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Fri, 10 May 2019
AG wanted ex-SC judges to probe CJI case
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23:39 AG wanted ex-SC judges to probe CJI case
Attorney General K K Venugopal on Friday said he had written to all the Supreme Court judges for setting up of a committee of three former apex court judges to look into sexual harassment allegations against Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, before the in-house panel was constituted.
Clarifying his position on reported differences with the government on the issue and that he was contemplating resigning, Venugopal told PTI: "The report in the 'Wire' is wholly incorrect except for the fact that I wrote a letter and clarified it."
The top law officer said he had written the letter on April 22, before a three member in-house committee headed by Justice S A Bobde was set up to hold an inquiry into the allegations of a former apex court woman employee against CJI Gogoi.
"I admit that I had written a letter before the appointment of an in-house inquiry committee seeking appointment of three retired judges of the Supreme Court," Venugopal said.
The law officer also said that he wrote the second letter clarifying his position that the earlier one was written in his personal capacity as a senior bar member having an experience of 65-years.
The In-House Inquiry Committee had on May 6 given clean chit to the CJI saying it 'found no substance' in the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by a former woman employee of the apex court.
The 3-member Committee constituted on April 23 had completed its task in 14 days by proceeding ex-parte as the woman had opted out of the inquiry on April 30 after participating for three days.
The Committee, also comprising two woman judges of the apex court -- Justices Indu Malhotra and Indira Banerjee -- had on May 1 recorded the statement of the CJI who had appeared before it. -- PTI
23:07 Pitroda's remark completely out of line: Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi posts the following on his official Facebook page:
I think what Sam Pitroda Ji said is completely out of line and he should apologise for it.
I think 1984 was a needless tragedy that caused tremendous pain.
I think justice has to be done. The people who were responsible for the 1984 tragedy have to be punished.
The former PM, Manmohan Singh Ji has apologised. My mother, Sonia Gandhi Ji has apologised.
We all have made our position very clear -- that 1984 was a terrible tragedy and should never have happened.
What Mr Sam Pitroda has said is absolutely and completely out of line and is not appreciated.
I will be communicating this to him directly.
He must apologise for his comment.
23:00 Rahul responds to EC show cause notice, says did not violate model code
Congress president Rahul Gandhi is learnt to have told the Election Commission that he has not violated the model code by his claim that the Narendra Modi government has enacted a new law that allowed tribals to be shot at.
Responding to the show cause notice, Gandhi is learnt to have told the poll panel that he had tried to summarise a proposed amendment to the Indian Forest Act in a simple language during a political speech.
He also told the Commission that he had no intention of misleading the people by stating unverified facts.
Gandhi is also learnt to have told the poll panel that the complaint was lodged against him to distract him from campaigning in the Lok Sabha elections.
Citing his speech in Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh on April 23, the poll panel had on May 1 issued the show-cause notice to Gandhi, highlighting a provision of the Model Code of Conduct that barred 'unverified' allegations against political opponents.
Two Bharatiya Janata Party workers had approached the EC with the complaint, following which a report was sought from MP poll authorities.
According to a broad translation of the Hindi speech available on the internet, Gandhi had alleged: "Narendra Modi government has made a new law for tribals in which there is a line that says tribals can be shot at... They snatch your land, take away your jungle and water and then say that tribals can be shot at." -- PTI
22:42 Dalit groom takes out wedding procession under police cover
Fearing a backlash from asection of villagers, a Dalit groom on Friday took out his wedding procession under police protection in Sabarkantha district of Gujarat, said an official.
The groom's family members, residents of Sitvada under Prantij taluka, had decided to seek police protection after some non-Dalit residents objected to their plan to take out the procession through the village, said village leader Ranjitsinh Rathod.
According to the police, protection was provided to the Dalit groom's wedding procession and the event passed off peacefully.
"Scheduled Caste members of Sitvada had apprehension that something wrong would happen if they take out the procession through the village.
"That is why they called us to provide protection. The wedding procession passed peacefully under police deployment in the village," said police inspector of Prantij, K S Brahmbhatt.
According to Rathod, some villagers had earlier asked the Dalit family not to take out the wedding procession.
"Some of the villagers had objected to the Dalit family's plan of taking out the wedding procession. The matter was resolved amicably during a meeting last night.
"However, the family called the police today as they might be having some apprehension (about backlash)," said Rathod, the husband of village sarpanch Ramaba Rathod.
The development came just a day after a village in Mehsana district announced boycott of Dalits after a groom from the SC community decided to ride a horse on the occasion of his wedding. -- PTI
22:02 BJP candidate in Bengal booked under POCSO
Bharatiya Janata Party candidate for Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, Nilanjan Roy has been booked under the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act for allegedly sexually molesting one minor girl inside a house at Falta in West Bengal, police said on Friday.
The West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights sources said the body received a complaint from the alleged victim against the inactiveness of the state police in arresting the accused.
It asked the state chief electoral officer on Friday to take necessary action against Roy within 24 hours and the police to arrest him under the POCSO Act.
The alleged incident took place on April 26 when the girl had reportedly gone to meet the BJP candidate at a house in Falta in South 24 Parganas district to complain to him about the misbehaviour of some of his party workers, a member of her family said.
