DRDO chief pitches for decentralisation of defence R&D
New Delhi, May 12 : A top defence scientist today made a strong pitch for decentralisation of the
working of the defence research establishment to give scientists freedom to move to private sector
to hone their skills.
The proposal was floated by Director General of Defence Research and Development
Organisation M Natrajan, who said that Indian scientists, like their counterparts in highly developed
countries, should be allowed to go on leave to private industry and even abroad to polish their
talent.
"Apart from academic qualifications, the scientists and engineers need to get trained in specific
tasks to pick up skills and talent for creatively transforming knowledge into products and systems.
"For this a certain gestation period should be allowed for them," said Natarajan, He said this would
be beneficial in the long run as at present over 50 per cent of the technical workforce of the DRDO
was in the age group of 25-35 years.
The DRDO chief also hit out at the Sixth Pay Commission, saying its recommendations had not
come up to expectations and like elsewhere in the world, DRDO scientists were "not immune to
being lured to the better world outside."
He said the government should provide special packages to attract, retain and reward scientific and
technical skills.
Natarajan also hit out at the Commission's proposal categorising defence research laboratories with
other administrative organisations, saying "it would damage the scientific fabric of our country."
India planning to test fire 5000-km range missile soon
New Delhi, May 12 : Buoyed by the string of successes with the intermediate range ballistic missile
Agni-III, India is planning to test a missile with 5000 km range soon.
The test of the next series of Agni missiles will propel the country into the select group of nations
which have long range ballistic missiles.
Indicating that planning process for the test launch of such a missile was in final stages, Avinash
Chander, Project Director of Agni-III, said today scientists were awaiting the government nod for
carrying out the test flights which could be anytime by this year-end.
The launching of the 5,000-km range missile would entail strapping third stage booster rocket on
Agni-III missiles powered by solid fuel propellant.
Along with longer range Agni missiles, India will also carry out further tests of its special naval
missile, an acronym used by DRDO scientists for a submarine launched ballistic missile, and the
second test of interceptor missile which will be undertaken by September-October.
On the special naval missile, DRDO Director General M Natarajan said that his scientists were
"heavily engaged" in the project, but, at the same time, refused to be drawn out on when India's first
nuclear submarine would roll out.
SC stays death sentence of Mumbai blasts convict
New Delhi, May 12 : The Supreme Court today stayed the execution of death sentence awarded
to Abdul Ghani Ismail (rpt) Ismail Turk in connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan issued notice to the CBI while admitting Turk's
appeal against his conviction and death penalty by Mumbai TADA Court.
The Bench also issued notice to the investigating agency on the appeal of another convict Shaikh
Ali Shaikh Umar, who has been sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement in the
conspiracy to cause serial blasts in the city.
Turk was the first among the three accused to be awarded death sentence in the case. He along
with Mohammad Mushtaq Musa Tarani and Pervez Ahmed Nasir Shaikh were given capital
punishment after they were found guilty of planting bombs that killed nearly 100 people.
CPI submits memorandum to LS Speaker Chatterjee on price rise
New Delhi, May 12 : Continuing its pressure on the Congress-led coalition to take more steps to
rein in inflation, the CPI today submitted a memorandum signed by one crore people to Lok Sabha
Speaker Somnath Chatterjee highlighting the Government's "failure" to check prices.
The Left party has also warned the government of "serious consequences" if it does not take steps
to ease the price situation.
Talking to the reporters after submitting the memorandum to the Speaker, CPI leader Gurudas Das
Gutpa said, " Jo sarkar nikammi hai, woh sarkar badalni hai (the government which is worthless has
to be changed).
The memorandum -- dubbed as petition to Parliament -- draws the Lower House's attention to
"violation of labour laws, weakening of the public distribution system besides seeking steps to
check hoarding," he said.
Also, the 10-point memorandum has urged Parliament to put pressure on the Government to
allocate more funds for the agricultural sector, desist from opening up of retail sector to FDI and
privatisation and a change in the SEZ policy.
'I am not a sycophant': Arjun Singh
New Delhi, May 12 : Embroiled in a controversy on the loyalty issue, HRD Minister Arjun Singh
today asserted he was not a sycophant even as he alleged off-the-record briefings have been
institutionalised in the party.
"Whether somebody agrees to it or not, I think the AICC knows that I am not a sycophant," Singh
told Aaj Tak news channel.
Singh, who was reacting to a question on the recent AICC statement that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul
Gandhi kept away from sycophancy, said, "I don't even know whether those remarks were for me
or not. Those remarks must be for someone else."
