Jaya set to storm Chennai

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VOL. XXXII NO. 141 H CHENNAI H TUESDAY 15.4.2014 (EVENING) H OTHER STATIONS WEDNESDAY 16.4.2014 (MORNING) H 8 PAGES Rs. 4.00 H Regd. No., TN/CC(S) Dn. / 223 / 12-14, RNI No: 33810 / 82
House
burgled at
Sembium
NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 15:
A break-in occurred at a house
in Sembium here yesterday. The
burglars made away with 15
sovereigns of gold and Rs five
lakh cash.
Police said, Murali Mohan, a doctor
working with Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, returned from
work last evening to find his house
burgled. The CCTV installed at the
building’s entrance has recorded
four suspicious men walking into the
apartment.
According to police sources, the
men broke open the front door with
a saw blade, and made away with
gold and cash.
The building is said to have public
notices alerting people of ‘wanted
criminals’ roaming in the area.
Residents have complained that
due to the forthcoming elections,
police bandobust is not regular in
arterial areas as these.
A case has been registered with
the Sembium police, following Murali
Mohan’s complaint.
ighting for credibility after being left devastated by a
spot-fixing scandal, the glamorous but controversial
Indian Premier League will roll out its
seventh edition in Abu Dhabi from tomorrow with the
promise of putting cricket first while keeping the drama
and glitz to a bare minimum.
Defending champions Mumbai Indians, captained
by Rohit Sharma, will square off against 2012 winners Kolkata Knight Riders, led by veteran opener
Gautam Gambhir, in the event-opener at the Sheikh
Zayed Stadium.
The UAE is hosting the high-profile T20 event’s first
leg from 16 to 30 April owing to a clash of dates with the
Indian general elections and security concerns emanating from that. The tournament will return to India on 2
May after being assured of security in States where
voting would be over by that time.
The razzmatazz, which has made IPL a magnet for
both the fans and the cricketers world over, is not expected to just vanish because of the unsavoury scandal
but the organisers have promised to tone down the
glamour bit.
To start with, there would not be any opening ceremony
this year, replaced by a gala dinner for the teams where
Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, co-owner of the
Kolkata Knight Riders franchise, is one among the stars
who is expected to perform.
Jaya set to storm Chennai
q Changes made to AIADMK supremo’s TN tour schedule
q To campaign at 15 places in city
NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 15:
AIADMK general secretary and
Tamilnadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa will carry out her election campaign at 15 places in the city from 19
to 21 April.
According to a release from the
AIADMK headquarters here, certain
changes have been made to the
whirlwind tour of Jayalalithaa, who
has been visiting various parts of
Tamilnadu from 3 March.
Earlier, she was scheduled to tour
Chennai for two days-- 19 and 21
April. Now she will reach out to the
city voters for three days and elaborate details of her campaign have
been unveiled.
As per the latest schedule, she
will address rallies at Krishnagiri
and Dharmapuri on 17 April. While
the Krishnagiri meeting will take
place at Poosaripatti Koot Road
and Varattanampalli Main Road,
Earlier, she was
scheduled to tour
Chennai for
two days — 19 and 21
April. Now she will
reach out to the city
voters for
three days.
the Dharmapuri rally will happen
at Dharmapuri Pennagaram Road.
Starting 19 April, she will
s t o r m v a r i o u s parts of Chennai
for three days.
On 19 April, she will meet voters
in Alandur Assembly constituency, which is facing by-election.
She will address voters near
MGR Statue at Nanganallur,
Alandur Taluk Office and Alandur
Court. On the same day, she will
also campaign in Central Chennai Lok Sabha constituency. She
will meet voters at Razak Garden
junction, Choolai post office, Wall
Tax Road junction and Triplicane
High Road.
On 20 April, she will campaign in
North Chennai Lok Sabha constitu-
Treat transgenders
as third sex: SC
q ‘They have equal rights to social acceptability’
New Delhi, Apr 15:
In a landmark judgement, the
Supreme Court today has given
recognition to transgenders as the
third gender. The apex court has
asked the Centre and state governments to treat them as socially and
‘economically backward classes’, to
enable them to get reservations in
jobs and education.
The court has also asked govts
to grant them all facilities including a voters ID, passport and
driving licence.The Centre and
States were also directed to
take steps for bringing the community into the mainstream by
providing adequate healthcare,
education and employment.
A bench of Justices K S Radhakrishnan and A K Sikri directed the
government to take steps for granting recognition to transgenders as
a separate third category of gender
after male and female.
F
Stage is set
The apex court said that
transgenders were respected
earlier in the society but
situation has changed and
they now face discrimination
and harassment
The bench also said they are the
citizens of the country and have
equal rights to education, healthcare and employment opportunities
like other people belonging to male
and female gender.
The apex court expressed concern over transgenders being
harassed and discriminated in
the society and passed a slew
of directions for their social
welfare.
The court said the Centre and states
must work to raise awareness on
them through social welfare schemes.
The apex court said that transgenders were respected earlier in the
society but situation has changed
and they now face discrimination and
harassment.
It said that section 377 of IPC is
being misused by police and other
authorities against them and their
social and economic condition is far
from satisfactory.
The bench clarified that its verdict
pertains only to eunuchs and not
other sections of society like gay,
lesbian and bisexuals who are also
considered under the umbrella term
‘transgender’.
The bench said they are part and
parcel of the society and the government must take steps to bring them
in the main stream of society.
The apex court passed the order
on a PIL filed by National Legal
Services Authority (NALSA) urging the court to give separate
identity to transgenders by recognising them as third category
of gender.
Welcoming the Supreme Court
decision, Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi, transgender rights activist
said, ‘the progress of the country
is dependent upon human rights
of the people and we are very
happy with the judgement as
the Supreme Court has given us
those rights.’
ency. She will meet people at Thiruvottiyur Theradi, Manali High Road
junction, Sathyamurthy Nagar and
Peravallur Junction.
On 21 April, the last day of her
nearly two-month long tour of the
State, she will address voters in South
Chennai Lok Sabha constituency.
She will speak at Kandhanchavadi
Kaliamman Koil Bus Stop, Five Lights
in K K Nagar, MGR Nagar market and
T Nagar bus stand.
Jayalalithaa on Sunday spoke
at Karur and Perambalur, where
she took at both the BJP and the
Congress.
Slamming Congress, DMK and
BJP for their ‘betrayal’ of the State
on the vexed river water dispute,
she asked the State electorate to
give a firm drubbing to the candidates of all three parties, saying
they should lose deposit in the 24
April Lok Sabha elections.
(complete coverage on page 3).
SCs shocker
to Kejriwal
New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI):
The Supreme Court today declined
to stay the proceedings in the trial
court in a defamation case filed
by Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal’s
son Amit against former Delhi CM
Arvind Kejriwal and AAP leaders
Shazia Ilmi, Prashant Bhushan
and Manish Sisodia.
A bench comprising justices H L
Dattu and S A Bobde did not accept the submission of AAP leaders’
counsel Jayant Bhushan that till the
disposal of the petition in the apex
court, the court proceedings should
be stayed.
The bench said it can only expedite
the hearing of the matter in the apex
court and posted it for 22 July.
Earlier, on 7 February, the Supreme
Court had issued notice to Kejriwal
and other AAP leaders. The Delhi
High Court had on January 16 had
refused to quash defamation proceedings against AAP leaders but
had told the trial court to consider
their discharge plea.
Challenging the order, Amit Sibal
had said that the High Court cannot
confer the power to discharge on a
Magistrate in a triable case instituted
on a private complaint.
Modi to campaign
in TN for 2 days
NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 15:
BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will hit the campaign trail for two days in different parts of
Tamilnadu from tomorrow.
Three days after he addressed a public rally
in Chennai in support of NDA candidates on
Sunday, Modi will come to the State again
tomorrow in a private flight. He will proceed
straight to Krishnagiri, where he will address
a rally.
Modi will also take part in a public meeting
organised at Salem tomorrow where he will
seek votes for DMDK candidate Sudheesh.
In the evening, Narendra Modi will take part
in a huge public meeting organised by the
Narendra Modi
BJP at Coimbatore. He will campaign for the
BJP candidate C P Radhakrishnan. He will have an overnight stay at
Coimbatore.
On Thursday, Modi will hit the campaign trail in Erode and
later move south to Ramanathapuram. During his two-day tour
in Tamilnadu, Modi is expected to meet the leaders of alliance
parties including Vijayakanth (DMDK), Vaiko (MDMK) and Anbumani
Ramadoss (PMK).
Elaborate security arrangements are being made in view of Modi’s
visit. At the party level, festoons and banners have been put up at
various points to welcome Modi.
IPL bandwagon set for Middle-East jaunt
C SHYAM SUNDAR
go ahead, probably bringing a
time for bonding. All the teams der the scanner for non-cricketing will be led by George Bailey.
are said to be preparing in right reasons since the middle of last The enigmatic Virender Sehwag,
Chennai, Apr 15: s m i l e o n t h e f a c e s o f z i l l i o n s
earnest and it should be said they year’s tournament. However, they who has been out of the national
A lot of water has flowed under o f fa n s .
are evenly matched, on paper.
will hope to shrug that off and side for a while now, will look
Now that the tourney is set to unfold
the bridge since Mumbai Indians
Rohit Sharma, who led Mumbai focus on playing winning cricket. to bounce back with a strong
won the top prize in the sixth edition in Abu Dhabi tomorrow, focus would
Indians to triumph last year, has Led by the astute M S Dhoni and performance and provide impeof Indian Premier League (IPL) in be on on-field action rather than offcome a long way since and is now a coached by Stephen Fleming, the tus to the side that has Mitchell
2013. The high-profile tournament field matters. A mouth-watering clash
pivotal part of the national side and ‘Men in Yellow’ boast of a formida- Johnson and a slew of gamehas been embroiled in several between holders Mumbai Indians
a man whom the team would look ble squad and will be among the changers.
controversies and the court had to and the 2012 champs Kolkata Knight
up to for insipiration. The franchise sides to beat.
Royal Challenger Bangalore
intervene, in an effort to restore the Riders will set the ball rolling as the
cricketers gear up for seven weeks of
chose to retain five players including
The team has seen a rejig of sorts have threatened more often than
sport’s glory.
Rohit and made a few interesting with the think-tank not being able not but faltered when it mattered
The spot-fixing/betting scan- hit-and-giggle stuff.
The UAE is hosting
acquisitions. Kieron Pollard, an to retain some of its core including in previous editions. This time
The UAE is hosting the high-profile
dal that broke out in the middle
the high-profile T20
influential player in the MI line-up, Mike Hussey and M Vijay but Flem- they have a fearsome batting unit
of the IPL in 2013 has contin- T20 event’s first leg from 16 to 30
will be expected to play at optimum ing is confident that the new faces led by Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle,
event’s first leg from
ued to make news with CSK’s April owing to a clash of dates with the
following return from injury and will step up.
The addition of Yuvraj Singh to
now-disowned team principal Indian general elections and security
16 to 30 April owing to level
the team’s cause would be helped
Rajasthan Royals, the other team the side which also boasts of AB
Gurunath Meiyappan and his concerns emanating from that. The
a clash of dates with
by the inclusion of veteran Aussie which faced the heat in the match- de Villiers makes them that much
shenanigans continuing to cast tournament will return to India on 2
Mike Hussey.
fixing issue, will be without the more stronger. The bowling may
a shadow over the tournament May after being assured of security
the Indian general
in States where voting would be over
The bowling line-up though missing talismanic Rahul Dravid, who has not be as menacing as the batting
and the team.
elections and security
the fiery Mitchell Johnson would be retired from all formats, but boasts but they do possess the skills to
T h e r e w a s a n a i r o f u n c e r - by that time.
concerns emanating
well served by Lasith Malinga and a quality squad, capable of surpris- test the best.
