| Clean chit to Chidambaram in 2G scam New Delhi, Feb 4 : In a major relief to beleaguered Home Minister P. Chidambaram, a court here Saturday dismissed a plea seeking to make him a co-accused in the 2G case. The verdict, which came as Uttar Pradesh polls get underway next week, saved the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, embroiled in various controversies, further embarrassment in the spectrum saga. "I do not find any sufficient ground for proceeding against Chidambaram. The plea is without any merit and the same is dismissed," Special Central Bureau of Investigation judge O.P. Saini said at the end of his 63-page order keenly awaited by a battery of media waiting outside the court room. Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy had sought to make Chidambaram, then finance minister, a co-accused in the case, contending that he and jailed former IT and communication minister A. Raja had committed irregularities in allotting 2G licences in 2008 at lower than market prices. But the judge was not impressed with records and files Swamy had submitted along with his plea. "There is no material on record to suggest that Chidambaram was acting with such corrupt or illegal motives or was in abuse of his official position. There is no evidence that he obtained any pecuniary advantage without any public interest," said Saini, adding: "There is no material on record to show that Chidambaram was acting malafide in fixing the price of spectrum." The home minister "indeed heaved a sigh of relief", said a close Chidambaram aide. The aide said that the home minister was keenly watching court proceedings on TV from his 19, Safdarjung residence here as he also cancelled his day-long trip to Madurai. But the never-say-die Swamy said he was surprised but not disappointed and would appeal against the trial court's ruling. "I am surprised...but not disappointed because this is part of the game. I will appeal in the high court and if need be I will go to the Supreme Court," said Swamy, vowing to "continue my fight against corruption". The Congress claimed victory in the court order which came two days after the government suffered a major setback when the Supreme Court cancelled 122 second general telecom licences because their allotment was "arbitrary, capricious and contrary to public interest". Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said the verdict vindicated what the government had been saying all along. "The truth can never be hidden. We knew that he was not responsible in any way either directly or indirectly and that these allegations were being made for political motives." Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in Kolkata: "Of course, it is a good judgment. It is a relief." Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni also targeted Swamy. "Swamy lives by the media and has done this to keep himself alive." But the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which had focussed its target against Chidambaram and led a parliament boycott against him, said the fight was far from over. BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad pinned his party's hopes on higher courts and vowed to continue boycotting Chidambaram till he resigns. He said Chidambaram as then finance minister was politically accountable for the 2G decision. "As far as political accountability of Chidambaram is concerned, in view of overwhelming evidence which is there in public domain, the BJP shall continue to insist for accountability inside and outside parliament." Hazare associates release CD for voters ahead of local polls Ahmednagar, Feb 4 : Supporters of social activist Anna Hazare today released an audio CD containing their message for voters ahead of the Zilla Parishad and Municipal Corporation elections in Maharashtra. In the CD, Hazare's supporters have appealed to the people to vote for clean and competent candidates and not get carried away by emotional issues like caste, religion and language. The message has been drafted by Hazare and there is additional material in the CD in form of songs. It was released by Shyam Asawa, senior social worker and trustee of Hazare's Bhrashtachar Virodhi Jan Andolan, here in Western Maharashtra. Activists like Suwalal Shingavi, Milind Kulkarni, Shrinivas Bojja and Suresh Pathare, who are associated with the anti-corruption crusader, were present on the occasion. Nearly two lakh copies of the CD will be distributed all over the state. Zilla Parishad elections are due on February 7, while polling for 10 Municipal Corporations will be held on February 16. 'Minorities concern about RTE will be sincerely considered' New Delhi, Feb 4 : Seeking to allay apprehensions about RTE provisions infringing on minority institutions, the government today said it is committed to address the issues and pass a bill for its amendment in the ensuing session of Parliament. "We have discussed these issues and let me assure that I will try to clear them with utmost sincerity," HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said at a function organised by All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB). In this regard, he said the RTE Amendment Bill has already been introduced in Parliament and "we are committed to pass it and will pass it in the coming budget". While the Right to Education Act provides for establishing school management committees to prepare school development plan, the Bill states that such committees of minority institutions shall function only in an advisory capacity. AIMPLB has been strongly criticising the Act alleging that minority institutions, including madrasas, will lose their identity on account of it. AIMPLB Secretary, Maulana Muhammad Wali Rahmani had earlier told PTI that while on one hand, the Centre is talking of minority education under Article 30 of the Constitution which clearly says minorities can choose education of their choice, but contrary to it the Act defined everything including place of education, age of education, what to read and where to read. No post-poll alliance in UP: Rahul Sant Kabirnagar(UP), Feb 4 : Seeking to put an end to the speculation of a post-poll alliance with Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today said his party will have "no truck" with any party. "The chief minister in Uttar Pradesh is going to be from the Congress (after the Assembly polls).... We are not going to have truck with any other party," Rahul said at an election meeting in Mehdawal area here. "We will have no alliance with any other party after the elections ... We will have an alliance with the people and your voice will reach Lucknow and your money would reach to you," Rahul said, exuding confidence of returning to power after a gap of