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Gujarat poll: Cong promises 'real' development, safety
Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit (R) and Gujarat Congress chief Arjun Modhwadia release the party manifesto for Assembly elections in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. — PTI
SP stalls Rajya Sabha over quota Bill
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Kejriwal targets Modi
Police seeks custody of Zee editors
Royal carriage fetches Rs 69 lakh in UK auction
Let CBI probe MGNREGA lapses in Maya regime: Jairam
Committed to protecting minorities: Pak
FDI: McDonald’s rebuts Sushma’s charge
Rs 4-lakh bounty on IM terrorist’s head
SC doubts PIL seeking CAG audit of
IB, RAW
New Indo-Pak visa regime on December 11
27 US lawmakers urge Hillary to continue Modi visa denial
Indian fishing boats seized by Pak pose security threat: Navy
Gill: Honour film director Gurvinder
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Gujarat poll: Cong promises 'real' development, safety
Ahmedabad, December 4 The release of Congress poll manifesto comes close on the heels of Modi's release of the BJP election manifesto. The Congress manifesto promises a slew of measures which, it said, would ensure development of the common people and not merely a few industrialists. It promises to provide plots of 100 sq yd and houses at cheaper rates to rural as well as urban women, respectively, under an "own your own house scheme". The manifesto has promised free tablets to class 10 and class 12 students, besides free laptops to all college students. "The manner in which the BJP government is carrying it out, can this be called economic development? The result of such an ill-fated economic policy has proved disastrous for the people of Gujarat," Gujarat Congress president Arjun Modhwadia said while releasing the party manifesto. "The BJP has used vulgar propaganda, communalism and blatant lies to hide its failures, but we pledge today that we will bring real development along with the safety and security of the people," he said. The Congress has termed its 16-point poll manifesto as "16 pledges to the people of the state". "Out of all these pledges included in the manifesto, there is not a single one which we cannot fulfil," said Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who was specially invited here. The manifesto also promises financial discipline in the state administration, reduction in value added tax (VAT) on petroleum products, guaranteed employment to educated unemployed along with skill-based training, 16 hours of uninterrupted electricity supply to farmers, benefits of the Sixth Pay Commission to all state government employees, subsidised nutritionally rich food for the needy, free life-saving medicines and drugs, besides free treatment for cancer as well as kidney and heart diseases. — PTI
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SP stalls Rajya Sabha over quota Bill
New Delhi, December 4 Issues like alleged scam in a gas exploration venture in poll-bound Gujarat and the arrest of innocent Muslims in false terror cases across the country also led to noisy scenes in the House, which saw two adjournments during pre-lunch sitting. The Upper House was adjourned for the day at 2 pm. As soon as the House met for the day, SP members were on their feet, demanding release of an “innocent” Muslim youth arrested on false terror charges across the country, stalling the Question Hour. Chairman Hamid Ansari requested the SP members to raise the issue after the Question Hour but they were unrelenting and started raising slogans. As Ansari did not permit them to raise the matter, they rushed into the Well of the House, forcing adjournment till noon. When the House reassembled, members from the SP again trooped into the Well, raising slogans against quota in promotion for SC/STs in government jobs. SP MPs, led by Naresh Agrawal, raised slogans against the Bill, forcing adjournment till 2 pm. The government had listed the Bill in this regard in the Lok Sabha today in an apparent bid to please the BSP ahead of the crucial discussion on the FDI under a rule that entails voting. The BSP has 21 members in the Lower House. Some Congress members were also involved in the uproar, as they waved a news magazine and copies of the report alleging irregularities in a gas deal by the Narendra Modi government in Gujarat. BJP members were also on their feet protesting the waving of the report by Congress members.
