Congress says its completely unacceptable to speak against Parliamentarians in that manner. The party says there are some bad people among us, but Parliament cannot be targetted. It says that cases filed against MPs don't make them criminals.

Kiran Bedi now says the attacks were not personal and Team Anna was not the first to point out criminalisation of politics. 

The Congress today steered clear of questions on Army Chief Gen V K Singh's allegations about bribe offer saying the party has nothing to say after Defence
Minister A K Antony has given a "holistic" response on the issue.

"The Defence Minister has given a holistic response. He has replied to all these questions in his statement. I do not think we need to add anything to it after the Defence Minister has spoken," party spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters. 

In a suo motu statement in the Rajya Sabha, Antony said the Army Chief had told him about retired Lt Gen Tejinder Singh allegedly offering him bribe of Rs 14 crore, which he heard with "shock".

Meanwhile, in Parliament Speaker Meira Kumar says the remark (Arvind Kejriwal calling MPs rapists, thieves) lowers the dignity of Parliament and is unwarranted.

The Delhi high court last month has asked AIIMS to set up a medical board to examine Nitish Katara murder case convicts Vikas and Vishal Yadav, terming their frequent visits to various hospitals from Tihar Jail as "unreasonable". The court also asked the jail authorities to file a report on the number of security personnel deployed for their security during their visits to hospitals.

AIIMS today said the two were healthy and did not need hospitalisation.

The defence ministry has handed over the audio tape which purpotedly has recordings of Army Chief VK Singh's conversation with a man offering him the Rs 14 crore bribe.

News of another Parliamentarian: The Delhi High Court today sought
the CBI reply to DMK MP Kanimozhi's plea for quashing of various criminal and corruption charges framed by the trial court against her in the 2G spectrum allocation case. Justice M L Mehta issued notice to the probe agency and
fixed the matter for further hearing on May 10. 

Kanimozhi, in her plea, had claimed she was falsely implicated in the case and had contended there was no evidence on record to justify the charge that she received bribe. The 44-year-old DMK leader, who got bail after spending over six months in Tihar Jail, had also sought setting aside of all proceedings which ensued after framing of  charges.

Yadav says it's a motion to ask Team Anna not to make derogatory statements as he moves the censure motion against the anti-graft brigade. Complete unity in Parliament across party lines over the issue.

The JD(U) chief points out that politicians are also part of society. And the House has thrown out corrupt politicians.

White-skinned couple Aslam Parvez, 55, and wife Shameem, 56, are the eldest of the 16-strong clan from Coventry. The Asian family, who live within five miles of one another, are all are white-skinned with white hair.

Read the report on the Sun.co.uk

Our Delhi correspondent reporting from Central Hall in Parliament says Union Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee looked exhausted during discussions on the passage of Union Budget.

Mukherjee was particular angry with the Telangana Rashtriya Samithi for disrupting proceedings which delays the passage of the 2012 Budget. In principle, the entire house is agreed to get the budget passed today even if the House has to sit up late tonight.

If the Budget is not approved today, the salaries for MPs will not be disbursed for April 2012. 

Save Your Voice, a non-profit advocating free speech on the Web is lobbying for a 'special day' to be dedicated to Kapil Sibal, the country's telecom and communications minister. The day they picked? April Fools' Day.

Read the WSJ report

China is trying to crack down on self-immolations by Tibetan Buddhist protesters, but online videos are inspiring copy-cat deaths. Read the story on the Daily Beast.

And on the Guardian: What drives Tibetan protesters to self-immolate?

With four days left for his scheduled hanging, death row convict Balwant Singh Rajoana today snubbed the ruling Akali leadership asking them not to save him from the gallows, claiming they were pushing for a pardon out of fear of losing support of Sikhs. Punjab police and paramilitary forces conducted flagmarches across the state apprehending violence if the execution of Rajoana convicted in the assassination of former Chief Minister Beant Singh is carried out. 

Various Sikh organizations have given a bandh call in Punjab tomorrow in view of the expected hanging of Rajoana who has neither challenged his conviction nor filed any mercy petition. As per a court order, he is scheduled to be hanged on March 31 in the Patiala Central Jail.

The Chandgirah Sessions court orders the execution of BS Rajoana on March 31 and issues a showcause notice and contempt of court to the Patiala jail superintendent and returns the warrant. Rajoana had assassinated former Punjab CM Beant Singh in 1995.

The Maoists behind the abduction of first time BJD legislator Jhina Hikaka havewarned the Odisha government not to buy time or use the police and made it clear that they don't want any negotiators. 

"They (Maoists) have cautioned the government not to buy time or use the police to harm them," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told the assembly. 

"I assure the members that all efforts are being made for ensuring the safe release of our colleague, the honourable member from Laxmipur," Patnaik said, adding the demands were being examined.

