Prime Minister Narendra Modi starts up new business era with tax breaks and mega fund

The government on Saturday unveiled a raft of measures - ranging from tax waiver for three years, ending inspector raj and a mega fund — to help boost the start-up eco-system.

The 19-point action plan, which was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a day-long event, came with the promise that the government will only play the role of a facilitator and not burden entrepreneurs with complicated compliance requirements.

"If the government doesn't do anything, so much will happen. We have done a lot for 70 years. Where have we reached? Please tell us what not to do. If we decide not do anything, they (entrepreneurs) will take us places," Modi said at a jam-packed Vigyan Bhawan in the Capital.

The prime minister had announced the Start Up India campaign in his Independence Day speech last year to accelerate the pace of creating jobs at a time when employment growth in the government and the brick-and-mortar economy remained slow.


On Saturday, Modi — who shared the dais with prominent names from Indian start-ups as well as global giants such as Uber founder Travis Kalanick and SoftBank chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son — put in place the first building blocks, by defining a start-ups and detailing the action plan to help these businesses grow.

To begin with, any entity which has been around for less than five years and has a turnover of less than 25 crore qualifies to be defined as a start-up, provided it is working towards innovation, development, deployment or commercial of new products, process or services that are driven by technology or intellectual property.

If a company clears the test conducted by a government board, it will be entitled to several benefits including a three-year income tax holiday. In addition, the government announced capital gains tax benefits. Although the plan has been unveiled some of the measures can only be implemented after the budget is cleared by Parliament.

The policy recognises the potential that start-ups can play in the coming years after a recent spurt which saw the number of in the technology space jump over nine times from 501 entities in 2010 to over 4,500 last year. The increase has come with the rise of Flipkart, Snapdeal, Ola Cabs and Paytm, which have become household names and attracted huge investor interest.

Currently, Indian entrepreneurs depend on overseas investors for over 90% of the funding, which has been a major area of concern. The government sought to address this partly through a Rs 10,000 crore fund of funds and a Rs 2,000 crore credit guarantee fund. While the corpus was seen to be small, industrial promotion and policy secretary Amitabh Kant said that the steps announced on Saturday were just the beginning and the government would build upon them in the coming years.

But even before a start-up can claim benefits, the government promised to set up a forum for handholding apart from aiding patent applications.

Some of the measures initiated by the government and some that are in the pipeline are meant to check a flight of companies out of India to avoid high taxes.

The government once again promised easier exit through the new insolvency law. Modi then went on to seek the support of entrepreneurs and suggested that they should mount pressure on the Opposition, which had not yet pledged support to the Bill introduced in Parliament.

Source: TOI

Ahmedabad’s rank improved from 4th most polluted city to 84th: CM Anandiben Patel

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel on Thursday said that our efforts should be to free the society from pollution, instead of controlling the pollution. 

Speaking at function to launch a mass tree plantation drive, called "Make Vatva a Vrindavan'' by a dozen industrial groups to mark the World Environment Day in the Vatva Industrial Area here, she said a clean environment has its direct benefit in the form of a healthy, disease-free future. 

Patel said that tertiary sewage treatment plants are proposed to set up in 50 towns in the state. She stressed on the need to synchronize development with environment protection. She said that indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources is a major reason for the problem of global warming. 

There was a time when Gujarat was the 4th most polluted city in the country. With consistent efforts, it has been brought down to 84th position, she said. 

The Chief Minister lauded the industrial houses' initiative to plant 25,000 saplings in the Vatva area as part of a social responsibility. It is not enough to plant saplings; they should be nurtured till they grow to their full height. She released publications of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) on the occasion. 

Forest & Environment Minister Ganpat Vasava said Gujarat is one state which has created a separate Environment Department to deal with the crisis of climate change. He had a word of praise for the industrial houses joining the state government in solving the problem. 

Minister of State for Law Pradeepsinsh Jadeja, who hails from the same Vatva constituency, exuded confidence that Gujarat would march ahead in making Gujarat a Clean Green Environment under the leadership of the first Chief Minister.

Source: TOI

Pawar slapgate: Anna says violence is justified

Ralegan Siddhi: Anna Hazare, while admitting on Tuesday that he ‘committed violence’ when he asked if Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar’s attacker slapped him only once, hit out at the minister, saying the reasons behind the anger should also be considered.

“But for the betterment of society, I do not consider this violence as wrong. Many politicians felt very bad about the slapping incident, many of them got very angry also,” Hazare said in a post on his blog.

He said people held the person who asked the question (Hazare) more guilty than the man, Harvinder Singh, who had actually slapped Pawar. The social activist said he had always maintained that he should not be compared with Mahatma Gandhi.

“I am not even eligible to sit at the feet of Mahatma Gandhi but his thoughts have influenced my life in a very small way, because of which I have been able to do some work in the field of rural development and non-violent struggle for the development of the country,” he added.

Hazare, recounting several instances, said poor farmers were committing suicide in Maharashtra and elsewhere, and they have been caned and shot in the recent past for demanding their rights.

“But this does not cause any anger in our agriculture-based country. This is unfortunate. Many farmers have committed suicide in Maharashtra. But this did not make any politician angry? This is unfortunate,” he pointed out.
SourceAhmedabad Mirror

Nirma to lose clearance for cement plant at Mahuva

The environment permission granted to Nirma Limited to construct a cement plant on a waterbody in Mahuva taluka of Bhavnagar is likely to be cancelled. According to sources, the Ministry of Environment and Forest is likely to file an affidavit before the Supreme Court to this effect.

In such a scenario, Nirma will have to give up its plans to but the plant in Mahuva. The final hearing of the case in Supreme Court will be held this week.

