SPECIAL COVERAGE
CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI



THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
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N A T I O N

Sindhurakshak fire: Navy will take a hit
New Delhi, August 14
Indian Navy's crippling submarine shortage was already hindering country's projection as a major global maritime power and the accident today means one of the front line vessels has been rendered out of service, if not destroyed completely. Today's accident puts additional pressure on the existing undersea assets, which are at level much lower than desired or planned by the Ministry of Defence.

KG oil exploration: SC plea seeks scrapping of Reliance contract
New Delhi, August 14
Another PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of the contract awarded to Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and Canada-based NIKO Resources for exploration and production of natural gas at the Krishna-Godavari Delta block (KG-D6).

HC miffed at GJM ‘janata curfew’ in Darjeeling
Kolkata, August 14
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) will continue with its agitation in support of Gorkhaland but may call off the indefinite bandh in Darjeeling, said GJM general secretary Roshan Giri today. This comes shortly after the Calcutta High Court expressed its displeasure at the “janata curfew” imposed by the GJM in the hills and called it another form of bandh.


EARLIER STORIES



Modi overture has Naidu in a bind
Hyderabad, August 14
A friendly overture by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has pushed Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu into a state of dilemma. While a section of TDP leaders, particularly from the Telangana region, favours revival of alliance with the saffron party to boost the party’s prospects in the 2014 general election, Naidu has, on several occasions in the past, ruled out any tie-up with the BJP as it would adversely affect his party’s secular image.

‘Lal Qila vs Lalan College’
Ahmedabad, August 14
"Lal Qila versus Lalan College". Sounds odd, but that is what Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi believes India will see on the Independence Day tomorrow. Addressing youths at a convention on the eve of the 67th Independence Day celebrations today, Modi claimed that the entire country would watch and compare what Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after unfurling the Tricolour say from the ramparts of the Lal Qila (Red Fort) with what he would speak at the state-level Independence Day celebrations, which this year would be held on the Lalan College campus at Bhuj, the district headquarter of Kutch.

Gallantry awards okayed for 43
New Delhi, August 14
President Pranab Mukerjee has approved 43 gallantry awards for members of paramilitary and armed forces. The awards include one Ashoka Chakra, three Kirti Chakras, 10 Shaurya Chakras, two Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 21 Sena Medals (Gallantry), one Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry) and five Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).

Gogoi meets PM, Sonia over statehood stir in Assam
Guwahati, August 14
Faced with the deadline set by at least two agitating groups for a date for tripartite talks on separate state demand, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is camping in New Delhi meeting Central leaders in its efforts to convince them to make an announcement for holding such talks.

Fodder scam: SC rejects Lalu’s plea for shifting trial
New Delhi, August 14
In a setback to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, the Supreme Court yesterday rejected his plea for transferring the trial against him in a 1997 fodder scam case to some other court in Jharkhand. Yadav had sought transfer pleading that the trial court judge PK Singh was a relative of Education Minister PK Shahi in the Bihar government headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, his (Yadav’s) “biggest political enemy” and as such was biased against him.

Turmoil over Telangana hits Tirumala hard
Hyderabad, August 14
India’s richest temple, Tirumala, in Andhra Pradesh today felt the heat of the turmoil rocking the Rayalaseema and coastal regions against the UPA’s decision to carve out separate Telangana state.

Solar scam: Breather for Kerala Chief Minister Chandy
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 14
Beleagured Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, under attack from CPM-led LDF opposition ever since the solar scam broke out in June, has got a breather after the Front called off its two-day secretariat siege yesterday.

Quota in AIIMS faculty
Parties seek amendment to annul SC order
New Delhi, August 14
Putting aside their political differences, all political parties today demanded that Parliament should pass a constitutional amendment annulling a Supreme Court order against reservation for faculty in the super-speciality sections of leading institutions like the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

SC rejects review pleas of Bhullar, his wife
Devender Pal Singh Bhullar New Delhi, August 14
The Supreme Court has rejected the petitions of death-row convict Devender Pal Singh Bhullar and his wife Navneet Kaur, both seeking a review of its April 12, 2013, judgment refusing to commute the sentence to that of life term. The review petitions were considered by a Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and SJ Mukhopadhaya in the judges’ chamber yesterday.

Chopper carrying Asaram Bapu's son crash-lands, occupants safe
Ahmedabad, August 14
A private helicopter carrying godman Asaram Bapu's son Narayan Sai and three others crash-landed, apparently due to a technical snag, at a cemetery in the Gomatipur area here today.

