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BJP targets Rahul on riots remarks
’84 riots spontaneous but condemnable, says Cong
Tarlochan, Phoolka too react sharply
Karuna lashes out at Alagiri
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RS polls: 15 Cong leaders file papers
An MNS worker protests against toll tax on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway. PTI
HC notice to Kejri, Bharti on disqualification plea
No response from parties on electoral reforms: Law panel
Telangana Bill: AP CM seeks more time
ASP killed, 5 cops hurt in Assam ambush
An injured policeman being brought to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital on Tuesday. PTI
Tehelka: Police chargesheet by February 5
BJP set to play OBC card
cheque bounce case
Ferreira quizzed in QNet case
LS polls: Cong panel meeting for HP today
Six Maoists arrested
Bokaro plant scam: CBI raids 35 places
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BJP targets Rahul on riots remarks
New Delhi, January 28 Rahul said last evening that the difference between the riots witnessed in 1984 and 2002 was that while in Delhi, the Congress government tried to stop violence, the BJP government in Gujarat abetted riots. “The simple difference is that in 1984, the government was not involved in the massacre of people. In Gujarat, it was,” Rahul said. Terming the Congress leader “ill-informed”, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said while the Gujarat Government responded adequately and controlled the 2002 riots, no such action was taken during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. “In 1984, the police hardly fired at the rioters, it was in collusion with the government. In Gujarat, 300 rioters died in police firing. Around 65,000 rioters were arrested in Gujarat, more than 4,000 chargesheeted and hundreds have been convicted,” Jaitley said. “Even the Chief Minister (Narendra Modi) has gone through inquiries. What did they (Congress) do in 1984,” he questioned. “Which Congress man has ended in jail because of 1984 (riots)? The call for ‘khoon ka badla khoon’ was heard in AIIMS first,” he said. According to Ravi Shankar, the Gujarat Government did its best to prevent riots and even the SIT constituted by the Supreme Court had found that all motivated allegations against Modi were false and baseless. This was accepted by the court. “In Gujarat, many persons have been convicted and trials are going on in many cases. The way he (Rahul) sought to defend the Congress government in relation to 1984 riots is deeply condemnable. What has Rahul Gandhi to say on the famous statement of Rajiv Gandhi - “when big tree falls, the earth shakes” and the manner in which Congress leaders involved in the massacre where shielded by the government and the investigating agencies which compelled courts to make adverse comments. He did not utter a word why it took so long to call the Army in Delhi in 1984,” he said.
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’84 riots spontaneous but condemnable, says Cong New Delhi, January 28 Asked what the Congress had done to punish its leaders involved in the anti-Sikh riots, Singhvi said: “In the 1984 anti-Sikh riot trials there were 442 convictions. The political careers of several ministers and senior leaders were adversely affected. On the other hand, the Supreme Court had to shift all 2002 riot cases out of Gujarat to Maharashtra because the court was not confident of fair trial in Gujarat." When questioned on whether the Congress did not regard the fact that the Supreme Court-monitored SIT in the 2002 trials had given a clean chit to the CM, Singhvi said, "We are not saying that Narendra Modi is criminally convicted for the riots. But we do ask what former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee meant when he spoke of Rajdharma in context of the Gujarat riots. The issue is that the Gujarat government turned a blind eye to the fact that the bodies of kar sewaks were brought from Godhra to Ahmadabad, post-mortem work handed over to organisations like the VHP and it was in this context that the rioting started." Singhvi also said while the SIT had given Modi a clean chit, the Amicus Curie on the SIT had differed with the clean chit idea. The Congress also defended Rahul Gandhi for not apologising for the 1984 riots saying the PM and Cong president Sonia Gandhi had already done that. “The Congress believes that what happened in 1984 was terrible and is not condoning what happened. We would like to hear a similar kind of sentiment from other persons. What happened in Gujarat in 2002 has strikingly different features to what happened in 1984. The Congress govt in 1984 tried to stop the riots and started a process of reconciliation for the victims.”
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Tarlochan, Phoolka too react sharply
New Delhi, January 28 Phoolka stated had the guilty of the 1984 riots been punished, the country would not have seen the riots in Mumbai in 1993 or in Gujarat in 2002. “It was the active connivance of the Congress government in 1984 and its massive cover up for all these decades thereafter that has prevented justice to the victims of 1984. Rahul’s statement thus is like salt on the wounds of the victims of 1984,” he said. Singh, who led a delegation of the National Commission for Minorities to Gujarat soon after it was affected by riots, said it was wrong to say that Modi did not take steps to control the situation. In the first place, only Ahmedabad and its adjoining villages were affected by the riots. The state administration, he said, took steps on a war-footing to ensure that the riots did not spread to other parts. The state police were very active and prompt in responding to the situation.
