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Priyanka dubs Modi’s attacks childish
Allow Sikhs to serve in US army: US-Indians to Defense Secy Hagel
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Attack on Tribune scribe: Case
filed, probe sought
Soldiers injured on leave entitled to benefits: SC
Radia tapes
Deora, Nirupam among 4 found guilty of paid news
Surat building collapse: Govt orders probe
Former Air Chief NAK Browne is Norway envoy
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Priyanka dubs Modi’s attacks childish
Amethi(UP), April 29 Batting for her brother in Amethi from where he is contesting for the Lok Sabha, Priyanka said the BJP leaders used to make fun of her father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi when he introduced computers in the country and they are now "mocking" Rahul. "They call him (Rahul) 'namuna' (specimen). Sometimes, they compare him to a stand-up comedian and sometimes, they call him shehzada. I think you (Modi) aspire to be Prime Minister, then why do you indulge in such childish behaviour? He (Modi) should maintain dignity," she said at an election meeting at Deeh in Salon Assembly area. Priyanka, while asking the people to vote for the Congress, said a message should be sent from her brother's constituency about the kind of politics that should be practised in India. "Their (BJP) politics is destructive.... Don't vote for yourself or Amethi. A message should go from here about the kind of politics needed in the country. There should be clean politics," she said. BJP candidate Smriti Irani and AAP, which has fielded Kumar Vishwas, also drew Priyanka's wrath as she accused Irani of holding meetings in dark rooms to tell people about lack of electricity and development in the constituency. "There are different governments in the state and the Centre. Sometimes, it causes inconvenience. Giving power is the state government's job.... When the UP government diverted power supply here, their (BJP) leaders agitated in Lucknow. Now its candidate is doing drama here," she said. AAP neither has power at the Centre nor in state and it cannot do any development, she said as she listed out the developmental works carried out by Rahul. She claimed that half of the programmes given in BJP's manifesto are that of the Congress. "BJP copied Congress' manifesto. When their leaders come before you, ask them whether they have any plan for development. If the people are aware, then the politicians have to become accountable," she said.
— PTI
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Allow Sikhs to serve in US army: US-Indians to Defense Secy Hagel
Washington, April 29 "As entrepreneurs and community members dedicated to advancing issues important to the Indian-American community and strengthening ties between the US and India, we respectfully request that the US Department of Defense modernise its appearance regulations so that Sikh-Americans can presumptively serve in our nation's military while maintaining their articles of faith," 16 Indian-Americans wrote in a letter to
Hagel. According to the copy of the letter dated April 25, which was provided to PTI today, the Indian Americans - all of whom are major fundraisers and wield considerable influence in the nation's political circle - praised the recent efforts of 105 bipartisan members of the US House of Representatives, who recently had also sent a letter to Hagel expressing their support for Sikh-Americans in the US armed forces. That letter was led by Congressman Joseph Crowley, who co-chairs the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, and Rodney Frelinghuysen, who chairs the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. "The importance of this issue to the Indian-American community is underscored by the fact that the Government of India issued a statement supporting the effort. As you know, our NATO allies already permit Sikhs to serve," the letter, which was signed by Shekhar Narasimhan, Ranvir Trehan, Shefali Razdan Duggal, Rajeev Sharma, Parag and Usha Saxena, Reshma Saujani, Frank Ismail, Raj Goyle, Anju Bhargava, said. Among other signatories to the letter are -- MR Rangaswami, Mahinder Tak, Sunita Leeds, Aneesh Chopra, Vinod K Shah and Parag V Mehta. "We wanted our Sikh-American brothers and sisters to know that, at the very least, the Indian-American community stands with them and while it may be seen as symbolic, their cause is our cause," Narasimhan said. In the letter, the Indian-Americans said for more than a century, immigrants from India have strengthened and enriched America, even after overcoming obstacles.
