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AAP workers protest outside Jaitley’s house, BJP retaliates
lok sabha session begins today |
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Rajiv killers don’t deserve mercy, Centre tells SC
Congress may reflect on delinking quota from caste BJP looks to corner Cong on graft, price rise
nido’s death
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Education Minister Manish Sisodia with North-East students at a dharna seeking justice for Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Tania, at Jantar Mantar
in New Delhi on Tuesday. PTI
WW-I centenary: MEA’s project to highlight India’s role
Bihar minister resigns, quits JD(U)
Chief priest of Badrinath shrine held
Parties want LS poll spending cap raised
People kept in dark on biometric misuse, SC told
Girl’s father injured in UP acid attack; youth arrested
Pak prisoner dies in Faridkot hospital
Amma’s tie-up with Left upsets BJP’s south plans
Court orders probe into Abu Salem’s ‘train wedding’
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AAP workers protest outside Jaitley’s house, BJP retaliates
New Delhi, February 4 BJP activists soon launched a counter-protest at the same spot, alleging that the AAP was just protesting with an eye on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. “AAP's allegation against Jaitley is totally baseless. They are just doing vote-bank politics with an eye on Lok Sabha elections,” BJP leader Harish Khurana said. As both parties protested at the same place, there were heated arguments between their workers. The police had beefed up security outside Jaitley's house and had to divide workers of the two parties by putting barricades. The AAP had yesterday accused Modi and Jaitley of trying to topple the Kejriwal government, claiming that they were luring AAP MLAs to split the party. AAP MLA Madan Lal had yesterday alleged that a person close to Modi had offered him Rs 20 crore to split the party and promised to make him the Chief Minister if he could do so. “Two persons met me around 10 to 12 days ago. One of them told me that his name was Sanjoy Singh and he had come from Gujarat. He said he was close to Narendra Modi and that Modiji wanted me to get the support of around 10 (AAP) MLAs,” the Kasturba Nagar MLA had said without producing any proof to substantiate the allegations. Lal had also claimed that on December 7, an unidentified person had called him up, saying a prominent leader wanted to talk to him. “When I asked him who wanted to talk to me, he said Arun Jaitley. After hearing Jaitley's name, I disconnected the phone,” he had said. In a tweet, Jaitley had rubbished the allegations. “Rubbish claims by AAP. AAP's alternative politics includes a fundamental right to falsehood and lies,” he said. — PTI
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lok sabha session begins today KV Prasad Tribune News Service
New Delhi, February 4 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today underscored the government’s intent identifying the legislation as an important one. Four years ago, he described its passage by the Rajya Sabha as a “historic and giant step” which since then remained stuck in the Lok Sabha for want of political consensus that remains elusive till date. In 2008, the UPA-I government made a conscious decision to introduce the Bill in the Rajya Sabha so that it would not lapse and a breakthrough came on March 9, 2010 when the Upper House adopted the Bill 191-1, albeit in manner that stoked controversy. After efforts to have in passed symbolically on March 8 - International Day of Women - did not work due to stalling tactics by members from the Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal and Lok Janshakti Party, the next day Chairman Hamid Ansari called in marshals to evict protesting MPs paving the way for a debate and subsequent passage. Although within rules, the method attracted critical comments and the Lok Sabha kept the Bill in abeyance while bringing it on the list of Bills that are pending for passage before commencement of a new session. Technically with the support of the BJP and the Left, the Bill can be passed in the Lok Sabha but considering the current state of agitation, with members of the Seemandhra region upset over the separate Telengana Bill threatening to stall the proceedings, much will depend on how smooth the House will function. Being a Constitutional Amendment Bill it cannot be passed by voice vote and that too in din. Each clause of the Bill will have to be voted and recorded by two-thirds present and voting, which may not be easy unless there is an all-round consensus. Although the Congress and its leaders reiterate commitment, will it risk upsetting its possible allies in Bihar, the RJD and LJP when the general election is to be held this summer is anybody's guess? Brinda Karat, CPM Politburo member, said the Prime Minister's statement today did not reflect a “credible concern”. “In the present mood, I doubt if such legislation has any chance...why did the government wait till the last session...?”
