Congress slams Narendra Modi for attacking PM

Congress today decriedNarendraModi for attacking Prime MinisterManmohan Singh, saying Independence Day is not an occasion for "partisan debates and power hungry squabbles" and political parties should not look for self-seeking opportunities. 

"Independence Day is a national festival, a sacred template that stands high in the collective conscience of the nation. The Prime Minister's speech on the occasion is a non-partisan national statement of intent and purpose," AICC General Secretary and in-charge of party's communication department Ajay Maken

"I appeal to the members of fellow political parties that they unitedly hold the sanctity of the day so that the generations to come continue seeing August 15 as the template of freedom and unity rather than an opportunity for self-seeking," he said. 

Earlier, Congress leaders hit out at Modi for attacking Singh, saying he was indulging in "petty politics" and rejected as "tall talk" his challenge to the PM for a public debate. 

"Prime Minister will come last. Let him debate with us first," Union Minister Salman Khurshid said here when asked about the Gujarat Chief Minister's challenge to the PM. 

He said Modi is "so restless to become something big in the country" that he forgets that this is a day when political differences are forgotten. 

To a question about Modi comparing his speech with that of the Prime Minister, Khurshid said it was a case of "tall talk by a person with small stature (Chhota munh badi baat)". 

"Petty politics must not be allowed...," he said to a question at to whether politics is taking over Indo-Pak relationship. 

Modi, in his Independence Day speech in Bhuj, slammed the Prime Minister for India's "weak and feeble" response to provocations from Pakistan and China.
 said. 

Ranbir Kapoor is telling all his friends that Besharam is his Dabangg

The promos of Raj Kumar Santoshi’s Phata Poster Nikla Hero shows Shahid Kapoor doing the Khaki-clad Dabangg act. But the more entertaining aspect to this wannabe Chulbul Pandey’s Dabangg is that the Phata Poster... role was originally written for Ranbir Kapoor. Says a reliable source, “This is the script that Santoshi wanted to make right after Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani again featuring Ranbir and Katrina, for the same producers (Tips). But Ranbir had other plans. He wanted to do his own Dabangg-style massy entertainer with the Dabangg director. That’s how Ranbir became a part of director Abhinav Kashyap’s Besharam where he plays a con-man on the run in Delhi-Haryana while his parents Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor play cops on Ranbir’s trail. In fact Ranbir tells all his friends that Besharam is his Dabangg.” Rishi confirms, “It is our family’s out-and-out commercial entertainer. Very much in the Dabangg and Rowdy Rathod genre of entertainment.” A source close to Besharam predicts the film would be Ranbir’s biggest blockbuster to date. We expect it to be bigger than Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani. It’s Ranbir’s most massy film to date. Full-on time-pass.

Veena Malik's ‘nude picture' evokes mixed reaction

By punemsexesena : Humour and anger were available in fair measure across Pakistan as reports reached here about actor Veena Malik reportedly posing nude for the cover of an Indian magazine.

Though the cover has been the buzz on social networking sites since Friday afternoon, the local media was slow to pick up the story and even then the ‘ghairat brigade' (honour brigade) was not out in strength with daggers drawn.

Given that her previous appearance on Indian television's Big Boss season had got her into trouble back home, many found it difficult to believe the cover picture was real. It must have been morphed seemed to be the general belief and so when her public relations manager claimed that the photographs were not hers, many bought that version. In fact, the dominant sentiment was that if the photograph was hers, then Ms. Malik probably had no intention of returning to Pakistan, knowing full well that there would be a lynch mob waiting for her. Worse still, was the fact that the bare-all photograph has ISI tattooed on her arm.

In an interview to Geo News, Ms. Malik said she had done a bold shoot for FHM magazine but it was not a nude shoot. As for the ISI tattoo on her arm, she said it was the magazine editor's idea to take a dig at the general Indian tendency to blame everything that goes wrong in India on the ISI. Maintaining that she would take recourse to legal action as her photographs had been doctored, Ms. Malik said she was well aware of her limitations and had never in her life done a nude shoot. Meanwhile, the magazine's website on Saturday changed the cover of the December edition though it still featured her in a different pose. This time, the “Pakistani WMD'' — as the magazine chose to call her — is caught in the act of pulling the pin out of a grenade.

