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Uma takes to
durbar amidst
Judeo, Rateria
fail to keep date with CBI Retd DSP held in
stamp paper scam |
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Held ultras
planned to set up base in Delhi
Tripathi cannot
attend Session Two killed in
Assam blast Dalit killed in
clash, houses torched Next hearing in
Ayodhya case on Jan 28 Ansari acquitted
in murder case Remand of bomb
blast suspects extended
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Uma takes to durbar amidst Ram chant Bhopal, December 8 Half of the dias from where Governor R.P. Gupta administered the oath of office and secrecy to Ms Bharti was occupied by saffron robed sants from Ayodhya led by Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas chief Nritya Gopal Das. As Ms Bharti took oath and raised her fists to acknowledge the crowd, the trident-wielding sants and sadhus raised slogans like “Jai Shri Ram” and “Jai Siya Ram”. Soon after taking oath, Ms Bharti first bowed before her guru Swami Vishwesh Tirath of Udupi to seek his blessings and then with folded hands sought the blessings of other sadhus and sants before touching the feet of Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani and Union Minister Murli Manohar Joshi. Ms Bharti gave the best photo opportunity to the large number of lensmen covering the event when she bowed to outgoing Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, against whom she had levelled corruption charges during the campaigning. While seeking the blessings of her senior colleagues present during the ceremony, Ms Bharti would have missed one man immensely Mr Arun Jaitley. The Union Law Minister, who handled the BJP’s campaign in Madhya Pradesh and virtually ensured a massive victory for the party, was not present at the ceremony. Among others, who had specially flown in to attend the oath-taking ceremony included Defence Minister George Fernandes, Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, union ministers Sharad Yadav, Arun Shourie, Shahnawaz Hussain, RSS leader Madan Das, VHP leader Acharya Giriraj Kishore and former, MP Chief Minister Sunderlal Patwa. Mr Digvijay Singh, who gracefully accepted defeat at the hustings, was seated between BJP leader Pyarelal Khandelwal and Mr Sharad Yadav and seen greeting BJP leaders with warmth. Along with Ms Bharti, 17 BJP MLAs took oath as ministers —12 of Cabinet rank and five Ministers of State. For 44-year-old Bharti, who was born in Dunda village and spent most of her childhood reciting Ram Katha, today was the beginning of a new chapter in her life. The first sanyasin to don the robe of a Chief Minister in India, firebrand leader Uma Bharti has many ‘firsts’ to her credit as she became the first woman Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh since its formation in 1956. Forty-four-year Bharti, who is, perhaps, the youngest politician so far to occupy the top job in MP, is also the first from the OBC (Other Backward Class) category to move into the coveted post in the central state, which has a sizeable Backward Class population. She became the first new Chief Minister of the state in the new millennium having steered her party to an unprecedented victory in the first state Assembly elections this century. It is also, perhaps, for the first time in recent times that the Chief Minister is heading a ruling party enjoying a three-fourth majority in the 230-member House, with as many as 172 BJP legislators. She also happens to be the first Chief Minister of MP to take oath at the historic Lal Parade Ground in the presence of a galaxy of political stalwarts, including Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani and a large number of religious leaders.
— PTI |
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Jaipur, December 8 Acting Governor Kailashpati Mishra administered the oath of office and secrecy to her. She became the first woman Chief Minister of the state. BJP President M Venkaiah Naidu, Union Finance Minister Jaswant Singh, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parikkar and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot were among the host of leaders who attended the function. The CPI(M), however, boycotted the event. Ms Raje was sworn in at a glittering public function by the state Governor along with nine ministers. Outgoing Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also attended the function. Those inducted as Cabinet Ministers were Mr Gulab Chand Kataria, Mr Ghanshyam Tiwari, Mr Kirodi Lal Meena, Mr Sanwar Lal Jat, Mr Madan Dilawar, Mr Narpat Singh Rajvi, Mr Kanak Mal Katara and Mr Yunus Khan. Mr Prabhu Lal Saini was sworn in as Minister of State. A born princess, Ms Raje learnt the basics of political intricacies from her mother, the late Vijaya Raje Scindia and brother Madhavrao Scindia. The 50-year-old daughter-in-law of the Dholpur royals, who catapulted her party to an unprecedented majority of its own in the Assembly poll, shattering the record of even stalwart Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, was ironically projected as an “outsider” by her opponents in the run-up to the elections. First elected to the Rajasthan Assembly in 1985, she was made Vice-President of the party’s state unit and nominated to the National Executive in 1987. In 1989, she was elected to the Lok Sabha from Jhalawar, a performance she replicated in the subsequent elections in 1991, 1998 and 1999. She was made Union Minister of State for External Affairs in the first Vajpayee government. Later, she continued to be a minister in the subsequent NDA government. Known to have a mind of her own, Ms Raje not only ensured that women candidates crossed the double digit mark in the allocation of ticket, but also kept controversial Hindutva issues at bay during campaigning, save for a promise to enact an anti-conversion law, in the party manifesto. Interestingly, cooking and gardening along with photography and art restoration are the pastimes of this down-to-earth “Maharani”.
