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After Sidhu, Kirti Azad’s wife likely to join AAP

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poonam-azad

New Delhi: Wife of suspended BJP lawmaker Kirti Azad and three-time party national executive member Poonam Azad is likely to follow in the footsteps of Navjot Singh Sidhu, who resigned as its lawmaker on Monday and is set to join Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Poonam Azad will resign “soon” and join the AAP, sources close to her said. She is currently a Delhi BJP Spokesperson and was earlier its vice president.

She has faced growing marginalisation in the party for some years after having earlier being a member of the BJP National Executive thrice.

Her decision is also driven by the suspension of Kirti Azad, who had launched a bitter attack on Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over alleged corruption in DDCA during the latter’s tenure as its head and continued with his tirade despite party chief Amit Shah’s intervention.

“Both husband and wife are unsure about their future in BJP,” a source said, but ruled out any similar move by Kirti Azad as it will result in his losing Lok Sabha membership.

Mr Sidhu, the former cricketer-turned politician, who had represented Amritsar in the Lok Sabha between 2004 and 2014 as BJP lawmaker, resigned from Rajya Sabha on Monday. Sources close to him have already indicated that the 52-year-old is likely to join the AAP.

(PTI)

DySP suicide: Siddaramaiah attacks Oppn, rules out CBI probe

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Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: Under attack from opposition BJP over the alleged suicide of a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today hit back at the rival party, rejecting its demand for a probe into the case that led to the exit of K J George as a minister, and questioning continuance of central ministers facing FIRs.

In a counter-offensive against the Opposition a day after George quit “voluntarily”, Siddaramaiah sought to turn the tables on BJP, saying several Union ministers were facing FIRs and criminal cases but “why have they not resigned?”.

He said Union ministers Bandaru Dattatreya, Smriti Irani and Uma Bharti were facing FIRs and seven of the newly inducted 19 Union ministers had criminal cases registered against them “but BJP was silent on this and singling out George”, who resigned hours after a court ordered registration of FIR against him and two police officials over the DySP suicide.He said that mere filing of an FIR does not warrant action but still George stepped down as a “loyal soldier” of the party, saying he did not want to embarass Congress, the Chief Minister and the government.

“Let them (BJP) get the resignations of Dattatreya, Smriti Irani and seven ministers facing criminal cases. Is there a separate law for us and them?” he told reporters here.

George resigned yesterday shortly after a court at Madikeri in Kodagu district directed police to register an FIR against him and two top police officers in connection with alleged suicide of 51-year old M K Ganapathy.

The body of Mangaluru DySP Ganapathy was found hanging from the ceiling fan in a room at a lodge in Madikeri on July 7.

Hours before his death, in an interview to a local TV channel, he had said George and A M Prasad (IG-Intelligence) and Pranab Mohanty (IGP-Lokayukta) were harassing him and they would be responsible “if anything happens to me.”

Accusing BJP of “moral bankruptcy”, Siddaramaiah said Congress would “expose their true colours” and “false propaganda” with statewide party programmes.

“I have accepted George’s resignation with pain. We have not taken his resignation. He himself resigned voluntarily,” he said, adding, his ministerial colleagues had advised him (George) against stepping down.

Siddaramaiah said Prasad and Mohanty have not been asked to go on leave as was being speculated.

Lashing out at BJP for persisting with its demand for a CBI probe, he said “there is no need to hand over the case to CBI. A judicial commission has already been formed. The matter has also gone to the court…So no need to refer the matter to CBI.”

(Agencies)

Turkey says US given evidence of Gulen’s role in coup

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Prime Minister Binali Yildirim says proof sent to US for arrest of exiled cleric, as detentions and dismissals continue.

Yildirim denounced as "despicable" and "cowardly" coup plotters, whom he said were linked to Gulen [Reuters]

Yildirim denounced as “despicable” and “cowardly” coup plotters, whom he said were linked to Gulen [Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim warned that further “criminal activity will be forcefully dealt with”, and announced that the United States has been given evidence of the involvement of exiled opposition leader Fetullah Gulen in the failed coup.

In an address on Tuesday before members of his party in parliament, Yildirim denounced the “despicable” and “cowardly” coup plotters, whom he said were being “directed by a cleric” from abroad, referring to Gulen.

“The power of the tank has not been able to overcome the power of the people,” he said, adding that all those involved in the coup will be “severely punished”.

Yildirim did not say whether the evidence provided by the Turkish government to the US constitutes a formal extradition request.

Ankara had earlier demanded Washington hand Gulen over to Turkish authorities, though US officials said that no official request for extradition had been submitted.