The Ministry of Environment will take into account two committee reports that supported the farmers claim that the detergent giant had procured environmental clearance from the ministry by making faulty representation that the land was a wasteland.


A media report quoting ruling BJP MLA Kanubhai Kalsariya, who has gone against the party and championed the cause of Mahuva farmers, stated: “The expert committee report has pointed out that the plant will disturb the ecological balance of Mahuva. We hope the ministry will withdraw the environment clearance given to Nirma.”

Long legal battle
The Gujarat government had allotted 268 hectare of land to Nirma for its cement plant in Mahuva. This upset farmers who had with great difficulty converted what was once a barren wasteland into a fertile farmland. They had persuaded the administration to construct four check dams (bandharas) to prevent fresh water from flowing into the ocean.

They contended that the plant would pose a threat to agriculture, animal husbandry besides causing irreparable damage to environment. The samiti claimed that the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and Union environment ministry had wrongly given Nirma environment clearance.

Under the banner Shree Mahuva Bandhara Khetiwadi Pariyavaran Bachav Samittee, they filed a Public Interest Litigation before the Gujarat High Court through advocate Anand Yagnik in 2009.

After a long legal battle, a two-judge bench gave green signal to the plant on the condition that the consumer giant surrenders some 100 hectare of land which formed the water body. Kalsariya filed an appeal before the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order.

A seven-member Balu committee, which was formed after SC intervention, consisting of top scientists of the country concluded that the land allocated to Nirma for the cement plant was located on a waterbody. Earlier, the Vaishnai committee formed by the ministry had also arrived at the same conclusion.
SourceAhmedabad Mirror

Sibal’s moral policing: ‘Offensive’ tweets, FB posts will be removed

New Delhi: The Indian government will not allow social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to host “objectionable” content and will take steps to screen and remove these, Communications Minister Kapil Sibal said on Tuesday.

Sibal said this a day after representatives from Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Microsoft declined to remove offensive content.

Sibal said some of the content available on these sites could hurt the religious sentiments of a large section of communities in India. “Religious sentiments of many communities and of any reasonable person is being hurt because of content which is on the sites,” he told reporters here.

The minister said he had first met with officials of Facebook, Twitter and Orkut on September 5 to discuss the concerns of the government over objectionable pictures being posted on their sites by users.

The pictures, which were shown off the record, depicted Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a bad light, while some others were insulting to various religions.

“Nobody minds satirical image of any public personality but if you show a certain form of me... this is not acceptable. Even individuals should be protected,” said Sibal. The minister said these firms were hesitant to even share information relating to terrorist activities.

“They will have to give us data, then there will be actions taken. We will ask them to give information. Allow us time to deal with it. But one thing is sure we will not allow this kind of content,” Sibal said.

The minister said he did not want to speak to the press on this issue but was forced to do so after the New York Times reported that the government was trying to censor these sites, which was not true. “This is far from the truth. If someone does not wants to remove this kind of incendiary material then the government has to do something about it,” said Sibal.
SourceAhmedabad Mirror

Civil Hospital Ahmedabadf lies under RTI, again

Govt has fixed Rs 26 per sq m for mechanised cleaning, while RTI reply states that it is Rs 36 per sq m; the authority states that no office space has been provided to cleaning company BVG, our picture below speaks for itself


The Civil Hospital administration has perfected the art of dodging questions and providing wrong information under RTI when it concerns mechanised cleaning on the campus. The mechanised cleaning project worth lakhs has been granted to Bharat Vikas Group India Limited.

Two more falsehoods perpetrated by the hospital authority has come to light after Mirror sought information on particulars about the deal with BVG for mechanised cleaning under the Right to Information Act.

Mirror had reported on October 22, ‘Civil Hospital gives wrong info under RTI’, about the hospital having dismantled one X-ray machine following adverse reports by AERB and CAG, yet in its RTI reply, it denied being pulled up for using old and unsafe devices.

Cost of cleaning

In an RTI application filed on August 25 to the hospital’s information officer, we posed certain questions: What is the rate fixed for mechanised cleaning? How much area will it cover? Are the loo, bathroom and walls of the wards been included in the carpet area? Who will pay for the electricity? If any office has been allotted to the company and if any rent has been fixed? If yes, give the details. If not, what steps have been taken to recover it?

According to the hospital authority’s reply on September 12, “The carpet area allotted for cleaning is 58,400.85 square metre and the rate fixed is Rs 36 per sq metre. Roads have not been included in the mechanised cleaning.”

This is in clear violation of the order issued by the Directorate of Medical Education and Research for mechanised cleaning on June 22. The DMER has fixed Rs 26 per square metre for mechanised cleaning at civil hospitals in Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Vadodara, Jamnagar and Surat.

Only an independent investigation can bring out the truth: if the hospital has paid an additional Rs 10 per square metre, amounting to Rs 5.84 lakh on the total carpet area, to the contractor or the amount has been siphoned off by vested interests.

When we asked Civil Medical Superintendent Dr M M Prabhakar why there was a difference of Rs 10 per square metre between the government order and the figure provided by Civil in the RTI reply, Dr Prabhakar said, “If this information is provided to you then it is false. It is possible that it is a printing mistake. I will have to check.”

No office provided

Regarding allotment of office space to BVG, the RTI reply states, “At present no order has been passed to allot an office to Messrs BVG India Ltd.”

A visit to Civil Hospital revealed that BVG personnel carry out their activities from a huge room allotted to them on the third floor of D9 block of main building. A manager who has been provided with a phone and desk space along with his administrative staff sit in the room surrounded by cleaning equipment.

