Tag: chief-minister

Kolkata: One dead, 150 shanties gutted in Dum Dum Park fire

Bidhannagar Corporation Mayor Sabyasachi Dutta, said three medical teams have already reached the spot to extend medical assistance. “The teams will there for the night. We have arranged for an alternate shelter in a marriage hall in the area for the affected people. Blankets and food have also been sent. A detailed assessment of the damage will be done tomorrow and all assistance will be provided to rebuild the dwellings,” Dutta said.

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Tamil Nadu elections: PMK says it will give Dy Chief Minister post to BJP

DMDK, PMK and MDMK were the prominent allies of BJP during last year’s Lok Sabha elections. While MDMK snapped ties with the BJP in December last, PMK asserted that its ties with the saffron party were only at the central level.

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Delhi govt’s odd-even formula to be a failure: Sheila Dikshit

Dikshit who saw a crushing defeat to Kejriwal in 2013 Assembly elections said, “Congress is the one that takes along ‘aam’ (commoners) and ‘khas’ (elite). The party also believes in the power of women. We believe that given the right and equal opportunities, women can build a better world.” Also present on the occasion, Shivraj Patil, former Punjab Governor said, “Our efforts to build a better society should go beyond our homes, country. Environment protection is not an individual pursuit, it should be a united effort.”

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Vypam scam: Dummy candidate among two get 3-yr jail for forgery

He said Rajawat’s cover was blown after the concerned invigilator noticed the discrepancy between the photo pasted on the admission card and that of the actual candidate Baria. The duo were subsequently booked by police after the forgery came to light.

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Shiv Sena Punjab asks PM Narendra Modi to apologise for going to Pakistan

“By keeping everyone in dark about the visit, your gaffe merited an apology from the country,” the party leaders added.

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Christmas festivities grip nation

A spirit of festivity pervaded across the country as midnight masses, resonance of carols and merriment ushered in Christmas on Friday. As bells tolled, worshipers thronged churches and cathedrals decorated with twinkling lights for the midnight service to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Sparkling Christmas trees and gift items adorned marketplaces that wore a festive look as community feasts, exchange of greetings and colourful processions marked the occasion.Traditional Christmas carols rendered the air festive with gospel bands enthralling the merry-makers with songs like ‘Jingle Bells’, ‘Oh Holy Night’ and ‘Santa Claus Is Coming to Town’. It was a busy day for Santa Claus, the man in red with a flowing white beard, who went from place to place cheering the revellers.Delhi tuned to a celebratory note with the yuletide spirit reflecting in tastefully decked up churches and santa caps dotting busy marketplaces across the national capital. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took part in the festivities by visiting the Sacred Heart Cathedral and wishing the people.The festivity imbibed by non-Christians was expressed through greetings on social media as well participating in X-Mas parties thrown on the day. People used WhatsApp, Facebook and other online means of communication to send Christmas greetings to their families and loved ones.Redemption, rejoicing, feasting and singing marked the occasion in the North-East which has sizeable Christians. Christmas was celebrated throughout Meghalaya with midnight services in churches and tourists and locals exchanging greetings and gifts with friends and relatives.Meghalaya’s capital Shillong was decked up with government and private buildings as well as streets being illuminated and decorated with Christmas trees, banners and festoons. A special programme for the hearing-impaired believers was organised in one of the oldest churches in Shillong at Police Bazaar.While in the Garo Hills region Christmas celebration and preparation for the New Year were going on, Tura town was illuminated with different coloured lights. In Nagaland, believers offered prayers for peace and unity in the Naga society. The rural areas too were illuminated with decorations for the festive season to culminate on the New Year.Midnight masses across all churches in Goa marked the commencement of Christmas celebrations in the state, where one-third of the population is from Catholic faith. Streets leading to the coastal villages were jammed with the vehicles as tourist inflow is also on rise for Christmas and New Year.While tourists were busy partying on the beaches, the local people were seen attending midnight masses, followed by Christmas celebrations in their parish. Traditional dance parties were also organised at various places.Cribs indicating the life of Lord Jesus were set up all across the state in front of the houses. “The biggest crib you will find at Velsao (a beach village 45 kms away from Panaji). Youths are busy getting crib sets of every size. A few of them have a touch of innovation,” said John Rodrigues, a parishioner with Mary Immaculate Conception Church, Panaji.<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>

December 25, 2015

Odd-even formula: Delhi ministers to carpool to work starting January 1

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Announcing the blueprint of road-rationing experiment, Kejriwal said that carpooling was the only solution to cope with the odd-and-even number scheme. “I will share the cars and I will do carpooling. It is the most practical thing,” the Chief Minister said.

Sending out a message to people, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet minister will carpool to work during the 15 days of odd-even scheme starting January 1.Announcing the blueprint of road-rationing experiment, Kejriwal said that carpooling was the only solution to cope with the odd-and-even number scheme. “I will share the cars and I will do carpooling. It is the most practical thing,” the Chief Minister said.Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai said that all the Delhi government ministers and officers will follow the scheme from January 1 to January 15. “During 15 days of odd-even scheme, I will carpool with my cabinet colleagues to reach Delhi Secretariat,” Rai said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain, who is also nodal officer for fighting pollution in the national capital, said that he will carpool to his work to encourage people to share their cars. In next two-three days, Delhi government will launch a carpooling app so that people can use share their cars during the scheme.

December 24, 2015

Ambulance carrying heart patient made to wait for Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s convoy

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According to reports, Meherjan Begum, the heart patient, lay gasping for breath for 20 minutes.

Mamata Banerjee

An ambulance carrying a heart victim was held by the policemen waiting for the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s convoy on an expressway to Kolkata on Wednesday morning, and was not allowed to go even when the patient’s kin pleaded with folded hands.The West Bengal Chief Minister was scheduled to return from Digha in East Midnapore and police was not sure if she would fly back or come by road. But she eventually took a helicopter.According to reports, Meherjan Begum, the heart patient, lay gasping for breath for 20 minutes while her relative prayed she would cling on to life until they reached SSKM Hospital in Kolkata, a 20-minute drive away.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The senior officers, after learning about her plight, let the ambulance to go.

December 24, 2015

From January 1, you can file online FIR at Maharashtra police stations: CM Devendra Fadnavis

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The government has planned to make every smart city should be safe. All cities will be covered with CCTV surveillance in phase manner.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis

From January 1, all police stations in the state will register first information report (FIR) online and complainant will receive a SMS and a copy of complaint on the Whatsapp, announced Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the last day of the winter session.The government has planned to make every smart city should be safe. All cities will be covered with CCTV surveillance in phase manner. “Every police station will be online, paperless and every police station should register FIR electronically, as per the guidelines of the central government. Not a single state has done it. <!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>BJP government has initiated the process and completed the project. Every police station has the provision of registering online FIR, though they first registered manually and later put online because of lack of experience. The complainant will receive a SMS and a copy of FIR through Whatsapp, from January 1, There will be surprise check and the government will take a note of police station who will not go for online,” said Fadnavis.The CM also announced that all police stations be part of citizen’s portal and all permissions will be issued through portal including Ganesh pandal permissions.

December 24, 2015

BJP assures prosthetic limb to woman who lost hand in Saudi Arabia

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After a month’s medical treatment in Saudi Arabia, she returned here on November 7

Kasturi Munirathinam, who lost her right hand after it was allegedly chopped off by her Saudi Arabian employer, was on Wednesday assured of support by Tamil Nadu BJP which also promised to take steps to provide her with an artificial limb.The 55-year-old woman, a native of Mungileri village in Vellore district, called on Tamil Nadu BJP chief Tamilisai Soundararajan at the party headquarters ‘Kamalalayam’ here. Munirathinam thanked her for her efforts to press the Centre to bring her back to Tamil Nadu and also urged the BJP leader to take steps for getting her pending salary from her employer.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>On the intervening night of September 29-30, the woman’s right hand was allegedly severed by her employer and the news broke on October 8. She had also sustained a fall from the building where she was employed.The episode created an uproar and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj took up the issue with Saudi Arabian government. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa also announced a financial aid of Rs 10 lakh to her.After a month’s medical treatment in Saudi Arabia, she returned here on November 7

Odd-even formula: Women, CNG cars, bikes likely to be exempted from the scheme

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Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will announce the blue print of the odd-even scheme on Thursday which aims to prevent rising pollution in the city.

Violation of the odd-even rule will attract a penalty of Rs 2,000.
File Photo
PTI
Women drivers and CNG-certified vehicles are likely to be given exemption from Delhi government’s ambitious odd-even scheme coming into force from January 1 in the national capital. During the 15-day trial, motorcycles and emergency vehicles including ambulance, PCR, fire tenders, will also not come under the ambit of road-rationing experiment.Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will announce the blue print of the odd-even scheme on Thursday which aims to prevent rising pollution in the city.”Women drivers will be exempted under the scheme but they will be penalised if any male member is travelling along. Women drivers travelling only with female members will also not be considered a violation,” sources said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>They said that according to the plan, owners of CNG-fitted cars will need to show prescribed stickers. Violation of the odd-even rule will attract a penalty of Rs 2,000.”Vehicles from other states entering Delhi will also come under the ambit of odd-even scheme. Government has also given an exemption to bikes from its ambitious plan,” they also said.Earlier this month, Kejriwal had announced that he, his ministers and all government officials will follow odd-even scheme. To curb rising pollution level in the national capital, the Delhi government has decided to introduce odd-even scheme to be implemented starting from January 1. A trial of the scheme will run till January 15.According to the government’s plan, it will run 6,000 additional buses to accommodate numbers of passengers after the implementation of odd-even scheme. Nearly 10 lakh private cars will daily stay off Delhi roads once the odd-even formula is enforced with drastic reduction in traffic flow expected to significantly reduce the high-level of pollution in the city.There are over 19 lakh private four-wheelers registered in Delhi and nearly half of these will go off the roads with the implementation of AAP government’s ambitious odd-even formula.

Arunachal Pradesh political crisis: CM Nabam Tuki meets President Pranab Mukherjee

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Opposition BJP and rebel Congress MLAs got together on December 17 to “vote out” Tuki and to “elect” a rebel Congress MLA in his place but the Gauhati High Court intervened to keep in abeyance decisions taken at the “rebel session”.
File Photo
dna Research & Archives
Against the backdrop of a political crisis in his state due to a tussle between factions of the ruling Congress, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki met President Pranab Mukherjee in Hyderabad on Wednesday.”I called on him. I apprised him the situation. The matter is now sub-judice,” Tuki told PTI.Opposition BJP and rebel Congress MLAs got together on December 17 to “vote out” Tuki and to “elect” a rebel Congress MLA in his place but the Gauhati High Court intervened to keep in abeyance decisions taken at the “rebel session”.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Congress has accused the BJP of hatching a conspiracy to topple the Tuki government, but the saffron party has maintained that it has nothing to do with the dissidence in the ruling party in Arunachal Pradesh. The President is here for his customary southern sojourn which concludes on December 31.

