NRI Top Stories ( Page 31 of 32 )

Sex Swami complains against Kalanidhi July 08, 2011 12:51

Swamy Nityananda, better known as the sex swami, today lodged a complaint against the Kalanidhi Maran, Sun TV network chairman and brother of the former textiles minister Mr Dayanidhi Maran, to Chennai police that the network had morphed his videos and photos and those of movie artiste Ranjitha linking them to sexual encounters. The complaint comes a day after Dayanidhi Maran had resigned his job as the textiles minister due to his involvement in the 2G Spectrum scam. The representatives of the Bangalore based Nityananda Dhyana Peetam met the City Police Commissioner JK Tripati in Chennai and handed over the complaint on behalf of the tainted Swami. “The Sun TV telecast a false footage to tarnish the image of the Swamiji and the Peetam,” said the complaint which also implicated the Sun TV’s chief operating officer Mr Hansraj Saxena. Mr Saxena was already arrested based on a cheating complaint by a distributor in Tamil Nadu.

Temple chambers last opened in 1931 July 08, 2011 09:17

(The following is the reproduction of an informative article published in the leading English daily the Hindu on the discovery of the huge gold treasure in the Sree Ananthapadmanabha Swamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala.) Reports in 'The Hindu', and accounts provided in a book, detail how at least one vault at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple was opened decades ago. Seventy-nine years ago, long before the latest discovery of phenomenal treasures in the Sree Padmanabhaswami Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, at least one of the several vaults of the temple had been opened and an inventory made of the precious objects found inside. The Hindu's correspondent, who witnessed the events, filed reports describing the scene and the finds. On Sunday, December 6, 1931, around 10 a.m., at an auspicious time chosen by the temple officials, one of the vaults was opened. Following special religious rites, "the key was applied to the old and rusty locks." Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, the Maharaja, himself was at hand. An ambulance waited outside to attend to any emergency. The locks failed to yield, and the doors were broken open after a two-and-a-half-hour struggle. Floodlights and torches were used to light up the space inside, and electrical fans were switched on to ‘pump air in and out' of the cellar. The temple officials found four chests made of brass which contained old coins. Next to them was “a granary like thing,” full of gold and silver coins. Over that there were several gold pots. There was a wooden chest fixed to the ground, and it had six chambers. In it were jewels with diamonds, rubies, emerald and other precious stones. In addition, there were over 300 gold pots and four vancheds, or coffers. The officials who got into the first cellar found that another one was behind it. It was believed, The Hindu report mentioned, that in all there were four cellars: Mahabarathakonathu kallara, Sree Pandarathu kallara, Vedavyanakonathu kallara and Sarswathikonathu kallara. By 3.30 p.m., the operation was stopped and the vault sealed. The four vancheds were taken to the Chellavagai, or palace treasury, “for counting and valuation.” It is not clear from the reports if any of the remaining cellars were opened in the following days. The reasons for opening the vaults too were not elaborated. However, Emily Gilchrist Hatch, who was in Trivandrum in 1933, offered an explanation in her book, Travancore: A guide book for the visitor (Oxford University Press, 1933). She not only recalled the 1931 opening of the vault, but also mentioned a similar but unsuccessful attempt that had been made in 1908. Ms. Hatch, who in the preface to her book profusely thanked the Travancore government for all the “help and counsel” extended to her, recorded that the temple had a vast amount of wealth ‘lain in vaults.' “About 25 years ago,” she wrote, “when the State needed additional money, it was thought expedient to open these chests and use the wealth they contained.” “A group of people” got together and attempted to enter the vaults with torches. When they found them “infested with cobras” they “fled for their lives.” However, in 1931 the temple officials were better prepared with “electric lights and system of fans,” she observed. The 1930s were difficult times. The princely state Travancore, like the rest of India, was facing an economic depression. Revenues had fallen and the prices of agricultural produce had come down. It was in these difficult times that Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma was invested with ruling powers, T. Austin, an Englishman, succeeded Subrahmanya Aiyar as Dewan, and C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar was appointed legal and constitutional adviser to the Travancore government. However, in 1932, when the Dewan recalled the important events of the preceding year in his annual address to the Sri Mulam Popular Assembly, one of the two legislatures in Travancore then, there was no mention of any treasure being taken from the temple or used. Ms. Hatch's book provided a description of how large wooden chests were placed “ready to receive the daily offerings.” She mentioned that as and when the chests became full they were lowered into the vaults for safe-keeping. This may partially explain how votive offerings like gold coins reached the vaults. But the description does not throw much light on how large artefacts such as the golden icon that was recently discovered reached the vaults. Indeed, how such vast amounts of wealth and innumerable artefacts accumulated in the vaults, and remained safe without apparent pilferage for such a long period, remains a puzzle. (Reproduced as it is from The Hindu for the sake of our readers -Andhrawishesh.com)

