Friday, April 6, 2012

First and Second Nor'wester, back to back and a Full Eden Garden IPL Audience defying the Wild Storm, set the Mood of the Cricket Carnival brushing aside all the hard issues in Kolkata.Didi and SRK were the real Protagonist amidst the Nor`wester. As

First and Second  Nor'wester, back to back and a Full Eden Garden IPL Audience defying the Wild Storm, set the Mood of the Cricket Carnival brushing aside all the hard issues in Kolkata.Didi and SRK were the real Protagonist amidst the Nor`wester. As UPA second ousts TMC out of Policy making process.

Months after terming the West Bengal government led by Mamata Banerjee "fascist", Magsaysay awardee Mahasweta Devi Wednesday said the word is proving its meaning in the state.

Troubled Galaxy Destroyed Dreams, chapter 761

Palash Biswas

http://indianholocaustmyfatherslifeandtime.blogspot.com/


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IPL 2012: Bengal CM Mamta Banerjee visits Eden Gardens to watch KKR-DD clash

Tags: Mamata Banerjee, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Shah Rukh Khan, KKR, DD, IPL 5, IPL 2012, IPL, KKR vs DD, India,Bengal,

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Mamata Banerjee (R) arrived at the stadium at around 8.30pm © PTI

Kolkata, Apr 5, 2012

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday paid a visit to the Eden Gardens here for the IPL V match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils.

Mamata's predecessor, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, never liked the commercialisation of cricket and always refused to visit Eden Gardens during IPL matches when he was in charge of the state but Mamta, better known as 'Didi', had her way.

Mamata arrived at the stadium at around 8.30pm after the rains relented, and met team principal owner Shah Rukh Khan.

Mamata and Shah Rukh, who signed up a deal with the state to be the brand ambassador of a soon-to-be-launched film city, made a round of the jampacked stadium and waved at the fans.

Earlier, Shah Rukh was given a grand welcome by nearly 50,000 spectators who braved heavy rains and sat patiently for the start of the match.

As soon as the film star entered the stadium, the crowd burst in loud chants of of "Shah Rukh, Shah Rukh" and waved frantically at him.

Shah Rukh was quick to reciprocate the gesture, waving at the boisterous crowd with flying kisses.

He also met several children and signed autographs for them.

Earlier, the Knight Riders organised a 30-minute opening ceremony giving it a local touch with traditional Chhau dance, Dhakis and a performance by a local band.


Six performers in KKR colours made an entry into the stadium in six Gerbil balls as they danced inside the giant transparent balloons to the tune of 'Korbo Lorbo Jitbo Re'.

Electrifying chhau dancers had put up a performance of Goddess Durga vanquishing the demon which was followed by performances from traditional drummers (dhakis).

Saree-clad cheergirls then danced to the tunes of Rabindra Sangeet to mark the last part of the brief opening ceremony. (PTI)



First and Second  Nor'wester, back to back and a Full Eden Garden IPL Audience defying the Wild Storm, set the Mood of the Cricket Carnival brushing aside all the hard issues in Kolkata.Didi and SRK were the real Protagonist amidst the Nor`wester. As UPA second ousts TMC out of Policy making process.

I had been lucky to get the bus in time and speeded up to my office situated on Mumbai Express Highway at One Hours` distance. Others were not so lucky. I had to ring back home to assure Sabita that it is all the way evrything well. Didi succeeded to convey the message to her audiance thnks to SRK, Nor'wester and the IPL Carnival which is all set to bail out the Central Government out of wildness as refoms Drive gets momentum.

Months after terming the West Bengal government led by Mamata Banerjee "fascist", Magsaysay awardee Mahasweta Devi Wednesday said the word is proving its meaning in the state.

