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Gujarat votes 2012
Electorate voted like never before
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Nurse Jacintha laid to rest
Tagore’s Nobel prize centenary
‘India among top land-grabbing nations’
Passage of quota Bill in LS a tall order for UPA
India to add 152 outposts on Nepal, Bhutan borders
Samjhauta case: Key suspect held
20 days after arrest, Zee editors get bail
26/11 trial: Indian team to visit Pak
Akhilesh extends support to anti-quota stir
5 of family found dead
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Phase-II: 69% turnout, 4 hurt in firing
Ahmedabad, December 17
Like the first phase on December 13, when record 70.75 per cent voters exercised their franchise, the final phase of polling for 95 of the 182 seats in the state too saw a huge voter turnout to decide the electoral fate of 822 candidates, including Modi and former chief minister Shankar Singh Vaghela. Controversial former minister of state for home Amit Shah, accused in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Tulsiram Prajapati encounter cases, Health Minister Jaynarayan Vyas and Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel are among those in the fray. While Modi, seeking a third straight win from Maninagar, is crossing swords with suspended IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt’s wife Shweta, slain BJP leader Haren Pandya’s wife Jagruti is trying her luck from Ellis Bridge seat on Gujarat Parivartan Party ticket. The BJP has fielded candidates in all 95 constituencies, while the Congress is contesting 92 seats. The GPP of former chief minister Keshubhai Patel, who broke away from the BJP months ahead of the elections, and the BSP are contesting 84 seats each. Also, 284 Independents are in the fray. The constituencies where polling was held included 17 in Ahmedabad city, 40 in five districts (Vadodara, Dahod, Panchmahal, Kheda and Anand) of central Gujarat, 32 in five districts (Patan, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Gandhinagar and Banaskantha) of north Gujarat and six in Kutch district. “These elections will be historic in India as these have been contested on issues of good governance and development,” Modi said after casting his vote. On plans to shift to Delhi if voted to power, Modi said: “I am committed to my six crore Gujaratis... I live for them and I personally believe whatever I am doing in Gujarat is a service to the nation, because Gujarat is an integral part of India.” — PTI
Congress plaint against Modi
The Congress has filed a complaint against Modi for allegedly violating the model code of conduct by “campaigning” on the polling day. “After coming out of the polling booth, the Chief Minister addressed a crowd outside and flashed the ‘V’ sign, appealing to the voters to make the BJP candidate victorious,” Congress’s legal cell member Vijay Kanara alleged.
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Electorate voted like never before
Ahmedabad, December 17 Besides using FM radio, television and newspapers to remind the voters of their duty, the ECI for the first time sent home voters’ slip carrying information about polling booths, a task normally left to the political parties and their agents to perform. This made the task of the voters easy, particularly after the delimitation of the constituencies, which brought about changes in the composition and character of many seats. Electorate’s enthusiasm also contributed to a high turnout. Such high percentage is usually witnessed in case of a strong anti-incumbency factor or a pro-Opposition wave. The turnout even at the three polling booths where a re-poll was announced following EVM glitches in the first phase on December 13 was estimated at over 75 to 80 per cent. Despite dissatisfaction among people over the performances of both BJP and Congress representatives, the anti-incumbency factor does not seem to have affected the fortunes of Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Both parties had re-nominated most of their sitting members for these elections. The high-voltage campaign and the expected three-cornered contest, with the Gujarat Parivartan Party floated by former chief minister Keshubhai Patel also throwing its hat into the ring, may have also led to a high voter turnout. Since ousted from power in 1995, the Congress for the first time launched a well thought-out plan for campaigning in these elections. The party kept it a low-key affair in the beginning and raised the tempo towards the end, bringing in its top national leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi, for campaigning. To counter the Congress efforts, Modi went on a whirlwind tour of the state, addressing over 280 elections meetings. Modi’s possibility of leading the NDA in the next parliamentary elections could have also prompted pro-Modi elements to ensure a high turnout and strengthen his prospects at the Centre. While the high turnout in the Saurashtra region is being attributed to the presence of the GPP, which helped mobilise the “Patel” voter, in other regions, conscious efforts were made to nullify the impact of the GPP against the prospects of the BJP.
