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Modi trying to polarise voters: Cong
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Chorus of support for Modi as PM grows
Govt justifies direct cash transfer scheme
Beijing sees bid to undermine its ties with New Delhi
First global dengue vaccine coming soon
Well aware of challenges, says new CBI Director
Parliament pays tribute to Gujral; adjourned
Councillor who slapped contractor arrested, gets bail
Gogoi comment on influx kicks up row
CVC probe finds loopholes in empanelment of advocates
Share Cauvery water with TN gracefully: SC tells K’taka
Extortion Case Fresh plea filed in Taj Corridor case Namdhari’s PSO held We may be poor but are not beggars: Mamata
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Modi promises schemes for ‘neo-middle class’
Ahmedabad, December 3 Modi has promised to define a new category of “neo-middle class”, those who have grown above poverty line, but still do not come in the category of middle class. Modi said his government would form various schemes to benefit “neo-middle class” that needed a helping hand. “Due to development in Gujarat over the past 10 years, there has been substantial rise in this neo-middle class. We want to address their issues,” Modi said. Seemingly to counter the Congress’ poll promises of providing clothes and houses at an affordable rate to rural and urban poor respectively, the BJP manifesto promises to construct 50 lakh new houses in the next five years. However, when asked if his manifesto promise of making 50 lakh houses was in reply to the opposition party’s scheme, Modi said many parties like the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and the JD(U) have also released their manifestos.
— PTI It's Modi vs Bhatt at Maninagar
The Gujarat Parivartan Party on Monday withdrew its candidate from the Maninagar constituency, paving the way for a direct contest between Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Congress candidate Shweta Bhatt, wife of suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt. “We are withdrawing our candidate, Pravin Patel, from the Maninagar Assembly constituency in favour of Congress candidate Shweta Bhatt so that there is a direct fight between Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Shweta Bhatt,” GPP general secretary Gordhan Zadaphia said. The move comes following Shweta Bhatt’s appeal to Keshubhai Patel-led GP Party to withdraw its Maninagar candidate.
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Modi trying to polarise voters: Cong
Ahmedabad, December 3 Modi has said during his campaign that Congress wants to make Ahmed Patel, the political secretary to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, the chief minister of the state. “They never had the issue of development in 2002 and 2007 (elections). Everyone knows what issues they fought on... In 2012, they do not have any issue…. So now they are trying to rake up...Ahmed ‘Mia’ Patel (issue),” Congress poll committee chairman Shankersinh Vaghela said. As Ahmed Patel is a Muslim from Gujarat, Modi was trying to polarise voters using his name, Vaghela said. “This is disgraceful, and does not behove Modi,” he said.
— PTI
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Chorus of support for Modi as PM grows
“Modi is undertaking great development work in Gujarat. He is a role model for chief ministers of other states on how to rule, govern and take care of even the poorest,” he said addressing election rallies at Kalol and Mansa in Gandhinagar district in the run up to the Gujarat Assembly polls on December 13 and 17. “Narendra Modi is capable of becoming the prime minister of the country... he is fit for it,” Swaraj had said on Saturday. Taking a dig at Swaraj for her statement on Modi, Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh had said she must first make clear if Advani also agrees with her. “It is alright if Sushma feels that Modi is good for the Prime Minister's job, but she must first tell if Advani also agrees with her on this,” Digvijay had said in Katni in Madhya Pradesh. Munde had said yesterday that “Narendra Modi is capable of becoming PM and I am satisfied with Sushma Swaraj's opinion...He has potential of becoming PM”. Arun Jaitley, another senior party leader, had said that the BJP is proud of the fact it had a leader like Modi and he is so popular and a “successful CM” that it is “natural” the party will keep his name "ahead" in the prime ministerial aspirants. Party's Bihar unit chief CP Thakur said the endorsement of Swaraj, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, was the broad view of the entire party.
