yadav | Yuva Sai Sagar

Jammu & Kashmir: Security forces gun down two terrorists in Pulwama

Two AK47 rifles, four magazines of AK 47 and other war-like stores were recovered from the site of the encounter.

dna Web Team

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December 31, 2015

Narrow escape for 171 passengers of AI flight as dog strays on runway

After carrying out the necessary check-ups, the plane took off at 7.13 pm for its destination, after nearly four hours of delay.

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December 31, 2015

Noida jinx will keep Akhilesh Yadav away from meeting PM

With palace intrigues already at play within the ruling Yadav clan itself, Akhilesh seems to be unwilling to take any chances.

Deepak Gidwani

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December 31, 2015

Delhi govt suspends two officers; 200 colleagues threaten to go on mass leave

However, these two SDMs are still holding their posts and doing their work.

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December 31, 2015

Darbhanga double murder case: Six detained, SHO suspended

The injured engineers were rushed to Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) but the attending doctors declared them as brought dead.

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<!– /.block –>Kejriwal’s ‘stupid’ Odd-Even formula will only create chaos in Delhi: Congress <!– /.block –>
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December 28, 2015

RSS to hold show of strength in Congress-NCP bastion

The guest listUnion and state cabinet ministers who hail from western Maharashtra would attend the convention in RSS attire. They include Girish Bapat, Chandrakant Patil, Ram Shinde and Girish Mahajan and Prakash Javadekar. Those who are not from western Maharashtra like Union minister Nitin Gadkari and chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis would be guests.

Shailendra Paranjpe
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December 28, 2015

AAP government plans aggressive publicity campaigns to make odd-even formula a success

Prasar Bharati sources confirmed receiving the Delhi government’s request and said they are in the process of taking a decision on it. The odd/even car rule was declared by the Delhi government as an emergency action to reduce air pollution levels in Delhi. The government has exempted women drivers, CNG vehicles, two-wheelers, emergency vehicles and a long list of VIPs from the scheme.

Amrita Nayak Dutta

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December 28, 2015

Article 370 can’t be abrogated, repealed or amended, rules Jammu and Kashmir HC

“It is high time for all the political parties to support the bill without excuses and explanations. The restoration of Sardar-e-Riyasat and post of Prime Minister would not mean a permanent solution to the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir but will be an act to respect the court orders and a move to satisfy the sentiments of masses,” he said.

Ishfaq-ul-Hassan
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December 28, 2015

Good news from Tadoba reserve: Tiger numbers rising

A long-term project of five years has been undertaken at Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve to monitor tigers and leopards by installing radio collars on five tigers and five leopards. The radio collar has enabled the forest officials to monitor movement of one male tiger up to 100 square kilometre area. For the last one year, data is being collected on a daily basis and at present there are at least 15 cubs in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve.

Shailendra Paranjpe
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December 28, 2015

Mumbai: Minor boy held for demanding Rs 5 lakh from actress

The Bangur Nagar police have booked the accused under section 385 (extortion) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) along with section 66 of the Information Technology (IT) Act.

dna Correspondent

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December 28, 2015

Miffed at delays in warship building, Parliamentary Panel asks for single point accountability

Currently, close to 50 warships of the Indian navy are under construction. And navy’s Maritime Capability Perspective Plan, formulated in 2005 projects a 160-ship strong force including 90 frontline combat platforms.

dna Correspondent

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December 28, 2015

From NJAC to Yakub Memon: Top cases that rocked Supreme Court in 2015

It rejected pleas seeking death penalty for Vikas and Vishal Yadav, serving 30 years jail term for brutally killing Nitish Katara in 2002. It simultaneously dismissed appeals of Yadav against the conviction and agreed to hear the limited issue as to whether the jail-term awarded to them was fair or just.

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December 25, 2015

UP minister Ompal Nehra sacked for asking Muslims to help build Ram temple in Ayodhya

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Akhilesh Yadav

Uttar Pradesh minister Ompal Nehra has been sacked, after commenting that Muslims must give up their claims on mosques in Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi and help build temples in those places.The minister made the comment on Thursday at a function in Bijnore, reports NDTV. This morning, he was sacked by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.Mr Nehra had said, “Where can a Ram temple be built if not at Ayodhya? Muslims should help in building a Ram temple in Ayodhya and a Krishna temple in Mathura and give up their claim on mosques there. In fact I would say that Muslims should join Kar Seva (volunteer) for the Ram temple.”<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has been gathering truckloads of stones for a temple at the site in Ayodhya, where the Babri Masjid once stood, and was destroyed by Hindu fanatics in 1992.

December 25, 2015

Ayodhya Ram Temple row: UP CM meets top officials, reviews situation

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Taking note of media reports in this regard, Yadav summoned top officials of Home and Police departments and directed them to take effective measures to maintain law and order in the state

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday held a meeting with top officials and reviewed the law and order situation in the backdrop of two stone-laden trucks arriving in Ayodhya on Sunday.Taking note of media reports in this regard, Yadav summoned top officials of Home and Police departments and directed them to take effective measures to maintain law and order in the state. “No one should be allowed to vitiate the law and order situation in the state. The matter of Ayodhya dispute is pending in the Supreme Court. The state government will follow the SC order in letter in spirit. No nuisance will be tolerated by anyone in the state,” Yadav said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”You (Police) should keep an eye on rumour mongers and anti-social elements and remain alert,” the Chief Minister said. He also directed to keep social media platforms under careful observation to prevent posting of “objectionable” content.The state government had on Monday sought a “confidential” report from Intelligence Department on two stone-laden trucks arriving in Ayodhya six months after the VHP announced a nationwide drive to collect stones for construction of Ram temple.

December 22, 2015

Real-life Gangs of Wasseypur: Man chops father’s killer’s body into 12 pieces!

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When he was captured by the police, he claimed that he had seen the man kill his father. Police SP Ram Suresh Yadav said that he confessed to the crime and showed no remorse.

File Photo

In a shocking murder that is reminiscent of Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur, the son of a murder victim has confessed to stabbing his killer’s father to death and chopped his father’s body into 12 pieces, one for every year of his father’s death. Alam Khan was 12 when he saw his father was murdered by a family friend in 2003, and he had secretly planned his revenge ever since. Recently, Alam Khan invited his father’s murderer over for a drink and after getting him drunk knifed him to death before using a hammer and hacksaw to dismember the body and chopped it into 12 pieces. He and an accomplice then threw the pieces of the body into the river. However, when the bags washed up on the river’s banks, police were able to recognise him because of a distinctive scar on his torso. <!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>When he was captured by the police, he claimed that he had seen the man kill his father. Police SP Ram Suresh Yadav said that he confessed to the crime and showed no remorse.

December 22, 2015

Over 3.6 crore rural people at risk due to unsafe drinking water: Government

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The Union Minister also said there are 1,318 arsenic- affected rural habitations in the country which are yet to be provided with safe drinking water.

Ram Kripal Yadav
File Photo
PTI
Over 3.6 crore people living in more than 63,000 rural habitations are exposed to health hazards due to drinking water quality problems like excess arsenic, fluoride, iron, salinity or nitrate. Of this, 1,318 rural habitations are arsenic-affected, Minister of State for Drinking Water Ram Kripal Yadav told the Upper House in a written reply.”As reported by the state governments under the Online Integrated Management System (IMIS) of the Ministry as on December 15, there are 63,378 rural habitations affected by water quality problems like excess arsenic, fluoride, iron, salinity or nitrate in one or more rural drinking water sources. The total population at risk as on December 15 is 3.6 crore,” Yadav said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The Union Minister also said there are 1,318 arsenic- affected rural habitations in the country which are yet to be provided with safe drinking water. The permissible limit of arsenic in drinking water is 0.05 milligram per litre. “Due to prolonged consumption of excess arsenic in drinking water, dermal changes are characterised including in children by increased pigmentation and hardening of the skin that is combination of melanosis and keratosis. The most common sequence is the gradual development of sported or raindrop pigmentation followed by gradual emergence of a hyper-keratotic changes. If not detected and prevented in the early stages, these manifestations may lead to cancer,” he said in the reply.Yadav said the Ministry has advised all states to commission piped water supply schemes preferably from safe surface water sources as a long-term sustainable solution. “Since such projects take certain time, the ministry has suggested the states to install community water purification plants especially in arsenic and fluoride-affected habitations so as to provide 8-10 litres per capita per day of safe water for drinking and cooking purposes, quickly,” he said.Replying to another question, the Minister said there are “no habitations in the country without drinking water facilities” as per the IMIS. He said some of the rural population living in 63,000 houses are “not getting clean drinking water” as one or more of drinking water sources at these habitations are “contaminated by chemicals” like arsenic, fluoride, iron, nitrate and salinity.Yadav informed that the government has released Rs 2758.45 crore to states in the current fiscal for providing safe drinking water to rural areas.The Minister said the government has prepared a “strategic plan” to cover 90 per cent of the rural population through piped water supply schemes by 2022. “States have been advised to set up community water purification plants or provide safe drinking water through surface water-based piped supply schemes in all remaining arsenic and fluoride-affected habitations by March 2017,” he said.

December 21, 2015

Supreme Court stays UP Lokayukta’s swearing-in

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The order came from a bench comprising Justices AK Goel and UU Lalit which took cognisance of a PIL filed against the appointment on Saturday morning.

The appointment of the UP Lokayukta, caught in a tortuous tangle since April last year, took another startling turn as the Supreme Court stayed the oath of the new incumbent on Saturday. Ironically, it was an unprecedented order of the apex court itself which had paved way for the new appointment.The order came from a bench comprising Justices AK Goel and UU Lalit which took cognisance of a PIL filed against the appointment on Saturday morning. The PIL contended that the apex court had unilaterally announced the name of Justice Virendra Singh Yadav as the new Lokayukta on Wednesday, but the order was based on incomplete and misleading information given by the state government’s counsel Kapil Sibal.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>“I filed the PIL this morning pleading that it be heard on Saturday itself as it would become infructuous if the oath was administered to Justice Yadav on Sunday morning as scheduled,” the petitioner Sachidanand Gupta told dna. “My PIL is based on the letter sent by the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court to the Governor on Thursday, excerpts of which have appeared in newspapers,” he added.The High Court CJ had reportedly stated that Justice Yadav’s name had already been scrapped, and that the apex court had been given false information regarding the names which were discussed by the three-member selection committee, comprising the CM and the Leader of Opposition besides himself, on Tuesday and Wednesday. The panel had discussed five candidates but a different list was submitted to the Supreme Court on Wednesday.In a surprising move, the apex court opened on a Saturday and heard the petition at 4.30pm. After initial arguments, the bench ruled that the matter would be heard when the court reopens on January 4. The administration of oath to Justice Yadav has been stayed till the time the petition is decided.UP Lokayukta tangle – The TimelineMarch 2012 – Lokayukta Justice (retd.) NK Mehrotra completed six-year term, granted two years’ extension the same day by Akhilesh Yadav the day he is sworn in as CMMarch 2014 – The extension also ends, but Lokayukta continues in officeApril 2014 – Hearing a PIL, Supreme Court asks UP to appoint new Lokayukta in six monthsJuly 2015 – Apex court orders state to make the appointment in 30 days; state govt. bent upon appointing its handpicked man; Governor thwarts the move, returns the file four timesAug 2015 – UP govt. amends Lokayukta Act to keep HC CJ out of the appointment process Sep 2015 – After Governor refuses to accept this Bill, the government agrees to go by the old unamended Act.Sep 2015 – CJ refuses to go along, demanding that the amendment Bill be withdrawn firstDec 14, 2015 – Apex court asks UP to appoint Lokayukta in two daysDec 16 – With state still vacillating, appoints Lokayukta, setting a historical precedent Dec 18 — Governor announces his oath to be held on Dec 20Dec 19 — SC stays oath, next hearing on Jan 4

December 20, 2015

UP CM Akhilesh Yadav lays foundation of ‘Dial-100’, says it will set an example for country

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The chief minister also said that it will instill confidence among the people of the state.
File Photo
dna Research & Archives
The foundation for UP government’s ambitious Police Emergency Response System building was laid on Saturday by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who said that response time of the police will reduce drastically when the integrated state-wide ‘Dial 100’ system comes into operation.The chief minister also said that it will instill confidence among the people of the state. The building, which will house the integrated ‘Dial 100’ system, is expected to come up by the end of next year.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”The scheme will enable the police to reach the scene of incident within 20 minutes in the rural area and the response time in urban areas will be 10 minutes in two-wheelers and 15 minutes in four-wheelers,” Yadav said.The chief minister said that ‘Dial 100’ will come into operation within a year.”This is the biggest project of the state as well as the country for modernisation of the police system and will commence within a year,” the chief minister said.He said that it will be looked upon as an example in the country. “With this scheme, people will have more confidence about their security,” he said.The chief minister said that police force is being provided with modern equipments so as to make it more strong and the process of recruitment in the force has also been simplified by his government.