The dramatic appearance of nor'wester in the afternoon or evening of pre-monsoon months over Bengal, Bihar, Assam and adjoining areas has been a matter of great interest not only to the meteorologists but to all sections of people and has a bright existence in Bengali literature.During the hot weather period i.e from March to May the eastern and North-eastern states of the subcontinent like West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Orissa (parts) and Bangladesh experience dramatic appearance of a special type of violent thunderstorm know as Nor'wester.In Bengal it is known as 'KalBaisakhi' or calamity of the month of Baisakh (April,15-May,15). Apart from its destructive effects like sudden rise in wind speed, lightning, thunder  and hail the rainfall associated with the storm although small in amount, is extremely helpful for the pre-Kharif crops like jute, Aus paddy, summer till and a large number of vegetables and fruits and the sudden drop in temperature gives relief after unbearable mid-day heat.

The Chief Minister Fire Brand Lady Ms Mamata Bannerjee, who has on occasions kept even the Prime Minister waiting, was left twiddling her thumbs anxiously when Shah Rukh Khan arrived 30 minutes late at Kolkata's Writers Building.SRK came in with the storm. The dreaded and awaited Nor'easters or Kalbaisakhi gales were wreaking havoc outside, when SRK and Mamata stayed ensconced in the CM's room, discussing the way forward over endless cups of tea, biscuits and …well.. fried fish. We can tell you, rather than serve five-star fare to the VIP guest, Didi chose to serve him food prepared by her 'very own' Writers Canteen.SRK, whose association with Kolkata is now five years old, may have fallen out of favour with the average Bengali when his team decided to leave Saurav Ganguly out of the team. But all that seemed to be a thing of the past as a massive crowd braved the hailstorm to catch a glimpse of their favourite star, who looked only too happy to let the fire and brimstone CM finally take charge, by holding his hand and guiding him through the press briefing.

"The word fascism is capable of proving its own meaning. The word is steadily proving itself in Bengal," said Mahasweta Devi on the sidelines of a programme here.

Her comments came in the backdrop of the order to state-owned and funded libraries to stock only eight specific vernacular newspapers for promoting "free thinking" among readers.

"No government can dictate which newspaper is to be read or not to be read. The order is not in the interest of the people. Many poor people depend on state-funded libraries for reading newspapers," she said.

"This order won`t serve any purpose because I personally believe that those who used to read a particular newspaper will continue reading it. Newspaper helps in spreading awareness and helps to grow a movement whether it is a students` or a mass movement," she said.

She also condemned police action on Nonadanga slum dwellers and appealed to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to arrange for rehabilitation of the evicted slum dwellers.

"I condemn this police action on slum dwellers, especially on women. I have heard that even pregnant women were not spared by male policemen. I criticise such inhuman activities."

Mahasweta, who had backed Banerjee against the erstwhile Left Front regime, had last year termed the West Bengal government "fascist", prompting the chief minister to say that the writer was "misinformed and misled."

Later, the Magsaysay Award winning writer-activist stated that her remark was not targeted at the chief minister.

In a snub to political allies with diminishing utility, the United Progressive Alliance leadership has not included their Cabinet nominees in charge of railways and civil aviation in critical ministerial groups overseeing policy decisions even in their own sectors.Railway minister Mukul Roy, a nominee of Trinamool Congress, and civil aviation minister Ajit Singh of Rashtriya Lok Dal have been kept out of the 30 groups of ministers (GoMs) tasked by the Cabinet to resolve critical policy issues. Economic Times reports.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has often blamed the UPA's ineffectiveness to the "coalition dharma" and recently told Parliament that difficult decisions were getting "more difficult" because of coalition compulsions. Two weeks after that remark, on Wednesday, the Cabinet Secretariat published the latest constitution of GoMs.

Ajit Singh does not figure in two GoMs that directly oversee civil aviation issues, such as the financial mess in Kingfisher and Air India and the long-pending proposal for a new international airport at Greater Noida. Singh's predecessor, Congress' Vayalar Ravi, who now handles overseas Indian affairs, figures in both groups.

Roy, recently promoted to Cabinet rank to replace his party colleague Dinesh Trivedi in the railways ministry, has also not been included in the two GoMs that the earlier rail minister was part of.