— PTI
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FDI vote will reveal true colours of SP, BSP: Left
New Delhi, December 3 Vowing to stall the entry of Walmart into India “at every cost”, leaders of CPM, CPI, All India Forward Bloc and Revolutionary Socialist Party today said the vote on FDI would expose the stand of regional parties, which have been publicly opposing FDI but are yet to declare if they will vote against the same in Parliament. “The Parliament vote will expose everyone. BSP chief Mayawati and SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav have said they are opposed to retail FDI. Mulayam Singh even went to jail with us on the issue. If all their votes are with us on FDI, we have a big majority and the power to prevent FDI in this sector from coming into India,” said CPI leader AB Bardhan at the Left Party Convention against FDI today. The leaders questioned the Government’s delay in accepting a vote on FDI, with CPM’s Sitaram Yechury saying, “The Government took five days to agree to a vote. They were buying time to arrange votes, as is their history.” Yechury said if major parties such as the SP, TDP and JDS voted against FDI, it would never go through. The Left has said it will move amendments to the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 which was amended by the RBI in October this year. For FDI to roll, the FEMA amendment has to be carried by Parliament. “We will press for a vote on FEMA amendment as well. Unless both Houses approve it, it can’t be carried,” contended Yechury and CPI national secretary D Raja. CPM secretary general Prakash Karat slammed the UPA government for “misguiding” people in the name of FDI. He said, “This Government bought 19 MPs in July 2008 to win the trust vote in the wake of India-US nuke deal. But in four years they could not get one American reactor installed in India. We will again campaign on the streets to stop Walmart from entering India. Notwithstanding the result of the Parliament vote, we won’t allow FDI in India,” Karat said. AIFB’s Debabrata Biswas and RSP’s TJ Chandrachoodan also questioned the Government’s motives in pushing retail FDI saying it would devastate farmers. Both said, “The Parliament vote would reveal the true colours of all parties, including BSP, which says it is against FDI but cannot tell whether it wants to vote against it.” Today's plan
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Govt justifies direct cash transfer scheme
Faced with a 5 pm deadline from the EC for a response, the Planning Commission provided details of the scheme and claimed that nothing new has been announced by the government. The EC had warned of appropriate action if the government's reply to its letter did not come by the deadline. The election body had conveyed unhappiness to the Centre over the announcement of its direct cash transfer scheme when the Model Code in poll-bound Gujarat is in force and had sought a report by this evening. Four of the 51 districts in which the cash transfer scheme is to be implemented from January 1 next fall in Gujarat. Gujarat goes to polls on December 13 and 17. Defending the government's action, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said it had not violated any election code of conduct in connection with its ambitious direct cash transfer scheme as it was announced in the budget speech by the then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. According to Sibal, “This (direct cash transfer) is only an implementation of an announcement that has already been made.” He said the government believed that it has neither directly or indirectly violated the election code because the policy announcement was made way back in the budget speech by the then finance minister. The Election Commission's notice was among the issues discussed by the Group of Ministers (GoM) on media today. In another letter to the EC, the BJP's election cell head asked the poll body to set aside the scheme's implementation, quoting a union minister's remarks made today that details of the scheme have yet to be worked out before it is implemented across the country. The BJP has said this has vindicated its claim that the scheme has been launched “in haste” with a view to lure voters in poll-bound Gujarat. The Gujarat unit of the BJP had last week petitioned the poll body in this case, alleging a serious violation of the Model Code of Conduct. A day later, top party leaders led by L K Advani personally met the Chief Election Commissioner to complain against the announcement. — PTI
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Bhopal gas victims hold rallies on 28th anniversary
Bhopal, December 3 Even after 28 years the disaster, no one has been punished for it and the victims are given only inadequate compensation, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sanghthan convenor Abdul Jabbar said. Criticising both the Central and the Madhya Pradesh governments, Jabbar alleged that it appeared that instead of helping the gas victims, the two governments were trying to protect multi-national companies. “It is because of this attitude that the then Chief Executive Officer of the Union Carbide, Warren Anderson, has not been brought to India so far to face trial here,” he said. The day began with an all-religion prayer meeting, which is held on this day every year since December 1984 to pay homage to the victims. A number of other organisations working for the gas victims also took out processions and held meetings demanding justice for the gas victims. After Jabbar’s speech, members of the sangthan marched towards state Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s residence to submit a memorandum about their long-pending demands, including adequate compensation and speedy trial of gas-related cases. On the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984, deadly methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, killing over 3,000 people and injuring lakhs of others in the world’s worst industrial disaster. Jabbar said seven years back when Chouhan became the Chief Minister, the gas victims had a lot of hopes from him. “But, during these seven years, Chouhan had belied all the hopes that gas victims had rested in him,” he alleged. There was not much difference between the Congress and the BJP as far as the gas victims were concerned, he said. The struggle of the gas victims has been going on for 28 years, he said adding that it will continue till they get justice. Meanwhile, the gas victims’ march towards the Chief Minister’s residence was stopped by police near Kamla Park where the rallyists were detained. Jabbar and his associates will meet the Chief Minister later in the day to discuss their long-pending demands and submit a memorandum on the issue.
