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BJP seeks Laloo’s resignation over safety issue
CBI gets nod to prosecute top cops
GMs, DRMs to be responsible for accidents
DGP accused of ‘victimising’ IAS officer
Punjab fails to utilise wildlife funds
Panel asks states to fund fast track courts
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Somnath for people’s right
to recall
Govt playing ‘nasty game’ with Netaji panel: RSS
CJI cautions government on Patents Bill amendments
Deputy CM promises action against rapist cop, colleagues
Delhi may help Pak to set up metro rail
Cong in Kerala heads for split
MLAs to monitor ministers’ working
Don’t take our support for granted: Bardhan
J&K Deputy CM
advised restraint
Farmers gherao officials over canal collapse
Formula to form govt soon, says Paswan
Joint move by Haryana, Rajasthan police
BJP keeps mum on Uma’s remarks against Advani
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BJP seeks Laloo’s resignation over safety issue
New Delhi, April 22 The party also sought to defend Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of the alleged attack on Mr Laloo Prasad by Sangh Parivar activists, by saying “people in public life have to face both pro and anti demonstrations”, BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley told mediapersons. “It is unfortunate that the energies of the Central Government, CCPA and the Railway Minister were concentrated on an unfortunate incident at the hospital rather than on the gross human tragedy which occurred on the railway tracks”, he said. “Not a word has appeared from the Railway Minister to express sympathy for the families of the deceased and injured,” Mr Jaitley said. The BJP leader said in the past Railway Ministers had resigned or offered to resign owning moral responsibility for such accidents. “Lalu Prasad’s tenure as Railway Minister has been marked by a sharp decline in the standards of safety. The nation has witnessed several accidents in the past few months. The Railways have done little to improve its performance and therefore the BJP demands the Railway Minister’s resignation,” he said. Describing as strange, the Union Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) “attempts to politicise” the incident, Mr Jaitley recalled that Mr Modi had to face protests and demonstrations at Kolkata airport on his visit to the state on March 12 and the CISF had to protect him in view of the “inadequate security” provided by the state government. Similarly, Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar had to face protests in Congress-ruled Maharashtra and was even forced to cancel his programme. “People in public life have to face pro and anti demonstrations,” he said adding that no information was given to the state government regarding Mr Laloo Prasad’s visit. “Slogans for and against the Railway Minister were raised at the hospital. It is not unusual that dignitaries have to face the wrath of angry relatives when tragedies of this kind take place, ” he said and cited the example of Mr Modi facing similar ire at the time of the Gujarat earthquake and Godhra train tragedy. The party would raise the issue in Parliament and would press for the Railway Minister’s resignation, Mr Jaitley pointed out.
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CBI gets nod to prosecute top cops
Dehra Dun, April 22 The investigating agency had sought permission from the state government to prosecute the then DGP Prem Dutt Raturi and ADGP Rakesh Mittal through two separate letters sent to Chief Secretary R.S. Tolia and Secretary, Home,
S.K. Das, official sources said. The letters stated that the two officers had allegedly conspired to tamper with the computer data carrying results of the written examination conducted in 2002. While 1973 batch IPS officer
P.D. Raturi is posted as the DG (Rules and Manuals), Mr Mittal continues to serve as ADGP in the state after being suspended and reinstated following the scam. Over 25,000 candidates took the preliminary exam against 253 vacancies. Nearly 20 writ petitions were filed in the Uttaranchal High Court in Nainital following the written exam and an inquiry was ordered by the state government and later the CBI was handed over the case. After the preliminary inquiry the irregularities pointed at were ascertained. The appointments of six candidates were terminated. The CBI in its report gave a clean chit to the other officials accused in the scam, including DIGs AB Lal and Kaviraj Negi and IG Anil Raturi among others. The petitioners had alleged that in the recruitment process, which was far from being transparent, the merit was not disclosed. The names of the members of the interview board were made public two months in advance and one of the candidates was allotted 100 marks out of 75 in the interview, a petition stated. Nearly three years and two inquiries later the petitioners said the charge sheet was mere an eyewash and they were still awaiting justice. The petitioners have demanded that the appointments be quashed and a fresh examination be conducted. |
