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Nominations close for 93 seats
Cong manifesto to be out on March 26
Godhra riots probe unfair: Sibal
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IAF daredevils awarded gallantry medals for rescue Op in U’khand
Don’t forget Advani’s role, Uddhav to BJP
Dutt back in jail
7 die in Thane tanker fire
Didi: TMC will emerge as 3rd largest party
Chiranjeevi says his brother Pawan shouldn’t have met Modi
Will rename country United States of India: MDMK manifesto
AirAsia India closer to launch,
gets first Airbus
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Nominations close for 93 seats
New Delhi, March 22 In UP, BJP fielded Hukum Singh and Bhartendu Singh, both accused in the Muzaffarnagar riots, from Kairana and Bijnor seats respectively. The party replaced Rajendra Singh with Bhartendu at the last minute in Bijnor, where RLD's Jaya Prada is also contesting. In Maharashtra, where nominations closed for 10 seats, NCP leader Patel filed his papers for Bhandara-Gondiya seat. Gadkari filed nominations from Nagpur along with AAP leader Anjali Damania. Maharashtra Minister for Social Justice Shivajirao Moghe entered the contest from Yavatmal. Two-time Congress MP and Haryana CM's son Deepender Singh Hooda filed nomination from Rohtak Parliamentary constituency in Haryana. Nominations closed for all 10 seats in the state and seven in Delhi. In Kerala, over 250 nominations, including by independents, have been filed in 20 constituencies across the state. Scrutiny will take place on March 24 and the last date for withdrawal is March 26. The Congress-led UDF and the LDF are contesting all constituencies. Fledgling Aam Admi Party (AAP) has also fielded candidates in most seats, including noted writer Sarah Joseph in Thrissur, journalist Anita Pratap in Ernakulam and former IPS officer Ajit Joy in Thiruvananthapuram. Among Congress candidates in the fray are five Union Ministers-- Shashi Tharoor (Thiruvananthapuram), K V Thomas (Ernakulam), Mullapally Ramachandran (Vatakara), Kodikunnil Suresh (Mavelikkara) and K C Venugopoal (Alappuzha). Other key Congress nominees are PC Chacko (Chalakkudi), State Youth Congress president Dean Kuriakose (Idukki) and Mahila Congress leader Bindhu Krishna (Attingal) SJD leader and former Union minister M P Veerendrakumar is contesting from Palakkad as the UDF nominee. E Ahamed, Union Minister, and IUML leader is seeking his sixth bid to Parliament from the party bastion Malappuram. — PTI
UP riots accused in fray
* In UP, the BJP fielded Hukum Singh and Bhartendu Singh, both accused in the Muzaffarnagar riots, from Kairana and Bijnor seats, respectively *
In Maharashtra, where nominations closed for 10 seats, NCP leader Patel filed his papers for Bhandara-Gondiya and Nitin Gadkari from Nagpur
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Cong manifesto to be out on March 26
New Delhi, March 22
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi is expected to release the manifesto at a function at the AICC headquarters here in the presence of top party leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, a senior party figure said.
The manifesto is likely to promise new rights-based laws for health and employment besides devoting focus to employment generation and the manufacturing sector.
The manifesto has been prepared after "exhaustive consultations" with different stakeholders, including through the direct interaction of a number of groups with
Rahul.
Besides Antony, other members of the panel are Sushilkumar Shinde, P Chidambaram, Anand Sharma, Salman Khurshid, Sandeep Dikshit, Ajit Jogi, Renuka Chowdhary, PL Punia, Mohan Gopal, Jairam Ramesh and Digvijay Singh.
With the party making the rights-based legislation such as MGNREGA, Food Security and RTI its key campaign themes, The Congress is expected to stress on the health and employment sectors as its major planks for the upcoming polls.
With the issue of women's security also coming to the fore, the party received suggestions such as making a provision for at least six women police stations in all districts, etc.
