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SC observations on coal scam report
RS adjourned
BJP decides to keep away from House meetings
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No plans to cancel China visit: Khurshid
Wealth tax: Akalis, Cong men squabble to claim credit
Harin Raval resigns as Addl Solicitor General
Harin Raval resigns as
Addl Solicitor General
BJP sweeps Uttarakhand civic body elections
UP pays enhanced relief to families of electrocuted kids
BJP looks to rally public support against relocation of Asiatic lion
I-T sleuths search Ekta Kapoor, family’s premises
First Shariah court opens in Mumbai
Fund collecting firms in M’rashtra under scanner
HC calls for measures to check cancer
Upset, Sarabjit’s family to return home today
Bengal House clears Bill to protect investors’ interest
Agitation delays exam at IIT-Kharagpur
1 dead in Assam police firing
K’taka Poll: Yeddy set for smooth ride in bastion Shikaripura
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SC observations on coal scam report Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 30 “Of course it is not a pleasant comment for any dispensation, for any composition of the government. As far as the comments of the Supreme Court are concerned, I believe the final opinion is yet to come and once it comes, an appropriate decision can be taken,” Janardan Dwivedi, Congress general secretary and in-charge of its media department, said in response to the apex court observations.
“The UPA government has denigrated the institution of law officers. It is this failing institution that has today embarrassed the UPA government. The rap that the government received from the apex court on this issue was well deserved. The delinquent must be held accountable. This is an occasion where the government must display some sense of responsibility and accept the suggestions which we have made to the Select Committee on the Lokpal legislation,” BJP leader Arun Jaitley said in an article released by the party. He said the entire episode of interference by the Law Minister and the Prime Minister’s Office in the report prepared by the CBI on irregularities in coal block allocations proved that the premier investigation agency of the country was not independent of the government. Jaitley reminded that the Select Committee set up to study the Lokpal Bill had suggested taking the CBI out of the control of the Department of Personnel and Training and bringing it under the Lokpal vis-à-vis cases of corruption referred to it by the anti-graft panel. Making similar comment on the suggestions by the Parliamentary Committee and CBI, CPI leader D Raja said the Law Minister should be sacked. “Parliament should take a serious note of this. The Law Minister cannot continue in his position now. The Prime Minister must act. This is a serious breach in the functioning of the CBI.” The CPM also demanded Ashwani Kumar’s removal with party Politburo stating that after the scathing remarks by the Supreme Court for sharing of the CBI coalgate report with the Law Minister, “his continuance in office is totally untenable”. It said the Prime Minister’s strong defence of the Law Minister also raised serious questions as to who else was aware of this “gross interference” in the process by the executive.
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RS adjourned
New Delhi, April 30 The BJP members started raising slogans as soon as the House began its proceedings forcing Chairman Hamid Ansari to adjourn it till 12 noon. As the House met again, the BJP members sought Law Minister’s sacking on the coalgate issue forcing another adjournment till 2 pm. They also raised slogans against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking his resignation.
Samajwadi Party members joined BJP members in the well of the House, raising slogans against the Chinese incursion in
Ladakh. When the House met again after lunch, proceedings could not be conducted due to sloganeering, forcing the Rajya Sabha to be adjourned till Thursday when it will take up the Finance Bill passed by the Lok Sabha today. The financial business needs to be passed on a priority basis.
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BJP decides to keep away from House meetings
New Delhi, April 30 “The Congress president does not care about Indian democracy and she does not believe in democratic institutions”, Sushma said at a press conference after accusing her of not allowing the Opposition to state its views in Parliament. The Congress described the comments as “unfortunate and uncharitable.” The BJP walked out of the Lok Sabha after Sushma’s speech was disrupted after she began explaining how the party would not stop the House from transacting financial business but not support the government on any other issue. The BJP leader’s attack clearly reflected the sourness in the relations between the principal party in the opposition and the government with Sushma describing the situation as a “total breakdown” and held the ruling coalition responsible for the
development. Sushma said while it was decided at the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee that she would speak on the issue of coal blocks allocation, she was not allowed to complete at the “instigation” of Sonia Gandhi. As a sign of protest, the BJP decided to stay away from any meeting that either the Speaker or the Parliamentary Affairs Minister would call, she said. The budget session of Parliament is scheduled to end on May 10. Meanwhile, she said the party’s insistence on the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Law Minister Ashwani Kumar on the coal blocks allocation issue and CBI report will continue as also the demand for withdrawal of the draft Joint Parliamentary Committee report on the 2G spectrum allocation and removal of panel chairman PC
Chacko.