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GMs, DRMs to be responsible for accidents
New Delhi, April 22 The order will be enforced with immediate effect. Sources said the CRB has also issued orders to the General Managers of all 16 zones to start a fortnight long safety drive for drivers and persons concerned with safety operations. The Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety, Mr J.P. Garg recently chaired a meeting of Commissioners of Railway Safety and Railway Board members. Chairman Railway Board, R.K. Singh told TNS "During the three -hour long meeting, we discussed the safety performance of the Railways in the last fiscal 2004-'-05 and plans for the future. We also reviewed matters related to safety of train operations." Meanwhile, the All-India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF), the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR), the Indian Railway Promotee Officers Federation (IRPOF), the Federation of Railway Officers Association (FROA and All-India RPF Association (AIRPFA) have condemned the attack on Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav by the Bajrang Dal, Rastriya Swayam Sewak Sangh and Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists and the total lawlessness that was seen during his visit to the state. The Delhi-based Jamiat-Ulama-i-Hind has said the Modi rule in Gujarat is like a 'Jungle Raj'. In a statement issued here, Abdul Hameed Naumani, Secretary, Publicity, has said Mr Narendra Modi does not have any moral right to continue in office. Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav is away to Bhabua near Patna to lay the foundation stone of a railway overbridge. He is expected to make an announcement on the railway accident in the Lok Sabha on Monday. Defending Mr Yadav, his loyalists said train journeys have become safer after Mr Yadav took over. "When Nitish Kumar was the Railway Minister, there were a spate of accidents.
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DGP accused of ‘victimising’ IAS officer
Hyderabad, April 22 DGP Swaranjit Sens alleged a cover-up operation to bail out his wife Anita Sen, who is facing cases in the child adoption racket, had sharply divided the IPS and the IAS camps in the state. What sparked off the clash was the police registering a case in Medak district against a senior IAS officer Shalini Mishra for her role as the Director of the Women and Child Welfare when the adoption scam broke out four years ago. Ms Mishra had undertaken a major crackdown on dubious child adoption agencies and was responsible for filing cases against several organisations, including “Precious Moments”, a city-based NGO run by Anita Sen, which was found to be involved in the racket. Barely three months after Mr Sen took charge, a twist was given to the case by filing an FIR against Ms Mishra under the SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The case was based on a reported statement made by a tribal youth Lakshman who testified against the IAS official. Interestingly, Lakshman in the past had confessed to working as an agent to procure children from the tribal hamlets and sell them to the adoption agencies. However, later he denied this, saying his earlier statement was made under duress. The development was seen as an act of witch-hunt and not surprisingly the needle of suspicion pointed towards the DGP. Peeved over the move to “victimise” Ms Mishra, who is now the Special Commissioner of the State Housing Development Board, a group of senior IAS officers petitioned to the Chief Secretary, Mr Mohan Kanda, demanding that the DGP be reined in. The main Opposition TDP, the Left Parties and some women organisations have demanded action against the DGP, accusing him of vindictive action against those who were involved in investigation of the adoption racket. Even the Chief Minister, Mr Y. S. Rajaskehara Reddy is said to have found the role of the DGP in the whole episode “very unbecoming of his position”. Unfazed by the criticism, the DGP asserted that he had no role in the case nor was he interested in influencing the case involving his wife. “I did not order filing any case against Ms Mishra. The FIR is based on a statement made by a tribal youth who says he was pressurised in the past,” the DGP said amidst allegations that the youth was bribed and forced to make such a statement.