The din * SP members oppose arrest of 'innocent' Muslim youth on false terror charges; quota in govt jobs *
Congress members allege irregularities in gas deal by Modi government in Gujarat; BJP members retaliate *
Rajya Sabha adjourned twice before final adjournment at 2 pm
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Kejriwal targets Modi
New Delhi, December 4 The Aam Aadmi Party convener alleged that while Modi and the Congress were busy slamming each other publicly, they were “happy doing business transactions with each other and the same set of people”. Kejriwal’s allegations are based on documents provided by suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, Modi’s bête noire and whose wife Shweta is now the Congress candidate against Modi from the Maninagar constituency in Ahmedabad. At the core of Kejriwal’s allegations were three issues —“illegal” gift of 10 per cent stake in the GSPC oil fields worth Rs 10,000 crore each to Geo Global and Jubilant Enpro Pvt Ltd; Modi’s “special love” for the Adani Group; and his dole of prime private land to BJP MPs and MLAs and later also to Congress lawmakers and some High Court judges to buy peace with them.
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Police seeks custody of Zee editors
New Delhi, December 4 The police application was submitted at the court of Metropolitan Magistrate, Neha, in Saket. “We submitted the application, because we want to confront the two arrested persons, Sudhir Chaudhary and Samir Ahluwalia, with Chandra on Saturday,” said police sources.
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Royal carriage fetches Rs 69 lakh in UK auction
Bangalore, December 4 The buyer, who lives outside UK, paid 78,400 pounds (approximately Rs 69 lakh) for the horse-drawn state carriage that was reportedly used for transporting European royalty as well, including Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII). The auction house had put the carriage in the price band of 70,000 to 1 lakh pounds. Surrey-based auction house Historics and Brooklands said 66 of the 101 cars put up for sale during the auction were purchased by collectors at the auction held at Weybridge in Surrey on November 24.
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Let CBI probe MGNREGA lapses in Maya regime: Jairam
Lucknow, December 4 Addressing mediapersons at the UPCC headquarters here today, the minister said he would ask Yadav not to protect the guilty in these districts even if they happened to be elected representatives. Sharing a historic development to bring about transparency in the Central livelihood programme, the minister said for the first time, districts with maximum spending under MGNREGA in each state had been asked to get a certification of accounts from an independent chartered accountant. In Uttar Pradesh, Hardoi has outperformed other districts under MGNREGA and has been asked to audit its account. The CAG is undertaking an audit of performance of the MNREGA. The first such report will be presented before Parliament in 2013. Addressing a gathering during the National Consultation on Women and MGNREGA, organised by Gender at Work and the UN Women, the minister expressed dismay at the poor participation of women in the state. While the national average for women’s share in the scheme is 55 per cent, it remains 18-20 per cent in Uttar Pradesh, the poorest level of participation anywhere in the country barring Jammu and Kashmir. Assuring to take up the 16 recommendations emerging from the day-long deliberation for increasing participation of women in the scheme, Ramesh said he had instructed the state government to increase participation in the state to 33 per cent by March 2013. Ramesh said he would ask all state governments to reserve 50 per cent jobs for mates (work supervisors) for women. He said he had written to all chief ministers to facilitate opening of individual post office or bank accounts for women. The minister supported the recommendation for developing gender, age and disability friendly SOR (schedule of rate).
Under focus
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Committed to protecting minorities: Pak
New Delhi, December 4 The Pakistan government has taken several important steps to promote inter-faith harmony as well as respect for religious beliefs, culture and traditions of the minorities, Pakistan High Commissioner Salman Bashir told a delegation of BJP leaders which met him here to protest against the recent demolition of a Hindu temple. The BJP delegation, which included party general secretary J P Nadda, spokesman Balbir Punj and Vijay Jolly, convener of the Overseas Convener of the party’s foreign affairs cell, also presented a memorandum to the Pakistani envoy. In the memorandum, the party drew attention towards the reported demolition of a 200-year-old Hindu temple at Bhimpura locality of Karachi, rendering some 40 Hindus homeless. “This is violation of fundamental rights of the Hindus in Pakistan to live and worship without fear.” The BJP delegation also expressed concern over the plight of Hindus, who constitute about 1.5 per cent of Pakistan’s population, in the neighbouring country. “But the Pakistan state has been unable to protest their religious rights. Hindus are forced to convert.