Gulen, who is resident in the US, has denied any involvement in the military plot to topple the government of President Recep Tayipp Erdogan, and hinted that the coup might have been staged to justify his arrest.

Yildirim’s speech comes as the government continues to detain government workers, including police officers, members of the civil service and the judiciary.

Al Jazeera’s Bernard Smith, reporting from Istanbul, said as many as 20,000 government employees have been detained, or are being pursued by the authorities, including 185 admirals and colonels, and 1,500 finance ministry officials.

Reuters also reported that 257 personnel from the prime minister’s own office have also been removed from duty.

‘Serious alarm’

Yildirim said that the government will make a major announcement on Wednesday in response to the coup attempt.

He did not specify what action the government would take, but earlier on Tuesday, President Erdogan said he is ready to reinstate the death penalty.

“There is no time to rest,” Yildirim said to cheers from party colleagues. “There is a group of people who are going to be punished.”

A top United Nations human rights official urged Turkey to uphold the rule of law, and voiced “serious alarm” at the mass suspension of judges and prosecutors.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein also called for independent observers to visit places of detention in Turkey to check on conditions, and for detainees to have access to lawyers and their families.

“In the aftermath of such a traumatic experience, it is particularly crucial to ensure that human rights are not squandered in the name of security and in the rush to punish those perceived to be responsible,” Zeid said in a statement.

“Reintroduction of the death penalty would be in breach of Turkey’s obligations under international human rights law – a big step in the wrong direction,” he said.

The European Union has also warned that Turkey’s accession to the European Union would halted if the death penalty is reinstated.

Rahul Gandhi must apologise for defamatory remarks on RSS or face trial: SC

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Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday indicated that Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi would have to face trial in a defamation case filed by an RSS activist for allegedly accusing the organisation for assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

“You can’t make collective denunciation of an organisation,” an apex court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said, adding that the case may be decided on merits whether Rahul Gandhi’s charge was for public good or not.

The Congress Vice President has so far maintained that his statement blaming the RSS was based on the judgement of a high court and on the basis of certain documents.

The court observed that the statement was arguably made on the basis of a high court judgement but the case must be decided on merits.

RSS activist Rajesh Kunte had filed the defamation suit in a Maharashtra court against Gandhi. The Congress Vice President then moved the Supreme Court for quashing of the defamation proceedings.

Hearing Gandhi’s plea, the apex court told Kunte that the purpose of the defamation law was not to promote litigation.

Adjourning the matter till July 27, the Supreme Court asked the Congress Vice President to detail his arguments.

Senior counsel Kapil Sibal will appear for Rahul Gandhi in the case.

(Agencies)

Curfew and separatist shutdown continue for 12th day in Valley

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Kashmir-firing

Srinagar: Authorities decided to impose curfew in the Valley on Tuesday for the 12th day running while separatists extended the protest shutdown for another three days here in Jammu and Kashmir.

A senior police officer told IANS curfew will continue in parts of the Valley for the 12th day running on Tuesday to maintain law and order.

Two protesters were killed on Monday when a violent mob attacked an army patrol in Qazigund area of Anantnag district.

Police said four other persons were injured in the firing incident.

At least 45 people, including 43 civilian protesters and two policemen, have been killed in the spiralling violence that began in the Valley after a Hizbul commander was killed along with two of his associates in a gunfight with the security forces on July 7.

Authorities have snapped all mobile Internet connectivity and also suspended calling facility on mobile phones across the Valley.

Limited mobile phone connectivity is, however, available to subscribers on post paid mobile phones provided by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).

No vernacular or English language newspaper has been published in the Valley for the last three days.

Amitabh Mattoo, advisor to the state Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, told media that the decision to ban publication of newspapers was not taken at the instance of the Chief Minister.

Mattoo said the decision was taken at “the local level and heads would soon roll for taking such a harsh decision”.

In a related development, the state government on Monday shifted Senior Superintendent of police (SSP) Badgam, Fayaz Ahmad as sources said he had been transferred for stopping printing of some local newspapers whose establishments are situated in Badgam district.

Mufti has convened an all party meeting in summer capital Srinagar on July 21 to discuss the prevailing law and order situation in the Valley.

Opposition National Conference, Congress, Communist Party of India-Marxist and others have been invited to the meeting.

Addressing a meeting of senior bureaucrats in summer capital Srinagar on Monday, Mehbooba Mufti stressed on the importance of opening educational institutions as soon as possible to protect the future of students.

Schools, colleges and universities have been closed by the authorities till July 25 because of the prevailing law and order situation in the Valley.

Meanwhile, the separatists including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Yasin Malik have announced extension of the protest shutdown till Friday.

