Archives for May 2017

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government has asked all the deputy commissioners of the state to take action against transmission of 34 TV channels, including those from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, saying they have the potential to incite violence and create law and order situation.

The directive comes after the Centre asked the state government to take immediate steps to stop the unauthorised broadcast of Pakistani and Saudi Arabian channels in the state.

“It has been reported that the cable operators in the Valley have been transmitting certain TV channels (which are not permitted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India).

“It needs being noted that transmission of non-permitted TV channels apart from attracting the violation (of the law), has the potential to encourage or incite violence and create law and order disturbances in the Kashmir Valley,” an order issued Saturday by Principal Secretary, Home Department, R K Goyal, to all the district rpt district magistrates (deputy commissioners) of the state said.

Goyal asked deputy commissioners to clarify as to what action has been taken in regard to media reports that certain cable operators were transmitting such non-permitted channels and also directed them to take urgent necessary action.

“In the circumstances, it is impressed upon you to ensure that urgent necessary action is taken in accordance with provisions of law,” the order reads. He said the transmission of non-permitted TV channels by the cable operators attracts violation of the Cable TV Networks Regulation Rules.

“As per Section 11 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, the district magistrate has the power to seize the equipment in case of a violation,” the order reads.

On Friday, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu spoke with the state chief secretary over the issue and sought a compliance report at the earliest.

He expressed concern over reports that these channels were being broadcast in Jammu and Kashmir without permission. The State Home Department, which is headed by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, has listed 34 such channels belonging to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia including Zakir Naik’s banned Peace TV.

The 34 channels are Peace TV Urdu and English, ARY QTV, Madni Channel, Noor TV, Hadi TV, Paigam, Hidayat, Saudi Al-Sunnah Al-Nabawiyah, Saudi-Al-Quran Al-Karim, Sehar, Karbala TV, Ahli-biat TV, Message TV, Hum TV, ARY Digital Asia, Hum Sitaray, ARY Zindagi, PTV Sports, ARY Musik, TV One, ARY Masala, ARY Zauq, A TV, Geo News, ARY News Asia, Abb Takk News, Waseb TV, 92 News, Duniya News, Samna News, Geo Tez, Express News and ARY News.

The principal secretary, Home Department, asked the deputy commissioners to file a compliance report by email by Sunday.

(Agencies)

Gorakhpur: A woman IPS officer was reduced to tears after a BJP MLA in Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s parliamentary constituency of Gorakhpur got into a heated argument with her over evicting protesters, with the incident being captured on the camera.

The incident occurred in Kareemnagar area of the city where some people, protesting against a liquor shop, were removed by the police. Local BJP MLA Radha Mohan Das Aggarwal reached the spot amid complaints by protesters that the Circle Officer Charu Nigam had forcibly removed them.

They alleged that the police had hit a woman and dragged an 80-year-old man. The MLA questioned the IPS officer about her action and told that there had been orders by the state government that liquor shops will not function in densely populated residential areas.

Amid the exchange of words, Nigam took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears. The visuals were captured and telecast by news channels. The police officer later accused the MLA of misbehaving and insulting her.

“The MLA misbehaved with me and refused to acknowledge in full public view that he is speaking to a woman police officer,” Nigam said. On the footage showing her wiping tears, she said, “I did not weep, as it is not ingrained in my personality. However, I got emotional when my senior officer supported me.”

The protesters were removed from the road as they were obstructing the traffic, she said. When the MLA arrived, the road was free from protesters, which apparently angered him as had asked them to stay put and lift the blockade only after his persuasion, Nigam claimed.

On the other hand, Aggarwal accused the IPS officer of exercising high-handedness with the protesters, who were demanding that a liquor outlet in their locality be shut. “We are against the operation of liquor shops. People were peacefully protesting against the liquor shops, but the woman police officer forcibly removed the protesters and while doing so, she hit a woman and dragged an 80-year-old man. This simply cannot be tolerated,” he said.

Aggarwal rubbished allegations that he misbehaved with her. He alleged that there was a tacit understanding between the police and the liquor mafia as a liquor shop closed 15 days ago had suddenly started doing business again.

When asked to comment on the footage telecast by local news channels, Aggarwal said, “Is my body language showing that I am misbehaving with her? I was not speaking to the CO (Charu Nigam), but to the SP (City). See my body language properly.”

“If you see the video recording of the incident, you will find the woman officer removing the protesters forcibly…you will see the reality,” the MLA said.

Later, Nigam took to Facebook to thank everyone who supported her. “My training has not taught me to be weak. I just did not expect that SP city Ganesh Saha sir would outrightly reject the irrational argument and talk about my injury (sic),” she posted on the social networking site.

“I was the seniormost officer in the police there but when sir came and stood by the force, I got emotional. The media has taken this stand because every one of them saw both incidents and this shows the positivity of the media in Gorakhpur. I am thankful to them to have shown the truth with least manipulation,” she said.

The 2009 batch IPS officer said the people should not think that “I am weak because I had tears in my eyes. It was due to the tenderness associated with women”.

The woman IPS officer has been quite active in the newly formed anti-Romeo squad and has been nick-named by some media organisations as ‘Lady Singham’ after a Bollywood movie.

(PTI)

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Kapil Mishra today submitted documents to the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) to back his allegations that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had delayed the probe into a Rs 400 crore tanker scam.

A day after he said he had witnessed Kejriwal take Rs 2 crore from Health Minister Satyendra Jain in another case, Mishra alleged that the investigation into the tanker scam that dated back to Sheila Dikshit’s tenure as chief minister was repeatedly delayed and influenced by Kejriwal and “his two men”.

Mishra said he had shared all the evidence related to the tanker scam with the ACB. “I told the officials how Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal deliberately delayed the report and how public money was misused.”

“Also, I told them how Kejriwal along with his two men affected the tanker scam probe. The government also tried to shield Sheila Dikshit time and again. ACB will call me again for a detailed investigation,” he told reporters after the meeting.

Mishra, who was sacked as minister on Saturday, also demanded a lie detector on his allegations that he was an eyewitness to the Rs 2 crore exchanging hands between Kejriwal and Jain. He said that a lie detector test be conducted on all three.

Mishra has claimed Jain had told him in a private conversation that he had “settled” a Rs 50 crore land deal in favour of a relative of the chief minister.

Mishra further said that he has sought an appointment with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the Rs 2 crore allegations.

The bombshell prompted calls from the BJP and Congress for Kejriwal’s ouster, but AAP stood solidly behind its leader, insisting there was no merit in the allegation. The tanker scam relates to alleged irregularities in the hiring of private tankers to supply water.

(Agencies)

Lucknow: SP leader Shivpal Yadav today said his brother Mulayam Singh Yadav will head a secular front to be formed by him, days after he asked Akhilesh Yadav to hand over the reins of the party back to his father. Shivpal had said recently that the secular front would be formed if Akhilesh Yadav did not hand over the reins of the party back to his father Mulayam in three months.

“For social justice, a secular front will be formed. Netaji (Mulayam) will be its National President,” Shivpal told reporters in Etawah, the bastion of the Yadav clan. The warring uncle of Akhilesh made the announcement after a meeting with Mulayam at a relative’s house in Etawah.

Shivpal held discussions on forming the new secular front with them. He, however, did not explain what the new front would do – whether it would contest polls against the SP or strengthen it by bringing socialists under one roof.

(Agencies)