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The Gujarat High Court has set aside the Modi government’s order banning Jaswant Singh’s book on Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah. The court, hearing a public interest petition, ruled against the ban. The ban curtails fundamental rights, the high court said.The Gujarat government had banned the expelled BJP leader’s book ‘Jinnah — India, Partition, Independence’. The state government claimed the contents of the book tarnished Sardar Patel’s image.

Jaswant Singh

The Modi government alleged the book was an attempt to defame the image of the country’s first home minister Vallabhbhai Patel by “questioning his patriotic spirit”.”Jaswant Singh’s book questions role of Sardar Patel during the partition of India as well as his patriotic spirit. This is an attempt to tarnish the image of Patel who is considered the architect of modern united India,” a statement issued by the state government had said.

“It is a bid to defame Patel by distorting historical facts,” it charged.

Happy with the decision, Jaswant Singh declared himself “thrilled” by the High court judgement and told the media that it was a positive reflection on the judiciary since he did not humiliate anyone and could find no reason for banning his book.

The ostracized leader had earlier criticized the ban, saying it amounted to ‘banning thinking’ and likened the step to the one taken against noted author Salman Rushdie for his controversial work ‘Satanic Verses’.

“The day we start banning books, we are banning thinking,” said Singh, who was expelled by BJP. The controversial book lauds the founder of Pakistan and holds India’s first PM Jawaharlal Nehru and its first home minister Vallabhbhai Patel responsible for the country’s partition in 1947.

Ekta..a loser @ Miss Universe, 2009

Miss India, Ekta Chaudhary, could not even manage to reach top 15 candidates of the global bauty pageant, Miss Universe 2009. The news has distressed Indian crowd immensely. It has been more than 9 years now since any Indian beauty queen won this title last.

All the hopes that this Delhi girl would bring back the crown to India went bizarre with the news of Ekta not even reaching the semi-finals of the content. All the 15 top candidates were from Albania, Australia, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, France, Iceland, Kosovo, Puerto Rico, Sweden, Switzerland, South Africa, the US and Venezuela.

These were chosen from the 80 beauty queens, who had come from all corners of the world best dressed to mark their presence on this global dias. However, the crown was won by Venezuelan beauty, Stefania Fernandez in Bahamas. She was crowned by Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela, Miss Universe 2008.

Kasab's trial to go on!!

The major accused in Mumbai’s 26/11 terror attack, Mohammad Ajmal Amir ‘Kasab’, confessed his active role in the attack. His statement has been recorded and the Special Sessions Court passed its verdict that the trial would go on despite his confession and that the statement would be appropriately made use of at the right time in the case.

Judge M.L. Tahaliyani said: “At the outset, let me state that I am not inclined to accept the statement and pronounce judgment. It is a partial admission of charges. It may amount to admission of guilt to certain offences. He has not admitted to a lot many charges.” 

Kasab has been framed with 86 charges against him and in six charges he has been specifically charged under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC. However, the court refuted Ujjwal Nikam’s (Special Public Prosecutor) plea of recording of Ajmal’s confessions under Section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Also, everyone was taken by surprise when Mr. Kazmi declared that he wished to withdraw from the case as his client, Kasa, is not cooperating & confiding him. However, Kasab refused to accept this allegation and the judge ordered both Kasab & Kazmi to resolve their differences.

Sach Ka Saamna under political scrutiny

There is a lot of buzz about the reality TV show ‘Sach Ka Saamna’ bring aired on Star Plus. The TRPs of the show have been amazing so far. However, the heated debate in Parliament about the format of the show has led to the scrutiny of this show.

On the other hand, Star Plus has maintained a dignified silence over the whole controversy. A big question on the content of the show was raised by MP Kamal Akhtar in the Upper House of the Parliament and gave the reason that any show that probes directly into someone else’s bedroom and private life is against Indian culture and won’t be accepted at all.

After a heated argument over this show, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a notice to Star Plus under Cable TV Network Act of 1995, and the channel needs to respond to this notice by Monday.
Siddhartha Basu, the producer of the show, refused to comment on the controversy and the notice issued. Rather he declared that he has full faith in the institution and that he’d abide by the law.

Ambika Soni, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, has called Indian Broadcasting Federation and News Broadcasters Association for a meeting to discuss the entire matter.

Ex-President Dr. APJ Kalam had been frisked by America’s Continental Airlines while he was boarding the flight to the US. Today, the Airlines have sent their sincere apologies to the former President and declared that they did not intend to hurt Dr. Kalam’s or anybody’s emotions.

Kalam frisked @ Delhi Airport

On coming to know about the incident in which Dr. Kalam was made to remove his shoes by the Airline authorities at Delhi Airport, the MPs had become furious announcing that protocol exempts former presidents and other such high-level dignitaries from security checks.

The natural catastrophe yet again playing its role in Orissa, a state that as suffered huge losses every time due to the floods and yet no safety measure taken by the state government. The flood this year has left 36 people dead until now and snatched away the roofs of millions of Orissa people.

Severe flood in Orissa

Several villages have gone submerged in low-lying areas and destructed many million hectares of rice fields in 30 districts of the state. This bad and miserable start of the monsoons have left millions of the state residents homeless and stranded.

The meteorological department of Orissa has predicted heavy showers in next 2 days. Rescue operations are on and hundreds of people have been rushed to safe destinations. Severe downpours have disrupted roads and railways transport.

A civilian helicopter got crashed in Afghanistan which led to the death of 16 passengers and injured two Russian pilots. Both these pilots were instantly rushed to the Canadian hospital in Kandahar. One of them is commander of the crew whereas the other one is a pilot. Along with the pilots, one Belarusian flight engineer has also received sever injuries in this mishap.

Plane Crash in Afghanistan kills Russian pilots

It was Russian Mi-8 helicopter, a possession of the Vertical-T air company which met with this accident immediately after its take off from Kandahar air field in Afghanistan yesterday. 18 passengers and 3 crew members had boarded the flight.
The investigation probe is on by the air base administration and the Interstate Aviation Committee.

July 20 was a bright day in the investigations of Akshardham terror attack. Gujarat police’s Organization for Counter Terrorist Operations (OCTOPUS) took into its custody the suspect involved in supposedly terror attack of Gandhinagar’s Akshardham Temple that took place in the year 2002.

Akshardham Temple attack

This suspect’s name is Shoukatullah Ghouri, who arrived from Saudi Arabia yesterday only. The moment he arrived at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, OCTOPUS arrested him and issued a non-bailable warrant on his name. At the time of arrest, he was with his wife and four children. The family had arrived from Jeddah.

Gouri serves as a religious cleric in on of the mosques in Jeddah. After his arrest, Gujarat police took him away to some unknown destination. His family was also severely interrogated by Gujarat police and their passports and other important educational documents were also seized.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is all set to arrive in Mumbai in the evening of July 17, 2009. To welcome her and make her stay memorable, the splendid Taj Hotel (which bore 26/11 terror attacks) has been transformed into a fortress and heavy security arrangements have been made.

Hillary Clinton arriving in Mumbai

Since Heritage Wing (renowned for its grandeur and lavish presidential suits) of this marvelous hotel was severely damaged in the biggest terror attacks in India, Ms. Clinton would be made to stay in Tower Wing of the hotel. To cross check the security arrangements, the entire hotel is under strict supervision and all the guests have been intensely screened for any misdeeds.

Also, the police would be keeping a stringent vigilance on all the activities of people in civil clothes. However, the police denied any traffic diversion due to the caravan of US Secretary of State.