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Sat, 27 April 2013
EC flying squad checks out Mayawati twice
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20:35 EC flying squad checks out Mayawati twice
A "flying squad" of Election Commission on Saturday subjected Mayawati to checking for a second time in quick succession, following which an angry BSP supremo hit at out the poll watchdog, playing the Dalit card.
As soon as Mayawati, who is in Gulbarga for campaigning for the May 5 assembly poll, landed by helicopter at a helipad on the outskirts of the taluk headquarters town of Jewargi in this district, the flying squad carried out an inspection in the chopper.
They found Rs one lakh in cash from her bag, which was not seized after she explained that it belonged to her supporters who accompanied her in the helicopter and that each person is "entitled" to carry Rs 50,000.
Thereafter, as she was climbing the dais put up for her party's public meeting in Jewargi, the flying squad again searched Mayawati and her car, an action that infuriated the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.
She gave a piece of her mind in her campaign speech, wondering the need to search her again.
20:32 Opposing T20 games, Congress workers dig up pitch in Rajkot
Congress workers today dug up the pitch at Madhavrao Scindia cricket ground in Rajkot, to protest against All-Gujarat Inter-Municipal Corporation T20 Tournament hosted by Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC).
The tournament is to start tomorrow and Gujarat Assembly Speaker Vajubhai Vala is supposed to inaugurate it.
Congress workers, including MLA Indranil Rajyaguru and local leader Kashmira Nathwani, dug up the pitch today.
"Six persons from a Nepalese family have to commit suicide by setting themselves ablaze, protesting against RMC's policy; and people of the city are facing extreme shortage of drinking water, but RMC is wasting water by organising such tournament," Rajyaguru said.
BJP corporator Kashyap Shukla criticised the incident, and said that despite it, the tournament would be held.
20:29 Coalgate: Fresh case against Delhi-based firm
Taking further its probe into the coal block allocation scam, CBI today registered a fresh case against a Delhi-based company for alleged misrepresentation of facts while applying for mines and carried out searches at 10 locations across the country.
CBI sources said searches were conducted today at 10 places in Delhi, Ghaziabad (UP), Faridabad and Narwana (both in Haryana) and Raipur (Chhattisgarh) at offices and factory of Pushp Steel and Mining, residential premises of its Directors Atul Jain and Sanjay Jain as well as the premises of its sister concerns and group companies.
They said the new FIR takes the total number of cases in the coal allocation probe to 11.
The sources alleged that the company got mining lease on the basis of recommendation from the Chhattisgarh Government despite having no experience and lacking enough capital required for starting mining operations.
20:28 2 retired Indian judges to visit Sarabjit's jail
Two retired Indian judges, part of a joint India-Pakistan panel looking after each other's prisoners' condition, will soon visit a Lahore jail where death-row prisoner Sarabjit Singh was seriously injured following an attack by prison inmates.
Retired Justices K S Gill and M A Khan and their Pakistani counterparts, all members of India-Pakistan Joint Judicial Committee of Prisoners, had visited the Karachi jail yesterday as part of an exercise to meet Indian prisoners, see their conditions and prison records and whether their release could be expedited.
A senior Home Ministry official told PTI that the panel is scheduled to visit Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail within a day or two to see the conditions of Indian inmates. The retired jurists will also visit the Rawalpindi jail.
Sarabjit was lodged in Kot Lakhpat jail till Friday. He has been undergoing treatment at Jinnah Hospital since the attack on Friday.
20:02 IPL play-offs moved from Chennai to Delhi
The Qualifier I and Eliminator of the ongoing Pepsi IPL 2013, will be played at the Ferozeshah Kotla Ground, Delhi, on Tuesday, 21 May 2013, and Wednesday, 22 May 2013, respectively.
The Ferozeshah Kotla Ground is the home venue of the Delhi Daredevils, who topped the league stage in the 2012 edition of the IPL.
The Ferozeshah Kotla Ground is the home venue of the Delhi Daredevils, who topped the league stage in the 2012 edition of the IPL.
The team ranked first at the end of the league stage of the Pepsi IPL 2013, will play the team ranked second, in Qualifier I, at 8:00 pm on 21 May 2013. The winner of this game will qualify for the Pepsi IPL 2013 final.
