NEW DELHI: The Home Ministry on Monday dismissed reports that Rajnath Singh has plans to meet his Pakistani counterpart on the sidelines of the SAARC conference in Nepal later this month.

The Home Minister's office said in a tweet that Singh was of the firm opinion that terror and talks cannot go together.

"Unless Pakistan stops terrorism and violence no dialogue is possible," the Home Minister's office said.

The Home Minister will visit Nepal on September 18 and 19 to attend the SAARC Home Ministers' conference.-PTI

NEW DELHI: The CBI today filed its final status report in the Delhi High Court on its probe into allegations that Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, during his earlier tenure as CM and Union Minister, was involved in graft, money laundering and forgery.

A Bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice R. S. Endlaw also directed the HP Chief Minister to file his affidavit in the court by tomorrow.

"The final status report of the CBI is filed in sealed cover and same is also taken on record," the Bench said, adding that it will hear the arguments in the case on September 10.

The Bench also said, "How can a party (HP CM) be allowed to file its response without being issued a notice?" The response came after the counsel for Virbhadra Singh said a notice should not be issued against the Chief Minister and he be allowed to advance the arguments on the issues, including the maintainability of the PIL, against him.

The Bench was hearing a PIL filed by NGO 'Common Cause' against the Himachal Pradesh CM.

Earlier the high court had asked the CBI to file its status report in the case.

The Bench had taken note of allegations of receipt of unaccounted money to the tune of nearly Rs 5 crore by the Chief Minister and filing of revised income tax returns for years 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 by him.

The revised IT returns showed an increase in agricultural income to the tune of Rs 6.10 crore, the PIL had claimed.

The PIL had alleged that Singh, during his earlier tenure as Chief Minister and Union Minister, was involved in corruption, money laundering and forgery, charges dismissed as false and baseless by Singh.

He also amassed assets disproportionate to the known sources of income, the PIL alleged and sought a court-monitored "investigation by the CBI and the Income Tax Department" into the charges of money laundering, corruption, disproportionate assets, criminal misconduct against Singh.

The allegations also include cash payment of about Rs 2.28 crore to Singh by an MNC steel firm during 2008 and 2010 when he was the Union Steel Minister.

In order to explain the unaccounted for money, Singh had filed revised income tax returns for three assessment years, starting 2009 and "an increase in agricultural income to the tune of Rs 6.10 crore" was shown, the PIL alleged.

The PIL had also alleged "quid pro quo" in relation to allotment of hydel power project at Sai Kothi to M/s Venture Energy and Technology Pvt Ltd by Singh as the Chief Minister.

It further alleged that Singh granted several extensions to the company for execution of the hydel project.

"It is clear that unsecured 'loans' amounting to Rs 3.90 crore were received by Respondent No. 5 (Singh) and his wife (after Respondent No. 5 became the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh) from the director and promoter of M/s Venture Energy, the company that he had favoured by granting an undue extension despite repeated defaults," it alleged. — PTI

CHANDIGARH: Punjab and Haryana, the two leading agrarian states of the country, have received scanty monsoon rains so far this year with deficit as high as 65 per cent each in the two states.

Chandigarh, the common Capital of the two states, has also received poor rains this season with a deficit of 65 per cent, said official of the Chandigarh's MeT Department on Monday.

According to the data available for the time period between June 1 and August 31 this year, Punjab received a rainfall of 138 mm, against a normal of 400.7 mm for the period, resulting in a deficit of 65 per cent, he said.

In neighbouring Haryana too, the situation was alarming with the state receiving 131.3 mm rainfall during the period, as against normal 380.3 mm of rain, leaving a deficit of 65 per cent.

Union Territory Chandigarh received 244.7 mm of rains between June 1 and August 31 period as against normal of 689.9 mm, resulting in deficit of 65 per cent, the official pointed out.

He further said that in Punjab, places including Barnala (deficit of 90 per cent against normal), Sangrur (85 per cent), Mansa (82 per cent) Patiala (82 per cent) received scanty rains while the situation was slightly better in comparison at places like 
Gurdaspur, where the deficit stood at 28 per cent.