Contributing factors
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Nurse Jacintha laid to rest
Bangalore, December 17 Father William Memezes, spokesman of the Mangalore diocese, said that Jacintha had written in one of her three suicide notes that her body should be buried at Shirva, her husband’s village. In deference to her last wish, the body was buried at the cemetery at Shirva, a village known for its splendid flower crop. While Benedict, Jacintha’s accountant husband, belongs to Shirva, she hailed from Mangalore. The funeral cortege of the 46-year-old UK-based nurse, who committed suicide on December 7 after being misled by two Australian radio jockeys fishing for information regarding Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton’s pregnancy, had arrived at the church from her husband’s residence after a short prayer service by the parish priest there. Bishop of Udupi diocese, Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, led the Mass at the church. The media was asked to keep away from the proceedings inside the church. Former Union minister Janardhan Poojary, Karnataka Muzrai Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary, BJP Udupi district president Udaykumar Shetty, local MLA Lalaji Mendon were present at the church to pay their last respects. The body, which arrived at Mangalore from the UK yesterday, was kept overnight at the mortuary of Manipal hospital and handed over to the family at 11.30 am today. Later, Benedict Barboza thanked the media and the people on behalf of children Junal and Lisha for supporting the family in their time of grief.
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Tagore’s
Nobel prize centenary Subhrangshu Gupta/TNS
Kolkata, December 17 As the original prize medal has not yet been located, the university authorities are planning to observe the celebrations with a replica — much to the chagrin of Tagore lovers, scholars and the ashram inmates. Visva Bharati was not keen on organising any celebrations with a replica, but had to do so on the request of a group of Tagore’s admirers from China. Won & lost
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‘India among top land-grabbing nations’
New Delhi, December 17 The Right and Resources Initiative (RRI), a US-based organisation, and the Society for Promotion of Wastelands Development (SPWD), a non-government organisation, have blamed the Indian government agencies and investors for the growing spate of violent clashes in the forest and tribal areas. Top global experts in an international conference on land and forest rights, said India has joined the ranks of China, South Korea and Saudi Arabia in snatching stretches of prime livelihood resources to grow crops and extract commodities for domestic and global markets. Providing insight into the findings, the experts said in the coming 15 to 20 years, 61,652.544 sq km of land will be devoted to major developmental and preservation projects, for which the government will acquire 39,687.765 sq km of additional land. Currently, the government has allocated 21,964.779 sq km for such projects. According to the research conducted by the RRI and the SPWD revealed that the nation can expect rising civil unrest in response to major projects planned for the next 15 years. “Despite having legislations that could address the root cause of the conflicts, all states and all tribal areas in the country are embroiled in these land disputes,” said Arvind Khare, a global expert on land rights. “The study suggests that Indian investors have been disrespectful of people’s rights as the Chinese,” said Shankar Gopalkrishna, one the researchers from the organisation. “What makes India different is that it calls itself a democracy that guarantees human rights. In becoming part of the global land grab, they are acting against their values,” said Khare.
Facing flak
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Passage of quota Bill in LS a tall order for UPA
New Delhi, December 17 Although they managed to hammer out a compromise in the Rajya Sabha after hectic behind-the-scenes parleys, the task of the government's floor managers is not over yet as it has to do a fine balancing act between arch rivals, the SP and the Bahujan Samaj Party
(BSP), which extend crucial outside support to the ruling combine. While the SP is vehemently opposed to this Bill, the feisty BSP chief Mayawati has been pushing for it, literally bulldozing the government into ensuring its expeditious passage. Both the SP and the BSP have taken positions on the Bill with an eye on their respective constituencies in Uttar Pradesh. While the BSP is seeking to consolidate her Dalit support base by pressuring the government into passing the Bill, the SP is also sending out a message to its OBC and minority constituency by demanding the extension of the quota provision Bill to these categories. As compared to the Rajya
Sabha, where the SP has only nine members, the party has 22 MPs in the Lok Sabha who are quite capable of disrupting proceedings. But they will have to contend with an equally vociferous and tenacious 21-member BSP contingent. If the BSP charge in the Rajya Sabha was led by its leader
Mayawati, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav will lead his party's protests in the Lok
Sabha. In addition, the Shiv Sena has also promised to oppose the Bill. The legislation cannot be passed unless the House is in order as it is a constitutional amendment Bill, requiring a vote by 50 per cent of the members and two-thirds of those present and voting. Unless the government is able to broker a deal with the SP, as it did in the Rajya
Sabha, this Bill may end up like the controversial Women's Reservation Bill, which was passed in the Upper House but is still pending in the Lok Sabha for want of a consensus. UPA sources admitted that they will have tough time passing the Bill in the Lok Sabha as the numbers involved are much larger. The Lok Sabha had to be adjourned without transacting any business because of the repeated disruptions, which were led by the SP chief.
