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Anna-AAP differences come into the open
‘Aam aadmi’ to spice up Cong manifesto
pay-off row |
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Sign security pact with US, India tells Afghanistan
Fodder scam: SC grants bail to Lalu
Model code amended to prevent babus’ misuse by politicians
Sub-inspector, 5 Sai aides detained for bribing Surat cops;
Rs 5 cr seized
US award to Army Chief triggers row
6 firemen hurt in Mumbai high-rise fire
India rejects OIC resolution on Kashmir
Joshi’s bail plea hearing put off again
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Anna-AAP differences come into the open
Ralegan Siddhi, December 13 The simmering bitterness aggravated to such an extent after VK Singh slammed AAP leaders for "deserting" the anti-graft campaigner and taking the political plunge that Hazare ordered the fledgling party's representative at the venue Gopal Rai to leave the village. It all started when Singh, a key Team Anna member, began castigating AAP leaders without naming them for parting ways with Hazare and floating a political outfit. "When Annaji raised the voice for Jan Lokpal, many people rallied behind him but later left him. Today, they say it is because of them that there is Annaji and not because there is Annaji that they are there. Nobody can undermine something that Annaji has created,” he said. "Today, if we have to take our nation forward, we need to unite and not float separate groups and separate parties," VK Singh said, setting off a verbal duel with Rai. Rai, who was seated among the audience and observing a fast since yesterday when an AAP team dispatched by its leader Arvind Kejriwal met Hazare, joined issue with VK Singh, calling him an "agent" of BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. As the two engaged in a heated arguments, Hazare, whose hunger strike for passage in Parliament of Jan Lokpal Bill entered its fourth day today, took the mike and started berating Rai. "You were told not to join the fast but you did. Now people are asking you not to interrupt the (Singh's) speech and you are interrupting. If you have to create a ruckus, you leave the village. Don't sit here. It is not proper to interrupt people when they are speaking," Hazare said, chastising Rai. Later, speaking to the media, Rai said some people inimical to the Jan Lokpal movement were misleading Hazare. "The agenda is Jan Lokpal and people are talking about betrayal. That too, a person who is making rounds of Modi for a ticket to contest elections. Many people are unable to digest our unity and they are poisoning Anna's ears," Rai said. Asked about growing distance between Hazare and AAP, Rai said, "There is no distance. As long as Jan Lokpal is our common goal, there cannot be distance. We would probably not have come here if Anna were not fasting for Jan Lokpal. "Anna said don't stay in Ralegan Siddhi but this is the fight of the entire country. I am leaving Anna's village but will not leave him. I will continue my fast in Delhi," he said. Replying to a query about whether Hazare was taking wrong decisions under the influence of a coterie, Rai said, "We hope Anna will take the right decision at the right time." Reflecting a thaw in their relations with Anna Hazare, a team of Aaam Aadmi Party had yesterday called on the Gandhian and pledged to lend their support to his fight for passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill, pending in the Rajya Sabha. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, who could not come due to indisposition, had also spoken to Hazare, who was claimed to have given him his blessings. — PTI
split wide open: Relations between Anna Hazare (left) and Arvind Kejriwal had come under severe strain after a video showing Hazare expressing disappointment over alleged misuse of funds collected during the India Against Corruption's campaign for Jan Lokpal surfaced just ahead of the Delhi polls.
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‘Aam aadmi’ to spice up Cong manifesto
New Delhi, December 13
Though it was only the beginning of a consultative process which Rahul promised to institutionalise, the Congress will soon hold five more public consultations to seek civil society inputs for its Lok Sabha manifesto. The subject of today's meeting was SCs, STs and OBCs. In the run up to polls, the Congress vice-president will involve commoners to elicit their view on how to empower women, minorities and youth and how to boost private entrepreneurship and industry.
"I promise that your inputs will be reflected in the Congress manifesto," Rahul is said to have told the 235 participants from 124 organisations across 20 states.
At the first consultation, attended by ministers P Chidambaram, KC Deo, Selja and Veerappa Moily, people called for immediate passage of the strengthened Prevention of Atrocities against SCs/STs Act which seeks to include more acts in the definition of discrimination against the marginalised such as garlanding with shoes and witch hunting. The Bill has been introduced in the Lok
Sabha.
"Rahul Gandhi spoke of opening up the election manifesto drafting process and getting more voices on board rather than having few leaders draft the manifesto sitting in Delhi. We got several suggestions on today's subject and will finalize them and submit them to the election manifesto committee," K Raju, Chief of Congress' SC Cell said.
The participants, among them Paul Diwakar, a leading thinker on dalit issues, also called for reservations for dalit Muslims and Christians and homestead lands for the homeless.
