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New Delhi, February 12 Gujarat’s magistrate who had issued warrants to President A.P.J Abdul Kalam, Chief Justice of India V.N. Khare and two other jurists allegedly for a bribe of Rs 40,000 as claimed to have been exposed in a sting operation, in an affidavit before the apex court has denied the graft charges and asserted that he had acted as per the law.
Trouble brewing in
DD, IIS over appointments
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Cong may field
senior leaders
Punjab CM asks Sonia to speed up on tie-ups
BJP: Cong has no roadmap for economic growth
Vajpayee meets Sai Baba
No clue to
Puri’s murder CBSE exams to
begin on March 1 Australian held
for molesting air hostess
SC seeks fresh report on Bangladesh migrants
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Warrant against Kalam: magistrate
New Delhi, February 12 Accusing Zee TV reporter Vijay Shekhar, who claimed to have conducted the sting operation to expose corruption in lower judiciary, of “playing traunt” with the judicial system, Ahmedabad’s magistrate M.S. Brahmabhatt said he was “innocent and maligened”. Stating that while passing the orders of warrants, he had followed the due judicial process as the case was brought before him in a complaint on which the names of the four dignitaries were not fully revealed as it was an attempt by the reporter to play a “fraud” with the court. “It was inconceivable for the deponent (Brahmahbhatt) that any person could even have the temerity to name the VVIPs in any criminal complaint, especially a case such as this, and much less be able to describe them as businessmen,” the affidavit said. It said incomplete name of President (A.P.J. Abdul Kalam) was mentioned in the complaint as Abdulfakir Jainul Abidil, Chief Justice V.N. Khare’s as Vishwanath Khare (correct name Wisheshwar Nath Khare), sitting apex court Judges B.P. Singh’s as Vishveswar Prasad Singh and senior Supreme Court lawyer R.K. Jain’s as Rajendrakumar Jain. The complainant Sureshkumar Jethalal was duly identified by his advocates, the magistrate said adding in such circumstances when the VIPs were not easily identifiable, it was not possible for any reasonable person to conclude that the said accused persons were not businessmen but were in fact the President of India, Chief Justice of India, a Judge of the apex court and a senior advocate, he said. “The complaint as presented before my court was nothing more than an attempt to trick me and the petition (Zee and its reporter) before the apex court was just an attempt to harass me,” Brahmabhatt said. Advocate Harish D. Bhawaniwala, one of the three advocates, named in the sting operation by Zee, said since the case was referred to him by a lawyer, he had no reason to doubt the bona fides of the complainant or the version put by him. According to the Zee’s petition before the apex court, Jethalal in the complaint had alleged that Abdulfakir Jainul
Abidi, Vishwanath Khare, Vishveshwar Prasad Singh and Rajender Kumar Jain, had cheated and defrauded him of Rs 15 lakh on the promise of supplying him gold. |
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Trouble brewing in
DD, IIS over appointments
New Delhi, February 12 In an unprecedented move the employees of all seven government-run media organisations have come together to oppose the moves made by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) to appoint outsiders at senior positions in the DD News channel. They include not only the Group B employees but also from the `executive’ Group A. The organisations which have come together include the All India Radio, Publicity Division, Field Publicity Division, DD, Directorate of Audio Visual Publicity and Registrar of Newspapers in India. The employees from the two groups, who had held a meeting yesterday in the Press Information Bureau (PIB), today met the I&B Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and gave a representation opposing the government’s move to appoint outsiders in the DD News channel. But if there is no concrete action from the government in the near future, the employees have also threatened to take further strong action. Sources have not ruled out the possibility of a strike at a later stage which, with the general elections round the corner, could prove to be costly for the government. In the representation, the IIS officers have pointed out that while outsiders are being appointed at hefty salaries, about 250 cadre posts of the IIS were lying vacant which, if not filled, would eventually be abolished thereby affecting the cadre adversely. While pointing out that some of senior-level posts, including that of the DG DAVP and DG DFP, were still to be filled they requested the government to fill all posts immediately. Meanwhile, yesterday’s meeting was also attended by Principal Information Officer (PIO) Sahib Singh, who is not only the head of the PIB but is also considered as the information adviser to the Prime Minister. All other senior officers of the PIB, including the Additional PIOs, and the heads of other government-run media organisations were also present. The employees are protesting not only the arbitrary appointments but also the transfers of the DD employees without any reasons being attributed. Besides the employees are also against the government policy of providing these “outside” contract employees with hefty salaries in