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No plans to cancel China visit: Khurshid
New Delhi, April 30 He, however, appeared to keep his options open saying "one week is a long time in politics". “Can I cancel my visit? Government has to decide. There is no such decision and there is no reason we should do that but you know one week is a long time in politics, so lets move forward," he told reporters outside Parliament. Salman Khurshid is scheduled to travel to Beijing on May 9 in connection with preparations for Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit here next month. Samajwadi Party had yesterday objected to the Minister's visit to China with party leader and former defence minister Mulayam Singh Yadav accusing the government of acting in a "cowardly" manner on the Chinese incursion issue. Khurshid expressed confidence that the stand-off between the two countries will be resolved amicably through talks. “I would like to say it once again that let talks take place. We have a system which we have developed it over the years and have strengthened it and whenever any such development takes place, it is solved within that system. I am confident that a solution will emerge out of this,” he said. — PTI
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Wealth tax: Akalis, Cong men squabble to claim credit
New Delhi, April 30 At the heart of clashes was the claim for credit of the government announcement. While Akali Dal MPs said their leadership was the first to flag the concern caused by the imposition of wealth tax following Budget announcements by Finance Minister P Chidambaram earlier, the Punjab Congress leaders accused the Akalis of running a land mafia in Punjab and saying that the UPA could never be anti-farmer. The Akali charge was led by Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, while Punjab Pradesh Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa was the Congress’ lead speaker, who alleged that Akalis were “land sharks”. Daring the ruling SAD-BJP combine in Punjab to withdraw property tax to benefit farmers, Bajwa thanked Chidambaram for taking the “revolutionary step” of amending the Finance Bill to clarify that wealth tax would not be levied on farm land. “The Congress is the only party that has taken pro-farmer decisions. Akalis run a land mafia in Punjab. They play to the gallery. They have no sympathy for farmers. If they do, they should first roll back property tax,” Bajwa said. The Akalis accused the Congress of “trying to white wash” the matter by amending the Bill.
Harsimrat vs Bajwa
The Akali charge was led by Bathinda MP Harsimrat Badal, while PCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa was the party’s lead speaker Akali MPs said their leadership was the first to flag the concern caused by the imposition of wealth tax Punjab Congress leaders accused the Akalis of running a land mafia in the state and dared it to withdraw property tax to benefit farmers
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Harin Raval resigns as Addl Solicitor General
New Delhi, April 30 Raval said he had handed over his resignation letter to the Law Minister. Yesterday, he had sent a letter to Attorney General (AG) GE Vahanvati, blaming the AG for making him a scapegoat. In the letter, the ASG said that the AG, while responding to queries from a Bench of the SC on March 12, had informed the court that the contents of the CBI’s status report was not known to AG. “On account of your statement, I felt embarrassed and was forced to take a stand in the court consistent with your submission made as Attorney General of India that the contents of the status report were not known to you and that they were not shared with the government,” Raval had maintained. “I have a feeling that I am sought to being made a scapegoat but I am confident that truth always prevails,” he said in the letter. Raval has become the third law officer to quit during the UPA-II regime. In February 2013, Solicitor General Rohinton Nariman had resigned amid speculation over his differences with Ashwani Kumar. It was believed that Kumar wanted Nariman to appear in a case pending with the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) but the SG was not willing as normally only Additional SGs argue before TDSAT. Nariman’s predecessor Gopal Subramanium had also quit following differences with the government on the telecom issue. Subramanium resigned on July 14, 2011, expressing his resentment over the appointment of Nariman as special counsel to argue the 2G scam case in the Supreme Court. Prior to this, Subramanium was appearing for the government in the case.
