Thursday, September 30, 2010

Ayodhya Judgement: Site birthplace of lord Ram

September 30th, 2010

Lucknow: The 3-judge Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has reached a verdict on the decades-old title suits over the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya.

According to media reports, the waqf board suit was reportedly dismissed.

The verdict also stats that the site is the birthplace of lord Ram.

The disputed land is to be divided into 3 parts. 1/3rd of the land to go to the Muslims, 2/3rd to go to the Hindus. The 3rd part is to go to Nirmohi akhara.

The verdict was delivered by the 3-Judge bench consisting of Justices S U Khan, Justices Sudhir Agarwal and Justice D V Sharma at 4:30 PM today.

The first suit in the case was filed 60 years ago by a Hindu seeking right to worship.

After twists and turns the UP Central Sunni Board of Waqfs moved to file a claim in 1961 followed by another civil suit in 1989 in the name of Lord Ram for declaration and possession of the Masjid complex.

All the cases were transferred from a Faizabad court in 1989 to a special bench of the High Court.

As the issue was hanging fire, the BJP and Sangh Parivar outfits mounted a campaign for building Ram temple in Ayodhya at the dispute site claiming it was his birth place.

The campaign reached a crescendo in 1992 when the 500-year-old Babri Masjid was razed to the ground.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Madani Judicial Custody Extended till Oct 12

Bangalore, Sep 29: The judicial custody of People’s Democratic Party leader, Abdul Nasser Madani, accused in the 2008 serial blasts in the city, has been extended till October 12.

In addition to Madani, his alleged associate, T Nassir, and 12 other accused, who are put up in Parappana Agrahara jail in the city, were produced in the court through video conferencing facility on Tuesday September 28, as their judicial custody terms had ended.

Judge, Venkatesh Hulagi, who confirmed the identities of the accused by calling out their names, extended their custody by two weeks.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Figures suggest, 65% of Muslim voters voted for BJP in Kathlal

Kathlal, 17 September, 2010

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said, he has been informed with figures that the Bharatiya Janata Party has secured about 65% votes in those Kathlal booths where Muslims have dominating population.

“65% votes of Muslim community in favor of BJP means if Ramzan is near, we are benefited from that, because one would do only right thing in Ramzan. Those who malign Gujarat here and there should understand that Gujarat wants peace and Gujarat wants development. And Kathlal people have proved this,”Modi added.

Modi said this in his victory speech during a rally held at Kathlal.

Meanwhile Kheda district BJP Chief Bimal Shah said that Muslim Youths actively participated in the election in favor of BJP. Shah said, the Muslim youths used to visit the party election office and told that elder Muslims might vote for Congress but the youths would definitely vote for BJP.

Modi on a high after winning in Cong bastion

Sep 20, 2010

Gugarat - Kathlal: The victory of Bharatiya Janata Party in the Kathlal by-election in Gujarat has confirmed Chief Minister Narendra Modi's appeal in the state. Modi won in a traditional Congress bastion with a large Muslim population and the election result could redefine his political career.

Ayub Chauhan, 35, is one of the Muslim voters of Kathlal constituency in Central Gujarat who voted for the BJP. It's for the first time BJP won the Assembly constituency and Chauhan does not want to be left out of Gujarat's development story being scripted by Modi.

"We thought it's our Congress and kept voting for it. But the BJP is in Gujarat and everybody is benefiting. We thought why we should be left out," said Ayub Chauhan.

It is not just Ayub Chavan, others too echo similar sentiments. BJP supporters blame the Congress for neglecting their welfare in the past 50 years.

"This time round, we decided to work together. We told our Muslim brothers. Come with us. We will make BJP's Kanu Dabhi win," said BJP sympathiser Ghanshyam Patel.

"We had two options. Either to take the road that goes backwards or the one that goes forward. We chose the road ahead," added a Kathlal resident, Irfan Malik.

The Kathlal Assembly has traditionally been a Congress seat with 65 per cent of the 1.75 lakh voters being Muslims. The defeat is an embarrassment to the Congress and a blow to leader Shankersinh Vaghela in charge of the campaigning here.

Modi was quick to call the result a referendum, especially by Muslims, on the alleged misuse of the CBI by the Congress.

