Harsh Vardhan to take up AIIMS plan with CMs

NEW DELHI: Health minister Harsh Vardhan will write to chief ministers of all the states seeking their cooperation in fulfilling BJP's ambitious poll promise of having an AIIMS in each state.

"The message I will carry to health ministers in states and the chief ministers is that not providing health care to the poor is not an option for the Narendra Modi government. If we put our heads together, we will find a solution. So let us work," he said, according to an official statement today.

Vardhan yesterday reviewed the ongoing process of establishment of six AIIMS in as many states in a meeting with their directors and assured them that he would get in touch with respective chief ministers and consider giving them more autonomy to speed up the work, it said.

Centre would consider having more AIIMS projects if the chief ministers show interest, the health ministry release said quoting him.

The Minister asked the directors to submit detailed status reports within a week.

Recalling how the work to have an AIIMS in Raigunj in West Bengal was stalled after the state government expressed its inability to acquire land for the project, he asked all chief ministers to make full use of the Centre's plan.

"Land acquisition should not be a problem for a hospital because it is for a public purpose. Moreover, it would be a government-run free facility and no private company would make profits. So I would request all chief ministers to avail this opportunity," he said.

Vardhan also praised the health care facilities developed in south India and said its model holds out an example for the northern states where medical facilities for the poor are still "scarce".

Opening an AIIMS without having in place a workable model would be akin to placing the cart before the horse, he said, adding, "But the poor and middle class cannot be ill-served indefinitely." Therefore, he would consult the state health ministers on ways to collect local synergies, the statement said.

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Absence of economists, chartered accountants haunted 15th Lok Sabha

LUCKNOW: The tough times, which the rupee underwent in the past one year or so, may be attributed to the prevailing global as well as domestic economic factors. And no instant solution could be worked out to fix the problem, as there was no member of the 15th Lok Sabha, who was either an economist or a chartered accountant. The absence of an economist and a CA as a member of the 15th Lok Sabha haunted the nation for sometime, and it took some reasonable amount of time to stem the decline of the rupee.

And, it is not only the economists or CAs, who are absent in the 15th Lok Sabha. Documents available with TOI suggest that there was no MP in the 15th Lok Sabha who is a a veterinarian. Similarly, there is no judge in the 15th Lok Sabha, while there are as many as 73 advocates and one lawyer. The other categories of professions, which have no representation in the 15th Lok Sabha are that of industrial workers and producer and distributor.

The highest chunk of representation comes from agriculturists at 220 (40.5%), followed by social workers, whose tally of 156, constitutes 28.7% of the strength of the 15th Lok Sabha. The House boasted of 26 MPs each from the farming profession and education. Another visible chunk of representation was from business person, who formed 16.39% of the 15th Lok Sabha, with their tally standing at 89 MPs. As many as 103 political and social workers also made their presence felt in the House, while the count of philanthropists and philanthropists and social workers stood at one and two respectively.

The House also had a healthy representation from 21 medical practitioners, a consultant surgeon and a general and laproscopic surgeon. Similarly, there were eight builders, an architect, a chartered engineer, 15 engineers, a technologist and IT professional. The 15th Lok Sabha also boasted of two computer scientists, six consultants, two pilots, a scientist and a strategy consultant. Likewise, 29 members of the Lok Sabha were industrialists, while four of them were involved in transportation.

Interestingly, there was only one social reformer and women social activist in the House, which also has nine of its members mentioning their profession as that of trade unionist. There were six traders and horticulturists. One MP has listed his profession as trading business. As far as the film fraternity is concerned, there are six film artists, one film producer and one producer and director.

As many as seven MPs are artists by profession, while a cultural activist, three musicians and two poets infused an artistic fragrance in the House, which also consisted of a contractor and a distributor. Similarly, there are seven civil servants, three diplomats, an international civil servant and a retired IPS officer, who added to the strength of the 15th Lok Sabha. The presence of a cricketer and a commentator along with seven sportspersons made the mood of the members sporty.

Eight journalists, 13 writers and four publishers added to the literary quotient of the House, which also has two representations in form of religious missionaries and one in the other category. Apart from this, the strength of teachers in the 15th Lok Sabha was 18, while that of professors and retired teachers was eight and one respectively.

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IPL spot-fixing case: Court orders property attachment process against Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Shakeel

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Saturday ordered initiation of proceedings for attachment of properties against underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, his associate Chhota Shakeel and three others, who are on the run, in connection with the IPL spot-fixing case.

The order came after special cell of Delhi Police informed the court that non-bailable warrants (NBWs) issued against these absconding accused, who were charged in the case, could not be executed as they no longer reside at their last known addresses in India.

Besides Dawood and Shakeel, the NBWs were issued against Pakistan-based Javed Chutani, Salman alias Master and Ehteysham, who all are considered to be Dawood's associates.

"As warrants issued against accused Dawood, Shakeel, Chutani, Salman and Ehteysham have returned unexecuted with a report that they no longer reside at last known address in India, a request has been made for ensuing of proceeding under sections 82 (proclamation for person absconding), 83 (attachment of property of person absconding) of CrPC ... In view of this, process under sections 82, 83 of CrPC be initiated against them," additional sessions judge Bharat Parashar said.

The court asked the police to paste the notice regarding the warrants at the last known address of these accused and also directed it to get published the notice in newspapers having national circulation. It also asked the police to furnish the report regarding this before it by August 16, the next date of hearing.

(Police display seized cash, mobiles, laptops from bookies in Kolkata during IPL 6 in 2013)

The court also said it would commence hearing arguments on framing of charges in the case from August 16.

(Gurunath Meiyappan, son-in-law of former BCCI chairman N Srinivasan is also charged as an accused in the IPL scam)

Public prosecutor Rajiv Mohan said that Delhi Police will ascertain the properties owned by Dawood in the country and will submit a list on it before the court.

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IPL spot-fixing case: Court orders property attachment process against Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Shakeel and three others

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Saturday ordered initiation of proceedings for attachment of properties against underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, his associate Chhota Shakeel and three others, who are on the run, in connection with the IPL spot-fixing case.

The order came after special cell of Delhi Police informed the court that non-bailable warrants (NBWs) issued against these absconding accused, who were charged in the case, could not be executed as they no longer reside at their last known addresses in India.

Besides Dawood and Shakeel, the NBWs were issued against Pakistan-based Javed Chutani, Salman alias Master and Ehteysham, who all are considered to be Dawood's associates.

"As warrants issued against accused Dawood, Shakeel, Chutani, Salman and Ehteysham have returned unexecuted with a report that they no longer reside at last known address in India, a request has been made for ensuing of proceeding under sections 82 (proclamation for person absconding), 83 (attachment of property of person absconding) of CrPC ... In view of this, process under sections 82, 83 of CrPC be initiated against them," additional sessions judge Bharat Parashar said.

The court asked the police to paste the notice regarding the warrants at the last known address of these accused and also directed it to get published the notice in newspapers having national circulation. It also asked the police to furnish the report regarding this before it by August 16, the next date of hearing.

(Police display seized cash, mobiles, laptops from bookies in Kolkata during IPL 6 in 2013)

The court also said it would commence hearing arguments on framing of charges in the case from August 16.

(Gurunath Meiyappan, son-in-law of former BCCI chairman N Srinivasan is also charged as an accused in the IPL scam)

Public prosecutor Rajiv Mohan said that Delhi Police will ascertain the properties owned by Dawood in the country and will submit a list on it before the court.

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North India grid had load loss of 8,000MW in storm on Friday

NEW DELHI: The northern electricity grid suffered a load loss of 8,000MW, including 3,500MW in the national capital, during a fierce storm in the region on Friday and power supplies are gradually being restored.

Supplies were affected due to heavy rains, dust and thunderstorms and wind speeds exceeding 75kmph in areas of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Uttarakhand on Friday evening.

"As a result, 68 transmission lines tripped. The load loss was at the rate of 200MW per minute, resulting in a northern grid load loss of about 8,000MW, including 3,500MW in Delhi," the Ministry of Power said in a statement today.

Piyush Goyal, minister of state for power (independent charge) today reviewed the situation arising out of the load interruption, according to the statement. The ministry also said restoration work has started.

"Out of 68 lines that tripped during the incident, 49 lines have been restored and supply has been restored gradually in all the states," it said.

In Delhi, top priority was accorded to restoring power to emergency services such as hospitals, Delhi Metro, water treatment plants and the New Delhi Municipal Council area, it said, adding that presently, about 3,800MW load is being met.

Assistance was provided to Delhi through the Emergency Restoration System (ERS) for early restoration of affected lines, especially Mandola-Gopalpur, Bawana-Rohini and Bamnauli-Pappankalan, which are affecting power supply in the northern Delhi region.

The minister has promised all help to Delhi in early restoration of the lines and directed Power Grid Corporation of India, the central transmission utility, to extend all cooperation in this regard.

Goyal said that more ERS equipment should be maintained by all states and central utilities to reduce the outage time and suffering of the people.

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Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal cautions Modi govt against any hasty decision on Article 370

NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH: BJP ally Akali Dal on Friday cautioned the Centre against any hasty decision on Article 370 that gives special status to Jammu & Kashmir even as Modi government came under fresh attack over a minister raking up another contentious issue of uniform civil code.

"The decisions on issues like Article 370 should not be taken in haste," SAD leader and Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal said in Bhatinda, a view echoed by BSP Chief Mayawati who cautioned the BJP-led government against any decision taken in haste that might affect unity and integrity of the country.

JD(U) leader and Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi criticized the Modi government for raking up the issue of scrapping of Article 370 saying it would have an adverse impact on the country.

Even as the row persisted, the Modi government came under fire after Union minister Radha Mohan Singh said there was no harm in having an open debate on Article 370 and also uniform civil code.

"There is no harm in having an open debate on issues like Article 370 and a common civil code. Why should we shy away from weighing their pros and cons?" said the agriculture minister in reply to a question in Dehradun. Reacting strongly, Congress accused the BJP government of "provoking unpleasant divisions and bitterness in society" cautioning that they can "tear" the nation.