December 19, 2015

UP Governor ends row, okays Lokayukta for oath

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The Governor will administer the oath of office to the new appointee on Sunday.

UP Governor Ram Naik on Friday finally gave his assent for the appointment of Justice (retd) Virendra Singh Yadav as the new Lokayukta ending a rather unseemly episode marked by controversies and uncertainty throughout the selection process.The Governor will administer the oath of office to the new appointee on Sunday.In an unprecedented step, the Supreme Court had on Wednesday used its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution and named the Lokayukta, severely chiding the Constitutional authorities responsible for the selection over the undue delay in making the appointment despite several reminders by the apex court.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Justice Yadav was one of the five candidates whose names were under consideration by the three-member selection committee comprising the Chief Justice (CJ) of the Allahabad High Court, the UP CM and the Leader of Opposition.On Thursday, the anointment of Justice Yadav had come under a cloud despite a clear order of the apex court after Allahabad High Court CJ Justice DY Chandrachud shot off a letter saying Justice Yadav’s name had already been scrapped, and that a serving judge Justice AN Mittal was the consensus choice of the three-member selection panel.However, the UP Governor has apparently chosen not to be drawn into any further controversy, and has gone by the word of law as clearly spelt out in the Supreme Court’s Wednesday order.

December 19, 2015

LS, RS adjourned abrubtly because of lack of quorum

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There were 19 members in the House at that time, compared to a minimum of 25 needed for quorum.

Parliament

Lack quorum on Friday forced abrupt adjournment of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.Rajya Sabha, which re-convened at 2.30 pm after repeated adjournments caused by Congress protests, was to take up private members’ bills as is the practice on Fridays. Soon after, most BJP and Congress members moved out of the House as the Bill to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Caste) Order 1950, moved by Vishambhar Prasad Nishad of Samajwadi Party on April 24, came up for voting. At this, Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said “if the members do not want to attend and there is no quorum, what can I do?” He then adjourned the House for the day.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>There were 19 members in the House at that time, compared to a minimum of 25 needed for quorum. For quorum, there is a need for presence of 10 per cent of members of the total strength of 250 members of a House. The Lok Sabha was also adjourned for the day, a little past 5.30 PM because of lack of quorum when the discussion on a private member bill on Compulsory Voting was in progress. Hukum Narayan Yadav, who was in the Chair, wanted to extend the sitting by one hour as on Fridays the House timings are only till 5.30 pm.He sought the sense of the House to extend the time of the sitting so that the discussion on the bill could continue. Even as most of the members agreed, N K Premachandran of RSP objected, saying that it is being done so that a bill on the rights of transgenders is not taken up. “This is a black day in Indian Parliament… It is totally unfair,” he said, demanding that the bill on rights of transgenders be taken up.Noisy exchanges ensued between the Treasury benches and him. Premachandran then raised the issue of quorum as only around 20 members were present in the House. As per the rules, the Lower House should have at least 55 members, 10 per cent of the total strength of 545 members, present for quorum. Yadav then rang the ‘quorum bell’ and in the next few minutes, nearly ten members walked into the House.However, the number still was well below the quorum, forcing Yadav to adjourn the House for the day.Amid the protests, BJD’s Tatagatha Satpathy, who was supporting Premachandran, said the matter was not a question of Congress or BJP but of a group of citizens. Countering Premachandran, BJP’s Nishikant Dubey said since it is a private member bill, there is no need for a quorum. The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014 has been prepared by N K Premachandran (RSP), Udit Raj (BJP) and Baijayant Panda (BJD). During the discussion on bill for Compulsory Voting, members of BJP differed on the practicality of implementing such a measure. Daddan Mishra (BJP) said participation of people was needed for a vibrant democracy and it was possible to introduce compulsory voting in the country. His party colleague Udit Raj said there was a need to educate people and encourage them to participate in the electoral process, though it may not possible to make in compulsory in the Indian context.Ravindra Kumar Ray (BJP) said it was everyone’s duty to strengthen democracy as “there is no alternative to democracy.” Banshilal Mahto (BJP) demanded that there should be compulsory voting and also there should be restriction on independent candidates. Kamakhya Prasad Tasa (BJP) regretted that those who do not vote often throng the elected representatives to take various kinds of advantages by getting close to them.Restrictions should be imposed on those who do not exercise their voting right, he added.Jugal Kishore Sharma (BJP) suggested that there should be a mechanism whereby people who cannot step out, can vote from their homes while citing that many people do not come out to vote fearing terrorists.Another BJP member Raman Deka said making voting compulsory is not impractical and that everyone should exercise their voting rights. Kaushalendr Kumar (JD-U) opposed the bill.

December 18, 2015

Go fight in polls, not here, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan tells BJP MP, Mulayam Singh Yadav

Speaker rebukes BJP MP and Samajwadi Party supremo over horse-trading in local body polls.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan

dna Research & Archives
A BJP MP and Samajwadi party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, on Friday, clashed in the Lok Sabha over alleged horse-trading in local body polls in Uttar Pradesh, prompting Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to tell them ‘to go and fight’ in elections in the state.Daddan Mishra, a BJP MP from Shrawasti, raised the issue of alleged horse-trading in the elections of block president and district president.”There is a lot of horse-trading taking place and polls should be conducted directly by the people. I also urge the Government of India to look into the matter,” Mishra said as he raised the issue in Zero Hour.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>To this, the Speaker said the issue was not under the purview of the Centre and was a state subject, but Mishra continued speaking on it.It was the SP chief who sprang up to defend the state government.”Let the polls happen under the eyes of people. We have no objection to it. The election results speak for itself,” Yadav said.The Samajwadi Party has fared better than the BJP in the state polls.As his party chief took charge, Dharmendra Yadav rushed to join him. He was also joined by SP member Tej Pratap Yadav, even as the two sides sparred with each other.”Wahaan jaake lado (Go and fight there). The talks on local body polls don’t happen here. Go and work there,” Mahajan said.

December 18, 2015

UP government stunned into silence

The SC verdict promises to prove ready fodder for the opposition parties’ guns, and is sure to be a big stick to beat the state government with during the upcoming winter session of the UP Legislature.

The Supreme Court’s decision on the appointment of the Lokayukta has delivered a devastating blow which has had the state government reeling under its impact.The judgment is unprecedented and has delivered a resounding rap on the knuckles to the Akhilesh Yadav regime which spent over two years dawdling over the matter despite the stern view of the apex court. On Wednesday, the government seemed to have been stunned into silence as no official reaction to the SC verdict was forthcoming till late evening.The SC verdict promises to prove ready fodder for the opposition parties’ guns, and is sure to be a big stick to beat the state government with during the upcoming winter session of the UP Legislature. Opposition leaders have slammed the Akhilesh government for making a mockery of the Lokayukta institution.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>UP Governor Ram Naik seemed to put the government in the dock as he expressed displeasure over its role in (not) appointing a new Lokayukta. “There has been an undue delay (in appointment). Despite all my efforts, the government did not take any decisive action. The (apex court) order is a lesson (for the government),” he told reporters.”This is a slap on the face for the state government which should now realize how it has circumvented the law to keep its pet incumbent in the Lokayukta office to gloss over the corruption cases of ruling party leaders and bureaucrats close to the powers that be,” said BJP spokesman Vijay Pathak.Congress leader Akhilesh Pratap Singh seemed to agree as he said: “The state government has made a mockery of the Lokayukta’s institution. They wanted to force their choice which the (Allahabad HC) Chief Justice (CJ) rightly resisted.”The criticism is not without basis. The SP government wanted its chosen judge Justice (retd.) Ravindra Singh Yadav as the new Lokayukta. Both HC CJ DY Chandrachud and Leader of the Opposition SP Maurya opposed this. Both are members of the panel, besides the CM, authorized under the UP Lokayukta Act to choose the Lokayukta. The Akhilesh government even took the unseemly step of passing a Bill in the UP Assembly to divest the CJ of this power. However, the Governor had refused to sanction this Bill. The government finally dropped the idea after the Governor had returned Justice Yadav’s file a record four times.

December 17, 2015

Amitabh Thakur will have to move govt first against his suspension: Allahabad HC

After the disposal of the appeal, in the event the petitioner was still aggrieved, then he would have an opportunity to avail the remedy before Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) in accordance with law, the court observed.
File Photo
PTI
The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday said suspended IPS officer Amitabh Thakur will have first to approach the central government through the competent authority by filing an appropriate appeal against his suspension order. It said that in the event such an appeal was filed with in 15 days from today, the central government shall dispose of the it within three weeks.After the disposal of the appeal, in the event the petitioner was still aggrieved, then he would have an opportunity to avail the remedy before Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) in accordance with law, the court observed.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>A division bench of Justice Amreshwar Pratap Sahi and Justice Attau Rahman Masoodi passed the judgement while disposing of a writ petition filed by Thakur challenging his suspension order dated July 13 this year.The petitioner alleged that the continued suspension order on account of inaction of the respondent – state and the malafide alleged deserve to be interfered with and the court should invoke its writ jurisdiction for quashing the same. A preliminary objection was raised on behalf of the respondents with regard to the maintainability of the writ petition while referring to rulings of the apex court and opposed the petition. In response, the petitioner had drawn the attention of the court to the order passed by the CAT dated November 30.”The suspension order has to be viewed in the light of the allegations raised on the issue of jurisdiction, violation of rules and malafides, if any, and the Central Administrative Tribunal is not precluded from entertaining any such petition as has been observed in the order dated November 30,” the court observed.Thakur was suspended after he had accused Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, on July 10 of threatening him on phone. He alleged that Yadav was angry because his wife Nutan had filed a corruption case against a minister in the state government. However, the state government said that Thakur was suspended on charges of indiscipline and corruption.

December 16, 2015

I am fittest person to become Prime Minister, says Azam Khan

Khan claimed that even his Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav will support his candidature for the Prime Minister’s post. “When the time comes, Mulayam Singh will propose my name,” he said.