Countdown for GSLV-D5 begins on August 18
Chennai, August 14
The 29-hour countdown for the launch of India's GSLV-D5, powered by indigenous cryogenic upper stage and carrying communication satellite GSAT-14, will start on August 18 at 11.50 am, an ISRO spokesman said today.

Rajya Sabha debates Ansari’s ‘anarchist’ remark
New Delhi, August 14
A day after Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari took members by surprise when he described the House as a “federation of anarchists”, the Upper House today witnessed an impromptu debate on merits of the word “anarchist” using 45 minutes of the Question Hour proceedings.

Explosion near Manipur CM’s residence again
Imphal, August 14
For the second time in four days, a powerful bomb exploded close to Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh's official residence here this evening on the eve of Independence Day. There was no casualty, official sources said.

Army not involved in Indian soldiers killing: Pak
New Delhi, August 14
Pakistan today denied the involvement of its Army in the killing of five Indian soldiers on the Line of Control (LoC) recently even as it announced the cancellation of the visit of its pilgrims to India from August 22 for the annual gathering of Hazrat Amir Khusro due to ‘security reasons’.

Nawaz Sharif greets Manmohan on I-Day
New Delhi, August 14
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has sent greeting to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the occasion of India's Independence Day. He also reiterated his desire to meet Manmohan Singh in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly next month. "The people of Pakistan aspire to promote friendly relations between our two countries. I look forward to our meeting in New York to discuss issues of mutual interest. It is our desire to turn a fresh page in our bilateral relations," he said in the message. — TNS

 





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Sindhurakshak fire: Navy will take a hit
Ajay Banerjee/TNS

New Delhi, August 14
Indian Navy's crippling submarine shortage was already hindering country's projection as a major global maritime power and the accident today means one of the front line vessels has been rendered out of service, if not destroyed completely. Today's accident puts additional pressure on the existing undersea assets, which are at level much lower than desired or planned by the Ministry of Defence.

The INS Sindhurakshak, a 16-year-old vessel that sank off the coast of Mumbai at the naval dockyard today was among the few submarines that can fire at targets on land while being submerged in water. Fitted with Russian Klub-class subsonic cruise missiles having a range of 160 nautical miles (about 300 km), these used an active radar-seeker and Glonass satellite for guidance towards the target.

The INS Sindurakshak and other such Kilo-class submarines were purchased from Russia in batches over the past 27 years. The one that got damaged today was purchased in 1997 at a cost of $100 million. The Navy has nine more such submarines. Some of these carry the Klub-class missiles, while others are being re-fitted by Russians.

A missile fired from undersea is a potent weapon as it is very hard to detect by enemy radars and satellites since the location of the firing submarine is not known.

After today's accident, India now has 13 conventional diesel-electric submarines, besides nuclear-powered INS Chakra, which has been leased from Russia for 10 years. Not all are available for sailing. The crew and machine need rest and rotation, hence no more than 7-8 are available at any given point in time.

India's slow pace in submarine development is glaring. In 1999, the Cabinet approved a 30-year submarine construction plan, for constructing 24 conventional submarines. Till now, none has been produced. The first of the lot of six being built at Mumbai by French company DCNS will be out in 2016.

The INS Sindhurakshak and the other Kilo-class of submarines are tasked with operational deployments on either side of the Indian coast. New Delhi has a stated area of interest that lies between the straits of Malacca to the east and the Straits of Hormuz to the west. These many submarines are not enough for such vast areas that have been witnessing piracy and expeditionary expansion of the Chinese.

Submarine power

  • INS Sindhurakshak is a Russian Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine. It enjoys a reputation of being 'extremely quiet', an undersea advantage.
  • The submarine had come back to India in April 2013 after a major upgrade at Russia's Zvezdochka shipyard at a cost of $80 million (approx Rs 480 crore)
  • This is the worst peacetime Indian Naval accident. The last big accident before this was a midair collision of two IL-38 Naval planes at Goa in 2002 when 16 persons, including four civilians, were killed

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KG oil exploration: SC plea seeks scrapping of Reliance contract
R Sedhuraman
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, August 14
Another PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of the contract awarded to Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and Canada-based NIKO Resources for exploration and production of natural gas at the Krishna-Godavari Delta block (KG-D6).

The PIL by NGO Common Cause, former Cabinet Secretary TSR Subramanian, former naval chief Admiral L Ramdas and retired Union Secretary Ramaswamy Iyer has pleaded for a directive to the Centre to this effect, citing “RIL’s persistence failure in adhering to their commitments, deliberate underproduction, gold plating (inflating) of expenses and mala fide conduct”.

