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Black money stashed in foreign
accounts
Can’t reveal info under treaty to court or others: Swiss govt
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Focus on black money in India: Jaitley to taxman
Babus to fly economy class; no 5-star hotel seminars
SC happy with LG’s move to install govt in Delhi
BJP MPs held while entering WB village
Relief okay, but give justice to riot victims: Sikh leaders DSGMC to start memorial construction Notify SIT, Kejriwal
urges Centre
ISRO to test unmanned crew module in Dec
Kerala HC upholds ban on bars, gives relief to 4-star hotels
Party expansion on mind, Modi to visit Sabarimala
Maya: Modi govt has failed to deliver
Smriti Irani meets leaders of RSS, affiliated bodies
Mayaram shifted twice in 2 weeks, now to Minority Affairs Ministry
Glacial melt may hit food security: Scientist
China voices concern over new border posts
2 shops gutted, house damaged in UP blast
SC stays proceedings against Swamy
E-visa system to be rolled out next week
TN Congress chief quits
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Black money stashed in foreign
accounts Legal Correspondent
New Delhi, October 30 SIT chairman MB Shah and vice-chairman Arijit Pasayat, both retired judges of the SC, said expeditious action was being taken against those figuring on the list of 627 HSBC bank accounts given to the apex court yesterday. The team was on the job to get the names of more such people having black money in Swiss banks and other countries that offered anonymity to account holders, thereby facilitating evasion of tax by them, they said. They, however, clarified that the names of all the suspects would be kept confidential until they were prosecuted in the light of sufficient evidence against them. This was necessary under the conditional clauses India had accepted in bilateral treaties such as Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) signed with various countries. Unless the confidentiality clause was respected, the SIT would not be in a position to obtain more and more information about black money holders from foreign countries, they explained. Justices Shah and Pasayat also allayed the apprehension that the SIT was going slow on the investigations. Such an impression had gained ground because of the fact that the tax authorities had to follow the due process of law for prosecuting the offenders. After receiving information against any person holding a bank account in a foreign country, the income tax department had to first verify whether he was a resident Indian and then serve notice on him seeking an explanation. In several cases, the individuals went to the judiciary challenging the notice and the department’s assessment. This was unavoidable in rule of law, they said. Under these circumstances, it would be difficult to set a deadline for bringing back the black money stashed abroad, the SIT chiefs explained. Nevertheless, the SIT would submit a status report on the progress of its efforts to the SC by the end of November. The SIT would soon place advertisements asking the public to provide information about those holding bank accounts in overseas tax havens. The team would accept only those information supported by some data and not those premised on speculation.
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Can’t reveal info under treaty to court or others: Swiss govt
New Delhi/Berne, October 30 The comment come at a time when a Supreme Court-monitored Special Investigation Team is probing alleged stashing of black money by Indians aboard, including Swiss banks. Switzerland, long accused of being a safe haven for illicit funds, has promised to extend assistance to India and reply to requests for information in a “time-bound” manner on cases of alleged tax evasion and financial crimes, or provide a reason if no information can be shared. Explaining the treaty provisions about disclosure of such ‘secret’ information, a Swiss Finance Ministry spokesperson said authorities from the two countries are having “regular contacts on bilateral tax matters” but refused to comment on particular cases. The government yesterday gave to the Supreme Court a list of 627 Indians with accounts in a Swiss branch of HSBC bank, on which probe for suspected black money is underway. While this list was given in ‘sealed envelopes’, three other names were made public a day earlier as prosecution had been launched against those persons. There has been a debate on whether disclosure of names, without prosecution, could violate tax treaties under which these names and other details are shared by foreign countries. Replying to queries in this regard, the Swiss Federal Department of Finance spokesperson said that the protocol to Swiss-Indian DTA (Double Taxation Agreement) states that any information received “by a contracting state shall be treated as ‘secret’ in the same manner as information obtained under the domestic laws of that state...” “The treaty further provides that any such information “shall be disclosed only to persons or authorities (including courts and administrative bodies) concerned with the assessment or collection of (information), the enforcement or prosecution in respect of, or the determination of appeals in relation to the taxes ... or the oversight of the above.”
