'Dangerous-to-women' Bill to make divorce easier - India

30  apr 2012

New Delhi A bill was today introduced in the Rajya Sabha to amend existing laws to make divorce easier, with BJP opposing the legislation on the ground that certain provisions could be "dangerous" for women.
Introducing the Marriage Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2010, Law Minister Salman Khurshid said by amending the Hindu Marriage Act, 2007, and the Special Marriage Act, 1954, the government proposes to make divorce easier in case of irretrievable breakdown of marriage among consenting adults.
The Bill also has made provision under which adopted children will have rights on par with biological off springs of a couple in case the parents go for a divorce. It also gives a woman a share in her husband's property.
Initiating the debate, Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Arun Jaitley objected to some provisions of the Bill saying it "will create hardship for women" and encourage misuse and exploitation of women.
He said an alternative argument should be factored into while studying the Bill as it was heavily loaded in favour of one of the parties and both the victim and the perpetrator are treated equally.
"The person causing irretrievable breakdown can also seek divorce," he said, highlighting several drawbacks in the Bill and feared the measure will be "very dangerous for Indian jurisprudence".
Jaitley said the bill should have been drafted keeping in mind that there are not enough support system for women in Indian society.
He said if one of the parties created conditions for divorce, the other party would be forced to accept and apply for divorce. The creator of the condition will get benefited while the other would be the victim.
Najma Heptulla (BJP) opposed the deletion of the 'cooling off' period as it allowed an opportunity for reconciliation.
"Until we give enough protection to women, this will be very dangerous for women," she feared.

She said irretrievable breakdown in marriage should be "codified" and should not come as "a tool in the hand of the husband"

Kedarnath temple reopens after six months - India

28 apr 2012

Kedarnath temple reopens after six months

Dehra Dun:  After a gap of six months the doors of the famous Himalayan shrine Kedarnath reopened on Saturday for pilgrims.

The temple, situated in Rudraprayag district at a height of 3,584 meter, was reopened at 0715 hours according to 'mahurat', sources said.

The 'mahurat' was decided on Mahashivrati at Ukhimath on February 20.

The head priest of the temple, Rawal, performed the 'Abhishek' after the opening of the doors, sources said.

Thousands of pilgrims flocked the temple after the opening.

The Chardhams, comprising of the shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri in the Garhwal Himalayas reopen for pilgrims in April-May every year after remaining closed for nearly six months during winters as the area remains snow-bound during the period.

The annual Chardham yatra is considered as the backbone of the thriving religious tourism in the state that attracts nearly 15-16 lakh pilgrims every year from home and abroad.

US building spy wing to focus on Asia - India

24 apr 2012

WASHINGTON: The US is moving to revamp its spy operations globally with Pentagon floating a new intelligence agency to focus on new threats from emerging Asian powers like Iran and China.

Under a plan approved last week by defence secretary Leon E Panetta, Washington is setting up a new Defence Clandestine Service, the New York Times reported, saying that the new agency would work more closely with counterparts from the CIA.

"It will thicken our coverage across the board," the paper said quoting a senior defence department official. The officer said the move was to "realign" military's human espionage efforts, as part of reorganization , reflecting a shift away from the war zones of Iraq and Afghanistan.

The official said the new intelligence service aimed to ensure that "officers are in the right locations to pursue those requirements" .

The official declined to give specific examples of where such shifts might occur , but the United States in recent years has increasingly focused on counter terrorism and non-proliferation . The Obama administration has also begun to focus on security issues in Asia, including rising powers like China.

The new intelligence service is expected to grow "from several hundred to several more hundred" in the coming years by shifting people's assignments . The defence official sought to allay concerns that the Pentagon organization would take over functions of the CIA or its National Clandestine Service.

He said it would seek no additional personnel, authorities or money, and would strive for "closer integration" with the CIA and other American intelligence agencies.

The announcement of the new agency comes a week after US appointed Lt general Michael T Flynn, who previously served with Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), to help military intelligence . He pioneered new intelligence techniques to understand terrorist and insurgent networks, and to track and attack their leadership as top intelligence officer in Afghanistan.

It was during his tenure that JSOC carried out the raid that killed Osama bin Laden nearly one year ago.