One of those is the high-profile GoM set up in January 2011 to tackle corruption after UPA chief Sonia Gandhi demanded a swift makeover for its scam-tarred image. The railways has a direct role in the other GoM that deals with the modernisation of Delhi's transport system.

Attempts to reach the two ministers did not yield any response.

"There is obviously some amount of political strategy in these things, but they wouldn't want to provoke the Trinamool Congress at this time," said Sudha Pai, professor at the Centre for Politics, Jawaharlal Nehru University. "When Mamata Banerjee hears of this, she will react."

"This could be a very costly snub and hurt UPA when it needs to carry its allies along," Pai said, stressing that the government has had a knack of making such mistakes in recent times. The PM's statement about difficult allies in Parliament, for instance, had agitated even its reform-friendly ally, Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party.

Former cabinet secretary TSR Subramanian finds the exclusion of Roy and Singh from GoMs hard to believe. "I hope it's a mistake," he said. "If it is not, it means the PM has no confidence in these ministers, which is a very serious matter."

Subramanian said the ministers may have been excluded due to an oversight rather than by intent. "Any committee on civil aviation can't function without the aviation minister. Similarly, the railway minister is critical for all sorts of issues relating to transport, coal and essential commodities," he said.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/congress-keeps-out-mukul-roy-and-ajit-singh-from-goms/articleshow/12553497.cms


Red light

The CPM brass seems to be in no mood to rein in V S Achuthanandan any longer. The veteran had created quite a stir in the CPM circles a fortnight ago by openly criticising the Politburo's neutral stand on the Mullaperiyar row. He felt the party's stand did not reflect the sentiments of the people of Kerala. The Politburo, which met Tuesday, took note of his criticism and recorded its disappointment which would be conveyed to lower levels. But that is all. There will no disciplinary action. Perhaps, the party does not want to go against the popular mood in Kerala. More than that, VS has emerged stronger after the last Assembly polls which saw the CPM almost reaching the halfway mark under his leadership.

No Accomodation

Hearing a PIL on the lack of accommodation for judicial members of tribunals, especially the newly-formed Green Tribunal, Justice G S Singhvi gave an ultimatum to the government to either provide accommodation to the tribunal members or the court would ask them to quit. He said, "Even drivers of Supreme Court and High Court judges get two-room accommodations." Without naming the member of a tribunal, the bench pointed out that one of the former judges is residing in Andhra Bhavan for the last six months and another in a guesthouse as they were not given accommodation by the Centre.

Monopoly Game

While Congress strategists are upset with their UPA allies for throwing a spanner in many of the government's reforms initiatives, the latter point out the composition of Group of Ministers (GoMs) to argue how they are kept out of the decision-making process. The latest was the addition of 11 young ministers to assist the seven-member GoM on Media; all of them are Congress members. Out of 29 GoMs as of today, including the one on Media, 15 have no representation of allies; the proportion is 4 out of 12 Empowered GoMs. Incidentally, 38 out of 41 GoMs and EGoMs are headed by Congress ministers; NCP chief Sharad Pawar heads 3 GoMs. Among Congress ministers, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee heads all 12 EGoMs and 13 GoMs, Home Minister P Chidambaram 10 GoMs, and A K Antony, Sushil Kumar Shinde and Ghulam Nabi Azad one each.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/red-light/888017/

Only ten days of ammunition left?
Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi: At a time when the focus mainly remains on Gen VK Singh's reported faceoff with the political leadership and the shocking disclosures made by him in the recent past, nobody really seems to be bothered about the status of our armed forces and its requirements.

Much to our discomfort, a shocking report carried by a leading TV news channel claimed on Friday that the Indian Army is facing a serious crisis- its ammunition level is critical and can only last for ten days in the event of a war.

The Army Chief had also pointed to serious gaps in the country defence preparedness in a letter addressed to the PMO, the contents of which were leaked to the media later.

In its report, the channel claimed that Army has repeatedly apprised the political leadership that its war reserves are below critical level and the armed forces does not have sufficient reserve of certain ammunition to meet any eventuality.

