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Archives for February 2015

AAP has reclaimed its lost ground in Delhi, admits RSS

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Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

New Delhi: The RSS on Tuesday in its mouthpiece ‘Organiser’ admitted that the BJP is not in a comfortable position in Delhi and added that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has reclaimed its lost ground in the city.

It has also said that the Arvind Kejriwal-led party has rejuvenated its cadres. It has accepted that the BJP chose Kiran Bedi as its CM candidate after receiving negative response from the field.

“The top BJP leadership after receiving adverse feedback from field against the Delhi BJP, inducted Kiran Bedi and projected her as BJP’s chief ministerial nominee,” the article says.

The article talks about the resentment in the state unit after Kiran Bedi was inducted in the BJP and made the CM candidate by the party’s central leadership and adds that the party has gained after that.

One Al Jazeera journalist freed while two remain prisoners of Egyptian crackdown

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Supporters welcomed news of Peter Greste’s deportation but warned they ‘will not rest’ until colleagues Fahmy and Mohamed are also freed

After being jailed for 400 days by Egyptian authorities, journalist Peter Greste was deported to Australia on Sunday, February 1. (Photo via freepetergreste.org)

After being jailed for 400 days by Egyptian authorities, journalist Peter Greste was deported to Australia on Sunday, February 1. (Photo via freepetergreste.org)

by Lauren McCauley, Common Dreams

One of the three Al Jazeera journalists who had been held in Egypt for 400 days has been freed, sources reported Sunday.

Peter Greste, an Australian national, has reportedly boarded an Egypt Air flight and is being accompanied by his brother. However, Greste’s colleagues, Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian Baher Mohamed, remain imprisoned for allegedly colluding with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood in a case that has sparked international condemnation.

A recent presidential decree in Egypt stated that imprisoned foreign nationals may be deported to complete their sentence in their home country, which observers note is likely the reason behind Greste’s release.

Though the news of Greste’s deportation was widely celebrated, many connected to the case demanded the release of Fahmy and Mohamed, in addition to the numerous other wrongly convicted journalists currently detained as part of a sweeping crackdown against dissent in Egypt.

Al Jazeera Media Network released a statement saying that its campaign to free the journalists in Egypt will not end till all three have been released.

“We’re pleased for Peter and his family that they are to be reunited. It has been an incredible and unjustifiable ordeal for them, and they have coped with incredible dignity,” said Mostefa Souag, acting Director General of Al Jazeera Media Network. However, Souag added: “We will not rest until Baher and Mohamed also regain their freedom. The Egyptian authorities have it in their power to finish this properly today, and that is exactly what they must do.”

Al Anstey, managing director of Al Jazeera English, said he was relieved Greste was freed and on his way home to be reunited with his family, but also spoke of the need to free Baher and Mohamed.

“We’ve got to focus that Baher and Mohamed are still behind bars, and seven of their colleagues that were sentenced to ten years in absentia are still sentenced today,” Anstey said.

Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, also welcomed the news of Greste’s release but added, “It is vital that in the celebratory fanfare surrounding his deportation the world does not forget the continuing ordeal of Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahmy who remain behind bars at Tora prison in Cairo.”

All three men, Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui said, “are facing trumped up charges and were forced to endure a farcical trial marred by irregularities. Continuing to detain Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahmy is completely unjust and unwarranted.”

Fahmy has also reportedly applied for deportation to Canada and his fiancée Marwa Omara told reporters she was “optimistic” about his chances. The case of Mohamed, however, is more complicated because he is an Egyptian national and therefore does not have the same options for release.

Mohamed’s brother Assem told the Guardian: “Baher will not be released. Until now only Peter … but as always what happens in Egypt it’s the Egyptians who pay.”

At least 12 journalists had been jailed in Egypt in 2014—double the number imprisoned the previous year—according to a December report by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

More than 16,000 people have been detained as part of a sweeping crackdown on dissent in Egypt, which has particularly targeted government opponents and critics, as well as media workers and human rights activists.

Petrol price cut by Rs 2.42; diesel by Rs 2.25 per litre

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petrol-price-oil

New Delhi: Petrol price was cut by Rs 2.42 while that of diesel was cut by 2.25 per litre, oil marketing companies said on Tuesday.

This is the tenth straight reduction in petrol prices since August, and sixth in diesel since October.

