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JD(U), Congress approach EC, demand ban on Amit Shah’s entry in Bihar

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Amit_Shah

New Delhi: Upping the ante against Amit Shah after his “fireworks in Pakistan” remark, JD(U) and Congress today approached the Election Commission demanding that the BJP chief be barred from entering Bihar for “inciting communal tension” till the election process ends.

Taking strong objection to BJP’s poll advertisements in the state, they accused the party of using “lies and false propaganda” to vitiate the atmosphere and demanded that an FIR be registered against Shah as well Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his quota remarks.

Slamming Shah’s yesterday remarks that if BJP loses in Bihar, there will be fireworks in Pakistan, JD(U) general secretary K C Tyagi said, “Shah’s remarks are inflammatory.

“A case should be registered against him and he should be debarred from entering Bihar till the poll process is over. He is a habitual conspirator. He was earlier also debarred from entering Gujarat by the court.”

A delegation of Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, spokesperson Ajoy Kumar and JD(U) general secretary K C Tyagi met Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi and submitted a memorandum, accusing the BJP of “vitiating” the electoral process by “promoting communal tension” through its advertisements.

It sought action including “complete withdrawal” of these ads and “prosecution” of the perpetrators.

Submitting a list of advertisements issued by the BJP in Bihar including one which accuses Nitish Kumar-led of “snatching the plate of dalits” and accuses it of trying to carve five per cent reservation for a particular community from the quota for SC/ST/OBC, the delegation demanded quick action from the poll watchdog.

The parties complained to the EC on this matter on a day when Prime Minister Narendra raised the pitch on this issue addressing a rally in Lalu Prasad’s home turf Gopalganj and citing a speech of Nitish Kumar in Parliament allegedly favouring sub quota for Muslims.

Tyagi also said that the Election Commission should register a case against Modi for the repeated reference of his belonging to Extremely Backward Castes (EBC) in the same manner as the Election Commission had lodged a case against RJD chief Lalu Prasad for his forward versus back election remark earlier.

They also cited two more ads. While one alleges that Lashkar-e-Toiba and ISI terrorists are “thriving in Bihar due to negligence” of JD-U leaders, the other talks of Bihar government’s role in “delayed” arrest of Yasin Bhatkal from Nepal border.

The delegation alleged that it is a “shameless” attempt by the BJP at spreading “false propaganda” and “creating communal tension”.

The Nitish Kumar-led alliance claimed that one of the ads say that RJD, JD(U) and Congress leaders are “giving sanctuary” to terrorists to appease a particular community for votes.

The name of the particular community becomes clear when seen in context to previous day’s ad, which spoke about Muslim community appeasement by RJD-JD(U) and Congress by ‘robbing the plate of dalits’, the delegation alleged.

On the ad regarding Bhatkal arrest issue, the delegation said that it questions whether the ‘delay’ was to make a particular community feel the “government’s benevolence”.

“The connection between letting Bhatkar escape and a community is done to connect Bhatkal with the Muslim community,” they alleged.

“In the on-going elections in Bihar, the BJP has been promoting lies, false propaganda and communal tensions through its advertisements. This has resulted in vitiating the electoral process by promoting communal tension….

“As you will see from these ads, it is a shameless attempt at spreading false propaganda and creating communal tension by use of misuse of select words in ambiguous contexts that could be interpreted for multiple factions for inciting violence between the two communities,” the delegation said in its memorandum.

Terming these ads as “blatant violation” of the provisions of the Representation of People Act, 1951 and several provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the delegation said, “The EC must demand a complete withdrawal of the advertisement and prosecution should be initiated against the perpetrators at the earliest.”

(Agencies)

Historians join hands protesting against rise in ‘intolerance’

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Romila Thapar

Hyderabad: Hopping on the bandwagon of eminent personalities who have been protesting against the rising intolerance in the nation by returning the honours bestowed on them by the government for their work, are historians including Romila Thapar, Irfan Habib and M G S Narayanan who have come out in protest describing the situation as a “highly vitiated atmosphere of intolerance in the country.”

“Differences of opinion are being sought to be settled by using physical violence. Arguments are met not with counter arguments but with bullets. And, when it is hoped that the head of government will make a statement about improving the prevailing conditions, he chooses to speak only about general poverty; and it takes the head of the state to make the required reassuring statement, not once but twice,” a joint statement issued by the historians stated.