Places in Haryana which received poor rain included Kurukshetra (80 per cent), Panipat (80 per cent) while the deficit at Yamunanagar stood at 44 per cent for the June 1-August 31 period.

The Punjab Government had already sought special a package of Rs 2,330 crore from the Centre to deal with prolonged dry spell conditions.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has expressed concern over prevailing drought-like situation in his state and had recently reviewed the situation with senior officers of the State government.

Haryana has sought from the Centre a special package of Rs 4,829.25 crore to deal with the drought-like conditions in the state.

With Assembly poll in Haryana due in October, Hooda has said that the state will even purchase power at higher rates from other states, but won't allow the crops of the farmers to wither away.

Main opposition INLD had earlier demanded that entire Haryana be declared as drought-hit and farmers be adequately compensated in the hour of crisis. PTI

NEW DELHI: Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh was on Monday arrested on orders by a Delhi court, which dismissed his bail plea for allegedly offering Rs 14 crore bribe to then Army Chief General V.K. Singh for clearing file pertaining to procurement of 1,676 heavy mobility Tatra vehicles.

Special CBI Judge Madhu Jain rejected Tejinder Singh’s bail application and sent him to judicial custody till October 20.

“Take him into custody,” the judge said.

“To come up for scrutiny of documents and arguments on charge on October 20,” the court said.

The court had taken cognisance of the chargesheet on August 28 after relying upon the statements of former Defence Minister A.K. Antony, V. K. Singh and other witnesses whose testimonies were recorded by the agency during the probe.

The CBI in its chargesheet had alleged that in August-September 2010, the file pertaining to procurement of 1,676 Tatra vehicles was pending before V.K. Singh.

The then Chief of Army Staff (COAS) was not convinced with the total projected requirement of the vehicles and it appeared to him that the requirement has been inflated, the agency had said, adding V.K. Singh had sought fresh opinion on the issue from different quarters.

In its charge sheet, the CBI had alleged that Tejinder Singh met V.K. Singh in his office in South Block on September 22, 2010, and during the meeting, he had offered a bribe of Rs 14 crore to V.K. Singh for clearing the file of Tatra vehicles by first week of October.

V.K. Singh got infuriated and asked Tejinder Singh to immediately leave his office and he, thereafter, intimated Antony about the whole incident of bribe being offered to him, the CBI had said.

The chargesheet had claimed that Antony had confirmed having been informed by V.K. Singh about such offer of bribe made to him about by Tejinder Singh.

A case was lodged by the CBI against Tejinder Singh on October 19, 2012, following  complaint by V.K. Singh. — PTI

AMRITSAR: A teenager committed suicide here after being allegedly tortured by a cop for his "involvement" in a theft case.

Harjit Singh (15) committed suicide last night in Sultanwind village on the outskirts of the city, the police said today.

However, parents of the boy alleged that Harjit was whisked away by the police for his alleged involvement in a theft case.

During two days of illegal confinement, he was allegedly inflicted inhuman torture, they alleged.

The moment he was let off by the police, he went to the fields in Sultanwind where he allegedly hanged himself from a tree and died on the spot, his parents alleged.

The police had tortured the boy for allegedly stealing a water pipe that was lying abandoned on roadside.

Parents of the deceased have demanded a strict action, besides registration of a criminal case against police officials allegedly responsible for inflicting torture that led him to take the extreme step.

The boy was allegedly tortured by a cop Iqbal Singh posted in the Tarn Taran police who detained him and tortured him mercilessly, the deceased's parents alleged.

Tarn Taran SSP Manmohan Sharma said that Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Iqbal Singh has been placed under suspension.

However, the autopsy of the boy will be conducted by the medical board to check the injury marks, Sharma said. — PTI

DUBAI: World champions India were confirmed as the No.1 ranked side in the International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI team rankings on Monday following Zimbabwe's three-wicket victory over Australia in a triangular series match in Harare on Sunday.

India had joined Australia on top of the table after winning the third ODI in Nottingham, August 30, at 114 ratings points, but took sole possession at the coveted No.1 spot after Zimbabwe recorded their first victory over Australia in 31 years.

This result meant Australia have dropped three ratings points and slipped behind South Africa and Sri Lanka into fourth position on 111 ratings points.

