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BJP to quit J&K govt if Kashmir issue not solved: Amit Shah

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Amit-Shah

Ahmedabad: Amidst raging controversy on Jammu and Kashmir government’s alleged ‘pro-separatist’ moves, BJP chief Amit Shah said that his party would not compromise on national interest and could end its alliance with PDP, if “Kashmir issue” is not solved.

“People of this country have blessed us like Lord Shiva and given us very big responsibility. BJP will never compromise on national interest, merely to remain in power in Jammu and Kashmir,” Shah said, addressing BJP workers in his assembly constituency Naranpura yesterday.

“The government (in J&K) has been formed only to solve Kashmir issue and I have full trust that we will find a solution to this issue. If it (solution of Kashmir issue) does not come about, then nobody can stop our party workers from leaving the coalition government,” Shah said.

Shah also said that BJP workers should go to the people to spread the message that the party would not compromise on national interest.

However, BJP’s spokesperson Harshad Patel in Gujarat said that Shah merely said that national interest is the party’s priority and he never categorically said anything about breaking the BJP’s alliance with the PDP.

“He (Amit Shah) merely said that national interest is our priority and BJP will not allow any anti-national activities on the soil of Jammu and Kashmir,” Patel said.

BJP has been facing the ire of opposition parties due to its alliance with PDP with the J&K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s recent decision to release separatist leader Masarrat Alam, only adding to its woes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also clarified before the Lok Sabha that Alam’s release is not acceptable and that the government won’t tolerate any compromise on the nation’s integrity.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had also echoed the sentiments saying that his government’s top priority was national security and not continuance of the government in the state.

(PTI)

DK Ravi had no family problems; MLA pressured him: Father-in-law

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ias-dk-ravi

Bengaluru: Mar 19: Ravi’s father-in-law Hanumantharayappa on Wednesday said that Bangarpet MLA S N Narayanaswamy had pressured Ravi in support of Confident Group, a real estate firm accused of encroaching government land in Kolar district.

Hanumantharayappa said that because of this pressure, he had requested Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to transfer Ravi to any post in Bengaluru.

Hanumantharayappa, a Congress leader, was addressing a press meet at his house at Mallathahalli in Nagarabhavi.

“During Ravi’s stint as Kolar DC, there was pressure from politicians. Narayanaswamy was favouring Confident Group and had been putting pressure on Ravi. When Ravi told me about repeated threats and pressures, I requested the chief minister to post my son-in-law in Bengaluru. I have never interfered in his work, except during his transfer from Kolar,” he said.

Hanumantharayappa said that Ravi had no family issues bothering him. “I have been reading some reports that my daughter was not ready to live with Ravi’s parents. I would like to clarify that all these reports are false. In fact, my daughter wanted to move to the apartment since the government-allotted quarters in Vasanthnagar was under renovation. My daughter wanted to move into the apartment along with Ravi’s parents. During the weekend, Ravi had spoken to the engineer in charge of renovation work of the quarters and told him that he would visit the house along with my daughter for inspection,” Hanumantharayappa said.

Asked about the statement by Home Minister K J George that the suicide was due to some personal problem, Hanumantharayappa said Ravi was not the one who would commit suicide.

“On Monday morning, Ravi was normal. He received a call from Kalaburagi regarding work and he told the caller to meet him on Tuesday to discuss the issue. If it turns out to be true that Ravi committed suicide owing to personal reasons, I feel he has betrayed his parents, his wife and his in-laws,” Hanumantharayappa said.

Asked about the reports that Ravi had made the last call to an IAS officer, Hanumantharayappa said a detailed probe would reveal all aspects.

“His phone call record details will throw up all details. I demand a thorough investigation into the case by CBI or any such agency. He would have left a note if he had committed suicide. The police in our presence searched for the suicide note in his pockets and purse, however nothing was found. I had even called Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Rohini Katoch Sepat on Wednesday morning to know if any note was found during the investigation. She said the probe has been handed over to CID. Even if he faced any threats with his present assignment, probe will reveal everything,” he said.

(Agencies)

Bhushan writes fresh letter to Kejriwal

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PrashanT-Bhushan

New Delhi: Dissident AAP leader Prashant Bhushan has written a fresh note to party chief Arvind Kejriwal, highlighting the “long-pending” issues he has been trying to raise.

