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Khurshid questions ‘clean chit’
to Modi by court in 2002 riots
Paid news under poll panel’s gaze
Phase 4, 5 of LS poll notified
Virbhadra’s room was bugged, says CID |
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Chavan promises all help to hailstorm-hit farmers
Ishrat case: CBI opposes Vanzara's bail plea
NGOs vulnerable to terror funding: MHA
India hopes for MFN tag from Pak
Forest fire rages near Tirumala temple
Arms seized from Maoists in Odisha
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Khurshid questions ‘clean chit’
to Modi by court in 2002 riots
"A magistrate's court has not summoned him.... It is true.... Its like a nursery student getting a good grade and thinking that he has become a doctor and goes around claiming to be a PhD. How can that happen?" Khurshid told reporters yesterday in reply to a question. He said, "In Gujarat, the incidents that happened when he (Modi) was Chief Minister, around 170 people have been given life imprisonment in connection with that. Maya Kodnani was his minister." Khurshid had then said that he had not crossed a line by describing Modi as "impotent" for his handling of the 2002 riots, insisting that he had meant "administrative incompetence" but it was too mild in this case. On the controversy over a claim that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange endorsed Modi as "incorruptible", he said, "I don't understand that someone who is so confident, why does he need to go around seeking support to establish his dominance. I am surprised. "And when there is a rebuttal, they say they don't need a certificate from WikiLeaks." The whistle-blower website had also disclosed a secret cable by a senior US diplomat eight years ago that described Modi as a "distrustful person" who reigns more by "fear and intimidation". Reacting to the External Affairs Minister's remarks, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said, "What Salman Khurshid is saying needs to be rubbished, is rubbish because he is denigrating the court. What is lower and higher judiciary? "Court is court and the matter was before the court and the court has given a clean chit. The SIT appointed by the Supreme Court has given a clean chit. Still they want to rake up only 2002 (riots). "This is what Rahul Gandhi is doing, this is what is echoed by Salman Khurshid and other Congress leaders. This is what is being done by Aam Aadmi Party." Javadekar said, "They want to continue the debate but the debate would not give any result now because Muslims and all sections of the society have moved ahead in Gujarat. They want faster progress and want to give a decisive mandate. In desperation and frustration, Khurshid is using such language which we condemn." Hitting back at BJP, Congress leader Kapil Sibal said that the party should condemn Modi for the comments he has made in the past. "What BJP does, what it doesn't do, they should also condemn Narendra Modi then. Then they should condemn Modi for the comments he has made in the past. So what's the point of saying BJP has done this. "Forget BJP, the fact is what is the fight today? What is the challenge in front of the nation, the country's unity or division? Peace or anarchy? .... Another challenge is whether the country accepts false claims or truth," Sibal said.
— PTI
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Paid news under poll panel’s gaze
Hyderabad, March 19 All political content and poll propaganda on social media would be categorised as electronic media for purpose of election monitoring by the poll panel as part of vigilance on political propaganda and paid news. "Since the general elections in Bihar in 2010, nearly 1,000 cases of paid news have been registered," Rout said while addressing a workshop on paid news, voter education and electoral participation here. Andhra Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal was also present. "Paid news has become a complex problem in Indian elections. Any news or analysis appearing in any media for a price in cash or in kind can be considered as paid news. It seeks to circumvent election expenditure laws/ceiling and causes undue influence on voters, and also affects their right to information," the ECI Director General said. The Election Commission, he said, had issued guidelines after consultations with the Press council of India and the NBSA (National Broadcasting Standards Authority) on what constitutes paid news and political content. Now, the political campaign on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube , Wikipedia and also Apps will come under the scrutiny of the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) set up by the Election Commission at all state and district headquarters. All legal provisions of electronic media on paid news and political advertisements will apply to campaign on social media as well. The new restrictions on social media campaign are expected to affect both the YSR Congress Party, headed by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, and Telugu Desam Party, headed by N Chandrababu Naidu. Both parties have launched several dedicated blogs, portals and also e-papers campaigning for their respective candidates. Rout said that under section 127(a) of Representation of People Act, the failure to mention the name of printer and publisher of election publicity materials would attract six month jail term, a fine of Rs, 2000 or both. The election official said that Media Certification and Media Coordination Committees (MCMC) have been set up at all state and district headquarters to monitor political content and also to certify whether they could be added to the election expenditure of the candidates. The Election Commission has also issued guidelines for accounting of politically biased news, lopsided news coverage and exaggerated publicity on politically owned TV channels, cable networks and newspapers for consideration as "notional expenditure" of the respective candidates. Social media campaigns