— PTI
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Focus on black money in India: Jaitley to taxman
New Delhi, October 30 He asked the Income Tax Department officers to make their best efforts to chase those sectors where the domestic black money is most prevalent. He said the recovery of black money and taxes due thereon would also help the department in achieving its tax collection targets. The Finance Minister was speaking at a meeting to assess and analyse the achievements of the Budget targets for revenue collections for financial year 2014-15. He asked the tax officials to widen the tax base in order to bring more people within tax domain. He also asked senior officials to act in a assessee-friendly manner but at the same time ensure that tax payers didn’t evade taxes.
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Babus to fly economy class; no 5-star hotel seminars
New Delhi, October 30 A circular issued by the Finance Ministry circulated to all government departments said that utmost economy should be observed in organising seminars and conferences. Holding of seminars and exhibitions abroad is strongly discouraged except trade promotions. There will be a ban on holding seminars in five-star hotels except cases where there is a bilateral or international event. Purchase of new vehicles to meet the operational requirements of defence forces, paramilitary forces is allowed, but the ban on purchase of all other vehicles, including staff cars, will continue. The measures, according to the Finance Ministry, are aimed at cutting non-plan spending by 10 per cent to reduce fiscal deficit to a seven-year low of 4.1 per cent of the GDP. "Such measures are intended at promoting fiscal discipline, without restricting the operational efficiency of the government," a Finance Ministry statement said. "In the context of the current fiscal situation, there is a need to continue to rationalise expenditure and optimise the available resources," it said. The previous UPA government had also clamped similar measures in 2012 and 2013 to cut down on fiscal deficit. Interest and debt payments, the defence budget, salaries and pensions will not be affected by these steps, the statement said. On travel, while officers are entitled to various classes of air travel depending on seniority, utmost economy would need to be observed while exercising the choice keeping the limitations of budget in mind. There would be no bookings in the first class. The facility of video conferencing, it said, may be used effectively. There will be a ban on creation of plan and non-plan posts. Posts that have remained vacant for more than a year are not to be revived except under very rare and unavoidable circumstances and after seeking clearance of the Department of Expenditure. Modi govt’s austerity drive
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SC happy with LG’s move to install govt in Delhi
New Delhi, October 30 The Bench headed by Chief Justice HL Dattu said it had taken note of media reports on the LG inviting political parties to discuss the possibility of government formation. One of the options was to invite the BJP to form the government, though it had only 28 members in the 70-member Assembly. It was hearing a PIL by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) seeking immediate dissolution of the Assembly, which was under suspended animation ever since AAP Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal resigned in February, and holding of fresh elections. AAP’s counsel Prashant Bhushan, however, questioned the logic behind the LG’s move in the light of the fact that none of the parties – BJP, AAP or Congress – had majority on its own or was willing to support the other. AAP has 27 MLAs, while the Congress has eight members. At this, the Bench said minority governments were no longer a new idea. “We should always live in hope,” the judges remarked and posted the next hearing for November 11. The other members on the Bench were Justices J Chelameswar, AK Sikri, RK Agrawal and Arun Mishra. Today’s hearing lasted only a few minutes. On October 28, the SC had taken exception to the delaying tactics being adopted by the Centre and the LG on the issue, instead of trying to break the deadlock. People of Delhi had the right to have an elected government, instead of being ruled by the LG, it had
remarked. Rahul holds meet on Cong strategy Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday held a meeting with top Delhi leaders of the party to thrash out a strategy on government formation. Congress general secretary in charge of Delhi Shakeel Ahmed and senior leaders, including general secretary and former MP from New Delhi, Ajay Makan, were present at the meeting. Rahul told the leaders to go to the people with the message of communal harmony in the wake of recent clashes between two groups in the Trilokpuri area. ‘Minority govt not
a new idea’
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BJP MPs held while entering WB village
Kolkata, October 30 The
three-member team was on the way to the village to meet the affected
villagers. But they were prevented from doing so and taken into
custody. When the MPs were on way to Makra village, they were delivered
a message sent by state home secretary Basudeb Banerjee. In the message,
the MPs were told not to violate the prohibitory orders under Section
144CrPc and refrain from entering the village. The state BJP president
Rahul Sinha said the team members did not violate the orders. Only four
leaders were going to the village. But the police, on instructions from
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, intervened and frisked them to Purui
thana in a police van, he alleged. The chief minister was in a meeting
with Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan and director Farah Khan at Nabanna.