And, once again Twitter was abuzz with some among Pakistan's tweeting community expressing disgust, the liberal lot saluting her for the courage in doing what she wanted, and others making light of it with sarcasm. Commenting on the latest FHM cover, one tweeter said “Veena Malik would make a terrible ISI agent considering how much she reveals” while another wondered if cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf would invite her to the party fold now that she had revealed all her assets.
PTI

Punjab: FIR against sarpanch who slappped woman

By punemsexesena: An FIR has been registered against the Shiromani Akaali Dal sarpanch who slapped a woman teacher, who was demanding a permanent job, at a function in Muktsar district in Punjab.
The lady Varinder Kaur was part of a delegation of teachers who wanted to meet Bhatinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, the wife of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal at the function on MOnday.
A scuffle broke out between the teachers' delegation, which wanted to submit a memorandum to MP Harsimrat Kaur demanding regularization of their job, and Akali Dal workers who wanted the delegation to leave the place.

Balwinder Singh, Akali Dal sarpanch of Daula village, caught hold of Varinder Kaur and slapped her many times, Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) Teachers Association President Pritpal Singh said.
"Balwinder Singh manhandled me and beat me up," Kaur said and added EGS Jalandhar unit chief Jarnail Singh was also
slapped and picked up by police.
The police also locked up the teachers in a house to ensure a smooth conduct of the function", the sources said, adding the teachers have lodged a complaint against Balwinder demanding his arrest.
Police said a case has been registered against members of both the parties.
The incident drew condemnation from across the political spetrum in and the state government ordered lodging of an FIR against the sarpanch.
(With additional inputs from PTI)

Mamata serves ultimatum on UPA Govt

By punemsexesena : Giving an ultimatum to the UPA government, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said her party would not remain in the coalition if it effected another hike in prices of petro products.

Trinamool Congress will not remain in the UPA government if the Centre resorts to another increase in prices of diesel, kerosene and LPG,” Ms. Banerjee told a news channel after a meeting with Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee at the Raj Bhavan here.

Her ultimatum followed the threat to pull out of the government on November 4 over the hike in petrol price.

She said her party would not remain in the UPA government if it was not needed.

Asked whether she had any hint that the Congress was trying to rope in some other allies as an alternative to her party to ensure the survival of the government, she said, “they (Congress) are always in the habit of doing this.

If there is a tiff with Lalu (Prasad) they woo Nitish (Kumar). If they have trouble with Mayawati, they woo Mulayam.

They can do what they like, but ultimately they will have to go for elections.”

Ms. Banerjee said as long as “we are in the government we will maintain courtesy. If they think they have got another ally and they don’t need us, let them tell us. We will come out.

INTELLIGENCE SHARED WITH POLICE IN JULY: CHIDAMBARAM

By punemsexesena : Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday said intelligence about threats were shared with Delhi Police in July but contended that it would not be possible at this stage to identify the group that caused the bomb blast at the Delhi High Court.

Making a statement in the Lok Sabha on the blast, he regretted that the “tragic incident” had taken place despite Delhi Police being on high alert and capacity being built to strengthen the force in the last few years.

Informing members that the case would be handed over to the National Investigative Agency (NIA), Mr Chidambaram said government would not be intimidated by terrorist groups and was “determined to track down the perpetrators of this horrific crime and bring them to justice.”

He noted that Delhi was a target of terrorist groups and when Parliament was in session and during certain other times of the year, the capital is placed on high alert.

“Intelligence agencies constantly share intelligence inputs with Delhi Police. Intelligence pertaining to threats emanating from certain groups was shared with Delhi Police in July, 2011,” the Home Minister said.

“At this stage, it is not possible to identify the group that caused the bomb blast today,” he said about the terror strike which was the second incident at the High Court in over three months.

Human Rights Commission will examine Greater Noida atrocities

By punemsexesena : New Delhi: The recent violence over land acquisition and police atrocities in Greater Noida has "pained" the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which said it will send an investigation team to the affected villages.

The panel said it has received complaints about police trespassing into villagers' houses, outraging women's dignity and mercilessly lathicharging farmers demanding more compensation for their land acquired for a road project.

"The NHRC is pained to see complaints and media reports alleging large-scale violence in village Bhatta and other nearby areas in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh leading to loss of life and injuries to several persons, including the officers on the state government's duty," it said.

