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saradha scam
2G: SC rejects Maran’s plea
Dwivedi suggests generational change in Cong
Tatra deal: Court summons Tejinder
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TMC MLA draws flak for rape remark
BJP faces ally trouble in M’rashtra
Son row: Rajnath refuses to pinpoint blame
Tata Camelot project
rape case
Ahead of visit, Modi greets Abe on Twitter
BJP picks firebrand MP to lead its campaign in UP byelection
Experts panel favours cluster of towns as Andhra capital
Students’ death: 2 teachers held
Legislation to check dubious travel agents on the anvil
Defence council to take call on copter deals today
Herald case hearing on December 9
AIIMS’ former CVO challenges Vardhan
ITBP seeks facilities on a par with Army
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CBI searches premises of two Assam MLAs
Tribune News Service
Guwahati/Kolkata, Aug 28 Sources said searches were conducted at 12 locations in Guwahati, two in Dhubri, Assam, seven in Kolkata and one in Mumbai in connection with the scam. A CBI team from Kolkata conducted a search at the residence of former education and health minister and incumbent Congress legislator Dr Himanta Bishwa Sarma, as well as in the office of News Live, a satellite TV channel owned by Sarma’s wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma. Sarma, who recently quit Assam ministry after leading a revolt against Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, could not be contacted for comments. Executive editor of the TV channel Paragmoni Aditya said the CBI team examined documents and CDs related to advertisements given by the Saradha group in the channel during the search operation. The CBI also conducted raid at the residence and business office of another senior Congress MLA, Anjan Dutta. The Congress MLA had sold off a Guwahati-based media outlet owned by him to the Saradha group. The residence of Assam Police’s former DGP Shankar Baurah was also searched by the CBI team. Baruah later declined to make any comment on the CBI operation. The residence of popular singer and filmmaker Sadananda Gogoi was also searched. Gogoi was appointed as secretary of the Assam Publication Board when Dr Sarma was the education minister, but resigned soon after Saradha group chief Sudipto Sen’s letter to the CBI became public. A biscuit factory of Saradha group was among the two premises searched by a CBI team in Dhubri in western Assam. In Kolkata, the CBI raided the properties of a TMC leader, considered close to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in Kolkata and other locations in and around the city. The sleuths interrogated over 120 persons, including businessmen, politicians and bureaucrats, in connection with the case. The CBI sleuths raided the house of TMC minister Madan Mitra’s political aid and custodian Bapi Karim and seized several documents and bank papers relating to transfer of the money to Mitra by company owner Sudipta Sen. Bapi admitted to the CBI that he used to receive money regularly from Sen in his capacity as Mitra’s PA. He claimed he did not have any connection with Sen or his group, a CBI official said. The CBI is now scrutinizing the papers seized from Bapi to ascertain the ultimate recipient of of the money. The minister was not available for comments. The chief minister at a public meeting asked the CBI not to harass innocent people in the name of inquiry. She said the government would cooperate with the CBI in its inquiry. (With agency inputs)
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2G: SC rejects Maran’s plea
New Delhi, August 28 A Bench headed by Justice HL Dattu said there was no legal provision to pass an order pre-empting filing of a case. Maran could come to the court if he found any defect in the chargesheet after the investigation agency had filed it, it clarified. Arguing for Maran, senior advocate CA Sundaram said the CBI was planning to file the chargesheet even before completing the investigation. “If this is allowed, there will be a stigma on my client,” he pleaded. The CBI claimed Maran had delayed allocation of spectrum to Aircel to force its owner to sell the company to a Malaysia-based telecom service provider, Maxis, which in turn had invested in a company run by family members of the then minister.
