J & K Election Results 2008

RESULTS : 87/87


NC : 28


PDP : 21


Congress : 17


BJP: 11


Others : 10

Taj and Trident Hotels Reopen

The Two five star hotels in Mumbai, the Taj Mahal Palace and Trident hotels which were sites of the 26/11 terror strikes welcome guests once again. The Trident and Taj Mahal hotels received their first guests since the carnage, with staff praised for their dedication and resilience. Both hotels were officially reopened after commemoration services, where prayers were said by religious leaders. The hotels have upgraded their security and have also set up funds to help those affected by the attacks - the Taj Public Service Welfare Trust and the Oberoi Care Fund respectively. Both hotels are back to its high life and glitter, symbolising Mumbai's efforts to return to normality after a brush with terror that left many people dead and a city scarred forever. However, even as both the hotels open up and bounce back to life with the physical scars being covered up with renovation, it is the emotional scars which will take some time to go.


Taj and the Trident hotels, rose back from the debris in less than a month’s time, to stand as twin symbols of India’s indomitable spirit.

Qutab Minar : The Tallest Monument in India

Qutab Minar is the world's tallest brick minaret in Delhi. The Qutab Minar is notable for being one of the earliest and most prominent examples of Indo-Islamic architecture. King Qutubuddin Aibak of Slave dynasty laid the foundation of the Qutab Minar in 1199 AD which was later finished by his son-in-law and successor Iltutmish.


The Qutab Minar is 72 meters high (237.8 ft) with 379 steps leading to the top. It is a 5 storied tower. Each tower of the famous Qutab Minar has unique designs.The minaret is made of fluted red sandstone covered with intricate carvings and verses from the Quran. Numerous inscriptions in Arabic and Nagari characters in different places of the Minar reveal the history of Qutab. It is surrounded by several other ancient and medieval structures and ruins, collectively known as Qutab complex. The complex has a number of other important monuments like the gateway built in 1310, the Alai Darwaza, Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque; one of the oldest existing mosques in India, the tombs of Altamish, Alauddin Khalji and Imam Zamin; the 2000 year old 7m high Iron Pillar - the Alai Minar; another tower 27m high, the Madrasa or School, great screen of Qutbuddin Aibak in the mosque etc. The complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Delhi.


The architectural wonder is surrounded by a lush green garden, which is a much favoured leisure pad for Delhites, and you can see people lazing out their in winter afternoons. In the end, We can say that it is undoubtedly one of the finest stone towers in India and one of the most important landmarks of Delhi.

Doctor's Nexus with Pharmaceutical Firms

How confident would you feel when what has been prescribed to you by your doctor is what you need? Drug manufacturers are no strangers to handing out gifts and putting up contests for prizes with doctors in lieu of sale of their medicines. These unethical marketing practices are a threat to patients and hospitals. In one such case, 100 doctors who topped the prescribers charts from cities like Ahmedabad, Chennai, Alwar, Belgaum, Ambala and Agra participated in a lucky draw and were awarded publicly by the Gujarat-based Torrent Pharmaceutical. There have been many such cases of unethical practices going on in Delhi since years. The doctors have been prescibing medicines which are available in particular shops and nowhere else, so that the chemists and the doctors become the real beneficiaries, ignoring the fact that it might prove expensive for a patient. In India, we just have vague assurances of self-regulation by the drug industry and reliance on doctors ethics. Doctors are being bribed and the government should bring in strict regulations in order to break this nexus.


So, next time you pop a prescribed pill, be warned : unless it is a doctor you can trust, you might not necessarily be taking what you need.

The "Climate Change" Plan

The owning and using of private vehicles could become tougher if the proposals made by the National Action Plan on Climate Change are implemented. Alarmed by the growth of private vehicles in Indian cities and the rise in fuel emissions, a panel under the action plan has suggested numerous measures that promise to change the face of urban transport. It is based on the understanding that all-round costs of using personal vehicles need to be raised even as public transport is strengthened.


The Measures which are proposed by the Mission include :-


-Making ownership of parking space compulsory for those wishing to buy new private vehicles.