READ ALSO: What is Article 370? Three key points

Party spokesman Shashi Tharoor also recalled that when such issues were raised earlier by some BJP leaders in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls, Modi disapproved of such "distractions" and asked whether he will now allow such talks soon after the government has begun functioning.

"... Should you be provoking unpleasant divisions and bitterness in society just after elections. Should you be re-opening such sensitive issues ... There are many communities, which have personal laws like the Sikhs and Christians apart from Muslims," Tharoor said wondering whether the country is going to ask all communities to accept laws of one community.

He said that while debates do happen "that does not imply a license to reopening everything that can tear the nation" and noted that "uniform civil code is a sensitive issue".

Mayawati too alleged that controversy on Article 370 was generated only to create polarization among people on the lines of community and religion.

"Even if Centre feels it necessary to repeal Article 370 in the interest of people of Jammu & Kashmir, no decision should be taken in haste that might affect unity and integrity of the country," she told reporters in Lucknow.

Badal, however, said "an experienced and visionary leader" like Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take a call on such issues only after due consultation with the entire political leadership.

The controversy was sparked by MoS in Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh's remarks on Tuesday that the new government has started the process of consultations on repealing Article 370.

J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah and opposition PDP slammed Singh for his comments while the minister said he has been "misquoted".

READ ALSO: Integral review of Article 370 overdue: Congress leader Karan Singh

Meanwhile, Union minister Rao Inderjit Singh on Friday said such a controversy is "unnecessary" at a time when the new government is yet to take over completely.

"Nothing can vitiate the fact that Jammu & Kashmir is an 'integral part' of India and it always will be," said Singh, minister of state for defence.

"At a time when the new government is yet to completely take over the routine functioning in the office, any controversy around Article 370 seems unnecessary," he added in his Facebook post.

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Maiden superjumbo flight to India takes off from Singapore

SINGAPORE: An Airbus A—380 of the Singapore Airlines (SIA) took off on Friday from Singapore for Delhi, marking the maiden flight of the superjumbo to India.

Another A—380 would take off two hours later for Mumbai, as part of SIA's plans to launch daily flights of this large fully double-decker airliner that can carry 471 passengers in a three-class configuration.

The Southeast Asian carrier became the first global airline to launch the operations of the superjumbo to India, after the government lifted restrictions on the flights of the 'big bird' this January.

Major Gulf carrier Emirates would become the second airline to deploy these Airbus A—380s from Mumbai in July.

The SIA's aircraft has a total seating capacity of 471 seats with 399 in economy, 60 in business class and 12 First Class suites.

"The A—380 has received an overwhelming response from the Indian travellers. This reiterates our belief in the Indian market and their aspirations to travel the world which has been the key factor for Singapore Airlines' growth story in India," SIA general manager David Lau said at the launch of the superjumbo operations to India.

Of the 6,000 seats per week allowed in the bilateral air services agreement between India and the Southeast Asian city— state, SIA is estimated to use about 5,800 from Delhi and Mumbai, he said.

SIA had earlier this month announced the deployment of A—380 on the Singapore—Delhi and Singapore—Mumbai routes, replacing the Boeing 777—300 Extended Range aircraft from this month.

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Social media slams Akhilesh’s comment on rape, lawlessness in UP

LUCKNOW: On Friday, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav's comment on being asked about the law and order situation in UP by a journalist called for serious reactions from the netizens. Social media users slammed Akhilesh Yadav and equated his comment with his father's "boys make mistakes" comment.

The three horrific cases of assault on women reported this week in the state left citizens questioning the state machinery and when a journalist on Friday asked the youngest chief minister of the state about the situation, he replied: "You're safe, right? You feel secure?"

The insensitive comment went viral and netizens slammed the Samajwadi Party government for the total lawlessness in the state. With "UP Govt" trending across India, CM Akhilesh Yadav was put to task as tweeples asked some tough questions. Caricatures and messages to the official account of the chief minister were galore. Will the CM listen to the netizens, at least? Many doubted.

Twitter was abuzz with comments even as three of the top ten all-India trending topics were related to Badaun rape and UP government's failure in protecting women.

There were many who knocked the doors of the Prime Minister for strict action.

The unedited pictures of the Badaun rape victims were also circulated in the social media which led to serious slamming of the state government.

Commenting on the lawlessness and the hope for justice, the father of one of the girls who was killed in Badaun told mediapersons that the family has little faith that it will get justice from the state government because the men accused belong to the same community as the chief minister.

Some equated Akhilesh's comment with Mulayam Singh's earlier comment that "rapes happen ... boys commit mistakes... they shouldn't be hanged..."

Irony is that the three cases were reported from Badaun, Etawah and Azamgarh — all represented by the Samajwadi Party and seen as a stronghold of the Yadav family.

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Uma Bharati's brother critical, admitted to AIIMS in Delhi

BHOPAL: Union minister for water resources Uma Bharati's brother and former MLA Swami Prasad Lodhi (67) was admitted in a critical condition at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi on Thursday night. He was taken in an air ambulance on Thursday evening and rushed to AIIMS with severe respiratory trouble. Uma Bharati cancelled her trip to Haridwar on Friday morning and stayed by her brother's bed in the hospital. Sources close to Bharati told TOI that Swami Lodhi is unconscious and on ventilator support.

Swami Lodhi is Bharati's elder brother and the Union minister often recalled fond memories of how she was brought-up by him since she lost both parents at a very young age. But that did not mean that there were no tussles between brother and sister. During Bharati's chief minister days, Lodhi openly differed with her and questioned her policies. But Uma Bharati never answered back, always supporting him and accepting his demands however odd they were.

In May 2011, Lodhi was seriously injured in a road accident while he was travelling with a friend on a two-wheeler vehicle in Banpur, Tikamgarh district. Lodhi was riding pillion on the bike when a buffalo attacked the vehicle from behind. He suffered a major head injury that resulted in partial paralysis and never completely recovered from it. At present, he resides in Bharati's official residence here on Shyamla Hills.

On Thursday, Lodhi complained of lung congestion and breathing problems. By late evening, the situation got worse and he was rushed in an air ambulance to New Delhi. By the time he reached AIIMS, Lodhi lost consciousness and was put under life support. He was elected MLA from Bada Malehra constituency in 1998 and after Bharati became chief minister was given position of chairman of the state Food and Civil Supplies Corporation.

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Smoking rates fall among Indian men, rise for women

NEW DELHI: While smoking rates have fallen among Indian men, they have risen among women. A factor, doctors say, that can be attributed to rising cases of infertility and higher risk of cancer among Indian women these days.

A study published earlier this year in the British Medical Journal and which was earlier carried by the The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) examined the prevalence of smoking and cigarette consumption in 187 countries between 1980 and 2012 and found that while cigarette smoking among Indian men has fallen from 33.8 per cent in 1980 to 23 per cent in 2012, it has risen from three per cent to 3.2 per cent among Indian women within the same time frame.

In absolute terms, the number of female smokers in India has more than doubled - from about 5.3 million to 12.2 million in that time frame.

Commenting on the trend, Nevin Kishore, consultant in Pulmonology at Max Hospital, said the changing lifestyles are leading to more women taking up smoking in the Indian scenario.

"The effects of smoking, like lung damage, do not show in a person who smokes about four-five cigarettes a day in the initial few years. Although tobacco does not discriminate on the basis of gender, women smokers are more at risk of infertility. They also face the risk of all kinds of cancer," Kishore told IANS.

Agreed Sapna Nangia, oncologist at Apollo Hospital. "There has been a rise in the number of women smoking cigarettes and there are two main reasons for it. The first is a carefully devised plan by the tobacco industry which has faced a lot of lawsuits in this regard in the west, and has therefore realised that instead of going on facing the difficulty of advertising their product there, it would be easier to encourage women in India and China to smoke under the pretext of making smoking a socially acceptable norm," Nangia told IANS.

"If women in India and China started smoking in big numbers, the tobacco companies felt that they would no longer have to depend on the west. This, plus a mistaken notion that smoking denotes independence of women, has led to the numbers rising," she added.

Nangia however stressed that the upward trend is only in the urban areas, because "women in the rural areas have always consumed tobacco in high numbers".

Kailashnath Gupta, pulmonologist at Columbia Asia Hospital, went on to say that the consumption rate of smokeless tobacco has also risen among women.

"Tobacco does not differentiate, but the effect of smoking on pregnant women and those in the reproductive age group of 22-40 can be detrimental to the foetus and on their fertility," Gupta said.

He also said that while the overall number of smokers in India has increased, the per centage of smokers has come down "since it's in relation to the size of our population. I also think that the younger generation today, those in the 20-25 age group, is smoking lesser than of the yesteryears," Gupta added.

His words find resonance in the study which revealed that although the prevalence of cigarette smoking in India has dropped by over five per cent over the last three decades, the number of smokers in India has risen from about 74.5 million in 1980 to 110.2 million in 2012.

However, as compared to 1980 when Indians used to smoke an average of 11.6 cigarettes a day, now they average 8.2 a day. The study used data from several multinational and national surveys, including the Global Adult Tobacco Survey.

India is the third largest producer of tobacco and the second largest consumer of tobacco products worldwide, the study said. A different study in 2012 further found that 42 per cent of cancers in men and 18.3 per cent cancers in women were related to tobacco consumption. Cardiovascular disease is also linked to it.

"The only way out of this health mess is for the government to implement the anti-tobacco laws more effectively. Increasing taxes, I feel, hardly discourages people, and it's only the government that benefits. Advertisements against tobacco usage like the ones in movie theatres is one of the best ways to make people aware and therefore discourage them," Gupta said.

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2 killed, 6 injured in bomb blast in a market in Manipur

IMPHAL: Two persons were killed and six others injured in a bomb blast near a market area here on Thursday evening, police said.

The bomb planted by militants near Shingjamei, a market place, went off at around 5.30pm causing the casualties, police said.

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Integral review of Article 370 overdue, but needs cooperation not confrontation: Congress leader Karan Singh

LUCKNOW: Commenting on the controversy raging over the comments made by MoS in the PMO Jitendra Singh over the need for a "rethink" of Article 370, senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Dr Karan Singh said he has "been distressed by the fierce controversy that has broken out in the press and electronic media with regard to Article 370, flowing from an avoidable statement by the MoS in PM's office."