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Punjab fails to utilise wildlife funds
New Delhi, April 22 The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), following a request from the state government three years ago, released Rs 50.05 lakh for the maintenance of Bir Moti Bagh (Rs 33.5 lakh) and Bir Bunerhari (Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 0.40 lakh) near Patiala, Harike Lake (Rs 7.25 lakh) near Ferozepore, Bir Gurdial Pura (4.9 lakh) near Fatehgarh Sahib and the Abohar sanctuary (Rs 2.5 lakh). A few days ago the ministry wrote to the Punjab Government, cautioning it that if the money was not utilised till March 31, the funds would be considered as withdrawn. It was only after this that the state government swung into action and submitted a fresh proposal to the standing committee, asking for adjustment of funds and seeking its approval for utilising the money for other permitted activities. When contacted, MoEF Joint Director (Wildlife) Sanjeev K. Chadha, said the Punjab Government had not utilised the funds released for the conservation of its nationals parks and sanctuaries conservation three years ago and the ministry had now given its go-ahead to the state government to use it for other permitted activities. “However, its failure to utilise the amount has resulted in the state government not being able to get additional grant from the Centre for its parks and sanctuaries in the past two years,” he said. The Punjab Government had asked the money for the protection and demarcation of sanctuaries, providing water holes for animals, improvement of roads, cleaning the Harike lake, forests communications, and vehicles etc. “However, there is always a scope for improvement and hopefully the state government will now use the money for the betterment of its sanctuaries and parks,” he added.
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Panel asks states to fund fast track courts
New Delhi, April 22 The committee has asked the Justice Department of the Law Ministry to take up the matter with state governments for providing the funds. The courts were to be closed after March 31. However, their imminent closure had been stayed by the Supreme Court last month in an interim order, which also suggested that the Union Government should explore the feasibility of these courts being financed by the states. The NDA government had recommended setting up of 1734 FTCs across the country of which 1699 were made functional. “The Justice Department should pursue the issue with the Finance Ministry or the Planning Commission and till the scheme is finalised, take up the matter with state governments for providing the funds, which subsequently be reimbursed by the Union Government,” the committee said in its report placed before Parliament. The committee lambasted the Law Ministry for not taking up the issue with the Finance Ministry and the Planning Commission well in advance and simply waiting for the outcome of the 12th Finance Commission’s report. Describing it as a “sorry state of affairs”, the committee said the Justice Department had simply set back with the assumption that the Finance Commission would take care of the matter. The committee appreciated the work of the FTCs. Similarly, the committee also criticised the government for not taking up the Law Commission’s recommendations on the legal reforms seriously. Taking serious view of not informing Parliament about the steps taken to implement the Law Commission’s various reports, the committee said “it would be better to apprise Parliament once in a year about the status of the commissions reports.” “Such an approach is not a healthy sign for the working of the Parliamentary system”, the committee observed, pointing that the commission’s report formed the base for review and amending the judicial system, framing new laws and repealing the laws which were no more required. It also reprimanded the Law Ministry for not filling the posts of most of the 20 additional Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Benches across the country, which were created to expedite the disposal of tax related matters.
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Somnath for people’s right
to recall
Indore, April 22 “Yes I agree there should be a law on right to recall,” he said when asked whether people should not have a right to recall an elected representative on the account of “non-performance” at ‘meet the press programme’ organised by the Indore Press Club here. On the issue of “growing” judicial intervention specially with reference to Jharkhand and whether it will not lead to a conflict between legislature and judiciary, Mr Chatterjee said: “That is my fear, but I hope it will not happen.” However, Mr Chatterjee clarified that he did not have any doubt on the issue of the apex court’s order as it was the country’s Supreme Court order. The Speaker said in the Presiding Officer’s conference called by him in the backdrop of the apex court’s order on the Jharkhand issue a resolution was passed and sent to the government stating it had been decided that the apex court would be approached again for its fresh opinion on the issue. He clarified that he had not spoken anything against the Supreme Court on the issue. The Speaker also pointed out that Jharkhand imbroglio was not solved with judicial intervention, but with the Prime Minister’s efforts. He, however, added that he had full confidence in the judiciary.
