L A T E S T      N E W S

TN decides to release all convicts in Rajiv assassination case 

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Government today decided to release all the seven convicts serving life term in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, a day after the Supreme Court commuted death penalty of three convicts.

An emergent meeting of the State Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa took a decision to set at liberty all the seven convicts including Nalini and Perarivalan.

Others who will be released include Santhan, Murugan, Robert Pious, Jayakumar and Ravichandran.

Making an announcement in the state Assembly, Jayalalithaa said the state would send the Cabinet decision to the Centre seeking its nod as required under Section Cr.Pc section 435 as the case was filed by CBI in the case.

"If there is no reply within three days from the Centre, the state government will release all the seven under Cr.Pc section 432 in accordance with the powers vested with the state government", she declared.

With this decision, the seven serving life term could be free from jail in three days time.

The Supreme Court yesterday commuted the death sentence of three convicts in the case to life imprisonment on the ground of delay in deciding their mercy plea by the Centre.

A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam had rejected the Centre's submission that there was no unreasonable delay in deciding their mercy plea and the condemned prisoners did not go through agonising experience as they were enjoying life behind the bars.

The bench, also comprising justices Ranjan Gogoi and S K Singh, said it was unable to accept the Centre's view and commuted the death sentence of Santhan, Murugan and Perarivalan to imprisonment for life subject to remission by the government.

Gandhi was killed in May 1991. His assassins were convicted by a TADA court in January 1998 and were awarded death sentence, which was confirmed by the apex court on May 11, 1999.

CM J Jayalalithaa tells TN Assembly that the govt has decided to release Santhan, Murugan, Perarivalan, Nalini, Robert Pious, Jayakumar and Ravichandran

The decision to set free the seven Rajiv Gandhi killers was taken at an emergent cabinet meeting chaired by Jayalalithaa today. - PTI

Kiran Reddy resigns as AP CM; also quits Cong over bifurcation 

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy today resigned from his post as well as the Congress protesting the manner in which the state was being divided "by throwing all norms to the wind" and lashed out at political parties for dividing the state in quest of "votes".

Soon after announcing his decision to quit, Kiran drove straight to the Raj Bhavan and handed over his resignation letter to Governor E S L Narasimhan. The chief minister also resigned as MLA.

"I have requested the Governor to make alternative arrangements at the earliest as I have no inclination to continue even as a caretaker," Kiran said.

"This is not an easy decision...I have taken it with a lot of pain that I could not save (unity) of Telugu people," Kiran announced at the crowded press conference at his camp office.

He lashed out at the Congress, along with TDP, YSR Congress, TRS and BJP, for dividing the state only in quest of "votes and seats".

"I strongly condemn this," he said, even as he thanked the Congress for making him the Chief Minister.

"Though I offered to resign the day (July 30, 2013) the CWC decided to bifurcate AP, I continued because Sonia Gandhi asked me to," he said.

"I stayed on to fight against the bifurcation till the end," Kiran said when asked why he was stepping down at the last minute.

The bill to carve out Telangana, the 29th state, by splitting Andhra Pradesh was yesterday passed by the Lok Sabha with Congress and BJP coming together on the issue.  - PTI 

UPA Govt. has taken all precautions to address concerns of 
Seemandhra people: Digvijay Singh

NEW DELHI: Hailing the UPA Government for showing political will in implementing the election promise of creating a separate setae of Telangana, Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh on Wednesday said that the Congress-led Central Government has taken all precautions to address the concerns of the Seemandhra people. “I feel very sorry that all these Seemandhra members of parliament, who could have contributed to the debate by giving good suggestions, and getting the maximum, I would say leverage for the betterment of the Seemandhra region. Unfortunately, that opportunity was lost. Inspite of that, the UPA Government has taken full precautions to address the concerns of the Seemandhra people,” Singh said.

He further urged the Telangana people to show generosity towards the Seemandhra people.

“Now, it is for the Telangana people, I appeal to them to show generosity, to show compassion for all these people, who have left their homes in Seemandhra, and have settled down in Hyderabad, and other parts of Telangana,” he said.

Digvijay Singh further said: “I congratulate the Congress President, the Prime Minister, Congress Vice President, the Home Minister, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, and above all, the Honorable Speaker for taking a very pragmatic and correct stand. Ultimately, the parliament has to function.” A historic bill to carve out Telangana state out of the united state of Andhra Pradesh was passed by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday by a voice vote, and amid strong protests by several members of parliament, including those representing the Seemandhra region. - ANI 

Bandh in Seemandhra region to protest against AP division

HYDERABAD:  A bandh called by YSR Congress, TDP and other political parties is being observed in Seemandhra region of Andhra Pradesh today to protest against passage of the AP Reorganisation Bill-2013 in the Lok Sabha.

