Gadkari sheds kilos for a lean makeover

Mid-Day.com, Tuesday March 16, 2010, Pune

BJP chief announced a younger core team today, but not before getting himself a leaner, younger makeover.

Nitin Gadkari, one of India's most powerful men and leader of its biggest opposition party -- the BJP -- is throwing away his weight.

Workouts, yogic exercises and a more careful diet are all part of his rigorous weight-loss programme.

Considering that the leader is poised to announce a younger core team at the national level today with additions like Varun Gandhi and Hema Malini, the quest for a fitter, leaner image to lead a new generation seems in order. Photographs are proof that Gadkari is indeed shedding the kilos.

According to two senior BJP leaders, 52-year-old Gadkari has been grappling with his weight problem for some years but decided to take it seriously a few months ago after he was regarded a serious contender for the party president's job.

It is imperative that he does it, not just for his looks but also for his health. Now the entire party's responsibility is on him, said a senior BJP leader from Maharashtra.

Another BJP leader, who was witness to Gadkari's diet regime and meal timings during the national council meeting in Indore, said the latter even had trained personnel with him for workouts.

I think he had tried sticking to a professional trainer but since he is an extremely busy man, he couldn't find time for the trainer every day.

Currently, there is someone who is trained and stays with him at most times, said the source.

Whenever he gets time, after meals at home or between appointments, he does his workouts, the source added.

In spite of repeated attempts over several days, Gadkari was unavailable for comment.

His secretary Manoj Wadekar denied the news. No he is not working out, he is very busy these days, he said.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar admitted that Gadkari is fitter these days and attributes it to the party's inclination towards a healthy lifestyle.

"Everybody in our party is health-conscious and we try to keep fit. After all, politics isn't a short-term occupation and we need to maintain good health. The important position he is in, it is imperative for the party president to keep fit. And if he appears fitter, it is because of his dedication to move to a healthy lifestyle," said Javadekar.

The party itself seems to be in a healthy-living mode if the national council meeting in Indore is any indication. At the make-believe rural surroundings in the sprawling Kushabhau-Thackeray township, cycles were made freely available and even encouraged. The site had no cars, and most leaders including the top leadership either walked down or used cycles. Even the food was kept basic and healthy. Incidentally, the idea of the back-to-basics, healthy lifestyle came from Gadkari, said sources.

Food chart for Gadkari

Namita Jain, fitness expert and nutritionist, charts a course for Gadkari:

• His ideal weight would be 72-75 kg. Weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds per week is safe.
• The best way to achieve this is by reducing calorie intake and increasing calorie expenditure through exercise.
• His diet should include fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, sprouts, high-fibre cereals. His should have 8-10 glasses of water a day.

• 30-60 minutes of low-impact activity like walking, swimming or cycling daily is recommended.

• Deep breathing helps a person relax. He should also include yoga and deep breathing exercises two-three days per week to increase flexibility and de-stress.


I have read somewhere that Gadkari is overweight due to a serious road accident he had a few years ago. Would someone in the know clarify this?

http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/nitin-gadkari-in-youngistan-17791.php?page=1#postcommentarea

Freedom fighter now fights govt apathy

Mid-Day.com, Wednesday March 17, 2010, Mumbai


He sits by the Masunda Lake in Thane, his frail hands clutching a wooden staff. A far cry from the days when as a young freedom fighter, he fought for the country.

Today, thanks to bureaucratic apathy, 106-year-old CHB Vitthaldas has to shuttle between his hometown in Nizamabad in Andhra Pradesh and Thane to collect his pension, as he has not been able to get the account transferred to his hometown.

With no relatives in Thane, and unable to afford high cost of accommodation in hotels, he has to spend the nights by the lake.

After the demise of one of his sons, the other has been running the household. His family now depends on his pension. Time has failed to obliterate the Gandhian principles of the man who has participated in satyagrahas in Goa, Hyderabad and Nizamabad among others.

"In 1938, I met Gandhiji at Jinnah House in Mumbai. Gandhiji told me that one should persevere and continue trying... I am implementing his advice to get my pension transferred," said Vitthaldas who is still optimistic that he will succeed some day.

"I have requested the officials to transfer my pension to Hyderabad but they said it's a cumbersome procedure and would take time," said Vitthaldas.

"I have been coming here for the last 25 years to collect my pension, the government must respect my service to the nation," said Vitthaldas.

The Maharashtra state government, he says, had granted him the pension. "They should show some respect for my age. If health permits, and if I get a chance, I want to meet the Chief Minister and ask him to intervene," Vitthaldas added.

Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said, "I am hurt about the manner in which Vitthaldas is being treated. I will personally look into the matter and ask the concerned department to help the freedom fighter."

