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Himachal moves SC
Infighting hurting Shiv Sena’s
campaign
Raja Bhaiyya, father
surrender
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CPM-SP rally a warning for Cong
Pranab leaves for three-day
visit to Russia today
US has no role in Volcker report, says Mulford
Leftist students at JNU shout slogans for Iran
Manmohan, Kalam greet people on Gurpurb
Dosa, Salem likely to be tried jointly
Arrest warrants against Abu, Monica
No confession from Salem: CBI
Bittu, Gamma released
Anti-smoking drive: minister seeks Shah Rukh’s help
Jawaharlal Nehru remembered
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Himachal moves SC
New Delhi, November 14 The special leave petition (SLP) of the Himachal Pradesh Government was listed for hearing before a Bench of Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal and Mr Justice C K Thakker, but state’s Additional Advocate General J.S. Attri sought adjournment in view of the inability of senior advocate K.K. Venugopal engaged by the government to argue the case, to appear today. Allowing the plea of Mr Attri, the apex court granted one week
adjournment in the case, which is likely to be listed again for hearing next week. The case assumes significance in view of the High Court’s conclusion that under the Constitution, there is no provision of appointing Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) or Parliamentary Secretary (PS) as the Himachal Government has sought “correct” interpretation of Article 162 which deals with the “extent of executive powers of the state” and Article 164 on “other provisions as to ministers” in the state. An NGO, Citizen Rights Protection Forum, on whose PIL the High Court had struck down the appointments, had also filed a caveat, pleading the apex court that it should be heard before taking any decision on the SLP. Senior advocates Arun Jaitely and former HP Advocate General Sanjay Karol, appeared for the NGO. The state government in its SLP said under the Rules of Business of the HP Government, powers has been specifically provided to the Chief Minister to take a decision on any matter brought for his consideration and as such under the rules, he could make the appointment of CPS and PS. It further said that under Constitution’s 7th Schedule, List-2 and Item-39, it has been specifically provided that state has the powers to legislate on any issue. The SLP said under Article 162 much wider powers has been given to the state governments and “the Article should be read not in a narrow sense but in a broader sense.” The appointment of a dozen CPS and PS by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to give MLAs the status identical to that of ministers to accommodate them in view of 91 Constitution amendment, fixing the limit of Council of Ministers in the states at 10 per cent of the Assembly’s strength, had landed in a major political controversy in the state. The High Court had ruled that under the Constitution, the Chief Minister had no powers to make such appointments. There was no source of power with the Chie Minister to appoint the CPS and PS and administer them oath of office and secrecy, it had said.. All 12 CPS and PS had tendered their resignations after the August 18 order of the High Court. |
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Infighting hurting Shiv Sena’s
campaign in Malvan
Malvan, November 14 Both leaders seldom make appearances together and the content of their speeches regarding Rane differ sharply. "We feel sympathetic to Raj Thackeray since he is suffering the same fate as our leader," says a close aide of Narayan Rane. Activists of the Congress party who are mostly Rane's loyalists from his days in the Shiv Sena are treating Raj with kid gloves. None of his meetings have been disrupted and his convoy moves around undisturbed. On his part, Raj Thackeray delivers speeches that have none of his trademark acerbic remarks. His speeches are tame and the usual rhetorical mannerism he shares with uncle Bal Thackeray is missing. Raj usually dwells on Rane's glory days in the Shiv Sena. In one of his speeches here, Raj produced old newspaper clippings where Rane is reported to be heaping praise on Sena supremo Bal Thackeray. Raj has openly called for his party to ignore Rane and concentrate on development issues during the election campaign. However, Uddhav has asked his followers to target Rane for breaking the Shiv Sena in the Konkan region. Rane's followers have retaliated by disrupting Uddhav's convoys and have even tried to disrupt his meetings in Malvan. On the other hand Raj lives in a hotel close to the area where Rane has his own hotel. Shiv Sainiks known for their loyalty to Uddhav are having it even worse. Datta Nalvade and Mumbai Mayor Datta Dalvi, who are close to Uddhav, were not even able to obtain a hotel room in Malvan for themselves. Dalvi's own bungalow has been loaned to Uddhav. "Rane's people had made it clear that people like Datta Nalvade not be allowed to stay in our premises," a hotelier here told this reporter. Uddhav Thackeray's loyalists, mainly from Mumbai, have been forced to live in the small village homes owned by their supporters. Rane, who has accused Uddhav of having him thrown out of the Shiv Sena, has come up with posters depicting Bal Thackeray's son as a donkey. |
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Raja Bhaiyya, father
surrender
Kanpur, November 14 The former Food and Civil Supplies Minister and his father reached the court along with his supporters and later surrendered before judge of the designated POTA court S.C. Chaurasia, who is also the district judge. Counsel for father-son duo Nand Lal Jaiswal submitted the bail applications and plea for sending them to Pratapgarh Jail, if needed. The hearing was on in the case. A two-judge SC Bench comprising Justices
B.N. Agrawal and A.K. Mathur had on November 10 last quashed the UP government decision of revoking POTA charges against Raja