In view of the "gravity of the situation", the commission has decided to depute its investigation team for conducting an on-the-spot inquiry in the matter, the NHRC said.
"In several complaints received in the Commission, it has been alleged that the police mercilessly lathicharged the farmers who were demanding more compensation for their land which is being acquired by the state government.

"Incidents of stone-pelting of government officials by the agitating farmers, and the police personnel trespassing the villagers' houses, outraging women's dignity and burning crops were alleged. Allegedly, fire was also exchanged between the police and some agitators," it said in a statement.

Four persons, including two policemen, were killed in farmers-police clashes and firing in Bhatta-Parsaul villages on Saturday last. Political parties have condemned the police action while villagers alleged that most of the male residents have either gone missing or are in hospitals.

The Opposition has flayed the UP government for its land acquisition policy while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who sat on a dharna at the village before being arrested late last night, alleged that the government has "unleashed atrocities on its own people."

The incident has reopened debate over acquiring land for development projects in the country, even as the Centre today said it has plans to introduce a bill in this regard in the next session of Parliament.

Relief in DMK camp over Kanimozhi court hearing

By punemsexesena :Chennai, May 7 Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK Saturday heaved a sigh of relief with the special CBI court reserving for May 14 its decision on the bail plea of the party's Rajya Sabha Member Kanimozhi, charged as co-conspirator in the 2G spectrum allocation case.

Kanimozhi is the daughter of DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and is being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcemnt Directorate inthe 2G spectrum scam case.

"For the past couple of days there was tension among party leaders and cadres. It is natural. Now the tension is being carried forward for the future," DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan, who is an MP, told IANS.

Interestingly, results of the April 13 assembly polls will be declared on May 13, a day before Kanimozhi's bail petition is heard in New Delhi.

Kanimozhi was named co-conspirator along with Sharad Kumar, managing director and promoter of Kalaignar TV Pvt Ltd and others by the CBI. Both Kanimozhi and Sharad Kumar will have to mark their attendance at the court till the next hearing May 14.

Chennai-based Kalaignar TV, which runs a bouquet of Tamil channels, is promoted by Karunanidhi's second wife M.K. Dayalu, daughter Kanimozhi and Sharad Kumar.

Dayalu owns 60 percent of the company's Rs.10 crore equity and the balance is shared equally between Kanimozhi and Sharad Kumar.

The other three charged with Kanimozhi and Sharad Kumar were, Karim Morani of Cineyug Films, and Asif Balwa and Rajiv B. Agarwal of Kusegaon Realty.

The CBI charge sheeted Kanimozhi and Sharad Kumar as co-conspirators after it traced Rs.214 crore as an illegal money trail.

The money trail moved from Dynamix to Kusegaon and then on to Cineyug, all part of the DB Group that promoted Swan Telecom, ending with Kalaignar TV that gets its name from how Karunanidhi is popularly called - a scholar.

The channel company had earlier stated that the Rs.214 crore was a loan and paid back with interest.

Meanwhile, Elangovan reiterated that the DMK is not dumping its MP and former communications Minister A. Raja, charged by the CBI as the main conspirator in the 2G spectrum scam.

"The DMK has not changed its stance on Raja," he stressed.

Speaking to IANS a senior advocate on the condition of anonymity said: "Jail is an exception and bail is the rule. The CBI must have seized the relevant documents in support of their charge. The proof/witness is the documents which CBI has seized. If Kanimozhi agrees to abide by the conditions laid down by the court, then there is every possibility that she could be granted bail."

Asked to react to Kanimozhi's defence that she is just a shareholder and not connected with the day-to-day management of the company, he said: "I don't think it is a valid reason. The company has just three shareholders and it is family owned. Nobody would believe she was unaware of what is going inside the company."

He said Kalaignar TV has a capital of only Rs.10 crore but the funds that have come into the company in several tranches is over Rs.200 crore.

2G probe: Final meeting of PAC today

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By punemsexesena-New Delhi: Against the backdrop of sharp divisions within it, Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) headed by BJP’s MM Joshi is slated to meet on Thursday to finalise its draft r
eport on the 2G spectrum scam.