The team ranked third at the end of the league stage, will play the team ranked fourth, in the Eliminator, at 8:00 pm on 22 May 2013.
The winner of the Eliminator will play the loser of Qualifier 1, in the third playoff (Qualifier 2), at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Friday, 24 May 2013.
The final of the Pepsi IPL 2013, between the winners of Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2, will be played at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Sunday, 26 May 2013.
19:25 Men's mentality in India a problem: Ekta Kapoor
Producer Ekta Kapoor, who has been behind controversial films like Love Sex Aur Dhoka, Kya Super Cool Hai Hum and Ragini MMS, believes Indian men need to change their mentality towards women.
"Mentality of men in India is becoming a problem. Men do not feel any social responsibility. Our culture is stopping women everytime. The main idea behind making The Dirty Picture was to make people aware of women's sexuality.
"When John Abraham goes shirtless nobody has a problem but when our actresses do that everyone wants to chop off that scene," Ekta said while speaking on the topic of 'Sex, Nudity, Dance Numbers and the kiss' during the Centenary Film Festival in New Delhi.
Ekta was reproached for promoting witchcraft for her last release Ek Thi Daayan. The 37-year-old producer said she was shocked to be blamed like this.
"It was a horror film and I didn't promote any witchcraft in it. I even got a letter from National Commission of Women where to my surprise, I was charged for using the Nirbhaya issue during the promotion of the film. I used a bus which was titled 'The bus to hell' and they assumed I roped in the rape case to promote my film," said Ekta.
18:18 Chinese jets fly close to disputed isles
Chinese military planes, mostly fighter jets, made more than 40 flights close to Tokyo-controlled islands at the centre of a territorial dispute on a single day this week, a press report said today.
The flights took place on Tuesday, when eight Chinese marine surveillance ships entered the 12-nautical-mile territorial zone off the islands in the East China Sea, which Japan calls the Senkakus and China calls the Diaoyus, the Sankei Shimbun newspaper reported.
The conservative daily, citing senior government officials, said F-15 fighter planes from an airbase on the Japanese island of Okinawa scrambled to intercept the Chinese aircraft which flew in waves towards the skies over the islands.
"It was an unprecedented threat," one of the officials was quoted as saying.
Another said, "If such a show of force continues, it is feared it could lead to a situation where the (Japanese) air defence force may not be able to cope."
16:59 SEBI should protect genuine investors: SC
It is the SEBI's duty and obligation to protect ordinary and genuine investors, the Supreme Court has said.
A message should go out that our country will not tolerate market abuse and that we are governed by the rule of law, said SC.
SEBI has to deal sternly with companies and their directors indulging in manipulative and deceptive devices, said the apex court.
16:58 Two Maoists surrender in Odisha
Two hardcore Maoists, including a woman cadre, surrendered before police in Odisha's Nabarangpur district today as they were "disillusioned with the activities of Naxals and found them to be harassing tribals and the poor".
The ultras, identified as Radhika Biswakarma alias Ramvati, 19, of Kundei area in Nabarangpur district and Ramesh Markam alias Amar, 22, of Dantewada in Chhattisgarh, surrendered before Superintendent of Police Brajesh Rai.
16:51 Accused in Delhi child rape remanded to custody
A Delhi court has remanded Pradeep, one of the accused in the gang rape of a minor in east Delhi, to judicial custody till May 9.
16:50 N N Vohra appointed JK guv for another term
Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra has been appointed for another term, the Rashtrapati Bhavan has said.
16:48 Ashwani Kumar should quit as law minister: CPI
The CPI today demanded the resignation of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar over the CBI affidavit in Supreme Court which said it had shared its status report on the coal block allocation scam with him.
The party also sought a clarification from the prime minister, accusing the government of trying to influence the working of the premier investigation agency.
16:46 Alliance with JD-U in Bihar working well: Modi
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi today ruled out any threat to his party BJP's alliance with the JD-U.
"Our alliance in Bihar is working well and there is no threat to it," Modi told reporters, a day after Bihar Chief Minister and JD-U leader Nitish Kumar expressed satisfaction with the alliance in his state.
Modi, a senior BJP leader, said, "If any issue arises in the future, it will be dealt by the BJP Parliamentary Board."