It is good that the Dy.CM has promised to look into this elderly freedom fighter's case and help him. I hope he does so. In fact, at 106 yrs, the government should ensure that he gets his pension at his doorstep and ensure he gets free medical help. This is the least we can do for such a venerable elderly freedom fighter.

http://www.ndtv.com/news/cities/i-am-following-gandhis-advice-1-17918.php?page=1#postcommentarea

ISRO shootout result of misunderstanding: Minister

Bangalore: The shootout at the sensitive Deep Space Network (DSN) facility of India's space agency ISRO near here appears to be the result of a "misunderstanding" and should not be given importance, the Karnataka government clarified on Wednesday.
"It appears to be result of misunderstanding and there is no need to give the incident importance," state home minister V S Acharya told reporters after briefing chief minister B S Yeddyurappa on the progress of the police probe into the incident that occurred early Tuesday morning.
According to a sentry of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) guarding the facility at Byalalu, about 40 kms from here, one of the two men moving under suspicious circumstances near the facility opened fire when questioned. The sentry, identified only as Jhadhav, told police he had fired eight rounds in retaliation but the two managed to escape in the darkness.
Acharya said senior police officials had visited the spot and talked to Jhadhav and other CISF personnel on duty at the time of the incident. There is no trace yet of the empty shell of the bullet fired by the unidentified man. Police are also searching for two empty shells of the bullets fired by the CISF guard as only six have been found.
Acharya said the state government has sent a detailed report on the incident to the union home ministry. If necessary, the minister said, the state government may order a probe by the elite CoD (Corps of Detectives).
Union home minister P Chidambaram said in New Delhi that the shootout did not appear to be a terror attack. "There is no threat to ISRO. It is an amateurish attack," he said.
The space network was set up in 2007 by the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation for receiving data and images from its first unmanned lunar exploration mission Chandrayaan-1 that was launched Oct 22, 2008, and orbited around the moon till Aug 30, 2009.
As one of the country's high-profile and vital installations, the space agency's sensitive facilities in Bangalore and other cities are reported to be on the radar of terror elements.
Source: IANS
K.Venugopal
#1
17 March 2010 15:07:11
When there has been a shootout at a very strategic ISRO facility, I think it was absolutely idiotic on the part of the Minister to advise there is no need to give the incident importance, without clarifying what the incident was all about. And what about the two persons who fired the shots and got away? Without a clue as to who they were, how is the minister in a position to measure the gravity of the situation? Misunderstanding indeed! Would the minister explain what the misunderstanding is all about?

http://news.in.msn.com/internalsecurity/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3702993&ucid=314610#uc2Lst314610

Swami says not guilty on Net

Express News Service
First Published : 12 Mar 2010 06:08:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 12 Mar 2010 08:16:14 AM IST

BANGALORE: Nithyananda Swami has made an online appearance once again. This time allegedly from Varanasi. He claims innocence and says that he has been framed by those who are jealous of his success. However, like the previous press meet organised by his associates back home in Bidadi, even Nithyananda Swami makes no reference to the scandalous video making the rounds.
A ticker follows saying, “Swami will be back from Kumbh Mela soon. He will address a press meet”.
Talking to the Swami in the online video is Rajiv Malhotra, a philanthropist and researcher from the US. Claiming to be hurt by the media representation about the Swami, Rajiv flew to Varanasi to get the Swami’s view about the allegations. “As I have known you after attending the 21-day inner awakening session, I came down to speak to you about the allegations,” he tells the Swami.
However all through the session, neither does Malhotra make any comments about the video, nor does the Swami speak about it.
“I will put up all legal documents on the Internet to maintain transparency,” the Swami says. On the alleged encroachment of land, he says, “The land was donated by the three children of philanthropist Sajjan Rao. They are ardent devotees. They used to perform poojas to the Banyan tree and the Shivaling at the Bidadi ashram”.
Due to this spiritual connection, Vinayak Rao, Prathap Rao and Jeevan Rao donated the land in 2003, he says.
He even refuted the allegations of the mysterious deaths and people being held captive in the ashram. “Anybody can come inside the ashram, which anyhow has no security. There are no restricted areas either. Students have been enrolled in the ashram after their parents gave consent,” he says in the video.
"Things have taken a new twist after allegations were made against me. There are several sandalwood trees growing naturally in the ashram.
Some thieves have tried to cut the trees and take them away. They took away the trunks, while small pieces were left behind. We even approached the forest department regarding this. They said this was a small issue which need not be recorded.
But later they raided the ashram and cases were registered,” he says.