Petrol and diesel prices were last cut on January16 by Rs 2.42 and Rs 2.25 per litre respectively.

Oil edged higher in Asia today, extending gains from the previous day after US firms cut drilling activity, but analysts doubt the rebound will be sustained as supplies still far outweigh demand.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for March delivery rose 37 cents to USD 49.94 while Brent crude for March gained 22 cents to USD 54.97 in late morning trade.

(Agencies)

NHRC asks for report on Delhi church attack

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This is the fifth attack on a church since December.

This is the fifth attack on a church since December.

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission on Tuesday issued notice to the union home ministry, Delhi government and Delhi Police for a detailed report, including the status of investigation, into the ransacking-cum-theft in a Delhi church.

The NHRC issued notice to the secretary of the home ministry, chief secretary of Delhi government and the Delhi Police Commissioner to submit their reports on the allegations of desecration of the St. Alphonsa’s Church in south Delhi’s Vasant Kunj in the early hours of Monday.

“Home ministry, Delhi government and the Delhi Police have been given ten days’ time to respond,” said a NHRC release.

The NHRC intervened in the matter after taking suo motu cognizance of media reports about the incident of breaking open the doors of the St. Alphonsa’s Church and defiling of the place of worship and the objects held sacred, the release said.

The church’s administration Monday claimed it did not seem to be just an incident of theft as this was the fifth case within nine weeks when a church in Delhi was targeted.

A few sacred items, including a ciborium (receptacle) and a monstrance kept inside a tabernacle, a cabinet made of wood and glass, were taken away.

The release said the NHRC also received a telephonic information from advocate Manoj V. George alleging that the police were not taking necessary and appropriate action.

“The commission has observed that the intention of the offenders appears to be to insult a particular religion and…promote disharmony… the matter involves serious issues relating to violation of human rights and requires the intervention of the commission to ensure prompt investigation,” the release said.

Earlier, NHRC member Justice Cyriac Joseph accompanied by some officers visited the church Monday and met Fr. Vincent, the priest at the church.

“Fr. Vincent explained to the NHRC team the nature and the extent of damage caused to the church. He said that the miscreants entered the church by breaking open the front main door. The tabernacle on the main altar directly below the main crucifix was opened and the Chalice and the Monstrance were removed from the tabernacle and the Holy Communion Hosts were thrown around the place,” the release said.

Fr. Vincent informed the NHRC team that the adjacent room called the Sacristy in which vestments and clothing and valuable articles like Chalice were kept, was also ransacked, the release said.

“He alleged that the intention of the miscreants was not to commit theft or burglary, as neither the money kept in three offering boxes nor any valuable objects were taken away. The act was to desecrate the sanctity of the church and to create a sense of insecurity in the minds of religious minority,” the release said.

As per the release, Fr. Vincent also expressed the apprehension that there was an attempt to downplay the incident as mere a theft or a burglary.

However, the release added, the senior police officials present on the spot during the visit of the NHRC members denied the allegation and the reports that the FIR was registered showing the offence as theft or burglary.

“The ACP (Assistant Commissioner of Police) assured that FIR would be registered on the basis of the written complaint dated and in the light of the statement recorded by the police from Fr. Vincent Salvatore. The police officer asserted that there was no inaction on the part of the police and the investigation would be conducted strictly and accordance with law,” the release said.

(IANS)

Booklet on Arkavathi to 'expose' CM: H D Kumaraswamy

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H D Kumaraswamy

Bengaluru: A booklet on the illegalities of Arkavathi Layout aimed to expose the Congress government will be released soon, said JD (S) leader H D Kumaraswamy.

The booklet has been prepared based on 7,000 pages of official documents which clearly suggest that CM Siddaramaiah himself had signed the documents pertaining to the land deletion, Kumarswamy said.

The booklets will be distributed to all the members of the Assembly during the ongoing session, he added.

When asked why the documents were not submitted to the Justice H S Kempanna Commission, Kumaraswamy said a scam of this magnitude has to be handed over to CBI for inquiry.

Karnataka: Governor asks ruling and opposition to work together

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Vidhana Soudha

Bengaluru: With the Opposition BJP and JD(S) at loggerheads with the ruling Congress party over the Arkavathi Layout controversy and other issues, Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala has called upon the opposition and treasury benches to work together for the development of the State and the welfare of the people.

Addressing the joint session of the Karnataka Legislature, the Governor said the overall development of the State and the welfare of the people must be the main concern of all political parties.