The panel is due to submit its report this month since its term expires on April 30. Reports claim that today’s meeting has been convened to discuss and possibly take up adoption of the report on 2G, a move which has created sharp divisions among the members of the PAC.

The PAC, in a draft report on 2G scam, yesterday indicted former telecom minister A Raja and came down heavily on the PMO and the Cabinet Secretariat for not taking "corrective action" while not sparing even the Prime Minister for "some unfortunate omissions".

The report circulated by PAC Chairman Murli Manohar Joshi is also understood to have attacked the then finance minister P Chidambaram for recommending to the Prime Minister to "treat the matter as closed" instead of taking action against those responsible for loss to the exchequer.

The voluminous report reportedly had some unpleasant words for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who had kept his office at "arm's length" in 2G spectrum issue which helped Raja "to execute his unfair, arbitrary and dubious designs".

However, the draft report has created a political storm in the establishment and is being contested by members of the ruling UPA in parliamentary panel.

Sources also say that infuriated Congress and DMK members have even started contacting SP and BSP members for support in case they press for a voting on the adoption of PAC’s finding.

Interestingly, the PAC has seven members from the Congress, four from BJP, two each from AIADMK and DMK, and one each from the Shiv Sena, BJD, JD(U), SP, BSP and CPI (M).

Once the report is adopted either unanimously or through majority, the Chairman has the right to present it to the Speaker if Parliament is not in session. It could be done before or on April 30 also.

The Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), who have aired their displeasure and went vocal with their objections to the draft report, have sought the resignation of PAC chairman Murli Manohar Joshi, for acting with a ‘malafide intention”.

Congress members feel that the PAC report should not bring the PMO (Prime Minister’s Office) within its purview and should avoid definitive conclusions about its role in the spectrum allocation.

The report attacked Home Minister P Chidambaram for advising the PM to close the matter even after it became clear that there were irregularities in the allocation of spectrum “instead of initiating stringent and swift action” against those responsible.

While PMO said it would react only after the report comes out, Chidambaram told a private news channel, “Is this the finding of the PAC or BJP leader Joshi?”

Experts feel that the public airing of the differences within PAC will be damaging to Indian democracy and its institutions, especially at a time when there is a question on the credibility of the government and the political class.

Singh and his United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government have been mired in a series of corruption charges and controversies ever since it returned to power in the 2009 general election.

Hours after Joshi internally distributed the 300-page draft report on PAC’s investigation into the 2G scam, members belonging to the Congress and the DMK held a news conference to allege that Joshi had prepared the draft with intent to destabilize the Congress-led government
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Gowda asks civil society members not to quit drafting panel

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By punemsexesena:NEW DELHI: Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda today asked the civil society members of the joint drafting committee of Lokpal Bill not to quit from it in the wake of an alleged campaign against them by "vested interests" who want to "divert the focus" from the Bill.

Gowda said he was "pained to learn from media reports that Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde is reconsidering his decision to be on the committee."

Criticizing the "forces trying to sideline the real issue of rampant corruption," Gowda said it was not fair to question the honesty and the integrity" of the members after formation of the committee.

"All these allegations are to sideline the issue of bringing a very powerful weapon (against corruption). The issue should not be sidelined," he said.

Describing corruption "a cancerous disease", Gowda said it was Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa who tried to "clip the wings" of Justice Santosh Hegde from taking action against his corrupt dispensation.

"In Karnataka, the Lokayukta cannot move without the prior permission of the government," Gowda alleged.

"Hon'ble Justice Hegde has never hesitated from calling a spade a spade and he remains an outstanding crusader against corruption, whether it be committed by the BJP government in Karnataka or the UPA government at the Centre," he said.

"It is my humble appeal to one and all, including the media, not to derail this great golden opportunity to draft and bring about a much-needed and highly effective Lokpal Bill by raising petty issues, totally irrelevant to the ongoing process," he said.

"Any such attempt to divert the focus from the Bill, which has been pending for over four decades, would only serve to strengthen the hands of the vested interests, who want to dilute the process," he added.
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I don’t support smear campaign politics, Sonia tells Hazare

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By punemsexesena:New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday said that she did not believe “in the politics of smear campaign” in a reply to social activist Anna Hazare's letter to her accusing the “corrupt” of conducting a witch hunt against civil society activists campaigning for an anti-graft law.