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Dwivedi suggests generational change in Cong
New Delhi, August 28 But Dwivedi, the second senior-most general secretary of the Congress after Ambika Soni, today made a strong pitch for retiring older leaders from active posts and utilising them instead for critical brainstorming, mentoring and guidance. "All active posts should have comparatively younger people. Older leaders can get some other work such as brainstorming on significant issues. We can fix the age limit. It can be 65 to 70 years or whatever else, depending on consensus in the party. But as a norm, we should try and create a new and young leadership which can keep breathing fresh air into the party," Dwivedi said close on the heels of the BJP moving veterans LK Advani and Murali Manohar Joshi out of the party's parliamentary board into a new body called 'Margadarshak Mandal'. Dwivedi's comments came in response to questions about how he viewed the transition in the BJP. Although he clarified that he had nothing to say on why the BJP did what it did, he did have a strong personal view on the subject. "From my days in the youth movement, I have held that politics is not a profession but a mission. Nevertheless, as in every profession, there should be a stage in politics where you step aside for youngsters simply because your physical health does not permit you to invest as much energy as you would have earlier invested," Dwivedi said giving the example of a household where natural peace does not arrive until the head of the family allows generation-next to take decisions. Dwivedi, however, rushed to clarify that the "stepping aside in old-age rule" should not apply to certain key people such as the Congress president, the Prime Minister, the President and the Vice-President. "In every organisation, there are always exceptions to a rule. Even the Congress Working Committee resolution that barred people from holding dual posts exempted the Congress chief and the former PM," said the 69-year-old. Top brass is old * Most of the top Congress leadership is over 65 years of age with only three general secretaries (Ajay Makan, Shakeel Ahmad and Mukul Wasnik) out of 12 being under 60 years of age. *
Congress treasurer Motilal Vora is 86 years old and Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmad Patel is 65 years old.
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Tatra deal: Court summons Tejinder
New Delhi, August 28 Special CBI judge Madhu Jain took cognisance of the chargesheet and relied upon statements of former Defence Minister AK Antony, VK Singh and other witnesses whose testimonies were recorded by the agency during the probe. “I have gone through charge sheet and statements of Gen VK Singh (retd), Major Gen JP Singh, the then military assistant of the COAS, AK Antony, the then Defence Minister, and other witnesses, published Rajya Sabha debate on March 27, 2012 in which Antony has stated in the Upper House that General VK Singh had informed him about the bribe offered by Lt Gen Tejinder Singh (retd) and other relevant documents. “On the basis of material on record, there is sufficient ground to take cognisance of offence under Section 12 (abetment of offence) of Prevention of Corruption Act... though offence under Section 7 (public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act) of PC Act was not committed in consequence of the said abetment and I accordingly take cognisance under Section 12 of the PC Act,” the judge said, while summoning Tejinder Singh as an accused on September 1. During the arguments on consideration of the chargesheet, senior public prosecutor VK Sharma had told the court that there was sufficient evidence to take cognisance and summoned the accused. — PTI ‘Offered bribe’ to clear files * Lt Gen Tejinder Singh (retd) is accused of offering a bribe to former Army Chief Gen VK Singh for clearing a file pertaining to procurement of 1,676 heavy mobility Tatra vehicles * The CBI in its chargesheet had alleged that in August-September 2010, the file was pending before General VK Singh, who felt the total projected requirement of the vehicles had been inflated * On September 22, 2010, Tejinder Singh met VK Singh in his office in South Block and allegedly offered him a bribe of Rs 14 crore for clearing the file, the agency said
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TMC MLA draws flak for rape remark
Kolkata, August 28 “Rapes were committed earlier, rapes are being committed now. As long as the world exists, rape will be there,” TMC MLA Dipak Haldar said at a meeting at Diamond Harbour in neighbouring South 24 Paraganas district yesterday. Haldar described rape as a “social disease” and said: “We do not support rape. It is not possible for the CM alone to solve this problem.” — PTI
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BJP faces ally trouble in M’rashtra