James Cameron, self-proclaimed 'king of the world,' went to the bottom of it yesterday. The Titanic director and deep-sea explorer dove to the bottom of the planet's deepest recess, the Mariana Trench, using a submarine of his own design. He announced the triumph in a tweet, sent while he was almost seven miles deep, to the puzzlement of dozens of Twitter users who struggle to get a signal in an elevator or in their own apartments.

Read more

Youngster was caught in crossfire of a 'tit-for-tat' gang feud. Victim Thusha Kamaleswaran had dreamed of becoming a dancer

Read and wtatch the video on the Daily Mail.

Defence Ministry sources have said the Army chief had informed the minister about the bribe offer "only verbally" and no written information was provided.

They said since the information was not provided in writing, no action was taken and now that the issue has become public, a CBI probe has been ordered into it. The Army chief has said the lobbyist offered him the bribe in order to have a tranche of 600 sub-standard vehicles of a particular make cleared for purchase.

The CBI will ask for a formal complaint from Army chief V K Singh in connection with his allegation that he was offered a bribe of Rs 14 crore to
clear to swing a 'sub-standard' defence deal. Agency sources today said action would be intiated after getting a formal complaint from Singh. 

They said besides the complaint, he would also have to provide other details like date of meeting with the lobbyist, a possible witness list and supporting documents among other details in the case. 

Was the bribe offered to Army Chief General VK Singh due to his opposition to all-terrain Tatra vehicles that are being used by the Indian army? Singh was reportedly opposed to the continuation of a 2010 deal signed by the army to include 788 more vehicles, the Indian Express reported today, deeming the vehicle to be 'substandard' and 'exorbitant'.

Read the Firstpost.com story.

RJD MP, the aptly named Rajniti Prasad, gesticulating wildly before the cameras says the Team Anna should be jailed for their remarks against Parliamentarians. Remember, this is the man who had dramatically torn up the Lokpal Draft Bill on December 31, 2011.

Yesterday, in an interview to CNN IBN, Team Anna key aide Arvind Kejriwal had asked why MPs did not protest when Bills are torn up in Parliament.

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir government will comply with the recommendations of the two committees on Armed Forces Special Powers Act, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said.

"The recommendations of the committees (set up by the J-K Government) will be acted upon (regarding gradual withdrawal of AFSPA) after the same are submitted by them to the government", Omar said today. Omar stressed his government is committed to gradual withdrawal of AFSPA from the state. 

After a marathon hearing spanning over a month, the Supreme Court today reserved its verdict on a bunch of petitions challenging the Delhi High Court verdict decriminalising gay sex among consenting adults in private. 

A bench of justices G S Singhvi and S J Mukhopadhaya reserved its verdict on a bunch of petitions by anti-gay right activists, social and religious organisations against the 2009 verdict of the high court, which decriminalised the gay sex. 

The bench had commenced final day-to-day hearing of the case from February 15. During the hearing, the apex court had pulled up the Centre for its "casual" approach on decriminalisation of homosexuality and had also expressed concern over the Parliament not discussing such important issues and blaming judiciary instead for its "over-reach". 

While pleading for decriminalisation of gay sex, the Centre had subsequently told the court that the anti-gay law in the country had resulted from the British colonialism and the Indian society was much more tolerant towards
homosexuality. 

The Delhi High Court had in 2009 decriminalised gay sex as provided in Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and had ruled that sex between two consenting adults in private would not be an offence. Section 377 unnatural offences) of the IPC makes gay sex a criminal offence entailing punishment up to life term.

MetroMates @DelhiMetroMates  Army Chief can't act. Even Defense Minister can't act. And people ridicule Uday Chopra.

Siddharth Syal  @TheSyal  @ShivAroor can u force an Army Chief to pursue a matter if he's not willing to.???

Lt Gen (Retd) Tejinder Singh says he did meet Army Chief VK Singh once on a personal matter in 2011. But there was no talk of any defence deal and neither did he represent Tatra or lobby for it. He says he has already filed a defamation suit against Singh.

Defence minister AK Antony named Tejinder Singh in Parliament today.

Just in: At least 16 CRPF men have been killed in a landmine blast in the Pashutola area of Ghadchiroli. Details awaited.

Another report from Seoul: President Barack Obama is making light of getting caught on an open microphone with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. At the start of the Nuclear Security Summit here, Obama was about to sit down when he saw Medvedev two seats away.

Obama said: 'Wait, wait, wait, wait,' and then moved to cover up his microphone in jest. He then enjoyed a hearty laugh with the Russian leader as the two shook hands. Photographers and reporters saw the moment. Obama yesterday was heard saying he would have more flexibility to work with Russia on missile defense after the election.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met his Pakistani counterpart Yusuf Raza Gilani informally several times during the course of the ongoing Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul. The two leaders decided to discuss all pressing matters facing the two nations and continue with bilateral talks, says Nikhil Lakshman, who is part of the media entourage accompanying the Prime Minister.