Incidentally, Vala is the first Governor to address the joint session of the State legislature in Hindi, a move which has attracted widespread criticism from the pro-Kannada organisations.

However, copies of the Governor’s address were printed and made available by the Legislatutre Secretariat to the members as well as the media not only in Hindi but the State’s official language of Kannada as also in English.

In his 40-minute address running 24 pages, the Governor said the finances of the State have improved over the last year and said the State was well on its way to implementing the developmental programmes.

A sum of Rs 26,847 crore of commercial taxes had been collected up to November last year, which was 16.15 per cent higher than the achievement for the previous year for the same period.

The e-initiatives of the Commercial Taxes Department have made tax compliance by the tax-payer easier simpler and more transparent, he said.

A sum of Rs 8825 crore was the revenue earned by the Excise Department up to November 2014 with a growth of 8.43 per cent as compared to last year, the Governor said.

Vala noted various steps taken by the Government to tackle the various problems of Bengaluru City and said Bengaluru Metro Rail Project Phase I was targeted for completion this year.

The Governor said a state-widegeographic information system (GIS) would be established which would be available to all departments as an important and innovative governance tool in their day-to-day planning and monitoring of schemes.

“The Karnataka-GIS portal will be the first of its kind in the country,” the Governor said.

(Agencies)

AAP demands SIT to probe funding of major parties

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File Photo

File Photo

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday said it will ask the leadership of BJP and Congress to agree for a probe by a Supreme Court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the funding of all the three major parties in the Delhi polls.

The party said it will write to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and BJP President Amit Shah seeking their consent for the investigation, to bring transparency in the funding of political parties.

“AAP will write letters to BJP and Congress presidents requesting to cooperate in SIT probe about their fundings for clean politics,” senior AAP leader Ashutosh said in a tweet.

The party said that a five-member delegation of AAP will go to Supreme Court to request for the setting up of an SIT to probe the funding of the three political parties.

“Team of five leaders — Ashutosh, Kumar Vishwas. Sanjay singh, Ashish Khetan And Yogendra yadav will reach SC BY 1030 to request SIT PROBE (sic),” he tweeted.

“We are going to SUPREME COURT to hand over a letter to request to create an SIT to investigate the fundings of BJP, Congress and AAP,” he wrote on the micro-blogging site.

The AAP’s move came a day after a breakaway group of the party accused it of receiving Rs 2 crore from “dubious” companies.

Asserting that it adopted “total transparency” in its funding, AAP’s Yogendra Yadav in a late evening press conference on Monday accused BJP of attempting to influence the voters ahead of the February 7 polls by bringing out false allegations.

He was responding to allegations by AAP Volunteer Action Manch (AVAM), a breakaway group of the Aam Aadmi Party, which accused the Kejriwal-led party of receiving Rs 2 crore last year through four “dubious” companies.

Mr. Yadav said “strangely instead of inquiring against AAP, the BJP ministers are today making allegations even after sitting on the files for eight months.”

The AAP also challenged the government to probe the allegations by any central investigating agency including the CBI and Enforcement Directorate.

(PTI)

EVMs in Delhi tampered? Press any button, BJP light blinks alleges Kejriwal

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EVM

New Delhi: With just three days to go to the Delhi Assembly polls, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal expressed shock that Electronic Voting Machines in Delhi cantonment have been tampered.

Kejriwal alleged that yesterday during an EVM inspection in Delhi cantonment, it was found that 4 Electronic Voting Machines were tampered.

On pressing any button on the EVM, the light for the BJP party was blinking.

The AAP chief tweeted: Large scale EVM tampering? Yest, during inspection of EVMs in Del cant, in 4 machines, whatever button u pressed, light against BJP lit— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 3, 2015.

He, however, did not explain where the inspection of the EVMs was carried out. Official sources said that inspection of EVMs are carried out and at times public representatives are also taken along for random checking of the machines.

VHP leader Praveen Togadia barred from entering Bengaluru

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Praveen Togadia

Bengaluru: Senior VHP leader Praveen Togadia has been barred from entering Bengaluru from February 5 to February 10.

Bengaluru police commissioner M N Reddi has issued a notice to Togadia prohibiting him from entering the city.

The VHP leader was scheduled to attend ‘Hindu Virat Samavesha’ convention on February 8 in the city.