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Karuna lashes out at Alagiri
Chennai, January 28 Karunanidhi at a press conference at the party headquarters in Chennai said Alagiri spewed hatred when he remarked that Stalin would die in three months. "He (Alagiri) has some unknown hatred against Stalin. Alagiri even said Stalin would die in three months. No father can tolerate such words against a son. As the party chief, I had to tolerate them." Detailing the events leading to Alagiri's suspension, the DMK patriarch said Alagiri had been giving interviews to newspapers and TV channels against the party's General and Executive Councils' decision (about
tie-up with DMDK), resulting in undesirable political fallout. — PTI
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RS polls: 15 Cong leaders file papers New Delhi, January 28 The last three names to be officially declared by the party this morning were that of Kumari Selja (from Haryana), Bhubaneshwar Kalita and Sanjay Singh (both from Assam). While Social Justice Minister Selja today resigned from the Cabinet and filed her nomination in Chandigarh, sitting LS member from UP’s Sultanpur Sanjay Singh filed his nomination from Assam along with Assam Congress chief Kalita who has been re-nominated to the Upper House. Singh was in talks with the BJP to contest against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi from Amethi, but was eventually placated by the Congress by giving an RS ticket. In 1998, he had defeated Congress’ Satish Sharma in Amethi. AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh filed his RS nomination from Madhya Pradesh. Three RS seats are falling vacant in the state. The other two will go to the BJP. In case of Gujarat, the Congress will get only one seat out four that will fall vacant. It has named AICC general secretary Madhusudan Mistry from there. Out of seven vacancies in Maharashtra, the Congress hopes to get two and has re-nominated Murli Deora and Umar Husain Dalwai. In Odisha, the party has named IPL chairman Ranjib Biswal. From Andhra Pradesh, where six vacancies are arising, the Congress has re-nominated three sitting RS members. They are: KVP Ramachandra Rao, MA Khan and TS Reddy. From Assam, the party will retain two of the three vacancies. AICC treasurer Motilal Vora has again filed his nomination from Chhattisgarh where the Congress will get to send back a candidate for one of the two vacancies. There will be two vacancies from Haryana. The Congress will retain one of these. It has got Selja file her nomination for that seat. From Himachal, Viplove Thakur is in the fray. From Meghalaya, sitting Congress MP Wansuk Syiem has again filed her nomination for the lone vacant seat. From Manipur, Haji Abdul Salam has filed his nomination against the seat of sitting Congress MP Rishang Keishing, the oldest MP of the Upper House whose term will expire on April 9.
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MNS men attack more toll booths
Mumbai, January 28
A group of MNS workers today allegedly vandalised a toll plaza at the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. The police said MNS workers had raised slogans in favour of Raj Thackeray and had hurled stones at toll booths, breaking many window panes. Traffic on the Sea Link came to a standstill after employees at the toll booths downed the barriers. The police said the employees fled the spot when MNS workers began attacking the booths. Fifteen people have been arrested so far. It is not clear if anyone was injured during the violence. Earlier during the day, Patil had warned that the government would not sit idle while MNS activists attacked toll booths. The Home Department ordered the police to file FIRs against MNS activists, including MLA Pravin Darekar, who had vandalised toll booths on Monday. However, nearly hundred MNS activists were released on bail a few hours after they were arrested on Monday. Director General of Police Sanjeev Dayal told mediapersons that the police were considering filing a criminal case against Thackeray for instigating his party cadre to attack toll booths.
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HC notice to Kejri, Bharti on disqualification plea
New Delhi, January 28 The petitions have been filed by former Delhi BJP president Vijender Gupta, who had contested against Kejriwal for the New Delhi seat, and former
Delhi Mayor and BJP leader Arti Mehra. The petitions were heard separately by two Benches, one of Justice Vipin Sanghi and another of Justice GS Sistani. The high court directed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders to file their response within four weeks and posted the next hearing for February 25. The BJP leaders contended through their counsel that Kejriwal and Bharti had, after filing their nomination papers, resorted to corrupt practices and spent nearly Rs 95 lakh on organising a rock show “jeet ki jung, vote for change” on November 23, 2013, at Jantar Mantar. However, in their returns, they had put the expenses on this count at Rs 14.72 lakh. The petitioners also alleged that the two AAP leaders had violated the model code of conduct, the provisions of the Representation of People Act and the Constitution meant for ensuring free and fair elections. The EC had noted that the concert was for a good cause without getting an independent assessment made on the expenses, they said. If such an explanation was accepted, then every candidate would organise similar events to influence the voters and get away with spending far in excess of the campaign cap, they pleaded.
