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Karnataka: Siddaramaiah reverses stand, to fight next election

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Photo: The New Indian Express

Photo: The New Indian Express

Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister, Siddaramaiah, who had announced in different forums that the previous election was his last in his political career, and had declared his decision never to fight any election henceforth during election campaigning in 2013, has taken a U-turn.

He has now announced his decision to fight the next assembly election in 2018.

‘During the next three years three months, I will continue to be the chief minister of the state and complete my full term. The next election will also be held under my leadership. I have taken this decision because of the blabber of the BJP to free the state and country of Congress. I will bring Congress to power again the state by fighting the next election with the
single aim of rooting out BJP,’ he stated.

Siddaramaiah’s outbursts came while giving reply to the debate held during the last one week at the assembly on Governor’s address on Friday February 13.

The chief minister agreed that he had in the past announced his decision not to fight elections. He said he has decided to fight the election with the sole purpose of edging BJP out of the state.

(Agencies)

AAP govt to pursue corruption charges against Sheila Dikshit, Mukesh Ambani

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File Photo

File Photo

New Delhi: Delhi’s AAP government to be sworn in today will pursue allegations of corruption against ex-Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and industrialist Mukesh Ambani and others, Deputy Chief Minister-designate Manish Sisodia said today.

All the cases that were registered last year during Kejriwal government’s 49-day stint “will be pursued”, he told PTI in an exclusive interview here.

Sisodia, who had been asked whether the FIRs lodged by the AAP government last year against Mukesh Ambani, the then Petroleum Minister M Veerappa Moily as also allegations against Dikshit would be pursued, responded “yes, definitely”.

The then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had ordered filing of an FIR on February 11 last year against Moily, his predecessor Murli Deora, who is dead now, and RIL Chief Mukesh Ambani for alleged collusion in hike of prices in natural gas from the KG basin.

The then AAP government had also ordered a probe into street light purchase scam during the Commonwealth Games of 2010 in which Dikshit’s role had come under the scanner.

Sisodia said the AAP government will “revive” the cases that have been put in cold storage and take them to a “logical conclusion”. On its key poll promise of slashing power tariff by 50 per cent, Sisodia said it would be done “as soon as possible”.

Alleging wide-spread corruption in the power sector, Sisodia said the new government would force the power distribution companies to give all their financial details to the CAG that is probing their accounts.

The CAG audit into the finances of the private power distribution companies was ordered by the Kejriwal government last year.

In its manifesto, AAP had promised to cut power tariff by 50 per cent immediately after coming to power and said the rates will be revised based on the findings of the CAG audit.

“CAG audit into the discoms is already going on. We will force them to give all the details to the CAG,” Sisodia said.

Sisodia said the AAP government will also soon announce 20 kilolitres (20,000 litres) of free water to every household per month as per its promise. The previous AAP government had introduced the free water scheme but it was discontinued after it quit.

“We will bring back the free water scheme which was discontinued after we quit the government as water is basic right,” he said.

Asked how the new AAP government will tackle the ‘VIP culture’ of ‘lal battis’, he said “all the Ministers will ride ordinary cars”.

“Not even the Chief Minister will use red-beacon or hooters on his official car. The AAP government will be a government of simplicity. The Ministers may avail government accomodation but not huge bungalows. They will take normal salary and will not travel with huge security contingents,” he said.

On the statehood issue, Sisodia said the AAP government will soon approach the Centre with a “concrete proposal” in this regard and noted that both Congress and BJP had promised to grant Delhi full-statehood.

Insisting that police must be brought under the Delhi government, he said said the Centre can continue to handle security for Lutyens’ Delhi.

“Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone can continue to stay under the Centre. But is it possible for the Prime Minister or Home Minister to take care of law and order in places like East Delhi. Police must come under the Delhi government,” Sisodia said.

Asked whether the issue was raised with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he and Kejriwal met him yesterday, Sisodia said it was not a meeting to discuss the issue threadbare.

“I am sure we will soon have concrete discussion on it. Yesterday, we briefly discussed and the Prime Minister said ‘let us see what can be done’,” he said.

The BJP in its manifesto for 2013 assembly polls had promised full statehood for Delhi. The party had come out with a vision document for the February 7 assembly polls which did not find any mention of the statehood issue.

In its manifesto, AAP had promised to push for full statehood for Delhi if it came to power.