-Making parking fee reflect the cost of land.


-Imposing a congestion charge and making parts of the city off limits for cars.


-The mission has also recommended dedicating select corridors to only public transport.


-Limiting the availability of parking space in city centres.


-Banning parking on arterial roads.


-Charging higher parking rates at peak hours.


-Make street parking steep and reducing the use of diesel propelled private vehicles.


-The mission document also recommends creation of a regulatory body which will lay down minimum basic service standards for the industry, impose heavy fines, suspend or even cancel licenses and prosecute the erring agencies or individuals.


-There's also a proposal for a dedicated urban transport fund to pump money into running public transport better in urban areas.


-It has also backed the imposition of tough fuel efficiency norms for vehicles and gone further to recommend that government's purchase of vehicles should be done keeping fuel efficiency in mind.


The report also notes that growth of registered vehicles is four times the rate of growth of population in six major metros like Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Chennai. It has warned that the fuel consumption for road vehicles, if unchecked, would be six times by 2035 and greenhouse gas emissions would go up 5.8 times in the 30-year period. Simultaneously, the share of public transport has declined drastically from 69% to 38% between 1994-2007 period in cities with population above 4 million.
The mission document is to be shared with the PM's climate change council before it gets operational.

Displeasure Over Life-Size Copy Of "Taj Mahal"

Indian embassy in Bangladesh voiced its displeasure over a life-size copy of the Taj Mahal when Bangladeshi film director Ahsanullah Moni unveiled his $ 58 million replica, located about 30 kilometres northeast of the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka in Sonargaon. Moni began building it five years ago but came up with the idea in 1980 when he first visited the real “Monument to Love” in Agra, India. He imported marble and granite from Italy, diamonds from Belgium and used 160 kilos of bronze for the dome. Ahsanullah Moni said he wanted his countrymen to experience the beauty of the Indian monument even if they were too poor to travel to see the original.


The 17th Century Taj in India was built by Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan as a tomb for his beloved queen, Mumtaz Mahal. This magnificent monument now counts amongst the Seven Wonders of the World. It has mesmerized many people with its bewitching beauty.
India has expressed great displeasure over the construction of the replica of India's Taj Mahal in Bangladesh saying it would investigate to see if any copyright laws had been breached.

"HAPPINESS" QUOTES

Man only likes to count his troubles, but does not count his joys.
- Fyodor Dostoyevsky


Happiness belongs to those who are contented.


A happy life consists of tranquility of mind.


Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.


One is never as unhappy as one thinks, nor as happy as one hopes.


Happiness is different from pleasure. Happiness has something to do with struggling and enduring and accomplishing.
- George Sheehan


In misery, you can start wanting to laugh. In laughter, the rictus made by the face is like crying. They have the same magic – you can’t separate them - Dennis Potter


Happiness depends on what you can give, not what you can get - Mahatma Gandhi


Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony - Mahatma Gandhi


That action is best which procures the greatest happiness for the greatest numbers - Francis Huchinson


Happiness lies, first of all, in health - George William Curts


How wide the limits stand
Between a splendid and a happy land - Goldsmith


The best secret of happiness is renunciation - Andrew Carneige


The happy only are the truly great - Young


Now the heart is o full that a drop overfills it
We are happy now because God will it - J.R Lowell


Happiness belongs to the self-sufficient - Aristotle

Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections

If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.

Famous Quotes

FAMOUS QUOTES BY FAMOUS PEOPLE

Creativity comes from a conflict of ideas.
- Dontella Versace

If people knew how hard I had to work to gain my mastery, it would not seem wonderful at all.
- Michelangelo

Comedy is acting out optimism.
- Robin Williams

Never step backward, not even to gain momentum.
- Andy Garcia

I have seen karma slap people in the face. You have to be good to people. It really does come around.
- Kirsten Dunst

The best present a man can give a woman is his undivided attention.
- Usher

Learn from the mistake of others. You can’t make them all yourself.
- Usher

Men fall in love with their eyes and women fall in love with their ears.
- Dr. Phil McGraw

Too many people spend their money they haven’t earned to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.
- Will Smith

I hate admitting that my enemies have a point.
- Salman Rushdie

False science creates atheists; true science prostrates Man before divinity.
- Voltaire

Money and success do not change people; they merely amplify what is already inside.
- Will Smith

It is a wise father who knows his child.
- William Shakespeare

Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty.
- Socrates

Never give in – in nothing, great or small, large or pretty – except to convictions of honor and good sense.
- Winston Churchill

“Give me a standing place” said Archimedes “and I will move the world.”


