N A T I O N

Cong sacks 6 anti-Telangana MPs
New Delhi, February 11
Eager to position itself on the right side of the pro-Telangana lobby ahead of 16th Lok Sabha elections, the Congress today expelled six party rebel MPs from Seemandhra who had been consistently embarrassing the government by moving motions of no confidence in the lower house.

CBI to probe Nido Taniam’s death
New Delhi, February 11
The Union Home Ministry today ordered a CBI probe into the death of Nido Taniam, a student from Arunachal Pradesh. Meanwhile, a Manipuri youth was stabbed in Saket here today. Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today recommended a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the death of Nido Taniam.

India, China to hold annual defence dialogue on Feb 24
New Delhi, February 11
Special Representatives (SRs) of India and China today concluded their 17th round of talks on the boundary question, agreeing to hold the annual defence dialogue on February 24 and take speedy steps to implement the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA), signed in October last year.

Graft leading to public outcry, says President
New Delhi, February 11
Recognising corruption as a major reason behind the recent public outcry, President Pranab Mukherjee today said while efforts to tackle the menace should be redoubled, there was an urgent need to restore the faith of the people in the system of governance and the credibility of institution.

PIL against caste-based jobs in Army quashed
New Delhi, February 11
The Supreme Court today dismissed a PIL seeking abolition of the Army's practice of recruiting personnel on the basis of caste, religion and region in some regiments. A Bench comprising Justices TS Thakur and C Nagappan rejected the petition filed by IS Yadav, a medical practitioner from Haryana, observing that he had no locus standi to raise the issue as he was not an affected person on account of Army’s recruitment policy.

Police warn Raj Thackeray of action
Mumbai, February 11
The Maharashtra police have warned Raj Thackeray and other leaders of his Maharashtra Navnirman Sena of action ahead of a rasta roko by the party from tomorrow to protest collection of toll in the state. Police officials today issued notices to Thackeray and around 100 leaders of the party, including elected representatives in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra under Section 149 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). “We have warned the MNS leaders of tough action under the law if they indulge in violence,” Joint Commissioner of Police Hemant Nagrale who is holding additional charge of the Mumbai Police Commissioner said.

SC: States can’t go back on promises
New Delhi, February 11  The Supreme Court has ruled that state governments could no way go back on their promises, be it for speedy industrialisation and development of their region or for other purposes.

Finally, India is polio-free
New Delhi, February 11
India celebrated its victory over polio at a glittering function in Talkatora Stadium with World Health Organisation chief Margaret Chan setting the tone for festivity by saying: "India has shown to the world that nothing is impossible to achieve". From 1.50 lakh polio cases in 1985 to zero now, India has officially been declared polio free after reporting three consecutive years of zero cases. The last recorded case of wild polio virus 1 in India was 18-month old Rukhsar from Howrah, West Bengal, who had never got Oral Polio Vaccine (drops) which made the eradication possible. With India achieving a milestone, only three countries remain in the list of WHO's polio endemic nations — Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan. TNS

Penguin to withdraw book on Hindus
New Delhi, February 11
Penguin Books India has decided to withdraw copies of US Indologist Wendy Doniger's book "The Hindus: An Alternative History" following a court-backed settlement with a Delhi-based voluntary group which had objected to several "inaccuracies and biases" in it. In the agreement with Shiksha Bachao Andolan Committee, Penguin reportedly had said it "shall with immediate effect recall and withdraw all copies of 'The Hindus: An Alternative History' written by Wendy Doniger" and "shall not publish or distribute the book". — PTI

India in touch with Pak on stranded truckers
New Delhi, February 11
India is in touch with Pakistan to seek an early return of the 27 Indian truckers stranded in the neighbouring country in the wake of a more than a three-week-old trade stand-off, triggered by the arrest of a Pakistani trucker with narcotics worth over Rs 100 crore. “We are working through diplomatic channels as vigorously as possible to bring the Indian truckers back to the country,” MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said. India, he said, was also in touch with the Indian truckers, who were waiting to return home. — TNS

Judicial accountability big issue: Sibal
New Delhi, February 11
Noting that the process of accountability within the judiciary is “exceptionally weak”, Law Minister Kapil Sibal today said that discretionary powers with the CJI resulted in very few judges being brought to book for corruption. Referring to the higher judiciary, he said, “Unless the CJI in his individual capacity grants sanction, there can be no investigation. And, therefore, you see very few instances of people being brought to book. So I think there is a great issue that we need to confront ourselves with, which is of judicial accountability.” — PTI

Chargesheet against Tunda in explosives case
New Delhi: Delhi Police today filed its charge sheet before a court here against top LeT bomb expert Abdul Karim Tunda in a case lodged in 1994 in connection with the recovery of explosive substances. The special cell of the Delhi Police filed the charge sheet before Additional Sessions Judge Bharat Parashar who fixed the matter for tomorrow for some clarification from the investigating officer. — PTI

Cong sacks 6 anti-Telangana MPs
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 11
Eager to position itself on the right side of the pro-Telangana lobby ahead of 16th Lok Sabha elections, the Congress today expelled six party rebel MPs from Seemandhra who had been consistently embarrassing the government by moving motions of no confidence in the lower house.