Sisodia said the AAP government would want a “constructive relationship” with the Centre.

“We will expect constructive relationship with them. We welcome competitive politics for the development of Delhi,” he said.

Asked about criticism against Kejriwal by Shanti Bhushan, he said “being critical is not a big thing and individuals are not important”.

On whether AAP will contest the Bihar assembly polls, he said the party’s Political Affairs Committee will take a call on the issue.

(PTI)

India to resume talks with Pakistan after 6-month hiatus

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File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif during a meeting in New Delhi. Photo: The Hindu

File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif during a meeting in New Delhi. Photo: The Hindu

by Munir Ahmed & Ashok Sharma, AP

India is sending its top foreign ministry official to Pakistan to resume talks after a six-month hiatus.

Taking advantage of the Cricket World Cup, where their teams play this weekend, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted Friday he spoke to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on the phone and offered to further strengthen ties.

Sharif welcomed the Indian official’s proposed visit to Pakistan “to discuss all issues of common interest,” Sharif’s press secretary said in a statement in Islamabad. No dates have been announced for the visit.

Modi also said he spoke to leaders of some of India’s other neighbors — Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan — all cricket-mad nations participating in the sports competition being jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

“Conveyed my best wishes for the Cricket World Cup,” Modi said.

India’s Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar is also scheduled to visit Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan apart from Pakistan, Modi said.

Last August, India called off talks with Pakistan after its ambassador in New Delhi met with Kashmiri separatist leaders, saying the Pakistani official could either talk with India, or talk with the rebels.

The setback came shortly after India and Pakistan had agreed to resume talks in May when Sharif attended Modi’s inauguration.

As tensions increased, Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged fire regularly in the disputed Kashmir region.

India and Pakistan have used “cricket diplomacy” to break past impasses.

Then-Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani met with then-Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2011 during a World Cup cricket match in the northern city of Chandigarh, using the same cover employed in 2005 by then-President Pervez Musharraf for a meeting with Singh during an India-Pakistan cricket match.

Then-President Ziaul Haq visited Jaipur, India, to watch a cricket match between the two countries in the 1980s.

Since their independence from Britain in 1947, India and Pakistan have fought three wars, two of them over Kashmir. Both countries control parts of the Himalayan region and claim it in its entirety.

Up to 12 dead in Karnataka train accident

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Bengaluru: Rescue work in progress after Bangalore -Ernakulam train derailed near Anekal in Bengaluru on Friday. PTI Photo

Bengaluru: Rescue work in progress after Bangalore -Ernakulam train derailed near Anekal in Bengaluru on Friday. PTI Photo

Bengaluru: Up to 12 passengers were killed and 25 injured when nine coaches of the Bengaluru-Eranakulam Inter-City Express derailed in Karnataka early Friday, an official said.

The incident occurred at 7.35 a.m. after the train left Anekal station towards Hosur near the border with Tamil Nadu, a railway official told IANS here.

While one railway official in Bengaluru claimed five deaths, others at the disaster site put it at 10. But Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said after speaking to a Karnataka minister that 12 people had died.

Rescuers frantically retrieved bodies from two of the coaches which telescoped into one another following the crash. The train was chugging at high speed when it went off the rails.

The train departed from the main city station here at 6.15 a.m. and covered 45 km when the disaster took place between Anekal road and Hosur town on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border.

“A disaster relief force team is at the spot for rescue and relief operations. The injured have been rushed to private and government hospitals at Anekal and Hosur,” one official said.

He said 10 of them were reported to be in serious condition.

Chandy, who spoke to Karnataka Home Minister K.J. George, told reporters in Kochi that a team led by Kerala Electricity Minister Aryadan Mohammed had left for the accident site.

Anish, a passenger on the train, told the media in Kochi over telephone that the rescue team had cut open the two coaches to shift the injured to hospitals.

Another passenger, Cyriac Mathew, said he had seen three bodies.

“The worst affected was coach D-8. I could see the bodies of two men and a woman in the coach,” said Mathew, a regular traveller on the train.

“Police and the ambulance arrived an hour after the accident,” he said.

Officials have not explained the cause of derailment. “An expert team is at the mishap spot to inspect what caused the derailment,” the official noted.

The South Western Railway has set up help desks at the Bengaluru station and the accident site to assist the injured and the stranded passengers.