Claiming to be the “fittest” person to become the Prime Minister, senior Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan on Tuesday said that he aspires to take up the top job and that “if Narendra Modi resigns and all MPs elect me the PM it will send a good message across the country and India will progress each passing day”.Khan claimed that even his Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav will support his candidature for the Prime Minister’s post. “When the time comes, Mulayam Singh will propose my name,” he said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>When reporters asked Khan about posters being put up in Lucknow demanding his elevation to the post of deputy chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, he said, “You are insulting me. I want to be become the Prime Minister and I deserve to hold the post. That’s why I have removed posters of me becoming deputy chief minister.”Reminded that UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had recently floated the idea of Mulayam as Prime Minister and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi as the deputy Prime Minister at an event in Delhi, Khan said, “I’m the fittest person to become the Prime Minister of the Country and I aspire to be the Prime Minister.”On the CBI raids at the office of Rajender Kumar, the Principal Secretary of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Khan said, “The central government and the BJP have shown disrespect to political beliefs… Everyone knows that it’s a bias action… I think there should not be raids at office of any chief minister of the country without prior permission.”

December 16, 2015

Emergency meeting to select a new UP Lokayukta inconclusive

The meeting, which began at 6 PM, continued for almost five hours to meet a Supreme Court deadline.

The Akhilesh Yadav Government was rapped by the Supreme Court on Wednesday for not having elected a Lokayukta.
File Photo
dna Research & Archives
The marathon meeting to appoint a new Lokayukta in Uttar Pradesh remained inconclusive on Tuesday as the selection committee failed to reach a consensus.The three-member selection committee comprising Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court DY Chandrachud and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Swami Prasad Maurya could not hammer out a name and will meet on Wednesday again, a senior official said. The meeting, which began at 6 PM, continued for almost five hours to meet a Supreme Court deadline.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The emergency meeting was held a day after the apex court pulled up the state 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”.The present ombudsman Justice N K Mehtrotra has already spent nine years in office.Pulling up the state government for not appointing Lokayukta in the state despite its directions, a bench comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi and N V Ramana said, “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?””We don’t mince words. It seems, each one of you have your own agenda… you make the appointment by Wednesday,” it said, fixing the petitions on the issue for hearing on December 16.Earlier in the day, the Governor told reporters that the state will have a new ombudsman tonight as a meeting had been convened this evening to hammer out the issue. The last meeting of the selection committee held on September 27 to appointment new Lokayukta remained inconclusive with High Court Chief Justice questioning the validity of the process after a Bill was passed in the state assembly.HC Chief Justice Chandrachud was of the view that as a Bill was passed in the state assembly, deciding name of Lokayukta could amount to its contempt. He suggested to take a legal opinion for the same. The UP Assembly had passed the Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta and Up-Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2015, to amend Lokayukta Act dropping Allahabad High Court Chief Justice from the selection committee.The bill proposed that the committee be made a four-member body comprising the CM, Leader of the Opposition, Speaker and a retired judge who would be selected in consultation with the CM and Speaker. Before this, the Supreme Court had on July 23 asked the government to suggest a name for new Lokayukta by August 23 after which the government finalised the name of former justice Raveendra Singh Yadav and sent it to the Raj Bhawan for the first time on August 5.The state government and the Governor have not been on the same page on Yadav’s nomination and the file recommending his name moved back and forth nearly half a dozen times between Raj Bhawan and the state government. The amendment was passed after the Governor refused to accept the appointment on the grounds that a proper meeting of the selection committee was not held and also the Allahabad HC Chief Justice had expressed reservations in view of Singh’s proximity to the ruling Samajwadi Party.The bill is still awaiting the Governor’s assent. With no consensus over his name, Yadav had opted out of the race for the key post by sending a letter to the chief minister.

December 15, 2015

Doing ‘our best’, will appoint new Lokayukta soon: UP after SC cracks whip on state govt

The apex court on Monday rapped the UP government for not appointing Lokayukta despite its directions and ordered compliance by December 16, saying it seemed that appointing authorities have their “own agenda”.
File Photo
dna Research & Archives
The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday said it was doing “its best” to appoint a new Lokayukta as soon as possible, hours after Supreme Court cracked the whip on the state government for not appointing the anti-corruption ombudsman even after its earlier directions. Senior government officials on Monday went into a huddle in Lucknow after the apex court’s direction to the UP government to appoint a new Lokayukta within two days.”The state government is doing all its best to appoint a new Lokayukta as early as possible,” an official spokesman told PTI. They also said that senior officials were going through today’s order.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The apex court on Monday rapped the UP government for not appointing Lokayukta 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.”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.A tug of war is being witnessed between the state government and Governor Ram Naik for the last several months over the appointment of a new anti-corruption ombudsman after justice (retd) N K Mehrotra.In August this year, the Governor had returned a file recommending Justice (retd) Raveendra Singh’s name to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for the third time.A Raj Bhawan communique had said the Governor returned the file asking the state government to follow proper procedure for the appointment. It had said that Leader of the Opposition Swami Parsad Maurya wrote to the Governor informing him that the three members of the selection committee — the Chief Minister, Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court and Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly — never met to decide the name of the Lokayukta.The state government officially recommended Singh’s name on August 5. The file has since gone back and forth thrice. Naik has made it clear he will not give his assent until the name is cleared in a meeting of the selection committee. He has also recommended that the selection committee first consider a panel of names rather than directly take an opinion on just one name.The Supreme Court had issued notice to the state government on December 4, asking why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against it for non-compliance of its order to appoint a new Lokayukta in the state. A bench comprising justices Ranjan Gogoi and NV Ramana had sought response from the state on a fresh contempt petition alleging that despite apex court’s orders to find a suitable replacement of current Lukayukta, no appointment has been made so far.Amid the tug-of-war between UP Rajbhawan and the state government, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had met Governor Ram Naik on December 9. The Governor is believed to have told the chief minister to find out a way with regard to appointment of Lokayukta after discussing the issue with Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court DY Chandrachud. The Governor does not appear to be in favour of referring the Lokayukta issue for presidential consideration as it will only prolong the matter.Naik has returned the file concerning the appointment of a new Lokayukta to the state government a number of times, each time asking the chief minister to follow the proper procedure for selecting the ombudsman. The process to select the new Lokayukta ran into rough weather after the Chief Justice had expressed his reservations against the government’s nominee Justice (retd) Ravindra Singh Yadav.The state government and the Governor are also not on the same page on Yadav’s nomination and the file recommending his name has moved back and forth between Rajbhawan and the state government. The UP Assembly has passed the Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta and Up-Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2015, to amend Lokayukta Act dropping Allahabad High Court Chief Justice from the selection committee.The bill proposed that the committee be made a four-member body comprising the CM, Leader of the Opposition, Speaker and a retired judge who would be selected in consultation with the CM and Speaker. The amendment was passed after the Governor refused to accept the appointment on the grounds that a proper meeting of the selection committee was not held and also the Allahabad HC Chief Justice had expressed reservations in view of Singh’s proximity to the ruling Samajwadi Party. The bill is still awaiting the Governor’s nod.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 within six months. The apex court, in July this year, had 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.Justice Mehrotra was appointed as Lokayukta on March 16, 2006 for six years. 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 had directed the state government to take steps to select a new ombudsman within six months.

December 14, 2015

How Modi’s Varanasi is being made secure for Shinzo Abe’s arrival

Shizo Abe with Narendra Modi
File Photo

Elaborate security arrangements are in place in this ancient temple town which is all decked up to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe today.The two leaders are likely to arrive at around 4:PM at the Babatpur Airport on the outskirts of the city.They will be received at the airport, among others, by Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Union Ministers Manoj Sinha and Kalraj Mishra.Nearly 7,000 security personnel have been pressed into service for the high-profile visit lasting about four hours.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>AT A GLANCEAfter a brief stop-over at a hotel, the Prime Ministers will drive straight to the fabled Dashashwamedh Ghat where they will watch the “Ganga Arti”, an exquisitely choreographed ritual performed daily on the banks of the river.Thereafter, Modi and Abe will interact with dignitaries over dinner wherein invitees include, besides the Governor, the CM and the UnionMinisters, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, renowned musician and Padma Bhushan awardee Pandit Channu Lal Mishra, author Neerja Madhav, Pandit Ashok Dwivedi of the Kashi Visvanath Temple Trust and a number of other prominent personalities from various walks of life.The Prime Ministers are expected to board their return flight to New Delhi at around 8:PM.
Security at the normally crowded Ghat has been taken over by the Army and the Navy while scuba divers of the National Disaster Response Force will be deployed around the make-shift stage which has been erected with the help of pontoons on the river bed.Personnel of the elite Special Protection Group (SPG) have been camping in the city since Tuesday.They are being assisted by the National Security Guard, Anti-Terrorist Squad, Central Para Military Forces and the state police.The entire 22-km-long route, from Babatpur airport to the Dashashwamedh Ghat, is dotted with posters, banners and banners of various designs, welcoming the two Prime Ministers.Some of these also carry messages in the Japanese script.Roads have been freshly macadamized while traffic restrictions have been in place since last night itself.

December 12, 2015

Samajwadi Party not for alliance in 2017 UP polls, but open for 2019 elections: Akhilesh Yadav

Speaking during ‘Agenda Aaj Tak’ conference in New Delhi, Akhilesh reiterated that he would like to see his father and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav don the role of Central leader after 2019 elections.

Akhilesh Yadav said SP will face assembly polls, which he termed as “more than agni pariksha” (acid test) on the back of “developmental” works its government has done as he listed projects his dispensation completed/has proposed.

PTI
Samajwadi Party (SP) is open for tie-up for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said on Friday even as he ruled out the possibility of forging alliance with any party for 2017 state assembly polls.Speaking during ‘Agenda Aaj Tak’ conference in New Delhi, Akhilesh reiterated that he would like to see his father and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav don the role of Central leader after 2019 elections.Akhilesh indirectly ruled out possibility of SP heading into next Lok Sabha election under Nitish Kumar, contending that the Bihar Chief Minister and RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav had considered his father as their leader when the grand alliance came into being.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”We are ready for the assembly polls. We are keeping eye on 2019 polls too. We will get clear majority in (assembly polls). So, no alliance for the state election. But it will be good if anyone is interested in joining us for upcoming elections of 2019,” Akhilesh said.Akhilesh expressed confidence that “someone” from UP will play the role of Central leader during the 2019 polls and wished the person to be a samajwadi (socialist).Asked if his party will accept Nitish Kumar as the leader going into the next general elections, Akhilesh said, “When the grand alliance (ahead of Bihar polls) took shape, Netaji was its president. All the leaders made him the president. But on internal politics, only Netaji can speak, I cannot .why SP pulled off But both Nitish and Laloo had considered him as their leader.”Akhilesh said SP will face assembly polls, which he termed as “more than agni pariksha” (acid test) on the back of “developmental” works its government has done as he listed projects his dispensation completed/has proposed.The Chief Minister termed as “big verdict” BJP-led NDA’s drubbing in the recent Bihar elections, but added it was voters in Uttar Pradesh who had defeated “communal forces” in the state first.On being asked if SP, which had pulled out of grand alliance for Bihar elections, learnt a “lesson” from the poll results there, Akhilesh said it were the “fissiparous” forces which needed to take lessons from the outcome as he referred to Dadri episode and demands of ban on cow slaughter – though without naming any organisaiton.When an attendee at the event asked the SP leader whether it was acceptable to him if Rahul Gandhi was made Prime Minister and himself as his deputy, Akhilesh referred to the offer he had made to the Congress vice president last week.”See, I had given that formula (Mulayam as Prime Minister and Rahul as Deputy Prime Minister). My father made me a Chief Minister. So, I will do something for my father,” he joked.When questioned about RSS reiterating its stand of constructing Ram temple in Ayodhya, the SP leader said, “people of Uttar Pradesh are sensible. They were deceived by acche din talk once, but that will not work with them now.” Akhilesh also dismissed a question that his party worked as “shock absorber” for NDA headed by BJP during Bihar election, saying the Amit Shah-led party and SP were “completely different” outfits in nature.Akhilesh avoided speaking directly when asked if SP will support NDA Government over GST and said his party was in favour of a formula that will “not affect states and people”.When one of the attendees asked why SP doesn’t control its leader Azam Khan from allegedly making “vicious” statements as it embarrasses Muslims in the country, Akhilesh defended his cabinet minister saying, “You don’t listen to him completely. None speaks sweeter than him.”He reiterated his government carried out developmental works in constituencies led by leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sonia Gandhi.To a teaser why SP leaders were “afraid” of CBI, Akhilesh said in a lighter vein, “Congress people can tell you better about it”.

