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Kejriwal files nomination, takes potshots at Modi, Rahul 

Jharkhand court issues arrest warrant against Giriraj Singh

Ilmi defends her remark, says the tone and tenor was ironic

NEW DELHI: A day after creating a controversy over her statement that Muslims should become “communal for their own good, AAP leader Shazia Ilmi on Wednesday sought to defend herself, saying the remarks made had been picked up from a casual conversation and her tone and tenor was ironic.

“This comment has been picked up from a casual conversation and in an informal setting. It is quite clear from the tone and tenor of the comment that I am using the term secular and communal in an ironic manner”, she told reporters.

“Point is to simply say that the Muslim community has been allowed itself to be used far too long by the so-called secular parties. It would be better for the community to turn to their real-life material interest like education and employment,” she said.

Ilmi said that her statement was being distorted and misconstrued.

“It is to be noted that I am making a plea to vote for a candidate who is not a Muslim and in the name of a leader who is not a Muslim. I am shocked to see that a statement like this can be so distorted and misconstrued as communal and inciting hatred.

“My party and I have always stood against any form of communalism and I shall continue to do so,” she said.

Ilmi found herself at the centre of a controversy on Tuesday over her remarks that Muslims should become “communal” for their own good when they vote this time and not be “too secular”.

“Don’t be much secular. Muslims are too secular and they should become communal. They are not communal and do not vote for themselves. Arvind Kejriwal is ours. Muslims have remained secular for long… have voted for the Congress and helped them win. Don’t be so secular and look at your house (community)
this time.

“Other parties have their vote bank intact and Muslim votes split. This is a controversial statement, but we should look at our own interest,” Ilmi had said in a video that surfaced on Tuesday. The party, however, has distanced itself from the remarks made by her.

“All our representatives should be careful in their choice of words so that there is no scope for misinterpretation,” the AAP said in a message posted on its Twitter handle. — PTI

Priyanka targets Modi, rakes up 'snoopgate'

RAE BARELI: Targeting BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday warned against concentration of power in one person.

The Congress star campaigner continued to target Modi as she said, “If you’re talking about women’s empowerment, don’t snoop on their conversations.”

A day after breaking her silence on the continued “political” attacks on her husband Robert Vadra, Gandhi maintained that personal attacks should be avoided in electioneering and focus should be on real issues affecting the people.

“If all power is concentrated in the hands of one person, is it a good thing? Or should people have power?” she asked while campaigning for her mother Sonia Gandhi here.

Taking up the issue of personal attacks during campaigning, she said, “These days you can hear discussion on many things on TV. Personal attacks are being carried out. But this is not politics. This is being done to mislead people.

Discussions should be done on real issues. What are the problems of people? Discussions should be held on these issues.”

Taking on the BJP, she said they “spread hatred” while Congress promises development.

“These elections are about unity and strengthening the identity of India. When you go to vote then think what type of politics you want…the divisive one, which spreads communalism or the one which takes everyone togther,” she said.

Addressing a corner meeting at Sijaur in Unchahar Assembly seat in the parliamentary constituency, Priyanka said that by implementing the Right to Information, Congress showed how corruption could be removed.

“Opposition parties talk about removing corruption, but they must also tell how they are going to do this. By implementing RTI, Congress showed them the way. Congress stopped corruption by implementing RTI,” she said.

“People come amongst you to campaign, you must ask tham what they were doing for development. What they have done for you. They come, deliver speech, but don’t tell what they will do for you,” she said.

Seeking to connect with the women voters, Priyanka told them that her brother Rahul Gandhi had started self help groups for women in the area.

“Do you know that this programme was started by Rahulji from Amethi. When he became MP in 2004, a thought was given to expand it and it was expanded in Rae Bareli. Since then you have seen how much development has taken place,” she said. 

“You recognised your rights. In villages I found that the views of the people has changed a lot towards women. There are several programmes which were launched by Congress. Our ideology is that the power should be in the hands of the people,” she said.

“Women have their own identity, they are not just daughters, sisters, wives and mothers. They are individuals,” she said. — PTI

DGCA allows in-flight use of mobiles, laptops on flight mode

NEW DELHI: "Please put your mobile phones on the flight mode". Now on, you may hear an airhostess announcing this before your flight takes off instead of asking you to switch the device off.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday amended a rule which banned the use of portable electronic devices (PEDs). It allowed their usage in all phases of flight but on a non-transmitting or "flight mode", official sources said.

With the implementation of the new rule or Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR), fliers can now turn on their cellphones, tablets or laptops on "flight mode" to work, play games, listen to music, watch pre-loaded movies or type their emails.

The mails would, however, be sent only after the plane lands at an airport.

Maintaining that this has been a long-pending demand of the airlines, aviation experts say it would give passengers more time to work or catch up on their chosen form of entertainment.

In particular, it would benefit those flying on no-frill carriers which provide no access to any in-flight entertainment. The aviation regulator has also laid down training guidelines for the flight crew to handle the new facility being given to the air travellers.

The new rule also directs all airlines to report to the DGCA any suspected or confirmed PED interference or smoke or fire caused by them, the sources said.

They said a section of the CAR relating to air safety has been amended to allow the use of PEDs in "non-transmitting mode, commonly called as flight/airplane mode."

The decision was taken after a meeting on the issue last week when scheduled airlines had raised the demand to allow the use of PEDs during all phases of flight.

The DGCA examined their demand in view of the new and regulations of the US regulator, Federal Aviation Administration and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, which allow the use of PEDs on flight mode in all phases of a flight.

The latest DGCA move would put India on par with a handful of other countries which allow the use of mobiles while on board.

In December last year, British Airways allowed the use of cellphones on flight mode. Some other European and American carriers have also brought in similar changes. — PTI

SC sets up panel to frame guidelines on govt ads

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday set up a committee for framing guidelines to prevent misuse of public funds by the government and its authorities in giving advertisements in newspapers and television to get political mileage.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam said that substantive guidelines are needed to regulate such advertisements at the cost of public exchequer and constituted a four-member committee comprising former Director of National Judicial Academy, Bhopal, N. R. Madhava Menon, former Lok Sabha Secretary T. K. Viswanathan, senior advocate Ranjit Kumar and the Secretary of Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

The apex court asked the committee to submit its report within three months.

The court passed the order on a PIL filed by NGOs, Common Cause and Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) pleading with it to frame guildelines.

The petition has sought issuance of guidelines for curbing ruling parties from taking political mileage by projecting their leaders in official advertisements.

The counsel appearing for Common Cause had earlier said that the glorification of politicians linked to the ruling establishment, in order to attain political mileage at the cost of public exchequer, was violative of Article 14 of the Constitution.

The counsel representing CPIL had told the court that there was nothing wrong in issuing advertisements and informing the public about the programmes of the government.

However, he said such advertisement campaigns become arbitrary and malafide when aimed at gaining political mileage. — PTI