The SC has already issued notice to the Centre and the RIL on a PIL filed by CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta seeking quashing of the government’s decision to double the natural gas price from $4.2 per million British thermal unit (mbtu) to $ 8.4 per mbtu from April 2014.

The hike would result in a “massive hike in power tariffs and fertiliser costs”, besides benefiting the RIL at the cost of the poor and the government. The RIL stood to gain by Rs 81,000 crore from KG-D6 alone in just five years from April 2004 following the hike, Dasgupta had pleaded.

The fresh PIL has also sought a thorough probe by a special investigation team (SIT) or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under SC’s supervision into the high-level collusion between the RIL and the political establishment and the corruption involved, including on the aspects of not taking any action against the RIL for hoarding gas.

The probe should also cover the doubling of gas price and giving retrospective tax benefit to the RIL and non-relinquishment of area by the RIL.

“In spite of the fact that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had exposed the gold plating by the RIL, no action was taken. In spite the fact that a show-cause notice had been issued to the RIL for its deliberate underproduction, no action was taken and eventually the matter was not pursued. In spite of the fact that the cost of domestic extraction of gas is less than $2 per mmbtu, and RIL had bid for 17 years contract with the NTPC and the RNRL to supply gas at $ 2.34 mmbtu, the government first doubled the gas rate to $ 4.2 per mmbtu and now had redoubled it to $ 8.4 per mmbtu, making it the highest price rate in the world,” the PIL filed through lawyer Prashant Bhushan contended.

Feeling the heat

  • The PIL seeks a directive to the Centre to cancel the contract awarded to Reliance Industries and a Canada-based firm for exploration of natural gas in the Krishna-Godavari Delta block
  • The SC has already issued notice to the Centre and the RIL on another PIL seeking quashing of the government decision to double the natural gas price

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HC miffed at GJM ‘janata curfew’ in Darjeeling
Tribune News Service & PTI


Stray dogs lie on a lonely street during a curfew on the 12th day of indefinite strike called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha in Darjeeling Hills on Wednesday. — PTI

Kolkata, August 14
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) will continue with its agitation in support of Gorkhaland but may call off the indefinite bandh in Darjeeling, said GJM general secretary Roshan Giri today. This comes shortly after the Calcutta High Court expressed its displeasure at the “janata curfew” imposed by the GJM in the hills and called it another form of bandh.

The GJM observed “janata curfew” in the Darjeeling hills today prior to the relaxation of the indefinite bandh for four days from tomorrow.

The high court observed that the fundamental rights of the people were being curbed and asked why the GJM should not be asked to compensate damage to public and private property in the hills.

A division Bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Joymalyo Bagchi directed the GJM, which is demanding a separate Gorkhaland state, to file an affidavit by September 5 stating why compensation costs should not be imposed on it.

The Bench expressed displeasure over the GJM’s violation of its August 5 order which had held the indefinite bandh in Darjeeling illegal.

Seeking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s intervention, Giri said: “The Central Government and the Prime Minister should intervene. It is not a law and order problem. It is a political problem. The people in the hills want Gorkhaland. If the people can get Telangana, why don’t we get Gorkhaland?”

“The Gorkhaland demand is legitimate and the people of the hills will fight to the end. Whether or not the present form of agitation by observing an indefinite bandh in the hills will continue will be decided at the all-party meeting at Darjeeling on August 16,” he said.

Giri declined to comment on the high court order saying they had not yet received the copy of the order.

“We will consult legal experts after getting the court order and may move the Supreme Court against the order,” he said. He said the “janata curfew” was an expression of protest by the people against injustice.

The Darjeeling issue was also raised in the Lok Sabha today by BJP MP from Darjeeling Jaswant Singh, who pleaded in support of Gorkhaland. He asked the state government to take immediate steps to end the impasse.

A Trinamool Congress member attacked Jaswant Singh for seeking a political solution to the issue but later expressed regret.

Governor M K Narayanan has ruled out the possibility of his mediation in Darjeeling. “Since I am the Governor, I cannot mediate in the Darjeeling matter,” Narayanan told mediapersons in Kolkata.

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Modi overture has Naidu in a bind
Suresh Dharur/TNS

Hyderabad, August 14
A friendly overture by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has pushed Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu into a state of dilemma. While a section of TDP leaders, particularly from the Telangana region, favours revival of alliance with the saffron party to boost the party’s prospects in the 2014 general election, Naidu has, on several occasions in the past, ruled out any tie-up with the BJP as it would adversely affect his party’s secular image.