Maharashtra govt is not in favour of reopening dance bars: CM Fadnavis

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Fadnavis also told the House that the crime rate has dropped to some extent.

Stating that the state government is not in favour of reopening of dance bars, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis on Wednesday told the Legislative Assembly that his government is framing new set of rules for these establishments. The 18 new rules for dance bars include disallowance of showering of currency notes on bar dancers and also a CCTV cover for every dance bar with the feed available at the police control room would be compulsory. Fadnavis also told the Assembly that there was a drastic drop in the crime rate in the state. <!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>All the members of the Opposition Congress and NCP staged a walkout earlier today protesting against the government’s failure of waiving farm loan and Fadnavis addressed the Assembly facing virtually empty benches. Replying to the ‘last week resolution’, Fadanvis said the government was seeking state Advocate General’s opinion in the issue of dance bars to appeal in the apex court. In October this year, the Supreme Court had stayed the operation of 2014 amendment in the Maharashtra Police Act that had banned dance performances at bars and some other places, paving the way for reopening of dance bars across the state. “A new set of 18 rules and regulations are being framed by the state to curb dance shows and also to keep a tight vigil on activities during the dance shows,” he said. “The entire show will be filmed on CCTV and the nearest police station will be given live feed to check any irregularities. Safe distance has to be maintained by the audience and no showering of currency notes on dancers,” he said.Fadnavis also told the House that the crime rate has dropped to some extent. “There has been a drop in one year period of BJP-Shiv Sena government as compared to what it was during the erstwhile Congress-NCP rule. There has been a significant rise in rate of conviction, which is 48 per cent now, whereas the previously it was just nine per cent,” he said. The Chief Minister admitted that due to enactment of new law after the gangrape and murder case in the national capital, awareness among women on the issue has grown and they are fearlessly coming forward to lodge complaints about sexual abuses. All police stations were working online and from January 1 and surprise checks would be carried out to ascertain whether it was working as per this decision or not.

Govt wants primacy for Kannada at primary school level: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

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Siddaramaiah was speaking at the closing ceremony of the sesquicentennial (150 years) celebrations of Bishop Cotton Boys’ School here that was attended by President Pranab Mukherjee and Governor Vajubhai Vala.

President Pranab Mukherjee is received by Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala and CM Siddaramaiah on his arrival at HAL Airport in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

PTI
Stating that language of the land should get priority in early learning, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said government wants primacy to Kannada in education at the primary school level.”It is true that every language we learn is an asset for us. I believe that language should be a carrier of thought and should not become a barrier to be fought,” Siddaramaiah said.”But, the language of the land should be respected and it should get priority in early learning, as that can only make the life of the child comfortable,” he added.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”Our government and our people want primacy to Kannada in education at the primary school level,” he added.Siddaramaiah was speaking at the closing ceremony of the sesquicentennial (150 years) celebrations of Bishop Cotton Boys’ School here that was attended by President Pranab Mukherjee and Governor Vajubhai Vala.Complimenting Bishop Cotton Boys’ School for high quality of its academics, Siddaramaiah said every school in the state and the country should impart quality education to their students.”No child should be denied education citing the economic backwardness of its family,” he added.Highlighting the primacy given by his government to the education sector, the Chief Minister said funds earmarked for primary and secondary education for the current year is Rs 16,204 crore, whereas for higher education, it is Rs 3896 crore.

Delhi CM Kejriwal faces court case for using ‘defamatory’ words against PM Modi

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The complainant, an advocate, has sought Kejriwal’s prosecution under sections 124A (sedition) and 500 (defamation) of the IPC. The plea was filed at Tis Hazari Courts and it would come up for hearing on January 4, 2016.
File Photo
dna Research & Archives
A private criminal complaint has been filed against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a Delhi for using “defamatory” words against Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the recent CBI raid at the office of his Principal Secretary.The complainant, an advocate, has sought Kejriwal’s prosecution under sections 124A (sedition) and 500 (defamation) of the IPC. The plea was filed at Tis Hazari Courts and it would come up for hearing on January 4, 2016.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Advocate Pradeep Kumar Dwivedi has in his complaint alleged that when CBI raided the Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar’s Delhi Secretariat office on December 15, Kejriwal made offensive remarks on his Twitter account against Modi.”Being fully aware of the autonomy and independence of the CBI, the accused (Kejriwal) owing to his personal interest and political enmity, made some offended remarks on his Twitter account towards the Prime Minister of this country, just because of the said raid by the CBI,” the complaint said.”On December 15, the accused posted the remarks on his Twitter account which reads as, ‘Modi is a coward and a psychopath’. The remarks were made against the democratically elected Prime Minister of the largest democracy of the world,” it said.The complainant alleged that Kejriwal had “intentionally” used such defamatory words with a view to spreading a sense of “hatred and contempt” towards the Prime Minister. Dwivedi said he was aggrieved by the alleged defamatory and seditious remarks of Kejriwal.

December 22, 2015

AAP v/s Jaitley: Arvind Kejriwal demands PM Modi’s resignation for ‘fraudulent raid’

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Delhi CM Kejriwal said: “I demand PM Modi’s resignation for the fraudulent raid that he got carried out just to save Arun Jaitley.

File Photo

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal demanded PM Narendra Modi’s resignation for the ‘fraudulent raid’ he carried out to save Jaitley. He said: “When I meet PM, I only tell him one thing-that we dont need money or land, just stop hampering our work. I’ll take PM’s projects like Swacch Bharat forward in Delhi, will give PM all the credit. But they should just stop troubling us. If the raid happened on my Principal Secretary, what was the need to come to my office? Today is the 8th day, for 6 days Rajendra Kumar was interrogated for hours. I want to ask PM, what did he discover? Nothing. If my job is to punish corrupt officers, then my job is also to protect honest officers.”<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers staged a protest outside the Delhi Assembly on Tuesday just before the House met for a special session. The party accused the AAP government of trying to rake up the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) issue to suppress the charges faced by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s principal secretary. The Delhi Government had called the special session of assembly to discuss alleged irregularities in DDCA and the last week’s CBI raid at the Delhi Secretariat. Raising slogans against the AAP Government and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, BJP workers marched to the entrance of the Assembly where they were stopped by security personnel. Later they were detained by the police and taken to the office of the Operation Cell of Delhi Police. With inputs from agencies

December 22, 2015

DDCA row: Ram Jethmalani to appear for Delhi CM Kejriwal in defamation case filed by Arun Jaitley

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Jaitley on Monday filed both civil and criminal defamation cases against Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders for allegedly defaming him and sought Rs 10 crores in damages and their prosecution for offences that entails a punishment of upto two years in jail.

Ram Jethmalani
File Photo
dna Research & Archives
Noted criminal lawyer Ram Jethmalani will represent Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the civil and criminal defamation suits filed against him by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.Jaitley on Monday filed both civil and criminal defamation cases against Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders for allegedly defaming him and sought Rs 10 crores in damages and their prosecution for offences that entails a punishment of upto two years in jail.”Ram Jethmalani will appear before court for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal,” a senior official of the Chief Minister’s office told PTI. The official said Kejriwal will seek day-to-day hearing in the case.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Earlier, a defiant Kejriwal asserted that the Aam Aadmi Party will not be scared by defamation suits against him and other AAP leaders by Jaitley and asked him to prove his innocence before the one-man Commission of Inquiry announced by Delhi Government to probe alleged irregularities in the Delhi and District Cricket Association.The Chief Minister also slammed BJP for protecting the Finance Minister despite facing charges of alleged irregularities during his tenure as DDCA chief for around 13 years till 2013.”I would have taken resignation if there were so much evidence against any of my ministers as I had taken the resignation of Jitender Singh Tomar and Asim Khan. BJP is shamelessly defending Jaitley,” he said.The Chief Minister’s decision to brazen it out became clear last night itself as the other AAP leaders named by Jaitley in his defamation suit had stuck to their guns and continued to target the Finance Minister.”Setting aside his ministerial responsibilities, Jaitley ji is making the rounds of the courts. But we won’t let the matter get buried this time around. We will continue to hold him corrupt in DDCA affairs,” AAP leader Sanjay Singh said.

December 21, 2015

Studying Bombay HC verdict on Salman Khan hit-and-run case: CM Devendra Fadnavis

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Government is studying the verdict and the state will take a decion, Fadnavis told reporters on Monday, without indicating a time-frame by when the state will reach its conclusion on the matter.
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dna Research & Archives
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said the state government is still studying the December 10 Bombay High Court verdict, that acquitted Bollywood superstar Salman Khan of all charges in the 2002 hit-and-run case, before deciding whether to challenge it or not.Government is studying the verdict and the state will take a decion, Fadnavis told reporters on Monday, without indicating a time-frame by when the state will reach its conclusion on the matter. The prosecution in the case is understood to have recommended that an appeal be filed in the Supreme court.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>On December 10, the Bombay High Court acquitted the 49-year-old star of all the charges in the 2002 hit-and-run case, holding that the prosecution had failed to prove he was driving the vehicle after having consumed alcohol.The judgement came on an appeal by Salman, seven months after he was pronounced guilty by the trial court of running over five people sleeping on a pavement outside a laundry in suburban Bandra with his Toyota Land Cruiser, killing one and injuring four others on October 28,2002.Sources in the prosecutor’s office had said its recommendation to challenge the HC’s acquittal order with the opinion that the case was fit for appeal was sent last week to the Maharashtra Home Department.

December 21, 2015

Eye on 2017 polls, SP launches ‘Gaon Gaon Akhilesh’ campaign

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The works done by Chief Minister AKhilesh Yadav will be the focal point of this campaign and they would be highlighted

Akhilesh Yadav

In a bid to garner support for the 2017 Assembly polls, Samajwadi Party on Sunday kickstarted “Gaon Gaon Akhilesh” campaign to connect with the people.Over a dozen vehicles and cyclists started the campaign flagged off by party general secretary Arvind Singh Gope and spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury at a programme here at the SP office. “The campaign is an attempt to reach to the people and inform them about the welfare schemes launched by the Uttar Pradesh government. The party workers will also connect to the people and know their problems,” Gope said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”We will also seek suggestions from the people for better governance and schemes that they want for themselves,” he added. Through screening of films on specially-designed vehicles, feedback of people will be taken and under the first phase of the campaign, over 600 villages will be covered, he added. The works done by Chief Minister AKhilesh Yadav will be the focal point of this campaign and they would be highlighted.

December 20, 2015

India, Pakistan have shown great maturity to re-engage: Mufti Mohammad ?Sayeed

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Sayeed welcomed the breakthrough on holding of comprehensive bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan and hoped both the countries will clear the decks for carrying forward the process of reconciliation.