The controversy over former law minister and co-chair of the joint committee on the Lokpal Bill, Shanti Bhushan and his son Prashant Bhushan's (also a member of the joint committee) land holdings in Uttar Pradesh, and a CD which tries to show fixing of judges by them, had prompted Hazare's letter to Gandhi.

Gandhi, distancing herself from the controversy said that “you (Hazare) should not doubt my commitment to fight for probity in public life.” She added that she “strongly supported the institution of Lokpal that is consistent with the practices and conventions of our parliamentary democracy.”

Gandhi then went into details of how her...
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Shanti Bhushan moves court

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By punemsexesena:The former Union Law Minister and senior advocate, Shanti Bhushan, on Monday moved the Supreme Court for a directive to initiate contempt proceedings against the former Samajwadi Party leader, Amar Singh, for allegedly fabricating a compact disc containing his conversations with him and party president Mulayam Singh.

In his application, Mr. Shanti Bhushan said: “The alleged contents of the CD have been fabricated with a malicious intention to interfere with the administration of justice as it tries to create an impression that a particular Bench of the Supreme Court [one of the judges of this court has been named in the CD by the contemnor] can be managed through the informant's son [Prashant Bhushan].”

“The object behind fabricating the said CD is quite sinister as the attempt is apparently to derail the hearing of all important cases being/have been argued by the informant's son — before that particular Bench [of Justice G.S. Singhvi and A.K. Ganguly] — and thus, interfere with the administration of justice and to attempt to interfere with the continued hearing/judgment in important cases of public interest in which judgment has been reserved by that particular Bench,” he said.

Mr. Shanti Bhushan pointed out that one of the public interest cases in which judgment was reserved was that relating to the release in the public domain of the contemnor's tape-recorded conversations. “The attempt seems to be to try and make the judge recuse himself from the case by adding his name and suggesting that Mr. Prashant Bhushan is on very good terms with the judge and is in a position to influence him. This is totally false, and the scurrilous suggestion is a clear attempt to embarrass the judge and to interfere with the administration of justice.”

Quoting from the reports by two renowned laboratories to show that the CD was fabricated through splicing of different conversations, he said: “Once it becomes clear that the CD is fabricated, the question then arises as to who has fabricated this CD.”

He said: “It seems clear that Mr. Amar Singh must be involved in this fabrication as he states in the purported conversation that Mr. Shanti Bhushan is sitting with him. The fact of the matter is that the informant has never met the alleged contemnor, and, therefore, if this sentence is continuous and is, as it seems to be in Mr. Amar Singh's voice, then clearly Mr. Amar Singh has either engineered the CD or has cooperated in its fabrication. Thus, he has been made an alleged contemnor in this information which is being led before this court.”

He said: “Further, such a CD could only have been made with the help of various other persons, including experts in the field, and this is the result of a clear conspiracy. It is thus imperative that an investigation be directed to be done by a special investigation team which will… establish who are the persons involved in this serious conspiracy to interfere in the administration of justice.”

The applicant said “the act of fabricating the CD and then sending it anonymously to various news channels and newspapers is a serious attempt to bring not only the informant but also the judiciary under the cloud, and needs to be taken serious cognisance of.
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Jagan Reddy declares Rs 365 crore assets

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By punemsexesena:HYDERABAD: Former MP and president of newly-floated YSR Congress Party Y S Jaganmohan Reddy is perhaps one of the richest politicians in India, with declared assets of Rs 365 crore. In 2009, Jagan had declared assets of Rs 77 crore.
 The son of the late Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy Friday declared movable and immovable assets of Rs 365 crore while filing his nomination for the May 8 bypoll to Kadapa Lok Sabha seat. He submitted an affidavit to the returning officer declaring his assets.

With this, Jagan has overtaken Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP Nama Nageswara Rao, who has assets worth Rs173 crore as per his affidavit filed with his nomination papers from the Khammam Lok Sabha constituency in 2009.

Jagan's wife Bharati owns assets worth Rs 4133 crore. He owns houses, land and other property in Hyderabad, Kadapa and Bangalore. Interestingly, Jagan has no personal vehicle.

Majority of Jagan's assets are in the form of bonds and shares in various private firms, including Bharati Cements and Sandur Power Project company.

