Diberdayakan oleh Blogger.

Popular Posts Today

BJP readies Team 2014 banking on Modi, Amit Shah and Varun

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 31 Maret 2013 | 22.44

NEW DELHI: Reflecting his new-found clout, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi was inducted into BJP's parliamentary board on Sunday, apparently setting the stage for a bigger national role for him.

Announcing Modi's inclusion in the party's highest decision-making body, BJP president Rajnath Singh released the list of his 74-member new team with controversial leader and former Gujarat home minister Amit Shah, facing murder charges in two fake encounter cases, along with Pilibhit MP Varun Gandhi as general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Smriti Irani as vice-president.

62-year-old Modi was the sole BJP leader to be inducted into the 12-member Board, filling a lone vacancy, pipping Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan in a race in which Modi appeared to have had the advantage after his hat trick in Gujarat.

Modi's induction was on expected lines as there was a growing clamour within the party for giving him a prominent role outside Gujarat after his third consecutive victory in the assembly polls recently.

The only chief minister to be included in the parliamentary board, Modi is being projected by many in BJP as the party's prime ministerial candidate and the new hope for bringing the party to power in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

Incidentally, it was Singh who had removed Modi from the parliamentary board around six years back. Modi has also been made a member of the central election committee, a body whose role will be crucial in ticket distribution in the 2014 polls.

Modi's stamp was also visible in other appointments announced on Sunday with Amit Shah becoming a general secretary in Singh's team. Smriti Irani, considered close to Modi, has been elevated to the post of vice-president.

The team announced by Singh, who became president of the BJP for a second time in January when Nitin Gadkari was denied another term due to allegations of financial irregularities by his Purti Group, has Varun Gandhi, Murlidhar Rao and Rajiv Pratap Rudy as general secretaries.

While many in BJP feel Varun Gandhi can be used as counter to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi especially in Uttar Pradesh, Rao has made the cut due to his proximity to Sangh fountainhead RSS. Rudy, a Rajya Sabha MP, is close to Singh and was a spokesperson in the earlier team.

Hindutva face Uma Bharti, who was brought back to the BJP fold by Gadkari, has been appointed vice-president, along with former Karnataka chief minister Sadanand Gowda and former deputy leader of BJP in Rajya Sabha SS Ahluwalia.

Ravi Shankar Prasad will no longer be a general secretary and chief spokesperson. He will continue as BJP's deputy leader in Rajya Sabha. Another general secretary Kiran Maheshwari has been made vice-president.

Ananth Kumar, Thawar Chand Gehlot, JP Nadda, Dharmendra Pradhan and Tapir Gao have been retained as general secretaries.

RSS has not changed its pointsmen in BJP with Ram Lal continuing as general secretary (organization), along with joint general secretaries V Satish and Saudan Singh, who were part of Gadkari's team as well.

The other new vice-presidents are former Bihar BJP chief CP Thakur, Balbir Punj, Jual Oraon, Satpal Malik, former Madhya Pradesh head Prabhat Jha, and Laxmikant Chawla.

Only Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Bijoya Chakravarty have been retained as vice-president.

Kalraj Mishra, Shanta Kumar, Vinay Katiyar, Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, Najma Heptullah, Hema Malini, Purushottam Rupala, and Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank were some of the vice-presidents in the previous team.

Another notable appointment is that of Poonam Mahajan, daughter of late party leader Pramod Mahajan, who has been made a secretary.

Singh has tried to keep a fair representation of castes, regions and factions within the BJP while giving prominence to people close to him, BJP sources said. Around 80 per cent of the team is below 60 years in age, they said.

While Shyam Jaju, Bhupendra Yadav, Vani Tripathi, Arti Mehra will continue as secretaries, Krishan Das, Anil Jain, Vinod Pandey, Trivendra Rawat, Renu Kushwaha, Sudha Yadav, Sudha Malaiya and Tamil Isai will be new appointments to that post.

Besides Jual Oraon, the other tribal leader in Singh's team is Luise Marandi from Jharkhand who will be party secretary.

Saroj Pande succeeds Smriti Irani as the Mahila Morcha chief while Anurag Thakur has been given another term as Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha head.

Rajnath Singh's political advisor Sudanshu Trivedi has been made a Spokesperson, along with Meenakshi Lekhi, Abhimanyu and Vijay Sonkar Shastri. Prakash Javadekar, Shahnawaz Hussain and Nirmala Sitharaman will continue as spokespersons.

Sanjay Paswan has been made President of the BJP SC Morcha and Faggan Singh Kulaste president of the ST morcha, while Abdul Rashid will head the minority morcha and Om Prakash Dhankar will lead the party's kisan morcha.

Rajya Sabha MP Piyush Goyal has been retained as treasurer and OP Kohli as headquarter in charge, while former MP Ramkripal Sinha will be office secretary of parliamentary party and Shanmuknathan its joint office secretary.

The party's central disciplinary committee has Radha Mohan Singh as president, Jagdish Mukhi as secretary and L Ganesahn, Hari Babu and Shyam Nandan Singh as its members.

The 12-member central parliamentary board headed by Singh has top party leaders Atal Behari Vajpayee, LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, M Venkaiah Naidu, Nitin Gadkari, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Ananth Kumar, Thawar Chand Gehlot and Ram Lal in it, besides Modi who was inducted on Sunday.

All these top leaders alongwith Gopinath Munde, Jual Oraon, Shahnawaz Hussain, Vinay Katiyar, JP Nadda and Dr Harshwardhan will be part of the party's central election committee. As mahila morcha chief, Saroj Pandey will be the ex-officio member of this committee.

Singh's new team has 12 vice-presidents, 10 general secretaries, 15 secretaries and seven spokespersons, besides a 19-member central election committee and a five-member central disciplinary committee.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

BJP chief announces new team for 2014

NEW DELHI: When BJP chief Rajnath Singh finally announced his new team of office bearers on Sunday after two months of mulling over it and losing crucial time in an election year, an irony in the process could not be overlooked. Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi was dropped from BJP's parliamentary board, the panel that takes the crucial decisions for the party at the national level, by Singh in his earlier tenure as party chief in 2007, and on Sunday Modi returned to high table headed by the same party chief.

Modi's return to the highest decision making bodies in the party - the parliamentary board and hence the central election committee - is the high point in Sunday's reshuffle. That the Gujarat chief minister will matter in every way as BJP shapes up its election year activity leading to the 2014 parliamentary polls, is clear also with the entry of controversial former Gujarat home minister Amit Shah to Rajnath Singh's team of general secretaries. This is a clear indicator that Modi, who insisted on his man, Shah, to be part of the core central team, will take centrestage in planning BJP's strategy in the election year.

While Team Rajnath is also conspicuous by the absence of any women in the key team of general secretaries for the first time in many years, the differences between the top rung leaders in BJP are also reflected in it. Though it is not unusual for differing views to emerge on who should get the party posts, the fact compromises have had to be made, instead of forming a "dream team" that could spearhead the main Opposition party towards victory in 2014, could make BJP's already difficult uphill task a little more complicated.

If 33-years old Varun Gandhi adds to the youth appeal in the team and could lift BJP's prosects in the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, the inclusion of Uma Bharti as a vice president is expected to bring in some mass appeal for the party. Apart from a a handful of fresh and energetic inductions, the overall team lacks the luster that it needs to take on rival Congress in the Lok Sabha polls. Many of the names clearly reflect the pulls and pressures that came from different lobbies in the party to have their people in, rather than collective decision to create the dynamics needed at this juncture.

While Ananth Kumar, Thawar Chand Gehlot, J P Nadda Dharmendra Pradhan retained positions in the team of general secretaries, Shah, Gandhi, Tapir Gao, Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Murlidhar Rao are the new entrants. Ramlal will continue as the gegeral secretary (organization) as the formal nominee of RSS in the team to coordinate with the Sangh.

Among the vice presidents, M A Naqvi, is among the prominent ones to retain his position and the new entrants include some BJP seniors like S S Ahluwalia, who the party failed to get renominated to the Rajya Sabha, C P Thakur, former Bihar party president, Prabhat Jha former Madhya Pradesh party chief, Jual Orao from Orissa among others. Perhaps to compensate for leaving out women in the team of general secretaries, five of them have been included in the category. Apart from Uma Bharti, Rajya Sabha MP Smriti Irani, who headed the Mahila Morch has been inducted as a vice president. The other three are Kiren Maheshwari frim rajasthan, Laxmikanta Chawla from Punjab and Bijaya Chakravarty from Assam.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

PM must be with secular credentials: JD(U) on Modi

PATNA/NEW DELHI: As a section within BJP saw Narendra Modi's induction in the parliamentary board as a step towards his becoming prime ministerial candidate, key ally JD(U) on Sunday said only one with secular credentials should occupy the top slot.

Asked whether Modi's inclusion is an indicator of his projection as PM candidate, JD(U) Bihar unit spokesman Niraj Kumar said, "JD(U) leadership's stand in this regard has been known to one and all. We believe that a prime ministerial candidate should have secular credentials to take along diverse group of people of the country."

Kumar, however, went on to say that Modi's induction is an "internal matter" of BJP.

"It (induction of Modi) is an internal matter of the BJP at the national level," he said in Patna.

In Delhi, JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav said he has no problem with the new team. "I have no problem with it."

On whether he foresaw any hitches in the future, he said, "who knows what will happen tomorrow."

Kumar said that the 'Bihar Model' of development was the only guiding mantra on which the country could move forward by representing the aspirations of all sections of society.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Boxer Vijender spoke to alleged drug dealer '80 times', police say

CHANDIGARH: Olympic medallist Vijender Singh had spoken to alleged narcotics dealer Anoop Singh Kahlon on phone about 80 times and they knew each other well, according to his call records scanned by Punjab Police which appeared to have tightened its noose around the star boxer in the heroin-haul case.

DIG (Ludhiana range) MF Farooqui on Sunday said police have decided to file a plea in court seeking direction to get Vijender's blood and hair samples to confirm whether he used to consume the drug as claimed by his sparring partner Ram Singh during interrogation.

Vijender during his quizzing by Punjab Police at Panchkula in Haryana had refused to give his blood and hair samples to cops. He had denied any involvement in the drug racket.

However, the DIG added that police have got "nothing from the possession of Vijender" and the probe was still on.