New Delhi, August 28 BJP’s Maharashtra in charge Rajiv Pratap Rudy today categorically rejected reports of trouble in the BJP-Shiv Sena marriage. Asserting that there were absolutely no issues between the partners of several years, he said the ‘Mahayuti’ would fight from a common platform in the state. In the 2009 Assembly polls, Sena contested on 169 seats and BJP at 119 constituencies. After its spectacular run in the General Election, BJP leaders have been hinting at 50 per cent stake in 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly. BJP chief Amit Shah has already indicated that he wants a bigger share. Sena leaders too are believed to be mounting pressure on party president Uddhav Thackeray to reconsider the alliance. Seat-sharing talks between them have been further complicated with demands from smaller allies. Sources call this “normal action between allies before elections”, adding that unlike Haryana where the BJP can very well survive on its own, the situation in Maharashtra is different. “The BJP and Shiv Sena cannot fight each other,” they say. Besides the ongoing tussle between the Shiv Sena and BJP, smaller allies in the Mahayuti are also demanding their pound of flesh. Today, Ramdas Athavale, leader of the Republican Party of India (Athavale), touched base with Shah to seek better representation for his party. Other parties of the ‘Mahayuti’ — Swabhimaani Paksha of farmers leader Raju Shetty, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (RSP) led by Mahadeo Jankar and Shivasangram, an organisation of Marathas headed by MLC Vinayak Mete — also want to contest. The big question is who, BJP or Shiv Sena, will part with seats to cater to the demands of other partners. The Sena, which wants the post of Chief Minister, appears disinclined. Sources say that it wants the other allies to be accommodated by the BJP. This is the reason it had sent off a terse warning saying that elections could not be won on “wave” alone a day after the saffron party’s poor performance in bypoll in Bihar and Karnataka. “Political equations for the state elections are different and we will have to study Bihar and Karnataka poll results to learn that,” Sena said in Samana, its mouthpiece, urging the BJP to “learn a lesson” and “self-introspect” on what went wrong. In all, while the BJP is demanding more seats on the basis of its performance in the 2009 Assembly poll and the General Election, Sena wants to take advantage of the senior partner’s unsatisfactory performance in the bypoll. The BJP and Shiv Sena have been poll partners in Maharashtra since 1988.
Shiv Sena’s grouse * The Shiv Sena is reportedly unhappy with the way it is being treated by the BJP, especially over sharing of seats in Maharashtra for the upcoming Assembly elections *
In the 2009 polls, Shiv Sena contested 169 seats and the BJP 119. After the success in the General Election, the BJP has been hinting at 50% stake in the 288-seat state Assembly
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Son row: Rajnath refuses to pinpoint blame
Lucknow, August 28 “You are investigative journalist and you should find out who the rumour-mongers are,” was his reply to queries by reporters on whether he suspected any person or leader to be behind the “rumours”. Singh had yesterday asserted that he would quit politics if even “prima facie” it is proved that any of his family member had been involved in any misconduct following reports which claimed that his son Pankaj had been ticked off by the Prime Minister for an alleged “misconduct”. — PTI
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Sukhna will dry up like Badkal, HC told
R Sedhuraman Legal Correspondent
New Delhi, August 28 Arguing before a Bench comprising Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice RS Endlaw, senior advocate PS Patwalia said the Punjab Government was supporting the project without conducting any scientific study on the likely impact of the huge constructions on the lake, the wildlife sanctuary, the eco-fragile Shivalik hills and the Union Territory. After acknowledging the devastating effect of mining on the Aravalli hills and water bodies such as Badkal and Surajkhund lakes, the Supreme Court and the government had declared areas within the five-kilometre radius of the lakes as green belts out-of-bounds for mining as well as constructions, Patwalia pointed out. The township project, which involved the construction of nearly 2,000 “ultra-luxury” flats in 19 high-rise towers having 7-28 floors each for politicians and other affluent people, would have devastating consequences for the entire region, he said. Even in the absence of constructions, Sukhna Lake had dried up in 2012, he noted. The petitioners said since the government had acquired the area for soil conservation, it could not be offered for construction of concrete structures which required massive diggings and removal of huge amount of soil. Punjab wanted to allow the project ignoring Chandigarh’s objections and in violation of the Union Territory’s law on controlled area, which extended 10 km beyond the existing periphery so as to provide for future expansion of the city, Patwalia pleaded. Further, under the doctrine of public trust, natural resources such as forests, water, air, flora and fauna could not be appropriated for private or commercial activities even in the absence of specific laws prohibiting it, Patwalia contended while arguing for PIL petitioners Alok Jagga and Sarin Memorial Legal Aid Foundation. If Punjab and the company were keen on going ahead with the township project, it could be shifted either to the east, west or south of Chandigarh where such development activities had already been allowed by the UT, Patwalia added.