Mufti Sayeed

AFP
Lauding the resumption of India-Pakistan dialogue, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has called for a long-term strategic partnership between the two neighbouring countries.Sayeed welcomed the breakthrough on holding of comprehensive bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan and hoped both the countries will clear the decks for carrying forward the process of reconciliation.”The resumption of dialogue is a gigantic step forward… There is a paradigm shift in New Delhi’s policy towards Islamabad. “Now that both the countries have shown great maturity to re-engage, it has generated hope and expectation among the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who have for long yearned for peace and stability in the region,” Sayeed said addressing a meeting of his PDP here last evening.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The Chief Minister reiterated his slogan “Na Bandook Se Na Goli Se, Baat Banegi Boli Se (Not guns and bullets but dialogue will resolve issues). He said people of Jammu and Kashmir are direct beneficiaries of friendly and peaceful relations between the two neighbours. “I have always maintained that dialogue is an evolutionary process in which results are not achieved in a single day,” he added.The Chief Minister also announced framing of a Political Affairs’ Committee within his PDP to give a new direction to the agenda of the party, in tune with the aspirations and wishes of the people. Our responsibility is to sustain the trust and confidence that people continue to repose in us, he said. Member Parliament and PDP President, Mehbooba Mufti, co-chaired the nearly four-hour-long brainstorming session, which was called to obtain firsthand feedback on the functioning of the PDP-BJP government in the state.Sayeed said he had called the meeting to deliberate and discuss face to face with party leaders various issues and to devise a strategy to strengthen the party. He said it was important to obtain feedback to make a reality check vis-a-vis performance of the government. Referring to the state’s special status guaranteed under the Constitution of India, Sayeed said even the agenda of the alliance recognises this special position of the state.

December 20, 2015

Rs 1,800 crore advance extended under Mudra scheme: Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel

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Patel also called upon women entrepreneurs to take advantage of the women’s empowerment schemes, notably the Women Industrial Park, set up by Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) at Sanand.

Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and Bollywood actress Kajol light lamps at Vibrant Garima Business Women Conclave 2015 in Ahmedabad on Saturday.

PTI
Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel on Saturday said Rs 1,800-crore advances were extended to small and big industrialists during a camp under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojna’.Patel also called upon women entrepreneurs to take advantage of the women’s empowerment schemes, notably the Women Industrial Park, set up by Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) at Sanand.”Rs 1,800-crore advances were extended to small and big industrialists during a camp under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojna in Gujarat,” she said inaugurating the Vibrant Gujarat Business Women Conclave organised by Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Patel said that industrial development in the state was no more restricted to urban areas and it has spread to rural and even remote areas in the tribal belt. The Chief Minister also asked women to fight social evils, superstitions and social inequality.Bollywood actress Kajol Devgn, present on the occasion, exhorted women to work, which she said was necessary for self-esteem. GCCI Women Wing Chairperson Grishma Trivedi said one purpose of this conclave is to encourage women entrepreneurs in rural areas.Under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojna’ banks, NBFCs and MFIs would provide loans between Rs 50,000 to Rs 10 lakh to the unfunded sections of the society.

PM Modi greets Goans on occasion of State Liberation Day

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Goa was liberated from 450-year-long Portuguese rule on December 19, 1961 after Indian Army marched in the region.

Narendra Modi

PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday greeted people of Goa on the occasion of the state Liberation Day. “Greetings to the people of Goa on Goa Liberation Day. We salute the courage & bravery of those who were a part of the movement to free Goa,” the Prime Minister tweeted. Goa was liberated from 450-year-long Portuguese rule on December 19, 1961 after Indian Army marched in the region. The day is celebrated as State Liberation Day annually. There were various functions held across the state with the state-level event being organised at the Campal ground where Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar was the Chief Guest. <!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>

Panchkula industrial plot case: Vigilance department registers FIR against former CM Bhupinder Hooda

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The FIR was lodged even as Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar recommended CBI probe into the alleged irregularities during the previous Congress government.

Former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda
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An FIR was lodged on Saturday by the Haryana Vigilance Bureau against the then Chairman and Chief Administrator of HUDA for alleged irregularities in allotment of industrial plots in Panchkula three years ago when the then Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was at the body’s helm.The FIR was lodged even as Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar recommended CBI probe into the alleged irregularities during the previous Congress government. The Vigilance Bureau registered the case under relevant sections of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act against the then Chairman of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), a post held by Hooda, as also former IAS officer DPS Nagal and two other officials of the authority. The FIR does not mention Hooda by name but names of others — Nagal, then HUDA chief finance officer S C Kansal and another official B B Taneja, besides 13 beneficiaries, figure in it, a senior Vigilance Bureau official told PTI.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Hooda dubbed the move as “political vendetta” unleashed by the BJP government. “They (BJP) have unleashed political vendetta against us (the Congress leaders),” the former Chief Minister told PTI while reacting to the development. He alleged that Khattar government had failed on all fronts and was desperate to divert public attention from its own alleged failures. With the Vigilance Department registering an FIR in the case, the matter would be referred to CBI, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s OSD Jawahar Yadav said.Talking to reporters at Ludhiana today, Khattar said, “…The Vigilance report says that norms were not followed and the plots were alloted to favourites and close ones.” He rejected the allegation of “political vendetta”, saying “Wherever wrongs have taken place, we are duty-bound to take action. We don’t initiate any action by targeting anyone.” Khattar said the state’s advocate-general has favoured a probe by an independent agency and added the matter will be referred for a CBI probe.Outspoken Haryana Minister Anil Vij also said, “This matter will be probed by CBI. Large-scale irregularities have taken place in plot allotments, which were distributed to favourites by the previous regime.”Senior Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad hit out at the BJP government for targeting political opponents.

Create atmosphere for us to work in free, neutral manner: IAS officers to Delhi CM

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The officers demanded an “institutional mechanism” for dealing with bona fide policy decisions and administrative actions.
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dna Research & Archives
In the wake of a CBI raid at the office of the Delhi chief minister’s secretary and the lodging of two FIRs against the Vigilance Secretary, an IAS officers’ body on Saturday met Arvind Kejriwal seeking a “conducive atmosphere” that would allow them to work in a “free and neutral manner”. The babus demanded an “institutional mechanism” for dealing with bona fide policy decisions and administrative actions. The association also sought an appointment with Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and the Union Home Secretary to take up issues concerning bureaucrats.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”There has to be an institutional mechanism… The Chief Minister has assured us that he will create a conducive atmosphere for officers to work in a free and neutral manner,” said A Anbarasu, secretary of the AGMUT cadre IAS Officers’ Association.According to the association, the chief minister assured them that he would do all that is required to strengthen the institutional mechanisms. The officers claimed they were being victimised due to the tussle between the Centre and AAP government in Delhi. They added that they want to work in a free, fair and neutral manner.On December 17, Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain had tweeted, “Centre now demoralised many Delhi government officials, many of whom fear they might be targeted just for working with the Kejriwal govt (sic).”On Wednesday, the IAS officers had also convened a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary KK Sharma at Delhi Secretariat, a few days after CBI raids at the office of Kejriwal’s secretary Rajendra Kumar and the registration of two FIRs against Vigilance Secretary Chetan B Sanghi in an alleged corruption case.Following the CBI raids, Kejriwal had slammed the Centre for targeting him and said that the investigation against Kumar was just an excuse. The Centre and Delhi government have been at loggerheads over several issues, including the transfer and posting of bureaucrats, Commission of Inquiry in alleged CNG fitness Scam, control of the Anti-Corruption Branch.

Arunachal Pradesh political crisis: Governor has acted within constitutional powers, says Kalikho Pul

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The Governor has summoned the House under Article 174 (Clause 1) of the Constitution and he has the power to summon the House as and when he deems fit, he said.

Dissident Congress MLA Kalikho Pul

PTI
Dissident Congress MLAs from Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday said that Governor J P Rajkhowa has acted within his constitutional powers by summoning the session of the state Assembly.”BJP MLAs in the House had moved a proposal to impeach Speaker Nabam Rebia and no notification regarding this was issued by the Speaker during the stipulated period of 14 days. It was only after the stipulated period was over that the Governor summoned the House,” dissident MLA Kalikho Pul said.The Governor has summoned the House under Article 174 (Clause 1) of the Constitution and he has the power to summon the House as and when he deems fit, he said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”The Governor has both discretionary and guiding role and he is protecting the integrity of the Constitution,” he added.The Gauhati High Court had stayed the decision of the Governor to advance the Assembly session from January 14 next year to December 16 and the proceedings of the House in the makeshift premises.”The matter is sub-judice and we will not say much about it but will appeal against the order in the High Court. We want the Court to give us a chance to explain and we have full faith in the judiciary,” he added.Pul also alleged that the Governor is “under threat and is not safe in the Raj Bhawan. The state DGP and Chief Secretary are not listening to him and so how can the common people be safe in the state?”The whole world has seen how the ministers owing allegiance to Chief Minister Nabam Tuki have misbehaved with the Governor and used unparliamentary language inside the Raj Bhawan. Their supporters have held dharnas and blocked roads with a patient dying on way to the hospital,” he said.

CBSE books to be made available online for free: Smriti Irani

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At a function organised at a Kendriya Vidyalaya in east Delhi, Smriti Irani also said that initiatives would be undertaken to ensure holistic nurturing and improve learning outcomes at these schools.

PTI
All CBSE books and learning material will be made available online for free as part of the Centre’s good governance efforts, HRD Minister Smriti Irani said in New Delhi on Saturday. At a function organised at a Kendriya Vidyalaya in east Delhi, she also said that initiatives would be undertaken to ensure holistic nurturing and improve learning outcomes at these schools.”We made NCERT books available online for free through e-books and mobile applications a month-and-a-half ago. We are similarly going to make CBSE books available online along with additional learning material and videos as part of our good governance efforts,” Irani said at the inauguration of a new building of the school in Khichripur.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Responding to the call by Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia at the function that endeavours be made to ensure that children not only excel professionally but also become good human beings, Irani asked her ministry’s officials to organise ‘Baal Sabha’ (Child Conventions). These conventions will feature interactions between children and professionals from fields including defence to help the former grow into “good human beings”. Irani also reiterated that the Centre will launch ‘Shaala Darpan’ and ‘Saransh’ services (for Class I to Class XII students) in Kendriya Vidyalayas in the next academic year.The ‘Shaala Darpan’ service is aimed at using SMSes to keep parents informed about their wards’ attendance, time table and marks in exams while ‘Saransh’ will help parents compare the subject-wise learning outcomes of their children, with others at the district, state and national levels. Earlier, addressing the function, Sisodia stressed on the role of education in the lives of children.”You need to check whether you are doing better than yesterday. Are we behaving better than yesterday. The focus should be that if a child gets out of educational institutes 20 years later, he/she should pass out as a sensible person,” he said.The AAP leader urged schools to take the responsibility of turning children into good human beings.”When we read in newspapers about communal violence, rapes somewhere, then we feel we fell short somewhere. Hence, we will have to take responsibility. A person is giving us 20 years of his/her life. So, we will have to ensure we impress on him/her that it is equally important to be a good human being as to be a good engineer or other professional,” he said.East Delhi MP Maheish Girri also addressed the event, which was attended by senior HRD officials and local public representatives.

