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Telangana: Case registered against KCR for illegal phone-tapping

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KCR

Visakhapatnam: A case has been registered here against Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for alleged illegal tapping of phones of his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Chandrababu Naidu in the backdrop of the cash-for-votes scam, police said Monday.

According to Inspector of III-Town Police Station, B Tirumala Rao, a Vizag-based advocate NVV Prasad lodged a complaint against KCR for violating the basic rights of Naidu and “tarnishing” his image by tapping his telephone lines.

In his complaint, the assistant Public Prosecutor accused TRS of deliberately trying to snoop on TDP members.

Based on the complaint, a case has been registered against KCR under Sections 464, 647, 471, 166, 167 and 120/B of IPC.

Meanwhile, a purported conversation in an audio tape between Chandrababu Naidu and nominated MLA Elvys Stephenson, aired in a section of local TV channels has given a new twist to the cash-for-votes controversy.

Sunday, Parakala Prabhakar Advisor (Communications) to the Andhra government strongly denied reports saying that the tapes were fabricated and the AP government will take up the issue seriously.

The reported conversation suggested that the Andhra CM was giving “assurance of all sorts” to the MLA if he votes for TDP nominee in the Telangana Legislative Council election.

Prabhakar further alleged that the Telangana government is trying to malign the image of the AP chief minister by resorting to cheap tactics.

“It is not the chief minister’s conversation. How come they are available outside. Telangana Government has to give answer to this. Telangana CM and Home minister should give answers,” Parakala had said.

He said that the Telangana CM is trying to mislead the people of Andhra Pradesh by resorting to “cheap tricks”.

The anti-corruption bureau of Telangana is in the process of questioning TDP MLA Revanth Reddy and two others who have been arrested in cash-for-vote case.

On May 31, the ACB arrested Reddy for allegedly trying to bribe the nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson to vote for TDP nominee in the Telangana Legislative Council election.

Based on a complaint by Stephenson, ACB officials held Revanth, Sebastian Harry and Uday Simha after they were caught while allegedly handing over Rs 50 lakh to Stephenson.

(IANS)

Cash-for-vote scam: Andhra CM's audio tape made public

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ChandrababuNaidu

Hyderabad: The cash-for-vote scam in Telangana took a dramatic turn on Sunday with the release of an audio tape of a purported telephonic conversation between Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and nominated Telangana legislator Elvis Stephenson.The Andhra government denied that it’s Naidu’s voice.

This is perhaps for the first time in India that a chief minister of a state has been tapped while allegedly trying to lure a legislator. Denying that it is Naidu’s voice, the Andhra Pradesh government has taken the release of audio tape seriously and vowed to fight it legally, constitutionally and politically.

The new twist may create a constitutional crisis as Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Telangana is planning to summon Naidu for questioning in the case. Hyderabad is the common capital of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Both Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) governments have taken up the issue with E.S.L. Narasimhan, who is the governor for both the Telugu states.

The audio tape was released three days after Telangana Home Minister N. Narasimha Reddy said the government has proof that Naidu spoke to Stephenson and some other MLAs of TRS to lure them to vote for TDP-BJP candidate in Telangana legislative council elections.

The audio tape was first played T News, a Telugu news channel owned by ruling TRS and was later picked up by others.

During the conversation, Naidu purportedly assured the nominated member that he is with him. “Our people briefed me. I am with you don’t bother. For everything I am with you. What all they spoke we will honour,” Naidu was heard as telling the legislator.

In swift developments on Sunday night, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao met Governor Narasimhan at Raj Bhavan while Naidu called a meeting with Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police J.V. Ramudu and other officials to take stock of the latest situation.

Rao’s meeting with the governor, the second in three days, came minutes after the release of the audio tape.

Telangana TDP legislator A. Revanth Reddy was arrested by the ACB on May 31 when he was offering Rs.50 lakh to Stephenson to make him vote for TDP-BJP candidate in the elections to Telangana legislative council.

ACB, which had laid a trap on a complaint by Stephenson, also arrested Revanth Reddy’s aides Sebastian Harry and Uday Simha.

TRS leaders have been alleging that Naidu is the mastermind in the scam and he should be booked.

The audio tape came to light a few hours after ACB questioned Revanth Reddy and two others for a second day. A city court had sent them to four-day custody of ACB.

Earlier in the day, Naidu met Narasimhan, who is governor for both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The TDP chief reportedly complained to the governor about TRS government tapping his phone.

Meanwhile, Naidu’s media advisor Prakala Prabhakar told reporters on Sunday night that the voice in the audio tape is not the voice of Naidu.

He said the government was taking the release of the audio tape seriously and will not keep quiet. “We will fight it legally, constitutionally and politically,” he said.