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Bid to implicate son: Gowda
Bangalore, August 28 “I don’t want to say anything, law will take its own course, even if it is my son or somebody law will take its own course. I will not interfere in the matter, I will do my duty,” he said. A case was registered last night against Karthik under Sections 376 (punishment for rape) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code on the basis of the complaint filed by the woman on a day when his engagement ceremony with another woman took place at Kushalnagar in Kodagu district. As the issue snowballed, the woman, a model-turned actress, appeared on TV channels, insisting she was married to the minister’s son’ Karthik Gowda and their family should accept her as the daughter-in-law. The issue also reached Karnataka Women’s Commission, whose chairperson Manjula Manasa said the woman’s sister had approached it. “I will talk to the woman and her family. An FIR has been registered.” — PTI
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Ahead of visit, Modi greets Abe on Twitter
NEW DELHI, AUGUST 28 Hours ahead of the official announcement of his visit to Kyoto and Tokyo, in a series of tweets in Japanese language, Modi said he saw the visit as an opportunity to take ties to a new level. “I will visit Tokyo and Kyoto and will interact with all sections of Japanese society from students, political leaders to captains of industry. Have very warm memories of visiting Japan as a CM. The hospitality and the immense scope for cooperation left a deep impression on my mind. I see the Japan visit as an opportunity to take our ties with Japan to a new level and increase cooperation in various fields. Japan’s friendship with India is time tested. We are two vibrant democracies committed to advancing peace and prosperity in the world,” read the English version of the tweets circulated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). To this, PM Abe tweeted: “India has a special place in my heart. I am eagerly waiting for your arrival in Kyoto this weekend. Your first visit to Japan as Indian PM will add a new chapter to our strategic partnership. Together we can do a lot for peace and prosperity in the world.” MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said: “The Prime Minister’s visit to Japan will be extremely substantive... It will have wide range of events...Our expectations about the outcome are that India and Japan will be able to elevate the strategic and global partnership to a new level.” Cooperation in the fields of defence, civil nuclear, infrastructure development and rare earth materials, besides enhancing business ties, will be high on the priority of the PM’s trip to Japan’s “smart city” Kyoto and capital Tokyo. Akbaruddin said Modi was keen on rejuvenating Indian cities as urban centres and Kyoto was an example of an urban city that has preserved cultural heritage. Abe will be in Kyoto for Modi and will host a dinner on August 30. The next day, both PMs will attend a public function. Besides meeting the Governor and Mayor of Kyoto, Modi will visit a university centre that specialises in stem cell research and travel to Tokyo where he will be officially welcomed at Akhata Palace followed by delegation-level talks and signing of agreements. In the evening, Abe will host official banquet in Modi’s honour. The Indian Prime Minister will address businessmen on September 1, visit a school and call one Emperor Akhihito on September 2. In keeping with the PM’s preference, the official delegation is lean and includes National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh. A business delegation will travel separately.
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BJP picks firebrand MP to lead its campaign in UP byelection Lucknow, August 28 During the August 19 visit of BJP national president Amit Shah to Lucknow, he reportedly chalked out the strategy for the UP bypoll in which he personally chose the controversial Yogi to be a star campaigner for the party. Interesting, Yogi who has considerable clout in eastern UP has been roped in to campaign for the BJP when just two Rohaniya (Varanasi) and Balha (Bahraich) of the 11 seats are in his sphere of influence. Four bypolls are in the communally sensitive region of western Uttar Pradesh where polarisation post-Muzaffarnagar riots have proved to be politically advantageous to the BJP. Yogi is currently in the eye of a storm for featuring in a video tape going viral in which he is taking a vow claiming that for “every Hindu converted, 100 Muslim girls will be converted in retaliation.” While Yogi has described the tape as a cut-and-paste job, he has been in the forefront of propagating the polarising concept of ‘love jihad’ in the state for a long time. Even earlier, Yogi has chosen many issues that caused public uproar or led to communal violence in the state. In March 2009 during a public meeting at the Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Lucknow, Adiyanath had remarked, "Gandhi was not the appropriate person to be called father of the nation. Instead, the mantle should have gone to someone like Ram or Krishna". In September 2009, the Gorakhpur MP held a public meeting in the local DAV College in Azamgarh to protest against Delhi Jama Masjid’s Naib Imam Ahmad Bukhari’s meeting with the family of terror accused of Ahmedabad blast Abu
Bashar.