The bandh, also supported by APNGOs and different pro-united Andhra Pradesh organisations, is being held in different districts of Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions of the state with police beefing up security to thwart any attempts to disturb law and order.

Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) bus services across Seemandhra region were hit due to the bandh, while educational institutions - government as well as private- remained closed in most parts. Shops and business establishments were also shut at many places.

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets and held rallies, demonstrations and formed human chains in different towns across 13 districts of Seemandhra condemning the decision to divide Andhra Pradesh and raised slogans against the move.

"The bandh has been peaceful so far and there were no reports of any untoward incidents. Bus services were affected in Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts with buses confining to depots," DIG (Visakhapatnam Range) P Umapathi told PTI.

"We are keeping a watch on the situation. Paramilitary and state police forces have been deployed at different locations, including public places, central government offices as a precautionary measure," another police officer said.

A report from Visakhapatnam said the Seemandhra bandh called by the YSRCP and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) against the bill has generated a partial response today.

Except long route bus services of APSRTC, the other transport vehicles like auto rickshaws and private vehicles were plying as usual. "We have stopped the long route services and were plying city services. If any trouble breaks out then they will also stop the city services," RTC sources said.

Supporters of political parties like TDP, Congress and YSRCP staged dharnas in front of bus depots at Maddilapalem junction protesting against the bifurcation.

Police have tightened the security at all the vulnerable points to maintain law and order. - PTI 

Shoulder injury forces Jeev Milkha to miss golf tourney in SA 

MUMBAI: India's ace golfer Jeev Milkha Singh, who has been struggling with a right shoulder rotator cuff injury, said he will skip the Tshwane Open in South Africa scheduled later this month to rest and regain his fitness ahead of the season without undergoing surgery.

"I am not going to South Africa next week because I am not fit enough. I am going to practice for two weeks after this, get better and then try Morocco (Hassan II) and then try take a month off, after that," Jeev said.

"With the month off, I am sure with the medicine, I should get better and I can work harder on my game also," he told PTI here at the IPL-style Louis Phillipe Cup event that started today at the BPGC course in Chembur.

The Tshwane Open is scheduled from February 27 to March 2 and after the tournament in Morocco, the star golfer is set to take another three-month break before returning to the course by taking part in the Malaysian Open scheduled from April 17.

"After Morocco, I will take a month off and then start from the Malaysian Open. Then I will play three weeks - Malaysia, Volvo China, a tournament in Korea. Then I take a week off and then I start from the Spanish Open. Then I move to Europe. Basically just play there and then I will hopefully play the British Open, US Open and hope to do well," he said.

The Chandigarh-born Arjuna awardee, winner of four European Tour events in his glittering career, rated 2013 as his worst year as he was plagued with injury problems like a tear in his shoulder.

"2013 would be the worst year so far. The reason for that is a player who is injured and not practising enough, I don't think can perform. That is the truth and reality. Now I feel, with the medicine that I am taking, my injury is 50 per cent better," he said.

"I just feel till March if the injury gets better, I will probably start working harder on my game and my performance is going to get better," Jeev added. - PTI

AAP to contest 6-7 seats in West Bengal

KOLKATA: The Aam Aadmi Party has decided to fight at least six to seven seats in West Bengal in the coming Lok Sabha election.

The party is currently running membership drives in the districts as well as parts of Kolkata, which, it claims, has generated a “positive and exciting” response.

AAP’s national spokesperson Deepak Vajpayee said, “Going by the excitement and positive response that we have received during the membership drive, it will be proper to contest some seats in the Lok Sabha polls.”

It had not yet been decided how many seats the party would fight, though, Mr. Vajpayee said.

But, Rakesh Jha, AAP leader in Bengal, said, “We will contest six to seven Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal, out of which three are Kolkata North, Kolkata South and Jadavpur. Other seats are yet to be decided.”

Mr. Jha said that the main plank of their campaign would be drive against corruption, under which comes the chit fund scam in the state, but they would also highlight state-specific issues like growing crimes against women.

The Aam Aadmi Party would also try to capitalise on the “resentment” against the Trinamool Congress which is in power since May, 2011, he said.

The AAP’s Bengal chapter rolled out a cadre-training programme last week at the Indian Association Building and also started a “Jhadu Chalo Yatra” from February 15 to February 23 to familiarise the people in Bengal with the party and its agenda.

AAP leaders in Bengal claimed that the membership of the party at present stood around 1.5 lakhs, some of whom, they said, would be drafted as active volunteers.- PTI

Govt ready to extend session for passage of women’s bill

NEW DELHI: Amid demands for getting the long-pending Women’s Reservation Bill passed, government on Wednesday said it was even ready to extend the last session of the 15th Lok Sabha if the House agreed.