South Africa, following victories over Australia and Zimbabwe, are sitting in second spot on 113 ratings points, while Sri Lanka also have 111 ratings points but are ranked above Australia in third position by a fraction of a point. — IANS

Man shot dead outside court complex

CHANDIGARH: A man was shot dead outside a court complex in Jind on Monday.

The victim, identified as Sandeep Mokhra and an accused in a case, was currently out on bail and had come to Jind for a court hearing, DSP (Headquarter) Virender Singh Dalal said.

Three men dressed as lawyers suddenly opened fire at Sandeep outside the court complex and fled from the spot leaving him dead, he said.

A case has been registered against unidentified accused and hunt is on to nab them, Dalal said. –PTI

Sikhs condemn FIBA for banning players

JAMMU: Sikh bodies on Monday condemned FIBA's policy of not allowing players wearing turbans to participate in International Basketball Federation Asia Cup tournament in China and asked them to reverse the decision.

"We condemn the attitude of FIBA (China) for not allowing the Sikh players wearing turbans in International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup tournament in Wuhan, China," said Sukhbir Singh, President, Parbandhak Committee Gurudwara Baba Chanda Singh.

Two Sikh players — Amritpal Singh and Amjyot Singh — were stopped from entering the court minutes before India were to open their campaign against Japan on July 12 at Fiba Asia Cup in Wuhan in China and were asked to remove their turbans if they were to play.

The players, who have always played in turbans, were told that they were in violation of one of FIBA's official rules, which states, "Players shall not wear equipment (objects) that may cause injury to other players.

"We are concerned about recent reports indicating that Sikhs are not able to participate in International Basketball Federation (FIBA) games while wearing a turban, which is essential to their faith," Singh said, urging the FIBA to change this discriminatory policy.

"Such act tantamounts to clear cut violation of international human rights", he said.

Terming it a barbaric and inhuman act, the members urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj to take up the matter with FIBA and the Government of China.

They appealed to the international community and UNO in particular for immediate intervention in the matter and allowing the Sikhs to wear their turbans and kirpans (religious signs) while travelling in the planes and while performing their duties, he added.

Singh also said that the step taken by FIFA, the world soccer governing body, in which it gave clearance on allowing Sikh players to support their headgear while playing matches is appreciable.

"The ruling by FIFA has come as a relief for a large umber of Sikh players who wear headgears while playing," he said.

"FIFA has allowed players to support headgears matching the colour of their jerseys. On the other hand the FIBA has not allowed the Sikh players to wear the turbans", he said.

Singh said they were disappointed that FIBA has delayed their review of a policy that can only be described as "outdated, discriminatory, and totally inconsistent with the ideals of team sports" and urged the board to stop delaying.

The International Basketball Federation had on Thursday announced that it has decided to delay the review of its policy against Sikh basketball players who wear turbans.

Other sikhs leaders in the state also said that not allowing Sikh players to wear their turbans by FIBA had shocked the Sikh community worldwide.

"Career of a number of aspiring players was being threatened by this insane ruling, which needs to be re-considered," they said.

Sikhs also demanded that the J&K Government shall announce a gazetted holiday on the Martyr's day of Sri Guru Arjun Dev and Shri Guru Tej Bahadur, as both gurus had laid down their lives for the nation. -PTI

SHIMLA: School students of Himachal Pradesh will be given lessons on the stock market to enable them to get jobs in the financial sector.

"We are going to start financial literacy basic course in association with the National Stock Exchange (NSE) initially for Class 9 and Class 10 students of 100 schools in Shimla and Solan districts from next month," said Principal Secretary Higher Education Ali Raza Rizvi.

He said the objective is to make the students aware about savings and important aspects of investment.

"Financial literacy would be started in 60 schools of Shimla and 40 schools of Solan. If it becomes successful, the course would be extended to the other schools in the state," he said.

Rizvi said currently teachers from these 100 schools are being trained by the NSE. On completion of the course, the NSE would give them certificates.

NSE vice president Ravi Varanasi, who was in Shimla last week, said the NSE has designed 40 study modules, which includes organisation of special seminars and interactive sessions of school children with experts.

Himachal Pradesh is the first state in northern India to start this course, he added.- IANS