Opening of temple chamber deferred by SC July 08, 2011 08:17

The Supreme Court today directed its special committee of observers not to open the chamber B of the Sree Anantha Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram of Kerala till July 15 and asked the former Travancore royal family and the Kerala government to come out with proper suggestions to protect and preserve the sanctity and wealth of the ancient temple. King Marthanda Varma, senior member of the erstwhile royal family, told the apex court that the treasure belonged to the God Sree Anantha Padmanabhaswamy and no body else can lay a claim over it. “No member of our family is claiming any right over the temple wealth as it belonged to the temple and the God residing in it,” Raja Marthanda Varma told the judges through his counsel and senior advocate KK Venugopal. The apex-court appointed observers have unearthed gold treasure from the five chambers of the temple cellars but one more chamber is yet to be opened. The estimated value of the gold treasure unearthed is put roughly at Rs.1 lakh Cr. Security beefed up for the temple The Kerala government today announced a budget of 1 Cr for the security of the temple and its wealth. Finance Minister KM Mani said in the assembly that already three battalions of Kerala Armed Police and some commandos of the National Security Guards have taken over the security of the temple and more measures are being planned for the preservation of the temple and its wealth. The government is also considering creating a special security zone around the temple and a decision will be taken soon after studying all related aspects, he said.

Rahul takes on Maya during Padayatra July 06, 2011 13:19

Congress general secretary and MP Mr Rahul Gandhi, who launched his Padayatra in UP on Tuesday to rejuvenate and take his party towards political fortunes, had continued with his Yatra on second day today. After launching his Yatra from Bhatta-Parsaul village, Rahul left for Tappal as early as 6.20 am today and visited several villages on the way in the western parts of the state. He ate four rotis and slept in the open on a charpai (blanket) along with others at a farmer’s house in Rampur village last night but was on his feet in the early morning. The 41-year-old AICC general secretary will culminate his Yatra with the proposed ‘kisan mahapanchayat’ in Aligarh district on July 9. Rahul Gandhi has been making impromptu stops and interacting with villagers in his Padayatra to know their problems. During his Padayatra, he was telling the farmers that they were being looted in the Mayaraj. Despite the imposition of Section 144 in the area by the officials at the instance of the chief minister, Rahul Gandhi was braving the prohibitory orders to make a common cause with the farmers by fiercely criticizing the state government's land acquisition policy.

Ram Dev’s condition worsens June 11, 2011 06:48

The health condition of yoga guru Baba Ramdev has worsened further as his indefinite fast against corruption and black money has entered the 7th day today and doctors have suggested his immediate hospitalization.Chief Medical Officer Yogesh Chandra Sharma who examined him this morning said both blood pressure and pulse rate of the Baba are very low at 104/40 and 58 per minute respectively. “His health parameters continue to remain worrisome,” he said. The CMO said he has sent his report to the District Magistrate and response is yet to come from the authorities. “Ramdev has dehydration and has been advised to break his fast immediately but he has rejected my advice,” he said.Meanwhile, the Baba’s aides had announced that the four Trusts founded by Ram Dev are worth Rs.1100 Cr and the Trusts have spent nearly Rs.750 Cr till date since their inception.

