'Vande Mataram' not 'Jana Gana Mana' is 'real national anthem': RSS
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Kolkata flyover tragedy: BJP says Mamata Banerjee as Railway minister knew about blacklisting of IVRCL
Mamata Banerjee (Image Courtesy: Zee Media) (File Photo)
BJP on Saturday hit out at Mamata Banerjee alleging that she allowed Hyderabad-based IVRCL to continue with the construction of Vivekananda flyover, which partially collapsed two day ago claiming 26 lives, despite knowing that the company was "blacklisted".
"When Banerjee was Railway Minister in 2011, a contract was awarded to a joint venture (JV) in which IVRCL was a partner for constructing a tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir," BJP national secretary and co-observer for West Bengal Siddharth Nath Singh said.
He said soon after the flyover collapse here on March 31, which left 26 killed and 89 injured and being constructed by IVRCL,
Banerjee was quick to say that the work was awarded to the company by the former Left Front government in 2009 when it was already blacklisted.
"Will the Chief Minister answer why the Railway ministry gave the work to the JV company for the tunnel project in 2011 when it was already blacklisted and was on CBI radar following irregularities in house building scam?" Singh questioned.
Quoting an IRCON document, he said the tunnelling project started during the subsequent two TMC Railway ministers followed by Congress incumbents. The Railway Board scrapped the project in 2014 due to poor progress just before NDA came to power, Singh claimed quoting the document.
Singh said after TMC came to power in West Bengal in 2011, the government again reviewed Vivekananda flyover project and gave its nod to the IVRCL to continue with the work. "There is a suspicion of a quid pro quo as it was later revealed after the collapse that a company close to the TMC was a sub-contractor for the project," Singh claimed. Singh demanded that Banerjee should go for a CBI inquiry or a court-monitored investigation into the flyover collapse.
RSS, ABVP leaders meet Smriti Irani in Delhi
(PTI)
Leaders from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) met Union Human Resource and Development Minister Smriti Irani in Delhi on Monday to discuss the current issues prevailing in the news cycle including the furore over Rohith Vemula and Kanhaiya Kumar.
The meeting was an internal workshop where several issues were discussed including strategies adopted by Left parties over the upcoming state assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam and union territory Puducherry.
The assembly elections in Assam for 126 assembly seats will be held in two phases. The first phase will be held on April 4 and the second phase on April 11.
In West Bengal, the polling for 294 assembly seats will be held in six phases starting from April 4 to May 5.
The first phase would take place in two parts- April 4 and 11. The second phase polling will be held on April 17, third on April 21, fourth on April 15, fifth on April 30 and sixth on May 5.
In Kerala, voting for 140 assembly seats would be held in a single phase on May16.
In Tamil Nadu, voting for 234 assembly seats would also be held in a single phase on May 16.
In Puducherry, voting for 30 assembly seats would also be held on May16.
The counting of votes in all the poll bound states will take place on May 19.
Rahul Gandhi tears into Modi, government on black money, Pakistan
Rahul Gandhi
Soon after the AIADMK forced discussion on Aircell-Maxis ended, and discussion of president's address resumed, Rahul took the floor, accused the government of letting Pakistan off the hook.
After forcing wash out of the last two Parliament sessions, a new reality is dawning to the Congress to allow functioning of both the Houses, in order to floor the government on various issues. Waiting since Tuesday, to speak on the motion of thanks, derailed by the AIADMK protests, a belligerent Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi took on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of not listening to own colleagues and ignoring the voice of the people. A confident looking Rahul also accused Modi of destroying thousands of hours of diplomacy" of UPA government, that had put Pakistan in a diplomatic cage. Senior Congress leaders believe that there was a tacit understanding between the treasury benches and the AIADMK to force adjournments, in order to disallow Congress to raise burning issues. "We now feel, raising issues on the floor of Parliament gets wider attention and is best tool to floor the government,"a top leader told dna.
Soon after the AIADMK forced discussion on Aircell-Maxis ended, and discussion of president's address resumed, Rahul took the floor, accused the government of letting Pakistan off the hook. In his 30-minute speech full of sarcasm he repeatedly referred to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), provoking the BJP MPs to rise in protest when he also mentioned Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar a few times. "We convinced the world that Pakistan is the global supporter of terror. But in one move, he let Pakistan out of the cage we had forced it into by gifting them a status equal to ours," he said. He flayed the prime minister for dropping in Lahore in December just to greet Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif on his birthday. He also taunted finance minister Arun Jaitley for announcing an amnesty scheme for those having black money. "Arun Jaitleyji has launched a new scheme, Fair and Lovely Scheme to turn black money white. Nobody will be jailed under the Fair and Lovely Scheme. Go to Jaitley Ji and your money will become white," said Rahul.
In Rajya Sabha, however, leader of Opposition, Ghulam Nabi Azad was cautious, choosing words carefully to ensure there was no ruckus in the House. He also made several references to speeches made by the PM. He said Modi before becoming the prime minister was criticising the Congress for not taking a strong stand against Pakistan. "Now the prime minister goes and attends wedding feasts in Pakistan," said Azad.
In contrast to Azad's caution, Rahul was combative blaming the prime minister for not listening to anybody. "Listen to those around you –to Rajnathji, Advaniji, Sushma ji." Accusing Modi of not listening to anybody and doing whatever he thinks right, Rahul said: "The Prime Minister cannot run the country on only his opinion. The country is not the Prime minister. The Prime Minister is not the country." A snide shout from the BJP benches: "What about India is Indira and Indira is India?" Asking whose opinion does the PM respect except his own, Rahul taunted: "You have been taught by your teachers in the RSS that there is only one truth - Yours."
He also mentioned his trip to the JNU to address the students after Kanhaiya's arrest, Rahul said: "When I went to JNU, your ABVP workers waved black flags in my face, they taunted and abused me. I felt no anger, I felt proud that I lived in an India where it was possible for me to be confronted by people who held a different opinion than me. A nation is the relationship between its people. It is nothing but the conversation between its citizens. You cannot defend the Indian flag by destroying the relationships between Indians."
Rahul also chided Modi on the so-called "historic" Naga accord he signed in August whose details are not made public even today. "You have been taught by your teachers in RSS that there is only one truth in universe - your own - and that nobody else's opinion matters," he said.
India expresses displeasure to US over F-16 sale to Pakistan
US had in February said it plans to supply Pakistan with eight F-16 fighter aircraft worth $699.04 million.
India disagrees that such weapons help combat terrorism.
India on Tuesday expressed its displeasure to the US over the sale of F-16 fighter planes to Pakistan even as Washington said the aircraft were meant for anti-terror operations.
After talks with visiting US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said he raised the issue of sale of F-16 aircraft by the US to Pakistan.
India had earlier protested sale of the combat planes to Pakistan, saying, "We disagree with their rationale that such arms transfers help to combat terrorism." Carter said the US was aiming to be a "trusted partner" of India, the way Russia has been all along. Underlining that even the US has been victim of terror emanating from Pakistani soil, he said those who indulge in terrorism in India, like the Pathankot attack, "should be brought to justice and brought to account".
"That is America's position and there should not be any question about that," he said, adding that the kind of projects that the US and India are discussing will help protect both American and Indian societies from terrorists. Told that the Russians have always been a trusted military partner for India as they have desisted from supplying war equipment to countries inimical to India, Carter said, "We do aim to be a trusted partner for India." He said the US has given some unique technologies to India and that they don't have such agreements with other countries.
Carter emphasised that from the US' point of view, Washington's overall policy towards India is completely different from the way it was decades ago. However, he said that the US has a relationship with Pakistan which it values. "What we do in Pakistan is directed towards counter- terrorism. We too have suffered from terrorism emanating from the territory, more specifically Afghanistan," Carter said, addressing a joint press conference with Parrikar here.
It is a thing of the past to think of India "in relation with Pakistan", he said, adding that the US has a different vision for India. Carter said the US does not see Pakistan and India as two sides of the same coin.
Asked what kind of role F-16 fighter jets play against terror as everyone knows it will eventually be used against India, Carter said, "Pakistan has used F-16 in operations in FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas). We have approved it...We take terrorism emanating from Pakistan very seriously."
The US had in February said it plans to supply Pakistan with eight F-16 fighter aircraft worth $699.04 million.
Strange, 'diplomat' Abdul Basit is making undiplomatic statement: RK Singh
Basit's statement was immediately contradicted by Pakistan, Singh said.
(dna Research & Archives)
Talks between India and Pakistan cannot take place unless and until Pakistan takes action against those who planned the January 2 Pathankot terror attack.
Former home secretary RK. Singh on Saturday criticised Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit for asserting that the India-Pakistan Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue has been suspended at present.
He said it is strange to see that a diplomat making such an 'undiplomatic' remark. "What Mr Basit said was not diplomatic at all. It is strange that a diplomat is making such an undiplomatic statement. He has been guilty of undiplomatic acts earlier as well," Singh said.
"I don't know what he was trying to do, whether he was trying to sum up the current situation when he said that the talks are suspended, or, whether he was announcing a decision that the talks are suspended. In any case, his statement was immediately contradicted by Pakistan," he added.
The former home secretary also asserted that the talks between the two nations cannot take place unless and until Pakistan takes action against those who planned the January 2 Pathankot terror attack.
