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Arvind Kejriwal launches his 'Aam Admi' Party
Report dated 26/11/2012 @ 7:34 PM

Arvind Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan have launched themselves as a political party called the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The introduction was made at a press conference during which the party promised the empowerment of the common man, decentralisation of power, law-making through referendum and other ambitious plans of systemic change in their drive to create an alternative to a 'corrupt' political establishment. The launch came after a meeting of over 300 people during which its constitution was adopted and a 23-member national executive elected of which only 2 are women. Kejriwal said they hoped to bring in more people to make the national executive more representative of women, youth, minorities and diverse sections. The AAP plans to make its maiden electoral foray in next year's Delhi polls and are moving with urgency to do so, by launching a membership drive inviting all 'aam admis' to join the part as founding members, and an event has been planned at Jantar Mantar. Congress accused them of Intellectual Property Rights theft saying the AAP was a rip off on their platform. The AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh said of activist/politician Kejriwal that it reflected his intellectual bankruptcy.
Mumbai's surveillance network still pigeon holed 4 years after 26/11
Report dated 25/11/2012 @ 8:37 PM

It's been 4 years since the 26/11 terrorist attack on Mumbai and still the proposed security video surveillance network remains wrapped in delays that have raised the initial estimated cost from Rs.300 crore to Rs.864 crore. More importantly Mumbai remains vulnerable with just 100 cameras installed to regulate traffic movements, 40 percent of which do not work. A request for proposals put out by the state government garnered 31 responses from companies who asked for answers to queries to clarify the requirements. These queries are now being studied and cleared, a task that one senior government official said has been a time-consuming task. That apart the bidding process had to be cancelled after a controversy that led to the appointment of a high level committee, that recommended a fresh tendering exercise. Also Mumbai police have to update their data. It is still not known when the project will see it's kick off let alone the completion date.
IPLs Lalit Modi alleges attempts on his life
Report dated 24/11/2012 @ 4:27 PM

In a book called 'Bookie Gambles Fixer Spy: A Journey to the Heart of Cricket's Underworld' written by British Journalist Ed Hawkins, former Indian Premier League commissioner Lalit Modi says he has survived three attempts on his life for refusing to fix matches. Modi who lives in London and was sacked from the IPL by the BCCI in 2010 over accusations of corruption and money laundering, told Hawkins of the assassination attempts by the underworld in Mumbai, South Africa and Phuket. He also said spot-fixing is rife globally, but almost impossible to prove. Three Pakistan players, Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif, as well as their agent Mazhar Majeed were last year found guilty of spot-fixing during the 2010 Test against England, and were jailed. In June uncapped Indian fast bowler T P Sudhindra was handed a life ban by the Indian cricket board for spot-fixing in a local match and four other domestic players were also penalised. All information gathered by Hawkins when researching the book have been passed to the International Cricket Council's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit.
Action against officers who arrested women for Facebook post
Report dated 24/11/2012 @ 4:26 PM

The Inspector General of Police, Konkan Range has ordered departmental action against the police officers who arrested two women from Palgarh, near Mumbai over a Facebook post, calling the arrest unjustified. The women had posted questioning the rationale behind Mumbai shutting down over the death and funeral of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray. It is reported that the Thane officer who ordered the arrests disobeyed orders from seniors, in an attempt to garner support for his actions.
Pakistan terrorist Ajmal Kasab hanged in Pune
Report dated 22/11/2012 @ 8:19 PM

The lone surviving Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist involved in the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, 25, has been hanged to death in Pune's Yerawada jail. The prison authorities were tight-lipped about details of the execution that was shrouded in secrecy. It is said Kasab was nervous but quiet when he was taken from his cell, and when Kasab was asked for his last wish, he said he wanted to meet his family. He then prayed, saying Allah, please forgive me, this mistake will not happen again. Before the hangman pulled the lever Kasab babbled incoherently. His body was buried in a grave on the prison premises as there were no claimants. Authorities in Mumbai said the Pakistan government was kept informed about the execution. Kasab had exhausted all legal remedies available to escape the execution with President Pranab Mukherjee's rejection of his mercy plea following the advice of the Union home ministry. Both the central and Maharashtra governments spent around Rs.29.5 crore to house Kasab and provide security, medications and other basic conveniences during his confinement in a Mumbai prison. Several crores were also spent to build a bullet and bomb proof cell for Kasab that was connected by a tunnel fortified with iron walls and ceiling to ward off any attempted terrorist strike. A group of Shiv Sena workers called out slogans 'Vande Mataram' outside the Yerawada jail, hailing the death of Kasab. Kasab was one of ten terrorists from the Pakistan based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba who came to Mumbai to carry out their dastardly strikes in which 166 people were killed during the 60-hour seige that began on November 26, 2008.

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