The very fact that a part of IPL-7 is
tainty over the very conduct
the spin duo of Harbhajan Singh and ing the best.
Among the others, Delhi Dareof IPL-7 owing to the various being staged in the UAE makes it a
from that
Pragyan Ojha.
Kings XI Punjab seems to have devils and Hyderabad, last year’s
issues surrounding it, includ- level playing field with the home adCSK, two-time champs and one gained the most during the auc- surprise package, will be expected
ing corruption. However, the vantage factor being negated for the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh,
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0000.
7
2 TUESDAY
15 APRIL 2014
CHENNAI
Election
Just give me one chance to clean the
system. I will set up special courts under supervision of the Supreme Court
to try all the tainted MPs and MLAs,
that too within one year time limit.
— BJP Prime Ministerial
candidate NARENDRA MODI
No one in my family would ever stop
me from contesting an election. My
brother, mother and husband would
wholeheartedly support me if I wanted
to contest.
— PRIYANKA GANDHI
Yes, if the Prime Minister had used
his authority behind the reforms
proposal, the scam could have been
avoided,
— Former Coal secretary
P C PARAKH
2014
Sharad Yadav’s
sudden love for Joshi
Patna, Apr 15 (PTI):
Former NDA partner
JD(U) President Sharad Yadav endorsed
remarks of senior BJP
leader Murli Manohar
Joshi that there was
no Modi wave in the
country.
‘Joshi is an old friend.
MURLI MANOHAR
I know that he is one
JOSHI
person who speaks
truth,’ Sharad Yadav told reporters in
Gaya while reacting to remarks of the
veteran BJP leader.
‘Though I have no personal talk with
him over the issue but considering his
personality I could say he speaks truth,’
the JD(U) chief said.
Sharad , who is contesting Lok Sabha
seat from Madhepura, said despite
publicity blitzkrieg no ‘Modi wave’ was
visible anywhere in Bihar and other parts
of the country.
But, BJP’s new ally LJP, disagrees
with them. LJP President Ramvilas
Paswan told reporters at Patna Airport
that its true that the wind was blowing in
favour of BJP whose representative in
the present Parliamentary election was
Narendra Modi.
Another BJP ally, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) sought to play safe.
‘Its internal matter of BJP,’ RLSP Chief
Upendra Kushwaha said. He, however,
said that a change was very much in the
17 and 18.
Similarly, Bharat Masala, a spice
manufacturing unit has offered 10
percent discount on any purchase
from ve stores on polling day.
‘In order to get these discounts, the
voters need to carry their electoral
photo-identity card to the stores and
restaurants as proof of their age and
must show the indelible ink mark on
their ngers,’ said a press release by
the district election ofce.
DEO and Cuttack collector Girish
air against Congress at the Centre and
Nitish Kumar in the state. BJP leaders
Sushil Kumar Modi and Giriraj Singh
toed the party line and sought to play
down the controversy over Joshi’s remarks and asserted that the party was
upbeat to make Narendra Modi Prime
Minister of the country.
New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI):
Congress demanded that all expenses incurred
on publicity by BJP should be included in the election expenditure of Narendra Modi and not his party.
In a memorandum to the Election Commission,
Congress said the manner in which the campaign
is being managed shows that it's a Modi campaign
and not an election campaign of BJP.
'It is submitted that since the entire campaign is
to seek vote for Narendra Modi, the expenditure
incurred is unauthorised and the total expenditure should go in his account; alternatively the
proportionate expenditure of the total expenditure
incurred by him or BJP for such campaign should
SONY PIX
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Sonnathu Nee Thane
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Mannan Magal
Chithiram Pesuthadii
Super Scenes
Adhae Kangal
English News
Tamil News
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Uravugal Thodar Kadhai
En Kanavan En Thozhan
Mahaangalum Adhisayangalum
Puthu Kavithai
Mahabharatham
Thayumanavan
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Saravanan Meenatchi
Super Singer Junior (Season 4)
Ofce
Puthu Kavithai
Time Pass
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SUN TV
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Pathumani Kathaigal - Edhir
Veettu Paiyan
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Partha Gnabagam Illayo
Romapuri Paandiyan
Surya Puthiri
News Headlines
Madippakkam Madhavan
Kaliyugam
Sirippu Varudhu
Telebuy
Close Encounters
Playlist
Jai Ho
T20 Triumphs
Playlist
Star Power
BPL Goals of the Month
Close Encounters
Playlist
Jai Ho
T20 Triumphs
BPL Goals of the Month
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Star Power
Playlist
STAR SPORTS 2
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T’S
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E
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A
How to Train Your Dragon
Slumdog Millionaire
The Expendables
Kung Fu Hustle
HBO
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What Women Want
Upside Down
The Twilight Saga: Twilight
Beautiful Creatures
MOVIES NOW
05:10 PM Pandorum
07:15 PM Vampires: The Turning
09:00 PM Harry Potter and the Chamber
of Secrets Anacondas: The
Hunt for the Blood Orchid
2691
Year
1977
1980
1984
1985
1989
1991
1991
1996
1998
1999
2004
2009
Member
Party
Sambhajirao Kakade BLD
Shankarrao Patil
Congress (I)
Sharad Pawar
Congress (S)
Sambhajirao Kakade Janata Party
Shankarrao Patil
Congress
Ajit Pawar
Congress
Sharad Pawar
Congress
Sharad Pawar
Congress
Sharad Pawar
Congress
Sharad Pawar
NCP
Sharad Pawar
NCP
Supriya Sule
NCP
NAAN SIGAPPU MANITHAN
Devi
Meenakshi
Abirami
Sathyam
Devi
Inox
Woodlands
Sangam
Albert
Pvr
Udhayam
Mayajaal
Bharath
Kamala
4
2
8
4
4
4
4
4
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22
2
4
Shows
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8
6 9
6
4
4
7
3
7
9
5
8
3
3
2
3
9
6
1
1 8
2
5
The object is to insert the numbers
in the boxes to satisfy only one
condition: each row, column and
3x3 box must contain the digits 1
through 9 exactly once: Easy nah?
go to his personal account in Vadodara Lok Sabha
constituency, where he is seeking votes,' the
memorandum said.
It also said certain organisations are campaigning for BJP candidates and using religion for the
purpose. 'No association, organisation, institution,
group or any other establishment, other than a
registered and recognised political party is competent and authorised to conduct political activities'.
'It has been observed all over the country that
such organisations are actively campaigning...
they are indulging in political activities without
following the norms prescribed by the EC...,' the
memorandum added.
Gen-next solar
plane to y
around the world
SUDOKU
7
6
5
Daund, Indapur, Baramati,
Purandar, Bhor and
Khadakwasala.
Cong asks EC to look into
BJP’s publicity expenses
S N said that the Election Commission has approved the measure to
encourage young voters to exercise
their franchise.
‘Discount offers for young and rst
time voters in hotels, restaurants and
retail outlets are also provided in other
parts of the country as well,’ he said.
Around 27,504 new voters in the age
group of 18-19 have enrolled in the
voters’ list this year for the Cuttack
Lok Sabha seat.
VIJAY TV
Assembly segments
Contesting from
Madhepura, Sharad said
despite publicity blitzkrieg
no ‘Modi wave’ was visible
anywhere in Bihar and
other parts of the country
MOVIES ON TV
JAYA TV
BARAMATI
It is one of the 48 Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra. The sitting MP and
daughter of NCP party chief Sharad Pawar,
Supriya Sule, is elded for a second time
from this LS seat.
‰JD(U) leader describes BJP veteran as ‘old friend’
How officials woo
youngsters to vote?
Cuttack, Apr 15 (PTI):
Reprising Chandigarh, discounts
in restaurants and retail outlets are
being offered by the district administration as an incentive to get young
people to vote in the Lok Sabha elections for the Cuttack seat.
Voters in the age group of 18-35
will get 15 per cent discount in bills
at Hotel Grand Residency here on
polling day, while Reliance Trend, a
retail outlet is offering 10 per cent
discount on every purchase for April
VIP VICINITY
MAAN KARATE
Albert
Abirami
Sathyam
Devi
Inox (Arcot Road)
Udhayam
Pvr
Sri Ganga
4
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4
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Show
Shows
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A
next generation solar-powered plane that will
y around the world for ve consecutive days
next year without using any fuel has been developed.
The solar plane, dubbed
Solar Impulse 2, will
circumnavigate the world
in March 2015.
Swiss pilots Andre
Borschberg and Bertrand
Piccard, who unveiled the
futuristic ying machine in
a ceremony, hopes to accomplish the rst around-theworld ight in a solar-powered aircraft.
Solar Impulse ofcials said the plane will take off from
the Gulf region, and will y over the Arabian Sea, China,
the Paci c Ocean, the US, the Atlantic Ocean and
Southern Europe or North Africa. Landings will be made
every few days to change pilots and to accommodate
outreach events with participating governments and
schools, ‘LiveScience’ reported. Today, we are one step
closer to our dream of ying around the world on solar
power, Piccard said. Solar Impulse 2 has a wingspan
that stretches 72 meters, longer than a Boeing 747
commercial jet.
According to
the company, the
wings are covered
with 17,000 solar
cells that power
the plane’s various
systems. The
upgraded aircraft
also features a
larger cockpit with
better ergonomic designs, which will help Borschberg
and Piccard live comfortably in the space during the
nearly weeklong ight. The plane will undergo a series
of test ights in May, followed by training ights over
Switzerland, the company said. Borschberg and Piccard
are aiming to begin their round-the-world journey in
March 2015. Last year, Borschberg and Piccard ew
a rst-generation prototype of the Solar Impulse plane
on a record-setting coast-to-coast ight across the US.
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Twit
Pick
TUESDAY
15 APRIL 2014
Mixed Bag
CHENNAI
Seminar on
higher studies
in France
Penning CEG’s pinnacle
NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 15:
Galaxy Education Consultants is
conducting a free seminar for students in Chennai on 19 April to create awareness on visa process and
guidance for them to pursue higher
studies in France.
According to a press release, the
programme will be hosted by
Galaxy Education Consultants managing director Srinivas Sambandam.
The seminar would focus on student
visa process and procedures, various
courses available in French universities, students admission process, job
opportunities after course completion
and scholarship programmes offered
by different universities.
The seminar will be held at Galaxy
Education Consultants, No 106/21,
Jawaharlal Nehru Road, 100 Feet
Road, Vadapalani, Chennai - 026.
For registration and details contact:
2372 1701/ 99622 44333.
Young authors throw light on India’s oldest technical institution
Coaching
classes for
TNPSC exams
NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 15:
Coaching classes for Tamilnadu
Public Service Commission (TNPSC)
exams will be conducted by Periyar
Coaching Centre in Vepery.
The exam will be held in June.There
are 2,342 vacancies in Group IV (Village
Administrative Officer) and 2,269 vacancies in Group II (A) services. Classes will
begin on 21 April and those interested
can call 044-2661 8056 / 2661 8366.