Asked if the controversy surrounding him was due to his opponents in the party or the trend of
off-the-record briefings, he claimed: "Off-the-record briefings have been institutionalised and I am
neither bothered nor am I interested to know who all are doing it."
In an interview to the Times Now channel, the senior leader rejected the view that there was any
tension between him and the Congress high command and said that contrary to reports, greetings
were exchanged between him and the party President at a function.
Rahul slams BJP for making terrorism as poll issue
Harapanahalli, May 12 : Stating that Congress was the worst victim of terrorism in the country,
AICC General Secretary and Lok Sabha member Rahul Gandhi today slammed Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) for accusing Congress of softpedalling the menace in the country.
Addressing an election meeting here, Mr Gandhi charged that ''those who accuse Congress of this
have forgotten the episode of Kandhahar in which terrorists were released in a most humiliating
manner''.
Declaring that Congress will not compromise its ideologies at any cost against divisive forces, Mr
Gandhi said that ''Congress was the worst victim of terrorism. It lost two Prime Ministers, Chief
Ministers and countless party workers compared to any other party through terrorist attacks.''
Complimenting the people of Karantaka for their wisdom and hard work which has brought laurels
at global level, Mr Gandhi charged that due to lack of vision and greed for power the state's wheel
of progress was brought to a halt during the mis-governance of JD(S)-BJP coalition government in
the state.
Hearing begins in sex scandal case
Srinagar, May 12 : A full bench of Jammu and Kashmir High Court today began hearing in the
infamous sex scandal case involving ministers and bureaucrats after a division bench last year gave
a split verdict on the future course of action against those named.
The bench comprising Justices Nisar Ahmad Karu, J P Singh and Virender Singh heard the
arguments of the counsel of Kashmir High Court Bar Association which has filed a public interest
litigation (PIL) in the sex scandal case of 2006.
The case was referred to the full bench by Chief Justice K S Radhakrishanan after the division
bench comprising Justices Hakim Imtiyaz Hussain and Bashir Ahmad Kirmani gave orders which
were differing in opinion on the future course of action against those allegedly named by the victim
girls in the case.
The Bar Counsel Zaffar Shah, however, pointed out that the bench had not been constituted in
accordance with the rules of the state High Court.
Probe demanded into transfer of govt land to Lalu's kin
Patna, May 12 : The ruling Janata Dal (U) today demanded a high-level probe into "illegal" transfer
of government land to the kin of Lalu Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi at Phulwaria, the Railway
Minister's native village in Bihar's Gopalganj district.
"Without pressure being put by Lalu Prasad and his former chief minister wife Rabri Devi, no
officer could have dared to put their kin into the category of landless people and transferred
government land in their names," National JD(U) spokesman and Rajya Sabha MP Shivanand
Tiwari told reporters.
Tiwari demanded a high-level probe into the transfer of government land in the names of Gulab
Yadav, Lalu Prasad's brother and nephew Sudhesh Yadav at Phulwaria village in Gopalganj.
Quoting official documents, Tiwari said in 2004 about 80 decimals of land was allocated to Kunti
Devi wife of Gulab Yadav by the circle officer on the plea that she was landless and belonged to
Other Backward Castes (OBC) category.
BJP has no comment on Kandahar hijack issue
New Delhi, May 12 : BJP today sought to put a lid on the controversy involving contradicting
remarks of its two senior leaders L K Advani and Jaswant Singh over the Kandahar hijack
episode, saying it treated the matter as closed.
"We have no comment on it. For the party it is a closed chapter," party spokesperson Ravi
Shankar Prasad said at a press conference here when asked about the controversy over the then
External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh accompanying three released terrorists to Kandahar in
December 1999.
Advani, former Deputy Prime Minister, has been insisting that he had no knowledge about Singh
going to Kandahar as it was not discussed at Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).
Jaswant Singh contradicted Advani on Saturday, saying he went to Kandahar as per the decision of
the CCS and Advani could have "forgotten" it.
Singh had travelled to Kandahar to negotiate release of 157 passengers on board the hijacked
Indian Airlines plane IC-814.
Centre faces searching questions in HC on Sachar Committee
New Delhi, May 12 : The Centre today faced searching questions from the Delhi High Court on
implementation of Sachar Committee recommendations for welfare of Muslims with a bench telling
the government that "you are trying to please one community and "this is where the rot lies".