As per the report, the list of critical imported ammunition that will last for just 10 days in case of conflict is key mainstay 125 mm tank ammunition called the Fin Stabilized Armoured Piercing.

Reserves for it in 2009 were just for 5.85 days. However, the Army is yet to procure 16000 additional rounds from Russia.

Similarly, the 122 mm high energy reduce charge used by the artillery is expected to last for just 1.27 days if the event of a full-scale war. The procurement of the same has once again been re-tendered.

Apart from the imported equipments and ammunition, the stock of defence related items manufactured by indigenous Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) is also at critical level.

According to a presentation made by the Army in June 2008, the 120 mm Mortar Bomb was available for just 7.43 days of war. Also, the ammunition for the 155 mm illuminating gun is available for just 4.65 days of conflict. The government is still struggling to make up for this deficiency. The 155 mm SMK, smoke ammunition will last for 6.29 days.

What is more alarming is the fact that a large amount of ammunition provided by the Ordnance Factory Boards have been found to be faulty. In its presentation in 2008, the Army claimed that more than 86,000 rounds of 125 mm ammunition were faulty.

Moreover, nearly 137 lakh rounds of ammunition for the basic INSAS rifle has also been reported to be faulty.

Interestingly, the government had been maintaining that its war reserves can last for 30 days of conflict. In view of the government's claim, the ammunition level at present is at a critical level.

A major factor for this decline in the ammunition level has been the blacklisting of several firms manufacturing defence-related items, in the wake of several scams, by the government.
http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/only-ten-days-of-ammunition-left_768543.html

The storm - the season's second Nor'wester - landed in the city around 7.30pm. Building up intensity by the minute, it turned deadly just after 8pm. The two-minute punch between 8.08pm and 8.10pm, when the wind speed recorded 96 km per hour, flattened power lines and uprooted trees. and pulled down a portion of an old building.A gale that slammed into Kolkata like a superfast express train sent the city reeling on Wednesday evening. The nearly 100 km per hour storm after 8pm, blacked out large sections of the city, blocked roads and triggered a building collapse. At least two persons were seriously injured.




The sudden onset of the storm and its forceful impact led to panic among those returning home from work. Though the intensity of the storm subsided, the aftermath had everyone groping in the dark. Two CESC grid substations that supply power to the entire south and central Kolkata tripped, plunging lakhs of homes into darkness. Even emergency supplies to Raj Bhavan, Writers' Buildings and several hospitals, including Medical College Hospital Kolkata, were also disrupted. State utility WBSEDCL's Kasba transformer that also took a hit led to a blackout in Salt Lake. Train services on the Budge Budge and Katwa section were also affected.

The two 132/220 KV in the city - Kasba landing station (substations where power from generation plants are connected to the city's power lines) and Majerhat substation - were affected when branches of trees and other objects fell on the power lines. The blackout sent 270MW out of the system. The demand at the time was around 1,600MW. Restoration work was affected as uprooted trees blocked several arterial roads, including Ballygunge Circular Road, Diamond Harbour Road and Jawarharlal Nehru Road.

At Keshub Chandra Sen Street in central Kolkata, a portion of a public library collapsed, injuring two persons - an aged woman and middle-aged man. While the woman has suffered serious head injuries, the man was injuries in his hip and legs.

Delhi Daredevils pulled off a deserving eight-wicket victory with five balls to spare against Kolkata Knight Riders, to open its IPL-V campaign on a terrific note at the Eden Gardens here on Thursday.

Considered the underdog, the Virender Sehwag-led Daredevils proved all predictions wrong with a display that was as heartening as it was convincing. Needing 98 to win a truncated contest, the opening pair of Sehwag and Aaron Finch laid a solid launching pad with a partnership of 49 runs off 38 balls in which the Aussie was the dominant partner, scoring 30 off 27 balls with five fours.

As luck would have it, both departed in quick succession. Finch was bowled by Jacques Kallis and a little later, Rajat Bhatia had Sehwag (20) brilliantly caught by Iqbal Abdulla at long-on.

