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Cong gave in to ‘Maoist’ AAP: BJP
Cong meets AAP half way to save R-Day sanctity
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At protest site, AAP men went after ‘anti-elements’
Congress revamps communications team ahead of polls
Probe murder, suicide angles, says SDM
Decision on LPG cylinders this week
NIA to file chargesheet against Italian marines
Copter deal: CBI seeks Prez nod to examine two Guvs
Rain no damper for bibliophiles
Study tour criticism unfair: Azam
UP minister slaps, punches party worker
Cops charge duo in custody with rationalist’s murder
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Cong gave in to ‘Maoist’ AAP: BJP
New Delhi, January 21 Launching its strongest attack so far against AAP, the BJP likened the newbie to the Maoists “who also believed in challenging the Constitution”. “What Maoists are doing in the jungle, Kejriwal is doing in Delhi. His vision about India is now becoming clear. By raking up Kashmir issue, AAP is talking the language of separatists.... what Pakistan wants to hear,” BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said. The BJP leader also termed the now-called off dharna a joint operation of AAP and the Congress and the move to send AAP-wanted policemen on leave as the proof of the grand old party’s “complete surrender”. “There are many reasons to believe that. Since the Congress cannot take on Narendra Modi on its own, it is using Kejriwal as a firewall,” he said. According to the BJP, the Congress sensed a huge opportunity in AAP protest to stall Modi’s march to the Centre and that was one reason that the ruling party allowed “Kejriwal’s dramatics” to play out in the sensitive Delhi area for two full days, holding the country to ransom with the threat of disrupting the Republic Day function. The party also pointed out Kejriwal’s “silence” on Congress president Sonia Gandhi and son Rahul. The attack against Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde hardly justified AAP’s anti-Congress projection, it added. Though the BJP claims that it is “not hassled” by Kejriwal’s “antics” that the people of the country were “watching and will give a befitting reply”, the party’s preliminary audit has forecast AAP effect on around 38 Lok Sabha seats in the country. The saffron party fears the prospects of losing a sizable share of the urban and middle class votes to the newbie and this is one reason that it has now decided to take on Kejriwal more forcefully. Notably, senior BJP leaders maintained a studious silence on AAP at the party’s recently-concluded national council. Even now, Javadekar refused to comment on whether the AAP action could be termed “desh droh” (treason). All he said was: “I think every patriot in the country should condemn what he is saying about the Republic Day celebrations”.
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Cong meets AAP half way to save R-Day sanctity
New Delhi, January 21 Although Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal described the “last-minute negotiation” as his victory, the fact is otherwise. If his demands are scrutinised, it would become evident who climbed down technically. When Kejriwal began his protest outside Rail Bhavan in Central Delhi, he began by seeking the suspension of the two policemen who, he alleged, didn’t do their duty. Later he demanded that the Delhi Police be placed under the administrative control of the Delhi Government instead of the Union Home Ministry as is the case at present. Then, while initially saying that only he and his Cabinet colleagues would protest, Kejriwal began urging people to join him and compromised security arrangements ahead of the R-Day in which Japanese premier Shinzo Abe is scheduled to be the Chief Guest. Given the turn of events, it had become important for the Congress to take a “concerted call on the law and order situation”. Top leaders said it was Kejriwal who blinked first. “He had sought the suspension of the policemen but the Home Ministry agreed only to send them on leave. While suspension would have meant admission of their guilt, leave technically means nothing. Policemen will remain on leave pending the enquiry. The Congress has ensured that Kejriwal gives in first,” a senior party leader said.
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At protest site, AAP men went after ‘anti-elements’
New Delhi, January 21 Women activists and a few others gharaoed a young man, Ravinder, who was speaking against Kejriwal at the protest site. The activist started beating him while some of them attacked him with the broom that they carrying as it is the symbol of the party. The man was made to apologise with folded hands before being released by agitated volunteers. Speaking on such ‘anti’ elements, AAP MLA Jagdeep Singh who was addressing the protestors on mike, said: “If any suspicious man was seen in the protest gathering, throw him away”. However, later AAP leaders said people indulging in violence either with the Delhi Police or with others are not AAP activists, rather ‘agents’ of the Opposition. “Our volunteers are sitting peacefully. These people who are trying fighting and trying to create panic does not belong to the
AAP. They may be from the Opposition,” Women and Child Welfare Minister Rakhi Birla said. The protestors outside Rail
Bhawan, which are not more than 200-300, are of the opinion that there is no political agenda behind the Kejriwal’s decision to sit on
dharna. Priyanka Tiwari, a resident of Naraina, said the party would not surrender to the pressure of the Delhi Police.