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pay-off row
Jammu, December 13 In his reply to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the former Army Chief made it clear that he has utmost regard for all the democratic institutions of the nation, inter alia, all the Legislative Assemblies and Houses of Parliament as also all the members and functionaries thereof. "In response to the allegations levelled against me vide the breach of privilege motion moved by certain members of your House, I most respectfully point out that various quotes ascribed to me are inaccurate and incorrect to the extent of being 'misquotes'. I have not spoken anything whatsoever that could even remotely affect or obstruct the functioning, decorum, dignity or position of the legislature or any of the members thereof as also anything whatsoever that shall impede the hon'ble members in carrying our their legislative functions", General Singh stated in his reply. Regarding his controversial interview with a news channel, he said: "I further wish to bring to your kind notice that during the course of the said interview, I have not spoken anything that was not available in the public domain by way of certain books already published or the WikiLeaks expose, prior to the said TV interviews that were telecast on the news channels". "I had clarified the entire issue and defended the institution of Jammu and Kashmir against the slander that was published by several newspapers as also the electric media, thereby, leaving no ambiguity whatsoever as to the stand I had taken in the alleged TV interview", he clarified. "I further wish to point out that whatever I had spoken during the course of the said interviews is based on the information I received from my colleagues and subordinates and also during the discharge of my duties in compliance of the directives of my superiors. The position last held by me was that of the Chief of the Army Staff of Indian Army and my immediate superior was the hon'ble Raksha Mantri of the Union Government. That the same are duly recorded, audited and documented by competent authorities of the Union Government. If this hon'ble House or your good self require perusing any such records then the same may be requisitioned from the competent authorities or the Union Government in the right earnest", the reply stated. "Therefore, with all the humility at my command, I reiterate and reassure your good self and the august Assembly that my intention and motives are bona fide and none of my acts is ever directed at lowering the prestige or violating privilege of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislature neither to obstruct or adversely affect the functioning of the House and the hon'ble members thereof, for whom I have always had utmost regard and I hold them in high esteem", he said in his reply. "Therefore, in the light of the facts and circumstances hereinabove mentioned, it is respectfully submitted that the allegations as levelled against me by way of the breach of privilege motion moved by the hon'ble Members of this Legislative Assembly, are not made out and appear to be a case of misinformation. Therefore, the same my kindly be quashed by your good self and no further proceedings in this thereto may kindly be carried out in the interests of the justice", General Singh stated.
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Sign security pact with US, India tells Afghanistan
New Delhi, December 13 At a meeting here this afternoon, the PM told Karzai that Washington was keen to ensure that the situation in Afghanistan did not worsen after the withdrawal of NATO forces in 2014, sources said. The BSA will mandate the size and shape of the US military presence in Afghanistan after the drawdown by foreign troops. Karzai has refused to sign the BSA unless his conditions are met. These include the release of all Afghan prisoners from Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and an end to military operations and searches involving Afghan homes. Yesterday, a top official of the Obama administration had urged New Delhi to use its good offices to convince Karzai to ink the crucial accord. President Obama had himself taken up the issue with Manmohan Singh when they met in Washington in September. Karzai, meanwhile, is learnt to have brief Manmohan Singh on the situation in Afghanistan and reiterated his demand that New Delhi supply military hardware to his troubled nation to strengthen its security. Asked if India had taken any decision on Karzai’s ‘wish-list’, sources said it was on the table, indicating India was still weighing the pros and cons of supplying heavy weaponry to Kabul. Afghanistan has sought nearly 150 main battle tanks, field guns, mortars, transport aircraft, attack helicopters and truck to beef up security. India apparently does not want to disturb regional sensitivities, particularly with respect to Pakistan which would obviously view any such move with suspicion. There are also apprehensions in Indian defence circles that these weapons could ultimately fall into the hands of the
Taliban.
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Raje sworn in as Rajasthan CM
Jaipur, December 13 Raje, 60, who served as the Chief Minister in an earlier stint from 2003 to 2008, was administered the oath by Governor Margaret Alva at the Rajasthan Assembly building here in the presence of thousands of BJP activists and leaders. Senior BJP leader LK Advani, party president Rajnath Singh, BJP's PM nominee Narendra Modi, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and his Madhya Pradesh counterpart Shivraj Singh, and former party president Nitin Gadkari, were among those who attended the function. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot of the Congress was also present. A huge crowd of party workers thronged the Janpath Road - leading to the Assembly building - where sitting arrangement was made so that the people could watch the ceremony. Over 2,000 policemen were deployed and traffic police put several road blocks and restrictions on movements, which caused inconvenience to people. The BJP recorded a thumping victory in Rajasthan, ending five years of the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress rule. BJP candidates were declared elected in 162 of Rajasthan's 199 constituencies where elections were held. — IANS
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Fodder scam: SC grants bail to Lalu
New Delhi, December 13 A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam granted bail after noting that several other similarly placed convicts have already been granted bail in the case. The bench also comprising Justice Ranjan Gogoi, however, left it to the trial court to decide the bail bonds, sureties and other conditions to be imposed on the former Member of Parliament. Pleading for bail, Lalu submitted that of the 44 persons convicted along with him, 37 have been granted bail and no one's, except his bail plea, has been rejected. — PTI
