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CBI granted financial powers: Centre to SC
Danish woman gang-raped, robbed in Delhi
Marines’ case: Italy objects to delay in trial, terror charges
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Army Chief General Bikram Singh inspects the guard of honour during the Army Day parade in New Delhi. Tribune photo: MR Bhui
‘Aam aadmi’ Kejriwal takes NCC brass by surprise
Cong’s dilemma: To name Rahul PM candidate or not
India, US commit to move forward
Rahul attends Cong core group meet to discuss poll strategies
Disabilities Bill to be passed in next session: Sonia
India, Pak commerce secys discuss trade ties
International Crisis Group meets today
Keep communal forces at bay, says Maya wati
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CBI granted financial powers: Centre to SC
New Delhi, January 15 Attorney General GE Vahanvati told a three-member Bench headed by Justice RM Lodha that the decision, taken at a meeting convened by the Department of Personnel on January 10, had met the CBI’s demand for ex-officio powers of a Secretary to its director without disturbing the statutory scheme of governance with necessary checks and balances. With this, the CBI director had got greater financial and administrative powers to ensure efficiency in its investigations in corruption cases, he said. Vahanvati also informed the apex court that the Centre had initiated the process for de-allocation of coal blocks by asking private companies which had been allotted 61 blocks during 1993-2008 to meet the deficiencies within four-six weeks for obtaining mining leases or forfeit the blocks. Earlier, the CBI director had no power to approve expenditure for plan schemes. Now, he can approve schemes worth Rs 15 crore. The annual limit for hiring consultants has been raised from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 in each case. Besides hiring consultants and non-gazetted staff, the new powers vested with the Director include payment of TA/DA for accused persons and witnesses from abroad and approval of expenditure upto Rs 10 lakh each for organising conferences and seminars. The Bench is hearing arguments on PILs pleading for cancellation of the coal block allocations in view of the alleged irregularities in the procedure adopted. During day-long arguments today, the Bench questioned the Centre over the functioning of the screening committee which was responsible for the allocation of a number of coal blocks. It wanted to know as to how some private companies which had not been recommended by competent authorities were allocated coal blocks.
More teeth
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Danish woman gang-raped, robbed in Delhi
New Delhi, January 15 “She said she would come to Delhi if she had to depose. We have contacted the Danish embassy and asked them to request the woman to get her medical examination conducted so that we have enough evidence,” said a senior Delhi Police officer. Meanwhile, the police have arrested two persons in connection with the case. “We have identified the culprits and are hopeful of cracking the case soon,” said investigators. Investigators said the victim was at Connaught Place yesterday evening when she lost her way to her hotel at Nabi Karim. Around 4.30pm, she reached a place that was a couple of metres from the crowded outer circle of Connaught Place. Police said she asked about the whereabouts of the hotel she was staying in from a group of people. “They took her towards the Railway Officers Club, where they gangraped and robbed her,” said investigators. The incident reportedly took place near a construction site. She was allegedly threatened at knifepoint and slapped. The culprits held her hostage from 4.30pm to 7.30pm before abandoning her. They decamped with her mini I-pad, I-pod, mobile phone, Rs 3,000, 750 Euros and a bag, sources said, adding the woman boarded an auto-rickshaw to reach her hotel and informed the hotel management about her nightmare.
2 held; CM to meet LG
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Marines’ case: Italy objects to delay in trial, terror charges
New Delhi, January 15 A Bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam passed the order after senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Italian ambassador Daniele Mancini and the two accused, also took exception to the inordinate delay in launching the trial. The SC had delivered its verdict on January 18, 2013, directing the Centre to hold expeditious trial of the accused by setting up a special court but not even the chargesheet had been filed in the case so far, Rohatgi said. The petitioners contended that invoking the anti-terror law, Suppression of Unlawful Activities (SUA) Act, against the marines was against the SC order for charging them only under the Maritime Zone Act, the Indian Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code and the UN Conventions. Charging them under the anti-terror law would tantamount to calling Italy a terror state, they pleaded. The petition also pleaded for letting the accused to leave for Italy and stay there, pending the beginning of the trial. Marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone have pleaded that they shot down the fishermen mistaking them for sea pirates. The incident had triggered a diplomatic row with Italy. SC hearing on Jan 20
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Multi-pronged plan to boost capabilities: Army Chief
New Delhi, January 15 He said the Army had also submitted a time-bound plan to the government to enhance the capabilities of its aviation corps. “We have made plans. The government has approved many. Some of them have been completed while others will get approval by the end of the fiscal,” he said at an Army Day function here. Stressing the importance of superior equipment and firepower for the Army, he said a country was respected only when it was economically and militarily powerful. “For the country to achieve its rightful place globally, it is must that our Army becomes a capable, effective, responsible and contemporary power and contributes to the progress of the country," he said. General Singh also made a mention about the approval granted for raising a mountain strike corps to underline the growing capability of the Army and said special attention was being paid to infrastructure development along the borders. In his 15-minute-long speech, he spoke about the Army's efforts to deal with issues ranging from suicide to shortage of officers and facilities for its present and former personnel, and said the shortfall of officers would come down to 10% by 2018 from existing 20%.