In recent months, Vijender and Kahlon alias Ruby, the alleged Canada-based NRI drug dealer who was arrested by police on March three and 26 kg of heroin worth Rs 130 crore seized, had conversed with each other for "about 80 times" on their respective cell phones, police sources said here on Sunday.

Besides, both Vijender and Kahlon had exchanged some ten SMSes on their cell phones, they added. The duration of each call was between two to three minutes, the sources said.

The sources said Vijender and Ram Singh were "well known" to Kahlon. Vijender, a DSP with Haryana police, was in touch with Kahlon since August 2012.

The sources said that during interrogation, Ram Singh had claimed that he used to often talk to Kahlon on Vijender's phone.

Kahlon too had divulged during his interrogation that he used to speak to Ram Singh, who was dismissed as constable from Punjab Police recently after he admitted that he had consumed heroin for "fun" on a few occasions along with Vijender, who shot into limelight after winning bronze medal in the middleweight category at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Vijender's name had cropped up in the drug haul case after the SUV of his wife was found outside Kahlon's residence in Shivalik Vihar in Zirakpur when the contraband was recovered by Fatehgarh Sahib police on March seven.

The police in confabulations with legal experts have finalized their petition to move court seeking Vijender's blood and hair samples, the sources said.

Sub-inspector Sarabjit Singh, who was close to a retired senior superintendent of police, was also dismissed by the Punjab Police in connection with the drug haul case.

Meanwhile, police have intensified searches to nab alleged drug racket kingpin Jagdish Bhola, a dismissed Punjab Police DSP.

Bhola, who was absconding since March 7, had gone to Sarabjit's house on March 11 from where he made telephone calls to his associates using a mobile phone registered in the name of Sarabjit's wife Reet Sidhu.

Police claimed Sarabjit is an active member of the gang of smugglers headed by Kahlon and Bhola.

They alleged that Sarabjit aided Bhola in fleeing and arranged hideouts for him.

Police have arrested around 15 persons in the case so far. Besides Kahlon, six others including his driver Kulwinder Singh alias Rockey, Kuldip Singh (father of Rockey), Sandeep Singh (brother-in-law of Rockey), Gabbar Singh, Manpreet Singh Gill alias Mani and a Ludhiana-based Pharma company employee Sunil Katyal have been arrested.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Centre should respect Tamil Nadu's resolution on Sri Lanka: CPI

THANJAVUR: The CPI on Sunday said the Centre should respect the resolution passed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly asking it to stop treating Sri Lanka as a friendly nation and to slap sanctions on it while demanding a referendum for a separate Tamil Eelam

"The Centre's view that it need not respect the resolution is wrong," CPI leader D Pandian told reporters here.

"If they (the Centre) thought that the Tamils' issue was an internal matter of Sri Lanka, why did they extend Rs 2,000 crore for the rehabilitation of displaced Tamils in the island nation," he asked.

The Centre should respect that Tamil Nadu government was a democratically elected one, Pandian said apparently referring to External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid rejecting the state government's resolution.

The Tamil Nadu assembly had unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Centre to slap economic embargo on Colombo till the "suppression" of Tamils was stopped and those responsible for "genocide and war crimes" faced an international probe.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Beni Prasad Verma says Mulayam has cheated minorities; Akhilesh slams Congress

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 30 Maret 2013 | 22.44

LUCKNOW/ALLAHABAD: Showing no signs of relenting in his tirade against ruling Samajwad Party in Uttar Pradesh, Union minister Beni Prasad Verma on Saturday alleged the party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav has "cheated minorities" and had a tacit understanding with the BJP.

The Gonda MP alleged that there was an understanding between Mulayam and BJP leader LK Advani in 1998 due to which the SP supremo was able to form government in UP in 2003 in spite of having only 135 MLAs.

"In 1998, when Atal Behari Vajpayee's government fell by one vote, he (Mulayam) had promised to support Sonia Gandhi.

"Later in the night, he had a talk with Advani at Jaya Jaitely's residence ... There Mulayam asked Advani that he will not make effort to form the government, and in return the BJP leader asked him not to support Sonia and it was decided."

Beni claimed that Advani in his book has written that he would thank Mulayam that he followed his advice and later got five years term.

"As a reward, he (Mulayam) became the chief minister again in 2003. He had only 135 MLAs, Vajpayee was the Prime Minister and Vishnu Kant Shastri was the governor ... Can a person having 135 MLAs could form a government in UP without the support of the ruling party," he alleged.

He alleged that anti-defection law existed even at that time, but MLAs were brought and the then Vidhan Sabha speaker Kesari Nath Tripathi validated all.

"It was always Mulayam's objective that Congress should not revive in UP," he alleged.

Beni alleged that it was his political analysis that Mulayam had always cheated minorities.

Akhilesh attacks Congress

Meanwhile, Mulayam's son and UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday launched a blistering attack on the Congress, alleging anybody who does not act according to its wishes faces "persecution" through CBI.

Akhilesh claimed that the UPA will suffer heavily in the next Lok Sabha elections due to "widespread dissatisfaction" among the people of the country.

Talking to reporters here on the sidelines of a function, Akhilseh however made it clear that the Samajwadi Party will "continue to support the UPA government to keep communal forces at bay" even as he asserted "we are fully prepared for the elections, whenever they take place".

Asked about the party supremo's statement that elections could take place as early as November this year, the UP CM said "political developments and media reports hint at such a possibility".

On Friday, Mulayam had told reporters, "Congress used to take support by threatening. I supported the UPA government in bad times but Congress has put CBI after me."

To the BJP's charge that the SP, by supporting the UPA, was acting under pressure fearing CBI action against some of its top leaders, Akhilesh evaded a direct reply but said, "It is a fact that anybody who does not act according to the wishes of the Congress party, faces persecution through CBI."

The UP CM also claimed that his party will "come out with its best-ever performance" in the Lok Sabha polls as "people will weigh our pro-people initiatives against the previous corrupt BSP regime in the state. Besides, widespread dissatisfaction with the Centre will cost the Congress heavily across the country and in UP we will be the biggest gainers".


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Gandhi still holds relevance

MUMBAI: There was an overwhelming response to Exhibition-cum-Sale of Gandhi Books. About 16,508 Gandhi-Vinoba-Sarvodaya books (in English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati) worth Rs 5,15,247 were sold within six days. 'An Autobiography' of Mahatma Gandhi, and a set of five important books of 1500 pages, 'Selected Works of Mahatma Gandhi' are the top-selling books at the exhibition. About 4,300 copies of 'Gandhi's Autobiography' and 245 sets of 'Selected Works of Mahatma Gandhi' were sold. Other Gandhi books on economics, politics, education, law, religion, health etc. were also popular. We were happy to note that most of those who frequented the stall were youngsters.

To commemorate Gandhi's 65th Death Anniversary, 250 books on and by Gandhi, Vinoba & Sarvodaya were displayed & sold at 50% discount by Mumbai Sarvodaya Mandal & Gandhi Book Centre with the financial assistance of 'Babulnath Mandir Charities' from 28th January to 2nd February at a specially-erected mandap at Hutatma Chowk & at Gandhi Book Centre.

In the present context of increasing violence, terrorism & crime, Autobiography and other books of Mahatma Gandhi are inspiring many people all over the world. This year, up to now, more than 3.5 lakh copies of 'An Autobiography' of Mahatma Gandhi in fifteen Indian languages are being sold by Navjivan Trust. About three to four new books are published every month.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Chinese interest in Gandhian teachings growing

MUMBAI: The Chinese are evincing interest in Mahatma Gandhi and his non-violent movement as his teachings form an integral part of curriculum from pre-school to university, says a Chinese scholar. Quanyu Shang, who has translated former Indian diplomat PA Nazareth's 'Gandhi's Outstanding Leadership' into Mandarin, says Gandhi is studied among varied groups in his country.

"Earlier, only Chinese scholars knew about Gandhi but today, more and more people in China know about his movement during the freedom struggle and are interested in his teachings of non-violence," Shang said. The professor of School of Foreign Studies in South Ching Normal University feels everyone in China studies Gandhi in some form or the other as the education curriculum includes the Mahatma's teachings from pre-school toA university levels.

"We have lessons on Gandhi in the form of drawings for children in pre-school, then we have war history in middle school which contains at least one chapter on Gandhi's struggle through non-violent means.

"I was once invited by the University of Beijing to deliver a lecture on Gandhi. Participants of Gandhi studies are expanding than ever before there," Shang, who has done his doctoral thesis on Gandhi and Nehru, says.

Shang was here for the release of the Chinese edition of Nazareth's book, which was first published in 2006 in English and later translated into Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Odiya and Spanish. Asked whether a book on an Indian leader will see a good response in China, Shang says many books on Gandhi have already been published there.

"Worldwide many books have been published on him and most of them are on truth, non-violence, his achievements, but few talk about his leadership. This is the first book which talks about his leadership in such a comprehensive manner," he says.

The book presents the components, nature and global impact of Gandhi's leadership and his transformation from a timid young man into a leader.Nazareth says he had compared Gandhi with other leaders of modern period starting with Napoleon. "The book also presents him as the ideal leadership model for all those aspiring to be leaders in diverse professional and other fields."

At the release of the book here, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had sent a message which read, "I am confident that the Chinese version of the book will bring the father of our nation and the ideals he stood for closer to more than a billion people in China and help forge deeper understanding between our two great nations"

The book, which has covered eight Indian and foreign languages so far, is expected to come out soon in seven more languages including Malayalam and Kashmiri.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Suspected Hizbul militant Liyaqat sent to jail for 14 days

NEW DELHI: Suspected Hizbul Mujahideen militant Sayyed Liyaqat Shah, booked for waging war against the country by Delhi Police which claimed he was planning to carry out terror attacks in the national capital, was today remanded in 14 days judicial custody by a court here.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Manoj Kumar sent 45-year-old Shah, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir, to Tihar jail till April 12 after he was produced in the court before the expiry of his 15-day police remand.

Shah was being quizzed since March 21 by the special cell of Delhi police which had earlier secured his custody for 15 days. Police moved a plea saying that the accused be sent to jail as they do not need to quiz him anymore in their custody.

"The investigation has not been completed yet. The accused (Shah) is remanded to judicial custody till April 12," the CMM said.

The police in its application has submitted that Shah was apprehended on March 20 from the Indo-Nepal border area near Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh and during his interrogation he has revealed that he is a trained militant of banned terror group Hizbul Mujahideen and was settled in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The police also said that in January 2013, Shah and his associate Manzoor, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir, were directed by top-ranks of Hizbul to carry out terrorist attacks in Delhi.