During the Hyderabad rally to launch his party’s poll campaign in the South, Modi sought to woo the TDP into the NDA fold, saying the regional party, founded by the Telugu matinee idol and Naidu’s father-in-law NT Rama Rao in 1982 on anti-Congress plank, had a great responsibility to make India “Congress-free”.

It was a subtle message to Naidu to join hands with the BJP in its “oust Congress” mission. After losing ground in Karnataka, which was touted as its gateway to the South, the BJP is now looking for an opening in Andhra Pradesh. The TDP, with a strong cadre base, offers the best bet for the BJP to make inroads, particularly in the Telangana region.

The TDP had ended its seven-year alliance with the BJP in 2004 soon after losing power in Andhra Pradesh.

Earlier, Naidu was a key player in the BJP-led NDA government, providing it the crucial outside support. Naidu was among the first leaders to demand Modi’s resignation as Gujarat Chief Minister soon after the 2002 riots.

After severing ties with the BJP, Naidu went for an image make-over by positioning himself as a pro-poor populist leader, abandoning his reforms baggage and moving closer to the Left parties.

The changed political dynamics, in the wake of the announcement on the formation of separate Telangana state, appear to have prompted a rethink among the TDP leaders, particularly in Telangana. “If we revive electoral tie-up with the BJP, it will be a win-win situation for both parties,” said senior TDP leader from Telangana E Dayakar Rao.

But the party has not officially responded to Modi’s offer. The current thinking among the top TDP leadership is that the Muslims would distance themselves from the party if it aligned with the BJP.

Naidu is bound to come under pressure from Telangana leaders to revive the alliance with the BJP to take on the formidable opponents like Congress and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

The TRS is likely to merge with the Congress in view of the ruling party granting statehood for the region.

Mending fences

  • Gujarat CM Narendra Modi recently sought to woo the TDP at a rally in Hyderabad to launch BJP's poll campaign in the South
  • The TDP had ended its seven-year alliance with the BJP in 2004 soon after losing power in AP
  • A section of TDP leaders, particularly from the Telangana region, favours revival of alliance with the saffron party

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‘Lal Qila vs Lalan College’
Modi claims nation will watch & compare what he and PM say at Independence Day speeches
Manas Dasgupta

Ahmedabad, August 14
"Lal Qila versus Lalan College". Sounds odd, but that is what Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi believes India will see on the Independence Day tomorrow. Addressing youths at a convention on the eve of the 67th Independence Day celebrations today, Modi claimed that the entire country would watch and compare what Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after unfurling the Tricolour say from the ramparts of the Lal Qila (Red Fort) with what he would speak at the state-level Independence Day celebrations, which this year would be held on the Lalan College campus at Bhuj, the district headquarter of Kutch.

In his usual rhetoric, Modi lambasted the UPA government at the Centre and said while his government had "passed with distinction" in the "people's examination" in December last year, the people would seek answers from the Manmohan Singh government in 2014. "What are you going to say? Your government is a miserable failure on all fronts, what answer will you give to the people?" he asked the Prime Minister. "Everyone in the country knows who is making money and for whom and by adopting what methods, we will see how you pass the people's test?" he challenged.

Modi said when the PM was making statements that India was passing through a difficult economic situation and the government was making all possible efforts to overcome the adversity because "money does not grow on the trees," Gujarat had shown that "dollars can be grown even on the barren land of Kutch."

Even as the BJP had agreed to give conditional support to the Centre's Food Security Bill with some amendments, Modi lambasted the measure claiming that instead of guaranteeing food security to the poor, the new move would "snatch away rotis from the mouth of the poorest of the poor who were being provided cheap foodgrains by all the state governments under the Antodaya scheme."

Reminding the Centre that in a democracy the states function as pillars for the country to remain strong, Modi regretted that the present government at the Centre was treating Gujarat as an "enemy territory" and want to see it as a "fragile state." He said those who were indulging in defaming Gujarat and spreading lies about it was also doing disservice to the nation.

"Do not forget, we have passed the mandate test with distinction last year, now it is your turn to face the people's test," he said. While Gujarat was "marching ahead in fulfilling its dreams, many parts of the country are unhappy under the present scenario," he said.