"You are trying to please one community. Poverty is the common enemy. You should fight against
poverty rather than saying that you would fight against poverty for one community only. This is
where the rot lies," a two-member bench headed by Justice T S Thakur said.
"You are saying that more money to be spent for one minority community. Should it not cut across
the caste and religion? Does the Sachar committee say that facilities are available to other
communities?" the bench, also comprising Justice Siddharth Mridul, said adding "such issues should
not be decided on the basis of emotions".
The court was hearing a PIL, filed by Rashtriya Mukti Morcha, an NGO, alleging the committee
report and government's follow up action is unconstitutional.
SC refuses bail and suspension of Manu Sharma's life sentence
New Delhi, May 12 : In a double whammy for Manu Sharma sentenced to life imprisonment in
Jessica Lall murder case, the Supreme Court today refused to grant him bail and suspend his
punishment.
"Keeping in view the seriousness of offence, the manner in which the crime was said to have been
committed and the gravity of offence, we are of the view that no case has been made out by
Sharma for suspension of the sentence and grant of bail", a Bench comprising Justices C K
Thakker and D K Jain said.
"The application deserves to be dismissed and is accordingly dismissed," it said. The court noted
that Sharma's pleas cannot be granted as his appeal against the conviction by the Delhi High Court
has been admitted and awaits final hearing which was likely within "measurable distance of time".
The bench said since the appeal was pending, any observation on the case was likely to prejudice
one or the other party challenging the High Court verdict.
Militant shot dead, joint combing ops launched in Samba
Jammu, May 12 : Launching a joint combing operations, security forces today shot dead one more
militant, believed to have escaped during the gun-battle in Samba area, after a fierce encounter near
an army formation.
Acting on information provided by some villagers about the heavily armed militants in army uniform
roaming close to the formation at Ding Ambh region in Samba district, troops cordoned off the area
at around 0705 hours, defence sources said.
Ding Ambh area is about 2 to 3 km from the spot of Kaili Mandi gun-battle yesterday in which 8
persons, including a photo journalist, two militants, were killed and 15 others injured. One militant
is believed to have escaped during yesterday's encounter.
The heavily armed militant fired on the troops who were conducting search operation, sources said
adding the encounter continued till 0920 hours.
Nurse tears her clothes in police station
Yamunanagar(Haryana), May 11 : A victim of an alleged gangrape stripped and tore her clothes at
a local police station in protest against alleged inaction in arresting the accused putting the men in
uniform in an embarassing situation.
The woman, a nurse in a private hospital, staged a dharna alongwith her brother and sister for over
two hours at the police station yesterday demanding that the three men who gangraped her be
immediately arrested. She was also involved in an altercation with police personnel.
She screamed and tore off her kurta in the police station in apparent frustration over the accused
going scotfree despite she claiming that a FIR was registered.
The sudden turn of events caught the policemen off guard and the nurse was dragged inside the
police station. Later women cops were summoned to the police station to handle a delicate
situation.
The woman alleged that the accused were influential persons and were threatening her and her
family.
HC notice to Centre on OBC quota
New Delhi, May 12 : The Delhi High Court today issued notice to the Centre on a petition
challenging the implementation of 27 per cent quota for OBCs in IIMs, other Central higher
educational institutions and post-graduate courses.
A Bench headed by Justice T S Thakur sought the Centre's response on the petition within four
weeks and posted the matter for further hearing on July 10.
An alumni association of IIMs had approached the High Court seeking to restrain the Centre from
providing quota to OBC students in higher educational institutions including the IIMs.
The association contended that the government had misinterpreted the Supreme Court judgement,
which while upholding the OBC reservation policy, had said that it would not be applicable to
higher educational institutions.
The petition filed by Pan-IIM Alumni Association submitted that an office memorandum issued by
the Centre on April 20 be stayed by which the government intended to implement OBC reservation
in higher educational institutions.
Jannat's Pak Premier is a dream come true: Mahesh Bhatt
New Delhi, 12 : He is known for discovering new talents in singing and acting from across the
border, but premiering his latest film 'Jannat' in Lahore is a dream come true for producer Mahesh
Bhatt.
"When I first went to Pakistan, I had dreamed of making a film which will premier in Pakistan. It
seemed a ridiculous dream at that time given the difficult situations. So, this premier is a like a
dream which has come true for me," Mahesh Bhatt told PTI.
The film, which is co-produced by Pakistan's Suhail Khan will open to a gala premier in Lahore's
Gulistan studio with the entire star cast of the film on May 13th.
