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Akali MPs move HC for probe against Punjab CM’s son
Parties meddling in Sikh affairs, Tarlochan writes to CEC
BSP MLA shot in UP
CBI probe into TDP MLA’s murder likely
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Controversy clouds Bathinda refinery
Absconding RJD leader held
CBI woman Joint Director awarded Police Medal
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Akali MPs move HC for probe against Punjab CM’s son
New Delhi, January 25 The petition, which came up before Mr Justice R C Jain, was referred by him to Chief Justice B C Patel to be listed for hearing on January 28 before a Bench dealing with the public interest matters, saying the issue raised in it fell in the category of a PIL. The court rejected the plea of Additional Solicitor General (ASG) P P Malhotra for not fixing the date if the petition was being referred to a Bench hearing PIL matters. He appeared for the Union Government after advance copy of the petition was served on the Centre. Seeking inquiry by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) into the matter, the Akali leaders in the petition, filed by their counsel Madhusmita Bora, alleged that the Punjab Chief Minister’s son Raninder Singh had allegedly sent $1lakh from India to Singapore in August, 2003, for investment in a project named Punjab Internet Company, started by him with his Dutch friend Leonard A Freek. Basing their allegations mainly on the media reports, the Akali MPs alleged that Punjab Internet had sent the money to Singapore-based firm SMX, which forwarded it to Mauritius company Esquare. The Mauritius firm had then sent $ 55,000 to the Dutch company, the petition alleged. They have also challenged the setting up of the Justice Nehra Commission by the Congress Government in the state to probe the matter, claiming that the panel was constituted without taking required permission from the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court in December, 2003, after the matter came to light. Though the commission was asked to submit its inquiry report within three months, it had not yet completed the probe, the petition said. The Akali leaders also
alleged that the commission was “delaying scrutiny” of the evidence against Raninder Singh, whose statement had not been recorded by it. His Dutch friend had not been called to “record evidence of the overseas funds transactions,” it said. |
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Parties meddling in Sikh affairs, Tarlochan
New Delhi, January 25 He said he had been approached by the SGPC and other Sikh organisations “to request you (the CEC) to direct both the Congress and the BJP to take corrective measures in this regard. Knowing the sensitivity of the matter, I request you to please take appropriate action,” Mr Tarlochan Singh said in his letter. The NCM chief has taken exception to the Congress and the BJP trying to communalising the Assembly elections in Haryana. With an eye on the minority vote, Mr Tarlochan Singh accused the two major political parties of trying interfere in the religious affairs of the Sikh community by pledging to have a separate Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee for Haryana. He told the Tribune here that the Congress was going against the spirit and provisions of the late Rajiv-Longowal accord of July, 1985, which mandated coming with an All-India Gurdwara Act after meeting the relevant constitutional requirements. He said a bill for this purpose was circulated by the Centre among various states eliciting their comment. This was followed by an assurance by the Union Government on March 20, 2002. Mr Tarlochan Singh claimed that the aim of the Congress and the BJP was to break the existing Punjab unit of the SGPC, which controlled the historical Sikh shrines in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. |
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BSP MLA shot dead in UP
Lucknow, January 25 Three of his supporters were admitted to a local hospital in critical condition. According to a relative of the MLA, the incident occurred around 3.30 pm when the MLA from West Allahabad was moving in his Scorpio along with a female supporter, personal bodyguard Sandeep Yadav, a police gunman and three supporters. In Salem Sarai, occupants of a green Qualis and a Santro car opened fire at the MLA, killing him on the spot. The woman supporter was also killed on the spot along with the bodyguard. Three other supporters were admitted to the Jeevan Jyoti hospital. As the news of the MLA’s killing spread, shopkeepers downed their shutters and supporters took to the streets shouting slogans against the police. |
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CBI probe into TDP MLA’s murder likely
Hyderabad, January 25 “We have requested the Centre to institute a CBI enquiry into the case in view of the allegations against my family members and ministers,” Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy told reporters after a Cabinet meeting. Ravi, a former minister and an important TDP leader in Rayalaseema region, was shot dead yesterday, triggering allegations that the ruling Congress had a hand in his killing. Earlier in the day, an FIR was filed in the case against six persons, including Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, son of the Chief Minister and, Roads and Buildings Minister J C Divakar Reddy, on a compliant lodged by Ravi’s uncle Konaiah. Ravi’s funeral was held at his native village Venkatapuram in Anantapur district in the presence of hundreds of TDP leaders and activists, including former Chief Minster N Chandrababu Naidu. Life came to a standstill across the state following the bandh call given by TDP to protest against the killing. TDP activists resorted to attacks against the properties of Congress leaders and torched several RTC buses. CM Reddy, while condemning the murder, accused the TDP of masterminding widespread violence across the state following the killing. He said that TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu had provoked his party cadre to indulge in arson and damage public property. The Chief Minister asserted that Mr Divakar Reddy could “jolly well” continue in the government despite his being named in the FIR. “It’s a well established precedent,” he quipped. |
