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8 Telangana Cong MPs suspended from Parliament

NEW DELHI: With the issue of separate Telangana refusing to die down, Congress decides to suspend eight of its agitating state MPs for four days from the Lok Sabha.

Leader of the Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee held parleys with leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj apparently in this regard soon after the House adjourned for the second time on Tuesday.

Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP), Sharad Yadav (JD-U) and Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI) were also present during the informal interaction in the House.

Mukherjee was also seen having a word with Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

The Congress proposal appeared to be to suspend the members for the remaining part of the Budget session, but it did not find favour with the CPI which suggested that there should be a token punishment for only four days. This was supported by SP, JD-U and AIADMK and later the BJP.

The parleys took place soon after senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh and Dasgupta expressed dismay over the failure of the ruling party to control its members on the Telangana issue.

It happened when Congress members from the Telangana repeatedly disrupted proceedings by rushing to the front rows, raising slogans and waving placards demanding a separate state.

They did not relent even after home minister P Chidambaram, parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and Congress whip Ranee Narah persuaded them to go back to their seats. — PTI

Chhattisgarh govt sends medicines for abducted Collector

RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh government on Tuesday rushed medicines for abducted Sukma District Collector Alex Paul Menon hours after the Maoists informed them that he was critically ill.

The medicines are being sent through the president of the All-India Adivasi Mahasabha, Manish Kunjam, one of the mediators named by the Maoists for holding negotiations with the government.

Though Kunjam has refused to take part in the mediation process, he has agreed to take the medicines to the Collector.

Last night, the Maoists had named three mediators including lawyer Prashant Bhushan and Former National SC/ST Commission chairperson B.D. Sharma, for negotiations after the Chhattisgarh government offered to hold talks to free Menon from the extremists.

The Naxals had said that only the three persons named by them will be allowed to negotiate in Tarimetla village and asked them to accept the invitation to act as mediators.

Kunjam, who had declined the Maoists' offer on Tuesday citing regional circumstances and party obligations, said that following the state government's request, he was ready to take medicines for the 32-year-old IAS officer, who is an asthma patient.

"Menon's life is supreme. I will be going to Sukma soon to take the medicines and then proceed to Tarimetla. Thereafter, I will come back," he said.

Chief Minister Raman Singh's Chief Secretary N. Brijendra Kumar on Tuesday told PTI that few mediapersons from Naxal-hit Bastar region have also offered to take medicines for Menon, and the state government has decided to give them permission for the same, provided they keep a distance from police, lest it may prove detrimental to the officer's safety.

A worried Asha, Menon's wife, has also appealed to Maoists to send an audio/video tape of her husband, so that she can gauge his condition. She asked them to provide immediate medical relief to him in view of his critical state.

Chief Minister Raman Singh had said on Monday that the state government was exploring all options and making efforts to ensure safe release of Menon.

He said the state government has been in continuous touch with the Centre since the IAS officer was abducted.

An all-party meeting was also convened in Raipur to discuss the issue, Singh had said adding that all the parties have come out with a joint appeal, which says that the matter could be settled through talks.

Earlier, the Chhattisgarh government also appointed a sub-committee under the chairmanship of the CM to look into the abduction issue.

Naxals abducted the 2006 batch officer on Saturday from Majhipara village in Raipur district when he was holding a meeting as part of the government's special Gram Suraj Abhiyan.

A day later, the Maoists had set a deadline of April 25 to fulfill their demands that included immediate halt of all police action against them and release of eight fellow comrades including two women.

They had also asked the government not to indulge in "delay tactics" as Menon's health was worsening.

According to sources, Menon is being held hostage at a Chhattisgarh-Odisha border area and is kept under watch by nearly 400 armed Naxals. — PTI

Norway NRI kids reach India

New Delhi/Stavanger: Abhigyan (3) and Aishwarya (1), the NRI kids who saw a long battle in Norway over their custody, finally returned to India on Tuesday.

The two arrived at New Delhi’s IGI Airport this morning and were received by their maternal grandparents.

Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur, who was present at the airport, said the kids were brought to India by their foster father and several other officials from Norway. External Affairs Minister SM Krishna had earlier thanked the Norwegian government following an amicable resolution of the custody row.

"They belong to India. They are Indian nationals. I am confident that the uncle will take care of them in the environment of their extended family in India," he said.