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No threat to govt, we have the numbers: Kamal Nath
Gujarat gets Lokayukta after a decade
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AAP dares Jaitley to LS poll face-off New Delhi, December 11 The Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday dared senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley to step out of the Upper House and contest the next Lok Sabha elections against an AAP member. Speaking at AAP’s first rally after its dream debut in Delhi, the party’s star campaigner, Kumar Vishwas, mocked Jaitley’s pre-poll and post-poll assessment of the AAP. Cong to chalk out strategy to corner AAP today
Sai confesses to rape: Police
Delhi Metro to assist Pak in setting up Lahore metro rail
RS Talwar’s services lauded
Pak court cross-examines 26/11 key witnesses
Kashmir issue: Pak MP for bilateral talks
ISRO corrects Mars orbiter’s trajectory
UP saw 13 communal incidents in 8 months
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No threat to govt, we have the numbers: Kamal Nath
Reacting to developments amid claims by Telugu Desam and a section of Andhra MPs that over 80 members of the Lok Sabha will stand up to support a no-confidence motion against the Manmohan Singh Government, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said the government had the numbers and elections would be held as per schedule. Dismissing any threat in the wake of plans by some anti-Telangana Lok Sabha MPs, including those from the Congress, that the move was gaining traction, Nath said outside Parliament: “The government has the numbers and any no-confidence motion will not succeed...The government has majority. So the question of any no-confidence motion succeeding does not arise”. Nath also scotched speculation that the government may go in for early polls. The BJP, as per reports, remains undecided on the support the Andhra MPs sought for the no-trust move. Veteran party leader LK Advani revealed that a delegation of Andhra MPs had called on him for support but after perusing the text the party decided to take a re-look. The move by Congress MPs from Seemandhra to be part of a move and think of a no-trust motion against its own government is an embarrassment for the party. The UPA government is already under attack since the recent 1-4 loss in elections to the five state assemblies. The CPM leader Basudeb Acharia felt that the no-confidence motion at this juncture would serve no purpose since the tenure of the government was about to be over and there was no possibility of forming an alternate government in the current House. However, Andhra MPs opposed to Telangana are hoping to make a political statement that would also give them some breathing space back home even if the motion does not find support of the requisite 50 MPs when it is called up for a count at the admission stage in the House. Prez sends Telangana Bill back to MHA
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Gujarat gets Lokayukta after a decade
Gandhinagar, December 11 Justice Buch (retd) was sworn in as the anti-corruption ombudsman at a function at the Raj Bhawan by Governor Beniwal in the presence of Modi and Assembly Speaker Vaju Vala. The post had been lying vacant since the last incumbent Justice RM Soni’s term expired in December 2003. The appointment came at a time when Modi, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, had been drawing flak from the Congress over the post lying vacant for a long time. The Opposition party had said Modi had been repeatedly raising the issue of corruption under the Congress-led UPA government, but failed to appoint Lokayukta in his own state. Justice Buch said he would act according to the law. “If the complaints are entertainable within the fixed categories (under the Lokayukta Act), these would be dealt with accordingly,” he said. “However, if the complaint is beyond the purview of the law, the Lokayukta cannot act,” he added. The Modi government, which had been at loggerheads with the Governor since 2011 over the appointment of Lokayukta, recommended Justice Buch’s name for the post on November 27. A major controversy erupted when the Governor appointed Justice RA Mehta (retd) as the Lokayukta on August 25, 2011, without consulting the state government. This led to a long-drawn legal battle that reached the Supreme Court, which subsequently upheld the Governor’s decision. Another twist came when Justice Mehta declined to take charge of the office in August this year, citing the long legal battle over his appointment and “the government not accepting his objectivity and credibility”. Leader of Opposition Shankarsinh Vaghela, however, could not attend the function since he said he received the invitation only yesterday just a day before the event.