"The next day a complaint was lodged at the Falta police station. Medical examination of the girl has been completed and her statement recorded but the police are yet to arrest the BJP candidate who has been booked under POCSO Act," West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) chairperson Ananya Chatterjee Chakraborti told PTI.
She said the WBCPCR has taken cognisance of the complaint as the modesty of a minor girl of 17 years was allegedly outraged.
Chakraborti along with other members of the WBCPCR visited the victim at her home on Friday. The Election Commission is yet to take a decision in connection with the case.
"We have received a communication from the WBCPCR and are looking into it. We have sought the police report in the case and will take necessary step as per law," an official at the CEO office said.
Roy, when contacted rubbished the allegations and described it as a 'conspiracy' hatched by the Trinamool Congress candidate from the seat- Abhishek Banerjee.
"It's (the complaint) absolutely a fabricated one. There is political conspiracy behind this by Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of Mamata Banerjee. There is no truth in it," he asserted. -- PTI
21:12 'Bengal Durga' will defeat Mahishasura: Naidu
Invoking Hindu Mythology, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as demon king Mahishasura who, he said, has to be defeated by 'Bengal Durga' (West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee) to bring peace to the country.
The remarks came on a day Naidu, the Telugu Desam Party chief, held a closed door discussion with Banerjee at Kharagpur on future plans of the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) on Thursday.
Reacting strongly, the Bharatiya Janata Party said Naidu is 'suffering from mental illness' and he was making such statements out of fear of losing the elections.
The Telugu Desam Party in a tweet on Thursday night said, "Naidu has deeply criticised PM Narendra Modi again, this time from West Bengal soil (at a public meeting at Kharagpur). He described Narendra Modi as Mahishasura and Mamata Banerjee as Bengal Durga."
"He said Bengal Durga has to defeat Mahishasura (Modi) in Delhi to bring peace and prosperity to the country," the party said on its official twitter handle.
In Hindu mythology, Mahishasura was ultimately killed by Goddess Durga.
In an apparent dig at opposition leader and Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party chief Jagan Mohan Reddy, the TDP also quoted Naidu as saying the BJP was supporting an alleged economic offender.
'Considering himself as an emperor and with an aim to control regional states, Narendra Modi and his soul Amit Shah are supporting an hardcore economic offender in AP,' the tweet said.
Lashing out at Naidu, BJP's Andhra Pradesh president Kanna Lakshminarayana said people of Andhra Pradesh do not take him seriously.
"He does not understand what he talks. None has taken up negative campaign against Modi as much as Naidu has done. He is making such comments out of fear of losing elections," Lakshminarayana told PTI.
"He (Naidu) is suffering from mental illness," he added.
The meeting between Banerjee and Naidu took place for over 15 minutes late Thursday evening, according to a well-placed source in the Trinamool Congress.
The two leaders met and spoke about the future plans of the Mahagatbandhan. Naidu and Banerjee also discussed the TDP leaders meeting with Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi Wednesday, a senior TMC member said. -- PTI
20:37 SC stays disqualification proceedings against third AIADMK MLA
The Supreme Court on Friday stayed disqualification proceedings against an All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MLA who was served notices by the Tamil Nadu assembly Speaker for allegedly indulging in 'anti-party' activities, days after it gave similar relief to two other party legislators.
A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna o issued notice on a petition filed by MLA A Prabhu and posted the matter for further hearing on July 12.
"There shall be stay of further proceedings in notice.... dated April 29, 2019 on the petition for disqualification filed under the Tenth Schedule initiated by respondent no. one (Assembly speaker) against the petitioner (Prabhu)," the bench said in its order.
On May 6, the top court had stayed the disqualification proceedings against AIADMK MLAs V T Kalaiselvan and E Rathinasabapathy, who were also served notice by the assembly speaker under the Anti-defection law after their party accused them of siding with expelled AIADMK leader and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam founder T T V Dinakaran.
Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal issued notices to Prabhu (Kallakurichi), Kalaiselvan (Vriddhachalam) and Rathinasabapathy (Aranthangi) seeking an explanation.
"It is submitted that the actions of the Respondent number-1 (Speaker) in the last two years speaks volumes of his partisan and biased conduct and has reasonable apprehension that the respondent number-1 would not be following the dictum of law laid down and would act without jurisdiction to adjudicate and decide the disqualification petition," the plea filed by one of the MLAs said.
The action of the Speaker is without jurisdiction, arbitrary and actuated with malice, it alleged.
One of the petitioners had said that just when the election result of the by-election to 22 assembly seats are due to be announced on May 23, the action taken by Speaker to initiate disqualification proceedings against them 'smacks of biased and partisan attitude'. -- PTI
19:48 Will hang myself in public if proven guilty: Gambhir
Stepping up his counter-offensive, Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Gautam Gambhir on Friday said he will 'hang' himself in public if the Aam Aadmi Party can prove that he has any link to the derogatory pamphlet allegedly circulated against his rival and AAP nominee from East Delhi Atishi Marlena.
Gambhir also said that he will file a court case against Kejriwal and his party leaders if they did not apologise soon for their charges against him.
If the AAP fails to prove the allegations, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should quit politics, the ex-cricketer demanded.
'Challenger Number 3 to @ArvindKejriwal and @aap. If he can prove that I have anything to do with this pamphlet filth, then I will hang myself in public. Otherwise @ArvindKejriwal should quit politics. Accepted?' Gambhir tweeted.