In a statement issued on Thursday, the veteran leader said, "The whole question is extremely sensitive and must be handled coolly and in a mature fashion. The sort of statements issued from both sides will only create further turmoil and tension in the Jammu & Kashmir state."

READ ALSO: What is Article 370? 3 key points

Singh, whose father Maharaj Hari Singh agreed to accede to India by signing the Instrument of Accession in October 1947 said his father had taken the decision under "unusual circumstances" and said any "steam-roller approach would only increase tensions instead of quelling things.

He said, "Let it be recalled that my father Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession in October 1947 under unusual circumstances when a full-scale war was raging due to the Pakistani based tribal invasion. It is true that that Instrument was exactly the same as the document signed by all the other former provincial states. However, whereas the other states later signed merger agreements, the relationship of Jammu & Kashmir with the rest of the country was governed by a special set of circumstances, and hence given a special position. The Constitution of Jammu & Kashmir, which I signed into law in 1957, is still in force."

Karan Singh (Getty Images)

Accepting that J&K is an 'integral part' of India, Singh said that does not necessarily mean that it has to be treated exactly on par with other states. He said, "Hong Kong is an 'integral part' of China but has been given a special dispensation. There are in fact numerous examples around the world in which, due to special circumstances, certain areas or regions have been given a special dispensation. Though all talk of secession is totally unacceptable and uncalled for, the steam-roller approach is also not appropriate."

Asking all involved to me mindful of the sensitivity of the issue, Singh also said that 50 percent of the area of his father's 84,000 sq miles state is in fact not in Indian possession. "It has been under Pakistan control since the UN's brokered ceasefire on 1 January 1949, and Pakistan has leased a considerable portion of this land to China. An interesting point also is that in the three regions of the state that are with us, Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh, the bulk of public opinion differs sharply on this issue," he said.

Farmers harvest strawberries at a farm on the outskirts of Srinagar. (Getty Images)

Appealing to all concerned to "tone down the rhetoric and not let the minister's statement plunge the new government almost immediately into a complex and difficult situation," Singh also urged the government and all involved to look at the whole question of Jammu & Kashmir in an integral fashion, including the international dimension, the constitutional position, the legal aspects as well as the political aspects.

"Such an integral review is overdue, but it has to be done in a cooperative rather than a confrontational manner," he said.

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Govt mulls bringing cancer, AIDS drugs under price control

NEW DELHI: Drug prices regulator NPPA is looking at bringing medicines used for treating diseases such as cancer, AIDS and malaria under the price control mechanism.

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority met recently to consider ways of bringing medicines, which are not covered by the list of essential drugs, under some regulatory ambit in order to check prices, sources said.

"We are examining the possible actions to bring down the prices in public interest in case of drugs whose prices vary to a great extent and the treatment is very costly," a senior official said. The prices of some of the medicines targeting diseases like cancer vary up to 600 per cent, the official added. "Moreover, NPPA is also examining the prices of medicines targeting malaria and dysentery," the official said.

As of May last year, prices of 348 medicines in the National List of Essential Medicines were under control with the implementation of Drug Prices Control Order (DPCO), 2013. The move followed the approval of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy (NPPP) 2012 by the Cabinet on November 22, 2012.

This was later notified on December 7, 2012. The NPPA has been authorised to fix and revise prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations and to enforce prices and availability of the medicines in the country. It is also mandated to monitor the prices of decontrolled drugs in order to keep them at reasonable levels.

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Sushil Kumar Modi wins case against JetLite

NEW DELHI: Achche din are finally here for top BJP leadership.

Former Bihar deputy CM and senior party leader Sushil Kumar Modi had suffered a serious spinal injury at Delhi airport seven years ago after falling on a JetLite bus he was travelling on to board an aircraft. The bus driver, who was allegedly speaking on his mobile while driving, did not realize he had gotten perilously close to a plane and then slammed the brakes to avoid hitting it.

Modi, who was on the bus with two other senior BJP leaders (now cabinet ministers) — Ravi Shankar Prasad and Kalraj Mishra — on December 2, 2007, fell and hit a pole inside the bus. Deputy CM at that time, he had to be hospitalized to a spinal injury centre in Vasant Kunj. Modi was since then fighting a case against the airline and got a verdict from a consumer court earlier this week.

The consumer disputes redressal forum (New Delhi) headed by C K Chaturvedi has held JetLite guilty of "deficiency and imperfect services to complainant passenger (Modi)". It has awarded Modi a compensation of Rs 1 lakh along with another Rs 50,000 as litigation expenses.

"It is alleged that the driver of the ferry bus (which takes passengers from terminal building to aircraft) was busy talking on his mobile (while driving) and unmindful of aircraft parked at the terminal. He was about to collide with an Air Deccan aircraft and suddenly forcefully applied brakes to avert collision. The complainant was standing the bus fell and hit the hit a pole in the bus. He suffered spinal cord injury," C K Chaturvedi's order issued this week states. Modi then had to be admitted to a spinal injury centre in Vasant Kunj.

The case dragged on for so many years as JetLite denied negligence on part of its bus driver. But Modi kept pursuing the case as he was reportedly very hurt by the behaviour of the airline. "The three MPs have stated on oath that he (the driver) was talking on phone, oblivious to the presence of other aircraft and only on getting too near (an aircraft), used brakes to avoid collision ... Carrying passengers to planes by aerobridge or coach is part of service (of an airline)," C K Chaturvedi's order says.

It adds that the order will have to be complied within a month, failing which action will be taken against JetLite under stringent provisions of the Consumer Protection Act.

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Bihar plans to bring in law to curb black money

PATNA: The Bihar government has got chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's nod to bring in a Bill, similar to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for effective crackdown on black money, highly-placed sources in the state government said.

The Bill which might have the provision of attachment of property of an accused, could be brought either in the Bihar Legislature's next month's session or later on, the sources in police headquarters said.

"In case of difficulty in full-fledged law immediately, an ordinance could be issued by the state government to this effect," he added.

Bihar would be the first state in the country to work on its own law against ill-gotten wealth on the lines of PMLA.

Sources said that the state police has already moved a draft proposal in this regard to chief secretary Ashok Kumar Sinha.

The efforts for a separate legislation comes in the wake of the state failing twice to get permission under the PMLA to attach and confiscate property of up to Rs 5 crore from those accused in money laundering charges.

Incidentally, the enforcement directorate has recently lodged an FIR against BSP leader and former state minister Dadan Singh alias Dadan Pahalwan under Money Laundering Act.

"The schedule of offences considered under PMLA is related only to Central legislations. A crime attracts PMLA only if it is among 125 crimes listed in the Central government money laundering Act of 2002," director general of police (DGP) Abhayanand told PTI.

"The crime committed in violation of sales tax, excise, mining and other revenue earning areas are not covered under PMLA which is coming as a big handicap in Bihar," the DGP said.

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Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa orders quickening of India power plant project

COLOMBO: Fresh from his visit to New Delhi for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday ordered officials to quicken the progress of a coal-fired power plant being built jointly with India.

Last October, Sri Lanka and India had announced the finalisation of $512 million joint venture coal-powered electricity plant in Sampur in the eastern port district of Trincomalee.

A statement from the President's office said that Rajapaksa had directed the attorney general and the Secretary to the ministry of power and energy to expedite the project.

The joint venture will see the construction of two power generators of 250 megawatts each.

At the signing of the deal last October in the presence of then external affairs minister Salman Khurshid, it was announced that the construction was to begin within a year and the plant was to be connected to the national grid by 2018, providing cheaper electricity.

Sri Lanka currently depends on expensive diesel-powered plants to meet its demand that cannot be fulfilled by hydroelectricity.

The joint venture had been dragging since 2005 due to "various issues", officials said.

Sri Lanka appears keen to strengthen its relations with the BJP-led NDA government after a spell of soured relations with the previous Congress-led UPA.

The UPA had backed the previous US-moved UN human rights resolutions against Sri Lanka.

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Nripendra Misra appointed Modi's principal secretary

NEW DELHI: Former Uttar Pradesh-cadre bureaucrat Nripendra Misra has been appointed the principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Misra is an IAS officer of the 1967 batch and retired from service in 2009.

Like Modi, it has been reported that Misra has a no-nonsense approach to work.

His colleagues have referred to him as a sensitive boss and co-worker.

Misra is regarded as a meritorious bureaucrat with integrity. He is known for his love of books and many hours that he spends at the library of the India International Centre (IIC). The last post he held as a bureaucrat was that of chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

He was heading the Public Interest Foundation, an NGO. Prior to TRAI, he held senior positions in many ministries, including telecom, commerce and fertilizers.

He also served with the International Monetary Fund.

In Uttar Pradesh, he held key posts, including that of principal secretary (finance).
(With inputs from ANI)

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Navy communication satellite fully integrated for network centric operations

MUMBAI: On his maiden visit to headquarters, Western Naval Command, Mumbai, Admiral Rabinder Kumar Dhowan, chief of the Naval Staff, inspected an impressive ceremonial parade conducted at INS Shikra May 19. In his address the Admiral appreciated the Western Naval Command for maintaining a high tempo of operations including TROPEX-14, operationalisation of INS Vikramaditya and optimal exploitation of Rukmani— Navy's communication satellite, which gives a tremendous boost and acts as a force multiplier to the 'Network Centric Operations (NCO)'.

He complimented the officers and men of the command for maintaining highest professional standards whilst taking up the challenges on the western seaboard in all operational activities. He further urged the men to work selflessly as team so as to meet the myriad of challenges being faced by the nation especially on the maritime front.

In his address, he emphasised the necessity of recognising the 21st century as 'the century of the seas' and the responsibility of Indian Navy thereof in enforcing the defence of maritime boundaries as also the maritime interests of the country in the Indian Ocean region. The Admiral brought out that the nation's economy is indirectly linked to seas and the onus of safeguarding the seas rests squarely with the Indian Navy.