— PTI
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Govt playing ‘nasty game’ with Netaji panel: RSS
Kolkata, April 22 He alleged that the Congress government was playing the same “nasty game” which Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabh Bhai Patel and some other Congress leaders had played in the past. They did not want Netaji to be alive and be back in India after Independence, he charged. Talking at a press conference in the city last evening, Mr Sudershan demanded that the Monoj Mukherjee Commission should be allowed some more time and make necessary arrangement for their visit to Russia which would help the commission to finally establish the truth that Netaji did not die in a plane crash. The RSS chief said he was aware of the findings of the Mukherji Commission and was convinced that the inquiry was progressing in the right direction. But it was suddenly stopped at the penultimate end as the UPA did not allow the commission to visit Russia, which was very important for finalising the report. Referring to the problems of infiltrations and other border problems with Bangladesh, the RSS chief charged that neither the UPA nor the Bengal Left Front government was taking the issue seriously. He announced that the RSS and BJP would organise a massive agitation in West Bengal, Assam and Tripura for forcing the “outsiders” back to Bangladesh. |
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CJI cautions government on
New Delhi, April 22 “Certain key issues of concern have arisen in the light of the recent amendments. The first and the prime question is the availability of essential drugs, specially the life saving drugs, to the under-developed and developing countries and to senior citizens and also to the not so affluent persons even in the developed countries,” Justice Lahoti said. This was stated by him at a seminar on “Product Regime-Effect on Common Man”, organised by the Asia Pacific Jurist Association here recently to deliberate upon the effect of amendments in the patent laws, required to be made in accordance with the new world regime. The CJI said the economic reforms in the country “cannot be planned in isolation without considering the reciprocal impact of the patents regime. One such example is the introduction of Value Added Tax (VAT).” Citing the example of Delhi Government’s proposal of partial rollback of certain provisions of VAT to ensure that they did not affect the life saving drugs, he said “perhaps the solution lies in providing adequate safeguards in terms of licensing provisions and strict drug pricing control mechanism to prevent creation of unjust monopolies at the cost of health safety measures.” He said getting patent protection in almost all aspects of drug development-from molecules and processes going up to sequences, was “undoubtedly” a big jolt to the pharmaceutical industry. |
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Deputy CM promises action against
Mumbai, April 22 The police said the constable Ravi More was notorious for drunken behaviour and had been reprimanded by his bosses several times. However, his brother-in-law, a senior inspector and other police officers bailed him out from strict action, sources said. After More raped the girl yesterday evening in the crowded Marine Drive area, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister R. R. Patil has promised action. Mr Patil told reporters today that he would take action against More and other officers who protected him in the past. On Thursday evening, More took his victim and her three male friends, all students at Mumbai University, for questioning. At the chowky nearby, More asked the three youths to step out and raped the girl. On hearing the girl’s screams, passers-by smashed the police chowky and beat up More. Today More was produced before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate D. B. Nikam of the holiday court and remanded in police custody till May 3.
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Delhi may help Pak to set up metro rail
New Delhi, April 22 Prior to a Pakistani delegation’s interaction with DMRC Managing Director E. Sreedharan and other officials on Monday during Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s visit to the Capital, the Delhi metro has played the host to at least three delegations from Pakistan since December 2004. But before Pakistan Minister of State for Railways Ishaq Khan Khakwani visited the DMRC on April 18, a delegation led by Director-General, Karachi Mass Transit Corporation, Zaheer-Ul-Islam in December 2004, specifically told the DMRC officials that the authorities were exploring alternative transportation schemes, including dedicated bus ways and metro rail, to decongest Karachi.
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Cong in Kerala heads for split
Thiruvananthapuram, April 22 After the Congress high command refused to offer a truce Mr Karunakaran returned to the state Capital this afternoon after spending a couple of days in New Delhi. His meeting with Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar, reportedly, on the possibility of sharing a platform at the national level, had added to speculations that a split is imminent. Asked about the possibility of the realignment of old Congressmen like Mr Sharad Pawar, Mr P A Sangma and others, Mr Karunakaran shot back saying, ‘’Why do you leave out people like Chandrashekhar and Deve Gowda?’’ He told reporters at his city residence that national leaders of the party were unhappy over the manner in which the high command had handled the crisis in the party’s Kerala unit. ‘’But, I don’t see any possibility of a settlement.’’ Mr Karunakaran’s son and former PCC chief Muraleedharan, expelled from the party for six years for organising three zonal rallies in defiance of the high command, categorically stated that there was no scope for rapprochement.