The hurdles
* The Bill can be passed in the LS but much will depend on how smooth the House will function given the current state of affairs *
Being a Constitutional Amendment Bill it cannot be passed by voice vote *
Each clause of the Bill will have to be voted and recorded by two-thirds present and voting, which may not be easy unless there is a consensus
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Rajiv killers don’t deserve mercy, Centre tells SC
New Delhi, February 4 Arguing before a three-Judge Bench headed by Chief Justice P
Sathasivam, Attorney General GE Vahanvati said the convicts — Santhan, Murugan and
Perarivalan, alias Arivu — had not expressed any remorse in their mercy pleas. The Bench, which also included Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Shiva Kirti Singh, reserved its judgment at the conclusion of arguments by Vahanvati and counsel for the petitioners. The AG further contended that the three convicts had not been subjected to agony, torture or any other dehumanising treatment during their incarceration for their role in the May 1991 assassination of the former Prime Minister. Also, there was no unreasonable, unexplained and undue delay in the rejection of their mercy petitions either by the President or the Tamil Nadu Governor, Vahanvati pleaded. As such, the January 21, 2014 SC verdict, holding that death sentences were liable to be reduced to life term if there were long and unjust delays in taking a decision on mercy petitions, would not be applicable to them, he reasoned. The convicts have sought commutation of their death sentence, citing the 11-year delay in the rejection of their mercy petitions. In fact, the government had come out with its recommendations in the cases of other convicts, who had filed their clemency pleas much later, on a priority basis, but kept their cases pending, they contended. Citing the Devender Pal Singh Bhullar case, the Supreme Court had, on May 1, 2012, transferred to itself the cases relating to the Rajiv Gandhi assassination from the Madras High Court. Acknowledging that the issues involved in both the cases were identical, the SC had said the “question is of substantial general importance” as the SC’s ruling would affect a large number of persons who were similarly placed. Subsequently, the apex court rejected Bhullar’s plea, holding that terrorists did not deserve commutation on account of delays in the mercy plea disposal. However, it is now considering a fresh plea filed by his wife, Navneet
Kaur, in the form of curative petition.
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Congress may reflect on delinking quota from caste New Delhi, February 4 It was first debated in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) in 1990 following Mandal Commission agitations. Party veteran Janardan Dwivedi on Tuesday articulated the thinking before the party leadership. Dwivedi is party general secretary in charge of organization and wields tremendous influence. "Caste alone should not be a determinant of backwardness, and hence of reservations. Economic criterion should be the basis so that the poor belonging to all castes and groups get the benefit of equal opportunity," Dwivedi said. His remarks came at a time when the party is fine-tuning is strategy for its manifesto. Party's manifesto committee head AK Antony wants all inputs by February 5. Dwivedi's views can be accommodated in the manifesto under the social justice chapter. What is significant is the timing. "Reservation should be given to those belonging to all sections and all religions," he said, clearly pitching for poverty as the basis of backwardness. Dwivedi argued that reservations were supposed to end in 10 years after Independence. "The poor continue to remain poor while privileged sections among the backward classes walk away with chunk of the benefits. Social justice is different from casteism," he said, hoping Rahul Gandhi would consider his opinion for discussion. His remarks are also seen in the backdrop of the rise of regional parties that have made reservation as the bulwark of their politics.
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BJP looks to corner Cong on graft, price rise
New Delhi, February 4 Senior party leaders said these two issues would be highlighted by the saffron party apart from conventional anti-Congress issues such as price rise, corruption and the VVIP chopper deal. The party has had a detailed consultation regarding serious allegations of corruption related to AgustaWestland helicopter deal and also on the involvement of senior functionaries of the Congress on the basis of which it will corner the ruling party. Though senior BJP leaders insist that their primary aim was to let Parliament function, they would also not allow the Congress to dump the responsibility of its not functioning on them. “Rahul Gandhi wants to bring his six anti-corruption Bills. The Congress policy is clear. If the Parliament manages to clear them the credit will be attributed to Rahul and in case it doesn’t then the BJP will be made the fall guy. We will not allow that to happen. You cannot abuse us and then expect us to be all cooperative to suit your needs. If they try to corner us we will counter them with charges of the corruption in the past five years of their rule,” says a senior BJP leader. The BJP is aware that the session will be stormy courtesy the contentious Telangana Bill. “Do you expect the House to run?” questioned a senior BJP leader. However amid its attempt to counter the Congress agenda the BJP will also try to fulfil its own political programme and woo the North-East and the South by raising the issues most current and pertinent to these parts.