— PTI
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Attack
on Tribune scribe: Case filed, probe sought Chandigarh, April 29 The case has been registered against unidentified persons on the complaint of Devinder Pal. The police have started investigation. Meanwhile, various organisations and political parties have come out in support of The Tribune publications for carrying out a detailed investigation against the clash of interest of the Badal- Majithia- Kairon families, whose members hold important positions in the government, and how businesses run by these families have benefited from various state government policies. These organisations have also condemned the attack on Devinder Pal, who has carried out these investigations. A petrol bomb was hurled at his residence in Chandigarh late last night by unknown miscreants. Chandigarh Press Club has condemned the attack and demanded that the matter should be probed. The club president demanded protection for all journalists so that they could work without fear. Bathinda Press Club, has demanded exemplary punishment for the attackers and appealed to Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil to intervene and ensure protection for journalists. In Patiala, International Online Press Club, too, has condemned the attack and called it an infringement on the freedom of press. The Tribune Employees Union, too, has condemned the attack and demanded a probe. Various politicians have also come out in support of Devinder Pal. Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Partap Singh Bajwa strongly condemned the attack and lauded The Tribune for exposing “how the Badal family had made a business empire after coming to power.” Condemning the attack, former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh hoped that Chandigarh police would nab the culprits soon. Former Deputy Speaker Bir Devinder Singh said the attempt to gag the press should be condemned unequivocally,” he said. Congress spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Khaira held a press conference in Jalandhar, where he demanded dismissal of the “Badal family-run government” and hoped that the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court take suo motu action and order a probe by a commission of serving judges. CPI state secretary, Bant Brar, its senior leader, Dr Joginder Dayal, the PPP general secretary Yadvinder Buttar, have also condemned the attack.
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Soldiers injured on leave entitled to benefits: SC
Chandigarh, April 29 The Tribunal’s judgment was challenged by the Central government in the Supreme Court. The apex court dismissed the civil appeal observing that there was no infirmity in the conclusions reached by the Tribunal. In November 2011, the Tribunal’s Bench comprising Justice Ghanshyam Prashad and Lt Gen HS Panag had, after discussing various Supreme Court judgments in favour of and against the proposition of grant of disability pension to soldiers injured during leave, held that disability pension would be entitled to such persons when the injury was not due their own fault and when they were not engaged in a militarily inconsistent activity. Disposing a case where a soldier was injured in a road accident, the Tribunal had concluded that it was its duty to give a beneficial interpretation to such social welfare schemes and policy had to be interpreted liberally since roads were now flooded with vehicles while the rules were originally framed in 1950 and that otherwise it shall lead to grave injustice to soldiers who defend the frontiers. The Tribunal had also observed that while civilians were retained in service on incurring disabilities, defence personnel could be discharged. It observed that if military personnel could not be retained they must be adequately compensated for being thrown out on account of disabilities so that they could meet their own and their families’ basic needs. The issue of denial of benefits to disabled soldiers and tendency of the defence ministry of filing multiple appeals against disability pension to disabled soldiers in the SC, was also raised in the Parliament in August 2013 by several MPs. Experts dealing with the subject state that it was only in India that defence personnel were not paid any kind of monthly pension on being discharged on non service-related disabilities whereas the services of disabled civilians were protected and they were entitled to pay and allowances till superannuation and pension thereafter. AFT’s order upheld
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SC to hear privacy issue first
New Delhi, April 29 A three-Judge Bench headed by Justice HL Dattu said it was of the view that the issues be segregated into two parts as otherwise, it would be an unending exercise. The other members of the Bench are Justice JS Khehar and Justice RK Agarwal. In the first part, the Bench said, it would hear the aspects concerning right to privacy i.e. right to privacy vis-a-vis the government, right to privacy vis-a-vis the Press and right to get information. The issues regarding criminality or illegality in awarding contracts to private parties would be taken up afterwards, the Bench said. It also made it clear that it would “not permit” the parties concerned to go beyond those issues. The Bench said it would hold a hearing on the issue of privacy from August 26 to 28. It also said the status report received by the CBI in a sealed cover should not be opened without court’s order. Additional Solicitor General L Nageswara Rao told the Bench that the “leak (of intercepted conversations of Radia with others) was not from the government’s side”. He said the government had already taken a stand that there was a right to privacy. — PTI