December 11, 2015

Salute sir: Suresh Prabhu responds to distress tweet, arranges food for kid in train

The child’s father tweeted to Suresh Prabhu seeking help for the child who felt pangs of hunger after milk ran out due to the train running behind schedule.

Responding to the tweet, Suresh Prabhu swung into action and directed the DRM of Allahabad to take action in the case,
File Photo
dna Research & Archives
Responding promptly to a tweet, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu came to the aid of a hungry child traveling in a train delayed by fog, ensuring that the five-year-old was provided with milk and biscuits by the railway authorities.The child, Avish, who was travelling with his mother Kusum Yadav, boarded the Manduadih (Varanasi) New Delhi Super Fast Express early on Thursday which got delayed due to dense fog. The child’s father Satyendra Yadav, who is based in Delhi, tweeted to Prabhu seeking help for his child who felt pangs of hunger after milk ran out due to the train running behind schedule.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Responding to the tweet, Prabhu swung into action and directed the DRM of Allahabad to take action in the case, PRO of North-Central Railway Amit Malviya said on Friday. Following this, the station master of Fatehpur station provided the family with food when the train arrived there, Malviya said.When the train arrived at Kanpur Station later in the day, Railway authorities there were waiting with milk and biscuits for the child, the PRO said. Later, the mother thanked the railway officials for their prompt service, he added.

December 11, 2015

Dadri lynching: Mohd Akhlaq’s son contradicts UP govt’s claims, says will go to any extent to get justice

Mohammad Akhlaq

A day after Uttar Pradesh government claimed that the family members of Dadri lynching victim, Mohd Akhlaq, did not want any further probe in the matter, his son on Monday said he would “go to any extent to get justice”.”I haven’t said that I don’t want any further probe,” his son, Sartaj Saifi said, adding, “Meine sirf yeh kaha tha mujhe CBI probe ki abhi koi zarurat nahi hai” (I only said that presently there is no need for a CBI probe).”Insaaf ke liye, mujhe kahin tak bhi jaana pada, toh mein jaounga (for the sake of justice, I will go to any extent),” he said in various tweets from his Twitter handle @sartajsaifi162.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”Mein UP govt dwara ki gyi police karvayi se abhi tak santusth hun (I am satisfied with police probe till now),” Sartaj, who is a corporal with Indian Air Force, tweeted. When contacted, Sartaj told PTI over phone that he had got this tweeted to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s office.A UP government spokesperson had on Sunday said the mother, brothers and other kin of Akhlaq, a resident of Bishada village in Gautam Budh Nagar district whose killing in September sparked nationwide outrage, had called on Yadav at his residence here. According to the spokesperson, the family members of the victim said they were satisfied with the action taken in the case so far and with the Rs 45 lakh compensation extended to them.”They also said that they do not want any further probe in the matter,” an official release issued by the government had said.50-year-old Akhlaq was beaten to death and his 22-year-old son Danish critically injured by a 200-strong mob which barged into their house following rumours that the family had consumed beef. Cow slaughter is banned in UP. Following the incident, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had said that Sartaj was being given accommodation at IAF’s Subroto Park residential complex in Delhi.Amidst debate in political circles over the issue, the Union government told Parliament during the current Winter Session that though no inquiry has been initiated by the Home Ministry into the Dadri lynching, a report has been sought from the state government.

December 7, 2015

Dadri lynching: Don’t want further probe, victim’s family tells Akhilesh Yadav

Amidst debate in political circles over the issue, the Union government told Parliament during the current Winter Session that though no inquiry has been initiated by the Home Ministry into the Dadri lynching

Mohammad Akhlaq

The family members of Dadri lynching victim Mohd Akhlaq, whose killing generated considerable political heat in the country, on Sunday told Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav that they do not want the probe to continue into the matter while expressing satisfaction over the action taken in the case.A UP government spokesperson said that the mother, brothers and other kin of Akhlaq, the resident of Bishada village in Gautam Budh Nagar district whose killing in September sparked nationwide outrage, called on Yadav at his residence here. According to the spokesperson, the family members of the victim said they were satisfied with the action taken in the case so far and with the Rs 45 lakh compensation extended to them.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>50-year-old Akhlaq was beaten to death and his 22-year- old son Danish critically injured by a 200-strong mob which barged into their house following rumours that the family had consumed beef. Cow slaughter is banned in UP. Danish’s elder brother, Sartaj, is a corporal with Indian Air Force and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had said following the lynching incident that Sartaj was being given accommodation at Air Force’s Subroto Park residential complex in Delhi.Amidst debate in political circles over the issue, the Union government told Parliament during the current Winter Session that though no inquiry has been initiated by the Home Ministry into the Dadri lynching, a report has been sought from the state government on the incident. Meanwhile, the kin of a police constable, Azmat, posted in Bulandshahr who died allegedly due to a wrong injection in October this year, too, met the chief minister.Yadav condoled the bereaved family members and extended to them a compensation of Rs 20 lakh. He also said that strict action would be taken against those found responsible for having caused Azmat’s death.

December 6, 2015

Mulayam as PM and Rahul his deputy: Akhilesh’s formula for alliance with Congress

Akhilesh made the comments in the course of a conversation at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in Delhi in the presence of the Congress vice president. However, Rahul refused to comment when asked to respond.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday suggested that an alliance with Congress is possible in an arrangement where Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav is the Prime Minister and Rahul Gandhi his Deputy.Akhilesh made the comments in the course of a conversation at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in Delhi in the presence of the Congress vice president. However, Rahul refused to comment when asked to respond.The UP Chief Minister was replying to a question on whether he was ready to extend his “good” personal relationship with Gandhi to a political level with the Congress.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”You are asking me because I am a Samajwadi (socialist) and you also say that I get rebuked by my father (Mulayam). I also want that Netaji’s dreams are fulfilled and that I work for him. He becomes the Prime Minister and he (pointing at Rahul) Deputy Prime Minister. I am in agreement with this and will make an alliance now,” if it is found acceptable, Akhilesh said, smiling.He, however, sidestepped a question on whether an alliance with its rival BSP, like the one in Bihar where JD(U) and RJD came together, is possible in UP for the 2017 Assembly polls.”Her (Mayawati) choice is that stone made elephant statues come up. So how is that possible? I have already told you my formula,” was Akhilesh’s response, referring to his conditions for a possible alliance with Congress.Earlier, he categorically said, “there is no talk of any coalition at this point. It’s better if we don’t talk of it now.”The 42-year-old chief minister of India’s most populous state asserted that any relationship with the BJP or any of its associate organisations was not possible “because of the kind of divisions they produce and the language they use.”

December 4, 2015

Yogendra Yadav claims AAP MLA from Hari Nagar threatened to beat him up

He said that he told his Ravinder, his associate that would come to Yogendra Yadav’s home and slap him.

Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav has claimed that AAP MLA from Hari Nagar Jagdeep Singh threatened him by telling his associate that he would beat him up. He said that he told his Ravinder, his associate that would come to Yogendra Yadav’s home and slap him.He said that the MLA was most welcome to his house, but not to take his title ‘Chief Whip of AAP’ seriously.

December 2, 2015

People of Uttar Pradesh have made those speaking on love jehad silent: Akhilesh Yadav

Terming as baseless the objections raised by Centre for the land made available by the state government for setting up AIIMS in Gorakhpur, Yadav said their argument is that the approach road there is narrow.

Akhilesh Yadav

Amid an ongoing debate on intolerance in the country, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said those speaking on issues like love jehad and cow slaughter have become silent as they have been given a befitting reply by the people of Uttar Pradesh.”Several parties which were talking on cow, love jehad and other religious issues are silent now as they have been given a befitting reply in the state,” Yadav said at a function at Madan Mohan Malviya Technical University here.The chief minister also exhorted people not to get embroiled in religious issues.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Terming as baseless the objections raised by Centre for the land made available by the state government for setting up AIIMS in Gorakhpur, Yadav said their argument is that the approach road there is narrow.”If the Centre so wants, the state government is ready to make this apporach road four lane,” he said. Referring to the central government’s ‘Make in India’ campaign, he said that this dream cannot be realised without taking Uttar Pradesh along.

December 2, 2015

No written exam for recruitment of police constables in UP: CM Akhilesh Yadav

Pointing out that there is shortage of constables in the Uttar Pradesh Police, Yadav said that adequate arrangements would be done to train the applicants.
File Photo
dna Research & Archives
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday announced that there would be no written examination for recruitment to the post of police constable, adding that it would be done on the basis of physical test and the marks obtained by the applicants in high school.”Recruitment will be done very soon of thirty five constables. And the (Uttar Pradesh) Cabinet has taken the decision that examination will not be held. The recruitment will be done on the basis of marks obtained in Class 10th and 12th along with physical test,” said Yadav.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Pointing out that there is shortage of constables in the Uttar Pradesh Police, Yadav said that adequate arrangements would be done to train the applicants.

December 1, 2015

UP government to appointment 35,000 cops without written test

The move assumes significance against the backdrop of the Allahabad High Court order in September restraining Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment Board from issuing appointment letters

UP government to appoint 35,000 cops without written test
File Photo

Amid reports of intelligence inputs suggesting a looming al-Qaeda and IS threat, the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday decided to soon begin the recruitment of 35,000 police constables, doing away with the earlier practice of written examination to tide over staff shortage.The move also assumes significance against the backdrop of the Allahabad High Court order in September restraining Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment Board from issuing appointment letters to more than 38,000 candidates who were declared successful in tests after several petitioners contended that there were lacunae in the results declared.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The decision to make fresh recruitment was taken at a meeting of the state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. “Guidelines for the recruitment of police constables have been finalised and the recruitment process will start soon,” Yadav told mediapersons after the meeting.”The cabinet has decided that the recruitment will be done by preparing a merit list on the basis of marks of Class X and XII and physical test. Examination will not be conducted,” he said.According to media reports, the state government is taking special precautionary measures after intelligence warnings that terrorists might target pilgrim spots, railway stations and other unknown spots. A direction was issued by the government to beef up the security following the Dadri lynching incident and security drills were conducted with the help of bomb squads.An intercept shared by Intelligence Bureau and other intelligence agencies around mid-October with Uttar Pradesh police had stated that terror groups were trying to activate sleeper cells in various cities to launch bomb attacks.Subsequently, police across the state had been put on high alert following the five-page intercept, which also contained a list of targets, including top VHP leaders. The CM said arrangements will be made for ensuring better training of jawans for effective policing and working, especially to meet new challenges.

