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Reject politics of vote bank, says Modi
Congress dismisses BJP’s Kanpur claim
GoM on Telangana discusses sharing of assets, demarcation of boundaries
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kasauli literature fest
Remaining two crew of US ship held
Radia tapes: Apex court asks CBI to probe
corporates, tax officials
Donate to relief fund this Diwali: PM
Police suspects abortions at Asaram’s ashram
Mars mission postponed by
one week, says ISRO
Chargesheet against 14 in Bangalore blast case
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Reject politics of vote bank, says Modi
Kanpur, October 19
"The government has only one religion. It is nation first, India first. It has only one religious scripture, that is the Constitution," Modi said, as a mammoth crowd of BJP supporters chanted 'Modi, Modi' repeatedly. Raking up the issue of Congress attacking him on the issue of secularism, the Gujarat Chief Minister said the ruling party has only "one mantra, one chant and one medicine" for winning elections. “Congress has only one mantra, only one medicine- that of vote bank for winning elections. They chant the mantra of secularism to divide the people," he said, adding that BJP is committed to binding people together. Modi said the aim of his party is that whether it is a Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh or Buddhist they should all be "good". "We will have to bury vote bank politics forever. We have to tread on the path of development oriented politics," he said. Attacking the ruling SP and the main opposition BSP in the state, who provide outside support to Congress-led government at the Centre, Modi described them as a "troika" which has "eclipsed" the holy confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. "Uttar Pradesh wants to break free from this eclipse to restore its pristine glory," he said. — PTI
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Congress dismisses BJP’s Kanpur claim
New Delhi, October 19 The dismissal of massive crowds at the Kanpur rally venue came from Congress’ national spokesperson Renuka Choudhary, who said, “When a circus descends on town, crowds converge to watch it; so what?” The party chose to slam Modi back for all his claims of safety in Gujarat (made at Kanpur today), questioning the state Chief Minister for his role in the Godhra riots and his inability to inspire safety in the minorities of Gujarat. The Congress’ instant and loud dismissal of Modi’s development pitch at the Kanpur rally was understandable given Uttar Pradesh’s significance in the poll mathematics of Lok Sabha. The state returns the maximum - 80 - MPs to the Lok Sabha with the BJP this time eyeing close to 40 seats. In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had won 10 seats in UP with 17.5 per cent vote share. The Congress vote share was 18.25 per cent and its tally was 21 seats - more than double the BJP’s. “We don’t need any lessons in safety from Modi. Everyone knows how safe people feel in Gujarat. Everyone remembers Godhra riots. And everyone remembers Ishrat Jahan. Ask her family how safe they feel in Gujarat,” Choudhary said, responding to queries on Modi’s feverish pitch in UP today for a Congress-free nation. Modi’s UP rally today came close on the heels of twin rallies which Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi addressed in the minority dominated pockets of Aligarh and Rampur on October 9. The stark difference between the two was - while Rahul had raked up Muzaffarnagar riots blaming both the BJP and the SP of driving a wedge between communities to gain votes, Modi steered clear of any polarizing remarks today saying a Government has only one religion - the country. The Congress was clearly not amused and took on the BJP poster boy for his statement that the first anti British wave took root in Kanpur before it swept the whole of India in 1857. “History is witness to the fact that it was the Congress that made maximum contributions to the struggle for India’s Independence. And if the country is freed of the Congress, we can well imagine what Modi would do,” Choudhary said in a scathing attack on Modi
and his calls for an India free of Congress. She also challenged Modi’s assertions that except in NDA’s six year rule, the country made no progress whatsoever. "Modi has no clue of policy. Has he ever read newspapers? He is saying all this to realize his dream to become India's Prime Minister. This is all a game of chair and nothing else," Choudhary said.
Names Gujarat leader minority panel chief
In a bid to counter Modi, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday named a senior Muslim leader from Gujarat Congress as the head of its minority panel cell in the AICC. Khurshid Ahmed Saiyed, a lawyer by profession, had played a pivotal role in creating awareness about the PM's 15-point programme for minorities when it was launched. Saiyed is presently general secretary in Gujarat PCC, a post he has held since 2006.
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GoM on Telangana discusses sharing of assets, demarcation of boundaries
New Delhi, October 19 “The GoM discussed in detail terms of reference. We asked secretaries of departments concerned to sit together with officials of the Andhra Pradesh government and make detailed reports on bifurcation,” Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde reporters after the hour-long meeting. Shinde said detailed reports department-wise will be prepared and presented before the next meeting of the GoM to be held on November 7. The Home Minister said except Defence Minister AK Antony all-six members of the ministerial panel attended today's meeting. “We have received around 2,000 emails (from public) giving us various information on bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. All these are being scrutinised," he said. The high-powered ministerial panel will also look into the legal and administrative measures required to ensure that both Telangana and the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh can function efficiently from Hyderabad as the common capital for 10 years. The GoM, headed by Shinde, was constituted to address all the issues that need resolution at the central and state government levels in the matter. After its first meeting on October 11, the GoM had said it would address all concerns of the people of Andhra Pradesh with "fairness and objectivity". The GoM has already discussed the approach and methodology to be adopted by it and said it would take the opinions of stakeholders on all important subjects while formulating its recommendations.