He wanted to know from the TRS government as to how it got the audio tape. “If you have done telephone tapping, it is a crime and if you have recorded Mr. Chandrababu Naidu’s voice on different occasions, tampered it and presented to mislead people that it is his conversation, it is also a crime,” he said.

Naidu’s aide wondered how the audio tape could be released as evidence when the same should be produced in the court, where the case is being heard. Prakala condemned the attitude of Telangana government towards Andhra Pradesh chief minister in the common capital. He said both the governments and both the chief ministers had equal rights in the common capital.

He pointed out that under section 8 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, the governor is responsible for law and order, protection of lives and property of people and vital installations in Hyderabad.

He alleged that the release of audio tape was a conspiracy to tarnish Naidu’s image and disrupt the public meeting scheduled to be held in Guntur on Monday to mark TDP government’s first year.

The media advisor said the government would go ahead with the meeting and fight the conspiracy.

Andhra Pradesh’s Finance Minister and senior TDP leader Y. Ramakrishnudu said the audio tape was a proof that the TRS government was violating law by tapping phones.

(IANS)

Food regulator orders testing of GSK, ITC fast food brands

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fssai-orders-testing-of-gsk-itc-fast-food-brands

New Delhi: Central food safety regulator FSSAI today ordered testing of various noodles, pasta and macaroni brands, including Top Ramen, Foodles and Wai Wai, manufactured by seven companies to check compliance of norms in the wake of Maggi controversy.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has also asked for testing of four variants of “Maggi Nutilicious Pazzta with tastemakers”. “Various test results on Maggi and some other similar products have raised serious health concerns. In view of the same, it would be advisable to draw regulatory samples for similar products for which product approvals have been granted by the FSSAI…These samples should be sent to the authorised labs for testing,” FSSAI CEO YS Malik said in letter to Commissioners of Food Safety in all states and UTs.

As per FSSAI order, the companies whose products have been listed for testing are Nestle India, ITC, Indo Nissin Food Ltd, GSK Consumer Helathcare, CG Foods India, Ruchi International and AA Nutrition Ltd. The regulator has ordered the testing of products registered with it.

The products include Wai Wai noodles and bhujiya chicken snacks by CG Foods; Koka instant noodles from Ruchi International, Foodles by GSK Consumer Helathcare and Nestle’s Maggi instant noodles with nine variants.

Others in the list are Indo Nissin’s Top Ramen Aata Masala, ITC’s three variants of instant noodles and Yummy chicken and vegetarian noodles of AA Nutrition. When contacted CG Foods CEO GP Sah said: “Our brands meets all regulatory standards as listed by Food Safety and Standard Authority of India. We are not closed to any tests and will cooperate with authorities if required.”

Comments from other companies could not be obtained immediately. The development comes after the Indian unit of the Swiss multinational recalled Maggi from the markets after several states banned the famous ‘2-minute’ instant food brand as tests showed them containing taste enhancer MSG (Mono Sodium Glutamate) and lead in excess of the permissible limits. Meanwhile, FSSAI on Friday banned all variants of Maggi noodles terming them as “unsafe and hazardous” for human consumption.

(PTI)

Hate speech: SC bench recuses from hearing Subramanian Swamy's plea

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Subramanian Swamy (Photo credit: Jagran)

Subramanian Swamy (Photo credit: Jagran)

New Delhi: A Supreme Court bench headed by Justice R K Agrawal today recused itself from hearing the plea of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy against the order of an Assam trial court issuing a non-bailable warrant against him for failing to appear before it in a case of alleged hate speech.

The bench, also comprising Justice Amitava Roy, referred the matter to another bench saying, “If it has to come before another bench, why apply mind. List it before another bench on June 22.”

Senior advocate Ram Jethmalani, who was appearing for Swamy, then asked the bench “In the meantime, what should the man do if there is an order that he be arrested and produced before the judge.” To this, the bench said that till June 22 nothing will happen but refused to pass an interim order. “We cannot pass any interim order,” it said.However, it allowed Swamy to mention it before Chief Justice H L Dattu after Jethmalani sought permission.

“You have the liberty to mention it before the Chief Justice,” the bench said.Earlier, on May 21, a judge of the apex court had recused from hearing his plea challenging the validity of some penal provisions relating to “hate speech”.

The apex court was hearing Swamy’s plea against the order of an Assam trial court issuing an NBW against him for failing to appear before it on March 19 in a case of alleged hate speech.

The NBW was issued on June 1 by a court in Karimganj on a complaint accusing him of allegedly delivering an inflammatory address on March 15 at Kaziranga University.The Karimganj court had ordered that the arrest warrant be complied with on or before June 30.

