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Attack on Modi continues, RSS mouthpiece slams him
PM in Kolkata, Mamata pushes for loan repayment moratorium
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UGC opens doors to foreign colleges
No relief for Jagan, sent to 5-day CBI custody
New crew management system to help AI tackle disruptions
Italian Marines released on bail
Ranvir Sena chief’s funeral procession turns violent
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Attack on Modi continues, RSS mouthpiece slams him
New Delhi, June 2 The ongoing churning in the BJP, triggered by the Mumbai conclave, was reflected in a write-up in the RSS mouthpiece ‘Panchjanya’ which openly criticised the Gujarat strongman and asked him to reflect on his style of functioning. Not taking kindly to the ongoing infighting in Karnataka, Gujarat and Rajasthan, the ‘Panchjanya’ article said that several BJP leaders were nursing prime ministerial ambitions, but it was not in favour of projecting a PM candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections till after the poll. The write-up was particularly severe on Modi, who has been pushing for a larger role at the Centre, as it pointed out that several national BJP leaders were capable of becoming Prime Minister. The RSS is also unhappy that it had to give in to Modi’s demand for the removal of his bete noire Sanjay Joshi from the party national executive. It reminded the Chief Minister that he had worked with Joshi as a RSS ‘pracharak’ and both were committed to the Sangh’s cause. The ‘Panchjanya’ article comes a day after the BJP mouthpiece ‘Kamal Sandesh’ had slammed party leaders like Modi, Vasundhra Raje and BS Yeddyurappa who have not presented a united face in their respective states which are beset with internal party feuds. A day earlier, party veteran LK Advani, who is unhappy with the RSS for granting Gadkari a second consecutive term as party chief, had hit out at him in his blog. While questioning the decisions made by Gadkari, Advani had stated that the BJP had not been able to play the role of an effective Opposition even though the UPA government has lost its credibility. The drama witnessed at Mumbai and the subsequent developments are a reflection of the changing power equations within the BJP as well as the relationship between the party and the RSS. While it is clear that LK Advani’s innings is now over, the BJP and the Sangh are looking at second-generation leaders which includes Modi, Arun Jaitley and Gadkari. Although the RSS is not comfortable with the growing assertiveness displayed by the BJP’s regional bosses, particularly Modi, it is also aware that the Gujarat strongman holds immense appeal for party cadres. On the flip side, Modi may not be acceptable to BJP allies. In such a scenario, Jaitley could emerge as the BJP’s PM candidate while Gadkari will be asked to focus on organisational matters.
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PM in Kolkata, Mamata pushes for loan repayment moratorium
Kolkata, June 2 The CM was not present at the airport to receive the PM as she did during Singh’s last visit to the city in October last year. She skipped Singh’s function at Salt Lake where he laid the foundation of the new unified campus of Basu Vigyan Mandir (Bose’s Institute of Science, named after eminent scientist Dr Jagdish Chandra Bose). But Mamata was present at the inauguration of the centenary celebration of the Indian Science Congress at Calcutta University. She also shared the same dais with the PM. There was no official explanation for the CM’s absence at the airport and the inauguration function. Mamata’s close aides and prominent TMC leaders said “it was her silent protest against the Centre’s indifferent attitude towards the state’s financial need and also the recent petrol price hike”. As scheduled, at about 10.30 am, Singh arrived at the Netaji Subhas International airport where he was received by the governor MK Narayanan and three state ministers. Union Minister of Science and Technology Bilas Rao Deshmukh and Deputy Minister Dr Aswani Kumar accompanied the PM. At the function at Salt Lake, the PM assured larger financial assistance to Basu Vigyan Mandir for its development including research work and other scientific and academic activities of the young scientists. Speaking at the inauguration of the centenary celebration of the Indian Science Congress, the PM stressed the need for developing a modern knowledge economy and knowledge society in India.