The activist-lawyer has also rubbished reports that he has offered to quit the National Executive if Kejriwal pays heed to his demands.

“I have not offered to resign from the National Executive, but yes, I have written a note to Arvind regarding the long pending issues,” Bhushan said.

He, however, did not elaborate on the content of the note or the issues he has raised with Kejriwal or when it was sent to the Delhi Chief Minister.

“The issues are the same that we are talking about. Its just more crystalised (in the note),” Bhushan said.

Sources close to Yogendra Yadav, too, denied that he has offered to quit along with Bhushan. The party will hold its third round of meeting with Yadav’s representatives today, sources added.

The lawyer-activist had highlighted several issues including inner party democracy (Swaraj), one-upmanship in the party and bringing in high level of transparency in the functioning of the organisation.

On Monday, Bhushan had sent an SMS expressing his desire to meet him and put an end to all the controversy. However, the Delhi chief minister responded saying that they will meet soon, but only after the on-going budget session.

(PTI)

DK Ravi's parents threaten to end life if CBI probe is not ordered

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dk-ravi-parents

Bengaluru: Kariappa and Gowramma couple, the grieving parents of deceased IAS officer DK Ravi staged a protest outside Vidhana Soudha demanding CBI probe into the mysterious death of their son.

Calling Ravi the ‘son of this country’, the parents of Ravi said that if an impartial probe is not conducted into the case then they would end their life.

The grieving parents also expressed their anguish over certain section of people floating rumours about their son and opined that such rumours are being floated only to malign the reputation Ravi had earned for himself over the years.

They have further demanded the government to appoint Ravi’s wife Kusuma Ravi to his post.

The Association of the IAS officers too have demanded a CBI probe into the case.

(Agencies)

DK Ravi death case: BJP demands suspension of M N Reddi

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Bangalore City Police Commissioner, M N Reddi. File Photo.

Bangalore City Police Commissioner, M N Reddi. File Photo.

Bengaluru: The opposition party at the state is up in arms against City Police Commissioner M N Reddi for his statement that Ravi had committed suicide.

Leader of Opposition in the Council K S Eshwarappa has questioned the Commissioner as to how he could arrive at the conclusion even before the post mortem or forensic examination reports were out.

Demanding the resignation of Reddi or suspension of the top cop, Eshwarappa wondered if Reddi was making the statement at the government’s behest and further questioned if a murder was being hushed up.

The Commissioner came under attack by Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar and BJP leader R Ashok.

However, Congress leaders in the Council and in the Assembly came to the rescue of Reddi stating that the Commissioner had clearly said that ‘Prima facie’ it appears to be a suicide and did not conclude that it was a case of suicide.

(Agencies)

DK Ravi's death: Officer was planning raids on big developers, says activist

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ias-dk-ravi

Bengaluru: With tension gripping Karnataka’s capital following the death of IAS officer DK Ravi, social activist and whistleblower Ganesh S Koundiny has claimed that DK Ravi was planning raids on some big developers to unearth commercial tax evasion.

Ravi, after taking over as Additional Commissioner of Commercial Taxes (Enforcement) in October, had recovered an income tax of Rs 400 crore from housing societies.

“I had a conversation with Ravi on Thursday and Friday, if I remember. He told me that he had conducted raids on some developers and housing societies and recovered Rs 400 crore as income tax … Ravi was looking at raiding some big developers in Bangalore and he wanted to recover the evasion of taxes,” Koudinhy told reporters in Bengaluru.

The activist said that the deceased officer was eager to meet him to get some documentary evidence in his possession so they both could work together to unearth commercial tax violations.

“Since Ravi wanted some documents from me, he got in touch with me so that we both could work together to see that commercial tax violation could be unearthed,” he added.

Koundiny also said he was planning to meet Ravi in a couple days. “Ravi told me to meet this week and I was contemplating to meet him today or tomorrow, but before that this incident happened,” he added.

He flayed the government for “concluding” in the Assembly that it was a suicide even before the investigation commenced. “What is annoying is that even before the investigation has commenced, the government has taken a stand that it is a suicide,” he said.

