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Team Anna trashes Lokpal draft
BJP wants PM under Lokpal
When PM was overruled by his Cabinet colleagues!
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Balkrishna seeks more time, CBI says no
PATERNITY SUIT
Explain ICDS failures, NHRC to Centre
Principals, VCs can now challan tobacco sellers next door
Ishrat case
My mind, brain all okay, claims Kalmadi
Kasab challenges conviction in SC
Pirates release UAE vessel with 5 Indians
Justice Goel may be elevated as CJ of Kerala HC
Deoband slams RTE Act
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Team Anna trashes Lokpal draft
New Delhi, July 28
“This is cheating — not just with Anna Hazare but with the entire nation. If states don’t have Lokayukta, then corruption will never end. So, we will sit on a fast in Jantar Mantar from August 16... I will fast until my last breath,” Hazare said. “The government wrote to every Chief Minister, asking for their opinion on the Bill. All Congress-led states said they would abide by the decision of the high command. So this is cheating,” he alleged. Arvind Kejriwal, another activist, said: “The government draft doesn’t really touch the core issue of corruption. Kejriwal argued if the government presents a Bill with faulty structures, then even the Standing Committee will not be able to do much. Lawyer Prashant Bhushan said: “The government claims that it first wants to tackle high-level corruption. However, their Lokpal draft doesn’t cover big scandals like Adarsh, CWG and cash for vote.”
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New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday supported bringing the Prime Minister under the purview of the Lokpal, expressing dissatisfaction on the draft of anti-corruption Bill. “The BJP does not appreciate the complete omission of Prime Minister from the draft Lokpal Bill, the Prime Minister should come under the Lokpal,” party general secretary Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters here. “We will react on the Lokpal Bill when it will come to Parliament and goes to the standing committee,” he said. — IANS
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When PM was overruled by his Cabinet colleagues!
New Delhi, July 28 Speaking during a lengthy discussion on the Lokpal Bill at the Cabinet meeting today, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh was among those who made a strong case for the inclusion of the Prime Minister in the proposed Lokpal Bill. Ramesh argued that such a move would give the UPA government a political edge at this time when it is under attack over corruption charges. Deo also agreed with the PM’s suggestion. The weekly Cabinet meeting commenced with the Prime Minister telling his colleagues that he favoured the inclusion of the PM”s office under the Lokpal. “If you want me kept within the purview of the Lokpal, I have no problems,” he said. This led to an intense and prolonged discussion on the proposed legislation. While Ramesh and a few others maintained that the PM’s suggestion be accepted, the overwhelming view was against it. Dismissing Ramesh’s view, Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said the government does not stand to get any political mileage from proposals like inclusion of PM’s office in the Lokpal Bill. Instead, it is effective implementation of pro-people programmes like Bharat Nirman, MNREGA and Right to Education which will help the government politically. Corporate Affairs Minister Veerappa Moily, who was a member of the Lokpal joint drafting panel, firmly rejected the PM’s offer, underlining that it is not a question of a particular individual being brought within the ambit of the anti-corruption but it is the larger issue of the office of the Prime Minister. The government, he said, should not be guided by short term gains and instead look at the big picture. Speaking in the same vein, Union Ministers PK Bansal, S Jaipal Reddy, Kamal Nath and Anand Sharma pointed out that the proposal to include the PM’s office has serious implications for the functioning of the government. They said it would open the floodgates for motivated and frivolous charges making it impossible for a PM to remain in office and also result in destabilising a government. The DMK, which has publicly declared that it wants the PM in the Lokpal Bill, was not represented at today’s meeting as its sole minister Alagiri was not present. Dinesh Trivedi of the Trinamool Congress said his party endorsed the government draft.