— PTI
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Beijing sees bid to undermine its ties with New Delhi
New Delhi, December 3 The two are designated as Special Representatives (SRs) for finding a solution to the vexed boundary dispute from the political perspective. With China recently going through its once-in-a-decade political transition, Dai is likely to be soon replaced by a new SR on the Chinese side. India is hopeful that there would be continuity in ties between the two countries under the new leadership in Beijing. Menon, a former Indian Ambassador to China, is also expected to meet Vice-Premier Li Keqiang, the number two in the new standing committee of the CPC, to get an idea about how the new leadership looks at relations with India. China is wary of the growing relationship between the US and India. Beijing’s apprehension is that the US is seeking to convert India into an effective bulwark against China. Dai also told Menon that both sides should take note of the fact that today there was more consensus than dispute and more cooperation than competition between them. He said that as advocates of the ‘Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence’, the two countries should have sufficient wisdom and capabilities to handle bilateral ties, make more effort for mutual benefits and prevent ‘noise’ from diverting friendly cooperation and common development. Every step forward in ties between the two countries would contribute to peace, security and cooperation in the entire world, Dai added. Ahead of Menon’s visit, the two countries held a meeting of the working group for consultation and coordination on border affairs, which exchanged ideas on ways for maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border.
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First global dengue vaccine coming soon
If successful, the trial would come as a boon for nearly three billion people affected by the disease globally, mostly in Latin America and Asia. Dengue is also the leading cause of fever among travellers to endemic areas and currently, there is no specific treatment available for dengue fever which can turn fatal following drastic drop in platelet count. The Government of India is now hoping that the French vaccine trial being conducted in collaboration with the International Vaccine Institute and WHO would succeed, helping it prevent the massive economic burden of dengue. Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was cornered by MPs in Lok Sabha yesterday for failing to contain dengue, said the Sanofi vaccine was in Phase III trials in Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Latin America, Mexico, Columbia and Brazil. “Let us hope that soon we will have a vaccine against dengue which is a problem worldwide and not just in India,” Azad said giving a lowdown to the Lok Sabha on how the government was working to fight dengue and chikungunya, both caused by bites of Aedes mosquitoes. At least three Lok Sabha MPs have - in the past - been down with dengue. These are BJP’s Raman Deka, Akali Dal’s Harsimrat Badal and Azad himself. Of late, filmmaker Yash Chopra died of complications resulting from dengue, mostly caused by mosquito bites in the morning hours and just before sunset. India remains a major endemic country for Aedes mosquitoes causing dengue. Aedes ageypti is its primary vector and Aedes alboptics secondary vector. Both breed in fresh water and this is why it is important to not let water stagnate in vases, pots, gardens, utensils or cookers. In the past three years, dengue incidence and mortality rose by 100 per cent in India. Between 2009 and 2012, cases grew from 15,000 to 35,066 and deaths from 110 to 216. Tamil Nadu leads the mortality list with 60 deaths this year as against 59 in Maharashtra, 21 in Karnataka, 13 in Kerala, 9 in West Bengal and 15 in Punjab. That’s why MPs yesterday sought answers to the problem by giving a calling attention notice in the Lok Sabha. Azad put the onus on states saying health was a state subject and added that the Centre had broadcast 2000 programmes on DD and radio to spread dengue awareness in the past year. The notice was given by BJP’s Arjun Ram Meghwal, SP’s Shailendra Kumar, TMC’s Kakoli Ghosh, CPM’s Ramachandra Dome and TDP’s NN Rao. That apart, all eyes are now on dengue vaccine trials with Sanofi Pasteur recently announcing that its tetravalent dengue vaccine candidate had demonstrated proof of efficacy in the world’s first-ever dengue efficacy trial conducted in Thailand. The fight is on
Star victims
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Well aware of challenges, says new CBI Director
