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Battle of ballot in 5 states
Election office to keep eye on transactions, SMSes, spending
Rahul replies to EC, but BJP not impressed
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi at an election rally in Rajnandgaon district, Chhattisgarh, on Friday. — PTI |
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Denied ticket, two BJP leaders resign
PM’s 7 rules of engagement with China Manmohan may skip CHOGM Experts divided on Gauhati HC verdict
UP revokes NSA against two BJP legislators
ISRO could have done homework, says PM’s Advisory Council chief
Militants kill 2 BSF men on B’desh border
Pakistan mole in Indian agencies ‘helped terrorists’
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Khurana’s past comes in way of son Vimal’s BJP ticket
Syed Ali Ahmed/TNS
New Delhi, November 8
Sources said that the central leadership of the BJP was of the view that the cases of Vijay Kumar Malhotra, OP Babbar and former Chief Minister of Delhi late Sahib Singh Varma were different. They had stuck to the party whatever the situation. Hence, the party had rewarded them by giving ticket to their wards. Madan Lal Khurana had resigned in 2006 accusing the then party chief Rajnath Singh that he worked under the influence of a “coterie” close to LK Advani. He had also said, "I quit as Delhi CM in 1996 on Advani's advice. And it was Advani again who asked me to resign as chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence well before I was due to take oath as Rajasthan Governor in 2004.” At present, Rajnath Singh is back as party president and LK Advani continues to enjoy a powerful position in the party. Another factor that might have gone against Khurana’s son is BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Dr Harsh Vardhan. In 1993, when the BJP had formed the government under Madan Lal Khurana, Harsh Vardhan was denied a ministry. He had to use his RSS connection to become the Health Minister in the Khurana government, sources said. Sources said that even the close connection of the Khuranas with Delhi BJP chief Vijay Goel hasn’t helped Vimal in any way. Subhash Sachdeva has got the party ticket from Moti Nagar. He has been representing the constituency in the Assembly for the past two terms.
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Election office to keep eye on transactions, SMSes, spending
New Delhi, November 8 A comprehensive action plan was prepared and parameters were decided according to the guidelines of the Election Commission of India (ECI) on expenditure management of the candidates on poll-related activities. Big transactions “We will get the details of all such accounts where abnormal transactions are observed like withdrawal or deposit of more than Rs 1 lakh especially when no such activity had been noticed in the past two months,” said Dev. The information provided by the banks will be co-related with the PAN numbers provided by the candidates. “The candidates probably will not use the accounts mandated for the poll expenditure to avoid our notice. But he might use the accounts of his family members to spend money on campaigning. Therefore, candidates will also have to give PAN card details of their spouse and dependents,” he said. Bulk SMSes Telecom operations have been instructed to develop a mechanism to keep a close watch on bulk messages sent through mobiles. “Telecom companies will also send us daily reports of bulk SMS stating clearly as to who had placed the order and of what amount,” he said. The mechanism will also check the abnormal purchase of bulk SIM cards by political parties for misuse. He said that in the last 48 hours from the date of the poll — December 4 — no bulk messages of political nature should be transmitted. “The sending of bulk messages of political nature from mobile phones will be banned from December 2,” Dev said. Poll expenditure An upper spending limit of Rs 14 lakh has been set by the Chief Election Officer on campaign-related activities by the candidates. The election office has also made it mandatory for candidates to open a separate bank account for maintaining poll-related expenditure. This account will be routinely audited by the election office. “The details of these accounts will be submitted to the Returning Officer at the time of nomination,” said Garg. “Expenditure connected with campaigning like on public meetings, public rallies, posters, banners, vehicles, advertisements in print or electronic media will have to be withdrawn from the dedicated bank account,” said Vijay Dev. The Election Officer and Returning Officer will inspect the account at least thrice during the election period.
