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Govt cheating people on Lokpal Bill: Anna
Mumbai terror attacks |
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2G: Court summons
Essar, Loop promoters
Plan goes Awry
Rahul for bringing new leaders in Cong
Rahul Gandhi at Parliament House in New Delhi on Wednesday. — PTI
MDMK leader Vaiko addresses party workers during a demonstration over Mullaperiyar
Dam issue, in Theni, Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday. — PTI
‘DAM 999’ in Oscar race
MP alleges harassment
by PM’s security staff
Chinese troops damaged wall in Tawang: Antony
Prasar Bharti can’t be BBC, says Ambika Soni
Cabinet clears Bill to set up higher education regulator
PC faces protests in Rajya Sabha again
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Govt cheating people on Lokpal Bill: Anna
New Delhi, December 21 While Anna attacked the government for keeping the CBI out of proposed Lokpal, accusing it of cheating people by bringing a weak Bill, key associate Kiran Bedi sarcastically “thanked” Sonia for giving the people of India a “breaking the path” Bill. “The Bill is not path-breaking but breaking the path. Thank you Sonia G,” Kiran tweeted. “Sonia G is saying she is fighting for a Lokpal. Is it for or against Lokpal? For there is nothing for Lokpal,” Kiran said, reacting Sonia’s speech at the CPP where she asserted that she would fight for the passage of the Parliament. In fact, soon after Sonia signalled that the UPA would not be cowed down this time by either Anna Hazare or the Opposition, Team Anna went into a huddle to devise the next plan of action. Team member Manish Sisodia said discussions in Parliament between December 27 and 29 would coincide with Anna’s fast in Mumbai and similar demonstrations by his associates at district headquarters across the country. This would be followed by a “jail bharo” on December 30, 31 and January 1, Sisodia said, thereby setting the tone for the next stage of, now inevitable, showdown between Anna and the government. Incidentally, close associate Medha Patkar is believed to be already on a fast in Rahul Gandhi's constituency Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. However, even as Anna and his team ups the ante for yet another round of confrontation with the government, it may turn out to be not such an easy path for them this time around. With Sonia hinting that the government will not bend beyond a point, it may be a difficult round for Anna and his team. Voices are growing, and not just in Congress but other parties as well, against Team Anna’s “obstinate” attitude. While Bedi today sought the help of Opposition in getting the CBI out of government’s control, cutting across the party lines are MPs who disfavour Team Anna’s methods. RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Samajwadi Party MP Mohan Singh and CPM leader Sitaram Yechury questioned the UPA’s intention and also made it clear that Parliament should not rush through the anti-corruption legislation in a hurry to please Anna and his associates. The BSP is also against rushing through the Bill while NDA ally Shiv Sena is completely opposed to the concept of a
Lokpal. Different Voices Without the CBI under it, the Lokpal will be just a complainant. The CBI won't be answerable to the Lokpal. — Santosh Hegde, former Karnataka Lokayukta If the CBI was under the Lokpal, then Home Minister Chidambaram would have been in prison. — Anna Hazare Sonia G is saying she is fighting for a Lokpal. Is it for or against Lokpal? For there is nothing for Lokpal. — Kiran Bedi on Twitter
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NIA to name Headley,
Saeed in chargesheet
Besides Headley and Saeed, the Home Ministry gave sanction to the National Investigation Agency to prosecute 26/11 attacks mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Headley's accomplice and Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Rana and Al-Qaida operative Illyas Kashmiri, official sources said here. Sajid Malik, handler of Headley, and Abdul Rehman Hashmi will also be named in the charge sheet besides two officers Major Iqbal and Major Samir Ali, believed to be working for Pakistan’s snooping agency, the sources said. The sanction of prosecution against the nine was accorded after a legal opinion of the Law Ministry was obtained. They will be named in the charge sheet for waging war against the country under the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The NIA had registered a case against 50-year-old Headley and Rana on November 12, 2009 and later on added other names after investigation by Central security agencies showed a large set of people involved in terror activities against the country. Both Headley and Rana are at present in custody of US authorities and NIA has only got a limited access to Headley, who had entered into plea bargain with US authorities to escape harsh sentence. Rana (50) was found guilty by the US court of terror activities in Denmark but absolved of his role in the 26/11 strikes. — PTI The Terror Team