On his part, Bhatt believes that mutual trust is the only way for the two countries to prosper and the
beginning has already been made through creative exchange. He, however, refuses to take the
entire credit for it saying, "It is a triumph of all those sane people who have refused to gravitate
towards the philosophy of hatred."
When asked about the fear of Pakistani film producers and directors that Indian film industry is
trying to take over Pakistani film industry, Bhatt says,"I think the fear of Pakistani film industry is
very legitimate. Indian film makers need to behave more sensibly and responsibly. The audio-visual
medium is too powerful to be in the hands of few people. They have every right to tell their story.
We can not monopolise," he cautions.
Hearing in Rizwanur Rehman case concludes
Kolkata, May 12 : The elder brother of Rizwanur Rehman, who died mysteriously following his
marriage to a Hindu girl, today prayed before the Calcutta High Court that criminal proceedings be
started against her father Ashok Todi and former senior police officers of Kolkata Police.
Ruqbanur Rehman, on whose petition the high court had ordered a CBI investigation into
Rizwanur's death, submitted before Justice Dipankar Dutta through his counsel that there was
enough evidence to begin criminal proceedings against former Kolkata Police Commissioner
Prasun Mukherjee, two Deputy Commissioners and some other police officers.
He said their role in alleged intimidation of Rizwanur leading to his death should be probed and
tried before a court of law.
Todi and the police officers, on the other hand, prayed that the petition be dismissed as there was
no ground to accuse them.
Fundamentalism on the rise: Achuthanandan
Thrissur, May 12 : Expressing concern over religious fundamnentalist trends creeping into Kerala
society, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today asked the people to remain vigilant against
communal elements trying to harm social harmony.
Inanugurating a Wayside Inn built close to the historic Cheraman Juma Masjid at Kodungalloor
near here, he said the strength of Kerala was its social and communal harmony.
He said Kodungallur had an eminent place in history as a shining model of religious amity as it was
through this ancient port town that faiths like Christianity and Islam came to India.
Cheraman Masjid was believed to be the first mosque built in the country with the support of
legendary ruler Cheraman Perumal. The legend has it that Cheraman Perumal went to Mecca and
embraced Islam towards the end of his life.
Madhani's wife acquitted
Coimbatore, May 12 : Soofia Madhani, wife of Kerala-based PDP leader Abdul Nassar Madhani,
was today acquitted by a city court in a case in which she was accused of preventing an official
from performing duty at the Central Jail here over five years ago.
The prosecution case was that Soofia while entering the jail to meet her husband, who was then an
accused in the 1998 seria bomb blast cases, had prevented the jail authorities and some policemen
from checking her baggage and reportedly abused them.
She was also accused of possession four mobile phones and three sim cards, which were
reportedly being taken to hand over to her husband, on Dec 26, 2002.
After absconding for nearly four years, Soofia had surrendered before a magistrate court in 2006
when Madhani was given permission to take treatment in a private hospital.
Delivering the judgement in the case today, Magistrate Flora acquitted Soofia saying the
prosecution had failed to prove beyond doubts the charges against her.
Forward Bloc praises CRPF's role in Nandigram
Kolkata, May 12 : The CRPF, which has come under attack from the CPI(M) for allegedly
intimidating its supporters in Nandigram during panchayat poll, today received a pat on the back
from Left Front ally Forward Bloc.
"Whatever peaceful polling was witnessed in Nandigram yesterday was possible due to the
deployment of the CRPF personnel who have earned the confidence of the people for their
performance," state general secretary of Forward Bloc Ashok Ghosh told PTI.
Ghosh's comments echoed that of opposition parties which accused the police in Nandigram of
acting blatantly in favour of the CPI(M) to intimidate the anti-Left supporters during voting.
Shiv Sainiks tarnish Bombay Dyeing signboards
Aurangabad (Maharashtra), May 12 : Shiv Sena workers Monday blackened hoardings of textile
firm Bombay Dyeing, taking a cue from an article in the party's mouthpiece against the continued
use of the earlier name of Mumbai in some establishments.
A group of activists of the Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena (BVS), Shiv Sena students' wing, targeted a
Bombay Dyeing showroom in the Aurangpura area and tarnished the word “Bombay” in the
nameboard, like their counterparts in Mumbai did at the company's Lower Parel showroom
Sunday.
Sanjay Raut, the executive editor of Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna, had in his weekly column
Sunday flayed the use of the word “Bombay” in some quarters even after it was changed to
Mumbai over a decade ago and exhorted Marathi-loving people to bust such “Bombay islands”.