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Model code amended to prevent babus’ misuse by politicians
New Delhi, December 13 On the face of it, the changes look promising but it raises questions of their implementation especially in this era of coalition politics when ministers of smaller partner-parties of the ruling coalition owe more loyalty to their party boss than the Prime Minister who heads the Ministry of Personnel and is the in charge of enforcing it. Former Haryana cadre IAS officer MG Devashayam praised the amendment to the code saying, “Its a good initiative and a welcome step”. It remains to be seen how it will work and be implemented in this era when politicians are used to working within the laid-down framework, he adds. According to the Cabinet proposal, the change will also help check civil servants from cultivating political patronage. The fresh clause will come into effect at the Centre immediately. In the states, it will be sent to the state governments for adoption. This means that it will be left to the Chief Ministers to decide. The Ministry of Home Affairs proposal says: “The proposed amendment will enable political executives to guard against the trend (of) so-called attractive transfers and postings (which) continues to allure civil servants. This will also enable civil servants not to act in any way which would conflict with their duties and responsibilities”. In reality, the code for Union ministers, Chief Ministers and ministers of the respective state governments has no legal backing. Still, the Home Ministry believes all the ministers would adhere to it “scrupulously”. The amendment adds a new paragraph 2(f) saying: “After taking office, and so long as he remains in office, the minister shall uphold the political impartiality of the civil services and not ask civil servants to act in any way which would conflict with the duties and responsibilities of the civil servants.” The recommendation to include the new paragraph was made by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission. Officials in the Home Ministry said the new clause was inserted but still, it all boils down to how the political executive deals with this. When the CBI had booked former Coal Secretary PC Parekh in the coal block allocations, the Central IAS Officers' Association had approached the highest authorities in the government to ensure necessary safeguards for bureaucrats who make honest decisions.
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Sub-inspector, 5 Sai aides detained for bribing Surat cops; Rs 5 cr seized
Surat, December 13
The police said Rs 5 crore seized from Sai's aides was allegedly meant to be given as bribe to cops, doctors and judicial officials. "SI CK Kumbhani, posted at Detection of Crime Branch (DCB), Surat, was detained along with five other Narayan Sai aides who tried to bribe the police to weaken Sai's sexual assault case," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Shobha Bhutada said. "Cash worth Rs 1 crore was seized from Sai's associate Uday Sanghani and Rs 4 crore was recovered from Ketan Patel, a real estate developer based here," the police said, adding that all the six have been taken into custody. SI Kumbhani was also detained for demanding money, promising that he would distribute it to police officers, doctors and judicial officials in order to weaken the rape case, the police said. Sai, 40, is in judicial remand in connection with a rape case against him. Sai was brought to the city on December 4 after he was arrested by the Delhi Police from the Delhi-Haryana border, along with his two aides after a car chase. Two sisters had lodged complaints against Narayan Sai and his father Asaram of rape, sexual assault, illegal confinement and other charges. — PTI
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US award to Army Chief triggers row
New Delhi, December 13 The Army Chief was conferred the ‘Legion of Merit’, the sixth-highest American military honour, during his visit to the US from December 2 to 5. The MoD has claimed it came to know about it only through media reports after the conferment as it was not part of the itinerary provided prior to the visit. The MoD has argued that Services Chiefs have to get government clearance to receive foreign
honours.
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6 firemen hurt in Mumbai high-rise fire
Mumbai, December 13 The blaze started in the 26-storey Mont Blanc building in posh Kemps Corner area this evening. A fire brigade official termed it as a major fire. Fourteen fire engines, seven water tankers and four ambulances have been rushed to the spot. Civic body sources said six fire-fighters sustained injuries during the operation to control the flames. "People who reside above the 12th floor are trapped in their apartments. They cannot come down as the smoke had engulfed the entire floor," said Viraz, a resident. Another resident said that due to multiple cylinder bursts in the apartments, the fire spread across the entire floor. — PTI
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India rejects OIC resolution on Kashmir
New Delhi, December 13 He said the OIC has no locus standi on the internal affairs of India or on recent incidents on the LoC. At the instance of Islamabad, the OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting, in its resolution, strongly supported the efforts of Pakistan for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue and urged India to remain engaged in a meaningful and sustained dialogue process with Pakistan on all outstanding issues, including the ‘core’ issue of Kashmir. The resolution also expressed concern at the frequent ceasefire violations by ‘Indian forces’ along the LoC since the beginning of 2013 while appreciating Pakistan for following the policy of restraint, responsibility and dialogue.
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cd sleaze Tribune News Service
Dehradun, December 13 The bail plea hearing was to come up today at the district judge court today but was put off due to lawyers boycott call in the district courts today. This is the third time that the hearing has been put off. The Uttarakhand police on December 4 arrested Joshi on alleged rape charges. He has been accused of raping a 26-year-old woman on the pretext of giving her a job.
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A day after some signs of rapprochement, the rift between Anna Hazare and the Aam Aadmi Party today came into the open at his fast venue with an AAP member clashing with former Army Chief VK Singh, who accused them of betraying the
Gandhian.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is understood to have counselled Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai to shed his reluctance and expedite the inking of a Bilateral Security Agreement
(BSA) with the United States as it was aimed at ensuring the security and stability of his war-torn nation.