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2G: Court summons
Essar, Loop promoters
New Delhi, December 21 "I have carefully gone through the copy of the FIR, supplementary chargesheet, statement of witnesses and related documents. On the basis of material on record, I am satisfied that there is enough incriminating material on record to proceed against the accused," Special CBI Judge OP Saini said. Essar Group promoters Anshuman and Ravi Ruia along with Loop Telecom promoters Kiran Khaitan, her husband IP Khaitan and Essar Group director (Strategy and Planning) Vikash Saraf and three companies -- Loop Telecom Pvt Ltd, Loop Mobile India Ltd and Essar Tele Holding -- are named as accused in the third chargesheet. The court said the three companies will stand the trial either through their directors or they will appoint their representatives for the purpose. "Three companies be served through their directors and the companies may appoint authorised representatives for the purpose of trial," the Judge said while making it clear that though charges are not slapped under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA), the accused will face trial in the designated court set up on the order of the Supreme Court. However, Essar Group in a statement expressed "surprise" that the special court has taken cognisance of the matter even though there is no charge of corruption made by the CBI. The Group said it will take "further legal recourse to defend its position" as "it has been advised that the special court has no jurisdiction in matters where no corruption charges have been alleged".
— PTI Ravi Ruia steps down London: Essar Energy chairman Ravi Ruia on Wednesday announced his decision to step down from the post amid the CBI claiming that Essar Group suppressed facts related to its equity holding in Loop Telecom, an allegation denied by the conglomerate. He would continue as a director of Essar Energy. Prashant Ruia, presently the vice-chairman, would take over as interim chairman. — PTI
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Plan goes Awry
Balasore (Odisha), Dec 21 "The test was postponed due to a technical snag," said ITR Director SP Dash, adding that the date for future trial would be decided after correcting the problem. The ITR director's statement came in the midst of media reports that the two missiles had failed to take off during the twin trial. "I don't know on what basis they have concluded that the trial had failed," Dash said. Defence officials and scientists associated with the trial were tight-lipped on what exactly led to the postponement of the test. Two indigenously developed surface-to-surface missiles were planned to be fired from a mobile launcher in salvo mode from the launch complex-3 of the ITR as part of user trial by the Army, defence sources said. The missiles were randomly chosen from the stock of the Armed forces and the entire launch activities were to be carried out by the Strategic Force Command and monitored by the scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation as part of training exercise, they added. Prithvi, the first missile developed under India’s prestigious Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme has the capability to carry 500 kg of warheads. It has a length of 9 meters with one metre diameter and thrust by liquid propulsion twine engine, uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory and reach the targets with few meter accuracy. The last trial of Prithvi-II was successfully carried out with high accuracy of
better than 10 meters from the same base in September. — PTI
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Rahul for bringing new leaders in Cong
New Delhi, December 21 He says that the Congress need not be diffident given the fact that its flagship programmes have created goodwill and the Opposition has "no answer" for that. After Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, there was a gap from 1991 to 1998 to bring up new leaders which is affecting the Congress now. It is a "big handicap", the young leader is understood to have told the partymen during a long interaction here. The partymen said Rahul told them that the response the Congress was getting now in Uttar Pradesh and the success it got in the state was proof enough that the party's basic vote was intact so also its sympathisers. "Benibabu told me that I don't know how difficult it is to fight with the Congress,” Rahul told a group of MPs and ministers. He was apparently referring to Union Minister Beni Prasad Verma, who was till recently a close associate of Mulayam Singh Yadav in the Samajwadi Party. "The Congress committed suicide in Uttar Pradesh by giving 300 seats to the BSP during the Assembly elections in the 90s. Even after that our 10 per cent vote has been intact,” he said.