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India to add 152 outposts on Nepal, Bhutan borders
New Delhi, December 17 Terrorists infiltrating into India from Nepal is another problem that has forced India to increase its border outposts along the two borders. At the force’s annual press conference held today, Arun Chaudhary also said that one of its prime focus would be gathering and sharing of intelligence with other security agencies. The force has implemented new technology such as IP-based (web) surveillance cameras installed at the porous and visa-free Indo-Nepal border, said Chaudhary. This system monitors the movement of men and material across the border and also helps identify wanted persons. The force has also introduced GPS systems to manage and monitor their patrols along the border. It has a water wing consisting of speed boats
used for patrolling large water bodies, where cross-border movement takes place. The SSB water-wing already has 50 to 60 speed boats at West Champaran in Bihar, according to sources. There are 450 border outposts (BOPs) along the 1,751 km-long Indo-Nepal border and 132 BOPs on 699 km-long Indo-Bhutan border. Chaudhary said that the force intended to add 152 BOPs at both the borders, bringing the total to 734. He said, “The strengthening of the BOPs is driven by what is happening at the Nepal border. These are internal issues such as Maoists and we are keeping a tab on them. People, especially terrorists from the Kashmir region, are entering India via Nepal.”
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Samjhauta case: Key suspect held
New Delhi/ Panchkula, December 17 He was arrested from Chitrakoot along the Madhya Pradesh-Uttar Pradesh border following intelligence input. He was also suspected to be involved in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case, sources said. Dhan Singh was known as "Swamiji" in Chitrakoot. The NIA had on December 15 arrested Rajender Chaudhary (34) from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh for his alleged involvement in carrying out the blast in the Pakistan-bound train. Rajender was today produced in a Panchkula court that remanded him in police custody for 12 days. While Rajender was being brought to the district courts amid tight security, he said, "Yes I have planted the bomb because the cruelty of the people of other religion was on the rise." However, when he returned from the courtroom, he said whatever he said earlier was out of pressure and that he had done nothing. The court allowed Rajender's father and brother to meet him. "Five minutes were given to the kin of Rajender to meet him," defence counsel said. A plea to allow an advocate to remain present with Rajender throughout the investigation was, however, rejected by the court. Brilliant, educationally
Rajender Chaudhary outside a Panchkula court on Monday. A Tribune photograph |
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20 days after arrest, Zee editors get bail
New Delhi, December 17 Additional Sessions Judge Raj Rani Mittra granted bail to the two — Sudhir Chaudhary, editor of Zee News, and Samir Ahluwalia, editor of Zee Business News — saying: "Keeping in view the totality of circumstances, the nature of offence and the antecedents of accused, they (editors) be admitted on bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000 each with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the metropolitan magistrate." The counsels for the two editors told the court that the two would join the investigation after being granted bail. They emphasised that there was no likelihood that they would tamper with the evidence or influence the witnesses. The prosecution, however, opposed their bail plea saying investigation had to be carried out to unearth the conspiracy.
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26/11 trial: Indian team to visit Pak
Islamabad, December 17 Pakistani officials said they had received a request from India for the visit by the delegation of legal experts on Wednesday to discuss the terms of This will be the second judicial commission formed by Pakistan to investigate and gather evidence on the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which were blamed on the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. Seven Pakistani suspects, including LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, have been arrested and put on trial on charges of planning, financing and facilitating the attacks. Their trial has been stalled for over a year due to a variety of technical reasons, including the use of evidence provided by India in a Pakistani court.
— PTI
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Akhilesh extends support to anti-quota stir
Lucknow, December 17 Speaking at a function in Bulandshahr, the CM toed the official party line on the issue by saying that the employees opposing reservation in promotion were waging a "just battle for their rights in which they had popular support". Emboldened by the CM's implicit support to their demand, the protesters under the banner of 'Sarvjan Hitay Sanrakshan Samiti' attacked the Congress and the BJP party offices today. They did not even spare BSP national president Mayawati's residence. Raising slogans against Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the protesters pulled down posters and banners of Sonia Gandhi put up at the party's office. They also moved to the official residence of Mayawati raising slogans against the party for its support to the Bill. Angry protesters raised slogans against the BJP in front of their office opposite the Vidhan
Sabha.
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Bangalore, December 17
“An estimated 68 to 69 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the second phase of polling,” a source in the state election office said.
Educationally, Rajender has been a topper throughout his life. He claimed he recently cracked the preliminary examination of the MP Civil Services. He scored 95 per cent marks in his Class XII examination. Later he did BCom from Ujjain University. "He belongs to a well-off family. His father is an agriculturist," said a source in the NIA.