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Experts panel favours cluster of towns as Andhra capital
Hyderabad, August 28 The five-member committee, headed by the former Urban Development Secretary KC Sivaramakrishnan, submitted its report to the Union Home Ministry. According to official sources, the committee has suggested nearly six options covering a string of small cities that could be developed as industrial, business and investment hubs. The committee is believed to have suggested an area between Martur in the backward Prakasam district and Vinukonda in the tobacco-rich Guntur district for locating a functional state Secretariat and other important buildings. It has favoured decentralised development of a cluster of towns, covering the coastal and Rayalaseema regions, instead of replicating the Hyderabad model where concentration of development has taken place over the decades. The committee’s views run contrary to the stated position of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu who has publicly aired his preference for developing the new capital city on the Vijayawada-Guntur stretch in the prosperous coastal region. The proposal has the backing of influential politicians and leading industrialists of the region. Moreover, Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party put up an impressive performance in the region in the General Election. However, the non-availability of government land and sky-rocketing prices of private land are seen as major challenges. It is argued that the sprawling campus of the Nagarjuna University near Guntur could be ideally suited to house the Legislature, Secretariat, Raj Bhawan and government offices of the new state. The Vijayawada-Guntur stretch is a prosperous belt with fully developed infrastructure, good air, rail and road connectivity and strong backing by the powerful political and industrial lobby. However, the expert committee, which had extensively toured the state, opposed the location as it would involve acquisition of a vast stretch of fertile agricultural land, threatening food security in the long run. Instead, it advocated construction of a functional capital and spreading various government offices to different cities. The committee, however, made it clear that it was up to the political leadership to take a final call on the location of the new capital.
Unconventional approach * The panel has suggested 6 options covering a string of small cities that could be developed as industrial, business & investment hubs instead of an over-centralised city *
It has advocated the construction of a functional capital and spreading various government offices to different cities
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Students’ death: 2 teachers held
Mumbai, August 28 The Virar police said school’s Sanskrit teacher Ripu Sudan Garg and PT teacher Sandeep Palwa were arrested after other students and parents of the deceased told investigators the two had thrashed the students. The boys were beaten up for failing to pass a class test in Sanskrit. On Monday evening, the three allegedly scaled the wall of the school and ran off. The school listed the boys as missing. Their bodies were later discovered in a river near the school on Wednesday, the police said.
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Legislation to check dubious travel agents on the anvil
New Delhi, August 28 Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Union Minister BS Ramoowalia told The Tribune that he discussed the issue with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today. “Swaraj has assured that the government is seized of the matter and is in favour of ushering in a new law soon to reign in the dubious operators,” Ramoowalia said. Ramoowalia said the operators “exported” youths who were physically abused in the foreign land. “Their travel documents are seized by their captors and they are left with no money and help,” he said. “It is a known fact that fraudulent travel agents and marriage bureaus frequently dupe youths from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal and export them to foreign countries virtually unfettered of legal actions,” Ramoowalia said. He said the countries with which such questionable travel agents and seedy marriage bureaus do business include Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, UAE, Cyprus, Georgia, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Kenya and Nepal. He said: “The private firms which import workers from the region do not abide by contractual agreements. Their passports are taken from them as soon as they reach their destinations and are forced to live in substandard conditions. If they get hurt in the line of duty, their employers do not help them. And if they die, process of sending bodies back to India is delayed.” He alleged that governments of some foreign countries did not grant visas to Indians even after the latter made investments. He cited the Georgia Government where many Punjabis had purchased agricultural properties.
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Defence council to take call on copter deals today
New Delhi, August 28 This will be the second DAC meet to be chaired by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and will take up cases that have been held up due to the change in government. The deals include 22 Boeing Apache attack helicopters and 15 Boeing Chinook heavy helicopters, both likely to be tasked with the upcoming Mountain Strike Corps. Negotiations for both deals had ended during the UPA regime (May 2004 to May 2014). The DAC is also expected to okay the deal for 118 next generation Arjun Mark-II tanks. The tank is an upgrade of its first version inducted some five years ago. The Army and the IAF are also awaiting government’s approval for 197 light multirole helicopters. The tenders are pending for more than four years and the helicopters are needed immediately to phase out the 1960s-designed Cheetah/ Cheetak helicopters. The fight is between the European Airbus and the Russian Kamov. The meeting is also expected to discuss the issue of buying third-generation anti-tank guided missiles for the Army.