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No response from parties on electoral reforms: Law panel
New Delhi, January 28 Talking to reporters, Justice Shah said the commission was nevertheless going ahead with its national-level consultation here on February 1 for finalising its proposals on fresh laws to curb criminalisation of politics, particularly the measures to check filing of false affidavits by candidates contesting elections. He said the commission had invited the presidents of all political parties and heads of statutory commissions such as the Election Commission, besides academics and lawyers for the day-long consultation. The LC would submit its initial recommendations to the Supreme Court which had asked for it while hearing a case on the subject. The next hearing is slated for March 8. The commission would hold further consultations and submit its comprehensive recommendations by April-end, covering various aspects. It would also go into the need for disqualification of MPs and MLAs, immediately upon framing of charges by the court for heinous crimes, instead of upon their conviction. Among the other aspects, the LC would deal with state funding of election expenses, donations to political parties, bringing parties under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, scrutiny of winning candidates’ return by the Income Tax Department or the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), the practice of paid news in electronic and print media and advertisements by governments showing their achievements just before elections. The commission had also floated for the first time an idea for “screening” the candidates wanting to contest elections by “assessing their suitability,” Prof Mool Chand Sharma, a member, said.
National-level consultation to continue
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Telangana Bill: AP CM seeks more time
Hyderabad, January 28 "Let them read the Government of India rules," the Chief Minister said, in a snub to Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, who yesterday said “there can only be one Bill which is final”. Maintaining that it was not a question of whether the Bill was “original or fake”, the Chief Minister today noted it was a question of whether it was comprehensive or not. “In its present form, the Bill is not comprehensive. A Bill that has to be presented in Parliament should be comprehensive with details like statement of objects and reasons, financial memorandum and also the statement of purpose. The same Bill should be referred to the state Legislature for its views. Even the Article 3 of the Constitution specifies this,” Kiran told mediapersons here today. "Let them read the Government of India rules that specify what a Bill should contain," he said. He asserted that only a "comprehensive Bill" should be sent to the President and not the draft. The Chief Minister said he has written a letter to the President today seeking extension of time beyond January 30 for the state Legislature to discuss and return the Bill. — PTI
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ASP killed, 5 cops hurt in Assam ambush
Guwahati, January 28 Another person accompanying the police team was also killed. The police team led by ASP Guljar Hussain was returning from the nearby India-Bhutan border after an operation when a group of NDFB(S) militants waylaid the vehicles. The injured policemen were identified as Umakanta Bailung, Pinku Nath, Rubul Bora, Hiraj Bharali and Janak Basumatary. The three of them were seriously injured and shifted to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital, while the other two were admitted to the Government Civil Hospital in Tezpur. Sonitpur Superintendent of Police Sanjukta Parashar said: “The incident occurred because policemen were going all out against the NDFB (S) militants. We are going to intensify the operation.” The slain ASP had carried out many successful operations against militants in the past. He hails from Bihpuria in Lakhimpur district. He is survived by his wife and two children. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi condemned the incident and warned of an all-out operation against the NDFB(S). He said the policemen would now have to compulsorily wear bullet-proof vests and helmets while conducting operations. Director General of Police Khagen Sarma said the ambush was the handiwork of the NDFB(S) and vowed to intensify the operation. He said the NDFB (S) had bases in Kokrajhar, Chirang and Sonitpur districts. A dusk-to-dawn curfew has been clamped in the Dhekiajuli area as tension mounted after the incident. Two more companies of the Border Security Force (BSF) have been deployed in the Dhekiajuli police station area. A self-styled spokesman for the NDFB(S), BR Ferenga, claimed responsibility for the ambush.
