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Antony warns Defence top brass against corruption
No threat to Cong-DMK ties |
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2G scam: Why’s CBI protecting DMK chief’s wife, asks BJP
Chidambaram: CPM neglecting Muslims
High-level panel set up for probe, govt tells SC
SC questions appointment of SPOs to fight Maoists
Has Baba left a will?
LAST DARSHANS OF GODMAN
Baba to rest where he preached
Tendulkar pays last respects to Sathya Sai Baba
N-trouble: Shiv Sena to intensify anti-Jaitapur protests
Patients develop resistance to malaria drugs
CPM neglecting Muslims, minorities: Chidambaram
Jantar Mantar
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Antony warns Defence top brass against corruption
New Delhi, April 25 Addressing the commanders of the two forces here separately, Antony asked them to strive for probity and fair play in their day-to-day dealings. “The government remains fully committed to the modernisation of the Armed Forces and upgrading infrastructure, as he steered towards his pet subject of indigenisation,” he said. He said, for far too long, we have remained over dependent on foreign equipment. Saying “no nation will ever part with its first generation equipment”, modernisation and indigenisation must proceed. Speaking to the Air Force Commanders earlier in the morning, Antony said, “At times, vested interests bring about unnecessary pressure and resort to corrupt practices that can wreak serious havoc upon our security in more ways than one.” Antony complimented the Air Force for its commendable work in providing humanitarian assistance both home and abroad. He recalled the service rendered by the IAF in the aftermath of the flash floods in Leh last August. Meanwhile, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal PV Naik reiterated that primacy of operations in view of the prevailing security situation. Naik brought out the need for consolidating the operational availability of weapon systems and sensors and declared the period ahead as “year of consolidation”.
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No threat to Cong-DMK ties
New Delhi, April 25 The Congress would have been cornered had the CBI named Dayalu Ammal, mother of Karunanidhi's sons, MK Stalin and Union minister MK Alagiri as DMK leaders were upset when earlier reports had indicated that her name could be included in the list of accused.The Congress, however, got some breathing space as the CBI chargesheet today was silent on Dayalu Ammal ‘s role though her name had figured in the probe since she owns 60 per cent stake in family-owned Kalaignar TV which is alleged to have received Rs 200 crore from Shahid Balwa of Swan Telecom.Ties between the Congress and the DMK have been under strain ever since the 2G Spectrum scam came to light and had virtually reached breaking point when the they were involved in tough seat-sharing negotiation before the recently-concluded Tamil Nadu assembly elections. The DMK had threatened to quit the UPA government and instead extend issue-based support to the ruling dispensation when their talks broke down. The two parties survived that crisis as both sides were well-aware that their break-up would have serious political ramifications. While the Congress could have managed to compensate for the loss of 18 DMK Lok Sabha MPs by roping in other parties, the DMK was clearly more vulnerable. It was going into a crucial election against the backdrop of corruption charges, while fighting anti-incumbency. It could hardly afford to alienate the Congress which was propping up the Karuanidhi government even as its arch-rival AIADMK chief J.Jayalalithaa was open to joining hands with the grand old party. It is the same political realities which will force the Congress and the DMK to stick together this time as well. Known to be an astute and pragmatic politician, Karunanidhi will definitely wait till the Tamil Nadu Assembly election results are declared on May 13 before taking any decision. The DMK would not like to alienate the Congress at this stage as it is entirely possible that it might need its support to form the next government. On the other hand, if the DMK loses, which appears to be highly probable, it will be compelled to continue its association with the UPA government. “As far as we are concerned, it’s a win-win situation for us,” said a Congress leader.