December 1, 2015

Pakistan spy racket busted: BSF man, ISI-linked handler arrested from Jammu

New Delhi: A BSF personnel and a Pakistani intelligence operative have been arrested for obtaining secret information related to India’s national security and sharing it with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), police said on Sunday.

Kafaitullah Khan alias Master Raja (44) and Border Security Force (BSF) head constable Abdul Rasheed were arrested from Jammu on 26 November.

Khan is a resident of Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, while Rasheed was posted with the BSF intelligence wing in the same district.

Representational image. PTI

“Khan is a handler of Pakistani intelligence operatives, and Rasheed was one of his chief sources. They were running an espionage racket which was supported by Pakistan’s ISI,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Ravindra Yadav.

“Both were arrested under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Official Secrets Act.”

Yadav said the crime branch team arrested Khan from the Jammu railway station on November 26 when he had boarded a train for Bhopal. “Later, his relative Rasheed was held.”

Yadav said the operation was conducted following tip-offs about ongoing anti-national activities sponsored by Pakistan’s ISI, which is suspected to have a network of civilian handlers and security personnel in various parts of the country.

“Some secret documents related to national security were also seized from their possession,” the official said.

Yadav said Khan has contacts in India’s security agencies through which he was procuring secret information detrimental to the security of the country.

Khan disclosed that he was working as library assistant at a higher secondary school in Manjakote in Rajouri district, Yadav said.

“Khan had visited Pakistan in 2013 where he came in contact with an ISI agent and in lieu of monetary benefit, he agreed to provide secret information about the defence forces.

“He later cultivated his sources in the army and the BSF and they started passing on information to Pakistani intelligence operatives. The information was passed through email, WhatsApp and Viber,” Yadav said.

Yadav said Khan was given specific tasks by ISI, mainly relating to the deployment of security forces and Indian Air Force operations.

IANS

November 30, 2015

Jammu: Delhi Police arrest BSF personnel, ISI operative in spying racket

The accused duo have been identified as Kafaitullah Khan alias Master Raja (44), a resident of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir.

A serving BSF personnel and a suspected ISI operative have been arrested by Delhi Police for their alleged involvement in an espionage racket – allegedly trading secret and confidential information posing threat to national security – from the railway station at Jammu, police said on Sunday.The accused duo have been identified as Kafaitullah Khan alias Master Raja (44), a resident of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir, and BSF head constable Abdul Rasheed, posted at the intelligence wing of Border Security Force in the same district, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Yadav said. “Khan is a handler of Pakistan Intelligence Operative (PIO) and Rasheed was one of his chief sources. The espionage racket run by them is supported by Pakistan’s ISI,” Yadav said, adding that the duo has been arrested under various provisions of IPC and Official Secrets Act.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Related read: Kolkata Police STF arrests 3 suspected ISI agents with strong links to Trinamool Congress Based on tip-offs about ongoing anti-national activities sponsored by Pakistan Intelligence Operative, which suspectedly has a network spread over civilian handlers and security forces personnel, Delhi Police’s Crime Branch developed a network and a few suspects were identified, said a senior police official. On Thursday, Khan had boarded a train from Jammu and was about to leave for Bhopal. He was apprehended by a police team at the railway station there and “documents having implication on national security” were recovered from his possession, said the senior official.

November 29, 2015

Nitish Kumar-Lalu Prasad ego clash to bring mid-term poll, predicts Ram Vilas Paswan

RJD, JD(U) and Congress had not forged the alliance on the basis of principle, and, as a result of which, egos of top leaders are bound to clash sooner than later, he said.

RJD, JD(U) and Congress had not forged the alliance on the basis of principle, he said.

File Photo
LJP president Ramvilas Paswan on Saturday said the Grand Alliance will not complete its full term and force a mid-term poll in Bihar due to ego clash between its top leaders, a reference to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad. “The Grand Alliance may have won a landslide mandate in the polls, but its government will not complete its full term as the egos of its leaders are bound to clash soon plunging Bihar into a political crisis followed by mid-term polls,” Paswan told reporters on the sidelines of his party’s 15th foundation day celebrations.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>RJD, JD(U) and Congress had not forged the alliance on the basis of principle, and, as a result of which, egos of top leaders are bound to clash sooner than later, he said. The Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister, however, chose not to offer any comment on inclusion of Prasad’s sons, Tejaswi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav as number two and three ministers respectively in the Nitish Kumar ministry. On Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s announcement to ban liquor in Bihar from April 1 next year, he hailed the step, but asked the former as to how will he compensate the people over deaths in family or financial losses due to sale and consumption of liquor over the past decade.On the debacle of the NDA which won only 58 seats against the GA’s 178 in the polls, Paswan maintained his earlier stand that it was not the defeat of the BJP-led coalition, but that of the people of Bihar as the NDA had contested on the sole agenda of development of the state. In a move to boost morale of his party workers, Paswan asked them to forget poll reversal and get on with the task of strengthening the party in Bihar. Paswan’s son Chirag, who heads the LJP parliamentary board, also addressed the media and said that the NDA lost the Bihar Assembly polls as the positive mood in its favour since the general elections last year waned steadily. Describing the new Grand Alliance government as ‘old wine in new bottle’, he said people should not pin great hopes on the Nitish Kumar government as it will not be able to deliver on its various promises.

November 28, 2015

UP panchayat polls: One killed in violence, magistrate injured; 74% voting recorded

In Mainpuri a 30-year-old man was killed while five persons were injured in exchange of fire between two groups during the panchayat polls even as the driver of the vehicle carrying the wounded to hospital died when it met with an accident.

Voters display their voter id cards while standing in queues to caste their votes during the first phase UP Panchayat elections in Mirzapur on Saturday.

PTI
74 % voting was recorded in first round of election for gram pradhans and panchayats in 74 districts of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday which saw stray incidents of violence that left one person dead and a magistrate injured.”Around 74 % votes were polled in the first phase. Barring stray incidents, the polling was by and large peaceful,” State Election Commissioner S K Agarwal said.In Mainpuri a 30-year-old man was killed while five persons were injured in exchange of fire between two groups during the panchayat polls even as the driver of the vehicle carrying the wounded to hospital died when it met with an accident.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Supporters of Debu Yadav and Pappu Yadav — two of the contestants for the post of village pradhan — clashed and opened fire at each other after voting started this morning in Chirra village, police said.Six persons, including Debu and his brother-in-law Ajit, were injured in the firing.The jeep carrying the injured to hospital overturned near Fardpur. The driver, identified as Avneesh (28), died on the spot whereas Ajit succumbed to injuries during treatment, they said.Agarwal said that while repoll has been ordered at a few places, FIRs were also lodged. He said that in Mirzapur a candidate Deepak Yadav along with his supporters attacked police and administration personnel in which city magistrate was injured. There were around 2.97 crore people eligibile to vote in this phase. The elections will be held in four phases.

November 28, 2015

Imagine status of woman if Sharad Yadav had drafted Constitution: Smriti Irani

“I think it is paradoxical that today Sharadji, a very senior parliamentarian, yet again told me ‘sit down, sit down.

Taking a dig at senior JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani on Friday wondered what would have been the position of women had such politicians been part of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution. Referring to a comment by Yadav, the Minister said “I think it is paradoxical that today Sharadji, a very senior parliamentarian, yet again told me ‘sit down, sit down.Imagine if such a politician was a part of the Drafting Committee. “Participating in the debate on commitment to the Constitution in Rajya Sabha, she said as a woman in India, she celebrate the fact that women in many nations across the world had to struggle to get their right to vote. Irani said she got it because my Constitution gave it so at the birth of this very nation as a Republic in 1950. “But imagine, as the Leader of the House said today, what kind of restrictions such a senior parliamentarian would have imposed on a woman like me while this was being drafted. Would I have been told ‘You have dark complexion, so you don’t have right to vote?’ Would I have been told ‘you have short hair, you have no right to vote?'<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”I see that some are disturbed by what I say. But apart from the social realities that were counted in this very House today, this also is a realty we must embrace, for the victims of such realty do not reside only outside this House, but we have witnessed this in this very House” she said. Irani further said that in September, 1949, B R Ambedkar sponsored Sanskrit as the official language of the Indian Union and supporting him, amongst many, was a gentleman called Naziruddin Ahmed. She further said a correspondent went to Babasaheb and said, “Why is Sanskrit?” and he replied “What’s wrong with Sanskrit?”. “It is ironical that six-and-a-half decades later, I too get posed that question and I have a similar response. But, this is the very evidence and the essence of a thriving Constitution which allows debates to permeate over decades till such time a consensus emerges,” the Minister said. On the notification for celebrating Constitution Day in schools, Irani said said on August 26, 2015 there was a notification, which indicates to another notification dated May 30, which included in it the need to increase awareness about the Constitution among citizens, particularly, children on the November 26. She said there has been a debate that November 26 was the day when the draft was adopted, but it was actualised in January, 1950. “But, as Indians, we cannot ignore the fact that this is the rock on which we sought to build the political salvation of our country…,” the Minister said. She further said In 1999, Justice J S Verma worked with a group of Indians to operationalise how fundamental duties are to be seen in the education sector. “…he said, presentation of the values inherent in each clause of Article 51A through anecdotal talks at morning assemblies in schools should be organised. “This, Sir, is the notification, which was subsequently given to the Central Board of Secondary Education, which said, amongst the events for the day, the School Head may address the students briefly about the significance of celebrating this day, and, also recite the Preamble to the Constitution,” Irani added. The Minister informed the House that in all CBSE schools yesterday, children flocked the morning assemblies to take oath to preserve the very values enshrined in the Constitution to celebrate the journey of this Constitution and the future it envisions for these children.

November 27, 2015

BJP questions Nitish Kumar’s silence over law-breaking by MLAs

He cited the instance of RJD MLA from Barhara, Saroj Yadav threatening an officer in-charge of Charpokhri police station on Tuesday. Sushil also drew attention to drunk driving by Congress vice president of Bhagalpur district who injured at least 12 people yesterday.

“The CM should answer what will happen to rule of law if muscle flexing by legislators continue like this,” the BJP leader said.

Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Wednesday questioned Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s silence over breaking of law by ruling Grand Secular Alliance MLAs and leaders and their supporters. Sushil Modi in a statement here referred to an incident last night in which supporters of Narendra Kumar Neeraj alias Gopal Mandal, JD(U) MLA from Gopalpur, tried to throw Deputy Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) RK Gupta from Vikramshila bridge into Ganga last night when he stopped them for wrong driving which resulted in a jam on the bridge.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>He cited the instance of RJD MLA from Barhara, Saroj Yadav threatening an officer in-charge of Charpokhri police station on Tuesday. Sushil also drew attention to drunk driving by Congress vice president of Bhagalpur district who injured at least 12 people yesterday. “The CM had assured that there would be no compromise on rule of law during a review meeting on law and order three days back. But his control over own legislators is not seen. “The CM should answer what will happen to rule of law if muscle flexing by legislators continue like this,” the BJP leader said.’Grabbing’ of official bungalows by the ruling coalition MLAs had hit the headlines in newspapers here two days ago and RJD president Lalu Prasad had talked in strong terms on it yesterday.