Bhaiyya, his father and cousin and ruling Samajwadi Party MP Akshay Pratap Singh alias Gopalji. The Bench had directed the father and the son to appear before the designated POTA court in Kanpur within a week and apply for fresh bail in the trial case under Section 4 (b) of the POTA for possessing arms within the specified area, the Arms Act and the Explosives Substances Act. Transferring the trial to neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, the court had asked the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court to assign the case to a competent court. Shortly after the apex court set aside the State POTA Review Committee order holding no case was made out for invoking POTA against Raja Bhaiyya and his relatives, the controversial scion of the erstwhile Pratapgarh princedom, submitted his resignation from the state Cabinet to “spare the state government and Mr Yadav any embarrassment on this count.” Raja Bhiayya’s resignation from the ministerial job, was accepted by UP Governor
T.V. Rajeswar yesterday. The Supreme Court order was given on petitions filed by S.K. Shukla and two other residents of Pratapgarh challenging the state government’s decision to withdraw the POTA charges against Raja Bhaiya and others. The Mayawati government had slapped POTA against the trio in April, 2003, after they were arrested along with arms and ammunition, including AK 47 and 56 rifles. Immediately after Mulayam Singh Yadav was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh on August 29, 2003, the state government had initiated steps to revoke POTA charges against Raja
Bhaiyya. — UNI |
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CPM-SP rally a warning for Cong New Delhi, November 14 Putting the UPA government in the dock on the Iran nuclear issue, CPM leader Prakash Karat told the ruling coalition in no uncertain terms that it should rectify its stand or be prepared to face its onslaught in the coming Parliament session. Clearly on the warparth, Mr Karat described the government decision on Iran as “disgraceful” while keeping his attack focussed on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. To add to the Congress discomfiture, the CPM shared a platform with bete noire SP leader Mulayum Singh Yadav and promised a repeat performance in the coming days. Mr Karat’s tirade was followed by a similar attack by his colleague Sitaram Yechury, who told a BBC Hindi programme last night that the Iran issue could have serious repurcussions on the UPA government’s stability. The government, he said, was deviating from the CMP, stating that the ruling combine’s stability would depend on the government rectifying its mistakes. Officially, the Congress is playing down the CPM criticism as it points to compulsions coalition politics and the upcoming assembly elections in Kerala and West Bengal where the two parties are pitted against each other to justify the Left’s outbursts. But its patience is clearly wearing thin. Having already given in to the Left’s pressure-tactics on several policy decisions, including disinvestment in BHEL, Congress insiders believe the government’s credibility will be severely dented if this situation persists. Angry Congress leaders maintained that Left parties also had a responsibility in ensuring the smooth functioning of this government.
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Pranab leaves for three-day
visit to Russia today
New Delhi, November 14 Mr Mukherjee will co-chair with the Russian Defence Minister, the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission (IRIGC) on Military Technical
Cooperation (MTC). Mr Mukherjee’s visit to Russia follows soon after that of the Russian Defence Minister’s visit to India in October 2005, during the period of India-Russia joint military exercises. The IRIGC-MTC is the apex body of India’s strategic defence partnership with Russia and annually reviews the work done as per plan and sets targets for the coming year. A number of new projects are currently on the anvil between the two countries and these will be discussed at the meeting of the IRIGC to take them forward. During his stay in Moscow, Mr Mukherjee will be meeting President Vladimir Putin. India’s defence relationship with Russia is vast and complex having grown steadily from the small beginnings made soon after the Independence. Today the major part of our imported weapons systems and armaments, whether in the Army, Navy or Air Force are of the Soviet/Russian origin. The Defence Research and the Development Organisation (DRDO) has extensive ties with its Russian counterparts and has jointly developed a number of projects and services, including the Brahmos missile system. The defence public sector undertakings (PSUs) including HAL, Bangalore have numerous joint projects with their Russian partners. Among its major projects is co-manufacture of SU-30 MKI aircraft. The Indian Navy also has some big ticket items like refitting of the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, EKM submarines as also frigates manufactured under license, three of which have already been delivered. The Army continues to rely on the Russian origin T-90 tanks, which is being manufactured with the Russian collaboration by the Ordnance Factory, Avadi and looking at the Tunguska air defence system and the Smerch multi-role rocket launcher. |
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US has no role in Volcker report, says Mulford