comparison to those on regular pay rolls for the same kind of work. The sources said while the seniority of the IIS officers, some of whom have served as DD and AIR correspondents even abroad in sensitive countries, were being overlooked, people much junior in the profession were being appointed as they have been handpicked at the recommendation of senior members of the government. |
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Cong may field
senior leaders
New Delhi, February 12 Although the list of candidates is far from being finalised, there is a strong view in the party that senior leaders like Pranab Mukherjee, Manmohan Singh, Arjun Singh, K. Natwar Singh, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ambika Soni be asked to contest the General Election. Several reasons are being cited for such a move. It is being argued that the presence of senior leaders in the fray would help "lift the campaign" and give it a competitive edge. However, this will not mean that the second-rung leadership or the younger faces in the party will be ignored, Congress insiders clarified. The basic idea is to field a handful of such senior leaders in each state which will help create a credible atmosphere in the party's favour and also galvanise cadres to put in an extra effort. In addition, it will also silence critics that party strategists and think-tank is full of Rajya Sabha members, who are incapable of winning a Lok Sabha election. However, the more uncharitable in the party maintain that the sitting Rajya Sabha members are looking at "safe Lok Sabha seats" as they are not sure if they will be renominated, given the changing face of the state assemblies which determine the composition of the Upper House. “Several senior leaders are looking around for safe Lok Sabha seats given the uncertainty about their renomination,” explained a senior Congress leader. But more importantly, such a move would insulate Congress president Sonia Gandhi from any possible criticism in case the party does not do well in the coming elections. If the Congress party's senior leaders are unable to win, the blame for the defeat would necessarily be shared collectively without any single individual being held responsible for the result. As far as Uttar Pradesh is concerned, it remains the responsibility of party president who, according to Congress leaders, has taken on this task with all seriousness. |
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Punjab CM asks Sonia to speed up on tie-ups
New Delhi, February 12 Sources said the issue was touched by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and PCC chief H S Hanspal in their meetings with the Central leaders in the past two days. The Chief Minister, who met Congress President Sonia Gandhi for nearly 45 minutes today, told her about the party’s preparations for the polls and his assessment of the party’s prospects in the 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Capt Amarinder Singh also apprised Ms Gandhi about his recent visit to Lahore. The Chief Minister could not meet AICC General Secretary Mohsina Kidwai today and is likely to return to the Capital on Saturday. Sources said the AICC leaders told the state leadership that the picture about alliances would become clear in the next 10 days. The Congress, which had fought the last Lok Sabha elections in alliance with the Left parties, is now also keen on a tie-up with the Bahujan Samaj Party. Faced by a unified Akali Dal and an aggressive BJP, most of the state Congress leaders are in favour of tie-ups. However, a section within the party is against a tie-up with the BSP saying it would erode party’s support base, specially among Dalits. Party sources said delay in a decision on tie-ups was affecting the process of selection of candidates in Bathinda, Sangrur, Hoshiarpur, Phillaur, Ferozepur and Ropar seats. The Congress had contested the Bathinda seat in alliance with the CPI and the Sangrur seat in alliance with the CPM in the last Lok Sabha elections. The state leaders are not certain about the seats going to other parties in case of tie-ups. |
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BJP: Cong has no roadmap for economic growth