Dr Prabhakar’s statement also nails the falsehood in the RTI reply. When we asked the Civil chief if office space has been provided to BVG, he said, “We’ve provided space to store the company’s equipment. But no rent has been taken. It is included in the contract.”

When asked, why was false information provided under RTI, Dr Prabhakar said, “If you want a reply, then you file another RTI!”

How BVG came into the picture

Mirror had reported on January 26, ‘Civil’s Rs 1 cr clean-up act’ about Maharashtra-based Bharat Vikas Group being roped in by the hospital to carry out mechanised cleaning on its premises from February 1. The spending on cleanliness was hiked from Rs 14 lakh to Rs 1 crore.

Subsequently, five government hospitals — Sir T General Hospital (Bhavnagar), GGS Hospital (Jamnagar), Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Civil Hospital (Rajkot), New Civil Hospital (Surat) and SSG Hospital (Vadodara) had decided to go for the expensive clean–up act for an annual expenditure of a whopping Rs 28 crore. from the same date.

Following this report in Mirror, ‘Five more govt hospitals go for costly clean-up’ on January 28, the costly cleaning pact was stayed. An investigation into the irregularities was ordered by Health Secretary Rajesh Kishore, after which the carpet area and the rate per square metre was revised.
Source Ahmedabad Mirror

Police thrash tribals in Satellite Ahmedabad

Police claim injuries were fallout of clash between two groups residing in area. Agitated tribals seek action against inspector; commissioner institutes inquiry



Ramaben Medasar who was badly injured could not walk and had to be carried

While police claimed the injuries inflicted on women and others were a fallout of a clash between two groups residing in the area, the agitated tribals met city police commission Sudhir Sinha on Thursday and demanded action against Senior Inspector J M Bharwad who led the charge.

“We were surprised to see the police team in the midnight. Without any provocation, they charged at us and started beating up us indiscriminately,’’ said Ramaben Medasar who along with others received injuries.

The tribal members alleged that the they were beaten up, at the stance of Bharward, who was annoyed with some members. “We have demanded action and sought suspension of Bharwad, who not only misused his position but also committed a misconduct by beating up elderly women and men,’’ said a member of the delegation.

Meanwhile, after meeting the delegation police commissioner Sudhir Sinha, has ordered an inquiry into the incident. The probe to be conducted by ACP division A, will also look into the allegations against Bharward.


Medasar shows her injury, while another tribal showshis fractured hand
Sinha also assured the delegation members, who were led by Alka Brahmbhat, member Gujarat state social welfare board, that a suitable action would be taken against Bharwad and other cops responsible.

Meanwhile Barwad denied the allegations and claimed that he was being falsely implicated.

“The area has been a shelter to a number of history sheeters, many of whom have jumped parole and escaped from the law. I had gone to the area following after my team received information about the history sheeters. We found that the members had clashed amongst themselves.

Bharwad also claimed that recently he got removed some illegal vendors from the area, which had led to resentment against him. The tribal members meanwhile maintained that they had been residing in the area for past several years and the inspector concerned had grudge against them. According to them, the habitants including old men and women were being harassed and beaten up by the local police, without any reason.

SGVP fans attacks DPS players after team loses match

The unidentified fan hurled a stone at the player after SGVP team lost to DPS in the under-16 basketball match held on home ground; matches for district-level selection for school games postponed after incident.

Unable to digest a third consecutive defeat on home ground, an irate fan of SGVP International school’s basketball team hurled a stone at a Delhi Public School, Bopal player shortly after an under-16 match on Thursday.




The player, identified as Aatish Shah, suffered a head injury and had to take three stitches to close the wound, sources told Mirror.

The incident took place at SGVP International (Chharodi), which was hosting the tournament being held for district level selection for school games. All further matches have been rescheduled and will be held at a different venue now, sources said.

DPS Bopal had defeated SGVP in the first round of under-19 tournament and even won the under-14 final. On Thursday, the team again defeated SGVP (12-10) in the first round of under-16 tournament, much to the chagrin of SGVP students.

Witnesses said the DPS players were being booed constantly by SGVP fans during Thursday’s match. Despite all the hooting, the DPS boys maintained their composure and won the match, they said.

“The attacker has to be an SGVP student since only students and officials conducting the matches were present at the venue,” said a witness on condition of anonymity.

“SGVP fans created a furore after losing the match. Just when DPS players were leaving the court, somebody from crowd hurled a stone at them. One player was injured and immediately taken for emergency medical treatment to SGVP’s clinic. The victim has been identified as Atish Shah, a student of Class X. He had to take three stitches,” said another witness.

He added, “The DPS sports coach had spoken to the SGVP coach about the lack of discipline among SGVP students before the match. However, no warning was issued to the fans or the players.”

‘THEY THREW LEMONS EARLIER’

A DPS student who had witnessed all the basketball matches of his school team, said, “In the under-19 match held on Tuesday, SGVP fans threw lemons at our players. In another match, held the next day, they displayed rowdy behaviour by hooting and abusing our players. But what happened on Thursday, just cannot be tolerated.”

“Our boys never reacted to their abuses and name-calling. They simply played well and won matches. A school that doesn’t know how to inculcate sportsmanship spirit in its students should never participate in sports,” said another eyewitness.

Sources told Mirror that a police complaint in the case is ruled out since SGVP principal spoke to teachers, principal and players of DPS school, assuring them such incidents will not take place in future.

MATCHES RESCHEDULED


Sources said no police complaint will be filed since both DPS Bopal and SGVP have sorted out the matter District Sports Officer Baldev Desai, however, tried to downplay the incident. “Someone from the crowd threw a stone at DPS players in a fit of rage. We still do not know who did it. But the injured boy is out of danger. There is no enmity between the players of DPS and SGVP. Further matches have been put on hold. These will be rescheduled and held at a different venue.”

