SC
rejects plea to transfer Sankaracharya case to CBI
New
Delhi: Kanchi Sankacharya Jyaendra Saraswati had to
face even more embarrassment when the Supreme Court dismissed
a PIL seeking transfer of the probe into the murder case
against him to CBI on Thursday. The Sankacharya is currently
under arrest in the murder of a temple official Sankaraman,
who had alleged financial irregularities against the seer.
Earlier, the seer had moved the lower courts and the Madras
High Court to get bail, but at both the places his applications
were rejected. Several rightist organisations, including
the VHP, RSS, and political parties like the BJP and the
Shiv Sena had been agitating across the country seeking
the seer's release from jail. They allege that Tamil Nadu
Chief Minister Jayalalitha had orchestrated his arrest to
settle political scores.
Aga
Khan meets Natwar Singh (Go
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New
Delhi: The spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims,
His Highness The Aga Khan, today called on External Affairs
Minister Natwar Singh in the Capital. During his five-day
stay in New Delhi, Aga Khan will be meeting several other
Indian leaders to discuss the broadening framework of activities
being undertaken by the Aga Khan Development Network in
the country. Khan is scheduled to meet President APJ Abdul
Kalam later in the day. Founded in 1967, the Aga Khan Foundation
is the principal grant- making agency for social development
within the Shia Ismaili Imamat. Aga Khan is its founder
and chairman. With a small staff, a host of co-operating
agencies and thousands of volunteers, the Aga Khan Foundation
reaches out to vulnerable populations on four continents,
irrespective of their race, religion, political persuasion
or gender. In 1999, it funded 120 projects in 13 countries
and spent 88.9 million dollars.
Khan
would also be inviting Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh
to preside over the award presentation ceremony of the Aga
Khan Award for Architecture to be held in New Delhi on November
27. The Award was created in 1977 to recognise outstanding
examples of contemporary design, promote the conservation
of Islamic architecture's urban heritage and highlight the
vital role it can play in the life of communities. The award,
which carries a prize money of 500,000 dollars, is the largest
architectural award in the world and is presented every
three years.
Good
governance, BJP's manifesto for Bihar, Haryana, Jharkhand
(Go
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Ranchi:
The main Opposition party, the BJP, today said that
the issue of governance would be its main plank in the forthcoming
elections in three states - Bihar, Jharkhand and Haryana
- slated to go to polls early next year. The party decided
this after its drubbing first in the general and then during
the Maharashtra Assembly polls. The BJP is holding its national
executive meeting in Ranchi where it would formulate strategies
for the forthcoming elections. "Issue of governance is the
main issue in the states that are facing elections. We want
to remove the demon-rule in Bihar. We have to win again
in Jharkhand and fight the Congress and Indian National
Lok Dal in Haryana. These are the main issues of discussion
here," former BJP chief Venkaiah Naidu told reporters.
BJP's
economic resolution pitches for farmers (Go
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Ranchi:
Making a pitch for India's 125 million farmers, the
BJP on Thursday came out with an economic resolution that
targetted the UPA government's policies in the agricultural
sector. Charging the Manmohan Singh government with selling
out farmers interests, the BJP said on the second day of
its national executive meeting that the adoption of a "vacillating
and compromising" stand on agricultural trade liberalisation
in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations, was
affecting the wellbeing of the poorest of poor in the interiors
of the country. Keeping the assembly elections in Jharkhand,
Bihar and Haryana in mind, the BJP sought an increase in
the purchasing power of farmers, total tax exemption on
agro products and a total ban on cow slaughter. Later, talking
to newspersons, former Agriculture Minister Rajnath Singh,
who moved the resolution, said, ''Kisans are the biggest
purchaser and biggest consumer of the country and the government
must take measures to increase their purchasing power.''
The
party suggested that a second Green Revolution be launched
to strengthen the country's rural economy which in turn
would increase the farmers income. Singh said the NDA government
had prepared a law to ban cow slaughter, but it could not
be introduced in Parliament because of the opposition parties,
particularly the Congress and the Left. The resolution also
recalled the measures taken by the Vajpayee government for
the betterment of the farming community and dubbed the UPA
government as ''anti-Kisan with an anti-rural orientation''.
Describing the Congress as ''traditional betrayer'' of the
Indian kisans, it criticised the Manmohan Singh government
for shelving the river-linking project and reforms in the
power sector undertaken by the NDA government. It claimed
the UPA government's inaction would worsen the already critical
power scarcity in the country. It also rapped the government
for the 30 to 40 per cent steep rise in the prices of diesel,
fertilizers, pesticides and all other farm inputs in the
past six months while the prices of most agricultural produce
remained stagnant.
SC
gives nod for Taj night viewing (Go
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New
Delhi: The Supreme Court today gave a go-ahead to night
viewing of the Taj Mahal. The Uttar Pradesh government had,
earlier, declared that it would throw open the Taj for night
viewing to mark its 350th anniversary year-long celebrations
from September 27, but tourists were denied the rare opportunity
as it did not obtain the approval of the Apex Court. The
SC allowed night viewing in batches after ensuring safeguards
regarding security from terrorist attacks and upkeep from
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Only seven groups
would be allowed, in intervals. "Regarding the viewing of
Taj Mahal at night, the Supreme Court has permitted it.
Hence with the passing of the order, people can now view
the monument on five days, - Two days before the Full Moon
Day and two days after. A batch consisting of 50 persons
each will be allowed to see the Taj Mahal from 8 pm to midnight.
But the court has also set some conditions. One cannot see
it on Fridays, on Urs days and (in) the holy month of Ramadan,"
said Ajay Agarwal, a lawyer. The Apex Court has passed strictures
on the accessibility to the 17th century white-marble monument,
and passed landmark rulings to stop pollution and preserve
one of the seven wonders of the world. Taj Mahal was opened
at night only to close again in 2000. This was ratified
by the Supreme Court in a judgement on a public interest
litigation filed by well known environmentalist and lawyer
M.C. Mehta. The SC had earlier turned down a plea of the
government to allow night viewing.
Ayodhya
case: Next hearing on Nov 30 (Go
To Top)
Lucknow:
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court today
fixed November 30 as the next date for further hearing of
the five criminal revision petitions in the Ayodhya case.
The special Rae Bareli court had on September 19, 2003,
discharged BJP president L.K. Advani in the matter, but
ordered framing of charges against seven others, including
former union minister MM Joshi. Later all the seven accused
person had moved the High Court challenging the order. The
court has stayed the proceedings at the Rae Bareli court
and had also summoned the relevant records.