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UGC opens doors to foreign colleges New Delhi, June 2 In a historic development today, the UGC opened doors to foreign colleges which want to offer academic courses on Indian soil and developed a formal mechanism for this to happen. The move will end the era of fake foreign educational institutes operating from India. Over 631 are operating as of today without anyone knowing their credentials. But now, any foreign educational institution which figures among the top 500 in global QS rankings or Times Higher Education rankings will be formally allowed to offer any degree in general education — BA, BSc, BTech etc — in India by entering into a collaboration with a top Indian university or college which has the highest accreditation grade back home. Indian colleges with Grade A accreditation from the National Board of Accreditation or NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) alone will be eligible to partner with foreign colleges. This twinning arrangement was approved today by the UGC Commission by way of a regulation called, "Promotion and Maintenance of Standards of Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign Educational Institutions". The regulation will be sent to the Ministry of HRD for notification after which any Indian college can approach the UGC with a proposal to partner with the foreign college. "The commission will screen the proposal before certifying it. The condition is that the degree awarded will have to be by the Indian education provider to ensure our students are not harassed due to non-recognition. The two collaborators can work out the arrangements. They can split the duration of semesters between India and abroad. The foreign provider can award their degrees but the Indian degree would be an essential requirement," said Ved Prakash, Acting Chairman, UGC. Importantly, the UGC will soon issue a public notice asking all existing foreign education providers and their Indian partners to fulfill the accreditation norms required under the new regulations within six months. Once the regulation is notified, the UGC will call for every Indian partner of foreign educational institutions to seek certification within six months.
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3-year jail for K’taka BJP MLA in graft case
Bangalore, June 2 Y Sampangi, a Dalit MLA of the ruling party, was today sentenced to three-and-a-half-year rigorous imprisonment in a bribery case by the Lokayukta Special Court. Judge NK Sudheendra Rao also imposed a fine of Rs 40,000 on Sampangi failing which he will have to undergo imprisonment for another six months. The judge directed the Lokayukta deputy superintendent of police to issue arrest warrant on Sampangi, MLA from Kolar Gold Field (KGF), and take him into custody. Sampangi was trapped by the Lokayukta police on January 29, 2009, while accepting Rs 50,000 cash and a cheque for Rs 4.5 lakh from businessman Hussain Farooq to settle a property dispute. Farooq, the complainant in the case, told the court that his property in KGF was occupied by a person named Nayaz, who had the support of police sub-inspector Mushtaq Pasha. Pasha had advised him to meet Sampangi at the legislators’ home. Farooq met Sampangi on January 24, 2009, and the latter sought Rs 10 lakh to settle the dispute. He later reduced the bribe amount to Rs 5 lakh. He asked Farooq to give Rs 50,000 by cash and Rs 4.5 lakh by cheque. On January 29, Farooq drew the money and readied the cheque. The Lokayukta police secured two official witnesses and smeared tracing powder on the cheque and cash. After receiving the bribe, Sampangi tried to call a deputy superintendent of police in KGF and a circle inspector. As he couldn’t get through to them, he called Pasha and told him to stop proceedings against Farooq. The Lokayukta police had instructed Farooq to flash a signal if Sampangi accepted the bribe. On seeing Farooq’s signal, the police team entered Sampangi’s chamber and arrested him. At least 15 BJP law makers of Karnataka, including three serving ministers and a former Chief Minister, are now fighting legal battles with charges against them ranging from illegal mining, bribery, land scams, housing scams and even rape
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No relief for Jagan, sent to 5-day CBI custody
Hyderabad, June 2 Dismissing Jagan’s petition seeking directions to declare his arrest as illegal, the court permitted the CBI to question him from June 3 to 7 regarding the quid quo pro investments into his business ventures during 2004-09 when his father late YS Rajasekhar Reddy was the Chief Minister. The order will mean that the ambitious MP will not be able to resume his campaign for the June 12 byelections to 18 Assembly constituencies and one Lok Sabha seat, seen in the political circles as “semi-finals” before the 2014 Assembly polls. The setback came a day after a special CBI court dismissed his petition seeking interim bail to enable him to campaign for the bypolls. “When highly influential persons are involved in the case, CBI, as part of its investigation, has a right to take the accused into custody and question them,” Justice Chandra Kumar of High Court said while pronouncing the order after hearing the arguments from both sides for two days. Jagan, considered the richest member of the current Lok Sabha, was arrested by CBI on May 27 after three days of intense grilling in the illegal assets case. He has been remanded to judicial custody till June 11 and is now lodged in the Chanchalguda Central Jail here. His mother and YSR’s widow YS Vijayamma and sister Sharmila Reddy have been leading the party’s campaign. Though the CBI sought custody for 10 days, the court ordered custody for only five days, beginning tomorrow. Challenging his arrest, Jagan had filed a quash petition in the High Court and his counsel argued that the arrest was politically motivated.