As customary in the Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations which in the Modi regimes were being held in different district headquarters under a rotational system, the CM announced development projects worth over Rs 840 crore for the Kutch district while also laid the foundation stone for several other projects costing about Rs 300 crore. He said he was often being asked how Gujarat could find funds for development projects when every one else was talking about financial constraints, "but you should know it is your money which under different regimes go elsewhere but I am giving back to you."

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Gallantry awards okayed for 43
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14
President Pranab Mukerjee has approved 43 gallantry awards for members of paramilitary and armed forces. The awards include one Ashoka Chakra, three Kirti Chakras, 10 Shaurya Chakras, two Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 21 Sena Medals (Gallantry), one Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry) and five Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).

The nation’s highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashoka Chakra, has been awarded posthumously to a Sub-Inspector of Andhra Pradesh Police. Sub Inspector KLVSSHNV Prasad Babu was leading an assault unit of Greyhounds in an anti-Maoist operation near Andhra Pradesh-Chhattisgarh border.

“He exhibited extreme courage and conviction and was instrumental in killing nine top-cadre Maoists before attaining martyrdom,” a Defence Ministry spokesperson said.

The Kirti Chakra, the second highest peacetime gallantry award, goes to Major Mahesh Kumar of the Punjab Regiment. The officer is already a gallantry awardee having been decorated with the Sena Medal earlier. Lt Commander Abhilash Tomy of the Navy who circumnavigated the earth alone is also on the list. Inspector Lohit Sonowal of the Assam Police completes the list.

The list of Shaurya Chakra awardees includes: Major Sanjeev Kumar of the Armoured Corps, Major Swagat Kumar Das of the 9th Sikh Light Infantry, Major Amarjeet Singh of the Mechanised Infantry, Major Mohan Chandra, 4th Kumaon, Captain Rampreet Singh of the 3rd J&K Rifles, Naik Balwinder Singh Punjab Regiment, Seaman Aadesh Kumar of the Navy, Air Craftsman Murali Kannan of the IAF (posthumous), Junior Engineer Manish of the Border Road Organisation and PR Mishra Deputy Commandant, CRPF.

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Gogoi meets PM, Sonia over statehood stir in Assam
Bijay Sankar Bora/TNS

Guwahati, August 14
Faced with the deadline set by at least two agitating groups for a date for tripartite talks on separate state demand, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is camping in New Delhi meeting Central leaders in its efforts to convince them to make an announcement for holding such talks.

The All-Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) and the All-Koch-Rajbongshi Students’ Union (AKRSU), which demand separate states for Bodos and Koch-Rajbongshi communities, respectively, have threatened vigorous agitation after August 15 in case the Centre fails to announce date to hold dialogue with them on their demand. They had conveyed this to Gogoi during discussion with him last week.

“I have already met the Prime Minister and the UPA chairperson and explained to them the ground situation. I am hopeful that the Centre would announce a date for talks with these groups soon,” Gogoi who is in New Delhi, said today. He was also scheduled to meet P Chidambaram, who is currently holding additional charge of home in the absence of Sushil Kumar Shinde.

Gogoi said he had explained to both the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi about the situation in Assam in the wake of Centre’s announcement on Telangana statehood. Gogoi said though he was against further division of Assam, he hoped that present crisis could be resolved through talks.

“Why set deadlines like three or four days. Give the government some more time, some reasonable time. The Centre needs to weigh the pros and cons of the issues before actually taking a formal decision to invite them to talks,” Gogoi said apparently expressing his displeasure over so short deadline set by the agitating groups to mount pressure on the government.

“The process of dialogue should start. Let us first all agree to start talking,” Gogoi said. He pointed asserted that he wanted Assam to remain united.

The Joint Action Committee for Autonomous State (JACAS) and the Hill State Democratic Party (HSDP) have all threatened to resume ‘vigorous’ agitations immediately after Independence Day to press for their demand for a separate state comprising two hill districts of Assam - Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao.

“We had given a deadline of August 13. Now that it has expired, we have asked our people to prepare for a long agitation programme,” ABSU president Pramod Boro said from Kokrajhar. The students’ body’s leaders will meet in Kokrajhar to decide future course of action.

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Fodder scam: SC rejects Lalu’s plea for shifting trial
R Sedhuraman
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, August 14
In a setback to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, the Supreme Court yesterday rejected his plea for transferring the trial against him in a 1997 fodder scam case to some other court in Jharkhand. Yadav had sought transfer pleading that the trial court judge PK Singh was a relative of Education Minister PK Shahi in the Bihar government headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, his (Yadav’s) “biggest political enemy” and as such was biased against him.