The 35-year-old IAS officer, who had taken on the sand mafia known in Kolar district of Karnataka was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his room at his official flat here yesterday.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner MN Reddi said that forensically, medically and examination of the situation all point to “prima facie understanding of a suicide.”

Earlier, anger spilled on to the streets of Karnataka on Tuesday as sea of crowd gathered outside Ravi’s residence to pay tributes and accompany the IAS officer’s body on his final journey.

Meanwhile, minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday said that the death of IAS officer DK Ravi is a serious matter, but added that the Central Government will not intervene at this stage. “This is a serious issue because it involves a senior official. We have raised the issue in the house also,” said Rijiju. “It is difficult for the Central Government to intervene in the functioning of the State Government because this case is directly related to them,” he added.

Condoling the death of Ravi, an upright IAS officer who had taken on the sand mafia, Kejriwal also pledged to continue his fight against corruption. “IAS officer D K Ravi, who took on Mafia, found dead. Heart felt condolences 2 his family.

“Let’s pledge to continue his fight against corruption,” he tweeted.

(Agencies)

Cabinet approves Bill on black money

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BLACK-MONEY

New Delhi: To check black money menace, the Cabinet today approved a new Bill that would give more powers to the tax department in tracking illicit wealth stashed abroad and provide for strict penal actions for such offence.

Sources said that the Cabinet approved the new Bill this evening and it could be presented in Parliament during the ongoing session.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced in his Budget speech on February 28 that the government would bring in a comprehensive law to check the black money menace by providing for a jail term of up to 10 years for hiding foreign assets and up to 300 per cent penalty.

Jaitley had also said that a host of other tough measures including dis-incentivising of cash dealings in Real Estate and other transactions would be put in place.

Under the proposed law, concealment of income and assets and evasion of tax in relation to foreign assets will be prosecutable with rigorous imprisonment of up to 10 years, Jaitley had said, while adding that the offence will be made non-compoundable and the offenders will not be permitted to approach the Settlement Commission.

As regards curbing domestic black money, the Finance Minister had said a new and more comprehensive Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Bill would be introduced in the current session of Parliament.

He had also proposed to amend the Income-tax Act to prohibit “acceptance or payment” of an advance of Rs 20,000 or more in cash for purchase of immovable property.

(PTI)

Don't insist on Aadhar card for social benefits: Supreme Court

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Aadhar

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday asked the central and state governments not to insist on possessing Aadhar card for availing benefits under the various social security schemes as it reiterated an order it passed in September 2013.

A bench of Justice J.Chelameswar, Justice S.A. Bobde and Justice C. Nagappan, without going into concrete examples, said: “In certain quarters, Aadhar cards are being insisted on by various authorities.”

The apex court by its September 23, 2013, had said “no person should suffer for not getting the Adhaar card inspite of the fact that some authorities had issued a circular making it mandatory and when any person applies to get the Adhaar Card voluntarily, it may be checked whether that person is entitled for it under the law and it should not be given to any illegal immigrant.”

The court reiterated its order after senior counsel Gopal Subramanium drew the attention of the court towards the Delhi government directive insisting on an Aadhar card for the registration of marriages. Subramanium had appeared for one of the petitioners.

The court did not appear appreciative when Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar submitted that some states were not abiding by the court order.

“It is your duty to ensure our orders are followed. You can’t say states are not following our order,” it told him, stressing it was incumbent upon the central government to ensure that the states complied with the apex court’s order.

Directing the next hearing of the matter in the second week of July and noting the presence of the centre and all the states, the court said: “We expect all to scrupulously adhere to our order dated 23 Sept 2013.”

The court’s order came as it took up the batch of petitions challenging the Aadhar card which were last heard by it on April 28, 2014.

Karnataka High Court’s former judge K.S. Puttaswamy had moved the court in 2012 contending that the entire Aadhar scheme was unconstitutional as the biometric data collected under it was an incursion and transgression of individual privacy.

(IANS)

Defamation case: Kejriwal, Sisodia, Yogendra forced to appear

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Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and dissident AAP leader Yogendra Yadav were today forced to appear before a Delhi Court in a criminal defamation case after their failure to do so drew a stinging remark by the judge that they have “no respect for law”.