— PTI
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‘Aam aadmi’ Kejriwal takes NCC brass by surprise
The National Cadet Corps' top brass lined up to receive newly-elected Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on his visit to the annual Republic Day Camp (RDC) on January 8 were in for a surprise when he arrived there almost unnoticed in his personal blue Wagon-R without the official trimmings.
This was unlike the arrival of other customary VVIP visitors like the Vice-President, Prime Minister, Defence Minister and the service chiefs, who troop in at the camp with their heavy cavalcades and entourages. This also happened to be Kejriwal's first function that had been organised by a central government organisation. Clad in open toes sandals, maroon pullover and grey trousers, the CM was accompanied by his wife Sunita, an Indian Revenue Services officer. The couple mixed freely with children and photo opportunities followed. Incidentally, for the 15 preceding years, the camp had been receiving the same Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dixit. Kejriwal looked the "aam aadmi," that he claims to be. Considered the most prestigious of all NCC camps, over 1,500 cadets from across the country attend the RDC in the Capital after a tough selection process at the state level.
Army fatalities go down
There has been a decrease in the number of fatal casualties suffered by the Army over the past five years. The list of martyrs released on Army Day 2014 reveals that 64 personnel, including three officers, had lost their lives in the line of duty in 2013. The figure for the preceding year was 75, including six officers. The fatalities are primarily on account of continuing counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the north-east, though this year there were also several casualties due to Pakistani troops resorting to heavy cross-border firing in violation of the ceasefire agreement or their so called border action teams sneaking across the Line of Control and targeting Indian soldiers. In the recent past, the bloodiest year for the army was 2010, when it lost 187 men, including 14 officers. The year before that it had lost 107 men, including 10 officers. The dip in the fatalities over the past couple of years has been attributed to an improved security environment in the hinterland, though some security experts have cautioned that the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan this year could affect the situation.
Army Chief avoids controversy
At his press conference in New Delhi on January 13, Chief of the Army Staff, Gen Bikram Singh, avoided any controversy and making any comment on his predecessor, Gen VK Singh, or the statements of the political leadership. A journalist referred to Gen VK Singh's claims of giving bribes to Kashmir politicians and asked the Chief "There are bizarre allegations that the Indian Army has been bribing Kashmiri separatist leaders to buy peace?" "No comments," retorted the Chief. The journalist tried again, asking, "Is it correct on part of the J&K Assembly to summon a former Chief?" The reply was on same lines. When questioned about Aam Aadmi Party leader Prashant Bhushan's statement on Kashmir, the Chief said, "I never comment on statements of political leaders". He avoided any comments on what the Army will do or is doing along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. "It's our policy that the Ministry of External Affairs comments on this. The Army's duty is to maintain peace and tranquility. We have to work as per national strategy and not come out and
speak what we have done along LAC," he said.