The statement comes in the backdrop of octogenarian biologist P M Bhargava’s decision to return his Padma Bhushan award in solidarity with the protesting writers and filmmakers as he accused the Narendra Modi government of trying to turn India to a “Hindu religious autocracy.”

“The ruling party today, is deviating from the path of democracy and is on its way making India a Hindu religious autocracy and I object to it,”  Bhargava told Deccan Herald.

He received the Padma Bhushan in 1986. Bhargava, founder-director of Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), is one of the signatories of another statement from scientists in which they asserted that “India will not accept attacks on reason, science and our plural culture. We reject the destructive narrow view that seeks to dictate what people will wear, think, eat and who they will love.”

Over a 100 senior scientists from across the country have signed a petition addressed to President Pranab Mukherjee against growing religious intolerance. The infamous Tandoor murder case brought CCMB into limelight for matching victim Naina Sahni’s DNA.

Union Minister Arun Jaitley described the surge in protests as “manufactured rebellion”, while he dubbed the scholars and intellectuals returning their awards as “rabid anti-BJP elements”.

The finance minister wondered if the conscience of protesting scholars and intellectuals had pricked when corruption and scams to the tune of lakhs and crores of rupees were taking place in the UPA era.

The historians, however, took on the Modi government, saying, when writers were returning their awards in protest, no comment was made about the conditions that caused the protest.

“Instead the ministers call it a paper revolution and advise writers to stop writing. This is as good as saying that intellectuals will be silenced if they protest. This is particularly worrying for us as historians as we have already experienced attempts to ban books and expunge statements of history despite the fact that they are supported by sources and the interpretation is transparent,” they said.

(Agencies)

Chandrabhan Sanap gets death in TCS techie rape-n-murder case

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Chandrabhan Sanap (right) is seen with Esther Anuhya in the CCTV footage at the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus on January 5. (File photo)

Chandrabhan Sanap (right) is seen with Esther Anuhya in the CCTV footage at the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus on January 5. (File photo)

Mumbai: A special women’s court here today awarded death sentence to Chandrabhan Sanap, prime accused in the rape and murder of a Andhra Pradesh-based software engineer in suburban Kurla here last year.

“The case falls under the category of the rarest of rare, hence the accused is awarded death sentence…he must be hanged by his neck till he is dead,” said Special Women’s court judge Vrushali Joshi pronouncing the verdict.

The prosecution demanded death for Sanap, saying that sympathy to him would send a wrong signal and neither the victim’s parents nor the society would feel that justice has been delivered.

On the other hand, pleading for mercy, the defense lawyers had argued that the convict had undergone reformation while in prison.

On October 27, the 29-year-old driver was convicted under IPC Section 302 (murder), Section 376 (rape) and Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) for raping and killing the 23-year-old techie, after the court agreed with the prosecution, which had examined 39 witnesses in the case.

Mumbai Police’s crime branch had arrested Sanap in early March last year about two months after the murder of the young techie, who was a native of Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh and was employed as assistant system engineer with IT major TCS at its office in suburban Goregaon.

Investigators caught Sanap after an exhaustive scrutiny of 36 CCTV footages at the railway station and grilling of about 2,500 people. The victim went missing from Lokmanya Tilak terminus near Kurla after arriving by train from Andhra Pradesh in the early hours of January 5, 2014.

According to police, Sanap spotted her sitting alone at the railway station and offered to drop her off at Andheri on his two-wheeler. Subsequently, he took her to an isolated spot and strangled her when she resisted his attempt to rob her.

The decomposed body of the techie was found off the Eastern Express Highway in suburban Bhandup on January 16, 2014. Sanap, who worked as a porter here and then as a driver in Nashik, is a history-sheeter.

(Agencies)

I will eat beef, who are you to question, asks CM Siddaramaiah

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siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has joined the beef row contending that unnecessary issues are being raked under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“I haven’t had beef. But I will eat. Who are you to question? Whatever is comfortable for me, I will eat.” he said referring to the BJP leaders’ objection to beef consumption while interacting with the media in Bengaluru on Thursday.

Admitting that the situation across the country had turned “insecure” with the kind of issues taking centre stage, Siddaramaiah said the focus of the Union government should be on the development of the nation.