UP CM Akhilesh Yadav, wife stuck in lift for 24 minutes

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The officials waited with bated breath for an agonizing 24 minutes as Akhilesh and Dimple got stuck when the lift doors did not open automatically on reaching the ground floor. The power couple was finally rescued after cutting through the lift door.

Officials in the security of UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav went into a tizzy on Friday afternoon as the CM and his wife and MP Dimple Yadav got stuck in a lift in the UP Legislature building.The officials waited with bated breath for an agonizing 24 minutes as Akhilesh and Dimple got stuck when the lift doors did not open automatically on reaching the ground floor. The power couple was finally rescued after cutting through the lift door.Three engineers who were supposed to on duty were all found absent, and have been suspended. A high-level inquiry has been set up to nail those responsible for the maintenance of lifts in the UP Legislature complex. An FIR has been lodged against the lift manufacturer, too.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The incident has exposed chinks in the CM’s security. Akhilesh has an elaborate NSG cover as he is a Z-plus protectee, and his route is checked twice before he goes anywhere. Still, the CM and his wife were caught unawares, clearly due to negligence of the officials responsible for ensuring his safe passage.”The incident is shocking. Though it was a technical glitch, it has necessitated a complete assessment of the CM’s security afresh,” said Lucknow SSP Rajesh Pande, answering reporters’ queries regarding the incident.

Jayalalithaa writes to PM Modi, seeks Rs 1,550 crore for scholarships to SC, ST students

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r. She has mentioned in the letter that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment could not disburse the amount due to insufficient fund allocation to it.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa on Thursday sought the release of central share of Rs. 1550 crores towards disbursement of post matric scholarships to students belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the state. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she has said the amount includes arrears of last year. She has mentioned in the letter that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment could not disburse the amount due to insufficient fund allocation to it.She has said, to help the poor students to proceed with their post-matric education, the fund needs to be released at the earliest. <!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>

Chhatisgarh Assembly: Congress stages walkout over farmers suicides

All these things and the poor and anti-farmers policies of the government was compelling the farmers to take extreme steps,” Baghel said.

10 have reportedly committed suicide in Rajnandgaon district from where Chief Minister Raman Singh contested election: Congress

File Photo
Opposition Congress on Thursday staged a walkout from the Chhattisgarh Assembly to protest statements made by ruling BJP over farmers’ suicide in the state. Raising the issue of farmers’ suicide after the Question Hour, Leader of Opposition T S Singhdeo, Congress MLA and party’s state unit chief Bhupesh Baghel, senior Congress Satyanaryan Sharma and other opposition members sought a discussion on the issue. Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal allowed the discussion from 3 PM onwards.Baghel said farmers are bearing the brunt of drought in the state and alleged that the government was neither fulfilling its promise to procure paddy at support price of Rs 2,100 nor providing bonus of Rs 300 to farmers. “Scarcity of relief work and no sanctioned work under MNREGA further added woes for farmers. All these things and the poor and anti-farmers policies of the government was compelling the farmers to take extreme steps,” Baghel said.Over 25 drought-hit farmers have so far committed suicide, of whom 10 have reportedly committed suicide in Rajnandgaon district from where Chief Minister Raman Singh contested election, he claimed. “According to a report, Chhattisgarh is the third highest in farmers’ suicides in the country,” Singhdeo said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Owing to the insensitiveness of the state government towards farmers and its poor policies, farmers are trapped under the burden of debt after shortfall in rains ruined their crops in the state, he alleged. Responding to it, state Revenue Minister Premprakash Pandey said that the state government had already initiated relief measures for farmers anticipating a drought-like scenario.

Arunachal Pradesh political crisis: BJP declares rebel Congress leader Kalikho Pul as next CM candidate

Today, a ‘no confidence’ motion by 11 BJP MLAs and two Independent members was ‘adopted’ with deputy speaker T Norbu Thongdok, who is also a rebel Congressman, in the chair.

Rebel Congress MLA Kalikho Pul celebrates with supporters after he was elected as” Chief Minister” by 33 legislators in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday.

PTI
In an interesting turn of events in the Arunachal Pradesh political upheaval, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday declared Kalikho Pul as their Chief Minister candidate.”The sitting chief minister has to prove his majority against the person we are proposing. We are projecting the name of Kaliko Pul for the post of Chief Minister,” leader of the Opposition Tamiyo Taga said.”The next step is to vacate the chief minister post. I have submitted one no confidence motion to be taken up tomorrow in the assembly. There would be a composite floor test for the government. Everything is same but the name is different composite floor test, it is not exactly a no confidence motion,” he added.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Today, a ‘no confidence’ motion by 11 BJP MLAs and two Independent members was ‘adopted’ with deputy speaker T Norbu Thongdok, who is also a rebel Congressman, in the chair. 33 MLAs said yes to no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and no MLA from the Chief Minister faction was present.Meanwhile, the Congress earlier on Thursday said there could be no business in the Rajya Sabha, because of the recent political developments in Arunachal Pradesh.Briefing media in New Delhi, leader of opposition in the Upper House Ghulam Nabi Azad said the Central government is using the Governor, who is upholder of the Constitution, for political gains. He alleged that the Centre is trying to destabilise Arunchal Pradesh government.In reply to a query, another spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala clarified that the Congress Party has not called any of its state leaders to Delhi on December 19.

Akhilesh Yadav urges Centre to set up AIIMS in Gorakhpur

it would make provision for other infrastructure in its next budget and start construction

He said that the state has assured to provide 2.5 acre land and if the Centre provides fund,

A day after the Supreme Court slammed the Uttar Pradesh government for failing to appoint a Lokayukta, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday said that there was no laxity on his part and he was not at fault. “There was no dilly-dallying on the part of the state government. It is a known fact that who is responsible for the delay in appointment of new Lokayukta in the state,” Akhilesh said without taking any name. He said that the state government was not at fault from any point. “We honour the apex court’s order,” he said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The apex court had yesterday directly appointed retired Justice Virendra Singh as the new Lokayukta of UP after the state government failed to meet the deadline fixed by it. Akhilesh was speaking after launching 148 projects worth Rs 585 crore. In a veiled attack on the BJP led NDA government, he said, “Those who used to call our laptop distribution scheme a ‘jhunjhuna’ (plaything), are now themselves talking about digital India.” He said that it was known that those who were talking about Swacch Bharat, have gone with the broom. Stating that there were number of challenges before the country and the state, Akhilesh said debate should be held on development, but some people were raising other issues to distract attention.Referring to the issue of Japanese Encephalitis in east UP, he said he has requested the Centre to set up an AIIMS in Gorakhpur. He said that the state has assured to provide 2.5 acre land and if the Centre provides fund, it would make provision for other infrastructure in its next budget and start construction. Akhilesh said UP has come in the category of a state which decided the new agenda of development and other states were forced to follow it. He said that perception of those who used to call UP, ‘Ulta Pradesh’, has changed after witnessing the development.

Jaitley v/s AAP: Jaitley’s denial can’t be taken as ‘gospel truth’, says Kejriwal

In a series of tweets, Kejriwal said that allegations against Jaitley were very serious, and therefore, he should either resign or be removed from his post to facilitate an independent probe.
File Photo
dna Research & Archives
Reacting to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s denial of allegations of irregularities in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said the former’s denial in the press cannot be taken as ‘gospel truth’.In a series of tweets, Kejriwal said that allegations against Jaitley were very serious, and therefore, he should either resign or be removed from his post to facilitate an independent probe.Earlier, Jaitley hit out at the Delhi Chief Minister accusing him of spreading ‘untruth’ against him, two days after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged that Jaitley was involved in a scandal linked to DDCA of which he was earlier a president.”Free speech is unquestionably a pre-eminent fundamental right, but does free speech include the right to speak only falsehood? The Delhi Chief Minister, Mr Arvind Kejriwal, seems to believe in untruth and defamation, delivered in a language that borders on hysteria,” said Jaitley in a Facebook post.Jaitley also said the AAP convener is trying to divert attention and protecting his corrupt Principal Secretary by linking it to the Delhi Cricket body.Also read- AAP v/s Jaitley: Here’s what Arun Jaitley has to say about Arvind Kejriwal’s allegations”A few days ago, a Secretary of the Delhi Government was searched and arrested after being caught red handed for allegedly accepting a bribe. The CBI had conducted the operation. The Delhi Government welcomed the move. Four days later, another official close to the Chief Minister was searched for an alleged offence which related to the pre-Kejriwal period. The chief minister raised two pleas. First, that it violates the federal structure of the Constitution. In addition, the Chief Minister used unacceptable adjectives against the Prime Minister and, second, he questioned the purpose of the search and tried to divert attention by linking it to the Delhi Cricket body rather than alleged corruption of this official,” Jaitley wrote. “It is a part of propaganda technique to deflect attention when you yourselves are in the dock. Finding himself acting as a shield to cover an officer under investigation, the Delhi chief minister has attempted to focus attention on me. He repeats endlessly that I misled the Parliament on the Delhi raid and that he has a series of allegations to make against me in relation to my tenure as President of the DDCA – Delhi’s cricket body. The Congress transiently joined Mr. Kejriwal’s company for the reason that its own leaders are in the dock for more than one reason,” he wrote. The Finance Minister also said that no personal allegations were ever made against him with regard to cricket administration, but admitted that there were certain irregularities. “Even though I am not concerned with cricket administration since 2013, a Member of Parliament has been writing to various governmental bodies with regard to Delhi’s cricket affairs. The UPA Government seized upon the opportunity and referred the complaints to the SFIO which investigated all his complaints over a period of time and submitted a detailed Report on 21st March 2013. The Report concluded in relation to the DDCA being registered under the Companies Act, that:- “thus, in a nutshell, there are certain irregularities / non-compliance or technical violations, but no fraud (was) noticed as alleged,” he wrote. “These technical and procedural violations were all compoundable and were compounded by Members against whom they were alleged. The SFIO, under the UPA regime, investigated and could not find a shred of evidence against me. No personal allegation was ever made against me nor did I ever feel the need of contradicting it. There are fake allegations such as escalation of cost of construction of a stadium. When work expands, cost escalations are integral. A brand new 42,000 capacity world class stadium was constructed by the EPIL, a public sector body at a total cost of around Rs.114 crores. At the same time, the UPA Government renovated two stadiums. The Jawaharlal Nehru stadium was renovated at a cost of over Rs.900 crores and Dhyan Chand stadium was renovated at a cost of over Rs. 600 crores,” he added. “I have felt the need for stating the above in order to counter any unsubstantiated, non-specific allegations. I have left cricket administration in 2013. By referring to some facts of 2014 and 2015, he (Kejriwal) can’t drag me in,” Jaitley said.