November 25, 2015

Suspended IPS officer Amitabh Thakur’s wife Nutan Thakur to join BJP

About the reasons for joining BJP, Nutan said BJP does not have any dynastic politics and had the highest inner democracy among political parties and also it does not discriminate between different classes

Image Credit: Nutan Thakur

Nutan Thakur, social activist and wife of suspended IPS officer Amitabh Thakur, who is at loggerheads with SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, on Wednesday expressed her intentions to join BJP in the days to come.”I have decided to join BJP. The main reason for my joining politics is that I have understood during my social activities that there is an immense need for support of a strong political party to work more effectively and efficiently for the larger social goals”, Nutan said.About the reasons for joining BJP, Nutan said BJP does not have any dynastic politics and had the highest inner democracy among political parties and also it does not discriminate between different classes.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”BJP is an all India Party and is based on the concept of Nationality. Very soon I shall be taking formal membership of the Party”, she added.Nutan’s husband is suspended IPS officer Amitabh Thakur, who had lodged an FIR against Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav for allegedly threatening him.

November 25, 2015

Lalu’s son, Bihar Health Minister Tej Pratap, asks doctors to be present 24×7

Yadav, son of RJD president Lalu Prasad, gave the stern instruction after a review meeting of health department and asked the principal secretary to the health department to ensure that doctors stay at their place of posting, according to an official statement.
File Photo
Team iamin
Bihar’s new Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav on Tuesday asked government doctors to be present on duty round-the-clock in emergency wards in all hospitals in the state.Yadav, son of RJD president Lalu Prasad, gave the stern instruction after a review meeting of health department and asked the principal secretary to the health department to ensure that doctors stay at their place of posting, according to an official statement. He also stressed that senior doctors take at least two rounds at the wards in the evening along with regular monitoring and asked the principal secretary to the health department to keep a tab on doctors who absent themselves from duty.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The minister said he would pay surprise visits to any hospital any day to see whether the order was complied with, the statement said. Yadav instructed that life saving drugs should be present in each of these hospitals so that “no patient has to roam here and there for medicines.” He also ordered to keep CT scan, MRI, X-ray machines and ventilators in good working condition and maintain cleanliness in hospitals.The minister instructed the superintendent of Patna Medical College and Hospital to ensure that no ‘dalal’ (broker) is seen roaming in the hospital to dupe hapless patients and take them to private facilities.”If need be security guards should be posted for the purpose,” Yadav said. He also asked for registration of private nursing homes.

November 24, 2015

Lalu-Kejriwal hug: Part of our ‘sanskar’ to hug guests, says Bihar Dy CM Tejaswi Yadav

The image of the Delhi Chief Minister and Prasad embracing had gone viral and put Kejriwal’s anti-graft credentials under serious question.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav

PTI
Amidst the claim by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that Lalu Prasad had “pulled and hugged him” at the swearing-in ceremony of Nitish Kumar, the RJD chief’s son and Bihar deputy chief minister Tejaswi Yadav on Tuesday said hugging a guest was part of ‘sanskar’ (tradition).”Its part of our sanskar to hug a guest who has come in a pleasant event,” Tejaswi Yadav told reporters.”Let anybody say anything … Its part of our sanskar to embrace a guest who has come to participate in a celebration. There is nothing wrong in it,” he said on Kejriwal’s comment.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The image of the Delhi Chief Minister and Prasad embracing had gone viral and put Kejriwal’s anti-graft credentials under serious question. In an effort to wriggle out of the controversy, Kejriwal had said it was the RJD chief who had “pulled and hugged him” and it did not amount to an “alliance”.

November 24, 2015

PM Modi to take Shinzo Abe to Varanasi on Dec 12

Shinzo, during his one-day visit, is expected to visit the Buddhist site Sarnath and also attend the Aarti on the banks of river Ganga along with Modi, sources said.

Both the leaders also talked about deepening of the Varanasi-Kyoto partnership

File Photo
Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe will visit Varanasi on December 12. Abe is slated to visit India on December 11. Both the leaders also talked about deepening of the Varanasi-Kyoto partnership on the sidelines of 13th ASEAN-India Summit here in the Malaysian capital of Kaula Lumpur. The two cities have been declared as twin cities.Varanasi District Magistrate Rajmani Yadav said, “An initial intimation regarding the proposed one-day visit of Japanese PM Shinzo Abe and PM Narendra Modi on December 12 has been received by the district administration here on Sunday.” “The detailed protocol for their proposed visit is still awaited, but all preparations has already began to host the duo in the temple city,” Yadav said. <!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Shinzo, during his one-day visit, is expected to visit the Buddhist site Sarnath and also attend the Aarti on the banks of river Ganga along with Modi, sources said.

November 23, 2015

Tejaswi Yadav vows to have zero tolerance towards corruption

Tejaswi Yadav

Facing criticism over his appointment as Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s son Tejaswi Yadav on Monday promised to take the state forward on the path of development and asserted that he would have a zero tolerance approach towards corruption.After assuming charge of the crucial road construction department on Monday, Tejaswi told reporters that in order to take Bihar further on the path of development there was need to strengthen infrastructure of the state including roads. “My priority would be to further enhance road connectivity in the state by linking every village. Roads were built at a great speed during the previous tenure of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. My priority would be to further accelerate the pace,” he added.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Tejaswi also made it clear that he would have a zero tolerance approach towards corruption. “Corruption will not be tolerated,” he said. His elder brother Tej Pratap also occupied the chair of the state’s health ministry today with Principal Secretary, Health, Brajesh Mehrotra welcoming him on the new assignment.In a grand event on Friday, Lalu’s sons took oath as ministers of Bihar as Nitish Kumar was sworn in as the Chief Minister of the state for the fifth time at the Gandhi Maidan. Lalu is himself disqualified from contesting any election for at least six years after his conviction in a fodder scam case in 2013.The appointment of debutante Tejaswi, Lalu’s younger son, as deputy CM instead of more experienced leaders of RJD has triggered a barrage of criticism especially in social media. On Sunday, Tejaswi had taken on his detractors, asking them “not to judge a book by its cover” and vowed to increase the value of ‘Brand Bihar’ so that Kumar feels “proud” of him.

November 23, 2015

AAP MLA Pankaj Pushkar gets thrown out of Assembly for criticising Arvind Kejriwal govt

The Timarpur MLA, who is an active member of Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan-run Swaraj Abhiyan, accused the government of having “failed” to provide better education to children.

Pushkar also attacked Goel saying the Speaker was “misusing his post by not allowing him to speak.”

Dissident AAP MLA Pankaj Pushkar was today marshalled out of the Delhi Assembly after he raised the issue of lakhs of government school students having “failed” the mid-term exams. The action was taken after Pushkar persistently raised the issue which was seen by the Speaker as disruption of House proceedings. “Out of 3 lakh class 9 students studying in Delhi government schools, 2.5 lakh students failed the mid-term exams. Government doesn’t want to allow me to take up this issue in the Assembly,” Pushkar said.The Timarpur MLA, who is an active member of Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan-run Swaraj Abhiyan, accused the government of having “failed” to provide better education to children. “With the failing of lakhs of students you can well imagine what type of education is being imparted in govt schools,” he said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Pushkar also attacked Goel saying the Speaker was “misusing his post by not allowing him to speak.” Pushkar termed the recently tabled Education Bills as an “eyewash” and alleged that they were being introduced “on the behest of private schools.”

November 23, 2015

A lot of waste comes when there is a storm, says Azam Khan on Amar Singh

Amar Singh was present when the SP supremo cut the cake at a grand function organised at Atheletics Stadium, Saifai on Saturday evening.
File Photo
dna Research & Archives
Continuing his barb against expelled Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Amar Singh, senior Uttar Pradesh Minister Mohd Azam Khan said a lot of waste comes when there is a storm.”A lost of waste comes when there is a storm. I have nothing more to say about this question,” Azam, who was in Mainpuri, while returning from Saifai told reporters when asked about Singh.On a query that the cake cutting ceremony being held before time on Mulayam Yadav’s birthday on Saturday, Azam said, “It is a conspiracy against me. I celebrated Netaji’s (Mulayam’s) birthday by cutting cake at the right time at midnight.”<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Amar Singh was present when the SP supremo cut the cake at a grand function organised at Atheletics Stadium, Saifai on Saturday evening. Yadav cut the cake around 8 pm and shared it with Singh on the dais.On a question on cow protection, the senior SP leader said that he protects animal and breed the animal at his own house. He said that recently he gave Rs 20 lakh during inauguration of cow shelter home in Mathura.”Today people breed dogs and let it sit next to them, but leave cows outside their houses to eat polythene. Cow must be protected,” said Azam. On Ganga, Khan said that he was committed to ensure smooth flow and purity of the river.

November 22, 2015

Govind Pansare case accused alleges pressure for agreeing to narco-analysis

Gaikwad, a follower of the conservative Hindu group `Sanatan Sanstha’, also alleged that he was even offered Rs 25 lakh and told that he would be made an approver if he agreed.

Pansare, a CPI leader and a noted rationalist, was shot dead near his house here by two unidentified men in February this year.

Sameer Gaikwad, arrested in the communist leader Govind Panasare murder case, on Saturday claimed that an unidentified person tried to pressurise him to agree to a narco-analysis test. He made the complaint during a court hearing which he attended through a video conference from Kalamba central jail. Magistrate S S Yadav today extended his judicial custody till December 5. Gaikwad, a follower of the conservative Hindu group `Sanatan Sanstha’, also alleged that he was even offered Rs 25 lakh and told that he would be made an approver if he agreed. The incident took place on October 9, when he was being brought to the court, he said, adding that he couldn’t see the man’s face as he (Gaikwad) had a veil on his face at the time. The court asked the police to investigate Gaikwad’s claim and file a report.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Pansare, a CPI leader and a noted rationalist, was shot dead near his house here by two unidentified men in February this year.

November 21, 2015

Kejriwal-Lalu hug: Delhi CM gets panned by parties, Twitterati

Kejriwal was criticised even on social media with many even posting a tweet of his that wrote in October 2013.

“Yesterday, Arvind Kejriwal hugged the ideology which he had been opposing,” Patra said.

File Photo
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday drew flak for hugging RJD chief Lalu Prasad during the oath-taking ceremony of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with his former colleague and Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav saying that it was a “shameful” act. Yadav, who was expelled from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), said it was not mere hugging, but the defeat of ideals to form a bloc against the BJP. “Political capital of the movement sold to symbols of political corruption. Ashamed!”<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”This is the same logic which Congress supporters used to use against the Lokpal movement. They would say that they (the Congress) are corrupt, but the Lokpal movement should not be supported as it would help the BJP. Kejriwal used the same logic, but shamed those strove against corruption,” Yadav said in a post on his Facebook page. LJP leader Chirag Paswan said he was surprised to see Kejriwal hugging Prasad. “You cannot give Lalu ji a benefit of doubt as he has been convicted in a corruption case. Kejriwal is known for his anti-corruption stand and his hugging Lalu ji indicates whether he has stopped his war against corruption.” BJP’s Sambit Patra too attacked Kejriwal saying the AAP chief used to hold one press conference after another in which he would name Prasad in his list of most corrupt politicians. “Yesterday, Arvind Kejriwal hugged the ideology which he had been opposing,” Patra said.Kejriwal was criticised even on social media with many even posting a tweet of his that wrote in October 2013. “Laloo made crores in fodder scam. But no order for recovery of that money. Just 25 lakh fine and few years in jail. A sweet deal,” the Delhi CM had tweeted.Hitting back, Kejriwal supporters claimed that it was Prasad who forcibly hugged him despite his reluctance and defended the friendly gesture between the two saying that it was nothing but a “political courtesy”.