Basit said dialogue with India is suspended and hinted that the National Investigative Agency (NIA) will not be given access to JeM chief Masood Azhar for the probe into the Pathankot attack. "I would say the dialogue is suspended," Basit said during an interaction at the Foreign Correspondents Club while responding to a question on the status of the comprehensive bilateral dialogue announced by Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistan counterpart Sartaj Aziz last December.
India has countered Basit's assertion that the visit by Pakistan's JIT to investigate the Pathankot terror attack was not on the basis of reciprocity.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that the Indian High Commission in Islamabad had formally conveyed to the Pakistan Foreign Ministry that the terms of reference of the JIT's visit are broadly agreed to with the condition that these would be on the basis of reciprocity.
Reacting to Basit's remarks that the peace process between India and Pakistan stands suspended, Swarup referred to Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria's press conference in which he had stated that both countries are in contact with each other and it has been reiterated from both sides that modalities are being worked out.
World T20: DDCA gets clearance to hold semifinal at Ferozshah Kotla
Ferozshah Kotla
Wednesday's meeting with Mudgal was attended by DDCA working President Chetan Chouhan, treasurer Ravinder Manchanda, and an ICC legal advisor.
Ending a days of speculation, Delhi on Wednesday got the go ahead to host the World Twenty20 semifinal as scheduled on March 30 after the embattled DDCA got the requisite clearances to use the contentious RP Mehra Block at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium.
The match had been thrown into jeopardy over lack of completion certificate for the block.
The Delhi and District Cricket Association had been given an extended deadline till 2pm on Wednesday to furnish the clearance, which came after a meeting of its officials with Justice (Retd) Mukul Mudgal, the Supreme Court-appointed observer for DDCA.
"The DDCA stands have been cleared till 2017. Not only this match but all the IPL matches will go ahead as planned. Decks were cleared after Justice Mudgal was convinced that there would no legal problem in holding the matches," a DDCA official told PTI.
ALSO READ World T20: ICC gives DDCA time till 12 noon on Wednesday to get necessary clearance
Wednesday's meeting with Mudgal was attended by DDCA working President Chetan Chouhan, treasurer Ravinder Manchanda, and an ICC legal advisor. The DDCA now has the go ahead to use the RP Mehra Block, which has a seating capacity of around 2000.
Earlier on Tuesday, the DDCA withdrew its petition seeking a direction to South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to issue the requisite certificate for the block, which is at the centre of a controversy.
The RP Mehra Block has not been used in the World T20 matches that has taken place at the Kotla so far. The ICC was concerned about the prospect of the matches being held at Kotla in front of empty stands, especially from the broadcast point of view. Prior to this, DDCA's attempt to get relief from the Delhi High Court had failed.
The petition by the cricketing body seeking a direction to South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to issue the certificate for the R P Mehra block came up for hearing before Justice A K Pathak, who referred the plea to a division bench observing that DDCA's issues are pending before it.
World T20: Supreme Court asks DDCA to furnish receipts of payments made to SDMC
Supreme Court
A bench comprising justices JS Khehar and C Nagappan asked the DDCA to furnish the receipts and posted the matter for further hearing on April 1, two days after the semifinal between England and New Zealand at the Ferozshah Kotla.
The Supreme Court on Monday asked cricket body DDCA to furnish the receipts of payments made to South Delhi Municipal Corporation to obtain no-objection certificate (NOC) for holding cricket matches in the Ferozshah Kotla stadium.
A bench comprising justices JS Khehar and C Nagappan asked the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) to furnish the receipts and posted the matter for further hearing on April 1.
During the brief hearing, the bench was reluctant to give an opportunity to the cricket body for filing further documents in support of its claim that the requisite payments have been made to the civic authority.
However, senior advocate L Nageshwar Rao, appearing for DDCA, sought time for filing the reciepts on the ground that there have been some kind of negligence and the cricket body be allowed to bring the documents on record.
On March 18, the apex court had agreed to give urgent hearing to DDCA's petition against a Delhi High Court order dismissing its application seeking restoration of a plea for a NOC from SDMC for the Ferozshah Kotla stadium which was denied Archaeological Survey of India's (ASI) clearance.
The Delhi High Court by its March 3 order had dismissed DDCA's application to restore its 1997 petition seeking NOC from MCD for the stadium. In its 1997 petition, the DDCA had challenged a June 1992 notification of ASI, as per which construction within 100 metres of 'Kotla Baoli' is prohibited.
As per DDCA's petition, only the outer parapet wall of the monument was at a 100 metre distance from the stadium and not the actual monument. It had also said there was a road between the monument's wall and the stadium.
The petition was dismissed in 2013 for non-prosecution, but was allowed to be revived if DDCA paid Rs 10,000 as cost each to the MCD, the Ministry of Urban Affairs and Employment, Delhi Urban Arts Commission and ASI.
In its petition, DDCA had also sought a direction to the municipal body to restore the stadium's sanctioned plan. The cricketing body had submitted that under Delhi Master Plan, Ferozshah Kotla has been earmarked as a cricket ground.
The stadium was built with the requisite permission and the only change made thereafter was adding of one more floor to the R P Mehra block of the stadium.
Rajnath Singh meets Ajit Doval, discusses Pakistan, NIT Srinagar issues
Rajnath Singh
Both the issues flared up this week.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday discussed with top officials, including NSA Ajit Doval, the security situation in the country, including the tension at NIT Srinagar and the denial of permission to an NIA team to visit Pakistan in connection with the Pathankot attack.
The Home Minister was briefed about the internal security situation in the country and steps taken to reduce tension in NIT Srinagar, official sources said. The situation has been tense at NIT Srinagar following clashes triggered by India's defeat at the hands of West Indies in the World Cup T20 last week.
The high-level meeting also discussed the issue of Pakistan's denial of permission to an NIA team to visit the country in connection with the Pathankot airbase terror attack. Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit had yesterday said that the visit of a Pakistani Joint Investigation Team to India was not on "reciprocity", but more about extending cooperation.
India had expected that Pakistan would allow a team of NIA investigators to visit the country after their JIT's visit here. Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, chiefs of different intelligence agencies and other senior officials attended the meeting.
BCCI to take stock of DDCA preparations as uncertainty looms over T20 matches
Feroz Shah Kotla stadium
Kotla is scheduled to host four matches of the World T20 including the semifinal besides six games of the Women's World T20.
With uncertainty prevailing over World Twenty20 matches at the Ferozshah Kotla, the BCCI will take stock of the stadium's preparations on March 8 after the Delhi High Court dismissed the troubled DDCA's restoration plea seeking NOC from the Municipal Corporation.
"We will have a meeting with the DDCA officials on March 8 and we will take stock of the situation. As far as BCCI is concerned, the matches in Delhi are on," said BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur when asked about the road ahead for DDCA after the High Court rejected its plea yesterday.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw dismissed DDCA's application to restore its 1997 petition seeking NOC from SDMC for the stadium which was denied ASI clearance.
Kotla is scheduled to host four matches of the World T20 including the semifinal besides six games of the Women's World T20. Thakur also said that close to 45,000 tickets have been sold online for the non-India matches. The ticket sales for the ICC event began only on February 24 ahead of the tournament beginning on March 8.
The BCCI also concluded the random draw of the lottery system for all the four India matches, the semi-finals (men and women) and the final (men and women) of the mega event. "Around 5,69,000 online registrations were made for the lottery draw process. The India versus Pakistan match saw around 2,02,000 online registrations," said Thakur.
The lucky winners will be sent the notification by email and SMS and will be given 48 hours to complete the transaction online and secure the tickets failing which the tickets will be reintroduced in the random draw to identify the next applicant.
Asked about the delay in the ticket selling process, Thakur added: "Look at the capacity of stadiums in India and the requirement, it is already ten times more. So there is just online requirement. If you look at the situation on the ground, there are thousands of people who are waiting to buy physical tickets."
The respective state association will decide the number of tickets it wants to sell online and through physical counters.
DDCA may lose World T20 semifinal, IPL matches
Ferozshah Kotla
With IPL matches a good 40 days away, the immediate headache for DDCA is to somehow host the semifinal, which could feature Pakistan if they make it that far.
The ongoing ICC WorldT20 has brought cheers to many across the country but for two of the North Zone centres — Dharamshala and Delhi — it has been a cause of concern.
Dharamshala became first casualty after losing the high voltage India-Pakistan game three days ago and stripped off all the Indian Premier League matches for the Season IX. It appears like the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) could well meet the similar fate.
dna has reliably learnt that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has been contemplating moving the first semi-final (March 30) of the WorldT20 out of national Capital. This has come after Delhi's own franchisee GMR (owner of Delhi Daredevils) has already apprised local cricket administrators that "it may play all its matches in some other venue after Hon'ble High Court has ordered sealing of Old Club House at Ferozeshah Kotla premises".
With IPL matches a good 40 days away, the immediate headache for DDCA is to somehow host the semifinal, which could feature Pakistan if they make it that far. Having been forced to move Pakistan's match out of Dharamshala for security reasons, if ICC decide to abandon Delhi, it would again have to ensure that Pakistan, too, does not object to the new venue.
For the record, DDCA's in-charge for conducting games Justice Mukul Mudgal has refused to entertain ICC's demand of utilising disputed Old Pavilion House in the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium for any purpose of 'seating or branding' during any of the WorldT20 games.
In an emergency meeting called by ICC chief executive Dave Richardson on Friday, Justice Mudgal was categorical in his reply that "every step would be taken as per the orders of the Hon'ble High Court".
