VIEWS & OPINIONS - Should Rakhi Sawant should be arrested and TV channel banned?

There’s trouble brewing for Rakhi Sawant, as a contestant on her show 'Rakhi Ka Insaaf' allegedly committed suicide after suffering abuse on the show. An FIR has been lodged with the Jhansi police against TV star Rakhi Sawant and three others in connection with the death of a youth allegedly of acute depression after participating in a reality TV show 'Rakhi Ka Insaaf". FIR under sections 504 (insult intended to promote breach of peace), 306 (abetment of suicide) and 120 (cheating) IPC has been registered at Prem Nagar police station of Jhansi on the complaint of the mother of the deceased Laxman. As per the complaint by the mother, Savitri Devi, a local scribe Raunak Ali and two others (Satish Misra and Anju Sandhya) contacted Laxman to participate in the show for resolving his marital dispute with Anita whom he had married in February this year. "We reached the Goregaon studio in Mumbai on October 13 where Anita, her parents and another person were already present and during the programme Rakhi publicly humiliated Laxman, shouted at him and termed him as impotent", the mother said in the complaint. Laxman's uncle Balbir, who had accompanied the deceased, was also humiliated and serious charges were levelled against him, the woman charged adding that when they objected to it they were threatened by the bodyguards and subjected to foul language. 

Suresh Acharya, Business

There is no point in condemning both of them. Reality shows are cheap and people getting into it should know what to expect. It’s meant for cheap people like the ones we are seeing here and also for a cheap audience. I don’t see any point in showing compassion on any of them. This is nothing but a publicity stunt by the channel just to remove any doubts from the minds of public that it is not a reality show. But public is not a fool to fall trap to these types of publicity stunts of the channel to increase the TRP of the show. All the characters in the show are professional strugglers and C grade artists of the acting industry and controversies shown in the show are scripted stories. I appeal to all the general public not to write any comment about the show by taking it as a reality show otherwise you will help the channel to achieve its purpose to fool the innocent people of the Nation. Very very shameful on the part of channel for producing and showing such kind of indecent and cheap show with all the vulgarity which can not be watched with your family members.

Audrey D’Silva, Student

She is mean bitch doing for cheap popularity. She should be arrested for murder. Rakhi Sawant has crossed her limits, she should be arrested and sent to prison on the basis of mental torture & public humiliation, defamation acts against a person resulting in death. Rakhi ‘kaun sa dhoot ka dulla hai’. She has no right to comment on any person. Yes, she could condemn the atrocities faced by his wife and advise accordingly. But she cannot insult a person in public like that.

Vijay Prabhu, Service

The participant is not enough having courage to prove is not what she called the moment she expressed impotent. If he displayed his pole would she not use such unconstitutional and unfair language in the episode which is watched by several lakh people across the world? So program producer and script team must take care about such kind of things would do not appear again next time and also respect everyone within the framework of the society in an acceptable manner. No one is above the moral, ethics and principal of the society. Her life is not good and how can she speak about others and criticize. What morale she is having. Now a day a lot of reality shows broadcast these kinds of absurd programmes on national and regional Channels. They should be particular in broadcasting programmes which would not hurt anyone and must produce such programs for the fun, entertainment and awareness purpose that should not lead to suicide or some other kind of crime.

Premanand Shetty, Business

Rakhi Sawant should be publicly sentence in a street Court for the crime and the TV Channel which produced and aired should immediately be closed by the government. That is what TV media is capable of? It is the media that should be tried in court. I happened to watch one of her episodes recently and was shocked to hear her way of speaking. Except GOD, none has the right to judge anyone. In fact our conscience is GOD, so all of us should go according to that and life would be smooth. What right has Rakhi to pass such lewd comments? Both she and the serial should be banned. It does no good to the viewers.

Chavan replaces Chavan as CM of Maharashtra

Maharashtra Governor K. Sankaranarayanan with the new Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar during the swearing-in ceremony at the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai 

Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan's previously greatest disqualification to hold his new job, his lack of experience in state politics, in fact swung things in his favour as the Congress chose him to replace Ashok Chavan. “It is true, I have never been in state politics, but I guess that actually worked in my favour,” he said with a laugh in between answering phone calls congratulating him on his new assignment. After the fiasco over the Adarsh Society scam, Prithviraj Chavan is being sent from Delhi precisely because he is an outsider to the linkages between several Maharashtra politicians and the unique complex of real estate moguls and industrialists who are an integral part of the scam.

One of the most overburdened ministers in the Union government, Chavan also dismisses what was considered his other drawback in his new job, the frayed equations between him and Congress ally Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar. The deal between the congress and the NCP saw Chavan's home turf of Satara and Karad go into NCP hands, something he holds close to his heart till today.