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Rahul replies to EC, but BJP not impressed
New Delhi, November 8 An unimpressed BJP, however, made it clear that it would press for serious charges and argue the case in the EC. In his speeches, Rahul Gandhi, had claimed Pakistan's ISI was in touch with Muzaffarnagar riot victims. This was objected to by the BJP. On October 31, the EC issued a show-cause notice to Rahul for alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct. This morning, Rahul’s reply arrived at the CEC in a sealed envelope a little ahead of the 11.30 am deadline. He pleaded not guilty. Rahul said he hadn’t intended to exploit communal sentiments but was “referring to divisive politics”. Justifying his comments made at rallies, Rahul told the Election Commission that he was entitled to talk about his party's ideology, policies and programmes. The BJP’s National Committee on Legal and Election Commission Issues, which yesterday asked the EC to provide it with a copy of Rahul’s reply, will meet here tomorrow to file a detailed reply.
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Denied ticket, two BJP leaders resign
New Delhi, November 8 Balli, who was Minister for Industries in the Madan Lal Khurana government and MLA since 1993, resigned today from primary membership of the party. He also resigned from the post of Deputy Leader of Opposition and Chairman of the Assurance Committee, Delhi Government. Balli said, “I have been offered ticket by the Congress. If I don’t get a Congress ticket, I will contest as an Independent.” Another leader of the BJP, Azad Singh, younger brother of former CM Sahib Singh Varma, has resigned from the post of Mayor, North Delhi Municipal Corporation. He is a councillor from Mundka municipal ward. He was seeking a ticket from Mundka Assembly constituency. He did not resign from the party. A large number of party activists continued their protest on the second day today at the state party office demanding ticket to the leaders of their choice.
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PM’s 7 rules of engagement with China
New Delhi, November 8 Interacting with a group of youth from China at his residence, Singh said the two countries share a common destiny and that "their strategic consultation and cooperation will enhance peace, stability and security in our region and beyond". "I believe that our two countries not only share a common destiny but that we have unlimited possibilities for closer cooperation," he told the members of the delegation. "Let me, therefore, outline seven practical principles of engagement that I believe will set India and China on this course," he said. Enlisting these principles, he said "we should reaffirm an unwavering commitment to the principles of Panchsheel and conduct our relationship in a spirit of mutual respect, sensitivity to each other's interests and sovereignty, and mutual and equal security". He said maintaining peace and tranquility in India-China border areas had been the cornerstone of the bilateral relations. "We should increase consultations and cooperation on complex issues such as trans-border rivers and our trade imbalance so as to strengthen our strategic and cooperative partnership," the Prime Minister said. Noting that India and China are the largest countries in Asia, he said: "Our strategic consultation and cooperation will enhance peace, stability and security in our region and beyond." The two countries should harness the full potential of cooperation in all aspects of relationship, including in the economic area, Singh said. He also emphasised the role of people-to-people contact, saying "we will achieve much greater success in our relations by increasing contacts and familiarity between our people in every walk of life". — PTI Doctor’s prescription *
Reaffirm commitment to the principles of Panchsheel * Conduct relationship in a spirit of mutual respect; exibit sensitivity to each other's interests, sovereignty and security *
Increase cooperation on complex issues such as trans-border rivers and trade imbalance *
Focus on strategic consultation; and cooperation in all aspects of relationship, including economic *
Strive for better people-to-people contact
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Manmohan may skip CHOGM
New Delhi, November 8 The government may be represented by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, highly placed sources said. At a meeting of the top brass of the Congress at the residence of Prime Minister this morning, a view emerged that it would be “difficult” for Singh to visit Sri Lanka at this juncture, party sources said. They said the meeting took note of the fact that all political parties in Tamil Nadu were opposed to a visit by the PM to Sri Lanka and that the state Assembly had passed a resolution against India participating in the Commonwealth summit. The Congress core group meeting at the PM's residence was chaired by party president Sonia Gandhi. The sources, however, said a final decision had not been taken yet. — PTI