If you are the boss, never take on more work than your assistant.
- Sandor Kopias

The trouble with living alone is that is always your turn to do the dishes.
- Al Bernsten

Mediclaim Policies

IDEAL MEDICLAIM INSURANCE POLICY

In the last couple of decades health care costs have witnessed a significant increase especially in the case of critical illness. In such cases of emergencies that involve huge expenses, you need a proper cover. This is even more important if you are salaried with only fixed access to big emergency expenses. There are other benefits as well. The premium to take health or medical insurance, for self or family also makes you eligible for tax benefits, deductions from income under Income Tax Act Section 80D. While the method of payment is concerned, the insurance company either pays directly to the hospital or it reimburses your expenses. Companies that provide mediclaim insurance policies also have a list of both illnesses they insure and institutions where the policy maybe availed of. Any one of several insurers provides reliable medical cover. Your choice should be based on the amount, the terms and the expediency of payment of the insured amount, as well as the reputation of the insurance company concerned.

TAXABILITY OF PENSION PLANS

PENSION PLANS – with and without life covers

Pension Plans are available with two different options: with life cover and without life cover. The ‘with cover’ pension plan offers a guaranteed life cover in case of a contingency, even if the amount built till the date of death happens to be below the total. Under the ‘without cover’ pension plan, the amount built till the date of death (net of deductions like expenses and premiums due) is given out to the nominees in case of an eventuality, with no sum assured.

The taxability of a pension plan is determined in two stages: first, at the time of making annual premium payments. For life insurance plans, the premium which is paid is eligible for deduction under section 80C. On the other hand, premium payments towards pension plans are eligible for deduction under Section 80CCC. The overall limit for deduction under Sections 80C & CCC is Rs.1 lakh i.e. one is entitled for same tax deduction for the premium mount paid for; with or without life cover pension plans.

At the time of maturity, the commute value of the pension that is received from a life insurance plan is tax-free. However, the monthly pension amounts are fully taxable, irrespective of whether or not the plan holder claimed the deduction under Section 80C or CCC at the time of payment of premium.

FATEHPUR SIKRI

Architectural Marvel- FATEHPUR SIKRI


FATEHPUR SIKRI, which is located 26 miles west of Agra,has been beautifully crafted out of redstone that gives the city its character. This lovely structure is an exceptional blend of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles.

This world heritage site was built by the great Mughal emperor Akbar. Fatehpur Sikri comprises of a cluster of monuments which also includes one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid.

The new capital 'Sikri' was built by Akbar to mark the birth of his son Jehangir and later on Fatehpur was constructed to celebrate Akbar's conquest of Gujarat so it is also known as the City of Victory.

The city has numerous palaces and courtyards, and it is often said that Fatehpur Sikri is the greatest accomplishment of the Mughal architecture.

