The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Kejri’s Delhi Govt remark ‘misread’ Tribune News service New Delhi, April 11 The Aam Aadmi Party today clarified its chief and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s statement, wherein he called his stepping down from the Delhi Government an “impulsive” decision, had been “misconstrued”. Kejriwal’s had made the statement en route to Punjab’s three-day campaign tour last evening. AAP on its Twitter handle said: “Arvind Kejriwal never said resigning as Delhi CM was a mistake. He said we should have spent time after the resignation to explain reasons for the resignation to the people as AAP’s resignation was used by the BJP and the Congress to mislead people through their propaganda machinery.” Contesting the perception that AAP ran away from the government, the party said the decision was taken straight from the heart.
	Rape remark: Women’s panel issues notice to Mulayam Ravi S Singh Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 11 The National Commission for Women (NCW) today issued notice to Samajwadi Party supremo and former Defence Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav over his controversial remarks on rape during an election rally in Moradabad and urged the Election Commission to take cognisance of the matter. Leading women organisations and social activists have also flayed Mulayam Yadav and said that the comment amounts to defending the crime. Parents of the December 16-gang rape victim have also condemned his utterances and urged the people not to support his party in the Lok Sabha elections. The Commission has called in question Yadav’s remarks after it took cognisance of media reports about them. Chairperson of the Commission Mamata Sharma termed them “highly irresponsible” and said it raises concern as it comes from a public figure like Yadav. He should tender a public apology to women of the country, she said. She said the Commission has sent a letter to the EC asking it take cognisance of Yadav’s remarks and also to take measures to curb such incidents in the future. President of the All-India Women’s Conference Veena Kohli said, “We are shocked at how a responsible person, especially a politician who wants to be head of the government, can make such a statement.” General secretary of All-India Democratic Women’s Association Jagmati Sangwan said rape can hardly be called a “mistake” as Yadav makes out to be. She also took serious objection to Yadav’s comment that women level false charges of sexual assault on their partners when the relation between them goes bad. Other parties object One may oppose death penalty for rape, but to trivialise rape as a small mistake is shocking and condemnable. There is an urgent need for a code of conduct for political leaders against sexist and anti-women remarks. Brinda Karat, cpm politburo member
	Phase 4 today; to cover 7 seats in four states New Delhi, April 11 The fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections will take place tomorrow covering seven constituencies in four states where over half-a-crore voters will decide the fate of 74 candidates. While the first phase of the nine-phased electoral battle took place on April 7, the polling for the third phase concluded yesterday evening with an impressive voter turnout. The states which will be covered in tomorrow's phase are Goa, Assam, Tripura and Sikkim. Goa, with two seats, will witness a single-phased poll tomorrow where 19 candidates, including those of Congress, BJP, CPI and other regional parties and Independents, are in the fray for the North and South Goa constituencies. Prominent candidates from North Goa include Ravi Naik (Cong), BJP's sitting MP Shripad Naik and AAP's Dattaram Desai. From the South Goa seat, Congress' Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, BJP's Narendra Sawaikar and AAP's Swati Kerkar are among the prominent contenders. South Goa's sitting MP Francisco Sardinha (Cong) has not been given a ticket this time. In Goa, after every one male voter, two women voters would be allowed to exercise their franchise. — PTI 60% turnout in Mizoram Aizawl: Mizoram recorded a peaceful turnout of 60 per cent in the elections on Friday to the lone Lok Sabha seat in the state. Except for minor technical snags, polling was smooth and peaceful in 2,126 polling stations across the state. — PTI
	India, Russia sign pact on Kudankulam New Delhi, April 11 After years of deadlock on the liability issue, India and Russia have signed an agreement for building units 3 and 4 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Project (KKNPP) at a cost of Rs 33,000 crore. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) signed a general framework agreement (GFA) with its Russian counterpart yesterday, sources said here today. However, some permissions were needed from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AREB) before the work on the project could actually start, they said. The work on units 3 and 4 of the project had been stuck over the “right to recourse” clause of the Civil Liability Nuclear Damage Act 2010 (CLND) as the Russians were apprehensive over it. The issue has been now sorted out. — PTI
	Ex-envoy: Don’t go soft on Siachen Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 11 Former Indian Ambassador to Pakistan G. Parthasarathy and former Indian Army Chief General VP Malik (retd) today warned against being soft while resolving the vexed Siachen glacier imbroglio with Pakistan. The two were speaking at the release of the book: "Beyond NJ 9842 The Siachen Saga' authored by Nitin A Gokhale, a defence journalist and now working for news channel NDTV. Both, Parthasarathy and General Malik, who know the inside details of Siachen talks with Pakistan were candid as several veterans of the April 13, 1984, Operation Meghdoot crowded the book release function at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) this afternoon. General Malik said: "Ever since the Chinese started developing the Shaksgam valley, we will have to look forward. We can sort out Siachen with Pakistan but with China coming in, it's more complex". Shaksgam valley lies north of Siachen and was ceded by Pakistan to China in 1963. General Malik said during his tenure as Army Chief (between October 1997 and September 2000) that he had advised the Prime Minister against any withdrawal of troops. Parthasarathy, who was in the PMO in 1980s, narrated how during the Rajiv Gandhi-Benazir Bhutto talks he had asked the PM: "Hope you are not contemplating withdrawal of troops?" The PM's reply was: "Partha you think I can look into the eyes of the countrymen that I pulled out troops from an area where our soldiers shed blood," the diplomat narrated.