“There is nothing to reflect why the accused (Kejriwal, Sisodia and Yadav) have not appeared. Accused have no respect for law. Considering no one has appeared for accused, I am keeping the matter pending at 2PM. Call at 2PM,” Metropolitan Magistrate Mayuri Singh said after the trio failed to comply with court’s order that they were to “positively” appear today.

Hours after the court rejected their plea for exemption from personal appearance for the day citing lawyers’ strike, the Chief Minister, Deputy CM and Yadav showed up before the Magistrate who marked their presence and fixed the case for May 2 for pronouncing order on the issue of whether to frame charges against the accused.

Kejriwal and Sisodia reached the court room together at around 1.45 pm while AAP leader Yogendra Yadav arrived few minutes later.

The presence of the Chief Minister resulted in over crowding of the court room and the premises prompting the magistrate to ask the onlookers to vacate the room.

On the arrival of the three leaders, the police barricaded the premises and the court room, which was already filled with advocates, litigants, mediapersons and staff of other courts, was latched from inside.

The case was put up before link magistrate Singh as Metropolitan Magistrate Muneesh Garg, before whom the matter was going on, was on leave today.

“As the presiding officer (before whom the case is going on) is on leave, I will fix the case for the purpose already fixed and will give you the date.

“I have marked the presence of the three accused, they can leave,” the magistrate said.

The three leaders had sought exemption from personal appearance for the day saying the case was at a crucial stage and the presence of advocates was necessary.

Later on, the lawyers, including senior advocate H S Phoolka and advocate Rahul Mehra, who accompanied the AAP leaders were without bands due to the strike.

In the morning, the court had directed them to personally appear before it at 2 pm saying there was no ground for exemption from their appearance and they “have no respect for the law”.

The court said the exemption application displayed no reason for the absence of the accused.

The court had noted that a clerk appeared on behalf of the accused and their advocates and moved the exemption plea.

The exemption plea, however, was opposed by complainant and advocate Surender Kumar Sharma saying the lawyers are on strike and not the litigants.

“It is mockery of justice. It would not be in the interest of justice if any adjournment is given in the case as the matter had earlier been adjourned three times due to absence of the accused,” he said.

The court had earlier issued summons against the three AAP leaders under sections 499, 500 (defamation) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC, and had said there was prima facie material to summon the accused.

The court had granted bail to Kejriwal, Sisodia and Yadav, after they had appeared before it on June 4 last year in pursuance to summons against them.

In the post-lunch proceedings, complainant Sharma who was accompanied by large number of lawyers sought court’s permission to advance arguments.

However, the magistrate denied the request saying the concerned court will hear the matter on the next date of hearing.

The court on February 11 had given last opportunity to Kejriwal, Sisodia and Yadav and directed them to positively appear before it today as it was scheduled to pass order on the issue of framing of charges.

Sharma, in his complaint, had alleged that in 2013 he was approached by volunteers of AAP who had asked him to contest the Delhi Assembly elections on a party ticket, saying Kejriwal was pleased with his social services.

He filled up the application form to contest the polls after being told by Sisodia and Yadav that AAP’s Political Affairs Committee of the party had decided to give him the ticket. However, it was later denied to him.

On October 14, 2013, the complainant claimed that articles in leading newspapers carried “defamatory, unlawful and derogatory words used by the accused persons” which have lowered his reputation in the Bar and the society.

While issuing summons against AAP leaders, the court had said, “The press release published in newspapers as well as testimonies of witnesses reflect that defamatory remarks were published in the newspaper which affected the reputation of the complainant in the society and lowered his reputation in the eyes of other members of the society.”

(PTI)

SC quashes extension of OBC reservation to Jats

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Supreme Court India

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed the March 4, 2014, notification by the then UPA government extending OBC reservation to Jats in nine states, ignoring the recommendation of the National Commission for Backward Classes to the contrary.

An apex court bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman said: “We can’t agree that politically organised Jats are backward class so as to be entitled to OBC reservation.”

“Inclusion of politically organised class such as Jats… can’t be affirmed,” said Justice Gogoi pronouncing the judgment.

The court said that inclusion of politically organised castes like Jats in the OBC list is not good for other backward classes.

The UPA government had announced reservation for Jats in 2014 by including them in the OBC category on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections. However, a group of petitioners claimed that Jats were politically and socially advanced and that the decision to extend reservation to them was electorally motivated.

(IANS)

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