Singh was later seen having a longish chat with Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is set to visit India for the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit in New Delhi this week.

Last night, the Prime Minister and his Pakistani counterpart Gilani had a "meet and greet" encounter prior to a dinner hosted for dignitaries attending the summit here. 

"The Prime Minister said hello to Mr Gilani," Indian sources said. Singh and US President Barack Obama also exchanged peasantries and hugged each other when they came face-to-face t the summit yesterday.

Obama told Singh, "Nice to see you here Mr Prime Minister." The last Singh-Obama meeting had taken place on November 17, 2011 on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Bali, Indonesia.

Away from the drama in Parliament to the drama near Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu. The Collector agrees to meet seven protestors though he had objected to one of them earlier.

The anti-nuclear power plant activists led by People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMNE) are on an indefinite fast after the Tamil Nadu government gave its go-ahead  to the Indo-Russian project on March 19, clearing decks for resuming the works, now in full swing. 

Dr R C Ramalingam of the Tisayanvalai Primary Health centre said he had advised officials that they needed immediate hospitalisation but the agitators were not cooperating. The medical team had submitted its report to the district collector and it was for the officials to take a decision, Ramalingam said. 

Arun Jaitley says that the facts revealed in the case are disturbing and urged the government to act and take proactive steps.

Antony promises a comprehensive CBI probe and points out that the Army Chief had not named Lt Gen (Retd) Tejinder Singh.

Antony finishes his speech.

The leader of the Opposition in the RS, Arun Jaitley: Defence preparedness and modernisation should not suffer while the probe is on. Opposition also wants to know why the defence minister take the complaint so casually. Jaitley says the matter should have been probed when it came up.

Defence Minister AK Antony addresses the Parliament on the bribe issues.

The Opposition had slammed Antony for inaction against the bribe-giver. He says he has always maintained probity in his work.  

Defence minister AK Antony to make a speech on Gen VK Singh's bribery allegations shortly.

Meanwhile, on Firstpost.com: Antony and Manmohan: The dishonesty of honest men

Unlike Wagah, where India and Pakistan mount an elaborate daily drama of military ritual watched by tourists on both sides, the Demilitarized Zone, which separates North and South Korea is barren and desolate, a terrain bristling with hostility, discovers Nikhil Lakshman in Seoul.

Read

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani today exchanged pleasantries, their second informal chat in two days at the Nuclear Security Summit here. 

Singh and Gilani shook hands as they greeted each other during the photo-op for the top world leaders attending the summit in the South Korean capital. 

Singh was later seen having a longish chat with Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is set to visit India for the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit in New Delhi this week. Last night, the Prime Minister and his Pakistani counterpart Gilani had a "meet and greet" encounter prior to a dinner hosted for dignitaries attending the summit here.

Indian heads of organizations are expected to get the best salary hikes of 8.3%, much better than most of their Asian counterparts.

While India leads the pack as far as the average base pay increase goes, China stands second at a projected 6.5%, according to global HR consulting firm Mercer's 2011-12 Asia Executive Remuneration Survey-India Report. In 2011, India saw an actual increase of 8.4% in average base pay for heads of organisations. 

Read the TOI report

At the ongoing world Nuclear Security summit in Seoul, world leaders have called for closer cooperation to tackle the threat of nuclear terrorism. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said nuclear terrorism remained a "grave threat", while US President Barack Obama said action was key. Chinese President Hu Jintao urged the group to work together on the issue.

Read the bbc report.

In Parliament right now, the BJP raises the Telangana statehood issue amid uproar. If the uproar continues, the House will be adjourned, otherwise here's the schedule...

LOK SABHA

1. Discussion on Budget (General) 2012-13
2. Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) 2011-12
3. Appropriation Bill, 2012
4. Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill, 2010

RAJYA SABHA

1. Discussion Budget (General) 2012-13

The hunger strike at Idinthakarai has entered its ninth day. Of the 15 people on fast, two women have been hospitalised. Rediff.com's Ganesh Nadar reporting from Idinthakarai said that the strike was earlier against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, but now the agitators have only two demands -- release jailed protestors and withdraw all cases against them.

The agitators have been charged with waging war against the state. The Tirunelveli collector Selvaraj is expected to come to Parameshwar for talks with a team comprising seven representatives from seven villages, 12 km from Idhinthakarai.  

Also read: Idinthakarai: The Auschwitz of India

Shamed former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has been handed preliminary charges alleging he was involved in a hotel prostitution ring in France.  

The French politician's lawyer, Richard Malka, said that Strauss-Kahn left was accused of procuring prostitutes and involvement in an "organized gang."   Malka said that Strauss-Kahn has denied wrongdoing, and added that it is wrong to prosecute him for "simple libertine activity,' Fox News reports.