In 2009, while filing nomination for Kadapa Lok Sabha seat, Jagan had declared assets of Rs 77 crore.

Jagan, who resigned from the Lok Sabha seat and the Congress party in November last year, floated the YSR Congress Party last month.

Both the ruling Congress and the main opposition TDP are targeting him for amassing huge wealth, allegedly through misuse of power between 2004 and 2009 when his father YSR was the chief minister.

The TDP has demanded a CBI probe into Jagan's wealth after he reportedly paid Rs 84 crore as advance tax in September last year. The party alleged that he owns assets worth several thousand crore rupees.

The 38-year-old businessman has interests in cement and power projects in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and other states. He also owns Telugu daily Sakshi and the TV news channel by the same name.

Interestingly, most of the richest MPs come from Andhra Pradesh. The Congress party's L. Rajagopal in 2009 declared assets of more than Rs.100 crore while another party MP, G Vivek, filed an affidavit declaring assets of Rs 73 crore.

Black money: Puducheery Lt Guv to face ED

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By punemsexesena-The summons to Singh were issued on Friday, reports said on Saturday.

Another big shot, Uttar Pradesh Principal Secretary Vijay Shankar Pandey, will also be called for questioning by the ED by next week.

Their names emerged following the questioning of a Bihar Congress politician Amalendu Pandey by the ED regarding procurement of a passport by Ali from Patna using forged papers.

Singh and Pandey will have to face questioning regarding procurement of passport by Hasan Ali and some of his investments in foreign countries.

Ali is currently in ED's custoday.

Kolkata businessman Kashinath Tripathi, a close aide of Ali and also in ED custody now, may also have to face ED questioning again over fresh leads that emerged following the Bihar politician's questioning.

Dubbed the country's highest tax evader, Ali is facing charges of massive money laundering and stashing away black money in foreign banks.

Support for Hazare comes in form of tweets, 'likes'

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By punemsexesena-NEW DELHI: In its attempts to galvanise support among youth, Anna Hazare .s anti-corruption movement is tapping one tool hitherto unavailable to famous non-violent protesters of the past - social media.

The movement has generated a lot of traffic and conversation on social networking platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. These websites are being used to spread information, galvanise support and help co-ordinate protests in various cities.

Lending the support of India Inc , Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Mahindra group, Anand Mahindra, tweeted: "This is a movement whose heart and voice cannot be ignored. If only industry captains can voice their support for Anna Hazare." The support will come as a big boost for the activists.

The movement, India Against Corruption, uses both Twitter and Facebook effectively, providing news and links related to the protests. The official Twitter account Twitter.com/janlokpal and the Facebook page Facebook.com/IndiACor aggregates pictures of protests happening across the country. The Facebook page is attracting comments in hundreds to each update and is also serving as an effective platform to co-ordinate protests in various cities.

An update on the Facebook page said 500 supporters from Gurgaon will join Hazare on Thursday attracted hundreds of comments from people who wanted to know if there were protests happening in their cities. Many youngsters, who joined protests or fasted in solidarity with Hazare, said in television interviews that they first learned about the issue from social media.

While the role of social media in galvanising people to political action has recently been well demonstrated in Egypt and elsewhere, it would also be easy to overestimate the potential of support expressed online. It takes little effort, after all, to click and 'like' a Facebook page or to make a comment or a tweet. But the mood online is definitely in support of Hazare, and against politicians.

Aamir Khan says Anna Hazare deserves greater support than cricket team

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By punemsexesena-NEW DELHI: Actor Aamir Khan says the country should extend greater support to Anna Hazare's struggle for a strong anti-corruption law than it did to the Indian cricket team's quest for the World Cup. In a letter to the social activist, who is on fast unto death demanding that the government co-opt the civil society in drafting the Lokpal Bill, the actor said the struggle against corruption was "infinitely more important, and affects each and every one of us".

In the letter sent on April 6, the actor called Hazare an inspiration for the youth of India and said that he had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking him to pay heed to Hazare's appeal.

In his letter to the Prime Minister, Khan said: "I would like to humbly submit to you that, based on all the material that I have read, what Mr Hazare is saying makes a lot of sense to me."