— PTI
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Godhra riots probe unfair: Sibal
New Delhi, March 22 “Even as corruption-related cases have been dealt with priority for the sake of humanity, the SC should have monitored all cases related to Gujarat riots through an independent probe agency,” he said while briefing the media at his Teen Murti residence here. Sibal said the SIT had no powers to search and investigate as the CBI has. What it did was only recorded the statements of witnesses. “It was after six years of the tragic incident that the SIT was constituted in 2008. But who were the officers involved in the SIT; they were the police officers under whose jurisdiction the riots took place. In such a situation, the victims could not have got the justice,” he noted, asserting that he was speaking in the capacity of a Congress leader and not as Law Minister of the country. He alleged that the FIRs in the cases of Godhra riots were registered by the Gujarat police on its own and victims’ versions did not make it to the FIRs. “We do not trust the Gujarat Government as 25 of its police officers are in jail over fake encounter. Justice will keep eluding people of Gujarat till the SC goes into the details of every death,” he said. Sibal also dismissed the popular perception of “Modi wave” going to swing the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections. He said the fact that BJP was allying with regional outfits reflected its weak position. He challenged Modi to contest from Varanasi alone.
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IAF daredevils awarded gallantry medals for rescue Op in U’khand
New Delhi, March 22 This was the first batch of the awards announced in the past few months. The second batch would follow soon. Wing Commander Darryl Castelino, whose Mi-17V5 helicopter crashed on June 25 near the Kedranath Shrine during the rescue operations, has been posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra - the second highest peace time gallantry medal. His mate, Flight Lieut K Praveen who died in the crash, has been awarded with the Shaurya Chakra. The copter had crashed amid bad weather due to frequently drifting clouds and poor light conditions prevalent in the unforgiving terrain. The crew had carried out three sorties that day and saved 80 people. Navy Commander Abhilash Tomy, who circumnavigated the globe alone, and Major Mahesh Kumar of Punjab Regiment, who helped in counter insurgency, were awarded the Kirti Chakra. Lt Col Bikramjit Singh was awarded for his role is stalling the terror attack on an Army Camp at Samba, J&K, in September last year. Major Gaurav Thakur of Bihar Regiment, who hails from Shimla, was awarded the Shaurya Chakra along with Maj Mohan Chandra of Kumaon Regiment, Maj Sanjeev Kumar of the armoured corps and Wing Commander Aditya Prakash Singh of the IAF. Wing Commander Nikhil Naidu received the Shaurya Chakra for his role in the Uttarakhand operations. He was one of the pilots in the ‘Jungle Chhati’ operations. Carried out under impossible circumstances on June 23, the IAF and Army aviation pilots had been tasked to pick up stranded pilgrims from a makeshift ‘helipad’ at 10,500 feet. The President also conferred 15 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, two Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, two Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medals and 22 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals on senior officers of the Armed Forces for distinguished services of an exceptional order.
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Don’t forget Advani’s role, Uddhav to BJP
Mumbai, March 22 In an editorial in party’s mouthpiece Saamna, Thackeray said the BJP had been unfair to Advani even as it was rallying behind Gujarat Chief Minister and PM candidate Narendra Modi. “There is talk that the ‘Modi era’ has started in the BJP, but the ‘Advani era’ has not yet come to an end. Advani has brought success to the BJP with his struggles and sacrifices,” Thackeray said. The write-up noted that the BJP was paying the price for not heeding to Advani’s words. “Advani felt that Modi’s name should not be declared as prime ministerial candidate in haste, but his opinion was ignored. Advani then quit all party posts, creating a political earthquake. Though he later relented, his unhappiness is creating tremors in the party,” Thackeray said. The Shiv Sena leader went on to say that the BJP should not have denied Advani the constituency of his choice when other leaders could choose the seats from where they wanted to contest the elections.
Saamna editorial creates flutter
In an editorial in Shiv Sena's mouthpiece Saamna, Thackeray wrote that Advani felt that Modi's name should not be declared as PM candidate in haste, but his opinion was ignored. Advani then quit all party posts, creating a political earthquake. Though he later relented, his unhappiness created tremors in the party.
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Dutt back in jail
Mumbai/Pune, March 22 Dutt was released on parole on December 21 last year and was granted extension two times. The parole was sought on the grounds of his wife Manyata's illness. Dutt is serving out a five-year sentence of rigorous imprisonment for illegal possession and destruction of an AK-56 rifle before the March 12, 1993 Mumbai blasts. The actor had surrendered before the TADA court in May last year after the Apex court upheld his conviction under the Arms Act. Earlier, the actor had also availed of 15 days leave of furlough, then further extending it by a fortnight in October last year on medical grounds. He had since sought two parole extensions which now come to an end. The actor had faced protests outside his home and jail over his parole requests. PTI
Wife’s illness
* Dutt was released on parole on December 21 last year and was granted extension two times. The parole was sought on the grounds of his wife Manyata's illness. *
He is serving out a five-year sentence of rigorous imprisonment for illegal possession and destruction of an AK-56 rifle before the March 12, 1993 Mumbai blasts.
