Micromax A92 Canvas Lite with 5-inch display, Android 4.1 listed online for Rs. 8,499

Surbhi Chawla, June 29, 2013

While Micromax has started taking pre-bookings of its forthcoming flagship smartphone Canvas 4, another Canvas mobile has been listed online.Dubbed Micromax A92 Canvas Lite, the smartphone is now available through online retailer Flipkart.com for Rs. 8,499. It comes with 5-inch TFT capacitive touch screen display with a resolution of 480X854 pixels. Micromax A92 Canvas Lite is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor alongside 512MB of RAM.
The smartphone has 4GB of internal storage, of which 0.94 GB is user accessible. The storage can be further expanded by up to 32GB via microSD card. It is a dual-SIM GSM+GSM smartphone. Other connectivity options include 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth and GPS.
There is a 5-megapixel auto focus camera with LED flash. The camera is also capable of recording videos at 30 fps. There is no front camera on this smartphone.
Micromax A92 Canvas Lite has G-Sensor, light sensor and proximity sensor. It runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean).
Measuring 77x147x10.8 mm Micromax A92 Canvas Lite packs in a 2,000mAh battery which, as per the company's claims, gives 6 hours of talk time and 240 hours of standby time on 2G network.

Mobiles launched in June 2013
Micromax A92 Canvas Lite key specifications

• 5-inch TFT capacitive touch screen IPS display with 480X854 pixel resolution and 196 ppi
• 1 GHz dual-core processor
• 512MB RAM
• 4GB internal memory, 0.94GB user accessible), expandable by up to 32GB with microSD
• 5-megapixel auto focus camera with LED flash
• Dual-SIM (GSM + GSM) with dual-standby
• 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth, GPS
• Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) OS
• 2000 mAh battery
• 77X147X10.8 mm

From: NDTV

Kudankulam protests: Police action unjustified, says report

Chennai: Tamil Nadu police has been slammed by a fact-finding team that probed the handling of protests against the Kudankulam nuclear plant, specially calling its 'descration' of a church "dangerous and deplorable". The police has rejected the findings.

The team, led by former High Court judge Justice Kolse Patil has said that the use of force against the peaceful protesters was unjustified. Police had lathi-charged the protesters who wanted work on the nuclear plant to be stopped. The team also found that police, while trying to control the agitation, looted and damaged private and public property. The fact-finding team was formed after demands from the Chennai Solidarity Team for Kudankulam and Teachers Against Nuclear Energy.

In the most damning finding, the team said that the desecration of a church by the police was a "dangerous and deplorable act". There were allegations that police officers had barged into the St Lourde's church looking for protesters there. The Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore had alleged that the policemen "insulted religious symbols".

Justice Kolse Patil's team also said that charging the protesters with sedition and waging war against the state was irrational and that police action had created "fear psychosis" in the area.

Tamil Nadu Police though said that they had acted "responsibly" and had been attacked by villagers.

A protest against fuel loading in the nuclear power plant that had been going on for several days in Kudankulam was broken up by police after the Madras High Court gave its green signal to operationalise the plant. Police who had cordoned off the area around the plant had been taken by surprise after the protesters approached the plant by walking along the beach, leading to a stand-off. The protests are still continuing.

In Bihar, a woman IPS officer takes on top cop

Patna: It is khaki versus khaki again in Bihar and this time it involves a woman Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and the State Director General of Police (DGP).

The Bihar Police has written to the state Home Department asking for the suspension of 2006 batch IPS officer Anasuya Rana Singh Sahu. According to the state police, which has prepared a dossier on her stint in Sheikhpura, she was trying to collect money through her bodyguard and her driver.

The state police's economic offences wing tapped the mobile phones of both the constables for over two months, and based on the transcription, showcaused Ms Anasuya. She was transferred out of Sheikhpura last week, and has yet to be given a posting.

But Ms Anasuya has now decided to fight back. After replying to the showcause notice, today she decided to charge none other than state DGP Abhayanand, for targeting her for what she describes as refusing to his "unreasonable and wrong recommendation."

She also said that when her bodyguard and driver are prima facie responsible, then action should be taken against them and not against her. "When I'm responsible for my driver's illegal activities, then shouldn't the DGP also face action for my lapses, if any?" she asked.

Ms Anasuya also admitted that she has had heated exchange of words with her boss on two occasions over his pressure to implement what she describes as something which was not consistent with the law.