— PTI
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Dam row: Jayalalithaa opposes NDMA move; thousands hold road blockade
Chennai, December 21 As tension gripped the areas bordering Kerala in Theni district following a road blockade protest by thousands of villagers, Jayalalithaa shot off yet another letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the dam
issue.
She took strong exception to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) headed by him forming the experts team to draw up a contingency response plan, including "inundation and submergence models" in the event of possible scenarios like earthquakes and floods. "This is nothing but succumbing to the subterfuge of the government of Kerala and to present a fait accompli to the Supreme Court and the Empowered Committee constituted by it," she said, demanding withdrawal of the NDMA's office memorandum. Jayalalithaa's fourth letter to the Prime Minister in as many weeks on the dam issue comes amid an unending war of words between leaders of both states over Kerala's insistence on demolishing the 116-year-old dam citing safety concerns, which Tamil Nadu strongly opposes. In Theni district, the police arrested MDMK leader Vaiko when he was on his way to lower camp on Kerala border to lead his party workers on a road blockade stir demanding protection to the dam. Vaiko was arrested for defying prohibitory orders, but about 10,000 people went ahead with the agitation and blocked the road at Gudalur where five persons were injured in a clash between the police and the agitators. The police said they lathicharged when the agitators threw stones at them during the clash, which broke out after a tractor 'accidentally' hit the vehicle of IGP Rajesh Dass who was on his way to hold talks with the protesters. Five media vehicles and some belonging to the police were damaged in the clash, the police said, adding that the situation was under control though tense. Additional reinforcements have been rushed to the trouble spot. — PTI
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‘DAM 999’ in Oscar race
Kochi, December 21 The three songs from the film that are vying to be in the final nomination list include "Dakkanaga Dugu Dugu", "DAM999 Theme Song" and "Mujhe Chhod Ke". The film's director, Sohan Roy, a marine engineer by profession, is upbeat about the news. “This is a crowning achievement for 'DAM 999' and my dream project has attained the true recognition it deserves,” Roy said. The movie, a $10 million production, tells the tale of a cracking dam built during colonial rule and revolves around nine characters. The lives of all the nine characters revolve around the central edifice - the pressure-mounted dam.
— IANS
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MP alleges harassment
by PM’s security staff
New Delhi, December 21 "I apologise for the incident. I express my regret. I agree... you are right
that within this parliament, members are equal. I am speaking on behalf of
the government," Mukherjee said in the House after it resumed following two
disruptions. Mukherjee, who is the Leader of the House, said the government would work on "some institutional arrangement" so that such incidents were not repeated. “I am not speaking individually as Pranab Mukherjee but I am speaking for the government,” he clarified. Earlier, members of the BSP and the Samajwadi Party protested against the incident in the House, demanding action against the Special Protection Group (SPG) personnel responsible for the alleged harassment of Rama Shankar Rajbhar. Chauhan said that MPs were being "insulted daily" in the name of providing security to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "It is
an insult to this august House. Are not we all equal in this House," he said, demanding that the government conduct a probe into the incident. Mukherjee's tendering of apology brought peace to the house that had earlier witnessed unruly scenes, first during the Question Hour and later at noon over the issue as also on the plight of farmers in India. When the house began the day's sitting, Speaker Meira Kumar called for Question Hour to be taken up. Some members of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) then rushed towards her podium, raising the issue of providing higher minimum support price (MSP) for cotton, and highlighting the difficult situation the farmers in Andhra Pradesh were in. The Speaker's repeated pleas to the protesting members to return to their seats went unheeded. As sloganeering reached a crescendo despite
her requests, Meira Kumar adjourned the House till noon. When the House assembled again, the scenes were repeated, this time by BSP members who caused uproar over what they said was misbehaviour and harassment of one of their colleagues by Prime Minister's securitymen. With pandemonium breaking out, the house was adjourned till 2 pm.