Priority treatment for battle casualties
Polyclinics under the Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) are apparently ignoring directions to give priority to the war disabled,
battle casualties and physically disabled veterans during consultations, check-up or issue of
medicines. A letter issued by the ECHS Central Organisation a few days ago states that ECHS authorities are continuously getting complaints and representations in this regard. The Central Organisation has directed all ECHS regional centers to issue necessary instructions to the officers in charge of polyclinics to ensure that such veterans are accorded priority treatment, keeping in mind their physical condition and old age. It has also advised regional centers to set up a 24-hour helpline to redress the grievances of the ECHS clientele. (Vijay Mohan and
Ajay Banerjee)
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Cong’s dilemma: To name Rahul PM candidate or not
New Delhi, January 15 Top sources in the party said senior leaders led by general secretary Digvijay Singh have communicated that the system of parliamentary democracy should be followed and the issue of leadership resolved after elections as has been the convention in the Congress. The leaders are reported to have argued that it would not be beneficial for the party to follow the BJP style of individualistic projection. “There is a strong view among the older guard that the anointment of Rahul Gandhi as the party’s PM candidate is really not necessary. He is the natural leader of the party and that is the way it is. What difference would it make by elevating him considering the country knows he is the leader of the party and its natural star campaigner,” said a senior Congress leader today voicing view of Digvijay Singh. Rahul has also held the view that the Congress is a democratic institution and it would allow elected MPs to select their leader after polls. Even on the issue of elevation as PM candidate, Rahul’s line has been: “I do not understand the obsession with one man and one post.” Even though Rahul has created a flutter with his latest public statement that he would accept any role the party gives, top Congress leaders today said Rahul has been maintaining that for a long time and there is nothing new in the comment. “All he has said is that he will accept whatever role the party gives him,” a senior party leader said. That would also mean that if the Congress performs poorly, the blame would go to Rahul. Contrarily if he is not named as a PM-in-waiting and is given a larger role, such as that of a campaign committee chief, he would concentrate better on election strategy.
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India, US commit to move forward
US Deputy Secretary of State William J Burns hosted the new Indian Ambassador S Jaishankar for a productive lunch meeting yesterday at the State Department headquarters as they discussed the forward movement in ties post the Devyani Khobragade case. During the meeting, the two diplomats affirmed their shared commitment to continue joint India-US work on issues such as clean energy and climate change, defence, economic and trade engagement, counter-terrorism, and civil nuclear development. It is in this regard that the two discussed initial preparations for a range of upcoming bilateral meetings and exchanges. "They agreed that the past several weeks have been challenging, and affirmed that we are both committed to moving forward to resume cooperation on the broad range of bilateral issues before us," the State Department said. Burns and Jaishankar also discussed the variety of issues raised by the Ministry of External Affairs via diplomatic note, including alleged issues with the American Embassy School. "Burns conveyed that we take their concerns very seriously and will continue to address them via appropriate diplomatic channels," the State Department said. This was the first meeting between the two after former Deputy Consul General Khobragade returned to India last week.
— PTI
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Rahul attends Cong core group meet to discuss poll strategies
New Delhi, January 15 The meeting reportedly discussed poll strategy of the party a day ahead of the Congress Working Committee meeting tomorrow. It came on a day when informal yet significant pointers - in the shape of posters projecting Rahul as an anti-corruption crusader - surfaced on social networking sites of prominent leaders. Slogans indicate party’s Lok Sabha campaign line which was discussed today at the core group meeting followed by a meeting of the manifesto and campaign sub-committees of the party which Defence Minister AK Antony heads. The slogans on the twitter wall of Congress general secretary in charge of communications Ajay Makan read: “Rahulji ke nau hathiyaar door karenge bhrashtachaar” and “Rahulji ka uddeshya... bhashtachaar mukt desh”. They are significant as they give away party’s thinking in terms of poll strategy, including the nine pending anti-graft Bills. At the core group, meanwhile, the Women's Reservation Bill and the need to raise LPG cylinder subsidy is said to have been discussed along with anti-graft Bills which Rahul has been pushing for passage. The stress on Women’s Reservation Bill comes ahead of the January 20 Congress meeting in Bhopal which Rahul will attend to seek women specific inputs for party manifesto. The core group was followed by Antony discussing ways to flag Congress’ poll manifesto issues in its campaign. The meeting was attended by all party general secretaries. As for Makan’s Twitter wall, it also slams BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi with a telling tweet: “Modi says Congress free India; Congress says polio free India.” On January 13, India completed three years without any polio case setting the stage for its declaration as polio free by WHO. Congress strategists are wanting to focus their campaign on the social, welfare and legislative achievements of the UPA so also Rahul's anti-corruption code, which includes pending bills on public procurement; whistle blowers protection, prevention of bribery to foreign officials among others. These bills will be pushed during the forthcoming session of Parliament being called for Vote on Account.