— PTI
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Punjabiyat takes centrestage on Day 2
Nonika Singh Tribune News Service
Kasauli, October 19 Of course, Punjabiyat manifested in the inaugural session with the theme of Punjab in Bollywood. Moderated by writer and film critic Bhaichand Patel, the question that raised its head was - does Bollywood perpetuate stereotype of Punjabis or Hindi cinema serves up the same for that is what the audience is looking for? Actor Rahul Bose drew an analogy with Hollywood. He said just as the portrayal of Indians in Hollywood had evolved over the years from being taxi drivers to doctors and scientists, and now Amitabh Bachchan playing a Jew in The Great Gatsby, similarly Punjabis’ depiction in Hindi cinema had changed. From happy-go-lucky boisterous people, it has come to a point where, as in ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’, it is just incidental that the lead protagonist happens to be a Punjabi. Editor of IQ Madhu Jain held that often the caricature works perfectly as in Vicky Donor where the ultimate message that we are all human beings, too, was underlined emphatically. Theatre person Dolly Thakore, speaking strictly from casting point of view, spoke of how she was always expected to cast someone like Dharmendra for the part of a Punjabi. Filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra dwelt upon how the troubled region was full of stories and how he was subconsciously drawn towards Punjabi subjects. Punjab rather the Partition of Punjab was the subject of yet another session wherein diplomat author Navtej Sarna’s book ‘Savage Harvest’, a translation of short-stories by his father Mohinder Singh Sarna, was the focus. Translator and conservationist Gillian Wright talked of the book in glowing terms as to how the same were brimming with emotive power and moved her deeply. Sarna read out a story ‘The Defender of Humanity’ and shared the key characteristics of his father’s art of storytelling, the most important being how often he would juxtapose the behaviour of man with that of noble animals. Another aspect of Mohinder Singh Sarna’s writing was that he would begin the story with a simple and beautiful account of the day and then move on to paint the sinister designs of the evil in it. Sir Mark Tully, famous BBC commentator and co-author of India in Slow Motion, in his inimitable and engaging style spoke of the romance of railways still the most common mode of transport. Punctuating his interaction with humour, poetry and anecdotes, he drove home the need for railways to develop at a much faster pace than it is right now. Rumi’s insightful poetry, much misunderstood in the West as sensuous, became the referral point of Nawab Mir Jaffar Imam’s session. The writer of three books, the member of a royal clan of Gujarat who has translated Rumi’s poetic musings in English feels that Rumi has to be understood in the right context of spirituality. Eminent theatre-person from Pakistan Madeeha Gauhar’s interaction was all about theatre bridging divides and barriers. The sunny morning amidst the picturesque surroundings also saw book lovers buying books and writers autographing the same. Chandigarh writers
make a mark
Several writers from Chandigarh namely Roopinder Singh, Bhayee Sikander Singh, Manju Jaidka and Chander Suta Dogra, too, had important sessions during the day. Bhayee Sikander Singh and Roopinder Singh co-authors of the book Sikh Heritage, Ethos & Relics stressed the need to first understand and than preserve the priceless Sikh heritage. The discussion on Chandra Sutra Dogra’s book Manoj and Babli, A Hate Story created quite a stir. Helmed by journalist Vineeta Dawra Nangia, who while referring to the ridiculous dictates of Khap panchayats in Haryana, emphasised how the patriarchal mindset gave birth to the so-called ‘honour killings’. The emotive connect of the session was underscored when Narendra, the cousin of the victim Manoj, who, along with his beloved Babli was killed in 2007 made his presence. Rahul Singh, Khushwant Singh’s son, the man behind the literary festival, was moved — He announced a cash award of Rs 20,000 on behalf of the Khushwant Singh Foundation for Narendra who not only took upon himself to fight for the cause of his family but other ‘honour killing’ victims too.