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New crew management system to help AI tackle disruptions
Air India has introduced a new crew management system to replace the old manual system to rule out any scope of subjectivity and favouritism in deployment and management of crew and other staff. The step to revamp operations follows the release of the roadmap for the implementation of Justice Dharmadhikari Committee Report by Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh yesterday could even result in a substantial saving for the beleaguered carrier. More importantly, the system will ensure effective management of sudden disruptions in operations, like the one caused by erstwhile Air India pilots’ strike, that has already resulted in a loss of Rs 350 crore for the cash-strapped airline, the highest that any strike has cost the national carrier so far, according to officials. The loss is on account of ticket cancellation, unused labour and bulk of Boeing 777 fleet being grounded, apparently because of pilot shortage due to the strike. Flights on several domestic and international routes have been cancelled, supposedly due to shortage of cabin crew. Sources however say there is really no shortage of crew, and the crux of the problem is the alleged discrepancies in the roster system, which perhaps is the reason that the management is in no hurry to take back the striking pilots. The positive step will ensure several other benefits for the airline. Even though most of the airlines have long shifted to a professionally managed online system, a more transparent way to manage the crew, the national carrier was following the legacy manual system from various geographical locations for cockpit crew and cabin crew independently. The system resulted in inequitable distribution and favouritism in the allotment of flight slots, in which senior crew managed to fly international flights that not just added more flying hours to their log books but also attractive incentives while juniors were left to look after domestic flights. The manipulation of the roster often resulted in shortage of cabin crew even when there was none.
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INLD MLA shot at in Delhi
New Delhi, June 2 Bharat sustained two bullet injuries in the attack. His maternal uncle, Dharampal, was also shot at twice by the assailants. Bharat has been admitted to the Mata Chanan Devi Hospital in Janakpuri while Dharampal is being treated at the AIIMS trauma centre. Dr SK Bhateja, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, said, “Bharat Singh was admitted to our hospital with gunshot wounds at 9 am today. He sustained injuries to the right kidney, liver, stomach, large intestine and left upper arm. His right kidney had to be removed. All other injuries have been successfully treated.” “Bharat Singh is presently on elective ventilation in the ICU. He is critical, but stable.” Investigations into the case are being conducted by the local police in the south-west district of Delhi. They are being assisted by the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police. AK Ojha, Additional Commissioner of Police (south-west district), said, “Bharat Singh was outside his office in Najafgarh when the assailants fired at him. “He ran inside to save himself, but the miscreants managed to shoot him twice. In his efforts to save Bharat, Dharampal was hit by two bullets. Ojha said personal rivalry was the reason for the attack. Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime), Ashok Chand, said that no arrests have been made so far.