New Delhi, May 12 : A top defence scientist today made a strong pitch for decentralisation of the
working of the defence research establishment to give scientists freedom to move to private sector
to hone their skills.
The proposal was floated by Director General of Defence Research and Development
Organisation M Natrajan, who said that Indian scientists, like their counterparts in highly developed
countries, should be allowed to go on leave to private industry and even abroad to polish their
talent.
"Apart from academic qualifications, the scientists and engineers need to get trained in specific
tasks to pick up skills and talent for creatively transforming knowledge into products and systems.
"For this a certain gestation period should be allowed for them," said Natarajan, He said this would
be beneficial in the long run as at present over 50 per cent of the technical workforce of the DRDO
was in the age group of 25-35 years.
The DRDO chief also hit out at the Sixth Pay Commission, saying its recommendations had not
come up to expectations and like elsewhere in the world, DRDO scientists were "not immune to
being lured to the better world outside."
He said the government should provide special packages to attract, retain and reward scientific and
technical skills.
Natarajan also hit out at the Commission's proposal categorising defence research laboratories with
other administrative organisations, saying "it would damage the scientific fabric of our country."
India planning to test fire 5000-km range missile soon
New Delhi, May 12 : Buoyed by the string of successes with the intermediate range ballistic missile
Agni-III, India is planning to test a missile with 5000 km range soon.
The test of the next series of Agni missiles will propel the country into the select group of nations
which have long range ballistic missiles.
Indicating that planning process for the test launch of such a missile was in final stages, Avinash
Chander, Project Director of Agni-III, said today scientists were awaiting the government nod for
carrying out the test flights which could be anytime by this year-end.
The launching of the 5,000-km range missile would entail strapping third stage booster rocket on
Agni-III missiles powered by solid fuel propellant.
Along with longer range Agni missiles, India will also carry out further tests of its special naval
missile, an acronym used by DRDO scientists for a submarine launched ballistic missile, and the
second test of interceptor missile which will be undertaken by September-October.
On the special naval missile, DRDO Director General M Natarajan said that his scientists were
"heavily engaged" in the project, but, at the same time, refused to be drawn out on when India's first
nuclear submarine would roll out.
SC stays death sentence of Mumbai blasts convict
New Delhi, May 12 : The Supreme Court today stayed the execution of death sentence awarded
to Abdul Ghani Ismail (rpt) Ismail Turk in connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan issued notice to the CBI while admitting Turk's
appeal against his conviction and death penalty by Mumbai TADA Court.
The Bench also issued notice to the investigating agency on the appeal of another convict Shaikh
Ali Shaikh Umar, who has been sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement in the
conspiracy to cause serial blasts in the city.
Turk was the first among the three accused to be awarded death sentence in the case. He along
with Mohammad Mushtaq Musa Tarani and Pervez Ahmed Nasir Shaikh were given capital
punishment after they were found guilty of planting bombs that killed nearly 100 people.
CPI submits memorandum to LS Speaker Chatterjee on price rise
New Delhi, May 12 : Continuing its pressure on the Congress-led coalition to take more steps to
rein in inflation, the CPI today submitted a memorandum signed by one crore people to Lok Sabha
Speaker Somnath Chatterjee highlighting the Government's "failure" to check prices.
The Left party has also warned the government of "serious consequences" if it does not take steps
to ease the price situation.
Talking to the reporters after submitting the memorandum to the Speaker, CPI leader Gurudas Das
Gutpa said, " Jo sarkar nikammi hai, woh sarkar badalni hai (the government which is worthless has
to be changed).
The memorandum -- dubbed as petition to Parliament -- draws the Lower House's attention to
"violation of labour laws, weakening of the public distribution system besides seeking steps to
check hoarding," he said.
Also, the 10-point memorandum has urged Parliament to put pressure on the Government to
allocate more funds for the agricultural sector, desist from opening up of retail sector to FDI and
privatisation and a change in the SEZ policy.
'I am not a sycophant': Arjun Singh
New Delhi, May 12 : Embroiled in a controversy on the loyalty issue, HRD Minister Arjun Singh
today asserted he was not a sycophant even as he alleged off-the-record briefings have been
institutionalised in the party.
"Whether somebody agrees to it or not, I think the AICC knows that I am not a sycophant," Singh
told Aaj Tak news channel.
Singh, who was reacting to a question on the recent AICC statement that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul
Gandhi kept away from sycophancy, said, "I don't even know whether those remarks were for me
or not. Those remarks must be for someone else."
