Centre is not my boss, says Goa CM Manohar Parrikar

PANAJI: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today defended his stand of rejecting the All India Services officers posted in Goa by the union government on the floor of the house, claiming that the Central government was not his boss.

"The Central government is not my boss. They are federal government and we are state government. In certain matters, they have primacy," Parrikar told the state legislative assembly today.

"I have rejected two police officers sent by them. They want to send sub-standard officers here," he said.

Parrikar had crossed swords with the union government earlier last year after rejecting posting of officers deputed by the Union Home Ministry to Goa.

"They were giving sub-standard officers to us. We have fought with them and won," the chief minister said.

Referring to allocation of funds by the Centre, Parrikar said that the union government was not doing any favour by releasing funds.

"They are not doing us any favour by releasing funds. We are getting what is rightfully due to us as per a formula," he stated.

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Arun Jaitley accuses PM of 'blatantly interfering' in CBI functioning

NEW DELHI: BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Thursday accused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of "blatantly interfering" in CBI's functioning and "crippling" it from carrying on its routine investigations for "stopping" CBI searches at the residence of DMK leader M K Stalin's residence in Chennai.

"Merely because it has a political fallout, it is improper for any Prime Minister or a finance minister to so blatantly interfere in the functioning of CBI and cripple it from carrying on its routine investigations," Jaitley said.

The leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha said if CBI was carrying out its search in the normal course of investigation, then it should have been allowed to carry out the exercise at Stalin's residence.

"If this was a search in the normal course of CBI investigation, CBI is entitled to carry out that search. What business does the government have or the political regime have to interfere in CBI and start stopping that search"? he said.

Jaitley said the Prime Minister or the finance minister "cannot interfere" in the functioning of CBI and have a "search stopped".

He said CBI carries out searches on many people but the Prime Minister has never condemned them.

Hitting out at the Prime Minister and the finance minister for condemning the search, Jaitley said "they can't condemn a search because it is the job of CBI in connection with their investigation to search premises."

He said if the government was not in the know of CBI search in Chennai, then the government had no power to stop it and if it was in the know of the search, "then the government will have to answer" the action as it is initiated two days after DMK withdrew support to UPA.

Jaitley said the Prime Minister or the finance minister has no right to interfere in the functioning of CBI.

"No Prime Minister or finance minister has any powers to interfere in CBI's functioning," he said.

Jaitley said since CBI was an independent body, it should have been allowed to carry out their routine investigations of their own and not interfere merely because of a "political fallout" of their action.

"If that search was carried out in normal course, then it should have been continued. To interfere in that search and the Prime Minister condemning it means that there is interference in the functioning of CBI," he said.

The BJP leader also said there was no reason for the Prime Minister or the finance minister to say that the CBI search on DMK leader's premises was unfortunate.

Singh earlier in the day distanced the government from the CBI raid saying it had "no role" in the development and was "upset" over it.

"We are all upset at these events. The government had no role in this that I am sure of. We will find out the details. This should not have...(happened). The timing of the raid is most unfortunate," Singh told reporters here.

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DMK has taken right decision in withdrawing support to UPA: Karunanidhi

CHENNAI: DMK chief M Karunanidhi on Thursday said his party has taken the "right" decision to withdraw support to UPA government by looking at the developments with regard to the passage of the US sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka in UNHRC.

However, he said he would not consider that the Centre has "betrayed" the party.

"By looking at the present developments, I consider we have taken the right decision (withdrawal of support to UPA). I will not call it as a betrayal. (But) They were not concerned.", he told reporters, hours after the resolution was adopted by 25-13 margin at the UNHRC.

Noting that he was "not satisfied" with India's stand at the UNHRC, Karunanidhi said a myth was created about the US resolution that something big will come out and there was a lot of anticipation among the people and students.

They were hoping that the US resolution would protect Tamils but it turned out to be a "diluted" resolution and had become 'useless'.