— UNI
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MLAs to monitor ministers’ working
Jaipur, April 22 Frequent complaints made by party MLAs to the Chief Minister about the apathetic attitude of the ministers in not paying prompt attention to their demands had also surfaced prominently during the recent visit of Mr Kalraj Mishra to take stock of the reported conflicting situation between the state unit of the BJP and the government. Each proposed committee, consisting of five or seven members, would serve as a watchdog over the functioning of the departments entrusted to it and suggest ways and means to speed up the pace of progress pertaining to various welfare programmes announced in the budget session of the Assembly as also incorporated in the annual Plan of the state.
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Don’t take our support for granted: Bardhan
Patna, April 22 “No written agreement exists between Left parties and the Congress that we would continue our support to the UPA government at the Centre. Any deviation from the CMP may lead to grave consequences (for the Congress-led UPA government),” he said at the 6th National Convention of the Samajwadi Party here. Mr Bardhan said there was no compulsion for the Left parties to continue their support to the government “but at the same time we will not allow any communal government to take over”.
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J&K Deputy CM
advised restraint
New Delhi, April 22 Mr Sharma, who came to the Capital following an arguement with the Chief Minister during a Cabinet meeting, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and party general secretary Ambika Soni. The Congress central leadership appeared keen not to let the incident blow up and cause a strain in its relations with the PDP. A senior Congress leader said Mr Sharma had not rushed to Delhi after the state Cabinet meeting but was "scheduled" to come to the Capital. She said some misunderstanding might have
occurred in the Cabinet meeting but it would be sorted out. “While running a coalition government, the partners may have differences on certain matters. |
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Farmers gherao officials over canal collapse
Jaipur, April 22 The mishap reportedly took place late in the evening at a point, about 32 km from Sriganganagar district headquarters. The farmers criticised the complacent attitude of the Irrigation Department in respect of the maintenance of the canal. They gheraoed the Repair work in the canal was undertaken only last month after a long time. Details of the damage done due to the canal collapse are still awaited. |
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Formula to form govt soon, says Paswan
Chennai, April 22 The Lok Janashakti Party President reiterated that the next Chief Minister of Bihar should be a Muslim and that the proposed government would not include the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Mr Paswan said, “I will come out with a concrete formula within two or three weeks. It will be a practical and workable proposal.” But he refused to say anything more about his plans. President’s rule could not go on indefinitely and a popular government should soon be in place. However, he said, “President’s rule is thousand times better than the previous RJD government, but it cannot be indefinite.” |
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Joint move by Haryana, Rajasthan police
Jaipur, April 22 Police superintendents of Jaipur (Rural), Alwar and Bharatpur districts in Rajasthan and their counterparts from Fridabad, Gurgaon and Rewari districts of Haryana participated in the meeting. It was felt that various kinds of crimes were being committed by anti-social elements in Rajasthan through border districts of Haryana. The meeting decided to undertake joint operations to trace out and arrest absconding criminals. An effective communication system for a speedy exchange of information was also envisaged at the meeting. |
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BJP keeps mum on Uma’s remarks against Advani
New Delhi, April 22 “The party has taken note of it. But it is not necessary for us to comment on everything said by an individual,” party General Secretary and spokesman Arun Jaitley told mediapersons here when asked about Ms Bharati’s statements yesterday taking pot shots at Mr Advani. Asked why the party was not reacting to the remarks against its president, he said, “not reacting is also a reaction”. Asked whether anybody can get away with making remarks against the party chief, he said, “that does not mean
that. The party has not taken a note of it.” He, however, clarified that the party had not stopped any legislator or minister from attending Ms Bharati’s meeting at
Amarkantak.
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