Coming out in defence of old friend Amitabh Bachchan, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today said the actor has done nothing wrong by attending the inauguration of the second phase of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.
'Amitabh hasn't committed a crime by attending the event,' Thackeray said in an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana.
Lambasting Congress for 'treating the actor as an untouchable', Thackeray said 'Shah Rukh Khan, who took cudgels
on behalf of Pakistanis, will do for Congress, which is allergic to Amitabh.'
'Amitabh attending the function only added to the prestige of the event,' Thackeray said on the actor sharing the dias with Congress leaders at the sealink function.
Bachchan is not a thief, dacoit or a terrorist, Thackeray said. The presence of Bachchan at the inauguration of second
phase of the Sea Link a couple of days back had sparked a controversy with Congress leaders from Mumbai taking objection to Chief Minister Ashok Chavan sharing platform with the actor who is a brand ambassador for BJP-ruled Gujarat.
'Amitabh is targeted because he is brand ambassador of Gujarat. Ambani and Tata who live in Mumbai have invested heavily in Gujarat. Will anyone from Congress ask them why were they investing in Narendra Modi's Gujarat,' Thackeray said.
The actor belongs to the nation and will remain so, he said.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Operation Green Hunt kills 90 Maoists in Chhattisgarh
More than 90 Maoist militants were killed and 12 terror camps dismantled during the government's anti-Maoist Operation Green Hunt, Chhattisgarh Home Minister Nankiram Kanwar said Thursday.
'As many as 90 Maoists were killed and 12 of their terror camps were destroyed till Feb 27 this year in state's Bastar region under Operation Green Hunt,' the minister told legislators during question hour in the assembly.
The minister did not mention the date when the operation was launched in the state and also skipped a question from his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) colleague Devjibhai Patel about how many policemen were killed during Operation Green Hunt.
When Patel pressed for a number, the minister said: 'It's sure they (policemen) are just a few... situation in state is far better now compared to earlier situation when policemen were getting killed without inflicting much casualties to the enemies.'
'As many as 90 Maoists were killed and 12 of their terror camps were destroyed till Feb 27 this year in state's Bastar region under Operation Green Hunt,' the minister told legislators during question hour in the assembly.
The minister did not mention the date when the operation was launched in the state and also skipped a question from his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) colleague Devjibhai Patel about how many policemen were killed during Operation Green Hunt.
When Patel pressed for a number, the minister said: 'It's sure they (policemen) are just a few... situation in state is far better now compared to earlier situation when policemen were getting killed without inflicting much casualties to the enemies.'
Global Ayurveda Summit focusses on accreditation issues
KOCHI: Several speakers at the ongoing Global Ayurveda Summit being organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (Ayush), Government of India, here on Thursday highlighted the need for standard accreditation system for hospitals and institutions practising traditional medicine, including Ayurveda.
It was pointed out that the process undertaken by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare (NABH) was being followed by a host of institutions, but concerted efforts were required to gain global acceptance.
Darshan Shankar, Executive Chairman, Institute of Ayurveda and Interactive Medicine at the Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions, Bangalore, said a comprehensive accreditation system need not be a government initiative. Clinical management software was available and it could be helpful to those institutions seeking to adopt accepted standards. Accreditation would instil confidence among consumers. It would have an impact on manufacturing sector as well.
Mr. Shankar said setting up of autonomous institutes on Ayurveda and other traditional medicines would help promote innovation. ‘Good manufacturing practices' should give way to ‘next manufacturing practices' involving modern technology with a view to gaining excellence. Tools of IT should be utilised for various processes. Web-based short-term courses for young professionals of traditional medicine could also be started. Pointing out that Ayurveda had a role to play in public health, he said traditional practices adopted in the Ayurvedic system could be popularised to strengthen preventive healthcare.
Rajiv Vasudevan, founder and CEO of Ayurvaid hospitals and member, technical committee, NABH, said market expansion for Ayurveda beyond India could happen only with accreditation.
Ayurveda remained a personalised healthcare system. It was often forgotten that Ayurvedic treatment was basically a service-oriented one. Affordability and acceptability were important in the medical management procedures.
