New Delhi, March 16
A day after Amritinder Singh, coach of ace Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh, was asked to remove his turban for a security check at Milan’s Malpensa airport, Punjab’s rival political factions scrambled to raise the matter in the Lok Sabha today.

While Shiromani Akali Dal members led by the very vocal Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal stormed the well of the House insisting for permission to speak, Congress’ Pratap Singh Bajwa bagged the first chance to assume centrestage when Speaker Meira Kumar called out his name.

The Akalis were miffed no end, as was later clear from the remarks of Harsimrat Badal, who not only accused the Centre of being a mute spectator to a “wipeout threat the Sikh identity was facing”, but also said that the Centre was “anti-Sikh”.

Refusing to identify herself with the Congress on the matter, she pointed towards Bajwa and asked, “You should seek the status of Sikhs across the world from your own MoS in the External Affairs Ministry. We were the ones who met the French President recently to (lodge our) protest the issue. Where were you then?”

As the sparring continued at the end of External Affairs Minster SM Krishna’s reply in the Lok Sabha today on the Demand of Grants (budget) for his Ministry for 2011-2012, the government insisted that it respected the Sikhs who had contributed immensely to the freedom struggle. “We have brought all such instances to the notice of the respective governments and asked them to extend due courtesies to the religious and cultural sensitivities of all travellers,” Krishna said.

Earlier, both Badal and Bajwa spoke of the manner in which certain nations were repeatedly attacking the symbols of Sikh identity. “Our children are not being allowed to wear the ‘kada’ and our people are asked to remove the turban for things as small as a passport photo and a driving licence test. This is the way you treat the people who laid down their lives for India,” Harsimrat smirked.

Congress’ Gurdaspur MP Bajwa recalled all past instances of discourtesy to the symbols of Sikh identity and sought the Centre’s protection for the community. “It was utterly rude of Milan security officials to ask Amritinder Singh to keep his turban in a tray where people keep their shoes,” he added.

New Delhi, March 16
Led by Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley, BJP members in the Rajya Sabha today took up cudgels on behalf of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the Centre of undermining the country’s federal character by targeting corporates who signed MoUs with the state government during the “Vibrant Gujarat Summit”.

The uproar on the issue led to frequent adjournment of the House, the fourth time for the entire day, without transacting any business.

As soon as the House met in the morning, Jaitley was on his feet, strongly objecting to the IT Department seeking details of MoUs between investors and the state government signed during the summit held in January. “This is a huge assault on the federalism of India. There is no greater abuse... Do you have animus against people of Gujarat? Is Gujarat an enemy territory? Do you treat the Chief Minister as an enemy?” Jaitley asked as other BJP members sided with him.

Jaitley said all Opposition-governed states, including those not ruled by the BJP, had been complaining of discrimination by the Centre, be it Uttar Pradesh, Orissa or West Bengal. The BJP leader said if the IT official had written the letter on his own, it was dereliction of duty and a “textbook case” for his removal. If it was done at the behest of political masters, they should come to the House and apologise, the BJP leader said as several BJP member trooped into the well of the House raising slogans. Congress members objected to the raising of the issue, saying it was a state matter.

Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan, however, pointed out that Jaitley had been permitted to raise the issue during Zero Hour. But the Congress members continued with their protests, triggering angry exchanges between the two sides. This led to the adjournment of the House.

When it reassembled, BJP member M Venkaiah Naidu said the only solution to the issue was that either the Prime Minister or the Finance Minister should make a statement. The BJP refused to pay heed to Parliamentary Affairs Minister PK Bansal, who wanted to speak. As the din continued, the Chair adjourned the House again.

The scene was somewhat similar when the House reassembled after lunch, forcing the Chair to adjourn it for another hour and subsequently for the day.

The BJP, meanwhile, expressed strong reservations against a remark by Chairman Hamid Ansari who disapproved of interruptions by the Opposition party over the Gujarat issue. Jaitley reacted strongly to Ansari’s comments during the Question Hour.