SGVP Principal Caesar D’Silva said, “Both DPS and SGVP students were present in the audience when the attack took place. But we don’t know who threw the stone at the student. We took the injured boy to the doctor as soon as we learnt about the incident. It is not a serious injury. I have already spoken to DPS school authorities, assuring them such an incident will not take place in future.”

DPS authorities informed Mirror that they made it very clear to SGVP principal that what happened was not right. “Our student’s condition is stable now. We have no idea who threw the stone at him. But we have made our displeasure about the incident very clear to SGVP principal. Further matches will now be held at another venue,” said Pradeep Chudasama, assistant manager, media and advocacy DPS (Bopal).

Court slams cops for cover-up in custodial death

Metropolitan magistrate trashes police version which states the 48-yr-old prisoner succumbed to injuries sustained after ‘collapsing several times’ on jail premises. Court to conduct its own inquiry based on post-mortem report



Anwar Rangrez suffered 33 injuries (L), On the day Rangrez was to be freed, his family received news of his death (R)
Metropolitan court blasted Sabarmati police after they allegedly tried to cover up a custodial death by submitting a C summary report, winding up the probe. Magistrate U K Trivedi, while dismissing the report which brazenly contradicted post-mortem and FSL reports, stated the court will now conduct its own inquiry into the 2008 case.

A 48-year-old rickshaw driver, Anwar Rangrez, died after he was allegedly beaten up inside Sabarmati Central Jail in December 2008. The post-mortem and FSL reports state that Rangrez suffered cardiac and respiratory failure due to 33 injuries inflicted on his body. It also said the injuries were caused because the victim was hit by a rod or some such hard object.

However, the C summary report filed by ACP K M Vaghela, states that Rangrez, a drug addict, sustained injuries after “he fell down” a couple of times on jail premises. It says he suffered a seizure on December 11 and collapsed, injuring himself. It also says he fell from the bed of the jail clinic on December 15 and near the compound wall again, the next day.




Rangrez’s mother with his photograph BAIL GRANTED, RELEASE NOT ALLOWED

Interestingly, Rangrez had been granted bail from the court on December 17, a day before the news of his death was conveyed to his family. He, however, was not allowed to leave the jail despite his son Mehboob submitting the bail order to the tantri before 6 pm. This, because the tantri allegedly demanded Rs 500 from Mehboob who did not have the money at that time.

The next day, he went to the jail at 7 am to bring his father home. Mehboob waited till 10 am, but jail authorities did not tell him anything about his father. He then received a call from his mother asking him to come back home. When Mehboob reached home, he learnt that the prison officials had called up the mother to inform her about Rangrez’s death.

FIR REGISTERED AFTER 4 MONTHS

Mehboob remembered that on one particular visit to the jail to meet his father, the latter had told him that a bearded jailer used to beat him up. Suspecting foul play in Rangrez’s death, he went to Sabarmati police station to lodge an FIR against jail authorities and unidentified persons. However, the cops registered the FIR four months after the post-mortem report.

‘MISLED INTO FILING FIR’

On Friday, ACP Vaghela told the court that Sabarmati police were “misled” into filing an FIR under section 302 (punishment for murder) of the IPC. But Rangrez’s lawyer Amit Balsari strongly opposed Vaghela’s claims by producing the post-mortem and FSL reports. Metropolitan magistrate U K Trivedi then dismissed the C summary report, stating the court would conduct an independent inquiry into the case.

Raj Thackeray Choose Hindi to Make Communication in Gujarat Tour

MNS chief Raj Thackeray, known for imposing the use of Marathi in Maharashtra, began his nine-day visit of Gujarat and spoke in Hindi the entire day. That is, until media pointed out his blooper

Was he being opportunistic or plain street smart? All those who met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday, the first day of his nine-day-long “state visit” of Gujarat, were left wondering at the language in which he chose to interact with them.



I speak Marathi in Maharashtra. I do not speak Gujarati. So I chose to speak in Hindi here
- Raj Thackeray,
MNS chief The Thackeray scion, known for his acerbic tongue and roughish ways against Hindi and Hindi-speaking people on his home turf, looked pleased and at ease speaking in Hindi everywhere and with everyone he met in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. He realised he had fallen into a trap of his own creation in the evening when someone from the media drew his attention to his opposition to Hindi in Maharashtra.

Thackeray blamed media for creating controversies and promptly switched over to Marathi.

But by that time, the word had spread far and wide. “This won’t do. Violently opposing Hindi in Maharashtra and speaking in Hindi outside the state is rank opportunism. In this era of globalisation, this is not done,” said translator Kishor Gaud. “If he has so much love for his mother tongue, I could have offered my services as an interpreter. I know Marathi and Gujarati languages and cultures well to help him speak in his mother tongue even in Gujarat,” said Gaud who has translated as many as 25 Marathi books in Gujarati.

Thackeray, the estranged nephew of Shiv Sena patriarch Balasaheb Thackeray, began his Gujarat “study tour” with a visit to Sardar Patel Memorial in Shahibaug in the morning. He spoke to memorial officials, and sources said he evinced keen interest in knowing about the life and work of the Iron Man of India.

“All in Hindi,” said a memorial official.

The next stop was Sabarmati Ashram. He paid tribute to the Father of the Nation and was presented with a copy of his autobiography in Marathi — Satyache Prayog — by ashram director Amrut Modi. Thackeray and his wife Sharmila interacted with trustees and members of the ashram. Those present there were quite impressed with their eagerness to know about Gandhi. “Questions were few but sharp,” said Modi.