16:13 Mayawati springs the Dalit card in Karnataka
Vicky Nanjappa reports: Bahujan Samajwadi Party supremo Mayawati has alleged that the officials of the Election Commission had stopped her vehicle and checked it while she was on her way to Gulbarga in Karnataka for an election rally.
Mayawati alleged that her vehicle was stopped because she is a Dalit.
"Can the EC stop a vehicle that belongs to either Congress President Sonia Gandhi or BJP leader Sushma Swaraj," she asked.
Mayawati is scheduled to address a rally in Gulbarga today.
Though the party has been in the fray during the last two elections in the state, it is yet to win a seat.
15:51 BJP betrayed people; need for change now: Sonia
Accusing the BJP government in Karnataka of betraying the people's mandate, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today made a strong pitch for "change" in the state, as it was passing through "some of its darkest days."
"I remind the young generation that these are some of the darkest days. People want change. The need for change is now," she said in her first campaign rally in Karnataka, which goes to assembly polls on May 5.
14:19 Sarab case shows failure of central govt: Modi
Dubbing the Centre as "weak", Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said the government has suffered a "total blackout" in its foreign policy and failed on all fronts, including on the issue of death row convict Sarabjit Singh.
"The issue of Sarabjit Singh should not be seen in isolation. All incidents are proof of the failure and weakness of this government," Modi told reporters on the sidelines of a function on a query regarding the Indian national, who was attacked by two prisoners in a Lahore jail.
14:17 No change of venue of Commonwealth meet in SL
Despite international pressure to shift the venue of a major Commonwealth Summit out of Sri Lanka, the grouping's secretary General Kamalesh Sharma has said that the meeting in November will go ahead as planned.
The decision to award Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting to Sri Lanka, which was made in 2009 and confirmed in 2011, would stand, said Sharma after a meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group in London.
14:16 Arunachal MP writes to PM: Probe activities of FIs in NE
With the Saradha chit fund scam hogging the headlines, Arunachal Pradesh MP Takam Sanjoy has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to order a probe into the activities of hundreds of financial institutions operating across the north-east region.
Sanjoy, in a letter to the PM, claimed that many of these institutions were fraudulently collecting huge chunks of money from the poor people of the region, particularly from those living in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
13:51 Pak army officers protest treatment to Musharraf
A group of Pakistani military officers protested the "humiliating treatment" meted out to ex-army chief Pervez Musharraf, who has been arrested over the 2007 emergency and the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto.
A delegation of 75 officers from the Command and Staff College in Quetta expressed their concerns over the treatment of Musharraf and the perceived humiliation of the military during a meeting with members of a committee of the Senate or the upper house of parliament.
12:56 SEBI, RBI to probe Ponzi schemes
The government on Saturday said SEBI, RBI and the Corporate Affairs Ministry are examining the alleged duping of public investors through Ponzi schemes in Eastern India.
The Saradha chit fund case is being probed by SFIO, SEBI, the Income Tax Department and the Enforcement Directorate.
12:55 The whole world is laughing at us: PM
Speaking on the issue of China's incursion in Ladakh, the PM said, "We have a plan, we do not want to accentuate the situation".
"It is a localised problem, we do believe it can be solved," said Dr Singh.
On the logjam in Parliament, the PM said, "Opposition should allow Parliament to function. We are making a mockery of the system. The whole world is laughing at us".
Dr Singh termed the attack on Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh in a Pakistan jail a "very sad incident".
12:33 Law minister Ashwani Kumar will not resign: PM
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday made it clear that Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar will not reign over the coal-gate scam.
The opposition has asked for Kumar's resignation after it was revealed that he, along with PMO officials, had "vetted" the CBI's draft report on the scam.
Dr Singh said there was "no question" of Kumar resigning over the issue.
10:22 50 pc Americans anticipate more terror attacks: Poll
Fifty per cent Americans feel that a terrorist attack in the United States could be imminent, a latest Gallup poll has said in the immediate aftermath of the Boston bombings that killed three people and injured more than 200 others.
In its latest poll, Gallup said 51 per cent of those surveyed believed that there is more likelihood of a terrorist attack.
"This is significantly higher than the 38 per cent anticipating a terrorist attack when Gallup last measured this in August 2011 during the relatively quiet news environment leading up to the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks," it said.