Third one to GO
Raval is the third law officer to quit in UPA-II regime Solicitor General Rohinton Nariman resigned amid speculation over his differences with Ashwani Kumar Nariman’s predecessor Gopal Subramanium had quit following differences with the government on the telecom issue
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Harin Raval resigns as
Addl Solicitor General
New Delhi, April 30 Raval said he had handed over his resignation letter to the Law Minister. Yesterday, he had sent a letter to Attorney General (AG) GE Vahanvati, blaming the AG for making him a scapegoat. In the letter, the ASG said that the AG, while responding to queries from a Bench of the SC on March 12, had informed the court that the contents of the CBI’s status report was not known to AG. “On account of your statement, I felt embarrassed and was forced to take a stand in the court consistent with your submission made as Attorney General of India that the contents of the status report were not known to you and that they were not shared with the government,” Raval had maintained. “I have a feeling that I am sought to being made a scapegoat but I am confident that truth always prevails,” he said in the letter. Raval has become the third law officer to quit during the UPA-II regime. In February 2013, Solicitor General Rohinton Nariman had resigned amid speculation over his differences with Ashwani Kumar. It was believed that Kumar wanted Nariman to appear in a case pending with the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) but the SG was not willing as normally only Additional SGs argue before TDSAT.
Third one to GO
Raval is the third law officer to quit in UPA-II regime Solicitor General Rohinton Nariman resigned amid speculation over his differences with Ashwani Kumar Nariman’s predecessor Gopal Subramanium had quit following differences with the government on the telecom issue
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BJP sweeps Uttarakhand civic body elections
Dehradun, April 30 The BJP won the prestigious Dehradun, Haldwani and Haridwar mayoral seats and the party was ahead in 28 nagar palikas and 35 nagar panchayats. The BJP wave swept away the Congress in both the Kumaoni and Garhwal regions, and with it's confidence restored, the party is looking forward to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. In all the BJP managed to win 17 mayoral and chairman seats (total seats 69) and it's councillors posted wins in 125 wards out of a total of 469 wards, whose elections were announced today. In all the elections were held for 690 seats (for ward members) and 69 civic bodies in the state. The BJP had fought the elections on 66 civic bodies in the state. If the Congress state in charge Yashpal Arya and Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna did little less than compliment each other with their laid back style, in sharp contrast the Uttarakhand BJP was ready to strike under the leadership of it's newly elected state chief Teerath Singh Rawat and host of senior leaders who decided to keep their differences in abeyance to work for the victory of the party. "What clicked for us was a united effort put up by the party workers who went from house to house galvanising people. Beside the Congress government's one-year rule has been marred by corruption. The interest of the state and it's people were sacrificed at the altar of illegal sale of land and corporate interest. The Congress government under Vijay Bahuguna took one bad decision after another. It even reversed several good decisions taken by the previous Khanduri government. This greatly disturbed and angered the people," said Teerath Singh Rawat. While the Congress approach to the elections was amateurish, the BJP managed to do thorough homework in the distribution of tickets and did not fail to expel the party leaders who stood against the official candidates. "We faced a problem of plenty. There were several candidates clamouring for the party ticket. In fact the Independent candidate Yashpal
Rana, who won the Roorkee Mayor seat, was also eyeing the party seat but on being refused, he stood as an Independent candidate," said
Rawat.
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UP pays enhanced relief to families of electrocuted kids
Lucknow, April 30 Today, the Uttar Pradesh Government presented evidence of complying with the NHRC recommendations of paying Rs 3 lakh each to the next of kin of the four children who had been electrocuted. Earlier, the state government had paid just Rs 1 lakh each. The incident had occurred on May 23, 2010 when at Salempur village in Saharanpur, four children succumbed to electrocution due to the negligence of the state government. Prima facie, three officials had been found guilty of carelessness and had been suspended. They were a Sub-Divisional Officer, assistant engineer and a lineman. Initially, the state government had paid relief of Rs 1 lakh each to the bereaved families. But the NHRC had asked the authorities to increase the amount to Rs 3 lakh each. Today, the state government presented proof of payment before the commission.