The Old Pavilion House in DDCA has designated VIP area and also has high-priced seats numbering around 2,500. HC order states that only 'media box' and 'broadcast area' can be used during the WC matches, but the entire building will be sealed during the IPL matches.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) representative in the meeting also slammed the DDCA for misrepresenting facts during the Tour and Fixture Committee meeting where the matches were allotted to Delhi.
"We're not told that DDCA was to get lot of clearances from various agencies, failing which this sort of situation could arise," said the BCCI official citing the commitment given by DDCA's representative Manjit Singh last year.
A DDCA insider said, "ICC was concerned about losing that many seats and also losing money because no branding could be done at one end. This may result in huge losses during the tournament." The meeting was also attended by WC Tournament director Dr MV Sridhar apart from others. As the said area falls under Archaeological Survey of India, Justice Mudgal told all the parties that "any direction in this regard should come either from ASI or the Court".
It is not just losing seats but also the fact that as per HC orders entire premium seats will have to be covered with black clothing. "ICC argument is that since a lot of down the ground shots will be hit, black clothing will make both broadcasters and sponsors wary. It is considered to be an eye sore," ICC told Justice Mudgal.
Ferozeshah Kotla will host first men's game on March 23, while women's matches are scheduled to begin from March 15 with a clash between New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
IPL concern too
The ongoing internal war of DDCA has already cost the local cricket a lot. And if GMR also take decision in coming days to shift Delhi Daredevils base camp from Delhi to some other place (most likely Raipur in Chhattisgarh), the association would not just lose credibility but crores of rupees which it was to get for hosting home games.
"Look, the loss of T20 WC semifinal or all IPL games will break DDCA's back. One has to understand that corruption and mismanagement has already crippled DDCA for last one year. It's high time that Hon'ble High Court appoints an administrator to run the day-to-day affairs in DDCA till the new elections are held," said DDCA senior member Sameer Bahadur.
T20 World Cup: Uncertainty over matches remains as Delhi HC dismisses DDCA plea
Ferozshah Kotla
The T20 world cup matches to be played in Delhi remained a matter of uncertainty with the Delhi High Court today dismissing DDCA's restoration plea seeking a no-objection certificate (NOC) from MCD for the Ferozshah Kotla stadium.
However, retired Justice Mukul Mudgal, appointed by the Delhi High Court to oversee the working of the association, told another bench that T-20 world cup matched may be permitted at the venue.
The report of Justice Mudgal favouring holding of matches was placed before a bench of justices S Muralidhar and Vibhu Bakhru immediately after a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw dismissed DDCA's application to restore its 1997 petition seeking NOC from MCD for the stadium which was denied ASI clearance.
ALSO READ World T20: Embattled DDCA assures that Feroz Shah Kotla ground will be ready by Sunday
On learning of the development, the bench headed by Justice Muralidhar posted the matter regarding grant of occupancy certificate to DDCA to hold matches at the stadium for hearing on March 8. It said the cricketing body may file a special leave petition against the rejection of its restoration application.
While rejecting DDCA's restoration application, the bench headed by Chief Justice G Rohini said the association cannot "live from match to match" and it can hold a match after demolishing a part of the structure which is within 100 metres of a monument, 'Kotla Baoli'.
"You (DDCA) cannot live from match to match. This is your practice. You demolish and hold a match. It is not a matter of restoration. We do not find any reason. "You (DDCA) demolish this and hold the match. If it is unauthorised, it has to go. It was held unauthorised and you have kept this pending since 1997. The 1997 writ petition was dismissed twice in default," the bench said.
Justice Mudgal, in his report filed through advocate Nitin Mishra, has said,"This court was particularly concerned about safety aspects of the stadium and this has been addressed by DDCA to the satisfaction of SDMC and occupancy certificate is awaited.
"DDCA may be permitted to conduct the world T20 and IPL if deemed proper by this court. Furthermore, time may be granted to DDCA upto June 30 only, as a last resort, to address any other issues unrelated to safety raised by other authorities."
After Justice Mudgal's report was filed before the bench, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) said DDCA submitted its drawings yesterday and it is perusing the same. The NOC from Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC) was awaited, it added.
The court had earlier clarified that occupancy certificate would be granted to DDCA for conducting the T20 matches only if the cricketing body gets all requisite clearances from the concerned authorities.
In its 1997 petition, the DDCA had challenged a June 1992 notification of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as per which construction within 100 metres of a monument, in present case the 'Kotla Baoli', is prohibited.
As per DDCA's petition, only the outer parapet wall of the monument was at a 100 meter distance from the stadium and not the actual monument. It had also said there was a road between the monument's wall and the stadium.
The petition was dismissed in 2013 for non-prosecution, but was allowed to be revived if DDCA's paid Rs 10,000 as cost each to the MCD, the Ministry of Urban Affairs and Employment, Delhi Urban Arts Commission and ASI.
During the brief hearing today, advocate Sangram Pattnaik, appearing for DDCA, said that they have deposited the cost.
"Let the T20 world cup go on. Put us to any terms. We will abide by it. At least this application for restoration should be heard. Fix any date," he urged the bench.
The court, however, was not inclined and said, "You just want to keep this petition of 1997 pending." In its petition, DDCA had also sought a direction to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to restore the stadium's sanctioned plan.
The cricketing body had submitted that under Delhi master plan, Ferozshah Kotla has been earmarked as a cricket ground and the stadium was built with the requisite permission and the only change made thereafter was adding of one more floor to the R P Mehra block of the stadium.
Odd-even: Women drivers, cars carrying children in school uniform to be exempt
(File Photo)
The second phase of odd-even will start from April 15.
Cars driven by women and those carrying children in school uniform shall remain out of the ambit of the odd-even scheme the second phase of which is set to start here from April 15.
The decisions were taken in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal which was attended ministerial colleagues and members of the coordination committee formed for the scheme. "It has been decided that women will continue to remain exempted from the scheme due to security considerations.
Government has also decided that cars carrying school students will also be exempted," Transport Minister Gopal Rai told reporters. "Cars carrying student(s) in school uniform shall be exempted during #oddeven starting 15th April," Deputy CM Manish Sisodia tweeted.
Asked about confusion that may arise over parents going to pick up children after school hours, Rai said, they were still working on the modalities and the final notification in this regard will be out in a day or two. As announced earlier, CNG vehicles will also remain exempted from the vehichle-rationing restrictions arising out of the scheme's implementation. Cars with odd and even licenese plate numbers will ply on alternate days during its duration.
The exemption categories involving women and CNG cars were also in place during the first phase of odd-even from January 1 to 15.
World T20: Delhi High Court asks DDCA to complete formalities in 20 days; else no matches to be allowed
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DDCA row: Delhi HC dismisses Kirti Azad's plea for SIT probe
Kirti Azad
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed the plea of former Indian cricketers Kirti Azad and Bishan Singh Bedi seeking court monitored SIT probe into the alleged financial irregularities in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA).
Describing the plea to be immature, the High Court said that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has already started a preliminary inquiry and needs to be given time.
The High Court further said the SIT probe can only be ordered in the rarest of rare cases and not because some Union Minister is said to be allegedly involved.
The duo had moved the Delhi High Court, demanding appointment of an independent administrator to look into the alleged financial irregularities in the DDCA.
The plea sought direction to the Centre to cancel the privileges like subsidised land that have been extended to the DDCA and to ensure that no loss is caused to exchequer. The BJP had earlier in December last year suspended Azad for accusing Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley of corruption during his tenure as the DDCA chief.
Delhi govt to hold meets in every assembly constituency to seek opinion on odd-even scheme's 2nd phase
(PTI)
Meets will be held on February 6 and 7.
The Delhi government will hold meetings in all the 70 assembly constituencies on February 6 and 7 to gather public opinion before implementing the second phase of the odd-even scheme in the national capital.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia with PWD Minister Satyendar Jain, Divisional Commissioner A Anbarasu, Special Commissioner Ankur Garg, all district magistrates, ADMs, SDMs and MLAs. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had on January 25 announced that his government would seek public opinion on the implementation of the second phase of the road rationing experiment and also issued an email id - oddevenidea@gmail.com - in this regard.
"At least four public meetings will be held in every constituency on February 6 and 7 to seek public opinion on the implementation of the second phase of the odd-even scheme. Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) in consultation with MLAs will decide the venues (for the meetings)," said a senior government official.
The official said MLAs will be responsible for pamphlet distribution and informing the residents about the time and venues of the meetings in their respective areas. The Transport department will soon put in public domain an online form and also make public a phone number for inviting the public views.
The Kejriwal government has invited public suggestions on a six-point questionnaire which will initially be sought through email, while a phone line would be introduced in the longer run. Last week, the Chief Minister had said the six broad questions on which the government is seeking public responses include whether the scheme should be implemented again? If yes, when it should be done and for what duration, whether people will be encouraged to buy another car and whether the exemptions introduced earlier were up to the mark or need to be reconsidered?
"We will give four options for possible dates for the second phase - February 14, March 1, April 1 or May 1. Similarly, for how many days the car-rationing scheme should be in place - 15 days, one month, 15 days every month or permanently," he had said.
Delhi govt not to use school buses during 2nd phase of odd-even scheme: Transport Minister
Odd-even scheme
Sources said that government is contemplating to implement the second phase of odd-even scheme for 15 days from May 1
Aggrieved over most private schools not giving their buses during first phase of odd-even scheme, the Delhi government has decided not to seek their services during the second phase of the car-rationing scheme which is likely to be introduced after CBSE Board Exams.