The BJP also approached East Delhi parliamentary seat returning officer K Mahesh seeking a police probe into the accusations against Gambhir in connection with alleged circulation of obscene pamphlets targeting Atishi.
The complaint was lodged by BJP's Krishna Nagar councillor Sandeep Kapoor with the district magistrate and returning officer of East Delhi seeking a police probe in the matter, said Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana.
The returning officer has already asked the police to register a complaint in this case. On Thursday night Gambhir sent defamation notices to Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and Atishi asking them to withdraw their charges against him and tender unconditional apology or face legal action. -- PTI
19:21 What if someone links you to Godhra: Amarinder to Modi
Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for targeting the Congress and the Gandhi family over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday said what if someone linked the PM with the 2002 riots in Gujarat's Godhra.
"It is wrong of Modi to connect (former prime minister) Rajiv Gandhi with the anti-Sikh riots of 1984. What if someone starts linking Modi with Godhra," he told reporters in Patiala.
Singh said it did not behove the prime minister of the country to 'stoop' to such levels for winning elections.
He asserted that the involvement of some individuals in the 1984 riots did not mean that Modi could implicate Rajiv Gandhi or the Congress party in it.
"By the same yardstick, Modi should also have been implicated in the Godhra attack," the chief minister said, while asking the prime minister to refrain from 'undermining the prestige of his position with such crude and baseless statements'.
"Modi should not forget that the names of several BJP and RSS leaders had figured in the 1984 riots FIR," he said, calling for action in accordance with law against all those found responsible for the mayhem unleashed on innocent Sikhs.
"Modi is unnecessarily dragging Rajiv Gandhi's name to court controversies and divert attention, with his lies, from the real issues," Singh said.
Asked about Congress leader Sam Pitroda's reported statement on the 1984 riots, he said, "If Pitroda has actually said this, it is shocking."
Asked about the 1984 riots, Pitroda had reportedly said, "1984 mein hua to hua."
Describing the riots, which took place in the aftermath of then prime minister Indira Gandhi's assassination by her Sikh bodyguards, as a big tragedy and stressing that justice was yet to be meted out to the victims, Singh said, "If some leaders were involved in the riots, they should be punished as per law."
The chief minister asserted that since the riots, he had been saying that he had heard accusations about the involvement of Sajjan Kumar, H K L Bhagat, Dharam Das Shastri, Lalit Maken and Arjun Das, adding that he stood by his statement.
Slamming Modi, Singh said the prime minister had not uttered a single word on the work done by his government in the last five years.
Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party had been totally exposed and were now clutching at non-existent straws in their desperation to get back into the poll race, he said.
The senior Congress leader chastised Modi for claiming credit for the action of the armed forces for 'political gains', saying in his political career of 50 years, he had never seen a prime minister stooping to such levels. -- PTI
18:37 Pitroda apologises, says Hindi isn't good
Sam Pitroda, Congress, on his remarks on 1984 riots: "The statement I made was completely twisted, taken out of context because my Hindi isn't good. What I meant was 'jo hua vo bura hua', I couldn't translate 'bura' in my mind."
"What I meant was move on. We have other issues to discuss as to what the Bharatiya Janata Party government did and what it delivered. I feel sorry that my remark was misrepresented, I apologise.
"This has been blown out of proportion," Pitroda said. -- ANI
18:00 Jet Airways shares up 3% on revival hopes
Shares of Jet Airways rose by nearly 3 per cent Friday after SBI chairman Rajnish Kumar said the lenders have received two "unsolicited" bids for the company and "one" more is expected by the end of the day, keeping the hopes for the revival of the grounded carrier alive.
The scrip went up by 2.85 per cent to close at Rs 151.80 on the BSE. During the day, it gained 6.91 per cent to Rs 157.80. In terms of traded volume, 21.26 lakh shares were traded on the exchange during the day.
The consortium of 26 lenders, led by State Bank of India, which now owns 51 per cent in the airline, had invited expressions of interest between April 8 and 12 and had received four preliminary bids.
"Two unsolicited bidders have submitted EoI for Jet and we are expecting one more bid by the end of the day," Kumar told reporters at the earnings conference in Mumbai. Jet Airways stopped operations on April 17 due to acute financial distress. -- PTI
17:46 Not party's view: Cong on Pitroda's remark
Congress party issues statement over Sam Pitroda's remark on 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
'...We continue to support the quest for justice for 1984 riot victims. Any opinion remark made by any individual to the contrary including Sam Pitroda is not the opinion of Congress party,' the statement says.
'We believe that justice should be done to 1984 riots victims
as also to 2002 Gujarat riots victims. We abhor violence of any kind,
against any person or a group of people based on their caste, colour,
region or religion. This is the essence of India,' it said.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said, "I have said it already, I don't accept that statement. It's duty of the successive governments to find out how it happened, who all were responsible, it must be found, doesn't matter how many years have passed." -- ANI
17:16 SC reserves verdict in Rafale review case
Former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan on Friday sought from the Supreme Court setting aside its earlier verdict that dismissed their petition for criminal investigation into the Rafale fighter jet deal case.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi reserved its verdict on a batch of petitions seeking review of its December 14 judgment last year which had dismissed the pleas challenging India's agreement with France to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets.