— PTI/UNI |
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Judeo, Rateria fail to keep date with CBI New Delhi, December 8 The duo, who has been served notices by the CBI to appear before the agency, did not come up again despite assurances on its behalf that it would show up today before the agency sleuths. CBI sources said there was no intimation from their side till late in the evening whether they would be appearing for questioning in
connection with the scam. The CBI had served them notices last month and on December 6 again asking them to appear before the agency. The sources had said their questioning would help the agency in ascertaining whether to convert the preliminary enquiry into a regular case under the Prevention of Corruption Act or go for further
probe. Rateria’s questioning may be very crucial as it may help in identifying other persons who were inside the hotel room when Judeo was allegedly being paid the bribe.
— PTI |
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Retd DSP held in stamp paper scam
Mumbai, December 8 Ranjane, who retired in February last year, was arrested under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act here and later taken to Pune where a court remanded him in police custody till December 16. He was posted in Mumbai and is alleged to have forged links with the syndicate run by Telgi. Seeking his police custody, Chief Public Prosecutor Raja Thakre said the accused had failed to take any action against the three firms of Telgi. The accused knew what was being done by prime accused Telgi through his three firms to circulate fake stamp papers but did not take any action, he added. PUNE: Suspended Assistant Commissioner of Police M.C. Mulani, arrested in connection with the multi-crore fake stamp paper racket, was remanded in police custody till December 16 on Monday. Mulani, who was arrested last week, was produced before the court on the expiry of his magisterial custody remand.
— PTI |
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SC refers Hindu plea to Constitution Bench New Delhi, December 8 A Bench comprising Mr Justice Y.K. Sabharwal referred to a five-Judge Constitution Bench the petitions by ‘The Hindu’ Editor N. Ravi and four of his senior colleagues and ‘Murasoli’s’ Editor Selvam stating that substantial question of law with regard to legislature’s penal powers was involved. In its brief order the Bench said, “It is evident that substantial question of law in respect of Article 194(3) (legislature privilege) and Article 19(A) and 21 (freedom of speech and personal liberty), their interplay and various other substantial questions are involved and in this view we direct that these petitions be placed before a five-Judge Constitution Bench.” Meanwhile, the court continued its November 10 interim stay on the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker’s order for arresting of the six journalists for alleged breach of the privilege of the House. The Bench, however, adjourned to December 15 the hearing on a separate petition by ‘The Hindu’, challenging filing of nearly 25 defamation cases against the newspaper by the Jayalalithaa government. ‘The Hindu’ counsel Harish Salve said the newspaper had challenged the constitutional validity of Section 499 of the IPC, which deals with criminal defamation on the grounds that “criticism of public servants in public good and a private person cannot be put on the same footing.” On the privilege matter, when Tamil Nadu government counsel T L Vishwanath Iyer told the court that the state assembly would not press for apology by the journalists if they accepted legislature’s supremacy, the court said the issue needed thorough
examination as there was no clear ruling by the apex court on the subject as the matter relating to legislature privilege had only come before it once in the past. Attorney-General Soli J. Sorabjee also submitted that the issue of legislature’s power under Article 194 (3) required “full consideration” by the court. “We have to uphold the powers of all institutions, including the Press which is a very important branch. But all powers of all institutions have to be harmonised.” The court also impleaded the Press Council of India and three senior journalists as parties in the case as they had also pleaded for clear definition on legislature privilege vis-a-vis freedom of speech. While challenging the validity of Section 499 of IPC, the Hindu counsel said, “It is now constitutionally accepted norm in many advanced countries like the USA, Australia and Russia that imputation against a public person entirely has different test than a private person.” When the court said Section 499, evolved over a 100 years ago, had stood the test of time because certain exceptions are attached to it, Mr Salve said there had to be three clear distinctions between criticism of a public figure and private persons by the media. The public person has to establish — (i) that such criticism had harmed his reputation by a statement which is false (ii) the statement is reckless with disregard to the truth and (iii) it has been made maliciously. |
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Vegetables grown in Delhi ‘contain’ heavy metals
New Delhi, December 8 Irrigation by sewage water and industrial effluents have been cited as the main reason for accumulation of heavy metals in the vegetables, with aerial depositions from thermal plants and vehicular exhaust being other major sources of the toxics. According to a study conducted by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, and the Imperial College of London, vegetables like spinach, okra and cauliflower grown in the peri-urban areas of the Capital like Yamuna Pushta, Okhla, Ballabhgarh, Najafgarh and Alipur contained heavy metals. The presence of zinc, lead and cadmium was higher than the prescribed tolerance limit, Minister of State for Agriculture Hukum Narayan Yadav told the House. He said the vegetables were also found to be containing pestiside residue. Quoting a monitoring study carried out by the All-India Coordinated Research Project on Pesticide Residue, Mr Yadav said out of 4,100 samples of 31 vegetables taken, 55 were found contaminated, but only in 9 per cent of them, the residue exceeded the maximum tolerance limit. He said the government was encouraging judicious use of pesticides through constant training of farmers for observance of pre-harvest waiting period, proper method of spraying, use of quality pesticides with proper dose and technology and safe disposal of leftover pesticides.