Sources said that government is contemplating to implement the second phase of odd-even scheme for 15 days from May 1 even as the final decision on the future of road-rationing experiment will be announced by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday. Transport Minister Gopal Rai said that since government had got only around 300 school buses during the implementation of first phase of odd-even scheme, they have decided not to hire school buses under the second phase of the scheme.
Rai further said that government will only engage buses of private operators who had given their buses in good numbers to it during the first phase of odd-even scheme to accommodate extra rush of passengers. The road rationing experiment, aimed at curbing air pollution in the metropolis, was implemented from January 1-15 in its first phase with Sundays being exempted from it.
Subsequently, the government invited public opinion through emails, missed calls, online forms and also reached out to around 9 lakh people through interactive voice response system. "Around 28,300 suggestions have been received through online forms while another 9,000 and 1,82,808 have come through emails and missed called respectively. The government, on its part, has made more than 9,00,000 calls to gather public opinion," a senior government official said.
AAP MLAs, who organised Jan Sabhas on the same theme, have claimed that public opinion was "overwhelmingly" in favour of re-introduction of the scheme.
Odd-even scheme: Second phase to be implemented between April 15 and April 30
Odd-even scheme (PTI)
No school buses will be used this time.
The second phase of the odd even road formula for private cars will be implemented in New Delhi between April 15 and 30.
The decision was taken in the last month, and was formally communicated on Monday.
No school buses will be used this time . The government is looking to run 'Paryavaran Bus Seva, where 50% seats will be reserved for women. There will be marshals in each buses.
Delhi CM had earlier claimed that decision to restart the scheme is result of a majority of Delhi residents voting for bringing back the scheme. “We are also seriously considering implementing the scheme for two weeks every month,” Kejriwal said. According to Kejriwal, 81 per cent of people from Delhi wanted the scheme back. The government had initiated phone calls, asked people to submit their feedback on an email address, and organised Jan Sabhas to gather opinion on bringing back the rule.
The odd-even rule was first brought in the capital on January 1, following the Supreme Court’s order to impose emergency measures to reduce alarming air pollution levels in the capital. While the jury is out on whether there was improvement in the pollution levels, the scheme had reduced traffic volume at major bottlenecks, clearing off traffic snarls from the city’s roads. The opposition has criticised the scheme saying it has only inconvenienced the commuters and have had very little role in reducing pollution.
Odd-even scheme set to return after March
(PTI)
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who on Monday chaired a review meeting on the next phase of odd-even, has asked all departments to look into these two major issues and submit their report in this regard at the earliest.
Delhi government is likely to implement the next phase of odd-even scheme after March as it seeks to first address two major concerns related to commuting by school children and the possibility of people going for another car to circumvent the restrictions.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who on Monday chaired a review meeting on the next phase of odd-even, has asked all departments to look into these two major issues and submit their report in this regard at the earliest. A top source said that government is planning to introduce the second phase of the traffic-rationing scheme after the completion of CBSE Board exams in March-April, adding that two-wheelers will, however, not come under the ambit of the next phase of the car-rationing scheme.
Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai said concerned departments have to submit their report before the next meeting, for which the date is yet to be decided. Elaborating on the 15-day trial phase, Rai said that during the implementation of the car-rationing scheme, the average pollution level had come down significantly and it also decongested the city's roads.
"In today's review meeting, all the departments including PWD, transport, environment as well as independent experts have expressed their views that the scheme should continue further to bring down pollution level and de-congest the capital's roads. "During the meeting, the two major concerns came up for discussion. These two concerns are about picking of school children by their parents and the second that people will move to buy alternate car to evade the scheme," the minister said.
When asked about inclusion of bikes and scooters under the next phase of scheme, Rai said that no decision has been taken in this regard and it will be only possible when the city government strengthens the public transport system including increasing of fleet of DTC and cluster buses. He said that in the review meeting held today, it was also mentioned that due to odd-even scheme, pollution level has come down significantly on an average and CSE, EPCA and TERI also found the reduction in pollution level.
On the role of public transport, the minister also said that the frequency of DTC and cluster buses has increased significantly due to this scheme as there was no much traffic-congestion on the roads during the last 15 days.
"64 lakh people used to travel in DTC and cluster buses every day during this scheme. Government is moving towards augmenting public transport by introducing new buses," he said
"1,000 buses will start coming on roads from April-June this year and one thousand AC buses will come from July-August. "Besides, we have also decided to introduce 'Premium Bus Service' for elite class with higher fares which is aimed at encouraging them to use public transport," he said.
Rai added that during the odd-even scheme, the sale of petro and diesel came down by 25-30 per cent in the national capital which shows that the pollution level was reduced during that period. "In bordering areas, PM 2.5 levels were recorded more than 400 (ug/m3) while in inner areas in Delhi, they were recorded between 150 and 210 on an average," he also added.
Yesterday, Delhi government had organised 'thanksgiving' event at Chattarsal Stadium for making the car-rationing scheme a 'success'. Addressing a rally on the "grand success" of the pilot road-rationing scheme, Kejriwal had said the experiment saw nearly "100 per cent" participation by Delhiites.
He had also said the scheme could be successfully implemented as the government engaged the public in a "dialogue" instead of resorting to threats of penalty, which "would not have worked".
"Around 20 lakh cars used to be on the roads daily during the duration of the scheme, but number of challans were around 100, 200 or 500. This is nothing. This means, almost 100 per cent people of Delhi followed odd-even and it became a movement.
"If we had put out an order that odd-even will be implemented from January 1 and cars of violators would be impounded, I don't think we could have implemented the scheme successfully. People would have revolted against it," he had said.
Improved version of odd-even scheme soon, promises Arvind Kejriwal
Arvind Kejriwal
Addressing a 'thanksgiving' rally on the "grand success" of the pilot road-rationing scheme, Kejriwal said the experiment saw nearly "100 per cent" participation by Delhiites.
An improved version of the 'odd- even' scheme, with necessary "precautions and changes", will be announced and "implemented soon" in the national capital, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today and thanked the people for their "overwhelming" support to the initiative.
Addressing a 'thanksgiving' rally on the "grand success" of the pilot road-rationing scheme, Kejriwal said the experiment saw nearly "100 per cent" participation by Delhiites. Transport Minister Gopal Rai, who also spoke at the event that was marred by an ink attack on Kejriwal, said the scheme, in its second phase, will "include all" towards which the Delhi government has already started "working".
He, however, did not elaborate on the specifics. The Delhi Government will hold a review meeting on odd-even scheme tomorrow to assess its impact and future. The pilot phase of the scheme had seen several exemptions, including for women. Two-wheelers were also kept out of its purview.The Chief Minister thanked and congratulated the people of Delhi. He had special praise for Chief Justice of India TS Thakur, who carpooled to office during the implementation of the scheme. Kejriwal said Thakur's decision to carpool "inspired lakhs and crores of people".
"Tomorrow there is a meeting with different departments to understand the problems that the scheme faced from January 1 to 15. In the coming days an announcement will be made to improve the scheme with precautions and changes and it will be implemented soon," Kejriwal said. The event, organised in North Delhi's Chhatrasal Stadium, saw the participation of a large number of civil defence volunteers, AAP workers, and general public.
Kejriwal said the scheme could be successfully implemented as the government engaged the public in a "dialogue" instead of merely resorting to threats of penalty, which "would not have worked".
"Around 20 lakh cars used to be on the roads daily during the duration of the scheme, but number of challans were around 100, 200 or 500. This is nothing. This means, almost 100 per cent people of Delhi followed odd-even and it became a movement. "If we had put out an order that odd-even will be implemented from January 1 and cars of violators would be impounded, I don't think we could have implemented the scheme successfully. People would have revolted against it," he said.
Transport minister Gopal Rai claimed that 15 days of odd-even scheme contributed to bringing down pollution in Delhi by more than 25 percent. For a pollution-free Delhi, the Transport department is doing several things including introduction of 2000 new buses on the city roads by the end of August, he said.
All the buses will be equipped with GPS, wifi and CCTV cameras this year. Marshals will be deployed in all the buses and Civil Defence volunteers will be present for safety of women, he said. He also said a "Common Mobility Card" will be introduced after GPS systems have been installed in buses after June for seamless travel by buses and Metro trains.
Mentioning the problem of last mile connectivity felt during the operation of odd-even scheme, the minister suggested that the people should use bicycles for travelling short distances instead of cars and motorbikes. Rai said the government faced several "challenges" in implementing the scheme including a strike by Delhi government officials and non-cooperation by schools in providing extra buses.
Lauding the Chief Minister, Speaker of Delhi Vidhan Sabha Ram Niwas Goel and Tourism minister Kapil Mishra even compared him with former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri for his "qualities and public appeal". "When Lal Bahadur Shastri appealed, people started fasting on Mondays to cope with the shortage of foodgrains in the country. Another leader is Arvind Kejriwal whose appeals people listen to and make sacrifices," said Mishra.
Forest Minister Imran Hussain and Deputy Speaker of Delhi Vidhan Sabha Vandana Kumari said people who met them wanted the odd-even scheme to be "continued". The PWD and Health minister Satyendar Jain and Social Welfare minister Sandeep Kumar also attended the event.