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4 die in Mathura communal clashes
Mathura, June 2 Sixteen persons were also injured in the clashes, which flared up yesterday reportedly after a pedestrian used water meant for some religious purpose, leading to a heated argument followed by the clashes between
two communities. “There was no report of any clash since last midnight. Stern action would be taken against those who have taken law in their hands,” ADG Jagmohan Yadav said while talking to reporters here today. “The situation is under control. Four company RAF and eight company of PAC and adequate police personnel have been deployed,” the ADG said. The entire troubled area has been divided into two zones and six sectors, with the SDM and police circle officer as in-charge of each sector, he said. Extra picket has been posted at sensitive spots, Yadav said. The ADG admitted that the situation worsened when armed people from adjoining villages reached Kosi Kalan town in the evening on Friday. “The police succeeded twice in controlling the clash. However, it worsened when people from neighbouring villages joined the clash,” the ADG said. “The miscreants have been identified. Further identification would be done through their call details. Their arms licences would be cancelled,” Yadav said. — PTI
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Irked K’taka CLP leader to attend Rahul show
Bangalore, June 2 It is bad news for ruling BJP and opposition Janata Dal (Secular), both of which had started wooing him after he announced his resignation from the post of leader of the Opposition yesterday. Siddaramaiah, a former Deputy Chief Minister, who hails from the numerically strong Kuruba community, is much sought after because of the following he has among his fellow caste members. The Congress MLA announced his resignation from the post of CLP leader and leader of Opposition because the party high command ignored him while choosing candidates for the Legislative Council elections. Siddaramaiah was reportedly upset over his loyalist former Union Minister CM Ibrahim being denied nomination. The step, announced a day before AICC General Secretary and Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Hubli to attend a Youth Congress meeting, came as a big jolt for the Congress. However, a source close to Siddaramaiah said he had decided to forget the disregard shown to him by the Congress high command after assurance was given to him that his demands would be taken care of. The source said AICC General Secretary Ahmed Patel, who is Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s most trusted political aide, telephoned Siddaramaiah and requested him to withdraw his resignation. “He was assured that Madam (Sonia Gandhi) would intervene to sort out his problems,” the source said and indicated that Siddaramaiah would withdraw his resignation. Congress hopes to cash in on the internal bickering in BJP and come back to power next year when Assembly elections are due in Karnataka. Sonia Gandhi had come to Karnataka in April to take part in a function at a Lingayat mutt. This has been followed by Rahul’s two-day visit to the state starting today.
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Italian Marines released on bail
Italy's Prime Minister Mario Monti expressed "great satisfaction" over the release on bail of the two marines, but called for their return to Italy.
Kochi/Kollam, June 2 Latore Massimilliano and Salvatore Girone walked out of the Borstal prison here around 9.30 pm after they fulfilled the stringent bail conditions of the Kerala High Court, prison authorities said. Though the Jail authorities received a fax copy of the Kollam magistrate order, the two were released only after the formal release order was furnished. Italian Consul General in Mumbai Giampalo Cuttillo and other officials were present as the marines were driven off to a five-star hotel at the nearby Wellington Island. The high court had granted them bail on May 30 on various conditions, including a bond of Rs one crore each with two Indian solvent sureties for the like amount. It also ordered they stay within 10 km radius of Kochi Police commissioner's office and appear before the Commissioner on all days between 10 am and 11 am and as and when required. This morning, the two were taken from Kochi to Kollam District and Sessions court and produced before the Sessions Judge P D Rajan, who posted the trial in the case to June 18. — PTI
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Ranvir Sena chief’s funeral procession turns violent
Patna, June 2 An uneasy calm prevailed in Bhojpur district, where Singh alias ‘Mukhiyaji’, the dreaded private militia of ‘upper caste’ landowners, was gunned down yesterday by six unidentified gunmen at Katira, 71 km from Patna, while he was on a morning walk. Police patrolling was intensified in Ara town where curfew was clamped after incidents of violence. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has appealed for calm and said investigations were under way to trace the killers. The state was put on a high alert since the killing and Director General of Police Abhayanand and senior police officials met here this morning and reviewed the situation. Several police outposts were burnt, police and private vehicles were damaged and the usually busy Bailey Road was blocked for several hours. Sena supporters turned up in a large number of vehicles, including motorcycles, and stopped at Bihta, Danapur and Saguna More. This threw vehicular traffic out of gear. They also blocked roads today at Bhagalpur and at several places between Ara and Patna. Bihar BJP president CP Thakur and a few BJP MLAs went to Bihta to pay floral tributes to Singh and participated in the funeral procession at some places along the route. At one stage, Thakur was pulled out of his vehicle and some in the procession pelted stones at his car. A DIG-rank officer has been entrusted with the task of probing the Ranvir Sena chief's killing and submit report within a month. Violence continued even when the funeral procession reached Bansghat crematorium here on the banks of the Ganga here. The Sena men clashed with the police and set fire to the vehicle of a DSP after overturning it, official sources said adding they also burnt a bus of Bihar State Road Transport Corporation. — PTI
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