	SC rejects plea against clean chit to Modi Legal Correspondent New Delhi, April 11 The Supreme Court today dismissed a PIL questioning the clean chit given to Gujarat CMNarendra Modi in the 2002 riots cases. The petitioner, Fatima A, also pleaded for re-constituting the special investigation team (SIT), headed by retired CBI Director RK Raghavan, which had absolved Modi of the charges of complicity. “We can’t reconstitute the SIT at this stage,” a Bench comprising Justices HL Dattu and SA Bobde said while refusing to entertain the PIL. The Bench also clarified that such “omnibus prayers will not be granted”. Nevertheless, it allowed the petitioner to withdraw her plea. Modi, the prime ministerial candidate of the BJP for the ongoing Lok Sabha election, would have suffered a major setback had the SC entertained the PIL by issuing notice. The Bench, which is also monitoring the progress of the trial in the riots cases on a plea by the NHRC, recently remarked that the judicial proceedings had gone on satisfactorily. While the trial courts had delivered its verdict in six cases, the proceedings were nearing completion in three other cases.
	Bhagwant Mann wields satirical ‘broom’ Sarbjit Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Khuddi Kalan (Barnala), April 10 Riding their bikes on the outskirts of Khuddi Kalan village, a group of youngsters is curiously looking towards the main road. As soon as they see an SUV packed with men supporting AAP caps turning towards them, they start raising slogans: “Bhagwant Mann Zindabad”, “AAP Zindabad”. The SUV comes to a halt and famous comedian and AAP candidate from Sangrur Bhagwant Mann alights from it. “Sat Sri Akal,” he greets youngsters. Soon, he is riding pillion on a motorcycle. The fleet of bikes starts moving towards the village creating a loud noise. The village has around 4,000 voters. The bikers’ cavalcade stops right in the middle of the village where a loudspeaker has been set up on the roof of a car. Without wasting any time, Bhagwant Mann climbs on to the car roof and tests the mike. Soon he starts addressing the sizeable crowd that had already gathered there and had been raising slogans in his support since his arrival. After requesting the gathering to stop raising slogans, he starts lampooning his opponents in his typical style. In no time, the crowd is in fits of laughter. “For several decades, two doctors-the Congress and the SAD-have been administering medicine to cure Punjab. There is no healing; rather the state has become sicker by the day. The clumsy doctors have pushed it to the death bed. Get rid of these doctors if you want to save Punjab. Try out Arvind Kejriwal. He is a cure of all ills afflicting Punjab and the country,” Bhagwant says amid a thunderous applause. For the next 30 minutes, he continues poking fun at his political rivals. About Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who called him a “tamshbeen and juwak” a few days ago, Bhagwant Mann says, “Chief Minister Badal likes to get his photo affixed on everything, be it a ration card, a bicycle or an atta-dal bag.” “Badal ne tan hun apani photo ambulansan te vee la diti hai. Gharwale vichare mareej di halat dekhe ke ambulance wich baithe ro rahe hunde han, te bahar CM sahib apani photo wich hassi ja rahe hunde han. Dekho loko Punjab wich eh ki ho riha hai (The Punjab CM has put his photos even on ambulances. While the worried relatives of the patients could be seen crying sitting in the ambulance, Badal keeps smiling in his photo affixed on the outside. See, what is happening in Punjab),” he said. In his typical sarcastic style, Bhagwant Mann says, “Now, the Punjab Government will distribute utensils in villages. Badal sahib di photo pateelian te vee lagegee. Aadmi apani gharvali nu puchchega ke Badal manjta, gharwali kahegi, nahi us che tan kal de bahi dal pai hai. (Soon the Punjab Government will distribute utensils to villagers and those utensils will also have CM Badal’s photo itched on them).” “Mainu Badal sahib juwak kehnde ne, te apne munde