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BJP looks to rally public support against relocation of Asiatic lion
Ahmedabad, April 30 In the presence of state BJP president RC Faldu and two ministers of state in the Modi Cabinet - Rajni Patel (Home) and Govind Patel (forest and environment) - more than 25,000 people took pledge at a function at Talala, near Junagadh, against plans to relocate lions. A division bench of the Supreme Court had last week ordered the Gujarat Government to complete formalities in six months to shift a few pairs of Asiatic lions from their only abode, Gir Sanctuary in the Saurashtra region, to Kuno-Palpur in Madhya Pradesh to create a second home for the threatened species. The state wildlife board at its meeting held under the chairmanship of Modi decided to file a review petition challenging the order. The Talala gathering was meant to raise funds to protect cattle facing acute drought conditions but the occasion was used to rally support on the lion issue. “While we were moving around villages in Talala and some other parts of the Saurashtra region along to the Gir Sanctuary to organise the camp, we received pleas from people to do something to prevent relocation of Asiatic lions. People in the region are particularly protective of the Asiatic lions,” said Dillip Sojitra, a senior BJP leader and one of the organisers of the camp. Around 25,000 people from nearby villages had gathered for the “Dairo” (a musical programme with Saurashtrian folk songs). The BJP leadership hinted that more such ceremonies would be organised in the coming days to enable people to take similar pledges against the relocation of lions. Over Rs 1 crore was raised at the event to protect cattle. The musical fest was organised by some builders from Ahmedabad, Surat and Rajkot with the participation of 33 “gaushalas” taking care of the drought-stricken cattle. “The funds would be distributed among various ‘gaushalas’ and we will organise similar programmes in different parts of the region to raise funds to save cattle from drought,” Sojitra said. A large number of cattle breeders have already started migrating from the Saurashtra region along with their animals for greener pastures elsewhere, particularly the south Gujarat region.
Pledging opposition
25,000 people take pledge against the relocation of some Asiatic lions at a BJP-sponsored function The event was organised to raise funds for cattle battling drought-like conditions in the Saurashtra region The SC has asked Gujarat to shift a few pairs of lions from Gir Sanctuary to Kuno-Palpur in Madhya Pradesh as part of conservation plan
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I-T sleuths search Ekta Kapoor, family’s premises
Mumbai, April 30 According to sources here, the search and survey operations began at around 7 am when the officers knocked on the doors of Balaji Telefilms promoted by Kapoor. Offices and residences of Ekta's father, yesteryears actor Jeetendra and brother Tusshar Kapoor were also raided. In all seven properties in Mumbai are being searched. Search operations were being conducted well into the evening as well. Senior IT officials were tight-lipped about the raids though some told reporters off the record that the statements of Ekta Kapoor and her father Jeetendra would be recorded. Officials say, Jeetendra who is chairman of her company is known to be involved in its operations. Reports say Kapoor's company is under the taxmen's scanner for understating income and profits apart from padding up expenses in order to evade taxes.
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First Shariah court opens in Mumbai
Mumbai, April 30 “Our aim is to render effective justice in an inexpensive manner,” Maulana Hakim Mehmood Dariyabadi of the AIMPLB said. According to the Maulana, the Shariah Court will not handle criminal cases or matters which are pending before the courts. “If both parties withdraw matters from the court and approach us for mediation we can help them,” he added. According to the religious leader, decisions by the Shariah Court are not legally binding on either parties and those dissatisfied can still approach the courts if they so desire. The Shariah Court in Mumbai will function from premises at Nagpada in South Central Mumbai from 9 am to 1 in the afternoon. According to the AIMPLB, eminent religious leaders well-versed in Muslim law will be part of the Shariah Court. The court will act as a mediator or negotiator in marital disputes and civil disputes. Criminal cases and those wherein any one of the party has already approached the courts will not be taken up.