Bribery case: Delhi Court sends IAS officer Sanjay Pratap Singh to judicial custody

Singh, a 1984-batch IAS officer of AGMUT cadre, and his personal assistant Ramesh were produced before Special Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna after expiry of their seven-day police remand and the CBI moved an application requesting the court to send them in judicial custody.

Arrested principal secretary of Delhi government Sanjay Pratap Singh (centre) in New Delhi.
File Photo
PTI
IAS officer Sanjay Pratap Singh and his personal assistant, arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 2.2 lakh, were remanded on Thursday to judicial custody till December 23 by a Delhi court after the CBI said they were not required for further custodial interrogation.Singh, a 1984-batch IAS officer of AGMUT cadre, and his personal assistant Ramesh were produced before Special Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna after expiry of their seven-day police remand and the CBI moved an application requesting the court to send them in judicial custody. Singh, who was holding the post of Principal Secretary in Department of SC, ST and Minorities, has been suspended by the Delhi government.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>CBI had earlier told the court that they would examine the bank lockers of Singh during the police custody and he was also required to be interrogated regarding the property papers recovered during the searches. It had alleged that the accused had demanded a bribe of Rs 2.2 lakh from the complainant and Singh had instructed that the money be delivered to his PA. CBI had alleged that out of Rs 2.2 lakh, Singh’s PA pocketed Rs 20,000.According to CBI, Singh had allegedly demanded the bribe from the owner of a firm that supplies security guards and other manpower for clearing pending bills. The two accused were arrested after the complainant had approached Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s office.CBI had alleged that the businessman, whose firm supplies peons, security guards and other staff for sundry works to various agencies, had accused Singh of demanding Rs 2.2 lakh as bribe for clearing bills for services rendered by the firm.”The complainant had recently approached Chief Minister’s Office. The CM’s office then guided the complainant in trapping the official and got S P Singh arrested by CBI red handed. CBI acted on the complaint received from CM Office,” a Delhi government spokesperson had said.Both the accused have denied all the allegations.

Delhi CMO raid: Incorrect information being spread to discredit us, claims CBI

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s Principal Secretary Rajender Kumar was on Wednesday again questioned by the CBI in connection with a corruption case.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal
File Photo
PTI
Rejecting the allegations made by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Delhi Government; the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday said that they did not conduct the raid at the Chief Minister’s Office, adding that efforts were being made to discredit the investigation agency.”Blatant incorrect information is being spread by certain quarters since yesterday to discredit agency with intent to obstruct investigation. CBI categorically denies having seized any material during searches which are not relevant to investigation. Seizures during searches at all places were in presence of independent witnesses, as per procedure,” CBI spokesperson Devpreet Singh told media.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”The search cum seizure memo containing details of all seized items will be produced before the competent Court. The CBI has already clarified that office of Chief Minister was neither searched nor sealed. The CBI neither prevented nor disallowed any person in their movement to various offices in Delhi Secretariat including CM Office, except the office chamber of his Secretary, Rajinder Kumar and that of his Personal Assistant,” she added. “It is relevant in this context that earlier in case of Sanjay Pratap Singh, Principal Secretary, Government of NCT, and no functionary of Delhi Government ever contacted or was ever in touch with CBI. Entire operation of laying trap and arrest of SP Singh was conducted by CBI on its own after receipt of complaint followed by independent verification,” Singh said.Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s Principal Secretary Rajender Kumar was on Wednesday again questioned by the CBI in connection with a corruption case. Earlier, he was questioned by the CBI for about seven hours late on Tuesday night after the probe agency sleuths raided his office at the Delhi Secretariat.Kumar has been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on charges of criminal conspiracy, and also under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly favouring a private company in five contracts worth Rs. 9.5 crores during 2007-14.

December 16, 2015

CBI raids: BJP lashes out at Kejriwal, to conduct ‘Pol-Khol Abhiyan’

Kejriwal earlier claimed that the CBI raided his office at the behest of Prime Minister Modi. He also went as far as to call the Prime Minister a ‘coward and a psychopath’.

PTI
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday lashed out at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for using unparliamentary language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the CBI raided his Principal Secretary Rajender Prasad’s office.”The BJP has taken the decision that it will launch a ‘pol-khol abhiyan’ against the AAP for the next 48 hours and will expose the party on the ground,” Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhayay said.”He should be ashamed of the kind of language he is using against the Prime Minister. This is not the language of democracy,” he added.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”The CBI is an independent agency; it is doing its work. The CBI must be having some proofs that is why it has raided on several places. You have made it a hell out of it, stating that the Chief Minister?s office was raided,” he further said.Kejriwal earlier claimed that the CBI raided his office at the behest of Prime Minister Modi. He also went as far as to call the Prime Minister a ‘coward and a psychopath’.”CBI lying. My own office raided. Files of CM office are being looked into. Let Modi say which file he wants?” Kejriwal tweeted.”I am the only CM who dismissed, on my own, a minister n a senior officer on charges of corruption and handed their cases to CBI. If CBI had any evidence against Rajender, why didn’t they share it wid me? I wud hv acted against him,” he said in another tweet.The CBI has registered a case against Kejriwal’s Principal Secretary Rajender Kumar for allegedly favouring a firm in getting contracts from Delhi government. “FM lied in Parliament. My own office files are being looked into to get some evidence against me. Rajender is an excuse,” tweeted Kejriwal.Refuting Kejriwal’s allegation on the raid on Chief Minister’s office, the CBI has said that the raid was conducted on the Principal Secretary’s office following a warrant.

CBI raids: Delhi CM Kejriwal trying to ‘hide something’ from CBI, says MoS PMO Jitendra Singh

Kejriwal on Tuesday vowed to continue the fight against the ruling dispensation till his last breath and dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that he was not at all scared of the CBI raid.
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dna Research & Archives
Taking on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over his statement that the CBI raided his office looking for the DDCA files related to graft cases in which Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is involved, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (MoS PMO) Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said he suspect of the AAP convener trying to hide something from the investigating agency since he is making a big a hue and cry about it.”The raids which were conducted today at 14 different spots simultaneously, out of which two spots belong to officers working in the secretariat of the Chief Minister. If the Chief Minister is making such a big deal about it, one would rather suspect that it is he who has something to hide and when he says that they were fishing some files which would go against the members of the present government at the Centre,” said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”I would rather suspect the other way round. May be he was afraid or still apprehensive that there are certain files, he needs to keep hidden and afraid of being let out. The CBI is an autonomous body. The Narendra Modi government have ensured the independence and autonomy of CBI,” he added.Kejriwal on Tuesday vowed to continue the fight against the ruling dispensation till his last breath and dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that he was not at all scared of the CBI raid.”The raid was conducted to look for the files of DDCA (Delhi and District Cricket Association) in which Jaitley is involved in graft cases. I want to tell Modi ji, you scared other people through CBI, but you have no idea what Kejriwal is made up of. I will keep fighting till my last breath for the country,” Kejriwal said.The CBI has registered a case against Kejriwal’s Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar for allegedly favouring a firm in getting contracts from Delhi Government. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, hit back at Kejriwal for his unwarranted criticism of Prime Minister Modi following the CBI raid and alleged that a ‘nervous’ Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo is demeaning the PMO with his baseless allegation.Refuting Kejriwal’s allegation on the raid on Chief Minister’s office, the CBI has said that the raid was conducted on the Principal Secretary’s office following a warrant.

CBI being dictated by someone, says Rajender Kumar’s HS Phoolka

HS Phoolka maintained that the CBI had no business to enter the Chief Minister’s office. Phoolka also said that the agency’s denials that it had not entered the Chief Minister’s office was a “mere eyewash”.

Senior lawyer HS Phoolka
File Photo

Senior lawyer H S Phoolka who is representing Rajender Kumar, Principal Secretary of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, on Tuesday described the CBI action as “politically motivated” and said his client was being made a “scape goat”.”I wonder how could the files pertaining to 2007 allegation be in the office of present Chief Minister. The CBI is being dictated by someone,” Phoolka, who is associated with AAP, said.He maintained that the CBI had no business to enter the Chief Minister’s office. Phoolka also said that the agency’s denials that it had not entered the Chief Minister’s office was a “mere eyewash”.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”All the files of the Chief Minister are always lying on the table of the Principal Secretary. So now the CBI needs to answer what were they looking for. How can files of alleged 2007 scams related to education, electricity and others be lying in the office of the present Chief Minister. Whom is the CBI trying to fool? The answer is straight that Kumar is mere a scape goat and target is someone else. Its a politically motivated case,” Phoolka said.The lawyer, who was accompanying the wife of Kumar, an IAS officer of 1989 batch, was waiting at the CBI headquarters for a meeting with his client.”We have been told that he will be released soon. After that we will chalk out the future strategy which includes taking a legal recourse,” he said.”We will first see what action CBI will take and accordingly we will make a strategy and act.”

Kerala CM Oommen Chandy, ministers meet PM Modi, discuss Mullaperiyar issue

he rising water level in the Mullaperiyar dam due to rains is causing concern over the dam’s safety as five Kerala districts are downstream.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a meeting with Chief Minister of Kerala, Oommen Chandy in Kerala on Tuesday.

PTI
Raising the Mullaperiyar Dam issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Tuesday demanded that the Centre initiate chief ministerial level talks between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, involved in a dispute over the century-old reservoir.Chandy, who met the Prime Minister along with some of his cabinet colleagues at the Thiruvananthapuram Airport and spent about 15 minutes, also pressed for a second dam across Mullaperiyar to replace the ‘structurally week’ reservoir.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The dam is located in Kerala but operated and managed by Tamil Nadu. The rising water level in the dam due to rains is causing concern over the dam’s safety as five Kerala districts are downstream. Chandy later told reporters that the PM assured that he would “sympathetically” consider their various pleas. This is the second time Chandy had taken up the issue with Modi, who wrapped up his two-day visit to the state this evening. Chandy had recently met the PM in Delhi and discussed various issues of the state, including the dam issue.Setting aside the controversy over his exclusion from the statue unveiling function of R Sankar, Chandy handed over a memorandum to the Prime minister on the various demands of the state, including the FACT Package, setting up an All Institute of Medical Sciences in Kerala and upgrading of Regional cancer centre as National cancer centre. The Chief Minister said Kerala also should get one more smart city besides Kochi.Talking about the delay in completion of 500 km Gail pipeline across the state due to land acquisition issues, he said land had been acquired for laying the pipeline up to 350 km. The issue of rubber farmers, reduction of air fares to gulf were also discussed with the Prime Minister, he said. The Prime Minister later left for Delhi and was seen off by Kerala Governor, P Sathasivam, Chandy and other dignitaries.