A three-member Bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam ruled that “in a matter of this nature, it is not at all desirable to shift the case to some other court at the last hour”, pointing out that even the date for the judgment had been fixed by the trial judge.

The SC also noted that trial judge Singh had been conducting the case since November 2011, examining witnesses and hearing arguments by both the prosecution and the accused.

“It is not clear how the appellant (Yadav) has such an apprehension at this stage. If the appellant really had any apprehension in his mind, this could have been raised at the earliest point in time and not after the conclusion of evidence and arguments, particularly, on the eve of pronouncement of judgment,” the Bench said.

The other members on the Bench were Justices Ranjana Desai and Ranjan Gogoi. The “only error” committed by the trial judge was to abruptly fix July 15 as the date for judgment after asking both sides to submit written submissions. In view of this, the SC asked him to hear the oral arguments of the prosecution for five days and of the accused for 15 days and pronounce the verdict “as early as possible”.

Allaying the apprehensions of bias, the SC said “independence of judiciary is the basic feature of the Constitution. It demands that a judge who presides over the trial, the public prosecutor who presents the case on behalf of the state” must work in the interest of justice “uninfluenced by the personality of the accused or those managing the affairs of the state.”

The case pertains to illegal withdrawal of Rs 35 crore from the Chaibasa treasury as part of the Rs 900-crore scam. Yadav had to quit as the Bihar Chief Minister in 1997 after his name figured in the CBI probe. Fifty-four of the 61 cases relating to the fodder scam were transferred to Jharkhand following the bifurcation of Bihar in November 2000.

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Turmoil over Telangana hits Tirumala hard
Suresh Dharur/TNS

Hyderabad, August 14
India’s richest temple, Tirumala, in Andhra Pradesh today felt the heat of the turmoil rocking the Rayalaseema and coastal regions against the UPA’s decision to carve out separate Telangana state.

For the first time in nearly four decades, the bus services to the popular hill shrine came to a halt as the transport employees joined the indefinite mass strike to protest against the bifurcation of the state. Normally, about 1,500 state-owned roadways buses ferry the pilgrims every day to the hill shrine. In the past, the bus services to the temple were always exempted from the strikes.

With the transport staff joining the strike this time, the pilgrims were put to severe inconvenience. On an average, around 50,000 pilgrims visit Tirumala, the abode of Lord Venkateswara, every day and the number crosses one lakh mark on festivals and special occasions.

The usually busy ghat road wore a deserted look today. The officials said that only a few private vehicles were plying. A section of employees of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), an autonomous body managing the affairs of the temple, have also joined the strike to demand the Centre to reverse its decision on formation of Telangana state.

Meanwhile, normal life in Seemandhra remained paralysed as over four lakh government employees began an indefinite strike to protest against the state’s bifurcation. The road transport services were disrupted since midnight as more than 12,000 buses went off the roads.

The employees of state-owned A P State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) took part in the strike.

The AP Non-Gazetted Officers (APNGO) Association, which called for the strike, has exempted emergency services in health, municipal administration and electricity departments. The Seemandhra employees working in the State Secretariat and government offices in Hyderabad too are participating in the strike.

The shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed in all 13 districts of Seemandhra region.

Meanwhile, the wives of the Ministers from Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions met the Governor ESL Narasimhan here and gave a representation calling for keeping the state united. The wives of Ministers Sailajanath, Parthasarathy and Ganta Srinivasa Rao were among those who met the Governor.

Talking to reporters outside Raj Bhavan, Moksha, wife of Sailajanath, said that there was a deep sense of insecurity among the people from Seemandhra who have made Hyderabad their home. “How can we be asked to leave now?” she questioned.

Bus service halts

  • The bus services to the popular hill shrine came to a halt
  • It happened after transport employees joined the indefinite mass strike to protest against the bifurcation of the state
  • Normally, about 1,500 state-owned roadways buses ferry the pilgrims every day to the hill shrine
  • On an average, around 50,000 pilgrims visit Tirumala, the abode of Lord Venkateswara, every day
  • In the past, the bus services to the temple were always exempted from the strikes and Parkash Jha in making the film

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Solar scam: Breather for Kerala Chief Minister Chandy

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 14
Beleagured Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, under attack from CPM-led LDF opposition ever since the solar scam broke out in June, has got a breather after the Front called off its two-day secretariat siege yesterday.

Saritha S Nair (L) and Biju Radakrishnan, prime accused in the solar scam, being produced at a court in Kozhikode on Wednesday. PTI

The manner in which the government handled the agitation, which passed off peacefully has also caught the eye of political observers, who feel it is a partial victory for Chandy as one of the Opposition’s main demands for his resignation over the issue has been turned down.