Security has been further tightened in the Valley as Pakistan government has announced to observe a “Black Day” on Tuesday to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir.

(IANS)

AAP only option for Navjot Sidhu: Wife

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Navjot Singh Sidhu

Chandigarh: Navjot Kaur, wife of cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, today said his resignation from the Rajya Sabha meant he has also quit the BJP and the only option left for him was to join the Aam Aadmi Party.

A day after Navjot Sidhu dealt a blow to BJP in Punjab by resigning from Rajya Sabha, his MLA-wife Navjot Kaur said there is no question of his going back on his decision.

“I think he (Sidhu) has very clearly suggested what he is going to do and in the coming days let him come out with this (his future plans). He has said that he wants to serve Punjab and there is no choice except serving from Aam Aadmi Party,” Kaur, who is MLA from Amritsar-East constituency and is Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Health) in SAD-BJP Government, said.

Asked what was her husband’s position now in the BJP, Kaur said, “It is understood that if he has quit the Rajya Sabha, he has quit BJP. There is no question of his going back, he has never gone back on his words. He wants to serve Punjab. And he will serve the State.”

The cricketer-turned-politician had yesterday resigned from the Rajya Sabha, just three months after his nomination by the Narendra Modi government even as the Aam Aadmi Party gave indications that he may be made the party’s face in the Assembly elections in Punjab early next year.

Kaur said she was yet to decide about her future plans. “I am working as a MLA and CPS for my party. I have made no decision as yet. For Navjot the alternative is very clear, he is clear about serving Punjab. So, you can understand what option he has,” she told reporters, adding she has always stood by his side.

Navjot Kaur, who has been vocal against her own government on various issues in the past including development issues, said the stage is over when there can be any rethink by Sidhu on his decision.

She said earlier also she had made it clear that if BJP decides to contest the 2017 Assembly polls jointly with the Akalis, she was against it.

Asked if the AAP has given Sidhu some options, Navjot Kaur said, “He must have talked to them, only he knows. Let him state his plans in a press conference.”

“I have talked to him, but let certain things come from his side,” she said.

Asked if it was the right move on his part, Navjot Kaur said, “He is a spiritual man and everything he does is after listening to his inner conscience. And if his inner conscience is saying that he has to serve Punjab without any condition and without asking for anything, let it be so. He has a better vision for Punjab and let the people decide.”

When asked if it was the end of the road for Sidhu in the BJP, Kaur emphatically said, “Yes”.

When again asked about her plans, she said, “Let me see what take he has, let him come out and say what he has to say in a press conference and then let me take my decision.”

“I follow him blindly… But at the moment, I am working as MLA,” she said.

When pointed out that they were being dubbed as opportunists by some opponents, Navjot Kaur said, “There is no question of asking for any position. He is not coming on any condition or wanting any position. He is just saying I want to serve Punjab.”

Kaur indicated that Sidhu had been ignored and not given any major role by BJP in Punjab.

“He has always wanted to serve Punjab, that’s been his only aim. If he is given option to work anywhere other than Punjab he does not want that. BJP had enough time to bring him to the forefront (in Punjab). But if they thought that he doesn’t deserve it and he is not such a kind of a person who can do something for BJP in Punjab, so let it be so”.

Asked if BJP leaders had approached her, she said, “Nobody talked to me since my phone was switched off”.

To another question, she said for the past three years they she has been saying that BJP should separate from the Akalis, but that has not happened.

(PTI)

As an apology, Kejriwal cleans dishes at Golden Temple as penance

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Arvind Kejriwal

Amritsar: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Monday washed dishes in the Golden Temple’s community kitchen as an apology after his Aam Aadmi Party drew flak for depicting the image of the Sikh shrine with the party symbol – broom – in its ‘youth manifesto’.

Kejriwal, who had arrived in the city last night for his act of penance, scrubbed utensils in the community kitchen for 45 minutes and later went to sanctum sanctorum to pay obeisance. He sat for half an hour on the marble floor outside the sanctum sanctorum to listen to religious hymns.

“I had come here for ‘sewa’ (voluntary religious service) to apologize if we had knowingly or unknowingly committed any mistake in our youth manifesto. I listened to the ‘shabad kirtan’ here that gave me immense pleasure. Now I feel peace of mind,” he told reporters.

AAP spokesperson Ashish Khetan, who was booked under Section 295-A (for hurting religious sentiments) by the Amritsar police, was also with Kejriwal.

AAP, which has been aggressively campaigning for Punjab Assembly polls due next year, courted controversy after the release of its youth manifesto in which the front page displayed the picture of party symbol broom along with that of Golden Temple that irked various Sikh religious and political outfits which demanded apology from Kejriwal.