Maharashtra CM prefers strong public transport to odd-even system
Devendra Fadnavis
Observing that a family would be "ruined" on losing its bread-winner in road accidents, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said such "man-made disasters" can be prevented if traffic rules are followed and public transport system is strengthened.
Referring to the odd-even number system implemented by the AAP government in the national capital, Fadnavis said majority of Mumbai denizens anyway prefer the public transport system, which should be strengthened.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating Road Safety Week here, he referred to jokes about odd-even system, and added he had heard that a new flourishing business in Delhi was selling number plates with changeable numbers.
"Road safety should become a way of life since childhood so that burden on the traffic cops is reduced," he said. "Even if you keep building new roads they will always fall short for private vehicles. Focus should be on strengthening public transport system, so that maximum number of people are able to use it safely."
A number of initiatives were announced by traffic police for road safety on the occasion. It includes Alco Booth system where a machine will installed at bars in the city where people can check their liquor consumption level before leaving the place and driving off. E-challan system will be introduced whereby traffic offenders will pay fine through debit/credit card instead of cash.
Police will also introduce Red Light Violation Detection Camera to catch signal-jumpers automatically; the system will generate e-challans. Speed cameras too will be installed. The police also plan to introduce Android-based helpline app.
Odd-even formula: Gopal Rai welcomes HC decision, says govt to re-implement scheme when required
(PTI)
Delhi govt to talk with experts to come up with a plan to implement it in the long run
Transport Minister Gopal Rai on Monday welcomed the Delhi High Court's decision not to interfere with the AAP Government's odd-even vehicle policy and said that government will re-implement the scheme as and when the need arises after January 15.
"We knew that High court will take a decision keeping in mind the welfare of the citizens of Delhi, especially keeping in view the danger hovering over the respiratory health of children. "Since last Saturday, the samples from the permanent stations and also the samples which we have collected indicate that odd-even policy has played a role in bringing down the pollution levels.
"We hope that till January 15, we will get sufficient data. As announced earlier that the first phase of this odd-even formula will run for 15 days after which we will analyse it and also seek suggestions from experts on how to implement it in the long run. We will implement it again as and when the need arises," said Rai. Rai, who took a bus ride across Delhi to take stock of the scheme's implementation, further said that Delhi government will provide subsidy on purchase of cycles, from the money collected as challans during the odd-even scheme's implementation period to promote cycling.
"Once the odd-even pilot plan is wrapped up, we will constitute a committee to work out further modalities of the this proposed idea. The aim is to motivate people to use cycles as part of its drive to make Delhi pollution-free," he said. The transport minister also appealed to Delhiites to use bicycles for their daily-need every day instead of using bikes in their colonies and said that government will build cycle tracks and stands on roads.
AIADMK hits out at Karunanidhi over his statement on poll alliance
Jaya and Karunanidhi (File Photo)
Hitting out at Karunanidhi's recent statement that he will welcome any number of constituents in his party-led alliance in a bid to form a formidable coalition against the AIADMK.
Ridiculing DMK chief M Karunanidhi's statement on alliance for coming polls, ruling AIADMK on Wednesday said its archrival has failed to bounce back from repeated electoral defeats since 2011 despite a number of allies, and will face yet another rout in the hustings. "DMK lost Opposition Party status in 2011 (when AIADMK won), was defeated squarely in the local body polls and drew a blank in all bye-elections and 2014 Lok Sabha polls," AIADMK mouthpiece, 'Dr Namathu MGR,' said in a stinging article.
Hitting out at Karunanidhi's recent statement that he will welcome any number of constituents in his party-led alliance in a bid to form a formidable coalition against the AIADMK, it said that people will not vote for it. Making an apparent reference to Karunanidhi's invitation to Vijayakant-led DMDK, the mouthpiece said that the DMK chief and his allies would be "routed for sure" in the coming polls and that AIADMK will once again wrest control. Commenting on forming an alliance, Karunanidhi had said, "We will not say no to parties willing to come (into DMK-led) alliance. We will welcome any party which will ensure democracy's victory".
The ruling party also slammed Karunanidhi over the 'jallikattu' issue, saying the bull-taming sport was banned by the UPA government in 2011 when DMK was a key constituent in the coalition, and questioned his criticism of the AIADMK government on the matter.
Will make stand clear on jallikattu: Prakash Javadekar
(PTI - File Photo)
With Supreme Court staying the Centre's nod for holding the bull taming sport jallikattu in poll bound Tamil Nadu, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday said the notification has not been quashed and his Ministry would explain its case before the apex court.
"Congress and DMK governments banned jallikattu. I (his Ministry) opened the gateway and my notification has not been quashed by the Supreme Court. The matter will be heard and we (Ministry) will definitely put up the rationale behind the notification," he said.
Javadekar was replying to a question on whether the apex court's stay on holding the sport would impact the outcome of the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Supreme Court had recently stayed the Centre's notification lifting ban on jallikattu as an interim measure.
The four-year-old ban on holding of the controversial bull taming sport in poll-bound Tamil Nadu was lifted with certain restrictions after the Environment Ministry came out with a notification on January 7, angering animal rights activists who termed it as cruel.
Following the notification, PETA India had termed the lifting of protection against cruelty to bulls a "black mark" after which petitions were filed in the Supreme Court by it and other animal rights bodies including Animal Welfare Board of India.
Javadekar, who has been appointed BJP's election in-charge of Tamil Nadu, also said the action plan of the party will only be made after taking stock of the situation.
"As in-charge of TN elections, in the next couple of days, I will be discussing in detail the plans with our party president Amit Shah, my colleague Piyush Goyal, state president and other office bearers and also Murlidhar Rao who is in-charge from the organisational point of view. After we take stock, we will decide our action plan. I will be coming more frequently to TN now," Javadekar said.
Javadekar and Goyal have been appointed BJP's election incharge and co-incharge, respectively, for poll-bound Tamil Nadu.
Centre will support Tamil Nadu if state brings ordinance on Jallikattu: Nirmala Sitharaman
File Photo of Nirmala Sitharaman (PTI)
In Chennai, activists of the 'May 17 Movement' and 'Tamilar Munnetra Padai' staged demonstrations seeking measures by the Centre to facilitate Jallikattu.
With the Supreme Court declining to vacate its stay on the Centre's notification allowing conduct of Jallikattu, protests intensified across Tamil Nadu today against the decision even as the Union government said it cannot bring an ordinance at this stage in this regard. Protests were held in several towns, including Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Pudukottai and Salem.
In Chennai, activists of the 'May 17 Movement' and 'Tamilar Munnetra Padai' staged demonstrations seeking measures by the Centre to facilitate Jallikattu. In Tiruchirappalli district, a person attempted to set himself ablaze demanding holding of the event. However, police overpowered and removed him from the spot.
Organisers and supporters of the bull taming sport also resorted to road blocks and sections of organisers and participants went on a fast in Alanganallur and Palamdedu at Madurai, police said. Many men tonsured their heads in Madurai as a mark of protest seeking permission to hold the sport. Black flags were also hoisted at these places. At Kangeyam near Coimbatore, supporters of the sport said protests would be intensified if permission was not given for the conduct of Jallikattu. "An ordinance cannot be brought now at this stage when the case continues to be in court. However, the state government can do it and if that is done, we will support it," Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters at Mamallapuram near here on the sidelines of a function. However, Union Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan told reporters at Cuddalore that appropriate measures were being perused to facilitate conduct of the sport. He also criticised those behind seeking the ban. PMK chief Ramadoss said "people's expectations on (conducting) Jallikattu should not be banned."
Meanwhile, DMK president Karunanidhi today disagreed with Congress' remark that the BJP government was adopting "double standards" as regards banning cow slaughter and supporting Jallikattu.
Asked if the BJP-led government at the Centre was adopting "double standards" over the issue, the former chief minister told reporters "I do not think so."
On Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's view that Tamil Nadu government could promulgate an ordinance, he said, "this is a legal issue, an opinion could be given only after studying it, nothing can be said in haste." The DMK chief also made light of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa claim that her party was poised for a massive victory in the upcoming Assembly elections, saying "it is their expectation."
DMK, Karunanidhi said, has "bright prospects" in the polls.
dnaEdit: With jallikattu, Centre resorted to same votebank politics it accused UPA govt of
#dnaEdit: With jallikattu, Centre resorted to same votebank politics it accused UPA govt of
#dnaEdit: With jallikattu, Centre resorted to same votebank politics it accused UPA govt of
(AFP)
Tame politics.
The exemption made by the environment and forests ministry (MoEF) for jallikattu in Tamil Nadu and bullock cart races in other states was clearly a political decision made with the upcoming TN assembly elections in mind. It was a careless decision too, considering that the Supreme Court had last year banned jallikattu. By staying the MoEF notification on Tuesday, the Supreme Court has, however, reaffirmed the primacy of judicial orders. The MoEF notification was also an instance where the Centre abdicated its responsibility to uphold its own legislation — the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act. In 2011, the previous UPA government had exercised its powers under the PCA Act to notify that bulls were not to be used, exhibited or trained as performing animals. An appeal against this order led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling that jallikattu and bullock cart races violated various sections of the PCA Act. Considering that the scope of the 2014 Supreme Court judgment went beyond the 2011 order, and also examined the evidence submitted by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) on how bulls are subjected to torture and cruelty during jallikattu, the MoEF should have been more circumspect. A reading of the 2014 Supreme Court judgment indicates that the court had banned jallikattu, and no executive order could have revived it unless the government chose a legislative path.
