Mumbai
Wizcraft in Line of Fire for ‘Make in India’ Dais Blaze
The city fire brigade has blamed event management company Wizcraft for the massive fire that broke out at the ‘Make In India’ event here on February 14. The fire brigade attributed the fire to defective electric circuit. The fire brigade submitted its report to the Municipal Commissioner on Wednesday. The report held Wizcraft “negligent” by storing highly combustible material under the stage thus ignoring the inspection report handed out to it. “LPG cylinders were brought in for creating an image of Lord Ganesh by flames. In spite of directions, LPG cylinders were brought in and kept under the state that subsequently led to LPG explosions, aggravating the fire,” the 185-page report stated. It stated that after considering all probable causes, the likely cause of the fire is a ‘defective electric circuit’.
Dutt to be a Free Man Today; PIL Questions Early Release
Barring any last-minute hitches, Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, convicted in 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case, will be a free man on Thursday when he walks out of Pune’s Yerawada jail after he was granted remission in his five-year sentence. On the eve of his release after serving 42 months behind bars, a PIL was filed in the Bombay High Court on Wednesday challenging his early release on remission, alleging that the 56-year-old actor was getting preferential treatment. Jail officials said the actor will be released on Thursday. “Dutt will be released tomorrow (Thursday) around 10 AM in keeping with the normal procedures as applied to every prisoner who has completed his sentence and jail term,” Yerawada Jail Superintendent U T Pawar said.
Guwahati
9 Tuki Loyalists Join CM Pul’s Camp Ahead of Floor Test
Ahead of the floor test, eight MLAs loyal to former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki have joined the camp of incumbent Chief Minister Kalikho Pul. Six legislators attended Wednesday’s Congress Legislators Party (CLP) meeting convened by the Chief Minister. Earlier, one MLA belonging to Tuki’s camp had taken sides with Pul. A two-day session of the State Assembly will be held on Thursday and Saturday. Friday is a holiday. The fate of Pul is likely to be decided on Saturday. If he survives the floor test, the swearing-in of his ministers will take place soon after. Pul had the support of 32 of the 60 MLAs, including 19 from Congress, 11 from BJP and two Independents. Now, this strength has gone up to 41. Sources claimed that some more MLAs would join Pul’s camp before floor test.
New Delhi
Apex Court Ticks off Maha For Norms on Dance Bars
The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the Maharashtra Government for putting certain conditions for granting licences on dance bars like providing live CCTV feed of performances to police and segregating the dance area from the restaurant. “Why the stage should be covered from all sides? Why there should a non-transparent partition between dance area and restaurant area? The dance is an art,” a Bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh said. “Why are you imposing the condition? As long as nothing obscene is happening...why,” it asked Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, appearing for Maharashtra, and told her to clarify the stand on some contentious conditions on March 1. The Dance bar association has red flagged certain conditions of the government.
18 Countries to Participate in Biggest Wargame in Pune
For the first time, the Indian Army would be hosting its largest multi-national military exercises in Pune from March 2-8, which will see participation of 18 ASEAN Plus countries. The field training exercise, code named Exercise Force 18, will see participation of over 360 personnel and its theme will be based on humanitarian mine action and peace keeping operations. The maiden multinational exercise ever conducted by ground force on Indian soil will see participation of 18 ASEAN Plus nations including China, USA, Russia, Japan, South Korea, army spokesperson Colonel Rohan Anand stated in a statement. It will give the Army an opportunity to showcase, learn and share the best fields with friendly foreign countries. The essence is to display our commitment for peace and stability in the region.