"I am one of over a billion citizens of this country who is affected by, and most concerned about, corruption in our country. The last few months have witnessed some shocking exposés. In fact our society has been plagued by this sickness over the last few decades. I am one of the many who feel that strong steps need to be taken as corrective measures," the actor wrote to the Prime Minister.

He further wrote: "It is therefore with great hope and all humility that I request you to pay heed to the voice of Mr Anna Hazare. I would like to submit to you that the nation is slowly but surely collecting behind Mr Hazare in appreciation for what he is fighting for. I am merely one of many who support Mr Hazare and have come to appreciate that this upright 72-year-old man is willing to sacrifice his life in the fight against corruption."

Text of Aamir Khan's letter to Anna Hazare


Mumbai,
6th April, 2011.

Dear Mr. Hazare,

Over the last few days I have been following, through the media coverage, news about your struggle against corruption and the fast that you have undertaken.

I have been through your appeal.

I have been through the draft provided by the media of the government proposed Lokpal bill, which is under consideration of the government, which you are opposing.

Through the internet, I have also been through the draft of the Jan Lokpal Bill as drafted by the members of the Civil Society, which you are supporting.

I would like you to know that I am amongst thousands who are fully supportive of your efforts. The crusade that you have begun is an extremely important one, and I would like to extend my support to you.

For your information, I have written to our Hon'ble Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh requesting him to pay heed to your appeal. I am attaching my letter to him for you to read.

You are an inspiration for the youth of this country and my prayers are with you.

Like the country has supported the Indian Cricket team in their struggle to win the World Cup, I hope and pray that your struggle, which is infinitely more important, and affects each and every one of us, will get an even greater support.

Jai Hind.

Yours sincerely,
Aamir Khan
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Sangakkara quits ODI, T20 captaincy

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By Punem Sexesena-Kumar Sangakkara informed Sri Lanka Cricket on Tuesday morning that he was resigning as captain, his manager said.

He will resign with immediate effect as the ODI and T20 captain, but he has spoken to the selectors and offered to continue as the Test captain on an interim basis for the forthcoming series with England and Australia if this is considered helpful for the new captain.

In a statement released to the media through his manager, he said: “I would like to announce that after careful consideration I have concluded that it is in the best long-term interests of the team that I step down now as national captain so that a new leader can be properly groomed for the 2015 World Cup in Australia.

“This was a decision I made prior to the 2011 World Cup. I will be 37 by the next World Cup and I cannot therefore be sure of my place in the team. It is better that Sri Lanka is led now by a player who will be at the peak of their career during that tournament.

“It has been a true honour and a great privilege to serve my country as captain during the past two years and, although bitterly disappointed that we could not win the final, I am very proud of the performances of the team.

“I am also very grateful for the wonderful support received from Sri Lankan fans all around the world. Our supporters were a source of great inspiration before, during and after the tournament and I know all the players are extremely thankful for this.

“I met with the selectors on Monday and I explained my reasons for my decision and I assured them of my fullest support in helping our new captain settle into the leadership.

“In this regard, I have offered to continue as the Test captain for the forthcoming series with England and possibly Australia if the selectors believe this would help the new captain and aid the transition.

“I have no plans of retirement from international cricket at this stage and subject to form and fitness I would like to be considered for selection in all three formats of the game for the foreseeable future.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank my team-mates and the coaching staff for their hard-work and support. I would also like to thank my wife Yehali, my young twins and family for being willing to sacrifice so much to allow me to lead the team.

2G scam: PAC questions Anil Ambani, telecom CEOs

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By Punem Sexesena- The PAC had on Monday quizzed Tata Sons Chairman Ratan Tata and corporate lobbyist Niira Radia in connection with the 2G spectrum scam.

Reliance Communications Chairman Anil Ambani on Tuesday appeared before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which quizzed him for over two hours in connection with alleged irregularities in 2G spectrum allocation.

Mr. Ambani, also a former Rajya Sabha member, reached Parliament premises around noon when the PAC was questioning Etisalat DB Telecom CEO Atul Jhamb.

The members asked Mr. Ambani to join them just after 1:00 p.m. and discussions with him continued for nearly two hours.

He was asked questions on issues related to the 2G spectrum allocation as also 3G auction that was held last year.

“He was very free and frank,” said a PAC member.