The agency also said that upon disclosure of the accused, a huge consignment of arms, hand-grenades, explosive material and other incriminating material was recovered from a guest house in Jama Masjid area here.

It also said that his associates, including Manzoor are missing.

Delhi police said a case was registered under the sections 120B(criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against Government of India), 121A (conspiracy to commit offences against the State) and 123 (concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war) of IPC.

Shah's arrest has generated conflicting versions from the Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir police.

While Delhi police has claimed that with Shah's arrest they had foiled a 'fidayeen' (suicide) attack in the capital ahead of Holi, its J-K counterpart insisted that he was one of those who had exfiltrated in 1990s and had returned to India to surrender under the state's rehabilitation policy.

The Delhi Police told the court they had information that some well trained and hard core militants have made elaborate plans in coordination with some Pakistani nationals to commit a terrorist attack at some undisclosed vital installation in Delhi.

"It was also informed that two-three terrorists have travelled from Jammu and Kashmir to set up a base in some hotel in Jama Masjid area, Delhi and the terrorists who have to execute the strikes may enter India through the Indo-Nepal border at Gorakhpur, UP or Tanakpur in Uttrakhand."

According to Delhi police, Shah had planned attacks to avenge the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

Jammu and Kashmir Police, however, supported the claims of Liyaqat's family that he was a former militant who had surrendered before SSB on the Nepal border and was in a group returning from PoK under the rehabilitation policy.

The Home Ministry on March 28 issued a notification facilitating the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take over the case related to Shah.

The NIA will now conduct a probe into the circumstances leading to the arrest of Shah.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Indians vote like cattle: Markandey Katju

NEW DELHI: India is not a full-fledged democracy as 90 percent of its people vote like sheep and cattle, Press Council of India chairman Justice Markandey Katju said here Saturday.

Speaking to TV channel Headlines Today, Katju said: "Ninety per cent Indians vote in droves like sheep and cattle. They are like a herd of cattle voting along caste and religious lines."

"Because Indians vote like livestock, there are so many criminals in parliament," he added.

The former Supreme Court judge said that he would not vote as India was being run by leaders elected on the basis of their caste, which is not the true form of democracy.

"I won't vote because my vote is meaningless. Votes are cast in the name of Jats, Muslims, Yadavs or Harijans. Democracy is not meant to be run like this. Why should I waste my time in joining the cattle queue?" he said.

Boasting of his secular credentials, Katju said that he was against communal forces and "by being secular, if I am branded a Congressman, you are entitled to your view".

Katju has been in news for seeking a pardon for actor Sanjay Dutt and Zaibunnisa Kazi, charged with illegal possession of arms in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case by the Supreme Court.

Katju has argued that Dutt stacked the weapons for self defence and to protect his family from the threats that they were getting in the aftermath of the Babri demolition.

"Sanjay Dutt is a shattered man. He has suffered enough but he has reformed," he said.

Katju said that he was prepared to seek pardons for other stars, Saif Ali Khan and Salman Khan, who have been charged for killing endangered blackbucks in Jodhpur.

"I will study their cases and if I am satisfied that I should speak out, I will surely plead their case," he said.

Accused of being hungry for publicity, the former judge said that "seeking publicity is a form of vulgarity". He added that he never chases controversy but what can he do if controversy chases him.

He also mocked Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal and his former associate Anna Hazare, saying that corruption was a "malaise which cannot be eradicated in the next 20 years".

"This campaign is like the tale told by an idiot signifying nothing. There's no morality code in the country, so corruption cannot be wiped out," Katju said.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Trinamool demands immediate resignation of UPA government

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 29 Maret 2013 | 22.44

KOLKATA: The Trinamool Congress today demanded immediate resignation of the UPA government, following DMK's withdrawal of support.

"Manmohan Singh-government has turned into a minority. They can remain in power by utilising the number game in Parliament. But, it first became a minority government when the Trinamool Congress withdrew support last year, and now by the DMK," TMC all-India general secretary Mukul Roy told a press conference here.

"This government has no moral right to continue in office for a single moment," he said adding that Trinamool Congress had withdrawn support from the UPA government on "specific issues like FDI in retail trade, decontrol of diesel price, cap on LPG cylinders and hike in fertiliser prices."

"We want this government to resign immediately," the TMC general secretary added.

TMC, which was the second largest constituent of UPA after the Congress and has 19 Lok Sabha members, had withdrawn support from the UPA government in September last year.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Organizers of US group that met Modi sought $16,000 a seat

CHICAGO: Organizers of the US delegation to India that met Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi had canvassed for participants in the trip at prices ranging from $3,000 to $16,000, said a media report here.

The business delegation includes four US members of the House of Representatives, all Republicans.

The organizers had canvassed in the Indian American community for participants in the trip, according to a report published in Hi India, a South Asian newspaper from Chicago.

The trip was sponsored by a political action committee (PAC), the National Indian American Public Policy Institute (NIAPPI) founded by Shalabh Kumar, a Chicago businessman. The politicians leading the delegation are Marlin Stutzman, Cyntia Wiederspahn, Cathy Rodgers and Aaron Schock.

An invitation circulated by NIAPPI in preparation for the trip said it was "limited to (an) elite group of American businesspersons".

The group has already met Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad and invited him to visit the US. On the schedule of an extensive trip is a stay at the Lake Palace in Udaipur, a visit to Karnataka as guest of the state government, a visit to the Taj Mahal, the tiger reserve at Ranthambore, a night at the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, a visit to the Golden Temple in Amritsar and a dinner hosted by Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal. A 'Bollywood extravaganza' has also been included for the guests.

The cost options given in the invitation were: '7 star trip' (business class travel, private air charter in India) $16,000 per person, '4 star trip' (commercial travel in India with visits to the palace excluded) $10,000 per person, and economy option-with all travel and hotel expenses borne by the individual — $3,000 per person.

There also appears to be a controversy about the political action committees under which Kumar operates, according to the newspaper that is widely read in the South Asian community in the US midwest.

In 2012, it reported, he ran advertisements attacking Democrat Tammy Duckworth, a respected military veteran who lost both her legs in the Iraq war. Kumar's PAC had supported Republican Joe Walsh, whose campaign attracted a lot of criticism for its negativity, and who eventually lost to Duckworth. Walsh had announced his admiration of Modi and said he would campaign to get him a US visa, if he was elected.

Another PAC founded by Kumar, Indian Americans for Freedom (IAF), has been reprimanded by the Federal Election Commission for failing to properly fill out its statement of organization.

On October 5, 2012, as part of its election campaign, the IAF released advertisements in several ethnic publications, supporting Republican Joe Walsh, with the slogan "If you love (Narendra) Modi, send Walsh back to Congress", according to Hi India.

On August 17, 2012, the National Indian American Coalition (NIAC), another PAC founded by Kumar, released advertisements in Indian publications on the occasion of India's Independence Day paying tribute to Joe Walsh, calling him the 'maha-mitra Gujarat' and 'maha-mitra India'.

Barely a month after the election in which Walsh lost, Kumar sent a letter to the Federal Election Commission seeking the termination of NIAC.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Holy wells in Rameswaram to be spruced up

RAMESWARAM (TN): All the 22 holy wells in the famous Lord Ramanathaswamy temple here would be spruced up to enable devotees take their dips without any trouble, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Trust Commissioner Dhanabal today said.

Besides, more than 30 holy water sites outside the temple would be identified and encroachments removed, he told reporters after a three-hour visit to the temple, thronged by pilgrims from across the country.

The speciality of each holy water site and the rituals for taking bath would be explained in Tamil and Hindhi through notice boards, he said.

He also ordered the officials to keep the temple lodge clean and make it attractive.

He said the temple itself would provide proper ghat at the Agnitheertham and steps would be provided for 100 feet into the sea so that devotees could take bath safely.

He said 14 more Closed Circuit TVs would be installed in the temple. Shops inside the temple and encroachment of temple lands would be removed.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

BJP dismisses Mulayam's Third Front idea

NEW DELHI: BJP today dismissed Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's remarks about forming a Third Front saying the idea does not have any relevance in the present Indian polity. Speaking to reporters here, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said there may be much talk of formation of a Third Front these days but past experience shows this proposal has never taken off.

"Mulayam Singh Yadav is talking about a Third Front but it is history. It has no relevance for the present nor any promise for the future," Prasad said. He sought to drag Congress into the issue, alleging most Third Front formations have stood on the "crutches" of Congress.

"The governments headed by H D Deve Gowda and I K Gujral or even the one by Chandrasekhar, if you may call it Third Front, were all supported by Congress," Prasad said. When pointed out that BJP had supported the V P Singh government from outside, Prasad said it did not have Congress support.

Hitting out at Yadav, BJP said he appears to have realised too late in the day that Congress is "misusing" CBI and Income Tax department as well as the fact that this party "betrays". "Why does Mulayam Singh then not part ways with Congress"? Prasad said.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sonia seeks Krishna's help on Karnataka poll candidates

NEW DELHI/BANGALORE: Amid reports of sharp differences among Karnataka Congress leaders over candidates for the May 5 assembly polls, former state chief minister S M Krishna arrived in New Delhi on Friday to assist Congress president Sonia Gandhi to resolve the issue.

Krishna would meet Gandhi on Saturday to help her finalise the names from among the probables chosen by the state Congress leaders, party sources said.

They said Gandhi was seeking Krishna's help as she was not happy with the list of probables submitted to her. The list is said to have very few women and minority community and youth leaders from the state were also upset over lack adequate representation to them.

The probables list was given to Gandhi by state Congress president G Parameshwara and party leader in the assembly Siddaramaiah and other state leaders who have been in New Delhi since Monday.

Gandhi seeking Krishna's help came as a surprise to Congress leaders in the state as he had stayed away from party meetings for several months now as his role was not clearly defined.

When Krishna gave up external affairs minister's post in October last year, though reluctantly, it was believed that the Congress leadership wants him back in Karnataka to help the party wrest power from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

However he was not given any position and he did not attend any meeting of the state leaders to select probables for the May 5 polls from among over 2000 applicants.

Nominations for the 224 elected seats of the 225-member assembly that includes one nominated member open April 10 and close 17. Vote count is on May 8.

While Congress continued its candidate selection exercise in New Delhi, the ruling BJP said in Bangalore that it was getting ready to release its list in April first week.