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Congress revamps communications team ahead of polls
New Delhi, January 21 The party introduced segregation in the communications team by putting together a four-layered structure comprising five senior spokespersons at the top of the pyramid, followed by 13 spokespersons, 24 media panelists and national panelists on state specific issues. Among senior spokespersons, to be called in only when the issue at hand is extremely critical, are: Commerce Minister Anand Sharma, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Congress general secretary Mukul Wasnik and External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid. Leaders from the region got a major boost with Haryana Industries Minister Randeep Surjewala being anointed as a national spokesperson formally although he had been interacting with the media for the past four months. I&B Minister and Lok Sabha MP from Ludhiana Manish Tewari, Sirsa MP Ashok Tanwar, Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda and J&K Congress chief Saifuddin Soz’s son Salman Soz have been named among the 24 media panelists. Meem Afzal, removed as a spokesperson, has been included as a panelist alongside MoS Home RPN Singh, Sanjay Nirupam, MoS Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla, Youth Congress leader Nadeem Javed and other Youth Congress leaders. Rahul’s confidante and LS member Meenakshi Natarajan has also been included in the media panel. Other new Congress spokespersons include minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, former UP state chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi, party’s TV regular Sanjay Jha, Satyavrat Chaturvedi, AICC general secretary Shakeel Ahmed, Gujarat CLP leader Shakti Singh Gohil and All India Mahila Congress chief Shobha
Oza.
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Probe murder, suicide angles, says SDM
New Delhi, January 21 If her death is a result of any of these actions, they will then register a case. Sources privy to the investigation have said that Sunanda’s post-mortem report revealed that her death “is a case of poisoning”. “Her viscera samples reveal that poison killed her. The samples have been sent to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) and a report will be given from there,” said the sources. A viscera report is usually released within nine months, however, it is likely that it will be released earlier by the CFSL, in view of the sensitivity of the case, explained sources. The inquiry report of Alok Sharma, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Vasant Vihar, that contains the post-mortem report with the findings was given to the police today. The inquiry report also contains the statement of 11 persons. The police have confirmed that they have received the SDM’s inquiry report. According to Section 176 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), an SDM is empowered to hold an inquiry into the cause of death in a case that involves the suicide of a woman within seven years of her marriage or when the “case relates to the death of a woman within the seven years of her marriage in any circumstances raising reasonable suspicion that some other person committed an offence in relation to such a woman”. The SDM’s report also contains the statement of 11 persons including that of Nalini Singh, who is a veteran journalist. She had earlier given her statement orally on Sunanda’s death to the SDM. She gave a two-page written statement to the SDM yesterday. She had spoken to Sunanda over the phone on January 17, the day she was found dead in a hotel room in Delhi’s Chanakyapuri area.
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Decision on LPG cylinders this week
New Delhi, January 21 "After our vice-president Rahul Gandhi said nine cylinders are not enough, I have moved a Cabinet note to increase the
quota to 12. I think the Cabinet is likely to consider the proposal this week," Moily said.
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Bal Thackeray’s sons in legal row over estate
Mumbai, January 21 Uddhav, who was anointed party's executive president by his father, has moved the Bombay High Court to probate the will of his father, who died on November 17, 2012. The probate petition of Uddhav, filed in January 2013 by solicitor firm Kanga and Company, has been converted into a testamentary suit as it was opposed by his brother Jaidev, who has not got any share in the property, said a lawyer involved in the case. The matter is expected to come up for hearing on January 27 before Justice Roshan Dalvi. The court might ask the parties to accept or deny documents. A probate petition is filed to get the will of a deceased person certified by a court. The estate left behind by Thackeray includes property and bank deposits worth Rs 14.85
crore.