bare eh gal nee karde. Oh ki hai. (CM Badal calls me immature or a child, but he does not talk about his son. What is he?),” he says. Satire is not the only tool that Bhagwant uses to target his rivals. In between, he also raises serious issues such as spread of cancer, farmer suicides, unemployment, drugs menace and state’s dwindling economy. “See, how SAD candidate from Sangrur Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa has captured various institutions in the district,” he says. “While sons of politicians have become ministers, MLAs, chairpersons of various institutions, councillors, managing directors etc, sons of a common man remain unemployed. Youngsters have become frustrated and are falling prey to drugs, the trade of which is flourishing in the state under political patronage,” he says. “You elect me an MP. I promise you that I will not just undertake whirlwind tours of grain markets in the state. I will camp there in a tent to ensure smooth procurement of paddy and wheat,” he proclaims. “Our rangla Punjab has been ruined by the Congress and the SAD. The youth today is keen to leave it to settle abroad. Look, how people sell their land to go abroad. I and my family have come back from America. If you want to save Punjab, vote for AAP. That is the only party that can take stand on various issues and save Punjab,” he says. He concludes the address with a Punjabi couplet: “Pipal de pattia ve kahnu khar-khar lai hai, purne jhar jangey, hun rut navian de aai hai (It’s time for the old leaves to shrivel off and the new ones to take their place).” His promise Elect me an MP. I promise you that I will not just undertake whirlwind tours of grain markets in the state. I will camp there in a tent to ensure smooth procurement of paddy and wheat.
	Join hands to defeat Modi, Rahul: Kejriwal Perneet Singh Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 11 Former Delhi CM and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal today said all political forces need to join hands to defeat Narendra Modi in Varanasi and Rahul Gandhi in Amethi. Talking to mediapersons prior to kicking off his roadshow here this morning, Kejriwal said, “We need to unite together to root out corruption and communalism in our country which will happen only when we defeat the Congress and the BJP.” Replying to a query regarding SP leader Mukhtar Ansari backing out from contest in Varanasi where he is pitted against Modi, Kejriwal said it was the need of the hour for political forces to unite so as to defeat Modi and Rahul. On the Congress and the BJP terming him a “fugitive” for relinquishing power in Delhi, he said, “How would the BJP and the Congress know what is sacrifice? In today’s world it is not easy to even quit a peon’s job and you need a big heart to kick the CM’s chair.” He hit out at the BJP, saying had they been in the era of the Lord Rama they would have termed Him an “escapist” for proceeding on 14 years of exile. “The BJP and the Congress only know how to stick to power and rob the country of its resources. On the other hand, we stood by our principles and didn’t bother about power.” He said he gave up power in Delhi as with only 28 seats in their kitty his party was unable to bring about the desired change. “We quit while appealing to the people to give us 50 seats in the next elections so that we could serve them better.” On Punjab election scenario, he sounded optimistic while expressing confidence that AAP will sweep the elections. Earlier, Kejriwal started his roadshow from the historic Ram Bagh Gardens early in the morning and reached the Golden Temple after passing through key areas of the holy city. Tight security arrangements were made for his roadshow in view of the recent incidents of slapping during campaigning. On why he quit as CM Kejriwal said he gave up power in Delhi his party was unable to bring about the desired change with only 28 seats in their kitty. “We quit while appealing the people to give us 50 seats in the next elections so that we could serve them better.”