After the meeting, she left for Sagar Islands on a two-day visit. Naqvi
said they had flown down to the city and were heading for Makra-Parui
villages, where some TMC ‘anti-social activists’ and police were
attacking the innocent villagers, who had recently deserted the TMC. “We
have no other motive but to hear the affected people. But we have been
denied the opportunity by the chief minister, who has been heading the
TMC – a party better known as a terrorist (T), mafia (M), criminal (C)
party”, said Naqvi.
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Relief okay, but give justice to riot victims: Sikh leaders Amritsar, October 30 Talking to The Tribune, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh welcomed the move while stating that the government finally thought about the plight of 1984 riot victims after 30 years. He, however, said that merely announcing compensation will not be enough and the government must expedite legal procedure to punish the guilty. Bibi Jagdish Kaur, who lost her husband, son and three brothers in the 1984 riots, said, “Though the monetary aid will help the victims who are still reeling under poverty, no amount of money could compensate the loss of lives of our near and dear ones. If the government really wants to apply balm on our wounds then it must act tough against the culprits who are roaming free in front of our eyes and put them behind bars. The government should set up a special investigating team (SIT) with a time-bound probe.” Former National Commission for Minorities Chairman Tarlochan Singh said, “It is a bold move on the part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The fact that it has been announced unilaterally makes it all the more commendable. The credit also goes to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.” All India Sikh Students Federation chief Karnail Singh Peermohammed said though it was a good step the government must also focus on delivering justice to the riot victims. “These things are important but they don’t matter when you have been denied justice over the last three decades. The government must constitute a special investigating team and set up fast track courts so that the victims see a hope for justice,” he said. The purview of the compensation should also be widened and those who suffered loss of property should also be included, he said. Radical Sikh outfit Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh termed it a “lollipop” from the Modi government. “The BJP is trying to play double game with the Sikhs, courtesy directionless politics of the Badals. The timing shows that there is a BJP design in it. Sikh community doesn’t need compensation but punishment to the guilty. The question is not of compensation but rights and justice,” he added.
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DSGMC to start memorial construction New Delhi, October 30 The foundation stone of the memorial has already been laid in June 2013. The DSGMC has also invited Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and the heads of five Takhts for beginning the construction work. There would be no political speech on the occasion except recitation of the Shabad, GK said. The memorial would be located just opposite Parliament where foreign dignitaries can see what had happened in 1984 against the Sikh community, he added.
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Notify SIT, Kejriwal
urges Centre Chandigarh/New Delhi, Oct 30 The party said it will hold a rally in Delhi on November 1 to seek justice for families of those killed in the riots. "Even after 30 years, the successive governments have failed to bring the culprits of 1984 riots to justice,” said AAP convenor of Punjab Unit Sucha Singh Chhotepur. Apart from the rally, AAP volunteers would also hold candle-light marches in various places in Punjab and Delhi, said Chhotepur. Kejriwal said his government had announced setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the cases but a notification instituting the probe is yet to be issued. "Compensation for 1984 riots victims is a good step. But it is important they get justice,” he
said.