Dear Swami Nithyanandaji, The question the world wants to ask you is very simple. Were you the one in close contact with a woman in the video that was widely shown on TV and in the internet? A yes or no answer is required. If yes, you would have to justify your act and those who buy your explanation would naturally continue to be your disciples and that would be the end of the matter. If your answer is no, then the onus is on those who accuse you of proving themselves in a court of law, for you would naturally be slapping charges against them.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Swami+says+not+guilty+on+Net&artid=1qFgLxpLKaM%3d&SectionID=Qz%2fkHVp9tEs%3d&MainSectionID=Qz%2fkHVp9tEs%3d&SEO=&SectionName=UOaHCPTTmuP3XGzZRCAUTQ%3d%3d

Railway platforms are not highways, Mr Gowda

Mid-Day.com, Thursday March 11, 2010, Mid-Day.com

In what can be termed as a gross violation of rules and utter misuse of power, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, along with his posse, drove two Toyota Fortuners onto the platform of Bangalore City railway station.

What's more, Deve Gowda got the cars parked right next to the train to see off farmers leaving for New Delhi on Tuesday to attend a protest rally he had organized. Gowda took a later flight to Delhi.

Akhil Agarwal, the divisional railway manager (DRM), said, "I don't know if Deve Gowda really required this special arrangement. Vehicles aren't allowed onto the railway platforms except for any medical emergency."

However, officials from South Western Railway claimed that Deve Gowda didn't violate any railway rules as he travelled just 10-15 metres from the main gate.

Milind Dharamsena, state general secretary JD (S), said, "Deve Gowda has been suffering from gastroenteritis and thus was unable to walk. We requested the railways to grant us the permission to let him drive up the platform to which they obliged."

Sources within the party said Gowda was hindered by his leg ailments. As he was on an official tour, he was left with no choice but to take the vehicles inside the station. "Several politicos, including the Chief Minister Yeddyurappa, do the same while they leave for official trips," a party functionary said.

Party officials even claimed that Deve Gowda has a special privilege of getting driven up to an aircraft at any airport to avoid security hassles. However, government rules do not permit this.

A R Infant, Additional Director General of Police, Railways, denied any knowledge of the incident. "It is a matter concerning the former prime minister's security. I cannot comment on this," he said.


Deva Gowda has set new standards in status. Now all and sundry politicians would want to drive up in a car right onto the platform to catch the train! Driving right up to the tarmac to catch a plane is old stuff. We certainly have an innovative neta in Deve Gowda.

http://www.ndtv.com/news/cities/railway-platforms-are-not-highways-mr-gowda-17558.php

BJP watched while Draupadi was being disrobed: Yadav

11/03/2010

New Delhi: Betraying the anxiety among MPs on how the women’s reservation Bill will play out in their constituencies, the BJP chief whip in Lok Sabha on Wednesday claimed “at least 70 per cent of MPs” were against the Bill while a senior BJP MP said he would defy any whip to vote in its favour even though his party had offered it “unequivocal support” in the Rajya Sabha.

Ramesh Bais, BJP chief whip in Lok Sabha, said there was strong resentment among Lok Sabha MPs over the Bill and his party leadership was engaged in placating MPs.
"A t least seventy per cent of MPs are protesting against the women's reservation Bill and the way the party supported the Bill despite marshals being used in Rajya Sabha. Top leaders of the party have assured that grievances of the MPs will be taken into account," Bais told The Indian Express, adding that Murli Manohar Joshi and Yashwant Sinha had already held the first round of discussions.
Hukumdeo Narayan Yadav, senior leader and BJP MP from Madhubani in Bihar, declared he would defy any party whip in Lok Sabha and vote against the Bill.

BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi. Ramesh Bais, BJP chief whip in Lok Sabha, said that Murli Manohar Joshi and Yashwant Sinha had already held the first round of discussions. REUTERS
A former Union Minister, Yadav told The Indian Express: "If they issue a whip (to vote in favour of the Bill), I will break it and vote against it. Let them end my membership, I am not bothered. I am a socialist and I cannot compromise on issues of social justice." He said he had asked the BJP leadership not to issue a whip in Lok Sabha and allow MPs to exercise their choice. He also slammed the use of marshals in Rajya Sabha to evict seven MPs who were opposed to e Bill.
Yadav said the use of marshals amounted to martial law" and his party had been a "mute spectator".
"History will not spare the BJP. The BJP was like Bhishmapitamah and Dronacharya in Mahabharata who remained mute spectators to the disrobing of Draupadi," he said. Attacking the policy of his party to support the Bill, he said the party would "decline further" if it ignored the backward classes.