“All in Hindi,” Modi added.

Ashram officials offered him the VIP visitors’ book in which he could have entered his tribute or
comment.




Thackeray opted not to give either. An opportunity to do so in Marathi was lost. The state guest was offered a chance to spin Gandhi’s wheel (charkha). While most of the visiting dignitaries latched on to the opportunity and tried their hands at it, Thackeray was quite frank.

“It is beyond me to spin the wheel and draw a thread,” Thackeray said. In Hindi.

Gandhi Sena, an assembly of some members of the ashram’s residential quarters, presented him with a small replica of the charkha. “Bahut achha (very good) ... thank you,” Thackeray exhaled.

Part English, part Hindi.

“We were not surprised,” said Dhimant Badhia, Gandhi Sena secretary. “He seems to have broadened his world view.”

Later in the day, the MNS chief called on Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Thackeray was visibly overwhelmed by his host and lavished praise on his development work.

Thackeray watched audio-visual presentations on Gujarat’s development, something that he has come to study and draw lessons from. Modi presented him with a shawl and a figurine of Maratha ruler Shivaji. Thackeray had quite a few queries and Modi patiently answered all of them. Thackeray expressed his gratitude. The interaction lasted for three hours.

“Mostly in Hindi,” said an official.

Mediapersons caught up with the visiting leader at Circuit House in Gandhinagar where he is staying. Someone was prompt to ask, “You have spoken in Hindi all day long. Why then do you insist on speaking in Marathi in Mumbai?”

A visibly disturbed Thackeray retorted, “You (media) create such controversies.” This was in Hindi.

Having realised he had fallen into a trap, Thackeray switched over to Marathi: “I speak Marathi in Maharashtra. I do not speak Gujarati. So I chose to speak in Hindi here. Had I spoken in Marathi, would you’ve understood?”

To which the media persons said there are professionals called interpreters.

CHIDED BACK HOME

Incidentally, Thackeray was chided back home as he embarked on the tour. Members of the Congress-NCP took a pot-shot at him. On Monday, Mumbai Congress chief Kripashankar Singh had taunted him: “Which language is he going to converse in during his Gujarat visit? Is he going to hire an interpreter?”

Newspapers reported NCP member Nawab Malik as saying, “Even though I’m from north India, I make it a point to use the state language, Marathi, while addressing the house, and communicating with the natives. But will the leaders who further their political agenda using the Marathi language as leverage ever deliver a speech in Hindi? Hindi is the national language, and we must honour it. Maharashtra is an integral part of the nation.” Malik’s remarks created quite a stir among MNS members present.

CONGRESS DEMANDS APOLOGY

Meanwhile, state leader of opposition Shaktisinh Gohil on Wednesday protested Thackeray’s Mukesh Ambani-related statement in strong words and demanded an apology from him for his anti-Gujarat expressions.

“Raj Thackeray has criticised industrialist Mukesh Ambani in his statement for investing in Gujarat. This is highly objectionable and Thackeray should apologise for his statement. Any person in India is free to invest in Gujarat. We would not tolerate such anti-Gujarat statements at any cost,” said Gohil.

Dogs on a biting spree, AMC watches

The corporation’s sterilisation project is yet to take off even as city records more than 3,000 cases of dog bites every month

Nothing can shake up Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). Every day, on an average, the city registers 121 dog-bites even as six vans of Cattle Nuisance and Control Department (CNCD) circle the city like headless chickens to catch the canines.



It would be an understatement to say that AMC has failed miserably in curbing the perilous menace. In fact, it has not tried at all to control the nuisance, claim sources.

How do you explain this? In 2010, there were 30,726 cases of dog bites. Between January and May this year, there were 18,256 dog-bite cases – the figures will be staggering by the end of the year.

But Deputy Municipal Commissioner Dilip Gor maintains there has been “no increase” in dog-bite cases. “The canine menace has been well within control uptil now. However, the cases are likely to increase after the mating season which begins in July,” he said.

According to him, the menace will “persist till September”. The city has 2.4 lakh dogs currently. After the monsoon, there will clearly be a spurt in the dog population, increasing the possibilities of canine-human conflict in the city.

The highest dog-bite cases were reported in January this year. Of the 4,255 cases, 1,000 each were reported by V S Hospital and L G Hospital. In May alone, 3,254 cases of dog-bites were reported in the city. The CNCD receives nearly 50 dog-menace complaints every day, but the AMC is “yet to finalise” contractors to kickstart its sterilisation programme.

The civic authority had contemplated a dog sterilisation facility of its own, but there has been no development in this direction as well. A proposal for such facility has to be presented before the standing committee for approval, but no such initiative has been taken by the CNCD department so far. AMC will have to shell out around Rs 12 crore to set up this facility.

Last month, Girija Jayram, a resident of Vastrapur, was mauled by a stray dog near Lad Society during the morning walk. She was bitten on her leg and hand. She said, “I walked past a stray dog lying on the road. It came running behind me and bit me on the leg. When I tried to defend myself, it bit my hand. Something needs to be done to protect people from stray dogs.”

Nisarg Sunetra, a teenager, was attacked by a dog while he was on his two-wheeler, waiting at the Jodhpur traffic signal. He said, “I was too shocked to react first. It just bit me and ran away. The pain was unbearable. Why is the AMC sitting idle?”

Health Committee Chairman Dr Suresh Patel said, “I am doing my level best to curb the nuisance. I have already asked the officials to start the sterilisation procedure as soon as possible. But they are slow in responding. I had a meeting with the officials of Animal Welfare Board of India. We have planned several things to rid the city of dog menace.” Another empty promise?