The six expelled MPs are - Sabbam Hari, GV Harsha Kumar, V Arun Kumar, L Rajagopala, Sambasiva Rao and A Sai Partap.

The decision to expel the MPs was taken today by Congress president Sonia Gandhi after the party’s disciplinary committee headed by Defence Minister AK Antony recommended action against them. The MPs stand expelled from the Congress for six years as per the constitution of the party. They also face a strong possibility of expulsion from the proceedings of the Lok Sabha.

Besides, the development paves the way for action against Andhra Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, who has equally embarrassed the Congress by sitting on a dharna against the formation of Telangana at Jantar Mantar.

“Politically, the move to expel MPs makes action against Andhra Chief Minister possible,” said sources in the Congress.

The party said through expulsion it had sent clear signals to dissenters that indiscipline won’t be tolerated. “The Congress has exhibited commitment to its resolve to the cause of Telangana formation,” Congress general secretary in charge of communications Ajay Maken said about the expulsion.

The political move aims at clearing the way for the Congress-led government to introduce the controversial Bill in the Lok Sabha considering the Bill has financial implications and must first be introduced in the upper house. At the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAS) of the LS, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath sought time to discuss the Bill in the Lok Sabha and four hours were allotted.

The Congress has exhibited commitment to its resolve to the cause of Telangana formation. — Ajay Maken, cong gen secy

Members of the BAC, however, said Nath did not indicate the date of the introduction of the Bill and that from preliminary discussions it seemed likely that the introduction may happen after the railway and the interim budgets are passed by February 18. “The government has three days after that to bring the Bill,” said a BAC member.

Outside the House, the government is said to have discreetly informed the BJP of the possible introduction of the Telangana Bill in the Lok Sabha on February 13 after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had finished his dinner diplomacy with BJP leaders. The PM’s dinner meeting is tomorrow.

Congress leaders said expulsion of rebel MPs was long due as they had committed the gross act of moving a no-trust motion against their own government - first such occurrence in the history of the Lok Sabha.

Reddy next in line

• The development paves the way for action against Andhra Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy
• He has embarrassed the Congress by sitting on a dharna against the formation of Telangana at Jantar Mantar

CBI to probe Nido Taniam’s death
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 11
The Union Home Ministry today ordered a CBI probe into the death of Nido Taniam, a student from Arunachal Pradesh. Meanwhile, a Manipuri youth was stabbed in Saket here today. Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today recommended a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the death of Nido Taniam.

The 20-year-old student from Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, died on January 29 after he was beaten up by a shopkeeper and other men in Lajpat Nagar market here.

Nido’s parents and 22 other members of his extended family today met Shinde at his office in North Block and gave him a memorandum following which the CBI probe was ordered.

Nine issues were raised in the memorandum that included a CBI probe; capital punishment for the accused and action against the Delhi policemen who did not take Nido for medical examination after the first assault.

Meanwhile, a 22-year-old Manipur youth was allegedly stabbed and robbed in Saket, a south-Delhi locality, at around 3 am.

India, China to hold annual defence dialogue on Feb 24
Ashok Tuteja
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 11
Special Representatives (SRs) of India and China today concluded their 17th round of talks on the boundary question, agreeing to hold the annual defence dialogue on February 24 and take speedy steps to implement the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA), signed in October last year.

However, nothing concrete emerged from the two-day meeting between National Security Adviser (NSA) Shivshankar Menon and Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi. “The SRs continued their discussions on a framework for a resolution of the boundary question, the second of a three-step process earlier agreed to by both sides,” MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.

The first of the three-step process on guiding principles for settling the border dispute was concluded in 2006. The third phase will be undertaken after the two sides mutually agree on a framework for a resolution of the dispute. The third phase will relate to demarcation of maps and delimitation on the ground. Asked if there was any timeline for concluding the second phase, the spokesperson said these were complex negotiations and, therefore, no timeline could be set.