Crucial partnership

Irfan Pathan, in the company of Glenn Maxwell, produced some pleasing shots to take the team to victory for the loss of two wickets in 11.1 overs.

Irfan remained unbeaten on 42 off just 20 balls with two fours and three sweetly-timed sixes.

Earlier, Knight Riders began the innings with Brendon McCullum and Jacques Kallis in an aggressive mood. The Kiwi hit nine runs off seven balls, with two fours, before falling leg before to a faster one from left-arm spinner Roelof van der Marwe in the second over.

Skipper Gautam Gambhir joined Kallis, but saw his senior partner brilliantly bowled by Morne Morkel. The South African pacer claimed Manoj Tiwary off the very next ball. Yusuf Pathan denied Morkel a hat-trick.

Knight Riders lost Pathan at 31 in the fourth over. A 23-run partnership between Gambhir and Debabrata Das helped revive the innings before Morkel forced Gambhir to defend awkwardly on the backfoot. The ball bounced and hit the leg stump. Gambhir scored 16 off 15 balls with two fours.

The home side was reduced to 55 for six when Das, who promised a lot, was run out when new batsman Laxmi Ratan Shukla refused a second run.

In the company of Rajat Bhatia, Shukla unleashed some bold shots to collect 26 runs off 17 balls with one four and two sixes.

The 31-run stand off 23 balls for the seventh wicket helped Knight Riders to a fighting total.

Shukla hit Morkel and left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem for a six each before another mini collapse ended the host's innings at 97 for nine in 12 overs.

The two South Africans, Morkel (three for 18 in three overs) and Merwe (two for 28) impressed, as did Umesh Yadav, who picked up two wickets for nine runs.

Rain delay

Earlier, a Nor'wester struck the stadium as the captains were about to go for the toss.

Wind and rain lashed the stadium for about 50 minutes which robbed nearly two hours and 30 minutes of playing time, reducing the game to 12 over-each-side affair. The match began at 10.30 p.m. thanks largely to the ground staff which did a marvellous job.

SCOREBOARD

Kolkata Knight Riders: B. McCullum lbw b van der Merwe 9 (7b, 2x4), J. Kallis b M. Morkel 4 (4b, 1x4), G. Gambhir b M. Morkel 16 (15b, 2x4), M. Tiwary b M. Morkel 0 (1b), Yusuf c Naman Ojha b Yadav 0 (4b), D. Das (run out) 18 (9b, 2x6), L.R. Shukla c Nagar b Yadav 26 (17b, 1x4, 2x6), R. Bhatia st. Ojha b van der Merwe 7 (9b), B. Lee (run out) 9 (5b, 1x6), I. Abdulla (not out) 1 (1b); Extras (lb-5, w-2): 7; Total (for nine wkts. in 12 overs): 97.

Fall of wickets: 1-14 (McCullum), 2-20 (Kallis), 3-20 (Tiwary), 4-31 (Yusuf), 5-54 (Gambhir), 6-55 (Das), 7-86 (Shukla), 8-89 (Bhatia), 9-97 (Lee).

Delhi Daredevils bowling: Irfan 1-0-9-0, van der Merwe 3-0-28-2, M. Morkel 3-0-18-3, Yadav 2-0-9-2, Maxwell 1-0-12-0, Nadeem 2-0-16-0.

Delhi Daredevils: A. Finch b Kallis 30 (27b, 5x4), V. Sehwag c Abdulla b Bhatia 20 (13b, 1x6, 1x4), Irfan (not out) 42 (20b, 2x4, 3x6), G. Maxwell (not out) 3 (7b); Extras (lb-4, w-1): 5; Total (for two wkts. in 11.1 overs): 100.

Fall of wickets: 1-49 (Finch), 2-57 (Sehwag).

Kolkata Knight Riders bowling: Lee 2-0-15-0, de Lange 3-0-36-0, Abdulla 1-0-8-0, Kallis 3-0-23-1, Bhatia 1.1-0-7-1, Yusuf 1-0-7-0.