10:21 Militants hurl grenade at Manipur minister's house
Militants lobbed a powerful grenade at the residence of Manipur Irrigation and Flood control Minister Ngamthang Haokip in the heart of Imphal town, but it failed to explode, officials said today.
The grenade was hurled by two militants at Haokip's house at New Chekon area, amid tight security deployment in Imphal West district, at around 7 pm yesterday but it did not explode.
03:36 Blow for Cameron as China welcomes Hollande
Beijing punishes PM for his meeting with Dalai Lama while French president gets full state visit treatment.
03:34 In pictures: Made in Bangladesh
The garment industry dominates Bangladesh's economy - but its workers often toil in dire conditions.
03:30 How did Boston suspect's wife not know?
What's clear: Katherine Russell claims she was completely in the dark about her husband's alleged plan to bomb the Boston Marathon on April 15. What's unclear: How could she not know?
Russell and Tamerlan Tsarnaev were married on June 21, 2010. She was raised in a Christian household in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, but converted to Islam after meeting her husband while attending Suffolk University. She worked as a home health aide and would often leave their toddler daughter with her husband while she went to work.
03:28 New York police find 'part of 9/11 plane landing gear'
New York Police have found part of the landing gear of what is believed to be one of jets flown into the World Trade Center on 11 September 2001. The five-foot piece of metal, including a clearly visible Boeing identification number, was found wedged between two New York City buildings, police said.
It was found on Wednesday by surveyors inspecting a lower Manhattan building. Nearly 3,000 people died in the terror attacks as planes were brought down in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. Five suspected al-Qaeda militants are awaiting trial for the attacks at a military tribunal at the US detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
02:33 Syrian chemical arms a 'game changer', warns Obama
US President Barack Obama has vowed a "vigorous investigation" into reports Syria has used chemical weapons, warning they will be a "game changer" for US policy if proven true.
Both the US and UK have pointed to emerging evidence that Syria has used weapons such as the nerve gas sarin. UK Prime Minister David Cameron earlier told the BBC it appeared a war crime was being committed by Syria. Syrian officials have denounced the allegations as "lies".
01:06 Pussy Riot band member denied parole
BBC: A court in north-eastern Russia has denied parole to one of the jailed members of the punk band, Pussy Riot. Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, who is serving a two-year sentence, had been eligible for early release from a penal colony. She and two other members of Pussy Riot were convicted in August of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred. They were arrested after performing an obscenity-laced "punk prayer" in protest against President Vladimir Putin at Moscow's main cathedral.
An appeals court suspended the sentence of one of the convicted women, Yekaterina Samutsevich, in October, but upheld the jail terms for Ms Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhin.
01:06 Boston suspects' mother in terror database
Agencies: Two government officials say the US intelligence agencies added the Boston bombing suspects' mother to a federal terrorism database about 18 months before the attack.
Officials said this was done after Russia contacted the CIA late in 2011 with concerns that the now-dead suspect, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, and his mother, Zubeidat Tsarnaeva, were religious militants about to travel to Russia.
The CIA asked that Tsarnaev and Tsarnaeva be added to a classified intelligence database called TIDE. Being on the database does not automatically mean the US suspects a person of terrorist activity and does not automatically subject a person to surveillance, security screening or travel restrictions. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly about the investigation
00:26 Cameron fears Iraq effect over Syria
BBC: UK PM David Cameron has expressed concern that international action in Syria may be being held back because of fears of a repeat of the Iraq war. It follows evidence from the US and the UK that Syrian government troops may have used chemical weapons.
US President Barack Obama has pledged a "vigorous investigation" after US intelligence found Syria may had used the nerve agent sarin. He said proof the weapons had been used on civilians would be "a game changer". Mr Obama had said previously that chemical weapons use would cross a "red line" and provoke a major American response.
00:22 Top headlines at this hour
Akhilesh boycotts Harvard lecture over Azam's detention
'Sarabjit attack suspect quarrelled with him few days ago'
Sarabjit's life was at threat post-Afzal hanging: Sister
India should WARN Pak over attack on Sarabjit: BJP
Open to amending JPC report if convinced: Chacko
Rapists of 13-year-old girl held in Mumbai
Dec 16 gang rape victim didn't die in Delhi: Docs
Sonia takes on the 'China problem'
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