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AAP-BJP clashes: 14
arrested
NEW DELHI: Fourteen AAP supporters were arrested after Delhi Police registered an FIR in connection with the clashes outside the BJP national headquarters here between supporters of the two parties that left 28 people injured.
According to police sources, an FIR has been lodged at Parliament Street Police Station on Wednesday night against the AAP protesters including leaders Ashutosh and Shazia Ilmi. Charges of rioting, obstructing a public servant from performing his duty and damaging public property have been slapped against them, the sources said.
Police had initially detained 33 people out of which 14 were arrested late Wednesday night while others were allowed to go.
“All those identifiable and present at the protest site have been named in the FIR,” said a senior Delhi police official. Those arrested will be produced before a local court here in the afternoon. Twentyeight people, including 13 AAP and 10 BJP supporters, were injured in the clashes, police said.
Police have termed the AAP protest as completely illegal as no prior permission was sought in this connection by the party. Police have also got the entire sequence of events videographed and senior officials said that more arrests are possible after identification in the video footage.
AAP workers had on Wednesday clashed with BJP activists outside the saffron party headquarters in Delhi and Lucknow after Arvind Kejriwal’s car was damaged in Gujarat in retaliation to protests against his brief detention in the state.
Kejriwal, who began a 4-day tour of Gujarat on Wednesday, was detained for alleged violation of the model code of conduct by travelling in a long carcade. Shortly later, he was allowed to go. Accusing Narendra Modi of getting scared of Mr. Kejriwal and initiating police action, AAP workers had stormed the BJP head office on Ashoka Road in central Delhi protesting against Kejriwal’s detention in Radhanpur in North Gujarat where he has gone to “inspect” development that has been claimed by Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
The rival sides had attacked each other indulging in pelting of stones. Plastic chairs were hurled from inside BJP office on the protesters outside. Police had used water canons to disperse the warring activists.
In Lucknow, workers of Aam Aadmi Party, armed with brooms, had clashed with lathi-wielding activists of BJP and fought pitched street battles outside BJP office on Vidhan Sabha Marg in protest against detention of Kejriwal.
Around three dozen AAP workers had staged a demonstration outside the BJP headquarters and allegedly attacked the saffron party office with bricks, drawing retaliation as BJP workers, carrying canes, took to the streets.
Arvind Kejriwal had on Wednesday accused the BJP of instigating violence in front of its headquarters in Delhi even as he apologised for some AAP activists “retaliating” while protesting his detention. He claimed that AAP workers were first attacked by BJP supporters. Some of the agitated AAP workers had responded by pelting “two or three stones”.
“I am sorry for the mistakes committed by the AAP workers. They should not have resorted to violence on my detention,” he said.
He also blamed BJP workers for attacking his entourage while travelling in Gujarat and said the glass panes of his car were broken. - PTI
Kejriwal apologises for violent behaviour of AAP activists
BHUJ (Guj): AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal today apologised for his party workers' behaviour in Delhi and Lucknow while protesting his "detention" and urged them to stick to non-violence.
"It was going to happen...some of them retaliated after they were attacked...I apologise for their behaviour and I once again urge them to remain non-violent," he told reporters here in response to a query on the arrest of over a dozen AAP workers in Delhi.
AAP workers had yesterday clashed with BJP activists outside the saffron party headquarters in Delhi and Lucknow after Kejriwal's car was damaged in Gujarat in retaliation to protests against his brief "detention" in the state.
Yesterday, Kejriwal, who began his four-day tour of Gujarat, was detained for alleged violation of the model code of conduct by travelling in a long carcade. Shortly later, he was allowed to go.
Fourteen AAP members were arrested after Delhi Police registered an FIR in connection with the clashes between supporters of the two parties in the national capital that left 28 people injured.
AAP workers had stormed the BJP head office on Ashoka Road in central Delhi protesting against Kejriwal's 'detention' in Radhanpur in North Gujarat where he has gone to "assess" the development claims made by CM Narendra Modi.
In Lucknow, workers of Aam Aadmi Party, armed with brooms, had clashed with lathi-wielding activists of BJP and fought pitched street battles outside BJP office on Vidhan Sabha Marg in protest against their chief's detention.