Senior leaders like Yashwant Sinha are engaged in placating Lok Sabha MPs as there was strong resentment among them over the Bill. REUTERS
Yogi Adityanath, MP from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, too aired his protest, wondering why the party had shown such eagerness to back the women's reservation Bill when there were more pressing matters on hand.
Madhusudan Yadav, a first-time BJP MP from Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh, too objected that the party leadership had not protested the use marshals to evict MPs from Rajya Sabha.
"The allies and supporters of UPA are protesting against the Bill. They used the support of the opposition to use marshals and bulldoze the Bill through Rajya Sabha. We will not tolerate the e of marshals in Lok Sabha," Yadav told The Indian Express.
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K.Venugopal
#1
11 March 2010 18:07:44
Women's reservation is an idea whose time has come. Reservation is not an alien word in Indian polity. It has a historical background unique to India. Political expediency, of course, often ensures that even policies with best of intentions can be perverted. With a free-for-all political robustness extant in Indian polity, reservation policies have often been turned on its head but nevertheless, they have met many of the social goals hoped for by the framers of various reservation policies. No doubt when the history of women's reservation is written, it too would have gone through roller-coaster rides of successes and disasters - but at some point of time in the future it would be said that an idea whose time had come could not have been aborted and had to see the light of the day.

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3697674&page=0

A bag that could solve India's toilet woes

Press Trust of India, Thursday March 11, 2010, New Delhi


It is a daily struggle for millions of slum dwellers in the country to get access to a toilet, a perennial problem that authorities have so far been unable to solve.

But, now a Swedish firm has come out with a solution -- Peepoo, a biodegradable toilet bag that can be used as fertiliser.

The toilet bag, which has recently undergone field trials in India, Bangladesh and Kenya, is expected to help mitigate the dreadful situation for millions, especially the women in the slum areas, says its developer Anders Wilhelmson, an architect and professor in Stockholm.

"Peepoo is not just a toilet bag, it's a solution to human waste disposal problem, the biggest obstacle to sanitation and public health in developing countries like India," Wilhelmson said in an email interview from Stockholm.

"It will be of great help particularly for women, who often wait all day until it is dark to go to the toilet, increasing their chances of infections."

According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 600 million people or 55 per cent of Indians still do not have access to toilets. About 54.71 per cent of urban slums have no toilet facility and most free community toilets built by the government are rendered unusable because of the lack of maintenance, the UNDP report for 2009 said.

Camilla Wirseen, one of the founders of the Peepoo project, said the bag is designed in a way that it is easy to use and hygienic.

The Peepoo is clean from the beginning and doesn't smell after use and very importantly, it makes collection of waste very easy," Camila Wirseen said.

"It works like micro treatment plant and cuts the contamination. This will save lives."

According to United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) data, an estimated 400,000 children under five years of age die each year due to diarrhoea and other infections caused by poor sanitation and hygiene which is largely because of open defecation of waste that contaminates drinking water.

The innovation will prove highly beneficial to control the situation, Wilhelson said, adding that his organisation (Peepoople AB) has carried out a small ground test in Bihar and "the response was overwhelming".

Megh Pyne Abhiyan, an NGO, has carried out the trial in three flood-hit districts of Bihar --Supaul, Khagaria, Saharsa-- last year.

Describing Peepoo's other features, the officials said the bioplastic bag can be used as fertiliser, which is an expensive and scarce commodity in countries like India.

Once used, the 14x38 cm slim elongated bag can be knotted and buried under the earth. With a layer of urea crystals, the waste can turn into fertiliser, killing off disease-producing pathogens found in feces.

"Not only is it sanitary, they can reuse this to grow crops," Wilhelmson said.

"You can use it directly in a small container or Garden-in-a-Sack. It can also be processed and mixed with topsoil and loam (clay+sand) creating a soil filled with nutrients."

About the cost of the bag, the officials said, it will be comparable to the price of polythenes used to collect garbage.

"I believe fertiliser is subsidised in India. Peepoo is fertiliser, maybe it can be subsided either by the government or international organisations," Camilla said.

She, however, said they have not yet collaborated with any Indian firm for its production or sale in the country.

"But, we are getting a lot of interest from Indian citizens who have expressed their willingness to cooperate and help," she said, adding that if things go as planned the bag will be available in India soon.

However they said, Peepoople is currently focusing on Kenya and Bangladesh.

Soon the company will start manufacturing and selling the toilet bag in both the two countries and soon a production unit with high capacity will be set up in India, they added.

The market for low-cost toilets in the developing world is about a trillion dollars, according the World Toilet Organization, a sanitation advocacy group, which has been organising World Toilet Summit ever year since 2001.

Peepoo sounds promising. It is heartening that technology innovators can also be compassionate folks having the poorest of the poor in mind when innovating. Onward, peepoo revolution.

http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/a-bag-that-could-solve-indias-toilet-woes-17537.php?page=1#postcommentarea