Addressing a press conference after assuming charge, Sinha said: “I am well aware of the rigours, processes and procedures being followed in this organisation, having served as the DIG and Joint Director in the bureau. Now, as its head, I also bring with me experience from serving the nation in my cadre, as well as heading central police organisations. “I am well aware of the challenges before the CBI, which include shortage of manpower, need to provide modern technology and facilities; upgradation of forensic laboratories; and need to reduce delays in execution of Letters Rogatory. After receiving a detailed briefing from my team of officers, I will get down to the business of attempting to address these concerns”, he said. Dismissing the controversy regarding his appointment, he said: “I don’t think there is any controversy. I think the government has taken a decision and because of that decision I am here.” “I don’t think there was any resentment among IPS officers. I do not know who filed a petition or complaint against me. Appointment is the prerogative of the government,” he said when asked about petitions filed against his appointment. Replying to a question whether the CBI Director should have a five-year fixed tenure, Sinha said it was a policy matter and at present it is a two-year tenure. In his opening remarks, the new Director said: “It is with a deep sense of responsibility that I take charge of the prestigious office of Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation. I feel very honoured, and at the same time, am also humbled at the extremely important task bestowed on me.”
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Parliament pays tribute to Gujral; adjourned
New Delhi, December 3 In the Lok Sabha, Speaker Meira Kumar hailed Gujral as a “distinguished parliamentarian” and an “illustrious leader” who became the Prime Minister in 1997. “We deeply mourn the loss of our friend and I am sure the House would join me in conveying our condolences to the bereaved family,” she said. In the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Hamid Ansari said in Gujral’s death “the country has lost a veteran freedom fighter, a great statesman, an able administrator, an erudite scholar and a distinguished parliamentarian”. Born in a family of freedom fighters, Gujral participated in the freedom struggle and was imprisoned during the Quit India movement, Ansari said in his obituary reference. Both the Houses observed silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul before being adjourned for the day. Later in the day, an all-religion prayer was organised at the residence of Gujral where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his cabinet colleagues were present. From the BJP, Arun Jaitley attended the prayer meeting and so did Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
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Councillor who slapped contractor arrested, gets bail
Mumbai, December 3 The police said Nikam called the contractor, D V Patil (65), and others and questioned them about the tardy pace of work. Not satisfied by the replies, Nikam slapped Patil repeatedly. The incident was filmed by some TV journalists and it was telecast on Sunday night. Following public protests, the Kalyan police arrested Nikam. He was released on bail later today. Defiant Nikam, however, tried to justify his act. “When people don’t understand decent language, this is the only way left,” he said. Meanwhile, the MNS has condemned the behaviour of Nikam. Party leader Akhilesh Chaubey said party would take action against
Nikam.
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IAF to shell out Rs 88 cr more for IL-76 overhaul
Chandigarh, December 3 Out of the 17 IL-76 aircraft procured by the IAF, nine remained grounded between December 2007 and September 2009. Besides, the IAF had to shell out an additional Rs 88 crore as the contract had to be renegotiated, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has pointed out in its latest report. The IAF had inducted these aircraft between 1985 and 1989, with a TTL of 20 years. In November 2005, the MoD concluded a $28 million (Rs 128 crore) contract with a Russian firm for the overhaul and life extension of six IL-76. In April 2007, MoD negotiated a $33 million (Rs 139 crore) contract for the overhaul and life extension of another nine aircraft. The price was valid till December 2007. In the meantime, the MoD received two representations from other firms alleging irregularities in the contract process. The MoD disposed off the matter in March 2008, by which time the validity of the contract had expired. A fresh limited tendering process had to be initiated and though it was again the same Russian firm that bagged the contract, the new price as quoted as $41.77 million. The CAG observed that the price difference worked out to about Rs 57 crore. In addition, the IAF had to spend another Rs 30 crore to procure minimum essential spares to make the grounded aircraft fly worthy so that these could be positioned at the overhaul facilities overseas.