Gujarat govt to spend Rs 525 crore to raise Sardar Sarovar dam height

The Chief Minister visited Kevadia after inaugurating the ‘Statue of Unity’ foundation raft concrete work at Sadhu Bet island.

Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel paying tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his death anniversary at Sadhu Bet near Narmada Dam in Kevadia on Tuesday.

PTI
Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel on Tuesday said the state government would spend Rs 525 crore on raising the height of Sardar Sarovar dam on Narmada river, which is likely to be completed by February 2017.”After a long wait of eight years, in June 2014 the Centre finally gave its clearance to Gujarat government to raise the height of Sardar Sarovar dam from 121.92 metres to 138.68 metres,” Patel told PTI after reviewing the ongoing work of installation of radial gates at the Sardar Sarovar dam at Kevadia town around 100 kms from Vadodara.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The Chief Minister visited Kevadia after inaugurating the ‘Statue of Unity’ foundation raft concrete work at Sadhu Bet island. Top officials of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited briefed her on the progress of work. The government had sought the go ahead for the installation of 30 steel radial gates over Sardar Sarovar Dam, for which the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) had already given its nod to Gujarat government in June 2014, she said.Sardar Sarovar Project is an ongoing, inter-state multi-purpose project on the Narmada river, which envisages hydro-power generation of 1,450 MW to be shared by Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. It will also provide water for irrigation to 17.92 lakh hectares of land in Gujarat and 2.46 lakh hectares in Rajasthan, she said.”Raising the height means assured water for irrigation to an additional area of 6.8 lakh hectares, 40 per cent more power generation and enhanced water supply,” Patel said.She added that the government intends to complete the work of raising the height of dam by February 2017, seven months ahead of its schedule.Speaking at the inauguration of the ‘Statue of Unity’ raft concrete work earlier, she said, “This huge construction work on 182 meters tall statue of Sardar Patel will be completed on June 3, 2018, which will cost around Rs 2,979 crore. The contract has been given to leading construction company Larsen and Toubro.””Rs 1,347 crore will be spent on the main statue, Rs 235 crore on the exhibition hall and convention center. Another Rs 83 crore will be spent on the bridge connecting the memorial to the main land, while Rs 657 crore will be for maintaining the structure for 15 years,” Patel said.This statue would be double the size of New York’s ‘Statue of Liberty’ and would inspire future generations, she said, adding, “It would generate employment in the tribal areas of Narmada district as well as boost the tourism sector.”

CBI raids: Modi’s use of CBI won’t scare me, says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

The CBI had earlier clarified it carried out searches at the office of Kejriwal’s Principal Secretary Rajender Kumar’s office at the Delhi Secretariat and not that of the Chief Minister.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

PTI
A combative Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, furious over the CBI raid at the Delhi Secretariat, on Tuesday alleged that the day-long action by the probe agency was to look for an inquiry committee file relating to Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) that “traps” Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.”It has become necessary to reveal that why did the CBI come to my office today and which was the file they were looking for. This is the DDCA file under which Arun Jaitley is getting trapped. (Ye file hai DDCA ka file jiske andar Arun Jaitley phas rahe hain),” the Delhi Chief Minister claimed.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Kejriwal said his government had set up an inquiry committee to probe alleged irregularities in DDCA which had submitted its report.”Jaitley was the DDCA President for many years and I had set up a committee to probe all the corruption that has taken place during his tenure. The committee has submitted its report and a commission of inquiry was to be set up over it, and a file pertaining to it was in my office,” alleged Kejriwal.The CBI had earlier clarified it carried out searches at the office of Kejriwal’s Principal Secretary Rajender Kumar’s office at the Delhi Secretariat and not that of the Chief Minister. The action was in connection with allegations against Kumar of favouring private companies in awarding government contracts from 2007-2014.The Chief Minister said the sole motive of the raid was to “target me” and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologise to the nation for his “misdeeds”, saying only then he will tender apololgy for calling him “coward and a psychopath”.After a meeting with his Cabinet colleagues and senior AAP leaders that lasted around two hours, Kejriwal said the Centre will not be able to scare him and that he will continue to fight till his last breath.”They have no interest in the contracts awarded by Rajender. If he had awarded contracts in 2007, what were you doing till 2015 Modiji? It’s been long that your government has come. I want to tell you Modiji, you have scared others through the CBI but Kejriwal won’t get scared. You know what am I made of. I will fight for the country till my last breath but will never get intimidated. Modiji’s use of the CBI and other means won’t scare me, I want to tell him clearly. They say that my choice of words were incorrect, but your actions are bad. My words may be bad, I was born in Siwan village of Haryana. Maybe my words were bad. But your actions are bad. You apologise to the nation for your misdeeds and I will apologise for my words,” he said.The CBI today conducted searches on the third floor of Delhi Secretariat, housing the offices of both Kejriwal and Kumar, in connection with a case which was forwarded to it by Anti-Corruption Branch headed by senior Delhi Police Joint Commissioner M K Meena.Senior official Asish Joshi had filed a complaint to ACB in July that Kumar was favouring a particular company in procurement of IT equipment. Joshi had filed the complaint after he was sacked by the government as member-secretary of the Delhi Dialogue Commission.”What interest did the CBI have in the Chief Minister’s files? Files signed by him as recently as yesterday and important affidavits? Why did the CBI raid that room? Their intention was to find out things against Kejriwal. Want to categorically say that Kumar is just an excuse,” said Sisodia.The Deputy Chief Minister said the CBI sleuths did not even let CM’s media advisor to enter Delhi seccretariat.”The government must clarify whether they have imposed an undeclared emergency,” a visibly agitated Sisodia said.Sisodia claimed the purpose of the raid was also to send a message to officials that “if they worked with Kejriwal honestly, they will be troubled”. A CBI spokesperson said reports from certain quarters regarding searches at the office of Delhi Chief Minister “are baseless”.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar slams Centre for CBI raid at Delhi CM Kejriwal’s office

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday came out in support of his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal and slammed the CBI raid in the CM office by calling it a “breach of decency in the relationship between the Centre and the state government.”

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar enjoys good relations with his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal.
File Photo
PTI
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday came out in support of his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal and slammed the CBI raid in the CM office by calling it a “breach of decency in the relationship between the Centre and the state government.””It’s a matter of utter surprise. It has breached the decency in the relationship between the Centre and the state government,” Kumar told reporters while slamming the NDA government at the Centre for the raid.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”Our federal structure is based on mutual faith and respect for each other. Hence, utmost care should have been taken before taking any such step,” Kumar said.”If there is allegation against somebody, I cannot advocate that it should not be probed. But, inquiry should be done in a proper way,” the Bihar Chief Minister said.”If there is some accusation on somebody it should be probed. But, if you are going to Chief Minister’s office, then did he have prior information about it? Is the accusation related to present post of the person concerned?” Kumar asked.”If there is some past issue which has nothing to do with today’s condition, then what message has gone?” he said.”Such message is dangerous for democratic and federal structure and nobody can support this,” Kumar said.The Bihar CM enjoys good relations with his Delhi counterpart and Kejriwal had attended Kumar’s swearing-in ceremony in Patna recently.

From Mamata to Anupam Kher: How Twitter reacted to Kejriwal’s ‘Modi is Psycho’ comment

Anupam Kher won this round with the perfect picture.

It’s by every stretch of imagination, a lovely time to be a journalist. With the advent of Twitter, we get to see politicians sans filters and today it was Arvind Kejriwal’s turn to lose his complete cool. After his office was raided by the CBI, Arvind Kejriwal blasted Prime Minister Modi and called him a ‘coward and a psycopath (no h)’.The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader claimed that the CBI had sealed his office. The CBI denied raiding or sealing the CM’s office and claimed that it was searching the office and home of senior bureacrat Rajender Kumar who has been accused of corruption. Reportedly, Rs 2.4 lakh was found in RRajender Kumar’s home. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, known for high levels of tolerance for cartoonists and dissenters, claimed that she was shocked by the move: “Sealing of a Chief Minister’s office is unprecedented. I am shocked.” Retweeting her comment, Arvind Kejriwal claimed it was an ‘undeclared emergency’.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Replying to sharp attack, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said: “The office of the chief minister of Delhi has not been raided. The raid has nothing to do with Mr Arvind Kejriwal or his tenure as chief minister. The search is against an officer.” Kejriwal however accused the finance minister of lying. Day ago, Arvind Kejriwal had told a leading news channel: “There is definitely a vendetta against AAP. Five of our MLAs have been arrested on flimsy grounds.”Here are Arvind Kejriwal’s tweets: And here’s how everyone reacted. PS — Anupam Kher wins this round. Haha, So Shourie. That is unacceptable from a public figure. Seems legit. Is that a Gunda reference?

CBI raids: Sealing of CM’s office unprecedented, says Mamata Banerjee

“Sealing of a Chief Minister’s office is unprecedented. I am shocked”, Banerjee tweeted.

Amidst claim by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that his office was raided by CBI, his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she was “shocked” by the “unprecedented action”.”Sealing of a Chief Minister’s office is unprecedented. I am shocked”, Banerjee tweeted.Kejriwal’s claim was denied by the CBI as well as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Rajya Sabha where the opposition created an uproar and forced a couple of adjournments.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”CBI raids my office,” Kejriwal claimed in a tweet. TMC national Spokesperson Derek O’ Brien said in a statement that his party demanded clarification from the Centre on the raid.”CBI raid on Arvind Kejriwal’s office is unprecedented.The union government has to clarify. Has emergency been declared?,” he said.TMC would take up the matter in the Rajya Sabha, he said.”Trinamool has given notice in the Rajya Sabha under Rule 267 to suspend usual business and immediately take up discussion on the issue,” he said.