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Deora, Nirupam among 4 found guilty of paid news Mumbai, April 29 Complaints against Congress candidates - Union Minister of State for Shipping and IT Milind Deora (Mumbai South), Sanjay Nirupam (Mumbai North), Vishwajit Kadam (Pune) - and BJP candidate from Pune Deepak Shirole have been found true, sources in the State Election Office said. The candidates were found guilty by the district committee set up by the poll body to keep a watch on paid news and this decision (of finding four candidates guilty) has been upheld by the state committee of the election office, sources said. If the charge is established, the news items identified as paid news will be looked as advertisements and will be included in the election expenditure of the candidates, officials said. Election officials said 801 complaints of violations of model code of conduct were received. FIRs were filed in 75 per cent of the cases. Jatin Desai, member of the state committee, said the decision of the Pune district committee regarding Anil Shirole and Vishwajit Kadam was upheld by the state committee. "The candidates have an option to challenge the order of the state committee within 48 hours of the receipt of the order," he said. Deora and Nirupam challenged the order of the Mumbai district committee and the hearing was held before the state committee. "Deora's election agent and Nirupam's lawyer told the state committee that they don't want to pursue the matter," Desai said. Deora and Nirupam will have to pay as per DAVP rates for advertisement in newspapers and the amount will be added in their election expenditure, he added. — PTI 84 complaints
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Alphonso mango prices crash after EU ban
Mumbai, April 29 "Nearly 100 tonne of Alphonso mangoes are exported to Europe every year. This will fall by half if the ban really comes into effect," says Sanjay Pansare, Director, Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee at Navi Mumbai. Fruit dealers at the Vashi, Navi Mumbai market say they plan to divert the consignments earmarked for Europe to the local markets. "Around 10,000 dozen mangoes are sent daily to Europe by air," says Pansare. According to the trade, Indian exporters mainly from the textile and diamond industries regular send out consignments of premium mangoes to their customers. The expatriate Indian community are also among the biggest consumers of Alphonso mangoes. Locals in Europe are not fond of Indian mangoes because of their high sugar content, according to traders here. Some of the mango traders feel that other markets like the Middle East could easily absorb the losses from Europe. "There is good demand for mangoes in the Middle-East this year," says Abhijit Kshirsagar, another trader at the APMC market. In all, India exports nearly 60 thousand tonnes of the fruit to more
than 40 countries around the world. The European Union banned import of mangoes and some other vegetables from India after some fruit flies were found in them. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has now asked exporters to look at other markets like the Latin American countries to plug the gap caused by the European ban. Dealers eye local markets
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Surat building collapse: Govt orders probe
Ahmedabad, April 29 Confirming the development, Chief Minister Narendra Modi tweeted- "The Gujarat Government has ordered a magistrate- level inquiry to look into the cause of the building collapse." Apart from setting up an inquiry, the government also announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the three victims. Around 2 pm, slabs of six floors of 'Kanaiya Palace', a nine-storey residential building on Ghod-daud Road, collapsed, killing three and injuring at least five. The injured were those who were rescued from the debris and sent to hospital by fire brigade officials.
— PTI
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Former Air Chief NAK Browne is Norway envoy
He succeeds RK Tyagi. ACM Browne, also known as ‘Charlie’ Browne, was chief of the IAF from July 31, 2011 to December 31, 2013. The government had two years back appointed former Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma as the High Commissioner to Canada, courting a controversy. The then External Affairs Minister SM Krishna had proposed the name of senior diplomat Basant Gupta for the post but the PMO ignored his recommendation and appointed Verma. Before this, another former Navy Chief, Admiral Sureesh Mehta was appointed as the High Commissioner to New Zealand.
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In a no-holds barred attack on Narendra Modi, a combative Priyanka Gandhi today dubbed as "childish" his "namuna" (specimen) and other barbs against Rahul Gandhi. The BJP prime ministerial candidate too raised his pitch accusing the Congress of being a ‘dhokebaaz’ (fraud) party.
New Delhi, April 29