Election Results 2008

MADHYA PRADESH - 230/230 -


BJP: 143

CONGRESS: 69

BSP: 7

OTHERS: 11


CHHATTISGARH - 90/90 -


BJP: 51

CONGRESS: 37

BSP: 2

OTHERS: 0


DELHI - 69/69 -


CONGRESS: 42

BJP: 23

BSP: 2

OTHERS: 2


RAJASTHAN - 200/200 -


CONGRESS: 98

BJP: 75

BSP: 7

OTHERS: 20


MIZORAM - 40/40 -


CONGRESS: 31

MNF: 4

BJP: 0

OTHERS: 5

Terror Threat Through Air Strikes

Following intelligence inputs that terrorists might carry out airborne strikes, air traffic control officials have been asked to keep a hawk's eye on unidentified flying objects. They have been asked to be extra vigilant and be prepared against terror threats from the air. The intelligence reports had also mentioned that terrorists planning suicide attacks could use unused airstrips as base by using small aircraft. With India's coastal security already breached by terrorists in Mumbai, Defence Minister A K Antony warned the armed forces of possible terror attacks from airborne platforms similar to the 9/11 attacks in the US. Antony asked them to be prepared to counter the threat of terrorists from the air and prevent a repeat of World Trade Centre-type of attacks carried out by the Al-Qaida. The Delhi Police have deployed more armed personnel outside the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) after intelligence agencies warned that it could be a target. Apart from augmenting their strength, the police have been given sophisticated weapons and hand-held metal detectors. Plain-clothes policemen have also been deployed and roadblocks are put up on the approach roads. There are also inputs on a fidayeen attack on major airports of the country. Airports across the country have been put on high alert in the wake of intelligence reports that terrorists from Pakistan or Afghanistan may strike using a hijacked aircraft. Extra surveillance has been mounted in most of the airports, with additional CISF and police personnel being deployed to keep an eye around the terminal so that any incident can be prevented.

Mumbai Attack Strains Indo-Pak Relations

India's fragile relationship with Pakistan has been badly damaged by the attacks on Mumbai. Tensions between India and Pakistan have further escalated after claims by India that all 10 gunmen who attacked Mumbai killing more than 176 people, were from Pakistan. The terrorists who have been killed in these encounters were of Pakistani origin. India claims all the nine terrorists shot dead by army commandos for laying siege to Mumbai's two luxury hotels - the Taj Mahal and the Oberoi-Trident - and a nearby Jewish centre, after a 60-hour gun battle, belonged to the al-Qaeda-associated Lashkar-e-Taiba group based at Mudrike near the southern Pakistani city of Lahore.


Pakistan and India have suffered a tense relationship punctured by sporadic outbursts of violence. The attack on Mumbai threatened to further strain the two countries relations. Though India has not directly accused Islamabad's civilian government of involvement in the strike but has expressed deep frustration over its neighbour's inability, and unwillingness to prevent armed militant groups from using its territory to train and launch attacks on Indian targets. Indian politicians are demanding that Pakistan's government act decisively to get rid of the violent Islamist extremists operating on Pakistani soil.

Attacks in Mumbai have once again landed India and Pakistan in an embarrasing face-off. The new lull in the relation has cemented the fear of the failure of the joint anti-terror mechanism. Pakistan is feeling the heat not just from India but around the world and it is now making efforts to prove itself.

The rapidly rising tensions could scuttle a tentative peace process between the two nuclear-armed countries and even lead to a military confrontation, but some experts say they thought this might have been the aim of the terror operation.

MUMBAI FIGHTS BACK..

Mumbai attacks were a series of coordinated terrorist attacks that occurred across Mumbai (Bombay), India's financial capital and largest city, on November 26, 2008. As the astounding and the heartbreaking images of Mumbai attacks and hostage drama played out on television and splashed across newspapers and websites, the country and the world reacted, first with a mix of shock and horror and then, erupted in rage. These attacks have not only elicited strong responses from the world leaders, stronger responses have been coming in from citizens around the world, who stand united in their condemnation of the bloodbath and in discriminatory shooting in Mumbai.


The predominant emotion seemed to be a mix of anger and helplessness - a reflection on the collective sentiment of the country. Never before in its history of facing some of the bloodiest terrorist attacks has India felt so collectively crippled as it does today.


While intelligence failure is being blamed for the terror attacks, most readers have lashed out against politicians and the political system. The city of Mumbai is angry, as is the rest of the country. Mumbaikars were on the streets, saying that enough is enough. People across Mumbai reacted by holding candle lights for those who died in the recent terror attacks. They also asked why the government failed completely in protecting them and their city.


The Mumbai terrorist attacks show that the fight with terrorism is necessary. These acts of terrorism shows that the problem exists and it can't be easily solved. These coordinated attacks on innocent civilians demonstrate the grave and urgent threat of terrorism. Such violence is totally unacceptable. We need to step up and unite against terrorism..