The CNS also addressed officers, sailors and civilians of the command during his visit. He exhorted them to continuously work towards maintaining a high level of preparedness and to diligently follow SOPs for safety and security of naval assets. The Admiral was also briefed on the various activities (both operational and administrative) of the command including salvage operations of INS Sindhurakshak. The Admiral also visited a few ships and submarines in the Naval Dockyard.

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Intelligence department to recruit youths to keep watch on Maoists

KOLKATA/ WEST MIDNAPORE: In an effort to keep a close watch on Maoist movement in West Midnapore, the IB has decided to recruit young persons from the bordering villages. They will be recruited in different central government departments and projects but their main work will be to keep a watch on the Maoist movement. This is a pilot project where initially 40 youths will be recruited. If the project becomes successful then it will be replicated in other districts also.

According to sources in the intelligence department, Maoist activities have increased not only in the districts like Purulia, Bankura and West Mindapore but also in the districts like Nadia, Birbum and Murshidabad. "Considering the increase of Maoists activities in the state, the intelligence department has decided to increase the information network and for that new people will be recruited mainly from the bordering villages of Gopillabvpur, Nayagram Jhargram and Binpur," an officer in the intelligence department said.

Sources in the district administrative department confirmed that they have received a letter from the intelligence department where they have been asked to train some youths so that they can work as a part of the concerned department. The intelligence department has mainly asked the civil defence, public health engineering, water resources department and public works department to train the youths. "We have been asked by a central government agency to train some youths and engage them in different kinds of works," an official in the public health engineering department said.

"This is a pilot project where nearly 40 odd youths will be recruited from 18 bordering villages like Amjhuri, Adharkali, Atnasol, Sagarmoni, Adharia, Baghaberia, Bajuri under Gopiballvpur block, Amjam, Andharisol, Arra, Babuidanga, Malam under Nayagram block and Aguboni, Asnaboni, Asnapara Chotodigiha under Jhargram block. Apart from that, some recruitment will also be done from Binpur, Lagrah and Kantaphari. If the project becomes successful then the model will be replicated in other districts," the officer of the intelligence department said.

According to senior police officers, the activities of the Maoists have increased in recent past and they are active in the bordering areas. "Two teams, one led by Madan and the other led by Shyamal are active in Belpahari area and one team led by Jayanta has been traced in Chakulia area in Jharkhand. Not only that, teams from Jharkhand and Odisha often cross the border and enter into Bengal. They don't stay here but hold meeting and go back," a senior district police officer said.

When asked about it, IG (western range), Siddhinath Gupta said, "Maoists activities have increased in these areas and we are spreading our information network in different ways so that we have a first hand knowledge about their movement and for that we are making different plans which we cannot divulge."

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Madhya Pradesh minister supports Smriti Irani, reminds Omar that threats won't work on India

BHOPAL: After Uma Bharati, Madhya Pradesh minister for urban administration and housing Kailash Vijayavargiya came out in support of Union HRD minister Smriti Irani who is in the eye of a storm over her educational qualifications and a raging debate whether she is indeed a graduate as she claimed in an affidavit before Election Commission before the 2004 general election.

Vijayavargiya, on Wednesday afternoon tweeted, "People who are surviving in their political careers by flattering Mrs Sonia Gandhi, please tell us — which is the University from which Mrs Sonia Gandhi graduated and Rahul Gandhi who failed to become the Prime Minister of the country was the meritorious student from which University?"

The minister also tweeted, "Those who live in glass houses should think a 100 times before throwing stones at others. If this debate stretches, it will have far reaching consequences."

Speaking to reporters, Vijayavargiya quipped, "The Congress has no right to point an accusing finger at the BJP on academic qualifications. Congressmen should first take a good look at their own party's academic brilliance before picking on others."

Vijayavargiya also spoke on the Article 370 argument between the BJP-RSS combine and Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah. The cabinet minister said, "Omar Abdullah's tweet and statements should be condemned and denounced. He should understand that threats do not work on the Indian nation and its democracy. As far as the BJP is concerned, revoking Article 370 is not a new demand. It has always been part of our agenda."

The minister was reacting to Omar Abdullah's tweet on Tuesday which said, "So the new MOS PMO says process/discussions to revoke Art 370 have started. Wow, that was a quick beginning. Not sure who is talking. Mark my words & save this tweet - long after Modi Govt is a distant memory either J&K won't be part of India or Art 370 will still exist. Art 370 is the ONLY constitutional link between J&K & rest of India." Omar Abdullah's tweet was in response to minister of state in the PMO Jitendra Singh's statement on revoking Article 370.

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Top 5 ministers of Modi cabinet

It was a big, fat swearing-in but the cabinet's slim & trim. Some states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bengal and Northeast have got short shrift, and there is just one muslim. But there are plenty of women at the top. TOI gets up close and personal with team Modi.

Arun Jaitley | 61
Finance & Defence
Constituency: Rajya Sabha
Assets: Rs 113 crore Terms in Parliament: 3 Rajya Sabha

His first electoral foray ended in defeat, but the 61-year-old lawyer is part of BJP's top troika along with Modi and Rajnath.

Initially hesitant to accept a ministerial post, he was persuaded by Modi and other BJP leaders as well as the Sangh to accept the job. He brings a lot to the table, and we're not talking about food though the pucca Punjabi loves his Amritsari kulchas. The new PM is a stranger to networking in Parliament, but Jaitley is not. His ability to make friends across the aisle and resolve parliamentary impasses will help the impasses will help the government. His common sense approach should stand him in good stead if he gets the finance ministry.

He can be expected to keep BJP's core constituencies like traders and the middle-class in mind. A firm believer in the growth mantra, he will concentrate on a stable tax regime and moderate interest rates regime. He can be expected to keep the Modi government's political priorities such as targeted welfare programme rather than outright doles in mind, while looking to nurse the economy back to health.

Easing interest rates should top his agenda along with reducing red tape and rationalizing taxation. In the previous NDA government, he held the portfolios of law, company affairs, disinvestment and commerce.

Rajnath Singh | 62
Home
Constituency: Lucknow, UP Assets: Rs 2.9 crore Terms in Parliament: 3 Rajya Sabha, 1 Lok Sabha

The 62-year-old BJP president, who was born in Chanduli district, not far from Varanasi, has fashioned himself as a farmer leader. He is closely aligned with the RSS and does not take any major initiative without taking into account the Sangh's viewpoint. His induction into a high-profile ministry isn't a surprise as he has been a key Narendra Modi backer in his current term, burying earlier differences. As part of an alliance with Arun Jaitley and Modi, he foiled party veteran L K Advani's bid to derail Modi being named the party's prime ministerial candidate. His stint as education minister in Uttar Pradesh in 1991 was marked by a drive to curb copying in exams and introduction of "vedic math" as a subject.

During his subsequent tenure as UP chief minister, he considered cultivating the "most" backward castes as a political constituency, but the move came too late in the day to prevent BJP from losing power in 2002.

Ironically, the strong backing of these castes is seen as a factor in BJP's big win in UP in the 2014 LS election. A good orator, his current stint as BJP chief saw him diligently implement the strong consensus within the Sangh Parivar that Modi should be the PM aspirant. He has also resisted the temptation to play factions and allowed Modi's team a free hand in managing the Lok Sabha campaign.

Sushma Swaraj | 62

External Affairs
Constituency: Vidisha, MP Assets: Rs 17.6 crore Terms in Parliament: 3 Rajya Sabha, 3 Lok Sabha

It's been a long journey for Swaraj, who became the youngest cabinet minister when she joined the Haryana government in 1977 at the age of 25.

She contested her 11th direct election this year. A sought-after campaigner and effective orator, she held I&B, health and parliamentary affairs portfolios in the Vajpayee government. The only BJP woman leader in the parliamentary board, she has been at odds with Modi, considering her own candidature for the PM post to be worthy of consideration. The scale of BJP's mandate, however, has reduced her say in party affairs. Now that she has an important ministry, her ties with Modi may improve.

Nitin Gadkari | 57
Surface Transport & Shipping
Constituency: Nagpur, Maharashtra Assets: Rs 15.4 crore Terms in Parliament: None

Gadkari has made a strong comeback after being forced to quit as BJP president following the Purti controversy. This Lok Sabha election was his first and he showed his electoral muscle by winning Nagpur, the city which houses the headquarters of the RSS. Gadkari has never made any bones about his loyalty to the RSS.

While there was little doubt that a cabinet berth awaited him, the 56-year-old's equations with Modi have not always been smooth. In fact, the lowest point was when Gadkari as BJP chief sought to rehabilitate RSS man Sanjay Joshi, widely seen as a Modi baiter. Though Gadkari's stint as BJP president was largely forgettable, he is seen as a taskoriented person.

He repeatedly draws attention to his stint as PWD minister in Maharashtra in 1995-96 when he executed the Mumbai-Pune expressway and also earned the nick-name of 'flyover man' for giving Mumbai a series of flyovers. His social leadership/ entrepreneur model has drawn criticism but he professes a belief in Antodaya or welfare humanism.

M Venkaiah Naidu | 64
Urban Development
Constituency: Rajya Sabha Assets: Rs 7.7 crore Terms in Parliament: 3 Rajya Sabha

Despite being seen as close to veteran leader L K Advani, the former BJP president firmly aligned himself with the pro-Modi camp. He reportedly advised Advani to withdraw his opposition to Modi, arguing that the Gujarat CM was the BJP's best bet.

He was also among the BJP leaders who vociferously opposed the move to sack Modi after the 2002 Gujarat riots. His tenure as party chief ended on a sour note as NDA lost power in 2004 but he's a known as a strong organization man, having headed the BJP youth wing in Andhra Pradesh in 1973-74. He held the rural development portfolio in the Vajpayee government, and is a member of the BJP parliamentary board.

Hailing from Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, he has been a member of the legislative assembly but has not contested a Lok Sabha election. He has been a strong force for the BJP in Andhra and was instrumental in forging the alliance with the Telugu Desam Party. The multilingual Naidu he is fluent in English, Hindi and Telugu— is a familiar face as he was party spokesperson for a while. The alliance romped home to a comfortable victory in the recent Assembly elections.