“I don't think that is an issue at all. In fact Sharad Pawar called me this morning and I am meeting him,” he said. What about his new deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar? “I dont know him very well, but my attempt will be to carry everyone along,” he said. Chavan's name was apparently the considered choice of AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi who felt that Chavan's outsider status and clean image along with his engineering degree and UCLA, Berkeley education was just the right note to strike in the most industrialised state.

Chavan's entry into politics was through the usual route, through his family. In 1991, while Chavan was working on developing an Indian language computer in the US, he met Rajiv Gandhi and took the plunge from the family pocket burrough.

EDITORIAL - What a shame! $ 2 billion home constructed on ‘Orphanage’ property

While the Adarsh Apartment land scam and Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan’s involvement has gained wide coverage, the ‘Wakf’ land scam is one of the biggest land scams in India’s history. What a shame! The land that was pledged in the name of God to be used for the opening of charitable hospitals, schools, colleges or the earnings to go to upkeep of orphans, widows, destitute and scholarship to poor students, Mukesh Ambani has deprived the needy for his personal luxury. He has constructed a $ 2 billion 27-storied skyscraper residential project on a ‘Wakf’ property.

‘Wakf’ can be described as a religious endowment made in the name of Allah for the benefit of the poor and needy in the Muslim community. There are approximately 3,00,000 registered ‘Wakf’ properties in India on about four lakh acres of land. It is a national resource that should have been developed for the welfare of the community but according to Maharashtra ‘Wakf’ minister, the government has encroached nearly 65% of ‘Wakf’ properties in Maharashtra. When any Muslim permanently dedicates his movable or immovable property in the name of Allah for pious, charitable or religious purpose such dedication is called ‘Wakf’ and such property is called ‘Wakf’ Property. The definition of ‘Wakf’ includes “Wakf' by user” (Masjid, Dargah, Kabrastan etc.). In general all the Masjid, Dargahs, Kabrastans, Ashoorkhanas, Idgahs, Khankhas, Chillas, Imambadas, etc. which are used by general public (Muslims) are invariably included under the definition of ‘Wakf’ Institution. The Masjid, Dargah, Kabrastan which have been traditionally under use from a time immemorial is covered under the definition of “Wakf by user”. ‘Wakf’ also include charitable institutes like Madarsa, Hospitals, Orphanage, School etc created out of ‘Wakf’ funds or properties.
Lending a twist to the land deal for Mukesh Ambani's Antilia, a skyscraper residential project cleared by the Maharashtra ‘Wakf’ Board, the Central ‘Wakf’ Council said no ‘Wakf’ property could be sold or transferred. ‘Wakf’ properties are not transferable nor can they be sold. All such deals are illegal. The state ‘Wakf’ Board had given a no-objection certificate to the deal after receiving Rs 16 lakh as ‘Wakf’ charges from an orphanage trust that transferred the land to Ambani. Even, the Maharashtra Government admitted that the property belongs to ‘Wakf’ Board and termed the transaction as ‘illegal’.
For over a millennium, Muslims in India have been setting aside property [or part of property] and pledging it, in the name of God, for charitable works. The purpose was that the earnings would go to the upkeep of orphans, widows and for other social causes. Even in rural areas there are 'Waqf' properties that can fetch earnings to the tune of crores. But this money that should go in establishment of orphanages, opening charitable hospitals, schools, colleges, disbursing pensions to destitute and scholarships to poor students. For example, if a widow dies, and before his death she had pledged that her land should be deemed ‘Waqf’ property, and a girls' school ought to be founded on it, it is not possible to change the intent. Though a ‘Waqf’ property can not be sold or its use changed till eternity, the exact opposite happens, because lands are mostly in prime locations. When ‘Waqf’ property can not be sold and its intent can not be changed, how did Mukesh Ambani construct a residential skyscraper?

Bastiwala plans protest against Mukesh Ambani’s $2 billion home on Wakf land

Mukesh Ambani has built a 27-storey building which is 550-feet above sea level. The building includes 6 floors just for parking. It is to be noted that he is the fifth richest person around the world and the richest resident in India. The house constructed is the costliest ever in the planet. The entire cost for constructing the building is $2 billion according to Forbes. The 4,00,000 square-feet building was constructed in a span of four years. Back in March 2008, Mukesh Ambani was ranked the fifth richest person in the world with $43 billion. The only comparable building to that of Mukesh Ambani’s house is the triplex penthouse at New York which was built at a cost of $70 million.