Deputy chief minister and former state BJP chief K S Eshwarappa told reporters in Bangalore that the party has only one name for 120 seats while for the remaining 124 seats, it has more than one.

"We will finalise the names in consultation with our district unit leaders," Eshwarappa said.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cong, BJP use muscle power, bribe voters to win elections

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 28 Maret 2013 | 22.44

NEW DELHI: As his indefinite fast against "inflated" power bills entered the sixth day today, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal alleged both Congress and BJP were winning elections through bribing voters and using muscle power.

Kejriwal said several people were asking him why there has been no reaction from BJP and Congress on his fast so far.

"This is because BJP and Congress are both worried as a different kind of politics is slowly emerging in India. So far they are used to winning on the basis of bribing voters, money power and muscle power but now the voters have awakened. The elections will not be elections but revolution," he told his supporters.

In a statement, Aam Aadmi Party, which had yesterday stated that Kejriwal's health has "deteriorated further", today said he is stable as of now with all the vital parameters within the normal range.

"His blood pressure was 120/74, pulse was 66 and sugar was 106 this morning. The level of ketones has come down from 4+ to 3+, which is a positive indication," it said.

However, the statement said, he has lost 6 kg since his fast begun on March 23.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Adarsh Housing Society Chairman Brig M M Wanchoo resigns

MUMBAI: In a fresh development, the Chairman of Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society and an accused in the multi-crore Housing scam, Brigadier (retd) M M Wanchoo, has resigned from the post due to old age and poor health.

"I hereby tender my resignation from the post of the Chairman of the Society due to my advancing age, poor health and deteriorating medical condition of my wife," said Brig Wanchoo in his resignation letter to the Secretary of the Society.

76-year-old Wanchoo, however, said he would continue to be the member of the Society.

His lawyer Mukhtar Khan confirmed to PTI that Brig Wanchoo has resigned.

Adarsh Housing Society, originally meant to be a six-storey structure to house Kargil war heroes and widows, ultimately came up as a 31-storey tower allegedly through collusion of bureaucrats, politicians and defence officers.

Several politicians, three former defence service chiefs and bureaucrats have cornered flats in the building that stands in the plush Colaba area.

Former Chief Ministers of Maharashtra Ashok Chavan, Vilasrao Deshmukh and Sushil Kumar Shinde had been called by Adarsh Commission of Inquiry to give testimony.

Wanchoo is named as an accused in the case filed by CBI. According to the agency, Wanchoo, along with Adarsh secretary R C Thakur, had allegedly conspired with the members of Defence services, officers of Maharashtra Government and others to illegally get the land allotted in favour of Adarsh cooperative housing society in which they were the members.

CBI arrested eight persons for their alleged role in the scam.

Those included two retired Major Generals T K Kaul and A R Kumar, Wanchoo, former General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa, Adarsh promoter Kanhaiyalal Gidwani and Pradeep Vyas, the then city collector and currently, Finance secretary(expenditure) in State Government.

However, most of them, including Brig Wanchoo, got bail on May 29, 2012.

The two-member inquiry commission set up to probe the case is likely to submit its final report next week.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pulling out of UPA has not changed anything for Tamils: Karunanidhi

CHENNAI: DMK president M Karunanidhi on Thursday said pulling out of UPA on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue has not changed anything for 'Eelam Tamils' though he insisted his party was not bothered about withdrawing support to the coalition.

"DMK has now come out of Central government as desired by some persons including (chief minister) Jayalalithaa. So what has happened? Has there been an end to problems of Eelam Tamils? Did India bring in amendments to US resolution (at UNHRC)? Or has it adopted a resolution in Parliament with amendments?" he said in a letter to partymen.

"The only thing to have happened was DMK quitting Central government. But DMK is least bothered about that," he said.

On criticism that his party should have walked out of the UPA alliance in 2009 when the hostilities were at the peak as that could have prevented further killing of Lankan Tamils, he said it was an effort to put blame on his party.

He said those aware of history would not accept something on the basis of guesswork.

Hitting back at Jayalalithaa for accusing him of duplicity on Lankan Tamils issue, he made a similar accusation against her.

Defending himself against Jayalalithaa's charge that he failed to do anything for Lankan Tamils, the 88-year-old leader said people of Tamil Nadu were aware of his activities in this regard since 1956, but did not elaborate.

"Have the people forgotten that Jayalalithaa (moved and) adopted a resolution seeking extradition of (slain) LTTE chief V Prabakaran in 2002," he said.

On her charge that DMK will not like to "snap ties" with the Centre, he said she was waiting for an opportunity for the government to fall so that she "can become Prime Minister."

Pointing out that senior DMK leader K Anbazhagan had said DMK would not topple the government at the Centre, Jayalalithaa had said, "by looking at Karunanidhi remaining silent, it looks like that he will not like to snap ties with the Centre." The DMK chief charged Jayalalithaa with 'duplicity', saying while she supported Sethusamudram project initially she was now opposing it as was the case with Cauvery River Authority which, he said, she had described as 'toothless.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mulayam's idea of third front a 'mirage': Tewari

NEW DELHI: Dismissing Mulayam Singh Yadav's idea of a third front as the "most enduring mirage", Union minister Manish Tewari today said the politics in the country is polarised between secular and communal forces and the SP chief should decide which side he is on. He also asked the Left parties to have a "rethink" on their anti-Congress position.

"As far as there is the concern of Mulayam Singhji, we respect all our allies. He (Mulayam) also knows in his mind that the basic polarisation in this country is communal versus secular forces. He will also have to decide which side he is on," Tewari told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

"The talk about the third, fourth or fifth front was the most enduring mirage of Indian politics," he said reacting to a query on Yadav raising the issue of third front against the Congress and the BJP. Tewari also expressed hope that the Samajwadi Party, which has extended "very constructive support" to the UPA government, will continue that and "the atmosphere of harmony will prevail." Yadav had said recently that coalition politics has come to stay in the country and asked like-minded parties to come together. Samajwadi Party, with 22 MPs in the Lok Sabha, provides key outside support to UPA Government at the Centre. Amid talk about the formation of the third front and the Left parties' possible association with it, Tewari said such progressive forces should "rethink" their anti-Congress position.

"I think all progressive forces who do have the fundamental belief that secularism and pluralism is the way forth for the country and they do believe that the idea of India stands on liberal foundation, should need to introspect and need to rethink their position," he said supporting Union Minister Vayalar Ravi who reportedly suggested that the UPA should reach an understanding with the Left parties in the next Lok Sabha polls.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Aircel to push data in J&K

BANGALORE: Nimbuzz, a cross-platform global communications solution, has entered into a partnerhip with Aircel, for making communications affordable on data in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Aircel has launched a plan to promote the app ecosystem, with an offer to provide free data for all the subscribers in J&K which can be used anywhere in India over a period of 30 days. The objective is aimed towards exploring the data-based communication behavioural pattern of J&K consumers.

Aircel has exclusively introduced the plan for the prepaid subscribers of J&K where Aircel would send SMS to its subscriber base for downloading Nimbuzz from a fixed URL and 40 MB data would be transferred to the users who would download the app and sign in within 24 hours of activation. The development establishes a new trend in the industry where operators and IM applications complement each other to benefit the end users.

Vikas Saxena, CEO, Nimbuzz, said "We have always been committed towards the cause of taking mobile communication to every citizen in the country. We are thankful to Aircel for making an effort towards taking mobile communication to the masses with its newly launched Aircel-Nimbuzz data plan. We look forward to their continued support and we are confident that such initiatives will boost internet penetration in the country and bring an aggressive revenue stream for the mobile operators" .

Sundeep Talwar, chief operations head, Aircel J&K saud, "Technology today has an intrinsic role to play in people's life and it is really interesting to see the revolution in terms of using applications like Nimbuzz. Seeing the growth in data, we would like to have the first-mover advantage in partnering instant messaging platform to leverage this growing revenue stream".


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

One Indian among two killed by French troops in Africa

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 27 Maret 2013 | 22.44

DURBAN: An Indian and a Nepali man were the two people killed by French troops when they opened fire on vehicles approaching the airport in the capital of the Central African Republic, Indian authorities confirmed on Wednesday.

Earlier it was reported that two Indians were killed in the incident on Monday but Indian authorities confirmed that an Indian from Karnataka's port city of Mangalore was killed and the other victim was a Nepali man whose wife was Indian, hailing from Lucknow.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is on a four-day visit to attend the BRICS Summit, on Monday had received a letter here from French President Francois Hollande, who expressed regret for the tragic incident in which a Nepali, an Indian were killed and six other Indians were injured when French troops opened fire.

Hollande also called Singh yesterday and expressed regret over the incident.

Indian officials from neighbouring African countries will be sent to the troubled Central African Republic to bring back the body of the Indian killed in the firing, Ministry of External Affairs sources said here.

There were about 95 Indians in the Central African Republic, that has been overrun by rebels. The Indians are safe in the country, the sources said.

Six injured in the incident were in a stable condition and safe, they added.

French troops, were guarding the airport, when the incident took place. Around 300 French soldiers were dispatched to the Central African Republic over the weekend to reinforce troops already present in the capital Bangui, which was seized by rebels on Sunday.

French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has told his Indian counterpart A K Antony that France is conducting a high-level inquiry into the incident.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Naval war room leak accused Shankaran loses extradition appeal

LONDON: Naval War Room leak case accused Ravi Shankaran on Wednesday lost his appeal against being extradited to India to stand trial.

District Judge Nicholad Evans at Westminster Magistrates Court in London said in his ruling on Wednesday that he had been presented with no evidence to prove that there wasn't a "case to answer".

The case will now be sent to the UK home secretary, Theresa May, who will decide on ordering Shankaran's extradition to India.

Shankaran, 46, a retired naval commander and relative of former Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash, is a key accused in the case of leaking classified information from the War Room to arms dealers.

He has been absconding since the case was registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in March 2006.

The CBI revoked his passport in May that year and secured a Red Corner Notice against him after filing a charge-sheet in July 2006.

An extradition request was sent to the UK in 2007 following reports that he was in the country and he was arrested by British authorities in April 2010 on the basis of the non-bailable arrest warrants issued by the court of chief metropolitan magistrate, New Delhi.

The 2006 Navy War Room leak case involves leaking of over 7,000 pages of defence information of sensitive nature from the naval war room and air defence headquarters.