New initiative
Will be set up by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board Decisions by the Shariah court are not legally binding on either parties Those dissatisfied can still approach the courts if they so desire
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Fund collecting firms in M’rashtra under scanner
Mumbai, April 30 Amidst allegations that several companies were collecting funds without approval from institutions like the Reserve Bank of India and the Securities Exchange Board of India, the state home department asked district police officials to monitor the functioning of such companies. “We have asked district collectors and the police to keep a tab on such companies,” a state home department official said. However, officials say the police cannot keep a watch on their own unless someone files a complaint. “People file complaints only after a company has gone bust but by then it is too late,” says a senior official. In recent times, a number of companies like Speak Asia which mobilised tens of thousands of rupees from people on the pretext of enrolling them for participating in surveys have been accused of cheating. However, Opposition parties in the state say the crackdown on companies running ponzi, multi-level marketing (MLM), unauthorised chit funds etc is half-hearted. “The Economic Offences Wing of the state police is not keen on cracking down on such companies. Instead they broker settlements between affected parties and these companies,” BJP leader Kirit Somaiya said. Somaiya claimed that he had provided details of 26 companies running such schemes across Maharashtra to the authorities. He further added that such outfits have collectively mobilized more than Rs 10,000 crore from people. He also alleged that some ministers in the Prithiviraj Chavan government were extending political patronage to some of the ponzi scheme operators.
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HC calls for measures to check cancer
Chandigarh, April 30 The Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Jasbir Singh and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain has directed the two states and Chandigarh to take remedial steps and “implement provisions of the Insecticides Act, 1968, and Rules framed thereunder in letter and spirit”. Punjab, as of now, has more than 90 cancer patients per one lakh population, much higher than the national average of 80 per lakh. Christened as “cancer belt”, Malwa has the highest average of 136 cancer patients per lakh population. Though pesticides are not solely to be blamed for the deaths, the co-relation between bug killers and cancer can't be ignored. Punjab with just 2.5 per cent of the country’s farming land uses approximately 18 per cent of pesticides used countrywide. The directions to implement the provisions of the Insecticides Act are significant as the statute regulates the “import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of insecticides with a view to prevent risk to human beings or animals, and for matters connected therewith”. The directions came on a bunch of petitions by the Hari Bhari National Environment Protection Society and other petitioners. The petitioners had sought directions to Punjab and Haryana to strictly enforce the provisions of Insecticides Act, as amended up to date “so that life of citizens, which is in danger on account of excessive use of pesticides on crops, can be protected." As the issue came up for consideration, the Bench asserted: “The writ petition was admitted on May 26, 2011, and the authorities were directed to continue to make efforts to prevent excessive use of pesticides as directed vide orders passed earlier by this court. Today again, it has been said that states have done nothing to stop excessive use of pesticides”. Disposing of the petition, the Bench made it clear that the progress in the case would be monitored by the court. “It is further directed that both the states and the UT, Chandigarh, shall continue to file reports of action taken after every six months…. To submit the report, it shall be the personal responsibility of the Financial Commissioner (Development) of both the states and the Secretary (Development), Chandigarh. If any laxity is shown, strict action will be taken against these officers. The Bench also directed the respondents to keep in mind the recommendations made by committees of experts. As a pilot project, studies were ordered to be undertaken in Malerkotla in Punjab and Sonepat in Haryana.