The particular place from the building is designed to offer a panoramic view of the city. There is a separate gym for each family member, open air gardens in four floors, a theatre that can accommodate 65 people along with wine and snack bar. This is not yet. The list goes on with a spa, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, personal helipad etc. Something special about the building is that Mukesh Ambani is planning to build an Ice room to cut of the Mumbai heat. Each floor is constructed with twice the height of a normal one which will make the building twice as tall as other tall building in the locality. The number of people working everyday in order to maintain things will be around 600.

It has been the most talked about residential property in India for sometime now. Housed in Mumbai's up market Altamount Road, Mukesh Ambani's 27-floor residence, currently standing high, is in a bit of a controversy. Antilia, as it will be called, is a 4,532 square metre piece of land, which was bought by a company called Antilia Commercial, owned by Ambani, in 2002 for around Rs 20 crore.

It now transpires that the land belongs to the Wakf Board and questions are being raised over the deal. The Maharashtra government has termed the transaction as "illegal" and has issued a show cause notice to the Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Board for the Wakfs. The alleged irregularities in the sale of the land, as alleged by the government, is something that the Wakf Board will have to clarify on. The original owner of the property is said to be the Currimbhoy Ebrahim Khoja Orphanage. As things stand, the Wakf Board issued a notice to Antilia Commercial asking why the property should not be restored to the Wakf Board as it was acquired in contravention of the Wakf rules.

The Ambani house, as envisaged, will be among the most extravagant residential projects in the country. Apart from a mammoth outlay of Rs 400 crore, the house is expected to have a six-floor parking, a health club, a swimming pool, an entertainment centre and helipads. While speaking to Santacruz Patrika, the District President of NCP K.A.Bastiwals said, “The property belongs to Wakf Board which cannot be sold nor the title altered. Since it was use for an orphanage it is shameful to note that one of India’s wealthiest person has constructed his residential skyscraper which housed an orphanage. In this regard I am contemplating to take a morcha to Haji Ali in solidarity protest for orphans.” When contacted, the Reliance Industries spokesperson was not available to comment.

Kalina lady injured in tree fall to be compensated by BMC

While more people fall victims to unpruned trees falling on them, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the housing societies are pointing fingers at each other. The civic body alleges housing societies don’t take action and the societies say the BMC takes its own sweet time in granting permission to trim the trees. Nearly four cases of tree collapses were reported in housing societies over last two months, the most recent being that of a Kalina resident, Annie Fernandes (37), who sustained grievous injuries when a tree fell on her. The BMC drew flak for the incidents and it decided to take action on the housing societies. The BMC has given a 15-day deadline to societies to prune overgrown trees or cough up Rs 5,000 as penalty. . A lot of cars are parked under them, and children play in the compound in the evenings. So if a branch falls, someone is likely to get hurt. Also, to trim a tree, one needs to take permission from the BMC which sometimes takes more than two months.

It was a month ago, Annie Fernandes, 37 years and a widow resides at Kolivery Village, Kalina. On that fateful day while she was crossing the road a tree fell on her. She was grievously injured and was lying at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Hospital where she underwent treatment. Annie being a widow lost her husband about 3 months ago and has a 2 year-old child. Her father works as an employee in the office of Our Lady of Egypt Church, Kalina.

After the accident, the Asst. Commissioner and Engineer, Garden dept visited the site. But when the time came to paying the injured lady compensation it is alleged that the Asst. Commissioner showed reluctance. However, Rev. Fr. Adrian Ferreira, Parish Priest, Our Lady of Egypt, Kalina intervened and shot a letter to the Corporator, Alice Therattil. After a lot of persuasion and follow-up by Alice Therattil with the Mayor, garden Dept of BMC, Municipal Commissioner, Anand Walhalkar, AMC and C.B.Rokade, DMC she finally managed to get an amount of Rs 50,000 cleared by BMC for the injured Annie Fernandes.

As per report in the media it was mentioned that BMC is ready to pay Rs one Lakh to relatives of dead and Rs 50,000 to injured. Hence, in this case-Why should Annie Fernandes not be compensated by BMC? While confirming with Alice Therattil she spoke to Santacruz Patrika and said, “After a lot of persuasion with BMC I finally managed to get compensation sanctioned for Annie Fernandes.” When asked if Annie has received the payment Alice replied that she will be receiving the compensation shortly.

The biggest hurdle to this problem is that trees are not allowed to be trimmed or cut without BMC’s permission. According to the rules, the permission should be granted within 30 days. However, there are hardly any cases where the permission is given within that period. This delay can sometimes lead to accidents. The recent accidents have made the BMC conscious and they want to take all the precautionary steps so that no other mishaps occur in the future and they don’t have to compensate anyone.
While clarifying with an Asst Commissioner of BMC on tree cutting or trimming he said, “First and foremost, everyone needs to know that every single tree in the city belongs to the BMC because it has been registered under the tree census. Even if the tree is in one’s housing society, one cannot cut or trim it without permission from the civic body. And to take permission, citizens need to take a photograph of the society with an application for trimming the branches.”