Besides Shankaran, other accused in the case are include sacked naval commander V K Jha, former Indian Air Force wing commander S L Surve and businessmen Abhishek Verma.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Arjuna Ranatunga wants Sri Lankan players to pull out of IPL

NEW DELHI: Former Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga on Wednesday slammed IPL governing council's decision to withdraw Sri Lankan cricketers from Chennai matches of the tournament and asked the players to opt out of the entire high-profile event beginning April 3.

"... as far as cricketers are concerned I think if they can't play in south India (Chennai) they should play in other part either. I personally feel if players are not welcomed in one part of India they should not be part of any IPL," Ranatunga said.

"The excuse that the south Indian politician gave was war crimes. And, I Am sure the players should take that into consideration and think of the country and pull out from the entire Indian Premier League," he told 'Times Now'.

Ranatunga termed the decision a political gimmick and said that the IPL governing council should have taken all the matches away from Chennai.

"I think what IPL should have done was pulled out all the matches from south India if they are so keen on Sri Lankan players participation. But, it's all political gimmick," he said.

On Tuesday, bowing to intense political pressure, the IPL governing council, withdrew top Sri Lankan players from the Chennai matches of the high-profile IPL after Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa refused to host them in view of the prevailing anti-Sinhalese sentiments in the state.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Court orders release of Lankan fishermen

TUTICORIN: A special court in Ramanathapuram on Wednesday ordered the release of five Sri Lankan fishermen who were arrested off Tuticorin coast by the Indian Coast Guard on March 17.

A consultative committee meeting of the Tuticorin District collector, superintendent of police, Indian Coast Guard officials and intelligence officials, came to the conclusion that the fishermen from Kalpatti fishing harbour had drifted into the Indian coast by accident due to sea current and wind, officials said.

Authorities concerned also ordered their release as it was accidental straying into Indian waters, officials said. The fishermen were produced before the special court in Ramanathapuram and ordered to be released.

The fishermen had put to sea on March 14 and drifted to the Indian coast on March 17 and were nabbed by the Coast Guard.

Their boat and catch and other materials were seized and they were brought to Tharuvaikulam in the district and handed over to Coastal Marine Police. They were lodged in Srivaikuntam prison.

The released fishermen would be handed over to Lankan naval men on Thursday or the day after, officials said.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

EC transfers 12 deputy commissioners in poll-bound Karnataka

BANGALORE: With hours after replacing 12 deputy commissioners (DC), the chief electoral officer (CEO) Anil Kumar Jha has directed chief secretary SV Ranganath to stop identifying new beneficiaries under social security schemes.

"Besides, the Election Commission has asked the government not to implement granting lands to individuals and institutions," Jha told reporters here on Sunday. Issuance of new rations cards has already been stopped.

The CEO office has also sent 4-page dos and don'ts' to chief secretary to be circulated to all the secretaries and departmental heads till elections are completed.

The voter enrolment drive of the commission appears to be paying results with 4 lakh new applications being flooded to various election offices in the state. "We have approved nearly 2.20 lakh applications and rest is in the process. Soon a drive to enthuse voters to exercise their franchise will start," Jha said.

Justifying the replacing 12 DCs, the CEO said the state was going for polls in single phase and the commission needed best of the officers who could act and react to quickly. The government on Wednesday issued orders posting new DCs to 12 districts. Jha hinted that IPS officers at SP level may also be reshuffled soon.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mulayam has lost all credibility: BJP

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 26 Maret 2013 | 22.44

NEW DELHI: BJP on Tuesday made light of the praise heaped on its senior leader L K Advani by Mulayam Singh Yadav, saying the Samajwadi Party chief has "lost all credibility" and keeps changing his views on support to UPA government.

Asked about Yadav's words of praise for Advani, BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said "the praise by a person whose personal credibility is lost is of no relevance. His credibility on support to UPA is over. One day he pledges support to the government, the next day he withdraws it, on the third day he praises a leader and then backs out."

BJP wondered about the reason behind this frequent change of opinion by Yadav and asked if this is because CBI is troubling him or he has struck a deal with Congress.

"Yadav's statement is full of frustration. Nobody is ready to believe that he wants to abandon UPA. BJP does not take any of Yadav's statements seriously," Rudy said. BJP also hit out at Congress, alleging it has two power centres and claiming this has now been owned up by a senior party leader as well.

"We had all along said UPA is governed by two power centres but Congress kept denying this. There is a power Centre at 10, Janpath (Sonia Gandhi's residence) and 7, RCR (Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's house). This contradiction has now been revealed by none other than a General Secretary of Congress," Rudy said. He charged UPA has given the "worst administration ever" and this is the obvious reason why "it is crumbling today".


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Amar Singh, Jaya Prada meet Maharashtra governor to seek pardon for Sanjay Dutt

MUMBAI: Expelled Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh and Lok Sabha MP from Rampur Jaya Prada on Tuesday met Maharashtra governor K Sankaranarayanan, to seek pardon for actor Sanjay Dutt.

Dutt, who has already undergone imprisonment of 18 months, was on Thursday sentenced to five years imprisonment in 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.

"Amar Singh and Jaya Prada met the governor (on the Sanjay Dutt issue) this evening," a Raj Bhawan spokesperson said.

Before arriving at the Raj Bhawan, the duo drove to the Bandra residence of Sanjay Dutt and met the actor.

Actor-turned-politician, Jaya Prada, had earlier said she was "heart broken" at the news of Sanjay Dutt's jail term pronounced by the Supreme Court and called him an "innocent person", who had been caught wrongly.

"He is an innocent person. It is very unfortunate. Knowingly or unknowingly, it has been written in his fate that he has to struggle like this. Particularly for Sanjay Dutt, if you see the background of his family and all. His father Sunil Dutt served a lot for the country and even in politics he had a very good name. And knowing his nature and character as a great father, and his son, he also...innocently maybe...has done something," Jaya Prada had said.

Amar Singh has been close to Dutt and was his mentor when the actor briefly dabbled in politics.

Earlier, several celebrities including Press Council of India chairman Markandey Katju, actor-turned-politicians Jaya Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha had sought pardon for Dutt.

Sinha had joined Katju in appealing to the Maharashtra Governor to pardon Dutt after the Supreme Court upheld his conviction in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.

Katju has sought pardon for Dutt under Article 161 of the Constitution saying that he had not been found guilty of having played a role in the 1993 blasts and had suffered a lot.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sukumari, veteran Malayalam actress, dies

CHENNAI: Veteran Malayalam actress Sukumari died following cardiac arrest here on Tuesday in a private hospital. She was 74.

"She was undergoing treatment for burn injuries in our hospital for the last few days. She died following cardiac arrest," a source from Global hospital said.

Sukumari was admitted to the hospital after she sustained burn injuries while lighting a lamp in a temple recently. She even underwent plastic surgery.

In Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala State Film Minister KB Ganesh Kumar said her demise was a "shocking news".

"She was convalescing in a hospital in Chennai and we wish that her funeral is held in our state. I have already talked to chief minister Oommen Chandy and he has pledged complete support. Now the decision has to be made by her son Suresh Bhimsingh," Kumar told media person.

Sukumari started acting at the age of 10 and featured in more than 2,500 films in various languages. In 2003, she was awarded the Padma Shri.

In 2010, she won the National Award for her performance in the Malayalam film "Namma Gramam".

Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa had paid her a visit. They acted together in "Pattikkada Pattanama".

Some of Sukumari's best films include "Ezhu Nirangal", "Arappatta Kettiya Gramathil" and "Chiriyo Chiri".

She is survived by son Suresh Bhimsingh.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Italy foreign minister Giulio Terzi resigns over return of marines to India

ROME: Italian foreign minister Giulio Terzi said on Tuesday he was resigning from his post in protest over the return of two Italian marines to India to face murder charges.

"I resign in contention with the decision to send the marines back to India. The misgivings I expressed had no effect on the decision taken," he told parliament.

"I am resigning because for 40 years I have maintained, and still maintain, that the reputation of the country, the armed forces and Italian diplomacy, should be safeguarded," he said.

The Italian government sent Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, accused of shooting dead two fishermen off the coast of Kerala, back to New Delhi on Friday, having previously opposed the trial in India.

Their arrival came after a shock decision by Italy's government to drop its opposition to their trial in India for shooting dead two fishermen off the coast of Kerala.

The Indian government, which last week issued orders to immigration authorities to prevent Rome's ambassador to New Delhi from leaving the country, hailed Italy's U-turn as a victory for diplomacy.

Italy meanwhile said it had received assurances the marines would not face the death penalty if convicted, as President Giorgio Napolitano paid tribute to the pair's "sense of responsibility" in agreeing to return.

Italy caused outrage in India by announcing on March 11 that Latorre and Girone would not return after they were given bail to vote in last month's Italian election, reneging on pledges made at the Supreme Court.

But in a late night U-turn which came only hours before a deadline for the pair's return, the Italian government said it had received "ample assurances" from India that the marines' rights would be respected.

"The government decided, also in the interests of the marines, to maintain the commitment taken when they were granted leave to take part in the elections to return to India by March 22," said a government statement.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who had warned of "consequences" if the pair did not return by March 22, was among those to express their satisfaction at the change of heart.

"I am happy that the integrity and dignity of the Indian judicial process has been upheld," he told reporters.

Others were more triumphant, including law minister Ashwani Kumar who called their return "a victory of India's constitution, our diplomacy, judicial system and also vindication of our stand".

After Italy said the marines would not return, Indian authorities forbade Italian ambassador Daniele Mancini from leaving the country, saying he had broken a written promise to the Supreme Court. Airports were even put on alert.

India's hardline stance caused alarm in diplomatic circles, with European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton declaring on Tuesday that limiting Mancini's movement ran "contrary to the international obligations".

Diplomats said that the impasse was broken after an assurance given that the marines would not face the death penalty, which are only carried out in the "rarest of rare" cases under Indian law.

In an address to lawmakers, foreign minister Salman Khurshid said India had assured Italy the marines were in no danger of being executed as "this case would not fall in the category of matters which attract the death penalty".

Italian foreign minister Giulio Terzi confirmed that Rome's concerns had been laid to rest.

"The agreement with India is that the case does not include any possibility of the maximum punishment being applied," Terzi told La Repubblica daily.

Italy had been insisting the pair should be prosecuted in their home country because the shootings involved an Italian-flagged vessel in international waters. India says the killings took place in waters under its jurisdiction.

