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Jaya Bachchan moves SC over disqualification

      New Delhi: The Samajwadi Party leader Jaya Bachchan on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court challenging her disqualification as MP from the Rajya Sabha. In her plea, the actress turned politician has sought to reject the President's order and EC's opinion, which recommended her disqualification as member of the Rajya Sabha. Bachchan has said that she did not receive any financial benefits as Chairperson of the UP Film Development Council. The petition further said the Election Commission (EC) in its recommendation to President APJ Abdul Kalam did not give any finding that she received any monetary gain while holding the post. In view of the conflicting judgements by the Supreme Court on the office of profit issue, the petition sought cancellation of her disqualification. Bachchan also alleged Congress leader Madan Mohan of hiding the fact that his election petition against her was pending before the Allahabad High Court. A Congress leader Madan Mohan, who had challenged her election to the Rajya Sabha before the EC, based the EC's recommendation on a complaint. Jaya Bachchan was disqualified as member of the Rajya Sabha last month on the Election Commission's recommendation citing the grounds that she held an office of profit as Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh Film Development Board.

DNA test shows Kasliwal guilty of rape (Go To Top)

     Mumbai: In an another twist to the infamous Mumbai Mill rape case the DNA tests done on the accused Abhishek Kasliwal, the scion of Shri Ram Mills indicates him as guilty of rape. According a report aired on private news channel (CNN-IBN), the forensic reports say that the DNA samples of accused Kasliwal match those found on the victim's clothes. The forensic reports also shows evidence of injury to the victim's body, which contradicts claims of consensual sex made by the defence. The DNA samples which were tested at the forensic science laboratory in Mumbai later sent to the Mumbai Police. On April 18, the Bombay High Court had granted bail to Kasliwal with a condition to restrain him from entering into Mumbai till the trial was completed. The court had also ordered him to report to the nearest police station in Delhi twice every month where he was likely to reside. The bail was a great respite to Kasliwal as earlier his two bail plea were rejected back to back by the Bhoiwada Magistrates court on March 17 and the Sewri sessions court on March 28. Twenty-six-year old Abhishek Kasliwal, the son of Ambuja Kasliwal,the owner of Shree Ram Mills is facing charges of allegedly raping a 52-year old woman. On March 18, Kasliwal underwent brain mapping and polygraph tests at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Bangalore. The court had also allowed the Mumbai police to put Kasliwal to scientific tests which include polygraph and brain mapping tests, observing that these tests were necessary for effective investigation. However, Kasliwal's lawyer Shirish Gupte opposed the police plea to conduct the tests and claimed it was a case of consensual sex and not rape. Terming the allegation as false charges of rape Gupte said it was a 'rank case of extortion' because the victim had demanded money after she got down from Kasliwal's car. On March 12, police had arrested Kasliwal, following allegation of rape lodged by a woman. Later, Worli Police also seized Kasliwal's car where the alleged rape had taken place and booked him under sections 325 (for causing grievous hurt) and 376 (for rape) of the Indian Penal Code. The woman in her complaint stated that she was waiting for transport near Churchgate while on her way to home around midnight on March 11. Kasliwal who was reportedly drunk, offered her a lift in his bottle-green Mercedes car. It has been alleged by the lady that Kasliwal drove her to the Sreeram Mills in Worli where he raped her four times.

India not for use of force against Iran (Go To Top)

      New Delhi: India today said that use of force against Iran must be avoided at all cost. Foreign Ministry official said: "Confrontation or the threat or use of force can only exacerbate tensions in a region which is of vital importance to India, and must therefore be avoided at all costs." New Delhi also reiterated its stand that issues relating to Iran's nuclear programme should be resolved through dialogue. While stating that Iran has the right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purpose, New Delhi also said that this must be consistent with its international commitments and obligations. "India, along with other friendly countries, has continued to make efforts to reach an amicable resolution of outstanding issues through patient dialogue," the official added.