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Shinde promises action against guilty
New Delhi, February 4 The delegation sought a speedy probe and justice to the family of Nido Taniam, a BA first-year student of a private university, who died after allegedly being assaulted by a group of people in Lajpat Nagar here. "The Home Minister said the guilty will be punished. He assured us that a speedy probe will be conducted in the case of Nido Taniam," Ering told reporters after the 20-minute meeting with Shinde. Sources said the Home Ministry has agreed to order a magisterial probe into the case. The ministry will also set up an administrative committee to look into the larger complaints of victimisation of students from the North-East. The MoS Minority Affairs said the delegation demanded a CBI investigation into the death of Tania, action against "erring" Delhi Police personnel who alleged failed to act properly and enactment of an anti-racial law. — PTI
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WW-I centenary: MEA’s project to highlight India’s role
Chandigarh, February 4 Then under the Crown, the British Indian Army had contributed a number of divisions and independent brigades to the European, Mediterranean and the Middle-East theatres during the war from 1914 to 1918. Of the 1.4 million Indian soldiers who had served overseas, 75,000 had died. The India Gate in Delhi had been built to commemorate the sacrifices of these troops. Jody East, Creative Programme Curator of the Royal Pavilion and Museums, will be visiting Delhi and Chandigarh this month to give more information about the Indian Army’s role in the World War-I. She will also be addressing a select audience at the USI, a military think tank, and at Headquarters, Western Command, Chandimandir. This is among a series of activities being held in this regard. At the centre of the commemorations is a unique palace located in Brighton on the southern coast of England that was built by King George between 1787 and 1823 in the Indo-Saracenic style prevalent in India for most of the 19th century with the most extravagant chinoiserie interiors ever executed in the British Isles. Initially built as a seaside retreat for the Prince of Wales, the most extraordinary manifestation of this vast palace -- named the Royal Pavilion -- was that it was converted into a hospital to treat wounded Indian soldiers. Given its opulence, the Pavilion was partly used in imperial efforts to convince potential Indian recruits that their wounded countrymen were being well treated. According to some historical excerpts, a series of photographs was produced showing the resplendent rooms that were converted into hospital wards. It was renamed, for some time, as the Kitchener Indian Hospital and the recuperating soldiers also received visits from Lord Kitchener, the erstwhile Commander-in-Chief, India, in July 1915 and King George V the next month who presented several soldiers with military honours. In 1916, the Indian soldiers were moved on from Brighton after their redeployment in the Middle East and by that time, about 14,000 wounded Indian servicemen had passed through the town's hospitals. There is a lasting legacy in the form of a large archway, erected in 1921, at the entrance to the Royal Pavilion grounds. It was a gift to the town of Brighton from the Princes and the people of India, commemorating the Indian soldiers treatment in Brighton military hospitals. It was opened officially by the Maharaja of Patiala Bhupinder Singh.
100 years on * The British Indian Army contributed a number of divisions and independent brigades to the European, Mediterranean and the Middle-East theatres during the war from 1914 to 1918 *
Of the 1.4 million Indian soldiers who had served overseas, 75,000 had died
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Bihar minister resigns, quits JD(U)
Patna, February 4 Parveen told mediapersons that she was finding it difficult to work in the present system. She did not elaborate. The minister said she would return to social work, her passion for a long time. Parveen did not give any specific reason for quitting and said she did not have any grudge against the Chief Minister and other ministerial colleagues. Her decision came just months before the Lok Sabha elections. She said she would also resign as MLA. The resignation of Parveen does not augur well for the CM, who is already facing threats to his popularity amid efforts by RJD President Lalu Prasad to stage a comeback. Asked if resignation from JD(U) indicated she considers the party a "sinking ship", she answered in the negative. "My good wishes are with JD(U)," she said. Parveen said although she managed to do many things in her department as a minister, she also failed to do many other things she wanted to. — PTI
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Parties want LS poll spending cap raised
New Delhi, February 4 The meeting convened by the Election Commission to take views of the parties before it comes out with details also saw most political parties opposing any move to bring election manifestos under the Model Code of Conduct. The Congress yet against supported a ban on having opinion polls by media outlets and independent agencies in the run-up to polls. “The BJP is for taking into account the rising cost of everything over the years," party leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters after the meeting. The CPM, the Janata Dal (U) and other regional parties also pushed for raising the expenditure cap. The Congress representatives also believed to have supported the raising of cap. "One Lok Sabha seat has on average five Assembly seats and the limit for Assembly poll expenditure is Rs 16 lakh. So there should be an increase," Javed Raza of the JD(U) said. But the Aam Aadmi Party said it was happy with the current limits. "We kept our expenditure in Delhi Assembly polls under limit. We did well. We think the expenditure slab for the Lok Sabha elections is appropriate and political parties can fight elections adhering to the limit," said AAP’s Pankaj Gupta. The BJP urged the commission to complete elections in as few phases as possible and argued against holding the elections in May in big states such as UP and Bihar where weather would become very hot. Parties such as the BJP and the JD (U) were also against including manifestos in the Model Code of Conduct while the CPI said freebies should be banned.