Another member said Mr. Ambani referred to the CBI charge sheet in the 2G allocation case and expressed his inability to speak in detail as the matter was sub-judice.

He is understood to have justified the ‘first come, first served’ policy in the allocation of 2G spectrum and favoured the auction route for 3G spectrum allocation.

Jhamb, who appeared before the PAC along with his senior colleagues from Etisalat DB, was quizzed by members for over two hours. The company officials told the Committee that Shahid Balwa, who is in CBI custody in connection with the 2G scam, was a partner.

S-Tel CEO Shamik Das was also questioned by the PAC while Unitech Wireless Managing Director Sigve Brekke is to appear before it.

The PAC had yesterday quizzed Tata Sons Chairman Ratan Tata and corporate lobbyist Niira Radia in connection with the 2G spectrum scam.

The panel had quizzed Ms. Radia, Chairperson of Vaishnavi Corporate Communications (VCC), for two hours and Tata for three hours on issues related to the scam.

A VCC statement later said that Ms. Radia had extended her cooperation and offered clarification on all issues to the PAC.

Aarushi murder case: Relief for Talwars as SC stays all trial proceedings

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By Punem sexena-NEW DELHI: In a temporary relief to dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, the Supreme Court on Saturday stayed all proceedings against them in the case of murder of their daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj in 2008.

The couple had challenged the order of the Allahabad high court which had refused to stay the proceedings before a special CBI court at Ghaziabad in the sensational case.

The apex court, which gave the decision in a rare judgment, has asked the Talwars to submit their passports to the CBI court. The SC has stayed the CBI court order summoning the Talwars to appear before it on March 22.

The Allahabad high court had on Friday dismissed their plea seeking quashing of the proceedings initiated by the lower court which not only refused the closure report of the CBI but also summoned them as accused in the case.

The high court had said that it cannot prohibit the magistrate from taking cognisance of a case if prima facie it appears that there is sufficient evidence against a person.

Justice Balakrishna Narayana of the Allahabad high court had dismissed the criminal revision petition of Nupur against the CBI court proceedings, saying the petition has "failed to provide any valid reason warranting the court's intervention at this stage".

The high court asked Nupur, who had submitted that she had been summoned despite never having been called for interrogation or having been named as an accused in the CBI's closure report, to appear before the trial court within two weeks.

Another petition filed by Rajesh Talwar challenging bailable warrants issued by the Ghaziabad court on February 28 was dismissed by Justice Ravindra Singh.

On February 9, the Ghaziabad court had issued bailable warrants against the couple for their failure to appear before the court and to initiate proceedings against them after it had named them accused while rejecting the closure report of the CBI, which was treated as the chargesheet.

14-year-old Aarushi was found murdered at her residence in Noida in May 16, 2008 and Hemraj's body was recovered the following day from the same building.
punemsexesena@gmail.com

CPM keeps popular Achuthanandan out of polls

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By Punem sexena-THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPM has decided against fielding chief minister V S Achuthanandan in the assembly polls, signalling it would rather court defeat than have him again as CM, said party sources. The decision to keep the party's most popular face out shows the Communists have not been able to settle in-house squabbles .
Reports from the CPM state secretariat meet on Wednesday said state party secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, the CM's rival, too had opted out. This leaves home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan to spearhead the party's campaign in the elections scheduled for April 13.
Officially, the CPM did not confirm these reports. But the party state committee later in the day ratified the secretariat decision on VS.
Prakash Karat attended both party meetings. Party sources said a formal announcement on VS must wait two more days. By then, the candidates' list would be finalized.
Emerging out of the secretariat meeting, the man himself refused to be drawn into a conversation on his candidature. He said "those responsible for giving the answers will give them."
Angry VS followers took to the streets in Kasargode district, Thottappally in Alappuzha and Eerattupettah in Kottayam soon after the news broke. VS has never had cordial ties with the official faction led by 'once-upon-a-time' aide Vijayan. Their differences had earlier seen the duo being suspended from the party politburo. Subsequently, VS was expelled from the politburo.
Sources say speakers at the secretariat were critical of VS for deviating from the party line (read official faction) and embarrassing it on several issues. Politcal observers, however, feel the party will have a lot of explaining to do if it does not allow another term to VS who is seen as a clean man.