Harshajeet Kuroop, Managing Director, Birla Kerala Vaidyasala Private Limited, said the holistic nature of Ayurveda coupled with the absence of side-effects provided a good ground for the system to gain popularity. In an era of lifestyle disorders, conventional medicines had a significant role to play. Evidence based on documentation and integration of practices of herbal medicine was among the challenges faced by the sector.
T. Balakrishnan, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, Government of Kerala, said branding of Ayurvedic products of Kerala was being taken up at the ‘Care Keralam,' a cluster of Ayurvedic groups. Facilities for technology transfer, adoption of good manufacturing practices and research and development were being offered as part of the project. The centre was engaged in setting up accreditation norms, he said.
Several key issues involved in promoting Ayurveda at the global level were discussed by experts at the seminar. The three-day meet will conclude on Friday.
It was pointed out that the process undertaken by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare (NABH) was being followed by a host of institutions, but concerted efforts were required to gain global acceptance.
Darshan Shankar, Executive Chairman, Institute of Ayurveda and Interactive Medicine at the Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions, Bangalore, said a comprehensive accreditation system need not be a government initiative. Clinical management software was available and it could be helpful to those institutions seeking to adopt accepted standards. Accreditation would instil confidence among consumers. It would have an impact on manufacturing sector as well.
Mr. Shankar said setting up of autonomous institutes on Ayurveda and other traditional medicines would help promote innovation. ‘Good manufacturing practices' should give way to ‘next manufacturing practices' involving modern technology with a view to gaining excellence. Tools of IT should be utilised for various processes. Web-based short-term courses for young professionals of traditional medicine could also be started. Pointing out that Ayurveda had a role to play in public health, he said traditional practices adopted in the Ayurvedic system could be popularised to strengthen preventive healthcare.
Rajiv Vasudevan, founder and CEO of Ayurvaid hospitals and member, technical committee, NABH, said market expansion for Ayurveda beyond India could happen only with accreditation.
Ayurveda remained a personalised healthcare system. It was often forgotten that Ayurvedic treatment was basically a service-oriented one. Affordability and acceptability were important in the medical management procedures.
Harshajeet Kuroop, Managing Director, Birla Kerala Vaidyasala Private Limited, said the holistic nature of Ayurveda coupled with the absence of side-effects provided a good ground for the system to gain popularity. In an era of lifestyle disorders, conventional medicines had a significant role to play. Evidence based on documentation and integration of practices of herbal medicine was among the challenges faced by the sector.
T. Balakrishnan, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, Government of Kerala, said branding of Ayurvedic products of Kerala was being taken up at the ‘Care Keralam,' a cluster of Ayurvedic groups. Facilities for technology transfer, adoption of good manufacturing practices and research and development were being offered as part of the project. The centre was engaged in setting up accreditation norms, he said.
Several key issues involved in promoting Ayurveda at the global level were discussed by experts at the seminar. The three-day meet will conclude on Friday.
Dubai firm asks state govt to abide by agreement
Smart City Dubai, which is to build an IT park in Kochi, Thursday said it had not asked for anything outside the framework agreement signed with the Kerala government.
The Dubai-based builder was responding to Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan's statement earlier this month blaming the firm for the delay in the proposed Rs.1,500-crore Smart City Kochi project.
In 2007, Smart City Dubai had signed the agreement to build the IT project. Since then, nothing has moved despite several rounds of discussions as both sides have differed over granting 12 percent freehold rights to the builder, among other issues.
'Freehold is a contractual obligation, not a favour done to us. Moreover, the freehold is asked for Smart City Kochi, an Indian company registered under the Indian companies act. We are not asking for anything which is not in the framework agreement,' said Smart City Dubai in a press release here.
The statement came ahead of a board of directors meeting of Smart City Kochi scheduled for March 29.
The Dubai-based builder was responding to Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan's statement earlier this month blaming the firm for the delay in the proposed Rs.1,500-crore Smart City Kochi project.
In 2007, Smart City Dubai had signed the agreement to build the IT project. Since then, nothing has moved despite several rounds of discussions as both sides have differed over granting 12 percent freehold rights to the builder, among other issues.