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Remaining two crew of US ship held
Tuticorin (TN), October 19 The police also detained three locals, who were suspected to have illegally sold diesel to the ship ‘M V Seaman Guard Ohio’, owned by a private firm in the US, the police said. High drama preceded the arrest of the two as ship’s chief engineer
Sedo, a Korean, allegedly attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself from the flag mast, but alert port security personnel, including the Central Industrial Security Force, foiled it and rushed him to the port hospital, the police said. After doctors at the hospital declared him normal, he was arrested. The Police also took into custody three locals for allegedly selling 1,500 litres of diesel to the ship. — PTI
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Radia tapes: Apex court asks CBI to probe corporates, tax officials New Delhi, October 19 Holding that the tapped conversations suggests that "unscrupulous elements have used corrupt means to secure favours from government officers", the apex court directed the probe on various issues, including "favours" shown by VK Sibal, the then Director-General of Directorate General of Hydrocarbon, to the RIL and quid pro quo received. It directed the CBI to probe into the allotment of coal blocks for the Sasan Power Project run by the ADAG Group and allotment of iron ore mines at Ankua in Singhbhum district of Jharkhand to Tata Steel. A bench headed by Justice GS Singhvi asked the agency to investigate alleged criminal misconduct by public servants in respect of survey/raids conducted by the Income Tax Department, payment of illegal gratification to tax officials to get work done and conversations regarding allocation of spectrum. Out of 23 issues that were framed by an apex court-appointed probe team on the analysis of the tapped conversations of Radia with bureaucrats, politicians, corporate tycoons and scribes, the court ordered the CBI probe in 14 issues. It also ordered probe into the working of touts and middlemen and kickbacks in the aviation sector besides appointment of Pradip Baijal, ex-chief of TRAI, as the Chairman of Pipeline Advisory Committee. — PTI
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Donate to relief fund this Diwali: PM
New Delhi, October 19 "He has appealed to his well wishers to make donations to the Prime Minister`s National Relief Fund instead of sending
gifts for him," a Prime Minister’s Office statement said. — PTI
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Cash-for-vote scam: Delhi court defers order on framing of charges
New Delhi, October 19 Special Judge Narottam Kaushal was on leave and the matter has been posted for October 28. Amar Singh, accompanied by Bollywood actress and his former party colleague Jaya Prada, and six other accused, turned up in the court. Earlier, the court had reserved its order on framing of charges for today. In the arguments on charge during the past few months, Amar had sought discharge from the case, saying there was no evidence to show that he had induced BJP MPs to cross vote in the trust vote in the Lok Sabha in 2008 in return for money. The Delhi Police, in its first chargesheet filed in August 2011, had accused Amar Singh and LK Advani’s former aide Sudheendra Kulkarni of “conspiring” and “masterminding” the cast-for-vote scam. — PTI
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Police suspects abortions at Asaram’s ashram
Ahmedabad, October 19 The investigation into the possible abortions was forwarded by the police as one of the many reasons for the extension of the police remand of the ‘godman.’ While the police demanded 10-day remand, the court granted three days after his earlier five-day remand expired today. Ahmedabad joint police commissioner JK Bhatt said during the investigation into the complaints lodged by the two Surat-based sisters about “repeated rapes,” the police had also come to learn that illegal abortions were being carried out by some Ashram inmates. It was believed that Dhrubiben, one of the close associates of Asaram’s daughter Bharati, used to take care of such cases of unwanted pregnancies and acted as go-between the patient and the doctor to carry out illegal abortions. Dhrubiben has already secured anticipatory bail on suspicion of being picked up by the police after Bharati and her mother Laxmi were named co-accused in the complaints for allegedly helping Asaram and his son Narayan Sai in carrying out the sexual assaults on
the complainants.
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Mars mission postponed by
one week, says ISRO
Bangalore, October 19 “India's Mars Orbiter Mission spacecraft launch is postponed by about a week. Now it is not on October 28, 2013,” ISRO said in a two-line statement. The statement refrained from explaining the reasons for the delay. An agency report from Chennai, quoting ISRO chairperson K Radhakrishnan, however, said the postponement was due to the delay in the arrival of a terminal-carrying ship Two ships carrying-terminals have been deployed in the South Pacific, where the fourth and last stage of the launch will take place. The ships must relay information on the last stage and ejection of the spacecraft into space. The agency report, quoting Radhakrishnan, said that of the two ships Nalanda and Yamuna, only Yamanua had reached Fiji. Nalanda had not reached there. Nalanda is expected to reach Fiji around October 21. As a result, the Mars mission will not happen on October 28. Radhakrisnan said since the launch window was open between October 28 and November 19, they would decide on a revised date after the ship reached Fiji.
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Chargesheet against 14 in Bangalore blast case
Bangalore, October 19 All 14 persons named in the chargesheet are from Tamil Nadu with a majority from the Coimbatore and Thirunalveli areas. The case was registered at the Vyalikaval police station under various sections of the IPC, the Explosive Substances Act, the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
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Gauhati HC Chief Justice
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Variety was the essence of the second day of the three-day Khushwant Singh Literary Festival at Kasuali Club. From nature to Buddhist monasteries to railways to Rumi’s poetry to theatre as a medium for peace were on offer. Sessions were as varied as interesting and revealing.
Favours allegedly shown to top corporate houses like Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Limited, his brother Anil Ambani's ADAG group,
Tatas, working of touts, kickbacks in the aviation sector, manipulation of Unitech's stocks and illegal gratification paid to tax officers arising from Niira Radia's tapped conversations will be probed by the CBI, the Supreme Court has said.
3 more babies die in hospital