READ ALSO: V K Singh, a former Army chief now a minister
Sadananda Gowda makes debut at Centre
Uma Bharti— a firebrand Hindutva mascot
Maneka Gandhi: The sole Gandhi family member in BJP government

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Narendra Modi visits Manmohan Singh

NEW DELHI: In a special gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday visited his predecessor Manmohan Singh to make a courtesy call.

Modi, who was sworn in on Monday and took charge this morning, drove to 3, Motilal Nehru Place, the new abode of Singh, to meet him this evening.

He was received by Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur who shifted to the new residence after attending the swearing-in ceremony of Modi at the Rashtrapati Bhawan last evening, vacating 7, Race Course Road, his official residence for 10 years.

Sources described Modi's visit to Singh's place as a courtesy call.

Modi has not yet moved into the Race Course Road residence and is staying put in Gujarat Bhawan. He is likely to shift a few days later as the new residence is being refurbished, according to sources.

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Either Article 370 will exist, or J&K won't be a part of India, Omar Abdullah tweets

NEW DELHI: A statement by minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office, Jitendra Singh, on Tuesday sparked the new government's first controversy when he said the Narendra Modi government was open to debate on Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir,while making it clear that efforts would be made through this exercise to "convince" the "unconvinced".

Soon after, Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah strongly objected to the minister's statement and tweeted, "So the new MOS PMO says process/discussions to revoke Art 370 have started. Wow, that was a quick beginning. Not sure who is talking."

He went on to add, "Mark my words & save this tweet - long after Modi Govt is a distant memory either J&K won't be part of India or Art 370 will still exist."

"Art 370 is the ONLY constitutional link between J&K & rest of India. Talk of revocation of not just ill informed it's irresponsible," he added.

Repeating the stand of Modi during his rally in December last year, Singh, a first time Parliament member and a surprise choice as minister of state in the PMO, said, "his (Modi's) intention and that of the government is that we have a debate so that we can convince the unconvinced about the disadvantages of Article 370, PTI reported.

"If we do not have debate and discussion how would you be able to tell those who have been unable to understand what they have been deprived of on account of Article 370," he said after taking over as minister of state in-charge of department of personnel and training, which has administrative control over the CBI.

READ ALSO: Govt open to debate on Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir: PMO

57-year-old Singh said Article 370 was more of a psychological barrier than a physical one and added that the Modi-led government was open to debate with all stakeholders, including youths, pros and cons of retaining or withdrawing the Article.

Singh said Modi supports debate on Article 370 keeping in mind democratic values. "The Prime Minister had said we want to have a debate. This does not mean that we want to have a debate because certain section of media interpreted that Prime Minister deviated from its stand. It's not so. He said so with respect to the highest values of democratic system."

Singh, a doctor by profession, noted that BJP has won half of the six Lok Sabha seats from Jammu & Kashmir. "You see BJP has won half of the seats in Parliament from J&K. While BJP won three seats, PDP bagged the remaining three.

"If you take voter account, we have more that 50 per cent vote share, he said."

Singh said his party has been inviting all stakeholders to get on board and succeeded to a greater extent in the Valley particularly with the youth. He said people in J&K need to have an outlet. "A mainstream opposition outlet to dissent which we would not stifle because if you stifle that, that will lead them to an undemocratic outlet.

"But within that framework we also want to explain to them how they have been deprived of enormous advantage which the other states of this country have enjoyed because they were not under the constraint of Article 370. Please remember that Article 370 off late has been more of a psychological barrier than a physical barrier," he said.

Singh, who won from Udhampur constituency in Jammu & Kashmir, said the BJP has already gained considerable success through its discussion with all stakeholders on Article 370.

"We have tried to interact with them (stakeholders) through media, through discussion and through seminars. We have already gained considerable success in this," the minister said.

Asked whether discussions have been held with Kashmiri youths and separatists, Singh said the process is already on.

"No youth has separatist written on his forehead. We have tried to convince the youths of Kashmir that look here if you have a grievance against the Government of India, that does not necessarily make you a separatist and if it is done then it is unfair to them," said Singh.

Singh said J&K has come out of a difficult phase of militancy which was there for last 20-25 years and it appears that there is normalcy. "Our efforts will be to support it. The youth section there is demoralized due to unemployment and many other reasons, due to militancy.

"Our efforts would be to ensure sufficient opportunities of employment to them. For example, Narendra Modi has clearly said that he will take forward the initiatives started by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with regard to J&K," he said.

(Inputs from PTI)

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Railway minister Gowda stresses on 3s in railways

BANGALORE: New railway minister DV Sadananda Gowda has accorded importance to 3s - speed, safety and security - in his department. Soon after assuming the office, Gowda, the eighth railway minister from Karnataka said that among the three, safety was the utmost priority.

Gowda, who secured victory from Bangalore North by nearly 2.50 lakh votes has been rewarded with railway portfolio by Prime minister Narendra Modi. The former CM, who faced tough task in getting BJP ticket than facing Lok Sabha election, said the he has to study all the issues in detail and discuss with Modi the goals ahead.

Asked about the challenges ahead against the backdrop of the Gorakdham train mishap which claimed 25 lives, the new railway minister said the safety was an important issue for railways which has to be taken care of. "I will make every effort to adopt safety measures in the railways. Officials have been told about this and meeting will be conveyed to discuss about the safety issues. I will try to resolve the problems compounding the department."

On the bullet train, the concept being one of the dreams of the Modi, Gowda said concept has already been emphasized by the PM during his election campaign. "Certainly, I will discuss with him and get going. It is another important subject before me," he said.

When asked about setting right the issues that are plaguing the department, Gowda maintained that he has to study all the issues in details and discuss with the PM the goals ahead. "I will discuss with PM what is his idea and which aspect we should give focus. I need another 10 days time to come before the public to explain what is the road map before me."

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Bihar budget session expected to be stormy

PATNA: The budget session of the Bihar legislature beginning from June 27 is expected to be stormy after BJP's resounding victory in the Lok Sabha elections.

The session will be the first major challenge for new chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who was nominated by Nitish Kumar to succeed him.

The BJP was expected to leave no opportunity to corner the JD(U) government as part of preparation for Assembly elections in the state next year.

It would be also interesting to see how JD(U), RJD and Congress which voted in favour of Jitan Ram Manjhi government, would coordinate to face the BJP onslaught.

The budget session could not be held earlier in March as the Lok Sabha elections had been declared and the model code of conduct was in place. As a result the finances of the state government were being taken care of by a vote on account.

Principal secretary (cabinet secretariat) Brajesh Mehrotra told reporters today that the budget session will be the 14th session of the 15th Assembly, while for the Council it will be the 177th session.

The session will end on July 31.

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Jaitley, the eyes and ears of Modi

NEW DELHI: Few people in the central leadership of BJP could claim to have the ears of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Arun Jaitley can.

Jaitley (61) defended Modi vigrously when future appeared uncertain for the then Gujarat chief minister following 2002 riots and played a crucial rule in his rise to the top when voices of discontent, led by the likes L K Advani, grew louder.

And it is also an evidence of Modi's faith in him that despite his loss in Lok Sabha elections, the legal luminary was always being seen as a certainty in the Modi cabinet for a high profile ministry.

More of a strategist than a grassroots politician, Jaitley was a key helmsman in the party's 2014 campaign, now being recognized for its brilliance by even opponents, and was its key voice as the Modi juggernaut rolled on.

Through his blogposts, he keenly defended the personalized electioneering around Modi when other veterans like Sushma Swaraj, Murli Manohar Joshi besides Advani seemed to demur and even took gentle swipes at party leaders, including Sushma, when they disapproved of inclusion of tainted leaders like B S Yeddyurappa.

His detractors, though, would say his adroit political calculations were of not much personal help. He chose to fight his maiden Lok Sabha election from Amritsar and lost to Congress bigwig Amarinder Singh.

In the first BJP government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Jaitley was appointed minister of state for information and broadcasting (Independent Charge) and later headed disinvestment ministry (independent charge), a new ministry created for to give effect to the policy of disinvestments.

He was the first minister of shipping following the bifurcation of the ministry of surface transport and later headed law & justice where he gave shape to the policy of judicial reforms.

Seen as an articulate face of the party who is as much at ease in advocating market reforms as defending the traditional, at times orthodox, world view of the larger Sangh parivar, the senior Supreme Court lawyer at heart is a modernist who shares Modi's dictum of "minimum government, maximum governance".

Coming from a Punjabi brahmin family with little political background, Jaitley chose the RSS' student body, ABVP, to plunge into politics as a student leader in 70s and became the Delhi University students union president in 1974.

He joined headlong into the anti-corruption movement kicked off by Jayaprakash Narayan which had led to the proclamation of emergency by the then Indira Gandhi government. He was under detention for close to two years and joined Jan Sangh, the precursor to BJP, soon after.

Jaitley remained active in the party, which remained a fledgling outfit for much of the 80s, but also paid attention to his legal career where he shone.

Whether as a party spokesperson or organization man entrusted with assembly election, Jaitley tasted success.

Not only the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, in Jaitley helped Modi win the Gujarat assembly elections in 2002 with a landslide mandate. He also orchestrated Modi's 2007 campaign to help BJP return him to power.

The victory in 2007 showed that 2002 win was not a fluke and gave wings to Modi's national ambition. As Modi begins playing his prime ministerial innings, Jaitley is likely to be one of his most trusted counselors.

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Uma Bharti— a firebrand Hindutva mascot

NEW DELHI: A firebrand leader and Hindutva mascot, Uma Bharti has always hogged the limelight whether she was with BJP or out of it.

This is the second time that the saffron clad leader, often referred to as 'sadhvi', has become a Union minister in an NDA government.

Raised by Vijaya Raje Scindia of Gwalior, 55-year-old Bharti, who is a former Madhya Pradesh chief minister, became involved with the Bharatiya Janata Party at a very young age.

Her first electoral battle came in 1984 when she contested the Lok Sabha elections. Her first electoral victory in Lok Sabha polls came in 1989 when she won from Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh. She retained it in 1991, 1996 and 1998.