Asked if the controversy surrounding him was due to his opponents in the party or the trend of
off-the-record briefings, he claimed: "Off-the-record briefings have been institutionalised and I am
neither bothered nor am I interested to know who all are doing it."
In an interview to the Times Now channel, the senior leader rejected the view that there was any
tension between him and the Congress high command and said that contrary to reports, greetings
were exchanged between him and the party President at a function.
Rahul slams BJP for making terrorism as poll issue
Harapanahalli, May 12 : Stating that Congress was the worst victim of terrorism in the country,
AICC General Secretary and Lok Sabha member Rahul Gandhi today slammed Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) for accusing Congress of softpedalling the menace in the country.
Addressing an election meeting here, Mr Gandhi charged that ''those who accuse Congress of this
have forgotten the episode of Kandhahar in which terrorists were released in a most humiliating
manner''.
Declaring that Congress will not compromise its ideologies at any cost against divisive forces, Mr
Gandhi said that ''Congress was the worst victim of terrorism. It lost two Prime Ministers, Chief
Ministers and countless party workers compared to any other party through terrorist attacks.''
Complimenting the people of Karantaka for their wisdom and hard work which has brought laurels
at global level, Mr Gandhi charged that due to lack of vision and greed for power the state's wheel
of progress was brought to a halt during the mis-governance of JD(S)-BJP coalition government in
the state.
Hearing begins in sex scandal case
Srinagar, May 12 : A full bench of Jammu and Kashmir High Court today began hearing in the
infamous sex scandal case involving ministers and bureaucrats after a division bench last year gave
a split verdict on the future course of action against those named.
The bench comprising Justices Nisar Ahmad Karu, J P Singh and Virender Singh heard the
arguments of the counsel of Kashmir High Court Bar Association which has filed a public interest
litigation (PIL) in the sex scandal case of 2006.
The case was referred to the full bench by Chief Justice K S Radhakrishanan after the division
bench comprising Justices Hakim Imtiyaz Hussain and Bashir Ahmad Kirmani gave orders which
were differing in opinion on the future course of action against those allegedly named by the victim
girls in the case.
The Bar Counsel Zaffar Shah, however, pointed out that the bench had not been constituted in
accordance with the rules of the state High Court.
Probe demanded into transfer of govt land to Lalu's kin
Patna, May 12 : The ruling Janata Dal (U) today demanded a high-level probe into "illegal" transfer
of government land to the kin of Lalu Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi at Phulwaria, the Railway
Minister's native village in Bihar's Gopalganj district.
"Without pressure being put by Lalu Prasad and his former chief minister wife Rabri Devi, no
officer could have dared to put their kin into the category of landless people and transferred
government land in their names," National JD(U) spokesman and Rajya Sabha MP Shivanand
Tiwari told reporters.
Tiwari demanded a high-level probe into the transfer of government land in the names of Gulab
Yadav, Lalu Prasad's brother and nephew Sudhesh Yadav at Phulwaria village in Gopalganj.
Quoting official documents, Tiwari said in 2004 about 80 decimals of land was allocated to Kunti
Devi wife of Gulab Yadav by the circle officer on the plea that she was landless and belonged to
Other Backward Castes (OBC) category.
BJP has no comment on Kandahar hijack issue
New Delhi, May 12 : BJP today sought to put a lid on the controversy involving contradicting
remarks of its two senior leaders L K Advani and Jaswant Singh over the Kandahar hijack
episode, saying it treated the matter as closed.
"We have no comment on it. For the party it is a closed chapter," party spokesperson Ravi
Shankar Prasad said at a press conference here when asked about the controversy over the then
External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh accompanying three released terrorists to Kandahar in
December 1999.
Advani, former Deputy Prime Minister, has been insisting that he had no knowledge about Singh
going to Kandahar as it was not discussed at Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).
Jaswant Singh contradicted Advani on Saturday, saying he went to Kandahar as per the decision of
the CCS and Advani could have "forgotten" it.
Singh had travelled to Kandahar to negotiate release of 157 passengers on board the hijacked
Indian Airlines plane IC-814.
Centre faces searching questions in HC on Sachar Committee
New Delhi, May 12 : The Centre today faced searching questions from the Delhi High Court on
implementation of Sachar Committee recommendations for welfare of Muslims with a bench telling
the government that "you are trying to please one community and "this is where the rot lies".