— UNI |
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Held ultras planned to set up base in Delhi New Delhi, December 8 Joint Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Neeraj Kumar said militants Tariq Hussian (24) and Tazeem Ahmed, alias Kaka (28), both residents of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, were in the Capital since November and had been staying in various guest houses from time to time to evade suspicion. The duo had met one Mohammad Aftab at Jama Masjid and Aftab had instructed them to stay in a rented place till he found a safe hideout. Aftab on December 5 gave Rs 15 lakh to them and asked them to keep the money. On the instruction of Aftab the duo reached Azadpur Mandi on December 6 and were arrested from a rented accommodation in D-56, Khanpur. The sleuths also seized AK-56 rifles, four loaded magazines, 4.3 grams of RDX, six hand grenades, two detonators and Rs 15 lakh in cash from their possession, said Mr Neeraj Kumar. He said Aftab also told the duo in their hideout on last morning to hand over the arms, ammunition and money to Hafiz Rashid, alias Javed Iqbal, and Bilal, both Pakistani nationals, who the duo was familiar with. They were also told to watch out for Maruti car No DL-2C-E8499 near the main gate of Lotus Temple, Kalkaji, around 10 pm. Accordingly, when the sleuths reached the spot, they spotted the Maruti car and the two men. When the sleuths asked them to surrender they started running towards a park by shooting at the police personnel. But they were killed when the police exchanged fire. Two Chinese pistols, Rs 43,000 and a .30 calibre revolver were seized from the slain terrorists. |
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Defence varsity likely in Anandpur Sahib New Delhi, December 8 Defence Secretary Ajay Prasad in a letter to SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann said the issue was under examination. Mr Mann, in a representation to the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee had stated that the setting up of a national defence university in Anandpur Sahib would be a fitting tribute to the historic contribution of Punjab in the nation’s defence. |
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Tripathi cannot attend Session
Lucknow, December 8 Mr Justice Y R Tripathi passed the order on a petition of the CBI challenging the lower court’s order on November 10. Tripathi, who is currently in jail in judicial custody after being arrested by the CBI in connection with the case, was allowed to attend the assembly by Special Judicial Magistrate (CBI) R. M. Yadav. The CBI, which was investigating the case, had challenged the lower court’s order pleading that it could hamper investigation. “Considering the facts and circumstances of the case as also the stage of investigation, I am of the definite view that the order (of the lower court) if allowed to exist, shall have baleful impact on the investigation resulting in the abuse of the process of the court,” Mr Justice Tripathi observed in his order.
— PTI |
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Tinsukia (Assam), December 8 Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Lohia said a time-device, kept near a hardware shop, exploded this evening killing a relative of the owner of the shop Mahabir Kanoi and a customer Imran Shah and injuring eight. Five of the critically injured had been shifted to hospital. The Deputy Commissioner said the motive behind the attack
was not clear as the area had a mixed population and from the kind of
damage ‘’it appears to be a crude job’’. — PTI |
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Dalit killed in clash, houses torched Pratapgarh, December 8 Trouble broke over the digging of a field for laying a road and eight persons have been arrested so far in this connection, SP Shailendra Pratap said. A connecting road was being laid at Sarai Jaanmati village and soil was being dug from the field for the purpose. one Chandra Pal Saroj, he said.
— PTI |
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Next hearing in Ayodhya case on Jan 28
Lucknow, December 8 A Single Judge Bench comprising Mr Justice Y.R. Tripathi, posting the matter for further hearing on January 28, directed the parties concerned could in the mean time file a counter-rejoinder. The court also directed to club with the criminal revision the petition filed by one of the main plaintiffs in the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid title suits, Mohammad Hashim Ansari, challenging the Raebareli court order discharging Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani in the matter. The court on September 19, while discharging Mr Advani in the Babri Masjid demolition case, had ordered the framing of charges against six others, including Mr Joshi and VHP leader Ashok Singhal and BJP leader Uma Bharti.
— PTI |
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Ansari acquitted in murder case Lucknow, December 8 Additional District Judge Syed Waiz, acquitting the 23 suspects, said in his order that there was not enough evidence against them. R.K.
Tewari, who was the Jailor of the Lucknow district prison, was shot by two motorcycle-borne assailants in the Hazratganj area here on February 4, 1999, while he was returning home after attending a meeting. Two of the suspects had died during the pendency of the trial.
— PTI |
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Remand of bomb blast suspects extended
Mumbai, December 8 The duo, Hassan Batterywala and Rizwan Ladoowala, were produced before designated Judge A.P. Bhangale amid tight security. Batterywala and Ladoowala had earlier been remanded in police custody along with four others in a case of seizure of explosives from a bus in suburban Andheri on December 2 last year.
— PTI |
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