Man-of-the-match: Irfan.

Beware of babus guarding the gates of forests

- Rise in complaints about bureaucrats denying or blocking permission for research
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120406/jsp/frontpage/story_15341297.jsp#.T36FgvDzsfU


After nearly 12 years observing macaques in Karnataka's Bandipur tiger reserve, Sinha has had to stop the studies after the state's chief wildlife warden denied him permission to continue research in the sanctuary.
Sinha's plea that his work has also thrown up findings that could help conservation — showing, for example, that food thrown on highways by tourists can prompt macaques to break out into small groups at increased risk of leopard attacks — hasn't moved the official.
"This research has been cut short midway," said Sinha, a scientist at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore. "This was intended to be a 20-year project to understand behaviour and culture in macaques," he told The Telegraph.
Scientists say Sinha's plight demonstrates that research in India's wildlife reserves continues to face hurdles erected by sections of the forest bureaucracy, six years after a group of wildlife scientists had cautioned that bureaucratic whims were hampering science.
Udayan Borthakur, a wildlife biologist with a Guwahati-based environmental research group, recalls spending six months pushing correspondence to convince forest officials to grant him a permit for one year's research on tigers.
An effort by an Osmania University zoologist, Chelmala Srinivasulu, to study bats in the Nallamala forests in the Eastern Ghats encountered an 18-month delay. A wildlife official has denied permission to ecologists to study ants and dung beetles in a tiger reserve.
An effort by scientists from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, to study water and tree growth in a sanctuary is among some 40 projects restricted or stalled over the past two years.
Karnataka's chief wildlife warden Brij Kishore Singh said scientists should appreciate that core areas of tiger reserves should remain inviolate. "Everyone seems to want to do research inside tiger reserves," Singh said.
"Tiger reserves make up only five of 30 protected areas in the state — 25 other areas are available for research," Singh said. "Scientists can continue studying macaques, insects or other topics in other protected areas."
But wildlife scientists say the problem isn't linked to tiger reserves alone.
"Sometimes we get approvals within a week, sometimes we have to wait for months," said Borthakur, a biologist with Aaranyak, a Guwahati-based wildlife research group studying rhinos and tigers. "The pace of response changes from state to state."
India's wildlife protection act grants forest and wildlife officials complete control over access to protected areas. "So the guardians at the gates decide what science will get done," said M.D. Madhusudan, a wildlife scientist with the Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore.
"They pick on the weakest to apply their rules," Madhusudan said. The effects of other human activities in tiger sanctuaries such as livestock grazing, tourist movements and the forest department's own roads are ignored, while research activities are hampered, he added.
A group of leading Indian wildlife biologists had first raised the issue of how the forest officials have been trying to influence, obstruct, or dictate research in a commentary that was published in 2006 in Current Science, an Indian Academy of Sciences publication.
Since then, sections of scientists have tried to nudge the Union environment ministry into tweaking the wildlife protection laws to get forest officials to encourage research, but such attempts have made little headway.
"Forest officials may be wary that research studies may sometimes bring out lacunae in (forest) management," said Srinivasulu, an assistant professor of zoology at Osmania University, who waited 18 months to study Eastern Ghat bats.
Madhusudan recalled how he was asked to stop research that had revealed livestock grazing within the core area of a tiger territory. "They just said there can be no grazing activity in the core area, so there is no question of studying this."
Many scientists believe the current wildlife rules provide sweeping controls to officials. "Some officials do indeed promote research but there is sometimes resistance from the rest of the establishment," said Ulhas Karanth, a tiger expert and director of the Wildlife Conservation Society, India programme.
"The number of wildlife researchers in India is very small — perhaps somewhere between 100 and 200," Karanth said. "We need the support of the broader scientific community."


A steep pressure gradient underwritten by a dip in the westerlies across the border has unleashed a barrage of strong winds over Jammu and Kashmir.

The winds have worked up speeds reaching 60 km/hr, an update by India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday.

