Freedom from unsolicited SMS in 6 weeks: Kapil Sibal
NEW DELHI: Millions of mobile phone users will be able to get rid of the menace of unsolicited text messages (SMS) in six weeks when DND (do not disturb) number 1909 becomes operational, telecom minister Kapil Sibal said on Friday.Once a number is registered, the server will block any unsolicited text message if a tele-marketer ties to send it.”If you register, you would not get those messages,” he said.The NDNC Registry is a database having the list of all telephone numbers of subscribers who do not want to receive UCC “Unsolicited Commercial Communication”.Sibal said the government will impose “very high fines” for tele-marketers violating the DND.On first offence a fine of Rs 25,000 will be imposed and a similar amount will be imposed on subsequent five offences after which the registration of the telemarketer will be cancelled.Disconnection of telecom resources of defaulting telemarketers and provision of blacklisting them have also been provided in the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2010, he said.(PTI)
I am innocent in 2G scam, says Morani
NEW DELHI: Seeking his discharge in the 2G spectrum allocation scam, Cineyug Films’ founder Karim Morani Friday told a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court here that he was “innocent”.”I (Morani) am a innocent man. I cannot be a part of the conspiracy. Being a friend to someone is not enough to prosecute anyone,” senior advocate Siddhartha Luthra, appearing for Morani, argued before special judge O.P. Saini.”Just being a shareholder in the company, my client (Morani) can not be prosecuted. The umbrella of chargesheet filed in the case is not enough to held my client guilty,” he added.Luthra further said that the investigative agency has failed to establish that the alleged trail of Rs.200 crore to DMK-run Kalaignar TV through Morani’s firm Cineyug was a bribe in lieu of grant of 2G licence.Neither is Morani a habitual offender nor has he any connection with telecom business, the counsel argued, adding the presumption cannot form a basis for his (Morani) prosecution.”It cannot be the case that Rs.200 crore was paid as quid pro quo for the grant of UAS (2G) licences. If the money was paid as bribe than it would not have been paid back. .(IANS)
Floods affect 14 districts in UP, affects lakhs of people
LUCKNOW: Fourteen districts of Uttar Pradesh have been hit by floods due to heavy rains which have so far claimed 77 lives and affected lakhs of people. Over 3.51 lakh of people have been affected by floods in the state where at least 46 districts have received above average rainfall, a release from the relief commissioner office said. Flood, incessant rains, lightning and house collapse have claimed 77 lives in the state between August 1 and 19. The release said floods and rains have affected 36,775 hectare of agricultural land and damaged 2,249 houses. Some 8,631 people have been shifted to safer places, while 4,651 have taken shelter in relief camps. The government on Friday released Rs six crore for relief and rescue operations in flood-hit districts, it said, adding that PAC and NDRF has been deployed to assist relief operations. Meanwhile, latest reports reaching here from districts said that five persons — two each in Jaunpur and Ghazipur, one in Bahraich — were killed in rain-related incidents since last evening. Heavy rainfall and release of water from flooded rivers in Nepal has led to spate in Ganga, Sharda, Ramganga, Yamuna and Ghagra, a Central Water Commission report said. Among other places, Bareilly had 136 mm of rainfall, Gonda 80.4 mm and Siddharthnagar 75.6 mm, it said. (PTI)