The ban came in the wake of provocative speeches made by Praveen Togadia in the past.

Sources said that VHP is planning to organise ‘Ghar Wapsi’ after the convention on February 8.

(Agencies)

Japanese journalist Kenji Goto's wife devastated after apparent ISIS beheading

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Goto left for Syria in late October just a weeks after birth of his youngest daughter

ISIS militants said they had beheaded a second Japanese hostage, journalist Kenji Goto, prompting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to vow to step up humanitarian aid to the group's opponents in the Middle East and help bring his killers to justice. The words on the screen (top left) read, "Goto was murdered" (Yuya Shino/Reuters)

ISIS militants said they had beheaded a second Japanese hostage, journalist Kenji Goto, prompting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to vow to step up humanitarian aid to the group’s opponents in the Middle East and help bring his killers to justice. The words on the screen (top left) read, “Goto was murdered” (Yuya Shino/Reuters)

by Associated Press

The wife of slain Japanese hostage Kenji Goto said Monday she was devastated but proud of her husband, who was beheaded by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) extremists.

In a statement issued through the British-based journalist group Rory Peck Trust, Rinko Jogo requested privacy for her family as they deal with their loss, and thanked those who had supported them.

“I remain extremely proud of my husband, who reported the plight of people in conflict areas like Iraq, Somalia and Syria,” she said.

“It was his passion to highlight the effects on ordinary people, especially through the eyes of children, and to inform the rest of us of the tragedies of war,” she said.

Goto left for Syria in late October just a few weeks after the birth of the couple’s youngest daughter. Soon after, he was captured by the militants.

Appalled and saddened by news of Goto’s following the release of a video showing his killing, purportedly by ISIS, Japan has ordered heightened security precautions at airports and at Japanese facilities overseas, such as embassies and schools, government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said.

Until now, Japan had not become directly embroiled in the fight against the militants.

No increased terrorist risk: Abe

In parliamentary debate Monday, opposition lawmakers challenged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s effort to raise Japan’s diplomatic profile through non-military support for countries fighting ISIS, which control about a third of both Syria and Iraq.

Citing previous cases, including a 1995 sarin gas attack in Tokyo’s subways, Abe said he did not see an increased terrorist risk following savage threats in the purported ISIS video, which vowed to target Japanese and make the knife Goto’s killer was wielding Japan’s “nightmare.”

Japan will persevere in providing humanitarian aid to countries fighting the Islamic State extremists, said Abe, who explained that bowing to terrorist intimidation would prevent Japan from providing medical assistance and other aid it views as necessary for helping to restore stability in the region.

The failure to save Goto raised fears for the life of a Jordanian fighter pilot also held by the Islamic State militants.

Jordan renewed an offer Sunday to swap an al-Qaeda prisoner for the pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, who was seized after his F-16 crashed near ISIS’s de facto capital, Raqqa, Syria, in December.

Jordan, Japan, reportedly negotiated with militants

Government spokesman Mohammed al-Momani told The Associated Press that “we are still ready to hand over” prisoner Sajida al-Rishawi, who faces death by hanging for her role in triple hotel bombings in Jordan in 2005. Al-Rishawi has close family ties to the Iraq branch of al-Qaeda, a precursor of ISIS.

With no updates for days, al-Kaseasbeh’s family appealed to the government for information on his situation. But for Goto’s family and friends, the beheading shattered any hopes for his rescue.

Jogo, Goto’s wife, said she had received several emails from unknown people claiming to be her husband’s captors. But the hostage crisis became a national issue after the militants issued a demand for $200 million in ransom, to be paid within 72 hours, on Jan. 20.

Later, the militants’ demand shifted to seeking the release of al-Rishawi, who survived the 2005 attack that killed 60 people when her explosive belt failed to detonate in the worst terror attack in Jordan’s history.

Jordan and Japan reportedly conducted indirect negotiations with the militants through Iraqi tribal leaders, but late on Friday the Japanese envoy sent to Amman to work on the hostage crisis reported a deadlock in those efforts.

The UN Security Council issued a statement Sunday demanding “the immediate, safe and unconditional release of all those who are kept hostage” by the Islamic State group. Council members underlined the need to bring those responsible for Goto’s “heinous and cowardly murder” to justice and stressed that the Islamic State group “must be defeated and that the intolerance, violence and hatred it espouses must be stamped out.”

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