(Agencies)

Our issues can be only solved through dialogue: Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit

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Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit with Nasheman.in editor Rizwan Asad at a dinner hosted by Press club of Bangalore during his visit to Bengaluru on Wednesday

Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit with Nasheman.in editor Rizwan Asad at a dinner hosted by Press club of Bangalore during his visit to Bengaluru on Wednesday

Abdul Basit

Bengaluru: Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit on Wednesday asserted that the issues between India and Pakistan can be only solved through dialogue.

Speaking to Nasheman.in Mr. Basit said that there definitely are issues between both the countries, primarily being the issue of Jammu & Kashmir. He said, there is no other way to establish lasting peace without holding talks and resolving issues.

On the question of his country allegedly hiding fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, he asserted that “he is not in Pakistan. Even your government is not sure about his whereabouts.”

“Do share information on Dawood if you have any,” he said.

Earlier in his talk, Basit said since India is a big country it has more responsibilities on its shoulders to put an end to violence and Pakistan is ready to engage with India with sincerity and seriousness of purpose.

“After 35 years of violence in Pakistan, a fatigue factor has set in after having suffered at the hands of terrorism. We genuinely want violence to come to an end and we are ready to engage with India with sincerity and seriousness of purpose, but India as a big country has more responsibilities on its shoulders,” he said.

On the allegation that Army controls the politics and judiciary of the country, Mr. Basit rubbished it saying one should not give credence to propaganda. He assured that Pakistan is a democracy and a relatively conducive environment flourishes in his country.

Role of Urdu writers in Indo-Pak relationship

He said people of both the countries, have a common culture and language. Urdu, he contended has been a common thread of unity and writers of the language from both end of the border have encouraged bilateral relations between India and Pakistan.”

Mr. Basit also expressed great pleasure announcing that his country has recently passed an ordinance to make Urdu the official language of Pakistan. Acknowledging that Pakistan’s earlier leaders hailed from an elite class, who preferred English over Urdu, he said Urdu will finally get its due credit, after suffering for long.

Modi is first PM who always stays outside India: Raj Thackeray

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raj thackeray

Mumbai: Taking potshots at Narendra Modi on his frequent foreign tours, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray today alleged that he is the first Prime Minister in Indian history to have remained out of the country for long.

“What kind of a government do we have? Instead of doing work, they are behind banning every possible thing. Here we have a PM, who is the first in the country to have remained out of India for so many days,” Thackeray said.

Raj was speaking here at an India Today conclave here. “I just heard that Salman Khan is now making Bajrangi Bhaijan part 2. In the sequel, he will be seen bringing back Modi to India from a foreign country,” he said taking a dig on the PM.

As of October 2015, Modi has reportedly made 28 foreign trips. Most of them were state visits to Asian countries, following his neighborhood first and Act East policies.

Criticising the proposed Bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, Thackeray questioned the purpose that would be served by introducing this super fast train.

“Why do we need a Bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad? Why not to some other state? What purpose will it serve? Just go to Gujarat, eat a Dhokla (Gujarati delicacy) and come back. Thats all,” he said.

He further said that the recent standoffs between the BJP and Sena are ruining the smooth running of the government.
“The way these both parties fight publicly, even husbands and wives dont fight this way. CM says all is well between them, but if that is so, one needs to go and ask the Sena ministers,” he said.

“It is only the BJP whose Acche Din have come. Their ally and its ministers are only sulking,” he added.
Backing Senas Opposition to Ghazal maestro Ghulam Alis concert here, Thackeray said, “Opposition is not to him as a singer. But, do our artists get the kind of respect they deserve in Pakistan? There is so much of talent here in India that we do not need an outsider to perform here.”

(PTI)

Scientist Bhargava raises voice against Hindutva, returns Padma Bhushan

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P M Bhargava

Kolkata: Eminent Indian scientist P.M. Bhargava on Thursday said he will return his Padma Bhushan award in protest against the “growing intolerance in the country”.

Bhargava, who was the founder-director of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), said religious beliefs are personal choices and should not interfere in politics.

“The fear as we see in democracy today… the spread of Hindutva… I believe that (religion) really is a personal matter. It should stay as a personal matter. It should not make incursions into politics as it is doing now,” he told IANS.

The 87-year-old said he also finds statements by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat that women should restrict themselves to doing household chores, as “detestable”.