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NIA to file chargesheet against Italian marines
New Delhi, January 21 However, the chargesheet was unlikely before February 3 by when the Centre had told the Supreme Court that it would resolve all disputes with the Italian government arising out of invoking the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Maritime Navigation and Fixed Platforms on Continental Shelf Act (SUA) against the two marines, official sources said. The Home Ministry allowed the NIA to prosecute the marines under the SUA last week. Accused Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone are now lodged on the Italian Embassy premises here. — PTI
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Copter deal: CBI seeks Prez nod to examine two Guvs
New Delhi, January 21 Sources said permission has been sought from President Pranab Mukherjee's office to record statements of West Bengal Governor Narayanan, who was the National Security Adviser, and his Goa counterpart Wanchoo, who was the head of elite Special Protection Group (SPG) guarding the Prime Minister. The sources said the agency has made it clear that the two Constitutional functionaries would be approached as witnesses for recording their statements in the case. The move comes against the backdrop of the Law Ministry rejecting the plea of the CBI to quiz the two on the ground that they enjoyed constitutional immunity. The CBI had sought permission to record their statement as part of its probe into alleged Rs 360 crore bribe in the deal that was scrapped by the government last month. Seeking recording of their statements, the CBI has said Wanchoo and Narayanan had participated in the meeting in 2005 that allowed key changes in the technical specifications. Sources said the CBI had sought permission also on the ground that the President was the appointing authority of of the Governors. The President may take opinion of the legal experts before allowing the agency to record the statement, the sources feel. — PTI
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Rain no damper for bibliophiles
Under a dripping Mughal Tent, Vishwajyoti Ghosh, Ahmad Rafay Alam, Urvashi Butalia with Indrajit Hazra deliberated upon the need to “Reimaging Partition”. The multi-pronged perspectives on the biggest human migration in human history needs to be retold since it has come to be accepted as a lived part of our shared history, said the panelists. Processed by the second and third generation survivors, a new kind of partition-related literature is being published in all the three countries - India, Pakistan and Bangladesh -- affected by this tragedy that is shorn of its violent overtones. The new literature is more nuanced and looks at the tragedy from perspectives - other than its brutal side. “Partition is now a lower case word that ends in three dots,” concluded Ghosh. Jim Grace, author of “The Harvest” shortlisted for this year’s Man booker Prize, enlightened the audience on the challenges faced by the modern-age author, who is addressing an audience that has lost all sense of wonderment with advancements of science and technology. “We need fresh narratives that are not glued to the mysteries of the God.” Apart from the challenge of the content, with audio books being the choice among the young readers, he stressed upon the need for bringing in ‘sound wonder’ in the novel to keep the listener hooked to the narrative. The evening before, Ekta Kapoor, film and TV producer whose serial “Jodha Akbar” has run into controversy for alleged liberties taken with the historical facts, was confronted by a few slogan-raising members of Rajput Karni Sena. She preferred to treat this incident as “the background music.” Following the tradition of the literature festival, she refused to take questions from the audience. Two brilliantly curated sessions, one on Coleridges’ famous poem “The Ancient Mariner” by Prof Richard Homes, and the other on the travel writings of Patrick Leigh Fermor found the audience intently listening to the authors, forgetting the inclement weather. The next and the eighth chapter of the Zee JLF will be held from January 21 to 25, 2015.
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Study tour criticism unfair: Azam
Lucknow, January 21 Addressing reporters at his residence along with almost all the members of the delegation immediately after their return from the tour, Khan said the tour of the 17-member delegation hit the headlines while such tours undertaken every year from 1998 to 2004 never found any mention in the media.
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UP minister slaps, punches party worker
Lucknow, January 21 The incident happened at a party meeting in Varanasi while the minister was listening to problems being raised by party supporters. When confronted by the worker on the high-handedness and hooliganism of some of the party members, the minister lunged towards him. He first tried to gag him and then slapped him, following it up with a punch. Patel, who is the junior minister and a close associate of PWD Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav, warned the worker, following which he apologised with folded hands. It was caught on television cameras. BJP spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak criticised the minister, saying that the arrogance of the minister with his own workers and supporters was reflective of the malice in the Akhilesh Yadav government. "When the minister can beat up his own supporters like this, just think of what he must be doing to common people who go to petition him," Pathak said. This is not the first time that Surendra Patel has lost his cool. The minister also beat up some people Dec 29 last year during a blanket distribution function organised by the party. Members of the state government and party workers have been courting controversies ever since the formation of the SP government March 2012. — PTI
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Cops charge duo in custody with rationalist’s murder
Mumbai, January 21 The two men -- Manish Nagori (24) and Vikas Khandelwal (22) -- were arrested last year following interrogation of two alleged contract killers who were sent to kill someone in Goa. The police say the killers confessed to have sourced their weapons from Nagori, an alleged arms dealer. The police claimed in December last that forensic evidence from the bullets recovered from the body
of Dabholkar matched with the gun found in Nagori's possession. The arrest of the two men came days after Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil threatened to transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if the case was not solved in a week. However, the arrest of the two men is likely to be controversial. Nagori's family had told reporters earlier this month that the Pune police had offered him Rs 20 lakh to confess to the murder of Dabholkar. His father told a newspaper that the police were trying to falsely implicate Nagori in the Dabholkar murder case. Both Nagori and Khandelwal were produced before a Pune court today. The police had claimed last month that one of
the two men arrested in Goa in December matched eye-witness’ description of one of the men who shot at Dabholkar.
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New Delhi, January 21
New Delhi, January 21
New Delhi, January 21
On the concluding day of the seventh chapter of the Zee Literature Festival, the weather gods took the organisers by surprise. It poured and poured. Most open air venues had dripping tents. Undeterred, the bibliophiles arrived for the first session, on dot, braving cold and rain.