New name of Kerala minister''s official residence sparks row - MSN India
Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 7 (PTI) A pro-RSS cultural forum here has taken objection to change of name of Kerala Education Minister P K Abdu Rabb''s official residence from "Ganga" to "Grace".
Rabb, an Indian Union Muslim League nominee in the UDF cabinet, however, said some quarters were trying to create an unnecessary controversy over the issue.
In a statement, RSS ideologue P Parameswaran, Director of Bhartheeya Vichara Kendram, said there was no justification for changing the name of the official residences in accordance with the personal preference of its temporary occupants.
"More important, Ganga is the eternal symbol of Indian culture," he said.
When his comment was sought on Parameswaran''s charge, Rabb told PTI that he was not aware that the name of the house allotted to him was "Ganga".
He said when the Tourism department allotted the residence to him he suggested "Grace" as the name of the house as it is the name of his own home at his native place.
Rabb said it was unfortunate that unnecessary controversies were being generated on issues like this while overlooking the good work he had done in the last one year.
"Nobody wants to know what I have done in the department.
Everybody is after controversies," he said.
No divisions over Rio - Downing - Football
Published: 07 Jun 2012 - 18:47:52
Stewart Downing insists the backlash against Rio Ferdinand's snub had not hurt the England's European Championship build-up as Laurent Blanc waded into the controversy.
Ferdinand's brother, Anton, also broke his silence on the matter before Blanc became the latest leading figure in the game to suggest the Manchester United defender was not left at home for "football reasons" ahead of Les Bleus' clash with England on Monday. But Liverpool winger Downing claimed it was not a topic of conversation at the team's Krakow base.
"Certainly not," he said. "Whoever the manager picks, we just get on with it. I just concentrate on my own game and why I am here. It has obviously been built up but players just get on with it."
Insisting the saga had not had a negative impact upon Roy Hodgson's squad, he added: "The manager has just told us to concentrate on playing in the games and the players who are here."
Hodgson has denied Ferdinand's exclusion had anything to do with the possibility of disharmony between the United centre-back and John Terry.
Terry faces a court case on July 9 after being charged with racially abusing Anton Ferdinand during a match between Chelsea and QPR last October. Chelsea captain Terry denies the charge.
Several high-profile former players have contended this was precisely why Ferdinand was ignored, and France boss Blanc joined them. He said: "I know Rio Ferdinand. I think, from afar, that the choice to not take him isn't a sporting choice. Rio Ferdinand is a very good player but (his exclusion) has been surprising with all the injuries in that department."
Anton Ferdinand earlier refused to join the condemnation of his brother's omission. Rio Ferdinand's adviser, Jamie Moralee, this week branded the decision to call up Martin Kelly as a replacement for the injured Gary Cahill on Sunday "disrespectful", and the player was equally unhappy.
However, the United man vowed to support England in the tournament and his brother has backed up those sentiments.
"Things happen in football," he told Daybreak. "It's a game of ups and downs. I am sure he'd like to be there but sadly it didn't happen this time. But we move on and, like he said, he's going to follow them from somewhere else and, as a family and as a community, we're going to do that."
Related England News
Winning Neston pupils to meet MP (From This Is Wiltshire) - This is Wiltshire
Winning Neston pupils to meet MP
5:00pm Thursday 7th June 2012 in News
Six Neston Primary School pupils are to discuss world environmental and welfare issues at the House of Commons with MP Duncan Hames after winning the Global Spotlight Competition at Corsham Town Hall.
At the event organised by Wiltshire Global Education Centre on May 24, year six pupils Lottie Musson, Cerys James, Daniel Watts, Minnie Gilmore, Josh Gratton and Max Spurrell, from the school, in Church Rise, won the prize of a trip to London.
The pupils entered their research into fair trade coffee for the presentation competition, held in front of judges and parents, which featured submissions from other local primary schools.
Neston Primary School spokesperson Jo Cook said: “The children will have an hour with Duncan Hames on July 2 and then a tour of the House of Commons. They also want to talk to Corsham Town Council about making Corsham a fair trade town.”
Pupils from Corsham Regis came second in the competition with a presentation on the mining of metals which are used in mobile phones, while Corsham Primary pupils came third with a presentation on the environmental impact of plastic bags.
Year nine pupils from the Corsham School visited the competing primary schools, helping them develop their presentations.
During the event, funded by Corsham Area Board, pupils took part in a workshop with WGEC’s Caroline Harmer and discussed major events going on across the world and what effect they have on them.
Bangor Parish Church damaged in fire - BBC News
A passing police patrol prevented the landmark Bangor Parish Church from being destroyed in a fire, a senior detective has said.
The fire was started at about 02:00 BST in its roof, which was badly damaged
The inside of the 130-year-old Church of Ireland building on Hamilton Road was badly smoke-logged.
Chief Inspector Michael McDonald said his officers quickly alerted the Fire Service who managed to stop it from spreading further.
"They detected fire coming from the church and quickly sealed off roads and alerted the fire service," he said.
"I am convinced that their swift action saved the building from major damage."
'Saddened'Reverend Nigel Parker said parishioners were shocked by the damage caused to the church.
"We are just very thankful that no-one was injured and that it was brought under control so quickly," he said.
"It is a very special place of worship and it is very saddening to see what has happened."
He said it could take several months for repairs to be carried out.
Fire station commander James McAllister praised the fast response of the police and fire crews.
"Within minutes they had got the fire on the roof of the church out," he said.
"The breathing apparatus teams were faced with intense heat. But because of the speed of the response from the crews, there has been a limitation to the damage."
Police are working to establish how the fire started.
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