|
|
|
|
|
SPECTRUM SCAM
Advani to embark on rath yatra again
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Amar Singh seeks bail on health grounds
BSP suspends Uttar Pradesh ex-minister for corruption
BJP ‘mulling’ change of guard in Uttarakhand
Centre: Women ‘more than’ molested in Bhatta-Parsaul
Nuke-safety Bill tabled in House
CAG slams Navy for buying MiGs without weapons
Fresh twist to Army Chief’s age row
Mamata to withdraw Nandigram case from SC
Anna sends legal notice to Tewari
|
|
SPECTRUM SCAM
New Delhi, September 8 "We have said that the inquiry conducted so far has not revealed an element of coercion on the part of Maran (in connection with the sale of Aircel to Malaysia-based Maxis group). The inquiry prima facie revealed that the Malaysian firm was in contact with the minister
and his brother prior to the takeover of the company from C Sivasankaran," senior advocate KK Venugopal told a bench comprising justices GS Singhvi and AK Ganguly. The CBI said an impression has been created due to the "misreporting" of the last hearing in the court by the media that Maran has been given a clean chit in the case. "There was misreporting and misinterpretation of the status report (filed on September 2 in a sealed cover, the portion of which was read out)," he said. The agency raised strong objection to the submission made by the NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), that the probe has been "less than honest". Venugopal was referring to the application filed by NGO's counsel Prashant Bhushan expressing doubts about the probe done by the investigating agency saying the CBI's case would collapse in the trial court. Maran was the Telecom Minister between May 2004 and May 2007. He was forced to resign as Union Textiles Minister in July this year after the CBI said it was investigating a complaint against him filed by Sivasankaran, who owned Aircel in 2006. The CBI maintained that during Maran's tenure there was "deliberate delay" to provide letter of intent to the promoter of Aircel. It said that after Aircel was sold to the Maxis Group, investments were made by the Malaysian firm in the family business of the Marans. The CBI had on July 6 charged Maran in the Supreme Court with "forcing" a Chennai-based telecom promoter Sivasankaran to sell his stake in Aircel to Maxis in 2006. Maran has refuted the allegations.
— PTI
|
|
Advani to embark on rath yatra again
New Delhi, September 8 BJP president Nitin Gadkari, with whom Advani seems to have broached the subject this morning, responded encouragingly, Advani disclosed to the media later in the day while announcing his decision that seems to have come as a bit of surprise to other leaders. Advani made this announcement at a press conference here. He was flanked by Leaders of Opposition in both Houses of Parliament Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, Deputy leaders in both Houses Gopinath Munde and SS Ahluwalia, party spokespersons Shahnawaz Husain, Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Nirmala Sitharaman and party general secretary Ananth Kumar, many of whom looked a bit taken aback. While the “details” about the route and timing are still being “worked out by the party”, Advani indicated that the schedule would be planned keeping in mind Dussehra and Diwali festivals and the coming Winter Session. However, he has already decided on the theme: “Good government and clean politics”. He indicated that the time has come for the BJP to lead a campaign on “good governance and clean politics” and felt he was best suited to lead such a campaign. But when asked if he would ask Anna Hazare to accompany him on his rath, he folded both hands and made a gesture seeking to excuse him. Asked if he would be the prime ministerial candidate in 2014, he said, “This is no time for all this. Let’s not talk of these things now.” Formally the former Deputy Prime Minister stated, “I have already stated that this government has lost the mandate it earned in 2009. But I cannot decide how long this government would survive.”
|
|
Sonia back, but will be out of action for some time New Delhi, September 8 In a brief statement, Congress media department chief Janardhan Dwivedi today said, "The Congress president has returned and she is fine." He did not give details about the nature of her ailment or the place where she underwent a surgery though unofficially, it was admitted that she was in the US. Speaking on her behalf, Dwivedi said the Congress president had thanked all those who wished her speedy recovery and expressed sorrow at yesterday's bomb blasts in Delhi. Although Sonia Gandhi is not expected to get back to her earlier schedule soon, her return has lifted the spirits of party men,who have been feeling dispirited while she was away. The past month has been particularly traumatic for the Congress as its popularity ratings plummeted dramatically during this period as a hapless government floundered in its handling of the anti-graft protests by social activist Anna Hazare. Several party leaders publicly acknowledged that the situation would have been handled better, if Sonia Gandhi had been in Delhi. Besides the passage of the Lokpal Bill, which has acquired an urgency now, there are a host of issues that are awaiting her urgent attention. What is even more worrying for the party is the public anger that is now being directed against the Congress president and her son Rahul Gandhi. This was evident during Anna Hazare's 12-day fast that was ostensibly to protest against increasing corruption and press for a strong Lokpal Bill. But the slogans raised during the agitation and the posters plastered at the venue indicated that it was meant to delegitimise Sonia Gandhi's leadership and tarnish Rahul Gandhi's image, especially among the youth. The present mood suggests that Team Anna succeeded in the mission.