RAHUL LAHKAR
Chennai. Apr 15:
In 1794, astronomer and surveyor
Micheael Topping wrote to the East
India Company (EIC) requesting to
set up a survey school to train surveyors. The EIC gave its nod and
the school was established in Fort
Saint George, Madras with just 12
students. This was the origin of India’s
oldest technical institution, College of
Engineering, Guindy (CEG), says M
V Madhuvanthi, one of the authors of
the book, ‘CEG A Journey Through
Time (1794 - 2014)’.
Speaking to News Today about
the book, Madhuvanthi, a final year
student of Computer Science Engineering at CEG, says that the attempt
was to disseminate CEG’s 220 years
of glorious journey.
‘It was a team work to embark on the
idea. ‘I had a great opportunity to be
a part of CEG Tech Forum’s content
team and work together for the written
account,’ she says.
Madhuvanthi says that the college is
now in Guindy but its journey started
when East India Company began
trade in India. ‘Our attempt is to pen
those chronicles of CEG when civil
engineering college was started in
1858, mechanical engineering in
1880 and the college was shifted
from Chepauk to Guindy in 1920,’
she adds.
On the other aspects of the book,
the author says that the written account had many memories and suc-
The book ‘CEG A Journey
Through Time
(1794 - 2014)’ has
memories and
success stories of
students, teachers,
staff and interviews
of alumni
CEG students and authors of the book ‘CEG A Journey Through Time
(1794 - 2014)’ Sibi Adhithya Kumar and M V Madhuvanthi.
cess stories of students, teachers and
staff. The book contains interviews of
the alumni and each interview is very
interesting in sharing what alumni did,
what they liked, their favourite professors and their activities as students.
Twenty-one-year old Madhuvanthi
loves writing. ‘Working for the book
was a great learning experience
and I would like to take it forward.
I love reading and classical dance
AIADMK general secretary and Tamilnadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa addressing an election rally in Karur.
BJP is no different
from Cong: Jaya
‘No mention about Cauvery issue in manifesto’
NT Bureau / PTI
Karur / Perambalur, Apr 15:
AIADMK supremo and Tamilnadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has said the BJP was no different from Congress on
the emotive Cauvery issue. ‘With an eye on Lok Sabha seats
in the elections the BJP has not even mentioned the issue in its
2014 poll manifesto,’ she said in back-to-back election rallies
in Karur and Perambalur constituencies.
Slamming Congress, DMK and BJP for their ‘betrayal’ of
the State on the vexed river water dispute, she asked the
State electorate to give a firm drubbing to the candidates
of all three parties, saying they should lose deposit in the
24 April Lok Sabha elections.
Going down memory lane, Jayalalithaa reasoned that
she had quit NDA in 1999 on the Cauvery issue, after
her pleas for implementation of the interim award of the
Cauvery Tribunal by a body of officials with control over
Karnataka dams were not heeded to by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Instead, he had constituted Cauvery River Water Author-
ity with Prime Minister as its head and four southern state
Chief Ministers as members even as DMK was ruling
Tamilnadu then. ‘I opposed the Authority as it would be
of no use. Since the BJP declined to form an empowered group of officials, and that serving no justice for
Tamilnadu, I withdrew AIADMK from the government
and party’s support to NDA later,’ she said.
The Centre then approached Karunanidhi to get his approval for setting up of the Authority after which DMK aligned
with BJP and also participated in the Cabinet, she said.
Jayalalithaa’s attack, which came on a day when BJP leader
Narendra Modi is scheduled to address a public meeting in
Chennai, is the first direct one against the latter as opposition
parties including DMK and Congress have questioned
her election strategy of sparing BJP from any criticism.
While the chances of both Congress and BJP to form
government in the upper riparian state of Karnataka
were equal, neither could do the same in Tamilnadu and
therefore both parties had similar approach towards the
Cauvery issue, she alleged.
and being a part of this journey has
motivated me to continue writing and
blogging,’ the younger author says.
‘When I joined the college, I didn’t
know much about its background.
Later I came to know about the
college which introduced engineering in India and many other
facts about the institution. We
thought why not compile them together in a written account,’ says
DMK was defeated in
the 2011 Assembly
elections for some
problems here and
there.
— DMK president
M KARUNANIDHI
QQQ
(DMK treasurer)
Stalin or Karunanidhi have no right to
talk about the law
and order situation
in the State.
— State Minister
SELLUR RAJU
QQQ
Companies controlled indirectly by DMK
and AIADMK leaders
are making massive
profi ts through supplying liquor to the
Tamilnadu State Marketing Corporation
(TASMAC).
— Senior Aam
Aadmi Party leader
PRASHANT
BHUSHAN
Sibi Adhithya Kumar, co-author of
the book.
The 21-year-old final year student of
Electrical and Electronics Engineering says that the campus life inspired
him. You won’t find too many colleges
with heritage buildings amid lush
greenery like CEG campus. ‘I feel
proud to contribute to the college that
gave so much to me,’ he says.
Adhithya reads novels, plays cricket
and plans to take up civil services in
future. The management extended
full support for the work. It is a big
moment for all of us as six months of
hard work has come true, says the
young author.
The book published by CEG is available for sales in Chennai from next
month. ‘We will also put it up for sale
online,’ says Adhithya.
3
Emerging
trends in
hospital admin
NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 15:
Sankara Nethralaya Academy
is organising a two-day national
seminar on ‘Emerging Trends
in Hospital Administration’ here
on 9 May.
According to a press release,
the seminar would bring together senior level healthcare
experts from various regions to
share their thoughts, observations and steps taken by them
to improve patient flow and
enhance safety and work flow
processes leading to a great
patient experience.
The seminar will also focus on successful healthcare
strategies, proven patientcare techniques, quality standardisation tips, new hospital
management trends and an
overall road map to an effective healthcare system.
Chief executive officers, managing directors, presidents, general managers, heads of strategic
planning from hospitals/ health
sectors, risk management professionals, executives in-charge
of service quality, managers of
operation, facilities management,
nursing administrators, students
of management programmes and
others with an interest in hospital
administration can participate.
For more details and registration visit www.thesnacademy.
ac.in or contact A Mahalingam
at 97104 85295.
CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat and other senior leaders
of the party at a campaign meeting in support of the party’s North
Chennai candidate U Vasuki.
AIADMK activists issuing pamphlets at Washermenpet in support of
the party’s North Chennai candidate T G Venkatesh Babu.
Testing time for Dravidian parties: Raja
Chennai, Apr 15 (PTI):
Describing the BJP-led alliance in Tamilnadu as an ‘alliance of contradictions’, CPI National secretary D Raja wondered
how long it would hold together and claimed that the traditional Dravidian parties in the state were facing a testing time.
The CPI leader also asked why AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa was aggressive only against Congress and DMK and not
against BJP and claimed that it led to several political questions. ‘It (BJP-led alliance) is a combine of contradictory
forces. How long they would remain together, it is for time to tell us. They have contradictions and conflict among
themselves,’ Raja told reporters here, replying to a query.
‘This has come as a testing time for the Dravidian parties,’ said the leader, whose party has been riding piggyback
on the two traditional Dravidian parties - AIADMK and DMK-- in the past. The CPI and CPI (M) parted ways with the
AIADMK in the run up to the April 24 Lok Sabha polls over the issue of seat sharing.
‘..the Left is not responsible for whatever happened. It is AIADMK which brought such a position... to press the understanding with the Left parties. Why she did it? Why AIADMK took an about turn? It is for them to explain,’ he said.
Modi’s visit, a boost for cadres
q ‘NDA is a ray of hope in Tamilnadu’ q Gujarat CM praises L Ganesan
NT Bureau
regard. Has Siachen been traded or
Chenani, Apr 15:
surrendered?’
Maintaining an equal distance
‘Shezada’ & poverty
I pray by Gods grace whatever
from both the Dravidian parties (the
Taking a dig at Congress vice
AIADMK and DMK), BJP’s Prime
he thinks should happen, said
president Rahul Gandhi, Modi, said,
Ministerial candidate and Gujarat
actor Rajnikanth after Modi
‘Shehzada (Rahul Gandhi) was born
Chief Minister Narendra Modi, said,
visited him at his Poes Garden
with a golden spoon and therefore
‘both the parties spend their time in
residence on Sunday.
can never understand the problems
destroying each other and they not
Modi drove straight from
of the poor or even think of them.
interested in solving the problems of
Chennai airport to RaRahul wants to exploit the poverty
common man’.
jnikanth’s residence at Poes
in India to promote tourism. Modi
Addressing an election rally at AM
Garden and was closeted for
said he was born in a poor family
Jain College Grounds in Meenamand had suffered the pangs of povhalf-an-hour.
bakkam on Sunday, Modi said a vote
erty and hunger. ‘A new government
After the meeting Rajnikanth, said,
Modi calling on Rajnikanth at his ‘There is nothing political in our
for NDA is a vote for a new ray of hope
at the Centre would ensure housing
BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi along with leaders
residence.
in Tamilnadu.
with power and water supply for
meeting. He met me when I was
of the State unit of the party at a rally in Chennai on Suday.
every poor family in thecountry.’
He said, ‘NDA has emerged as
Everyone knows Modi is a in hospital and I invited him to
Time to create jobs
an alternative in Tamilnadu and
s t r o n g l e a d e r a n d a n a b l e come home and have a cup of tea
Attacking the 2009 Congress maniemergence of this strength is BJP alliance candidates in the state an explanation to the nation why Rs
administrator. He is my well whenever he is in Chennai and he
in the interests of the people of by calling upon people to make them 1,000 crore allocated for Nirbhaya festo which had promised jobs to 10
wisher and I am his well wisher. came today. I’m very happy.’
victorious.
Fund for protection of women re- crore youth, he said the UPA had genTamilnadu’.
Leaders of NDA in Tamilnadu
mained unused.
erated jobs for barely 1.5 crore youth, Pat for LG
Modi said a new government in Unplug PC
including
Dr Anbumani Ramadoss
Launching
a
tirade
against
Union
whereas
the
Vajpayee
government
Describing
South
Chennai
BJP
Is
PM
under
pressure?
power would resolve problems of
Narendra Modi said there was seri- had secured jobs for 7crore youth in c a n d i d a t e L G a n e s a n a s h i s (PMK) and ten candidates from NDA
fishermen in Tamilnadu, Gujarat and Fnance Mnister P Chidambaram,
good friend, Modi said, ‘He is alliance from constituencies including
Kerala. Fishermen in Kerala had been Modi said, ‘Mister recounting minister ous talk in social media sites that six years, Modi said.
a selfless good human being, South Chennai, North Chennai, Cenkilled by Italian marines, while their has run away from contesting the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was All are equal
Prime Minister andchief ministers of who has dedicated himself for tral Chennai, Sriperumbudur, Kancounterparts in Gujarat and Tamil elections as he is afraid of people’s about to compromise India’s strategic
Nadu were harassed and attacked anger at UPA regime’s misgovern- interests in Siachen under pressure all states should come together to form the development of the society. chipuram, Arani, Vellore, Arakonam,
ThiruvallurIndustrial
and Alandur
Assembly
ance
of ten
years’.
himLtd.,
an opa Team India
and work
unitedly by
for the
Published
byand
K. SriLanka.
Balakumar on behalf of
News
Today
Media (P) Ltd., from 85,
Mount
Roadcountry.