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ISRO to test unmanned crew module in Dec
Bangalore, October 30 Radhakrishnan said the crew module would be tested for “re-entry” into the atmosphere. While an actual human space flight programme is likely to target an orbit around the earth, the experimental flight will put the satellite only about 100 km or 120 km above earth. According to the ISRO chairman, it is at that height only a spacecraft encounters problem (like catching fire) during its return from space. Besides addressing the problem of the craft’s re-entry into the atmosphere, the ISRO is also working on fitting the craft with a parachute. The parachute will open up before landing by the craft reducing its velocity considerably to pave the way for its “soft landing”. The landing will take place somewhere near the Andaman seas from where it will be retrieved. The GSLV rocket carrying the “crew module” will have a passive cryogenic stage. “Instead of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, it will have liquid nitrogen and gaseous nitrogen”, Radhakrishnan said. The cryogenic stage too is being tested for atmospheric challenges. Describing the December launch as a very important one, Radhakrishnan said the rocket was now being integrated with the payload (crew module) at the ISRO launch-pad at Sriharikota near Chennai. The cryogenic stage at which the ISRO is working on now has a simpler mechanism than the one used by the agency for its last and maiden successful GSLV launch with an indigenous cryogenic engine, Radhakrishnan said.
Future human
space programme
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Kerala HC upholds ban on bars, gives relief to 4-star hotels
Kochi, October 30 Pronouncing the judgment on a batch of petitions filed by Kerala Bar Owners against the state government’s decision to close down bars in hotels, Justice K Surendra Mohan held that “the challenge made against the policy by hotels classified as two-star and three-star fails.” The bar owners had contended that the government decision was taken in ‘haste’ and would be counter-productive as it would lose substantial revenue from Abkari (excise) business, besides impacting tourism. A substantial revenue of the government is augmented from taxes, duties and rentals collected from Abkari business. At a time when the state is running on overdraft, the government had not examined the impact of prohibiting vending liquor in hotels other than those classified as five-star hotels, they said. The Kerala Government’s stand was its ‘avowed’ policy to reduce liquor consumption in the state stage by stage and to achieve the goal of total prohibition within a 10-year span. The government had been directed by the Supreme Court to file the affidavit on a batch of appeals filed by 300 odd bar owners challenging the decision to close down all bars, except those in the five-star category. The government had earlier declined to renew the licences of 418 sub-standard bars and later decided to close down 312 bar hotels, except those in the five-star category.
— PTI
Will hit revenue, say bar owners
The bar owners had contended that the government decision was taken in ‘haste’ and would be counter-productive as it would lose substantial revenue from Abkari (excise) business, besides impacting tourism
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Party expansion on mind, Modi to visit Sabarimala
New Delhi, October 30 For example, Modi is expected to visit Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple in Kerala, one of the most ancient and prominent Hindu temples of South India, around November 27. The visit is being seen in connection with aspirations of the party in Kerala — the state it has least presence and where the elections are due around 2015. This is the most visited temple in the four states down south — Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Devotees from other communities also visit the temple during the mandalkal period — the most auspicious time to visit the temple between mid-November and mid-January. Apparently, Lord Aiyappa has devotees among the communist parties which hold a big sway in Kerala politics. Sources say Modi may announce big development plans for the region, including long-pending Sabri Rail Project. The project may take off after the visit along with a rejuvenation plan for river Pamba, where devotees take a customary bath before visiting Sabarimala. Kerala is the only state from where the BJP has no representation in the Lok Sabha. In the last General Election, it drew a naught in the 20 Lok Sabha seats of the state. The party, however, managed to garner around 12 pc votes. In one constituency the party came second, while in five it managed one lakh votes. Party leaders say the BJP wants to change the dominance of the CPM-led LDF and the Congress-led UDF in the state politics not just in the terms of vote-share but also seats.
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Maya: Modi govt has failed to deliver
New Delhi, October 30 Accusing that the BJP was not serious in containing corruption, the BSP president Mayawati said here that the party was facing ridicule for its inability to deliver on the poll promise of bringing bring back black money stashed overseas and distribute it among the citizens. Addressing members of the party's state units here, she said, although the government constituted a Special Investigative Team under direction of the Supreme Court, the Centre was not cooperating to the extent required which would result in status quo as was during the Congress-led UPA regime. Characterising the BJP as a party of traders and the rich, she said, in order to give benefits to these classes it made a "u-turn" and deregulated diesel prices. "This move will result in rise in prices and is anti-people and anti-farmer", she said. Commenting on the “Swacch Bharat” campaign, the BSP leader said under it a lot of drama was being enacted on a regular basis. Instead of resorting to the use of age-old “broom” it would have been better to pool resources and acquire modern cleaning gadgets. That would have also liberated those engaged in this job, she said. Reacting to the recent Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly results, she said, if despite the above shortcomings people voted for the BJP meant that they are willing to give Prime Minister Narendra Modi time to implement the promises he and the RSS leaders made.