Order reserved on Kanimozhi's bail plea, Karim Morani sent to jail May 07, 2011 05:45

NEW DELHI: The government has opposed the suggestion of civil society members to include the Prime Minister under Lokpal Bill, Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday. The joint drafting committee for the Lokpal Bill met for the fifth time today to thrash out differences that persist between social activist Anna Hazare's representatives and the government on several issues. After the meeting, Kejriwal said the government was also opposed to bringing the conduct of Members of Parliament under the purview of Lokpal. Civil society members have stressd on stricter punishment for high-ranking officials accused of corruption. They also want to bring under the purview of the Lokpal, the conduct of MPs inside Parliament, if it is an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act. In an earlier meeting, there was a consensus on seven of the 34 points submitted by the civil society members. There was an agreement on empowering the Lokpal to initiate a suo motu probe into allegations of corruption against ministers, parliamentarians and senior bureaucrats. Currently, a minister can be prosecuted only after sanction from the Prime Minister. The Lok Sabha Speaker or the Rajya Sabha Chairman has to give the nod in case of action an against Member of Parliament. Former union minister Shanti Bhushan, a member of Hazare's team and co-chair of the committee, in a letter to finance minister Pranab Mukherjee had earlier suggested that the government first present its views on all remaining points and possible solutions on issues on which there were divergent views. The latest version has a new clause, Clause 13-C, which gives wide powers to 'an appropriate bench of the Lokpal' to approve interception and monitoring of messages or data or voice transmitted through telephones, internet or any other medium as covered under the India Telegraph Act, read with the Information and Technology Act 2000.

Order reserved on Kanimozhi's bail plea, Karim Morani sent to jail May 07, 2011 05:45

Govt wants PM, MPs out of Lokpal Bill: Arvind Kejriwal May 07, 2011 05:45

Big B sings four songs for Bbuddah May 07, 2011 05:45

It is believed that the music directors decided to use his original voice and thus requested Big B to sing for his character for better impact. Talking about the songs, Big B informed on his blog that music directors Vishal Shekhar have recorded these songs in Acapella style. Acapella music is vocal music or singing without instrumental accompaniment. He said, "There is a lovely combination of many styles of music. Four of the songs have been rendered in my voice and I am afraid you may have to suffer through them, as they come from a non singer." He also informs that Bbuddah theme which has been playing in all the promos has also been recorded Acapella style. Overwhelmed by the response the promo is getting, Big B wrote, "The film is flamboyant in style, especially in my character which you may have guessed by the dressing design in the trailer. It is tongue-in-cheek where I am concerned, relaxed, laid back and cool. To quote one of the lines in the Bbuddah theme - 'Cool ka School hun mai!' this apart from the catch phrase 'thoda action thoda Jackson' also in the theme tune in the Acapella style," he singed off. For sure, Bbuddah will be a treat for all Amitabh Bachchan fans.

Five Indian ministers at Toronto's mini-PBD May 07, 2011 05:45

TORONTO: Canadian Governor General David Johnston will join Vayalar Ravi, oversees Indian affairs minister, and his four cabinet colleagues in welcoming the Indian diaspora to the mini Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) here next week. Preneet Kaur, minister of state for external affairs, Ashwani Kumar, minister of state for planning and science and technology, Sachin Pilot, minister of state for communications, Jitin Prasada, minister of state for road transport, Sam Pitroda, adviser to the prime minister, and Arun Maira, member of the Planning Commission, are other top Indian dignitaries attending the two-day gathering at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre here from June 9. The biggest conclave in Canada of the Indian-origin people in North America and the Caribbean is expected to attract about 1,000 delegates. With its theme of 'Building Bridges: Positioning Strategies for the Indian Diaspora,' the PBD will serve as a platform to the diaspora to connect with India and participate in its growth, say Indian officials here. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas "offers unparalleled opportunities for networking, advancing linkages across multiple sectors - business, innovation, healthcare and culture; fostering partnerships in the small and medium-sized business sectors, providing ideas for cultural, generational and gender connections and nurturing the rapidly growing relationship between Canada and India,'' says the Indian high commission. Divided into various sessions, the two-day gathering will focus on India's strides in economic development, innovation, science and technology, healthcare and tele-medicine and explore possibilities of collaboration with the diaspora and Canada. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry in India (ASSOCHAM) will hold a round-table on business opportunities in India. Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty and prominent Indo-Canadians, including Scotiabank vice chairman Sabi Marwah and Fairfax Holdings chairman Prem Watsa, are also scheduled to address the gathering.