After Jaya, it's Sonia's Parliament membership
by Pankaj Yadav

     New Delhi: Even as the issue of Jaya Bachchan's Rajya Sabha membership has been hitting the headlines for the past two days, the Bhartiya Janata Party has trained its guns on Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Lok Sabha membership, alleging that she also holds "an office of profit" by being the chairperson of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation which receives "government funds". The BJP said that Sonia also enjoyed 'facilities' of a Union Cabinet rank by being the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council (NSC).

     But, before taking up the issue seriously, the main Opposition party is gathering legal opinion to ascertain whether Sonia's heading the Foundation really amounts to holding an office of profit or not. Addressing press persons inside the Parliament today, BJP spokesman and deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, Vijay Kumar Malhotra said that Sonia Gandhi's membership should be withdrawn since she enjoys the facilities that come with a Union Cabinet rank, and simultaneously holds the chairmanship of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation which functions on government aid. "We are seeking legal opinion over the matter before raising it seriously both inside and outside the Parliament," he said. BJP move comes a day after the poll panel recommended disqualification of Samajwadi Party MP and actress Jaya Bachchan on the ground that she was holding an office of profit as Chairperson of UP Film Development Board. Meanwhile, a similar petition seeking action against SP general secretary Amar Singh has also been filed before the Election Commission. On the other hand, the Congress reacted sharply against the BJP's allegation. Party's senior leader and Union Tourism Minister Ambika Soni said that while the NAC was a body of advisory nature, the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation was an NGO, "so, there are no doubts that either of the two offices is an office of profit". "You must recall that during the NDA regime also, there were many instances whereby Members of Parliament headed bodies of advisory nature," she added.

Goa tense after first-ever communal riots (Go To Top)

    Shirodha (Goa): Tension continues to prevail in some parts of Goa, three days after communal riots broke out in the town of Sanvordem over the demolition of a place of worship. On Monday, business establishments and schools remained closed after a crowd pelted stones at the houses of people belonging to a minority community in Shirodha town. Some of the frightened residents who fled their homes have now taken shelter in a house. "They were around 20 in number. We were frightened and locked our doors. They attacked our house, abused us and pelted stones. They damaged our doors and left," said Mohammad Insan, a local resident. The administration is on tenterhooks and security personnel are patrolling the tense areas to prevent any untoward incident. Authorities, however, claimed that the overall situation is under control. "The situation is very peaceful and under control. There's some tension is Shirodha but in other areas we have no problem at all. In Shirodha only there were incident of blockades of roads, which we have removed. There were some minor incidents but nothing serious. In the morning, 150 people gathered but they were dispersed," said Deepak Desai, Deputy Collector, Ponda. Tension mounted last Friday when Muslims who were agitating against the demolition of a structure used by them for offering prayers, clashed with another group of people. Police baton charged and fired shots to disperse the violent crowd, leaving five people injured. Several establishments were damaged, houses and cars burnt and two petrol pumps ransacked by the irate mobs. Extra security forces have since been deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incident.

MCD closure notices to 200 banquet halls (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Tuesday issued notices to nearly 200 banquet halls functioning in residential areas in New Delhi to close down within three days. Acting on the Delhi High Court order of February 17 directing the closure of all banquet halls functioning in Delhi's residential areas causing a major nuisance to the general public, the MCD had issued "sealing notices" to these banquet halls in violation of Master Plan Delhi and building bye-laws. The MCD had made it clear that if its directions are not complied with it would go about sealing these places. The High Court had ruled that "running of banquet halls are a perennial source of nuisance for residents, besides causing traffic congestion in the city, and they should go forthwith." It gave the ruling while dealing with a public interest litigation on commercial farmhouses functioning in the city. The Bench observed that it was not only farmhouses but scores of banquet halls which have surfaced in residential areas illegally, causing severe hardships to the general public and asked the MCD to take immediate steps to close down such halls. Earlier, the court had said that no farmhouses would be allowed to organise functions or social gatherings if the approach road was less than 60 feet wide. The MCD has taken action against many illegal properties following the direction of the High Court. In all, according to the MCD, there are 3.2 million illegal constructions in the capital and it is expected that a Central panel would be appointed to assess which constructions can be regularised.

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