(GST Road),
Guindy, Chennai
600 032
and printed
him atPeople
Frontlineshould
Printersgive
Private
M-7, Thiru-Vi-Ka
Estate,
Guindy,
from
a foreign
‘Prime Minister
by Pakistan
attended
the
meeting.
betterment
of
the
country,
Modi
said.
portunity
to
serve
them’.
He
said
the
Finance
Minister
owes
has to22504000,
tell the truthFax:
to the
nation
in (Editorial)/2250
this
Chennai
600 032.
Ph: 4202
1111.
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1800
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Modi made
a special
appeal
for Editor:
all
What transpired at Rajni-Modi meet?
4 TUESDAY
15 APRIL 2014
Blend
WHAT NEWS TODAY PRINTS IS NEWS THAT COUNTS
T
Straw man
he recent controversy over two memoirs by insiders in the UPA
regime has once again confirmed what has been widely known
all along. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is a puppet in the hands
of the Congress boss Sonia Gandhi and others, including leaders
of various constituents of the UPA. What it says about Manmohan
himself is of relatively less significance than what it has actually
done to the institutional integrity and dignity of the constitutional
office of the Prime Minister. The latter stands duly diminished.
Thanks to the unseemly urge of Manmohan to stick to the prime
ministerial chair, come what may, even if it meant humiliating
himself and undermining grossly the majesty of that office, we
have had a grotesque arrangement, where an extra-constitutional
authority has openly usurped the powers of the highest executive
office in the land. Sanjay Gandhi was widely pilloried for being
the extra-constitutional authority in Indira Gandhi’s Emergency.
But our collective sense and sensibilities have so dulled that when
Sonia Gandhi and her son act as the extra-constitutional authorities,
there is little protest. We have come to accept the illicit arrangement
under which the formal holder of the Prime Minister’s office is
fully subservient to the head of the ruling party and her son. After
nearly ten years of this flagrant abuse of the constitutional system,
it is hoped the system of government will revert to its original order
after the 16 May electoral verdict.
Manmohans former media advisor, Sanjay Baru’s book, The Accidental Prime Minister documents how the real authority of the
Prime Minister vested with Sonia Gandhi, how ministers took
him for granted, feeling accountable to the Congress boss, or,
in the case of those belonging to the allies, to their respective
party leaders, how Manmohan took the path of least resistance,
content in sticking to the high office while being wholly unmindful of its constitutional demands. In other words, the nominated
Prime Minister failed to protect his high office. Here was a Prime
Minister who was not even allowed the minimum courtesy of
choosing his own key aides, with Sonia Gandhi nominating her
own favourites in vital positions in the PMO.
Small wonder, then, as Baru has recorded in his book, crucial
files were lugged to 10 Janpath for decisions by the de facto Prime
Minister, a charge denied pro forma by the PMO, though there are
few takers for that denial. There is a plethora of other evidence to
buttress the view that Manmohan took the path of least resistance
while ministers in his government ran riot, plundering the exchequer
for private greed. Even on the rare occasion a weak and wavering
Manmohan sought to prevent this broad daylight larceny of the
public purse he was overruled -- and he was happy merrily sticking to the kursi, instead of putting an end to this loot. A weak man
who would stick to the Prime Minister’s post, rather than prevent
the abuse of the government for private greed, Manmoahn clearly
had no strong principles.
As Baru says, the PM himself was clean but did not mind if his
colleagues dipped into the national till. But what use is a king who
does not raid the treasury himself, but looks on passively when his
‘courtiers’ do? This is the worst form of greed which probably has
inflicted far more damage on the constitutional system than even an
A Raja or a Pawan Kumar Bansal have. The conclusion from Baru’s
book is inescapable. It is unwise to separate political authority from
constitutional authority. The original diarchy, as practiced in the
British India, had a historical and administrative context. In free
India, its revival has proved dangerous for the health of the polity.
Sonia Gandhi wanted to have her cake and eat it too ---- appropriate
credit for any or all good work it may have done while shifting all
discredit for scams and mismanagement to others.
Indeed, the second memoir in a week, of former Coal Secretary P C
Parakh too endorses the broad picture of the government depicted in
Baru’s book. There were ‘limitations in which the PM functioned’,
as he was unable to counter vested interests in his own government
and party. Parakh suggests that the loss of Rs. 1.76 lakh crores
estimated by the CAG in the coal scam was ‘conservative’, that is,
the actual loss could be much higher, from the willful allocation of
hundreds of coal blocks and mines to hand-picked parties by the
Prime Minister when he himself was his own Coal Minister. Tellingly, Parakh wonders why Manmohan himself was not listed as an
accused in the case in which he and the noted industrialist Kumar
Mangalam Birla figured as accused. These stinging exposures of
the workings of the UPA Government by two insiders on the eve
of Manmohan’s certain retirement should serve as a warning to
the voters against electing another weak and unstable government.
After the 16 May verdict, a strong prime minister who is a leader
in his own right must tenant 7 Race Course Road for the next five
years. That is absolutely necessary for India to be able to not only
clear the enormous mess being left behind by the UPA but to return
the country on the path of high economic growth.
M
CHENNAI
You folks, chill!
ankind has always been the
travelling kind. The early men
kept seeking out newer places despite obvious difficulties like inhospitable terrain, lack of convenient
transportation, dearth of proper
places to stay and, more importantly,
no internet and Facebook to put pictures and show off and annoy the hell
out of friends and relatives.
It is the indomitable spirit to look
out for newer horizons that pushed
Christopher Columbus to set sail to
an unknown distant land. His was an
important discovery because the thousands of natives who were living there
all along didn’t have a clue that it was
America till Columbus arrived on their
shores and pointed to them the fact.
And then there was Ibn Battuta. The
Moroccan, who visited India during
Tuglaq regime, was a famed voyager
despite the fact that he never was able
to follow the tourist dictum of travelling light. He was born with a huge
baggage: His name: Which was: Abu
Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Abdullah
---- no, don’t stop. There is still a bit left
--- Al Lawati Al Tanji Ibn Battuta.
Good that there were no customs
and immigration system in place
there. Had there been one…
Officer: Abu Abdullah Muhammad
Ibn Abdullah Al Lawati Al Tanji Ibn
Battuta…hmmm seems to be a pretty
big entourage. Are you guys on an
official junket?
Swedish man’s
shortest obituary
‘I am dead’
LONDON:
In what may be the shortest obituary ever, the news of a 92-year-old
Swedish man’s death was published
in three simple words in a national
newspaper: ‘I am dead’.
Stig Kernell had instructed his
local funeral home in Tranas,
southern Sweden to publish the
advert on his death including the
simple message, his name, place
and date of death. He felt that was
all that needed to be said, his son
Lars-Ake Kernell told the Swedish
paper Expressen.
The aerospace historian and
transport technician died on
6 April. The unusual obituary
was published on Saturday in
Dagens Nyheter and Svenska
Dagbladet.
The modest message did not
pass unnoticed however and several newspapers carried the story
of the obituary over the weekend,
‘The Local’ reported. Kernell had
a pilot’s licence and had previously featured in the Guinness
Book of World Records for his
expansive collection of aviation
literature.
Kernell’s two sons then posted a
lengthier obituary to tell the story
of their father’s life in a more traditional form.
Batutta: (Looking around) Er, I am think science, after having inexplivoyaging single.
cably missed it all these years, has
Officer: (Picking up the walkie) Se- finally caught up with hill stations.
curity, send some reinforcements to I mean being at heights the sun
Terminal-3. We have rounded up a should, logically speaking, arrive
man trying to smuggle out some rare here earlier than anywhere else,
right? And that is what it is happenarchaeological names.
The point is the itch for travel and adven- ing at hill stations.
The last time we went to Shimla,
ture is deep inside all of us, and it comes
out as a raging rash during summer time the sun was out in its blazing glory
amidst all the surrounding heat and dust. much before seven in the morning
Now, as the temperature soars and and the place was sweltering as if
the sweat pours, if you intend to take it had apprenticed all night under, I
don’t know, Jaipur. But
a break and run away to
hardy tourists that we
some loftily-perched cool
were, we just ignored
hill spot, we have one
the minor inconvenimportant travel recomK BALAKUMAR
ience and continued
mendation for you: Don’t.
with the essential purAs the misty, moist
morning unfolds leisurely, dew-kissed pose of our travel, which was to pose
breeze lazily slithers into your plush for pictures in fetching sweaters so
room like a surreptitious snake and that we could convey to our friends
reach you under the blanket and wake that we indeed had a swell time in
you with its icy lick, while you, half-awake chilly clime. ‘You know the temperaand half-asleep, are sprawled, like a ture? It was in single digits. We could
satisfied lover, under the naughty tease barely move the fingers to operate
of a coquettish nature. This is the image the camera,’ we would say much
the mind conjures when you talk of hill later when back home while showstations and that is because it has been ing the pictures to our friends, who
conditioned all these years by travel bro- naturally go, ‘wow! That’s awesome,
chures, written by people who otherwise man’. Which of course has to be an
spend most of their life in stuffy cubicles. even bigger lie. It is not normal to be
Travel brochures are what blurbs are to happy seeing other people having
books: You cannot hope to read even a fun. Basically, all those ‘likes’ to your
vacation photos on FB are so fake.
single word of truth there.
Another thing that all hill spots have
Hill stations, in reality, are getting
worse than your every-day cities. I --- our founding fathers had the fore-
sight to mandate it under Article 73 (A)
of the Constitution ---- is a lake. Boating
or rowing on the placid waters on a cool
day is --- let us admit it --- seriously
exciting for exactly two minutes. After
which you start attacking the hot corn
or the peanut in your hand.
Hill stations also contain a large
chunk of nature, which are huge outdoor spaces of breathtaking beauty
containing barely walkable terrain. In
general, when you visit hill spots, you
will be basically going around in your
cars, honking at other vehicles, dissing the overall traffic, getting down
at chosen spots look around and go
‘look ma, what beauty’ and get back
to the vehicle and zip to the next spot
and repeat the routine.
We have made these sweeping
generalisations in the larger hope
that you will be convinced that it is
futile to travel to a hill station any
more. Quite frankly, we don’t think
there is anything interesting for you
at hill spots. Just cancel your booking. But don’t thank us. We are only
carrying out our duty. We needed to
discourage a lot of you as getting
hotel reservations for us at hill spots
was proving mighty difficult.
But don’t hold this against us. We
hope you will ‘like’ the photos that we
will doubtless post on our FB page.
e-mail the writer at
[email protected]
(Courtesy: Talk Media)
India voices concern
over
China-Pak
ties
q Opposes plans to build Economic Corridor through POK
BEIJING:
India voiced its concern to China over
its plan to build a multi-billion dollar
Economic Corridor to Pakistan through
POK, even as it assured Beijing of its
commitment to consolidate strategic
bilateral ties.
‘We have raised this issue and raised
our concerns not (only) this time, we
have made them known earlier. They
have noted our concerns,’ Foreign
Secretary Sujatha Singh told reporters
here after holding the sixth round of
Strategic Dialogue with her Chinese
counterpart Vice Foreign Minister Liu
Zhenmin.
The talks were held as the longrunning Lok Sabha elections, hailed
as the world’s biggest democratic exercise, got underway in India that will
form a new government at the Centre.
Asked whether the issue figured in the
talks today, she said it was raised this
time too.
The Corridor connecting China’s
Xinjiang with Pakistan’s Gwadar Port
with rail and road links raised concerns
in India as it is being built through
Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. China
argues that it would help redress the
The Corridor connecting China’s
Xinjiang with Pakistan’s Gwadar
Port with rail and road links
raised concerns in India as it
is being built through Pakistan
Occupied Kashmir. China argues
that it would help redress the
backwardness of the region
backwardness of the region.