China military warns US of confrontation over seas - India

21 apr 2012

China military warns US of confrontation over seas

Reuters

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Beijing:  China's military warned the United States on Saturday that US-Philippine military exercises have raised risks of armed confrontation over the disputed South China Sea in the toughest high-level warning yet after weeks of tensions.

China's official Liberation Army Daily warned that recent jostling with the Philippines over disputed seas where both countries have sent ships could boil over into outright conflict, and laid much of the blame at Washington's door.

This week American and Filipino troops launched a fortnight of annual naval drills amid the stand-off between Beijing and Manila, who have accused each other of encroaching on sovereign seas near the Scarborough Shoal, west of a former U.S. navy base at Subic Bay.

The joint exercises are held in different seas around the Philippines; the leg that takes place in the South China Sea area starts on Monday.

"Anyone with clear eyes saw long ago that behind these drills is reflected a mentality that will lead the South China Sea issue down a fork in the road towards military confrontation and resolution through armed force," said the commentary in the Chinese paper, which is the chief mouthpiece of the People's Liberation Army.

"Through this kind of meddling and intervention, the United States will only stir up the entire South China Sea situation towards increasing chaos, and this will inevitably have a massive impact on regional peace and stability."

Up to now, China has chided the Philippines over the dispute about the uninhabited shoal known in the Philippines as the Panatag Shoal and which China calls Huangyan, about 124 nautical miles off the main Philippine island of Luzon.

China has territorial disputes with the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan across the South China Sea, which could be rich in oil and gas and is spanned by busy shipping lanes.

Major General Luo Yuan, a retired PLA researcher well-known for his hawkish views, amplified the warnings from Beijing issued through state media.

"China has already shown enough restraint and patience over this incident," Luo said of the friction with Manila, according to an interview published on Chinese state television's website (http://news.cntv.cn).

If the Philippines "takes irrational actions, then the current confrontation could intensify and the Chinese navy will certainly not stand idly by," he added.

REGIONAL TENSIONS

Beijing has sought to resolve the disputes one-on-one with the countries involved but there is worry among its neighbours over what some see as growing Chinese assertiveness in staking claims over the seas and various islands, reefs and shoals.

In past patches of tension over disputed seas, hawkish Chinese military voices have also risen, only to be later reined in by the government. The same could be true this time.

Since late 2010, China has sought to cool tensions with the United States. Especially with the ruling Chinese Party preoccupied with a leadership succession late in 2012, Beijing has stressed hopes for steady relations throughout this year.

Nonetheless, experts have said that China remains wary of U.S. military intentions across the Asia-Pacific, especially in the wake of the Obama administration's vows to "pivot" to the region, reinvigorating diplomatic and security ties with allies.

The Liberation Army Daily commentary echoed that wariness.

"The United States' intention of trying to draw more countries into stirring up the situation in the South China Sea is being brandished to the full," said the newspaper.

Korean-American Jim Yong Kim is chosen to lead the World Bank - India

17 apr 2012

Korean-American Jim Yong Kim is chosen to lead the World Bank

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Washington:  The World Bank on Monday chose Korean-born American health expert Jim Yong Kim as its new president, maintaining Washington's grip on the job and leaving developing countries questioning the selection process.

52-year-old Kim won the job over Nigeria's widely respected finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, with the support of Washington's allies in Western Europe, Japan, Canada and some emerging market economies, including Russia, Mexico and South Korea.

Unlike previous World Bank elections, the decision was not unanimous among the 25-member board. Among the emerging economies, Brazil and South Africa backed Okonjo-Iweala, while three sources said China and India supported Kim.

"The final nominees received support from different member countries, which reflected the high caliber of the candidates," the Bank said in announcing its board's decision.

Kim, president of Dartmouth College, will assume his new post on July 1 after the Bank's current president, Robert Zoellick, steps down.

In a statement, Okonjo-Iweala congratulated Kim and said she looked forward to working with him. However, she said the selection process needs to be improved.

"It is clear to me that we need to make it more open, transparent and merit-based," Okonjo-Iweala said. "We need to make sure that we do not contribute to a democratic deficit in global governance."