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2G scam: Why’s CBI protecting DMK chief’s wife, asks BJP
New Delhi, April 25 “The CBI’s second chargesheet in the 2G case names Kanimozhi, with 20 per cent stake in the group, as a co-conspirator, but doesn’t mention Dayaluammal, who has 60 per cent stake. We wonder if there has been any political pressure due to which the CBI has hesitated to name the latter,” BJP’s national spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman asked, accusing the Government of trying to influence the investigator to ward off DMK’s threats of mass pullout from the ruling alliance were the CBI to move dangerously close to its patriarch’s family. Party spokesperson Manish Tewari said there was no chance of the CBI deviating even an iota from facts in a case directly monitored by the Supreme Court. “The UPA has allowed law to take its course. There has been no interference. The Government has displayed sensitivity toward the issue in contrast to the BJP,” Tewari said in veiled references to BJP’s silence on Karnataka CM B.S. Yedyurappa. Back at its Ashoka Road headquarters, the BJP was ever so forgetful about what Yedyurappa had done after all. Asked why the party wasn’t wiping its own taint, spokesperson Vijay Goel quipped: “But tell me one charge against Yedyurappa.” He was in no mood to listen. That apart, Goel’s knowledge of CWG scam statistics was quite update as he slammed UPA’s action against Kalmadi as “too little, too late”, a charge the Left also levelled, saying the Government gave Kalmadi time to manipulate the evidence. “Kalmadi wasn’t alone in his decisions. We want the resignation of Delhi Chief Minister and action against former Sports Minister MS Gill and Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy,” the BJP said; the CPM and CPI sought action against those named in the Shunglu report. While the Congress did its bit by rejecting these allegations and saying the CWG accused would be brought to book, the BJP found itself red-faced last evening when its veteran V.K. Malhotra objected to Kalmadi’s removal from the IOA. Earlier, too, party spokespersons fell silent when asked why Malhotra, who was on the CWG Organising Committee, never dissented with Kalmadi. “If Sushma Swaraj could dissent in the CVC case, why could not Malhotra in the CWG case?” was the query that perished awaiting an answer.
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ED team questions Iqbal Singh
Puducherry, April 25 The four-member team from Mumbai began questioning Singh at Raj Nivas around 1.20 pm, according to official sources, who also said the exercise was likely to continue tomorrow. Asked if the questioning was videographed, Raj Nivas sources said, "It is top secret and none was allowed inside." The Mumbai team arrived here five days after ED officials from Chennai had set the process in motion to question Singh for his passport recommendation as a Congress Rajya Sabha member in 1997. The decks were cleared for Singh's questioning after the Prime Minister's Office gave the go-ahead to the Directorate to record his statement on the issue. Singh, whose name had cropped up during questioning of Bihar-based Congress leader Amlendu Pandey, had admitted to having recommended expeditious issue of the passport, but claimed he never knew Khan. In a letter to Home Minister P Chidambaram last week, Singh had claimed he asked for the passport to be granted on humanitarian grounds because he had been told that Khan needed to travel abroad urgently to visit his ailing brother. Meanwhile, Puducherry Chief Minister V Vaithilingam today said “there is no necessity” for Lt Governor Iqbal Singh to step down from his post for his alleged links with suspected money launderer Hasan Ali Khan. “The ED would do the necessary statutory follow up," the CM said, adding, in these circumstances why should Singh resign as he was only facing allegations. He denied allegations that the administration had favoured a trust, reportedly linked to Singh, for starting a medical college in the union territory. — PTI
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Chidambaram: CPM neglecting Muslims
During its 34-year rule in the state, the Left Front government had done nothing for improving the plight of the poor, Muslims and other minorities. Instead, it misused Central funds meant for carrying out development projects in backward areas, he alleged. On the eve of the third phase of Assembly elections for 75 seats in Kolkata and the two adjoining districts in 24-Parganas, Chidambaram participated in campaigning for Congress-Trinamool candidates in south 24-Parganas and Midnapore. He also held a press conference before returning to New Delhi. He said the state government had failed miserably on all fronts. Ever since he took over as the Home Minister, he had been monitoring the law and order situation in West Bengal, he said. It had turned worst over the past one year. He blamed Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and the CPM for the worsening law and order situation in the state. He said after the killing of innocent TMC workers at Netai village, near Jangalmahal, he was convinced that Bhattacharjee had allowed his cadres and musclemen to establish a terror raj by attacking and killing their political rivals. He said unless the cadre raj was changed, there was no scope for enforcing the rule of law in West Bengal. He assured the centre would render all help and cooperation to the state when the new Congress-TMC coalition government under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership was voted to power. Reacting to Chidambaram’s allegations, Left Front chairman and state secretary of the CPM Biman Bose alleged the Home Minister was using a communal card to incite Muslims against the Left Front government. He said like Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, the Home Minister was also making false charges against them. He denied that the law and order situation in the state was bad.