The SC also reserved its verdict on the criminal contempt plea filed against Congress president Rahul Gandhi by BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi for wrongly attributing to the court the chowkidar chor hai remarks.
Gandhi on Friday told the SC that he has already tendered unconditional apology and the criminal contempt proceedings against him should be closed.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi reserved the verdict in the case.
Senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for Gandhi, told the bench, also comprising Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, that the Congress president has already tendered unconditional apology and has expressed regret over the wrongful attribution to the apex court.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Lekhi, told the bench that the apology tendered by Gandhi should be rejected and action must be taken against him as per the law.
Rohatgi also argued that the court should ask Gandhi to make an apology to the public for his remarks.
In the Rafale review plea hearing, Bhushan referred to various aspects including alleged suppression of material facts from the court and said that an FIR should have been lodged and a criminal investigation launched into the case.
He also referred to the documents relating to alleged parallel negotiations being undertaken by the PMO and said that three members of the Indian Negotiation Team had objected to the parallel negotiations.
He said that a prima facie cognisable offence has been committed and it warranted registration of the FIR.
Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre objected to the review petition and said that the basic grounds for seeking review of the verdict are the same as they were in the main petition.
The petitioners are seeking review of the judgment on the basis of secret stolen documents.
He also referred to the secrecy clause of the inter-governmental agreement between India and France and said that this matter pertains to defence deals and not to the award of contract for construction of flyover or dams.
Venugopal sought dismissal of the review petitions. -- PTI
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi reserved its verdict on a batch of petitions seeking review of its December 14 judgment last year which had dismissed the pleas challenging India's agreement with France to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets.
The SC also reserved its verdict on the criminal contempt plea filed against Congress president Rahul Gandhi by BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi for wrongly attributing to the court the chowkidar chor hai remarks.
Gandhi on Friday told the SC that he has already tendered unconditional apology and the criminal contempt proceedings against him should be closed.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi reserved the verdict in the case.
Senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for Gandhi, told the bench, also comprising Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, that the Congress president has already tendered unconditional apology and has expressed regret over the wrongful attribution to the apex court.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Lekhi, told the bench that the apology tendered by Gandhi should be rejected and action must be taken against him as per the law.
Rohatgi also argued that the court should ask Gandhi to make an apology to the public for his remarks.
In the Rafale review plea hearing, Bhushan referred to various aspects including alleged suppression of material facts from the court and said that an FIR should have been lodged and a criminal investigation launched into the case.
He also referred to the documents relating to alleged parallel negotiations being undertaken by the PMO and said that three members of the Indian Negotiation Team had objected to the parallel negotiations.
He said that a prima facie cognisable offence has been committed and it warranted registration of the FIR.
Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre objected to the review petition and said that the basic grounds for seeking review of the verdict are the same as they were in the main petition.
The petitioners are seeking review of the judgment on the basis of secret stolen documents.
He also referred to the secrecy clause of the inter-governmental agreement between India and France and said that this matter pertains to defence deals and not to the award of contract for construction of flyover or dams.
Venugopal sought dismissal of the review petitions. -- PTI
16:56 Jet gets two unsolicited bids, one more expected: SBI chairman
State Bank of India chairman Rajnish Kumar Friday said the lenders have received two "unsolicited" bids for Jet Airways and "one" more is expected by the end of the day, keeping the hopes for the revival of the grounded carrier alive.
The consortium of 26 lenders, led by State Bank which now owns 51 percent in the airline, had invited expressions of interest between April 8 and 12 and had received four preliminary bids.
Friday is the last day to submit financial bids and media reports said none of the four bidders--private equity firms IndiGo Partners and TPG, and Jet's strategic partner Etihad and the country's sovereign wealth fund NIIF--are unlikely to submit financial bid. -- PTI
16:41 Keep the faith
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi's husband and Robert Vadra at the Mumbadevi temple in Mumbai today. Pic: Sahil Salvi
15:57 Bishop Franco Mulakkal appears in court
Bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of raping and sexually assaulting a nun in Kerala, Friday appeared before a magistrate court in Pala. The Pala Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, which issued summons to the accused last week directing him to appear before it on May 10, accepted his plea seeking further extension of bail.
The accused was handed over a copy of the charge sheet and other related documents filed against him by the Special Investigation Team of the Kerala police which investigated the case.
The court posted the matter for June 7 for further consideration. Mulakkal offered prayers at a church in Bharananganam near Pala before appearing in court.
Last month, the special investigation team had filed the charge sheet against Bishop Mulakkal, seven months after he was arrested over allegations of raping and sexually assaulting the nun.
Mulakkal was former Bishop of Jalandhar diocese and a senior member of the Roman Catholic clergy in India. The nun, who belongs to Missionaries of Jesus congregation under Jalandhar diocese, had accused the 55-year old clergyman of repeatedly raping and having unnatural sex with her between 2014 and 2016.
He allegedly committed the offence when he was the Bishop of the Jalandhar diocese.
He has been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), 376C (sexual intercourse by person in authority), Section 377 (unnatural sex) and 506(1) (criminal threat). -- PTI
15:23 PM's lie on Viraat blown away by Navy: Cong
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday why he "repeats lies without verifying facts" and said top Navy officers had blown away his lie about former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's visit to Naval warship INS Viraat.