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People kept in dark on biometric misuse, SC told
New Delhi, February 4 Arguing before a three-member Bench headed by Justice BS Chauhan, senior advocate Anil Divan said the scheme had no statutory backing and even if it was implemented after giving legal status to the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) it would be in violation of the fundamental right to privacy guaranteed under the Constitution. The biometric information gathered by UIDAI could be misused to track the movements of people round-the-clock, sounding a death-knell to their privacy, Divan argued. The Bench was hearing the final arguments of the petitioners, including retired high court judge KS Puttaswamy, opposed to the scheme. The SC has already passed an interim order, restraining the government from insisting on the Aadhaar card for availing of any benefit under official schemes such as guaranteed employment, LPG subsidy or for getting driving
licences.
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Girl’s father injured in UP acid attack; youth arrested
Lucknow, February 4 The incident, which occurred at Katra village in Agra on January 31, terrified the victim’s family to such an extent that they did not file an FIR. The youth, Yogesh Pandit, and his friend have been arrested. The father is being treated for burn injuries at an Agra hospital. The youth had reportedly been stalking the girl for the past two years. The family did not complain to the police fearing it would bring a bad name to the family. Yogesh had gone to the girl’s house with a friend. A scuffle broke out during which acid fell on the girl’s father. The girl escaped unhurt. — TNS
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Pak prisoner dies in Faridkot hospital
Faridkot, February 4 Since his arrest, Amir has been lodged in Ferozepur Central Jail. Jail authorities said he suffered seizures. He was admitted to Ferozepur Civil Hospital on January 30, and later shifted to Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital. Sources said the deceased belonged to Rahmatpur village of Lahore in Pakistan. The Department of Foreign Affairs has been informed about his death and a magisterial inquiry ordered.
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Amma’s tie-up with Left upsets BJP’s south plans New Delhi, February 4 Party’s spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman dismissed the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s decision as something that would have no bearings on the BJP’s prospects down south. However, a section of the party agrees that the tie-up is a distinct advantage in favour of Jayalalithaa not just in Tamil Nadu but also at the national level. The BJP continued to dismiss the Third Front plan - grouping of non-Congress, non-BJP parties. “There are contradictions of the Third Front - the Trinamool Congress versus the Left, the SP versus the BSP, the AIADMK versus the DMK and the JD (U) versus the RJD. They constitute a political paradox which a Third Front can never resolve. The Third Front has no ideological coherence. It has no nucleus with a large political presence which can provide stability to the Front,” senior leader Arun Jaitley said. But the fact is that Jayalalithaa’s proximity to Modi was something that the BJP was counting on rather heavily in these elections. Jayalalithaa was being relied upon heavily to pitch in favour of her Gujarat counterpart if it came down to the crunch of numbers in the last lap. But now it is clear that Jayalalithaa herself will be a contender for the top post at the Centre if the Third Front emerges as an alternative, though today she dismissed speculations about the PM post, saying: “It is pointless to enter into a discussion of who the PM will be. It will be discussed after results are out.” BJP leaders are drawing solace from the development, saying that Jayalalithaa had entered into an alliance with parties “she knows she can easily manipulate”.
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Court orders probe into Abu Salem’s ‘train wedding’
Mumbai, February 4 "The designated TADA court has directed the Thane Police Commissioner to conduct an inquiry as to how an accused, who is in judicial custody, can marry on a train without the court permission," prosecutor Deepak Salvi said. Judge GA Sanap's directive came after he took suo motu cognizance of the report that appeared in a tabloid today. The police chief has been asked to submit his report in 10 days.- PTI
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Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today promised to take action against those responsible for the death of a 19-year-old student from Arunachal Pradesh and ensure a speedy probe. Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Ninong Ering said the Home Minister gave the assurance when he, accompanied by a delegation of students from the North-East, met him.
The New Delhi-based United Services Institute, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, has undertaken a project to highlight the oft-forgotten role of India in World War-I. The project is part of the global commemorations being organised to mark the centenary of the war.
Then under the Crown, the British Indian Army had contributed a number of divisions and independent brigades to the European, Mediterranean and the Middle-East theatres during the war from 1914 to 1918.