	Separated for decades, yet wife fasts for Modi to be PM Mehsana, April 11 She has inadvertently been drawn in the political slugfest by Narendra Modi’s rivals to target him, but decades of separation from Gujarat Chief Minister has not embittered Jashodaben, who fasts and prays for her husband to become the Prime Minister. The reclusive 62-year-old retired school teacher has vowed not to eat rice and remain bare-footed until she has seen her husband ensconced in the Prime Minister’s chair, says Jashodaben’s brother Kamlesh. “Jashodaben wishes from her heart that from being a Chief Minister, he (Modi) rises to become the Prime Minister of the country. She prays for that,” he said. Jashodaben, has now proceeded on a ‘char dhaam yatra’ to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri for fulfilment of the wish. Living in a small village Ishwarwada in Mehasana district of North Gujarat with her two brothers, Jashodaben, according to her family, is a devout person and leads a simple life. “She wakes up early in the morning, prays and visits temple....after that she is busy with her daily routine. She also watches news and reads all newspaper reports about him,” Kamlesh said. “Also, if someone speaks ill of him (Modi), she does not tolerate it. Otherwise, she is very mild-natured and never raises her voice against anybody,” he said. Eldest of our four siblings, Jashodaben got married to Modi in 1968 aged barely 17 years. In an interview published in a Gujarati weekly magazine, Jashodaben had said their stay together was very brief. Modi, who soon after their marriage left his home to become a RSS pracharak, had inspired her to study further after which she pursued her Primary Teachers Training (PTC) course and got a job. Modi’s elder brother Somabhai yesterday said the BJP leader’s marriage to Jashodaben had “turned out” to be a “social formality”. — PTI
	Minister’s kin held for assault on EC men Malda (WB), April 11 All four persons, including state minister Sabitri Mitra's son-in-law Samadip Sarkar alias Tinku, accused of beating up Election Commission personnel in Malda's Manikchak area were arrested today. The Malda district administration had lodged two FIRs at the Manikchak police station yesterday after being directed by the EC to take immediate action. The three other arrested persons are Motiur Rehman, Muklesur Rehman and Jamal Khan. While the first two were arrested from the Malda town's Rathbari area, the two others were nabbed from Rabindra Avenue, Malda SP Rupesh Kumar said. Yesterday, two persons were arrested, though they were not mentioned in the FIR, the SP said. They were produced today in the CJM's court which remanded them in two days' police custody. A four-member team of EC personnel was videographing a motorcycle rally of Trinamool Congress workers when two of them were thrashed by the activists, provoking the election authority to ask the district administration to take stern action. Motorbike rallies are banned under EC rules. — PTI
	Hang women for sex outside marriage, says SP’s Abu Azmi Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, April 11 A day after Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mulayam Singh Yadav criticised the death penalty awarded to the rapists involved in assaulting two women at Mumbai's Shakti Mills, the party's Mumbai unit chief called for the hanging of women who have sex outside marriage. Abu Azmi, chief of the Mumbai Samajwadi Party unit, told a local newspaper that even rape victims needed to be hanged. "If any woman, whether married or unmarried, goes along with a man, with or without her consent, should be hanged. Both should be hanged. It shouldn't be allowed even if a woman goes by consent,” Azmi has been quoted as saying. "Rape is punishable by hanging in Islam. But here, nothing happens to women...only to men. Even the woman is guilty. Girls complain when someone touches them, and even when someone doesn't touch them. It becomes a problem then... If rape happens with or without consent, it should be punished as prescribed in Islam," Azmi added. The leader's call to hang both the rapist and the victim has attracted criticism from across the political spectrum. Even Azmi's actor-son Farhan, who is contesting the Lok Sabha elections on a SP ticket from the Mumbai North-Central seat, has criticised the statement.
	U-turn by SP chief Shahira Naim Tribune News Service Lucknow, April 11 With growing all-round criticism against his comments recommending amendment of the new rape laws, Samajwadi Party national president Mulayam Singh Yadav today attempted to take a U-turn. Addressing an election rally in Sambhal, he retracted from his Moradabad statement claiming that he had been wrongly interpreted. Yadav said that his comment was only regarding people wrongly implicated in rape cases. He said that he wanted to say that hanging such innocent people was not correct. “I am not for defending the guilty,” said Yadav, adding that he was all for the guilty being handed over stringent punishment. “When half the nations have banned capital punishment, then why is India continuing with capital punishment?” said Yadav. Meanwhile, the SP president’s controversial statement endorsing the amendment of the stringent anti-rape laws have landed him in trouble with both the Election Commission and National Commission for Women taking cognisance. UP Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha said that the EC has asked for the CD of Yadav’s speech in Moradabad where he delivered this speech in defence of rapists. “We will be examining the contents of the speech before taking any action,” said Sinha. The National Commission for Women (NCW) has also sent a notice to the Samajwadi Party patriarch for his comment. Speaking at an election rally in Moradabad yesterday, Yadav had questioned hanging as punishment for rape and advocated amendment of anti-rape laws to prevent its misuse. Mulayam then & now Boys are boys and they make mistakes. Would you hang them for it? on the shakti mills rape case My comment was only regarding people wrongly implicated in rape cases. Hanging innocent people is not correct. I am not for defending the guilty. When half the nations have banned capital punishment, then why is India continuing with it? his about-turn on friday