In 1999, she switched constituencies and won the Bhopal seat. In the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, she held various portfolios as Minister of State and Cabinet Minister, including that of Human Resource Development, Tourism, Youth Affairs and Sports.

A member of the UP legislative assembly, this time Bharti contested from Jhansi in UP and defeated her nearest rival from Samajwadi Party by a margin of nearly two lakh votes.

Actively involved in the 'Ramjanmabhoomi' movement, she has been named in the Liberhan Commission report on the demolition of the Babri mosque at the disputed site in Ayodhya.

Known for her fiery speeches, her association with the temple movement placed her prominently in the BJP alongside party veterans L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi.

Bharti was anointed the chief ministerial candidate of the BJP for the 2003 Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh.

On the back of a fierce campaign based on a plank of development, and helped by her reputation as a Hindutva firebrand, she led the party to a three-fourth majority in the state assembly.

In August 2004, after only a year in office, an arrest warrant was issued against Uma Bharti in connection with the 1994 Hubli riots, forcing her to step down as CM.

In November 2004, she had a public spat with Advani during a meeting at the BJP headquarters here.

This led to her suspension from the party, which was revoked a few months later reportedly at the insistence of the RSS. As she continued to publicly defy the BJP high command, insisting that she replace Shivraj Singh Chouhan as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Bharti was eventually expelled.

She floated her own political party, the Bharatiya Janshakti Party. She stated that her party followed the ideology of the RSS. But her outfit achieved little success.

She was re-inducted in the BJP in June 2011 and was tasked with reviving the party in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the assembly election in 2012.

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Sadananda Gowda makes debut at Centre

NEW DELHI: Beginning his political career as a member of the Jan Sangh in late 1970s, former Karnataka chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda makes his ministerial debut at the Centre.

The ever-smiling 61-year Gowda earned national prominence by being the president of the Karnataka unit of BJP when the party won the assembly elections for the first time in South India in May 2008.

Gowda, who became a member of the BJP in Karnataka after the split of the Janata Party, rose to chief ministership in 2011.

Being active in politics since his college days, Gowda was a leader of the ABVP before becoming a member of the Jan Sangh. He was the party's youth wing yuva morcha state secretary (1983-88), state BJP secretary (2003-04) and national secretary of the party (2004).

Mentored by BJP strong-man B S Yeddyurappa, Gowda was elected to the Karnataka legislative assembly in 1994 and 1999 from the Puttur assembly constituency in Dakshina Kannada. He became deputy leader of the opposition in his second term as MLA.

Gowda, an eminent administrator and a key policy-maker, has served in various committees of the Karnataka state legislature including the cell for preparing draft bill on prohibiting atrocities on women, the Committee of Energy, Fuel and Power, and the Committee for Public Undertaking.

He was nominated as the president of the Public Accounts Committee in 2003.

Gowda was elected to the 14th Lok Sabha in 2004 from the Mangalore Lok Sabha Constituency, defeating senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily by a margin of 32,314 votes.

In 2009, the party shifted him to Udupi-Chikmagalur Constituency. In Parliament, he was on the committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests.

In the 14th Lok Sabha, he was a member of the committee on commerce. Government of India had appointed him as director of Coffee Board during January 2005.

In 2006, Gowda was appointed as president of Karnataka State BJP. He earned national prominence by being the president when BJP won the assembly election for the first time in South India in May 2008.

Gowda was elected to the 15th Lok Sabha from Udupi Chikmagalur constituency before he became the chief minister of Karnataka.

He was chosen as the chief minister of Karnataka in August 2011 following the resignation of his mentor Yeddyurappa.

As chief Minister, he strived hard to improve the image of his party that had been tarnished due to allegations of corruption. He introduced various schemes such as Sakaala, aimed at providing time bound services at government offices.

Gowda was later replaced by Jagadish Shettar. After suffering big loss in May 2013 elections, BJP elected Gowda as the opposition leader of legislative council in Karnataka.

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V K Singh, a former Army chief now a minister

NEW DELHI: Controversial former Army chief Gen V K Singh, who was made the minister of state (independent charge) in the Narendra Modi government, has somewhat of chequered past with one episode being a long unsuccessful battle with the UPA government over his age issue.

Singh, 63, lost the legal battle over his age issue with the defence ministry in 2012 and joined Anna Hazare's anti-corruption agitation against the UPA Government before joining the BJP just before the elections.

In the Lok Sabha elections, Singh defeated Raj Babbar of Congress from Ghaziabad seat by 5.67 lakh votes, which was second biggest margin in this election after Modi, who trounced his Congress rival Madhusudan Mistry by over 5.70 lakh votes in Vadodara.

A newcomer to politics, Singh has been in the eye of the storm over one issue or the other in recent times.

Soon after he took over as the Army chief, he started an anti-corruption tirade in the Army which saw several lt gens including former military secretary Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash facing court martial for his role in the Sukna land scam.

The majority of his tenure as Army chief was overshadowed by his battle with the Government over his age issue as he claimed it to be May 10, 1951 whereas the Government said it was May 10, 1950.

The issue saw Singh become the first service chief in the country to drag the Government to court and later, the Supreme Court decided in favour of the Government.

In his last days in office, Singh stirred controversy when he stated that he was offered a bribe of Rs 14 crore for clearing a file related to the procurement of 600 Tatra trucks for the Army.

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TOI readers wish Narendra Modi

As Narendra Modi takes over as new Prime Minister of India, TOI readers congratulate him while urging him and the cabinet ministers to provide a corruption-free India.

Expectations from the new government include employment opportunities, women's safety and a strong economy. Dream is the same — to create a strong and developed nation with peace and harmony.

More than 3,000 readers have already congratulated our new PM. Post your comment here:

Some of the comments:

We are hoping that you will make India from the status of developing nation to developed nation. It takes time and it also depends on people

by Ganesh

Its an new beginning for our India, hope you will do the best and take our country to new heights, I wish good luck to you. Thank you!

by Amogh Nayak

Sir,Congratulations and very good luck to you and your Team.Expecting a clean and corruption free governance.

by Janardhanan Nambiar

People have voted you with high hopes .Hopefully you and your cabinet will come good & deliver.We wish you all the very best.

by Sanjay Shrey

Good Luck Mr. PM we have lot of expectations from your governance.people of india are looking for a leader who can lead them India.

by G S Yadav

My heartiest congratulations to our new Prime Minister.I expect you to bring peace and development to our NorthEast region. Best of luck.

by Dipankar Borah

Congratulations Mr.Modi Sir!Lot of expectations from you. Please create more jobs and help us prosper.We are all with you, trust you!

by Sushant Vinchurkar

best of luck and make proud on you after five years..A real Indian who really care for the people of India not for own self..

by Prafulla Sill

High hopes from you.. its this time or never people will believe in democracy.. pls try your best

by Ankush Malla

Dear Modiji, Good luck to your journey as Prime Minister. We trust you will fulfil our dreams for good industrialsation and large employment

by Vijay Ranga

Wishing you and your members all the very best. definitely you are the change for my country. Hope good days are on the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Dillip Swain

All the best Mr.Modi....we are really excited to have you as our Prime Minister & expect that you will always come up with the expectations

by Shwyeta

Saw grand coronation celebtated by you. Now, people would see your promises given during compaigning. Hope, you will fulfil your promises.

by Anand Kumar Jha

Dear Modi Sir, A big Congratulations! Sir, we as a youth of India never had such excitement on any politicals events. All the best !!!!

Kiran

Congratulations not only to Mr. Modi but to all Indians! Change is here. It's time for ModiFication

by Suril Pandya

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Three Army men killed in fratricidal firing

JAMMU: Three Army men, including a junior commissioned officer (JCO), were killed in a fratricidal firing incident on Sunday in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

The incident took place in Digwar sector on the Line of Control, defence spokesman Col. Manish Mehta told IANS.

Naik Darshan Kumar shot at his colleagues at 1.15 p.m. on Sunday, injuring two of them - Havaldar Ranjot Singh and Subedar Chameel Singh - seriously.

"The irate soldier subsequently turned his weapon on himself and ended his life," he said.

The injured Army men belonging to the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry later succumbed to their injuries, the spokesman said.

A court of inquiry has been ordered into the incident.

All three were residents of Jammu region, officials said.

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BJP silent on govt formation on day before Modi’s swearing in

NEW DELHI: Hectic parleys were held on Sunday on government formation involving Narendra Modi, BJP president Rajnath Singh and other senior leaders as also the RSS, but there was a veil of secrecy in the exercise, triggering speculation on who gets key ministries.

The list of council of ministers, who will take oath along with Modi on Monday evening, is expected to be conveyed to the Rashtrapati Bhawan by Monday morning.

BJP leader Arun Jaitley met senior RSS functionary Suresh Soni at the RSS head office here.

Earlier in the day, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu met Modi to discuss the names of MPs of his party to be inducted in the new government. He had last night also met BJP chief Rajnath Singh.

Vizianagaram MP Ashok Gajapathi Raju's name is doing rounds as the TDP representative in the Modi government.

(Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh are likely to find Cabinet berths in Modi's government)

Amid hectic parleys, a host of leaders including Ghaziabad MP and former Army chief Gen VK Singh, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Ananth Kumar, Jagdish Mukhi and Sheohar MP Rama Devi met Rajnath Singh.

The swearing-in ceremony of Modi will take place on Monday at 6pm in the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

The 15th Prime Minister of India will take oath in the presence of nearly 3,000 guests, including leaders from Saarc countries like Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

(Preparations are going on in the Rashtrapati Bhavan for Modi's swearing-in ceremony)

President Pranab Mukherjee will administer the oath of office and secrecy to 63-year-old Modi and his council of ministers in the presence of a host of leaders, including outgoing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi besides leaders of various other parties and chief ministers of a number of states.

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Narendra Modi's swearing in: Saarc leaders to taste dishes from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu

NEW DELHI: Gujarati popular dish kela methi nu shaak, mouth-watering 'Chicken chettinad' from Tamil Nadu, Punjab's Dal makhani and Bengali dish Potol Dorma will be served at a private dinner hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee for visiting foreign dignitaries tomorrow.