The two sides held most cordial discussions enhancing the scope of the
relations which in recent years showed steadfast increase. On the border
dispute, Singh said it figured but at the same elaborated that the issue is
being discussed in detail by the Special Representatives who have held 17
rounds of talks.
Singh, in her opening remarks, said: ‘My visit here is to reiterate to the government of China that the government of India attaches the highest priority to
India’s relations with China. We are committed to consolidating our strategic
and cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity. The core of our vision
is of a good neighbourly relationship based on mutual trust and understanding and where we are sensitive to each other’s concerns and aspiration.’
‘As our Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) articulated on several occasions,
there is sufficient space in the world for both India and China to meet their
developmental aspirations within our respective processes of economic and
social development there is great scope for bilateral cooperation,’ Singh said.
Stating that the annual Strategic Dialogue is being held in less than a year,
she told Liu that ‘it is symbolic of the fact that our interactions are increasing’.
Eco-friendly diapers made
from jellyfish
JERUSALEM:
An Israeli start-up is developing a line of eco-friendly
super-absorbing nappies made from jellyfish. Cine’al Ltd
is turning the much-disdained sea creature suitable for use
in diapers, tampons, and medical sponges. Hydromash,
the dry, flexible, strong material is made from jellyfish
and is several times more absorbent than the ‘quicker
picker-upper’ paper towels, the ‘Times of Israel’ reported.
‘Right now, these items are made of synthetics, which
take hundreds and thousands of years to break down,’
said Ofer Du-Nour, chairman and president of Cine’al.
Researchers at the Tel Aviv University turned to
jellyfish, as the creatures are composed of 90 per cent
Pakistani brothers
return to cannibalism
water, live constantly in water and have bodies that can absorb and hold high volume of liquids without disintegrating
or dissolving. They developed a method that uses nanomaterials to convert the jellyfish into Hydromash, which
absorbs high volumes of water and blood in seconds.
The process also adds nano-particles which allow for
the addition of anti-bacterial and tissue-healing attributes,
flexibility, colours, scents and more, the report said. The
resulting product absorbs several times its volume and
bio-degrades in less than 30 days, Du-Nour said.
Du-Nour said the material is perfectly safe and offers
a potential to clear up landfills and cleanse the oceans
of the endless swarms of jellyfish.
Man buried alive at
home in search of gold
ISLAMABAD:
In a shocking case, two brothers in
Pakistan’s Punjab province, who were
found guilty of cannibalism in 2011,
have been caught with the head of a
young boy, a media report here said.
LAHORE:
said that a Sikh family before leaving for India during
Arif and Farman, who are from the
partition in 1947 had hidden the gold after digging it
Sir,
A
young
Pakistani
man,
in
search
of
gold
that
a
soothsmall town of Darya Khan in Bhakkar
up,’ he said. ‘Believing the words of peer, we carefully
sayer told him a Sikh family had hidden during partition,
While the amount of freshwater on the planet has remained fairly constant
district, were first arrested in April
s t a r t e d the digging about four years ago. Our efforts
was buried alive in a 30-feet deep well dug
over time continually recycled through the atmosphere and back into our
2011 after they were found eating
couldn’t bear the fruit despite digby
him
in
his
house.
cups the population has exploded. This means that every year competition
corpses that they stole from a local
ging 15-feet till a year ago. Zeefor a clean, copious supply of water for drinking, cooking, bathing, and
After a 36-hour operation, the rescue
graveyard. They had reportedly dug
shan again visited the peer who
sustaining life intensifies.
agencies found the body of Zeeshan
up and devoured from up to 150 boddirected him to continue digging,’
Qureshi,
22,
from
his
small
house
In much of the developing world, clean water is either hard to come by or
ies before they were finally caught.
Mustafa said.
in
Delhi
Gate,
the
old
city
of
Multan
a commodity that requires laborious work or significant currency to obtain.
The police conducted a raid at their
For the last three months, Zeeshan
district
of
Punjab,
some
350
kilometres
Wherever they are, people need water to survive.
house and recovered the head of a
had been engaged in the digging day and
from
here.
The challenge we face now is how to effectively conserve, manage, and
young boy. According to DPO Bhakkar
night and managed to dig 30-feet, he said. ‘On Saturday,
Zeeshan was living along with his parents and two
distribute the water we have.
Ameer Abdullah, Arif has been arrested
he entered the well but did not return,’ Mustafa said.
younger
sisters
in
a
two-room
house.
Zeeshan’s
father
CHANDRIKA, By email
and he admitted to eating human
Salman Sher, a neighbour, said: ‘We had informed the
Muhammad
Mustafa
told
police
that
his
son
was
jobless
flesh while his brother Farman is still
ADDRESS YOUR LETTERS TO :
police about the mysterious digging by Zeeshan and his
and the family was hardly making both ends meet.
on the loose, the Express News refather but no attention was paid to our complaint.’ Police
‘Some
four
years
ago,
a
peer
(soothsayer)
told
my
son
The
Editor,
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areGuindy,
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Mount
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that
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Water woes
Enterprises
CHENNAI
TUESDAY
15 APRIL 2014
5
Good show by Infosys
q Net profit up 25% q Employees to get pay hike q 7 to 9% growth predicted
NT Bureau / PTI
Mumbai, Apr 15 (PTI):
Infosys today reported 25 per cent increase in
net profit for the quarter ended 31 March 2014.
The software giant reported net profit at Rs
2,992 crore, a 25 per cent jump as compared to
Rs 2,394 crore in the same period last fiscal.
The company’s revenue for the reported quarter was up 23.2 per cent to Rs 12,875 crore from
Rs 10,454 crore in the year-ago period.
The Bangalore-based firm, which is on a revival path following the return of its co-founder
N R Narayana Murthy at the helm of affairs, has
forecast a conservative outlook of 7 to 9 per cent
revenue growth in dollar terms for the financial
year 2014-15.
Infosys has guided a revenue growth of 7-9
per cent (in dollar terms) next year and remains
firmly focused on building the growth momentum by making all the necessary investments
in its business, he added.
Meanwhile, buying was also seen at other IT
counters, where TCS was trading 1.49 per cent
higher, Wipro rose by 1.17 per cent and HCL
Tech was up 0.98 per cent.
Tracking gains in these stocks, the BSE
IT index was trading 1.91 per cent higher at
9,003.90 and was the top gainer among the 13
sectoral indices.
Money matters
In US dollar terms, Infosys’ profit grew 9.7 per
cent to $487 million in January-March quarter
of 2013-14 fiscal, while revenue rose by 7.9 per
cent to $2.09 billion.
What’s new
with MapR?
Chennai, Apr 15:
MapR Technologies, Inc., provider of the top-ranked distribution for
Apache Hadoop, has announced a strategic partnership with Databricks
and the addition of the complete Apache Spark technology stack to the
MapR Distribution. The Spark in-memory
processing framework provides speed,
programming ease and real-time processing advantages.
‘It has become clear that Apache Spark
offers a combination of high-performance
in-memory data processing and multiple
computation models that is well suited to
serving as the basis of next-generation
data processing platforms,’ commented Many organisations
research director, dataplatforms and
are currently
analytics, 451 Research, Matt Aslett.
running Spark in
‘MapR’s support for the complete Spark
stack, combined with its partnership with production in their
Databricks, should give Hadoop users MapR environments.
the confidence to start developing apTheir Spark-based
plications to take advantage of Spark’s
applications
benefit
performance and flexibility.’
Organisations are looking for easier and from the enterprisefaster ways to derive value from big data.
grade dependability
Spark improves both performance and
and performance
developer productivity: Spark provides a
general-purpose execution framework with
of the MapR
in-memory pipelining to speed up end-toDistribution
and from
end application performance. For many
applications, this results in a 5-100x perform- the ability to process
ance improvement.
real-time operational
Spark jobs can require as little as 1/5th the
data thanks to
number of lines of code. Spark provides a
simple programming abstraction allowing MapR’s Direct Access
developers to design applications as operaNFS interface.
tions on data collections (known as RDDs,
or Resilient Distributed Dataset). Developers
can build these applications in multiple programming languages, including Java,
Scala and Python and the same code can be reused across batch, interactive
and streaming applications.
How much is increment?
Infosys has raised salaries of its employees in the country by 6-7 per cent and by 1-2 per
cent for onsite workers, effective 1 April.
‘We have increased salaries. We have given salary hikes of 6-7 per cent for offshore and
1-2 per cent onsite employees, effective 1 April 1’, Rajiv Bansal said.
The increase in salaries and promotions that have been rolled out and the investment in
new visas is likely to impact the first quarter margins by about 3 per cent, he added.
Infosys added 10,997 employees (gross) in the last quarter of FY’14 and 39,985 during
the fiscal to take its total headcount to 1,60,405 people.
‘This is the second time we are giving compensation increase over the last nine months.
Nine months back, we had given a compensation increase of 6-8 per cent offshore’, Infosys
CEO and MD S D Shibulal said.
For FY 2014, net profit grew 1.5 per cent to
$1.75 billion, while revenue was up 11.5 per
cent to $8.2 billion over 2012-13 financial year.
Sequentially, Infosys’s net profit was up 4.1
per cent from Rs 2,875 crore in the OctoberDecember, 2013 quarter, while revenue was
lower by 1.2 per cent from Rs 13,026 crore.
For FY 2014, the net profit was up 13 per cent
at Rs 10,648 crore and revenue grew 24.2 per
cent to Rs 50,133 crore.
North America accounted for 59.8 per cent
of the revenues, Europe (25.2 per cent), India
(2.6 per cent) and Rest of the World (12.4
per cent)
Infosys added 10,997 employees (gross)
in the last quarter of FY 2014 and 39,985
employees during the entire fiscal to take the
total headcount to 1,60,405.
Infosys and its subsidiaries added 50 clients
during the quarter and 238 during the year, the
company said.
Its liquid assets including
cash and cash equivalents, available-for-sale
financial assets, certificates of deposits and
government bonds stood at Rs 30,251 crore
in Q4 FY’14.
VRS trend to
pick up further:
Experts
New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI):
Faced with rapid fluctuations in
business cycle and looking to optimise costs, Indian companies are
likely to press further with the Voluntary Retirement Schemes in the
coming quarters, say experts.
The implementation of VRS has
been most noticed among the electronics, drugs and pharmaceuticals,
pesticides and chemicals as well
steel and textiles industry, according
to research by MANCER Consulting.
The VRS has been mostly offered
to cut costs in wake of economic
slowdown, the experts said.
Over the last few months, Ashok
Leyland, Nokia, Tata Motors are
among the firms that have offered
VRS to its employees.
‘Companies in sectors that are vulnerable to business fluctuations are
investing in VRS as a part of their
restructuring strategy and as an alternative to pay cuts and mass layoffs,
to reduce the operating expenses
in their businesses’, Randstad India
CEO Moorthy K Uppaluri said.
‘We observe that, compared to
a decade ago, VRS have gained
momentum today due to frequent
business cycle fluctuations and
subsequent operational measures to
optimise costs’, Uppaluri said, adding
that the trend would continue to pick
up ‘till the business growth stabilises
over the next few quarters’.
Executive search firm Lighthouse
Partners managing partner Rajiv
Burman said: ‘The trend will indeed
pick up in the future’, and that mostly
mid-level executives will be targeted.