"A lesson has been taught to those who do vote bank politics in the name of secularism. Gujarat's Muslims have taught these people a lesson," said Modi.

It is not the first time that Modi has proved his critics wrong. Contrary to popular perception, he rode back to power in the 2007 Assembly elections. Now, with his close confidante Amit Shah in jail and the CBI hot on his heels, Modi has stormed yet another Congress bastion.

Bangalore police question two security guards of Madani

20 Sep 2010

Bangalore: Police began questioning two of the former security guards of PDP chairman Abdul Naser Madani. Shajahan and Nabeel were questioned on Sunday and the rest two would be questioned on Monday. Earlier, the Kerala police had given official permission to four constables to give their statement after presenting before the Karnataka police. The permission was given as per the information of the Karnataka police which sought permission to question the constables Shajahan, Basheer, Sajeevan and Nabeel.

In the charge sheet, Karnataka police alleged that Madani held a meeting with Thadiyantevida Naseer at Kodagu. So according to them, questioning the constables who were Madani's security guards at the time is important.

Though Madani says that he had not visited Kodagu, the questioning aims to collect more information about the same. The four guards who reached Sesadripuram station of Bangalore city police were shifted to the interrogation centre in a special vehicle by the crime branch. The questioning is progressing and is led by investigation head HM Omkarayya.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Abdul Nasser Madani's custody extended to September 28

Sep 14, 2010
Bangalore PTI

A local court today extended to September 28 the judicial custody of PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani, an accused in the 2008 Bangalore serial blast case.

Though some of the other accused in the case were produced before the first additional chief metropolitan magistrate Venkatesh Hulagi through video conferencing, the People's Democratic Party leader was not produced in court.

Hulagi then directed jail authorities to produce Madani through video conferencing on September 28 and extended the judicial custody of all 14 accused, including Madani to that date.

The magistrate also directed the investigating officer Omkaraiah to furnish a copy of the charge sheet (which had not been given so far) to Madani.

Along with Madani, 31 persons are accused in the blast case in the city, which left a woman dead and 20 others injured.

Fourteen of the 32 accused have been arrested so far.

The court had yesterday dismissed Madani's bail plea, citing security interests and said material produced by the prosecution so far revealed there was a prima facie case against him.

The court had also said that since investigation was in progress and allegations against Madani came under the purview of Unlawful Activities Act, bail cannot be granted.

The Peoples Democratic Party leader was also an accused in the 1998 Coimbatore bomb blast case but was acquitted by the trial court.

The serial blasts before an election meeting to be addressed by senior BJP leader LK Advani had left 58 people dead and over 200 others injured.

SIT notice for Madhani bodyguards

September 14, 2010

Kollam: The Special Investigation Team probing the 2008 Bangalore serial blasts case has asked the police constables who worked as Madhani’s body guards to appear before them within a week.

The police men Shajahan, Basheer, Sajeevan and Nabeel have been named as witnesses in the case. The will be interrogated regarding Madhani’s alleged visit to Coorg.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Abdul Nasser Madani's bail plea dismissed

Sep 13, 2010
Bangalore PTI

Citing security interests of the state and the country, a local court today dismissed the bail plea of PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani, an accused in the 2008 Bangalore serial blast case.

In its order, the fast track court said the material produced by prosecution so far revealed that there was a prima facie case against Madani.

Since investigation was under progress and allegations against Madani came under the purview of the Unlawful Activities Act, the bail cannot be granted, judge Shrikant Watawati in his over 30-page order.

Speaking to reporters, counsel for Madani, P Usman termed the order "lopsided".

"The arguments put forth by me have not been accepted and the order is based totally on the case made out by the prosecution," he said.

"However, once we get a certified copy of the order we will file a bail petition in the high court," Usman said.

The judicial custody of Madani, who was arrested at Kollam in Kerala on August 17, ends tomorrow.

Holding that there was a prima facie case against Madani, the Karnataka High Court last week had dismissed a criminal petition filed by him, seeking quashing of a charge sheet regarding the case.

The Peoples Democratic Party leader was also an accused in the 1998 Coimbatore bomb blast case but was acquitted by the trial court.