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Gogoi comment on influx kicks up row
Guwahati, December 3 Sensing that he has made a faux pas, Tarun Gogoi today issued a clarification stating that he had never made a statement that there was not a single Bangladeshi in the state. Gogoi said: “My statement has been misinterpreted. I have never denied the presence of illegal immigrants in the state. If that would have been the case, my government would not have brought out the White Paper on Foreigners’ Issue. The White Paper is a testimony to the fact that our government is committed towards the influx issue.” The Chief Minister further said his government has taken a slew of initiatives to strengthen the machinery for detection and deportation by setting up river police stations and river police outposts to prevent infiltration through riverine routes, increasing the number of foreigners’ tribunals, installing floodlights, construction of barbed wire fencing and border roads, setting up detention centres, updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) among others. Gogoi said he even took up the issue of influx with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during his visit to Dhaka with the Prime Minister of India in September, 2011. The Chief Minister said he also raised the influx issue with the 12-member all-party delegation of MPs of from Bangladesh who met him at his official residence late Sunday yesterday.
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CVC probe finds loopholes in empanelment of advocates
New Delhi, December 3 The alleged irregularities were found in the Judicial Section under the Department of Legal Affairs in the Ministry of Law and Justice which is responsible for the appointment of law officers to assist it in legal matters. "Examination of allocation of cases to the panel counsels under Panel A for the period September 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010 showed that four out of 167 panel counsels got 27 per cent share of the total number of cases as each one of them got more than 500 cases. "On the whole, 74 per cent share of the total number of cases during the period went to 12 per cent of the panel counsels. On the other hand, 48 per cent of the panel counsels did not get any case during the period and 20 per cent of them were given insignificant quantity of work i.e. between 1 and 10 cases each during the year," according to the investigation which began last year. The stakes were higher in the allocation of work for Panel A counsels as the remuneration was higher. For regular appearance, a Panel A counsel was paid Rs 4,500 per case per day and Rs 3,000 per case per day for other litigation matters, it said. According to the norms, advocates are empanelled as panel counsels to assist the law officers in dealing with the litigations on behalf of the Central government. The empanelment of advocates is done in three categories -- Panel-A, Panel-B and Panel-C--as per their seniority and experience. The probe also found that the very categorisation of panel counsels as specialised in revenue and non-revenue cases was not supported by a due process of scrutiny of experience or profile of the panel counsels. "Examination by the CVC team showed that the empanelment of advocates as panel counsels by the judicial section of the Department of Legal Affairs was based largely on recommendations. "Recommendations from very important persons viz Solicitors or Additional Solicitors General of India, ministers, Members of Parliament and other prominent persons were received by the Minister of Law and Justice and sometimes by the Secretary of the Department," it said in its report which has yet not reached its logical conclusion. The probe, done on the basis of files pertaining empanelment of panel counsels conducted by the Judicial Wing for 2009 and 2010 among other methods, was done by a team of senior CVC officials apparently on the basis of complaints of alleged corruption received by the probity watchdog. The CVC team also observed that there was no system to monitor a litigation from its start to conclusion.
— PTI
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Share Cauvery water with TN gracefully: SC tells K’taka
New Delhi, December 3 Citing apex court orders passed in 1991 and 1995, which were treated as distress years for Tamil Nadu, the Bench wanted to know how Karnataka would react if the SC directed the state to release 35-30 TMC (one thousand million cubic) feet of water. Nariman contended that the present situation in Tamil Nadu could not be compared to what was in the 1990s as a lot of developments had taken place since then. An expert committee and a high-level monitoring committee were in place to take decisions on the issue, he argued. Karnataka had only 86.41 TMC of water in its reservoirs at present and taking into account the 23 TMC of water expected to be received in the next couple of months, the state would have a total of 109.41 TMC, which was just sufficient to meet the state’s requirement of 110 TMC, he contended, explaining his client’s inability to release any water for Tamil Nadu. On the other hand, Tamil Nadu would receive a lot
of water in the Cauvery delta region during the current northeast monsoon, covering the present deficit, he said. The northeast monsoon did not bring any rain to Karnataka, he said. The arguments would continue tomorrow. A meeting held between Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and her Karnataka counterpart Jagdish Shetter last week at the instance of the SC had failed to resolve the dispute.