‘Flexible work
breeds innovation’
New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI):
More and more businesses are realising the importance
of nurturing some of their employees as entrepreneurs
to help drive growth and believe that flexible working is
a key to inspire such a practice, says a study.
The latest research by Regus, a flexible workspace
provider, showed that 48 per cent of business people
surveyed in country consider flexible working can breed
innovation among employees.
The survey canvassed
the views of over 19,000
senior business people
and owners in 98 countries.
‘With small businesses
accounting for over 90 per cent of businesses and
over three fifths of employment in most economies,
it is evident why entrepreneurship should be fostered
and nurtured’, Regus India chief operating officer Sahil
Verma said.
The respondents said entrepreneurship among employees can be nurtured through various measures
like updating programmes, mixing staff from different
functions and access to senior management.
The survey noted that 90 per cent of respondents
think entrepreneurship has increased in the past five
years in their sector.
About 14 per cent said that female entrepreneurship
and 11 per cent that serial entrepreneurship (people
who set up a series of new businesses, one after the
other) is on the rise.
‘Businesses have cottoned on to the powerful innovative drive of entrepreneurs too and are looking to
foster entrepreneurship among their own employees’,
Verma said.
Digital universe to
touch 44 trillion GB
New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI):
With growing Internet penetration and data usage, digital
universe is poised to touch 44 trillion gigabytes by 2020,
against 4.4 trillion gigabytes in 2013, and emerging markets
would account for 60 per cent of that, says a report.
Strong adoption of wireless technologies coupled with
the growth in Internet consumption, migration to digital TV
and increasing ‘sensors’ based machine to machine communication are playing a central role in explosive growth
in the digital universe, the report by tech giant EMC and
research firm IDC said.
Also, the digital universe is India is nearly doubling in size
every two years
will multiply
nine-fold
between
2013
Published
by K. and
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on behalf
of News
Today
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and 2020600
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6 TUESDAY
15 APRIL 2014
Sports
CHENNAI
‘Off-field issues distracting us’
q Hussey will be missed: CSK coach q Backs McCullum to do well
Dubai, Apr 15:
Chennai Super Kings coach
Stephen Fleming conceded to experiencing off-field ‘distractions’ going
into the IPL 7 season because of the
controversies surrounding the team
but hoped that his side would settle
down once the tournament begins on
Wednesday.
‘There’s a lot going on, I won’t lie.
There are a lot of distractions (leading up to the tournament). I think we
were all uncertain about how it was
going to play out,’ Fleming said at a
press conference.
‘We were desperate to get back into
the fold of the team. It has only been
six years but a lot has happened.
It’s nice to get back into a team environment, where you’re somewhat
cocooned, and get a bit more info.
All we can do is try and be consistent again but yes, it (controversy) is
there, we acknowledge it.’
Fleming said getting together as
a team could act as a balm for the
players’ nerves. ‘Getting back into
the team environment is the most
important thing. We’ll touch on the
controversies (in team talks), if we
think it’s an issue. But I think most
players are pretty relieved to be back
and playing together.’
Speaking about the changes in the
team this season, Fleming said, ‘I
think there are some pretty powerful additions to the side. Some new
tools to play around with this season.
There has been a shift in that we’ve
lost a great player in Michael Hussey,
but we’ve gone for some power players that on their day can win games.
We’ve learnt a lot in the last six years.
‘The players we’ve picked have
quality and experience, these guys
have done it before. Smith, in particular, has done it before for Mumbai.
McCullum’s the same - he didn’t have
much of a go at KKR, but we’re looking to get him an opportunity.
Team gets UST backing
UST Global, a California-based IT
CSK coach Stephen Fleming is hopeful that the new recruits will rise
to the occasion in IPL-7.
services and solutions company has
announced a sponsorship deal with
Chennai Super Kings.
The three year deal beginning in
April 2014 with the two-time Indian
Premier League champions adds
to UST’s growing portfolio of sport
sponsorship globally. The agreement
will see the UST Global logo appear
on the leading arm of the playing
shirt, and on the back of the team’s
helmets and caps.
CSK will begin their IPL 7 campaign
against the Kings XI Punjab at the
KP ready to test
fitness in warm-up
New Delhi, Apr 15:
Delhi Daredevils captain Kevin Pietersen will get a
chance to test the injured little finger of his right hand
tomorrow when the team plays a practice match to get
ready for their opening IPL encounter against RCB on
17 April.
Although his finger has been strapped for the past
one week, Pietersen has batted in the nets and also
faced throwdowns during the three-day session at the
Airforce ground in Palam before boarding the Dubaibound flight.
Team’s CEO Hemant Dua said that there is no such
information with him that Pietersen won`t be available
for the first match, contrary to reports in some quarters
Kevin Pietersen
Phelps ends retirement;
eyes Rio Olympics
Lee Yong-dae
BWF reverses
Olympic
champ’s ban
Seoul, Apr 15:
South Korea’s Olympic badminton gold medallist Lee Yong-dae
has had his one-year ban for
missing dope tests reversed,
the Badminton World Federation
announced on Tuesday, leaving
him free to compete at this year’s
Asian Games.
The 25-year-old won mixed
doubles gold at the 2008 Games
in Beijing and a bronze medal
in the men’s doubles in London
four years later. Another Korean
player, Kim Ki-jung, was also
banned for one year.
The BWF had given the players
one-year suspensions in January
for ‘violating the requirements
relating to filing whereabouts
information and resulting missed
tests under the BWF Anti-Doping
Regulations.’
Both players appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for
Sport (CAS).
LOCAL SPORTS
Easy win for
Hindustan
NT Bureau
Michael Phelps
Anti-Doping Agency’s drug testing
programme last November offering
the first hint that he was considering
a return to the pool in a bid for more
Olympic gold.
World swimming governing body
FINA requires athletes to be tested
for a minimum of nine months before
competing in sanctioned events.
Phelps was tested twice in the quarter
ended 30 September, according to
data released by USADA.
‘He went through the nine-month
probation period from FINA on the
drug testing to get back into the
competitive pool, so he is that serious
about (a comeback),’ said Bowman.
‘But honestly we don’t have
any expectations, we don’t know
where he is, we’ll find out a lot
more after Mesa and then we
Karachi, Apr 15:
Former captain Wasim Akram
believes that the time is right for Pakistani players to be allowed back
into the Indian Premier League as
it would help the event connect with
more fans in not just the subcontinent but all over the world.
Pakistani players have been
barred from participating in the
IPL since the 2008 Mumbai terror
attacks. They only took part in the
first edition of the event but since
than have been kept out for different reasons one of them being the
political uncertainty between the
two countries.
‘Whenever India and Pakistan
players have played either against
each other or together, they have
attracted lot of crowds and you get
plenty of support, especially in this
part of the world. I hope in near future Pakistani players will be able to
participate because we have great
talent,” Wasim said in an interview
to a Pakistan-based cricket website.
Wasim, who is also the bowling
coach of Kolkata Knight Riders, said
Pakistani players can add value to
any top T20 event.
IPL-7 Schedule
‘I have not received any information as yet that KP
won`t be playing the first match. I will get to know better once I reach there tomorrow. We have a practice
match tomorrow,’ Dua told PTI yesterday.
While there is a chance that Pietersen might not field,
there is a chance he might just bat to see how his little
finger is holding up. In case the doctor tells him to rest,
he might just directly play the first match on Thursday.
During team’s jersey launch at a city hotel, Pietersen
was asked about the protective padding and he seemed
dismissive about the state of the injury.
‘I sustained it in England but just trying to protect it
and not shaking hands with anyone. But it’s not a big
problem,’ he answered a query.
New York, Apr 15:
Michael Phelps, the most decorated
swimmer of all time, will come out of retirement next week, the clearest signal
yet that he is getting ready to make an
Olympic comeback at the 2016 Rio de
Janeiro Games.
The American, who has not competed since the 2012 London Games, will
headline an 24-26 April meet in Mesa,
Arizona, with fellow Olympians Ryan
Lochte and Katie Ledecky, USA Swimming said in a statement on Monday.
Phelps’s return to the pool touched off
a wave of excitement on social media
that added more fuel to speculation that
the 28-year-old is planning to compete
in Brazil, but his longtime coach did little
to fan the flames.
‘I don’t think anybody knows,’ Bob
Bowman told Reuters in a phone interview when asked if Phelps’s return to
competitive swimming was a step toward swimming at the 2016 Olympics.
‘Certainly he has done some training
and gotten into decent physical condition and thought it would be fun to try
some racing and we will find out next
week how that goes. ‘I don’t think we
can really call it a comeback yet. We’ll
see how next week goes and take it
from there. But (Rio) is a possibility
since he decided to consistently train.’
Already the most decorated Olympian of all time, Phelps rejoined the US
Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi
on 18 April.
Sajan Pillai, CEO of UST Global,
said: ‘I am delighted to be announcing
this partnership with the Chennai Super Kings on the eve of the seventh
edition of the IPL, Chennai Super
Kings are innovators and pioneers
of what has become one of the most
valuable sports leagues in the world,
and an ideal partner for our expanding business.
Rakesh Singh, president of Marketing at India Cements, owners of the
Chennai Super Kings franchise, said:
‘We are proud to be associated with
and happy to welcome UST Global as
one of our principal sponsors.
Time Pak players
are in IPL: Akram
can really think about what might
happen after that or won’t happen
after that.
Phelps retired from competitive
swimming after winning four gold
and two silver medals at the 2012
London Olympics to take his career
tally to 22, 18 of which were gold.
’Great for swimming’
He had repeatedly said before the
London Games he would not contemplate a comeback and consider
a return to compete at what would
be his fifth Olympics in Rio.
Retired US swimmer Dara Torres,
who has won 12 medals in five Olympics, was not surprised by news
Phelps was returning to competitive
swimming, saying it was something
she expected since the day he
retired.
