mandal early on Sunday.
A group comprising 12 to 13 members, which included two women, kidnapped Koyyuru mandal Congress president and a popular leader in the area, Kone Somaiah, and former panchayat ward member of Makavaram, Kakarla Balaiah, in two separate incidents after waking them up from their sleep. The distance between the villages where they were staying was four to five kilometres. “As per information received by us, the same group was involved in both the incidents. Till late in the evening, no one has claimed ransom or made any other demand,” SP Vineet Brijlal told The Hindu.
A group comprising 12 to 13 members, which included two women, kidnapped Koyyuru mandal Congress president and a popular leader in the area, Kone Somaiah, and former panchayat ward member of Makavaram, Kakarla Balaiah, in two separate incidents after waking them up from their sleep. The distance between the villages where they were staying was four to five kilometres. “As per information received by us, the same group was involved in both the incidents. Till late in the evening, no one has claimed ransom or made any other demand,” SP Vineet Brijlal told The Hindu.
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