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Herald case hearing on December 9
New Delhi, August 28 Metropolitan Magistrate Gomati Manocha postponed the matter after the counsel appearing for Sonia Gandhi and others informed the court that the Delhi High Court had stayed the criminal proceedings, which are pending before the trial court, till September 3. The complaint case in the matter was filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy. During the hearing, Swamy informed the court that he had served the summons issued against accused Sam Pitroda, who according to him is presently residing in the USA. He also told the court that the high court had stayed the proceedings before the trial court for the other accused and not for Pitroda. — PTI
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AIIMS’ former CVO challenges Vardhan
New Delhi, August 28 Chaturvedi has challenged Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan’s arguments for his removal and in a recent letter addressed to the minister, he has sought permission to explain his side to the media. In the latest communication (a copy is with The Tribune), he alleged defamation and warned to initiate legal proceedings against persons concerned in view of the communication from the health ministry that mentioned some complaints pending against him. Alleging a propaganda being run against him, he contested the minister’s statements that his removal was to restore and protect the sanctity of the CVC while pointing that facts were totally contrary to it. “The matter of appointment is still pending with the CVC and the CVC is yet to take a final decision. However, with a view to influence the decision-making process of the CVC, repeated communications are being issued to give an impression as if my name has been rejected by the CVC....nothing but a very crude attempt on part of certain corrupt elements to influence ... and bulldoze CVC into rejecting my name,” he said. According to Chaturvedi, the matter is still under consideration of the CVC on whose insistence the ministry had sent a panel comprising four persons, including him, for the post of the AIIMS CVO in December 24, 2012. Subsequently, a panel of three officers, including him, again in March-April, 2013, was sent, followed by the ACR dossier and vigilance clearance to the central watchdog. “...a vicious campaign has been launched on print/ electronic/social media in which blatant lies are being spoken and propagated to protect certain powerful and corrupt elements by bringing the name of certain statutory authorities, and in which certain derogatory personal references are being made....,” he said. He demanded an independent CBI inquiry into the case.
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ITBP seeks facilities on a par with Army
New Delhi, August 28 The ITBP had raised these issues during the recent visit of the Minister of State
for Home Kiren Rijiju to ITBP locations in eastern Ladakh, according to sources in the government. Rijiju had gone on a visit to Ladakh along the India-China frontier on August 23 and had returned to Delhi on August 25. Sources said that during the visit, the ITBP had raised the issue of being given allowance on a par with the Army. The Army is currently been given High Altitude Field Allowance (HAFA) which is above Rs 7,000 in all high-altitude areas, including Ladakh. The ITBP had also requested the minister for being provided with courier flights. “A courier flight, an IL-76, a military transport aircraft for the Army regularly takes off from Leh to Chandigarh for transportation of men, items and bodies. The ITBP had also requested for this facility,” said sources. The ITBP had also asked the minister to provide it with high-powered vehicles for easily reaching their posts in high-altitude areas.
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The Karnataka Government today said law would take its own course on the complaint of rape and cheating lodged by an actress against the son of Railway Minister Sadananda
Gowda, who maintained he had been falsely implicated. The Railway Minister, who faced severe embarrassment over the unfolding drama, said in Kochi, “...it’s a falsely implicated complaint... you very well understand as a minister I’m here (in Kochi) today in spite of that complaint”.
The decision to make firebrand Hinduvta leader and BJP’s Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath the star campaigner for the 11 Assembly and one parliamentary seat in Uttar Pradesh reflects a paradigm shift in the party.
During the August 19 visit of BJP national president Amit Shah to
Lucknow, he reportedly chalked out the strategy for the UP bypoll in which he personally chose the controversial Yogi to be a star campaigner for the party.
*
The senior-most general secretary, Ambika Soni, is 72 years old with most others, including Janardan Dwivedi (pic), being 65 plus. 
Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe exchanged tweets conducting diplomatic dialogue through cyber world. On his Facebook page, Modi said: “Am particularly excited to meet PM Abe. I deeply respect his leadership & enjoy a warm relationship with him from previous meetings.”