‘Dictator’ PM Modi using CBI as ‘political instrument’: AAP

“The CBI (conducts) raids only when they receive a credible complaint and they want to investigate the corruption. Does Arvind Kejriwal want to protect corruption,” asked Javadekar.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday alleged that a ‘dictator’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi was using the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as a ‘political instrument’ to suppress the opposition.”The CBI is being used as a political instrument by Mr. Modi, who has turned into a dictator after realising that he has lost popular support in the country. I am amazed that the media of the country believes that Chief Minister’s office has not been raided. If the media believes that this is no violation of the federal structure in the country than I am sorry. It is an attack on the democratic fabric of the country,” AAP spokesperson Deepak Bajpai told ANI.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”A dictator is ruling this country and the people of the country will not take it lying down they will come out and respond,” he added.Bajpai further said the people of the country will stand up and respond to Prime Minister Modi-led NDA Government at the Centre.The government, however, justified the CBI raid on the Delhi Secretariat with Minister of State for Environment and Forests Prakash Javadekar alleging that the hypocrisy of AAP stands exposed.Javadekar dubbed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s reaction on the CBI raid as ‘atrocious’.”The CBI (conducts) raids only when they receive a credible complaint and they want to investigate the corruption. Does Arvind Kejriwal want to protect corruption,” asked Javadekar.”Instead of immediately taking action against his own officials, who are found for corruption, he is accusing the Prime Minister. This is worst kind of politics,” he added.Javadekar alleged this is the worst scenario Delhi has ever witnessed as a sitting Chief Minister is protecting corruption.Refuting Kejriwal’s allegation on the raid on Chief Minister’s office, the CBI has said that the raid was conducted on the Principal Secretary’s office following a warrant.Kejriwal has accused the CBI of ‘lying’ and asserted that the investigating agency was looking at the files in the Chief Minister’s office.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal claims CBI raids his office; CBI, Jaitley deny

The Chief Minister, however, claimed that his office was raided which was denied by the CBI as well as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Rajya Sabha where the opposition created an uprorar and forced a couple of adjournments.

Kejriwal claims CBI raids his office; CBI, Jaitley deny charge

PTI
Amid claims and counter-claims, CBI on Tuesday raided the office of an officer of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a corruption case that led the AAP chief to call Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “coward and psychopath” and intensifying the face-off between AAP and Centre.The Chief Minister, however, claimed that his office was raided which was denied by the CBI as well as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Rajya Sabha where the opposition created an uproar and forced a couple of adjournments.”CBI raids my office,” Kejriwal claimed in a tweet. “When Modi cudn’t handle me politically, he resorts to this cowardice. Modi is a coward and psychopath,” he said in another tweet expressing his anguish over the raids.A CBI Spokesperson, however, said the searches were being conducted only at the office of the Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar. Searches were being conducted at 14 locations in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. CBI sources claimed the case is against Kumar and six more accused.In the Rajya Sabha, Jaitley said Kejriwal’s office was not raided and that the raid was in relation to a case of alleged corruption against an officer of the Delhi government. The CBI raid has nothing to do with Kejriwal or his tenure and that the graft case against the officer also pertains to his past, he added.This was countered by Kejriwal who tweeted, “FM lied in Parliament. My own office files are being looked into to get some evidence against me. Rajender is an excuse”.The BJP also hit back at Kejriwal with Union Minister Prakash Javadekar saying the CBI was only probing a complaint of corruption against an officer and maintained it has nothing to do with Kejriwal’s office.CBI sources said that a team of its officials went to the Delhi Secretariat, which houses office of Kejriwal and other ministers in the morning and conducted the search in the third floor of the building. The CBI said it has registered a case against Rajendra Kumar on allegations of abusing his official position by “favouring a particular firm in the last few years in getting tenders from Delhi government departments.” “After taking warrants, searches are being conducted in the office and residence of Rajendra Kumar. The allegations against Rajendra Kumar were raised by Ashish Joshi, former Member Secretary, Delhi Dialogue Commission,” the agency said.The third floor of the secretariat also houses Kejriwal’s office.Delhi Government and AAP reacted angrily to the “raid”, calling it a “darkest” day and “undeclared emergency” in the history of Indian democracy.Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia claimed the Centre was controlling the CBI and claimed the raid at Rajendra Kumar’s office was aimed at sending message to officials “if they worked with Kejriwal honestly, they will be troubled.” Another AAP leader Ashutosh said CBI is “lying to the teeth” for saying that the office of the chief minister was raided and attacked Modi.BJP condemned Kejriwal for the kind of language used to criticise Modi and said it was “absolutely unacceptable”.”Does he want to protect the corrupt?,” Javedekar asked, adding, “Instead of taking action against the corrupt, he is accusing the prime minister. This is absolutely unacceptable.”

Modi govt constantly humiliating non-BJP CMs, alleges Congress

Party’s senior spokesman Anand Sharma said that Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was not the only Chief Minister “insulted” by the Centre.

PTI
Amid the row over “insult” to Kerala Chief Minister, Congress on Monday made a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government charging it with constantly “humiliating” non-BJP Chief Ministers and also attempting to “destabilise” Congress governments.Party’s senior spokesman Anand Sharma said that Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was not the only Chief Minister “insulted” by the Centre.”There are complaints against the Prime Minister from other State government’s also. On Sept 27, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddharamiah was not invited to Indo-German conclave in Begaluru.”<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was not invited to a function concerning a Metro between Delhi-Faridabad where the Prime Minister was the chief guest, he recalled. He alleged that Governors appointed by BJP – all RSS supporters, are getting involved in day to day running of government, which was beyond their mandate.Turning to the Kerala issue, he claimed that the letter that is being circulated by BJP is written after the Chief Minister had been asked to recuse himself from the event by the Officer on Special Duty of the Prime Minister. He said that the Chief Minister did not wanted to embarrass the Prime Minister and he wrote the letter after the OSD asked him whether he agreed to recuse himself from the function.”Despite talking about co-operative federalism, they are constantly slighting non-BJP Chief Ministers….They are attempting to destabilise Congress governments”, he said without elaborating.

No demolition without rehabilitation, says Kejriwal after meeting Suresh Prabhu

Railways had undertaken a demolition drive at Shakurbasti on Satuday removing about 1,200 slums and shops in the area. The drive caused a storm over the death of a child in the area

PTI
Enraged over a railway demolition drive in west Delhi that has been blamed for the death of a 6-month-old infant, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday met Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, announcing that there will be no further slum demolitions without rehabilitation.”In principle, it was decided that there will be no demolition anywhere without rehabilitation in the coming days,” Kejriwal said after meeting Prabhu.The Chief Minister along with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and senior Delhi government officials met Prabhu at Rail Bhawan here. The meeting lasted for about 30 minutes. “If any land is required for whichever railways projects, they should give us a schedule and Delhi government will first rehabilitate them before demolition,” Kejriwal said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Railways had undertaken a demolition drive at Shakurbasti on Satuday removing about 1,200 slums and shops in the area. The drive caused a storm over the death of a child in the area. While Delhi government alleged that the child died during the drive, Railways maintained that the toddler died much before the removal of encroachment. Describing the meeting with Prabhu as “very good”, Delhi CM said, “It was a good discussion. He (Prabhu) had very positive attitude.”Kejriwal noted that Railways will have to provide a list of the city land to be used for rail projects to the government. “It was decided that railways will give us the schedule in the next three/four years wherever railways wanted land for its development. Delhi government will first rehabilitate them as per its rehabilitation policy. We will give houses to them to shift,” he said. Senior railway officials had met Kejriwal yesterday explaining the need for the removal of encroachment on railway land.Railways, on its part, maintained that the removal of “fresh encroachment” was necessary for expanding the infrastructure and that the action was taken in the slum area after sending three notices, the first one being with March 14, 2015 deadline.”Currently we have given 594 houses to shift them in a peaceful manner with police. First rehabilitation and then the land will be transferred after being vacated,” Kejriwal reiterated. “I have said, within five years, the government as per the policy, will rehabilitate those vacated, either in the same spot or nearby areas. Then the land will be handed over to Railways,” he added.

Supreme Court raps Uttar Pradesh govt for not appointing Lokayukta

The apex court, on December 4, had issued notice to the state government on a separate plea asking why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against it for non-compliance of its order to appoint a new Lokayukta in the state.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav
File Photo
PTI
The Supreme Court on Monday rapped the Uttar Pradesh government for not appointing Lokayukta in the state despite its directions and ordered compliance by December 16, saying it seemed that appointing authorities have their “own agenda”.”Why do you not appoint the Lokayukta? Why has our order not been complied with? Why can’t the Chief Minister, the Governor and the Chief Justice (of the High Court) sort this out?,” the bench comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi and N V Ramana said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”We don’t mince words. It seems, each one of you have your own agenda… you make the appointment by Wednesday,” it said while fixing the petitions on the issue for hearing on December 16. The bench was critical of the submissions made by the Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh that the needful would be done shortly.”Last time also, you had said the same thing,” the bench said.The bench was hearing the pleas filed by Mahendra Kumar Jain and lawyer Radhakant Tripathi seeking a direction to the state to appoint the Lokayukta at the earliest in pursuance of the Supreme Court orders. The apex court, on December 4, had issued notice to the state government on a separate plea asking why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against it for non-compliance of its order to appoint a new Lokayukta in the state.On April 24, last year, the court had upheld the constitutional validity of amendment in UP Lokayukta Act for fixing eight-year tenure for the anti-corruption ombudsman. It had also directed the state government to take steps for selecting new incumbent of Lokayukta Justice (retd) N K Mehrotra within six months.The apex court had in July this year taken note of a contempt petition alleging non-compliance of its on April 24, 2014 order and directed the state to do the needful within 30 days.The contempt plea, filed by Sachidanand Gupta, had alleged disobedience by the state government. Advocate Kamini Jaiswal, appearing for Gupta, had said that the state administration needed to be issued contempt notice for its brazen defiance of the orders. Justice Mehrotra was appointed as Lokayukta on March 16, 2006 for six years and later, the government granted him a two-year extension by amending the Act under which the tenure was extended to eight years or till a successor took over.While upholding the constitutional validity of the amendment to the UP Lokayukta Act, the court, in 2014, had directed the state government to take steps to select a new ombudsman within six months.

Congress, BJP clash in Lok Sabha over withdrawal of invite to Kerala CM Oommen Chandy

Home Minister Rajnath Singh dismissed the charge as “baseless” and said the decision to withdraw the invite to Chandy for the event in Kerala was taken by SNDP, a social organisation which is hosting it, due to its “internal row” and the government had nothing to do with it.