— PTI
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AAP dares Jaitley to LS poll face-off New Delhi, December 11 Speaking at AAP’s first rally after its dream debut in Delhi, the party’s star campaigner, Kumar Vishwas, mocked Jaitley’s pre-poll and post-poll assessment of the AAP. Amid cheers from the large crowds gathered at the Jantar Mantar, Vishwas, who is tipped to contests the Lok Sabha elections against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, said: “We invite Arun Jaitley ji to fight a Lok Sabha election from a seat in Delhi against an AAP candidate”. Jaitley, incidentally, has never fought any direct elections to an Assembly or the Lok Sabha. In the forthcoming General Election, AAP is planning to contest all the Lok Sabha seats and is likely to field known faces such as Vishwas, who did not contest the Delhi Assembly elections, against top BJP and Congress leaders. Soon after the Delhi Assembly results, Jaitley had dared the AAP to form a government with the Congress support and fulfil “unrealistic promises” instead of avoiding power where it will be like a “fish out of water”. His Facebook posting of December 9 , Jaitley wrote: “Is the AAP merely a freak phenomenon? Or is it going to be a lasting experiment? The last word on this cannot be said at this moment. This party is unconventional. It has attempted to exploit the general mood of cynicism. It has made unrealistic promises and does not want to sit in a position of responsibility where it has to walk its talk. The very suggestion of being in government to implement its policy and promises appears to be scary for this party.” Rahul-Vishwas tie?
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Cong to chalk out strategy to corner AAP today New Delhi, December 11 The party's official stand would become clear at the strategy meeting, which Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi has called on the Delhi election issue on Thursday. He has invited all eight elected Congress MPs, six being from the minority community (four Muslims, two Sikhs). The call for a meeting comes a day after Congress general secretary in charge of Delhi Shakeel Ahmed said all elected MLAs were in favour of extending unconditional support to AAP. After its worst performance in Delhi, the party's strategy seems clear - extend support to AAP and force it to formally decline the offer of forming the government, thus exposing it to the electorate. The strategy firmed up so far, as admitted by top sources, is: Send a letter to the Lt Governor, extending support to AAP. Considering eight Congress MLAs would offer support to AAP from outside, the Lt Governor would be under constitutional obligation to invite AAP to form the government. "If AAP refuses to form the government, thereby, refusing to fulfill its poll promises, its double speak would stand exposed," sources in the Congress said. Party spokesperson Raj Babbar said AAP should respect the mandate of people and not thrust another election on Delhi. "We do not understand AAP’s eagerness to sit in the Opposition. Let them fulfill their promises of free water, reduced power bills and many more," he said. Delhi LG calls Vardhan to discuss govt formation
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Tejpal in 12-day judicial remand; gets special cell
Panjim, December 11 Judicial Magistrate Kshama Joshi, who remanded Tejpal in judicial custody, allowed his application seeking a special cell in the high-security Sada sub-jail in Vasco town. Raising security concerns, Tejpal's advocate Sandip Kapoor said since he had been an "investigative journalist" during his career, he should not be asked to share the prison with other inmates. The court allowed the application for Tejpal, who has been moved from the Panjim police lock-up where he spent 10 days after his arrest. Tejpal was produced before the judicial magistrate by the Goa Police crime branch after his remand period expired. The police had sought his two-day of custody, but the plea was refused by the court. The 50-year-old journalist has been booked under Section 354-A (sexual harassment, physical contact, advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures, or any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature), Section 376 (rape), Section 376(2)(k) (rape by a person of a woman in his custody taking advantage of his official position), Section 341 (wrongful restraint) and Section 342 (wrongful confinement) of the IPC. Kapoor said he would soon move the court seeking bail for Tejpal, who has been interrogated by the Goa Police crime branch for over 10 days. — PTI
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Sai confesses to rape: Police
Sai has also revealed to police that he had physical relationships with eight of his female disciples, he said. "It has also come to light that he fathered a child with one of his sevikas (disciple)," Asthana said. Sai was subjected to joint interrogation by police along with the complainant, the official said, adding intense quizzing was carried out to find out how he evaded arrest for 58 days and who had helped him. The police said Sai was also interrogated in the presence of his estranged wife. Sai was sent to police custody till today on December 5 by a local court. Asthana said though Sai's remand gets over today, his further police custody will be sought for interrogation and gathering evidence against him and he will be produced in the court later in the day. Sai was brought to city on December 4 after he was arrested by the Delhi Police from Delhi-Haryana border. Two sisters had lodged complaints against Sai and his father Asaram of rape, sexual assault, illegal confinement and other charges. The Surat police had booked 40-year-old Sai under various IPC sections including rape, unnatural sex, molestation, wrongful confinement, unlawful assembly, rioting armed with deadly weapon, criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy. In her complaint, the younger of the two had accused Sai of repeated sexual assault between 2002 and 2005 when she was living at the Surat ashram. The elder sister, in her complaint against Asaram, had accused him of repeated sexual assaults between 1997 and 2006.