The two are accused of murder after they shot dead two Indian fishermen they mistook for pirates off the Indian port of Kochi last year. They were serving as security guards on an Italian oil tanker.

Dora Gelastine, the widow of one of the victims who was just known as Gelastine, said she was delighted the marines had returned to face trial.

"I don't know much about the whole legal process but I want the killers to face prosecution as per our law. It's minimum justice for my innocent husband," she told AFP.

The two countries do have a prisoner transfer agreement, raising the possibility that the marines could serve their sentence in Italy if convicted.

Relations between the two countries have also been soured by corruption allegations surrounding a $748 million deal for the purchase of 12 Italian helicopters, which the Indian government is now threatening to scrap.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Police modernization scheme extended by five years: Sushilkumar Shinde

NEW DELHI: The central government has extended the scheme for modernisation of state police forces by five years, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said on Tuesday.

He also said steps were being taken to put in place a robust cyber security structure.

Speaking at a conference on 'Safety and Security: Need for Police Reforms' organised by the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Assocham), Shinde said the government had extended the scheme for modernisation of police forces for five years from 2012-13.

According to an Assocham release, Shinde said the government was also working on a robust cyber security structure by building capacities.

He said the reach of the multi-agency centre would be increased to meet emerging challenges.

Shinde said the Model Police Act had been circulated among states and 15 had either enacted a new police act or amended existing acts.

Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar, who also spoke at the event, favoured continuation of the force under the administrative control of the central government.

He also said technology had become a key asset in policing.

He said technology had enabled integration of diverse systems, inter-operability of stand-alone systems and streamlined and systematised operational aspects of policing.

He said technology would enable police to enforce traffic discipline.

According to the release, the officer said real reform took place when police functioned "according to rule of law and not according to rule of politics".

There have been suggestions that the administrative control of Delhi Police be handed over to the elected government for better accountability.

Answering queries, the officer said effectiveness of police should be judged by its capacity to prevent crime and make communities feel safe and secure.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Crowds keep away from Arvind Kejriwal's fast

Written By Unknown on Senin, 25 Maret 2013 | 22.44

NEW DELHI: AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal's indefinite fast urging people not to pay "inflated" power and water bills entered the third day but crowds kept away even as he defended the low turnout saying the real work is to reach out to people and not large numbers at the protest venue.

Kejriwal said he was in good shape and there is no concern about his health.

"Crowd is not needed at the protest spot. The work of volunteers and people who agreed with the movement was to spread out to every corner of the city to urge people to rise and revolt against the injustice of unfairly hiked water and electricity rates," he said.

"What are you so scared about? Why can't you unite and throw out the henchmen of discoms when they come to your neighbourhoods to snap your electricity connections?" he said.

In a statement, AAP said a total of 1.12 lakh people have expressed their support for Kejriwal's Civil Disobedience Movement.

"75,737 more protest letters to Sheila Dikshit were signed on Sunday taking the final count to 1,12,478. Through the letters people are urging the Chief Minister to put a stop to corruption and hence spiralling prices of basic commodities like water and electricity which is burning a hole in the pockets of common man," it said.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Congress, BJP dismiss Mulayam's talk of third front

NEW DELHI: Congress and BJP on Monday dismissed SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav's talk of a third front for a national alternative as a "non-starter" and nothing new and an "enduring mirage" of Indian politics.

Yadav while asking like-minded parties ahead of the next Lok Sabha elections to come together said on Sunday it is "high time" parties which have the common goal to achieve social change come together as in Maharashtra, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Yadav, whose party with 22 Lok Sabha MPs provides crucial outside support to Congress-led UPA, had also said that coalition politics has come to stay in the country,

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh dismissed Yadav's view, saying he has not said "something new" and the party is not "bothered."

"We work according to the situation, Whatever he (Yadav) has said is not something new," Singh said.

Asked whether Congress is worried after Mulayam's statement, he said "Congress is on its own track. Our track is the policy of Gandhiji, social secular and ideology of Jawaharlal Nehru, therefore we are not bothered."

Union minister and Congress leader Manish Tewari said that if one looks at the history of coalition politics in India in the last 20 years the reality is that a third front or a fourth front or a fifth front has been the "most enduring mirage of Indian politics."

BJP leader Balbir Punj said third or fourth front will continue to be in news for "wrong reasons" but it will be a "non-starter". "I don't think any such coalaition will come up."

Key NDA ally JD (U) appeared to agree with BJP's view. "We do not think there is any scope for third front. People will give clear mandate this time. It is true that this is coalition era so there will be coalition govt. But I do not see any chance of third front." JD(U)leader Devesh Chandra Thakur.

UPA ally NCP appeared to respond positively to Yadav's stand.

"Era of coalition govt has began. Different parties with common understanding and a programme will come together to form the government and political formation," NCP general secretary DP Tripathi said.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

DMK praises Cong-led UPA for developmental projects

CHENNAI: Close on the heels of snapping its nine-year association with Congress-led UPA on Sri Lankan Tamils issue, DMK today commended the Centre for introducing developmental projects.

A meeting of the DMK Executive chaired by party chief M Karunanidhi lauded the Manmohan Singh government for ushering in various developmental projects in its near decade-long rule.

"This Executive thanks Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) for getting projects that put Tamil Nadu on the path of development and the UPA for granting them," a resolution adopted by the key decision-making body of DMK here said.

Titled "Benefits to Tamil Nadu in UPA rule," the resolution recalled the various projects to Tamil Nadu, including the Centre granting classical status language to Tamil, something often claimed by DMK as a major achievement.

The Executive said the Centre had granted projects in various sectors including roads, shipping, industries, drinking water, IT and telecom, aviation and railways, all running into thousands of crores of rupees.

"Of these great projects, the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project and the elevated corridor project connecting Maduravoyal and Chennai Port have remained stalled due to AIADMK government's non-cooperation. The Executive strongly condemns it," it said.

DMK with 18 Lok Sabha members had walked out of UPA last week, accusing Centre of allowing "watering down" of the US resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC and not considering its suggestions on the matter.

In another resolution, DMK demanded that India should boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting scheduled to be held in Colombo in November.

"While the Commonwealth Secretariat should not convene the meeting in Colombo, if it happens, India should boycott the meeting in order to reflect the sentiments of Tamils the world over and to keep up the democratic spirits," the DMK Executive Meeting said.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Amar Singh, Jaya Prada to meet Maharashtra governor to seek pardon for Sanjay Dutt

MUMBAI: Expelled Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh and Lok Sabha MP from Rampur Jaya Prada have sought an appointment with Maharashtra governor K Sankaranarayanan on Tuesday, apparently to seek pardon for actor Sanjay Dutt.

Dutt, who has already undergone imprisonment of 18 months, was on Thursday sentenced to five years imprisonment in Mumbai serial blasts case.

"Amar Singh and Jaya Prada have sought appointment with the governor on Sanjay Dutt issue tomorrow," a Raj Bhawan spokesperson said on Monday.

The meeting may take place at 6:45pm on Tuesday, he said.

Amar Singh has been close to Dutt and was his mentor when the actor briefly dabbled in politics.

Earlier, several celebrities including Press Council of India chairman Markandey Katju and actor-turned-politicians Jaya Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha had sought pardon for Dutt.

"He (Dutt) has already been punished enough. Twenty years is almost like life imprisonment. I mean he suffered for twenty years and I think to do this to him at this time..... I am going to personally meet the Governor," Bachchan had told reporters outside Parliament House recently.

Sinha had joined Katju in appealing to the Maharashtra governor to pardon Dutt after the Supreme Court upheld his conviction in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.

In a statement on Thursday, Katju had sought pardon for Dutt under Article 161 of the Constitution saying that he had not been found guilty of having played a role in the 1993 blasts and had suffered a lot.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

CAG report is not Bible: Andhra CM Kiran Reddy

HYDERABAD: After hitting headlines for his sweeping remarks in the Assembly, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Monday turned his ire towards CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) and informed the House that its findings were always not true, and said, "It is not Bhagavdgeetha, Quran or the Bible."

The CM's remark that stunned the members came when he intervened in a short discussion on power crisis prevailing in the state.

As he initiated the discussion, TDP member Payyavula Keshav said the CAG had pointed out that the APGENCO (AP Power Generation Corporation) was charging higher price for power than any other project. And this prompted the CM shot back to say CAG was not infallible.

"The CAG findings would not always be right. It is not Bhagavdgitha, Quran or Bible. We are referring the CAG findings to the PAC (Public Accounts Committee), and it would give us the report. If need arises, we may refer to any public undertaking to verify the findings," said Kiran Reddy.

While this enraged the opposition members, Keshav said, "It is not proper to belittle a statutory body like CAG. Being in the position of chief minister, Kiran Kumar Reddy should have not made such remarks. Apart from demeaning a constitutional authority, such statements would make people losing trust in the system."

An assuaged CM clarified he did not mean to belittle CAG. "I am not blaming CAG, denying the concerns of the opposition members either. All that I appeal is analyze before criticizing the government. I admit that the power situation in the state is dismal. Come up with constructive suggestions instead of just being critical," Kiran Reddy said.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Courts should not show sympathy towards rapists: HC

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 24 Maret 2013 | 22.44

NEW DELHI: Courts should not show "sympathy" towards rapists who have ruined the lives of young girls to satisfy their lust, the Delhi high court has said, cautioning that letting them off can encourage others to commit such offence.

Upholding the seven-year jail term to a man for abducting and raping a 14-year-old, Justice P K Bhasin said,"If the courts start getting sympathetic towards persons who commit such serious offences and spoil the lives of young girls for the satisfaction of their sexual lust, more and more persons having such tendencies would get encouraged and more and more young girls would become their prey."

The court's observation came while dismissing an appeal filed by Razzi Ahmed against a trial court order convicting and jailing him for seven years in the 12-year-old case.

The court said "he should consider himself to be lucky not to have been awarded a longer period of stay in jail" and directed police to take Ahmed into custody so that he can undergo the remaining sentence.

The convict was on bail during the pendency of his appeal in the high court.

On October 6, 2003, the trial court passed the order and rejected Ahmed's plea for lighter punishment on the ground that he was just 18-year-old in January 2001 when the incident had happened.

The court noted that the convict knew what he was doing and its serious impact on the girl and there was no justification for letting him off with lesser punishment.