Oommen Chandy
File Photo

Congress and BJP members clashed in the Lok Sabha on Monday over the exclusion of Kerala Chief Minister from a Prime Minister’s event on Tuesday with the former alleging that the PM’s constitutional position was being used for “political vendetta”, a charge denied by the government.Home Minister Rajnath Singh dismissed the charge as “baseless” and said the decision to withdraw the invite to Chandy for the event in Kerala was taken by SNDP, a social organisation which is hosting it, due to its “internal row” and the government had nothing to do with it. The Speaker was forced to adjourn the House earlier due to the uproar over the issue, along with the protests by AAP members against demolition drive in the national capital.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>K C Venugopal (Cong) raised it during the Zero Hour soon after the House reassembled noon. “It is an agonising issue which has seriously affected emotions of people of Kerala and the country. It is a serious breach of political morality… Due to the unfair political move by the ruling party at the Centre (BJP), he (Chandy) was dropped. The entire state is shocked and agitating. The PMO or the Prime Minister has a hand in this. Humiliating the Chief Minister is humiliation of Kerala. The constitutional position is being used for political vendetta,” Venugopal said.Citing the programme schedule sent to the PMO by the state’s protocol department, he said it included the name of Chandy who was to preside over the function while Modi was to unveil the statue of former state chief minister R Shankar. “This is against cooperative federalism. The Prime Minister like always is keeping unjustifiable silence,” he said.Rejecting the charge as “unfounded and baseless”, the Home Minister said it was true that SNDP had first invited Chandy which led to some “internal row” within it and the organisation then adopted a “unanimous resolution” saying the Chief Minister should not come. “Who is invited and who is not is a decision for the SNDP to take and the government has nothing to do with it,” Singh said. Asserting that the central government does not want any confrontation with states, the Minister said it had taken many steps to strengthen “cooperative federalism”. Venugopal said the event has been projected as a private event due to political reason.Saugata Roy (TMC) was heard saying that the Prime Minister should not go to the event amid protests by Congress and Left members. The members of the three parties soon staged a walk out, along with those of the NCP and RJD.Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy cited a letter by Chandy quoting him that he would not be attending the event as he was not available. Rudy said Venugopal’s charge was absolutely incorrect. SNDP, an organisation of Ezhava community, has entered into an political alliance with the BJP.

RSS used women to stop me from entering Assam temple: Rahul Gandhi

“When I went to Assam I wanted to visit a temple in Barpeta district. And at the temple the RSS people they stopped me entering the temple. This is the way the BJP operates.

Rahul Gandhi on Monday claimed that he was stopped from entering a temple in Barpeta by RSS workers during his recent visit to Assam, saying this was BJP’s style of politics which was “unacceptable”.A furious Congress Vice President, who said he wanted to raise three issues, also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy being not invited to an event to be attended by him in Kollam on Tuesday, saying he has “insulted” the people of the state.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Rahul was interacting with reporters while taking part in a protest by the Congress outside Parliament House over the law and order situation in the state.”When I went to Assam I wanted to visit a temple in Barpeta district. And at the temple the RSS people they stopped me entering the temple. This is the way the BJP operates.””They made the woman there stand in front of me and told me that I cannot enter into the temple,” he said, and asked, “Who are they to stop me?,” Rahul said.Rahul, who was in Berpeta last Friday, said he visited the temple later in the evening when the RSS workers had left the place.Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi yesterday alleged that BJP and RSS had conspired to not allow Rahul to enter Barpeta Satra during his visit to the state.On the Chandy issue, Rahul alleged the Prime Minister has insulted the people of Kerala, claiming he has “stopped our chief minister” from going to a function.”Chief Minister of Kerala represents the people of Kerala. Chief Minister of Kerala is the voice of the people of Kerala and the Prime Minister had insulted that voice. This is simply not acceptable to us,” he said.A controversy had erupted last week over the decision of SNDP, an organisation of backward Ezhava community, to exclude Chandy from attending the unveiling of former Chief Minister R Sankar’s statue by the prime minister in Kollam on Tuesday.Chandy in a press note had stated that he was “deeply saddened” over him being kept away from the function following a request of Vellappally Natesan, organiser of the event.Referring to issues relating to Punjab, Rahul alleged that innocent people have been butchered in the state.”You are all aware what has happened in Punjab. Innocent people have been butchered. This is completely out of order, out of line,” he said. The Akali Dal-BJP combine is in power in Punjab.The Congress Vice President concluded by saying that the BJP has to change its style of functioning.”Whatever has happened is not acceptable to people of Kerala, not acceptable to people of Punjab, not acceptable to people of Assam,” Rahul said.Chandy had said that though he should have been present at the function being attended by the prime minister and also because Sankar was a former chief minister and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief, he was forced to take the decision to stay away, following the organisers’ request.

Oommen Chandy Invitation Row: PM has insulted Kerala, says Rahul Gandhi

Speaking to media, Rahul Gandhi said, “PM has insulted the people of Kerala by stopping the Chief Minister from attending the function. This is not acceptable to us,” Mr Gandhi said.

PTI
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused PM Modi of insulting the people of the state over a function to which Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has not been invited.Modi will undertake his first visit to Kerala which is already in controversy after Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said he was being kept away from a function where the PM will be present by an outfit of Hindu Ezhava community.Speaking to media, Rahul Gandhi said, “PM has insulted the people of Kerala by stopping the Chief Minister from attending the function. This is not acceptable to us.”<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The Prime Minister will inaugurate the Combined Tri services commanders conference at INS Vikramaditya, the largest aircraft carrier of the country, on Tuesday.Later, Modi will be attending two functions close to the backward Ezhava community, apparently in an effort to woo them with assembly polls expected early next year.Modi will unveil the statue of former Kerala Chief Minister late R Sankar, a well-known leader of the Ezhava community, who had headed the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) and the Kerala PCC.However, the programme has run into controversy with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy allegedly being asked to stay away by SNDP General Secretary Vellapally Natesan. Chandy himself in a press note had brought up the issue saying he would not be attending the function as Natesan had requested him not to attend and was “deeply saddened”.Natesan has not stated the reason for asking Chandy to keep away from the function.Chandy has already informed Prime Minister’s office that he would not be attending the function.Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi described the action as pettiness of the worst kind and wanted that Prime Minister should himself refuse to go to the function.(With agency inputs)

Narendra Modi on first Kerala visit as PM amid row over snub to Oommen Chandy

However, the programme has run into controversy with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy allegedly being asked to stay away by SNDP General Secretary Vellapally Natesan. Chandy himself in a press note had brought up the issue saying he would not be attending the function as Natesan had requested him not to attend and was “deeply saddened”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake his first visit to Kerala from Tuesday which is already in controversy after Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said he was being kept away from a function where the PM will be present by an outfit of Hindu Ezhava community.The Prime Minister will inaugurate the Combined Tri services commanders conference at INS Vikramaditya, the largest aircraft carrier of the country, on Tuesday.Later, Modi will be attending two functions close to the backward Ezhava community, apparently in an effort to woo them with assembly polls expected early next year.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Modi will unveil the statue of former Kerala Chief Minister late R Sankar, a well-known leader of the Ezhava community, who had headed the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) and the Kerala PCC.However, the programme has run into controversy with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy allegedly being asked to stay away by SNDP General Secretary Vellapally Natesan. Chandy himself in a press note had brought up the issue saying he would not be attending the function as Natesan had requested him not to attend and was “deeply saddened”.Natesan has not stated the reason for asking Chandy to keep away from the function. Chandy has already informed Prime Minister’s office that he would not be attending the function.Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi described the action as pettiness of the worst kind and wanted that Prime Minister should himself refuse to go to the function.”It is an insult of the Constitutional position of a Chief Minister. PM should respond ….and should even refuse to go himself (to the function) as the deceased former Chief Minister of Kerala and also the current one have been insulted by this petty act,” Singhvi said.When asked if the Congress could raise the matter in the Parliament, Singhvi said “we have all options open.” Soon after his arrival at Kochi, his first to the state after assuming office as Prime Minister in May last year, by a special airforce flight by 4.10 PM at the INS Garuda naval air station, he will leave by helicopter for Thrissur to address a public meeting of BJP workers at 5 PM.After the meeting, Modi will return to Kochi and stay there, a government press release said.On December 15, the Prime Minister will receive a tri service guard of honour at INS Garuda and inaugurate the Combined Tri services commanders conference.Modi will also be visiting the Sivagiri mutt and pay homage at the samadhi of social reformer Sree Narayana Guru and offer floral tributes and plant a sapling.He will then move to Vaidika Mutt, where Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore had met the Guru 90 years ago.He will also be planting a tree sapling, Swami Sachidananda, General coordinator of the Prime Minister’s visit said.Sachidananda, General coordinator of the Prime Minister’s visit said.A large plaque of ‘Daiva Dasakam’, inscribed in Malayalam along with its English translation, will be unveiled by Modi. He will then proceed to Sarada mutt in the Sivagiri campus and address the public for a few minutes.Modi will then return to Delhi via Thiruvananthapuram airport by 5.15 PM in a special Airforce flight.

Sikhs will never forgive Congress for 1984 riots, says Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal

Badal said besides “planning this genocide”, Congress has rubbed salt into the wounds of Sikhs by “shielding and honoring” the perpetrators of this barbaric incident with coveted positions.

RNA
The Sikh community will never forgive the Congress for “hatching” the conspiracy of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday said.”The wounds of 1984 Sikh carnage will remain afresh in the psyche of every Sikh, and the Sikh community will never forgive Congress for hatching the conspiracy of this dastardly act,” Badal said.After laying the foundation stone of a new police station building here, the Chief Minister said it was a well-known fact that the “heinous crime”, in which hundreds of innocent Sikhs were massacred, was “planned and executed” by the then Congress government at the Centre.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Badal said besides “planning this genocide”, Congress has rubbed salt into the wounds of Sikhs by “shielding and honoring” the perpetrators of this barbaric incident with coveted positions.The Chief Minister said Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), being the sole custodian of rights of Sikhs, had raised the issue of justice for victims of this genocide with the Government of India time and again, and this crusade will continue till exemplary punishment is not ensured to the guilty.Badal said he had also taken up this issue with the NDA government at the Centre, which has assured to give justice to the victims of this genocide”This issue has bruised the psyche of every Sikh and SAD is duty-bound to ensure that its perpetrators were brought to the book,” Badal said.Refuting the charges of political vendetta leveled by the opposition parties, the Chief Minister said not even a single case has been registered by police out of vendetta and such allegations are totally baseless.However, Badal said if anybody has any grievance regarding it, then they could directly approach him with facts.The Chief Minister said the state government was examining the allegations regarding fake encounters leveled by a former cop Parminder Singh Pinky.However, he said that the person who was levying these allegations was not having any credibility.The Chief Minister further said that the state government was laying special focus on maintaining law and order in the state for which special thrust was being laid on construction of police stations and modernization of police.He said under this scheme, new buildings of police station at Chohla Sahib would come up at a cost of Rs 1.56 crore and that at Tarn Taran would be constructed at cost of Rs 2 crore.Earlier, addressing the public gatherings during Sangat Darshan at village Tur, Khan Chabri and Kahlwan, the Chief Minister said the massive response to ‘Sadbhawna’ rallies in various districts of state have proved that the people of Punjab want peace and progress in the state and there was no space for divisive agenda in the state.He said peace and harmony were the basic ingredients of progress and prosperity of any country.He said peace and harmony were the basic ingredients of progress and prosperity of any country.Recalling the turbulent times of militancy, Badal said more than 21,000 innocent people lost their lives during those times and Punjabis paid a heavy price of that period as due to it, the state lagged behind in development.He said ‘Sadbhawna’ rallies were being organized not for any political purpose, but for promoting ethos of peace and communal harmony in the state.