Dogs on a biting spree, AMC watches

The corporation’s sterilisation project is yet to take off even as city records more than 3,000 cases of dog bites every month

Nothing can shake up Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). Every day, on an average, the city registers 121 dog-bites even as six vans of Cattle Nuisance and Control Department (CNCD) circle the city like headless chickens to catch the canines.



It would be an understatement to say that AMC has failed miserably in curbing the perilous menace. In fact, it has not tried at all to control the nuisance, claim sources.

How do you explain this? In 2010, there were 30,726 cases of dog bites. Between January and May this year, there were 18,256 dog-bite cases – the figures will be staggering by the end of the year.

But Deputy Municipal Commissioner Dilip Gor maintains there has been “no increase” in dog-bite cases. “The canine menace has been well within control uptil now. However, the cases are likely to increase after the mating season which begins in July,” he said.

According to him, the menace will “persist till September”. The city has 2.4 lakh dogs currently. After the monsoon, there will clearly be a spurt in the dog population, increasing the possibilities of canine-human conflict in the city.

The highest dog-bite cases were reported in January this year. Of the 4,255 cases, 1,000 each were reported by V S Hospital and L G Hospital. In May alone, 3,254 cases of dog-bites were reported in the city. The CNCD receives nearly 50 dog-menace complaints every day, but the AMC is “yet to finalise” contractors to kickstart its sterilisation programme.

The civic authority had contemplated a dog sterilisation facility of its own, but there has been no development in this direction as well. A proposal for such facility has to be presented before the standing committee for approval, but no such initiative has been taken by the CNCD department so far. AMC will have to shell out around Rs 12 crore to set up this facility.

Last month, Girija Jayram, a resident of Vastrapur, was mauled by a stray dog near Lad Society during the morning walk. She was bitten on her leg and hand. She said, “I walked past a stray dog lying on the road. It came running behind me and bit me on the leg. When I tried to defend myself, it bit my hand. Something needs to be done to protect people from stray dogs.”

Nisarg Sunetra, a teenager, was attacked by a dog while he was on his two-wheeler, waiting at the Jodhpur traffic signal. He said, “I was too shocked to react first. It just bit me and ran away. The pain was unbearable. Why is the AMC sitting idle?”

Health Committee Chairman Dr Suresh Patel said, “I am doing my level best to curb the nuisance. I have already asked the officials to start the sterilisation procedure as soon as possible. But they are slow in responding. I had a meeting with the officials of Animal Welfare Board of India. We have planned several things to rid the city of dog menace.” Another empty promise?

No deduction for plots of 300 sq yds

Nearly 10,000 property owners can breathe easy as Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority has decided to impose



In a major policy decision, Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) on Wednesday decided on a zero deduction norm for plots up to 300 sq yards and 20 per deduction for those above 300 sq yards. Around 10,000 plots owners in Ghuma who were struggling to save their plots from AUDA decision of deducting land for the implementation of town planning schemes, can relax now.

AUDA had proposed flat 40 per cent deduction for all plots, subplots and open land in Ghuma for the development of three town planning (TP) schemes
AUDA had proposed flat 40 per cent deduction for all plots, subplots and open land in Ghuma for the development of three town planning (TP) schemes.

According to realty experts, this will save deduction of plots worth Rs 600 crore and the biggest beneficiaries will be middle and upper-middle class. There are around 45 plotting schemes and 9000 to 10,000 plots in these schemes.

At the board meeting, AUDA decided to submit the three town planning (TP) schemes of Ghuma to the government on June 25. Ghuma is spread over 21 lakh sq yards (ie, 700 hectares) of which 30 per cent falls under plotting schemes. The land price in Ghuma is floating between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000 a sq yard. An estimated conservative figure of the worth of the property comes to around Rs 1200 crore.

AUDA Chairman Dharmendra Shah confirmed the news and added, “The open land that has no plotting scheme will see 40 per cent deduction, as per the town planning Act. However, considering the practical problem the board has decided against carrying out deduction for plots below 300 sq yard. For plots above 300 sq yard there will be 20 per cent deduction.”

Shah further said, “AUDA will also help the builder as well as plot owners in re-plotting of the scheme so that there is no grievance later.

Realty experts are happy with the decision as this will allow many small time investors to save their hard earned money that they had put in for their children.

Hitesh Shah of Space Management Ltd told Mirror, “It is a remarkable decision as deduction of 40 per cent was out of proportion for the sub-plot owners who invested in these properties when there was no rule of town planning and land deduction.”

Agreeing with Shah, Gujarat Institute of Civil Engineers and Architects (GICEA) former president Prashant Shah said, “It is a welcome step by AUDA. We also suggest that AUDA try to convert internal roads of plotting schemes into TP roads. This will help the plot owners save some land in deduction.”

AUDA can also consider common plots under deduction which can help plot-owners save some portion of their plot, he said.

The development authority had received more than 5000 applications of objections and recommendations by plot owners from Ghuma. It had made public the deduction announcement on March 4 and gave 10 days (till March 14) to residents and owners to submit their objections and recommendations.

Gujarat most preferred investment destination: ASSOCHAM study

Bangalore: Gujarat tops the list of preferred investment destination in the country with 1,455 projects worth Rs 13.35 lakh crore underway, according to Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry in India (ASSOCHAM). Karnataka is the next preferred investment destination in the country with 1,528 projects worth Rs 9.1 lakh crore under way it added.

The study was jointly released by ASSOCHAM president Dilip Modi, Co-chairman of ASSOCHAM southern regional chapter J Crasta and ASSOCHAM Secretary General D S Rawat on Thursday.