"The appellant-convict certainly knew... those inhuman acts of his must have had a serious impact on her, physical as well as emotional, and such scars cannot get washed off throughout her life," the court said.

Dismissing the convict's argument that he is married and has four children, the court observed, "For his conviction for the offence of rape of a minor girl, he was awarded the minimum sentence of imprisonment provided by the legislature and he should consider himself to be lucky not to have been awarded a longer period of stay in jail.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Terrorists open fire at police vehicles in J&K, 1 killed

SRINAGAR: A civilian was killed and a policeman critically injured on Sunday when militants opened fire at two police vehicles caught in a traffic jam in Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore town.

Abdul Rashid Dar of Rafiabad in Sopore, who was critically injured in the attack at Iqbal Market, later succumbed to injuries, a police officer said.

Superintendent of Police Syed Imtiyaz Hussain said from Sopore that the incident happened when the vehicles were in a jam.

While the policemen were clearing the jam, militants fired at them. One constable and a civilian were critically injured, he said.

"Police did not retaliate as the market was crowded and retaliatory firing by police could have resulted in civilian casualties," Hussain said.

The attackers escaped with the injured constable's weapon.

Last week, militants fired at a Border Security Force vehicle in Srinagar, leaving one trooper dead and two others injured.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mamata Banerjee's comments on rape encouraging criminals: CPM

KOLKATA: Alleging that West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee's recent comments on rape were "encouraging" lawbreakers, the CPM on Sunday said her "weird theories" were mere attempts to hide her administration's failure to prevent crimes against women.

In a strong attack against Banerjee, the state's principal opposition party said: "The chief minister thinks she is the last word in everything and anyone has to accept whatever logic she advances. She is not amenable to reasoned argument. She cannot stand reasoned criticism."

The editorial in Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) Bengali mouthpiece Ganashakti accused Banerjee of turning a deaf ear to the speeches of the opposition members in the assembly and refusing to abide by the "basic norms of parliamentary democracy".

"The Trinamool Congress supremo wants every individual to follow in the footsteps of her party leaders and behave like her lackeys."

"She wants everybody to remain silent. She wants to be the only one with a voice," said the editorial.

The CPM said that while the chief minister wanted to enjoy power, she was loathe to take responsibility for people's inconveniences.

The editorial came two days after Banerjee linked the rising number of rape cases to the swelling population and young boys and girls becoming more modern in their approach, besides women now daring to register complaints.

"You are saying rape incidents are on the rise. But the population is also swelling. There are more number of cars, shopping malls are increasing. Young boys and girls are becoming more modern. Won't you welcome them," Banerjee told opposition members Friday while closing the debate on the governor's address in the state assembly.

She said earlier women were too shy to lodge complaints. "But they are now coming out to register their complaint. This is a good sign for the society."

Describing Banerjee's theory as "weird", the editorial said she was advancing such "ridiculous logic" to hide "her administration's failure" in preventing atrocities against women, including rape.

"Such comments would only encourage criminals. The outlaws will become more active as the government has not talked of its resolve to take a tough stand and effective steps."


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sri Lanka may pull its mission out of Tamil Nadu

COLOMBO: Faced with growing anti-Sri Lankan sentiments in Tamil Nadu, Colombo may shift its deputy high commission office out of Chennai, a media report said today.

The new location could be Trivandrum in neighbouring Kerala, the Sunday Times said.

Threats and intimidation of Sri Lankan nationals and Sri Lankan property have been noted in Chennai.

The paper claimed that even the Sri Lankan defence attache based in Chennai had come under harassment.

Last week, two Buddhist monks came under attack triggering noisy protests here near the Indian High Commission premises and Sri Lanka's national carrier also suspended flights to Chennai. Top Indian officials here met with senior Buddhist monks to try to allay fears.

The protests came as India voted against Sri Lanka alongside the US in a key UN human rights resolution, last week, that called for an independent and credible investigation into allegations of human rights violations towards the end of the island's three-decade civil war against Tamil separatists in 2009.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Future belongs to coalition governments: Mulayam Singh Yadav

SANGLI (MAHARASHTRA): Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Sunday said the era of one-party rule was over and the future belongs to coalition governments.

"Coalition government is the need of the country as no single party can come to power at Centre on its own strength," he said.

Samajwadi Party, with 22 MPs in the Lok Sabha, provides crucial outside support to Congress-led UPA-II at Centre.

"It is high time that parties, which have the common goal to achieve social change come together as in Maharashtra, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh," Yadav said.

He was addressing a public meeting commemorating the first death anniversary of veteran freedom fighter and pioneer of cooperative movement in Maharashtra, Nagnath Anna Naikwadi, at Valva village in the western Maharashtra district.

Yadav, who had served as Defence Minister in the United Front coalition government in 1996, linked "growing expenditure" on defence sector to the plight of farmers in the country.

"China which supports farmers and agriculture sector is far ahead of India. Farmers are paying the price for growing expenditure on defence sector, which is the result of not-so-cordial relations of India with neighbours Pakistan, China and Bangladesh. There is dire need to help farmers," he said.

He performed the ground breaking ceremony for the upcoming memorial of Naikwadi and that of the Ethanol-based project of Hutatma Sugar Factory at the village on the occasion.

To a question about his party organisation, Yadav said, "Samajwadi Party is no more a party of seniors but one comprising youths and women. That is why Akhilesh became chief minister of Uttar Pradesh."


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Deoria rape: ASP, SHO shifted over 'insensitivity'

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 23 Maret 2013 | 22.44

LUCKNOW: The Deoria ASP, who was caught on camera humiliating a 35-year-old Dalit rape victim, was on Saturday transfered by the Uttar Pradesh government.

The SHO of Bankata police station, who had allegedly refused to file rape complaint of the woman, was also sent to police lines today, a home department spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, Additional Superintendent of Police Keshav Chandra Goswami has been transferred to CB-CID, Kanpur while Devendra Nath Dwivedi who was posted in Kanpur goes to Deoria in his place.

The government today transferred eight PPS officers including Goswami, the spokesman added.

Goswami's remark had yesterday left the state police red faced.

The officer was caught on camera humiliating the woman, who had approached him for lodging a rape case. The ASP allegedly told the woman,"who would rape an elderly woman who is a mother of four".

Later, the UP Police came into a fire fighting mode and top officials apologised for Goswami's behaviour.

Director General of UP Police AC Sharma offered an apology and assured that strict action will be taken against the ASP.

The DGP has sought explanation from the officer. According to sources, the woman belonging to Karan Chapra was allegedly raped by one Santosh Kumar of neighbouring village on Wednesday night.

When the woman and her husband went to the Bankata police station on Thursday for lodging an FIR, the police station in-charge registered a case of eve-teasing.

Dissatisfied with the Bankata police, the couple came to the ASP seeking his intervention.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Andhra CM Kiran Reddy, Akabaruddin Owaisi engage in war of words

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and MIM leader AkbaruddinOwaisi engaged in a war of words over secular credentials of the Congress, in the Assembly on Saturday. The CM was particularly enraged at Owaisi's remark that he was not questioning the secular credentials of Congress but of the Kiran Reddy's government, and alleged him of vindictive politics.

"I am sorry my friend I am not like that," the CM said addressing Owaisi. "I am not against anybody, but at the same time I am not scared on any one. In my view, all are equal. And that is my government's policy as well," Kiran Reddy said.

Taking part in the discussion on home minister Sabitha Indira Reddy's statement on the arrests of Telangana leaders during Sadak Band, Owaisi said Kiran Kumar Reddy government was indulging in vindictive politics and the cases on the charges of sedition and waging war against the state were booked against him just because MIM took back support given to his government.

"The Sanga Reddy case against my brother Assaduddin Owaisi was re-opened after years, and I was booked for sedition and waging war against the state. These happened only after MIM took back support from the government. It is a clear case of political vendetta," Owaisi said.

Alleging that the government used the services of a software company to fix him for his alleged hate speech and the national channels were made to carry it as a campaign. However, he thanked Kiran Reddy for it because it just made him more famous.

The chief minister shot back to say, "The whole country watched on TV what Akbaruddin Owaisi had spoken. The government was nothing to do with his arrest. People know how it happened, and the issue is pending in the court."

Owaisis said his brother and he were targeted by vested interests, and warned that they would get a fitting reply. "Soon two Reddy brothers would be behind bars. Just wait and see," Owaisi said.

The CM said, "I don't have anything against the Owiaisi brothers. In fact, Assaduddin Owaisi is my friend and I respect him. My government would never take sides, and the arrests of Owaisis happened in accordance of law."

Attacking Congress for its defective minority policy, Owaisi said over 50,000 communal clashes occurred across the country in Congress rule. The reports of Sachar Committee and Ranganath Misra committee were put on backburner. Debunking the Kiran Reddy's claim that his government had enhanced fund allocation to the minority welfare by whopping 113 % in the state budget ( from last year's Rs. 482 crore to Rs. 1020 crore) , Owaisi said it was meager compared to Rs. 1,61,348 crore, the total size of the budget which he put it at less than 1 %.

Hitting back Kiran Reddy said, "Owiasi need not teach me what secularism is. I am secular, and my constituency (Pileru in Chittoor) there are 35,000 Muslims, and we are winning from there from past 30 years."


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Governor lacks power to pardon Sanjay Dutt: Mahesh Jethmalani

NEW DELHI: The Maharashtra governor lacks power to pardon Sanjay Dutt, senior lawyer and BJP leader Mahesh Jethmalani on Saturday said criticizing Press Council of India's (PCI) chairman Justice Markandey Katju for his "unseemly haste" in seeking relief for the actor sentenced to five years jail for possessing arms during 1993 Mumbai blasts.

He said Katju has written a "wholly misconceived" letter to the governor and others, including law minister Ashwani Kumar and I&B minister Manish Tewary, members of film fraternity and office bearers of Congress, NCP and Samajwadi parties "have jumped on to his ex-Lordship's bandwagon".

He said Dutt has been convicted under the Arms Act and the Governor's power of pardon under Article 161 of the Constitution does not extend to conviction under this law.

"His ex-Lordship's (Katju's) letter to the Governor of Maharashtra, is thus wholly misconceived and his loyal band of followers must seek other avenues, if they exist at all, to secure a reprieve for Dutt. Katju would be well advised to not let his heart rule his head even if he considers its pulls to be justified," Jethmalani said in a statement.