MAY WEAKEN

But forecasts said that the 'dip' might get evened out as it hits Jammu and Kashmir by Wednesday, suggesting some weakening of the wind speeds.

The strong southwesterlies would become weaker westerlies, but would still pack some punch as they blow east across the plains.

The IMD said that they would clock up to 40 km/hr over northwest India on Wednesday and over the Gangetic plains from Thursday onwards.

They would also help clear up the dust hanging over Punjab, Haryana Delhi, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

The feeble western disturbance over Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh persisted on Tuesday. It may continue to affect western Himalayan for one more day.

BUILD-UP IN EAST

Towards the east, an upper air cyclonic circulation has shifted base to over Assam and Meghalaya.

A trough from this system extends to west-central Bay of Bengal. Between them, they may contrive the platform for seasonal thundershowers in east India.

Towards the south, an upper air cyclonic circulation has been persisting over Tamil Nadu and adjoining Kerala.

An extended IMD outlook said that yet another feeble western disturbance may call in over north-west India by this Sunday.

MORE SHOWERS?

But the US National Centres for Environmental Prediction sees showers gaining in intensity over north-west India and east India from mid next week.

They may spill into the first week of April, with a core of seasonal showers sitting right over north-east India.

If this were to hold, they would signal the unveiling of the violent weather pattern called Kal Baisakhi of Nor'westers (so called for wind pattern).

The IMD has already forecast rain or thundershowers over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Sikkim over the next two days.
Mamata Banerjee defends IPS transfers, Dinesh Trivedi's removal; cautions media
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Mamata-Banerjee-defends-IPS-transfers-Dinesh-Trivedis-removal-cautions-media/articleshow/12552208.cms

KOLKATA: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday she was open to constructive criticism but warned the media against crying wolf as she defended her government's move to transfer senior police officers and her own decision of removing Dinesh Trivedi from the railway minister's chair after he increased fares against her wishes.

The CM, who was speaking at the launch of a vernacular daily in Town Hall, also said she wouldn't allow political mouthpieces like 'Jago Bangla' (Trinamool Congress) or 'Ganashakti' (CPM) in state-run libraries. "I don't decide what policy a media house is to follow when it comes to hiring people or posting them. I know media houses have to run a business and have their compulsions. At the same time, the media will also have to realize we have a government to run and have our own compulsions. We are a people's government and can't satisfy individual whims. We must do what is best for the people. The government will have to decide who is to work where and in what position," Mamata said.

Her remarks were clearly aimed at media reports against the decision to transfer senior IPS officers, including detective boss Damayanti Sen, who had insisted the Park Street rape victim wasn't lying and arrested the accused, though the CM had dismissed the rape claim as concocted. She also said the railway minister - the only Cabinet portfolio that the Trinamool Congress holds in the UPA government - would have to abide by what the party says.

"I don't want to interfere in the decisions that Mukul Roy (who was appointed railway minister after Trivedi's removal) takes on how to run the railways or the recruitment policy. However, when he asked me about what the policy should be on a fare hike, I told him that the common man should not be burdened any further. He will have to abide by what the party says. After all, it is the party which selected him for the post of railway minister. He did not become minister by himself," she said.

Media planting stories: Mamata

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee asked the media to be more restrained. "The media has used words like censorship and fatwa. What will the media do as time progresses? Don't cry wolf so soon or you will get gobbled up in the end. I can tolerate criticism, provided it is constructive. However, I will not tolerate attempts to blackmail me. Planted news is being covered by the media nowadays. This is not short of yellow journalism. I didn't allow government advertisements to be released to 'Jago Bangla'. Railway advertisements weren't released to this newspaper even when I was the minister. I shall not enlist publications like 'Jago Bangla' or 'Ganashakti', whatever people may say or do," she added.

The media, according to her, is "selling" negative stories to increase readership or viewership. Some are also trying to impose their views on readers and viewers, she claimed. "There are newspapers who feel that they are not accountable to the people. Don't forget that it is the people who decide in the end. No positive stories are highlighted. Nobody highlighted that our government decided to preserve the works of Narayan Debnath like Bantul the Great and Handa Bhonda," Mamata said.