The serial blasts before an election meeting to be addressed by senior BJP leader LK Advani had left 58 people dead and over 200 others injured.

Madhani named as accused in 8 more cases

13 Sep 2010

Bangalore: The Bangalore police included PDP chairman Abdul Nassar Madhani as an accused in 8 more cases. He has been included as an accused in the bomb blasts cases in the city and in a case registered at the Mattivala police station.
Home minister V S Acharya said that Madhani would be included as an accused in all cases charged against him also revealed that he had been maintaining close links with some political leaders in Karnataka. He said that the Bangalore police have found out those who have links with Madhani in their investigations.

HC throws out Madani's petition

Sep 10, 2010,

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday dismissed the criminal petition filed by Abdul Nasser Madani, the People's Democratic Party leader from Kerala, which challenged the chargesheet filed against him in the July 2008 Bangalore serial blasts case.

"The magistrate has taken cognizance of the issue and the matter is under investigation against the petitioner. The offence alleged against the petitioner is not against any single individual but the State and security of the nation. It needs to be examined and investigated in detail," Justice Subhash B Adi observed in his verdict.

Justice Adi also said that based on statements of other witnesses that Madani had talked about waging a jihad, investigation was on and more material may be collected. "If this petition is allowed, it would amount to harming the investigation," he said.

Madani had claimed there is no evidence against him and police are trying to implicate him on the basis of a voluntary statement of T Nazir, an accused in the case. He also claimed that necessary sanction was not obtained from the central government before proceeding under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

Bangalore police took Madani into custody at Kollam last month. Madani challenged the June 11, 2010 additional chargesheet filed before the sessions court by the City Crime Brach police alleging he was involved in the July 25, 2008 Bangalore blast case by conspiring with the other accused.

The fifth fast track court had dismissed Madani's anticipatory bail application on July 9. The high court also dismissed his anticipatory bail plea. CCB police named Madani as 31st accused in the additional chargesheet along with six others. His bail plea is pending before a city court. TI

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Prominent actor, director Venu Nagavally (61) passed away

September 9, 2010


Thiruvanathapuram: Prominent actor, film director Venu Nagavally (61) passed away at 1 am Thursday at a private hospital here.

Nagavalli has been undergoing treatment for stomach-related ailment for the last ten days here. The funeral will be held Santhikavadam, Thycaud at 4 pm Thursday evening.

He is survived by his wife Meera, son Vivek who is an LLM student.

Venu, son of writer, dramatist and script writer Nagavally R.S. Kurupu and Rajamma, started his career as an announcer in AIR.

He started his acting career in the film Ulkadal directed by K.G. George in 1978. After that he acted in several films including Shalini Ente Koottukari, Oru Swakaryam, Meenamasathile Sooryan, Chillu and Pakshe.

What made him noted as an actor is his roles as a melancholic lover.

Nagavally became a script writer through Ee Ganam Marakkumo directed by N. Shankaran Nair.

After that he penned scripts for several films including Gayathri Devi Ente Amma, Guruji Oru Vaakku, Deivathe Orthu, Artham, Aham, Kilukkam and Vishnu.

His directorial debut was in 1986 with the film ’Sughamo Devi’. He then went on to prove his talent as a director through films like Sarvakalasala, Lal Salam, Aye Auto and Agni Devan.

The Hooch Trajedy

Madani bail plea posted to September 13

Sep 8, 2010
Bangalore PTI

A local court today posted to September 13, the bail plea of PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani, one of the accused in the 2008 Bangalore blasts.

When Madani's bail plea came up for hearing before the fifth fast track court (FTC), judge Shrikant Watawati posted it to September 13 for orders after conclusion of arguments by the counsel and the prosecution.

Madani is in judicial custody till September 14 and is lodged in the Central Jail, Bangalore.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

'Madani Part of Conspiracy to Wage War Against Country'

Bagalaore Sep 07, 2010


PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani, an accused in the 2008 Bangalore blasts case, was "part of a conspiracy to wage a war against the country" and there was prima facie case against him, the prosecution told a court today.

Opposing his bail plea, Special Public Prosecutor Rudraswamy told the fast track court that evidence gathered so far showed Madani had conversations with the other accused on three mobile phones in his possession.