The jallikattu ban has been assailed in Tamil Nadu, especially by influential caste groups like Thevars, who claim the sanction of culture and tradition in the continuance of this sport. However, the 2014 judgment noted that welfare and well-being of the bull was a part of ancient Tamil tradition, and ran counter to the credo of jallikattu contests where bulls were being subjected to extreme pain and suffering. In a damning affidavit to the Supreme Court, the AWBI had testified that bulls were beaten, kicked, chilly- powder rubbed into their eyes, their humps and horns were seized and twisted, and that the tails of the animals were routinely pulled, twisted and turned, leading to painful injuries and often to broken tails. Considering this modern context, the judgment noted that the PCA Act, a welfare legislation, would overshadow or override the “so-called tradition and culture”. Despite such observations, the MoEF sanctioned jallikattu by making a half-hearted attempt to curb brutality. It required that jallikattu contests cannot be held without prior permission from the district authorities and that the bull must be tamed within 15 metres of leaving the enclosure. The bulls were to be tested by government veterinarians to ensure that they are in “good physical condition”.
Considering the physical battering that the bulls are subjected to when the jallikattu begins, the requirement placed upon vets to certify their physical condition before the event could have been dismissed as a cruel joke, if it was not so callous. Even the 15-metre-limit is scarcely unimplementable. To rub it in, the ministry had also asked district authorities to ensure that the “rights conferred upon the animals” under the PCA Act by the 2014 Supreme Court judgment “are fully protected” during the jallikattu. Considering that the SC unequivocally held that bulls cannot be used as performing animals in jallikattu in its judgment, the notification qualifies for contempt of court. Besides cruelty to animals, the Supreme Court judgment cited a number of doctrines like the right to life, doctrine of necessity, compassion, humanism and repugnancy to rule that jallikattu was a non-essential activity, in which the welfare of the “bulls was ignored solely for human pleasure”. By staying the MoEF notification, which reversed a progressive stance taken by the Centre in 2011 and the judiciary in 2014, the judiciary has once again bolstered its reformist credentials. The political parties that demanded the restoration of jallikattu with an eye on voters of influential intermediate castes in Tamil Nadu, and the central government, have cut a sorry figure.
dna Must Reads: Top five news stories of the evening
Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif (PTI)
Here are the top five stories:
1.
1. Pathankot attack: Pakistan reaches out to India, detains several Jaish-e-Mohammad militants:
Pakistan on Wednesday detained "several individuals" belonging to JeM, which is suspected to have engineered the Pathankot terror attack, and sealed its offices after India linked Islamabad's "prompt and decisive" action to the fate of Foreign Secretary-level talks scheduled on Friday. Read more here.
2. Jallikattu: Supreme Court refuses to vacate stay:
The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to vacate its order staying the Centre's notification lifting ban on the controversial bull-taming sport Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu. A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and N V Ramana said that Tuesday's order by which the Centre's notification was stayed doesn't warrant any alteration. Read more here.
3. Kiku Sharda aka 'Palak' from 'Comedy Nights with Kapil' arrested for mimicking Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh :
Well known actor and comedian Kiku Sharda from 'Comedy Nights with Kapil' has gotten into serious trouble. Sharda who plays Palak in 'Comedy Nights with Kapil', has been arrested for mimicking Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. He has been sent to 14 days of judicial custody. Read more here.
4. Seven dead in four-hour siege near Pakistan's consulate in Jalalabad:
Seven Afghan forces were killed on Wednesday when militants launched an hours-long gun and bomb siege near Pakistan's consulate in Jalalabad city, just days after four-country talks in Islamabad aimed at reviving Taliban peace negotiations. Read more here.
5. WHO to declare Ebola outbreak over with Liberia in the clear:
The two-year Ebola epidemic which laid waste to communities across west Africa and killed more than 11,000 people is due to be declared over tomorrow with Liberia expecting the all-clear. The worst outbreak of the tropical pathogen in history has devastated health services and wrecked the economies of the hardest hit nations since it emerged in southern Guinea in December 2013. Read more here.
Jallikattu row: SC refuses to vacate stay on the bull-taming sport
(dna Research & Archives - File Photo)
The bench said it was "unimpressed" by the arguments that Jallikattu should be allowed under the supervision of the court by appointing court commissioners who could submit reports on the event.
Last ditch attempts to hold the traditional bull-taming sport of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu during the upcoming Pongal festivities failed on Wednesday as the Supreme Court refused vacate its order staying the Centre's notification lifting the ban on the controversial game.
"We are not inclined to vacate the stay," a bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and N V Ramana said after hearing the urgently moved pleas of some Tamil Nadu residents and a group called Compassion Unlimited Plus Action.
The bench said it was "unimpressed" by the arguments that Jallikattu should be allowed under the supervision of the court by appointing court commissioners who could submit reports on the event. It said the apex court's two-judge bench in its judgement in 2014 had discussed various facets of the age-old sport and expressed its opinion that bulls cannot be subjected to cruelty.
"Counsel for the applicant would submit that certain arrangements have already been made and responsible District Collectors have been appointed to supervise Jallikattu, and therefore, the order of stay passed by this Court should be vacated. The aforesaid submission leaves us unimpressed, for the simon-pure (genuine) reason (that) the two-Judge Bench of this Court, as it appears, had discussed many facets with regard to Jallikattu and expressed its opinion. The arrangements made on the basis of the Notification would not warrant alteration of our order and, therefore, we are not inclined to vacate the order of stay," the bench said.
The apex court remained unimpressed with the contention that Jallikattu was not a fight between bulls and humans but a game where the participants are required to embrace the running bulls by hanging on to their hump as long as possible and that the men are unarmed.
Further, the supporters of Jallikattu had submitted that the bulls were trained not to let the youngsters clamber on to their humps. They had also said that Jallikattu was a socio-religious festival and not an entertainment and people at various places in Tamil Nadu had immense faith in it for many a reason.
"Emphasis is laid on the culture of the state and the belief of the pastoral communities. In essence, it is urged that there is no cruelty is meted out to the bulls in such a festival or game," the bench noted while rejecting the submission.
Advocate N Rajaraman, appearing for the applicants, submitted that Jallikattu was a 3000-year old tradition and the apex court had never meant in Animal Welfare Board of India vs A Nagaraja judgement that there should be ban on it.
Further, he submitted that there was no justification or necessity to direct the stay of the Notification issued by the central government on January 7 at the instance of the Animal Welfare Board of India and others as they do not have any idea about the cultural base of the country.
"The age old culture of this country is perceivable in the villages but not in the metro cities where the representatives of the petitioners or the petitioners reside," he submitted.
However, the bench quoted paragraphs from the apex court's 2014 judgement and said "the aforesaid paragraphs clearly show that Jallikattu and other form of bull races cause trouble, pains and stress to the bulls and it is contrary to the provisions of the Act."
"Be it be ingeminated that the Court has adjudged the issue in the backdrop of Article 51(a)(g) and (h) of the Constitution of India. There can be no shadow or trace of doubt that the Constitution of India is an Organic and Compassionate Constitution," it observed.
The bench said on Tuesday it had already noted the submissions of opponents of Jallikattu to stay notification of the Centre lifting the ban.
Jallikattu: Supreme Court refuses to vacate stay
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to vacate its order staying the Centre's notification lifting ban on the controversial bull-taming sport Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu.
A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and N V Ramana said that Tuesday's order by which the Centre's notification was stayed doesn't warrant any alteration. The bench said it was unimpressed with the submission that Jallikattu should be allowed under the strict supervision of this court.
The fresh petitions were filed by some residents of Tamil Nadu who had sought vacation of yesterday's order saying that the age-old cultural tradition of the state should be allowed to continue.
Jallikattu organisers to approach Supreme Court against ban on festival
Jallikattu (dna Research & Archives)
Jallikattu organisers will approach the Supreme Court appealing against its order banning the festival, said media reports.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice of India (CJI) TS Thakur on Wednesday asked some of the organizers of Jallikattu, who had sought permission from CJI Court to organise the festival, to move before an appropriate bench.
On Tuesday, the apex court had overruled the Centre and declared that the festival will not be held in Tamil Nadu this year.
Consequently, Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa had appealed to the Modi government to issue an ordinance allowing Jallikattu in the state. Her demand has been supported by many other Tamil Nadu parties.
Echoing her views, DMK chief Karunanidhi said, "All Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu have only expressed the opinions reflected in the letter written by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to Prime Minister Modi."
"On behalf of DMK, I urge that an ordinance amending the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, be promulgated and help holding Jallikattu sport," he said.
Related Read: Supreme Court stay on Jallikattu sparks protests; TN parties demand ordinance
Meanwhile Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan assured positive action in this regard and expressed disappointment at the Supreme Court verdict.
Dismayed supporters and organisers of the sport resorted to agitation and road blockades in some parts of the state and downed shutters in various areas on Tuesday, including those in Madurai district, hitting normalcy. Police said the situation in some areas in Madurai district where the sport has largely been held traditionally was tense, but under control.
Related Read: #dnaEdit: With Jallikattu, Centre resorted to same votebank politics it accused UPA govt of
Punjab Congress workers to be properly accommodated after polls: Amarinder Singh
(dna Research & Archives - File Photo)
Punjab goes into Assembly polls in 2017.
Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh on Friday emphasised on the need for maintaining discipline and unity in the party and assured that all workers will be "properly accommodated and rehabilitated" after the polls in the state slated for next year.
"Since the party can give ticket only to one candidate for a particular seat, it will be ensured that those who don't get tickets are accommodated as chairmen in various corporations, boards and trusts," he said.
Responding to party workers' complaints of indiscipline and working against the candidates during the elections by some leaders, Amarinder said, "nobody can defeat Congress and it is actually Congress that defeats Congress". He said indiscipline will not be tolerated and he will see to it that those found guilty of indiscipline are strictly dealt with.
Expressing grave concern over the "deteriorating law-and-order situation" in Punjab, he said even after so many days of the assassination of Mata Chand Kaur of the Namdhari sect police are clueless over the case.
On the issue of drugs, Amarinder said he had already committed under oath to finish the scourge within four weeks of coming to power. He also said once his party comes to power in Punjab, the case against present Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia may be reinvestigated if it is felt that the probe was not properly done.
Over suggestions that health and educational services in the government sector need to be improved, the former chief minister said most of the people cannot afford treatment in private hospitals while the government hospitals were lacking in proper amenities.
Stressing that health and education will be his top priority, Amarinder said special focus will be laid on recruiting highly qualified teachers for government schools.
April Fool's Day joke? Navjot Kaur Sidhu leaves everyone baffled after 'resigning' from BJP via Facebook
Navjot Kaur Sidhu with PM Modi (File Photo) (Twitter)
The BJP MLA had earlier been vocal about her differences with alliance partner SAD.
Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu Amritsar-East MLA from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 'resigned' from her party.
At around 9.00 am in the morning, she had posted saying, “Finally, I have resigned from (the) BJP. The burden is over.”
Finally , I have resigned from BJP. The burden is over
Navjot Sidhuon Thursday, March 31, 2016Though, no official confirmation had come from her party or her people leaving people to speculate whether it was an April Fool's joke or an angry outburst.
But later at 2.00 pm, she vented her anger towards Shiromani Akali Dal.
79 cr sanctioned for Amritsar East, tenders placed since a month.. Improvement trust computers not working properly...
Posted by Navjot Sidhuon Friday, April 1, 2016Sidhu had been vocal about her differences with BJP's partner SAD.
Recently, after SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal described the alliance with BJP as "permanent", Sidhu had reiterated her stand that she would not contest 2017 Punjab assembly polls on BJP ticket if it fights polls in alliance with the SAD.
"My stand is clear. I will not contest if the alliance (between SAD and BJP) remains. I respect party's decision. But my stand remains the same," Sidhu said on Wednesday.
She further said, "party's decision is supreme but one or two persons do not make a party. We respect the decision that they (SAD and BJP) are going to contest jointly." "Our stand is clear that neither we will contest under SAD-BJP alliance nor we will campaign for the party," she said.
However, Sidhu, wife of cricketer turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, said she will contest the 2017 Punjab assembly polls.
"Till now I will definitely contest next polls," she said.
When asked whether she will contest as Independent or from other party ticket, Sidhu said she would take a decision in this regard at the appropriate time. She further said, "Earlier, I did not know about the functioning of Akali Dal. Now I know how Akali Dal functions.
Person makes mistake once not twice. I do not like their functioning (SAD) they do not like mine." When asked whether AAP has approached her or her husband, she said she would not comment on this matter. She, however, further said that voters should support those who talk about the vision of the state.
With agency inputs.
Uttar Pradesh: BJP puts OBC leader Keshav Prasad Maurya at helm
Keshav Prasad Maurya
Maurya was a tea-seller too.
Maurya was a tea-seller too. Party also named state Presidents for Karnataka and poll-bound Punjab.
Gearing up for assembly elections, BJP today plumped for former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa to lead the party in Karnataka and appointed Keshav Prasad Maurya, an OBC long associated with RSS and VHP, as its President in Uttar Pradesh.
It also named Union Minister Vijay Sampla, a Dalit leader, as its president in Punjab. Maurya, Yeddyurappa and Sampla are Lok Sabha members at present. Uttar Pradesh and Punjab will go to polls next year while Karnataka will have elections in 2018. Yeddyurappa, the tallest Lingayat leader who was removed as Chief Minister on corruption charges and had floated his own party before the last assembly elections, returns to the helm of affairs in the state BJP, which is looking to wrest power back from Congress.
Reacting to his appointment, Yeddyurappa said his priority would be to bring back BJP to power as people are "fed up" with the "corrupt" Congress government.
Maury is a first-time MP from Phulpur and party president Amit Shah opted for him from among a number of state leaders that did the rounds for months for the crucial assignment. He has actively campaigned on issues like Ram temple and cow protection.
OBC leaders Dharampal Singh and Swatantra Dev besides Dinesh Sharma, a Brahmin, and Union Minister Manoj Sinha, a Bhumihar, were among the other contenders for the post but Maurya's social background and Hindutva activism tipped the scale in his favour, sources said. "He comes from a backward community and a very poor family. He sold newspapers and tea for a living," BJP General Secretary Arun Singh said at a press conference. He said Maurya was a "full timer", a term for those associated with RSS, for over 14 years.
The BJP had swept the Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh, winning 71 of the 80 seats on its own while helping an ally get two seats. Yeddyurappa had returned to the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, helping the party win 17 of the 28 seats in the state.
Singh downplayed corruption cases against him, saying he has been discharged in some and there is no substance in others. "They are politically motivated," he added. With Sampla's appointment, BJP hopes it will win over Dalit votes in Punjab, where the community's share of total votes is more than any other state. The SCs are almost one-thirds of the total voters. BJP is an ally of Akali Dal and shares power in the state.
The party also announced K Laxman and Tapir Gao as its new chiefs in Telangana and Arunachal Pradesh. Laxman is presently its leader in the state assembly while Gao was a former Lok Sabha member.
The party's choice for Maurya, Yeddyurappa and Laxman, who are from OBC group, and Sampla, a Dalit, underscores its vigorous campaign to woo the underprivileged communities after it suffered a debacle in Bihar and whose role would be key to its electoral fortunes in all these states.
With today's appointments, party has declared its new Presidents in most of the states. It is yet to announce chiefs for six others, including Bihar, Jharkhand and Delhi.
School prevents Dalit students from writing exam in Punjab
Representational Image (File Photo)
The father of the students said that he had requested school authorities to give him some time to pay the pending fees.
Three Dalit siblings were allegedly barred from appearing in the final examinations by a private school as their father failed to deposit their fees in Jalandhar.
Balwinder Singh, a driver, said he had requested the St Soldier School authorities to give him time till March 20 to pay the pending fees of last two months but they agreed to wait till March 10 and as he was unable to deposit it, his children were not allowed to appear in exams.
Singh said when he went to submit fees after March 10, the school management refused to accept it and told him that he will have to get his children enrolled again. Meanwhile, school Principal Pratibha, refuting the allegation, said, "The students were not barred from appearing in the exam. They had appeared in the examinations conducted before March 10 but later they stopped coming to school on their own."
District Magistrate KK Yadav said preventing students from appearing in exam is wrong and he will inquire about the incident. Efforts would be made to save the academic year of the three students. Anil Chopra, Chairman of St Soldier group, said, "I am not aware of the incident. However, I will ask the school principal to organise special exams for the students."
BJP accuses Mamata of vote bank politics, says CM thinks only of 28% of the population
Mamata Banerjee (PTI)
BJP national secretary Sidharth Nath Singh, who is also Bengal co-incharge, said the TMC government deliberately deferred the date of immersion of Durga idols due to Moharram.
Seeking to paint the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal as 'pro-Muslim', BJP on Friday alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee thinks only about 28 per cent voters and claimed that police were asked not to fire at a mob of the minority community in Malda.
BJP on Friday came out with a list of 10 questions directed at the state government as it suggested that the TMC dispensation allowed the crowd in Malda to turn violent despite having prior intelligence. At a press conference, BJP national secretary Sidharth Nath Singh, who is also Bengal co-incharge, said the TMC government deliberately deferred the date of immersion of Durga idols due to Moharram.
"One common thread in your government's approach is of vote bank politics. Please confirm whether your state policy is of 'Sabka saath sabka vikas' or 'Ek ka saath ek ka vikas'? "You (Banerjee) think there are only 28 per cent of voters in Bengal. Isn't it a state policy under the TMC govt that only 28 per cent voters exist in the state? If it is not true, then answer why the date of immersion for Durga idols was postponed for three days because Moharram was falling the next day?" he asked.
Singh said state police and intelligence officials had on camera made various statements that "indict" the government. "Local intelligence officials on camera said that they had received report about such a gathering on communal line in Kaliachak and sent it to the administration. Why did you ignore it?
"When a mob attacked them (cops), they took shelter in a police station. Police officers in Malda, on camera, say that instructions came from top that they should not fire at mob since they are from the minority community. Mamataji, isn't this violation of India's basic secular fabric?" he asked.
"Additional SP of Malda on camera is found saying that there are areas which are 'no go' areas. They feel scared to go there. Mamataji, if your police is scared, then what about common citizen? Your 'parivartan' campaign against CPI(M) was to give security to 8 crore Bengalis. What has happened now?" Singh asked.
He claimed that a mob burnt the police station on January 3 to destroy local crime records as the news of an impending NIA-led operation against fake currency racket was leaked. "Why from Khagragadh to Birbhum to Malda, those involved in bomb making, fake currency, rioting, and woman abuse are all TMC workers and supporters? "In November, three ISI agents were arrested. One of them, Ashfaque Ansari, happens to be TMC leader. Why was your administration compromising with national security?" he asked.