I won't take it lying down, says Mamata lashing out at media

ANANYA DUTTA
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The HinduWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee releases 'Kalam' a daily, in Kolkata on Tuesday. Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

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"Negative coverage for more TRP"

In the face of mounting criticism of the functioning of the West Bengal government in various spheres, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday lashed out at the media, declaring, "If I am attacked, I can counter-attack."

Accusing the media of practising "blackmail," and "yellow journalism," "instigating riots among Hindus and Muslims" and "setting houses on fire," Ms. Banerjee said, "Whatever is written in certain newspapers is a lie."

"Without any reason or purpose, they have to be negative in their coverage. Why? Because it will mean more TRP (television rating points)," she said at the launch here of Kalam, a Bengali weekly catering for the interests of the minority community, as a daily.

Kalam created a stir when it was included in the list of newspapers allowed for readers in public libraries — a move for which the Trinamool Congress-led government attracted wide criticism.

Ms. Banerjee said the comparison made in some quarters that the government decision was akin to "censorship" was nothing but "crying wolf."

"Haven't they heard about what happened to the boy who cried wolf? One day the beast will come for real."

The Chief Minister said, "I cannot impose or bulldoze my decisions on you; you cannot impose or bulldoze me," emphasising "it is my prerogative" to make government appointments.

Just as she could not dictate who should occupy which post in a newspaper office, it was for the government to decide who would perform better in which government appointment, Ms. Banerjee said in a remark that may be construed as a response to the front-page coverage of the transfer of Damayanti Sen, Joint Commissioner (Crime) of the city police, who contradicted the Chief Minister's remarks about the alleged rape of a 37-year-old woman while conducting investigations.

"If I make any mistakes, you can certainly point them out. But if you believe that you can blackmail me, then I will not allow it," Ms. Banerjee added.

In the first 10 months of its coming to power, the Trinamool Congress-led government has faced severe criticism on several fronts, including a high incidence of crib deaths, farmer suicides and rapes as well as the volatile relationship between the Trinamool and the Congress at the Centre.

While the government has issued denials on nearly each of these, Ms. Banerjee accused journalists of not cross-checking their facts before reporting them. She cited reports of her mother's death even before she actually died.

"For the sake of TRP ratings they reported that my mother had died. Is wishing for death their only work?"

Ms. Banerjee also said the media had remained oblivious to the flaws of the Left Front government, failing to report its shortcomings during its 34-year-long rule.

Keywords: Mamata Banerjee, media rights

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3285066.ece

India | Updated Apr 04, 2012 at 06:11pm IST

Kolkata rape case: Senior police officer transferred for 'defying' Mamata

CNN-IBN
New Delhi: IPS officer Damayanti Sen, who ruffled a few feathers including that of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the infamous Park Street rape case in February, was shunted out from the city on Wednesday.
In what is being seen as a low-profile posting, she was transferred as DIG, Training, of Barrackpore Police Training School.
Sen, as Joint Commissioner of Police, Crime, had reportedly "defied" Mamata Banerjee by backing the Park Street rape victim by believing her account of rape.
Mamata had initially called the rape victim's account a fabricated report, even an attempt to malign her government, for which the chief minister drew flak from the media and society alike.
The main accused in the horrific rape case is still at large.
Sen's investigation results also went against the Kolkata Police Commissioner RK Pachnanda's initial brief which echoed Banerjee's comment and hinted at media conspiracy behind the incident.
The decision to remove Sen was primarily taken at the police establishment board meeting held at Writers' Buildings on Tuesday afternoon but many see it as a punishment posting for Sen.
The meeting took the decision to reshuffle the posts of about 60 IPS officers across West Bengal. The Chief Minister, also the Home Minister of the state, gave her assent on Wednesday afternoon.
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#Kolkata rape case #Park Street rape case #Mamata Banerjee #Damayanti Sen
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/police-officer-who-defied-mamata-transferred/245755-3.html

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