November 21, 2015

Bihar: Here is a list of ministers in Nitish Kumar’s cabinet with portfolios

The holding of number 2, 3 and 4 positions with important portfolios like finance, road construction and health indicates the dominance of RJD, the largest constituent in the alliance government with 80 seats, in the Cabinet.

PTI
JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar who was sworn in as Bihar Chief Minister on Friday for a third straight term, kept the home portfolio with him while Lalu Prasad’s younger son Tejaswi Yadav was named the Deputy Chief Minister.The holding of number 2, 3 and 4 positions with important portfolios like finance, road construction and health, indicates the dominance of RJD, the largest constituent in the alliance government with 80 seats in the Cabinet.JD(U) saw eight new faces in the ministry. Only Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh, Shrawan Kumar and Jay Kumar Singh were members of the outgoing cabinet.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Many prominent faces of the previous ministries like Shyam Rajak, Narendra Narayan Yadav, Leshi Singh and Ranju Geeta could not find a berth in the cabinet this time.Here is a list of Nitish Kumar’s Cabinet MinistersNitish Kumar: Home, General Administration, Information & Public CommunicationTejwasi Yadav: Deputy chief minister, and will be in charge of road construction and building construction departments.Tej Pratap Yadav: He will be number three in the cabinet, and will look after health and environment departments.Abdul Bari Siddiqui: The senior RJD leader has been given the crucial finance portfolio.Bijendra Prasad Yadav: The JD(U) minister who held the finance ministry in the outgoing Nitish’s cabinet, will look after the energy department now.Ashok Choudhary: The State Congress President has been allotted the human resources department.Madan Mohan Jha: The Congress leader has been allotted the revenue portfolio.Rajiv Ranjan Singh: JD(U)’s leader has been gieven the water resources department.Jay Kumar Singh: Industry portfolio.Manju Varma: This JD(U) woman minister has been given charge of the social welfare department.Awdhesh Kumar Singh: Animal and Fishery DevelopmentVijay Prakash: Labour ResourcesAnita Devi: Tourism | Muneshwar Chaudhary: MiningChandrasekhar: Disaster ManagementDr. Abdul Ghafoor: Minority Development | Chandrika Devi: TransportKapildev Kamat: Panchayat RajKhurshid alias Firoz Ahmad: Sugar Cane IndustryRamvichar Rai: AgricultureSantosh Kumar Nirala: SC/ST DevelopmentAshok choudhary: Education and ITMinisters from RJD who took oath: Tejaswi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav, Abdul Bari Siddiqui, Alok Kumar Mehta, Chandrika Rai, Ram Vichar Rai, Shiv Chandra Ram, Abdul Gafoor, Chandrasekhar, Munneshwar Chaudhary, Anita Devi and Vijay Prakash.Those from JD(U): Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh, Shrawan Kumar, Jay Kumar Singh, Krishnandan Prasad Varma, Maheshwar Hazari, Shailesh Kumar, Manju Varma, Santosh Kumar Nirala, Khursheed alias Firoz Ahmad, Madan Sahni and Kapildeo Kamat apart from Nitish Kumar.

November 21, 2015

Bihar Ministry: Lalu’s son Tejaswi Yadav to be Dy CM, RJD gets crucial portfolios

Nitish Kumar took oath as Bihar Chief Minister for the fifth time on Friday.

Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind administers oath to RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s son Tejashwi Yadav as a minister during the swearing-in ceremony of the new government at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on Friday.

PTI
Nitish Kumar on Friday took oath as Bihar Chief Minister for a third straight term at the head of a 29-member Cabinet, including Lalu Prasad’s son Tejaswi as Deputy CM, in the presence of predominantly non-BJP leaders that could indicate possible future alignments.Tej Pratap, Prasad’s another victorious son in the elections, was among those who were sworn in by Governor Ram Nath Kovind at a grand function in the Gandhi Maidan in which 12 ministers each from JD(U) and RJD and four from Congress were inducted. Both the sons of the RJD leader are first-time MLAs.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>While Kumar retained Home, Information and Publicity and General Administration departments with him, he gave Road Construction and Buildings Construction portfolio to 26-year- old Tejaswi, his Deputy CM. Tej Pratap has been given Health. Senior RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui has been entrusted with the Finance portfolio. Congress leader Ashok Chaudhary to be the next Education and IT minister. In an indication of his place in the order of pecking, Tejaswi followed the chief minister in oath taking as his parents Lalu and Rabri Devi, both former chief ministers, watched amidst full-throated cheers from the RJD activists in the gathering.Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, whose party was also a major beneficiary of the grand alliance, Minister H D West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Prime Minister Deve Gowda, National Conference leaders and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar and AIUDF leader from Assam Badaruddin Ajmal were among those present at the ceremony. Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who was deputed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was also present.A number of Congress chief ministers including Virbhadra Singh (Himachal Pradesh), Oommen Chandy (Kerala), Tarun Gogoi (Assam) and Siddaramiah (Karnataka) (CPI-M’s Sitaram Yechury, CPI’s Sudhakar Reddy and D Raja, DMK’s M K Stalin and T R Baalu also attended the event. Some allies of BJP Akali Dal Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal (Akali Dal)and Ram Das Kadam and Subhash Desai (Shiv Sena) were also present.Tej Pratap was the third personality to take oath in the ceremony where NCP leader Sharad Pawar, Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, JMM leader and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Babulal Marandi of the Jharkhand Vikas Party, also a former CM were present. Gandhi reached the venue only at the fag end of the ceremony due to late arrival from Delhi. Venkaiah Naidu sat beside RJD President Lalu Prasad and was seen talking to him from time to time. Leaders from Indian National Lok Dal, INLD and AGP attended the event.Though Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and his CM son Akhilesh Yadav were invited, SP MP Tej Pratap Singh Yadav, who is also son-in-law of Lalu Prasad, was there. Mamata Banerjee and CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury shared the stage as did Kejriwal and former chief minister Sheila Dixit and Gogoi and AGP leader Prafulla Mahanta.Rahul Gandhi shook hands and hugged RJD chief Lalu Prasad amid cheers by the crowd. Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant and elder brother Satish were present on the occasion.Lalu Prasad’s entire family including wife Rabri Devi and seven daughters along with sons-in-law sat in THE VVIP area and were seen cheering Tejaswi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav in particular.Ministers from RJD who took oath are Tejaswi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav, Abdul Bari Siddiqui, Alok Kumar Mehta, Chandrika Rai, Ram Vichar Rai, Shiv Chandra Ram, Abdul Gafoor, Chandrasekhar, Munneshwar Chaudhary, Anita Devi and Vijay Prakash. Those from JD(U) are Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh, Shrawan Kumar, Jay Kumar Singh, Krishnandan Prasad Varma, Maheshwar Hazari, Shailesh Kumar, Manju Varma, Santosh Kumar Nirala, Khursheed alias Firoz Ahmad, Madan Sahni and Kapildeo Kamat apart from Nitish Kumar.Congress is represented in the cabinet by Ashok Choudhary, Awdesh Kumar Singh, Abdul Jalil Mastan and Madan Mohan Jha. Two women, one each from JD(U) and RJD Manju Varma and Anita Devi respectively, got place in the new Bihar cabinet. Seven more could be accommodated in the Cabinet as under the constitutional provision a maximum of 15 per cent ministers of the total strength of the house is allowed.Senior Grand Allaince leaders said the coalition government has arrived at a formula of one minister for every 5 MLAs. According to this formula RJD’s share is 16, JD(U)’s 14 and Congress 5 besides CM. RJD had won 80 seats, JD(U) 71 and Congress 27 out of a total of 178 seats of alliance in the 243-member house. JD(U) saw eight new faces in the ministry. Only Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh, Shrawan Kumar and Jay Kumar Singh were members of the outgoing cabinet.Many prominent faces of the previous ministries like Shyam Rajak, Narendra Narayan Yadav, Leshi Singh and Ranju Geeta could not find berth in the cabinet this time. Congress state president Ashok Choudhary could not take oath when his name was called as he had gone to receive Rahul Gandhi. He took oath at the end after Gandhi had arrived.

November 20, 2015

Akhilesh Yadav not in favour of tie up between SP and BSP?

Responding to a question at a press conference here on the possibility of BSP and SP joining hands in UP like arch-rivals RJD and JD(U) did in Bihar, he said “the relationship between SP and BSP is different from the one between RJD and JD(U)”

Akhilesh Yadav

A day after suggesting a grand alliance in Uttar Pradesh on the lines of Bihar, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday appeared to rule out such a possibility of a tie up between SP and BSP.Responding to a question at a press conference here on the possibility of BSP and SP joining hands in UP like arch-rivals RJD and JD(U) did in Bihar, he said “the relationship between SP and BSP is different from the one between RJD and JD(U)”. When asked specifically whether his idea of a ‘grand alliance’ includes Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), he said any decision on alliances will be taken by SP’s National Parliamentary Board and Mulayam. Assembly elections are due in Uttar Pradesh in mid-2017.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Responding to more questions on his remarks made in Sant Kabir Nagar in UP yesterday that “a grand alliance is possible in the state”, Akhilesh said, “Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) will decide on alliance. How can I decide?” He also said that while for others, BSP chief Mayawati is ‘behenji’, as she is popularly called, for him she is ‘bua’ or father’s sister. Citing newspaper reports, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said he was himself “confused” over what exactly he had said about the possibility of a grand alliance in UP yesterday.”Every paper has a different story on what I had said. You tell me what to state and I will state that. Even if I remain silent, you will certainly write something. I did not say anything on alliance or grand alliance but you published reports. You don’t know which point of a conversation is published and in which way,” he said. Asked in case BSP and SP joined hands whether Mayawati would be projected as the chief ministerial candidate, Yadav shot back saying the reporter “should know who the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh is”.Akhilesh said at a time when he was doing so much for the development of the state, people will have to keep an eye on who wants an alliance in Uttar Pradesh. “We will also have to keep an eye on whether BSP and BJP are seeking a political alliance…we will have to keep an eye everywhere,” he said.Akhilesh skirted questions on whether he and his father Mulayam are travelling to Patna for the oath-taking ceremony of Nitish Kumar cabinet. He also did not respond to a poser on whether RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar are attending Mulayam’s birthday bash in Saifai on November 22.

November 16, 2015

Nitish Katara murder: Supreme Court dismisses AAP govt plea seeking death for killers

Vikas and Vishal Yadav, serving 30 years jail term for brutally killing Nitish Katara in 2002, had on October 9 escaped death penalty.