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High-level panel set up for probe, govt tells SC
New Delhi, April 25 Among the members of the committee are the Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor and the Directors of CBI, Intelligence Bureau, Enforcement Directorate and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Finance Ministry. The other members are the Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Directors General of the Narcotics Control Bureau and Revenue Intelligence and Joint Secretary (Foreign Trade) in the Finance Ministry. Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium gave this information today to a Supreme Court Bench comprising Justices B Sudershan Reddy and SS Nijjar which is hearing a bunch of PILs seeking a directive to the government to bring back black money, estimated at $ 1.4 trillion, stashed in secret overseas bank accounts. The committee was set up on April 22 despite it being a holiday on account of Good Friday in view of the urgency and the magnitude of the problem, the SG said. The PIL petitioners have urged the SC to set up a SIT to conduct the probe as, according to them, the government has been deliberately going slow on the issue. The government has set up the panel after the Bench sought its response to the SIT demand. The SC has also pointed out that the investigations so far had been restricted to Pune-based businessman Hasan Ali Khan and his associates and a few foreign bank accounts.
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SC questions appointment of SPOs to fight Maoists
New Delhi, April 25 A Bench, comprising Justices B Sudershan Reddy and SS Nijjar, passed the order after the state government and the Centre had defended the recruitment of the SPOs in view of the special situation prevailing in these districts. Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium, appearing for the Centre, and senior advocate Harish Salve, arguing for the state, strongly defended the recruitment of the SPOs, contending that the practice was not prevalent only in Chhattisgarh. The governments of Jammu and Kashmir, Orissa and Maharashtra were also appointing the SPOs for short durations from among the local populace in order to fight the Naxalites/militants. It was necessary to hire local people as they knew the difficult forest terrain and the local language. Further, the security forces were unable to provide security to the people living deep in the jungle areas, they contended. The apex court was, however, not convinced. There was no constitutional provision for such methods. Further, both the people and the SPOs were not safe, as the SPOs were not trained in using the sophisticated weapons. What the government would do if some of the SPOs were killed or injured by the Naxalites, asked the Judges. — TNS
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Has Baba left a will?
Though there is no official word on the existence of such a will, there are reports that Baba had expressed a desire to entrust a larger role to Satyajit, a 33-year-old management graduate from Sathya Sai University who has dedicated his life to the service of the spiritual guru. He joined the ashram when he was just five-year-old. He was specifically chosen by Baba to take care of his personal needs.
Over the years, Satyajit has come to be regarded as the most powerful man in Baba’s inner circle. The report of Baba’s will comes against the backdrop of the succession battle in the opaque Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust (SSSCT) that manages a global network of spiritual, philanthropic and social activities. The row revolves around Satyajit and trust member RJ Ratnakar who is Baba’s nephew and the sole representative from the godman’s family in the trust. There is also a talk of Satyajit’s elevation as the member of the all-powerful SSSCT. However, this was reportedly resisted by Ratnakar. A crucial meeting of the nine-member trust is likely to be held soon to decide who should be made the chairman and how to revamp the functioning of the trust. As per the existing rules and regulations, only Baba was authorised to sign cheques in the capacity of chairman. With his demise, there is confusion as to who will have the sanctioning and disbursing authority. For the time being, the Andhra Pradesh Government is said to have brokered a compromise formula under which Ratnakar and Satyajit would together manage the affairs of the ashram. A joint management system with involvement of professionals is likely to be worked out to oversee the trust’s future activities, official sources said. Despite not being a member of the trust, Satyajit is reportedly demanding a greater say in the financial matters on the ground that Baba had personally promised him last year a key post in the trust. On its part, the state government is adopting a wait and watch policy even while making discreet efforts to ensure smooth succession.