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Saif Ali Khan asked to leave VIP lounge at Lucknow airport

LUCKNOW: Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan faced an embarrassing situation at the airport here today when he was asked to leave the VIP lounge.

The 42-year-old actor, who was in the city for the shooting of Tigmanshu Dhulia's upcoming directorial 'Bullet Raja', was on his way to Delhi when he reached the Chaudhary Charan Singh airport and entered the VIP lounge, airport sources said.

An attendant informed Saif that only those who figured in a list authorised by the government could utilise the VIP lounge, and hence he should leave the place, they said.

Saif had a talk with airport staff following which he left the lounge and boarded his flight to Delhi, sources said.

The administration as well as the airport security officials denied that there was any tiff between the actor and the staff.

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Anna Hazare says he won't join Arvind Kejriwal's indefinite fast

NEW DELHI: Days after he received an invitation from Arvind Kejriwal to join his indefinite fast, Anna Hazare on said he won't participate in the protest as he has nothing to do with party politics.

Addressing the media to announce a nationwide tour from March 31 from Jallianwala Bagh, he said Kejriwal had visited him earlier this week to seek his blessings before his fast and invite him.

"We have already said that we are not with any party and we are not going to fight elections. I am not going on March 23 (fast of Kejriwal)," he said.

Last Monday after visiting Hazare in Ralegan Siddhi, Kejriwal had said the veteran activist had agreed to come to his protest in Sundar Nagri starting this weekend.

Asked whether he will go after March 23, Hazare said if he has time, he will see. "There is nothing wrong in talking to others," he said.

Hazare and former Army chief V K Singh said the activists of Jantantra Morcha will embark on a nationwide tour from March 31 from Jallianwala Bagh to awaken people about the need for a holistic change in the system.

The first phase of the tour will end on April 17 in western Uttar Pradesh after covering Punjab and Haryana.

Hazare said there will 34 meetings in the three states during this period. Singh said after the first phase, there will be a gap of 13 days and then the tour will restart covering Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and other states. In January, Hazare launched another tour in Patna.

Continuing his attack on politicians, he said, "There are protests inside Parliament due to their vested interests."

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1993 Mumbai blasts: SC to pronounce verdict on Sanjay Dutt tomorrow

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will on Thursday pronounce its verdict in 1993 Mumbai serial blasts in which 100 people were convicted out of which 12 were awarded death penalty and 20 were given life sentence by a TADA court.

A bench of justices P Sathasivam and B S Chauhan will also decide the appeal of Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt challenging his conviction and six years imprisonment awarded to him for being in illegal possession of arms under the Arms Act.

CBI had preferred not to challenge Dutt's acquittal under the stringent anti-terror law Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA).

Though a string of high-profile attacks have since rattled the city, which has emerged as the favourite target of various terrorist organisations, the 1993 bombings were Mumbai's first experience with modern-day terrorism.

A total of 257 persons were killed and 713 others injured when a series 13 coordinated explosions shattered the metropolis on March 12, 1993. Property worth Rs 28 crore was destroyed in the explosions in which RDX was used for the first time in the country.

The blasts occurred at 12 places including Bombay Stock Exchange building, Air-India Building at Nariman Point, at Worli opposite Century Bazaar, Hotels Sea Rock and Juhu Centaur.

Dawood Ibrahim, Tiger Memon and his brother Ayub Memon were alleged to be the main conspirators of the blasts and they were declared as proclaimed offenders.

Two convicts--Mohammed Iqbal, who got death sentence and S N Thapa, a former customs officer, who was given life term-- passed away during the pendency of case in the apex court.

Of the 20 who were given life sentence, one died and two got bail. Seventeen are serving life sentence in jail along with 11 death convicts.

Most of the 100 convicts filed appeals in the Supreme Court. The CBI has pleaded for enhancement of punishment of 57 convicts.