Khaitan also faced trouble for comparing the party manifesto with the holy book of Sikhs – Guru Granth Sahib – and other religious books including Gita.

The AAP chief had earlier hit out at the ruling SAD-BJP combine, claiming they were feeling “jittery” due to impending success of AAP in Punjab and had hatched a conspiracy to defame the party.

Kejriwal was accompanied by AAP Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur, youth leader Harjot Bains, MPs Bhagwant Mann and Sadhu Singh, singer Gurpreet Ghuggi, Delhi MLA Jarnail Singh, MP Bhagwant Mann, actor Gul Panag and advocate HS Phoolka.

(PTI)

DSP suicide case: Karnataka Minister KJ George resigns

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KJ George

Bengaluru: A local court here on Monday ordered the police to file an FIR against Bengaluru Development Minister K J George and two police officers for abetting the suicide of Deputy Superintendent of Police M K Ganapati.

“Whatever the court decides, we will abide. I am 100% sure I will come clean,” the Deccan Chronicle quoted the beleaguered minister as saying.

Ganapathy, 51, was found hanging from the ceiling fan of a room at a lodge in Madikeri here on July 7.

He took the extreme step after giving an interview to a local TV channel, saying Minister K J George, A M Prasad (IG-Intelligence) and Pranab Mohanty (IGP-Lokayukta) will be responsible “if anything happens to me.”

The Siddaramaiah government had recently ordered a judicial probe into the alleged suicide. The case is currently being investigated by CID.

The issue has rocked the Karnataka Assembly.

(Agencies)

BJP’s Navjot Singh Sidhu quits Rajya Sabha amid talk of switch to AAP

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Navjot Singh Sidhu

New Delhi: BJP leader Navjot Singh Sidhu quit as a member of Parliament on Monday, a move that was instantly seen as a precursor to his exiting the party. “The people of Punjab are looking for a change,” was his telling comment to media just before he put in his papers.

There is a strong buzz that the 52-year-old former cricketer and commentator will join Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is campaigning aggressively in Punjab ahead of elections in the state next year.

Sources close to Mr Sidhu and AAP indicate that he could be the party’s chief ministerial candidate in Punjab.

Mr Sidhu, who is also a popular television personality, was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in April.

He had been upset when he was asked to make way for Arun Jaitley to contest from Amritsar during the 2014 national election and denied the chance to contest.

He had represented the Amritsar constituency for 10 years. Mr Jaitley lost the election.

Mr Sidhu’s wife Navjot Kaur, who is a lawmaker in Punjab and a parliamentary secretary in the state’s Akali Dal-BJP government, is also set to resign, say reports.

She had announced her resignation on Facebook earlier this year but later changed her mind.

(Agencies)

SC accepts structural reforms in BCCI

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bcci

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today accepted major recommendations of the Lodha Committee on reforms in BCCI including a bar on ministers and civil servants and those above 70 from becoming its members but left it to Parliament to decide whether it should come under RTI and betting on the game should be legalised.

The apex court also accepted the recommendations of the Committee headed by retired Chief Justice of India Justice R M Lodha to have a CAG nominee in BCCI.

A bench of Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice F M I Kalifulla rejected BCCI’s objection against recommendations for one-state-one-vote and said that states like Maharashtra and Gujarat having more than one cricket associations will have voting rights on rotational basis.

It accepted the panel’s recommendation that there should be a player’s association in the BCCI and the funding of players’ association accepted while leaving it to the Board to decide the extent of funding.

The bench also accepted the recommendation that one person should hold one post in cricket administration to avoid any conflict of interest and scrapping of all other administrative committees in the BCCI after CAG nominee comes in.

The court however, left it to Parliament to decide whether functioning of BCCI can be brought under RTI as recommended by the Lodha Panel and whether to legalise betting in cricket or not.

It also left it to the Board to decide whether there is need for any changes in the existing agreement relating to broadcasting rights and whether a franchise member should be in the Board to avoid any conflict of interest.

The bench also requested the three-member panel, also comprising former apex court judges Ashok Bhan and R V Raveendran to oversee the transition of administrative structure in BCCI which has to take place within six months.

The apex court-appointed Lodha Committee had on January 4 recommended sweeping reforms and an administrative shake-up at the troubled BCCI, suggesting that ministers be barred from occupying positions, a cap put on the age and tenure of the office-bearers and legalising betting.

Some of the state cricket associations, former players Kirti Azad, Bishen Singh Bedi and cricket administrators also approached the apex court with regard to the implementation of Lodha panel recommendations in BCCI.

(Agencies)

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