The visiting leaders from Saarc countries and Mauritius, who will be here for the swearing in of Narendra Modi as country's 15th Prime Minister, will have a lavish spread out at 'Yellow Drawing Room' of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Dishes for the menu which are popular in different parts of the country were finalized by Rashtrapati Bhavan and external affairs ministry officials in consultations with in-house chefs.

The dishes to be served in the main course to the foreign dignitaries include 'Prawns Sukka' or 'Chicken chettinad' Birbali Kofta curry (Mughlai), Jaipuri Bhindi (Rajasthan), Dal makhani and Potol Dorma.

Gujarati dish kela methi nu shaak has bitterness of the methi which is complemented by the sweetness of bananas.

The VVIP will be served with chilled melon soup with snacks including chicken and mutton tikka, tandoori aaloo and arabi kebab as starters. For desert, they will be served with mango 'shrikhand', Sandesh and fruits.

At their departure from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the VVIPs will be given a 'Paan' as mouth freshener.

The visiting VVIPs include Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Prime Ministers of Bhutan and Nepal Lyonchen Tshering Tobgay and Sushil Koirala and Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

Speaker Shirin Chaudhury will represent Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as she will be traveling to Japan.

Besides the Saarc nations, Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam will also attend the swearing-in ceremony.

The dinner will also be attended by the new Prime Minister and his ministerial team.

After the swearing-in, refreshments will be provided to nearly 4,000 guests where six snacks, including "dhokla" - a Gujarati vegetarian food, will be provided.

Asked whether "dhokla" was being served keeping in mind the fact that the new Prime Minister is from Gujarat, Omita Paul, secretary to President Pranab Mukherjee, said in a lighter vein, "No, no, it is a voluntary action."

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After Rajasthan, MP might include NaMo in school syllabi

BHOPAL: After the victory, here comes the hero worship. Following Rajasthan's declaration early this month to teach the biography of Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi in schools, now Madhya Pradesh is also considering doing the same. Madhya Pradesh minister for school education said on Sunday that the state government is "seriously considering teaching chapters on the life of Narendra Modi from classes III to VI".

Speaking to reporters, minister for school education Paras Jain said: "We have been traditionally teaching school children about the lives of our great kings and freedom fighters. But we are now considering introducing lessons on Narendra Modi so that children can be inspired by a living icon. No one can deny that Narendra Modi's life is inspirational. It can set an example before our students to see and know of a man who was born in a humble family but rose to become Prime Minister of the country."

Though chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's approval is still pending, Paras Jain explained the intention behind inclusion of Modi in the school syllabi is to make young minds believe that it is possible to reach the top in one's own right and to give them the strength to build life and success on their own. Government approval on the notification would be no problem, Jain added.

An election-battered Congress, meanwhile, is watching the situation with interest. Having lost 27 out of 29 seats to the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, the party said that the ruling party was breaking tradition and all political code of conduct after its victory in the Lok Sabha polls.

Speaking to Times of India, Congress' leader of Opposition in the state assembly Satyadev Katare said, "It is not part of our tradition and culture to have a living person as part of our school syllabus. Lessons on Mahatma Gandhi, Vinobha Bhave, Jay Prakash Narayan and Mother Teresa were made part of school education after they were deceased. And it is strange how the BJP states can consider Narendra Modi as part of school education and not Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and Deendayal Upadhyay. Were they lesser than Narendra Modi. Sudden sycophancy seems to have gripped the party in its election victory arrogance."

In August last year, the Madhya Pradesh government was in the midst of a raging controversy after the school education department issued notification to teach lessons on the Bhagwat Gita in schools including madrasas. Under pressure from the minority Muslim community, the decision had to be withdrawn. But Paras Jain denied there would be any controversy with lessons on Narendra Modi in the school syllabus.

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Hemkund Sahib opens for pilgrims

GOPESHWAR(Uttarakhand): The portals of the famous Hemkund Sahib Gurdwara located in snow-capped Garhwal Himalayas were thrown open to pilgrims today.

Hemkunt Sahib, where Guru Gobind Singh meditated before his incarnation as the 10th Sikh guru, is one of the most revered places and attracts lakhs of pilgrims every year.

Braving chilly weather, over 3,000 Sikh pilgrims offered their prayers at the star-shaped Gurdwara situated at a height of 16,000 ft in Chamoli district.

The shrine opens for four months in a year as the area remains snow-bound during the rest of the period. It had remained closed since October 10 last year.

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Milind Deora under fire from Congress leaders

NEW DELHI: As the blame game continued in Congress over its worst ever poll debacle in Lok Sabha elections, Milind Deora, who had questioned the role of Rahul Gandhi's advisors as well as "those who take the advice" has come under fire from party leaders.

"Success has many fathers but failure is an orphan. The same people, who are now speaking out were, before May 16, very comfortable with all those whom they are speaking against now. They are young people. They have not seen defeat. So they will learn from the defeat," party general secretary Digvijaya Singh said, without naming Deora, a former Union minister who lost his election from Mumbai south.

"I would not like to name the persons but some of these people, who are criticising now were on a regular email and SMS and direct contact with Rahul Gandhi," he said.

Digvijay had earlier met Gandhi this morning. Apparently irked at Deora's comments, youth Congress president Rajiv Satav, who is one of two party MPs who won from Congress in Maharastra also reminded the former Union minister about his losing in this election, saying he could have at least protected his seat.

"Surprised to see #MilindDeora's comments. Thought he was 1 of the closest to RG or atleast its wht his friends in the media kept writing," Satav, a pick of Rahul Gandhi said on Twitter.

In another tweet he said, "MilindDeora MP for a decade & minister in UPA2, didn't he hv any responsibility to party? Cud hv protect his seat at least!"

Deora had earlier said that Rahul Gandhi's advisers did not have their "ears to the ground" and those with "no electoral experience were calling the shots", and added that "the people who take the advice also have to bear responsibility".

Later explaining his remarks, the young leader had tweeted, "My comments are out of emotions of deep loyalty to the party, pain of our performance & a sincere desire to see us bounce back. Nothing more."

At the same time in comments that stoked a blame game within the party and appearing to question 'Team Rahul', he had said in another tweet, "field party work & electoral battles are key to comprehend ground realities. This should form the basis for leadership posts in Congress."

While Digvijay and Satav have attacked Deora, the former without naming him, another party leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi had backed the former Union minister and hoped that an "honest and ruthless introspection" is carried out to rectify the problems.

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Sitaram Yechury says not offered to quit CPI(M) politburo

NEW DELHI: Senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury today dismissed reports that he had offered to quit the politburo in view of his party's poor show in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

"All that is nonsense. I never discuss inner-party issues outside," Yechury told PTI when asked about reports that he had offered to resign from the top-most decision-making body of the CPI(M) at a meeting last Sunday.

CPI(M)'s strength sharply fell to nine members in the Lower House in the recent elections, including only two from its bastion in West Bengal, from a total of 16 in the 15th Lok Sabha and 44 in the previous one.

The reports came days after former CPI(M) stalwart Somnath Chatterjee pitched for an immediate change in the party's leadership, accusing it of losing contact with the masses. The former Lok Sabha Speaker was expelled from CPI(M) in 2008.

Pointing out that a new leadership was needed urgently, he said: "In the party there is a good pool of talented young men and women leaders who can take over the reins to steer the party."

The reports said Yechury's offer to quit was rejected by the party leadership, including general secretary Prakash Karat who has been speaking of "collective responsibility".

Yechury, a member of Rajya Sabha, is the leader of the CPI(M)'s parliamentary group. He is also a long-time chairman of the Parliamentary standing committee on transport, tourism and culture.

The CPI(M) politburo, which had held preliminary discussions on the election results on May 11, would meet again on June 6.

This meeting would be followed by that of the central committee on June 7 and 8 to hold in-depth discussion on the problems facing the party and its organisation, especially in West Bengal, apart from analysing its electoral performance.

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Defamation case: Court issues bailable warrant against Shazia Ilmi

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court today issued a bailable warrant against Shazia Ilmi, who quit Aam Aadmi Party during the day, for her non-appearance in a defamation case filed by outgoing telecom minister Kapil Sibal's son Amit.

The court had last month warned of coercive measures against AAP national convener and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and other leaders Manish Sisodia, Prashant Bhushan and Shazia Ilmi after they had failed to appear before it in the matter.

Ilmi, however, quit the party today alleging lack of "inner party democracy".

Metropolitan magistrate Sunil Kumar Sharma issued the bailable warrant against Ilmi after she did not turn up again despite summons issued earlier.

"Issue bailable warrant in the sum of Rs 5,000 against Shazia Ilmi," the magistrate said.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan was present in the court. The court, however, allowed the exemption application of Sisodia for today and did not impose any cost on him on the ground that his father passed away on May 22.

Meanwhile, the court asked former Union law minister and senior counsel Shanti Bhushan, appearing for Arvind Kejriwal, who is in judicial custody in another case until June 6, to file an appropriate exemption application and ensure his presence on August 23, the next date of hearing.

"In all civil matters, the trial proceeds without the presence of the accused," Bhushan said, while seeking exemption on behalf of Kejriwal.

The AAP chief was remanded in judicial custody until June 6 and is lodged in Tihar jail after he refused to submit a bail bond in another defamation case filed against him by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari.

Advocate Mohit Mathur, appearing for Amit Sibal, today opposed the pleas of the accused saying, "This has become a habit. We have travelled three months but we are still at the same stage. If they seek exemption, then at least the due legal process shall continue."

Mathur sought issuance of production warrant for Kejriwal which the court refused.

The court also directed that all the accused shall remain present before it on the next date of hearing.

The court had on July 24 last year summoned Kejriwal, Sisodia, Prashant and Ilmi on the criminal defamation suit filed by Amit, who is a lawyer, in which he had alleged that the AAP leaders had said that he had taken advantage of his father's position to represent a telecom company in court cases here.

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Milind Deora under fire for questioning Rahul's advisers

NEW DELHI: As the blame game continued in Congress over its worst ever poll debacle in Lok Sabha elections, Milind Deora, who had questioned the role of Rahul Gandhi's advisors as well as "those who take the advice" has come under fire from party leaders.