'Freehold is a contractual obligation, not a favour done to us. Moreover, the freehold is asked for Smart City Kochi, an Indian company registered under the Indian companies act. We are not asking for anything which is not in the framework agreement,' said Smart City Dubai in a press release here.
The statement came ahead of a board of directors meeting of Smart City Kochi scheduled for March 29.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Brand ambassador: Amitabh retaliates in blog
Mumbai: Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan has come out openly in his blog about the ongoing controversy in appointing him as the brand ambassador to promote Kerala tourism. He said that the issue has been made deliberately political.
Bachchan said in his blog: ' It is a petty act of cheap convenience to prevent me from doing that, and by pitting me up against political connotations and maneuvers without paying any respect for the actual work that would be done.'
Amitabh said that what he would be doing as brand ambassador is to work in a short film that highlight the various places of interest in the State.That is what he would be doing for Kerala. There is no need to politicise the issue.
He said that it is the govt which had come forward and extended an invitation and now they want to decline it. Amitabh said that he would abide by the state's judgement. He also blamed the media trait in trying to find fault at everything
Bachchan said in his blog: ' It is a petty act of cheap convenience to prevent me from doing that, and by pitting me up against political connotations and maneuvers without paying any respect for the actual work that would be done.'
Amitabh said that what he would be doing as brand ambassador is to work in a short film that highlight the various places of interest in the State.That is what he would be doing for Kerala. There is no need to politicise the issue.
He said that it is the govt which had come forward and extended an invitation and now they want to decline it. Amitabh said that he would abide by the state's judgement. He also blamed the media trait in trying to find fault at everything
NIA permitted to probe larger conspiracy
Kochi: CBI Special court here has permitted the National Investigation Agency to probe the larger conspiracy in the case relating to recruitment of youths from Kerala for terrorist outfits in Kashmir.
Accepting the NIA plea that further inquiry was needed as there was a larger conspiracy behind the recruitment of youths from the state, Judge S Vijaykumar gave the nod for further probe yesterday.
The NIA, which is probing various terror related cases in Kerala, had stated that it wanted to investigate the conspiracy in the case beyond Kerala and to ascertain the funding of terrorist activities.
Further probe was needed into the source of funds and training places, it submitted adding it had also some information about the presence of sleeper cells.
The court also remanded seven accused to judicial custody till April 6 in connection with the case.
(PTI)
Accepting the NIA plea that further inquiry was needed as there was a larger conspiracy behind the recruitment of youths from the state, Judge S Vijaykumar gave the nod for further probe yesterday.
The NIA, which is probing various terror related cases in Kerala, had stated that it wanted to investigate the conspiracy in the case beyond Kerala and to ascertain the funding of terrorist activities.
Further probe was needed into the source of funds and training places, it submitted adding it had also some information about the presence of sleeper cells.
The court also remanded seven accused to judicial custody till April 6 in connection with the case.
(PTI)
Kerala turning out to be land of goons: Opposition
Thiruvananthapuram: The Opposition today raised allegations in the House saying that Kerala is turning out to be a land of goons. C P Muhammad raised these allegations when he wanted an adjournment motion to discuss the daylight murder of a housewife in Palakkad. Muhammad said that robbery and murder have become an ordeal and the law and order system in the state have completely broken down.
Replying to the allegation, Law Minister M Vijayakumar, on behalf of the Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, said that the probe into the Palakkad murder has been intensified. The probe will be conducted under Thrissur Range IG Muhammad Yassen.
Two groups comprising two CIs under a Palakkad SP are investigating the murder. The minister said that the guilty will be held very soon. After the reply, the Speaker denied permission to move an adjournment motion.
Replying to the allegation, Law Minister M Vijayakumar, on behalf of the Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, said that the probe into the Palakkad murder has been intensified. The probe will be conducted under Thrissur Range IG Muhammad Yassen.
Two groups comprising two CIs under a Palakkad SP are investigating the murder. The minister said that the guilty will be held very soon. After the reply, the Speaker denied permission to move an adjournment motion.
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