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CWG Mess
Bhanot, Verma in CBI custody
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I don’t need to respond: Maken
Bill to make Coke pay for ‘losses’ CAT eligibility: Delhi HC puts IIMs on notice
Kiranjit Kaur gang-rape & murder
Draft paper thwarts intelligence body plan
SC: Compare pay of forces, civilians
DMK unlikely to concede power-sharing
PM: Cabinet kept in dark on details of Antrix-Devas deal
Passenger fares unlikely to be revised this fiscal
Radia Tapes
Now, watch WC matches
at multiplexes Special scheme to help rape victims
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CWG Mess
A day after the arrest of two of his close aides, the sacked Organising Committee chairman expressed shock and displeasure over the way the entire matter has been handled by the investigating agencies when all the documents pertaining to the conduct of the Games were with them. Asked whether he anticipated arrest any time, Kalmadi ended the press conference saying "Let's see". "I would like to state that the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has been a party to the decision at every step and I don't understand why only the Organising Committee is being singled out for questioning by investigating agencies," Kalmadi told newsmen. "The executive board (of the Organising Committee) comprised two officers from the government of India, two from the Delhi government, three officials from Commonwealth federations and then IOA people, including myself and Ranbir. "So it was a very balanced team, and all decisions have been taken unanimously. There has been no case that we (OC and Sports ministry) differed. All (decisions) have been approved by the executive board. I am surprised that the investigating agencies are calling the officials of the organising committee and no government official is being called," Kalmadi said. Former OC secretary general Lalit Bhanot and director-general V K Verma were arrested by the CBI yesterday in connection with the alleged irregularities in the Rs 107-crore deal inked with a Swiss timing firm. Kalmadi, also the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president, repeated his demand for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the conduct of the Games and said law should take its course. "The entire process seems to be against the officials who have worked with the Organising Committee for many years. No decision related to the Games was taken alone by anyone. So I am shocked that investigative agencies are only calling the officers of the organising committee and that no government officers have so far been called by them.
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Bhanot, Verma in CBI custody
New Delhi, February 24 Special CBI judge Talwant Singh sent the two close aides of Suresh Kalmadi to the agency’s custody till March 1 after the CBI said the accused abused their official position to award contract to the Swiss-based firm causing huge loss. Seeking their custody the CBI special prosecutor added that the accused were evasive and non-cooperative in their replies and were not revealing the true facts.
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I don’t need to respond: Maken New Delhi: The government on Thursday sidestepped sacked CWG Organising Committee chairman Kalmadi’s claims that all approvals for projects were given by the Sports Ministry, saying the matter was under investigation. "I don't need to respond (to Kalmadi's claims) as enquiries by various agencies are on," Sports Minister Ajay Maken told reporters outside Parliament. He said various agencies, including the CBI and the CVC, were looking into the matter it would not be appropriate for him to speak on the issue. "I would not to comment on what Kalmadi has said.," he said. — PTI
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Bill to make Coke pay for ‘losses’ Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 24 The CPM-led LDF government rushed through the Bill on the final day of the Assembly session while the House witnessed uproar as the UDF, headed by the Congress, pressed for an adjournment motion on a different issue. Reacting to the decision, Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages (HCCB) Limited said the legislation was not based on scientific data or established processes of law. However, the company was still ready to engage with the stakeholders on the issue, it said. The Bill was based on the recommendations of a high-power committee, headed by a senior bureaucrat, which found that a “loss” of Rs 216.16 crore had been caused by the HCCB at Plachimada village in Palakkad district. The Bill - “The Plachimada Coca Cola Victims Relief and Compensation Claims Tribunal Bill 2011” - said the plant had caused environmental and soil degradation and water contamination due to over-extraction of ground water. The plant’s functioning had led to drinking water scarcity and decline in agriculture due to disposal of sludge containing metals like cadmium, lead and chromium, it said. It said the sludge disposal had also affected health of the people, causing skin ailments, breathing problems and other debilities. The HCCB has said, “We are disappointed over the Plachimada Tribunal Bill and the flawed process on which it is based. This Bill is devoid of facts, scientific data or any input from or consideration given to the Company.” The company was never offered an opportunity to present facts, engage in dialogue or share independent data before the Bill was tabled or passed, it said in a release.