The former Union minister also hit out at Modi over his comments that there was no evidence of cross-border actions under the previous UPA government and asked him to speak to the Army general who said such steps were not taken for the first time under the current government.
Attacking Modi for not acknowledging the cross-border strikes of the UPA era, Chidambaram said, "If PM did not find evidence of cross-border actions under the UPA government, that means information is being held back from him.
"Why doesn't he speak to the General who said 'this is not the first time and this will not be the last'," he asked.
Campaigning for the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, Modi had accused former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi of using Indian Navy warship INS Viraat as a "private taxi" by having a "family holiday" on it when he was heading the country, a charge denied by the Congress party. -- PTI
15:16 If your family is killed would you still say 'hua to hua'?: Harsimrat
Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Friday hit out at Sam Pitroda for his recent remark on the 1984 Sikh genocide, asking that if his entire family is killed tomorrow would he still think or say "hua to hua"."I would like to ask Mr Pitroda if his entire family is killed tomorrow will he still think 'hua to hua'. He needs to go to that widow colony and find out those thousands of women who lost their family members overnight," the Union Minister told ANI.
Pitroda, who was asked about BJP's claim that instructions to "kill" in 1984 had come from late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, had said, "It (riots) happened in 1984, so what?"
The Indian Overseas Congress chief's remarks were met with strong criticism by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party men, while Pitroda claimed his statement was twisted by the ruling party.
15:15 Jaya, Akhilesh, Dimple's roadshow in Prayagraj
Samajwadi Party leaders Jaya Bachchan and Dimple Yadav hold a roadshow in Prayagraj.
14:40 She abuses me daily...
"She abuses me daily.
Narendra Modi's poser from Bengal:
Her party harasses innocent people and loots them.
Under pressure from her, her administration didn't cooperate on flood relief. They even deny rally permissions.
Who is She?
And how will she react after seeing these photos from Bankura and Purulia?"
14:24 Behind this stern politician is a great grandpa
Punjab CM Capt. Amarinder Singh tweets this tender image with his great grand-daughter: "..and in a whiff disappeared all the tiredness of the hectic day. Meet my great grand daughter, Rudrangini, aged two and a half. Such a blessing to come home to this little angel! These are moments to be treasured & cherished to the fullest!"
Punjab, where 13 parliamentary seats are at stake, will go to polls in the seventh phase on May 19. The counting will take place on May 23.
14:14 Badrinath reopens after winter break
The portals of the Badrinath shrine were reopened for devotees early on Friday after the winter break.
The doors of the Himalayan shrine were thrown open to public at 4.15 am by chief priest Ishwari Prasad Nambudiri in the presence of a large number of devotees, Mandir Samiti and administrative officials.
Elaborate rituals preceded the formal opening. Around 10,000 devotees visited the high altitude shrine on the opening day, a temple committee official said. -- PTI
13:36 PM slams Cong's 'hua toh hua' on Sikh riots
PM Narendra Modi addressing a rally in Rohtak, Haryana, armed with new munition against the Congress thanks to the party's senior leader Sam Pitroda.
Pitroda, while responding to the BJP's claim that the instructions to kill Sikhs in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination had come from the office of the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, had said, "This is also another lie, and what about 1984? 1984 hua toh hua. Aapne kya kiya paanch saal mein, uski baat kariye. '84 mein hua to hua. (You speak about what you have done in five years. It happened in 1984, so what?)."
The PM speaking in Rohtak latched on to the words saying, "'Hua so hua'- the three words that sum up Congress's arrogance were uttered yesterday by one of its most senior leaders. He said this on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. This leader is one of the closest people to the Gandhi family. They have no value for human life.
"Many Sikhs in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh were targeted during the 1984 riots but today Congress is saying 'Hua so Hua' ."
12:39 My wine in their bottle: Hooda on Modi's scheme
Haryana's former two-time chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda dubs the Modi government's 10 per cent reservation for poor in the general category "his wine in their bottle" and says though the BJP can take credit for his work, it will not get the votes.
Accusing the BJP of indulging in "political vendetta", the senior Congress leader, who is contesting from Sonipat Lok Sabha seat, alleged that the CBI raids at his Rohtak residence in January were aimed at maligning him ahead of the May 12 election.
"I brought it (reservation for poor in general category) in Haryana first. I ensured that irrespective of caste and economy, everybody gets reservation. They (BJP) opposed it at that time. Now they have repackaged it at the national level and are trying to reap its benefits. It is my wine in their bottle," Hooda told PTI in an interview.
The Hooda-led Haryana government had in 2013 approved a proposal to grant 10 per cent reservation to economically weaker sections in the general category on the recommendation of the Haryana Backward Classes Commission.
"They (BJP) think they can take credit for my work; they certainly can, but they cannot get votes on its basis. People are shrewd enough to decide, they can make a mistake once but not again and again," the Congress leader said.
The Congress is banking on Hooda and his son Deepender Singh Hooda, who is seeking re-election from Rohtak for a fourth time, to revive the party's fortunes in Haryana. -- PTI
11:58 BJP realises it will lose polls: Mayawati
BSP supremo Mayawati Friday termed as "laughable" and "immature" Prime minister Narendra Modi's remark describing the SP-BSP alliance as "casteist".
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said the language used by the BJP showed it has realised "definite loss in polls" and is "frustrated" and making baseless and absurd allegations.