New Delhi, February 12 “The NDA regime not only managed to undo the continuous slide in the economy under the Congress and previous governments but also reversed what many economists described as the ‘Hindu growth rate’, signifying the slow
progress on economic front, by bringing back economy on the fast track,’ Union Minister and party spokesman Arun Jaitely told newspersons here. The Congress does not have the “honesty to accept that the NDA had given the country an 8 per cent economic growth”, he said. The minister said instead of acknowledging the growth recorded during the NDA regime, the Congress had been ‘talking down’ the recent
achievements. He alleged that the Congress had only slogans but no raodmap for India’s economic growth. “If anybody asks for the economic policy of the main Opposition party, there would be a confusion and no answer.” Asserting that the ‘feel good’ factor was not imaginary but backed by facts, specially on the economic front, Mr Jaitely said it was during the NDA regime that the opinion of the entire world had changed in the country’s favour. The minister quoted a recent London School of Business report as saying that India was a leading employment generator. “It is regrettable that the Congress and its leader Sonia Gandhi are ignoring the fact and constantly talking on the NDA’ achievements on this count”, he said. |
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Vajpayee meets Sai Baba Puttaparthi (Andhra Pradesh), February 12 Official sources said Mr Vajpayee met Sai Baba at his abode, Prashanti Nilayam, where the Prime Minister stayed overnight and had a 15-minute audience soon after his arrival amidst unprecedented security here yesterday. In the wake of the activities of the outlawed PWG in Ananthpur district, the police had sanitised the entire route from the airport to Prashanti
Nilayam. Bomb disposal squads were deployed and round-the-clock patrol held as a part of the beefed-up security.
— PTI |
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No clue to
Puri’s murder New Delhi, February 12 “He was murdered in Luanda yesterday. His body would be flown in here tomorrow,” family sources said adding that they did not have details about the murder and who was behind it. His company Mohan Exports said in a statement: “Puri died at the hands of miscreants, said to have intruded into his hotel room in Luanda in the early hours on February 11. Angolan authorities are continuing with their investigation.” Born on September 21, 1949, Puri was leading a private delegation to Luanda for exploring the possibilities of establishing beverages bottling facility among other things. According to a communication received from Angola, Puri arrived in Luanda from Mozambique on February 10. Two others, including Ravi
Jaipuria, the largest bottlers of Pepsi in India, was accompanying him.
— PTI |
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CBSE exams to
begin on March 1 New Delhi, February 12 From last years’ 5,61,638, the number this year has risen to 5,68,489 for Class X and from 3,66,145 to 3,92,836 for Class XII. The examinations will be based on the new format and curriculum. The Chairman of the CBSE, Mr Ashok Ganguly, while listing out the arrangements made for conducting the examinations said the board was well-equipped to deliver. He ruled out the chances of examinations being disturbed should the Lok Sabha elections coincide with the examinations. “The schedule for the examinations has been drawn in December and the board has made all arrangements for a free and fair conduct of the exams”, Mr Ganguly pointed out. While the examinations for Class X will continue till March 23, for Class XII, it will continue till the April 2. A total of 47 centres had been set up in foreign countries. |
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Australian held
for molesting air hostess New Delhi, February 12 The suspect, Ranjit Singh Sahota (40), was an Indian origin Australian. He boarded an Indian Airlines flight from Singapore to IGI Airport, New Delhi. In the flight he had allegedly got physical with the air hostess and passed lewd remarks. He was arrested by the airport police on the basis of a complaint lodged by the air hostess just after he landed at the airport. However, he was released on bail and went to his native place Phagwara in Punjab. |
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SC seeks fresh report on Bangladesh migrants
New Delhi, February 12 A Bench of Mr Justice S. Rajendera Babu and Mr Justice G.P. Mathur, gave directions to the Centre and the states during the hearing of a pending public interest litigation (PIL), allowing them four weeks time to file affidavits. The Centre had earlier admitted that more than 1.50 crore Bangladeshis were living in India illegally. |
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