— PTI
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Delhi Metro to assist Pak in setting up Lahore metro rail
Shahbaz has evinced keen interest in developing a viable metro rail network in Lahore, the second largest city of Pakistan, keeping in view its increasing population and traffic snarls. Earlier this year, he formally declared the Lahore Metro Train Project and directed the concerned authorities to prepare a feasibility report on the proposed project. Lahore, the sprawling capital city of Punjab province, has already introduced the Metro Bus System, arguably Pakistan’s first rapid mass transit bus project, which has proved to be highly successful. Shahbaz’s government is expected to invite bids from global construction firms for construction of metro network later this month. Sources said that since Delhi Metro has proved to be a trend-setter for such systems in other cities of India as well as the South Asian region, the Chief Minister of Punjab province also wanted to see how the DMRC was functioning and making huge profits. “Though Shahbaz is the chief guest at the world Kabaddi championship, he will try to strengthen trade and economic cooperation with India,” sources said.
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RS Talwar’s services lauded
The Board of Trustees, comprising Justice SS Sodhi (retd), President of The Tribune Trust, and the Trustees NN Vohra, Lt Gen SS Mehta (retd) and Naresh Mohan, placed on record its deep appreciation of the contribution of the former Punjab Chief Secretary who served the Trust for 27 years. The Trust acknowledged that under Talwar’s stewardship, The Tribune Group of Newspapers retained its distinctive character, preserved its autonomy, objectivity, fairness and independent way of thinking. It also expanded its footprint to Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand and recorded a marked growth in circulation. Talwar had been a Trustee of The Tribune since 1986. He headed the Trust between December 2007 and April 2012. Later, he relinquished the post of the President, but continued as a Trustee till his demise in October.
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Army Chief gets US award
The award figures sixth in the order of precedence of the US military decorations. Worn around the neck with a purple ribbon, the award was received by Gen Singh from US Army Chief Gen Raymond Odierno on December 5 during his visit to the US. The US Army’s website states that Gen Singh had helped the Indian Army to become the second largest trainer of Afghan national security forces after the US. A “full honour ceremony” was organised for the purpose at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall near Washington during which the 3rd Infantry Regiment - the oldest active duty outfit of the US Army and known as the Old Guard - was on parade in full colonial era ceremonial attire. So far, the honour has been bestowed upon four Indian service chiefs - Field Marshal KM Cariappa, Gen Rajendra Sinhji, Gen SM Srinagesh and Admiral JL Cursetji. During his visit to the US, Gen Singh discussed the US-India defence relationship with senior US military leadership. Lt Gen Chakravarty
is new NCC Chief
Lt Gen Aniruddha Chakravarty has, this month, assumed charge as Director General of the National Cadet Corps (NCC). He succeeded Lt Gen PS Bhalla, who retired on November 30. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Kharakvasla, Lt Gen Chakravarty was commissioned in the Rajput Regiment on December 15, 1976, and, among other command and staff assignments, served as the Chief Operations Officer and the National Senior at the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. The NCC, which comprises nearly 15 lakh cadets from schools and colleges across the country, has seen restructuring in the recent past to cater to its expansion plans. Some of the posts of the Deputy Director General - responsible for the functioning of the NCC’s 17 directorates and earlier headed by officers of the rank of Brigadier or equivalent - have been upgraded as Additional Director General, tenable by Major General or equivalent. Similarly, some of the posts of the Group Commander, earlier held by Colonels, are now being held by Brigadiers. Motorcycle rally from
Sikkim to Punjab
To commemorate the Battle Honour awarded to it for the Battle of Bogra in the eastern sector during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, 63 Cavalry is undertaking a