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Smriti Irani meets leaders of RSS, affiliated bodies
New Delhi, October 30 It was with this intention that RSS and affiliates such as Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, Swadesh Jagran Manch, Laghu Udyog Bharti, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and Kisan Sangh held a similar meeting with top BJP ministers on Monday. Senior ministers Radhamohan Singh, Piyush Goel, Narendra Singh Tomar, Prakash Javdekar and Sanjeev Baliyan were part of the two-hour deliberations on agriculture and economy-related issues. Sources say that the Sangh organisations were “upset” about some recent decisions taken by the Narendra Modi government such as FDI in insurance, defence and railways. “The main agenda of these meetings is to dispel misunderstandings on issues and understand the Sangh and affiliates’ points of view,” a source said. Through these meetings, the RSS wants the government to raise issues which it had been raising over the decades.
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Mayaram shifted twice in 2 weeks, now to Minority Affairs Ministry
New Delhi, October 30 The new order came even before Mayaram had assumed charge as the Tourism Secretary. He has now taken over as the Minority Affairs Secretary in the afternoon today, officials of the ministry said. Mayaram has been appointed as the Minority Affairs Secretary in place of Lalit K Panwar,
DoPT said. Panwar, a 1979-batch Rajasthan cadre IAS officer, has been appointed as the new Secretary in
the Ministry of Tourism, it said. The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) had earlier approved cancellation of the order appointing Mayaram, a 1978- batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre, as Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, according to a statement issued today by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). Mayaram was replaced as the Finance Secretary on Oct. 15 by Rajiv Mehrishi, who was the Rajasthan Chief Secretary. Also, ACC has approved that Ratan P Watal, Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Finance Ministry, will hold, with immediate effect, additional charge as Finance Secretary for a period of one month or until the assumption of charge by Mehrishi, whichever is earlier, or until further orders, it said. Watal is a 1978-batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre. — PTI
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Glacial melt may hit food security: Scientist
Shimla, October 30 “The fact that it is the melting glaciers that make not just paddy but cultivation of other crops possible could adversely impact our food security,” said Prof Kulkarni. He said if steps were not taken by the international community to arrest the trend, it could pose serious local changes. “Though the international community has a small window of opportunity, recent studies have indicated all is not lost, provided we can reduce carbon emissions substantially,” he said. Barring glaciers in the Karakoram range, which are not depleting because of their high altitude of over 5,300 metres, all other glaciers have been melting at a consistent pace. “It is certain they will start shrinking within the next 10 to 15 years,” he said. The debris deposition on some of the glaciers was a cause for concern as they were leading to lake formation, a threat for those living in hills.
Cause for concern
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China voices concern over new border posts
Beijing, October 30 “We have noticed relevant report. Dispute still exists in the eastern part of China-India border,” Defence Ministry Spokesman Yang Yujin told the media when asked a question on the plans announced by the Home Ministry to build new border posts. “We urge the Indian side to do more to maintain peace and stability in the area and not do things that may complicate the situation,” he said. Asked why China is wary of India’s development of infrastructure along the border when it has carried out extensive development on its side, Yang said, “I think that the roads you are talking about are in the eastern part of the China-India border which is still a disputed area.” "China's position on the dispute in this area is clear and consistent," he said. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as southern Tibet. "It is an important consensus reached by the two sides to maintain peace and stability along the Line of Actual Control and both sides should do more towards converging direction rather than contrary," he said. The Indian Government last week announced setting up of 54 new border outposts and a
Rs 175 crore package for beefing up the infrastructure along the border in Arunachal Pradesh.