|
|
|
Amar Singh seeks bail on health grounds
New Delhi, September 8 Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh was remanded in 14-day judicial custody two days ago for his involvement in 2008 cash-for-vote case wherein three BJP MPs were paid money to abstain from voting on the no-confidence motion against the UPA-I government. Amar Singh appeared in the court of Special Judge Sangita Dhingra Sehgal in Tis Hazair Court in the afternoon wherein she directed the prison authorities to apprise her of the conditions in which Amar Singh was kept in the jail. "I am calling for a report from the jail superintendent on his (Amar Singh) health condition and how is he being kept there in the jail," said the judge. Pleading for bail on health grounds to the 55-year-old leader, defence counsel Hariharan said owing to common sharing of toilets in the prison, his client was vulnerable to infections and it could worsen his urinary tract infection. He further informed the court that Amar Singh has to regularly visit his doctors in Singapore after undergoing kidney transplant and that his next appointment was scheduled for September 9. Ex-BJP MPs Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahabir Singh Bhagora, who are also in judicial custody in the case, also moved applications for interim bail today. However, the court has listed their bail pleas for hearing on September 13.
|
|
BSP suspends Uttar Pradesh ex-minister for corruption
Lucknow, September 8 According to a press release issued by BSP state president Swami Prasad Maurya Yadav, the former minister has been suspended from the party on disciplinary grounds. The decision to suspend him from the party comes a day after news about his resolve to challenge his “forcible” removal from the Mayawati’s ministry in the HC appeared in a section of the media. In the writ petition which he has getting prepared, the former minister has reportedly claimed that CM Mayawati had forced him to resign from the ministry on August 17 following the Lokayukta report. He has described the decision to remove him as “illegal and arbitrary”. In the press statement, party president Maurya has held Yadav responsible for maligning the image of the party by making false statements. “His statement is a case of gross indiscipline. Taking serious note of this he is being suspended from the party with immediate effect.” Maurya pointed out that in the press release that had accompanied the minister’s resignation letter to the CM last month, Yadav had stated that he was resigning on his own owning moral responsibility of the Lokayukta’s adverse comments against him. The former minister had then stated that he was resigning so that an impartial inquiry could be instituted into the charges against him. “Now the former minister is taking an opposite stand in his proposed writ petition before the high court by claiming that he was forced to resign following the Lokayukta’s report which is totally false and misleading” said the BSP press release. UP Lokayukta NK Mehrotra had recommended Yadav's removal from the ministry and lodging of a case under the Anti-Corruption Act. The Lokayukta had also recommended that all cases against the minister lodged after 2007 be handed over to an independent agency like the CB-CID.
|
|
|
BJP ‘mulling’ change of guard in Uttarakhand New Delhi, September 8 Kumar, however, told the media later that they met to discuss the current political situation in the country, to plan and fine tune its campaign against corruption and scams of the UPA government and to work out details of the proposed Rath Yatra of their octogenarian leader LK Advani, tentatively suggesting that it may happen sometime between October and November. Earlier in the day, Advani had taken even his fellow party leaders by surprise when he announced his intent to set sail on yet another rath yatra. But sources maintained that this meeting had to do with the change of leadership in Uttarakhand and explained that the idea emanated from Advani’s proposed rath yatra. Allegations of corruption and money power have been levelled against the Nishank government by not just the Opposition, but his own party leaders and even a close associate of the Sangh Parivar Baba Ramdev. Those who attended this meeting included Gadkari and Advani and the two Leaders of Opposition in Parliament — Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley — and Murli Manohar Joshi, apart from Kumar. Out of sheer desperation, Khanduri, who has a cleaner image, was reportedly contemplating quitting the BJP and floating a parallel front of regional forces like the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD). But Advani and Gadkari had ruled out any change of leadership then, pleading that the state Assembly elections were too close. But suddenly, Advani realised that since his campaign will be about ‘good governance and clean politics’, the stables in Uttarakhand need to be cleaned too. A final decision may take time at the meeting of the BJP Core Group scheduled for September 11.
|
|
|
Centre: Women ‘more than’ molested in Bhatta-Parsaul
New Delhi, September 8 Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, who had visited the village during the farmers' agitation, had alleged that women were raped and a heap of ash with bones was found at the site. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on August 11, Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath had said a National Commission for Women (NCW) team visited the place and “no specific case of rape has been confirmed by the inquiry committee”. However, correcting the August 11 reply, Tirath said today that the NCW team that went into the charges of alleged atrocities, including rape, stated in its preliminary report that serious crime was committed on women. “The police personnel broke open houses, looted valuables, money, ransacked houses, tore women's clothes and put them in a state of nakedness, badly molested and committed even more than that,” she said quoting the NCW report. The final report is, however, awaited. — PTI
|
|
Nuke-safety Bill tabled in House
New Delhi, September 8 The Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority Bill 2011 will, for the first time in India’s history, empower the nuclear regulator by law to grant consent for operation to persons or firms seeking to engage in the production, storage, disposal, transport (within or outside India) and use of any nuclear material, radioactive material or equipment used for the production of radiation or atomic energy. The authority will be a seven-member body headed by an eminent professional with expertise in the sector and will have the power to cancel or suspend the consent earlier granted to interested parties. Those willing to operate in atomic and nuclear energy sectors would have to apply to the authority for permission to start operations. The move comes close on the heels of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan and in the wake of concerns that India has no statutory regulator for the sector despite the probability of surge in nuclear installations following the signing of the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Liability agreement.