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7 die in Thane tanker fire
Mumbai, March 22 While three of the victims were travelling in the tanker, the rest were walking on the road, the police said. The injured have been admitted to hospital, police said. Fire-fighters and ambulances from nearby towns were dispatched to the scene. The deceased have not been identified yet.
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Didi: TMC will emerge as 3rd largest party
Kolkata, March 22 "Our party will emerge as the third largest party. Electoral reforms will be our first priority if a TMC-led government is formed at the Centre," she said while releasing two party manifestos for the state and for the nation. She said, "We stand at the crossroads of history, when the nation is demanding a political change and governance." — PTI
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Chiranjeevi says his brother Pawan shouldn’t have met Modi
Visakhapatnam, March 22 He also admitted Congress was not in a good shape in Seemandhra after bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. "It was wrong on the part of Pawan Kalyan to meet Modi who has not apologised for the post-Godhra incidents," he said at a 'meet-the-press' programme organised by Visakhapatnam Journalists Forum. Kalyan, a popular Telugu actor, who floated Jana Sena Party last week, met Modi in Ahmedabad on Friday and declared his support to his candidature for the Prime Minister's post. The BJP and Jana Sena have also given indications about forming a poll alliance in Andhra Pradesh. Chiranjeevi rejected suggestions his brother floated the party in view of differences in the family and because he merged his Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) with the Congress. "There are no differences in the family. We are all happy. We are united. Mr Pawan Kalyan had not expressed his displeasure on merging the Praja Rajyam with the Congress." The filmstar-turned-minister, who heads Congress campaign committee in residuary Andhra Pradesh, admitted his party was not in a good shape in the state after bifurcation. "There are some problems in the party in (Seemandhra) after bifurcation. But we will sort out these and strengthen the party." Chiranjeevi, who had opposed the move to grant statehood to Telangana, however, defended the division of Andhra Pradesh and asserted that the Congress committed no mistake. "The Congress had not committed any mistake. All parties were equally responsible for the bifurcation. We will explain to people the circumstances leading to the division. People have confidence in the Congress, which will strive for development of all sections of the society," he said. It is unfortunate that leaders of erstwhile PRP were leaving the Congress and joining other parties, he said. The Union Minister said he was a committed Congressman and though some parties wanted him to join hands with them, he rejected the offer. Some political parties, including the TDP and YSR Congress, earlier gave letters supporting bifurcation of the State but later did a U-turn to gain political mileage, alleged Chiranjeevi, who merged his party with Congress in 2011. APCC president N Raghuveera Reddy said the party has launched a bus yatra to reach out to its workers ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh. The yatra, which started on Friday, will tour all the 13 districts of Seemandhra before concluding on March 27. Asked about Congress poll preparations in Seemandhra, Reddy said, "we will try to win all the 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats as the party had committed workers." Preference will be given to the youth, including members of Youth Congress and NSUI, while finalising candidates, he said. The APCC chief accused the TDP of encouraging defections from Congress as the Chandrababu Naidu-led party had been left without leaders of repute. He alleged that former Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who floated his own political party after quitting Congress last month, was "misleading" people on the bifurcation issue. Kiran all along knew about the party leadership's decision to divide the state, he said. — PTI
Admits Cong not in good shape
* The filmstar-turned-minister, who heads Congress campaign committee in residuary Andhra Pradesh, admitted his party was not in a good shape in the state after bifurcation *n "There are some problems in the party in (Seemandhra) after bifurcation. But we will sort out these and strengthen the party." *
Chiranjeevi, who had opposed the move to grant statehood to Telangana, however, defended the division of Andhra Pradesh and asserted that the Congress committed no mistake
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Will rename country United States of India: MDMK manifesto
Chennai, March 22 Releasing his party's manifesto here, party president Vaiko said: "Federalism must be protected to safeguard unity and integrity of India. We feel there is a necessity to bring amendments to the Constitution and form United States of India." MDMK, a strong supporter of LTTE, also promised to strive for revoking the ban on the outfit and for a referendum on the Lankan Tamils issue for a separate 'Eelam' (Tamil homeland). Among other things, the party assured the electorate that it would strive to include steps to prevent attacks on Indian fishermen by Lankan naval personnel, official language status for Tamil, retrieval of Katchatheevu islet, 27 per cent reservation in educational institutions like IITs, IIMs and AIIMS, interlinking of rivers, abolishing death penalty and implementing the Sethusamudram Project. The party promised to press for closure of the nuclear plant at Kudankulam. MDMK has demands such as a separate agriculture budget and ban on future trading on essential commodities. — PTI
More powers to states
* Releasing his party's manifesto, party president Vaiko said: "Federalism must be protected to safeguard unity and integrity of India. We feel there is a necessity to bring amendments to the Constitution and form United States of India." *
MDMK, a strong supporter of LTTE, also promised to strive for revoking the ban on the outfit and for a referendum on the Lankan Tamils issue for a separate 'Eelam' (Tamil homeland).