Vikas Yadav, one of the murderers of Nitish Katara

The Supreme Court has dismissed the Delhi government’s appeal seeking death penalty for the killers of Nitish Katara, reports PTI. Vikas and Vishal Yadav, serving 30 years jail term for brutally killing Nitish Katara in 2002, had on October 9 escaped death penalty, with the Supreme Court ruling it out, rejecting the plea of the victim’s mother Neelam Katara who termed it as a ‘rarest of rare’ crime.”What they (Yadavs) did cannot be condoned, but it (the offence) is not so heinous and abhorring that warrants death,” a bench of justices JS Khehar and R Banumathi said. The bench, which had recently dismissed the special leave petitions of Vikas, Vishal and Sukhdev Pehalwan against the Delhi High Court verdict in the case, did not agree with the submission of senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Neelam Katara, that the two convicts deserved death penalty.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”I don’t see it as honour killing,” the bench observed at the outset when Salve opened arguments on the plea seeking enhancement of the sentence, saying that the high court had held it as the honour killing.”I am asking for death penalty,” the senior lawyer said, adding that the convicts, who were educated and hailed from “good families”, had killed the youth in pre-meditated and brutal manner and mutilated the body before burning it.The court said that the convict’s sister Bharti Yadav had even gone to the victim’s house to deliver the invitation card of her sister’s wedding and it cannot be said that the family of the convicts did not approve the relationship.Perhaps, the “trigger” was the moment when the convicts saw her dancing with Nitish and took him away and killed him, the court said, adding that every murder is brutal but it is difficult to say it is “abhorring”.”It was just a murder. That is it… They (convicts) have also suffered the sentence for 16 years,” it said, adding that the manner of disposal of the body fell under the IPC provision dealing with destruction of evidence.Vikas (39), Vishal (37) and Sukhdev (40) are serving life term awarded by the lower court in May 2008 for abducting and killing Katara, a business executive and the son of a railway officer, on the night of February 16-17, 2002, as they opposed the victim’s affair with Bharti, daughter of Uttar Pradesh politician DP Yadav.

November 16, 2015

Russian woman acid attack: Accused held, victim shifted to Delhi

“I threw acid on her in a fit of rage as she was not willing to talk to me,” said the accused.

The accused in an alleged acid attack on a Russian national in Nand Nagar colony area, has been arrested here even as the victim was shifted to Delhi for better treatment. Siddharth Srivastava, who had fled to Allahabad after committing the crime, was nabbed yesterday when he came back to visit the 23-year-old victim in the hospital here, Varanasi SSP, Akash Kulhary said. Addressing a press conference here today, Kulhary clarified that the victim had dual citizenship of Russia and Bulgaria and was living with the accused as his friend, and not as a paying guest. A guilt-ridden Srivastav who was also present at the conference said, “I really feel shameful for my act, I don’t know whether I would ever be able to meet her in my life.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”I threw acid on her in a fit of rage as she was not willing to talk to me. I was disappointed with her decision to go back to her nation. Though she had turned down my marriage proposal, I was fine with it, but I did not want her to go away,” he said.Meanwhile, the victim, who suffered 46 per cent burn injuries on her face and body in the attack, has been shifted to New Delhi for better treatment. “The foreign national, who was undergoing treatment at Sir Sunder Lal Hospital of BHU, has been shifted by an air ambulance from Varanasi airport this evening to Safdarjang Hospital in Delhi,” Varanasi District Magistrate Rajmani Yadav told PTI. He said her health condition is stated to be stable.The District Magistrate also said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav sanctioned Rs 5 lakh from the CM Relief Fund for the woman’s treatment, adding that the state government was ready to support her financially. The woman was shifted after consultations between the Russian Embassy, the state government and the Centre to provide her better medical care, said Yadav.

November 14, 2015

Bihar: JD(U) elects Nitish Kumar as Legislature Party leader

JD(U) President Sharad Yadav, General Secretary KC Tyagi and state party chief Basistha Narayan Singh were present at the meeting.

PTI
The JD(U) on Saturday elected Chief Minister-designate Nitish Kumar as its Legislature Party leader.The newly-elected legislators of JD(U) met at the residence of Nitish Kumar and elected him as its Legislature Party leader, JD(U) state President Basistha Narayan Singh told reporters.JD(U) President Sharad Yadav, General Secretary K C Tyagi and state party chief Basistha Narayan Singh were present at the meeting.Senior minister in the outgoing government Bijendra Prasad Yadav proposed the name of Nitish Kumar as Legislature Party Leader which other members approved immediately.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The election of Nitish Kumar as JD(U) Legislature Party leader paved the way for his appointment of Legislature party chief of the Grand Alliance comprising JD(U), RJD and Congress.The newly elected legislators of the three parties will meet later at 3 PM and formally elect Kumar as their leader.Basistha Narayan Singh said that addressing party MLAs and MLCs, Kumar told them to understand the great responsibility the people had entrusted on them.JD(U) won 71 seats out of a total of 101 it had contested.The JD(U) Legislature Party meeting took place after Kumar met Governor Ram Nath Kovind and apprised him of the state cabinet meeting to dissolve the House to make way for 16th Legislative Assembly and a new government.

November 14, 2015

Nitish Kumar set to be elected as Grand Alliance Legislative party leader on Saturday

Kumar will be formally elected as the Grand Alliance legislature Party leader at a meeting in the Assembly premises on Saturday for which RJD’s newly-elected members will march from Rabri Devi’s official residence after their scheduled meeting at 1 PM

Nitish Kumar

JD(U) leader and outgoing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is all set to be elected as Leader of Grand Alliance legislature party on Saturday in Bihar even as RJD chief Lalu Prasad was today authorised by his party’s legislators to nominate its leader in the new Assembly.Kumar will be formally elected as the Grand Alliance legislature Party leader at a meeting in the Assembly premises on Saturday for which RJD’s newly-elected members will march from Rabri Devi’s official residence after their scheduled meeting at 1 PM, Prasad told reporters. The Legislature Party of the RJD comprising 79 newly-elected MLAs and five from the Legislative Council had its inaugural meeting during which an unanimous decision was taken to authorise Prasad to chose its leader and to anoint Nitish as the Leader of the Grand Alliance legislature party in the 16th state Assembly.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Asked as to who will be the RJD Legislature Party leader amid speculation that Tejaswi Yadav, one of his sons, would get the key post, Prasad said, “I will take a call on the matter as the Legislature Party has authorised me to take a decision in this regard”. Tejaswi, his brother Tej Prasad Yadav, who also won, and mother Rabri Devi were seated on the dais when the RJD chief warded off persistent questions on who would be the RJD Legislature Party leader in the new House.The RJD Legislature Party meeting held at a posh hotel in the state capital was presided over by Rabri Devi, a former chief minister and the party’s state parliamentary unit leader. Barring Kedar Singh, the RJD MLA from Baniapur assembly seat in Saran district who is lodged in jail, the remaining 79 new MLAs and five MLCs of the party were present at the meeting, Prasad said.The Grand Alliance won 178 seats–RJD(80), JD(U)(71) and Congress 27 to inflict a humiliating defeat on the NDA which got 58 seats of which BJP accounted for 53.

November 13, 2015

JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav criticises BJP over violence during Tipu Sultan celebrations

Calling this “another example of intolerance” in the country which has been “increasing” after NDA Government came into power at Centre, JD(U) President Sharad Yadav cited the return of awards by some writers, academicians and artists on the intolerance issue.

JD(U) Party President Sharad Yadav
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JD-U on Tuesday launched a hard-hitting attack on BJP over the violence that erupted in Karnataka over holding the birth anniversary celebrations of 18th century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan saying the saffron party has “not learnt any lesson from its humiliating defeat” in Bihar.”In spite of “humiliating” defeat of NDA in the recent election of Bihar Assembly, the communal forces connected with BJP have not learnt a lesson… I am confident that in the coming assembly elections in 2016 (in four states West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala) NDA will face the same defeat as in Bihar,” party President Sharad Yadav said in a statement.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”Again on anniversary of Tipu Sultan the violence has taken place which is very bad, dangerous and serious for the unity and integrity of this country. Unless these divisive forces resist themselves from their actions, it will be difficult to control the law and order situation in the country. They should understand that they are living in a secular country where Hindus and Muslims have to live together and there is no other way to keep peace. I do not understand that whether these forces want another partition and to see the dark days for human beings,” Yadav added.He noted that Hindu religion never preaches that we should burn and beat the human beings.”Further, I would like to mention that Tipu Sultan was a secular ruler, who even reconstructed many temples. He took on the British rulers with hard hand and the British rulers had to accept his terms and conditions on many issues in the interest of our country. He banned liquor. When he came to know that women in Kerala are prohibited from wearing blouse, he sent blouses to them. He used to say that he can never become the slave of the British and also he said that it is better to live one day as a Tiger than hundred years as a jackal. He was one of the architects of promoting communal harmony,” Yadav said.”Some communal forces protested against anniversary celebrations of such a personality who did a lot for the welfare of the country,” he said.Calling this “another example of intolerance” in the country which has been “increasing” after NDA Government came into power at Centre, he cited the return of awards by some writers, academicians and artists on the intolerance issue.”I am sad and pained to know that one person has died in clash over Tipu Sultan 165th birth anniversary being celebrated in the State of Karnataka, and I convey my condolences to the bereaved family of the deceased,” Yadav said.

November 10, 2015

Bihar Elections 2015: Rumblings within BJP, NDA over poll debacle grow louder

BJP MP Hukumdev Narayan Yadav said RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s suggestion for a review of reservation was “ill- timed” and “agitated” backward castes and Dalits

Narendra Modi

Rumblings within BJP and NDA over the Bihar debacle grew louder with some leaders blaming the RSS chief’s quota review remarks and controversial statements on Dadri lynching and Haryana Dalit killings for the rout.A couple of leaders also sought to attack party MP Shatrughan Sinha saying his statements helped create an atmosphere against the BJP.BJP MP Hukumdev Narayan Yadav said RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s suggestion for a review of reservation was “ill- timed” and “agitated” backward castes and Dalits. “The party should analyse why backward castes voted solidly for the grand alliance. What Bhagwat ji said agitated voters from backward castes and Dalits,” he told PTI. He said that though Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah clarified the issue but it did not work as “people have generally come to believe that the government follows whatever the RSS says. Bhagwat ji did not say bring an end to reservation. He only said review it. But they asked why review?”<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>He also underlined that “not everybody who voted for the Modi government agrees with the views of RSS or is its supporter. The party and government at the Centre should be sensitive to their sentiments too.” Former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, whose party HAM (S) is an NDA ally, also said that one of the reasons for the alliance’s is defeat is Bhagwat’s remarks. “One reason is also that such a statement should not have come at this hour. Lalu ji deftly twisted the remarks and placed the distorted version before the communities concerned. People of Bihar believed in what Lalu said.”We did clarify it later but people did not believe our clarification and the beneficiaries of reservation including OBCs and EBCs deserted us,” Manjhi said. LJP Secretary General Abdul Khaliq said that Bhagwat’s remarks consolidated Yadavs behind RJD chief Lalu Prasad while the “statements of leaders justifying Dadri killings” consolidated Muslims, that scripted the victory of the grand alliance. “More than the lynching incident, which was very unfortunate one, it is the remarks of some leaders after it justifying the incident that did us in. Muslims polarised out of fear and decisively voted for the grand alliance, damaging even LJP in its stronghold where it used to get Muslim votes,” he said.He also cited Union Minister V K Singh’s ‘dog’ remark while he was attempting to delink the central government from the murder of two Dalit children in Haryana. “I wonder why those who have nothing to do with Bihar polls made such remarks in the middle of the polls. These remarks were twisted and used to their benefit by the Opposition,” he said. “For everything… like if somebody throws a stone at a dog, then the central government is responsible… it is not like that),” Singh had said.Senior BJP leader and Union minister Uma Bharti said the issue of beef was “tossed up” in the elections and along with that the “subject of intolerance was spread in a big way”. “And at that time too, some leaders also indulged in making statements (bayanbaazi). I feel that it was a complete planned and manufactured packaging. “I believe that, to influence the Bihar elections, Shatrughan Sinha made statements at that time and those statements became a part of the packaging,” she said.

November 9, 2015