The United States has held the presidency since the World Bank's founding after World War Two, while a European has always led its sister institution, the International Monetary Fund.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner welcomed the decision and said Kim's background would be valuable in advancing the Bank's work in fighting poverty.

"His deep development background coupled with his dedication to forging consensus will help breathe new life into the World Bank's efforts to secure fast economic growth that is widely shared," Geithner said in a statement.

Unlike previous heads of the World Bank, Kim is not a politician, a banker or diplomat. He is a trained physician and anthropologist who has worked to bring health care to the poor in developing countries, whether fighting tuberculosis in Haiti and Peru or tackling HIV/AIDS in Russian prisons.

There had been a three-way contest for the presidency of the poverty-fighting institution until Friday when former Colombian finance minister Jose Antonio Ocampo withdrew. He said the process, which was meant to be based solely on credentials, had become highly political.

South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan welcomed the fact that non-Americans competed for the post for the first time, but also said there were concerns the process was not fully merit-based.

"I think we are going to find that the process falls short of that," Gordhan told the Foreign Correspondent's Association in South Africa, adding that there were also "serious concerns" the decision was made without full transparency.

Zoellick said Kim's science-based drive for results will be invaluable for the World Bank as it modernizes.

Andrew Mitchell, British secretary of state for international development, said Kim had shown he can drive change. "As the first development professional to head the World Bank, Jim Kim's considerable experience will be vital as he leads it through its ambitious reform and modernization program," he said

Pvt British guards illtreated minorities - India

15  apr 2012

Pvt British guards illtreated minorities’

LONDON: A security firm hired to deport asylum seekers and prisoners from the UK has admitted that its guards demonstrated a lack of respect for ethnic minorities and women and displayed "aggressive" and "loutish" behaviour in an internal note leaked to the Guardian newspaper.

Nepalese asylum seeker Govinda Pokharel claimed that guards of the firm - Reliance - thrashed him during an attempt to evict him, his pregnant wife, Jamuna Rijal, and their fourmonth-old child last year.

But Reliance that won British home ministry's lucrative contract for the purpose in May 2011 dismissed Pokharel's allegations as "unsubstantiated" .

"Is there actually a problem with our business? The consensus was: yes. Is this a company where women, ethnic minorities and those of diverse religions feel comfortable? Evidence would suggest: no," the firm said in the note.

But the company is now reviewing and amending its recruitment process to encourage more applications from women and those from minority cultural backgrounds.'

Strong 6.5 quake rattles Vanuatu: USGS - India

15 apr 2012

Strong 6.5 quake rattles Vanuatu: USGS

A strong 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the South Pacific island of Vanuatu on Sunday, the US Geological Survey said, but there was no tsunami warning. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage either. The quake struck at a relatively shallow depth of eight kilometres, around 150 kilometres south east of the capital Port Vila. Vanuatu lies on the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire", a zone of frequent seismic activity caused by friction between shifting tectonic plates.
The earthquake hit shortly after 9.00am (around 0330 IST), USGS said.
The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued an information bulletin but no alert, saying "a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected and there is no tsunami threat to Hawaii".

2G scam: Enforcement Directorate summons Airtel, Vodafone top brass - India

13 apr  2012

2G scam: Enforcement Directorate summons Airtel, Vodafone top brass

The Enforcement Directorate has summoned top brass of Vodafone and Bharti Airtel in connection with alleged irregularities in the grant of additional 2G spectrum during 2001-03.

Continuing its probe into telecom spectrum scam, the ED had registered case, pertaining to the allocation of spectrum during the NDA regime.



It has named former telecom secretary Shyamal Ghosh, then deputy director general JR Gupta and few telecom companies for alleged irregularities in the grant of additional 2G spectrum during 2001-03, sources said.

The Enforcement Directorate has now summoned senior officials of Vodafone and Bharti Airtel for questioning next week, they said.

They said the notice does not specify any particular officer by name and has been issued to managing directors of the companies or their authorised representatives.

When contacted, Vodafone spokesperson refused to comment on the matter while Bharti Airtel officials were not immediately available for comments.

The CBI is also probing the 2G spectrum allocation during the NDA regime when late Pramod Mahajan was telecom minister.