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Extortion Case New Delhi, December 3 Rajinder Singh, Metropolitan Magistrate, Saket District Court, in his order said: “Investigation is in the preliminary stage. It was earlier dismissed by the Duty Magistrate…. No fresh ground has arisen since then…. Hence in my considered opinion, it has been dismissed.” The two — Sudhir Chaudhary, editor of Zee News, and Samir Ahluwalia, editor of Zee Business News — were arrested on November 27. The following day, Duty Magistrate Gomti Manocha remanded them in police custody for two days, besides dismissing their bail plea. On Friday, the two were remanded in judicial custody for 14 days and the hearing of their second bail plea was adjourned till Saturday. But as the investigation officer did not file his reply then, the matter was adjourned for today. Additional public prosecutor Rajiv Mohan today told the court that Chaudhary and Ahluwalia committed an offence by allegedly distorting a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report about coal block allocation. The two had allegedly telecast concocted facts about Jindal’s company, Jindal Steel and Power Limited, which was indicted in the report. On October 2, the Crime Branch had registered an FIR on Jindal Steel and Power Ltd director Rajiv Bhadoria’s complaint. His lawyer Ramesh Gupta today informed the court that Bhadoria had received threat calls, after the two men were arrested, seeking withdrawal of the case. The defence counsel asked Gupta if he was suggesting that Chaudhary and Ahluwalia were responsible for the calls. Gupta replied: “We are not saying that the calls were made by the accused.” The Crime Branch has received a complaint regarding the threat calls and is probing the matter.
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Fresh plea filed in Taj Corridor case
Lucknow, December 3 Strangely, the petition challenging the then Governor’s refusal to grant permission to start the trial against the then CM Mayawati and her colleague came hours after she voiced her reservation over FDI in retail in Delhi, Filed by a local lawyer Sachindra Pratap Singh, the petition has been listed for hearing on December 5. On November 5, the Allahabad High Court had dismissed the petition against Mayawati in the Taj Corridor case. Now within a month, the dreaded ghost of the controversial Taj Corridor case has returned to haunt the BSP supremo once again. The petitioner said the pronouncement of Governor Rajeswar to give a clean chit to the BSP leaders had not been challenged and the High Court order of November 5 was based on the earlier petitions. The petitioner pointed out that Mulayam Singh Yadav as CM in 2007 had sent the file seeking permission to prosecute Mayawati to the then Governor. However, after Mayawati became the CM, Governor Rajeswar sought the opinion of the additional solicitor general and then denied permission. — TNS
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Namdhari’s PSO held
New Delhi, December 3 “During investigations, it emerged that Sachin Tyagi had unauthorisedly arrived in Delhi along with Sukhdev Singh Namdhari. He used his official weapon unofficially and fired towards Hardeep Chadha. Sukhdev Singh Namdhari himself was in possession of 0.30 bore pistol, but did not possess valid licence for bringing the weapon to Delhi,” said SBS Tyagi, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch. Sachin had been attached with Namdhari as his PSO since 31 January, he added. The PSO had allegedly made false statements in front of investigators and helped Namdhari in destroying evidence.
— TNS
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We may be poor but are not beggars: Mamata
“Since the time we raised our voices against the FDI and price hike of fertilisers, petrol and diesel, the Central government has been trying to financially deprive the state,” Banerjee said at a rally here. “The Centre wants us to die of hunger. But as long as we are in power in the state, we will not let that happen. We might be poor, but we are not beggars. We will not buckle under pressure,” Banerjee said. Claiming that her government had done a lot of development work in spite of financial crises, Banerjee said she was committed to helping farmers and the economically weaker sections of the society. — IANS
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ULFA men abduct 2
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Ahmedabad, December 3
Lauding Modi for introducing schemes for tribals and fishermen, Advani had said on Sunday, “Prices have risen during the Congress regime while the Union government is facing corruption charges. Scam after scam is being unravelled.” Advani's praise of Modi comes days after Swaraj and BJP leader Gopinath Munde described him ‘fit’ for the prime minister's post.
New Delhi, December 3
New Delhi, December 3
New Delhi, December 3
Purulia, December 3