Today, when contacted, Mr Abhayanand refused to comment on the charges made against him, saying in Ms Anasuya's reply submitted to the state headquarters, these charges were not mentioned. "It's beyond my comprehension why such charges are being levelled in media," he said.

This episode has once again exposed how divided Bihar Police has become these days and how the state DGP is facing criticism from his own juniours. Earlier this month, during the state DGP's meeting in New Delhi, he faced a lot of criticism from fellow colleagues when he read out his paper "riot vs lathi" on how to control mob without using minimum force.

Will protect panchayat members, says Omar Abdullah

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday promised security to sarpanches and panches amid reports of mounting resignations by them in the wake of attacks by militants.

The government will not remain a silent spectator to these attacks and would take all necessary measures to ensure their safety and security, particularly in vulnerable areas, he told reporters in Srinagar.

Referring to the killing of three panchayat members this year, Mr Abdullah said the state government would not allow the ultras to disrupt ongoing efforts to strengthen the Panchayati Raj system in the state.


Dubbing militants as cowards for attacking panches and sarpanches, Mr Abdullah dared the ultras to target him, saying they would not do so fearing a befitting reply. He also asserted that attempts to derail the Panchayat process by the militants would be thwarted.

"These (militants) cowards are attacking defenseless people. If they have the courage let them carry out an attack on me. But they will not do it as they know they will get a befitting reply," Mr Abdullah said.

In the aftermath of the killing of a panch in north Kashmir's Baramulla district on Sunday, reports said that nearly 100 panchayat members wanted to opt out fearing for their life.

Militants have targeted several panches and sarpanches since the landmark panchayat polls were held in the state last year after a gap of 30 years.

Posters have surfaced in many areas of Kashmir since early this year, asking the panches and sarpanches to resign from their posts or face dire consequences.

"So far, we have only received 50 resignations since the panchayat elections were held last year," Mr Abdullah said, adding "none of these resignations had been accepted so far."

"I have convened a meeting on October 1st to discuss this issue. We have to increase the deployment of security forces or change the deployment pattern according to the threat perception," he said.

He said devolution of power to the panchayats had not gone down well with a section of politicians and bureaucrats.

"Many MLAs and even two ministers from our coalition partner have come to me asking not to transfer block level powers to panchayats," in an obvious reference to Congress.

Opposition PDP lashed out at the state government accusing it of failing to provide security to Panchayat members. 

Sebi files petition with Supreme Court against Sahara firms

Market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, on Wednesday filed a petition with the Supreme Court seeking action against the Sahara Group for not complying with the court’s orders.

The Supreme Court had on August 31 directed two unlisted Sahara group companies—Sahara India Real Estate Corporation (SIREC) and Sahara Housing Investment Corporation (SHIC)—to refund around Rs. 24,000 crore to investors from whom the group had collected money.

The court had also directed the group to hand over all documents submitted by the investor to Sebi within 10 days to verify the genuineness of the investors. The deadline expired on September 10.

The court had appointed retired judge, Justice B.N. Aggarwal, to oversee this. Mr. Aggarwal has already submitted his status report to the court saying that Sahara failed to hand over the documents.

However, the group failed to hand over the documents, prompting the market regulator to approach the apex court.

According to some media reports, the Sahara group had dispatched two truck-loads of documents to Sebi's headquarters, but this was not confirmed by Sebi or Sahara officials.

The case is likely to be taken up on Friday.

Sebi had last year ordered the companies to refund the money, with 15 per cent annual interest, after it found that the fundraising process did not comply with its rules. An appellate tribunal upheld the regulator's order. Sahara then moved the apex court challenging the tribunal’s decision. The court ruled against Sahara.

Ajit Pawar's resignation must be accepted, says Arvind Kejriwal

Mumbai: Appealing Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to accept the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, anti-corruption activist Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday also demanded sacking of state Water Resource Minister Sunil Tatkare.

He also said that India Against Corruption would take to the streets if Vijay Pandhare, Chief Engineer in state irrigation department, who blew whistle on the alleged irrigation scam, was harassed.

"Chavan is going through a test at the moment. He is facing a lot of pressure. The question is will he succumb to pressure and save his government by not accepting Ajit Pawar's resignation, or will he accept the resignation and pass the test," Mr Kejriwal said while addressing a press conference in Mumbai.