Sonia Gandhi campaigns in Pondicherry (Go To Top)

      Pondicherry: Congress president Sonia Gandhi addressed a rally here on Tuesday in which she made a pitch for her party to rule over the Union Territory for a second term. The Congress has sewn up a powerful front, roping in the regional Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (DMK) in a political alliance. But in recent months, the party has been fraught with dissidence on several issues. The embarrassed leadership has been frantically trying to persuade dissident leaders from challenging the official nominees and Gandhi's presence, analysts say, will help divert attention to bigger development issues in the former French colony. The Congress-led alliance is pitted against the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK). Criticizing the opposition, Gandhi said: "You all know what our opposition stand for. They stand for corruption, they stand for autocratic rule and they stand for one-person rule." "In the last five years, our chief minister and his team have initiated a number of social welfare programs for the benefit of the poor, the deprived, for the benefit of our school children, for our girls, for our women. We have made special efforts to improve the quality of schools, especially the quality or primary education," she added. Pondicherry will go to polls on May 3 and 8.Two enclaves -- Mahe and Yanam would go to the polls on May 3, while Pondicherry and Karaikal will go to the polls on May 8.

Terms for Narmada relief panel  (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: The Central Government today announced the terms of reference of the Sardar Sarovar Project Relief and Rehabilitation Oversight Group, which was appointed by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Sunday. The Terms of Reference of the Oversight Group are as follows: a. Based on the reports of the State Government, the three-member committee has been tasked with the responsibility of ascertaining the number of project-affected families affected due to submergence caused by the raising of the height of the dam. b. Estimate, on the basis of sample checks, the number of PAF's who may not have received so far, in full measure, the Rehabilitation and Relief package as per the norms laid down by the Award and the orders of the Supreme Court. Ascertain on the basis of sample checks, if offers of alternate land to eligible oustees were made in a fair and transparent manner. Ascertain on the basis of sample checks, if such offers were voluntarily refused by such oustees who preferred to accept the Special Rehabilitation Package of the Government of Madhya Pradesh. Ascertain when all measures of rehabilitation, resettlement and civic amenities as mandated by the Award (Para 152 of Supreme Court Judgment) will be in existence. Recommend a system to ensure that all families affected by an increase in the height of the dam to 121.92 metres receive within the next three months, the benefit of the Relief and Rehabilitation package as per the norms laid down by the Award, the orders of the Supreme Court and the orders of the Grievance redressal Authority of Madhya Pradesh. Former Comptroller and Auditor General of India, V.K. Shungulu, will be the chairperson of the three-member group. Professor. G.K. Chadha, a former Vice Chancellor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, and Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, the convener of Loksatta, an NGO, are the other two members.

Rahul Gandhi 'ready to lead party in UP' (Go To Top)

     Rae Bareli: Rahul Gandhi, the son of Congress party President Sonia Gandhi, today said that he was ready for any additional responsibility even that of leading the party in Uttar Pradesh. "If the party leadership wants, then I am ready for it," Rahul Gandhi said while answering a question posed to him by a reporter. He also confirmed that the Congress party has certain plans for Uttar Pradesh, which goes for assembly polls in a few months time. Rahul's statement on Tuesday suggests an about-turn on the statement that he had made at the AICC plenary session in Hyderabad in January where he said that he was not yet ready to assume additional responsibilities as he was still passing through the learning phase. Presently canvassing for his mother Sonia Gandhi's election in the forthcoming by-poll in the Rae Bareli Parliamentary Constituency, Rahul Gandhi who is also an MP from neighbouring Amethi Lok Sabha constituency arrived here on Monday along with Congress leader Captain Satish Sharma, who had also represented the constituency for one term in 1999. On Tuesday, he also criticised UP Chief Minister and Samajwadi party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav for not utilizing the help given by the Centre. According to Congress Party sources, Rahul Gandhi will supervise the election campaign and plans to undertake extensive touring of the state on his own. Rahul has sought poll details of each of the polling stations spread across the constituency, added a source. However, both Sonia Gandhi and his sister Priyanaka Vadra are likely to join Rahul just ahead of the election, which is scheduled on May 8.

Pak textbooks deride Hindus (Go To Top)

     Lahore: The National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), a Catholic Church body in Pakistan, has said that the country's media describe India as a 'hostile neighbour', and school textbooks teach the students that Hindus were backward and superstitious who assert their power over the weak, especially the Muslims. "Government-issued textbooks teach students that Hindus are backward and superstitious, and given a chance, they would assert their power over the weak, especially, Muslims, depriving them of education by pouring molten lead in their ears. Pakistan Studies textbooks are an active site to represent India as a hostile neighbour," the report stated.

