Bangalore, June 27
The temple at Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka today became the venue for a showdown between two political stalwarts of the state, Chief Minister Yeddyurappa and JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.

Yeddyurappa addressed a press conference on the temple premises after offering prayers there.

Later, it was Kumaraswamy’s turn to play politics on the temple premises. The CM had originally asked Kumarswamy to swear before the deity about the truthfulness of his charge that Yeddyurappa had sent an emissary to him for striking a compromise.

“You indicate the date and time when both of us can meet at Dharmasthala and take an oath in front of Lord Manjunatha Swamy,” Yeddyurappa wrote to Kumaraswamy in an open letter on June 17.

The CM, however, refrained from taking oath today. Kumaraswamy, who had accepted Yeddyurappa’s challenge, stuck to his promise. The JD(S) leader subsequently claimed that the CM’s about turn from facing the “truth test” had left him exposed.

Yeddyurappa said he dropped the idea of the truth test on the advice of religious leaders and BJP president Nitin Gadkari. “Swamijis of Taralabalu, Suttur, Pejavar and Nitin Gadkari prevailed upon me to call off the oath-taking programme,” Yeddyurappa told reporters at Dharmasthala.

Kumaraswamy, who visited the shrine later, pledged before the deity that he stood by the charges made by him against the Chief Minister in the last six to seven months.

“After worship, I submitted to God that whatever I had told to the media on June 14 about Yeddyurappa sending his emissary to strike a compromise to refrain against further exposure of his corrupt deeds, is 100 per cent true,” he told reporters.

“Now let people decide who is following “dharma” and who is on the path of “adharma”. Yeddyurappa gave an open challenge, but did not keep his word”, Kumaraswamy said.

According to the tradition followed at the temple, aggrieved parties stand before the deity and take pledge on the issues they have been contesting, after paying Rs 11 as fee. The temple authorities only facilitate the exercise, but do not interfere.

Mumbai, June 27
Police officials who swooped on a rave party on the outskirts of Mumbai had a prized catch: an Inspector of the Anti-Narcotics Cell, who is suspected to be one of the organisers and drug supplier for the party.

State Home Minister RR Patil confirmed that police officials raiding the party venue at Karjat on Mumbai’s outskirts in the early hours today had arrested Anil Jadhav, Inspector, Anti-Narcotics Cell of the Mumbai police. He was immediately suspended and now the state government was looking into the background of police officials who had been posted in the cell for quite long. Patil said Jadhav’s aide, another police constable has also been arrested. Three others, including the manager of the Mount View resort at Karjat, have also been arrested.

The police said the party was organised via Facebook and other social networking sites. In all, 300 persons, including 60 girls, were picked up.

Blood samples of all those picked up have been sent for testing. Though all of them were allowed to go, the police would press charges against those who tested positive for drugs, officials said. First-time drug users would be forced to undergo a rehabilitation programme, according to the police.

The raiding party also seized around 2 kg of ganja, 57 gm of charas and some cocaine. Some tablets and powders, suspected to be psychedelic drugs, and more than Rs 3 lakh in cash were also seized. 

Lucknow, June 27
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati ordered the suspension of two police officers in the wee hours of this morning for allegedly assaulting a journalist working for a national news channel and for trying to frame him in a criminal case.

As soon as news of the journalist being detained at the Hazratganj police station spread late last night, a large number of mediapersons got together and marched towards the Chief Minister's 5 Kali Das road residence, where they staged a dharna.

The dharna was lifted only after Secretary to the CM Navneet Sehgal came down to announce the suspension of Superintendent of Police (city) BP Ashok and Hazratganj Circle Officer Anoop Kumar.

An FIR was also registered against both the policemen for assaulting the journalist from IBN-7 and reportedly threatening him and attempting to concoct a criminal case against him.

According to the journalist, Shalab Mani Tripathi, he was standing on the roadside at some distance from his office, when some cops led by BP Ashok pounced on him, dragged him into their vehicle and took him to the Hazratganj police station.

“I was beaten up on the way and after reaching the police station, Ashok even threatened to eliminate me if I continued to run anti-police stories,” claimed Tripathi.

New Delhi, June 27
The Medical Council of India (MCI) Board of Governors today ordered a departmental vigilance inquiry against two medical colleges of South India, prima facie found guilty of faking faculty during annual inspections conducted by the council ahead of grant of approval for induction of yearly undergraduate batch.

All newly established medical colleges need to secure the MCI’s annual renewal to run MBBS courses followed by a final recognition once the first batch of MBBS students pass out after five years. Subsequently, renewals are required every five years.

At the stage of annual renewal, DD Medical College and Hospital, Thiruvallur, Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and Great Eastern Medical School and Hospital, Srikakulum, Andhra Pradesh are in the line of fire. The MCI has ordered its Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) to conduct a probe into the evidence.

New Delhi, June 27
While the BJP refused to commit on behalf of its state governments to heed to the Centre’s appeal to reduce the cess on LPG and mitigate the suffering of the common man, it threw up a novel form of protest, with its Madhya Pradesh president seeking permission to commit suicide by consuming cyanide.

Criticising the UPA government for hiking the price of LPG, kerosene and diesel, former BJP president Murli Manohar Joshi said here today, “Asking state governments to reduce taxes is highly improper and against the federal spirit of the Constitution. Before directing the states to reduce the taxes on petroleum products, the Centre should have consulted and taken the states into confidence.”

Asked if the BJP would direct its state governments to reduce the burden on the common man, Joshi said, “I am not making any commitment.”

Notwithstanding the protestations of Joshi, BJP states also seem to be coming under pressure on this score, with Himachal Pradesh taking the lead to reduce VAT on kerosene followed by Uttarakhand. Also on behalf of the Punjab BJP, its in charge Shanta Kumar unilaterally announced similar relief to the consumers in Punjab, with indications that other states might not be able resist the trend.

Meanwhile in a novel form of protest against price rise, Madhya Pradesh BJP president Prabhat Jha sought President Pratibha Patil’s written permission to commit suicide by consuming cyanide in the wake of spiralling prices.

In his letter widely publicised and circulated by the MP unit of the party, Jha wrote to the President, “The government is a giver of life, not death, but the Congress-led UPA government is giving death along with price rise,” and therefore argued, “Please grant me permission for death by wish as this is the only way left for me to protest against price rise.”

He said, “In such a scenario, I find my life meaningless. I believe that it is better to give up life as a people’s representative in the public, rather than witness the death of millions of people.” 

Mumbai, June 27 
Actress Anushka Sharma was today stopped by customs officials at the International airport here for carrying gold and diamond-studded jewellery and other belongings, which may be unaccounted for.

The 23-year old actress was returning from IIFA award ceremony in Toronto and landed at the airport at 2.30 pm from Toronto via Singapore. She was stopped while passing through the green channel, a Customs official said.

While checking her baggage, the gold and diamond-studded jewellery worth between Rs 20 to Rs 40 lakh was found in her possession, the official said. — PTI