The railways arranged special buses to shift the stranded passengers to Anekal and Hosur to either return to Bengaluru or to continue their onward journey to Ernakulam in Kerala via Tamil Nadu.

“We are planning to run a special train later in the day after the track is cleared,” the official added.

(IANS)

Bengaluru: Sharp increase in sexual crimes against kids in 2014; only two convictions

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school-rape-bangalore

Bengaluru: The data relating to crimes against women and children in the state over the last two years has brought to light some shocking figures.

For starters, the number of cases of sexual assault on children rose from 270 in 2013 to a whopping 844 in 2014.

More shockingly, only two such cases saw conviction in 2014, while in 2013, accused in 26 cases have been convicted.

Home minister K J George revealed this data while replying to questions raised by MLC Ivan D’Souza during the Legislative Council session on Friday February 13.

The police have filed final reports in all the 270 cases in 2013, while in 2014, final reports were submitted in 642 of the 844 cases.

Also, there were 1,087 cases of harassment against children in 2013, out of which only 12 saw convictions, and 1,858 such cases in 2014 out of which accused in 26 cases were found guilty. Final police reports were submitted in 991 out of the 1,087 cases in 2013 and 1,408 cases out of 1,858 in 2014.

With regard to crimes against women, the year 2013 saw 9,302 cases of harassment and 1,030 cases of rapes. In 2014, this figure stood at 10,537 cases of harassment and 1,315 rapes. The police filed final reports in all the cases in 2013, while in 2014, final reports were filed in 492 rape cases and 7,653 cases of harassment.

The conviction rate remained low in both years, with accused in only 110 harassment cases and 15 rape cases being held guilty in 2013. During 2014, 113 cases of harassment and 4 rape cases saw conviction.

To a question on steps taken to curb sexual crimes against women and children, K J George replied that 10 fast track courts were established in August 2013 and 30 special courts to deal with crimes against children were set up in April 2014 as per POCSO Act.

(Agencies)

Diverse statements and a citzens online petition in defence of Teesta Setalvad & Javed Anand under threat of arrest

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teesta-javed

People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) expresses alarm at the Gujarat Police move to arrest Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand

People’s Alliance for Secularism and Democracy (PADS)

Public Statement

Date: 12 February 2014

People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) expresses alarm at the Gujarat Police move to arrest the two activists, Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand in Mumbai. The arrest of Teesta Setalvad, who was denied bail by the Gujarat High court, has been stayed for 24 hours at the intervention of the Supreme Court.

Teesta Setalvad has been relentlessly championing the rights of the victims of the Gujarat pogroms of 2002. Her efforts resulted in the transfer of some of the riot related cases out of Gujarat and conviction of some bigwigs from the Gujarat government. The Government of Gujarat led by Anandiben Patel, the successor of the incumbent Prime Minister, is vindictive and has been after Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand for their bold stand in defence of the riot victims. Its aim seems to be to discourage anyone from taking legal recourse against misdeeds of the Gujarat government during and after the 2002 pogrom. A case of embezzlement of funds collected by their NGOs has been filed against Teesta, Javed and three others. Defendants have submitted documentary evidence in court against prosecution allegations. It must be noted that while the Gujarat government appears hell bent on targeting Teesta and her associates for standing up for riot victims, it has been reinstating the police officials who are facing serious criminal charges in fake encounter cases.

The PADS demands that the Gujarat government stop harassing Ms. Teesta Setalvad and Mr Javed Anand – whose anticipatory bail applications have been rejected by the Gujarat High Court today.

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Text of statement on Gujarat High Court rejecting anticipatory bail of Teesta Setalvad & others by Prashant Centre for Human rights

Prashant A Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace
Post Box No. 4050, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380 009, Gujarat, India
Tel.: +91 (079) 66522333, 27455913 Fax: +91 (079) 27489018
Mobile: 9824034536. e-mail: sjprashant@gmail.com. www.humanrightsindia.in

STATEMENT ON THE GUJARAT HIGH COURT REJECTING
THE ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION OF MS TEESTA SETALVAD & OTHERS

It is extremely unfortunate that the anticipatory bail application filed by Ms. Teesta Setalvad, her husband Javed Anand and three others of Gulberg Society – Mr. Tanvir Jafri (son of slain MP Ehsan Jafri), Mr. Feroz Gulzar, Secretary and Mr. Salim Sandhi, Chairman of the Gulberg Society – has today been rejected by the Gujarat High Court.