UAE LEG:
April 16 Abu Dhabi: Mumbai Indians v Kolkata Knight Riders, 8 p.m
April 17 Sharjah: Delhi Daredevils v Royal Challengers Bangalore, 8 p.m
April 18 Abu Dhabi: CSK v Kings XI Punjab, 4 p.m
April 18 Abu Dhabi: Hyderabad v Rajasthan Royals, 8 p.m
April 19 Dubai: Royal Challangers Bangalore v Mumbai Indians 4 p.m
April 19 Dubai: Kolkata Knight Riders v Delhi Daredevils 8 p.m
April 20 Sharjah: Rajasthan Royals v Kings XI Punjab, 8 p.m
April 21 Abu Dhabi: Chennai Super Kings v Delhi Daredevils, 8 p.m
April 22 Sharjah: Kings XI Punjab v Hyderabad, 8 p.m
April 23 Dubai: Rajasthan Royals v CSK, 8 pm
April 24 Sharjah: RCB v Kolkata Knight Riders, 8 pm
April 25 Dubai: Hyderabad v Delhi Daredevils, 4 pm
April 25 Dubai: CSK v Mumbai Indians 8 p.m
April 26 Abu Dhabi: RR v RCB 4 pm
April 26 Abu Dhabi: Kings XI Punjab v KKR, 8 pm
April 27 Sharjah: Daredevils v Mumbai Indians, 4 pm
April 27 Sharjah: Hyderabad v CSK, 8 pm
April 28 Dubai: RCB v Kings XI Punjab, 8 pm
April 29 Abu Dhabi: KKR v Rajasthan Royals, 8 pm
April 30: Dubai: Mumbai Indians v Hyderabad. 8 pm
INDIA LEG
May 2 Ranchi: CSK vs KKR, 8 pm
May 3 Mumbai: Mumbai Indians v Kings XI Punjab, 8 pm
May 3 Delhi: Delhi Daredevils v Rajasthan Royals, 8 pm
May 4 Bengaluru: RCB v Hyderabad, 8 pm
May 5 Ahmadabad: RR v KKR, 4 pm
May 5 Delhi: Delhi Daredevils v CSK, 8 pm
May 6 Mumbai: Mumbai Indians v RCB, 8 pm
May 7 Delhi: Daredevils v Kolkata Knight Riders, 4 pm
May 7 Cuttack: Kings XI Punjab v CSK, 8 pm
May 8 Ahmadabad:
Rajasthan Royals v Hyderabad. 8 pm
May 9 Bengaluru: RCB v Kings XI Punjab, 8 pm
May 10 Delhi: Daredevils v Hyderabad, 4 pm
May 10 Mumbai: Mumbai Indians v CSK 8 pm
May 11 Cuttack: Kings XI Punjab v KKR, 4 pm
May 11 Bengaluru: RCB v RR, 8 pm
May 12 Hyderabad: Hyderabad v Mumbai Indians, 8 pm
May 13 Ranchi: CSK v Royals 4 pm
May 13 Bengaluru: RCB v Daredevils, 8 pm
May 14 Hyderabad: Hyderabad v Kings XI Punjab, 4 pm
May 14 Kolkata: KKR v Mumbai Indians, 8 pm
May 15 Ahmadabad: Rajasthan Royals v Daredevils, 8 pm
May 18 Chennai: CSK v RCB, 4 pm
May 18 Hyderabad: Hyderabad v KKR, 8 pm
May 19 Ahmadabad: RR v Mumbai Indians, 4 pm
May 19 Delhi: Daredevils v Kings XI Punjab, 8 pm
May 20 Hyderabad: Hyderabad v RCB, 4 pm
May 20 Kolkata: KKR v CSK, 8 pm
May 21 Mohali: Kings XI Punjab v Mumbai Indians, 8 pm
May 22 Kolkata: KKR v RCB, 4 pm
May 22 Chennai: CSK v Hyderabad, 8 pm
May 23 Mumbai: Mumbai Indians v Daredevils, 4 pm
May 23 Mohali: Kings XI Punjab v Rajasthan Royals, 8 pm
May 24 Bengaluru: RCB v CSK, 4 pm
May 24 Kolkata: KKR v Hyderabad, 8 pm
May 25 Mohali: Kings XI Punjab v Delhi Daredevils, 4 pm
May 25 Mumbai: Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals, 8 pm
May 27 Chennai: Qualifier 1, 8 pm
May 28 Chennai: Eliminator, 8 pm
May 30 Mumbai: Qualifier 2, 8 pm
June 1 Mumbai: FINAL, 8 pm
(Note: All times in IST)
Opposition to Beckham’s
Miami arena plan
Miami, Apr 15: Line’s head of govabout $200 million and concepts that have been discussed.’
Chennai, Apr 15:
include shops, hotels
An alliance of shipping interests and a ernmental affairs, inYet a growing list of opponents say
Hindustan Jammers thrashed SSBC 57 in a men’s preliminary league
and offices connected a stadium would jeopardize Miami’s
billionaire car dealer launched a news- cludes two chapters
match of the Rising Star BC State-level basketball tournament on Monday.
to the mainland by a aspiration of becoming a more attracpaper ad on Monday protesting retired of the International
Results: Men: Shalom BC bt Korattur BC 45-25; Hindustan Jammers 57
pedestrian bridge.
English soccer star David Beckham’s Longshoremen’s Astive choice for global shippers looking
(Paul 28) bt SSBC 13 (Vijayakumar 13); Ragavendra BC 48 (Sridhar 10 bt
plans for a soccer arena at the port of sociation and two ste‘This is one of four to distribute goods to the U.S. market.
ICF Institute 28 (Muthupandi 10); Ambattur BC 43 (Manivannan 10) bt PAKP
Miami, saying it threatens the city’s vedore companies,
sites under consid‘There are plenty of other places for
BC 25 (K. Balamurugar 10); Shalom BC 45 (N. Karthick 12) bt Korattur BC
plans to capitalize on the expansion whose workers load
eration, there’s noth- the stadium to be,’ Braman said in a
25 (Vimal 10); Egmore BC 40 bt NMBC 14.
and unload ships,
of the Panama Canal.
ing concrete, there’s telephone interview.
TNSJA office-bearers
no recommendation
‘We cannot jeopardize well-paying along with car dealer
Miami officials hope the port’s short
The following were elected office-bearers of the Tamilnadu Sports’ Journalpending,’ Miami-Dade distance from the Panama Canal, as
jobs, like crane operators, longshore Norman Braman, the
David Beckham
ists’ Association at its annual general body meeting held here on Sunday:
Mayor Carlos Gimenez well as $2 billion of planned infraworkers, and mechanics, for low-pay- one-time owner of
President: T N Raghu (Deccan Chronicle); Secretary: K Keerthivasan
said on Monday.
ing stadium jobs, such as concession Philadelphia Eagles.
structure upgrades, including cranes
(The Hindu); Joint Secretary: R Narayanan (The Hindu); Vice-Presidents:
Beckham last month unveiled desales,’ the Miami Seaport Alliance said
‘The plan doesn’t interfere with port to unload the ships and a $1 billion
Ashok Venugopal (New Indian Express); K Muthu (Ulaga Champion News);
in a full-page ad that ran in the Miami tailed plans for a 25,000-seat water- operations,’ said Neisen Kasdin, an tunnel connecting the port to major
Treasurer: Girish Narayanan (The Hindu); Executive Committee Members:
Herald and its sister Spanish-language front stadium on the island port with attorney for Akerman Senterfitt and highways, will increase its appeal.
R Venkatnarayan (The Hindu), C Santhosh Kumar (Deccan Chronicle),
sweeping views of downtown Miami.
paper,
El Nuevo
Herald.Road), Guindy, Chennai
for Printers
the Beckham
‘It Thiru-Vi-Ka
Neither Braman
nor Fox
would
say
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Guindy,
Krishna Kanta Chakraborty (Times of India), Indraneel Das (New Indian
Development of the 36-acre will likely generate more revenue for who paid for the two ads in Monday’s
The
group,
led
by
John
Fox,
who
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Express); VM Gurusamy (Vilaiyattulagam); A Perumal (The Hindu, Tamil).
has retired as Royal Caribbean Cruise (14.5-hectare) space would cost the port in the shorter term than other paper, worth nearly $25,000.
Mixed bag
CHENNAI
Civic issues
to the fore
V PADMASINI
Chennai, Apr 15:
Demand for cleaning the city’s waterways, removing encroachments
on its banks, upgrading Royapuram railway station and complaints
on corrupt practices followed by some Councillors were some of the
issues highlighted at an interactive session between candidates for
the South Chennai Parliamentary constituency and voters held at
Mylapore recently. The meeting was organised by Rajaji Centre for
Public Affairs.
Recalling how useful the Buckingham Canal had been, residents
grilled the candidates on what measures they were going to take to
prevent it from being used to dump sewage.
BJP candidate L Ganesan said that the plans and expert committee opinions regarding the cleaning of the canal were in place and if
enforced strongly the canal could be restored. His promises to the
electorate included solving water problem, fisherman’s issues and
establishment of a medical structure similar to the AIIMS at the State
level.
DMK candidate TKS Elangovan said that DMK had introduced the
Chennai Waterways Scheme wherein it had proposed to let in treated
water into the canal. This scheme was shelved when the DMK lost
power. This method if practised would relieve mosquito problems,
he said. Elangovan said he proposed to extend the MRTS line from
Tiruvanmiyur to Mahabalipuram if elected. He also said that he was
against fielding persons with criminal background in elections.
AAP candidate Zakir Hussain narrated how he practised garbage
segregation and composting at his home and factory and how it
helped to reduce the amount of garbage generated and thrown in
public places. If this was practised by people it would help to keep
waterways clean, he said.
He also said that whatever schemes the AAP would introduced
would be done after discussion with the voters. ‘Our governance will
be transparent and corruption free,’ he promised. AIADMK candidate
J Jayavardan did not attend the meeting.
A large number of devotees carried milk pots as part of Tamil New
Year and Chitra Pournami festivity at Sri Nagathamman temple located
at Anna University Staff Quarters, Kotturpuram in Chennai yesterday.
TUESDAY
15 APRIL 2014
7
Sonia lacks confidence
in Rahul, says Jaitley
q ‘Congress general secretary’s speeches are not working’
New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI):
BJP leader Arun Jaitley today took
potshots at Congress over the televised messages of Sonia Gandhi,
saying that the party had been forced
to change its principal communicator
since Rahul Gandhi’s speeches to
the people were ‘not working’.
Taking a jibe in a post on his
website, he said the new slogan of
Congress is ‘Mein Nahin Mom’ (Not
me, Mom) and claimed that last
minute attempts to change electoral
agenda through paid television time
would not click.
Jaitley said that an opinion poll by
a leading channel had shown that
NDA may get absolute majority and
‘as the Congress shrinks further, its
Modi hits back
at Rahul for
‘toffee’ comment
Hazaribagh, Apr 15 (PTI):
Hitting back at Rahul Gandhi
for dubbing Gujarat development
model as a ‘toffee model’, Narendra
Modi today compared the Congress
Vice President with children and
said the word ‘toffee’ has caught
his fancy after he repeatedly spoke
about ‘balloon’.
Addressing a rally here, Modi said
he thought serious issues would
be discussed in this election and
the galaxy of BJP leaders including L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj,
Yashwant Sinha, Arun Jaitley and
Murli Manohar Joshi were speaking
on various subjects.
‘But on the other side, there is a
player whose mind doesn’t move
away from childishness. Such an
important election about the country’s future but for ten days, a word
that gripped him was ‘balloon’. For
ten days he kept repeating it. However, children don’t stick to a toy for
too long and now he has caught the
word ‘toffee’.
MI,KKR gear up for
high-voltage opener
Dubai, Apr 15:
KKR gained heavily from this auction,
as they managed to grab some good
The most awaited tournament of the
Indian players like Yusuf Pathan, Robin
country’s cricket calender - Indian
Premier League (IPL) is here. With the
Uthappa, Umesh Yadav, Piyush Chawla
initial part of the event being shifted
and Vinay Kumar, something that they
owing to the ongoing general elections.
missed dearly in the last season.
the focus has shifted to the middle-east
Having won the last season of the IPL
where matches will be held beginning
and the Champions League, Mumbai
tomorrow till 30 April.
Indians come into this tournament high
With a host of international and doon confidence.
mestic players, consisting of current and
Despite their star player Sachin TenGautham Gambhir
retired players, the 7th season of IPL
dulkar not being a part of the side any
promises high octane action.
longer, they still have the experience
The first match of this season is to be
and the ammunition in their batting in
played between reigning champions
the form of Hussey and Rohit Sharma to
Mumbai Indians and 2012 winners,
more than make up for this loss. Zaheer
Kolkata Knight Riders, at the Sheikh
Khan’s return to the bowling line-up,
Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
after a gap of three years, provides
Having made it to the playoffs for four
them the much-needed Indian seamer
successive season, Mumbai Indians, over the last six to partner Lasith Malinga, something they have missed
seasons of the IPL, have been one of the most consist- since the third season.
ent sides. They lost two of their most consistent players
-- Dinesh Karthik and Dwayne Smith - during this year’s
auction but managed to grab the new sensation Corey
Anderson apart from Josh Hazlewood, Ben Dunk and
Aussie veteran Mike Hussey.