China is keen to work with India to carry forward the spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and opening up a path of peaceful and cooperative development. We have enhanced friendly exchanges and jointly worked for the mutual benefit of our two people. — Yang Jiechi, chinese state councillor

Graft leading to public outcry, says President
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 11
Recognising corruption as a major reason behind the recent public outcry, President Pranab Mukherjee today said while efforts to tackle the menace should be redoubled, there was an urgent need to restore the faith of the people in the system of governance and the credibility of institution.

Inaugurating a two-day seminar on ‘Combating Corruption: Role of Accountability Institutions, Investigating Agencies, Civil Society and Media’, organised on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), the President said: “Let us redouble our efforts and address corruption on a war-footing”.

He said the fact that corruption has proved to be intractable, it should not make people lose confidence in our abilities to address this problem. The CVC must re-energise itself and pro-actively lead the charge against corruption. It must expeditiously investigate all allegations of corruption without fear or favour. It must ensure that vilification campaigns to destroy reputations and careers are not carried out in the name of checking corruption.

PM Manmohan Singh said the importance of any anti-corruption mechanism was to contribute towards improvement of processes of governance and delivery of services. “This can happen only when we encourage bold and innovative decision making,” he said.

PIL against caste-based jobs in Army quashed
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, February 11
The Supreme Court today dismissed a PIL seeking abolition of the Army's practice of recruiting personnel on the basis of caste, religion and region in some regiments. A Bench comprising Justices TS Thakur and C Nagappan rejected the petition filed by IS Yadav, a medical practitioner from Haryana, observing that he had no locus standi to raise the issue as he was not an affected person on account of Army’s recruitment policy.

Pointing out the existence of Rajput, Sikh, Gorkha, Naga, Jat, Rajasthan and Maratha regiments, the petitioner had contended this was quite contrary to the government’s claim that the Army was truly secular. Recruitments based on such a policy “is against the constitutional mandate of equal treatment which the state is expected to extend to all its citizens.”

These regiments created a feeling of pride among some communities, but at the same time made people from other sections and regions feel that they were inferior. “This is unhealthy and against the interest of the Army itself and the larger interests of the nation,” the PIL said.

Pointing out that the Army was recruiting 1.5 million people, the petitioner had argued that such a major source of employment could not be the monopoly of select sections of people as all the communities had the traits of talent and bravery.

Responding to the SC notice, the Centre and the Army had pleaded for the dismissal of the PIL as such recruitments were followed even by India’s neighbours for optimising operational efficiency. Further, recruitment restrictions were there only in the Presidential guards, who could be from only the Jat, Sikh and Rajput regiments, and nowhere else, it was contended. The government had also maintained that once the recruitments were done all were treated alike and there was no discrimination.

What the plea said

• Pointing out the existence of Rajput, Sikh, Gorkha, Naga, Jat, Rajasthan and Maratha regiments, the petitioner had contended this was quite contrary to the government's claim that the Army was truly secular
• The Centre and the Army had pleaded for the dismissal of the PIL as such recruitments were followed even by India's neighbours for optimising operational efficiency

Protest against toll plazas
Police warn Raj Thackeray of action
Tribune News Service

Mumbai, February 11
The Maharashtra police have warned Raj Thackeray and other leaders of his Maharashtra Navnirman Sena of action ahead of a rasta roko by the party from tomorrow to protest collection of toll in the state. Police officials today issued notices to Thackeray and around 100 leaders of the party, including elected representatives in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra under Section 149 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). “We have warned the MNS leaders of tough action under the law if they indulge in violence,” Joint Commissioner of Police Hemant Nagrale who is holding additional charge of the Mumbai Police Commissioner said.

Nagrale added that leaves of all police personnel have been cancelled in anticipation of a law and order problem. “Standard XII examinations are on and we are appealing to everyone to ensure that students do not suffer,” he said.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has threatened a statewide rasta roko to protest collection of toll at major roads across Maharashtra.

Addressing his party workers in Pune Thackeray challenged the Maharashtra government to arrest him for the MNS attacks on toll plazas at Mumbai, Pune and other places earlier this month.

The state government has also beefed up security at major toll plazas ahead of tomorrow’s protests.

SC: States can’t go back on promises
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, February 11 
The Supreme Court has ruled that state governments could no way go back on their promises, be it for speedy industrialisation and development of their region or for other purposes.

A Bench comprising Justices Anil R Dave and AK Sikri made the clarification in a verdict directing Kerala to honour its 1990 commitment for ensuring round-the-clock supply of uninterrupted electricity supply to new industrial units for five years. The state had offered compensation in the form of incentives in case there was interruption in the power supply.

The industrialists contended that they had set up their units in the state solely on the basis of this assurance, but during the first five years they were subjected to power cuts virtually every second day.