Deadly Stats
In Punjab, a life is lost to cancer after every minute-and-a-half On an average, 18 persons die of cancer everyday -Punjab has more than 90 cancer patients per one lakh population This is higher than the national average of 80 patients per lakh population The Malwa belt has the highest average of 136 cancer patients per lakh population. Punjab with just 2.5 per cent of the country’s farmland uses approximately 18 % of pesticides used countrywide
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Upset, Sarabjit’s family to return home today
Amritsar, April 30 Talking to The Tribune on phone from Pakistan, Sarabjit’s sister Dalbir Kaur said: “The condition of Sarabjit is very critical while the Pakistan authorities seem to be hiding things from us.” She said after returning home she would meet the country’s top leadership to impress upon them to send a team of Indian doctors to Pakistan for proper treatment of Sarabjit. “I will be heading to New Delhi tomorrow itself and will be meeting AICC chairperson Sonia Gandhi there to bring the plight of Sarabjit into her notice while seeking her help in saving his life.” She said the representatives of the Indian government should also visit Pakistan and see for themselves how Sarabjit is battling for his life. A distraught Dalbir Kaur said the Pakistan doctors attending on Sarabjit have been hiding facts from her right from the first day. They are concealing facts about Sarabjit’s medical condition from me. “Once they even cut short their deliberations about his condition when they noticed that I’m in the same room. At first place they don’t reply to any of our questions regarding his health, and even if they do their tone and tenor is not okay. They talk very roughly,” she added. On reports in a section of media that Sarabjit is “brain dead”, she said firstly the doctors there didn’t speak to them much and even if it was true she would not want his ventilator to be removed. “I will not be convinced about his medical condition till a team of Indian doctors examines him,” she added. She also came out against the Pakistan doctors’ argument that Sarabjit can’t be shifted out of the country for better treatment, wondering that if Malala Yousufzai could be taken abroad in critical condition then why not Sarabjit. She was also upset over Pakistan rejecting India’s appeal to repatriate Sarabjit on humanitarian grounds. Dalbir Kaur also smelt some foul play even during the treatment of Sarabjit, as she claimed to have spotted ink on his left thumb. She felt that they might have taken his thumb impression on some documents, taking advantage of his condition. She said when they confronted the doctors on the issue, they could not give a convincing reply. Earlier, there were reports that Sarabjit’s family would return home today and even mediapersons had gathered at Attari border, but the programme got changed at the eleventh hour and they decided to return tomorrow. Meanwhile, Sarabjit’s lawyer Awais Sheikh has expressed doubts that the Jinnah Hospital authorities may be keeping Sarabjit alive artificially. He also disclosed that Sarabjit’s family is not being allowed to speak to the Pakistani media. He said Sarabjit could be shifted to some other country for better treatment. “I understand that it is difficult to shift a person in such a condition, but it is not impossible,” he added.
Lawyer to move Lahore high court
Sarabjit’s lawyer Awais Sheikh has said he will file a petition in the Lahore High Court seeking permission for Indian doctors to join their Pakistani counterparts in extending medical treatment to Sarabjit. “I will prepare the petition after seeing off Sarabjit’s family at the Wagah border on Wednesday morning and will file it at the earliest. We will plead for joint treatment of Sarabjit by doctors from both India and Pakistan,” he added.
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Bengal House clears Bill to protect investors’ interest
Kolkata, April 30 Congress members trooped out when an amendment to the new West Bengal Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishment Bill, 2013, was not accepted by state Finance Minister Amit Mitra who tabled it at a two-day special session of the Assembly. It was a matter of shame for the people of the state that a similar Bill brought by the previous Left Front government in 2003 was faulty and incomplete and did not get Presidential assent, Mitra said. The previous LF government did not withdraw the Bill when it was returned in 2006, but chose to introduce a new legislation on the similar subject in 2008, which was subsequently passed in the Assembly, he said. This legislation was also not enacted, he said adding, it was the duty of the present government to introduce a stringent bill to deal with such financial frauds for which, the 2009 Bill had been withdrawn. The new Bill is more serious and stringent in nature, Mitra said. Opposition leader Suryakanta Mishra said there was mention of a competent authority in the Bill, but it is not clear about that individual’s identity. Since the Saradha scam affected other states as well, the CBI should investigate it, he said. Mishra criticised the government for not accepting some amendments to the Bill. Earlier, the House passed a resolution to withdraw the West Bengal Protection of Investors in Financial Establishments Bill 2009, passed by the Left Front government. It was passed after a division, which was sought by the Opposition. Meanwhile, Justice Shyamal Sen’s judicial commission began its “job” on the Saradha group’s multi-crore chit fund scandal today. However, the commission did not take up any hearing since some formalities were yet to be completed. But Justice Sen hoped formal hearings would begin within next two-three days. The commission had already received several complaints from the depositors. The commission will try to submit the report to the Chief Minister within the stipulated six-month time, Justice Sen told mediapersons today. Police investigations and the official records revealed today that the Saradha group was operating a secret Internet “server” from Boston, USA, directly linked with the computer of Sudipta Sen for monitoring the chit fund operation and recording its detailed accounts. The inquiry further detected the alleged involvement of some more Trinamool ministers, leaders and several other high-profile personnel of different circles, who were close to Mamata Banerjee.