And Christians complain of Pak blasphemy laws that carry death penalty for anyone found guilty of defaming Islam.” It also expressed deep anguish and dismay over the repeated reports of forced conversions of Hindu girls in Pakistan. Hindus, the party alleged, were discriminated against when it came to government jobs or schools.
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FDI: McDonald’s rebuts Sushma’s charge
New Delhi, December 4 The company said in a statement that all ingredients used in producing McDonald's food items, including fries, were sourced locally and the company had been working closely with Indian farmers. "Before setting up its business in India, the company had made a commitment to the government on local sourcing of entire raw material. We confidently and proudly state that ingredients used in our products are sourced locally that includes the French fries," McDonald's India (North and East) Managing Director Vikram Bakshi said. "We import only on rare occasions when local supplies run out," he added. While demolishing government's arguments on FDI, Sushma Swaraj had said that foreign food majors like McDonald's and Pepsi did not procure raw material from Indian farmers.
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Rs 4-lakh bounty on IM terrorist’s head
New Delhi, December 4 Qureshi is accused of being originally a commander of the banned terror outfit Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), who later with the help of other terrorists launched the Indian Mujahedeen. He is also allegedly involved in various terror-related cases being probed by Delhi, Gujarat and Maharashtra police forces. Qureshi is allegedly wanted by the NIA in a case which was initially registered by the Kerala Police in Kottayam in 2008 and later in 2010 transferred to the agency for further investigation which registered an FIR. It was alleged in the FIR that members of the banned organisation SIMI conducted training camp at Vagamon in Kottayam district, Kerala, and underwent a course in physical training, arms training including firing practice, rope climbing, rock climbing, motorbike racing and manufacture of petrol bombs. It was alleged they also made speeches about jihad in India and incited the participants to wage war against the country. A chargesheet has been filed against 30 accused persons under different sections of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act before the Special Court, NIA, Ernakulam in January this year. Fortyone-year-old Qureshi hails from Maharashtra. A Red Corner notice has also been issued against Qureshi by Interpol, besides an arrest warrant by a court in Gujarat for his alleged involvement in Ahmedabad blasts case of 2008. — PTI
SIMI ‘commander’
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SC doubts PIL seeking CAG audit of IB, RAW
New Delhi, December 4 A three-member Bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir asked counsel Prashant Bhushan to provide evidence that the petitioner, the Centre for PIL (CPIL), had authorised him to file the PIL in this connection. The Bench also asked Bhushan to file within a week document showing that the CPIL had taken the decision to file the PIL following proper procedure. Otherwise, the PIL would be treated as a petition filed personally by Bhushan, it said. Bhushan contended the Centre was spending about Rs 10,000 crore of tax payers’ money every year on the IB, RAW and the NTRO. The financial aspects of such intelligence units in the UK and the US were being checked by retired judges, but there was no mechanism in India to have these accounts audited, he said.
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New Indo-Pak visa regime on December 11
New Delhi, December 4 Talking to mediapersons after addressing a joint-press conference with his Bangladesh counterpart Dr Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir, Shinde said the visa regime with Pakistan will be finalised during the forthcoming visit of Malik. The Pakistani minister will also be visiting the Taj Mahal on December 12 that is his birthday. “We hope he comes with his family,” said Shinde when asked if Malik would be coming with his wife. An invite has been sent through the diplomatic channel. The visa agreement was signed by former Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna and Malik in Islamabad on September 8 but is yet to be operationalised. This will ease restrictions on issuing visas to traders, elderly people, tourists, pilgrims, members of civil society and children. Crucially, the earlier indefinite time taken to issue a visa has been done away with. The two missions have now been given 45-day window to decide on an application. While visas will continue to be city-specific, its reach has been extended from three to five cities in one visit. Those visiting Pakistan can now enter and exit the country from different checkposts and change the mode of travel as against the existing rule that the port of entry and exit had to be the same and mode of transport could not be changed. The new Indo-Pak visa pact replaces a 38-year-old visa agreement, paving the way for time-bound visa approval and greater people-to-people contact and trade. Earlier, Malik was slated to come on November 22-23 but the visit was put off as the Ministry of Home Affairs had planned to execute Mohammed Ajmal Kasab on November 21. Malik had indicated the dates of his visit to India when he met Shinde as the two met in Rome on the sidelines of the Interpol General Assembly.