Bhargava said he will meet the home secretary and give back the award. He also encouraged the youth brigade in the scientific community to come forward and protest.

Incidentally, the veteran researcher is one of the scientists who started the online petition on Tuesday, signed by atleast 100 senior scientists, addressed to President Pranab Mukhrejee against growing intolerance.

(Agencies)

KJ George may lose Home Minister post to KPCC President G Parameshwara

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KJ George

Bengaluru: Karnataka’s Home Minister K J George is likely to lose his powerful ministry, as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President G. Parameshwara, who is being inducted into the Cabinet on Thursday, will take over the same.

 

Parameshwara was keen on Deputy CM’s post, but the Congress high command was not in favour of it, as it would lead to creation of a parallel power centre to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

As a compensation, the party offered him either of the powerful ministries of Home Affairs & Revenue and it is said that Parameshwara opted for the former. However, an official announcement is expected later on Thursday after he takes the official oath.

As George is making way for Parameshwara, he could be appointed as the dedicated minister to oversee the development of Bengaluru, a long-pending demand of the industry, especially the IT sector.

4 new ministers

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will induct 4 new ministers into his Council of Ministers in an effort to end the rebellion in the party. He has forwarded the list to the Governor’s office for approval and the swearing-in ceremony will take place later today.

Those joining Siddaramaiah’s Council are Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President G. Parameshwara, A Manju, Vinay Kulkarni and Manohar Tahsildar. While Parameshwara and Tahsildar will get Cabinet grade, Manju and Kulkarni will be ministers of state (Independent charge).

However, ministerial aspirants, such as H Y Meti and Maalikkayya V Guttedar, who could not make it to the Cabinet, have expressed their resentment. Of the 4 selected for induction today, 3 are supposed to be Siddaramaiah’s followers and this has angered Congress loyalists.

“There is no reshuffle of the Cabinet. We are filling up 4 vacant posts. This is just an expansion of the Cabinet,” said Siddaramaiah.

(Agencies)

Akhilesh Yadav sacks eight ministers, strips nine of portfolios

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Akhilesh-Yadav

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday sacked eight cabinet ministers and withdrew portfolios of nine ministers in a major shake-up of his ministry.

The move is being seen as a precursor to the cabinet reshuffle scheduled for October 31 when some new faces are likely to be included in the 43-month-old Samajwadi Party government.

 

The ministers who have been removed from the state cabinet are Shiv Kumar Beria, Bhagwat Sharan Gangwar, Ambika Chowdhary, Aridaman Singh, Alok Kumar Shakya, Yogesh Pratap Singh, Shivakant Ojha and Narad Rai.

Sources say the ministers have been removed on action initiated by the SP high command for their non-performance and, in some cases, on specific complaints.

The nine ministers who have been stripped of their portfolios include Raguhraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya, Avdhesh Prasad, and Ahmad Hasan, who held the health and family welfare portfolio.

Other ministers to be divested of their ministries are Paras Nath Yadav, Ram Govind Chowdhary, Durga Prasad Yadav, Brahma Shankar Tripathi, Iqbal Masood and Mehboob Ali. Their departments, for now, will be with the chief minister.

Close aides of the chief minister told IANS that the cabinet expansion scheduled for Saturday will see a “stamp of Akhilesh Yadav and will be a mix of young energy and experience”.

Earlier, Akhilesh Yadav called on Governor Ram Naik late on Wednesday to discuss expansion of his cabinet and to take Naik’s consent.

The oath-taking ceremony of the new ministers in slated for October 31 at 10.30 a.m. at Raj Bhawan in Lucknow.

(IANS)

BJP trying to dethrone me: CM Siddaramaiah

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siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is facing rebellion in the party, accused the rival BJP of trying to dethrone him.

“My detractors are unable to digest the fact that I have emerged as the leader of the oppressed sections of society. Now, they are floating the idea of a Dalit CM in Karnataka. Why didn’t the BJP appoint a Dalit CM if they were so concerned about the oppressed sections? It is clear that the BJP wants me out of the CM’s chair,” he said.

Siddaramaiah received a nod to reshuffle his Cabinet by bringing in four new ministers in order to end the rebellion in the party. However, it is to be seen whether this reshuffle will make the rebels in Congress happy.

(Agencies)

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