However, CPM leaders have made it clear their stir for his resignation would continue and have demanded that the Chief Minister’s Office also be brought under the purview of the proposed judicial probe by a sitting HCjudge.

Chandy had already indicated that his office would not come under the probe ambit. “The opposition has pointed out numerous allegations, but they have not been able to bring in any evidence to support the charges. Hence the Chief Minister will not come under scrutiny’, Chandy had said.

Poltical observers feel Chandy has consolidated his position in Congress and among UDF partners by warding off a major challenge.

Though Congress in the state saw emergence of factionalism after a futile attempt for a cabinet re-shuffle by inducting KPCC Chief Ramesh Chennithala, the party closed ranks and gave full support to the government steps to deal with the stir.

Both Chandy and Chennithala are scheduled to meet the high command next week to apprise them of the latest political situation in the state. The strategy for improving the image of the UDF ministry is also likely to be discussed with the party leaders, party sources said.

The solar scam is connected to cheating of many people by accused Biju Radhakrishnan and Saritha Nair, both under arrest, by offering clients solar energy solutions. They allegedly flaunted their clout with the CM’s office to dupe unsuspecting clients of huge sums.

It took a political turn after the arrest of a personal assistant of Chandy for his alleged links with the accused. A gunman of the Chief Minister was also suspended for his alleged association with the fraudsters. — PTI

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Quota in AIIMS faculty
Parties seek amendment to annul SC order
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14
Putting aside their political differences, all political parties today demanded that Parliament should pass a constitutional amendment annulling a Supreme Court order against reservation for faculty in the super-speciality sections of leading institutions like the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

The government promised the Lok Sabha that it would consider bringing in a constitutional amendment. Speaker Meira Kumar set aside the agenda for question hour to take up the AIIMS reservation issue. All parties suggested that the government should bring in a constitutional amendment without delay.

“The whole House is very agitated over this issue and my suggestion to the government side is that it should think of a constitutional amendment,” the Speaker said.

Law Minister Kapil Sibal said the government would file a review petition in the Supreme Court on Monday, seeking revocation of the order against reservation for higher faculty in AIIMS. If the order was not annulled, the government would bring in a constitutional amendment, he said.

Members, however, demanded that the government should bring in a constitutional amendment at the earliest.

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SC rejects review pleas of Bhullar, his wife
R Sedhuraman
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, August 14
The Supreme Court has rejected the petitions of death-row convict Devender Pal Singh Bhullar and his wife Navneet Kaur, both seeking a review of its April 12, 2013, judgment refusing to commute the sentence to that of life term.

The review petitions were considered by a Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and SJ Mukhopadhaya in the judges’ chamber yesterday.

In the April 12 verdict, the SC had ruled that terrorists had no right to seek mercy citing official delays in their execution or other reasons.

A trial court in Delhi had sentenced Bhullar to death in August 2001 for his role in the 1993 bomb attack on Youth Congress President MS Bitta in which nine security personnel were killed and 17 injured, including Bitta.

However, the rejection of the review pleas is not the end of the road for Bhullar. A PIL filed by his wife in May this year is pending in the SC, while a Patiala resident, Tarsem Singh Khatkar, has also sent a letter petition. In the PIL, Kaur has questioned the legality of the May 30, 2011, Presidential order rejecting Bhullar’s mercy plea.

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Chopper carrying Asaram Bapu's son crash-lands, occupants safe

Ahmedabad, August 14
A private helicopter carrying godman Asaram Bapu's son Narayan Sai and three others crash-landed, apparently due to a technical snag, at a cemetery in the Gomatipur area here today.

However, the occupants of the four-seater VTHPC-make chopper of TEJ Airways escaped with minor injuries when it made a vertical crash-landing in Chartoda cemetery after declaring an emergency around 6:22 pm, Air Traffic Control (ATC) sources said.

Two devotees and the pilot escaped with minor injuries. The helicopter, hired by Sai, was coming from Godhra and was scheduled to land at the heliport at Asaram's ashram. Rescue teams from fire department and three emergency vehicles rushed to the spot.

On August 29 last year, Asaram and four others had a narrow escape when their helicopter crash-landed in Godhra. — PTI

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Countdown for GSLV-D5 begins on August 18

Chennai, August 14
The 29-hour countdown for the launch of India's GSLV-D5, powered by indigenous cryogenic upper stage and carrying communication satellite GSAT-14, will start on August 18 at 11.50 am, an ISRO spokesman said today.