"You are trying to please one community. Poverty is the common enemy. You should fight against
poverty rather than saying that you would fight against poverty for one community only. This is
where the rot lies," a two-member bench headed by Justice T S Thakur said.
"You are saying that more money to be spent for one minority community. Should it not cut across
the caste and religion? Does the Sachar committee say that facilities are available to other
communities?" the bench, also comprising Justice Siddharth Mridul, said adding "such issues should
not be decided on the basis of emotions".
The court was hearing a PIL, filed by Rashtriya Mukti Morcha, an NGO, alleging the committee
report and government's follow up action is unconstitutional.
SC refuses bail and suspension of Manu Sharma's life sentence
New Delhi, May 12 : In a double whammy for Manu Sharma sentenced to life imprisonment in
Jessica Lall murder case, the Supreme Court today refused to grant him bail and suspend his
punishment.
"Keeping in view the seriousness of offence, the manner in which the crime was said to have been
committed and the gravity of offence, we are of the view that no case has been made out by
Sharma for suspension of the sentence and grant of bail", a Bench comprising Justices C K
Thakker and D K Jain said.
"The application deserves to be dismissed and is accordingly dismissed," it said. The court noted
that Sharma's pleas cannot be granted as his appeal against the conviction by the Delhi High Court
has been admitted and awaits final hearing which was likely within "measurable distance of time".
The bench said since the appeal was pending, any observation on the case was likely to prejudice
one or the other party challenging the High Court verdict.
Militant shot dead, joint combing ops launched in Samba
Jammu, May 12 : Launching a joint combing operations, security forces today shot dead one more
militant, believed to have escaped during the gun-battle in Samba area, after a fierce encounter near
an army formation.
Acting on information provided by some villagers about the heavily armed militants in army uniform
roaming close to the formation at Ding Ambh region in Samba district, troops cordoned off the area
at around 0705 hours, defence sources said.
Ding Ambh area is about 2 to 3 km from the spot of Kaili Mandi gun-battle yesterday in which 8
persons, including a photo journalist, two militants, were killed and 15 others injured. One militant
is believed to have escaped during yesterday's encounter.
The heavily armed militant fired on the troops who were conducting search operation, sources said
adding the encounter continued till 0920 hours.
Nurse tears her clothes in police station
Yamunanagar(Haryana), May 11 : A victim of an alleged gangrape stripped and tore her clothes at
a local police station in protest against alleged inaction in arresting the accused putting the men in
uniform in an embarassing situation.
The woman, a nurse in a private hospital, staged a dharna alongwith her brother and sister for over
two hours at the police station yesterday demanding that the three men who gangraped her be
immediately arrested. She was also involved in an altercation with police personnel.
She screamed and tore off her kurta in the police station in apparent frustration over the accused
going scotfree despite she claiming that a FIR was registered.
The sudden turn of events caught the policemen off guard and the nurse was dragged inside the
police station. Later women cops were summoned to the police station to handle a delicate
situation.
The woman alleged that the accused were influential persons and were threatening her and her
family.
HC notice to Centre on OBC quota
New Delhi, May 12 : The Delhi High Court today issued notice to the Centre on a petition
challenging the implementation of 27 per cent quota for OBCs in IIMs, other Central higher
educational institutions and post-graduate courses.
A Bench headed by Justice T S Thakur sought the Centre's response on the petition within four
weeks and posted the matter for further hearing on July 10.
An alumni association of IIMs had approached the High Court seeking to restrain the Centre from
providing quota to OBC students in higher educational institutions including the IIMs.
The association contended that the government had misinterpreted the Supreme Court judgement,
which while upholding the OBC reservation policy, had said that it would not be applicable to
higher educational institutions.
The petition filed by Pan-IIM Alumni Association submitted that an office memorandum issued by
the Centre on April 20 be stayed by which the government intended to implement OBC reservation
in higher educational institutions.
Jannat's Pak Premier is a dream come true: Mahesh Bhatt
New Delhi, 12 : He is known for discovering new talents in singing and acting from across the
border, but premiering his latest film 'Jannat' in Lahore is a dream come true for producer Mahesh
Bhatt.
"When I first went to Pakistan, I had dreamed of making a film which will premier in Pakistan. It
seemed a ridiculous dream at that time given the difficult situations. So, this premier is a like a
dream which has come true for me," Mahesh Bhatt told PTI.
The film, which is co-produced by Pakistan's Suhail Khan will open to a gala premier in Lahore's
Gulistan studio with the entire star cast of the film on May 13th.