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Balkrishna seeks more time, CBI says no
Dehradun, July 28 The Nainital High Court today also refused to entertain an application by Balkrishna and referred it to a double bench today. Balkrishna through his counsel Rajendra Dobhal had filed a writ challenging the FIR registered against him by the CBI, terming the cases against him as false. Balkrishna, who was asked by the CBI to appear before it, challenged the charges against him and requested the court to give him a pre-arrest bail. The court, however, did not hear the plea. The CBI had asked Balkrishna to present himself for questioning today but sources in the agency said Balkrishna sent a fax in the morning, saying his passport was with the British High Commission for visa purposes and a reply from there was expected after about 20 days. In his fax, Balkrishna said he was also consulting Supreme Court lawyer Ram Jethmalani and pleaded that any other date after 20 days may be given to him. He said he came to know about the CBI notice, which was pasted on the ashram gate, only yesterday. The CBI has rejected his plea and asked him to appear without his passport tomorrow, the sources said. Balkrishna in ashram, but won’t appear before CBI today: Ramdev
Haridwar: Adding to the “missing Balakrishna” drama, Swami Ramdev on Thursday revealed that Balkrishna had not gone anywhere but for the past three days had been living in Patanjali Yogpeeth and would appear before the CBI at an appropriate time, not Friday as directed in the notice served today. Ramdev was speaking at a press conference in Haridwar where he tried to defend the allegations levelled against his aide, saying that “Balkrishna is innocent, his educational degrees are not fake and the documents submitted in the procurement of passport are legal. Seeking additional time from the premier agency for Balkrishna to appear, Ramdev said Balakrishna will appear but after a few days. —
TNS HC judge recuses himself
Nainital: An Uttarakhand High Court judge on Thursday recused himself from hearing a petition by yoga guru Ramdev's aide Balkrishna seeking quashing of an FIR filed by the CBI. The petition came up before Justice PC Pant who refused to hear the matter and referred it to Chief Justice Varin Ghose, said Rajendra Dobhal, the counsel for Balkrishna. The petition would now be put before another judge, he said. — PTI |
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PATERNITY SUIT
New Delhi, July 28 Justice Gita Mittal held out the threat after Tiwari’s counsel maintained that the veteran Congress leader was unwilling to give not only his blood, but also any other DNA samples such as saliva, nail, hair or skin. The HC also pointed out that Tiwari had not denied or accepted so far the 100-odd photographs submitted by Rohit to substantiate his claim that he was born out of a relationship his mother, Ujjawala, had with Tiwari. The photographs showed Tiwari, Rohit and Ujjawala at various functions. Instead of giving his DNA sample for ascertaining Rohit’s claim, Tiwari could not go on arguing on the same old issues already decided by a Division Bench of the HC and the Supreme Court, the Judge remarked. Tiwari’s refusal showed that he had scant regard for either judicial discipline or propriety, she pointed out. The HC directed him to take a stand on the photographs within two days or be present in the court at the next hearing on August 2. Meanwhile, Rohit said he would like to vindicate his claim through a DNA test rather than getting it declared by the court.
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Explain ICDS failures, NHRC to Centre
New Delhi, July 28 The orders came today on the four-part Tribune series which revealed misappropriation of supplementary nutrition (SN) funds to the tune of Rs 3000 crore in 2008 and 2009; lack of weighing scales for children at anganwari centres and dismal remuneration to anganwari workers by several states. “The reports raise serious issues - only 40 per cent expenditure on supplementary nutrition of children under the ICDS could actually be accounted for at the national level; there’s a nexus among the officials responsible for implementing the programme, contractors, panchayats and anganwari workers to siphon off cash. Anganwari workers in most states are being paid nothing or nominally. They don’t have weighing scales for infants,” the NHRC recorded. Observing that the reports raise serious issues of human rights violation of the children, the Commission sought an explanation from the Centre and the states. It also recorded from The Tribune reports the fact that in 2008-2009, nearly Rs 3,000 crore from the total Rs. 5,383 crore allocated by the government for Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) under the ICDS were siphoned off. “The reports state that only 41 per cent children in the eligible group, 38 per cent eligible pregnant and lactating women and 10 per cent eligible adolescent girls were registered in the period of review and only 64 per cent children from among the registered were actually receiving supplementary nutrition on an average for 192 days a year as against 300 days the Supreme Court has mandated,” the NHRC said. It noted that there are huge unspent funds meant for child nutrition, the amounts being the highest for Assam at 95 per cent, Bihar and Rajasthan at 71 per cent each, Uttarakhand at 72 per cent, Madhya Pradesh at 64 per cent and Punjab at 56 per cent.