The BJP, she asserted, is not coming to power again and Modi's dream of becoming the PM again will not be fulfilled."
In a tweet, Mayawati said the allegation that "our alliance is casteist is not only laughable but immature also. Narendra Modi, who is not backward by birth has not faced pain of casteism. Such a remark for the alliance should have been avoided, as it is not correct".
"Modi indulged in casteism by describing himself 'zabardasti ka pichhda' (backward). Had he been backward by birth, the RSS would not have let him become the PM. What RSS has done to leaders like Kalyan Singh is known to all," she said.
Instead of levelling allegations against the alliance, Mayawati said, "Modi should have looked at Gujarat where, I have come to know, Dalits cannot lead an honourable life. A Dalit man was not allowed to ride a horse during his wedding."
At a recent rally in Uttar Pradesh, Modi had accused the BJP and SP of indulging in caste politics. -- PTI
11:51 'No Congress surprise to challenge Modi'
Nine more days and campaigning for the Greatest Show on Democracy will be over.
With polling in just 79 of the 543 seats remaining, most of the election is behind us.
What has been the course of this campaign?
How is this election different from the past and what trends does it reveal for the final result?
Will the BJP hold onto UP and lose Delhi?
Why has the 2019 campaign been very dry?
"This election is being contested on Modi's personality," Rahul Verma, psephologist and co-author of Ideology & Identity -- The Changing Party Systems of India, tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih.
Read the interview here.
11:46 Goa CM to shed portfolio load after end of election code
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said he will distribute some of the portfolios held by him to his Cabinet colleagues after the model code of conduct is lifted by the month-end.
The MCC is in force in Goa since March 10 for the Lok Sabha elections and also four assembly bypolls. While voting for the two Lok Sabha seats and three assembly segments got over last month, the bypoll in the Panaji constituency is slated for May 19.
The MCC, among other things, prohibits a government from announcing policy decisions. Sawant told PTI Thursday that the poll code will be withdrawn, tentatively on May 27, after which development works will pick up pace in the state.
The Chief Minister said he has already conceptualised various plans for streamlining the administration and provide fillip to various sectors in the state. These plans will be executed once the MCC is lifted, said the BJP leader.
11:01 Ayodhya panel gets time till Aug 15
Two months after it referred the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute in Ayodhya for mediation, the Supreme Court, which is hearing the case today, has granted three more months (till August) to the mediators to find a solution.
The Supreme Court constituted three-member mediation committee, headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla, submitted its interim report in a sealed cover on May 6.
The matter was heard by a Constitution bench comprising Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and judges SA Bobde, Dr DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and Abdul Nazeer.
The CJI said today that the panel was optimistic about finding a solution.
On March 8, the apex court had referred the Ayodhya dispute for mediation to the panel, also comprising of spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and senior advocate Sriram Panchu, after it noted "the lack of consensus between the parties in the matter". The SC had directed proceedings to be completed within eight weeks.
The suggestion for mediation had come from the bench on February 26 when it took up appeals. It said it could only decide on a property and what it was looking at was "a possibility of healing relationships".
11:00 Ayodhya mediation panel gets time till Aug 15
Three-members of the mediation panel seeks extension of time to find an amicable solution. Granting time till August 15, the Supreme Court says, "We're not going to tell you what progress has been made, that's confidential."
Justice FM Khalifulah, a retired Supreme Court judge, is the chairman of the panel and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and senior advocate Sriram Panchu are the other mediators. Panchu is a trained mediator.
According to the court order, the mediation took place at Faizabad.The top court had directed both sides '" Hindu and Muslim organisations -- to maintain utmost confidentiality during the process of mediation, which was to be held in-camera.
10:15 AAP to file counter defamation campaign against BJP
Delhi Deputy CM and Aam Aadmi Party leader, Manisha Sisodia on 'derogatory' remarks pamphlet against AAP's Atishi: We are being defamed and they (BJP) are saying they will file defamation against us? We are going to send defamation notice to them today.
10:07 'Judge Bobde said I could get my job back'
"On the very first day, they [the judges] said, "We are not here as a sexual-harassment committee, it is not a departmental proceeding and it is not even an in-house proceeding. We are here just to work on your complaint.' It was very informal, you can say.
"They told me, "We can assure you no harm will come to you in your future.' Justice Bobde also said, "You know, you will get your job back.' To which I said, "No Lordship, I don't want my job back. I just need justice. I'm not doing all this to get my job back. The victimisation after that incident, it should be stopped."
The former Supreme Court employee who accused CJI Ranjan Gogoi of sexual harassment speaks to the Caravan. Read the interview here.
09:36 You're cracking under pressure: Rahul to PM
Congress president Rahul Gandhi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was cracking under pressure, continuing the war of words that has been raging on ever since PM Modi said his father Rajiv Gandhi died as "corrupt number 1".
In a tweet, the Congress chief claimed that PM's recent comments implied he was nervous about Lok Sabha results.
"Dear Mr Modi, your recent statements, interviews and videos are giving India the distinct feeling that you're cracking under pressure. You are, however, certainly right to be nervous about the results," he tweeted.