— PTI
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2 shops gutted, house damaged in UP blast
Lucknow, October 30 A police unit, a bomb disposal squad and intelligence agencies which combed the blast site have not been able to find the exact reason behind the blast, which occurred in a shop of the guest house run by one Lala Shiv
Dayal. The roof of the tea shop in the outer section of the house completely caved in injuring the labourers sleeping there. However, the three LPG cylinders and a refrigerator compressor in the shop were intact. The police also did not find any trace of any other explosives anywhere. The police have picked up some samples from the site for further examination. Inspector General (Law and Order) Satish Ganesh said the Anti-Terrorist Squad
(ATS) would conduct an inquiry into the Allahabad blast. Admitting that there were no casualties, the IG said the state government would still like to know what caused the explosion.
— TNS
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SC stays proceedings against Swamy
New Delhi, October 30 Suspending the proceedings going on in a Chennai court, a Bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra also issued notice to the Centre, the Tamil Nadu government and Jayalalithaa. The court asked them to file their response within six weeks. According to Swamy, the state government had slapped the cases against him at the instance of Jayalalithaa in order to harass him for making some critical comments against her on social websites. Swamy told the Bench that Section 499 and Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code relating to defamation had clamped unreasonable restrictions on the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19 (1)(a) of the Constitution.
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E-visa system to be rolled out next week
New Delhi, October 30 While Australia is likely to be accorded the e-visa facility during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit Down Under, some countries belonging to BRICS and African region are likely to be announced in the first phase. The e-visa is expected to give a big boost to the foreign tourist arrivals in the country. While in January about 4.95 lakh foreign tourists arrived in India, there were a total of 51.79 lakh during January-September this year.
— PTI
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TN Congress chief quits
New Delhi, October 30 Gnanadesikan sent his resignation letter to AICC chief Sonia Gandhi saying he did not want to pose any hindrance in the reconstitution of the state unit. He said groups from the state unit had been continuously lobbying for his removal and Central leaders were not attempting to quell the 'rebellion'. Gnanadesikan was referring (though in a veiled manner) to Congress general secretary Mukul Wasnik's recent meeting with state unit leaders who were against him. Gnanadesikan was appointed Tamil Nadu Congress chief in 2011 and the state unit was reconstituted in December 2013. Gnanadesikan said since his appointment, dissidents had been seeking his removal.
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New Delhi, October 30
A five-member Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court today said Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung had initiated positive steps for installing an elected government in Delhi.
The Bench headed by Chief Justice HL Dattu said it had taken note of media reports on the LG inviting political parties to discuss the possibility of government formation. One of the options was to invite the BJP to form the government, though it had only 28 members in the 70-member Assembly.
A team of BJP MPs led
by Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was today arrested while entering the
violence-hit Makra village, near Parui, Birbhum, today. The three-member team was on the way to the village to meet the affected villagers. But they were prevented from doing so and taken into custody.
When the MPs were on way to Makra village, they were delivered a message sent by state home secretary Basudeb Banerjee. In the message, the MPs were told not to violate the prohibitory orders under Section 144CrPc and refrain from entering the village.
The NDA government’s move to announce Rs 5 lakh aid to the kin of each of those killed in 1984 anti-Sikh riots has been largely hailed in Sikh circles, but there is a strong feeling that only delivering justice will apply balm on the wounds of the community.
Talking to The Tribune, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh welcomed the move while stating that the government finally thought about the plight of 1984 riot victims after 30 years. He, however, said that merely announcing compensation will not be enough and the government must expedite legal procedure to punish the guilty.
country’s food security.
Prof Anil Kulkarni, chairman of the Project Advisory Committee on Himalayan Glaciology and a visiting scientist at the Indian Institute of Sciences (IIS) Bangalore, today said barring some glaciers in the Karakoram range, a vast majority of over 10,000 Himalayan glaciers spread over 40,000 sq km were melting at a very fast pace.
The Supreme Court today stayed the defamation proceedings in five cases filed against BJP leader Subramanian Swamy for criticising Tamil Nadu's former chief minister J
Jayalalithaa. Suspending the proceedings going on in a Chennai court, a Bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra also issued notice to the
Centre, the Tamil Nadu government and Jayalalithaa. The court asked them to file their response within six weeks.