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Sonia to kick off campaign on Jan 28 New Delhi, January 25 This will be followed by a day-long tour of the other election-bound states of Jharkhand and Bihar on January 31. Among the places which are expected to figure in Mrs Gandhi's
itinerary in Haryana include Naultha (Karnal), Pehowa (Kurukshetra), Bawa (Rewari) and Bhiwani. The Congress president, who heads a list of 40 campaigners being drafted by the party for the state, is likely to address five to six public rallies during her two-day whirlwind tour. Mrs Gandhi’s tour plans and other election-related issues were discussed at the first meeting of the party’s election coordination committee today. Union minister Pranab Mukherjee, who heads the committee, and AICC general secretary Ambika Soni told mediapersons that today’s meeting was a stock-taking exercise to assess how the campaign was progressing. The committee will be meeting daily to monitor the election campaign in the three states. Although Mrs Gandhi has not visited Bihar for the past five years and has, so far refrained from campaigning here, she has decided to take the plunge this time. However, the
campaign will be limited to a day each in the three phases of the elections and will be confined to constituencies where the Congress candidates are in the fray. There are no plans to have joint rallies with Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Ram Vilas Paswan though the two parties have a tacit pre-poll alliance and are not contesting each other. Mrs Gandhi will also not be campaigning in the constituencies where the RJD is in the fray. This is in keeping with the Congress stance of neutrality as far as the LJP-RJD battle is concerned. There is considerable speculation about the thrust of Mrs Gandhi’s campaign in Bihar where the Congress is locked in friendly contests with its UPA partner, the RJD, in 60-odd
constituencies. Caught between safeguarding the state unit and the government at the Centre, Mrs Gandhi is likely to do a keen balancing act. Congress insiders maintain her speeches will focus on the UPA government’s achievements and what it has done for Bihar. As she cannot attack the Rabri devi government, since the Congress is a partner in it, she will talk about social harmony and though she will not name the RJD, her attack will be against communal and castiest forces. In
neighbouring Jharkhand, the Congress campaign will highlight the NDA government’s poor performance while promising better governance if voted to power. In Haryana, the focus will be on the allegations of corruption against the Chautala government, especially reports of large-scale extortion. |
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Controversy clouds Bathinda refinery
Jaipur, January 25 The Vasundhara Raje government has reiterated its determination on the setting up of the refinery at Barmer. Minister of Mines and Petroleum L.N. Dave has rejected the Centre's plea supporting Punjab's suitability and the investment of Rs 300 crore already made there, saying that such a claim was baseless in face of the fact that Barmer being the nearest point to the oil reserves of Rajasthan, offered greater potentialities and benefits as compared to far-flung Bathinda in Punjab. He alleged that the Centre was playing politics because Punjab had a Congress government. Mr Dave also warned that if the Centre did not change its decision, a mass movement supported by people would be launched. |
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Absconding RJD leader held
Katihar (Bihar), January 25 Accompanied by supporters, he surfaced before Returning Officer Mohan Ram to submit his papers where he was taken into custody.
— PTI |
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CBI woman Joint Director awarded Police Medal
New Delhi, January 25 Another 28 CBI personnel, including Mumbai-based Deputy Inspector -General R.K. Mishra, have been awarded the Police Medal for meritorious service on the eve of the 56th Republic Day. The following is the complete list of awardees: President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service: Archana Ramasundaram, IPS, Joint Director (EOW-II), CBI; D.K. Choudhry, SP, CBI, EOW-II, New Delhi; T.P. Jha, SP, CBI, BS & FC, Kolkata; Shivaji Rajagopal, ASP, CBI, ACB, Chennai; N.K. Mukherjee, ASP, CBI, BS & FC, Mumbai; Tridebeshwar Das, DSP, CBI, ACB, Kolkata; Kumar Amar Singh, DSP, CBI, AHD, Patna. Police Medal for Meritorious Service: R.K. Mishra, IPS, DIG, CBI, BS & FC, Mumbai; Lakhi Prasad, SP, CBI, AC-II, New Delhi; Sat Paul Singh, SP, CBI, EO-I, New Delhi; D.R.S. Yadav, ASP, CBI, ACB, Ranchi; L.M. Majhi, DSP, CBI, Rourkela Unit; Rigzin Upasak, DSP, CBI, Shimla Unit; Prem Kumar, DSP, CBI, ACB, Cochin; J.N. Rana, DSP, CBI, ACB, Bhubaneshwar; N.S. Kharayat, DSP, CBI, Co-Ordination
Division, New Delhi; P.K. Mankar, DSP, CBI, BS & FC, Mumbai; Dilip Chakraborty, Inspector, CBI, SCB, Kolkata; Dhirendra Kumar Raj, Inspector, CBI, SCB, Lucknow; Somraj Thakur, Inspector, CBI, SCR-II, New Delhi; Jeet Singh, Inspector, CBI, Academy, Ghaziabad; D.K. Bali, Inspector, CBI, ACB, Jammu; R.K. Gaur, Inspector, CBI, Information Sectorn, New Delhi; Siluvaimuthu Arulandu, Inspector, SCB, Chennai; Hardeep Singh, Inspector, BS & FC, New Delhi; Himangshu Ranjan Deb, Sub-Inspector, CBI, ACB, Silchar; Jai Lal Singh, Sub-Inspector, CBI, SCR-III, New Delhi; K. Radhakrishnan, Sub-Inspector, DBI, ACB, Cochin; Phool Singh, Sub-Inspector, CBI(HQ), New Delhi; R.P. Sharma, Sub-Inspector, CBI (HQ), New Delhi; Chandra Prakash, Asstt Sub-Inspector, CBI, ACB, Dehradun; J.S. Bisht, Asstt Sub-Inspector, CBI, SCB, New Delhi; Purandar Routray, Head Const, CBI, ACB, Bhubaneshwar; S.C. Pattnaik, Head Const, CBI, Bhubaneshwar; Rajkishore Singh, Head Const, CBI, ACU-III, New Delhi.