(PTI)

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat gets ‘Z+’ security cover

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Mohan_Bhagwat

New Delhi: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat has been extended top category ‘Z+’ security cover with the commandos of CISF having been tasked with the job.

Officials said Bhagwat will now be guarded by an armed squad of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) during his stay at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur and when he travels to any place in Maharashtra and across the country.

“The Special Security Group of CISF has been entrusted with the task of securing the VVIP after a threat analysis made in this regard necessitated that Bhagwat be guarded by a trained team.

“He was till now being guarded by units of Maharashtra police and its armed reserve units under the same cover,” a senior official said.

As part of the security cover, the RSS ‘Sarsanghchalak’ will have about 60 commandos round-the-clock to protect him.

The VVIP commando unit of CISF is armed with sophisticated weapons like AK-series rifles and is equipped with latest gadgets for communication and anti-sabotage tasks.

This unit is also identified as the ‘centre of excellence” for VVIP security in the country.

Sources said the elite squad will take over the security duties at Bhagwat’s residence and the vehicles in his convoy will also be changed as per norms set for a ‘Z+’ central security VVIP.

“The decision to hand over his security to central forces from state police has been hanging for over an year now.

“The Union Home Ministry recently gave the sanction in this regard and tasked CISF with the job,” they said.

A number of other prominent figures like BJP President Amit Shah and government functionaries and politicians have been accorded such security cover in the recent past by the Union government.

(PTI)

AIMPLB to campaign against making Yoga, Surya Namaskar compulsory in schools

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surya-namaskar

Lucknow: Even as the Narendra Modi government plans to make the International Yoga Day on June 21 a grand success, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Sunday decided to launch a nationwide campaign against making ‘Surya Namaskar’ and Yoga compulsory in schools.

We have decided to constitute a committee of our members headed by Maulana Wali Rahmani and launch a country-wide campaign against the move of making ‘Surya Namaskar’ and Yoga compulsory in schools, AIMPLB member Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali said.

“The committee will also find ways to make Muslim community aware of their constitutional rights. During the campaign, we will put forth our view on Surya Namaskar and Yoga and explain as to why it was against our religious beliefs and should not be forced on our children,” he said.

Taking the campaign beyond the ambit of Hindu-Muslim tension, the AIMPLB member said that attempts would be made to include people of other religions as well in the campaign.

Speaking at AIMPLB’s executive committee meeting held at Nadwat-ul-Ulma here, Mahali also expressed the organisation’s willingness to fight legal battles regarding the “interference of courts in Sharia laws”.

“Recently some court decisions have come against Sharia laws. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has decided to file an appeal in such cases in court and fight the legal battle as a party in such cases,” Mahali said.

Maulana Wali Rahmani was appointed as the acting General Secretary of the Board at the meeting. Maulana Nizamuddin will also continue in the post, he said.

The Board also informed that they will discuss issues like attack on freedom to propagate one’s religion, in a separate session and have plans to launch a campaign in this regard.

(Agencies)

Former Iraqi deputy PM Tariq Aziz dies in prison

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Aziz, who was Saddam’s deputy PM and foreign minister, surrendered to US forces in 2003 and had been a prisoner since.

Tariq-Aziz

by Al Jazeera

Tariq Aziz, Iraq’s former deputy prime minister and foreign minister, has died in prison aged 79 years old.

Iraqi officials said Aziz, who was one of the former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein’s top deputies, died on Friday afternoon after suffering a heart attack on Thursday.

Al Jazeera has learned that Aziz’s son, Ziad, expressed outrage that Iraqi officials had not informed him of his father’s death, and he had instead found out through local media reports.

Aziz was Iraq’s foreign minister between 1983 and 1991 and deputy prime minister between 1979 and 2003.

Born Mikhail Yuhanna in 1936, Aziz was the highest ranking Christian official under Saddam’s presidency and a member of the former ruling Baath Party’s inner circle.

He was sentenced to death by the Iraqi High Tribunal in 2010 for his role in human rights abuses committed under the former government, which was overthrown in 2003 when Iraq was invaded by a US-led alliance.

Iraq’s public face

Aziz surrendered to US forces shortly after the invasion and had been a prisoner since.

Al Jazeera’s Imran Khan, reporting from Baghdad, said Aziz was one of the most hated figures from the old regime and Iraqi TV stations had largely ignored his death.

“There will be no eulogies for him, no day of mourning for him. He was hated as a member of the former regime,” he said.

One of the best known faces of Saddam’s Iraq, Aziz travelled globally where he defended his leader against the many accusations of alleged human rights abuses.

When the US prepared for its campaign to end the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait prior to the first Gulf War, Aziz hit out at Arab states, calling them “subservient Arab weaklings”.

Aziz remained loyal to his boss in the aftermath of defeat during that war, and through the 12 years of sanctions that followed.