motorcycle rally from Sikkim to Punjab. The bikers astride four motorcycles, led by Lt Lionel Joseph Wilkins, were flagged off by Lt Gen KJ Singh, General Officer Commanding 33 Corps, from Yongdi in North Sikkim on October 30, and will reach the regiment location at Amritsar near the Indo-Pak border on December 15 to mark the victory at Bogra - when T-55 tanks had run through soggy paddy fields to target Pakistani forces. The team will cover a distance of 2,795 km and en route will pay homage to martyrs. It has already held a memorial ceremony at the Bogra war memorial in Binnaguri. The route for the motorcycle rally has been selected to facilitate the bikers visit the borders of Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal and also pay tributes at all war memorials of the Regiment, besides visiting Alwar, where it was raised in 1957. Book on Punjab’s
military families
Punjab is known for its martial tradition and there are families that have risen to the call of arms over generations. This is now being documented in a book being published by the state’s Defence Services Welfare Department. The book will contain pictures and details of nearly 300 families from the state who have sent three or more generations to the armed forces. The format of the book has been finalised and will go for publication shortly. The department is also working on publishing a coffee table book on all war memorials in the
state. (Vijay Mohan and Ajay Banerjee)
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Pak court cross-examines 26/11 key witnesses
Islamabad, December 11 The bank manager headed a branch in which one of the accused had an account while the official had recovered the belongings of Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi at the time of his arrest. They were cross-examined by defence lawyers. “The manager headed the particular branch from which Rs 2 lakh was transferred for the accused to buy boats and other things in Karachi,” Special Public Prosecutor Chaudhry Mohammed Azhar told PTI. “The other witness, an official who recovered the belongings of Lakhvi and two other suspects, was also cross-examined,” he said. Azhar said one more witness was to be cross-examined but the defence lawyers took the entire day to question the two others. The next hearing of the case is on December 18. On his plea to initiate contempt proceedings against defence lawyers for claiming at a news conference that the evidence in the case was a “sham”, Azhar said Judge Atiqur Rehman of the Islamabad-based anti-terrorism court had asked him to file a written request.
— PTI
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Kashmir issue: Pak MP for bilateral talks Ludhiana, December 11 "Masla goli se nahi, boli se hal hona chahiye," he remarked. Maulana, who heads the Jamiat-ulema-Islam party in Pakistan, was addressing the media at Jama Masjid here while on his way to Deoband with a 31-member delegation from Pakistan to attend a seminar. — OC
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ISRO corrects Mars orbiter’s trajectory
Bangalore, December 11 The spacecraft is travelling at a distance of about 29 lakh (2.9 million) km away from the Earth,” ISRO said in a statement. The TCMs fine tune the trajectory of the spacecraft to keep it travelling on the intended track towards the Red Planet. Ever since the successful trans-Mars injection on December 1, the navigators monitoring the spacecraft’s velocity precisely determined its flight path to come up with the required correction in the path, ISRO said on its official Facebook page. “Based on this, the firing duration and delta-v have been calculated which will correct the deviations before they have a chance to grow large,” it said.
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UP saw 13 communal incidents in 8 months
Lucknow, December 11 In his reply to a query by BJP member Satish Mahana, Akhilesh said: “From March to October 31, 13 incidents of communal tension took place in Sambhal, Bijnor, Bahraich, Etah, Shamli, Saharanpur, Meerut, Kannauj, Ghazipur, Unno, Pilibhit, Bagpat and Muzaffarnagar.” He said directives were issued by the government to control such incidents and maintain communal harmony.
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New Delhi, December 11
Surat, December 11
New Delhi, December 11
New Delhi, December 11
Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh has been honoured with the Legion of Merit, a US military award given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.