The TADA Court had acquitted 23 accused of all charges. Among them were Raheen Memon, wife of prime accused Yakub Memon, Suleiman Memon, Tiger Memon's brother and Hanifa Memon, his mother.

The state challenged the acquittal of 17 accused in the apex court.

Rest of the accused who were convicted are currently on bail and awaiting the Supreme Court judgement on their appeals. If their sentence is confirmed, they will have to surrender and go back to jail.

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Indian roads still unsafe: WHO report on road safety

NEW DELHI: Less than 50% two-wheeler drivers and less than 10% passengers in India wear helmets while only 27% of drivers wear seatbelts. Between 11-49% seriously injured victims are rushed to hospital by ambulances. These are some of the key findings of the latest World Health Organization (WHO) status report on road safety released last week.

The report says that while 88 countries have reduced the number of road fatalities between 2008 and 2011, Indian roads on the contrary, have been more deadly. Not only that, but India also tops the list of total number of deaths recorded on road in 2011 at 1.43 lakh.

According to the report, the number of road traffic deaths across the world was "unacceptably" high at 1.24 million per year and another 20 to 50 million sustain non-fatal injuries as a result of road traffic crashes.

China recorded second highest number of deaths at 70,134 after India in 2010 while Brazil came third registering 36,499 deaths.

The report says that only 28 countries, representing 449 million people (7% of the world's population), have adequate laws that address all five risk factors — speed, driving under influence, helmets, seatbelts and child restraints, India has poor record on all the five fronts.

Though the country has speed-limit norms for all types of roads and the norm for alcohol percentage in blood for all drivers is well-defined, detection of violations is very low. On both the counts, the enforcement is as low as "three" in a scale of 0-10 whereas its neighbours like Singapore has scored seven points.

India, with huge two-wheeler population — roughly 60%-70% of total vehicles — has scored poorly on the compliance of helmets law. On the other hand, in Germany, 97% drivers and 98% two-passengers of two-wheelers wear helment and in Norway 99% passengers and drivers wear helmets.

Detection of this violation in India is as less as "two" in a scale of 10. The numbers aren't any better in the case of compliance with seat-belt law. The WHO report says that only 27% drivers in India wear seat-belt and there is no clear figure on how many people in the front seat wear seatbelts.

On the other hand, countries like Japan have a high compliance of 99.2% drivers and 97% of front seat passengers wearing seatbelts.

"The compliance of seat belt norms are comparatively better in big cities where we have good number of traffic policemen. However, in small cities and roads passing through rural areas, people flout the law. So, in most of highway accident cases, one can see how victims are often found not wearing seat belts," said Rohit Baluja, a road safety expert.

Though the Central government has proposed a number of changes in the Motor Vehicle Act to increase the compliance of safe driving norms by hiking fines and scaling up punishments, these are yet to be passed by the Parliament.

"The amendment bill takes care of all issues including use of mobile phones while driving. The fear of high amount of fine and landing in jail besides cancellation of licence would compel people to be responsible on road. We expect the bill to be cleared by the Lok Sabha for its implementation," said a road transport and highways ministry official.

The global report has highlighted the need of taking care of most vulnerable users - pedestrians and cyclists. Nearly 27% of all road traffic deaths occur among this group. In low and middle-income countries, this figure is closer to a third of all road deaths, but in some countries it is more than 75%.

It also shows that half of the world's road traffic deaths occur among motorcyclists (23%), pedestrians (22%) and cyclists (5%) with 31% of deaths among car occupants and the remaining 19% among unspecified road users.

People in the age group of 15-44 years account for about 59% of global road traffic deaths.

More than three-quarters (77%) of all road traffic deaths occur among men, the figure being highest in the Western Pacific Region.

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Mulayam to decide on supporting UPA: Akhilesh

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said his Samajwadi Party (SP) was prepared for Lok Sabha polls anytime but the final decision on continuing support to the UPA government will be taken by party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Addressing a traders' gathering here, he admitted that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was in turmoil and speculation was rife on its survival.