"His (Pawar's) resignation should be accepted, even if the Chief Minister is facing pressure from (Congress) High Command (not to accept it)."

"Even Tatkare should be asked to resign as his name has surfaced in the irrigation scam," said Mr Kejriwal, the former Team Anna member. Both Mr Pawar and Mr Tatkare belong to NCP.

Mr Kejriwal also said that resigning was not equivalent to undergoing a punishment. "They are exerting pressure by submitting resignations...they are blackmailing the people in the country. Resignation is not a punishment," he said.

Mr Kejriwal alleged that both CBI and state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) were controlled by the government.
 
"Scams take place but nobody goes to jail. Instead they are granted bail. Even in this current scam of Rs. 70,000 crore, who will investigate? Both CBI and ACB are in the hands of the government."

This man was the whistle-blower in Maharashtra's irrigation scam

Nashik: Vijay Pandhare, chief engineer in Maharashtra's irrigation department, has been given police protection for serving as a whistle-blower.

Mr Pandhare had in writing tipped off Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to massive financial irregularities in the irrigation department.  Ajit Pawar, Mr Chavan's deputy, quit on Tuesday over allegations that placed him at the heart of the swindle. Mr Pawar belongs to the Nationalist Congress Party or NCP which has governed Maharashtra for 13 years in partnership with the Congress.

Mr Pawar served as Water Resources Minister from 1999 to 2009.  The state's last economic survey said that against an expenditure of 40,000 cores, an additional 0.1% of land had been brought under irrigation.

Mr Pandhare had written to Governor K Sankaranarayanan and
Mr Chavan, drawing their attention to the "poor quality" of irrigation projects, inflated budget and irregularities in purchase of materials.

"I have drawn the government's attention to violation of norms and pointed out faults in the projects," Mr Pandhare, a member of the Maharashtra Engineering Research Institute and chief of Maharashtra Engineering Training Academy, said.

Meanwhile, supporters of social activist Anna Hazare have backed Mr Pandhare and assured him of their cooperation.

At BJP meet, Narendra Modi's advice is go big on campaign against FDI in retail

Surajkund, Haryana: At a meeting of 300 top BJP leaders, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi intervened in a debate on foreign direct investment in retail today to suggest that the party take the issue to the village level and offered a systematic plan to negate the Congress' "reforms are back" campaign. He suggested that the party hold more than 5000 public meetings across the country to highlight the BJP's objections, 10 in each Lok Sabha constituency. The Gujarat CM also suggested the BJP emphasise to traders and farmers that the Centre's decision to allow big foreign chains like Walmart to set up shop would affect them adversely.

Party spokesman Prakash Javadekar later said the BJP will counter the government's decision to allow 51 percent foreign equity in multi-brand retail by pointing out that 100 percent FDI in back-end operations in the food processing industries has been allowed for a decade, but has yielded very low investment.

The argument will be part of an economic resolution that the BJP's national executive, the party's decision-making body, will finalise and pass. The BJP leaders are meeting over three days in the picnic town of Surajkund near Delhi to give shape to the party's strategy ahead of elections in states like Karnataka, Gujarat and  Himachal Pradesh, where it is in power.
The first brainstorming session today has also thrown up a plan for 100 rallies across the country to bring back the focus of people to corruption to maximise the BJP's campaign against the Congress-led UPA government, framed in recent months by a series of corruption scandals, and newly fragile after its biggest ally, Mamata Banerjee, quit the coalition over new economic reforms.

BJP leaders are of the view that the party should keep up its pointed attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Mr Javadekar said Dr Singh's recent address to the nation justifying the economic reforms was disappointing for the people, who were expecting some relief from harsh measures his government had announced. "The prime minister keeps referring to the economic reforms started by him in 1991 but the Congress and its policies have been responsible for the economic mess the country is in today," the BJP spokesman said.
 
In the morning, the BJP's general secretary Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "The government isn't working; it is unable to manage allies and blames the Opposition for all that is wrong." He also said that instead of tackling the corruption within, the government uses the CBI to target political opponents. "An extension counter of the CBI should open at the Congress office," he said.

The three-day meeting of the  BJP's national executive will be followed by a gathering of the BJP National Council, which has 1,200 members, and will formally adopt a resolution to pave the way for a second consecutive term as party president for Nitin Gadkari.