In its FIR, the CBI had alleged there was a loss of Rs 508 crore to the state exchequer during 2001-07.

The Enforcement Directorate is probing any alleged violation of the prevention of money laundering law in the spectrum allocation.

Shahid Kapoor plans moving to Bandra - India

12 apr 2012

Shahid Kapoor wants a new flat in Bandra

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Shahid Kapoor More Pics

Priyanka Chopra and Shahid Kapoor had reportedly been lovers. Despite the failure of the romantic liaison, the couple had maintained the other relationship that they shared - that of being good neighbours. But now it is time to move on. Mirror has learnt that Shahid has decided to move out of his 1-BHK flat in Raheja Classique on Yari Road, Andheri.
According to a source close to the actor, he now wants to stay closer to The Khans of Bollywood - in Bandra.The decision to move out seems to have been triggered by two things. For one, Shahid now needs a bigger, more spacious pad for himself. "Shahid's present flat is not too big. His present 1-BHK apartment means he ends up holding all his meetings with filmmakers in the living room. He wants to have a separate office in his new house. Also, being a fitness freak, he wants to have a nice gym," revealed the source.
T he second trigger can be summed up in two words - stalker scare. As reported in Mumbai Mirror on April 6, the daughter of an iconic actor had been harassing the young actor for a while now. Claiming to be Mrs Shahid Kapoor, the lady had been dodging security to ring his doorbell at odd hours. Needless to say, Shahid isn't too pleased with it.
So now, Shahid is looking for a 4-BHK in Bandra. "He saw a few flats on Carter Road recently. But Pali Hill is his first choice," added the source.

To replace Bin Laden on Most Wanted List - India

11  apr 2012

To replace Bin Laden on Most Wanted List, a teacher in a pornography case

Washington:  Shortly after Osama bin Laden was killed last May, the Federal Bureau of Investigation sent out a request to field offices across the country: Nominate fugitives who could fill bin Laden's place on the bureau's 10 Most Wanted list.

The choice is more complicated than simply finding a violent criminal who has committed a high-profile crime. In recent years, bureau officials have also tried to select other dangerous fugitives who may have been hiding in plain sight but could be recognized by the public because they have distinctive physical features.

On Tuesday, the F.B.I. finally filled bin Laden's place on the list, adding Eric J. Toth, a schoolteacher from the Washington area accused of possessing child pornography. It was the first time since 2009 that the F.B.I. had added a fugitive to the list.

"We have had a couple of vacancies on the list that we've been trying to fill," said Kevin L. Perkins, the F.B.I.'s acting executive director for criminal and cyber operations, referring to the spots left by bin Laden and the Boston crime boss James (Whitey) Bulger, who was arrested last June.

In fact, just last month, officials were preparing to ask the bureau's director for approval to choose a fugitive accused of killing three police officers in Puerto Rico. But then that person was caught.

Using most-wanted posters to enlist the public's help in catching criminals dates to the early part of J. Edgar Hoover's tenure as the head of the F.B.I. in the early 1930s, when the face of the notorious bank robber John Dillinger was on a "public enemies list."

In 1950, the bureau began using the list of 10 Most Wanted Fugitives. The first, Thomas Holden, was accused of killing his wife and two brothers-in-law. A little more than a year later, he was caught and ultimately sent to prison on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco.

Since then, the F.B.I. has caught 464 of 494 fugitives on the list. Some have been captured quickly: Billie Austin Bryant, wanted for the murder of two F.B.I. agents, was apprehended in 1969 just two hours after being added. A suspect in an armed robbery, Victor Manuel Gerena, has evaded authorities since 1983.

As American society has changed, so too has the list. For decades, the F.B.I. list was displayed in post offices. But as the number of postal patrons has dropped, the bureau has put the list on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, and on billboards.

"It's a big country, and you can easily hide if you are a fugitive," said Thomas W. Repetto, the author of several books on crime and policing. "But when you get on the list, you are pretty close to getting caught. Sometimes it takes time, but if you are a fleeing criminal it is not a good place to be."

The types of "most-wanted" criminals have also changed. Instead of highlighting just the most violent and high-profile criminals, "every once in a while we break the mold," Mr. Perkins said, referring to the choice of physically distinctive fugitives.