The Winter Session of Parliament, the last of this Lok Sabha, is concluding on Friday.
The issue was fervently raised by unattached member Ms. Jayaprada, who was vociferously supported by members of Left parties, BJD, Trinamool Congress and even some from Congress, many of whom were on their feet expressing solidarity with her demand.

“If the government can make so much effort to get the Telangana Bill passed, why can’t it do so for the women’s bill? What is the government’s intention,” asked  Jayaprada.

Without naming Samajwadi Party, which has expelled her, the cine star-turned- politician also said, “Some parties don’t want this bill to be passed. But the government can make efforts.”

CPI(M) leader Basudeb Acharia also said the bill has been “pending for so many years. Why can’t you (government) bring it?”

In his response, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said, “I entirely agree with the members. I am ready to extend the session to get the Women’s Reservation Bill passed if the House agrees.”

Incidentally, the bill was listed for being taken up in this session.

The bill, introduced by the UPA-I government in May 2008 and passed by Rajya Sabha in March 2010, seeks to reserve one-third of all seats for women in the Lok Sabha and the state legislative assemblies.

Similar bills have been introduced thrice in the late 90’s but have lapsed with the dissolution of respective Lok Sabha.- PTI

Chidambaram wants to boost revenue by taxing 
my speeches: Modi

GANDHINAGAR: Continuing his verbal spat with Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the union minister is working hard to boost the country’s revenues by imposing service tax on his speeches.

“The Finance Minister claims to be doing a lot of hard work. Last evening I was informed on what he is working so hard...to increase India’s revenue, he has decided to impose service tax on my speeches,” Modi said.

“Even my speeches are contributing to the nation and I am happy to know this,” he said while addressing a seminar on ‘Financial Services -- a key driver for economic growth’ at Gujarat International finance Tec-city (GIFT).

The central government should concentrate on job creation, Modi said.

The war of words between Modi and Chidambaram has been going on for some time now in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections.

Chidambaram in an interview to PTI had on Tuesday said he does not want to indulge in class 8th school boys’ debate, in reply to criticism by the Gujarat Chief Minister for his interim budget.

Commenting on the vote-on-account presented by the Finance Minister, Modi had earlier tweeted: “The only solace one gets from the vote-on-account is that this was UPA’s final act of misery after a decade of decay and policy paralysis.”

“It is up to the people to decide whether the Economist PM & FM have been ‘hard working’ or ‘hardly working’ in their tenure,” Modi had said in another tweet.

Earlier, P. Chidambaram had said that Modi’s knowledge on economy can be written behind a postal stamp.

Replying to that criticism, Modi had accused Chidambaram of mishandling economy and taunted him a few days ago saying that high growth rate in Gujarat was because of his hard work and not education in Harvard University.

Chidambaram had hit back at Narendra Modi in his interim Budget speech saying, “My mother and Harvard taught me the value of hard work.”

The Central Excise Department had demanded payment of service tax by BJP on tickets for entry to Modi’s rallies.

However, that notice was dropped once the news came in media on Tuesday. - PTI

Sensex trims initial gains; still up by 18 points

MUMBAI: The benchmark S&P BSE Sensex trimmed initial gains but was quoted higher by 18 points in late morning trade today due to buying in healthcare, IT and tech counters, mainly on the back of overnight gains in the US market and sustained capital inflows from foreign funds.

The Sensex resumed higher at 20,643.85 and firmed up to 20,694.42 on initial buying. However, it declined afterwards to 20,629.56 before quoting at 20,652.37 at 1030 hrs, a gain of 18.16 points or 0.09 per cent, from its last close.

The NSE 50-share Nifty also moved up by 6.95 points, or 0.11 per cent, to 6,134.05 at 1030 hrs.

Major gainers were Sun Pharma (1.52 per cent), Infosys (1.36 per cent), M&M (0.94 per cent), Gail India (0.90 per cent), Bharti Airtel (0.86 per cent), and TCS (0.78 per cent).

However, SSTL fell by 1.37 per cent, Tata Steel (1.35 per cent), HDFC (1.11 per cent), Tata Power (1.07 per cent) and Maruti (0.66 per cent).

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 292.23 crore yesterday, says provisional data from the stock exchanges.

US stocks settled mostly higher yesterday with the NASDAQ Composite recording its eighth consecutive session of gains, the longest since July 2013.

However, most Asian stocks fell in early trade today. Key benchmark indices in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan fell in the range of 0.02 per cent and 0.68 per cent while indices in China and Singapore were up between 0.37 per cent and 0.63 per cent. - PTI