Nearly 44 per cent of the 1,528 projects in Karnataka are in manufacturing sector followed by 22.4 per cent in services, 15 per cent in power and about 14 per cent in real estate.

The projects are in different stages of implementation, ASSOCHAM said in its study titled ‘Karnataka - Next Growth Leader in the Making.’ Investment flows into manufacturing sector marked a 107.8 per cent jump during 2010, compared to the previous year while those in services sector registered a healthy growth of 76.5 per cent, it said.

Saree eliminated for women cops

As per a new notification issued by the top cop Chittranjan Singh, it is now mandatory for policewomen up to 45 years of age to don a khakhi shirt-trouser. Those above 45 have the option of wearing a salwar kameezYou can call it the momma of all makeovers. Women cops in the state will no longer have to wrap themselves in the six-yard wonder. A new dress code will ensure they are able to carry out their duties with ‘no pallus attached’.

As per a new directive from the office of Director General of Police, women cops up to 45 years of age will be required to don a shirt and trousers. Those above 45 years of age, however, have the option of wearing a salwar-kameez. A notification stating the same was sent to all the police stations in the state on June 8.

The women in the rank of constables, head constables and assistant sub-inspectors will be given two khakhi-coloured shirt-trousers pieces each. The cops can get them stitched and claim the tailoring charges from the department.

For a half-sleeves shirt and trousers, the cop can claim up to Rs 180 and for full-sleeves shirt and trousers up to Rs 185. The new attire will be similar to those of the women cops in state reserve police.

Savitaben Vaniya, 51, assistant sub-inspector with the women’s cell of the crime branch, lauds the decision. “It is a good decision. Carrying out duties in a saree becomes difficult during bandobasts. I prefer the salwar kameez, though,” she said.

Head constable Jashodaben Solanki, 51, said, “I’ve been wearing the saree for the past 30 years and a change is welcome. I don’t think I’ll be comfortable in trousers though, so I’ll opt for salwar-kameez.”

However, constable Sumati Parmar, 33, will switch over to “the modern attire.” “It’s nice that the department has come up with a new dress code for women. It brings in a lot of discipline. I prefer a shirt-trousers uniform because it is even more comfortable than the salwar-kameez. Also, it looks more aggressive and suits a cop’s personality.”

Inspector C N Chaudhary of the women’s cell of the crime branch said, “A decision regarding the new dress code for women cops was taken after DGP’s meeting with the dress committee on April 21. Women police personnel up to 45 years of age will have to mandatorily wear a shirt and trousers on duty. Those above 45 years of age, can wear a salwar kameez too. However, sarees will no longer exist in the police force. A notification regarding the same was sent to police stations across the state.”

Anna team laughs at Govt’s ‘Jokepal Bill’

Says the government has no intention of passing a strong anti-corruption legislation; Hazare to go on indefinite fast from Aug 16, ready to face lathis and bullets for country



New Delhi: Upset with the Government for dilly-dallying the process of drafting and passing the Lokpal Bill, anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Thursday said the Centre had no intentions of enacting a strict anti-corruption law.

Hazare said that he will go on an indefinite fast from August 16 if a diluted law is brought. RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal said the government had frittered away a huge opportunity to frame a strong bill and take credit for it. “What the Government is now bringing is not a Lokpal Bill but a Jokepal Bill,” he said.

Centre wasting time: Activists
Hazare alleged that the government had "backtracked" on its promise to accept all the suggestions forwarded by the civil society members.

The septuagenarian said that he was "surprised" that the Government wants the civil society members to submit a separate draft of the bill, while the Government drafted its own bill and brought it before the Cabinet. "If they want two drafts then why was this joint committee formed? They could have told us earlier. Our draft was known to them. Why waste so much of time? It is clear that the government has no intention to bring an effective bill,” Hazare said.

Alleging that the government had gone back on assurances given to him to persuade him to withdraw his hunger strike in April, he said, "I will resume my fast on August 16....if the government tries to suppress us like in the case of Ramdev, we are prepared for that," he said.

"We are ready to face lathis and bullets. I am ready to sacrifice my life for the sake of the country," he said. However, the Hazare camp made it clear that they will attend the meetings of June 20-21 to see what the government has to say on the issue.

Even as the civil society members of the Lokpal Bill joint drafting committee called the meetings a "drama", Home Minister P Chidambaram said the proposed legislation will be drafted by June 30.

Bill will be ready by June 30: Govt
“On behalf of the Government we want to reiterate what we have been saying. Our intention is to draft a strong and sound Lokpal Bill. We will complete it by June 30," Chidambaram said.

Differences emerged between the two sides in the seventh meeting of the committee on Wednesday with the civil society members alleging that the government was attempting to “bulldoze” its version of the bill.

Inclusion of the prime minister and judiciary within the ambit of the proposed Lokpal are among the points of main differences between the two sides.

Blood boils at event to felicitate donors

Congress MP Vikram Madam alleges politicisation of the Red Cross-health department function;Blood boiled over at a blood donation event organised by the Red Cross in association with the state health department, Gujarat State Council for Blood Transfusion and Gujarat State Aids Control Society.The function to mark World Blood Donor Day took political overtones after Madam alleged that donors, mainly from his constituency Jamnagar, were ignored
The function to mark the World Blood Donor Day at Tagore Hall on Tuesday took political overtones after Congress Member of Parliament Vikram Madam and his supporters confronted Health Minister Jaynarayan Vyas for ignoring donors and people, mainly from his constituency Jamnagar, who had organised more than 100 blood donation camps.

Madam, himself a blood donor, was called all the way from Jamnagar to be felicitated.