PM Modi has been attacking the Nehru-Gandhi legacy of the Congress over the last few weeks. He provoked a sharp reply from Congress's Priyanka Gandhi Vadra when he challenged the party to contest the remaining two rounds of polls in the name of Rajiv Gandhi.
"A Delhi girl is openly challenging you. Contest the last two phases on notebandi, GST, women's safety and unfulfilled promises to the youth," she said on Wednesday.
PM Modi on Wednesday targeted the former Prime Minister again. At a rally in Delhi, he said Rajiv Gandhi and family were sent for a vacation on board the Navy's INS Virat, contending that it had compromised national security. The former Commanding Officer of INS Viraat, the ship, denied the allegations.
While Gandhi has responded to PM Modi's comments with "hugs" and "love", Priyanka Gandhi's retorts were hard-hitting as she compared him with "Duryodhan", the mythical villain in the epic Mahabharat.
Today, she called PM Modi coward. "I haven't seen a more coward and weaker PM than him in my life," she was quoted by news agency PTI.
09:23 BJP twisting my words on anti-Sikh riots to hide their failures: Pitroda
Indian Overseas Congress chief Sam Pitroda hit out at BJP for "twisting his words and distorting facts" to "hide their failures", while reaffirming that he had acknowledged the pain of Sikhs during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
The clarification came a day after Pitroda, when asked about BJP's claim that instructions to "kill" in 1984 had come from late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, said, "It (riots) happened in 1984, so what?"
"I have noticed how BJP is again twisting three words from my interview to distort facts, divide us and hide their failures. Sad that they have nothing positive to offer. I acknowledged the pain of my Sikh brothers and sisters during difficult times in 1984 and deeply feel for the atrocities that happened. But these are things from past that are not really relevant to this election which is all about what did Modi government do for the last five years," Pitroda tweeted on Friday.
He went on to say that BJP is attacking Congress with such "lies" as it has no vision to take India forward.
"Rajiv Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi will never target a group of people based on creed. BJP is talking about these issues and attacking Congress leaders with lies because they can not talk about their performance and have no vision to take India forward to inclusively growth and prosperity for all with focus on jobs, kids and more jobs," he said in another tweet.
On Thursday, BJP, citing the Nanavati Commission report, had said "instructions to kill" came directly from then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's office.
"It's on record of Nanavati Commission that probed the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the biggest genocide of India in which the government killed its own citizens, that instructions to kill came directly from the then PM Rajiv Gandhi's office. The country awaits justice for this karma," the party had tweeted from its official handle.
In response to this, Pitroda, while rubbishing the allegations, had said, "I don't think so, this is also another lie, and what about 1984? You speak about what you have done in five years. It happened in 1984, so what? (1984 hua toh hua). What have you done? (Ab kya hai '84 ka? Aapne kya kiya 5 saal mein, uski baat kariye. '84 mein hua to hua. Aapne kya kiya?)"
-- ANI
09:05 Divya slams PM for taking Akshay on naval ship
Congress's social media strategist Divya Spandana slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly taking Canadian citizen Akshay Kumar with him onboard Indian Navy warship Sumitra.
Her attack on Modi came a day after he accused late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi of using warship INS Viraat as a "personal taxi" for a family holiday.
"Yeh teek tha? @narendramodi you took a Canadian citizen @akshaykumar with you on-board INS Sumitra," Spandana tweeted with the hashtag 'sabse bada jhoota Modi (biggest liar Modi)'.
Setting to rest speculation about his citizenship, actor Akshay Kumar had earlier this month said he holds a Canadian passport.
Spandana also tagged a link to an article which raised questions as to why Bollywood was roped in for International Fleet Review at Visakhapatnam in 2016.
"Kumar even sailed in the presidential yacht INS Sumitra along with naval chiefs and other VVIPs," the report said.
Spandana also asked Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan to clear his stand on the INS Viraat issue, citing a report which quoted former Lakshadweep administrator Wajahat Habibullah denying the PM's claim and saying check with Bachchan in case of doubt.
Prime Minister Modi, at a rally on Wednesday, accused the Gandhi family of using warship INS Viraat as its "personal taxi" for a holiday when Rajiv Gandhi was at the helm, launching a fresh attack on the late Congress leader days after throwing the "bhrashtachari no 1" barb at him.
"Ever imagined that a premier warship of the Indian armed forces could be used as a taxi for a personal holiday? One dynasty did it," Modi had said.
The Navy was made to host the Gandhi family and Rajiv Gandhi's in-laws, and a helicopter was also deployed in their service, Modi had claimed, adding that when a family becomes supreme, the country's security is at stake.
"INS Viraat was insulted by using it as a personal taxi. This happened when Rajiv Gandhi and his family was out for a 10-day vacation.
"INS Viraat was deployed for securing our maritime boundary.But, it was diverted to take the Gandhi family which was out for a vacation," Modi had said.
Congress leaders, including its president Rahul Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, have hit out at Modi for his barb at their father, who was India's prime minister between 1984-89.
-- PTI
09:03 "Don't know why I did this: Man who slapped Kejriwal
Suresh, the man who slapped Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during a roadshow on May 4, expressed regret over his act.
"I don't know why I slapped him (Arvind Kejriwal). I regret it," Suresh said.
Suresh also claimed that he is not affiliated to any political party.
"I am not affiliated to any political party. Nobody asked me to do this. Police did not misbehave with me. They only said what I did was wrong," he added.