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Phase 4, 5 of LS poll notified
New Delhi, March 19 Candidates in these constituencies can file nominations till March 26, for which scrutiny will take place the next day. Nominations can be withdrawn till March 29. Three seats in Assam, two in Goa and one each in Sikkim and Tripura will go to the polls on April 12. Seven seats in Bihar, three in Chhattisgarh, one each in Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur, six in Jharkhand, 28 in Karnataka, 10 in Madhya Pradesh, 19 in Maharashtra, 11 in Odisha, 20 in Rajasthan, 11 in Uttar Pradesh and four in West Bengal will go to the polls on April 17. The Election Commission had recently changed the Lok Sabha poll date for Goa and one seat in Jharkhand due to religious festivals following demands for the same. The date for the two constituencies in Goa was advanced from April 17 to April 12. Similarly, the date of polling in Hazaribagh constituency was delayed from April 10 to April 17. On April 2, the notification will be issued for Lok Sabha elections to 89 constituencies across nine states, while on April 12 another notification will be issued for the 8th phase of polling on May 7 in 64 constituencies in seven states. The 9th and the last phase of General Election will be held on on May 12 in which electorate of 41 constituencies in three states will exercise their franchise.
— PTI The schedule
Constituencies: 7 States: Four (Assam, Goa, Sikkim & Tripura)
Constituencies: 121 States: 12 (J&K, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Manipur, Jharkhand, Karnataka, MP, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, UP & West Bengal) Key deadlines
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Virbhadra’s room was bugged, says CID
The CID wing of the police has submitted its final report to the Home Department. It confirms bugging devices were fixed in the room Virbhadra Singh occupied at the Himachal Bhawan in Chandigarh in 2010. “Though the recording is innocuous and very unclear, it establishes bugging,” said a senior police officer. Since it was an illegal act, the two IPS officers heading the police force and the CID wing could face action. The report, however, found no evidence of the fact that the bugging devices were installed on the directions of political bosses. The CID also mentioned statements of CID police personnel who confessed to have been assigned the task. Investigation established the CID personnel claimed travelling and daily allowance on the day of the alleged bugging. Staff of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) at Himachal Bhawan in Chandigarh were also questioned. Virbhadra, first as Union minister and later as state Congress chief, had accused the then BJP regime of planting bugging devices in his room and intercepting his phones. Final report submitted
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Chavan promises all help to hailstorm-hit farmers
Mumbai, March 19 Chavan said the government was committed to helping those affected by the natural calamity. "I assure all my farmer brethren that we stand solidly behind you. I request that please don't be carried away by emotions or helplessness. We are doing our best to help you," Chavan said in a media release. Unseasonal rains and severe hailstorms hit 28 of the state's 35 districts in the past few weeks. Chavan said the government was in the process of providing aid to the tune of Rs 5,000 crore to farmers. Govt to seek EC nod today
New Delhi: The government will seek the Election Commission's permission on Thursday to announce a relief package to Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, two states where crops were damaged by untimely rain and hailstorm early this month.
— PTI
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Ishrat case: CBI opposes Vanzara's bail plea
Ahmedabad, March 19 "The accused (DG Vanzara) being a highly influential and politically well-connected person, there is every chance that he may tamper with the evidence," said the reply filed by Investigating Officer (IO) PN Bose before the special CBI court Judge Geeta Gopi here. The court has posted the matter for further hearing on March 29. Bose said Vanzara's release on bail could "jeopardise" the judicial process as he may "influence" witnesses. "DG Vanzara had played a prominent role in the murder of victims Zeeshan Johar, Amjad Ali, Javed Sheikh and Ishrat Zahan," Bose said in the reply. On his alleged role in confinement of the victims before the encounter, the CBI said, "Vanzara had performed guard duty on Amjad Ali at Arham farm which he, along with other co-accused, visited the place and interrogated them." "After abducting Javed and Ishrat, they were confined in Khodiyar farm house at SG highway in Ahmedabad, during their confinement Vanzara along with other co-accused interrogated them," the reply said. "On June 13, 2004, a conspiracy was hatched between Vanzara, former ADGP P P Pandey and former IB director Rajinder Kumar to eliminate the detainees at Bunglow no. 15 of Shahibaugh area," according to the reply. The IO said, "In pursuance of the conspiracy, Vanzara directed another co-accused G L Singhal to visit subsidiary IB office in Ahmedabad and collect the weapons, which were later used in the encounter." "Vanzara had briefed the officer to execute the operation according to the draft complaint of the fake encounter," the reply said. The CBI had earlier revealed that the FIR of Ishrat Jahan encounter case was pre-drafted one week prior to the killings.