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AirAsia India closer to launch,
gets first Airbus
Chennai, March 22 "Great news! India's latest airline, AirAsia India, has taken delivery of its first A-320 equipped with Sharklets," Airbus tweeted with a picture of the jet painted red and the name of the airline written in white. Sharklets are the folded wingtips that helps an aircraft to glide smoothly, thereby reducing fuel burn and emission. However, the no-frill carrier, a joint venture between Malaysia's AirAsia Bhd, Tata Sons Ltd and Arun Bhatia of Telestra Tradeplace Pvt Ltd, is still awaiting a flying licence from aviation regulator DGCA. — PTI
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Muzaffarnagar A woman, 30, allegedly committed suicide by jumping before a train with three daughters near Tapri railway station in Saharanpur. One of the girls survived. PTI New Delhi IM co-founder Yasin Bhatkal's aide Fasih Mahmood, deported from Saudi Arabia in 2012, was allegedly assaulted by an inmate in Tihar jail on Friday. PTI
Patna A man was burnt alive in Bihar's Kaimur district over an alleged land dispute, police said on Saturday. Mohan Shah, a resident of Sivo village, was burnt to death on Friday late night by some villagers. IANS Jamshedpur JMM Badgaon block committee president Bacho Hembram was shot dead by suspected cadres of the People's Liberation Front of India in West Singhbhum Odisha A local court here sentenced one Sudam Malik to death for murdering Niranjan Malik with a spade when he was buying medicines on January 22, 2012. PTI
Jharkhand Maoist guerrillas shot at two people and torched a vehicle in Khuti district's Marangdih village on Friday night. They blasted blasted a school building, which could have been used by security forces during the Lok Sabha polls, at Khukra village , 160 km from Ranchi. IANS New Delhi The CBI on Saturday arrested two Income Tax Department officers in Thrissur for allegedly taking bribe of Rs 10 lakh from a person in lieu of settling his tax penalty case. The officers, in the rank of Assistant Commissioners, have been identified as P Jose and Vincent Joseph. PTI Bhopal The CBI on Saturday arrested a General Manager of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) in Bhopal for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs five lakh. PTI New Delhi A man, CR Gaura, claiming to be a BJP leader, tried to commit suicide outside the party's Delhi office on Saturday by consuming poison after he failed to get a ticket for the Lok Sabha polls. He is now out of danger. IANS Kottayam The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will not field Arvind Kejriwal against the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate in Vadodara, AAP senior leader Prashant Bhushan said here on Saturday. PTI Jaipur
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Daredevils of the Indian Air Force, who carried out rescue operations in flood-ravaged Uttarakhand in June 2013, were today awarded gallantry medals. President Pranab Mukherjee conferred three Kirti Chakras and 10 Shaurya Chakras to Armed Forces personnel at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. Chandigarh-origin Lt Colonel Bikramjit Singh of the 16 Light Cavalry has been posthumously awarded the Shaurya
Chakra.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray once again highlighted the growing differences with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by asking it not to forget the contribution of its veteran leader LK
Advani.
Seven persons were burnt alive and several others injured after a petrol tanker en route to Mumbai from Ahmedabad overturned and caught fire in Thane district, near Mumbai, state police said. The mishap took place near Chaori check post on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway around 3 pm.