"Success has many fathers but failure is an orphan. The same people, who are now speaking out were, before May 16, very comfortable with all those whom they are speaking against now. They are young people. They have not seen defeat. So they will learn from the defeat," party general secretary Digvijaya Singh said, without naming Deora, a former Union minister who lost his election from Mumbai south.

"I would not like to name the persons but some of these people, who are criticising now were on a regular email and SMS and direct contact with Rahul Gandhi," he said.

Digvijay had earlier met Gandhi this morning. Apparently irked at Deora's comments, youth Congress president Rajiv Satav, who is one of two party MPs who won from Congress in Maharastra also reminded the former Union minister about his losing in this election, saying he could have at least protected his seat.

"Surprised to see #MilindDeora's comments. Thought he was 1 of the closest to RG or atleast its wht his friends in the media kept writing," Satav, a pick of Rahul Gandhi said on Twitter.

In another tweet he said, "MilindDeora MP for a decade & minister in UPA2, didn't he hv any responsibility to party? Cud hv protect his seat at least!"

Deora had earlier said that Rahul Gandhi's advisers did not have their "ears to the ground" and those with "no electoral experience were calling the shots", and added that "the people who take the advice also have to bear responsibility".

Later explaining his remarks, the young leader had tweeted, "My comments are out of emotions of deep loyalty to the party, pain of our performance & a sincere desire to see us bounce back. Nothing more."

At the same time in comments that stoked a blame game within the party and appearing to question 'Team Rahul', he had said in another tweet, "field party work & electoral battles are key to comprehend ground realities. This should form the basis for leadership posts in Congress."

While Digvijay and Satav have attacked Deora, the former without naming him, another party leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi had backed the former Union minister and hoped that an "honest and ruthless introspection" is carried out to rectify the problems.

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Hardcore Maoist arrested, explosives seized

KORAPUT (Odisha): A hardcore Maoist was arrested and explosives were seized from him in Odisha's Koraput district today, police said.

The Maoist, identified as Satya Mandingi, alias Malla (25), was apprehended during a joint combing operation by the Border Security Force (BSF) and the police in Narayanpatna area, they said.

Malla was a member of Laxmipur area committee under the Srikakulam-Koraput divisional committee of Maoists, they said.

One claymore mine, some detonators, electric wire and battery were recovered from the Maoist whose involvement is suspected in several killings including that of a BSF constable in the area, they said.

His involvement in several other crimes was also suspected, sources said.

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NCP conspired to defeat Congress candidates: Narayan Rane

MUMBAI: Still smarting under the defeat of his son and sitting MP Nilesh Rane, Maharashtra industries minister and senior Congress leader Narayan Rane today accused that the ally NCP conspired against Congress candidates in the Lok Sabha elections.

Talking to reporters after a review meeting of Maharashtra Congress here, Rane said, "In some places, NCP did not cooperate with Congress and in some other places it hatched conspiracies to defeat the Congress candidates."

"I am aggrieved, because despite the good work done by Nilesh, he lost from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha seat," Rane said, adding that his grievances had not been addressed by the party yet. Sawantwadi MLA and NCP leader Deepak Kesarkar and the Sindhdurg NCP unit had openly defied the party diktat and worked against Nilesh Rane during the campaign. To a question, Rane said Sindhudurg Congress unit passed the resolution seeking hand-over of Congress leadership in the state to him without his knowledge. "I have nothing to do with it," he said.

When asked about the demand from some quarters that chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and MPCC chief Manikrao Thakare should quit following the electoral debacle, Rane said he would make his stand clear after a week.

"I will meet party workers and discuss the issue," he said.

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Bastar Maoist attack: Cannot rule out political conspiracy, says NIA

RAIPUR: At a time when the state is to observe the first anniversary of Bastar's Maoist massacre that killed frontline Congress leaders on May 25 last year, a row has erupted over the current status of investigation by National Investigation Agency (NIA) and speculations are rife about political conspiracy behind the attack.

Right from the beginning when NIA took up its probe, there were media speculations about NIA submitting its report while the investigating agency has been repeatedly clarifying that being a prosecuting agency, its job is to file charge-sheet in the court on the basis of findings of investigations.

"NIA is not supposed to submit its report to anyone, neither to Centre nor to state. We will file charge-sheet at a designated court in Bilaspur within a month," a senior NIA official told TOI.

Discounting local media reports that NIA has concluded that in its Bastar massacre probe, no political conspiracy was involved, NIA official said, "In an investigation of such scale and magnitude, probe agencies always look into all possible angles, including that of conspiracy. As of now, we don't have anything to substantiate such theories. Political conspiracy, if any, would be revealed only after senior Maoist leaders involved in attack are arrested," the official said.

While the investigations were put on hold owing to elections and rains, the NIA official said that eight accused, including two surrendered, have been arrested from Sukma and Bastar.

With the help of surrendered senior Maoist leader GVK Prasad alias Gudsa Usendi, NIA has identified about 97 main accused and few groups of Maoists and others. "NIA has been interrogating Maoists arrested from Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. The propaganda that NIA is groping in dark is unfounded," he added.

Darbha valley attack on May 25 last year had eliminated 27 people including the then state Congress president Nandkumar Patel, his son Dinesh, former Union minister VC Shukla, senior Congress leader Mahendra Karma and former legislator Uday Mudaliyar while they were returning from Sukma after attending a Congress parivartan rally.

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EC asks both the teams to draft issues in Ashok Chavan paid news case

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Friday asked the legal teams of both former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan and Madhav Kinhalkar, the independent candidate who complained to EC against Chavan's non-declaration of expenses on an alleged "paid news" item during the 2009 state polls, to submit their respective drafts of "issues" to be taken up when regular hearing in the case commences on May 30.

"Both the parties were asked to draft issues they would like to raise and submit the same to EC by Monday. The EC will decide on framing the issues when it hears the case next week," senior Commission official told TOI.

A team of lawyers on Friday represented Chavan, who recently won the Lok Sabha polls on a Congress ticket from Nanded, before the EC as it took up the complaint filed against the ex-chief minister for poll expenses made by him on an alleged paid news item while contesting the 2009 assembly election in Maharashtra. The complaint claims Chavan had failed to furnish an account of the same while filing his poll expenditure statement.

Chavan, in response to EC's summons issued to him last week, had requested the poll panel to frame the issues against him before proceeding in the case.

A similar case of furnishing allegedly false election accounts by former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, will now be heard on May 26.

The EC, on the directions of the Supreme Court, had issued a notice to Chavan last week to appear before it in connection with the case of alleged expenses made by him during the 2009 polls which were categorised as "paid news".

The apex court had, in a recent ruling, upheld the EC's writ to inquire into complaints of 'paid news' or incorrect expenses against a political leader.
A bench headed by Justice A K Patnaik dismissed Chavan's plea challenging the Commission's jurisdiction to inquire into such issues. It directed the Commission to inquire into the complaint against Chavan within 45 days.

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BJP core committee to review Punjab poll results

CHANDIGARH: Amid BJP stalwart Arun Jaitley's humiliating defeat from Amritsar Lok Sabha seat, Punjab BJP unit today said it would hold its core committee meeting on May 27 to review Lok Sabha election results and performance of the state government.

"In the meeting which will be held at New Delhi, the election results will be reviewed," Punjab BJP president Kamal Sharma said in a release issued here.

The core group would introspect on the 2014 general election results in which BJP won two Lok Sabha seats — Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur — while Amritsar seat was yielded to Congress candidate Amarinder Singh by over one lakh votes.

BJP this time preferred to field Jaitley over three-time MP Navjot Sidhu.

The meeting would also evaluate and analyse the performance of SAD-BJP regime in the state, he said, adding that it will be attended by Punjab incharge and senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar.

Of the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, BJP won two while its ally SAD managed to win four — Bathinda, Ferozepur, Khadoor Sahib and Ananadpur Sahib.

The ruling SAD-BJP combine was facing strong anti-incumbency in Lok Sabha polls.

AAP put its stamp of authority on four seats — Sangrur, Patiala, Faridkot and Fatehgarh Sahib, while Congress had to rest content with three seats — Amritsar, Ludhiana and Jalandhar.

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K Chandrasekhar Rao to take oath as Telangana chief minister on June 2

HYDERABAD: TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao would take oath as the first chief minister of Telangana on June 2, the day the new state would come into existence following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

The swearing in is likely to take place around noon, his son and MLA, K T Rama Rao told PTI here today.

TRS won 63 out of the 119 Assembly seats in Telangana in the recent elections; Rao has been elected leader of the TRS legislature party.

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Narendra Modi, no longer supporting actor: RGV

The 'supporting actor' has taken centre-stage. And Advani, Arun Jaitley and others are looking like junior artists in front of Narendra Modi. This is how filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma is looking at the new developments in New Delhi, post the general elections.

The unfettered RGV took to his micro-blogging site to say that 'cinematically' a few years back, Modi used look like a supporting actor in front of Advani and Jaitley. "Now they look like junior artistes," Ram Gopal Varma said. Advani and Jaitley may surely not be appreciative of RGV's remarks but the filmmaker who did not vote in the elections simply spoke his mind.

With Narendra Modi set to take over the reins of the country as Prime Minister, the BJP is still to decide what role it would give senior leader L K Advani, who had always dreamt of sitting in the PM's chair. Arun Jaitley lost the polls from the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat despite a BJP and Modi wave in the country.

In the film industry, junior artistes are only used to enhance the image of the lead actor. They may be seen on the screen but not quite. They could be dancing but the cinematographer's main focus is on the hero. Scenes with junior artistes may be shot but the director is not obligated at all to show them on the screen. It is just a 'daily wage' routine job for junior artistes for whom, only pay matters at the end of the day. Stardom, they know, belongs to somebody else. In this case, the star is Narendra Modi, a fact that everyone acknowledges but do Advani and Arun Jaitley deserve the description that RGV has chosen to give them? A cinema man is entitled to his own usage of familiar jargon, one might argue.

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