Kejriwal during his second day of Gujarat sojourn today, will meet Sikh farmers settled in the state's Kutch district. - PTI
Urges party members to stay calm
Arvind Kejriwal Thursday yet again urged his party members to not indulge in violence.
"We have to be prepared for such things, but I request our workers...like I did yesterday (Wednesday) to not resort to violence," Kejriwal told media persons in Gujarat where he is on a four-day tour.
Kejriwal and AAP members are on a tour in Gujarat to check chief minister and BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's claims that the state was a model of development.
Kejriwal reiterated that he apologised for his workers' behaviour Wednesday, who protested outside the BJP offices in the national capital against his detention in Gujarat.
"We are walking on the path of truth, which is a very difficult one. We have to be prepared to sacrifice, and under no circumstances indulge in violence and raise our hand," he added.
Kejriwal Wednesday tweeted: "I urge all volunteers not to raise their hand and to stay calm and non-violent."
"You should be prepared to lay down your life but never raise hand," he added. - Agencies
Singapore riots case: 2nd Indian charged for burning property
SINGAPORE: A second Indian has been charged for burning property during Singapore's worst riot in 40 years in December last year.
Sarangan Kumaran, who was among the 25 accused of rioting, was read the extra charge of "mischief by fire with intent to cause damage" in a pre-trial conference yesterday, The Straits Times reported, citing his defence counsel Sujatha Selvakumar.
Sarangan, 35, is the second man to be charged for torching of property during the riot which damaged Singapore Dollars 650,000 worth of property. The riot took place on December 8 last year in Singapore's Little India, a precinct of Indian businesses, eateries and pubs.
Some 400 migrant workers from South Asia rioted after an Indian national died in a bus accident. The violence left 49 security personnel injured and 23 emergency vehicles damaged, five of which were burned.
Fifty two Indians and a Bangladeshi have been deported for their role in the rioting. Singapore previously witnessed violence of such scale during race riots in 1969.
Sarangan, who is married and has three children in India, is in remand.
Arumugam Karthik, 24, was the first to be charged on December 27 with setting fire to a police car in addition to throwing pieces of concrete and overturning a police car along with others during the riot.
Karthik's case was also came up yesterday. He has not posted a bail of SGD 60,000 which was set last December.
Both the cases are set for another pre-trial conference later this month.
Under the Singapore law, anyone who commits mischief by fire or any explosive substance with intent to cause damage to any property can face imprisonment of up to seven years and shall also be liable to a fine.
Rioting carries a maximum penalty of seven years and caning.
Five of the 25 originally accused for rioting have pleaded guilty and were jailed between 15 to 18 weeks last month. Cases against the rest are still pending. - PTI
Kiran Reddy moves SC on Telangana issue
NEW DELHI: Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Reddy today approached the Supreme Court against the Centre's decision to create Telangana by bifurcating the State.
A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam, before whom the matter was mentioned, agreed to list his plea along with other petitions which will be taken up tomorrow for hearing.
A batch of petitions is listed for hearing tomorrow against the bifurcation of the State.
The apex court had earlier on February 7 and 17 respectively refused to entertain petitions challenging the division of Andhra Pradesh on the ground that they were "premature" as the Bill was not cleared by Parliament at that time.
Parliament gave its approval on February 20 for the creation of Telangana by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh.
The court had on February 7 refused to stay the tabling of Telangana Bill and on February 17, it had dismissed two petitions challenging the division of Andhra Pradesh.
The apex court had said it cannot take a different stand and different view from what it had taken on February 7 while terming the plea against Telangana as "premature".
The court had declined to accept the contention that it can now go into the issue of Telangana as the Bill was before Parliament.
"Parliament is seized of the Bill. This is not a time for court to look into it. We understand your (petitioners) point that it is introduced," the bench had said, adding that the plea is "premature" for it to be entertained.
However, it had clarified that the averment made in the writ petitions are open to be entertained at an appropriate stage.