New Delhi, March 16
The Defence Ministry has, in its annual report, failed to mention anything about the development on strategic agreements it inked in the 2010-11 fiscal, with some of the deals impacting the country’s security in the long term.

Tabled in Parliament today, the report has given a miss to the much publicised deal with Russia to co-develop the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA). This deal along with the co-development of the multi-role transport aircraft was inked in December last.

Besides, the report does not detail out the latest developments, if any, on the upcoming indigenous aircraft carrier being built at Kochi. It also misses out on providing any details regarding the upcoming Scorpene submarines being built at the Mazagon dock in Mumbai. There is not a word on the acquisition of the (sea-based) aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov from Russia.

The report, however, discusses other developments and acquisitions, including surface-to-air missiles, upgradation of Arjun tanks, BrahMos missiles and Tejas aircraft.

Dwelling on the security scenario in the immediate neighbourhood, the report says our relations with China were of “crucial importance”. “India is conscious and watchful of the implications of China’s evolving military profile in the immediate and extended neighbourhood. India’s policy is to engage with China on the principles of mutual trust and respect and sensitivity for each other’s concerns.”

On the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the report implicates Pakistan “due to undiminished activities of terrorist organisations from its territory”. “The continued infiltrations across the LoC and the existence of terrorist camps across the India-Pak border demonstrate the continuing ambivalence of Pakistan in its attitude and approach to terrorist organisations, even though such organisations pose a danger to Pakistan’s own social and political fabric,” the report says.

It also lists out, the growing defence cooperation with other countries.

Mumbai, March 16
The Bombay High Court today expressed satisfaction on probe by CBI into Adarsh scam after perusing the progress report submitted by the agency, that claims to have unearthed 'benami' transactions by certain influential members of the housing society.

"We are positive that the CBI is investigating in the right track. Some time should be given to the agency to conduct further probe including the missing files case which is also a serious offence," a division bench of Justices Ranjana Desai and Rajesh Ketkar said while hearing a petitions filed in connection with the scam.

The petitions included those of the Adarsh Society's seeking CBI to de-freeze its bank accounts and social activist Simpreet Singh's plea wanting the High Court to supervise the investigation.

While hearing the society's petition, the court asked the CBI to consider if concession could be given regarding the Rs 32 lakh dues incurred by the society in upmarket Colaba area here. The society has been directed to file an affidavit giving a list of their dues by March 25. According to the petition, the society has incurred several expenses up to Rs 32 lakh which has not been payable as the accounts have been seized.

"Investigations have revealed that prime accused K L Gidwani has three flats in the Society under 'Benami' names.

All transactions made by the accused are from the Society's accounts. Instances of 'Benami' transactions are evident and needs to be proved further," CBI counsel said. — PTI

Kolkata, March 16
The fresh round of talks between Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee on seat-haring arrangements for the next month’s Assembly polls in West Bengal remained inconclusive as both parties stuck to their respective stands. However, both parties kept their doors open for further talks.

According to sources, the meeting between the Congress and The TMC went on till late hours on Tuesday but a mutual understanding could not be reached over seats.

However, Mukherjee said both parties would meet again for finalising the seat-sharing agreement. He could not, though, specify the date and timing of the future meeting. “We have discussed seat-sharing. The discussion is inconclusive. We will discuss it again,” Mukherjee told reporters after emerging from the meeting. The Union Minister flew back to the Capital today along with two AICC observers, Shakail Ahmed and Jnardhan Poojari.

AICC sources said Mukherjee had spoken to Sonia Gandhi, who is in London, over phone and conveyed to her the outcome of the meeting. The Congress leadership was now waiting for Sonia advice to resolve the deadlock.

Both the Congress and the TMC have been reiterating that they would be fighting jointly to defeat the CPM and its allies and end the Left front government’s prolonged misrule in the state.

WBPCC president Dr Manash Bhuiya said the Congress was now ready to bring down its demand of 96 seats to 76 for honouring the seat-sharing arrangement. “But these 76 seats should be allotted on quality basis. We also want some seats in Kolkata and North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas as we would be sacrificing some of our assured seats in north Bengal,” Bhuiya said.