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Principals, VCs can now challan tobacco sellers next door
The government has, through a notification in the COPTA (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition) Act) 2003 said that from now on, heads of all educational establishments including principals, proctors, in charges of schools and VCs of universities can challan those found selling tobacco around the institutions and those found selling tobacco to minors (anyone under 18 years of age). Sections 6 (a) and (b) of COPTA prohibit the sale of all tobacco products - from cigars and bidis to khaini, snuffs and gutkas - to children and within the 100-yard radius of educational establishments. The idea is to restrict the access of youth to tobacco with the 2010 Global Tobacco Youth Survey of India revealing a rise in the number of tobacco-addicted students from 13.7 per cent in 2006 to 14.7 per cent now. Alarmed by the trend, the Health Ministry felt it necessary to name the people who can enforce the anti-tobacco law. The additional notification, issued after a request by the states, also empowers officials in the police, Home Department, Labour Department, NRHM, and Food and Drugs Department to act against the offenders. All officers of the rank of sub-inspector in the Department of Food and Drugs, inspectors and above from the Department of Education; sub inspectors of police and above from the Department of Home and municipal health officers, sarpanchs and panchayat secretaries have also been authorised to take action. Anti-bidi drive
The government on Thursday launched a new mass media campaign to prevent people from smoking bidis. The campaign - in slots of 45, 30 and 15 seconds each - inspires addicts to quit smoking by linking it to heart disease and premature death, and will be flashed across all TV and radio channels from August 1 to 31
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Ishrat case
Ahmedabad, July 28 "I have taken charge of the SIT today following the orders of Gujarat High Court and the notification issued in this regard by the Gujarat government," Verma told reporters. — PTI
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My mind, brain all okay, claims Kalmadi
Sixty-seven-year-old Kalmadi was taken to the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) this morning to undergo tests to confirm if he was suffering from dementia. "He was taken to the neurology department at AIIMS today at 9 am," AIIMS spokesperson Sunil Gupta said. Coming out of the hospital after over four hours, Kalmadi said, "Five years ago, I had undergone an operation of the heart valve. Whatever the problem is, it is of the heart and nothing else... My mind, my brain are all ok.” "I remember everything and there should be no doubt about it. Whatever the problem is... is regarding my heart. A lot of treatment is being done for that,” Kalmadi said. He had undergone an MRI scan on July 19 at Lok Narayan Jai Prakash Hospital where the tests revealed that he was suffering from dementia which gradually affects cognitive functions of the person affected by it. The test results stated in medical jargon "diffused cerebral atrophy with old ischemic changes in brain parenchyma with calcified granuloma in caudothalamic groove on left side (of his brain)". Kalmadi was today accompanied by Tihar Jail authorities as he went for the health check-up at AIIMS. He claimed all reports stating that he was suffering from dementia were wrong. "I am perfectly all right. All that you are reading is wrong. I have come for a routine check-up," he said. — PTI Kalmadi’s MRI scan result on July 19: Suffering from dementia which gradually affects cognitive functions of the person. "Diffused cerebral atrophy with old ischemic changes in brain parenchyma with calcified granuloma in caudothalamic groove on left side (of his brain)"
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Kasab challenges conviction in SC
New Delhi, July
28 The death sentence, awarded by a trial court in Mumbai on May 6, 2010, was confirmed by the Bombay High Court on February 21 this year. Kasab had come to Mumbai along with nine other Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists for causing large-scale destruction. They had brought sophisticated guns and explosives with them. In the counter-offensive, the security forces could, however, capture alive only Kasab. He was convicted for waging a war on the nation and on several other counts. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Government has also challenged in the SC the acquittal of two Indians, Fahim Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed, who were tried in the case. The HC had upheld their acquittal.
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Pirates release UAE vessel with 5 Indians
New Delhi, July 28 The Vessel belonging to Juba General Trading was on its regular route from the United Arab Emirates to the port of Berbera, Somalia with the crew members, including a Sri Lankan, three Bangladeshis, a Sudanese, a Myanmarese, a Kenyan and four Somalians, when it was captured. "We are yet to receive further details," the sources said when asked about whether any ransom was paid. The sources said the hijacked vessel was a general cargo freighter having a capacity of 2,100 tonne. Former Pakistani Federal Minister for human rights Ansar Burney played a key role in seeking release of the ship and its crew. — PTI
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Justice Goel may be elevated as CJ of Kerala HC
Chandigarh, July 28 As of now, the place of Justice Goel's posting is not very clear. But indications are that his name may be considered for elevation as the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court. Available information from Delhi suggests the place of Justice Goel's posting will become clear during the next couple of weeks. The senior-most Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court at Chandigarh, Justice Goel is currently functioning as the Acting Chief Justice, in the absence of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who is currently on long medical leave.
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Lucknow, July 28 "The seminary will strongly protest the move to snatch rights of madrassas through RTE and it is with the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, which is already opposing it," said newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of the seminary Maulana Abul Qasim Nomani. He said the Act posed a threat to the independence of madrassas and their education system. "If minority institutions are not excluded from the Act, Deoband will lodge a protest whether on its own or under the banner of the AIMPLB," Nomani said. He said during a programme organised by the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind in Delhi around a year ago when apprehensions were raised in that regard, Union Human Resource Minister Kapil Sibal had assured them that such educational institutions would be kept out of the ambit of the Act. "But this has not been done," he said. UP has around 6,000 madrassas and 6,500 minority schools. The AIMPLB held a meeting to protest against the RTE Act last Sunday in which it was decided that if the Centre did not exclude madrassas and other minority institutions from the ambit of the Act, a nationwide agitation would be launched after the month of Ramzan. — PTI |
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Rejecting the draft of the Lokpal Bill approved by the Union Cabinet, social activist Anna Hazare and other civil society members today accused the government of cheating them.
“We said that the CBI should be brought within the ambit of the Lokpal Bill. Also, we discussed that all states should have Lokayukta (ombudsman). It was decided that all these things will be put forward while discussing the Bill in the Cabinet, but today we found that these were removed,” Hazare told
reporters.
New Delhi, July 28
New Delhi, July 28