The phone connections had been taken in different names and addresses by Madani, now under judicial custody, he charged.

The bombs used in the explosions that rocked the city on July 25, 2008 were placed in thickly populated areas with the "intention to take the life of more citizens and to destroy public property and buildings", he said.

"And this waging a war cannot be accidental, a lot of preparation has gone into it, it is a conspiracy by anti- national elements who are helped by some international organisations," he said.

Rudraswamy submitted that "materials including a microchip timer, ammonium nitrate found at places where explosions took place were similar materials as those used in terrorist attacks". All the explosive materials were sourced from Kerala.

As per the Intelligence report, he said the Bangalore blasts which were followed by explosions in Ahmedabad and Delhi were part of "BAD operation" (Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Delhi).

Investigations also revealed that after the Bangalore blasts, three suspected terrorists tried to escape to Pakistan. While two were were shot dead by the army, one escaped.

"Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation bus tickets were found with the dead terrorists which proved that all the three traveled in Bangalore city," the prosecution contended.

It rejected Madani's contention that he was initially treated as a witness and later named as one of the accused.

At no point was Madani treated as a witness, it said.

One woman was killed and 20 were injured in the serial blasts. Madani was arrested from Kerala last month after he was named as an accused in an additional charge sheet in the Bangalore blasts case.

80's Heros and Heroines with Mohanlal

Some Gulf Malayalees underwent terror training in Pakisthan-G.K.Pillai

07 Sep 2010


Thiruvananthapuram : Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai on Monday warned that the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (Let) militant outfit is planning to attack key installations in the country from the Indian coastline. He said the terror outfits like ISI and Lashkar-e-Toiba are recruiting some Malayaless moving towards gulf countries in search of jobs. They would be later shifted to Pakistan after issuing Pakistan passport to them and will be provided with training in terror cells. Again they would be brought to Gulf countries and will return to India in their Indian passport.

Interacting with media persons here, Pillai said the government has acquired intelligence inputs that reveal that the LeT is conducting training of its cadres in the coastal areas of the country.He said the Union Home Ministry has alerted the state governments of Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat, Orissa, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu to put their respective police forces on alert in anticipation of this eminently dangerous terror threat.

Asked for his comments on the incident involving the axing of an arm of a Kerala college lecturer by activists of radical outfit Popular Front of India (PFI), Pillai said the Government of Kerala has forwarded a request for a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to the Union Home Ministry, which is being studied.

NRI businessman - Ravi Pillai - sponsors marriages of 107 women

29 Aug 2010


Kollam : Marriages of 107 women were organised here Monday by a social organisation supported by non-resident Indian (NRI) Ravi Pillai, who is considered as the largest employer of Indians in the Middle East.
Each groom was first handed a 'thali' by a guest and after the knot was tied, the couple was handed a token gift of Rs.25,000.

The event, organized by the Ravi Pillai Foundation, was witnessed by hundreds of people and dignitaries here.

Union Heavy Industries Minister Vilas Rao Deshmukh and Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, Kerala Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran, Education Minister M.A. Baby, Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Oommen Chandy, and state Congress president Ramesh Chennithala besides more than a dozen legislators and a few Lok Sabha members were present on the occasion.

Religious leaders and personalities from the film fraternity were also present.

Speaking on the occasion, Deshmukh said: 'I will come again for such programmes.'

Kovoor Kunjumon, a ruling Left Front legislator who took part in the function, said that it was a great humanitarian gesture on the part of Pillai.

'The foundation will now provide employment to all the men abroad and if someone does not want a job, financial assistance would be provided to them to start a small business,' said Kunjumon.

'The couples were selected after a screening process which was first recommended by the local legislator. I myself recommended five and they got married today (Monday),' said Kunjumon.

The foundation also handed a cheque of Rs.1 million to noted environmentalist and poet Sugatha Kumari.

Hailing from this town, Pillai employs more than 25,000 Indians in his Nasser S Al-Hajri Corporation which is headquartered in Bahrain.

His company is engaged in construction at oil and gas refineries and petrochemical companies in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE.