— PTI
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NGOs vulnerable to terror funding: MHA
New Delhi, March 19 In its latest annual report on receipt and utilisation of foreign contribution by voluntary associations, the ministry said since the NGOs work independently outside the government, it is expected that they should be self- regulating and law abiding. One of the objectives of the national policy on the voluntary sector is to "encourage NGOs to adopt transparent and accountable system of governance and management". "While it is not proper to make sweeping generalisations, it is necessary to note that the NGO sector in India is vulnerable to the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing," the report said. In his foreword, Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami said the general policy of the government is not to encourage soliciting of foreign contribution and the endeavour of the ministry has been to bring in transparency and accountability in the operation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act while ensuring national security. Interestingly, the returns have not been received from nearly 19,000 organizations for which appropriate action has been taken by the Home Ministry for non-compliance of their statutory obligations. A total of 43,527 NGOs were registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act upto March 31, 2012. Amongst the purposes for which foreign contribution was received and utilized are: rural development (Rs 945.77 crore), welfare of children (Rs 929.22 crore), construction and maintenance of school/college (Rs 824.11 crore) and research (Rs 539.14 crore). The figures have been captured from the amounts indicated under various standard heads of utilization prescribed in the annual returns. Further, some NGOs, which have reported receipt and utilization of foreign contribution, have not classified utilization appropriately under the respective standard heads and, therefore, such amount has been shown under the miscellaneous head.
— PTI
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India hopes for MFN tag from Pak
New Delhi, March 19 It is, however, learnt that instead of the MFN status, Pakistan could announce Non-Discriminatory Market Access (NDMA) for India. The new term will grant India the same benefits as envisaged under the MFN. Islamabad has coined the new term-NDMA --- because of the controversy in Pakistan over according the MFN status to India. The term MFN translates as ‘sabse pasandida mulk’ in Urdu. Asked if India too would have to give NDMA to Pakistan, the source said New Delhi would not have to do any such thing since it had already accorded the MFN status to Pakistan way back in 1996. “We will follow the roadmap that was announced in the joint statement issued by the two sides after the talks between the Commerce Secretaries in September 2012,” he said. The joint statement had stated that before the end of 2017, the two countries would have no more than 100 (six digit) tariff lines in their respective SAFTA sensitive lists. Before the end of 2020, except for this small number of tariff lines under respective SAFTA sensitive lists, the peak tariff rate for all other tariff lines would not be more than five per cent. The granting of MFN status to India was part of the bilateral composite dialogue, which was suspended by New Delhi following the beheading of Indian soldiers in January last year. There was speculation last month also that Pakistan would announce NDMA for India to coincide with Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma’s visit to Lahore for an exhibition of Indian products. However, Islamabad changed its mind at the last minute, leading to the cancellation of the visit by the Indian minister. Meanwhile, it is learnt that India has agreed to Pakistan’s demand for excluding 160 items, essentially textile products, from the sensitive list on an immediate basis once Islamabad announces NDMA. New Delhi says it is keeping in mind the sentiments of the Pakistani industry also while taking steps in the direction of promoting economic and trade links. NDMA status
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Religious heads ‘to decide’ on 15th Dalai Lama
Shimla, March 19 “It was for the first time in 1966 that I for the first time said that it is up to the people of Tibet to decide whether the institution of the Dalai Lama should come to an end or there should be my successor,” the Dalai Lama said here today. He said the issue was open for discussion but a final decision on it will be taken only when he attains the age of 90 as there was no urgency to take an immediate call on it. “It will depend on the circumstances 10 years down the line whether my reincarnate or the 15th Dalai Lama would be born inside Tibet or outside,” he said. Knowing that the time was running out for finding a solution to the problem of Tibet during his lifespan, the Tibetan leader (79) admitted that his life was passing through a difficult stage and it was in the ancient Indian knowledge that he found solace. He said the issue of continuing with the institution of the Dalai Lama or ending the tradition was being constantly deliberated upon by Tibetan spiritual leaders.