Delhi, Dhaka to ink extradition treaty in Jan
India and Bangladesh on Tuesday announced that an extradition treaty will be signed in January when Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde visits Dhaka. Visiting Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir said Anup Chetia’s plea for asylum is in the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. Once the legal process is done, a decision will be taken on his extradition. Chetia, a top ideologue of the ULFA, is lodged in prison in the neighbouring country.
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27 US lawmakers urge Hillary to continue Modi visa denial
Washington, December 4 “As Mr Modi continues to pursue a potential run for higher office, we believe a change in policy to his request for a visa will only embolden Modi and his government’s efforts to obstruct further investigations and the tandem prosecution that have still to be finished to bring the perpetrators to justice,” as many as 27 members of the US House of Representatives wrote in a letter to Hillary. Dated November 29, the letter addressed to Clinton was released to the press yesterday, by Republican Congressman Joe Pitts and Frank Wolf on the eve of their joint press conference at the Capitol Hill with family members of the victims of the 2002 Gujarat riots. “India is a thriving democracy, and one that is aspiring to a high standard of leadership and progress. It is disturbing that certain parties in India are considering elevating Modi, despite his tie to these attacks. Allowing him to enter the United States will only serve to abdicate his responsibility for the 2002 human rights abuses,” the Congressmen said. Observing that the Bush Administration “rightly denied” Modi a visa to enter the United States, the lawmakers said as he is currently seeking support for a possible bid for prime ministership, including meetings with leaders of foreign nations, “we expect” that he may again request entry into the US. — PTI
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Indian fishing boats seized by Pak pose security threat: Navy
Mumbai, December 4 “The hundreds of fishing boats being seized by our neighbouring country are a potential threat to our coastal security,” Vice-Admiral SK Sinha, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, told reporters at a function to mark Navy Day on Monday. According to Sinha, the Pakistani government repatriates Indian fishermen who are caught straying into its waters but their fishing boats and trawlers are not returned. The attackers touched down on Mumbai’s shores after hijacking an Indian fishing boat named Kuber.. In his interaction with reporters, Sinha felt that the Indian fishing boats in the possession of the Pakistani authorities could be used for infiltrating into India. Since these boats had Indian identification numbers, they could pass right under the eyes of agencies like the Coast Guard and the Navy and enter Indian territory, Sinha felt. Incidentally, only last week, an organisation of fishermen from Gujarat had warned that as many as 700 fishing boats and trawlers seized from Indian fishermen are in Pakistan’s hands. Many of these boats have been auctioned off by the Pakistani agencies and thus they could have passed into the hands of terror outfits, the fishermen’s association has warned.
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Gill: Honour film director Gurvinder New Delhi, December 4 In a letter to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, the former sports Minister suggested that the state government should present the young director with a cash purse of Rs 1 crore for having done ho has done Punjab proud. Dr Gill said it was for the first time that a Sikh director has won international honour in film making. He said since the government has a policy of honouring sports persons on winning international titles and medals, it was time the State also honour those in other fields.
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Terming Chief Minister Narendra Modi's claims of impressive development as "blatant lies" and "misleading", the Congress today released its poll manifesto promising "real development along with safety" if it is voted to power in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal today targeted Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi over his “preference” for the Adani Group in the state and business relations with the Congress. The Congress had yesterday demanded answers from Modi for gifting away 10 per cent stake worth crores of rupees from the Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation’s (GSPC) gas exploration project in the Krishna Godavari (KG) basin to a foreign company, GeoGlobal Resourcing, for a song.
Pakistan today asserted that it was committed to protecting and promoting the fundamental human rights of all the minorities, including the Hindus.
The Pakistan government has taken several important steps to promote inter-faith harmony as well as respect for religious beliefs, culture and traditions of the minorities, Pakistan High Commissioner Salman Bashir told a delegation of BJP leaders which met him here to protest against the recent demolition of a Hindu temple.
Washington, December 4