All are aware that the charges are extremely flimsy and fabricated and are surely politically motivated.

In their response, Ms. Setalvad and the others provided the High Court with extensive, comprehensive and irrefutable evidence as to why they should be given anticipatory bail and the charges be dropped.

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Statement by All India Secular Forum on the move to arrest Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand

All India Secular Forum stands with Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand as they have struggled for justice for the victims of riots in Gujarat. Gujarat Police made several attempts and slapped several false cases on Teesta Setalvad to deter her from fighting for justice for the victims of Gujarat riots and have acted vindictively. The cases against them would not stand and justice will ultimately prevail. We demand that all false cases against Teesta Setalvad be immediately withdrawn and Gujarat police desist from taking coercive and vindictive action against them.

Adv. Irfan Engineer

Director,
Centre for Study of Society and Secularism
603, New Silver Star, Near Railway Bridge, Prabhat Colony Road,, Santacruz (E), Mumbai, India. PIN: 400055.
Call: +91-22-26149668 | M: +91-9869462833, +919820553173 | Fax: +91-22-6100712
e-mail: forirf@gmail.com; irfanengi@gmail.com; csss@mtnl.net.in
skype: irfanen

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Press Statement by CPI(M) – condemns the Gujarat Police move to arrest Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand

via marxistindia
news from the cpi(m)

February 12, 2015

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) condemns the Gujarat Police move to arrest Teesta Setalvad and her husband, Javed Anand in Mumbai. The arrest of Teesta Setalvad has been stayed for 24 hours at the intervention of the Supreme Court.

The Gujarat Police have targeted Teesta Setalvad because of her relentless championing of the rights of the victims of the Gujarat pogroms of 2002. While the Gujarat government is pursuing the harassment of Teesta Setalvad, it has been reinstating police officials who are facing serious criminal charges.

The CPI(M) demands that the Gujarat government withdraw the concocted case against Teesta Setalvad and stop harassing her.

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[Sign Petition] Citizens in Solidarity with Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand

We are shocked to learn of the rejection of the Anticipatory bail applications of Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand by the Gujarat High Court. Media stories suggest that the bail applications have been turned down because Setalavad and Anand were “not cooperating with the investigations” and that prima facie “funds were used for private purpose”. It is a matter of record that they have submitted their original bank statements, balance sheets and audited accounts that completely disprove the allegations. Does this amount to non-cooperation or prima facie evidence of wrong-doing?

We stand with Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand, and their quest for justice for the victims of 2002 violence, which has turned them into a target of Gujarat government’s ire. We condemn this witchhunt and the false and malicious propaganda being circulated against them.

Add your signatures at: http://www.indiaresists.com/sign-petition-citizens-in-solidarity-with-teesta-setalvad-and-javed-anand/

Mysore: Yaduveer Gopal Raj Urs is named Wodeyar heir

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A photograph of Yaduveer Gopal Raj Urs with Pramoda Devi Wadiyar.

A photograph of Yaduveer Gopal Raj Urs with Pramoda Devi Wadiyar.

Mysore: The Mysore royal family has a new heir in Yaduveer Gopal Raj Urs to continue the Dasara traditions of the Wadiyar dynasty and also taking up the legal disputes of palace property with the state government.

He is the grandson of Princess Gayatri Devi (the eldest daughter of the last Maharaja Jayachamarendra Wadiyar and the eldest sister of late Srikantadutta Narasimharaja Wadiyar) and son of Tripurasundari Devi and Swarup Gopal Raj Urs. His adoption as the heir was announced by Ms. Pramoda Devi Wadiyar at a press conference at Amba Vilas Palace on Thursday.

Yaduveer comes from the Bettada Kote family whose association with the Wadiyars of Mysuru goes back to more than 200 years. Yaduveer studied in Vidya Niketan School, Bengaluru up to standard ten and at Canadian International School, Bengaluru to complete his standard twelve, after which he left for the U.S. He is currently doing his BA, majoring in Economics and English at Boston.

(Agencies)

AAP to appoint AIIMS whistleblower Sanjiv Chaturvedi as Delhi anti-corruption chief

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Sanjiv Chaturvedi to head Delhi's anti corruption bureau

Sanjiv Chaturvedi to head Delhi’s anti corruption bureau

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) plans to appoint as Delhi’s top anti-corruption officer a man who was recently shunted out by the central government. Sanjiv Chaturvedi, who was removed as vigilance chief of AIIMS hospital, will head the Delhi anti-corruption bureau.