Parties trying to communalise Malda violence, says CM Mamata Banerjee
(dna Research & Archives - File Photo)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday alleged that certain political parties were trying to portray the violence in Malda district as communal and termed the incident as a "criminal" one.
"The incident in Malda was a crime. It has nothing to do with communal violence. Certain political parties are trying to portray it as a communal violence which is untrue," she said after inaugurating a Hajj house.
Senior BJP leaders like Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and Smriti Irani recently accused the Trinamool Congress government in the state of indulging in votebank politics over the Malda incident.
Banerjee said, "West Bengal is a place of pilgrimage of communal harmony. Communities has been living here in peace for generations. We will not tolerate any attempt to create communal tension in our state."
In an obvious reference to the 'Love jihad' campaign by Hindutva groups, she said nowadays even loving someone is dictated by his or her religion.
"If you love someone, nowadays you have to ask about his or her religion. Or else it is treated as a communal agenda. We condemn such attempts," she said.
Mr Rajnath Singh, Malda violence is your creation: Derek O'Brien
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh (PTI)
Trinamool Congress on Thursday hitback Union Home minister Rajnath Singh for his attack on Mamata Banerjee government saying the Malda (violence) incident was his party's creation and he should not be on a mission to stoke communal tension.
"Mr Rajnath Singh, Malda is your creation. As the Home Minister of the country you should not be on a mission to stoke communal tension," TMC national spokesperson Derek O'Brien said in a statement after Singh's strong criticism of TMC government.
Singh on Thursday attacked Trinamool Congress government on the issue of law and order saying that women, people and even policemen are not secure here.
Also read: Whoever is responsible behind Malda incident will not be spared: Rajnath Singh
"You are using a political meeting to threaten the state. Which home minister with a conscience would do that?" he said.
"The country knows this is a well known tactic BJP uses when elections are at hand. And all this coming from a central government which is running the nation using 'agencies' to pursue its own cynical agenda," he added.
Poppy crop in 700 acres destroyed in Malda by security agencies
(AFP - File Photo)
The BJP has also raised the issue of fake currency and illicit opium cultivation in this area when a delegation met President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday requesting him to intervene and seek a report from the West Bengal Governor on the recent violence in Malda.
Security agencies have undertaken a massive drive and destroyed poppy crop spread in about 700 acres in the border town of Malda along the Indo-Bangla border in West Bengal.
The drive, officials said, has been undertaken from the second week of this month in the area of Sahabajpur Mouza under the Kaliachak police station limits of the said district which is notorious for production of poppy and cross-border narcotics smuggling. "Till now, 1,750 bighas (about 700 acres) of illegal cultivation of poppy has been destroyed by using tractors and other machinery by joint teams of Border Security Force, excise department and local police. A massive drive is on since January 8 in this regard," they said.
The said illegal poppy cultivation is rampant in areas of Golapganj, Sahabajpur and Sasani Parbadyanathpur. This poppy is used to manufacture banned narcotics like opium, brown sugar and heroin and a large part of this cache is smuggled across this border.
The area in Kaliachak is notorious for smuggling activities, drug cartels and cultivation of poppy and its transport. Last year, the officials said, poppy crop spread in about 5,573 bighas (2,230 acres) was destroyed in Kaliachak and adjoining areas. The BSF undertakes a special vigil to check smuggling of narcotics along the International Border here, they said.
The BJP has also raised the issue of fake currency and illicit opium cultivation in this area when a delegation met President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday requesting him to intervene and seek a report from the West Bengal Governor on the recent violence in Malda.
Whoever is responsible behind Malda incident will not be spared: Rajnath Singh
Home Minister Rajnath Singh (File Photo)
Virtually kicking off BJP's campaign for the coming assembly poll in West Bengal, Union Home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday attacked Trinamool Congress government on the issue of law and order saying that women, people and even policemen are not secure here.
Holding business summits will not be able to bring in investments in the state unless the TMC government improves law and order and ensures good governance, he said.
Despite TMC's slogan for ushering in change "'Ma-mati-manush' (mother, earth and people) and even police are not secure in West Bengal. The TMC government has not been able to bring in any change in Bengal," Singh told a rally at Ashoknagar in North 24 Parganas district.
Mentioning the violence in Malda, he refuted Chief minister Mamata Banerjee's statement that it was a result of tussle between BSF officials and locals.
"The incident in Malda is not a small incident. I want to tell the TMC government that the Malda case should be solved. Whoever may be involved in the incident should be arrested. Only few arrest can't solve the case," he said.
"It is being said that the (Malda) violence was a result of tussle between BSF and locals. But it is not true. Are they trying to safeguard those forces which attacked the BSF official? Will those who attacked the BSF roam free? This is the same BSF which had given befitting reply to Pakistani forces in the Indo-Pak border," Singh said.
"Did the govt here have no information about the rally and how many people will gather there? Was it not the government's responsibility to arrange for security there? If senior police officials had been present on the spot the situation could have been averted...Let me assure you, whoever is behind the Malda incident will not be spared. They will be arrested and booked," Singh said.
The Home minister wondered how miscreants have the courage to attack police stations and beat up policemen in Bengal. "Is this the kind of government that the people of West Bengal wanted?"
Seeking people's support in the assembly election in the state scheduled for later this year, Singh said "The BJP-led NDA government was elected in the Lok Sabha poll. For the first time in independent India a non-Congress government secured a clear majority.
"There will be assembly elections in West Bengal very soon. There will be change in Bengal too. I appeal to you that give us strength in the state assembly. We will do everything to change the situation in the state. The People from Bengal tell us that they want change but what will they do. Polling booths are looted. As the home minister of the country I want to assure you that you all will be able to exercise your franchise in a free and fair way," he said.
Singh said he will tell Election Commission that whatever number of central forces are required the Centre will make it available.
Malda violence: BJP-RSS polarising voters in Bengal, alleges TMC
Derek O'Brien
With around 100 days to go for elections in Bengal, political temperature is soaring rapidly.
Trinamool Congress on Sunday accused the BJP and RSS of carrying out a campaign to spread canards and "polarise" the voters in West Bengal ahead of the assembly elections there.
"A few days ago there were posters saying -- Mamata 'Nero', 'Bengal Burning' -- put up in some parts of central Delhi. There were similar campaigns on the social media too. "There are about a 100 days to go for the Bengal elections. The BJP and RSS are trying to spread canards to divert the attention from good governance done in five years," TMC spokesperson Derek O'Brien said here. He told PTI on phone that such a campaign was "being manufactured and carried out by BJP and RSS to polarise the voters."
The campaign was being carried out especially after the Malda incident, O'Brien alleged. On January 3, a mob had set a police station and several vehicles on fire in Kaliachak area of Malda district in protest against an alleged hate speech by a right-wing leader. Stepping up the heat on the Mamata Banerjee government over the incident, a BJP delegation had yesterday met President Pranab Mukherjee and submitted a memorandum urging him to seek a report from the Governor on the issue.
The party accused the state government of promoting vote bank politics by protecting those involved in Malda violence, alleging that it posed a threat to national security. The TMC has, however, accused the BJP of spreading communal venom ahead of the state assembly polls this year.
Malda violence: BJP delegation meets President, accuses Mamata govt of shielding culprits
Members of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation addressing the media after meeting President Pranab Mukherjee regarding the recent incidents of Malda, at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on Saturday.
(PTI)
BJP accuses Mamata government of vote-bank politics
Stepping up the heat on the Mamata Banerjee government over the Malda violence, BJP on Saturday took the matter to the President's doorstep and requested him to seek an independent report from the Governor on the issue.
The party accused the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal of promoting vote bank politics by protecting those involved in Malda violence and said that it posed a threat to national security. A BJP delegation, led by party general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and other central and state leaders, met President Pranab Mukherjee and submitted a memorandum.
The party alleged inaction on part of the state government on the Malda violence and claimed that the TMC government's policy of 'appeasement and vote bank' politics posed a threat to national security. They also raised the issue of violence in Birbhum in West Bengal. The delegation also presented another memorandum to the President on the inaction on the part of WB government in arresting the accused in the hit-and-run case involving the son of a TMC leader who killed an Air Force jawan while he was rehearsing for the Republic Day parade in Kolkata.
"The Malda incident is linked to the country's internal security... This vote bank politics poses a threat to internal security as the same mob also raised pro-Pakistan slogans. That is why we have requested the President to seek his own report from the Governor and the report sought by the central government from the state will help stop the threat caused to the country's internal security," Vijayvargiya told reporters after meeting the President.
He added that BJP is pained to know the West Bengal chief minister saying people had problems with BSF and that is why the violence took place.
"Why was the police station burnt? The reality is that it was burnt as all those leading that violent clash are linked with fake currency and opium cultivation and are anti-social elements who burnt the police station to put an end to their criminal activities. "Unfortunately, all those are being protected by Mamata Banerjee. A number of TMC leaders are involved in such activities and there is vote bank politics played there. The minority community there is somewhere linked in all these three incidents and due to this vote bank politics, the West Bengal chief minister is not acting against them," he added.
BJP Secretary Siddhharth Nath Singh and WB BJP President Dilip Ghosh and former state president Rahul Sinha were also part of the delegation.
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