“Three days ago, I was invited to the event. During the telephonic conversation with the Red Cross president Mukesh Patel I made it very clear that according to the protocol I shall agree to accept the award only from the hands of Governor Kamlaji which was agreed upon. However when I came here today, the attitude was different,” Madam said.

He claimed to be the only sitting MP who has organised 418 camps and donated blood 39 times. Close to 35,000 blood units have been collected through these camps, he claimed.

Baba sweetens fast with honey, water

Fasting Ramdev agrees to have lemonade but when asked about tax returns he kept mumNew Delhi: As promised Baba Ramdev and his aide Acharya Balkrishna declared their assets in Haridwar on Thursday evening. The duo claimed that all their companies are audited regularly. Balkrishna said that the capital of their oldest trust Divya Yog Mandir is Rs 249.63 crore while that of Patanjali Yogpeeth is 164.80 crore.

“The Divya Yoga Mandir Trust has a capital base of Rs 249.63 crore. The Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust has Rs 164.80 crore, the Bharat Swabhiman Trust has Rs 9.97 crore and Acharya Kulumbh Siskhshan Sansthan has a capital of Rs 1.69 crore,” Balkrishna said.

The total capital of different companies associated with Ramdev is to the tune of Rs 426 crore. The yoga guru did not disclose the assets owned by the trusts and his Income Tax returns.

Docs check Baba every 3 hours
However, after much persuasion, Ramdev, who is on an indefinite fast against corruption and black money agreed to consume lemonade and honey. “He has decided to take lemon water and honey so that his body gets glucose,” said Haridwar District Magistrate R Meenakshi Sundaram.

He added that a team was regularly monitoring Ramdev’s health. “I have told them to do checkups every three hours. We have seen formation of ketone particles in his body. Formation of ketone particles is dangerous as it may affect vital organs like kidney and liver. We have asked baba to break his fast and have something, especially glucose,” he said.

Asked whether Ramdev will be forcibly fed, the DM said, “We will do whatever is necessary to save Baba’s life.” According to Patanjali Yogpeeth, only two people – Ramdev and his close aide Acharya Balakrishna are on fast, Sundaram said.

Ramdev defends army statement
Defending his statement about building an “army” to tackle future police crackdown, Ramdev said his statement was taken in the wrong context.

“I am not training Naxals or Maoists but people who will fight for this country,” Ramdev told reporters in Haridwar. The yoga guru said that People should not take his statement in the wrong context. “Twenty youths from each region of the country will come forward for the fight against corruption,” he said.

Ramdev clarified that a force of 11,000 people he intended to build would not be an armed force but a group of “non-violent nationalist youths” capable of defending themselves and people from corruption and the evil system.

The ugly face of ads at Civil

Civil superintendent unaware of advertisements put up at OPD building and consulting rooms, promises action

The advertisements relating to medicine OPD, ortho OPD and skin OPD are put up inside the building and even in the consulting rooms of doctors


Pharmaceutical companies have used the Civil Hospital campus to advertise their products, clearly flouting norms. While the Civil authority is unaware of any such activity, some doctors have wittingly or unwittingly allowed the companies to promote their medicines even in their consulting rooms.

The OPD building on the Civil campus has become hive of activity for medical representatives of pharma companies visiting the doctors daily and even advertising their products.

The adverts relating to medicine OPD, ortho OPD and skin OPD are put up inside the building and even in the consulting rooms of doctors. Are these averts placed with the doctors’ permission? And if so, do these doctors prescribe medicines of these companies? All these raise questions of propriety.

When asked if MRs are allowed on the campus and if they can advertise their products, Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital M M Prabhakar said, “Medical representatives of different companies do come to our hospital for their promotional activities, but we don’t buy anything from them. No company can advertise on the campus without our permission and we haven’t given permission to anyone to do so.

When told that such ads were pasted at the OPD building and the consulting rooms, Prabhakar said, “I will inquire into it and get them removed immediately.” Civil Hospital receives all its stock from Central Medical Store in Gandhinagar.

Regarding the procurement of medicines, the Civil chief said that they received all their medicines depending on their requirement from the government. And if they needed to buy any medicines from outside, they can do so according to the rate prescribed by the government, he said.

On-the-spot fine for smoking in public

Teams of AMC officials move around city in two vans, fine those caught smoking in public anything between Rs 50 and Rs 500

It is illegal to light up in public spaces and workplaces. Everyone knows this, but few put it in practice. To ensure that smoking in public is snuffed out, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has decided to fine violators on the spot. Two teams of AMC officials have been handling this task since June 1. Moving around the city in two vans, they are penalising offenders anything between Rs 50 and Rs 500.


Hitesh Pandit and Sanjay Sanghala (right) were caught outside H K Arts College. They had come to submit admission forms Till date, the teams have visited more than eight areas and fined over 500 offenders. “After fining offenders, we educate them about the harms of smoking. We also teach them about the ill-effects of consuming tobacco in other forms like gutkha and pouches (padiki),” said an AMC official.

Mirror accompanied the team during its drive in Navrangpura on Wednesday and found that most offenders were youngsters who had come to apply for admissions to colleges. “They were trying to show off. Most youths get addicted to tobacco or pick up smoking due to peer pressure. It is important to teach them the ill-effects of smoking,” said Ashwin Upadhyay, who heads the team.

To give more teeth to the team, two policemen are likely to join the anti-tobacco team. “We have written to the Commissioner of Police for two police sub-inspectors. We expect them to join us in the next few days,” said Upadhyay.

Health committee chairman Suresh Patel said, “Our aim is not just to penalise those smoking in public. We want the offenders to learn how their addiction harms them as well as those around them.” At present, the teams have been scheduled to roam city streets for next three months.The initiative has been taken in association with the state health department.