BMC has no funds for road repair in Kalina

The megalopolis is reeling under unprecedented pressure-environmental degradation, poor infrastructure, bad roads, lack of water, improper sewage lines, encroachment on footpaths, high priced housing and growing population.

In less than a month two road cave-ins at Sunder Nagar, Kalina have made residents to demonstrate against the inefficiency of BMC. A little over a week ago, a bus carrying about 40 children, almost tumbled into a huge crater caused by a cave-in. This led to panicky amongst the children and led to children falling over each other. However, the bus driver bravely managed to extricate the bus from the pit. For over a month now, residents of Sunder Nagar have been a witness to one of their arterial roads caving in, part by part. But, to their dismay, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has categorically stated that it doesn’t have funds to repair it.

This implies that the panicked residents will have to wait till the civic body arranges for funds. A member of the ‘Save Garden & Neighbourhood of Sunder Nagar (Ext) Association’, (SGNSNA), said, “The BMC has been very lethargic in maintaining the road... After the first road cave-in surfaced we immediately informed the BMC but they lent a deaf ear to our complaint. Secondly, despite the second road cave-in took place we once again informed the BMC to take action but they refused to our heed”, said one of the member.

Later, while contacting an official from the H/E ward, he clarified and replied, “The repair work is going to cost us around Rs 4 lakh. At the moment, we have no funds to repair the road because none have been sanctioned. We have now asked the local corporator if she can sanction the work from her own funds.” However, Alice Therattil, corporator, Ward No 84 too did not heed and said she was out of funds, since she has utilized almost all her funds in development work in her constituency.

According to the official, the road, an asphalted one, was built just four years ago, by the civic body’s storm water drain department. The official added that a culvert under the road may have caused the cave-in. “There must have been some leakage that caused the foundation of the road to be eroded, as a result of which the road caved in,” he said.

Similarly, a road in Vakola caved in on last week also because of leakage in the underground water pipeline. Around peak morning hours, a part of the Jawaharlal Nehru Road near the Vakola Bridge, that was covered by paver blocks caved in. Civic employees detected it before any mishap occurred. Civic officials said a small stretch of the road, measuring four feet, developed cracks and caved in. On excavation, civic employees found a cavity underneath.

AL Waghralkar, assistant municipal commissioner said, “A 6-inch underground water pipeline was leaking, that lead to a cavity underneath.  Civic employees noticed it and took preventive measures to restore it.” The pipeline was repaired and the road was reopened on Wednesday.

 “These cave-ins can be prevented if old underground utilities are replaced. The civic body doesn’t even have an underground map of all the utilities,” said an official from the road department, on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media on this issue.

All Political parties join to show might against Reliance Infra

A steep hike in tariff, allegedly by about 300 increase in the past 5 years per unit, in suburban Mumbai where Reliance Infrastructure caters to around 28 lakh consumers has led to violent protests by political parties. Political parties, have called for government intervention to roll back the hike. There is massive unrest among consumers over the tariff hike.Reliance has imposed severe tariff hike on 28 lakh consumers in suburbs while the people are already grappling with overall price rise. Frustrated at paying 'inflated' electricity bills, consumers of Reliance Infra (RInfra) are switching over to TATA Power Company (TPC) for cheaper electricity. It is total exploitation by Reliance. There are three rates of electricity, one is TATA, the other is BEST and then even Reliance had their own rates. In this Reliance have the highest rates. Within few months arrears will also come and people will have to pay through their nose," complained a resident.“Mumbai is the only city where people are paying different rates for power. There cannot be any justice as to why suburban residents should pay more than those living in South Mumbai. The government should have a uniform power tariff. If there are issues related to companies supplying power, it should subsidise the cost in public interest,” said Mumbai BJP president Raj Purohit. The BJP has decided to file a petition in the Bombay high court against the government’s policy. Sena was among the first to raise the noise over steep power prices in the western suburbs. But gradually, the BJP has made the agitation a common cause. To negate the public sentiments against Congress and NCP, the Congress also came out to show its concern on the matter.RInfra, meanwhile, has blamed Tata Power for the suburban fare hike. In a statement, Reliance Infra said that the high tariff disparity among the Mumbai distribution companies is due to a disproportionate capacity allocation by Tata Power. Tata Power Company, by keeping Mumbai consumers power-starved has displayed its profiteering attitude and exploited the shortage economy by selling power to states like Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. This is despite RInfra’s request with Tata Power and readiness to sign long-term purchase agreement for city consumers, which was turned down.