— PTI
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CAT eligibility: Delhi HC puts IIMs on notice New Delhi, February 24 The notices were issued with regard to the declaration of eligibility criteria for CAT examinations held last year. These criteria, the toppers said, had not been disclosed before the exam was held. CAT coordinator Himanshu Rai, however, maintained that the IIMs always followed a certain cut off criteria depending on the marks of classes X, XII and undergraduation and even published the same on their individual websites. Rai had said the students plea that the cut offs were not disclosed was baseless. But Rishabh Sancheti and Sumeer Sodhi, counsels for the petitioners, contested the stand of IIMs saying Rai’s claim that students were aware of the criteria as it had been published on the individual websites, was false.
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Kiranjit Kaur gang-rape & murder
New Delhi, February 24 A Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and AK Ganguly ruled that the Governor had “exceeded the permissible constitutional limits under Article 161 of the Constitution.” It was well settled that to decide on the innocence or otherwise of an accused person in a criminal trial “is within the exclusive domain of a Court of competent jurisdiction as this is essentially a judicial function. “A Governor’s power of granting pardon under Article 161 being an exercise of executive function, is independent of the Court’s power to pronounce on the innocence or guilt of the accused….One should not trench upon the other. “The instant order of the Governor, by pronouncing upon the innocence of the accused, has therefore, if we may so with respect, exceeded the permissible constitutional limits,” the Bench noted. “For these reasons, we are constrained to hold that we cannot approve the order of the Governor. We therefore set aside the order and remand it to the Hon’ble Governor for re-consideration of the matter in accordance with law,” the Bench said in its verdict. On August 6, 2007, the Governor had said that there was a “widespread public belief that Sarvshri Narain Dutt, Prem Kumar and Manjit Singh had been falsely implicated in the murder of Dalip Singh, because of their role as leaders of the Action Committee set up to secure justice for the late Kiranjit Kaur’s family” The accused in the gang-rape case were Gurprit Singh, Jagraj Singh, Desh Raj and Partap Singh.
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Draft paper thwarts intelligence body plan
New Delhi, February 24 The report prepared by the Government of India backed Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) and Observer Research Foundation (ORF) was discussed last evening. The report deals with the working of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), including Air Research Centre, Intelligence Bureau, National Technical Research Organisation besides Defence Intelligence Agency. Home Minister P Chidambaram had unveiled his plan of having an ‘umbrella body’ at an Intelligence Bureau Endowment lecture in December 2009. This proposed the setting up of a National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) working under the Home Ministry with representation from all security and intelligence agencies that work under the PMO, the Home Ministry, the Defence Ministry and also the Finance Ministry. Former NSA, MK Narayanan, who pitched for a status quo, was removed. During the discussions today, it emerged that the NCTC will be one of the probing agencies and not an over arching body that will control every input of information, sources privy to the report said. Politically, the NCTC was seen as empowerment of Home Minister over Prime Minister. Intelligence agencies carry sensitive information like assessment of relations with other countries. Besides, global business houses, large financial transactions, defence purchases in other countries and military build-up in rival countries are watched and reported by various agencies which, as of now, do not report to the Home Ministry.
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SC: Compare pay of forces, civilians
New Delhi, February 24 The court wanted to know from Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium as to how the integrated pay of a Captain in the Army, who was getting a basic pay of Rs 1,300 prior to the 4th Pay Commission, was arrived at for implementing the commission’s recommendations. Justice Lodha suggested that a comparison be made between the fixation of the integrated pay of the Captain and of a civil servant.
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DMK unlikely to concede power-sharing
Chennai, February 24 DMK leaders believe that any such demand could be considered only after the election results, since a pre-poll commitment would create confusion among the cadres and public. The functionaries pointed out that people of Tamil Nadu are used to a single party rule for the last six decades and they are likely to reject the idea of a coalition government.