"For their part, Kumar and Tewari, both eminent men of law, would serve the interest of the nation better if they applied their energies to upholding the law, rather than blindly seeking exoneration for a convict who by design or dim-wittedness facilitated the death of so many innocent victims on that fateful day in Mumbai", he said.

Jethmalani said it does not "befit" a retired apex court judge to express his anguish at the verdict of the top court by saying that he (Katju) himself was impelled to file a mercy petition in his personal capacity on actor's behalf.

"It ill befits a retired Judge of the SC and chairman of PCI, to display such unseemly haste in seeking complete exoneration for Dutt in the 1993 bomb blast case.

"Hardly has the ink dried on the Supreme Court's judgement upholding the actor's conviction under the Arms Act that the ex-Judge has lamented the decision, extolled Sanjay Dutt's virtues and regretted his suffering of the last twenty years," he said.

Jethmalani expressed surprise that both Kumar and Tewary have endorsed Justice Katju's view that the Governor has the power to pardon Dutt for the offences for which he has been convicted.

"While it is the personal prerogative of any citizen of this country to campaign for a pardon for any convict - notwithstanding the dubious company the convict might have kept, both before and after the cataclysmic events that had shaken Bombay on 12th March, 1993, citizens are entitled to expect a modicum of elementary homework at least by such distinguished personalities as Messrs. Katju, Ashwini Kumar and Manish Tiwari.

"The executive power of the state government does not extend to matters enumerated in the Union list of the 7th Schedule of the Constitution of India. Entry 5 in the Union list consists of arms, firearms, ammunition and explosives. The Arms Act is a statute enacted by Parliament. The governor's power of pardon under Article 161 of the Constitution of India, accordingly, does not extend to the sentence of any person convicted under the Arms Act," he said.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Fishermen's killing: Mistakes made by both sides, Italian deputy foreign minister says

NEW DELHI: Asserting that "mistakes" were made by both sides, Italy on Saturday said India should have realised from the beginning that Kerala judges did not have jurisdiction over the case involving the two Italian marines accused of killing Indian fishermen.

Italy also indicated it could have "perhaps" been falling into an agenda related to Kerala politics.

"...Instead of saying where they (India) made a mistake, (I would) rather say what we could have done better. We should have been able, at the beginning, to realise that Kerala judges were, in fact, as the Supreme Court has indicated, the wrong place to handle an extremely complicated case," Italian deputy foreign minister Steffan de Mistura said during a television interview.

He said the issue of jurisdiction with regard to Kerala court should have been settled much earlier.

"We would have been able to find some formula much earlier...There was a feeling that perhaps there was a strategy for prolonging this," he said.

Asked if he felt that Italy was being lured into a trap, he said "no. We could have been perhaps, falling into an agenda, of Kerala related political environment, which is human..."

He said Italy got emotional as it was waiting for eleven months for the judgement to come.

"We too have families. We too, like you, trust our military should be defended when they are on duty," he said.

Stressing that the suspension of the assurance given by its Ambassador to the Supreme court was "painful", Mistura said the breakthrough in the 11-day impasse came after assurance from India that death penalty "would not be applicable".

Defending Italy's initial decision not to send back their marines even at the cost of diplomatic breach of assurance, Mistura said death penalty was unacceptable and became an issue for the Italian government when the Supreme Court talked about setting up of a special court to try the soldiers.

He stressed that the special court should be "fast, quick, expeditious".


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Earth Hour is a good example of coordinated effort to fight climate change: Ban-Ki Moon

MUMBAI: Governments, business and civil society all have a role to play in coming up with answers for a cleaner, greener world, said UN secretary general Ban-Ki Moon as the world observed Earth Hour, a coordinated effort to fight climate change through sustainable energy use.

The UN plans to turn off lights at its headquarters in New York like many other initiatives across the globe.

"We participate with an undimmed determination to take action on climate change," said Ban, who has been urging the UN to "lead by example" in reducing its carbon footprint.

The Earth Hour was in 2012 observed by more than 7,000 cities and towns in 152 countries by switching off their lights to show support for action on climate change and sustainable living.

Earth Hour was launched in 2007 in Australia by the World Wildlife Federation (WWF), the global conservation organization, which calls for people, organizations and cities to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour starting at 8:30 p.m. local time.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

CBI summons YSR's close aide in Jagan case

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 22 Maret 2013 | 22.44

HYDERABAD: In a key development in the disproportionate assets case against YSR Congress party leader Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned a close aide of his late father and Congress MP K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao for questioning.

KVP, as he is popularly known, has been asked to appear Saturday morning, the CBI sources said.

Currently a member of the Rajya Sabha, KVP was a close aide of late chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, during whose tenure (2004-09), Jaganmohan Reddy, his son, allegedly amassed huge wealth.

The CBI believes YSR showed undue favours to certain companies and individuals who invested in his son's businesses.

KVP's rivals both within the ruling party and also in opposition have been alleging that as the government advisor, he played a key role in government decisions to allot lands and extend other concessions on quid pro quo basis.

They have long been demanding a CBI probe on KVP's role.

This is the first time that KVP was called by the CBI since registering a case against Jagan and 73 others in 2011 following the probe ordered by the Andhra Pradesh High Court on a petition by some Congress and Telugu Desam leaders.

Jaganmohan Reddy, a member of parliament from Kadapa, was arrested by the CBI last May along with then state minister Mopidevi Venkatramna, industrialist Nimmagadda Prasad and others.

The investigating agency has already filed four charge sheets and it has informed the court that seven matters relating to investments in Jaganmohan Reddy's companies were currently under investigation.

The CBI had last year recorded KVP's statement in the Emaar case, relating to defrauding the state government in a joint venture with Emaar Properties.

KVP stood behind Jaganmohan Reddy after YSR died in a helicopter crash in 2009.

He, however, distanced himself from Jaganmohan Reddy once the latter challenged the Congress leadership and floated his own party.


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

Marines return to Delhi; anger in Italy, India 'happy'

ROME/NEW DELHI: A decision to return two Italian marines accused of murdering fishermen to stand trial in India stirred anger in Italy on Friday and calls for foreign minister Giulio Terzi to resign.

Mario Monti's caretaker government on Thursday reversed a March 11 decision not to send the marines back from a home visit after Rome secured a promise from New Delhi that the two would not face the death penalty if convicted, officials said.

The marines, part of a military security team protecting a tanker from piracy, are accused of shooting two fishermen off the coast of Kerala in February 2012.

They say they fired warning shots at a fishing boat believing it to be a pirate vessel.

The sailors, Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre, arrived back in India on Friday aboard an Italian air force plane.

India and Italy have been embroiled in an escalating row over the marines, who had been allowed home to vote in the Italian elections in February on condition they returned to India by Friday.

Michele Emiliano, the mayor of Girone's hometown of Bari, said he had been comforting the marine's "despairing" family.

"A hypocritical government is trying to end its embarrassment by sending the sailors back to India after exhibiting them as 'free' during the election campaign," Emiliano wrote on Twitter.

Foreign minister Terzi defended the move in an interview with la Repubblica daily on Friday, rejecting calls from centre-right politicians for him to quit.

"I don't see a reason to" resign, he said, adding that the temporary stand-off with India had helped Italy ensure the marines would be treated well.

India's Supreme Court ruled in January that India had jurisdiction to try the marines. But Italy had challenged that decision, arguing that the shooting took place in international waters and that the two should face any trial at home.

India happy

Indian politicians welcomed Rome's decision. "We are happy with the outcome which is consistent with the dignity of Indian judicial process," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told reporters.

Italy's initial plan to not send the marines back had exposed Manmohan Singh's fragile coalition, which governs with a minority in parliament, to opposition attacks that it was too soft and had even colluded with Italy to allow the marines to leave the country.

The government had demanded Italy return the sailors or face a possible rupture in ties.

The Supreme Court went so far as to bar Italy's ambassador from leaving the country, but behind the scenes, Italian and Indian officials were trying to resolve the dispute.

"There have been very intensive diplomatic contacts between Italy and India during the last 24 hours," foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said.

Details of the negotiations have not been disclosed but Akbaruddin told Reuters that India and Italy had an agreement under which convicted prisoners could serve jail time in their home countries.

Foreign minister Salman Khurshid said in parliament that India had assured Italy that the marines would not face the death penalty, which only applied in the "rarest of rare cases".

"Italy falls into line," crowed one Indian television cable news channel, while Cabinet minister Manish Tewari said Rome's decision to return the sailors showed that India's "gravitas is being recognised across the world".


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More

UP senior cop asks rape victim: Who will rape a mother of four?

DEORIA (UP): The insensitivity of the Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday came to the fore, as a senior police officer was caught on camera humiliating a 35-year-old Dalit woman, who had approached him for lodging a rape case, saying "who would rape an elderly woman who is a mother of four".

Deoria additional superintendent of police Keshav Chandra Goswami was caught on camera insulting the woman on Thursday night, after she approached him seeking his intervention as a local police station had refused to register a case of rape, which took place on Wednesday.

"Why would anyone rape such an elderly woman?" Goswami was heard saying when the woman and her husband met him as her complaint was not registered by Bankata police in the district.

The ASP questioned the woman about her eldest son's age and when he was told that it was 17 years, the officer said: "Her oldest child is 17, why would anyone rape such an elderly woman?"

According to sources, the woman was allegedly raped by one Santosh Kumar of neighbouring village on Wednesday night.

When the woman and her husband went to the Bankata police station on Thursday for lodging an FIR, the police station in-charge registered a case of eve-teasing.

Dissatisfied with the Bankata police, the couple came to the ASP on Thursday night to seek his intervention.

Meanwhile, the ASP, when contacted, said that in her complaint the woman had levelled charge of eve-teasing but she gave a second complaint in which she mentioned rape.

The ASP said that medical examination of the woman has not confirmed rape.

Meanwhile, the director general of UP Police, AC Sharma has offered an apology and has assured that strict action will be taken against the ASP.

IG (law and order) R K Vishkarma said in Lucknow that the DGP has sought an explanation from the ASP.

"The DGP also expressed regret over the hurt caused to the woman because of the insulting remarks," the IG said adding that the case of the woman has been registered.

The IG said that the new officers being recruited in the police force would also be sensitised and given training in proper behaviour so that such things are not repeated.

Woman organisations of the district have condemned the police officer and demanded action against him for his "insensitivity and insulting remarks".


22.44 | 0 komentar | Read More
techieblogger.com Techie Blogger Techie Blogger