The Home Ministry has said that the Foundation Day of the new state will be June 2 when Telangana will come into existence and start functioning as a separate state. - PTI
Obama calls British PM on Ukraine
WASHINGTON: U.S. President Barack Obama has called British Prime Minister David Cameroon to consult on the unfolding developments in Ukraine as both the sides have agreed that Russia’s action violated Ukrainian sovereignty.
During the call, Obama and Cameroon expressed their grave concern over Russia’s clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, the White House said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Both noted that the current circumstances are unacceptable. Russia has already started to pay a cost for its actions, such as reducing investor confidence in Russia,” it said.
“The two leaders welcomed the military observer mission being undertaken by Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe at the request of the Government of Ukraine,” the statement said adding that they also discussed support for the government of Ukraine as it works to stabilise its economy and makes preparations for elections in May.
The White House said there was a broad international support for the legitimate government of Ukraine; broad condemnation of Russia’s actions in violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
White House press secretary Jay Carney said efforts were underway both unilaterally and multilaterally to support the new Ukrainian government and to support Ukraine in the difficult time economically; and multilateral and bilateral and unilateral efforts to consider actions to respond to Russia’s actions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said, has indicated a pause in some of the activities of Russian military units. “We are closely monitoring the situation in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine and broadly across Ukraine,” he said.
“There is an easy way out for Russia, there is an easy off-ramp, which is to embrace an effort to bring UN or OSCE monitors to Crimea so that they can independently assess the situation on the ground, assess the status of ethnic Russians, and ensure that their rights are being protected — because we and many others have made clear that it is very important for the Ukrainian government to assure that the rights of all Ukrainian citizens are protected, Jay Carney said.
“But again, there is an easy way out here for Russia, and we certainly hope they take it,” Carney said.
Earlier, in a telephone call, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Latvian President Andris Berzins expressed their grave concern over Russia’s clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity and discussed how best to bring about a peaceful resolution.
“The Vice President reaffirmed the United States’ longstanding and continuing commitment to peace and security in the Baltic region,” the White House said. - PTI
More qualified for PM post than those 'roaming'
around: Nitish
BETTIAH: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today made his Prime Ministerial ambitions known, saying he is more qualified and experienced than those "roaming around" for the top job.
"I am more qualified than those roaming around for the post of Prime Ministership," Kumar said in his 'sankalp yatra' held here to demand special category status for Bihar.
Without naming either the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi or Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, he said "While one does not have the experience of Parliament another has no experience of running a state...I have both experiences ...Am I less qualified than them?" Asked categorically if he was a Prime Ministerial candidate, Kumar said his party JD(U) was small and modest and did not make tall claims, but believed in working sincerely for the people.
Told that senior leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav and Jayalithaa, whose parties SP and AIADMK were part of the Third Front, had hinted of being in the race for the PM's post, he shot back "What's wrong in this? Every party has its strategy to maximise support among people."
Kumar also claimed that all 'sponsored' poll surveys would be proved wrong ultimately and neither BJP nor Congress would come to power.
"In fact the new grouping which you call Third Front will be the First Front," he said.
"The non-Congress and non-BJP parties will have the largest numbers after the polls," he said, referring to the Federal Front of 11 non-Congress and non-BJP parties for which he has been a prime mover.
He categorically ruled out siding either with Congress or BJP after the polls.
In an apparent dig at his Gujarat counterpart, he said, "2002 riots had led to the demise of NDA in 2004 general elections." Kumar whose hostility towards the BJP PM pick is no secret broke away from NDA after 17 years over elevation of Narendra Modi.
Asked if there was any effort at tie up between JD(U) and Congress till it allied with RJD, he answered in the negative.
"Actually it was tactics of Congress to create pressure on Lalu Prasad and they successfully won one additional seat from RJD while stitching up an alliance," Kumar said.
On LJP President Ramvilas Paswan joining hands with NDA, he reiterated that there could be no other leader who could take such a sharp turn.
On his rival Lalu Prasad accusing him of breaking up his RJD, he said, "Actually it's breaking up itself and there is no need to break it." He said, "It is the habit of Prasad of cursing me for everything that goes wrong either for him personally or his party. These are important pages of his invisible autobiography." - PTI
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