|
|
CAG slams Navy for buying MiGs without weapons New Delhi, September 8 The CAG, in its report tabled in both Houses of Parliament, said the Indian Navy followed a flawed approach in acquiring its fighter aircraft fleet by not finalising the associated weapon package. The CAG said that 11 out of 16 MiG 29K aircraft, acquired at a cost of $740.35 million (Rs 3,405.61 crore), been delivered in December 2009 and May 2011. No matching armament, for which a contract was signed in March 2006, has been delivered as on October 2010, thereby adversely affecting the operational capabilities of the aircraft. Further, the Navy has selected a ‘beyond visual range’ (BVR) missile with an unsatisfactory track record. Lastly, the complete armament package finalised for the aircraft contains certain ammunition, worth $20.98 million (Rs 93.68 crore) which did not have the approval of the competent authority. The MiG 29K is a deck-based fighter meant for seaborne aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya (Admiral Gorshkov). At present, the fighters are based at a land base in Goa as the aircraft carrier itself has not arrived. The agreement was signed under an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) between India and Russia in October 2000 for the procurement of an aircraft carrier along with the MiGs for onboard operations. The Ministry of Defence in January 2004 concluded a contract with Russian Aircraft Corporation (RAC-MIG) for procurement of the MiG 29K aircraft. The weapons package was postponed and de-linked from the negotiations for the aircraft. IAF censured over damaged radar The CAG went on to question the capability of the IAF in tracking enemy aircraft. Saying it has taken a hit as one of its two aerostat radars was damaged in an accident in 2009. This was due to the "failure" of its three officers and is likely to be operational only by next year. A Court of Inquiry was ordered to investigate the causes of the accident involving the Rs 338 crore aerostat. It “held three officers responsible for their failure in adequate supervision" of the maintenance activities. Claw-less Hawks
|
|
|
Fresh twist to Army Chief’s age row
New Delhi, September 8
AK Antony, a man who is normally reticent and has avoided commenting on the matter to the media, in a written statement in the Rajya Sabha, yesterday revealed that the Army Chief has been getting his promotions on the basis of the DoB of May 10 1950. He said: “The date of birth of Gen VK Singh, Chief of Army Staff, has been maintained as May 10, 1950, at the time of his selection as Corps Commander in 2006 as well as his subsequent promotions as Army Commander in 2008 and Chief of the Army Staff in 2010”. In 2006, the Chief was promoted from Major General to Lieut General and posted as Corps Commander of the Ambala-based 2 Strike Corps. His next promotion was in 2008 when he was made the General officer Commanding-in-Chief (GoC-in-C) of the Kolkata-based Eastern Command. In March 2010, Gen VK Singh took over as Army Chief. Antony further said the General was left with eight months and 23 days of service as on date. (Retirement due in May 2012 as per May 10, 1950 date of birth). A different date of birth finds mention in certain documents, the minister replied to a query posed by Mohan Singh in Rajya Sabha yesterday. Recently, Gen VK Singh had filed a statutory complaint in the matter, Antony’s reply said. Sources said that this answer in Parliament should not be interpreted as an answer to the statutory complaint. As per the Army Act, the statutory complaint has to be replied within 90 days and this case that would mean by November 25 2011. The Army Chief has two sets of date of birth in records. The Military Secretary (MS) branch shows it to be May 10, 1950 whereas the Adjutant General's (AG) branch shows it to be May 10, 1951. The two DoB’s have a 45-year-old history. The General, when he joined the National Defence Academy, had mentioned his DoB as May 1950 in his signed application that is maintained by the MS branch. Gen VK Singh’s matriculation certificate says his DoB is May 10, 1951. The Defence Ministry has rejected his contention on July 22 and Gen VK Singh, in response, on August 25 filed the statutory complaint under the Army Act seeking
redressal.
|
|
Mamata to withdraw Nandigram case from SC
Kolkata, September 8 In the judgment, the Calcutta high court ruled that the police firing at Nandigram on March 14 was unjustified and unconstitutional. The court also directed the CBI to file criminal proceeding against the errant police men so that deterrent punishment could be meted out to them.
|
|
Anna sends legal notice to Tewari
Pune, September 8 Pawar had earlier said a defamation case would be filed against the Congress MP in a Pune court for casting aspersions on Hazare. The notice calls upon Tewari to "apologise with written application by you and on behalf of your party undertaking not to commit such false imputations and defamatory statements ". — PTI
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
New Delhi, September 8
New Delhi, September 8