That said, six of the fugitives on the current list are accused of murder.

Mr. Toth, the fugitive added to the list on Tuesday, was arrested in 2008 after child pornography images were found on a camera in his possession. He disappeared shortly thereafter.

Mr. Toth, 30, attended Cornell for a year before transferring to Purdue University, where he graduated with an education degree. He "has often been described as a computer 'expert' and has demonstrated above-average knowledge regarding computers, the Internet, and security awareness," according to information released by the F.B.I. on Tuesday.

The F.B.I. said that Mr. Toth "possesses an education background conducive to gaining employment in fields having a connection to children" and that he might advertise himself as a tutor. Since 2008, he is believed to have traveled to Virginia, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Arizona.

The authorities believe they have a good chance of catching Mr. Toth because he has distinctive features.

"He has a mole under one of his eyes. He is tall and lanky," Mr. Perkins said. "He is the type of person that I hope, with a little exposure from being on the Top 10 list, will lead to individuals calling in, saying, 'That guy works in a day care center,' or is a teaching assistant or works down the street."

10 apr 2012

US tax filing: Help for US citizens and Green Card holders living in India

TOI

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

 

In an earlier article, we saw the US tax implications of foreign income on US citizens and green card holders living in the US. In this article, we take a look at the implications of such income on US citizens and green card holders living outside the US - specifically in India. Remember that the rules can be complicated and this article only seeks to provide a broad understanding. Consult your CPA or tax advisor for your individual situation.

 

What are the tax obligations of a US citizen or green card holder?
Florida based tax attorney Rahul Ranadive explains, ''All US citizens and green card holders must file their tax returns in the US on their global income irrespective of where they live. They must pay taxes on such foreign income unless a treaty or statutory exclusion or foreign tax credit applies to reduce their US tax liability to zero."
Residence in both countries?
The above particular requirement of the US law might give rise to some confusion. As a citizen of the US or a green card holder living outside the US, you are treated at par with a 'US resident' for tax purposes. So you must pay taxes on your global income in the US. At the same time, if you have lived in India for more than 182 days in a financial year, you are treated as a resident of India. As per the Indian income tax act, a resident of India must pay taxes in India on his global income.
While the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) talks about solving this tie-breaker, it does not mean that a person will file his returns only in the country that he qualifies as a resident (according to tie-breaker rules). Vinay Navani, a CPA and director of tax at New Jersey based firm Wilkin & Guttenplan, P C, explains, ''A US citizen or green card holder living in India will have to declare his global income in his US tax return as well as his India return. The DTAA will only help in ensuring that a particular income is not taxed twice."
Cecil Nazareth, a CPA and partner with the cross border consulting firm India-US Consulting services also clarifies, ''Most people think that they will be taxed twice on the same income. That is not true. India and the US have a treaty agreement in place and you will get tax credit in each country on the taxes paid in the other."
According to Article 4 of the DTAA between India and the US, if a person qualifies as a resident of both countries at the same time, then he shall be treated as a resident of the country where he either has a permanent home or has closer economic ties. As this can be confusing, do seek a professional advisor to help you out.
How various incomes are taxed
Since this article seeks to address the needs of US citizens and green card holders residing in India, let us assume that the individuals in this case have a permanent home in India. Now, let us look at how various incomes are taxed.
Pensions
This is perhaps a common occurrence for a lot of people so let's deal with that first. You may have lived and earned in the US but finally retired to your homeland. You draw a pension from a company in the US.