Mahajan condition remains 'critical' (Go To Top)

     Mumbai: The condition of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Pramod Mahajan continues to be 'very critical'. Doctors attending on him at the PD Hinduja Hospital here, said that he was on ventilator support and on dialysis due to the poor functioning of his kidneys. "He is still very critical. There has been no change in his condition in the last 24 hours," Director (Administration) Dr Anupam Verma said. Mahajan had been kept on continuous renal replacement therapy to drain out toxins from his blood due to poor kidney function, Verma said. He was admitted to the hospital on April 22 after being shot by his younger brother Pravin. Since then, he has undergone two surgeries including one yesterday's evening after his vital parameters became unstable.

Phoolan murder accused arrested (Go To Top)

      New Delhi/Kolkata: A team of Delhi Police arrested Sher Singh Rana, the prime accused in dacoit-turned-MP Phoolan Devi murder case, from the link road area in Kolkata in wee hours on Tuesday. According to police sources, Rana, who had been arrested and later escaped from Tihar Jail in 2004, was later brought to New Delhi and is being kept at Lodhi Road special cell. However, any official statement in this regard is yet to be made. Bandit queen-turned-leader, the Samajwadi Party Member of Parliament Phoolan Devi was shot dead by three men outside her Ashoka Road residence, barely a kilometre away from Parliament House in New Delhi on July 25, 2001. Sher Singh Rana, alias Pankaj, was arrested two days after the murder and admitted that he killed Phoolan Devi.

Benazir-Nawaz meet (Go To Top)

     Lahore: Yesterday's meeting between two former Pakistani premiers - Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif - is an important development for the political situation in the country, but no major results should be expected out of it since the meeting was only an ice-breaker, a leading journalist in the country has said. Najam Sethi, the editor of the Daily Times, further said that Musharraf would be anxiously "watching for the results of the meeting". He said that the two former prime ministers were once sworn enemies but were now meeting because of General Pervez Musharraf. Both Bhutto and Sharif as prime ministers had failed to make laws restricting army intervention in politics. Now if they agree on some rules for the future it will be a good breakthrough in the long run, Sethi added. Though both parties have accepted that they made errors, they have done nothing practically to correct their faults, he said. Gen Musharraf will be watching for the results of the meeting, the paper quoted its editor as saying. Sethi was of the opinion that the Opposition parties had better prospects "because people were not that happy with the present government". "Bad democracy is better than no democracy and if the coming elections are fair and free then both the PPP and PML- N have a chance to come to power again", he added.

Case against Udit Narayanan (Go To Top)

     Patna: Bollywood singer Udit Narayan has been summoned by the Bihar Women's Commission after Ranjana Jha who claims to be the singer's first wife filed a petition before the commission, seeking its intervention. The commission has given Narayan fifteen days to explain his side of the story and has confirmed sending a notice to this effect to his Mumbai residence. Manju Prakash, the chairperson of the Bihar Women Commission, said that the evidence produced by Ranjana suggested that she was not lying. "Ranjana Jha has filed a petition with the commission. Udit has said that he is a big star, and therefore, he has got his pictures clicked with many people. But after seeing the evidence produced by Ranjana, I can say for now that she is not lying. Udit is an educated man and he should know that a person is not allowed to remarry until he divorces his first wife. Therefore, we have summoned him to give his side of the story within fifteen days," said Manju Prakash Prakash also said that the commission is ready to contest the case legally. Ranjana says that she wants her rights as the first wife of Udit Narayan restored. She claims that she married the Bollywood singer on December 7, 1987. Udit's second wife, Deepa, is of Nepali origin like Udit himself.

Bears on rampage at BSE (Go To Top)

     Mumbai: Bears went on a rampage for the second consecutive day on the bourses as the benchmark Sensex fell 268 points down on Tuesday after a sharp 115-point plunge in the previous trading session. The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) 30-share sensitive index opened with a 28-point gap at 11,943. The Sensex touched a high of 11,953 before slipping into the negative zone. The benchmark index closed with a huge loss of 2.25 percent or 268.46 points at 11,646.78.