While Mr Gadkari and  other senior leaders like LK Advani are present at the national executive meeting in Surajkund on the outskirts of the capital, Karnataka heavyweight BS Yeddyurappa has skipped the session, opting to enrol for a three-day course with the Art of Living Foundation in Bangalore, headed by spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. His party no doubt wishes fervently that he finds the inner peace that the Foundation promises.

For close to two years now, since he was forced to quit as the Chief Minister of the BJP's only government in the South, Mr Yeddyurappa has been in perma-rebel mode. He threatens repeatedly to split the BJP - a warning that has teeth, given his extensive following among local leaders.In July last year, he chose his successor when corruption charges ousted him from office. A year later, he asked that his replacement be removed, and deftly delivered his new favourite, Jagadish Shettar, to the Chief Minister's office.

With elections in Karnataka just months away, Mr Yeddyurappa's absence from this week's three-day brainstorming session does not bode well for the BJP.

Will Amit Shah's bail be cancelled? Supreme Court verdict likely today

New Delhi: The Supreme Court is expected to give its verdict today on cancelling the bail of Amit Shah, former minister and close aide of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, in the 2005 Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, and whether to shift the trial to Mumbai.

The CBI had petitioned the court for cancellation of Mr Shah's bail on the grounds that he may try to influence witnesses in the case.

Sohrabuddin and his wife Kauser Bi were allegedly abducted by the Gujarat's Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) from Hyderabad and killed in a fake encounter near Gandhinagar in November 2005.

Mr Shah was arrested by the CBI on July 25, 2010 and had spent over three months in Sabarmati Jail in Ahmedabad. He had to quit the Modi government in July last year after having been slapped with kidnapping and murder charges in the fake encounter killing. Mr Shah is currently out on bail but has been barred by the Supreme Court from entering the state. In an election year, how critical is his return for the BJP and Mr Modi in particular?

The party leaders don't want to say on record but they admit that the absence of Amit Shah could mean trouble for the Chief Minister. He is considered not just an important strategist for the party but a crisis manager for Mr Modi.

Post-2002, Mr Shah played a key role in Mr Modi's political planning. He also ensured the BJP's growing clout in the milk cooperatives that were traditionally Congress held.

"It's fine that Mr Modi himself is a strategist, but Shah has ensured party's immense strength in cooperatives, cricket associations and urban municipal corporations. That's why his absence could prove a big hurdle for Mr Modi during elections," said Ganshyam Shah, a political analyst.

But what comes as another blow to Mr Shah's supporters is the CBI filing a chargesheet against him in Tulsiram Prajapati case and his imminent arrest which could mean his political isolation. The Opposition hopes to draw electoral mileage out of this.

"One minister is behind bars for riots, another finds himself in the middle of a fake encounter. It's clearly an embarrassment for the BJP," said Congress spokesman Manish Doshi.

The CBI had said that Mr Prajapati was a witness in the Sohrabuddin case and his killing was part of a larger conspiracy in which Mr Shah, as the then head of the state administration, was involved.

Mr Shah's supporters want him to reclaim his clout in state politics which has of late seen domination by another aide of Mr Modi, senior minister Anandiben Patel. But faced with arrest, it's clearly tough times for Amit Shah, the once powerful politician of Gujarat.

From: NDTV

Should all natural resources be auctioned? Supreme Court's answer today

New Delhi: The Supreme Court will pronounce its opinion today on whether all natural resources must be auctioned by the government, a decision the court made earlier this year in the context of the expansive telecom scam.

In February this year, the court cancelled 122 telecom licenses issued by former minister A Raja in 2008 on the basis of a first-come-first-serve policy which he allegedly manipulated.  In its landmark judgement, the court said that a get-in-line policy was fundamentally flawed and that a competitive bidding process must be followed for allocating all national resources.

The government, however, has argued that is not always possible, and that the verdict impedes upon the executive's right to decide policy.  It sought a clarification from the Supreme Court on whether its stand on an auction, as expressed in the telecom or 2G verdict, applies to other national resources too.

The government has been recently indicted  by the national auditor or CAG who said that because coal blocks were not auctioned from 2004-2009,  the country lost upto 1.86 lakh crores.  Though the government has challenged that estimate, the auditor's conclusion has added to the debate over how resources should be given away to private firms.  In the case of both airwaves for telecoms and coal blocks, the government has argued that an auction would have led to increased costs which would have adversely impacted consumers and the industry.

From: NDTV