"It will be a 29-hour countdown and it will commence at 11.50 am on August 18," the spokesman told PTI.

The crucial launch is scheduled at 4.50 pm on August 19 from the second launchpad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, some 80 km here.

This will be the second attempt by the Indian Space Research Organisation to flight test the indigenous cryogenic stage after the failure of the previous mission of GSLV-D3.

The GSLV flight with a Russian cryogenic stage also failed in December 2010.

GSLV-D5 has been moved to the launch pad and other preparations were underway, ISRO sources said.

After the unsuccessful launch in April 2010, the failure analysis committee had concluded that the thrust build up did not progress as expected due to non-availability of liquid hydrogen supply to the thrust chamber of the main engine.

In the last three years, ISRO conducted extensive failure analysis studies and reviews. Cryo stage FBTP was modified as per GSLV-D3 failure analysis committee recommendations and qualification tests carried out. — PTI

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Rajya Sabha debates Ansari’s ‘anarchist’ remark
Vibha Sharma/TNS

New Delhi, August 14
A day after Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari took members by surprise when he described the House as a “federation of anarchists”, the Upper House today witnessed an impromptu debate on merits of the word “anarchist” using 45 minutes of the Question Hour proceedings.

The Question Hour is considered quite close to the heart of Ansari. He has publicly stated on many occasions that the sanctity of the Question Hour must be maintained at all costs. But today he watched patiently as Rajya Sabha members, some for and some against his yesterday’s observation, debated on the usage of the word “anarchist” and also the way “some” MPs were wasting precious time and public money by disrupting the House.

An extremely upset Ansari had on Tuesday observed: “Every single rule, every single etiquette is being violated. If honourable members wish this House to become a federation of anarchists, then it is a different matter,” as the BJP and the Congress sparred over the alleged land dealings of Robert Vadra.

This evoked sharp reaction from BJP members with senior leaders Arun Jaitley and Venkaiah Naidu reminding him of past instances of unruly behaviour by members of the ruling coalition in the House, recommending that the “unparliamentary” remark be expunged. The Left, the TMC and the SP too pitched in with their views on usage of the phrase but Ansari drew support from members of the treasury benches and those supporting the government preached on the need for introspection on behaviour inside the House.

Ansari’s personal take on the issue was that the word ‘anarchist’ was not an allegation or an attribute to the House but a question posed to the House. “If a question is posed it cannot be an allegation,” he observed.

He concluded the debate by saying that his Secretariat would review it in light of the atmosphere prevailing in the House at that time. “Time has come to review our practices and rules and carry out changes as necessary. I will ask the Secretariat to review the remarks (made yesterday) in light of the record they have,” he said, adding that he would soon call a meeting of leaders to discuss how rules need to be amended. “Now can I beg your indulgence to have the Question Hour,” he said, after which a couple of questions were taken up.

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Explosion near Manipur CM’s residence again

Imphal, August 14
For the second time in four days, a powerful bomb exploded close to Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh's official residence here this evening on the eve of Independence Day. There was no casualty, official sources said.

The bomb, an improvised explosive device, exploded at around 6:20 pm, 300 metre from the chief minister's official residence, in front of the City Convention Centre and near the state police headquarters, the sources said. They said that the insurgents placed the IED on the footpath and possibly used a remote control device to explode it.

A police team led by DIG (Law and Order) Clay Khongsai blocked all exit routes and checked passers-by after the explosion, the sources said. It was not immediately known how the insurgents infiltrated the high-security area and planted the bomb. There were few people on the streets when the bomb went off in view of the boycott call of Independence Day celebrations by a coordination committee of six major insurgent organisations. — PTI

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Army not involved in Indian soldiers killing: Pak
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14
Pakistan today denied the involvement of its Army in the killing of five Indian soldiers on the Line of Control (LoC) recently even as it announced the cancellation of the visit of its pilgrims to India from August 22 for the annual gathering of Hazrat Amir Khusro due to ‘security reasons’.

“It is very difficult to say how this incident (killing of Indian soldiers) happened but we are very confident that there is no involvement of the Pakistan Army in the incident. And there is a need to see it with an open mind,” Pakistan High Commissioner to India Salman Bashir said while at a brief media interaction after a function to mark Pakistan’s Independence Day at the High Commission here.

He said both India and Pakistan should work towards creating conditions conducive for a meeting between their two PMs in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

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