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Tehelka: Police chargesheet by February 5
Panaji, January 28 The investigation in the case is almost over," a senior crime branch official said. A former junior woman journalist of the Tehelka magazine had alleged that Tejpal had sexually assaulted her. — PTI
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BJP set to play OBC card
New Delhi, January 28 The party's Samajik Nyay Morcha - so far operative in UP - is set to expand base christened as the Rashtriya Samajik Nyay Samanvay Samiti. Party president Rajnath Singh could not have made the BJP's target OBC plan more clear. Addressing the meeting of the morcha, he talked about party's PM candidate Narendra Modi's OBC credentials and added to it his Madhya Pradesh counterpart Shivraj Singh Chouhan's OBC status as well. Rajnath Singh also talked about how in some states he too was considered under the category in a bid to press home the point that the BJP believed in giving equal opportunities to backward classes. Modi's points man in Uttar Pradesh - Amit Shah - also promised equal participation of Backward Classes, including the Muslims, in the state that sends a major chunk of 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha and which, along with Bihar and Maharashtra, holds the key to the next Lok Sabha. The OBCs form a sizeable chunk of the electorate with estimates putting their percentage at 40 per cent. The Gujarat Chief Minister, who has so far refrained from using his OBC background overtly on the national platform, recently utilised it to launch a scathing attack against rival Congress. Using Congress leader Mani Shakar Aiyar's tea vendor comment, he said "those born in an aristocratic family" feel below their dignity to contest against a tea vendor coming from a Backward Caste because of their "feudal mindset". The statement is significant considering that Modi has so far tried to build credentials on the development plank, even sidelining the "Hindutva agenda" that the BJP used for revival in 1990s. But clearly the party now wants target the vote bank held captive by OBC leaders of the Hindi heartland - Samajwadi Party's Mulayam Singh Yadav, RJD's Lalu Yadav and JD-U's Nitish Kumar. The first time he used the OBC card was in the Gujarat Assembly elections - to offset a wayward Patel vote bank. Soon after, he appeared on the cover of Time magazine, his media managers began marketing him as the first Indian OBC leader to get the distinction. Modi belongs to the Ghanchi community of oil-pressers (teli) and Chouhan to the Kirar community.
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HC stays execution of NBW against Preity
Mumbai, January 28 Justice Revati Mohite Dere stayed the warrant issued by the Andheri metropolitan magistrate yesterday after Zinta failed to appear before it to record her statement in the case. “Zinta had filed an application before the magistrate requesting the court to record her statement through her lawyers. This is permitted by the Supreme Court by one of its judgments," Zinta's advocates Vishwajit Sawant and Subhash Jadhav said. But the magistrate refused to hear the application and issued a non-bailable warrant against Zinta and posted the matter for hearing on February 10. The actor approached the high court today challenging the warrant. "The High Court stayed execution of the warrant and has kept the petition for hearing on January 30," Jadhav said. The cheque bounce case was filed by scriptwriter Abbas Tyrewala who had written script for her film 'Ishkq In Paris'. — PTI
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Ferreira quizzed in QNet case
Mumbai, January 28 His passport was confiscated by police. Ferreira (75) turned up before the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) for the second day today, following Wednesday's directive by a sessions court to present himself for questioning. The court, which is hearing his anticipatory bail plea, had also granted him interim protection from arrest till January 31, when his application would be taken up again. Yesterday, he was grilled for nearly two hours. Police questioned him over his share-holding pattern with QNet and his association with the controversial company. According to police, Ferreira earned crores through his association with the company for years and participated in and promoted the firm's schemes extensively. — PTI
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LS polls: Cong panel meeting for HP today
New Delhi, Jan 28 The meeting will be presided over by Assam Congress Chief and chairman of the screening panel Bhubaneshwar Kalita, who has today been re-nominated as a Congress candidate from Assam RS seat. The meeting will be attended by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and state party chief Sukhwinder
Sukhu.
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Six Maoists arrested
Raipur, January 28 A joint team of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and district rounded up the men from Sulenga and Maskol forests, around 350 km from Raipur. — PTI
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Bokaro plant scam: CBI raids 35 places
New Delhi, January 28 The searches were conducted at official and residential premises of former managing director, former executive director and others in Bokaro, Ranchi, Patna, Arrah (Bihar), Ghaziabad, New Delhi, Bhilai, Bhopal, Jabalpur and Bhubaneshwar. Sources said the searches took place after agency registered two separate cases related to alleged irregularities in the appointments in the public sector undertaking in 2008 in which a former executive director of the plant and other former senior officers were named as accused. Sources alleged that the officials of the steel plant entered in criminal conspiracy in the appointment process by not giving adequate publicity to the appointment advertisement and accepting applications after due dates and in violation of norms by hand or by courier, thus favouring these candidates. The spokesperson said the CBI had registered these cases under sections of cheating and forgery of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act. — TNS
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An Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) was killed and five policemen injured after militants of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Sangbijit faction) ambushed a police team in the Batachipur area of Sonitpur district in north Assam this morning.
Rahul’s attempt to highlight Gujarat riots of 2002 “to divert attention” from the Delhi pogrom saw an angry BJP slamming him for “indulging in rank falsehood”. His interview to a TV channel yesterday was termed as a command performance of “evasion, lies and… also ignorance,” by senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said while the 1984 riots were condemnable, they were spontaneous and not “actively abetted by the state as in Gujarat.” Rahul had yesterday blamed the Gujarat Chief Minister for the riots. 
Singh, who was secretary to then President Zail Singh when anti-Sikh riots took place in Delhi in 1984, said it was a known fact that senior Congress leaders and a number of police officers in the national capital were involved in instigating the rioters. In fact, one of the police officers was also given ticket for the Assembly elections by the Congress party.