2 fund-raising firms face Mamata’s ire
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday ordered the closure of two fund-raising companies which had two or three sister concerns. "We have given instructions to close the two companies in 24 hours and we are keeping an eye on other such companies," the CM told reporters in the Assembly lobby after her speech in the House during the passage of the new investors' interest protection bill. Stating that the new bill was a timely step, she claimed that the day would be remembered in history not only in Bengal, but in the entire country and the world
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Agitation delays exam at IIT-Kharagpur
Kolkata, April 30 The workers, affiliated to the TMC trade union, began a sit-in carrying TMC flags and festoons just around the time the paper was to start. The agitation obstructed students’ and teachers’ entry to the venue. The workers were raising slogans demanding permanent employment. But soon the report reached the TMC headquarters in Kolkata and immediate instructions were sent to TMC leaders at Kharagpur to withdraw the agitation. The instructions were complied with and the examination started with one-hour delay.
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1 dead in Assam police firing
Tezpur/Goalpara, April 30 The toll in yesterday's violence in curfew-bound Goalpara district, meanwhile, rose to five with the recovery of two bodies today. The clash broke out at Baghmari in lower Assam's Sonitpur district in the early hours when people from various ‘char’ (riverine) areas and other villagers, angry over the blocking of a private road by a PSU, attacked and injured over 20 policemen and set ablaze three police vehicles, official sources said. — PTI
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K’taka Poll: Yeddy set for smooth ride in bastion Shikaripura
Shikaripura (Shimoga), April 30 On the other hand, the lawn of the
two-storey house where the BJP’s office is located on the second floor is empty. Inside sit a handful of people. Party worker Yahya Khan insisted everyone has gone out to campaign. Girish Kumar
Dharwar, BJP’s Shikaripura Taluk secretary, lets out the truth. “We have started from zero. All veterans from the area have joined the KJP floated by
Yeddyurappa”, he says. Yeddyurappa, who is seeking his seventh electoral victory from his home constituency of
Shikaripura, floated the KJP after he was made to resign from the Chief Minister’s post by the BJP high command following a Lokayukta report that his family members had received illegal gratification from a mining company. Congress candidate
Gowda, who sports an impressive moustache, is an erstwhile BJP Member of Legislative Council
(MLC). Gowda turned against the BJP after he was denied a second term as an
MLC. His supporters are counting on the corruption charges against Yeddyurappa to turn the tide against the KJP leader.
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Mamata renames streets in Kolkata
UP official beats, snatches Rs 3,000 from truck driver
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Upset over her speech in the Lok Sabha being disrupted today, Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj today announced a boycott of all meetings called by Speaker Meira Kumar and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath and accused Congress president Sonia Gandhi for it.
Mumbai, April 30
Apparently dejected with the medical treatment being extended to Sarabjit Singh at Lahore’s Jinnah Hospital, his family members are all set to return to India via Attari-Wagah border tomorrow. The family had crossed over to Pakistan merely a couple of days back to visit Sarabjit who was brutally attacked by his fellow prisoners at Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore on April 26.
The West Bengal Assembly today passed a new bill formulated by the Trinamool Congress government for protection of investors in chit fund companies, amidst a walkout by the Opposition Congress.
Congress members trooped out when an amendment to the new West Bengal Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishment Bill, 2013, was not accepted by state Finance Minister Amit Mitra who tabled it at a two-day special session of the Assembly.
The
BJP, which has been stalling the parliamentary proceedings on the issue demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Law Minister, said the government received a “well-deserved rap” from the Supreme Court and charged the UPA regime with denigrating the institution of law officers.