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Experts divided on Gauhati HC verdict New Delhi, November 8 Two former high court judges Mukul Mudgal and RS Sodhi said the Gauhati High Court order appeared to be correct and it was right in striking down the resolution by which the CBI was created. However, Mudgal felt it was not a sagacious decision in view of the fact that business of the CBI had been going on for decades and the court should have given some time for the judgment to take effect. In a bid to take advantage of the high court's decision, some high-profile accused in CBI cases relating to the 2G scam and 1984 anti-Sikh riots approached courts seeking staying of the cases citing the ruling. Legal experts, including senior advocates KTS Tulsi and Mukul Rohatgi, said till the decision was stayed by the Supreme Court, the CBI would not be in a position to register fresh cases or make any arrest and all pending cases would become "illegal". Further, convictions in CBI cases since its inception would become "void", another senior advocate said. Rohatgi, a former Additional Solicitor General, said “The CBI cannot do anything unless the Centre moves the apex court and the verdict is stayed”. “As of today, the CBI cannot register any case, it cannot interrogate anyone. Whomsoever they have arrested will have a right to go to the court and seek release, in the present situation," said Rohatgi, who is representing several corporate executives in the 2G case and other high-profile matters. A leading senior advocate representing the CBI in a case said, "If the Supreme Court does not stay the Gauhati High Court judgment, it will be disastrous because it would mean that CBI has no power to record statement, register a case, file chargesheet or probe the case. All this will be treated as illegal." — PTI
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Muzaffarnagar Mayhem Tribune News Service
Lucknow, November 8 The board's direction is a being seen as a major embarrassment for the Samajwadi Party government, which is holding the BJP responsible for the riots in which around 65 persons have lost their lives .
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ISRO could have done homework, says PM’s Advisory Council chief
Bangalore, November 8 “The MOM (Mars Orbiter Mission) is a very good thing; they could have taken more time and done homework. They have done something and I feel I should congratulate (them),” he told mediapersons. “....but you can always say they could have done many things, they should do more,” he said. — PTI
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Militants kill 2 BSF men on B’desh border
The two constables of the BSF’s 73rd battalion were on duty at an observation post, about 2 km from the Kathakona border outpost (BOP) near Borsora coal mine in South West Khasi Hills district. “A group of militants attacked them. One jawan died on the spot, while another succumbed while being taken to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital,” BSF DIG, C L Belwa, said here. The militants took away the INSAS rifles of the jawans. The slain jawans were identified as Sushil Biswas and Papu Kumar Yadav. The attack came two days after five Meghalaya Police personnel were killed in an ambush in neighbouring South Garo Hills district. Earlier today, the BSF foiled an infiltration bid and recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition from the Bangladesh border in South Garo Hills of
Meghalaya.
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Mumbai Attacks
New Delhi, November 8 The information on Badhwar Park, the landing site, was shared by ISI operatives with Pakistani-American Lashkar operative David Headley who had checked it out while conducting recce of the area, it says. The book, “The Siege”, by Adrian Levy and Cathy Scott-Clark claims that when Headley was subjected to undergo a two-year course on surveillance and counter-intelligence by the ISI, his handler, Major Iqbal of the ISI, gave him what he described as classified Indian files that he said had been obtained from within the Indian police and the Army, which revealed their training and limitations. — PTI
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139 file papers in Mizoram 2 seats for MP CM Bill on paid news
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Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, facing the ire of the Election Commission for his remarks at a political rally in Rajasthan, today replied to the EC notice claiming ‘no wrongdoing’ on his part.
When Vimal and his mother met senior leaders of the BJP to seek a ticket from Moti Nagar in west Delhi, the area that had been nurtured by the Khurana family since 1977, little did they realise that the party’s central leadership hadn’t forgotten that in 2006, Khurana had resigned from the party, sources said.
“Bankers were called to ensure that ECI guidelines regarding expenditure management and suspicious transactions from the accounts of the candidate are kept under watch. Bankers gave a detailed feedback about the mechanism which will be used to achieve this objective,” said Delhi Chief Election Officer Vijay Dev.
Guwahati, November 8