New Delhi, November 14 “One has to keep in mind that the Volcker Report was commissioned by the United Nations and everybody knew that,” he said while talking to reporters here. He said some evidence regarding the oil deal was “captured” in Iraq which was a separate process and had nothing to do with the US. Mr Mulford disagreed when asked whether former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh’s statement that the US had played a role in the Volcker Committee report, would have any negative impact on Indo-US relations. “I don’t think it will have any impact on bilateral relations,” he asserted. Meanwhile, the United States wants India to come out with a “credible plan” for separating its civil and military nuclear programme before the July 18 agreement can be presented to the Congress for approval. Mr Mulford, talking to reporters at an informal get-together here, said if the US found the plan “credible”, it would be taken to the Congress and then only legislation could be changed. Mr Mulford, who is going to Washington tomorrow to meet senior officials of the Congress and the Bush administration, however, did not specify the “parameters for credibility” and said the Bush administration would discuss the plan. He also did not set a deadline for India to come out with the plan and said he hoped it would be done ‘soon.’ “Unless the US administration says that we are satisfied with the plan, they won’t present it to the Congress. The plan will be discussed and judged by experts,” he said. — UNI |
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Leftist students at JNU shout slogans for Iran
New Delhi, November 14 Even as the congenial Prime Minister tried to pacify the agitated students by quoting Voltaire, “I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend, to the death, your rights to say it”, the disruptive elements were not in the mood to relent. An embarrassed administration, helpless law enforcers and dismayed audience heard the PM urge the university community to accept the truth of Voltaire’s statement and regard its inherent idea as a “cornerstone of a liberal institution”. But slogans refused to die down even when the visiting dignitary described the university as a “vibrant, pulsating academic life brimming with ideas and thoughts— just like it should be in an outstanding institution”. It was ironic that while the PM chose to uphold the freedom of expression, pointing out that a university teaches man how to deal with difference of opinion, the protesters continued to prevent him from speaking. While the police was rushed to the stands to maintain order, representatives of the Students’ Union and the university administration tried in vain to control the mob. Members of the All-India Students Association (AISA), the Democratic Students’ Union and the Progressive Students Union affiliated to the Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist (CPI-ML), who disrupted the PM’s speech, were protesting against the government’s economic and defence policies. They blamed the government for bringing in “killer patent laws and being stooges of the Bush administration”. The SFI-AISF, allied to the CPI (M), urged the PM to reverse India’s position on Iran at the coming IAEA meeting and prevent Indo-US joint military exercises. In January this year, JNU had faced a similar situation when the president of the Students’ Union, AISA’s Mona Das refused to present a bouquet to the President, Dr Abdul Kalam, on the grounds that he was part of India’s nuclear programme. Dr Kalam had come to deliver a lecture on "Evolution of an enlightened citizen-centric society" on January 12, 2005. Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s car was also vandalised here last week when he came on the campus. |
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Manmohan, Kalam greet people on Gurpurb
New Delhi, November 14 "Guru Nanak Devji’s teachings of love, brotherhood and sacrifice are more relevant today. May this auspicious occasion be an opportunity for all of us to work for bringing warmth to those affected in recent mishaps," Dr Kalam said in his message. Greeting the nation on the occasion, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Guru Nanak’s message of fraternity and universalism, particularly his emphasis on the creation of a caste less society, had acquired a crucial dimension in today’s world. "Guru Nanak always exhorted his disciples to oppose tyranny and oppression. His teachings blended Hindu and Muslim theology, which gives the message of an underlying unity of all religions," Dr Manmohan Singh said, expressing hope that the Guru's life and teachings would continue to guide the path of humanity for all times to come. In his message, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat said the life and teachings of Guru Nanak were a precious treasure of India's glorious spiritual heritage. "Let us derive inspiration from his life and deeds and re-dedicate ourselves to his enlightened teachings," he added. |
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Anti-smoking drive: minister seeks Shah Rukh’s help
New Delhi, November 14 Shah Rukh, by his own admission in countless interviews in film magazines and on national TV channels, has been a real-life chain-smoker. In “reel life” as well, he has portrayed numerous cigarette-smoking characters and reportedly been shown smoking on the screen as many as 109 times in the past 12 years of his film career. But on the eve of his fortieth birthday on June 2, the chain-smoking star pledged to give up smoking. How much has he succeeded in this rather well-meaning endeavour only he can tell, but this prompted Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, a rather vociferous anti-smoking crusader who blames Bollywood for encouraging smoking among teenagers, to write him a congratulatory letter and seek his help in checking the menace in the country. In his letter, the Health Minister expressed confidence that superstar’s gesture would help enlighten youth about the ill-effects of cigarette smoking . |
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Jawaharlal Nehru remembered
New Delhi, November 14 Dr Manmohan Singh, Mr Shekhawat, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, senior Cabinet ministers and a large number of distinguished persons visited Shantivan here and placed wreaths on the Pandit Nehru’s samadhi. Others present on the occasion included Delhi Lt-Governor B.L. Joshi and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. |
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