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VK Singh is 2nd Service Chief to contest LS poll
Old timers recall that independent India’s first Commander-in-Chief, Field Marshal KM Cariappa, had contested Lok Sabha elections from southern Mumbai in 1971 at the age of 72. Considered in military circles as the epitome of discipline and professionalism, he refused to join any party and entered the political fray as an Independent. Cariappa, fondly known as Kipper, was commissioned in the then British Indian Army in 1919 and had served as Army Chief from January 1949 to January 1953, following which he was appointed as India’s High Commissioner to Australia for two-and-a-half years. Another former Army Chief, Gen Shankar Roychowdhary, had made it to the Rajya Sabha. Golden jubilee of
Siachen Pioneers
The IAF’s 114 helicopter unit, popularly known as the Siachen Pioneers, will celebrate its golden jubilee at Leh on April 5. A function is scheduled to be held at its base. The unit also plans to host a seminar in Delhi later in the year. Raised on April 1, 1964 at Leh, in the aftermath of the Chinese aggression in Ladakh, the unit is the lifeline for troops at the Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battlefield. It has so far carried out more than 6,000 casualty evacuations in its history and formed the backbone of Operation Meghdoot in 1984 -- the capture of Siachen Glacier by the Indian Army. The unit also has a special connect with the people of the region. This winter, several rescue missions were carried out to evacuate civilians in the inaccessible Zanskar region, upholding its motto of “Apatsu Mitram” — A Friend in Distress. 13-year fight for
disability pension
While instances of jawans struggling to get their pensionary benefits released are common, a case has also come to light where a retired Major General fought for 13 years to get his disability pension. The Chandigarh Bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal finally allowed the petition that had challenged an administrative order denying him the benefits. The Bench, while ordering that the petitioner, Maj Gen JS Kapoor, would be entitled to a disability element of 50 per cent, also ruled that it would be open for the authorities concerned to constitute a re-survey medical board to freshly assess the petitioner’s disability if they so desired. The officer had retired in 2001 after putting in 38 years of service during which he developed hyper tension due to stress and strain of military service and later even had to undergo cardiac surgery. A medical board had earlier assessed his disability at 20 per cent and had attributed the same to military service. The medical adviser attached to the Adjutant General’s branch at Army Headquarters, which deals with medical cases concerning officers, however, had refused to sanction the disability element of pension. IAS officer joins
Territorial Army
In the times when differences between the bureaucracy and the armed forces seem to be spiralling, an IAS officer has decided to don military fatigues. P Manivannan, a Karnataka cadre officer posted as Chief Project Officer with the state Highways Improvement Project, will be commissioned as a lieutenant into the Territorial Army’s (TA) 106 Infantry Battalion (Parachute) at Bangalore. After basic training, he will also undergo parachute training at Agra. He joined the IAS about 15 years ago. The TA comprises gainfully employed citizens who can be called upon for active service during a national emergency. A host of eminent people from various walks of life, including political leaders, Bollywood personalities, doctors, lawyers and professionals, have in the past joined the TA though those from the civil services are
rare. Vijay Mohan &Ajay Banerjee
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Forest fire rages near Tirumala temple
Tirupati, March 19 Officials of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the affairs of the temple, said they were trying to deploy helicopters to control the fire that had already destroyed forests spread over thousands of hectares. As thick smoke enveloped the hills, shops around the temple were shut and the pathway to the temple for devotees was closed. — IANS
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Arms seized from Maoists in Odisha Parlakhemundi (Odisha), March 19 The seizure included one SLR Rifle, one .303 rifle, one hand-made SBML gun, 162 rounds of ammunition, a tiffin bomb and a walky talky, Gajapati Superintendent of Police CS Meena said. Also seized were a video camera, 14 pen drives and Maoist literature. The seizures were made based on information provided by three women Maoists who were arrested during the last week of February, Meena said. — PTI
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Farukkhabad (UP), March 19
The minister had stoked a controversy last month terming Modi as "impotent" and later his party Vice President Rahul Gandhi had to say that he did not approve of such language.
Shimla, March 19
For the second time in the nation’s history, a former Service Chief is contesting elections to the Lok Sabha. Gen VK Singh, whose tenure as Army Chief was marked by confrontation with the government over his date of birth, has been nominated as the BJP candidate from Ghaziabad.