In the run-up to the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, Aziz was the “eight of spades” on the famous deck of cards of Iraq’s most wanted released by US authorities.

“He was always seen as someone who could try and prevent the impending US invasion. He was always seen as a diplomat,” Al Jazeera’s Khan said.

UN: Over 2,200 Yemenis killed in fighting since late March

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According to the UN, nearly 78 percent of the Yemeni population is in need of humanitarian assistance. (Al Bawaba/File)

According to the UN, nearly 78 percent of the Yemeni population is in need of humanitarian assistance. (Al Bawaba/File)

by Andolu Ajansi

At least 2,288 people have been killed and nearly 10,000 others were injured in Yemen since the beginning of a Saudi-led military campaign against the Shia Houthi militant group in late March, the U.N. said Friday.

“More than one million people have been displaced across all governorates in Yemen between the 26 March and the end of May,” Jens Laerke, a spokesman for the U.N.’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a press conference at the U.N. in Geneva.

“Half of the new displacement — more than half a million people — has occurred in three governorates alone: Hajjah, Ad Dhale’e and Ibb. The number of displaced is expected to increase further over the coming weeks if the conflict continues,” Laerke said.

Nearly 20 million Yemenis are now in need of humanitarian assistance, which is 78 percent of the entire Yemeni population, the U.N. said.

The number of people who need humanitarian assistance in the country increased by 4 million with the Saudi intervention in March 2015, it added.

Meanwhile, talks are expected to start in June 14 at the U.N. in Geneva, with a view to ending the current fighting and restoring momentum toward a Yemeni-led democratic transition.

Fractious Yemen has remained in turmoil since last September, when Houthi militants overran Sana’a from which they have sought to extend their influence to other parts of the country.

On March 25, Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies began an extensive air campaign targeting Houthi positions across the country.

Riyadh says its campaign comes in response to appeals by Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi — who is in Saudi Arabia — for military intervention against Houthi militants.

The Houthis, however, denounce the offensive as unwarranted “Saudi-American aggression” against Yemen.

China ship disaster death toll crosses 300

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A total of 331 people confirmed dead in ship tragedy, as more than 100 still remain unaccounted for, state media says.

Passengers' relatives have raised questions about whether the ship should have continued its cruise after the storm [Reuters]

Passengers’ relatives have raised questions about whether the ship should have continued its cruise after the storm [Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

The death toll in China cruise ship disaster has risen to 331, state media has said, making it China’s deadliest boat disaster in nearly seven decades.

Disaster teams on Saturday searched the now-upright ship for more bodies as more than 100 remained unaccounted for.

Just 14 people have been confirmed alive out of the 456 – mostly tourists aged over 60 – on board when the “Eastern Star” rapidly sunk on the Yangtze river in a storm on Monday.

Authorities gave the death toll of 331 as of 08:00 am (0000 GMT) on Saturday, the state-run Xinhua news agency said.

Xinhua earlier gave the total of confirmed dead as 345, but then revised it down to 331. An official said on Thursday that no new survivors are expected to be found.

Authorities have attributed the overturning of the cruise boat to sudden, severe winds, but also have placed the surviving captain and his first engineer under police custody.

Passengers’ relatives have raised questions about whether the ship should have continued its cruise after the storm started in a section of Hubei province and despite a weather warning earlier in the evening.

The vessel was cited for safety infractions two years ago, according to a notice by the Nanjing Maritime Bureau, but no further details have been given about the state of the ship.

Information about the sinking and media access to the site have been tightly controlled, and any online criticism of the search operation quickly doused.

Irom Sharmila condemns Manipur killing; urges repeal of AFSPA

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Irom-Sharmila

New Delhi: Rights activist Irom Sharmila has condemned the militant ambush that killed 18 armymen in Manipur but said there was “no use” imposing Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in interior areas.

“I strongly condemn yesterday’s incident. The incident happened in the area where AFSPA is fully applied. If you remove the army from Manipur, such untoward incidents of killings will automatically cease. There is no use imposing AFSPA in the interior. I think AFSPA targeted not a particular organisation or insurgent but all people of Manipur,” Sharmila, who was in Delhi to appear before a local Court in connection with a pending case over her fast-unto-death at Jantar Mantar in 2006, said.

18 armymen were killed and 11 injured when an insurgent group ambushed their patrol in Chandel district of Manipur.

Urging for peace and repealing of AFSPA from the state, she said “the government should change its policies and programmes because violent means will only create violence.”

“We will never solve any problem by violence because we are rational beings. With love and kindness, everything can be solved”, she added.

Sharmila, also known as the ‘Iron Lady of Manipur’, has been on a fast for about 14 years, demanding the repeal of the Act.

(Agencies)

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