Pressure on Pawar before ELectionsJust days after writing about the feud between Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), I am writing this post. The Congress seems to have taken a firm stand as to degrade and pressurise NCP so much as concede everything it want from the party. Lastest missive on this front is the letter written by Sonia Gandhi to Sharad Pawar. On the surface, the letter appears to have written out of the concern for poors. In fact, it is a perfect ploy to take the carpet out of Pawar's feet as a run up to the assembly elections.When...
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Rains In Marathwada
After the lull, the storm. There is a slight variation in this saying for Marathwada region as the area has received satisfactory rainfall in the last two days. The rains were absent for most of the monsoon season in Marathwada like other areas in Maharashtra. This started taking different turn in last week. The areas has received good rains in the whole week so much so that water scarcity seems to have taken backseat in major cities.Just two weeks ago, Marathwada had 47 per cent less rainfall than average annual rainfall. According to met department,...
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Maharashtra Govt. Opens Vegetable Shops
Price Hike raises the fear of backlashWith rising cost of vegetables and State Assembly elections round the corner, state government is at its toes. In one of the bold attempts to woo the voters, it has come out to the last standing post of appeasement: kitchen. As scarcity of rains has hit vegetable production in the country, prices are going up. In a bid to thwart dissatisfaction among general public over the issue, Maharashtra government started selling vegetables at low prices in some places. One such centre was inaugurated in the Colaba in...
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
It is Deshmukh vs Pawar in Maharashtra
As the state assembly elections are nearing in Maharashtra, the political situation is taking very interesting turns. For a journalist, watching political developments unfolding is always a feast to the eyes. This time also the situation is no different. Congress and Nationalist Congress Party, who have shared the power for almost 10 years now are at loggerheads and opposition parties are also not in a better position. NCP has just completed 10 years...
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Ganeshotsav Off to Good Start
The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi got off to a well start today. The swine flu seemed to have little impact on the morale of the people in Pune. People were seen thronging temples and Modak, the special type of sweet which is said to be favourite of Lord Ganesh, was in full demand. Even rain graced the city on the occasion.Roadside vendors made most of the business as the sale of big idols were hit this time around. Ganesh idols in Pune come mainly...
Saturday, August 22, 2009
FLight to Popularity
Maharashtra Govt Tries to Make Hay While Sun ShinesAhead of assembly elections, the Maharashtra government seems to be in a hurry. Barely a day after announcing some major decisions, the state cabinet yesterday decided to open its coffer for more spending. Prominent among these decisions was to privatise five airports in the state. The government might have thought that people will fail to notice the significance of choice of these airports. Three of these airports fall in the assembly segments of three prominent leaders of ruling party.According...
Friday, August 21, 2009
Ganeshotsav Under H1N1 Shadow
First time in its history of 115 years, the Ganesh Utsav in Pune is set to be subdued. The festival, which even British rulers could not prevent from being celebrated with enthusiasm, has come under the shadow of H1N1 Flu which has taken more than 17 lives in Pune. Even though mandals and authorities have decided to celebrate the festival simply, it is to be seen how it can be a low key affair.Interestingly, organisers of the biggest festival in...
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Water cuts in cities across Maharashtra
With the situation of rain worsening in the state of Maharashtra, cities across the state are bracing for the cut in water supply. Following the example of Pune, now Aurangabad is also set to face a 30 percent reduction in the daily water supply. As the rain god has chosen to remain away, the dams have failed to fill. This has forced the administration to enforce stricter measures.Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporations announced on Monday...
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Swine Flu: Today's Developments
As many as 105 persons, including 78 para medical staff of a hospital where the 14-year-old school girl died of swine flu, have been put on preventive medication for H1N1 virus.However, many of the family members of Rida Shaikh, a Class Nine Pune student who succumbed to the deadly influenza virus yesterday, including her mother and cousin sister have tested negative for the infection, they said.Preventive medication would be given for ten days to all those who came in contact with the flu victim, the officials said.Meanwhile, civic health officials...
Monday, August 03, 2009
First Swine Flu casualty in India
I am writing this to give this information. The first casualty of Swine Flu has taken place in India. A 14 year old girl has died in Jehangir Hospital today. The girl was admitted in the hospital since last one week and was put on the ventilator since July 29. The girl is named Riya Shaikh and resided in Ganesh Peth. Pune is leading the country in terms of H1N1 cases with more than 125 cases registered till Monday in the district. The number of cases in India stands at 551 while there are 149 patients affected in Maharashtra. Just yesterday, the...
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Co-operation between Indian and Israeli Versities
The unthinkable is happening. Even Islamic universities in India are thinking about starting courses in Judaism? Is this a mark of India's openness and tolerance or interest generated by Israel's strides? One does not know. But the newsletter by Israel embassy in New Delhi informs this startling and welcome development. According the information given in Shalom Namaste, July issue, heads of several leading Indian universities visited recently Israel...