The DTAA says: Any pension, (other than a Govt pension), or any annuity derived by a resident of a Contracting State (in our case India) from sources within the other Contracting State (US) may be taxed only in the first-mentioned Contracting State.
So if you are a green card holder or US resident living in India, any pension that you receive from US will be taxed only in India. In such cases, Navani explains, ''You would include with your US tax return, Form 8833, Treaty Based Return Position Disclosure and the pension received while a resident of India would not be included in the US tax calculation. However, to get the benefit of the treaty, a US return must be filed and the Form 8833 must be included. No credit is claimed since the income is not part of the calculation of US taxable income."
For Govt pensions, the rules depend on the nature of pension. Do consult your tax advisor.
Earned income: Salaries, wages and self employment income
If you are living in India and earning a salary from a company in India, then according to the DTAA, you will be taxed only in India. Similarly, in the case of self employment income, if you earn such income from doing a business in India, you will be taxed only in India.
Since this income is taxed only in India, you must file Form 8833 - Treaty Based Return Position Disclosure to indicate that according to the treaty this income will not be taxed in the US. Having filed this form, you would not have to declare this income in your Form 1040.
Such individuals also have an option of claiming 'earned income exclusion'. Ranadive explains, ''For earned income, citizens and GC holders living abroad can exclude up to $95,100 in 2012 from their taxable income. For earned income, no foreign tax credit is allowed on the first $95,100 excluded, but foreign tax paid on the amount of salary above $95,100 can be taken as a foreign tax credit."

Pakistan talks - No headway in demilitarising killer Siachen glacier - India

09 apr 2012

The killer avalanche that trapped more than 100 Pakistani soldiers at a military camp near Siachen on Saturday and President Asif Ali Zardari's visit to India have brought the contentious Siachen glacier issue back to the centrestage.
The tragedy has brought the question of demilitarising the world's highest and most treacherous battlefield back into focus.
Several talks between India and Pakistan for demilitarisation of the glacier have failed because of Islamabad's refusal to authenticate troop positions on the glacier.
A senior army officer said on Monday India could not risk withdrawal of its troops there until Pakistan authenticated troop positions on the ground, as it would be a formidable task to reclaim the glacier.
Indian soldiers have endured war at heights of over 21,000 feet since the army made a pre-emptive move on April 13, 1984 to secure the glacier from Pakistani aggression under Operation Meghdoot.
The guns have been silent since the November 2003 ceasefire with Pakistan on the 110-km long Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL), but a soldier's task is cut out and the peculiarities of weather and terrain pose a formidable challenge. The daily cost of holding on to the glacier is around R5 crore.
The army has deployed around 3,000 soldiers on the glacier, a 76-km river of slow moving ice. Soldiers have to trek for almost 28 days covering a stretch of 128 km to reach some of the farthest pickets on the glacier. The army has lost at least 700 soldiers.
Strategic affairs experts say the barren battlefield is crucial for India’s security because its occupation will not allow the Pakistani army to link up with the Chinese and pose threat to Ladakh.

Priyanka Chopra, Karan Johar war: Out in the open! - India

04 apr 2012

Priyanka, Karan war: Out in the open!

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Priyanka Chopra and Karan Johar More Pics

On Tuesday, a nameless "friend" of Priyanka Chopra took up for the actress in a tabloid, taking potshots at Gauri Khan, Sussanne Roshan and producer-director Karan Johar.

Although there were no names mentioned in the story, it was very clear who the Bollywood wives being referred to were. It has been reported in the last few months that Gauri and her friends had looked through the actress at Parmeshwar Godrej's party for Oprah Winfrey and at a house party in Mannat. Sussanne even left out PC from her guestlist at Agneepath's success party at her home. The friend claimed that the spate of anti-Priyanka stories in the press were being planted by a powerful clique of star wives and asked, "If these women are insecure about relationships with their husbands, they should sort it out with them at home. Why target Priyanka?"

This has no doubt irked the star wives, who have never commented on the actresss. The said article also took off on Karan Johar. Again without taking names, it said, "PC is upset and flummoxed by the campaign unleased by a powerful producer-director who can make and break careers in Bollywood." It said that at a recent party (Karan's best friend Apoorva Mehta's birthday bash) he fed her cupckaes but later she overheard him bitching about her.

Not to take this lying down, KJo who is currently shooting his film in Bangkok, tweeted, "Using their hired PR machinery, and hiding behind so-called 'friends' to get news into tabloids is nothing but spineess and lame!!! Some people need to wake up and smell the KOFFEE!!! Get a reality check before it's too late!!! Grow up, and don't mess with goodness."

This is the first time the politicallly correct director has taken off on someone on his twitter account. When asked if he was talking about PC, he didn't deny it and simply said, "I don't want to comment on this."

Meanwhile, PC's spokesperson asked, "How do you know Karan's tweet is about Priyanka?"