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LAST DARSHANS OF GODMAN
Puttaparthi, April 25 VVIPs are being allowed unhindered entry into Kulwant Hall, where Sathya Sai Baba’s body lies in a temperature-controlled glass casket. On the other hand, ordinary devotees have to sweat it out in serpentine queues and jostle with the police and other devotees to have last “darshans” of the departed godman. Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar and his wife Anjali flew to Puttaparthy from Hyderabad (Mumbai Indians led by Sachin had an IPL match against Deccan Chargers in the Andhra capital yesterday) and had a quick “darshan” of the Baba. A sobbing Sachin was consoled by Anjali who passed him a handkerchief when the master blaster broke down in front of the casket containing Sai Baba’s body. Union ministers Bilasrao Deshmukh and Praful Patel also come to Puttaparthy this morning to have last “darshans” of the Baba. They could accomplish the task in a matter of minutes. More VVIPs, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, are expected to land up here tomorrow. In contrast, an ordinary devotee has to stand in the queue for long hours. After getting shoved by the police and facing a stampede-like situation at the entrance of Kulwant Hall, he could get a glimpse of Sai Baba only for a few seconds before being shooed away by volunteers of the Sai Sewa Dal deployed in the hall. Janardhan, a devotee from Dharvaram in Andhra Pradesh, said he started from his house for Puttapurthi by bus at 10 am. Aiswath and his 12-year-old son Girish of Bagerpaly in Karnataka started from their house at 9 am. Janardhan and Aiswath had to stand in a queue for over four hours to have “darshans” of Sathya Sai Baba. The number of ordinary devotees visiting Puttaparthy daily to pay their respects to Baba has touched the one-lakh mark, Janardhan Reddy, Deputy Commissioner of Ananthpur district, said. Adequate police personnel had been deployed in the area for ensuring maximum security to the visiting VVIPs, he added.
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Baba to rest where he preached
Bangalore, April 25 Geetha Reddy, Health Minister of Andhra Pradesh, told reporters here today that only 15,000 persons would be allowed inside Kulwant Hall on Wednesday on “first come, first served” basis. He used to hold preaching sessions in Kulwant Hall while he was alive. His body will be interred inside the hall at the same place where he used to sit. —
TNS
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Tendulkar pays last respects to Sathya Sai Baba
Puttaparthi, April 25 The 38-year-old Tendulkar skipped his birthday celebrations yesterday to mourn the death of Sai Baba, who battled multiple-organ failure before breathing his last at 85 years of age. The iconic batsman was accompanied by his wife Anjali during his visit to the Sai Kulwant Hall in Prashanti Nilayam here. The couple was moved to tears upon arriving at the hall where they sat for a while before driving off. Gavaskar also had his wife Marshneil for company. Tears could be seen in the former batsman's eyes even as his wife sobbed uncontrollably. — PTI
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N-trouble: Shiv Sena to intensify anti-Jaitapur protests
Mumbai, April 25 Thackeray told reporters that the Maharashtra government was sacrificing the lives of the local people to generate power for other states. “Very little power from the 10,000-MW project will come to Maharashtra. The NTPC plant will generate power for sale to other states for which the lives of our people are being put at risk,” Thackeray said. The Shiv Sena leader also hit out at Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh for shifting stances on the project. “Jairam Ramesh should tell us if he is in favour or against the project without confusing people,” he said. Thackeray was accompanied by party's top leadership and dozens of local activists when he arrived at Sejkar's home in the fishing village of Sakhri Nate. He also announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the next of Sejkar's kin. Thackeray also visited two other persons injured in the police firing along with Sejkar and announced financial assistance for them. High drama preceded Thackeray’s visit to Sakhri Nate with the residents refusing to allow local police personnel to enter the village. Subsequently, the administration withdrew most of the local police personnel and allowed central and state security forces to accompany the Shiv Sena leader.
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Patients develop resistance to malaria drugs
Mumbai, April 25 According to Dr Ambe indiscriminate use of drugs has resulted in even front line drugs being rendered ineffective in treatment of malaria. Data collected by the state government also indicates that people are falling sick sooner and complications caused by malaria are turning deadlier.