almost 22 years. "You believed in my grandmother ... You believed in my father. Now believe me," the Congress general secretary said adding that Congress is going to form the government in Uttar Pradesh. Rahul said that a Congress government was also essential for the bright future of Uttar Pradesh as it works not for any particular caste or religion but for the whole society. Charging the political opponents with making false promises, he said that there is a kind of a race among them over it. "They will promise you whatever you want to hear ... They will also change the colour of the sky if you want to hear that," Rahul said, adding that there was however no truth in their promises. Funds for Central schemes being misused in UP: Priyanka Bhavanigarh (UP), Feb 4 : Alleging that funds meant for central schemes were being misused by the Uttar Pradesh government even as the projects were running smoothly in other states, Congress star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi today asked the electorate to realise the importance of their vote. "The funds sent to the state does not reach you. It is eaten up by the government here. You must have seen how many schemes have been given by the Centre and how much funds are given for them but they get stuck in the state," she said in an election rally here. Schemes like MNREGS have been made keeping in mind the requirement of the people and are running smoothly in other states, she said. Asking the electorates to realise the importance of their votes, she said, "You should realise your strength and that of your vote. Make only that person an MLA who works for you... whose intentions are good... It is the habit of leaders that they make you forget your strength so that you think that they are very powerful." Reiterating that politics in Uttar Pradesh has become "opportunistic", Priyanka said, "Leaders come and make promises on caste and religious lines and mislead the people and then snatch their rights." "The difference between Congress and other parties is that it treats all equally...Not concentrate on any particular caste or religion and work for the future of all," she said. Police custody of 6 IM modules extended till Feb 19 New Delhi, Feb 4 : A court here today extended by a fortnight the police custody of six of the seven alleged Indian Mujahedin operatives arrested from across the country late last year for their alleged involvement in firing and triggering a bomb explosion near Jama Masjid in September 2010. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vinod Yadav extended till February 19 the custody till of Mohammed Qatil Siddiqui, Gohar Aziz Khumani, Mohammed Adil, Mohammed Irshad, Gayur Ahmed Jamali and Aftab Alam alias Farooq, who, the Special Cell claimed, have confessed to their involvement in the blast. The blast had taken place minutes after a shootout by two men in which two Taiwanese tourists were injured. The seventh IM module and 19-year-old Abdur Rehman, arrested by the Special Cell, is in judicial custody. Bangalore Central Crime Branch's request for custody of Aftab Alam alias Farooq, Siddqui, Jamali and Alam to ascertain their roles in the Chinnaswami Stadium blast there in April, 2010, continues to be pending with the court. All the seven accused are suspected of being involved in various terror cases, including Pune German Bakery blast, Chinnaswami Stadium blast, the Jama Masjid shooting and September 7, 2011, blast at the Delhi High Court. President, PM greet nation on Milad-un-Nabi New Delhi, Feb 4 : President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday greeted the nation on the eve of Milad-un-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Muhammad. "On the joyous occasion of Milad-un-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Muhammad, I express my greetings and good wishes to all my fellow citizens," said the president in her message. "May the message of service to humanity as taught by the Holy Prophet lead all of us to unity and fellowship," she said. The prime minister said in his message: "Prophet Mohammed's teachings are timeless. They will always inspire us to strive for the uplift of the poor and the downtrodden." "May the festival of compassion spread peace, tolerance and brotherhood amongst all," he added. Freedom comes with 'reasonable restrictions': Katju New Delhi, Feb 4 : In the backdrop of controversy involving author Salman Rushdie, Press Council of India (PCI) Chairman Justice Markandey Katju today said freedom is not "absolute" and is subject to "reasonable restrictions" in the interest of public order. His observation came in response to a question posed to him on micro-blogging site Twitter on whether absolute freedom existed. "There is no absolute freedom. Every freedom is subject to reasonable restrictions in the public interest," Justice Katju posted on the popular blogging site. He said since man is a social being, a balance has to be struck between freedom and its restrictions. Freedom is not absolute even in the United States, the former Supreme Court judge said. "It is subject to reasonable restriction in the social interest." He also said India and America have different setups. "What may be acceptable in America may not be acceptable here," he wrote referring to a poser on certain rights provided to citizens in the US. Referring to religious sentiments, he said the hold of religion in the West is "much weaker than in India" because the West is much more industrialised. "If u call Jesus Christ gay in America, it won't provoke disturbance, there will be (disturbance) if u call Hindu or Muslim figures gay in India," he explained. 'Chacha-Bhatija' vehicle theft ring busted New Delhi, Feb 4 : A car theft racket run by the "Chacha (uncle)", who used his age to allay suspicion, and "Bhatija (nephew)", who disposed off the stolen vehicles, has been busted with the duo's arrest, police said Sunday. The car thief ('Chacha') was identified as Jagdish Chander, 57, while the receiver of the stolen property has been identified as Binder Singh ('Bhatija'). Chander was arrested on Jan 21 from Kirti Nagar area in west Delhi for his alleged involvement in more than 25 motor vehicle theft cases. Singh was arrested later on information obtained from him. Chander, who worked as a car dealer in the area, started stealing old cars, mainly Maruti 800s and Santro models and sell these vehicles though Singh, a TV mechanic, said Additional Commissioner of Police V. Renganathan. Chander disclosed that he had sold the stolen cars for Rs.45,000 to Rs.85,000 depending upon the condition of the vehicle. He admitted that he was committing the thefts for money to lead a lavish life style and also for providing higher education to his children. |