— UNI |
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29 Customs, Excise officials get award
New Delhi, January 25 The list of awardees include Commissioner of Customs (Chennai) Ajit Kumar and Commissioner in Department of Legal Affairs (New Delhi) Jagjit Pavadia, Additional Director General in the Department of Revenue Intelligence (Chennai), B.S.V. Murthy and Additional Director in the Department of Revenue Intelligence (Kolkata) Ranjan Kumar Saboo. Other officers selected for award: N. Venkatesh, Addl Director, Directorate of Systems, Delhi; S.N. Prasad, Addl Commissioner of Central Excise, Daman; Alok Shukla, Director, TRU, CBEC, New Delhi; V.K. Singh, Dy Commissioner of Central Excise, CCO, Mumbai-1; Madan Mohan, Assistant Director, DGCEI, DZU, Delhi; Naresh Kumar, Assistant Director, Judicial Cell, CBEC, Delhi; D.B.R. Nagpaul, Supdt., Air Customs, IGI, New Delhi; R. Rajendran, Supdt., Central Excise, Hyderabad-II; K.V. Ramana, Supdt., Central Excise, Hyderabad-I; Partha Pratim Basu, SIO, DRI, Kolkata; J. Terrance Rodrigo, SIO, DRI, Chennai; Chandra Bhal Singh, SIO, DGCEI (HQ), New Delhi; Hirdey Singh, SIO, DGCEI (HQ), New Delhi; Anil Sharma, SIO, DGCEI (DZU), New Delhi; Yakub Abdula Daulti, SIO, DGCEI (AZU); S.A. Hari Prakash, SIO, DGCEI (BZU); Radhakrishnan V. Iyer, SIO, DGCEI (MZU); Santosh Kumar Singh, Supdt., Noida; D.D. Kaushik, Supdt, Delhi-I; C.N. Madhusudan, Supdt., Bangalore-I; Birendra Kumar Thapliyal, IO, DRI, Mumbai; U.A. Gupte, IO, DGCEI (MZU); V. Rajendran, Driver, DRI, Chennai; and Shiv Dutt, Head Hawaldar, DRI, New Delhi.
— PTI |
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24 RPF men get Police Medal
New Delhi, January 25 Twenty of their colleagues have received the Police Medal for Meritorious Service. Mr Vinoy Kumar Rai, Sub-Inspector, RPF, Eastern Railway, has been awarded the Indian Police Medal for Gallantry posthumously. Anil Sharma, Chief Security Commissioner, West Central Railway, US Char, Assistant Security Commissioner, Railway Board, and Paneer Selvam, Inspector, Southern Railway, have been awarded the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service. The recipients of the Police Medal for Meritorious Service are: Mahim Swami, DIG/RPSF, New Delhi; Jaya Singh Chauhan, Chief Security Commissioner, Gorakhpur; S.Z. Samuel, DIG/ Kolkata; R.K. Malik, Director/RPF, New Delhi; A.K. Das, Assistant Security Commissioner; S.K. Dasgupta, Inspector, Kolkata, Supai Chand Kisku, Inspector, Dhanbad; Sekhar Kanjilal, Inspector Kolkata; A.K.J.P. Sharma, Inspector, Mumbai; R.C. Singh, Sub-Inspector, Jabalpur; B.L.K.P. Chaubey, Sub-Inspector, Mumbai; R.N. Rai, Sub-Inspector, Gorakhpur; M.M. Sheikh; Sub-Inspector, Bhubaneswar; V. Venkaiah, Sub-Inspector, Bhubaneswar; S.P. Goswami, Sub-Inspector, Jabalpur; Bachey Singh, ASI, Muradabad; B.P.Dwivedi, ASI, Jabalpur; K.C.Das, ASI, Bilaspur; Jagan Nath Prasad, Head Constable, Jabalpur; and G.R. Deshmukh, Head Constable, Mumbai.
— UNI |
Charity show for tsunami-hit Salt instead of change |
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