— IANS The issue
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Chinese troops damaged wall in Tawang: Antony
New Delhi, December
21 "As
per the established mechanism with China, a strong protest was lodged
with the Chinese side on the action of the Chinese People's Liberation
Army (PLA) patrol in a flag meeting (between the two sides),"
Defence Minister AK Antony said. In reply to a question, the minister
said the attempt by the PLA to raze the wall was prevented by the Indian
Army. "In July, a PLA patrol attempted to cross a 200-feet wall of
loose stones constructed 250 m on our side of the Line of Actual Control
(LAC) in the Yangtse area of Tawang, which was prevented by our
troops," Antony said. The stone wall was partially damaged by the
PLA patrol, but it has been reconstructed, he said. The 200-m long wall
was constructed by the Indian Army for protection against the icy winds
during the patrol duties. "There is no commonly delineated LAC
between India and China and there are few areas along the border where
both have different perception of the LAC," Antony said. both
sides patrol up to their respective perceptions of the LAC due to its
perceived differences in alignment. Replying to a question on
infrastructure development along the Chinese border, he said 10 railway
and 73 roads projects have been identified in North and North East
regions. "The Army has identified 73 roads as critically and
strategically important. In addition to this, 10 railway projects have
also been identified for development in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal
Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh," Antony said. —
PTI
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Prasar Bharti can’t be BBC, says Ambika Soni
New Delhi, December 21 The occasion was rare as ruling party and Opposition members came together to express concern about the poor standard of DD programmes and reminisce the days when curfew like situation would prevail across India when DD would air “Ramayana” into homes. Some MPs wondered why DD was not as credible and entertaining as the BBC. While Soni agreed to the concerns MPs raised about the deteriorating quality of programming on DD, she made it clear that India’s national broadcaster could not be the BBC. “Prasar Bharti can’t be compared with the BBC. The BBC levies fee on every television set owner. We don’t want to burden our people that way. ” the minister said.
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Cabinet clears Bill to set up higher education regulator
New Delhi, December 21 The commission will comprise seven members to be appointed by a selection committee consisting of the Prime Minister, Speaker of Lok Sabha, leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and two ministers in charge of higher education and medical education. The chairperson, three whole-time members and three other members of the commission will hold office for a term of five years. Once the NCHER Bill is introduced in Parliament and cleared, it will pave way for establishment of the commission which will vet requests for the setting up of universities. Any new university that will come up after the NCHER has come into existence will have to submit a declaration to the commission to start operations. The commission will approve the declaration on the basis of the assessment certificate provided to the said university. The existing 600 universities can continue to operate and need no clearances, but all new varsities will have to come through the
NCHER.
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PC faces protests in Rajya Sabha again
New Delhi, December 21 The BJP, which has been boycotting the Home Minister alleging his involvement in the 2G spectrum scam, last week said he should quit over reports that he favoured a former client. The protest started as the Home Minister got up to reply questions marked against his name. As he replied to questions, Opposition members shouted slogans demanding his resignation. Opposition MPs also shouted slogans targeting United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi. As BJP members gathered near the presiding officer’s podium, members from the treasury benches also joined in to defend the minister. Amid the din, the Upper House was adjourned for nearly 10 minutes till 12 noon. The Upper House resumed its business at 12 noon.
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Fresh showdown is on the anvil between the Congress-led UPA government and Anna Hazare’s associates.
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s strong statement which termed the government’s Lokpal Bill draft as “path-breaking” and almost daring Team Anna and the Opposition to stop the Bill cleared by the Cabinet yesterday, found a quick retaliation from Hazare’s camp on Wednesday.
New Delhi, December 21
Uproar in Lok
Sabha, Pranab apologises
New Delhi, December 21