On May 4, AAP chief Kejriwal was slapped by a man (later identified as Suresh) in Moti Nagar in West Delhi while campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections.
The CM had stepped on to an open jeep and was shaking hands with supporters and waving at the gathering when Suresh wearing a reddish maroon shirt climbed on to the vehicle and landed a slap on his face.
AAP supporters immediately pulled him down and thrashed him.
This was not the first time that the Aam Aadmi Party convener was assaulted.
Kejriwal was also slapped in 2015 while campaigning for Delhi assembly elections and again in the same year when an autorickshaw driver slapped him during a roadshow in Delhi.
-- ANI
08:33 'India's divider in chief': PM makes it to the cover of Time magazine
US news magazine Time has featured Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the cover page of its May issue with a headline that may create controversy across the India amid the election season.
The headline reads Indias Divider in Chief and carries a caricature of the prime minister.
Of the great democracies to fall to populism, India was the first, says the opening sentence of the article.
In the cover story titled Can the World's Largest Democracy Endure Another Five Years of a Modi Government? the writer Aatish Taseer talks about rising populism in democracies as far apart as Turkey, Brazil, Britain and the US the case in point being India.
Populism has given voice to a sense of grievance among majorities that is too widespread to be ignored, while at the same time bringing into being a world that is neither more just nor more appealing, the article says.
The article which is highly critical of Narendra Modi states that the after the 2014 elections, basic tenets of the Indian states considered to be normal such as the character of the Indian state, its founding fathers, the place of minorities and its institutions, were shown to be severely distrusted.
After 2014, the article states, the achievements of independent India such as secularism, liberalism, a free presscame to be seen in the eyes of many as part of a grand conspiracy.
The author accuses the prime minister to be silent about 2002 Gujarat pogrom proving him to be a friend of the mob. The article accuses the administration of being silent on cow lynchings
It is to be noted that the magazines editorial view of Modi has shifted over the years. PM Modi made the list of the Timess 100 most influential people in 2014, 2015 and 2017 but failed to make the cut in 2019.
08:07 Terrorist gunned down in Shopian, arms seized
A terrorist was gunned down in an encounter with security forces on Friday in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district.
Arms and ammunition were recovered from the site where the brief exchange of fire took place, Jammu and Kashmir police said.
The identity of the terrorist is yet to be ascertained.
Further details are awaited.
-- ANI
07:50 Gambhir demands apology over Atishi pamphlets
BJP's East Delhi candidate Gautam Gambhir sent a notice to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Atishi demanding their apology after being accused of being involved in distribution of "obscene and derogatory" pamphlets against his AAP rival.
In the notice, the trio was asked to withdraw their allegations against the cricketer-turned-politician and tender an unconditional apology.
Earlier in the day, Gambhir had said he would withdraw from the Lok Sabha contest if the charge was proved against him.
"I declare that if its proven that I did it, I will withdraw my candidature right now. If not, will u quit politics?," he said in a tweet addressed to Aam Aadmi Party supremo Kejriwal and Atishi, the party candidate from East Delhi.
Atishi broke down reading a pamphlet containing "obscene and derogatory" remarks against her on Thursday. She alleged that the pamphlets were distributed in the constituency by her Bharatiya Janata Party rival.
Gambhir slammed Kejriwal in a series of tweets, saying he was "ashamed" to have him as the chief minister of Delhi.
-- PTI
00:04 SC upholds HC order denying bail to Sanjiv Bhatt
The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to interfere with the March 7 order of the Gujarat high court which had rejected the bail plea of former Indian Police Service officer Sanjiv Bhatt in connection with a two-decade-old drug seizure case.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi noted that the high court had already granted liberty to Bhatt, who is in jail since September last year, to approach again for relief in case the trial does not conclude within a period of six months.
"In view of the liberty granted to the petitioner (Bhatt) by the high court in paragraph 38.3 of the order that if the trial does not get concluded within the period of six months, the applicant shall be at liberty to approach this court once again, we are not inclined to interfere," the bench, which also comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna, said.
"The special leave petition is, accordingly, disposed of," the bench said, adding, "We make it clear that we have not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case."
Bhatt had moved the apex court challenging the high court's March 7 order.
On April 8, the top court had agreed to hear Bhatt's plea and sought response from Gujarat police on the petition.
The former Gujarat-cadre IPS officer, who has been a vocal critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had earlier moved the high court after a sessions court in Banaskantha district had turned down his bail plea in December last year in connection with the 23-year-old drug seizure case.
Bhatt has denied the allegations levelled against him.
He was suspended in 2011 on charges of remaining absent from duty without permission and misuse of official vehicles.
Bhatt, who was sacked from service in 2015, was a superintendent of police in Banaskantha district in 1996.
The district police under him had arrested one Sumersingh Rajpurohit, a Rajasthan-based lawyer, in 1996 claiming that they have seized drugs from a hotel room in Palanpur town where he was staying.
However, the Rajasthan police later said Rajpurohit was falsely implicated by the Banaskantha police to compel him to transfer a disputed property located at Pali in Rajasthan.
Former police inspector I B Vyas had moved the Gujarat high court in 1999 demanding a thorough inquiry into the case.
In June last year, the high court had handed over the probe to the state CID and Bhatt was arrested in September. -- PTI
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