On his part, Bhatt believes that mutual trust is the only way for the two countries to prosper and the
beginning has already been made through creative exchange. He, however, refuses to take the
entire credit for it saying, "It is a triumph of all those sane people who have refused to gravitate
towards the philosophy of hatred."
When asked about the fear of Pakistani film producers and directors that Indian film industry is
trying to take over Pakistani film industry, Bhatt says,"I think the fear of Pakistani film industry is
very legitimate. Indian film makers need to behave more sensibly and responsibly. The audio-visual
medium is too powerful to be in the hands of few people. They have every right to tell their story.
We can not monopolise," he cautions.
Hearing in Rizwanur Rehman case concludes
Kolkata, May 12 : The elder brother of Rizwanur Rehman, who died mysteriously following his
marriage to a Hindu girl, today prayed before the Calcutta High Court that criminal proceedings be
started against her father Ashok Todi and former senior police officers of Kolkata Police.
Ruqbanur Rehman, on whose petition the high court had ordered a CBI investigation into
Rizwanur's death, submitted before Justice Dipankar Dutta through his counsel that there was
enough evidence to begin criminal proceedings against former Kolkata Police Commissioner
Prasun Mukherjee, two Deputy Commissioners and some other police officers.
He said their role in alleged intimidation of Rizwanur leading to his death should be probed and
tried before a court of law.
Todi and the police officers, on the other hand, prayed that the petition be dismissed as there was
no ground to accuse them.
Fundamentalism on the rise: Achuthanandan
Thrissur, May 12 : Expressing concern over religious fundamnentalist trends creeping into Kerala
society, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today asked the people to remain vigilant against
communal elements trying to harm social harmony.
Inanugurating a Wayside Inn built close to the historic Cheraman Juma Masjid at Kodungalloor
near here, he said the strength of Kerala was its social and communal harmony.
He said Kodungallur had an eminent place in history as a shining model of religious amity as it was
through this ancient port town that faiths like Christianity and Islam came to India.
Cheraman Masjid was believed to be the first mosque built in the country with the support of
legendary ruler Cheraman Perumal. The legend has it that Cheraman Perumal went to Mecca and
embraced Islam towards the end of his life.
Madhani's wife acquitted
Coimbatore, May 12 : Soofia Madhani, wife of Kerala-based PDP leader Abdul Nassar Madhani,
was today acquitted by a city court in a case in which she was accused of preventing an official
from performing duty at the Central Jail here over five years ago.
The prosecution case was that Soofia while entering the jail to meet her husband, who was then an
accused in the 1998 seria bomb blast cases, had prevented the jail authorities and some policemen
from checking her baggage and reportedly abused them.
She was also accused of possession four mobile phones and three sim cards, which were
reportedly being taken to hand over to her husband, on Dec 26, 2002.
After absconding for nearly four years, Soofia had surrendered before a magistrate court in 2006
when Madhani was given permission to take treatment in a private hospital.
Delivering the judgement in the case today, Magistrate Flora acquitted Soofia saying the
prosecution had failed to prove beyond doubts the charges against her.
Forward Bloc praises CRPF's role in Nandigram
Kolkata, May 12 : The CRPF, which has come under attack from the CPI(M) for allegedly
intimidating its supporters in Nandigram during panchayat poll, today received a pat on the back
from Left Front ally Forward Bloc.
"Whatever peaceful polling was witnessed in Nandigram yesterday was possible due to the
deployment of the CRPF personnel who have earned the confidence of the people for their
performance," state general secretary of Forward Bloc Ashok Ghosh told PTI.
Ghosh's comments echoed that of opposition parties which accused the police in Nandigram of
acting blatantly in favour of the CPI(M) to intimidate the anti-Left supporters during voting.
Shiv Sainiks tarnish Bombay Dyeing signboards
Aurangabad (Maharashtra), May 12 : Shiv Sena workers Monday blackened hoardings of textile
firm Bombay Dyeing, taking a cue from an article in the party's mouthpiece against the continued
use of the earlier name of Mumbai in some establishments.
A group of activists of the Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena (BVS), Shiv Sena students' wing, targeted a
Bombay Dyeing showroom in the Aurangpura area and tarnished the word “Bombay” in the
nameboard, like their counterparts in Mumbai did at the company's Lower Parel showroom
Sunday.
Sanjay Raut, the executive editor of Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna, had in his weekly column
Sunday flayed the use of the word “Bombay” in some quarters even after it was changed to
Mumbai over a decade ago and exhorted Marathi-loving people to bust such “Bombay islands”.