Chaturvedi, an Indian Forest Service officer who had uncovered several scams while posted in Haryana, was removed from the post of Chief Vigilance Officer at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in August last year. His sacking led to a huge protest by AAP which accused the Modi government of removing him at the behest of some BJP leaders.

Chaturvedi’s removal had also drawn parallels with the repeated transfers of IAS officer Ashok Khemka, who had exposed a series of corruption cases in Haryana.

The AAP Cabinet, which will be sworn-in on Saturday at the Ramlila Maidan, is expected to make the decision next week.

(Agencies)

Christian school in Vasant Vihar vandalised, Kejriwal vows tough action

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Policemen stand guard outside the Holy Child Auxilium School in New Delhi on Friday. Photo: Sandeep Saxena, The Hindu

Policemen stand guard outside the Holy Child Auxilium School in New Delhi on Friday. Photo: Sandeep Saxena, The Hindu

New Delhi: In yet another incident which raises concerns over safety of institutions linked to the minorities, a Christian school located in south Delhi’s Vasant Vihar was vandalised by some unknown persons late on Thursday.

According to reports, the window of the Holy Child Auxilium School principal’s room was broken and the CCTV cameras installed there were also damaged by some unidentified persons.

The police, which is now probing the matter, has claimed that it may be a case of theft.

Delhi CM-designate and AAP leader Arvind Kjeriwal has strongly condemned the incident and said that such acts won’t be tolerated.

Meanwhile, Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani, who studied in this school, is also expected to visit the school shortly.

In view of the incident, all classes were cancelled today and the security has been tightened.

“Certain people came at night, broke the CCTV camera, went into the principal’s room and vandalised it,” Father Dominic Emmanuel, spokesperson of the Delhi Archdiocese, was quoted as saying.

He further alleged that the incident is in line with a series of attacks on churches in Delhi.

After massive protests by Christian groups, Home Minister Rajnath Singh tightened security around churches and other religious institutions.

(Agencies)

Bengaluru-Ernakulam Express derails, 8 killed, several injured

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Derailed bogies of the Bangalore-Ernakulam Expresss near Hosur on Friday.

Derailed bogies of the Bangalore-Ernakulam Expresss near Hosur on Friday.

Bengaluru: In a tragic mishap, at least 8 passengers have been killed and around 60 injured when a Bengaluru-Ernakulam bound Inter-City Express derailed near Hosur in Tamil Nadu during wees hours today.

The mishap took place near Anekal at 7:35 am today. According to Railway officials, nine coaches have been derailed.

Around six ambulances from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have rushed to the accident spot. Even local villagers are assisting the rescue team to help the injured.

The mishap occurred after the engine of the train caught fire and all the bogies got derailed.
Railway authorities have rushed rescue teams to the spot and rescue operation is on.

According to sources, many passengers are still trapped in the derailed coaches.

The injured are being rushed to nearby hospitals.

Helpline numbers

  • Bengaluru: 080-22371166, 080-22156553 and 080-22154554

  • Palakkad: 0491-2556198 and 0491-2555231

  • Thiruvananthapuram: 0471-23221205, 0471-2321237 and 09746769960

  • Ernakulam Junction: 0484-2100317, 0813699773 and 09539336040

  • Ernakulam Town: 0484-2398200

  • Thrissur:0487-2424148, 0487-2430060

  • Aluva:0484-2624143

  • Mobile Nos: 9731666751

  • At accident site: 9448090599

  • Kerala Department of Non-resident Keralites’ Affairs have opened help lines in Bangalore – 080-25305090, Ernakulam – 0484-2371830/2371810 and Thiruvananthapuram -1800-425-3939 (Toll Free), 0471-2770522

The Ernakulam-bound train, a daily train, left Bengaluru city railway station at 6.15 a.m.

About seven ambulances from Tamil Nadu and 10 from Karnataka have been dispatched to tackle the emergency situation.

The derailed coaches are D-8, D-9, D-10, D-11, two AC Chair Cars and two unreserved coaches, railway sources said. Unconfirmed reports say the locomotive of the train also caught fire and that the pantry car rammed into the adjacent D-8 coach.

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