Kolkata Knight Riders, on the other hand, have been
the most talked about side in the IPL, owing to all the
controversies the owners, management and the players
get themselves into both on and off the field. Owned by
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, it is one of the
most followed and loved franchise in the IPL.
Arun Jaitley
campaign has resulted in a naught’
as it is ‘too abstract and confused’.
‘The Congress Party changed
track yesterday. Rahul Gandhi-led
campaign and the accompanying
advertisements were given a backseat. The Congress president Sonia
Gandhi herself decided to lead from
the front. She addressed the country
by booking television time on all
channels,’ he said.
Claiming that the desperation in
Congress was clear, Jaitley said
that speeches, interviews and press
conferences of political leaders are
always covered by the media and
Sonia Gandhi does not have to buy
television time in order to reach to
the people.
‘The idea was to change the
principle communicator of the
party from the son to the mother,’
he said.
The BJP leader, who is contesting
the Lok Sabha polls from Amritsar,
said the act of bring Sonia messages
on TV was an expression of ‘lack of
confidence in Rahul Gandhi, in as
much as his speeches to the people
were not working.’
‘Messages on paid television time
cannot last minute change the electoral agenda. Price rise, mismanagement of the economy, corruption,
dilution of the office of Prime Minister
cannot be a part of either ‘Bhartiyata’
or ‘Hindustaniat’. This message will
not click,’ Jaitley said.
He claimed the only message
yesterday’s speech of Sonia Gandhi
telecast on ‘paid television time’ is
that Congress party’s new slogan
now is ‘Mein Nahin Mom’.
‘Every vote counts,
makes a difference’
NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 15:
At a time where number of voters
have increased, together with the
increase in number of political parties, every citizen should exercise
his/her voting right, said former
Chief Election Commissioner of
India T S Krishnamurthy.
Participating at the ‘Weight of
your vote’, an awareness programme on citizens voting roles
and responsibilities organised Former Chief Election Commissioner of India T S Krishnamurthy
by Samriddhi Foundation and T and dignitaries at the ‘Weight of your vote’ programme organised by
Nagar Exnora here recently, he Samriddhi Foundation and T Nagar Exnora in Chennai recently.
said every single vote counts and
can make a difference in making
or breaking a political party. He bilities. The facility of NOTA would exercise their rights judiciously,
said that vote is an important in- let the candidate know the citizens especially the youth.
Chairman of Forum for Electoral
strument in hands of the citizens. views, he said.
Madras High Court advocate N L Integrity M G Devasahayam said
Consumer Forum of India chairman R Desikan also emphasised Rajah said that voting is an impor- every voter must educate himself
that every citizen must exercise tant right of a citizen and a respon- about the contestants in his/her
his/ her vote for the right person. sibility which should not be avoided. constituency. Every details of the
He also spoke of the availability candidates are available at a click
In case he/ she is unhappy, NOTA
can be opted and not shy away of information in the web and sug- of a button and one must be aware
from his or her voting responsi- gested that the citizens should of the contestants, he said.
I, SUNILKUMAR SRICHAND
AHUJA, Son of Srichand Kherajmal
Ahuja, born on 19th October 1971
(native place: Chennai, Tamilnadu),
residing at Flat 3A, Coromandel
Towers, 304, Poonamallee High
Road, Chennai, shall henceforth
be known as SUNIL SRICHAND
AHUJA.
I, MUTHURAJA USHARANI,
residing at No.2/7,
Lakshmi Colony N o r t h
Crescent Street, G.N.
Chetty Road, T.Nagar,
Chennai-600 017, shall
henceforth be known as
SETHURAMAN USHARANI.
MUTHURAJA USHARANI.
SUNILKUMAR SRICHAND AHUJA.
Murder accused
killed in Madurai
Madurai, Apr 15 (PTI):
A five-member gang today hacked to death an accused
in Dalit leader Pasupathi Pandian murder case.
Police said Muthupandian (37) along with three associates were going to Alagarkovil in a car, when the gang
deliberately rammed their car into their vehicle, forcing
it to stop.
Muthupandian tried to flee, but the gang members
chased and hacked him to death, police said.
One of Muthupandian’s associates suffered head injuries in the attack, and has been admitted to hospital in a
serious condition.
Devendra Kula Vellalar Federation founder Pasupathi
Pandian was murdered in Dindigul on 10 January, 2012
by an unidentifi
gang. on behalf of News Today Media (P) Ltd., from 85, Mount Road (GST Road), Guindy, Chennai 600 032 and printed by him at Frontline Printers Private Ltd., M-7, Thiru-Vi-Ka Industrial Estate, Guindy,
Published
by K. ed
Balakumar
Chennai 600 032. Ph: 4202 1111. Editor: K. Balakumar. Phone: Editorial/Admn /Advt: 22504000, Fax: 2250 1800 (Editorial)/2250 1200/2250 0101 (Advt/Admn). e-mail: [email protected], Circulation: 4202 1111. Fax: 4212 0000.
, CHENNAI
8 TUESDAY
15 APRIL 2014
Licensed to post without prepayment under WPP. No. TN / PMG / (CCR) / 470 / 12-14
Santhanam is very
special, says Shankar
D
irector Shankar heaped laurels on actor Santhanam at the audio launch of the movie Vallavanukku Pullum Ayudham (VPA) in Chennai on
Monday.
The music of VPA, was launched at a gala event
at a multiplex in Chennai. Film-makers Shankar and
SS Rajamouli took part in the audio launch function.
It must be noted that VPA is remake of Rajamouli’s
Telugu blockbuster Maryada Ramanna. Directed
by Sreenath and produced by PVP Cinemas, the
movie stars Ashna Zaveri as heroine. Music is by
Siddharth Vipin.
There is a lot of hype about the movie and Santhanam’s role in it as he is said to have shed weight
and featured in some dance moves.
Shankar recalled his association working with
Santhanam in Endhiran and to-be released Ai. On
his part, Rajamouli described him as a ‘dedicated
and friendly’ actor.
On his part, Sreenath, said,’ We have made enough
changes in the script to suit Tamil audience’. Plans
are on to release the movie on 9 May.
Producer UTV Dhananjayan, actor-producer VTV
Ganesh and stunt master Jaguar Thangam were also
present on the occasion.
—NT Bureau
Santhanam and Ashna Zaveri in
Vallavanukku Pullum Ayudham
Get, set, go for
Suriya, Venkat Prabhu
F
ilmmakers Bharathiraja, K Balachander, Ameer, A R Murugadoss and
actor Gautham Karthik were among those who attended the audio launch
of Arima Nambi on Sunday.
The movie stars Vikram Prabhu and Priya Anand in the lead roles which has
music by Drums Sivamani. Veteran playback singer S P Balasubramaniyam,
music director M S Viswanathan were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Vikram’s father Prabhu in his speech said that
‘Both Ajith and Vijay called Vikram Prabhu and wished him for the success
of Arima Nambi.
A clipping of Rajnikanth, Ilayaraja, AR Rahman, Zakir Hussain, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle wishing Sivamani and the film all the best was also
screened. Arima Nambi is directed by Anand Shankar, a former assistant of
AR Murugadoss.
—NT Bureau
J
ayam Ravi and Hansika are coming together after Engeyum Kadhal
for a venture titled Romeo Juliet, the
shoot for which has started. Sources
have it that the hero’s We hear that
while Jayam Ravi’s character is old
school when it came to romance, while
Hansika’s is totally opposite. It is said
it would be a blend of two opposites
and the movie is a romantic-fantasy.
Rome Juliet is directed by debutant
Lakshman and music is by Imman and
cinematography by Soundarrajan.
Apart from this, Jayam Ravi is waiting for the release of Boologam and
working in his brother Raja’s project.
— NT Bureau
Actor Suriya with filmmakers Venkat Prabhu and Bala.
A world around
children
Jayam Ravi and Hansika in Romeo Juliet
A film for women
UGLY DUCKLING
P
A
nthony,
a journalist-turnedproducer, is
upbeat about
his maiden production venture Azhagu
Kutty Chellam. Directed
by Charles,
the film stars
Kalloori fame
Akhil, Karunaas, Thambi
Ramiah, Adukalam Naren,
John Vijay, Suresh, Vinodhini, Rithvika among
others in the lead roles.
The photography is by Vijay Armstrong and
music by Ved Shankar Sugavanam. N Muthukumar has penned the lyrics and editing by
Pravin Baskar.
Speaking about the film, Charles, says, ‘It
dwells on a social theme. We live a life for our
children. The movie revolves around three
couples and how their life change because of
their children’.
An emotional tale with right commercial elements, the movie is apt for today’s society’.
Anthony on behalf off his Mercury Networks has
produced several hundred episodes of the talk
show Neeya Naana in a Tamil channel.
He says, ‘ Azhagu Kutty Chellam is my maiden
venture as producer on big screen. I want to do
quality movies.’
The movie has come good and plans are on to
release the same this summer.
—NT Bureau
Arima Nambi
audio is out
Ravi, Hansika
at it again!
A
fter Singam 2, Suriya is shooting for director Lingusamy’s Anjaan. The movie
features Samantha opposite him and shooting is on in Mumbai. After completing Anjaan, Suriya will be working inn director Venkat Prabhu’s next. It will be a
big-budgeted film produced by Studio Green. Remember Venkat Prabhu gave hits
like Mangatha and Briyani before. On Tamil New Year’s day, the Suriya - Venkat
Prabhu venture kickstarted. Everyone from the Tamil film industry conveyed their
best wishes for this untitled film.
The movie would have music by Yuvan Shankar Raja. It is learnt that Venkat’s team
had approached Shruti and she seemed to have liked her character.
—NT Bureau
Veteran filmmakers K Balachander, Bharathiraja and actress Priya
Anand at the audio launch of Arima Nambi in Chennai.
Our lensman A R Jayakumar spotted a bunch of ducks
paddling at a lake in Sholinganallur.
ongadi Neengalum Unga
Kadhalum is written and
directed by M A Ramakrishnan
and produced by K R Kannan.
The movie will be releasd Reach
Media on 25 April.
While the director and Athmiya
play the lead roles, the others in
the cast are Karunya, Jayaprakash, Nagendiran, Sendrayan,
Jayamoorthy and Murali. The
music is scored by Kannan,
the cinematography is by M V
Panneerselvam and the lyrics
are by Annamalai.
The story of Pongadi Neengalum Unga Kadhalum is about the
trust women have in men and
how it sometimes proves to be
a disadvantage.
Speaking about the film, Ramakrishnan, says, ‘I started
as an assistant to director K
Balachander and later worked
with director Cheran. I wanted to become a director, but
changed my mind when S P
Charan asked me to play the
lead in Kunguma Poovum Konjum Puravum. I followed it up
with Gorippalayam. As a director, I’ve conveyed a message
through Pongadi..., but in an
entertaining manner.’
Ramakrishnan said, ‘The film
will be an interesting one especiallly for youngsters’.
—NT Bureau
A still from Pongadi Neengalum Unga Kadhalum
Published
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