"The stability of the union government after the withdrawal of support by the DMK is in question. As far as our party is concerned, any decision of continuing outside support or not lies with Netaji (as Mulayam Singh is known by partymen)," he added.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) with its 23 MPs is crucial for the survival of the Manmohan Singh government and extends issue-based outside support to the UPA.

While at daggers drawn with the Congress on many issues, including the treatment of minorities and Foreign Direct Investment in retail, the SP has ensured that the government has sailed through in the Lok Sabha at crucial times.

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Indian naval officer crosses equator in his last leg of global circumnavigation

NEW DELHI: Lt-Commander Abhilash Tomy, the naval officer who embarked on a "non-stop" circumnavigation of the globe on a sail boat last November, crossed the equator in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday evening.

He now has just 1,080 nautical miles left on his last leg to reach Mumbai and become the first Indian to undertake this "solo, unassisted, non-stop" endeavour.

Tomy, who earlier crossed Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn and Cape of Good Hope in the arduous voyage during which he often faced winds of up to 45-50 knots, is expected to reach Mumbai towards end-March or early-April on his naval sailing ship Mhadei.

By then, he would have covered a distance of over 22,000 nautical miles (around 40,000-km), crossing the equator twice in the process.

"The Mhadei crossed the equator at 5.39pm on Wednesday. The last time Tomy had any human contact was when he was flagged off from Mumbai on November 1. He manages to sleep only a couple of hours at a stretch. While around 5,000 people have climbed Mt Everest, only around 80 have successfully done the solo non-stop circumnavigation of the globe," said a Navy officer.

After Commander Dilip Donde became the first Indian ever to undertake solo circumnavigation of the world in Mhadei in 2009-2010, Tomy - a maritime reconnaissance Dornier pilot by specialization - then came forward to do one better by undertaking a "solo, unassisted, non-stop" endeavour in the "Sagar Parikrama-II" mission.

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All-party meeting to discuss resolution on Lankan Tamils issue begins

NEW DELHI: An all-party meeting, convened by the UPA government to discuss a resolution it plans to move in Parliament on violation of human rights of Tamilians in Sri Lanka, has begun here.

Though the DMK withdrew support to the UPA and its ministers in the Manmohan Singh Cabinet resigned on Wednesday, the government has decided to go ahead with the proposed resolution in Parliament on the Sri Lanka issue.

Minister of state for parliamentary affairs Rajeev Shukla said an all-party meeting has been convened this evening to discuss the resolution. There are differences between parties on the wording of the resolution with DMK and AIADMK demanding that the term "genocide" be include while condemning the atrocities against Tamils of Sri Lanka during the recent civil war.

Earlier on Wednesday, the government announced that it will also move amendments to the resolution on Sri Lanka at UNHRC to send a "resolute message" on that country's human rights issue.

Stressing that India wanted the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to adopt a "strong" resolution on Sri Lanka, finance minister P Chidambaram said India will move amendments to the draft to send a "resolute message" to that country on alleged human rights violations of Tamils and "goad" it to have an independent inquiry, a key demand of the DMK.

Chidambaram also dismissed allegations that India had sought dilution of the strongly-worded resolution by the US, saying it was an absolute "canard".

He had also said DMK's demand for a resolution to be adopted by Parliament on Sri Lankan Tamils issue was in the process of consultations with other parties.

DMK, UPA's second biggest constituent with 18 Lok Sabha MPs, quit the alliance on Tuesday.

Chidambaram claimed that the DMK was aware of the government's position on the issue but had changed its position between night of March 18 and morning of March 19.

"We are not aware of the reasons why the DMK changed its position between the night of March 18 and the morning of March 19," Chidambaram said, while noting that DMK supremo M Karunanidhi had said the party would reconsider decision to withdraw support if Parliament adopts a resolution before the end of current sittings on March 22.

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