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PM: Cabinet kept in dark on details of Antrix-Devas deal
New Delhi, February 24 Replying to supplementary questions during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, the Prime Minister informed the members that the Cabinet note dealing with the launch of two satellites, as part of the deal between Antrix and Devas, did not mention that there was “specific commitment”. “It was not mentioned in the note that there was a specific commitment between Devas and Antrix,” the PM said, admitting that the Cabinet came into the picture indirectly as it dealt with approval for the launch of two satellites. He was categorical that approval wasn’t sought from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on the deal.— TNS
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Passenger fares unlikely to be revised this fiscal New Delhi, February 24 These could include a rail link connecting the busy Howrah and Sealdah stations running through the densely populated central districts of Kolkata. More Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) trains are likely to be announced for the North-East. The Railways proposes to introduce new Duronto services from Guwahati to New Delhi and Howrah. For the eighth year running, passenger fares are unlikely to be tinkered with and it would remain a budget for the “aam aadmi”, like Mamata’s budget last year. More than a 100 new trains, including a dozen non-stop Durontos, could also be announced by the Railway Minister, who had sought a higher allocation for the Railway Budget this year from Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. While the Finance Minister reportedly turned down the request for doubling of the allocation, the budget could find mention of mega base kitchens in the metros preparing 50,000 to one lakh meals per day for train passengers.
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Amar Chitra Katha creator Pai dead Mumbai, February 24 Pai, famous as “Uncle Pai”, was 81. He is survived by his wife Lalitha. Pai launched the Amar Chitra Katha series of Indian comics in 1967 which was an instant hit. He followed it up with Tinkle comics series which the Indian audiences too took to in a big way. The frail but active Pai was admitted to a hospital last week for treatment of a fracture after he fell from a staircase. On Thursday, Pai suffered a massive heart attack and breathed his last around 5 pm, he added. — IANS
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Radia Tapes New Delhi, February 24 Virtually holding the government responsible for the leakage of the tapped conversations to the media, senior counsel Harish Salve, who argued for Tata, also contended that the government’s investigation into the matter was very shoddy. A Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and AK Ganguly is hearing Tata’s plea for the court’s additional guidelines for checking such leakages in order to protect the citizens’ privacy, their fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution. The government had tapped the telephonic conversations of Radia following a complaint that she was spying for a foreign intelligence agency. Salve argued that whichever department had tapped the conversations was not entitled to preserve the entire recordings. Rather, it should have deleted all the conversations, which did not pertain to the order relating to the interception, he said. At one stage, the Bench observed that “privacy is a disappearing right, howsoever hard the judiciary might try to protect it.” Salve said this was the result of the fast growing technology.
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Now, watch WC matches
at multiplexes Mumbai, February 24 According to sources, first deal between ESS and the PVR chain of multiplexes has been signed under which major matches featuring the Indian cricket team will be shown at selected multiplexes. As per details of the deal signed between the two parties, PVR and ESPN Star Sports will be sharing revenues on a 50:50 per cent basis. Similar deals are expected to be signed between ESS and other multiplex chains, say sources. Talks between ESS and the multiplexes were deadlocked after the former insisted on a minimum revenue from the exhibitors. "If the talks fail we have alternative plans for film enthusiasts," Sunil Punjabi, CEO, Cinemax India said earlier. There are no major movie releases due while the World Cup is in progress starving multiplexes of content to reel in the audience. During the Indian Premier League matches last year, Mumbai's multiplexes experimented with beer nights which drew in good response.
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Special scheme to help rape victims New Delhi: Aimed at addressing the trauma of rape victims, the government is planning to launch a special scheme to provide them with financial assistance and support services like shelter. The proposed “Financial Assistance and Support Services to Victims of Rape” scheme envisages providing financial assistance, shelter, counselling, medical aid and legal assistance, Minister of State for Women and Child Development said on Thursday.
— PTI
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New Delhi, February 24
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