Campaigning on social networking sites
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Disabilities Bill to be passed in next session: Sonia
New Delhi, January 15 “Inclusion of the differently abled must become part of government policy. It is now accepted by everyone that disability is not an issue to be addressed by doctors alone. It is a social issue,” she said while addressing the gathering of 280 people at Siri Fort auditorium here. She said efforts to empower the disabled must begin at an early stage when the person is a child. Sonia said the UPA government had consistently worked to improve people with disability and India had signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability in 2007 under the UPA. “The amendments to the disability law which the Cabinet has cleared recently make the law complaint with the UN Convention. I am sure that we will be able to pass the Bill in the next session,” she said. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2013 will replace the archaic Persons with Disability Bill of 1995 and will enhance reservations for disabled from 3 per cent (1 per cent each for the physically, visually and hearing-impaired) to 5 per cent, giving additional benefit to two new categories — mentally disabled and people with multiple disabilities. The Bill also provides 19 categories of disabilities as against seven in the 1995 law. It includes as disability sickle cell disease, thalassemia and muscular dystrophy.
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India, Pak commerce secys discuss trade ties
New Delhi, January 15 This was after a year that the commerce secretaries of the two countries had met. Their talks had got stalled in the wake of the beheading of an India soldier in January last year and subsequent ceasefire violations along the LoC. An Indian official, who did not wish to be identified, said New Delhi was trying to understand the mind of the new government in Islamabad on trade ties between the two countries while a Pakistani official said enhancement of trade relations was a continuous process. From the Indian side, the meeting was attended by Commerce Secretary-designate Rajiv Kher and Arvind Mehta, Joint Secretary in the Commerce Ministry. The Pakistani delegation included outgoing High Commissioner Salman Bashir and
representatives of customs and the trade development authority. Pakistan Minister of State for Commerce Khurram Dastagir Khan is arriving here tomorrow to attend the SAARC business leaders meeting and meet Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma. However, New Delhi has already made it clear that the meetings between the commerce ministers and the commerce secretaries could not be construed as resumption of dialogue process. MEA spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said India was looking forward to Pakistan implementing the ‘sequential roadmap’ agreed to at the 2012 commerce secretaries’ meeting.
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International Crisis Group meets today
New Delhi, January 15 The ICG on Afghanistan and Pakistan will discuss security situation in the war-torn country that is gearing up for the polls in April amidst US-led international troops withdrawal. So far Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has refused to sign Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with the US. Several leading political figures and civil society groups have urged Karzai to sign the BSA as it will pave the way for presence of some forces. German Ambassador to India, Michael Steiner, speaking on the sidelines of function at the German Embassy, today confirmed: “We need the agreement of the Afghanistan Government for that. I am confident that this will come about. It’s important that Afghanistan agrees to modalities as this is a
pre-condition to have forces there”. Germany is one of the leading nations in the ICG on Afghanistan and its representative will lead the talks tomorrow. India will be represented by its Special Envoy for Afghanistan-Pakistan SK Lambah. As many as 53 countries will be at the meeting tomorrow. He cited how at the Bonn conference it was decided that Afghanistan needs 10 more years of attention. Single-point
agenda: To make Karzai agree on having forces beyond 2014
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Keep communal forces at bay, says Maya wati
Lucknow, January 15 Mayawati urged Dalits, Sarvjans and Muslims to strategically vote for the BSP in the upcoming elections so that the party emerged as a “balance of power” to keep the communal forces at bay at the Centre. Addressing the “Saavdhan Vishal Maharally” at Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan, Mayawati alleged that to keep her out of the PM’s race, all political parties had conspired to transfer their respective votes to the strongest candidate against the BSP, virtually conspiring to secretly unite to keep her out of power.
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The National Cadet Corps' top brass lined up to receive newly-elected Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on his visit to the annual Republic Day Camp
(RDC) on January 8 were in for a surprise when he arrived there almost unnoticed in his personal blue Wagon-R without the official trimmings.
This was unlike the arrival of other customary VVIP visitors like the Vice-President, Prime Minister, Defence Minister and the service chiefs, who troop in at the camp with their heavy cavalcades and entourages.
Washington, January 15
Washington, January 15