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CPM neglecting Muslims, minorities: Chidambaram
Kolkata, April 25 During its 34-year rule in the state, the Left Front government had done nothing for improving the plight of the poor, Muslims and other minorities. Instead, it misused Central funds meant for carrying out development projects in backward areas, he alleged. On the eve of the third phase of Assembly elections for 75 seats in Kolkata and the two adjoining districts in 24-Parganas, Chidambaram participated in campaigning for Congress-Trinamool candidates in south 24-Parganas and Midnapore. He also held a press conference before returning to New Delhi. He said the state government had failed miserably on all fronts. Ever since he took over as the Home Minister, he had been monitoring the law and order situation in West Bengal, he said. It had turned worst over the past one year. He blamed Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and the CPM for the worsening law and order situation in the state. He said after the killing of innocent TMC workers at Netai village, near Jangalmahal, he was convinced that Bhattacharjee had allowed his cadres and musclemen to establish a terror raj by attacking and killing their political rivals. He said unless the cadre raj was changed, there was no scope for enforcing the rule of law in West Bengal. He assured the centre would render all help and cooperation to the state when the new Congress-TMC coalition government under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership was voted to power. Buddhadeb hits back UDAYNARAYANPUR: Responding to Home Minister P Chidambaram’s attack on the Left Front government in West Bengal, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Monday held him “fully responsible” for unrest in Kashmir and Andhra Pradesh and asked him “to take care of his own business”. “Chidambaram described us as the worst-governed state, but he should give an account of how the Centre is functioning,” Bhatacharjee retorted at a Left front election rally in Howrah district. “I advise that the doctor should treat himself first and not try to teach us as we are confident of taking care of ourselves,” he said. —
PTI
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Jantar Mantar India’s recent World Cup victory has clearly created ripples beyond the borders of cricket playing countries. It was, therefore, no surprise when South African President Jacob Zuma praised India’s win when he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in China, given that both countries are equally passionate about the game. However, the Indian delegation was pleasantly surprised when Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev hailed India’s great victory in the World Cup in his welcome speech for PM Singh during his recent visit to the Central Asian nation which is not exactly known for its love for cricket. On his part, Zuma was effusive about India’s win and even went to the extent of telling PM Singh that he was sure India would lift the cup after Dhoni and his boys beat Graeme Smith’s team. Zuma, however, slipped up here as India actually lost out to South Africa.
Varun back to his ‘bad old ways’
As it happens, Varun and Naqvi had exchanged hot words during the core group meeting. At one point, when Naqvi asked the younger leader to follow party discipline, Varun Gandhi replied, ‘I am the party’. This superior attitude has irked many BJP leaders from UP who complain that Varun Gandhi believes his pedigree entitles him to a special status in the party. Varun Gandhi, however, is riding high as reports coming in from the campaign trial in Assam said that his election meetings drew even larger crowds than those addressed by Sushma Swaraj and other senior leaders.
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'Lenin' replaces 'Gandhi' in book Not to continue as Lokayukta: Hegde Child labourers freed Death for killing 4 More ‘mass caesarians’ in Kerala
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Defence Minister AK Antony today called upon the Army and Air Force top brass not to succumb to corrupt practices indulged in by vested interests in the garb of “aggressive marketing”.
On a day when law caught up with two political heavyweights-Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi in the 2G Spectrum case and former Congress MP Suresh Kalmadi in the Commonwealth Games scam- the Opposition BJP wanted to know if the CBI was under political pressure in letting off
Dayaluammal, the wife of DMK chief M. Karunanidhi and a majority stakeholder in Kalaignar TV which received 2G kickbacks. The Congress refuted the charge firmly.
Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray today announced that his party would further intensify the agitation against the proposed nuclear power project at Jaitapur in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district.
Kolkata, April 25
Hyderabad, April 25
After lying low for some time, the firebrand BJP Pilibhit MP Varun Gandhi is back to his ‘bad old ways’. The young Gandhi was said to be furious when the media reported about his run-in with senior BJP leaders at a meeting of the party’s Uttar Pradesh core group last week. Not only did he seek a written apology from a correspondent of a Lucknow-based newspaper who had reported on the meeting, but he also wanted BJP president Nitin Gadkari to take action against party vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi as he suspected the senior leader to have leaked the details of the closed-door confabulations to the press.