A Padma Shri awardee, Pillai has also won the Pravasi Bharatiya award.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Kerala deity( Chakkulathukavu Amma ) draws devotees in Singapore

Sep 5, 2010 , Singapore


HUNDREDS of Hindu devotees flocked to the Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple in Toa Payoh yesterday, all in the hope of seeing and receiving blessings from a visiting deity from Kerala, India.

The deity, Sree Bhagavathy Amman, is popular among women who seek comfort from problems such as family abuse and alcoholism.

This is the first trip the idol, measuring about 30cm, has taken outside of India. It hails from the 5,000-year-old Chakkulathukavu Sree Bhagavathy Temple in Kerala.

It is a smaller version of the main idol, which is said to have been fashioned naturally out of a rock and cannot be removed from the temple. About 1,000 Singaporeans make the trip to Kerala to visit the deity each year.

In Singapore since Thursday, the idol was displayed at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Serangoon Road before being moved to Toa Payoh on Friday evening. It will return to India tonight.

Yesterday, a group of devotees sat barefoot on the floor of the Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple chanting the 1,008 names of the deity, each signifying a different quality of her. Devotees offered the deity a plate of flowers at the end.

Bangalore: Madani’s Close Aide Arrested by CCB Police

Bangalore, Sep 4: Abdul Aziz, a Kerala-based close aide of Abdul Nasser Madani, was arrested by the policemen of city crime branch on Friday September 3.

Aziz, a prominent leader of People’s Democratic Party floated by Madani, was in the city, trying to get bail for Madani. The policemen, who got wind about his presence here, gathered information about his whereabouts and arrested him. Abdul Aziz reportedly had played a major role in the serial blasts of 2008 in the city and subsequent blasts near Chinnaswamy Stadium last year at the time IPL matches were in progress.

The arrests were made on the basis of information provided by Madani, who is in judicial custody here, during interrogation. Aziz had been nominated by Madani for guiding terrorist activities in the city, it is learnt.

Madani also had revealed that Aziz had duped a bank before getting involved with the above blasts, it is learnt.

Madani's security can be questioned if Karnataka demands: DGP

03 Sep 2010

Kochi: DGP Jacob Punnoose said that if Karnataka police demands the state will extend all help to question Madani's security guards. But till now no such demands were made. He said investigations are on about Thadiyantevida Nasser's visit to the Popular Front office.

The state government informed the HC the other day that it had received documents stating Naseer had visited the PFI district office near Aluva. The documents which were seized from an accused in the hand chopping case also stated that Naseer had stayed at Periyar valley house in Kunjunnikkara, Aluva.

No intimation reqarding questioning of Madani''s security men

Sep 03,2010
Kochi,Sept3 (PTI) Kerala Director General of Police Jacob Punnoose today said the state had not received any intimation from Karnataka police on questioning the personal security men of PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani, an accused in the Bangalore serial blasts case. "If there is any intimation in this regard from Karnataka police, Kerala police will give full support," the DGP told reporters here. Investigations are on regarding the reported visit of suspected LeT operative T Nazeer, also an accused in the case to the office of radical outfit, Popular Front of India which was allegedly behind the July 4 attack on a lecturer at Muvattupuzha in the district. T J Joseph's right hand was chopped off for preparing a question paper which allegedly contained derogatory references to Propheet Mohammed. Madani was arrested from Kollam in Kerala by a Karnataka police team on August 17 after a Bangalore court issued a non-bailable warrant against him in connection with the July, 2008 blasts that left one person dead and injured 20 others.PTI

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

SC orders closure of Pappinniseri mangrove park for a month

31 Aug 2010


New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed the Pappinisseri mangrove park to stop all activities for a month. The SC directive comes while hearing a petition filed by the Union Forest and Environment Ministry on the Kerala HC staying the Environment ministry order on closing the mangrove park.


The SC ruled that the order by the Environment ministry to close the park without even issuing a notice to the Eco tourism committee, the owners of the park, is wrong. The SC requested the Environment ministry to issue a notice within a week to the Eco-tourism society and seek its reply.

On July 20, 2010, the Union ministry of Environment has ordered all construction works relating to the mangrove theme park in Pappinisseri to be stopped. The Kerala Divisional Bench had temporarily stayed the directive on August 19. In the midst of all these the Union Environment ministry had moved the Supreme Court.